Improved Means for use in Clamping the Ball Head of a Cycle or other Vehicle, and the Adaptation of Part thereof for use as a Clamping Device for other purposes in connection with Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for use in Clamping the Ball Head of a Cycle or other
Vehicle, and the Adaptation of Part thereof for use as a Clamping
Device for other purposes in connection with Cycles and other
Vehicles.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention has for its main object to simplify, cheapen, and improve, the
means of clamping the upper part of the ball head of a cycle or similar vehicle,
for the purpose of fixing the upper cone of the ball bearing and of fixing the
handle pillar securely within the fork socket; and comprises, also, the adaptation
of the clamp devised for the above purpose for use for other purposes in connec-
tion with a cycle or similar vehicle, such for instance as for clamping together
the telescoped parts of a brake rod.
A ball head clamping device, constructed according to this invention, com-
prises a collar formed at one side with a screwed shank which is provided with
a nut, and comprises, also, a bridle-piece formed of an upper and a lower member
which are joined together by a yoke at one end. The collar is of an interna!
diameter to fit around the steering fork socket. Holes are formed through the
upper and lower members of the bridle-piece somewhat larger in diameter than
the hole through the collar, and a hole is formed through the yoke for the
passage of the shank of the collar therethrough.
The cup which contains the upper cone of the ball bearing is formed only of
the size required to contain such cone, except for a fillet or projection which is
formed at its upper side immediately around the opening therethrough. The
lock-nut of the ball head is formed with a projection at its under side corre-
sponding to the projection of the upper side of the cup. The holes through the
upper and lower members of the bridle-piece are of a diameter to fit around
the projections, aforesaid, of the cup and lock nut, respectively. In putting the
parts together, the cup is first put in place around the steering fork socket, the
collar aforesaid is passed in between the upper and lower members of the bridle-
piece and its shank is passed through the hole formed through the yoke of the
bridle-piece, and the bridle-piece and collar are passed down over the socket,
aforesaid, with the lower member of the bridle-piece fitting around the projection
from the upper side of the cup. The lock nut is then screwed down to adjust
the upper cone of the bearing, and the projection from its under side is thus
brought into the hole through the upper member of the bridle-piece. The upper
end of the socket, aforesaid, is of course split, as usual, so that it may be clamped
around the handle pillar; and clamping of the parts together is effected by
tightening up the nut on the shank of the collar, aforesaid, whereby the cup
and nut are both pushed, by means of the bridle-piece, against one side of the

page_text: socket, and the collar is pulled against the other side. The upper member of
the bridle-piece is, preferably, extended and formed as the lamp bracket.
The above-described method of clamping the ball head is very simple, cheap
and efficient; and it will be noticed that the lock nut, instead of depending upon
its own grip to lock it as in the ordinary construction of ball head, is locked,
also, by the sideway push of the clamping device.
A clamp, for use generally with parts of cycles and other vehicles which are
required to be adjustably or detachably fixed together, consists of the clamping
device above described which comprises the collar with its screwed shank and
nut and the bridle-piece. For many, or most, purposes both the collar and
bridle-piece will be made a fit around the same tube or part, as the clamp is
usually required simply to tighten a tube around a portion which enters within
it, or merely to tighten itself around some portion, as when it carries some part
itself which has to be fixed to the vehicle.
In lieu of the bridle-piece, aforesaid, as forming part of the clamp, a bridge-
piece may be employed which is formed with a hole through which the shank,
aforesaid, of the collar passes, and with ends which bed against the cup and lock
nut, aforesaid, or against the side of a tube or other part, according to the purpose
for which the clamping device is used.
Improved Means for use in Clamping the Ball Head of a Cycle or other
Vehicle, and the Adaptation of Part thereof for use as a Clamping
Device for other purposes in connection with Cycles and other
Vehicles.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birmingham.
