Improvements in or relating to Tubular Joints.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Tubular Joints.
I, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, of Messrs. Humber & Company, Limited, Beeston,
in the County of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the making of tubular joints and although the invention
is applicable to such joints in general I will describe it as applied to cycle frames, and
the like, to which it is peculiarly applicable.
In carrying out my invention I take the parts to be joined, say for example one of
the frame tubes and the lug and I place them in any suitable supporting device or
mould in which I secure them in a manner to support the parts as may be required.
My object is to force certain portions of the one piece of metal into corresponding
portions or recesses of or in the other piece of metal and to effect this I prefer to
apply to the interior of the joint pressure in an outward direction.
Preferably I employ fluid pressure for this purpose one way of effecting this being
to connect one or both of the parts to be joined with a hydraulic pressure apparatus,
closing up the open ends of the joint as may be necessary and then applying the
pressure. Cup leathers, pressure washers or other devices, or glands, stuffing boxes
or other packing may be employed for this purpose, but I do not limit myself in
this respect.
The indentations, recesses or equivalent in one of the parts, say the outer one, may
be formed in the process of manufacturing that part as by rolling, casting or the like,
or the mould may be so formed that when the pressure is applied it will have the
effect of forcing outwards both parts of the joint, portions of the outer thus entering
the recesses in the mould and portions of the inner joint entering the recesses thus
provided in the outer joint. I prefer to form the interlocking portions in various
directions, shapes or sizes so as to prevent movement of the joint in all directions,
and I may employ any suitable fluid.
Another way of obtaining the pressure without the use of the ordinary means of
obtaining hydraulic pressure, such as accumulators, engines, pumps etc., would be to
place the mould with the joints filled with water into a refrigerator, and by the
expansive force of the forming ice obtain the desired result.
By this invention all the parts can be finished before the joints are made so that
no subsequent operation trimming etc. is required and the whole frame may be put
together at once a suitable jig or mould being provided and the pressure applied to
all the joints simultaneously. Or the joints may be made successively.

page_text: With this method of making the joints no brazing, sweating or the like is required
as the joint can he made sufficiently strong without this, nevertheless I may employ
any of these methods in combination with the previous method if desired.
The pressure may be applied.from outside in addition to or instead of the inside,
in the latter case the necessary resisting power being provided as for example by
plugging up the inner tube. The invention may be carried out where only one of
the parts is tubular.
In a modification of the methods above disclosed the hydraulic pressure inside the
tube may be used as a mandrel to support the interior of the joint while the inter-
locking projections and recesses are formed from the outside, either by hydraulic
power operating through dies or other devices or by purely mechanical devices.
1007
Improvements in or relating to Tubular
I, CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, of Messrs. Humber & Co., Limited, Beeston, in
the County of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
This invention relates to the making of tubular joints and although the invention
is applicable to such joints in general I will describe it as applied to cycle frames,
and the like, to which it is peculiarly applicable. The expression: "tubular joint.
hereinafter employed is to be understood as including a joint in which only one of
the parts is tubular, as well as joints comprising more than one tubular portion.
any
In carrying out my invention I take the parts to be joined, say for example one of
the frame tubes and a lug or angle-piece or bracket and I place them in suitable
supporting device or mould in which I secure them in a manner to support the parts
as may be required. My object is to force certain portions of the one piece of metal
into corresponding portions or recesses of or in the other piece of metal and to
effect this I prefer to apply to the interior of the joint pressure in an outward
direction.
Preferably I employ fluid pressure for this purpose one way of effecting this
being to connect one or both of the parts to be joined with a hydraulic pressure
apparatus closing up the open ends of the joint as may be necessary and then
applying the pressure. Cup leathers, pressure washers or other devices, or glands,
stuffing boxes or other packing may be employed for this purpose, but I do not
limit myself in this respect.
The indentations, recesses or equivalent in one of the parts, say the outer one,
may be formed in the process of manufacturing that part as by rolling, casting
or the like, or the mould may be so formed that when the pressure is applied
it will have the effect of forcing outwards both parts of the joint, portions of the
outer part of the joint thus entering the recesses in the mould and portions of
the inner joint entering the recesses thus provided in the outer joint. I prefer
to form the interlocking portions in various directions, shapes or sizes so
prevent movement of the joint in all directions, and I may employ any suitable
fluid.
as to
Another-way-of-obtaining the-pressure without-the-use of the ordinary means of
obtaining-hydraulic-pressure, such-as-accumulators, engines, pumps, etc. would-be
to-place-the-mould-with-the-joints-filled-with-water into-a refrigerator, and by-the
expansive force-of-the-forming-ice-obtain-the-desired-result.

