Improvements in Metallic Tubing for the Frames of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes, and for other purposes where Lightness and Strength are Required, and in Tools or Appliances for the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Tubing for the Frames of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes, and for other purposes
where Lightness and Strength are Required, and in Tools or
Appliances for the Manufacture of the same.
I, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in metallic tubing
for the frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and for other purposes
where lightness and strength are required, and also in tools or appliances for the
manufacture of the said tubing.
My invention has reference principally to the metallic tubing used in making
the chain stays of the framing of bicycles which said tubing is elliptical in cross
section. But my improvements are also applicable to metallic tubing circular in
cross section suitable for use in making other parts of the frames of bicycles, tricycles
and other velocipedes as well as to purposes generally where lightness and strength
are required.
In making according to my invention metallic tubing elliptical in cross section
I proceed as follows. I take ordinary tubing circular in cross section and by the
ordinary drawing process I give to the said tubing the figure in cross section
of a semi-ellipse the ends of the semi-ellipse being connected by a flat or plane
part. I take two pieces of the tubing thus made and place their flat or plane
parts in contact and by soldering or welding connect them together. There is
thus produced tubing elliptical in cross section and having a diaphragm of double
Instead
thickness of metal extending from end to end at its smallest diameter.
of making the tube last described from cylindrical tubes it may be made from
open jointed tubes the open joint being in the flat part of the semi-elliptical
tube and near one side of the tube, the two semi-elliptical tubes to be connected
together at their flat parts having their open joints near opposite sides so that
when the two semi-elliptical tubes are joined the open joints do not coincide.
Cylindrical tubes may be made in the ways described by making semi-
cylindrical tubes or troughs in place of semi-elliptical tubes or troughs. Or a
series of tubes or open jointed tubes having in cross section the figure of sectors
of a circle may be made. A series of these being joined by their flat faces being
soldered or brazed together in pairs a cylindrical tube with diaphragms of double
thickness of metal extending through its whole length is produced. Or a cylin-
drical tube essentially of the kind last described may be made from one broad
strip of sheet metal by forming near one edge a trough sector like in cross section
and bending the other portion of the strip into a series of other sector like portions
which when combined form a cylindrical tube having diaphragms running throughout
its whole length.
Where tubes made according to my invention are required to have curved
parts, the semi-tubes or parts of which the tubes are made are preferably bent
before being soldered together. Where the curves are of short radius prefer to
make the required curvature in the blanks of which the semi-tubes are made. I give

page_text: to the said blanks the required configuration by means of dies and pressure. After
the blanks have been shaped as described their edges are turned inwards by intro-
ducing into the trough shaped blank supported in a die a mandril of the required
figure the said mandril being made in two parts so as to permit of its removal from
the finished semi-tubes. Side dies approaching each other in opposite directions
close or turn inwards the edges of the trough shaped blanks so as to bring the said
edges into the same plane and thereby give the required figure to the said blanks
the flat portions of which are soldered together.
By the method of manufacture last described the tubes may be made taper or of
different diameters at different parts and either with or without curvature.
Dated this Seventh day of September 1895.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Metallic Tubing for the Frames of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes, and for other purposes
where Lightness and Strength are Required, and in Tools or
Appliances for the Manufacture of the same.
I JOHN VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street,
Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in metallic tubing
for the frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and for other purposes
where lightness and strength are required and also in tools or appliances for the
manufacture of the said tubing.
My invention has reference principally to the metallic tubing used in making the
chain stays of the framing of bicycles which said tubing is elliptical in cross section.
But my improvements are also applicable to metallic tubing circular or of other
figure in cross section suitable for use in making other parts of the frames of
bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes as well as to purposes generally where
lightness and strength are required.
In making according to my invention metallic tubing elliptical in cross section
I proceed as follows.
I take two pieces of open jointed tubing made in the ordinary way the said tubing
having in cross section the figure of a semi-ellipse the open joints in the two semi-
elliptical tubes being in such a position that they will not coincide when the
semi-elliptical tubes are connected together. I place the two semi-elliptical tubes
one upon the other with their flat parts in contact, the open joints in the two
tubes being non-coincident or near opposite sides. By soldering or brazing the
two tubes are securely connected together and there is thus produced tubing
elliptical in cross section having a diaphragm of double thickness of metal
extending from end to end at its smallest diameter.
Cylindrical tubes may be made in the way described by making semi-cylindrical
tubes or troughs in place of semi-elliptical tubes or troughs. Or a series of open
jointed tubes having in cross section the figure of sectors of a circle with the open
joint of each tube in one of the flat sides of the tube may be made. By taking a
set or series of these sector like tubes and soldering er brazing their flat faces
together in pairs, a cylindrical tube with diaphragms of double thickness of metal
extending through its whole length is produced. Or a cylindrical tube essentially

