Improvements in or appertaining to Joints for the Tubular Frames of Cycles and other Vehicles and for Tubular Structures generally.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1998
"
1000
Complete Specification Left, Lord Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1899.
Improvements in or appertaining to Joints for the Tubular Frames of
Cycles and other Vehicles and for Tubular Structures generally.
I, EDWARD GREATBATCH WOOD, of 298, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to joints for the tubular frames of cycles and other vehicles
and for tubular structures generally.
In carrying the invention into effect as applied to cycle frames, I unite the tubes
of the frame by means of sockets or unions. These receive the ends of the tubes
and are split so that they can be contracted and closed around the tube end by
means of a binding device so as to unite firmly the respective tubes together.
In some cases however the socket may be split not only longitudinally but
also may have an additional split at right angles to the longitudinal one that is
part way round the circumference of the socket, and at a part adjacent to the
binding device and thus secure greater elasticity than is possible with one split.
One form of binding device consists in forming on the split portion of the socket
a projecting pin or stud which is split through the centre in line with the split
in the union, a cone also split being by preference provided at the base of this pin
or stud. This pin or stud is threaded and a nut is screwed thereon which when
screwed up seats itself on the cone at base of pin and closes or binds the socket
around the end of the tube. The nut may be chamfered or coned out in the
hole at the base so as to obtain a firm seating against the cone. In cases where
(as in cycle frames) the tubular portions to be united are not in a continuous line
but branch or project angularly or laterally at the joints, I have
found that it is usually necessary to split one side only of the socket
and provide one clamping pin with cone and nut only, to close the socket round
the two adjacent ends of the tubes that are being jointed together. If preferred
two sides or part of two sides may be split, and each split provided with the
binding device.
In another arrangement the socket is split on opposite sides and threaded along
a part of its lengthi, while at the end of this thread a conical shoulder also split is
formed. When therefore a nut is screwed on this thread, and abuts against the
conical split shoulder, it closes the socket around the tube ends, firmly binding it
thereon.
Both these arrangements are found to firmly bind the sockets to the ends of the
tubes and form a tight and secure joint, but as a further security, I in some cases
swell the tubes at or near the ends thereof and provide corresponding depressions
on the inside of the sockets so that the swelling on the tubes will fit into and be
received by the depressions on the insides of the sockets. When therefore the
binding devices are slackened, the tube ends can be forced thereinto and their
swellings are forthwith engaged by the depressions, and then the parts are further

page_text: secured or fastened together, by the screwing up of the nuts, thus making a tight
and secure joint, which cannot be separated until the joints be unscrewed again.
In place of this arrangement however I may form projection on the outside
of the tube, and an auxiliary split in the socket at right angles to the longitudinal
one. When therefore the binding devices are unslacked, the tube end is forced
into the socket, the projection on the tube engaging in and sliding along the longi-
tudinal split, until it comes to the end, then by turning the tube part of a turn,
the projection locks itself in the auxiliary split after the manner of a bayonet
joint. The socket can be made in the usual way or from sheet metal stamped into
the form required, in which case the cones for the nuts to abut against or close
upon are formed by stamping or die pressure.
The invention is applicable not only to the frame of the cycle but also to the
steering handle bar, ball steering head, brake clip, crown forks, crank ends, saddle
pillar or other parts of the machine, the application of the invention to these
various parts being obvious without the necessity of further description. Further-
more, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to other structures besides cycles,
the actual details of the invention being varied to suit the special purposes to
which it is applied.
1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or appertaining to Joints for the Tubular Frames of
Cycles and other Vehicles and for Tubular Structures generally.
I, EDWARD GREATBATCH WOOD, of 298, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 joints for the tubular frames of cycles and other
vehicles, and for tubular structures generally. It is designed more especially to
provide an easy method of building up cycle or other frames without brazing or
employing the application of heat in any form, and which moreover allows of the
various parts being finished before building up while the completed frame is
considerably stronger than those constructed by the ordinary or wellknown method
of brazing the parts together.
.
In carrying the invention into effect as applied to cycle frames, I unite the
tubes of the frame by means of sockets or unions. These receive the ends of the
tubes, and are split so that they can be contracted and closed around the tube and
by means of a binding device so as to unite firmly, the respective tubes together.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cycle frame constructed according to my
invention;
Figure is a vertical section of the steering head of the frame;
Figure 3, a plan view thereof;
Figure 4 an end elevation without the nut;
Figure 5, an elevation of Figure 2 showing however a slight modification;
Figure 6, a side elevation of a portion of the steering head showing a mechanical
equivalent of the arrangement shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5:

page_text: Figure 1, an end view of the
Device SHOwn separately,
Figure 8, an underneath plan of the same;
Figures 9 and 10 longitudinal sections of other slight modifications.
One form of binding device consists in forming on the split portion of the
socket A a projecting pin or stud B which is split through the centre in line with
he split a in the union, a cone C also split, being provided at the base of this
in or stud as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. This pin or stud is threaded
and a nut is then screwed thereon, which when screwed up seats itself on the
cone Cat the base of pin B, and closes or binds the socket A round the end of the
tube E. The nut is chamfered or coned out in the hole at the base so as to
obtain a firm seating against the cone. In cases where (as in cycle frames) the
tubular portions to be united are not in a continuous line, but branch or project
angularly or laterally at the joints, I have found that it is usually necessary to
split one side only of the socket and provide one clamping pin with cone and nut
only to close the socket round the two adjacent ends of the tubes that are being
jointed together. If preferred two sides or part of two sides may be split, and eacli
split provided with the binding device.
It is obvious that instead of forming the cone C on the socket, a clip G may
be provided, adapted to fit round the outside of the socket. This clip is also split,
as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, and the shank H thereof formed with a conical
shoulder I and provided with a screw and nut J. The nut when screwed up seats
itself on the conical shoulder and closes or binds the socket firmly on to the tube E.
This arrangement is a mechanical equivalent of the other.
In another arrangement, shown in Figure 9, the socket A is split and threaded
along a part of its length at A', while at the end of its thread A¹ a conical
shoulder A, also split, is formed. When, therefore, a nut A³ is screwed on this
thread, and abuts against the conical split shoulder A³, it closes the socket around
the tube ends firmly binding it thereon.
Both these arrangements are found to firmly bind the socket to the ends of the
tube E and form a tight and secure joint, but as a further security
1 may in some cases swell the tubes E at OP near the ends thereof
(either by forming the swellings G on the inside, as shown in Figure 10, or on
the outside, as shown in Figure 5), and I provide corresponding swellings
or depressions H on the inside of the sockets, so that the swellings G of the
tubes will fit into and be received by the swellings or depressions 1 in the sockets.
In the case of Figure 10, a nut A is screwed on the part H and tightened up
against the shoulders A2 on the same lines as already described in connection with
Figure 9. If therefore the binding device set forth in Figure 9, or the binding
device set forth in Figure 5, be slackened, the tube ends can be forced into the
sockets and their swellings are forthwith engaged by the corresponding swellings
in the socket and then the parts are further securely fastened together by the
screwing up of the nuts thus making a tight and secure joint which cannot be
separated until the joints be unscrewed again. In place however of G and H, I
may form a projection I on the outside of the tube and an auxiliary split Jin
the socket at right angles to the longitudinal one 1). This is shown in Figure 5,
which figure shows the tube and socket partly separated. When therefore the
binding device is unslackened, the tube end is forced into the socket, the projection
on the tube engaging in and sliding along the longitudinal slit until it comes
to the end, then by turning the tube part of a turn, the projection locks itself
in the auxiliary split J after the manner of a bayonet joint. The socket can be
made in the usual way or from sheet metal stamped in the form required, in which
case the cones for the nuts to abut against or close upon are formed by stamping
or die pressure.
I have referred in the specification to a tube being socketted into a socket. By
the term socket I mean any suitable hollow which receives and holds the end of the
tube. The socket may for example be another tube as shown in Figure 10, or it
may be a sleeve L, as shown in Figure 11, which in the latter case joins the two

page_text: tubes together, and may be used as shown in Figure 1 for separating the frame to
facilitate packing for transit. This latter arrangement is constructed on practi-
cally the same lines as Figure 10, the tubes E at or near their ends being com-
pressed at G2, and corresponding compressions H are formed on the split sleeve
so that these compressions will fit into each other. They are then locked in this
position by screwing nuts A3 against the conical split shoulders A2, and so close
the split sleeve around the tube ends, firmly binding it thereon and making a tight
joint.
The invention is applicable not only to the frame of the cycle but also to the
steering handle bar, ball steering head, brake clip, crown forks, crank ends, saddle
pillar or other parts of the machine, the application of the invention to these
various parts being obvious without the necessity of further description. Further-
more, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to other structures besides
cycles, the actual details of the invention being varied to suit the special purposes
to which it is applied.
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. The improvement in joints for tubular frames and other structures which
consists in forming the sockets or unions with one or more longitudinal slits
so that they can be closed around the end of the tube and with a screwed pin or
stud formed on or projecting from the socket or from a clip surrounding the
latter, having a cone at its base through which the split passes, in combination
with a nut or washer chamfered or coned out at the base to obtain a firm seating
against the cone, whereby if the nut or washer be screwed up against the cone it
compresses the socket and binds it against the tube substantially as described.
2. In brazeless joints for tubular frames and other structures, forming swellings
or depressions in the tubes at or near the ends thereof, and providing corresponding
swellings or depressions in the sockets or female members so that the one will fit
into the other and form a tight joint substantially as described.
3. In brazeless joints for tubular frames and other structures, forming the socket
or female member with one or more longitudinal slits and screwed on the outside,
while at the end of its thread is a conical shoulder also split, in combination with
a nut capable of being screwed on to this thread tight up against the conical split
shoulder, whereby if a tube or male member be inserted into the socket, and the
nut be screwed up against the shoulder, the socket will be closed round the tube
ond, firmly binding it thereon, substantially as described.
4. In brazeless joints for tubular frames and other structures, joining the lengths
of tubing, or a socket and tubing, by means of an external split sleeve compressed
at the ends so as to reduce its diameter and socketted on to the ends of the tubes
which are similarly compressed, in combination with nuts screwed on to the ends
of the split sleeve and capable of being tightened up against the shoulders formed
by the compression of the sleeves, substantially as described.
5. In brazeless joints for tubular frames and other structures in which the socket
or female member is provided with longitudinal splits so that it can be closed around
the male tubular member, forming a lateral projection on the outside of the male
member and an auxiliary slit branching out of the longitudinal one in the female mem.
ber, whereby if the tube end be forced into the socket with the projection on the tube
engaging in and sliding along the longitudinal split, the said projection will, by
turning the tube part of a turn, lock itself in the auxiliary split after the manner
of a bayonet joint, substantially as described.
+
6. Joining tubing to split sockets or sleeves by depressions in the sockets and
similar depressions formed in the tubing, the tubing being inserted into the sockets
and the latter compressed upon the tubing into the depressions by means of a
nut screwed on to the outside of the socket, and adapted to be tightened up against

page_text: a conical shoulder, also split, formed by the making of the depressions aforesaid
substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.