Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We, JOSEPH SAMUEL TAYLOR, of The Corinthians, Acock's Green, in the
County of Worcester, Engineer, and JOHN VERNON PUGH of Whitworth Works,
Rea Street South, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes
and has for its object principally to strengthen those parts of the said frames where
there are junctions in the tubing of which the said frames are made as well as to
strengthen other parts of the said frames where additional strength may be deemed
necessary or desirable.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we remark that the
said frames are usually made of steel tubing of uniform diameter within and without
and where angular or other joinings of the said tubing are effected by brazing,
there is a liability to fracture at the said junctions in consequence of which
accidents frequently happen during the use of the vehicle. The ends of the tubing
which have to be joined are sometimes strengthened by internal brazed linings but
the risk of fracture referred to is only partially remedied thereby as it is difficult
to ascertain the soundness of the brazing by which the said linings are secured.
In making the frames of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes according to
our invention we employ steel tubes having throughout the same external diameter
but having a diminished internal diameter at the end which is to be joined by
brazing to the end of another similar tube; that is, the ends of the tubes which are
to be joined together while of the same external diameter as the other portions of
the tubes are thicker in metal at the ends to be joined together. We prefer to
make those portions of the interior of the tube which have different internal
diameters pass into one another by an inclined shoulder rather than by a shoulder
at right angles to the axis of the tube as there is less risk of fracture at a shoulder
of the former kind than at a shoulder of the latter kind.
Bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes made according to our invention are
free from the liability to accidents of the kind we have hereinbefore referred to,
and while much stronger than bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes of the
ordinary manufacture, are not necessarily heavier as the varying internal diameter
of the tubes permits of the reduction of the thickness of the metal at those parts
where little strength is required equivalent to the additional thickness at the ends
to be joined.
Although we have only described our invention as applied to the parts of the
tubular frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes where angular or other
junctions are made yet our invention is applicable to other parts of the frames
where strength is specially desirable; and although we have described the required
strengthening as obtained by diminished internal diameter of the tubing yet where
for any reason it is desirable to preserve the interior of the tube of the same
diameter throughout the required thickening and strength may be attained by
increased external diameter of the tube, at the part or parts where additional
strength is required.
Doted this Twenty-fourth day of October 1894
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We, JOSEPH SAMUEL TAYLOR, of The Corinthians, Acock's Green, in the
County of Worcester, Engineer, and JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Whitworth Works,
Rea Street South, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention relates to the frames of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes
and has for its object principally to strengthen those parts of the said frames where
there are junctions in the tubing of which the said frames are made as well as to
strengthen other parts of the said frames where additional strength may be deemed
necessary or desirable.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we remark that the
said frames are usually made of steel tubing of uniform diameter within and without
and where angular or other joinings of the said tubing are effected by brazing,
there is a liability to fracture at the said junctions in consequence of which
accidents frequently happen during the use of the vehicle. The ends of the tubing
which have to be joined are sometimes strengthened by internal brazed linings but
the risk of fracture referred to is only partially remedied thereby as it is difficult
⚫ to ascertain the soundness of the brazing by which the said linings are secured.
In making the frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes according to
our invention we employ steel tubes having throughout the same external diameter
but having a diminished internal diameter at the end which is to be joined by
brazing to the end of another similar tube; that is, the ends of the tubes which are
to be joined together while of the same external diameter as the other portions of
the tubes are thicker in metal at the ends to be joined together. We make those
portions of the interior of the tube which have different internal diameters pass into
one another by an inclined shoulder instead of by a shoulder at right angles to the
axis of the tube as there is less risk of fracture at a shoulder of the former kind
than at a shoulder of the latter kind.
Bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes made according to our invention are
free from the liability to accidents of the kind we have herein before referred to,
and while much stronger than bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes of the
ordinary manufacture, are not necessarily heavier as the varying internal diameter
of the tubes permits of the reduction of the thickness of the metal, at those parts
where little strength is required equivalent to the additional thickness at the ends
to be joined.