page_text: By this invention all the parts can be finished before the joints are made so that
no subsequent filing or similar operation is required and the whole frame may be put
together at once, a suitable jig or mould being provided and the pressure applied to
all the joints simultaneously. Or the joints may be made successively.
With this method of making joints no brazing, sweating or the like is required as
the joint can be made sufficiently strong without this, nevertheless I may employ
any of these methods in combination with the previous method if desired. In
certain cases leakage of pressure fluid past the meeting surfaces of the joints can be
minimised or prevented by tinning the parts before they are put into the mould or
jig.
The pressure may be applied from outside in addition to or instead of the inside,
in the latter case the necessary resisting power being provided as for example by
plugging up the inner tube. The invention may be carried out where only one of
the parts is tubular.
In a modification of the methods above disclosed the hydraulic pressure inside the
tube may be used as a mandrel to support the interior of the joint while the inter-
locking projections and recesses are formed from the outside either by hydraulic
power operating through dises or other devices or by purely mechanical devices.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of the lower part of a jig or
mould for the diamond frame of a safety bicycle according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the lower part of the mould, partly in section on the line 3-3
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a section of one of the improved joints made in the said jig or mould and
of the parts which aid in its production.
Fig. 6 is a vertical central section in a plane a little to one side of the central plane,
of the remaining part of the jig or mould, which takes the front portion of the
diamond frame.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal central section of a jig or mould employed when the joint
is made by the application of fluid pressure to the exterior thereof;
Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are drawn to a smaller scale than that of Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 and
Fig. 6 is drawn to a smaller scale than that of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A and B are parts of the mould intended to take the bottom stays; these parts
are intended to separate in a horizontal plane along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Between
their meeting faces are tubular cavities C to receive the two bottom stays; for
convenience of boring, these and similar cavities are carried right through the jig or
mould as shown. D is another portion of the mould having axial perforations D1 D2
intended to receive the bottom tube and down tube of the cycle frame respectively.
Studs E° retain the parts D of the mould in proper relationship with the part A
being passed through slotted holes for convenience in separating the parts when the
mould lies on its side; other bolts pass through holes B¹ in the part B and similar
holes in the part A to keep the parts A and B together. The part D is divided along
a vertical plane containing the axes of the perforations D¹ D2, into two sections D3 D4,
which when the mould is in use, are retained together by bolts D5 (Fig. 4) passed
through holes D in the sections D³ D (Fig. 1). At D7 where the several sections of
the mould meet there is a cavity to receive the bottom bracket barrel E of a safety
bicycle; within this cavity are dies F to support the barrel in the desired position;
these dies are divided so as to draw back for convenience in getting the parts operated
upon into and out of the mould. G is a tubular bolt inserted in the barrel E as
shown, with the ends of which it is caused to make a tight joint by means of
packing rings H which rest against the ends of the bottom bracket barrel E. The bolt G
is screw-threaded at G¹ to receive a pipe by which fluid under pressure is admitted

page_text: to its interior. G2 is a packing ring at the bottom of the screwed cavity G¹ to make
a tight joint between the hydraulic connections and the bolt; at the opposite end of
the bolt is a nut G³ engaging with a screw-threaded portion G thereof and acting
to compress a packing ring H¹ against a movable bush J, which latter encircles the
bolt and in turn compresses the adjacent packing ring H against the end of the
barrel, and draws all the other joints up tight. G are perforations which deliver the
fluid from the hollow interior of the bolt G into the interior of the barrel E. It will
be seen that by the provision of the packing rings H H¹ and means for compressing
them between the bolt G and the barrel and between the bush J and the barrel none
of the fluid delivered into the interior of the barrel can escape past the ends thereof,
and therefore all of it is compelled to flow into the interior of the tubular portions of
the frame received in the tubular perforations C D¹ D², expanding them outwardly,
the several members of the frame being drilled or otherwise perforated to allow a free
circulation of the pressure fluid all through them, so that the tubes of the structure
are used for conveying the pressure fluid to the joint or joints. It will be seen that the
socket E (Figure 3) in place in the perforation Cand connected to the barrel E is provided
(see now Figure 5) with internal grooves or corrugations E², some of them parallel with
the length of the bottom stay K which is to be engaged with the socket E¹, and others
annular and transverse to the length of that stay; the admission of fluid under pressure
to the interior of the stay tube K causes those portions of it which are opposite the
corrugations E2 to expand thereinto in such a manner that the tube K and socket E¹
become firmly engaged with each other as shown in Figure 5. In some of the other
views certain of the joints are shown with their inner portions expanded into the
outer portions, whilst others are shown with the inner portions in readiness for similar
expansion. The operation of expansion just described with reference to the tube K
and socket E¹ occurs simultaneously in all the other joints of the apparatus which
are contained in the mould and are correspondingly constructed. To prevent as far as
possible the pressure fluid from getting past the joints, and to enable any fluid which
may happen to get into or through the joints to escape, it is desirable to provide in each
joint arrangements which in this case are shown only in Figure 5, being too small to
show clearly in the other views; these arrangements comprise a groove R in one
member of the joint, containing a rubber or other packing-washer E3 which encircles
the other member. This packing minimises, if it does not entirely prevent, passage
of fluid between the meeting faces of the joint. Any fluid which may happen to
leak past the joint and get into the mould or jig escapes by escapements" or
holes such as ; otherwise it would tend to produce equilibrium of pressure inside
and outside the joint and injuriously affect the work of the apparatus. If desired
these escapements can extend right into the joint as shown, to prevent accumulation
of fluid in it. LLL (Figures 1 and 3) are cylindrical dyes placed in cavities at
the ends of the parts A and B, and held together by bolts M which pass right through
them as shown; these blocks like the dies F, are for the purpose of enabling
different forms and constructions of joints to be treated in the one jig by
substituting different blocks or dies with cavities suitably shaped to receive the
parts.
<
The construction of the part of mould illustrated in Figure 6 is substantially the
same as that shown in Figures 1 to 4 except that it is preferably made in segments
divided at N, O, P and Q being however bolted together at those places when ready
for subjection to fluid pressure. Tubular packing pieces can be inserted at N and P
to vary the height of the mould to suit different heights of frames.
At T Figure 6 is a superfluous joint, employed as a test joint, by examining which
after the operation is finished the condition of the remaining joints can be estimated.
U is a plug to permit this inspection to be readily made. Suitable channels are
provided in the apparatus to enable the air trapped therein to escape, and screw
plugs are used to close those channels. At D (Figure 6) is a mould for the joints of
the steering-head tube, substantially similar to that at D7 (Fig. 1) for the bottom-
bracket barrel.

