Improvements in Velocipede and other Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Frames.
JOHN AYLWARD Leicester Street, Coventry in the County of Warwick
Manufacturer do hereby declare, the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Frames constructed according to this invention, are made from sheet metal,
raised or drawn into cylindrical tubes having a webb portion central. The said
webb portion is joined or connected by rivets, braze or soaked together at each
angle of the said frames. The said cylindrical tubes are connected by glands or
sockets raised from sheet metal. The said cylindrical tubes when placed in the
said glands or sockets may also be fixed together by rivets, braze or soaked
together. When soaked together I place a plug into the said cylindrical tubes
to prevent the said cylindrical tubes glands or sockets from buckling when
pressed together by the process of soaking. In the case of a diamond shape frame
the ball head portion may be formed from one piece of metal having top and
bottom sockets or backbone and base tube sockets raised from the same piece of
metal to receive single or twin tubes. The slot for the chain adjustment may be
formed from the same piece of metal as the two back glands or sockets or may be
formed from two seperate pieces of metal allowing a thicker portion to form the
slot for the chain adjustment. The said tubes, glands or sockets may be formed
into hexagon, angle, square, or any other desired shape. In the case of a cluster
of tubes such as that in the bass of a diamond shape frame, the said glands or
socl.ets may be raised in sections and united together.
D
JOHN AYLWARD.
I, JOHN AYLWARD, of Leicester Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 velocipede and other frames and consists principally of
two parts: one, a novel construction of tube suitable for such frames, and the
other a novel construction of joint adapted to unite such tubes and otherwise
constructed members of such frames.
In order that the invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe with the aid of the accompanying drawings the
best methods known to me at the time of filing this my Complete Specification.
Figure I is a side view in elevation of a piece of tube constructed according to
my invention. Figure II is a transverse section of same showing the parts
somewhat separated and Figure III is a similar view of the finished tube.
Figure IV is a plan of the several constituent parts of a joint constructed
according to my invention, Figure V shows the completed joint in side elevation

page_text: and Figure VI shows a transverse section through same on the line a-a in
Figure V.
Figure VII shows a piece of sheet steel or other suitable material for
constructing the head portion of a velocipede according to my invention,
Figure VIII shows the same completed with the joints holding the (cylindrical)
backbone and base tube.
Figure IX is a side elevation and Figure X is a transverse section (on the
line b-b in Figure IX) of a fork end constructed according to my invention.
Figure XI shows in elevation the several parts of a fork crown constructed
according to my invention and Figure XII is a vertical section of the same
completed.
Figures XIII and XIV are front and back views of the upper and under
portions respectively of the parts of a bottom bracket constructed according to my
invention.
Figure XV is a plan and Figure XVI a perspective view of both portions of
such bottom bracket and Figure XVII is a side view of the same with portions of
the adjacent tubes secured thereto.
Throughout the drawings corresponding parts are marked with the same
reference numerals where shown.
Referring to Figs. I, II and III. I construct my improved tube of high
quality sheet steel or other suitable material and preferably of very light guage.
I bring the sheet metal 2 to a double cylindrical form with a central web portion 3
(see Fig. III) by drawing it through dies or by any other suitable means. There
are three thicknesses at the web where the margins 4, 4 lie on either side of the
central strip of the sheet and the three thicknesses are secured together by
brazing, soaking (by which I mean cementation under pressure) or preferably by
rivetting. In the case of rivetting I prefer to place a strip 6 of comparatively
stiff metal along each side of the webb 3 to support the same. The holes in the
strips 6, 6 are countersunk to receive the enlarged ends of the rivets 7 which ends
are preferably subsequently filed or ground down smooth.
In the case of soaking (cementation under pressure) both surfaces of the central
strip 5 and the inner surfaces of the margins 4, 4 are coated with soft solder or
with some other suitable metallic or other cement. The coated surfaces are
brought forcibly together and caused to adhere in a suitable press, the process
being effected either hot or cold according to the nature of the cement. If desired
a strip such as 6 may be secured along one or both sides of the web 3 and secured
either by soaking or rivetting. The rivetting and the brazing or the soaking
processes may be combined.
