Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK JOHN OSMOND, of Chantry Road, Moseley, in the County of
Worcester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The first part of my invention relates to the method of locking the bearing cups
of the ball races in the hubs of the wheels of velocipedes as well as in the bottom
brackets of bicycles and other velocipedes; and has for its object to simplify the
construction and arrangement of parts of the locking mechanism whereby a quick
and very effective means of adjusting and locking the said bearing cups is provided.
My invention relates further to means for strengthening the brazed junctions of
the tubes of the frames of velocipedes whereby the liability to fracture in the said
junctions is wholly or in great part obviated. My invention relates further to the
method of attaching and fixing the detachable mud guards of velocipedes.
I will first describe my improvements in the means of locking the bearing cups of
the ball races of velocipedes and I will describe the said improvements in connection
with the bearing at one side of the bottom bracket of a safety bicycle.
I reduce the thickness of the metal at the mouth or end of the bottom bracket
for a short distance so as to make the said mouth of a larger diameter internally
than the other or body part of the said bottom bracket, and I cut in the unreduced or
body part an internal screw thread. Into the enlarged mouth or end of the bottom
bracket I introduce a short tube which I will hereinafter call the loose ring, the
said loose ring having a diameter internally equal to that of the body part of the
bracket and being screw threaded internally and externally. The internal screw
thread of the ring is of the same pitch as and corresponds with the screw thread in
the body part of the bottom bracket. The loose ring is of such a length that when
in position its outer end projects a short distance out of the mouth of the bottom
bracket. The loose ring is prevented from rotating in the mouth of the bottom
bracket preferably by an internally projecting pin in the said mouth engaging in
a notch or cut away part in the inner end of the loose ring. Into the internal
screw thread in the louse ring the bearing cup is screwed, its inner end engaging in
the thread in the body part of the bottom bracket. By the engagement of the
bearing cup with the screw thread in the body part of the bottom bracket, the
loose ring is secured in the mouth of the said bottom bracket. When a proper
adjustment of the bearing cup has been effected, a second or locking ring is screwed
on to the part of the loose ring projecting from the mouth of the bottom bracket
until the inner end of the said locking ring bears against the end of the bottom
bracket. By further continuing the screwing motion of the locking ring the loose
ring is slightly advanced out of the mouth of the bottom bracket and its internal
screw thread made to bind so tightly on the screw thread of the bearing cup that
When it is
rotation of the said bearing cup is rendered practically impossible.
required to re-adjust the bearing, it is only necessary to give a partial rotation to
the locking ring in the direction proper to unscrew it when the loose ring and
bearing cup are unlocked and the latter may be turned in the direction proper for
adjustment. By a partial forward rotation of the locking ring in the manner
already described the parts are again locked and fixed.

page_text: My improvements in the method of strengthening the brazed junctions of the
tubular frames of velocipedes consist essentially in providing the ends of the tubes
to be brazed in the lugs of the junction pieces with tubular steel bushes which are
firmly fixed on the exterior of the said ends of the tubes by the process commonly
called shrinking. The outer end of each bush which end when the bush and tube
are brazed in the lug in the manner hereinafter described, is concealed in the lug
has a series of holes in it. After the steel bushes have been shrunk on the ends of
the tubes and before the said bushes and tubes are brazed in the lugs the parts of
the said bushes which are to be external to the lugs after brazing are by the
process of turning made conical so as to gradually pass into the diameter of the
tubes on which they are shrunk. When the end of the tubes together with their
steel bushes are introduced into the lugs and are brazed therein a portion of the
melted solder passes between the inner surfaces of the lugs and the outer surfaces
of the steel bushes through the holes in the said bushes and between the inner
surfaces of the bushes and the outer surfaces of the tubes on which the bushes are
shrunk so that on the completion of the brazing process the whole of the parts are
securely brazed together.
In order that that part of my invention relating to the attaching and fixing of
detachable mud guards may be the better understood I remark that ordinarily
bridge pieces are brazed between the branches of the back forks to which bridge
pieces the mud guards are fixed at or near one of their ends by screws. On
detaching the mud guards the bridge pieces which form permanent parts of the
frame become unsightly.
In constructing a mud guard and applying it say to the rear wheel of a safety
bicycle according to my invention I form tubular or solid beads on the edges of
the mud guard and provide each branch of the back stay fork with a detachable clip
for gripping the beaded edges of the mud guard.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of July 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK JOHN OSMOND, of Chantry Road, Moseley, in the County of
Worcester, 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 :—
The first part of my invention relates to the method of locking the bearing cups
of the ball races in the hubs of the wheels of velocipedes as well as in the bottom
brackets and other ball bearing parts of bicycles and other velocipedes, and has for
its object to simplify the construction and arrangement of parts of the locking
mechanism, whereby a quick and very effective means of adjusting and locking the
said bearing cups is provided. My invention relates further to means for
strengthening the brazed junctions of the tubes of the frames of velocipedes
whereby the liability to fracture in the said junctions is wholly or in great part
obviated. My invention relates further to the method of attaching and fixing the
detachable mud guards of velocipedes.
I will first describe my improvements in the means of locking the bearing cups
of the ball races of velocipedes and I will describe and represent in the accom-
panying drawings the said improvements in connection with the bearing at one side
of the bottom bracket of a safety bicycle.

page_text: I reduce the thickness of the metal at the mouth or end of the bottom bracket
for a short distance so as to make the said mouth of a larger diameter internally
than the other or body part of the said bottom bracket and I cut in the unreduced
or body part an internal screw thread. Into the enlarged mouth or end of the
bottom bracket I introduce a short tube, which I will hereinafter call the loose
ring, the said loose ring having a diameter internally equal to that of the body part
of the bracket and being screw threaded internally and externally. The internal
screw thread of the ring is of the same pitch as and corresponds with the screw
thread in the body part of the bottom bracket. The loose ring is of such a length
that when in position its outer end projects a short distance out of the mouth of
the bottom bracket. The loose ring is prevented from rotating in the mouth of
the bottom bracket preferably by an internally projecting pin in the said mouth
engaging in a notch or cut away part in the inner end of the loose ring. Into the
internal screw thread in the loose ring the bearing cup is screwed, its inner end
engaging in the thread in the body part of the bottom bracket. By the engagement
of the bearing cup with the screw thread in the body part of the bottom bracket
the loose ring is secured in the mouth of the said bottom bracket. When a proper
adjustment of the bearing cup has been effected a second or locking ring is screwed
onto the part of the loose ring projecting from the mouth of the bottom bracket
until the inner end of the said locking ring bears against the end of the bottom
bracket. By further continuing the screwing motion of the locking ring the loose
ring is slightly advanced out of "the mouth of the bottom bracket and its internal
screw thread made to bind so tightly on the screw thread of the bearing cup that
rotation of the said bearing cup is rendered practically impossible. When it is
required to re-adjust the bearing, it is only necessary to give a partial rotation to
the locking ring in the direction proper to unscrew it when the loose ring and
bearing cup are unlocked and the latter may be turned in the direction proper for
adjustment. By a partial forward rotation of the locking ring in the manner
already described the parts are again locked and fixed.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 both inclusive of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section and Figure 2 in end elevation, the bottom
bracket of a safety bicycle one of the bearing cups of which is locked, after
adjustment, by the arrangement or combination of parts constituting part of my
invention;
Figure 3 represents, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, one end
only of the bottom bracket and bearing cup locking mechanism in connection
therewith;
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the bottom bracket, the crank axle and bearing
cup being omitted and
Figure 5 represents in end elevation the loose ring of the bearing cup locking
mechanism.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent a modification hereinafter described of the
arrangement represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
According to the arrangement represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, I make
the mouth of the bottom bracket a larger than the screwed part of the said bottom
brucket, into which screwed part the bearing cup b is to be screwed, by reducing
the thickness of the metal of the said bottom bracket for a short distance as will
be best seen by reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4. Into the enlarged mouth of the
bracket I introduce an internally and externally screwed loose ring c the internal
screw thread of the said loose ring, when the said ring is in position in the mouth
of the bottom bracket, virtually constituting a continuation of the screw thread in
the bottom bracket a. The said loose ring c is prevented from rotating in the
mouth of the bottom bracket by one or other of the notches c, c, c, c in the inner
edge of the loose ring engaging with a hook e the free or bent end of which occupies

page_text: a notch fin the mouth or end of the bottom bracket. The loose ring c is of such
a length that its outer end projects a short distance out of the mouth of the
bottom bracket a.
On the screwing of the cup b into the loose ring c and bottom bracket a, the
loose ring is retained in position in the mouth of the bottom bracket. The
bearing cup is locked in position by the screwing on to the loose ringe of a
locking ring d. By continuing the screwing motion of the locking ring d after it
has come into contact with the end of the bottom bracket a the loose ring cis
slightly withdrawn from the mouth of the bottom bracket a; the threads of the
loose ring c are thereby made to bind with such force on the threads of the cup b
that the turning of the said cup bis rendered practically impossible.
Should it be desirable in consequence of wear to re-adjust the position of the
bearing cup it is only necessary to slightly unscrew the locking ring d when the
cup may be turned in one or other direction in the loose ring c and bottom
bracket a, the parts being locked in their re-adjusted position by the screwing
home of the locking ring d.
In the modified arrangement represented in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 the metal at
the mouth of the bottom bracket is not reduced for the purpose of increasing the
internal diameter of the said mouth but has two notches f, fat opposite points (see
the end elevation of the bottom bracket Figure 8) into which notches the
projections c¹, c¹ on the loose ring c (Figure 9) fit. The other parts of the said
modified arrangement aud the action of the same differ in no essential respect from
that first described.
The application of this part of my invention to the locking of the bearing cups
of ball races other than the ball races of bottom bracket bearings differs in no
essential respect froin its application to the locking of the bearing cup in the end
of the bottom bracket as herein before described and illustrated.
My improvements in the method of strengthening the brazed junctions of the
tubular frames of velocipedes consist essentially in providing the ends of the tubes
to be brazed in the lugs of the junction pieces with tubular steel bushes which are
firmly fixed on the exterior of the said ends of the tubes by the process commonly
called shrinking. The outer end of each bush which end, when the bush and tube
are brazed in the lug in the manner hereinafter described, is concealed in the lug,
has a series of holes in it.. After the steel bushes have been shrunk on the ends of
the tubes and before the said bushes and tubes are brazed in the lugs the parts of
the said bushes which are to be external to the lugs after brazing are by the
process of turning made conical so as to gradually pass into the diameter of the
tubes on which they are shrunk. When the end of the tubes together with their
steel bushes are introduced into the lugs and are brazed therein a portion of the
melted solder passes between the inner surfaces of the lugs and the outer surfaces
of the steel bushes through the holes in the said bushes and between the inner
surfaces of the bushes and the outer surfaces of the tubes on which the bushes are
shrunk so that on the completion of the brazing process the whole of the parts
are securely brazed together.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the
accompanying drawings. Figure 10 represents in side and end elevation one of
the steel bushes which I employ for strengthening the ends of the tubes of cycle
frames and Figure 11 represents, in section, the same after it has been fixed on
the end of a tube by the process commonly called shrinking. Figure 12 represents
the said bush and tube after the brazing of the ends of the bush and tube together.
Figure 13 represents the strengthened tube ready for introduction into the lug of
a junction piece and Figure 14 represents the said strengthened tube after it has
been brazed in a lug.
In carrying out this part of my invention I fix by the process of shrinking on
the end of the tube to be strengthened, the tubular bushy (Figure 10) the said
bush having a series of holes or perforations 9' in it near the end which, when
the bush and tube are in place in the lug, is concealed by the said lug. I fill

page_text: the said holes g' with hard solder i and by the process of brazing I cause the
said solder to run between the end of the bush and the end of the tube as is
represented in Figure 12. The thickness of the said bush 9 is then slightly
reduced and its inner end tapered by the process of turning so as to make the
outer surface of the bush pass gradually into that of the surface of the tube as
is represented in Figure 13.
The strengthened tube is then introduced into a lug, as is represented in Figure 14
where the lug is marked k and is fixed therein by brazing in the ordinary way.
It will be understood from the description hereinbefore given that the brazing
of the bush and tube is confined to the end which enters the lug k.
Although I prefer to connect the perforated end of the bush to the end of the
tube by brazing before the introduction of the tube and bush into their lug yet
I wish it to be understood that the brazing of the end of the bush to the end of
the tube may be effected at the same time as the bush and tube are brazed in
the lug.
And although I have only represented this part of my invention as applied to
the strengthening of the end of a cylindrical tube yet it may be applied to the
strengthening of tubes of various figures in cross section.
My improvements in the method of attaching and fixing detachable mudguards
of velocipedes consist of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
described whereby the attaching and detaching of the mudguard is facilitated and
the disfigurement of the frame of the velocipede on the detachment of the
mudguard is obviated.
