Improvements in Tube Joints and Methods of Making the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 12th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Joints and Methods of Making the same.
I, EDWIN CLAUDE PALMER, of 977, Prospect Street, in the City of Cleveland,
State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to a tube joint, and a method of making the same, and
while the said joint is particularly applicable to bicycle frames, it is also applicable
to other purposes for which such joints are employed.
The features of novelty comprises: (1) A tube joint wherein the two joined
tubes are welded to an annular bead of a two-part reinforcement; (2) a method
of making such tube joint, consisting in providing two tube ends with an interior
two-part reinforcement, bringing the tube ends and the reinforcement ends
respectively together, and welding, not only the two tubes together, but, also,
the inner bead of said tube joint to the outer annular bead of said reinforcement.
The invention is carried into practice, briefly stated, as follows: The two tubes
which are to be joined together, are each provided with an inner reinforcement part,
driven, or otherwise rigidly fastened therein; such reinforcement part having the
outer wall of its joining end portion of less diameter than the inner wall of the join-
ing end portion of the tube in which it is fitted, thereby forming an annular clear
space between the two; the joining end of the reinforcement being flush with the
joining end of its tube. The two tubes, each thus provided with the reinforcement
part, are then placed end to end, to form the tube joint; the end portions of the
iwo tubes being in contact with each other, and the end portions of the two
reinforcement parts being in contact with each other. An electric current is then
passed through said tube ends, and, thereby through said reinforcement parts
ends, and across their said respective contact joints; so that the material at and
Pressure is then
adjacent to said ends, is thereby brought to a welling heat.
exerted longitudinally in opposite directions, on the tubes, and hence upon the
heated material of such tubes and of such reinforcement parts. This pressure, so
exerted forces the said heated metal to flow across the joints, and also laterally
over and around the joints; metal, thereby, flowing outwardly from the reinforce-
ment joint, and metal also flowing inwardly from the tube joint; such two annular
beads of molten metal flowing together into the annular space between the two
tubes and the two reinforcement parts,-and uniting together; thus causing the
ends of the tubes, and the ends of the reinforcement parts to become solidly united,
and to practically be integral parts of each other throughout such annular welded
bead. The metal which flows outwardly from the two tubes may be removed, so as
to cause the tube joint to have a smooth outer surface.
In carrying out my invention I provide each of the two tubes, with a reinforce-
ment section, such section being driven, or otherwise made fast, in the tube, with
its joining end flush with the joining end of its tube. This reinforcement section
is formed at its outer end with a contracted portion whereby an annular space is
formed around the inside of and adjacent to the tube end; thus leaving such

page_text: reinforcement section end, free from contact with the inner surface of its tube end.
The reinforcement section is preferably made continuous, and concentric with its
tube end.
Each reinforcement section is electrically connected with its tube, and in contact
therewith; but the outer ends of such tube and its reinforcement section being,
as before described, free from contact with each other.
After each tube is provided with such reinforcement section, placed as described,
the opposing ends of the two tubes are relatively placed in contact, and the opposing
ends of the two reinforcement sections are relatively placed in contact. The two
annular spaces thus contributing to form one inclosed annular space between the
tubes and the two-part reinforcement.
A suitable electrical current is then passes through the tube ends, and the
reinforcement section ends, and across their contact joints; and the material,
at and adjacent to such ends, is brought thereby to a welding heat. Pressure is
then exerted longitudinally in opposite directions on the tubes, and hence upon this
heated material. This pressure, so exerted, forced the said heated metal to dow
across, and also laterally from the two joints, and to weld together. The metal
Howing outwardly from the reinforcement joint, and the metal flowing inwardly
from the tube joint, flow together into the annular space and there unite; thus
making the ends of the reinforcements, and the ends of the tubes, to be solidly
united, and substantially integral parts of each other, at the weld. The metal
Howing outwardly from the tube joint is then turned or filed off, or otherwise
removed, so as to form a smooth outer surface for the tube joint.
A joint of great strength and durability is thus formed, wherein, also, the rein-
forcement is incapable of displacement, and increased thickness of metal is
provided at the joint. Further, there is very little liability of the occurrence of
flaws in the welds; inasmuch as the metal that flows into said annular space, is
more or less compressed; expelling all air which might form in small bubbles in
such metal, and making a homogeneous weld. A ring of most desirable quality of
the metal being thus located in a clear annular space between the interior rein-
forcement and the tube; and capable of resisting heavy strain, in all directions of
applied force.
Dated this 12th day of Now 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Joints and Methods of Making the same.
I, SAMUEL JOSEPH WOODHAM SMITH, of 6, New Inn, Strand, London, W.C.,
Solicitor, Adminstrator of the late Edwin Claude Palmer, and Lawful Attorney
of Ella May Palmer, Executrix and widow of the said Edwin Claude Palmer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
to be
This invention relates to a tubular joint and to a method of making the same;
and while the said joint is particularly applicable to bicycle frames, it is also
applicable to other purposes for which such joints are employed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure I is a longitudinal sectional view of two members, to be joined;
Figure II is a similar view of said two members, in contact;

