Improvements in Mechanical Joints for Connecting Together the Tubular Parts of Cycles and analogous Framings, and in Machinery to be Employed in the Formation of Parts of such Joints.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1899-Accepted. 19th Aug.. 1899
Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1899-Accepted. 19th Aug.. 1899
Improvements in Mechanical Joints for Connecting Together the
Tubular Parts of Cycles and analogous Framings, and in
Machinery to be Employed in the Formation of Parts of such
Joints.
I, CHARLES HARVEY, of The Swifts, Yardley, near the City of Birmingham,
Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates, in the first part, to detachable mechanical joints for
connecting together the tubular parts of cycle framings, and other analogous
framings, and in the second part, to machinery to be employed in the formation
or production of certain parts of such mechanical. joints.
According to the first part of my invention, both ends of a tubular length to
be connected to its respective sockets or lugs are similarly formed, .e. each end
is made with a terminal Hange having two or more key projections or keeper
ribs on its outer face, adapted to engage within like sinkings formed in the
opposed outer edge or end of a lug, which is outside wormed and adapted to
receive split or partially split break-joint union or coupling, inside-screwed at
the mouth end and taper coned down to the diameter of the tube at its other
end, whilst the sides of the split part are drawn together by a screw pin or pins
passing through ears or knuckles upon the respective sides of the said split,
although this contraction of the union or coupling may be effected by other
means.
The inside-coned rear part of the coupling corresponds to the taper of an out-
side-coned loose and split or partially split ferrule, threaded upon the tube
behind the shoulder, with the forward or inward edge being of the same diameter
as the said flange whilst the rear edge is only a little greater than the tube upon
which it is slipped.
In making up a joint or connection between a tube and lug so formed and
provided, the loose split ferrule and the coupling are slipped onto the tube prior
to the flanging and after the flange is formed, the loose ferrule is brought up to
the back of it. The key bits or keepers on the inner face of the flange are
then engaged into their sinkings on the opposed end of the lug and the coupling
is screwed onto the said lug, whereby the whole of the parts are drawn together
and then locked by closing together the splits of the coupling by the cross screw
pin, whilst the rotation of the parts upon one another is prevented by the engage-
ment of the keys or keeper ribs within the sinkings.
By the employment of joints of this construction, either of the members of a
cycle or like framing may be removed without disturbing the connection of any
of the other members, and as there are no socketting parts employed, when the
break joint couplings have been slackened, unscrewed and slipped back, the tube
admits of: being removed vertically.
According to the second part of my invention, I propose to employ a special

page_text: form of machine for the production of the key pieces or keeper ribs on the
flanges, consisting of a pair of separated head stocks, adjustable longitudinally
upon a bed to suit varying lengths of tube to be operated and each having
hinged to one side of the upper part, a cap, with the said head and cap respectively
provided with the sections of a split or two-part die or holder, annularly sunken
at one end to receive the unclosed or partly formed flange whilst the body part
of the die receives the end of the tube, rear of the flange. Upon the inward
edge or shouldered part of the annular sinking are a pair or series of ribs or
projections, corresponding in number and position to the keys to be produced
on the flange, whilst suitably mounted so as to be capable of sliding in a line
with, and socketting into the said mouth of the dic, is
plunger or force, brought up by means of a screw or equivalent means
and having sunken within its acting end, a like number of corresponding
recesses as there are ribs in the sinking within which the tube flange lies.
An unclosed beading to form the flange is placed within the sinking of the die
which hold the tube during the simultaneous operation at both ends and then
by advancing the plungers into the mouths of the split dies, the sides of the
beadings are closed together and at the same time the key ribs are formed or
fashioned.
Dated this 14th day of Nouch 1908
die
Improvements in Mechanical Joints for Connecting Together the
Tubular Parts of Cycles and analogous Framings, and in
Machinery to be Employed in the Formation of Parts of such
Joints.
I, CHARLES HARVEY, of The Swifts, Yardley, near the City of Birmingham,
Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates, in the first part, to detachable mechanical joints for
connecting together the tubular parts of cycle framings, and other analogous
framings, and in the second part, to machinery to be employed in the formation
or production of certain parts of such mechanical joints.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a part of a bicycle frame,
the members of which are connected together by improved detachable mechanical
joints constructed and provided, in accordance with the first part of my invention,
the object being to facilitate detachment of the tubes, which, instead of socketting
into their lugs as hertofore, are so connected thereto that they admit of being
removed or lifted out vertically or laterally without having to be first withdrawn
longitudinally from their sockets, which is oftentimes inconvenient and difficult
to accomplish in a built-up framing.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of one of the said joints.
Figure is a longitudinal section of the said joint upon the dotted line i
Figure 4 represents, partly in section and partly in elevation, the component
parts of the joint separately.
Figure 5 represents the flanged end of the tubular member.

page_text: Figure 6 is a view of the opposed end of the lug against which the flanged
end of the tube abuts.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the coned and split ferrule shown in section in
Figure 4.
Figure S is a plan of the flanged end of the tube.
Figure 9 is a plan of the lug to which the tube shown in Figure 1 is connected.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 9.
According to this part of my invention, both ends a, of a tubular length a
to be connected to their respective sockets or lugs b, are similarly formed, i.c.
each end is made with a terminal flange, having two or more key projections
or keeper ribs c on its outer face, adapted to engage within straight sinkings d,
open at both their inner and outer ends 1, 2, and formed in the opposed outer
edge or end 6 of a lug, which is outside wormed at 6 and is adapted to receive a
split or partially split break-joint union or coupling e, inside-screwed at the
mouth end e, and taper-coned interiorly down to the diameter of the tube at
its other end, whilst the sides of the split part 3, are drawn together by a
screw pin passing through ears or knuckles e, upon the respective sides of
the said split, although this contraction of the union or coupling may be effected
by other means.
The inside-coned rear part of, of the coupling corresponds to the taper of an
outside-coned loose and split or partially split ferrule f, threaded upon the tube
behind the flange shoulder, with the forward or inward edge f¹, being of the
same diameter as the said flange whilst the rear edge f³ is only a little greater
than the tube upon which it is slipped, and is split longitudinally for a suitable
distance at several points ft.
In making up a joint or connection between a tube and lug so formed and
provided, the loose split ferrule f and the couplings are slipped onto the tube a,
prior to the flanging and after the flange a² is formed, the loose ferrule is brought
up to the back of it. The key bits or keepers on the inner face of the flange
are then engaged into the corresponding sinkings on the opposed end of the
lug and the coupling e is screwed onto the said lug b, whereby the whole of the
parts are drawn together and then locked by closing together the splits of the
coupling by the cross screw pin, whilst the rotation of the parts upon one another
is prevented by the engagement of the keys or keeper ribs within the sinkings.
By the employment of joints of this construction, either of the members of a
cycle or like framing may be removed or detached without disturbing the con-
nections of any of the other members, and as there are no socketting parts, when
the break-joint couplings have been slackened, unscrewed and slipped back, the
tube admits of being removed vertically or laterally by a simple lifting move-
ment.
Instead of the projecting keys being formed on or attached to the flanged ends
of the detachable tubes, they may be formed or provided upon the abutment
end of the lug, corresponding sinkings or recesses for their reception being
formed in the flange of the tube. Two or more keys or projections may be formed
or provided side-by-side and in parallel planes on each side of the one element
to engage with a like number of sinkings in the other element.
The second part of my invention relates to a special form of machine to be
used in the production of the key pieces or keeper ribs, which are formed integral
with, or from out of the metal of, the flanged ends of the detachable tubes.
A. machine constructed in accordance with this part of my invention and adapted
for the formation of integral key projections such as represented in Figures 4, 5
and S, is shown partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section
in Figure 10. In this view, a tube under treatment is shown secured
within the machine, with the one end having the keys formed in the flange,
whilst the other end is represented with a beading and before the formation of
the flange and keys.
Figure 11 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a sectional view of the dies or

page_text: tools at the left hand part of the machine with the fashioned tube end between
them.
Figure 12 is a similar sectional view, but with the tools separated and the tube
removed and showing the projection on the acting part of the one tool and the
sinking on the other by which the integral key is formed.
Figure 13 represents a section of Figure 12 upon the dotted line.
Figure 14 is a view of a flanged tube end with opposite keys fashioned by this
machine.
The said machine consists of a pair of separated head stocks, or carriages g,
longitudinally adjustable upon a bed h, so that the distance between them may
be varied to suit different lengths of tube to be operated upon and each having
hinged to one side of the upper part h¹, a cap h, with the said head and cap
respectively provided with the sections ¹,, of a split or two-part die or holder i,
annularly sunken at one end, to receive the unclosed or partly formed beading
or flange a³, of a tube a, (which beading is formed by a previous operation)
whilst the body part it, of the die receives the end of the tube, rearwards of the
flange. Upon the inward edge or shouldered part of the annular sinking,
are a pair or series of ribs or projections k, corresponding in number and position
to the keys to be produced on the flange, whilst suitably mounted so as to be
capable of sliding in a line with, and socketting into the said mouth of the die,
is a second die, plunger or force j, brought up by means of a screw m, or equiva-
lent means and having sunken within its acting end j, a like number of corres-
ponding recesses n, as there are ribs k, in the sinking of the other tool.
In operation, the unclosed beading a³, to form the flanges a, at the opposite
ends of a tubular length a, are placed within the sinkings, of the split dies i,
which hold the tube during the operation, and then by propelling the screws
through the rotation of their hand wheels the plungers j, are advanced into the
mouths of the said split dies and the sides of the beadings are closed together
between the opposed parts,, and whilst at, the same time the key ribs are
formed or fashioned by the socketting male and female parts k, n.
The tools of the machine may be adjusted to act upon and fashion both beaded
ends of a tubular length simultaneously, but preferably one end is shaped first
and then the other, with the tube being free to have a slight sliding movement
through the dies, whilst instead of operating upon both beadings of a length
in a double-ended machine, the flanges and keys at the opposite ends may be
formed in succession by a machine having only one pair of closing and key and
shaping tools. Or the beadings to form the flanges which are double-walled,
may be closed in a separate machine and the dies of the herein-described
apparatus may be designed so as to only form the key ribs, in which case the
flanges operated upon may only be of a single thickness of metal.
Figure 15 represents a section of a modified form of keyed and flanged tube
end in which the keys are formed by leaving intact or unoperated-upon portions
of a beading. This is effected by dispensing with projections on the split or
she dies but still providing sinkings corresponding to the keys to be formed upon
the acting end of the plunger or force.
Figure 16 represents this form of tube end partly in section and partly in
elevation.
Figure 17 is a plan of Figure 16, showing the figure which the flange is made
to assume when fashioned according to this modification.
Figure 18 is a section of a pair of tools applicable for the formation of these
hollow key pieces, with the end of a tube so fashioned shown between them.
In carrying out this form of my invention, the ends of a tube «, are first
beaded to the section which the finished key projections care to have, such
section being shown by Figure 16, although the beading may be of a channel
section, in which case, the hollow keys, when formed, are open at one end.
The beading is then operated on by means of tools such as represented in
Figure 18, in which i is a split die with a plain acting or shouldered part 23,

page_text: and ja force or plunger with recesses n, made upon the acting end, in positions
corresponding to the portions of the beading which are to be left intact and
when the plunger is telescoped into the split die by a screw or other mechanical
means, the opposed acting faces or edges ³, j', collapse or close together the
walls of the beading except at the parts at, coming coincident with the recesses n
and being permitted thereby to retain their original section shape, or nearly
so and form the hollow keys c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First-In detachable mechanical joints for connecting together the tubular
members of cycles and analogous frames; forming or providing at the opposed
ends of a junction lug and a flanged tube which are to be connected by a ferrule
or equivalent union, keys or projections upon the one part engaging correspond-
ing sinkings in the other part, substantially as and for the purpose described
and set forth.
Secondly: A detachable mechanical joint for connecting together the tubular
members of cycles and analogous frames, comprising an outside screwed lug, and
a flanged tube, which latter has a coned and split ferrule slipped upon it rear-
wards of the flange, and is secured to the former by an inside screwed and comed
union or coupling, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly: A detachable mechanical joint for connecting together the tubular
members of cycles and analogous frames, comprising an outside screwed lug and
an end flange tube, with projections or key pieces on the flange of the latter
engaging into recesses in the opposed part of the former, a coned and split
ferrule slipped upon the tube rearwards of the flange, and an inside screwed and
coned union adapted to screw onto the lug and contract the split ferrule around
the tube, and to be locked upon the said lug by closing together a split part of it
by a screw, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly: A machine for forming keys or keeper pieces on the flanges of
flanged tubes for the purpose herein referred to, provided with one, or a pair
of hollow and split dies each adapted to receive an end of a tube and having a
recess or annular sinking for the reception of the flange, or a beading to form
the flange, in combination with a sliding die or plunger advanced by a screw or
equivalent, with the acting edges or faces of the said dies respectively having he.
and she parts, or corresponding projections and recesses adapted to form the
said keys out of and integral with the metal of the flange, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Fifthly A machine for forming keeper lugs or key pieces on the flanges of
flanged tubes for the purpose herein referred to, provided with one or a pair of
hollow and split dies, each adapted to receive an end of a tube and having a
recess or annular sinking for the reception of a beading which is to form the
Hange, in combination with a sliding die or plunger advanced by a screw or
equivalent and having upon its acting end recesses corresponding to the keys to
be formed, whilst the opposed acting part of the split die is plain, so that when
the tools come together, the walls of the beading are collapsed or closed to form
the flange exception at the parts where the recesses of the plunger come, which
are left intact and form hollow keys, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18.