Improvements in Detachable Joints for Cycle and other Vehicle Frames or Tubular Structures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Detachable Joints for Cycle and other Vehicle
Frames or Tubular Structures.
We, ISAAC WHITEHOUSE, of 56, Hampton Road, Birchfield, in the County of
Stafford, Machinist, and WILLIAM HENRY FORESTER, of West Cottage, Hovering-
ham, in the County of Nottingham, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means or a joint for securing the ends of a
tubular member of a vehicle frame or structure, into the connecting lug or boss,
so that the said tubular member may be readily detached when required, either
for packing or storing the vehicle, or to replace a damaged member by a new or
undamaged one.
In carrying out this invention, the end of a tube after it is placed in the con-
necting lug or boss, is expanded by means of a cylindrical sleeve or bush placed
within the end of the tube.
This sleeve is formed with a longitudinal opening or slit extending preferably
the whole of its length, the thickness of the sleeve at each side of the said opening
being preferably increased by longitudinal ribs on the interior of the sleeve.
In cross section the opening is taper, the widest part being nearest the centre
of the sleeve.
This sleeve is expanded by a preferably radial bolt formed with a wedge shaped
head, which fits into the opening in the sleeve or at any point in its length. The
shank of this bolt passes through a hole in the tube, and a corresponding hole in
the lug or boss, and by means of a nut placed on the outer end of the bolt and on
the exterior of the lug or boss, the head of the bolt may be drawn into the opening
in the sleeve and the latter expanded to the desired extent.
In order that the tube may be withdrawn without removing the bolt, the former
may be formed with a slot extending from the position of bolt to the end of the
tube.
With this arrangement we preferably secure the expanding sleeve in the end of
the tubo by means of a pin or other convenient means, and form the wedge shaped
head of the bolt with a projection which fits into a recess in the side of the
longitudinal opening in the sleeve.
By unscrewing the nut and pushing in the bolt until the projection is clear of
the recess, the tube together with the expanding sleeve may then be withdrawn.
If desirable the end of the tube may be split in order that it may be expanded
with greater facility.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1897

page_text: Improvements in Detachable Joints for Cycle and other Vehicle
Frames or Tubular Structures.
We, ISAAC WHITEHOUSE, of 56, Hampton Road, Birchfield, in the County of
Stafford, Machinist, and WILLIAM HENRY FORESTER, of West Cottage, Hovering-
ham, in the County of Nottingham, Accountant, 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 an improved joint or means for securing the ends of
tubular members of a vehicle frame or structure, in the connecting lugs, sockets,
or bosses, so that said members may be readily detached when required, either for
packing or storing the vehicle, or to replace a damaged member by a new one.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a joint constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the joint.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tube and liner taken at right-angles to the
section shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section showing modification.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing an alternative arrangement.
Fig. 6 is a cross section,
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken at right-angles to the section shown in
Fig. 5.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
According to this invention the end of the tubular member A, is expanded
after it is placed in the connecting lug or socket B; and thus secured therein, by
means of an expanding cylindrical bush or liner C, placed within the end A of
the said tubular member. The end of the tube, which is placed within the lug
or socket may be split or saw gated longitudinally so that it may be readily
expanded.
The expanding bush or liner C (see Figs. 12 and 3) which may if preferred
extend beyond the lug B, is formed with a longitudinal opening D at one point in
its circumference, the said opening being extended from one end of the bush or
liner to the other, or formed only at that part of its length which is within the
lug B as shown. The sides of this opening 1) in the bush or liner are in the case
of a thin bush or liner, thickened by longitudinal ribs or side checks E formed on
or secured in the interior of the bush or liner, and the sides of the openings or
inner faces of the cheeks E are inclined so as to form a space between them
which is wedge shaped in cross section as shown at Fig. 2.
A bush or liner constructed as described, is expanded by a wedge shaped block 1
which fits into and fills up the opening D. This wedge is drawn into the opening
in order to expand the bush or liner to the required extent, by a screw G, the end
of which is passed through a hole in the lug B and tube A, and screwed into the
wedge F. If preferred a bolt may be employed, and in this case the shank of
the said bolt may be formed integrally with the block F, and the nut be placed
on its outer end.'
The block is preferably formed with an enlargement Fat the point where
the screw G is carried through it, and the opening D in the bush or liner is
correspondingly enlarged at this point to receive it. This not only strengthens
the block where the hole is formed to receive the screw, but the enlargement
prevents the withdrawal of the bush or liner C from the lug if the screw G should