Referring to Figures IV, V and VI. In constructing a joint for connecting the
end of a tube of the kind above described with another tube or member of the frame
I raise a gland or socket 8 of a split or divided tubular form from sheet metal or other
'suitable material and I plug the end of the tube 9 with a plug 10 of dry cane, wood
or other suitably elastic material. The parts of the socket and the tube to come
Ain contact are then coated with soft solder or with some other suitable metallic or
other cement; the parts are next placed and contracted in a press the dies of which
may be formed with projections adapted to raise points or projections 11 on
the inner surfaces of the sockets and force them into the end of the tube 9
which in turn is at these parts dented into the elastic plug 10, or such points
or projections may be produced in other ways. The pressing of the joint is
. done hot or cold according to the nature of the cement, and to better secure
the joint an annular inextensible sleeve 12 is preferably pushed on to the
split socket 8 and is retained in position by friction alone or preferably also by a
set screw 13 driven through the parts into the plug 10, or by other suitable means.
Further, the end of the tube 9 is preferably split and a taper plug used so that the
introduction of the plug into the end of the tube expands the same, as shown; the
gland or socket 8 is similarly slightly tapered inside and out, while the sleeve 12
also is bored out taper. Thus when the sleeve is pushed over the joint it tends to

page_text: further contract the same and makes it very secure. The sleeve 12 may be provided
with one or more collars 14 around the larger end or at some other suitable point or
points in its length to increase the strength of the sleeve and also to provide a lodgment
for any tool or apparatus by which the said sleeve may be forced into position. In
addition to or instead of the above soaking process I may secure the parts by
brazing, and rivetting or by a combination of these processes. In some cases the
cement may be omitted if desired.
Figs. VII and VIII show my invention as applied to the ball head portion of a
so-called diamond frame. The socket tube 15 and the 'top and bottom lugs or
sockets 8, 8 for the backbone 16 and base tube 17 are raised from one sheet of
metal of the shape shown in Fig. VII. This is pressed and bent into the form
shown in Fig. VIII forming a head portion the sockets 8, 8 of which are shown as
adapted to receive tubes of ordinary round section, though this part of my inven-
tion is equally applicable to the double cylindrical tube hereinbefore described.
The ends of the tubes 16, 17 are split and plugged, the sockets 8, 8 are closed
on to the said tubes and the joints are secured by cementation under pressure and
the sleeves 12, as hereinbefore described.
Referring to Figs. IX and X. The slotted fork end 18 for the chain adjust-
ment may be formed from the same piece or pieces of sheet metal as the sockets 8, 8
which unite the back forks 19, 20. I either employ two pieces one at the front
and the other at the back and continue both along the slotted portion so as to
strengthen the same, such slotted portions being conveniently retained in contact
by rivetting. Or I may employ one piece adapted to be folded at the free
extremities of the slotted portion. The ends of the tubes 19, 20 are split and
plugged, the sockets 8, 8 are closed on to the said tubes and the joints are secured
by cementation under pressure and the sleeves 12, as hereinbefore described. The
upper and lower forks need not be united in the fork ends, but the well-known
swinging upper fork may be employed and separate lugs be fitted to the ends of the
several tubes according to my invention.
Figs. XI and XII show a fork crown constructed according to my invention.
The forksides, whether of oval or other section, are secured in the sockets 8, 8 in
the manner herein before described and illustrated in Figs. 1V to VIII except that
the crown is made of four separate portions, first an outer portion 23 and an inner
portion 24, each of which is made up of two lateral portions 25, 26 and 27, 28
respectively, thus forming a split socket 29, 30 on each of the portions 23 and 24.
Or each of the said portions 23 and 24 may be made in one piece with its central
socket (29, 30) split vertically upwards for a suitable distance at the back and
front. The inner head tube 31 is split as above described, but before plugging the
same, the divided or split socket 30 is fitted thereinto. After the insertion of the
plug 10, the outer portion 23 of the crown is fitted into position around the tube 31
and the parts are cemented and pressed and the sleeve 12 forced over the whole as
before. In this case the sleeve 12 may conveniently carry the lower ball race 32 as
shown.
In the case of a cluster of tubes, such as in the base of the said diamond frame,
the glands or sockets may be raised in sections and united together as shown in
Figs. XIII, XIV, XV and XVI. The bottom bracket is pressed up from two
sbects of metal, Fig. XIII showing a front view of the upper part 35, Fig. XIV
showing a back view of the under part 34, and Fig. XV a plan of both portions,
while Fig. XVI is a perspective view showing the two portions slightly separated
and Figure XVII is a side view of the bottoni bracket completed and with portions
of the adjacent tubes secured thereto. The parts 34 and 35 are divided in the
central transverse plane of the tubes 20 as far as the points 39; the dividing lines
then run upward and inward to the points 40 at the root of the socket which
receives the tube 17. Thence the division continues in the central transverse
plane of the said socket. The lower part 34 will need no further description.