page_text: of the kind last described may be made from one broad strip of sheet metal by
forming near one edge a trough sector like in cross section and bending the other
portion of the strip into a series of other sector like portions which when
combined form a cylindrical tube having diaphragms running throughout its whole
length.
Where tubes made according to my invention are required to have curved
parts the semi-tubes or parts of which the tubes are made are preferably bent
before being soldered together. Where the curves are of short radius I prefer to
make the required curvature in the blanks of which the semi-tubes are made.
I give to the said blanks the required configuration by means of dies and pressure.
After the blanks have been shaped as described their edges are turned inwards by
introducing into the trough shaped blank supported in a die, a mandril of the
required figure the said mandril being made in two parts so as to permit of its
removal from the finished semi-tubes. Side dies approaching each other in
opposite directions close or turn inwards the edges of the trough shaped blanks so
as to bring the said edges into the same plane and thereby give the required figure
to the said blanks the flat portions of which are soldered together.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents two semi-elliptical open jointed
tubes from which I make an elliptical tube having a diaphragm of practically
double thickness of metal at its middle, the said diaphragm extending from end
to end of the finished elliptical tube.
a represents one of the semi-elliptical open jointed tubes and b represents the
other, the flat faces, which are brought into close contact and soldered or brazed
together, being marked respectively a², 62. It will be seen that the semi-elliptical
tubes a,
are so arranged that the open joints in the flat faces a², 2 of the two
tubes a,
are on opposite sides of the axis of the elliptical tube formed by the
said tubes a, b and consequently do not coincide.
It will be understood that tubing having a diaphragm of double thickness of
metal crossing the major axis of the ellipse instead of the minor axis as represented
in Figure I may be made in essentially the same way as that described with respect
to the said tube Figure 1.
Figure 2 represents a cylindrical tube made up of two semi-cylindrical open
jointed tubes and Figure 3 represents a tube D shape in cross section made up of
two open jointed tubes in the manner described with reference to Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a cylindrical tube made up of a series of three sector like
open jointed tubes marked respectively d, e, f the flat faces of which are connected
together preferably by soldering or brazing and Figure 4A represents a cylindrical
tube made up of a series of four sector like open jointed tubes.
It will be seen
by an examination of the said Figures 4 and 44 that the open jointed side of one
tube is soldered or connected to the continuous side of another tube.
I wish it to be understood that this part of my invention may be employed in
the making up of a tube elliptical or of other figure in cross section.
Although I have shown cylindrical tubes made up respectively of three and four
open jointed tubes only, each open jointed tube having a sector like figure in
cross section yet I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to these
numbers of sector like tubes to be employed in the making of a cylindrical tube
the number of tubes employed depending upon the purpose for which the finished
tube is desired.
Figure 5 represents a cylindrical tube having radial diaphragms made from a
broad strip of sheet metal the said tube being formed by first making in the said
flat strip preferably by rolling two concave sector like troughs one near each edge
and a convex inverted sector like trough at the middle of the said strip the flat
parts at each edge of the strip and those between the two side troughs and middle
inverted trough being afterwards bent so as to bring the sector like parts into the
position represented in Figure 5, the flat faces of the said sector like parts being
connected together by soldering or brazing.
Figure 6 represents a cylindrical tube with four radial diaphragms the said

page_text: tube being made essentially in the manner described with respect to the tube
Figure 5.
Where tubes made according to my invention are required to have a bend in
Bome part of their length, such for example as the rear forks of velocipedes,
I prefer to make the bend in the semi-tubes or parts of which the finished tube is
is to be made before they are soldered together; or form the said tube from
blanks of a shape suitable to make the said bent or curved tubes and operate on
the said blanks in the ways and by the use of the tools hereinafter described.
I will describe this part of my invention in connection with the making of the
bent tube represented in Figures 7 and 7^.
I take a sheet metal blank of the kind represented in Figure 8 and operate upon
it by means of the tools represented in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12, that is, I place
the sheet metal blank upon a dic (see Figure 9) in which is a semi-elliptical or
other shaped trough g the said trough having a bend or curved part corresponding
with that to be formed in the semi-elliptical tube to be made. The sheet metal
blank is forced into the trough or groove g in the die by the divided punch
mandril, which is pressed down by the plunger i of a press as represented in
Figure 10. When the plunger i is raised the side dies k, 2 are made to approach
each other simultaneously as represented in Figure 11 and thereby close the edges
of the trough shaped blank over the flat side of the divided punch mandril h, 2.
The flat face of the semi-elliptical tube thus made is perfected, after the side dies
have been withdrawn, by the plunger as represented in Figure 12. When the
tube and divided mandril are removed from the die the two parts of the mandril
are withdrawn from opposite ends of the finished semi-elliptical tube.
The method of manufacture last described may be applied to making tubes of
sectional figures other than that in connection with which it is illustrated the
figure of the trough g in the die and the cross sectional figure of the mandril h
varying with the section of the open jointed tube to be inade; for example in
Figure 13 have represented the modification in shape of the trough g and
mandril required in order to form open jointed sector tubes of the kind employed
in making the cylindrical tube Figure 4.
By the method of manufacture last described the tubes may be made taper or of
different diameters at different parts and either with or without curvature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as
my invention of "Improvements in metallic tubing for the frames of bicycles,
tricycles, and other velocipedes and for other purposes where lightness and
strength are required and in tools or appliances for the manufacture of the
same
"
First. Making tubing of an elliptical, circular or other figure in cross section
with a diaphragm of practically double thickness of metal extending along its
middle from end to end by taking two semi-elliptical or semi-circular or other
shaped tubes open jointed in their Hat faces, and soldering or brazing the flat faces
of the two open jointed tubes together their open joints being non-coincident
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawing.
Secondly. Making tubing of an elliptical, circular or other figure in cross
section with radial diaphragms by taking a series of open jointed sector like tubes
and soldering or brazing together the flat or plain sides of the said sector like
tubes substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 4
of the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly, Making tubing of an elliptical, circular or other figure in cross section
with radial diaphragms from a flat metallic blank or strip bent into a series of
sector like portions the flat faces of which are soldered or brazed together
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawing.

page_text: Fourthly. Forming open jointed tubes for making tubing of the kind claimed in
Claims 1 and 2 by making each of the open jointed tubes from a blank in the
manner and by the use of the tools herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the Twenty-first day of May 1896.
JOHN VERNON PUGH.