page_text: In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the two parts A and B of the mould
are intended to separate in a central plane like the moulds herein before referred to;
between their meeting faces is a tubular cavity to receive the two tubes K2 K3 to be
joined where they overlap, and to receive also a mandrel or plug U to form the
resistance against the fluid pressure exerted upon the exterior of the joint, there
being an annular cavity V in the mould encircling the exterior tube at the place of
the joint and adapted to have fluid under pressure delivered into it to force the over-
lapping parts of the two tubes K² K³ into the corrugations U₁ of the mandrel. E³
are packing rings encircling the outermost tube so as to make a fluid-tight joint
between the latter and the ends of the cavity Vat which, otherwise the pressure
fluid might escape into the interior of the joint or into the mould. The mandrel U
is in several sections U2 U³ as shown in Fig. 8 so that although the joint in process
of formation becomes interlocked with the mandrel the latter can afterwards readily
be removed if it first be collapsed by moving the section U³ inward and removing it
and then similarly removing the remaining sections.
In the modification hereinbefore referred to in which hydraulic pressure is to be
used inside the tube as a mandrel such a mould as is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 can
be employed, water under pressure being admitted to the interior of the mandrel to
support it against any tendency to collapse under external pressure; the mandrel
might in this case be provided with a liner to prevent leakage therefrom, hydraulic
joints to keep the ends of the liner water-tight and prevent any water being forced
back out of it by the external pressure being made in some such manner as is
indicated with reference to the apparatus employed in the delivery of water under
pressure to the interior of the barrel E in Fig. 4.
Or a metallic mandrel might be dispensed with and liquid retained by suitable
means under pressure in the interior of the tubes to be joined, could be used to
support the interior of the joint, while the interlocking projections and recesses were
In this case the tubes K2 K3 would have to be
formed upon the outside thereof.
fitted with a temporary flexible washer W as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7 to
prevent any leakage of the pressure water from the interior to the exterior of the
joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. Making a "tubular" joint by direct, hydraulic pressure.
2. In a tubular structure having two or more joints making more than one of
these joints at one application of pressure.
3. In the making of joints by direct hydraulic pressure in tubular structures
utilizing the tubes of such structure for conveying the pressure fluid to the joint.
or joints.
4. Forcing-the-parts-of-a-tubular joint into--engagement-with-each-other-by-re
frigerating-n-Huid-within-or-around-the-joint for the purpose specified.
4. A tubular joint in which portions of one member are forced into recesses in
the other member by the direct action of hydraulic pressure.
56. A tubular joint in which the parts have been made to engage by fluid under
pressure applied directly to those parts.
67. As a means of preventing the accumulation of fluid between the members
of a joint made by the direct action of hydraulic pressure the employment of one
or more escapements substantially as described.
7. As a means of preventing the accumulation of fluid between the members of
a joint made by the direct action of hydraulic pressure the employment of a pressure
washer to prevent the passing of the fluid and of one or more escapements to permit
escape of any fluid which may pass the washer substantially as described.
8 9.
cycle-frame wherein the parts of the joints have been made to engage each
other by the direct application of fluid pressure.

page_text: 9 10. A jig or mould substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 or Figure 6 or Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of August 1896.
CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.