page_text: work loose. If the bush or liner C be secured in the end A' of the tube, the latter
is also prevented from being withdrawn from the lug.
The end A' of the tube is preferably formed with an opening, extending from
its end to the screw G, corresponding to the opening in the bush or liner C, so
that the tube and liner may be withdrawn from the lag without entirely removing
the screw G, by releasing the latter sufficiently to allow the block F to be raised
clear of the opening in the bush or liner. The bush or liner C may however
be slotted or split as shown at 11 beyond the opening D in order that it may
expand freely.
If preferred the bush or liner C may be dispensed with and the end A' of the
tube, which is placed within the lug or socket B, formed in the same manner as
the bush or liner previously described.
This arrangement is shown in Fig. 4 in which the ribs or cheeks E are secured
directly to the sides of a longitudinal opening D in the end of the tube A,
preferably by means of rivets, and the end of the tube expanded within the lug
or socket by the direct action of a block F between the two ribs or cheeks E.
In the alternative arrangement for expanding the bush or liner C, shown in
Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the said bush or liner is formed with a double wedge shape
opening H at one point in its circumference. Fitting in this opening is a corre-
sponding shaped block I provided with grooves to receive the edges of the opening
in the liner.
The block I is divided transversely across the middle, and the two halves are
formed apart by means of a taper screw J. This screw is inserted through a hole
in the lug and tube and its inner end fits into a screwed hole, half of which is
formed in each half of the block 1.
The two halves of the block 1 when forced apart expand the bush or liner C
by their action on the edges of the double wedge shaped opening in the said
bush or liner.
If preferred instead of a taper screw a wedge may be employed to force the two
halves of the block I apart, said wedge bring operated by a screw or bolt as in the
arrangement previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :--
1. In a detachable joint for cycle and other vehicle frames or tubular structures
the combination with a lug or socket 13 of a tube A fitting in the lug a bush or
liner C provided with a longitudinal opening such as D) and a block such as I'
which is forced into the opening so as to expand the bush or liner and tube sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a detachable joint for cycle and other vehicle frames or tubular structures
the combination with a lug or socket B of a tube A fitting in the said lug a bush
or liner such as having a longitudinal opening such as I ribs or checks such
as E on the sides of the opening and a block such as which is forced between
the said ribs or cheeks so as to expand the bush or liner and tube substantially
as described.
3. In a detachable joint for cycle and other vehicle frames or tubular structures
the combination with a lug or socket B of a tube fitting in the said Jug a bush
or liner provided with a longitudinal opening such as ribs or checks such as E
on the sides of the opening a block such as F between the said ribs or cheeks an
enlargement on the block a corresponding recess in the bush or liner to receive
the enlargement and a screw or bolt passing through the lug and tube for drawing
the block into the opening and expanding the bush or liner and the end of the
tube substantially as described.
4. In a detachable joint for cycle and other vehicle frames or tubular structures
the combination with the connecting lug B of a tube A having a slot or opening in
its end ribs or cheeks such as E on each side of the slot or opening and a block

page_text: such as which is forced between the said ribs or cheeks so as to expand the tube
in the lug substantially as described.
5. In a detachable joint for cycle and other vehicle frames or tubular structures
the combination with the connecting lug or socket B of a tube A fitting in the said
lug a bush or liner such as (provided with a double wedge shaped opening II a
divided block such as I fitting in the said opening and means for forcing apart the
two halves of the block I in the opening H and expanding the bush or liner and
the end of the tube substantially as described.
6. The complete detachable joint for eyeles or other vehicle frames or tubular
structures substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 123 and 4 or Figs. 5
6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
1
1 T
1040
ISAAC WHITEHOUSE,
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.