Improvements in the Construction of Framework for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Framework for Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS SMITH of Church Street, Bolton in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is
to say:-
It relates to an improved method of forming the joints where the several pieces
of tubing are attached together, and has for its object the production of such
joints in a comparatively inexpensive manner, yet so that they shall be firmer
and stronger than when formed in the manner at present most usually followed.
To attain this object, I form the screw threads on the outer ends of the tubes
by a process of indenting or squeezing the metal into the desired shape without
cutting any portion of it away, such indentations or formations rather adding to
than diminishing the strength of tubes at these parts, while they are prepared
ready for screwing into the jointing pieces which have been similarly or otherwise
indented or grooved for their reception, on which they may be therein soldered
or by other means further secured as desired.
In producing these spiral indentations on the tubes, it is only necessary to
employ means for forcing antifriction rollers into contact therewith and causing
them to travel in a direction lengthwise the tube as said tube revolves, the latter
part of the process being readily carried into effect by a common screw-cutting
lathe, upon the travelling saddle of which the holder of the antifriction rollers
described may be secured so as to be operated thereby while the rotary motion of
the tube may be imparted thereto by the spindle in the head-stock as will be
well understood.
,90+1 :L נ י n
dev of November 1896
W. T. SMITH.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Framework for Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS SMITH of Church Street, Bolton in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say:-
It relates to an improved method of constructing the joints where the several pieces
of tubing are attached together to form the framework of the velocipede, and has
for its object the production of such joints in a comparatively inexpensive manner,
yet so that they shall be firmer and stronger than when formed or constructed as
heretofore.

page_text: In order that my said invention may be readily understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof to which by figures and letters
reference is made in the following description.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a joint made according to my invention.
Fig. 2 shows the screw threads or spiral grooves upon the tubing when formed
by pressing the metal of the tubing inwards so that the external diameter of the
tubing remains unaltered.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but shows the tubing pressed outwardly so
that the size of opening through the tube is not decreased.
To attain the object of my invention I form male screw threads or spiral
grooves a on the end of a tube b by indenting or squeezing the metal into the
desired shape without cutting any portion of it away, such indentations or
formations rather adding to, than diminishing the strength of the tube at this
part, and I form in any convenient manner corresponding female screw threads
in the jointing pieces e so that the tube & may be screwed into the jointing piece e.
Before screwing the two together I coat the screw thread on the end of the tube b
or in the jointing piece or both these screw threads, with molten solder, so
that when the parts are finally screwed together and the solder sets through
cooling, a firm and unyielding joint is produced.
Or the screw threads may be covered or coated with solder and after it has
cooled down the tube & may be then screwed into the jointing piece e sufficiently
far for the shouldered parts d d to be firmly brought together, on which they
may be sweated or heated to the proper temperature to melt the solder and cause
it to flow so that when afterwards cooled one part is firmly held to the other.
As the melting temperature of the solder is far below the heat that will interfere
so as to detrimentally affect the temper of the steel tubes it will be seen that the
joint is formed and one part secured to the other without said tubes being
weakened as is the case when the process of brazing has to be employed wherein
the parts have to be heated to a high temperature to effect the adhesion of one
metal to another.
It is obvious that instead of having a male screw thread on the tube and a
female screw thread on the jointing piece, the tube may be provided with a female
serew and the jointing piece with a corresponding male serew.
In order that those tubes which require both of their outer ends securing to
the other parts that are used in the formation of the framework, may he readily a
joined to such parts, I make the screwed threads or spiral grooves thereon to
lead in opposite directions thus one will he what is known as a "right-hand "
thread while the other is a "left-hand " thread, by which means when the tube
is rotated both of its ends are screwed into the sockets made to receive them.
In a frame thus constructed, should it be desired to remove for repairs or to 4
replace by a new one, any of the tubes of the frame, it is only necessary to heat
the joints so as to melt the solder in order that their detachment may be effected.
In producing these spiral indentations on the tube it is only necessary to place
a screw plug of suitable shape inside the end of the tube and to employ means
for forcing antifriction rollers, of the proper shape to form the grooves into 4
contact with said tube and causing these rollers to travel in a direction length-
wise the tube as this latter is being revolved. This part of the process may be
readily carried into effect by a common screw-cutting lathe upon the travelling
saddle of which the holder of the antifriction rollers described may be secured
so as to be thereby operated, while the rotary motion of the tube may be imparted 5
thereto by the spindle in the head-stock as will be well understood.
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 the construction of framework for velocipedes, making joints between 54
the tubes by forming suitable screw threads or spiral indentations on the end of

page_text: a tube, without diminishing the thickness of metal in the tube, fitting into or
onto a corresponding screw thread and filling up the interstices between the threads
with solder or other suitable metal substantially as described.
2. In the construction of framework for velocipedes producing a suitable screw
thread on the end of a tube without diminishing the thickness of metal in the
tube by pressure, rolling or other equivalent process, and screwing it into or
onto a corresponding screw thread and filling up the interstices between the
threads with solder or other suitable metal so as to make a sound joint sub-
stantially as described.
3. In the construction of framework for velocipedes forming the end of a tube,
by pressure, rolling or other equivalent process, with a screw thread fitting into
or onto a corresponding screw thread, and coating one or both screw threads
with solder or other suitable metal, and screwing one part into the other in a
heated condition so that the solder is in a molten state while the parts are being
screwed together but afterwards sets so as to make a sound joint, substantially
as described.
4. In the construction of framework for velocipedes forming the end of a tube,
by pressure, rolling or other equivalent process, with a screw thread fitting into
or onto a corresponding screw thread, and coating one or both screw threads with
solder or other suitable metal, and screwing one part into the other and then
heating the parts so as to make the solder unite in the interstices between the
screw threads and make a sound joint substantially as described.
5. In the construction of framework for velocipedes forming by pressure, rolling
or other equivalent process right and left hand screw threads on opposite ends
of a tube and corresponding screw threads in or on the jointing pieces, so that
the tube is simultaneously screwed to both jointing pieces, and filling up the
interstices between the screw threads with solder or other suitable metal sub-
stantially as described.
6. The improved method of jointing framework for velocipedes substantially as
described.
Dated this 31st day of T... 100%
WILLIAM T. SMITH.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.