Manufacturers, 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 has for its main object to simplify cheapen, and improve, the
means of clamping the upper part of the ball head of a cycle or similar vehicle,
for the purpose of fixing the upper cone of the ball bearing and of fixing the
handle pillar securely within the fork socket; and comprises, also, the adaptation
of the clamp devised for the above purpose for use for other purposes in connec-
tion with a cycle or similar vehicle, such for instance as for clamping together
the telescoped parts of a brake rod.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is
a vertical section through the centre of the upper portion of a cycle ball head,
or it may be regarded as representing the upper portion of a ball head of
another vehicle, such for instance as a motor car or bath-chair. Figure 2 is a
side elevation corresponding to the section shewn by Figure 1. Figure 3 is a
plan of the head. Figure 4 is a detached plan of the collar and shank hereinafter
described; and Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same.
In describing the parts shewn by these views I will refer to them as if the head
were for use in steering a cycle.

page_text: A is the steering fork socket, and B the handle pillar which is required to
be tightly clamped therein, when it has been adjusted as to height to suit the
rider. C is the cup which is formed with or contains the upper cone or bail
race c. This cup is a sliding fit, as usual, upon the upper portion of the steering
fork socket A. A collar D is formed to be a sliding fit also on the upper portion
of the socket A, and this collar is formed at one side with a shank d having a
nut screwed on its outer end. The upper end of the socket A is formed with
a screwed thread around it, as is usual, for a short distance down from the top,
and a screwed collar or nut E is screwed thereupon, as usual. The ball bearing
is thus adjusted by means of the nut E which as it is screwed up around the
socket A presses the collar D against the back of the cup C. An annular
concentric fillet c' is formed at the back of the cup C, and a corresponding fillet el
is formed at the inner face of the screwed collar or nut E, and the collar D when
in position around the socket A is between these two fillets. A bridle-piece F,
having an upper member f, a lower member f', and a yoke f2 which joins such
members together at their inner ends, has holes formed through the members of fl
which are of a diameter to be just an easy fit around the fillets el c¹, respectively;
and a hole is formed through the yoke for the passage therethrough of the
shank d. A slit a is formed for some distance down one side of the socket A,
from the top thereof, as usual.
་
In putting together the parts above described, which surround the socket A
the cup C is first passed down over the end of the socket, the collar D (which
has been previously passed between the members f f of the bridle-piece, with
its shank & passing through the yoke) is then passed down, together with the
bridle-piece, over the socket, and is lowered down onto the cup C, with the
member of the bridle-piece surrounding the fillet c¹. The screwed collar or
nut E is then screwed onto the top of the socket, and its fillet e enters the hole
through the member of the bridle-piece. When, by means of the nut E, a
proper adjustment of the ball bearing has been made, the parts are clamped
tightly from turning, and the upper end of the socket A clamped tightly around
the handle pillar B, by screwing up the nut on the shank d and against the
back or outer face of the yoke f. The effect of tightening up the nut is to
draw the further side of the collar D tightly against the side of the socket A
and to push the nearer sides of the holes through the upper and lower members f f¹
of the bridle-piece against the corresponding sides, respectively, of the fillets el c¹,
and thus push the nut E and cup C tightly against the nearer sides of the
socket A. Both the nut E and cup C are thus so tightly gripped, between the
near sides of the holes through the members f f of the bridle-piece and the side
of the socket A, that they are securely prevented from turning; and the effect
of the clamping is, also, to close up somewhat the upper end of the socket and
thus cause it to tightly clamp the handle pillar.
If, as is convenient, the fillets el c¹ are made, as shewn, just the depth, respec-
tively, of the members f f¹ of the bridle-piece, the collar D is made of a depth
to fit between such members.
In order to conceal the upper end of the socket A it is preferred to form the
upper face of the nut E with a portion e which stands up somewhat above the
top of the socket and is just an easy fit around the handle pillar B.
When the head is required to carry a lamp, the upper member f (or the lower
member, if preferred) of the bridle-piece may be formed into a lamp bracket G,
s shewn.
A clamp, for use generally with parts of cycles and other vehicles which are
required to be adjustably or detachably fixed together, consists of the clamping
device above described which comprises the collar with its screwed shank and
ut and the bridle-piece. The collar and bridle-piece are made to fit around
he same tube or part, as the clamp is usually required simply to tighten a
ube around a portion which enters within it, or merely to tighten itself around

page_text: some portion, as when it carries some part itself which has to be fixed to the
vehicle.
