Improvements in and connected with the Orank Brackets or Hangers of Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Orank Brackets or Hangers
of Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FAUBER, of 806, Marquette Buildings, Chicago, Illinois,
U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to lie particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction in means for connecting
the frame bars of a bicycle with a hanger sleeve or tubular part in the crank shaft
bearings are supported, and also in an eccentric sleeve or bushing which directly
supports the crank shaft bearings and which is mounted in the said hanger sleeve
in order to provide means for shifting the crank shaft with respect to the machine
frame before adjustment of the driving chain.
The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in
the appended claims.
As shown in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an eccentric bicycle hanger embodying
my invention.
Figure 2 is a view in central vertical section of the same taken on line 2-2
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a view in elevation of one of the eccentric heads or flanges of the
eccentric sleeve or bushing.
Figure 6 is a view of the other one of said heads or flanges showing the exterior
face thereof.
Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the central lug when separated from
the hanger sleeve.
Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the lug for the forward frame bar.
Figure 9 is a similar view of said lug for the forward frame bar showing the
flange thereof in side view.
Figure 10 is a detail section showing a modified construction in the holding
frames of the sleeve.
As shown in said drawings, A indicates a tubular bracket or hanger sleeve, the
same consisting of a tube or sleeve A, which constitutes the body of the bracket,
and three attached tubular projections or lugs B, C and D. E indicates an inner
eccentric sleeve or bushing in which the external annular bearing members or
cups of the shaft bearings are secured. and F FI two heads or flanges attached
to the eccentric sleeve B and engaged at their outer edges with the annular
sleeve A.
First describing the sleeve A and the means for attaching the lugs B, C and D
thereto, these parts are constructed as follows:
The lugs B. C and D), are each of tubular or cylindric form and provided at
their ends adjacent to the sleeve A with integral flanges, as indicated on the

page_text: drawings by B, C and D¹. The said flanges B¹, C¹, and ])' are curved to conform
to the curvature of the external surface of the sleeve A and are fitted accurately
thereto. The lugs are joined to the sleeve by soldering or brazing and the said
flanges B, C and D₁ afford extended surfaces, in contact with the sleeve, which
afford a large area in the brazed joints between the lugs and sleeve and thereby
afford an exceedingly strong connection between the same. In order to afford
the greatest possible area of contact between the flanges B C and D and the
sleeve, said flanges are made of rectangular form, are fitted closely to each other
at their meeting edges and extend laterally on either side of the lugs so as to
cover approximately the entire outer surface of the sleeve. The said flanges B, C¹
and D, are arranged to meet each other at points between the central and front
and rear lugs, but at the lower sides of the lugs B and I said flanges are extended
for a considerable distance downwardly along the curved face of the sleeve so as
to give an extended contact surface at this point. Such extended parts of the
flanges might, of course, meet each other beneath the sleeve, but, usually, I
prefer to insert a curved filling piece E between the lower ends of the flanges B
and I so as to give a smooth cylindric form to the sleeve without making anid
Hange B' and D₁ unduly long at the lower sides of the lugs thereto attached. The
filling piece El, however, serves mainly to give a finished appearance to the hanger
as a whole, and is not essential or necessary so far as the general results desired
are concerned.
The several lugs B, C and D, are, as shown in the drawings, designed for
making what is known as a flush joint frame, and for this purpose are provided
with shoulders b, c and d, against which the ends of the frame tubes abut when
the outer parts of the lugs are inserted therein. The presence of such shoulders
is not, however, necessary and the same results will be produced if the lugs be
made without said shoulder, in which case the ends of the frame members may
and commonly will, reach to the outer surface of the flanges B', C¹ and D)¹.
Said lugs B, C and D, with their integral flanges, are shown as made of drawn
metal and the lugs are being provided with partially closed outer ends or heads.
I also form upon the end portions of the sleeve A two outwardly extending
circumferential ribs or flanges al a¹ between which the side margins of the
flanges B, C and D of the lugs are closely fitted. When the said flanges a¹
are first made they rise from the face of the sleeve a distance somewhat greater
than the thickness of the metal forming the lug flanges, so that when the lugs
are placed in position upon the sleeve preparatory to brazing they may be held
in position thereon by hammering down or upsetting said flanges or the inner
parts thereof into contact with the edges of the said lug flanges. To facilitate
this operation I make the sleeve flanges a' with relatively thin edges or lips a³, a
(Figure 2) which may be easily bent over, the lug flanges at the time of securing
them in place. The flanges a' made as described, obviously not only serve to
hold in place the several lugs during the operation of brazing, but they also serve
as guides to accurately hold the lugs in the same vertical plane, and when the
parts are finished form smooth or continuous edges at the side margins of the
sleeve, it being of course understood that after the brazing operation is com-
pleted said flanges will be filed or otherwise reduced until flush with tlie adjacent
surface of the lug flanges.
A. variation in the angular location or position of the lugs B, C and D, is often
required in making frames of different styles or proportions, and such variations
in the position of the lugs is readily accomplished in the construction. described,
by making the lug flanges wider or narrower or by originally constructing those
on the central lug of a width equal to the greatest that may be required in any
case and then reducing same by filing. Moreover, where a considerable difference
in the angle of the lug is required, as in making a drop frame or ladies wheel,
a lug made like the lugs B and D illustrated, may be reversed, so as to bring
the longer part of the flange uppermost, so that it will reach to the flange of the
central lug C.

page_text: When the article made as described is manufactured and sold as a separate
part or fitting, the lugs will usually not be brazed to the sleeve, the attachment
of the lugs to the sleeve being in such instance performed by the person who
makes the frame and who will braze the lugs to the sleeve at the same time the
frame members are secured to the lugs. When the article is thus supplied the
detached lugs may be readily secured in place upon the sleeve by slightly hammer-
ing down or bending over the flanges a sufficiently to engage and hold the lug
flanges and the article thereby furnished with the parts connected, although the
lugs will be left sufficiently loose to be accurately adjusted to place preparatory
to brazing.
A hanger sleeve or bracket made as herein described, has many important
advantages. A principal advantage is that it is very strong, because the sleeve
itself is complete or continuous, while the extended contact surface between the
lug flanges and the sleeve afford brazed joints of ample strength. Another
important advantage is that it is very cheap to manufacture, because the central
sleeve can be easily or cheaply made and the flanged lugs, being made separately,
can be easily and rapidly mude of drawn metal. Another important advantage
arising from the construction described is that the lugs can be readily adjusted
into position upon the sleeve to agree with the angles of the frame members which
are to be joined thereto, so that with a single set of forming tools, brackets can be
supplied for frames of different designs or proportions.
The employment of holding flanges a¹ on the sleeve is of great benefit, for the
reason that it greatly simplifies and facilitates the brazing operation, it being
obvious that the presence of said flanges makes it unnecessary to join the parts
prior to brazing, by holding pins or rivets or by the use of wire or other expedients,
which are both troublesome and increase the work required in finishing the article
after the brazing operation. The employment of the thin edge or lip a³ on the
holding flange is of special advantage, as such edge or lip can be easily closed or
bent down over the flanges on the lugs, by a few blows of a hammer or by the
use of other suitable implement, thereby enabling the lugs to be attached to the
sleeve by a simple operation which can be quickly performed. Moreover, such
thin lip or flange can be easily and quickly removed by filing or like process after
the brazing operation or in the process of finishing the hanger sleeve.
In Figure 10 I have shown a construction in the hanger sleeve in which the
holding flange a¹, is made of slightly different shape from that shown in the other
figures, said flange in this instance being undercut or made to slightly overhang
the adjacent surface of the sleeve, while the side margins of the lug flanges are
shaped to conform to the overhanging surface of the flange, which, in the instance
illustrated, is made oblique so that both flanges together form what is equivalent
to the dovetailed groove. When the sleeve is thus constructed the overhanging
part of one or both flanges will be cut away at one point in the circumference of
the sleeve (preferably at the lower part thereof), to permit the convenient insertion
of the lugs or the engagement of the flanges thereof with the holding flanges. In
this construction obviously the overhanging holding flanges will retain the lugs
in contact with the sleeve during adjustment and while the brazing operation is
being performed. If desired, the lugs may be secured from sliding movement
after they have been brought to their proper position by strokes of the hammer
upon the overhanging part of the flange, so as to close the latter against the lug
flanges, and thereby hold the lugs firmly from movement in either direction.
Now referring to the features of construction in the eccentric sleeve E and
the means for adjustably securing it within the sleeve A, these parts are made
as follows: The said hanger sleeve is provided at its opposite ends with screw
threaded portions A¹ A², of which the part A' is smaller in diameter than the
part A. The heads F F are made of different sizes and are externally screw
threaded to fit said screw threaded parts B' B. The smaller flange or head is
of such external diameter as to easily pass through the hanger sleeve, so that both

page_text: heads may be engaged at one time with the hanger sleeve by the turning of the
eccentric sleeve.
The flanges or heads F F are provided with openings of proper size to receive
the ends of the eccentric sleeve, which latter is made longer than the hanger
sleeve; said heads being secured to the eccentric sleeve in any suitable manner,
preferably by brazing. For clamping the eccentric sleeve within the hanger
sleeve one or more set screws G are provided in position to act upon the opposite
heads, so as to force the same apart or draw them together, and thus produce
a clamping action of their screw threaded parts upon the hanger sleeve. As
herein shown two set screws are employed, and the same have screw threaded
engagement with the head F and are adapted to abut or bear against the inner
face of the head 11, the set screw thus constructed serving to force apart the
heads and thereby clamp them within the hanger sleeve. A curved slot f is
preferably located in the head F adjacent to the eccentric sleeve. Said slot may
be used in one or both heads and it has the effect of giving greater flexibility
to that part of the head which is engaged or acted upon by the set screws.
The heads FF are preferably formed of drawn sheet, metal having inwardly
and outwardly directed Ranges fi, f, f and f, at their inner and outer margins,
the flanges, engaging the hanger while the flanges f, f, fit upon the
eccentric sleeve, serving to afford strong joints between the parts. The metal
of the head F is reinforced at its part through which the set screw G are inserted,
by a segmental piece of metal f5 secured by brazing to the inner face of the head.
One advantage of an eccentric sleeve made as described is that it may be very
easily and cheaply constructed the two flanges or heads thereof being of such
simple form as to be easily made, while the brazed joints between the said heads
or flanges afford ample strength combined with lightness of weight and cheapness
of construction. A special advantage is gained by making the two flanges or
edges on the eccentric sleeves of different diameters, for the reason that this
construction not only affords a secure means of holding the eccentric hanger
sleeve within the hanger in a manner to permit its casy and convenient adjust-
ment, but it greatly facilitates the assembling of the parts for the reason that
hoth heads may be engaged at once with the screw threaded parts of the hanger
sleeve, while liability of crossing the threads in inserting the eccentric sleeve is
entirely avoided.
A further important advantage arising from the making of the hanger sleeve
with screw-threads at both ends to engage the heads of the eccentric sleeve arises
from the fact that employment of such screw threads greatly lessens liability
of imperfect fitting of the parts by the workman who does the final assembling
of the machine. This will be better understood by the consideration of the fact
that when a hanger sleeve furnished by the manufacturer in readiness to receive
the shaft bearings heated, for the purpose of brazing the frame tubes thereto,
the sleeve is often warped while the spelter used in brazing is liable to find its
way into the interior of the sleeve. After the brazing operation, therefore, the
sleeve must be cleaned out before the parts can be assembled, and if the hanger
be made a smooth interior surface or without screw threads a careless, or unskilful
workman will frequently attempt to remove the spelter or restore the interior
surface to its cylindric form by the use of a file, with the result usually that the
sleeve is filed out of true and the bearing members when inserted therein are
thrown out of line or inaccurately located. When the sleeve is screw threaded,
however, a tap is necessarily used to make true the screw threads and to remove
the spelter therefrom, in which case accurate fitting of the bearing members must
necessarily result. A special advantage arises from the making of the screw
threads of different diameters at opposite ends of the sleeve, for the reason that
in this construction not only is the use of a tap necessary in finishing the parts
for the brazing operation, but liability of crossing the threads in inserting the
tap is avoided, by reason of the fact that the tap is engaged by the threads at

page_text: both ends of the hanger and the threads cannot be crossed even if the work be
done by workmen of little skill and experience.
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. A crank shaft hanger comprising a hanger sleeve, and a plurality of lugs
provided with outwardly extending flanges which are curved to fit the outer surface
of the sleeve, said sleeve being provided at its opposite ends with circumferential
holding flanges, and the said flanges on the lugs being shaped at their edges to
fit against each other and against the holding flanges.
2. A crank shaft hanger comprising a hanger sleeve, and a tubular lug provided
with an outwardly extending integral flange which is curved to fit the outer
surfaces of the sleeve, said sleeve having circumferential holding flanges adapted
for engagement with the side edges of the flanges on the lug, said holding flange
being provided with a thin edge or lip which rises above the surface of the flange
on the lug and which may be bent or folded over the same to hold the lug upon
the sleeve.
3. The combination with a hanger sleave having screw threaded parts of different
diameters at its ends, of two eccentric apertured heads, one of which is smaller
than the other and which are provided with screw threads to engage those in the
sleeve, and an eccentric sleeve fitting at its ends in openings in the heads.
4. The combination with a hanger sleeve, provided at its ends with screw
threaded parts, of an eccentric sleeve to receive the shaft bearings, said eccentric
sleeve being provided with heads to engage the said screw threaded parts of the
hanger sleeve, and one or more set screws engaging both heads for clamping
the latter within the hanger sleeve.
6. The combination with a hanger sleeve provided with screw threads, of an
eccentric sleeve to receive the shaft bearings, provided with heads which are
screw threaded to engage the hanger sleeve, one of said heads being provided with
a slot, and a set screw or screws engaging the heads and acting on the slotted
head at a point or points exterior to the slot therein.
Dated this 19th low at No 1900
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.