Although we have only described our invention as applied to the parts of the
tubular frames of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes where augular or other
junctions are made yet our invention is applicable to other parts of the frames
where strength is specially desirable; and although we have described the required
strengthening as obtained by diminished internal diameter of the tubing yet where,
for any reason, it is desirable to preserve the interior of the tube of the same
diameter throughout the required thickening and strength may be attained by
increased external diameter of the tube, at the part or parts where additional
strength is required.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing represent respectively in elevation
and longitudinal section one of the tubes we employ in constructing the frames of
velocipedes according to our invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the thick end of the tube and Figure 4 is a cross section of
the thinner or main portion of the tube.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 represent the application of our invention to the construction of
the tubular steering post and steering wheel fork of a velocipede, Figure 5 showing
the parts before they are put together and Figure 6 showing the parts (partly in
section) after they have been secured by brazing.
In carrying our invention into effect we manufacture tubes of the kind represented
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 from circular discs of sheet metal by the well known
drawing through process, the mandril on which the tube is drawn in the later
drawing through operations having a smaller diameter at its front end than at its
rear end, the part of the mandril of smaller diameter being of a length equal to the
length which it is required that the part of the tube of increased strength shall
have. The smaller part of the mandril passes into the larger part by a gradual
tapering shoulder or conical part so that the tube drawn on the mandril has a
gradual internal tapering at the part where the thicker end passes into the thinner
or main part of the tube. After the tube is finally drawn the closed end at the
thicker part of the tube is cut away so as to leave the tube open from end to end.
The tube produced by the process described has the same external diameter
throughout but has a reduced internal diameter at one end, the last mentioned end
forming the thick or strengthened end of the tube.
In the drawing a indicates the thick end of the tube; the thin or main portion
of the tube and c the tapering part where the gradual change in the internal
diameter takes place.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the application of our invention to the manufacture of
the steering post and fork of a velocipede.
It will be seen by an examination of the said Figures 5 and 6, that the thick
end a is introduced into the middle part of the crown d of the fork and the junction
of the said tube with the crown has a strength unattainable by the ordinary method
of construction in which the steering post has the same internal and external
diameter throughout.
The said tubes may be employed in the construction of the steering tubes and
handle bars of velocipedes, the thick end of the said tube being employed at the
junction of the steering tube with the lug of the cross tube or handle bar.
The said tubes may also be employed in the construction of the seat pillars and in
all parts of the frames where junctions are required to be made.
Where for any reason it is desired to preserve the internal diameter of the tube
uniform we take tubes of the kind hereinbefore described and represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and draw it over a bulb mandril the said bulb having a
diameter equal to the larger internal diameter of the tube. By the action of the
said mandril the internal diameter of the tube is made uniform throughout the
expanding of the thickened end of the tube transferring the tapering at that end
to the exterior of the tube.
By the use of tubes of the kind described and represented in the construction of
the frames of velocipedes the said frames may be made of a strength unattainable
by the ordinary methods of construction without increasing the weight of the said
frames the metal of the tubes being disposed so as to have an increased thickness
and consequently increased strength at the parts where junctions with other tubes
or parts are to be made the main parts or those parts of the tubes where there is
but little strain or liability to fracture being made lighter than usual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim as
our invention of "Improvements in bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes."
First. Strengthening the junctions of the tubular parts of the frames of
velocipedes by making the said franes of tubes having a greater thickness of
metal at the end where the junction is effected than the main portion of the tube
the external diameter of the tube being the same throughout, the thick or
strengthened end of the tube passing into the thin or main portion of the tube by

page_text: an inclined or tapering internal shoulder substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. Strengthening the junctions of the tubular parts of the frames of
velocipedes by making the said frames of tubes having a greater thickness of
metal at the end where the junction is effected than the main portion of the
tube the internal diameter of the tube being the same throughout, the thick
or strengthened end of the tube. passing into the thin or main portion of the
tube by an inclined or tapering external shoulder substantially as herein before
described.
Deted the Fifteenth due of August 1895
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.