Improvements in Mechanical Joints for Vehicle-frames.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Joints for Vehicle-frames.
* I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE, of Cohasset, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the several members
of the frame of a vehicle, and especially of a bicycle or the like, may be
removably secured to each other in a manner to afford a strong and firm joint at
the point of connection between the parts thus allowing the use of previously.
prepared tubing which will not be injuriously affected in connecting the frame
parts as in the case where the several members are united by brazing or like
process requiring the application of heat.
To this end my invention consists in the details of the several parts comprising
the frame as a whole and in the combination of such parts as hereinafter described
and more fully set out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Figure 1 is a view of the frame of a bicycle showing the parts connected.
Figure 2 is a detail view in central section through one of the brackets and a
portion of a tubular member of the frame showing the construction.
Figure 3 is a detail view showing another modified form of the invention.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing another modified form of the invention.
Figure 5 is a detail view in cross section on the line a, a, Figure 2.
The invention is shown and described herein with especial reference to a bicycle
frame, into the construction of which it readily enters, but it is to be understood
that it is equally applicable to the construction of the frames of other vehicles
in which the tubular members are employed and is not limited to use in connection
with a bicycle.
66
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a bicycle-frame as a whole
consisting of the steering head tube, down tube, the upper and lower members of
the frame and the rear forks common to what is known as a diamond" frame.
At each of the points of union of the steering head tube and the down tube with
the upper and lower members brackets are located, the construction of such a
bracket being shown in detail in Figure 2 of the drawings. These brackets are
preferably first attached to the steering head tube and the down tube, leaving
the other frame members to be afterwards connected.
Referring to Figure 2 the letter e denotes a tang projecting laterally from the
steering head tube d. This tang is tubular in form having a screw-threaded outer
surface and a beveled inner surface. A collar is screw-threaded to fit the
threaded outer surface of the tang and on one end has an inturned flange e¹
forming a shoulder. Holes e or like means for the purpose of turning the collar
to place are provided on its outer surface and of any desired form.
The tube is beveled on its outer surface at the end to fit the beveled inner
surface of the tang c. An annular groove g is formed in the outer surface of this
tube fand a re-inforce h may be located on the inner surface of the tube if desired*

page_text: to strengthen the parts at this point, although this is not absolutely essential to
the invention. A locking ring is adapted to fit the annular groove g, this ring
being preferably a split spring ring. The ring is herein shown as round in cross
section but it is to be understood that any other cross sectional form may be
employed if desired. While it is preferred to employ a ring having a spring
action yet it is obvious that a sectional ring may be employed to serve the same
purpose.
In assembling the parts allove described the collar e is first placed over the
tube f the flange e' being located on the inner surface of the collar. This collar
is then pushed onto the tube à distance sufficient to uncover the annular groove g
and the locking ring is then placed in position within the groove. The tapered
end of the tube f is then placed in the tapered socket in the tang e, and the
threads on the collare and tang caused to engage and the collar screwed to place.
In this operation the flange el engages the locking ring i drawing the two tapered
surfaces on the tube and tang tightly together. The inner surface of the collare
adjacent to the flange el is preferably of a diameter but slightly greater than the
diameter of the ring when tightly in place in the annular groove g, the latter
by this construction being prevented from expanding owing to the closeness of fit
of the parts.
A further feature of my invention which is applicable to other.constructions
of the detailed parts as well as to the specific form hereinbefore described resides
in the means for holding the respective parts, the bracket and the tube member,
against rotation, either when being coupled, or after they have been united. This
feature of improvement contemplates the use of interengaging parts on the ends
of the tang and on the tube or re-inforce respectively. Two forms of indentation
are shown in the accompanying drawings, the difference being mainly in the
number of the projecting parts and in their shape.
In Figure 3 of the drawings the abutting end of the tang c¹ is provided with
a socket 7, and the upper frame tube f¹ is provided with a lug k which projects
into and engages said socket 1, and of these interengaging parts there inay be
two located on diametrically opposite sides, or any other desired number.
In Figure 4 of the drawings the abutting end of the tang is provided with
registering corrugations preferably formed by cutting or milling in parallel
lines directly across the end of the tube or tang and the lower frame tube m is
provided with registering corrugations duplicates each of the other and adapted
to closely interengage with the corrugations on the meeting.end of the tang when
the parts are in contact.
In the drawings which accompany and form part of this application the collar
which is applied to the outer surface of the tubes and covers the joint is formed
with a shoulder on the inner surface which engages a shoulder on the tube, or a
part attached thereto, but this special form of collar is not essential, as any means
preferred may be used for connecting the collar and the tube, for instance, the
thread shown and described as located at one end of the collar may also be used
on the other end, although in such case the direction of the thread is reversed
or differential threads are used.
It is evident that my improvements are also applicable in cases where the longer
frame-members are made solid instead of tubular.
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
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a vehicle-frame composed of
separable members including a bracket member and a tubular or longer member
having inter-engaging projections on their meeting faces, and means for drawing
said parts together to firmly hold the inter-engaging surfaces in contact, all sub-
stantially as described.
2. In combination, in a vehicle-frame, a bracket. member and a tubular or

page_text: longer member separable therefrom, a screw-thread on one of said parts, a split
ring fitting a groove on the opposite part and forming a shoulder, a collar having
a screw-thread fitting the screw-threaded member and a flange arranged to engage
the shoulder on the opposite member, all substantially as described.
3. In combination, in a vehicle-frame, a bracket member and a tubular or
longer member separable therefrom, the bracket member having a screw-threaded
tang and the tubular or longer member having a groove with a split ring fitting
therein and forming a shoulder held against longitudinal movement on said
member, a collar having a screw-threaded surface fitting the screw-threaded
surface on the tang and also a flange engaging said shoulder, all substantially as
described.
4. In combination, in a vehicle-frame comprising bracket members and
separable tubular or longer members, the bracket member having a socket with
a beveled inner surface, a beveled surface on the end of the tubular or longer
member, a screw-thread on one of said members, a shoulder on the opposite
member, and a collar having a screw-thread engaging the screw-threaded surface
of the one member and a flange engaging the rearward facing shoulder on the
opposite member, all substantially as described.
screw-
5. In combination, in a vehicle-frame comprising bracket members and
separable tubular or longer members, the bracket member having a
threaded tang with a beveled inner surface and the tubular or longer member
having its end beveled to fit the beveled surface on the tang, a peripheral groove
located in the tubular or longer member, a ring located in said groove and pro-
jecting beyond the surface of the said tubular or longer member, a collar having
a screw-thread fitting the screw-threaded surface on the tang and a shoulder
engaging the shoulder formed by the ring, all substantially as described.
6. In combination, in a vehicle-frame comprising bracket members and a
removable tubular or longer member, the bracket member having a screw-threaded
tang, and the tubular or longer member having near its end a removable
shouldered part fixed against longitudinal movement on the said tubular or longer
member, inter-engaging locking parts located on the bracket member and tang
respectively, and a collar having a screw-threaded surface fitting the screw-
threaded surface on the tang and a flange engaging the shoulder on the said
tubular or longer member, all substantially as described.
Hated Hartford Conn U.S.A.. September 7th 1897.
ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE,
D. Young & Co.
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.