As an example of these further uses of the clamping device, an application
thereof for the purpose of clamping together the telescoped parts of a brake
rod is shewn, in vertical section, by Figure 6. In this case, the members f f
of the bridle piece F, and also the collar D, fit around the end of the outer tube H.
This tube has a slit a' formed down one side for some distance from the end.
As the nut d¹ of the shank d of the collar D is tightened up the slit end of the
tube H is tightened around the inner tube K.
In lieu of the bridle-piece, aforesaid, as forming part of the clamp, and whether
used for a ball head or otherwise, a bridge-piece may be employed which is
formed with a hole through which the shank, aforesaid, of the collar passes, and
with ends which bed against the cup and lock nut, aforesaid, or against the side
of a tube or other part, according to the purpose for which the clamping device
is used, as will be obvious without need for illustration.
In lieu, also, of the screwed shank and nut thereon a set screw may be passed
through the yoke and screwed into the collar D; and, when a bridle-piece is used,
a set-screw may be screwed through the yoke to press the collar against the
nearer side of the socket A and draw the nut E and cup C against the opposite
side of the socket.
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 clamping device for cycles and other vehicles, which comprises a bridle-
piece or bridge-piece, and a collar having a shank which passes through a portion
of such bridle-piece or bridge-piece and has a nut screwed on its end by means
of which it may be forced in one direction while the bridle-piece or bridge piece
is forced in the opposite direction (or a set screw in lieu of the shank and nut),
substantially as described.
2. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle according to which the adjusting nut and cup are pressed tightly against
one side of the steering socket while the pressure thereof is supported by an
intermediate portion which bears against the opposite side of such socket, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle which comprise a collar which surrounds the steering fork socket or
corresponding socket and is provided with a shank having a nut screwed there-
upon by means of which the collar is pressed tightly against one side of such
socket while the cup and adjusting nut are pressed against the opposite side
thereof, (or a set screw in lieu of the shank and nut), substantially as described.
4. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle which comprise a bridle-piece or bridge-piece having portions which.
respectively. bear sideways against the adjusting nut and the cup which is formed
with or contains the upper ball race, a collar which surrounds the steering fork
socket or corresponding socket and is provided with a shank which passes through
the yoke of the bridle-piece or corresponding portion of the bridge-piece, and
a nut screwed upon the end of such shank by means of which the collar is pressed
tightly against one side of such socket while the cup and adjusting nut are
pressed against the opposite side thereof (or a set screw in lieu of the shank and
nut), substantially as described.
5. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle which comprise a slit through one side of the upper portion of the steering
fork socket or corresponding socket, a bridle-piece or bridge-piece having ror-
tions which, respectively, bear sideways against the adjusting nut and the cup
which is formed with or contains the upper ball race, a collar which surrounds
the said socket and is provided with a shank which passes through the yoke

page_text: of the bridle-piece or corresponding portion of the bridge-piece, and a nut screwed
upon the end of such shank by means of which the collar is pressed tightly
against one side of such socket while the cup and adjusting nut are pressed
against the opposite side thereof, (or a set-screw in lieu of the shank and nut)
substantially as described.
6. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle which comprise fillets at the under face of the adjusting nut and at the
upper face of the cup which is formed with or contains the upper ball race,
respectively, a bridle-piece or bridge-piece having portions which bear sideways
against the fillets of the nut and cup, respectively, a collar which surrounds the
steering fork socket or corresponding socket and is provided with a shank which
passes through the yoke of the bridle-piece or corresponding portion of the
bridge-piece, and a nut screwed upon the end of such shank by means of which
the collar is pressed tightly against one side of such socket while the cup and
adjusting nut are pressed against the opposite side thereof, (or a set screw in
lieu of the shank and nut) substantially as described.
7. The improved means for use in clamping the ball head of a cycle or other
vehicle, substantially as described and shewn by Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings
herewith.
8. The improved clamping device, comprising a bridle-piece and collar with
screwed shank and nut, for use with cycles and other vehicles, substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 10th dow of Nombor 1000
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.