Improvements relating to Cycle Frames.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
Improvements relating to Cycle Frames.
I, HAVELOCK HARFORD, of 3, Albion Terrace, South Shields, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:―
This invention consists of improvements relating to cycle frames, my object
being to strengthen such frames and to make efficient joints or connections be-
tween the tubular parts without brazing.
In constructing a cycle frame in accordance with my invention I compress the
ends of the tubes by suitable tools to a screw or worm like form, which engages
with a corresponding thread formed within or upon the lugs, sockets, or like
parts of the frame. The parts of the frame so formed can thus be readily and
effectually connected by simply screwing them together, and they are locked in
position by a tapered head tube or steering socket tube.
The corrugation of the tube ends and the sockets or the like resulting from
the formation of the screw or worm, in the manner described, considerably
strengthens or stiffens the frame at those parts where the greatest stress occurs
when the frame is in service.
"
I sometimes sweat or solder the joints for the purpose of preventing any
wet or moisture from entering between the screwed surfaces of the adjacent parts.
My invention is adapted to the construction of cycle frames of varying patterns
or designs.
Improvements relating to Cycle Frames.
I, HAVELOCK HARFORD, of 3, Albion Terrace, South Shields, in the County of
Durham, 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:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to cycle frames, my object
being to strengthen such frames and to make efficient joints or connections be-
tween the tubular parts without brazing.
to.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a cycle frame constructed in
accordance with my invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is a sectional plan showing the method of locking the tube ends by
the steering head tube.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the bottom bracket showing the internal
locking tube.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In constructing a cycle frame in accordance with my invention I compress the
ends of the tubes by suitable tools to a screw or worm like form, which engages
with a corresponding thread formed within or upon the lugs, sockets, or like
parts of the frame. The parts of the frame so formed can be thus readily and
effectually connected by simply screwing them together, and they are locked in
position by the head tube or steering socket tube A in the manner hereinafter
described.
One of the ends of the top tube B is screwed into the seat lug (not shown in
the drawings) and into such lug or socket is also screwed the upper end of the
diagonal tube or seat tube upon the lower end of which is screwed the bottom
bracket; a part of such bracket C is shown at Figure 3. One end of the bottom
tube D is then screwed into the part C¹ of the bottom bracket C. The main tubes
of the cycle frame being thus connected together the top socket lug E is screwed
home on the top tube B and the bottom socket lug F is screwed home on the
bottom tube D. The head tube or steering socket tube A, which has plain or
unscrewed ends, is then passed into its position in the lugs E and F; the upper
end of the tube A has a groove or depression as a to receive a corresponding
internal projection e from the lug E for the purpose of preventing rotation of the
tube and for assisting in the securing of the parts together. The lower end of
the tube A which fits within the lug is made slightly taper and the lug itself
is made to a correspondingly conical form for the more effectual connection of the
two parts.
The ends of the tubes B and D) which project within the lugs E and F respec-
tively are cut or dressed to the inner radius of such lugs to permit of the inser-
tion of the tube A. When the tube A is in its position it will be seen, on refer-
ence to Figure 2, that the ends of the tubes B and D), being of the concave form
shown, will embrace, or partially embrace the tube A and thus they cannot be
turned or revolved until the said tube is withdrawn. In the same manner the
short plain tube G which I fit within the central portion of the bottom bracket C
serves to lock the concave ends of the tubes screwed into such bracket.
The corrugation of the tube ends and the sockets or the like, resulting from
the formation of the screw or worm in the manner described, considerably
strengthens or stiffens the frame at those parts where the greatest stress occurs
when the frame is in service.
I sometimes employ a strengthening liner or re-enforcement for the screwed or
like connecting ends of the tubes, each of such liners or re-enforcements consisting
of a piece of tube having its entire length similarly corrugated to the main tube
ends and of such a diameter as to permit of its being screwed into such ends.
The liner is somewhat longer than the length of the screwed end of the tube into
which it is inserted and thus extends a short distance along the plain bore of the
tube.
"
I sometimes sweat or solder the joints for the purpose of preventing any
wet or moisture from entering between the screwed surface of the adjacent parts.
My invention is adapted to the construction of cycle frames of varying patterns
or designs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Connecting or jointing the tubular parts of a cycle frame without brazing and
in such a manner as to strengthen or stiffen the frame, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In cycle frames, the combination with the screwed or like connecting ends
of the tubular parts of such frames, of means for locking the said ends in position,
substantially as described and as illustrated.
1
1011 Ja of October 1898
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.