In order that this part of my invention may be the better understood 1 remark
that ordinarily bridge pieces are brazed between the branches of the back forks to
which bridge pieces the mudguards are fixed at or near one of their ends by screws.
On detaching the mudguards the bridge pieces which form permanent parts of the
frame become unsightly.
In constructing a mudguard and applying it say to the rear wheel of a safety
bicycle according to my invention I form tubular or solid beads on the edges of the
mudguard and provide each branch of the back stay fork with a detachable clip for
gripping the beaded edges of the mudguard.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 15 to 21 both inclusive of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 15 represents in side elevation and Figure 16 in plan of underside a
portion of the back stay fork of a safety bicycle to which fork the mudguard is
detachably fixed according to my invention; Figure 17 represents the same in end
elevation; Figure 18 represents a cross section taken on the dotted line x, x
Figure 15 and Figure 19 represents a cross section taken on the dotted line y, y
Figure 16.
Figures 20 and 21 represent in side elevation and plan respectively the method
of fixing the mud guard stays to the branches of the back stay fork.
I provide the mudguard with beaded edges l', l, either solid or tubular, and I
fix on each of the branches m, m of the back stay fork detachable clips for gripping
the beaded edges, of the nudguard and thereby holding the said mudguard ?
in position.
The clip I prefer to employ consists of a strip of sheet metal p bent to fit the
outer side of the branch m of the fork, the said strip p having a hook p' at one end
for engaging with the beaded edge of the mudguard 1. To the other end p² of
the strip pl joint a lever r the ends of which have hooks r, also for engaging
with the beaded edge of the mudguard. The longer arm of the lever ŕ has a
thumb piece by which the said lever is turned.
In fixing the mudguard by the use of the said clips the hook p' of the strip pof
one of the clips and the inner hook r¹ of the lever r of the same are engaged with
one of the beaded edges of the mudguard as is indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 16 and by turning the lever in the direction proper for bringing the other
hook of the lever in line with the beaded edge of the mudguard the curved

page_text: strip p is made to grip the branch m of the back stay fork and the clip is fixed in
position by slightly depressing the long arm of the lever so as to engage its
hook with the beaded edge of the mudguard.
The wire arms or stays s of the lower end of the mudguard are fixed to the
branches m, m of the back stay fork near the axle ends of the said branches of the
fork by the use of similar clips to those described with respect to the beaded edges
of the mudguard as will be understood by reference to Figures 20 and 21.
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 bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes" :-
First. Locking the bearing cups of the ball races in the bottom brackets and
other parts of velocipedes provided with ball bearings by the use of a loose ring
into which the bearing cup screws, the inner end of the said cup engaging in the
screw thread in the bottom bracket or the like, and the combination with the said
loose ring of a locking ring which takes on the loose ring and bearing against the
outer side of the bottom bracket or the like gives a slight outward motion to the
loose ring and causes its threads to bind on the threads of and thereby lock
the bearing cup in the bottom bracket or the like substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 both inclusive of the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. Strengthening the brazed junctions of the tubes of the frames of
velocipedes by shrinking on the ends of the said tubes, tubular steel bushes having
holes or perforations in one of their ends through which holes or perforations the
solder in the brazing operation passes to the space between the end of the bush and
the end of the tube, the part of the strengthened tube which when brazed in the
lug is external to the said lug being preferably tapered by the process of turning
so as to pass gradually into the diameter of the tube substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 both inclusive of the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly. Dispensing with the use of bridge pieces in the wheel forks of
velocipedes for supporting the mud guards by providing the mudguards with solid
or tubular beaded edges and attaching to the branches of the forks clips for gripping
the said beaded edges of the mudguard substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. In detachably fixing the mudguards of velocipedes to the frames of
the same the use of clips consisting essentially of metallic strips shaped to fit the
outer sides of the branches of the forks, the said metallic strips having at one end
a hook for engaging with the beaded edge of the mudguard, or with the arm or
stay of the mudguard, and at its other end a lever provided at its two ends with
hooks which when engaged with the beaded edges of the mudguard or with the arm
or stay of the mudguard cause the shaped metallic strip to bind on the outer side
of the branch of the fork substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 15 to 21 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Seventh day of April 1897.
FREDERICK JOHN OSMOND.