An Improved Manufacture of Frames of Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Frames of Velocipedes.
We, EDOUARD VERSCHAVE fils, of 17 bls Rue Pavée, Paris, Manufacturer, and
HENRI BEDET, of 6 Chemin de Justice, Plaine St. Denis, Mechanician, both in
the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved manufacture of frames of velocipedes.
The system which we have devised for manufacturing frames of velocipedes has for
its object to obtain frames all the parts of which are tubular as in the frames hereto-
fore used and are neither soldered nor brazed, this mode of joining presenting the
inconvenience of having sometimes weak points, imperfectly united by the solder.
Our improved system consists in providing a folded joint for connecting together
the embossed parts of the two sides which compose the frame; moreover in order
that no rib may form a projection round the tubes which thus constitute the frame
of the velocipede the folded parts are forced inwards; and owing to the means
which we have devised for producing this result we obtain a perfectly smooth outer
surface which shows on each side a joining line which the varnish completely
conceals. Thus we obtain by this method of manufacture a great saving in the
construction, a considerable strength and lightness, and no defects need be feared
from badly executed soldering.
In carrying out our improved method of manufacturing frames of velocipedes we
cut from a sheet of metal a double quadrangular frame, the middle part of which,
designed to be rolled, will subsequently form the head. Three parts intended to
form the upper and lower front members and the lower rear members are on each
side of this middle part and constitute the sides of the frame, while the diagonal
member will form the saddle support and have at its lower end the bracket for
supporting the axle of the pedals.
The fourth side of the quadrangle of the frame, which must connect the upper
part of the saddle support with the rear part of the arms of the rear fork, might
likewise be formed of tubes made from the same sheet of metal so that the whole
frame would consist of a single piece; but we prefer to make this part of two
independent tubular rods which are fixed on the one hand to the saddle support
and on the other hand to the end of the lower rear member provided with an
elongated slot.
The blank cut out flat is then subjected to the embossing operation, each side
or branch assuming a semi-circular form. Then we fold this sheet metal upon
itself about the middle part in order to superpose the two halves of the frame
and form a frame whose upper and lower front member and the diagonal
member are tubes formed by two half tubes joined edge to edge by folding over.
We may also employ two similar cut sheets cach forming one half of the said
frame, and connect them by a folding joint along the line where the frame would
otherwise be folded so that the head would have two folding joints, one in front
and one at the rear.
The folding joint is obtained in the following manner: Each half-tube presents
on one side a flat edge and on the other side an edge bent at a right angle. The

page_text: arrangement of the flanges thus produced is such that the flat edge of one half-tube
rests upon the flat edge of the other, these two half-tubes being in this position we
turn down the bent parts in order to bring the two straight edges together, where-
upon we lay the folded parts against the tube. Next we force them inwards so
that there may be no projecting part on the outside; there exists on each side a
line which is scarcely visible and will be completely hidden by the varnish.
Instead of being similar, the two parts which are superposed may be made in
such a manner that one of them has the two raised flanges while the other has only
flat edges.
For forcing the folded parts into the interior of the tube we make use of a
mould or mandril having grooves which is placed in the interior of the tube to be
formed and upon which we operate by rolling the folded edges of the metal. To
ensure the separation of the mandril from the tube it is expedient to make this
mandril slightly taper. This mandril is generally made of metal, but if made of
wood it may be left in the interior of the tube, especially if the tubes consist of
light metal such as aluminium.
The various operations of folding over, turning down the raised edges of the
embossed parts, laying the folded parts against the tube, forcing these parts to the
interior of the said tube, may advantageously be performed by the aid of a rolling
machine such as that hereinafter described. This rolling machine comprises two
frames having between them the transmitting gear wheels and exteriorly the
grooved rollers between which we pass successively the several tubular parts of the
frame to produce the folded parts in the conditions before explained.
Each of the parts of the velocipede frame, which must constitute the two lower
arms of the rear fork, is rolled completely upon itself to form an entire tube having
only a single folded joint obtained by the junction of the two opposite edges
brought together after rolling. In the same manner we form the rods which
constitute the two upper arms of the rear fork; they are made of metallic bands
which are rolled and folded together. We flatten the ends and pierce them with
holes for connecting the same with the saddle support and the arms of the lower
rear member. The joining of the said rods with the saddle support may be
effected in two different manners: either the diagonal of the saddle support is
pierced with a hole with which engages a bolt extending also through holes of the
said rods and through an elongated eye provided in the rod of the saddle support ;
or each of the halves of the frame is cut out with a lug embossed so as to form,
when bringing these lugs together, a nipple to each side of which a rod or branch
is applied.
For completing this frame it is only necessary to arrange at the point of the axis
for the pedals the socket for the pedal axle. This socket is formed of two half-
sockets chased in the sheet metal. We open the bottom, and the two parts are
then brought together. Into their interior is introduced a cylindrical socket
which protrudes a little sideways and with a muller the metal of this socket is
pushed back at the edge of the aforesaid sockets so as to form retaining part. The
two sockets of the sides of sheet metal take from below into the part of the bottom
bracket.
In certain cases we may provide a cross-piece between the branches forming the
lower rear member of the frame.
D

page_text: An improved manufacture of Frames
We, EDOUARD VERSCHAVE fils, of 17 bis Rue Pavée, Paris, Manufacturer, and
HENRI BEDET, of 6 Chemin de Justice, Plaine St. Denis, Mechanician, both in
the Republic of France, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved manufacture of frames of velocipedes.
The system which we have devised for manufacturing frames of velocipedes has
for its object to obtain frames all the parts of which are tubular as in the frames
heretofore used and are neither soldered nor brazed, this mode of joining
presenting the inconvenience of having sometimes weak points, imperfectly united
by the solder.
Our improved system consists in providing a folded joint for connecting together
the embossed parts of the two sides which compose the frame; moreover in order
that no rib may form a projection round the tubes which thus constitute the frame
of the velocipede the folded parts are forced inwards; and owing to the means
which we have devised for producing this result we obtain a perfectly smooth
outer surface which shows on each side a joining line which the varnish will
completely conceal. Thus we obtain by this method of manufacture a great
saving in the construction, considerable strength and lightness, and there will be no
defects due to badly executed soldering.
We will now proceed to describe our method of manufacturing frames of
velocipedes with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a view of the blank cut from a sheet of metal from which blank the
finished frame is made.
Figure 1 is a view of the blank from which the connecting member or rod is
formed.
Figure 2 is a section on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the frame after the edges have been turned up to give it the
necessary semicircular section.
Figure 3 is a view of Figure 14 after being curved.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the frame after the forming operation.
Figure 5 is a view of the frame after the two halves have been brought
together.
Figure 5 is a view of Figure 1 after it has been formed into a tube.
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.
Figures 7 to 10 show the different operations for making the joints.
Figure 11 is a modified section of tube.
Figure 12 is a section of tube in which the joints are arranged exteriorly.
Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section of a machine for rolling the said tubes.
Figure 14 is a section of tube having only one joint.
Figure 15 is a view of a frame, showing a slight modification in the connection
for the connecting member or rod.
Figure 16 is a section of the same and
Figures 17 to 20 are views illustrating the method of making the bottoni
bracket.
From a sheet of metal we cut a double quadrangular frame, (Figure 1) the
part A of which, designed to be rolled will subsequently form the head. The
three parts B, C, F on each side of this middle part constitute the sides of the
frame; and are designed to form the saddle support, and the parts HH to form

page_text: the bottom bracket for supporting the axis of the pedals. Figure 1 indicates in
dotted lines the parts of metal at the edges of the various sides of the quadrangle
which serve to form the folded joints.
The fourth side of the quadrangle of the frame, which must connect the upper
part of the saddle support with the rear part of the arms E of the rear fork,
might likewise be formed of tubes made from the same sheet of metal so that the
whole frame would consist of a single piece; but we prefer to make this part of
two independent tubular connecting members or rods D which are fixed on the one
hand to the saddle support and on the other hand to arms E at the point where the
elongated slot is provided.
The blank cut out flat (as shown in transverse section Figure 2) is then subjected
to the embossing operation, cach side or branch assuming a semicircular form,
(shown in plan Figure 3, and in section Figure 4). Then we fold this sheet
metal upon itself about the part A in order to superpose the two halves of the
frame and form a frame (Figures 5 and 6) the parts BCF of which are tubes
formed by two half-tubes joined edge to edge by folding over.
We may also employ two similar cut sheets stopping at the line (Figure 1)
and connect them by a folding joint along this line so that the head would have two
folding joints, one in front and one at the rear.
The folding joint is obtained in the following manner.
Each half-tube as shown
in Figure 4 is provided on one side with a flat edge a and on the other side with an
edge bent at a right angle as at c. The arrangement of the flanges thus produced
is such that the flat edge a of one half-tube rests upon the flat edge of the other
as shown in Figure 7, these two half-tubes being in this relative position we turn
down the bent parts e in order to bring the two straight edges together (Figure 8),
whereupon we lay the folded parts against the tube (Figure 9). Next we force
them inwards (Figure 10) so that there may be no projecting part on the outside;
there exists on each side a joining line which is scarcely visible and which will be
completely hidden by the varnish.
Instead of being similar, the two parts which are superposed may be as shown
in Figure 11; one of them has the two raised flanges cc while the other has only
flat edges a a.
Instead of folding over the joints twice so as to apply them against the surface
of the tube and then causing these joints to enter the interior of the tube we may
provide for a single exterior folding as shown in Figure 12. In this case the joints
constitute two ribs or edges which, being placed in a vertical plane passing through
the axis of the tubes, help to increase the strength.
For forcing the folded parts into the interior of the tube we make use of a
mould or mandril M having grooves dd, which mandril is placed in the interior of
the tube to be formed and upon which we operate by rolling the folded edges of
the metal. To ensure the separation of the mandril from the tube it is expedient
to make the former slightly taper. This mandril generally consists of metal, but
if made of wood it may be left in the interior of the tube, especially if the tubes
consist of light metal, such as aluminium.
The various operations of folding over the edges, turning down the raised edges
of the embossed parts, laying the folded parts against the tube, and forcing these
parts into the interior of the said tube may advantageously be performed by the
aid of a rolling machine such as that represented in Figure 13 in elevation. This
rolling machine comprises two frames G G having between them the transmitting
gear wheels and exteriorly the grooved rollers I between which we pass
successively the several tubular parts of the frame to produce the folded parts in
the condition before explained.
The parts EE of the velocipede frame, must constitute the two lower arms of
the rear fork each of them is rolled completely upon itself to form an entire tube
having only a single folded joint obtained by the junction of the two opposite edges
brought together after rolling as shown in section Figure 14. In the same manner
we form the rods which constitute the two upper arms of the rear. fork; they are

page_text: made of metallic bands DD Figure a which are rolled and folded together
Figure 5A.
We flatten the ends and pierce them with holes for connecting the same with the
saddle support and the arms E. The joining of the rods D with the saddle support
may be effected in two different manners; either the diagonal F forming the saddle
support (Figures 1, 3 and 5) is pierced with a hole h with which engages a bolt
extending also through the holes i of the rods DD and through the elongated eye
provided in the rod of the saddle support; or each of the halves F of the frame is
formed with a lug j Figure 15 embossed so as to form, when bringing these lugs
together Figure 16, a nipple to each side of which a rod or branch D is applied.
For completing this frame it is only necessary to arrange at the point of the
axis for the pedals the socket for the pedal axle. This socket is formed of two
half-sockets d chased in the sheet metal (Figure 17, showing a section on the
line y-y of Figure 3).
We cut out the bottom d* of sockets d' as shown in
Figure 18 and when the two parts are brought together they are presented to
each other as shown in Figure 19. Into their interior is introduced a cylindrical
socket e which protrudes a little sideways (Figure 20) and with a muller the metal
of this socket e is pushed back at the edge of the sockets d d so as to form retaining
parts ff. The two sockets of the sides of sheet metal are fastened together
at g by folded joints.
In certain cases we may provide a cross-piece between the branches E E
Figure 6 near their commencement, but this cross-piece does not form part of our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The system of manufacturing frames of velocipedes of sheet metal, the parts of
which are embossed to the form of semicircles with lateral flanges in such a manner
that, by placing two similar parts one against the other an entire tube will be
obtained which presents flanges designed to be folded over, the parts folded
exteriorly being then forced into the interior of the tube by flattening and rolling
upon a mandril provided with grooves, substantially as herein set forth with
reference to the drawing.
Dated this 1st day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.