The upper part 35 has pressed up from it the socket which receives the tabe 36
and this socket is divided in its central transverse plane for a convenient distance

page_text: from its free end; if desired the division may be continued to the points 40, 40, or
to the sides of the bracket, thus separating a portion, consisting of the back of the
socket which receives the tube 17 and the front of the socket which receives the
tube 36 from the remainder of the part 34. The ends of the tubes 17, 36 and 20
are plugged, the sockets 8 are tapered and the joints completed as herein before
described. Where there is an obstruction, such as 37, I may form a gap or
recess 38 in the sleeve to receive such obstruction and thus provide for the sleeve
covering the splits of the sockets further than it otherwise would.
The said tubes, and glands or sockets may be formed into hexagonal square or
any other desired section.
It will be obvious that other frame members such as bamboo canes may be
jointed in similar manner, or by continuing the plug from one joint to another
the surrounding tube may be dispensed with and such continuous plug constitute
the frame member.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. Tube suitable for velocipede and other frames constructed of sheet steel or
other suitable material brought to the form of a double cylinder with a central
web portion, the margins and central strip being secured together substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2. In constructing a tube of the kind referred to in clause 1:-securing the
margins of the sheet to the central strip by placing a strip of metal along each
eide of the web portion of the tube, and rivetting the several parts together
substantially as set forth.
3. The improved double cylindrical tube constructed substantially as herein
described and as illustrated in Figs. I, II and III of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a velocipede or other frame, a joint, constituted by a split or divided
socket, a more or less elastic plug inserted in the part of the tube to be held,
coating with a suitable cement the parts of the socket and tube adapted to come
in contact, placing the plugged part of the tube within the said socket and applying
pressure to the joint as a whole, substantially as set forth.
5. In a velocipede or other frame, a joint, constituted by a split or divided
socket, a more or less elastic plug inserted in the part of the tube to be held,
coating with a suitable cement the parts of the socket and tube adapted to come
in contact, placing the plugged part of the tube within the said socket, applying
pressure to the joint as a whole, and forming points or projections on the interior
of the socket which indent the tube and plug, substantially as set forth.
6. In a velocipede or other fraine, a joint constituted by a taper split or divided
socket, a more or less elastic plug inserted in the split end of the tube so as to
expand such end of the tube, coating with a suitable cement the parts of the socket
and tube adapted to come in contact, placing the plugged end of the tube within
the said socket, applying pressure to the joint as a whole, and forcing a sleeve
over the said joint, substantially as set forth.
a
7. In a velocipede or other frame, joint, constituted by a split or divided
socket, a more or less elastic plug inserted in the part of the tube to be held,
coating with a suitable cement the parts of the socket and tube adapted to come
in contact, placing the plugged part of the tube within the said socket and applying
pressure to the joint as a whole, forming points or projections on the interior of
the socket which indent the tube and plug, and forcing a sleeve over the said joint,
substantially as set forth.
8. In a velocipede or other frame, a joint, constituted by a taper split or divided
socket, splitting the end of the tube and inserting a more or less elastic plug therein
so as to expand such end of the tube, placing the plugged end of the tube within
the said socket, applying pressure to the joint as a whole and forming on the

page_text: interior of the socket points or projections which indent the tube and plug and
forcing a sleeve over the said joint substantially as set forth.
9. In a velocipede or other frame, a joint constituted by a taper split or divided
socket, splitting the end of the tube and inserting a more or less elastic plug
therein so as to expand such end of the tube, placing the plugged end of the tube
within the said socket, applying pressure to the joint as a whole and forcing a
sleeve over the joint, substantially as set forth.
10. The improved joint for velocipede and other frames constructed substantially
as herein described, and as illustrated in Figs. IV, V and VI of the accompanying
drawings.
11. The improved joint for velocipede and other frames constructed substantially
as herein described, and as illustrated in Figs. VIII, IX and XVII of the
accompanying drawings.
12. The improved head portion for a velocipede or the like, constructed
substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figs. VII and VIII of the
accompanying drawings.
13. The improved fork end for a velocipede or the like constructed substantially
as herein described and as 'illustrated in Figs. IX and X of the accompanying
drawings.
14. The improved fork crown for a velocipede or the like constructed substan-
tially as herein described and as illustrated in Figs. XI and XII of the
accompanying drawings.
15. The improved bottom bracket for a velocipede or the like constructed
substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figs. XIII, XIV, XV, XVI
and XVII of the accompanying drawings.
16. The improved constructions and arrangements of parts for velocipede and
other frames substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 6th day of March 1907
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.