page_text: Figure III is a similar view of said two members, joined according to my inven-
tion;
Figure IV is a perspective view of a reinforcement section;
Figure is a longitudinal sectional view of a bicycle frame "fitting," which
has its two angular arms respectively joined to corresponding bicycle frame tubes,
according to a modification of my invention;
Figure VI is a longitudinal sectional view of a bicycle frame fitting," which
has its two angular arms respectively joined to corresponding bicycle frame tubes,
according to that form of the invention which is illustrated in the Figures 1 to 4.
Describing, first, the manner of joining the two members, shown in the first
three figures of the drawings:
Each of the two tubes, A, is provided with a reinforcement section, B; such
section being driven, or otherwise made fast, in the tube, with its joining end
Hush with the joining end of its tubes; such section being shaped at its outer
end with a contracted portion b, whereby an open space c is formed between the tube
and the reinforcement section at their joint portions. Each of the two members
which are to be joined according to the invention, is thus provided with said open-
ing c; while each reinforcement section is electrically connected with its tube, and
in contact therewith.
The joint portions of said two members are then brought close together; the
opposite ends of the two tubes being relatively placed in contact, and the opposite
ends of the two reinforcement sections being, relatively placed in contact, as
shown in Figure II. The two spaces c, of Figure I thus contributing to form
ene inclosed space d, between the tubes and the two-part reinforcement,-as
shown clearly in Figure II.
An electric current from a suitable source is then passed through the tube ends,
through the ends of the reinforcement section and across their joints of contact ;
and the material, at and adjacent to such ends, is brought thereby to a welding
heat. Pressure is then exerted longitudinally in opposite directions on the tubes,
and hence upon this heated material. This pressure, so exerted, forces the said
heated metal to flow across, and also laterally from, the two-part joint, and to
weld together. The metal flowing outwardly from the reinforcement joint, and the
metal flowing inwardly from the joint tube, flow together into the annular space d
and there unite; thus causing the ends of the reinforcement sections, and the
ends of the tubes, to be solidly united in one common weld gas shown in
Figure III. The metal flowing outwardly from the tube joint may then be turned
or filed off, or otherwise removed, so as to form a smooth outer surface for the
joint.
While, for better understanding of the invention, the latter is thus first
described as applied to a joint which unites two tubes; yet, I would not have it
understood that such application of the invention has any prominence over, or is
even so prominent as, certain other applications of the invention. At present, the
invention is being most prominently applied to the fittings of a bicycle frame,-
whether such fittings be either forgings, or stampings. In Figure V, the inven-
tion is illustrated as applied to a bicycle frame forging, and by a modified form
of application; according to same, but one reinforcement section B is used at
either of the two joints to be formed; the joining end of either angular arm of such
forging being provided, before being placed in contact with its joining tube A,
with an open space e concentric with such arm, and centrally located between
the inner and outer cylindrical wall surfaces of such arm. When the tube A, with
its reinforcement section B rigid therein, is placed in contact with such open
spaced joining end of the arm of the forging, the joining end of the reinforcement
section comes into contact with the inner wall f of said open space e; and upon
passage of electric current between such tube and the arm of the forging, and
he pressure of said two members together, the welding follows, with result as is
shown in said Figure V. While Figure VI, shows a bicycle frame stamping
having its two angular arms respectively joined to corresponding bicycle frame

page_text: tubes, either joint employing a two-part reinforcement, similarly as shown and
described for the joint shown in the first three figures of the drawings.
A joint of great strength and durability is thus formed, wherein also the
reinforcement is incapable of displacement, and increased thickness of metal is
provided at the joint. Further, there is very little liability of the occurrence of
Haws in the welds; inasmuch as the metal that flows into said annular space, is
more or less compressed; expelling all air which might otherwise form in small
bubbles in such metal, and making a homogeneous weld. The joining walls and
their reinforcement become united in a weld common to them all, and inclose a
space between them about such weld, said weld being of the most desirable quality
of the metal.
Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, instead
of the one explained; change being made as regards the mechanism herein
disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. In a method of making a joint, providing a wall with a reinforcement section
which leaves an open space between them at their joint portions, and welding such
wall and reinforcement section to the joining member so that metal at the joint
flows into said open space, substantially as set forth.
2. A method of making a joint, consisting in providing each joining wall with
a reinforcement section which leaves an open space between them at their joint
portions, bringing such walls together and such reinforcement sections together
whereby an inclosed space is made between such walls and their reinforcement
sections, and welding such contact points to each other so that metal flows together
into said inclosed space, substantially as set forth.
3. A reinforced welded joint having space inclosed between the joined walls
and their reinforcement, substantially as set forth.
4. A reinforced joint having space inclosed between the walls welded together
and the reinforcement welded to such walls, substantially as set forth.
5. A joint having walls and reinforcement united in a weld common to them
all, such walls and reinforcement inclosing space between them about said weld,
substantially as set forth.
6. A joint having two walls and two reinforcement sections united in a weld
common to them all, such walls and reinforcement sections inclosing space between
them about said weld, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of February 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents.