improvements in the Construction of Metallic Frames for Velocipedes, Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Lett, 10th Sept.. .1897 -Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
DRAVITAAN AT ODIATRICATION
improvements in the Construction of Metallic Frames for Velocipedes,
Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
We JOSEPH PLATT, of 66 Baillie Street, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and Joux GRAYSON, of 2 Macdonald's Lane, Corporation Street,
Manchester, in the aforesaid County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in the construction of metallic
frames for velocipedes, motor-cars and other vehicles in which a light and strong
frame is required. The invention relates particularly to an improved mode of
forming the joints of the tubular members of the frame with the cast or other
couplings or lugs which connect the said tubular members together.
At present in bicycle frames and the like it is the custom to braze or solder
the said tubular members to the couplings, but this is not only an expensive,
troublesome and uncertain method of connection, but is also apt to change the
nature of or weaken the metal at the points of connection and thus constitute a
source of danger.
According to our invention we dispense with all such brazing and connect the
tubular members to the couplings in a cold state by mechanical pressure, whereby
the different parts become engaged or interlocked with each other so as to be
practically inseparable.
In carrying the invention into effect we groove or indent the plug portion of
the coupling which enters the tube, by turning, milling, pressing or other means,
and when the tubular portion has been slipped over the plug of the coupling, we
mill, press or otherwise force those portions of the tube which are opposite thereto
into the said grooves or indentations.
By this means the tubular member becomes interlocked and inseparably con-
nected with the coupling or lug, and in this condition forms a secure and reliable
joint. Nevertheless still further to strengthen and consolidate the joint, we prefer
to slip a separate sleeve over the joint, the same sleeve overlapping the abutting
end of the tubular member and preferably extending a little over the end of the
inserted coupling plug. To retain the sleeve.in position we mill or force the metal
of the sleeve into the grooves or indentations previously formed in the tubular
member and thus secure the sleeve. In some cases we might dispense with the
preliminary formation of grooves or indentations in the couplings and after putting
the several parts together, simply mill, force or press the grooves or indentations
into the tube or sleeve so that the parts will bite into and engage with each other.
The locking grooves or indentations might be annular ring grooves or waved
grooves or they might consist of interrupted indentations or spaced depressions.
All of the hitherto brazed joints of a bicycle frame for example may be made
by means of our improvement and the invention is applicable to the jointing of
tubular members of any usual section whether round flat or oval. The operations
being conducted when the materials are in a cold state, the metal is not weakened

page_text: nor its nature altered by the application of heat, while the jointing is effected
much more expeditiously and economically than heretofore. The improvement
is also applicable in cases where the tubes are let into the couplings instead of
being placed over them, the outer sleeve of the coupling in such a case being
grooved or indented so as to bite into and engage with the inner inserted tube.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Frames for Velocipedes,
Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
We JOSEPH PLATT, of 66 Baillie Street, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and Jonx GRAYSON, of 2 Macdonald's Lane, Corporation Street,
Manchester, in the aforesaid County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particualrly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
drawings:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in the construction of metallic
frames for velocipedes, motor-cars and other vehicles in which a light and strong
frame is required. The invention relates particularly to an improved mode of
forming the joints of the tubular members of the frame with the cast or other
couplings or lugs which connect the said tubular members together.
At present in bicycle frames and the like it is the custom to braze or solder
the said tubular members to the couplings, but this is not only an expensive,
troublesome and uncertain method of connection, but is also apt to change the
nature of or weaken the metal at the points of connection and thus constitute a
source of danger.
According to our invention we dispense with all such brazing and connect the
tubular members to the couplings in a cold state by mechanical pressure, whereby
the different parts become engaged or interlocked with each other so as to be
practically inseparable.
In carrying the invention into effect we groove or indent the plug portion of
the coupling which enters the tube, by turning, milling, pressing or other means,
and when the tubular portion has been slipped over the plug of the coupling, we
mill, press or otherwise force those portions of the tube which are opposite thereto
into the said grooves or indentations.
By this means the tubular member becomes interlocked and inseparably con-
nected with the coupling or lug, and in this condition forms a secure and reliable
joint. Nevertheless still further to strengthen and consolidate the joint, we prefer
to slip a separate sleeve over the joint, the same sleeve overlapping the abutting
end of the tubular member and preferably extending a little over the end of the
inserted coupling plug. To retain the sleeve in position we mill or force the metal
of the sleeve into the grooves or indentations previously formed in the tubular
member and thus secure the sleeve.
And in order to render our invention more fully understood we have attached
hereto a sheet of explanatory drawings to which we will now refer.
Fig. 1 of the said drawings shows a bicycle frame in which the various joints
or connections are effected in accordance with our invention.

page_text: Fig. 2 shows a method of connecting the front fork and fork tube of a bicycle
to the fork crown.
Fig. 3 shows in sectional view to an enlarged scale our improved method of
joint connection.
Figs. 4 to 6 show modifications thereof.
Referring in the first place to Fig. 1 the plug portion or lugs at of the various
joints of the frame are formed with annular grooves or indentations b.
In addition to the grooves b we form the lugs a with countersunk holes cas
shown in dotted lines or it might be with a flat or flats d or we might form the
lugs a of any irregular shape or section. The grooves, holes or flats are formed
on the lug by any suitable means such as turning, milling, drilling or the
like.
a
The lug at is formed with a shoulder and the tube e which might be slightly
swelled out in diameter at this part, is slipped upon the lug a so as to abut against
the collar as shown in the drawings. The tube e is then depressed into the
groove and holes e or flats d by milling or any other suitable means until the
fube conforms to the outer configuration of the fug and is thus securely locked
thereon. To further strengthen the joint a metallic sleeye f, previously placed on
the tube e, is then forced upon the tube until it abuts against a second shoulder a
upon the lug a.
The metallic sleeve may then be depressed by milling or other suitable means
in a similar manner as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, or the sleeve f may be left plain as
shown at A Fig. 1 and in Fig. 5. The sleeve may however he depressed at the
same time as the tube.
In Fig. 5 where the sleeve f is left plain the grooves or recesses in the tube c
are filled up with metallic ribbons, soft metal, cement g or the like.
Fig. 2 shows the method of connecting the fork tube and side forks to the fork
crown, the crown being provided with grooved and indented lugs « into which the
tubes are pressed as already described.
In some cases we might dispense with the preliminary formation of grooves on
indentations in the coupling and after putting the several parts together, simply
mill, force or press the grooves or indentations into the tube or sleeve so that
the parts will bite into and engage with each other as indicated in Fig. 4.
In the end view Fig. 6 the lug a is formed with two flats d in addition to the
grooves.
The annular grooves are adapted to resist tensional or compressive strains.
whilst the holes e and flats d provide for torsional strains.
The locking grooves or indentations might be annular ring grooves as shown or
waved grooves or they might consist of interrupted indentations or spaced
depressions.
All of the hitherto brazed joints of a bicycle frame for example may be made
by means of our improvement, and the invention is applicable to the jointing of
tubular members of any usual section whether round flat or oval. The operations
being conducted when the materials are in a cold state, the metal is not weakened
nor its nature altered by the application of heat, while the jointing is effected
much more expeditiously and economically than heretofore. The improvement
is also applicable in cases where the tubes are let into the couplings instead of
being placed over them, the outer sleeve of the coupling in such a case being
grooved or indented so as to bite into and engage with the inner inserted tube.
Although we have shown our invention applied to the joints of a bicycle frame
it is of course applicable in the construction of all metallic frames for velocipedes,
motor-cars and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim;
The improved method of forming the joints of the tubular or other members of

page_text: velocipede, motor-cars and other vehicle frames substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 9th day of September 1897
For the Applicants,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.