Improved Frames for Cycles and other such Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Frames for Cycles and other such Vehicles.
WILLIAM HENRY MCLAUCHLAN, Cheylesmore Manor House, Coventry, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
To make the joints in cycle & other such frames without brazing. The lugs
into which the tubes are to be inserted have an internal thread formed in them;
The tubes, which are by preference made with thickened ends, have an external
thread to correspond. The joint is made by tightly screwing or fitting the tubes
into the lugs and securing them from turning by locking them from the inside
by means of coned plugs inserted into the ends of the tubes. Another way I claim
is to use the tubes coned to fit the lugs, with internal cones, as described, to lock
same.
Dated this 1st day of September 1897
кашер тог сустер апа other such venicles.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MCLAUCHLAN, of Cheylesmore Manor House, Coventry, War-
wickshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to improved frames for cycles and other such vehicles and
has for its object to construct the joints without brazing.
And in order that the invention whereby I attain my object may be properly,
understood and readily carried into effect I will describe the same with the aid of
the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure I shows the parts of a cycle joint separated in plan.
Figure II shows the completed joint in longitudinal sectional elevation, with a
tubular plug.
Figure III is a longitudinal section of a plug cast, or cut from the solid.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
In constructing a frame according to my invention I preferably thicken the ends
of the tubes which are to be secured into the lugs at the joints, though in the case
of heavy gauge tubes this may not always be necessary. The thickening 3 may be
made either homogeneously with the tube in the process of drawing; or it may be
made separately therefrom and applied thereto in the form of a liner or sleeve,
having projections around one end adapted to engage in recesses or notches formed
[Price 8d.1

page_text: in the extreme end of the tube, or other means for preventing its rotation in or on
the said tube (which in itself is of ordinary construction) may be provided; or the
thickening may be made in any other convenient way. It is preferably made on
the interior of the tube so as to leave the exterior thereof parallel. I make the
mouth 4 of the tube end 2 somewhat conical, enlarging outwardly; and behind this
conical portion I form an internal screw thread 5.
I take a plug 6, the exterior of which is formed with a conical part 7 and a
screw threaded part 8, the said parts 7 and 8 corresponding respectively to the
conical part and screw threaded part 5 of the tube end 2. The plug 6 may be
made from a suitable aluminium alloy or other suitable material and may be cut
from a solid bar or from a length of tube or may be cast. If cut from the solid or
cast it is provided with an axial hole 10 of square or other non-circular transverse
section (see Fig. III); and if made from tube (preferably weldless steel tube), the
ends may be closed except for apertures 10 of square or other suitable formation as
shown in Fig. II.
The end 2 of the tube may be simply thrust into the lug 9 which should be made
a close fit for the said tube, but I prefer to screw thread the end of the tube and the
interior of the lug as the formation of the threads increases the frictional surfaces.
In any case the lug is made strong enough to resist a considerable bursting strain.
In constructing the joint, the plug is screwed a suitable distance into the end
of the tube and the said end of the tube is then screwed or thrust, as the case may
be, into the lug. Finally the plug is screwed a suitable further distance into the
end of the tube and the conical part 7 of the plug engaging with the conical part 4
of the tube end 2 expands the said tube end within the lug and jams the same
firmly therein.
I screw up the plugs by suitable tools. Where the tube is open at one end, the
plug in the other can be turned by a suitable T wrench the shaft of which is passed
down the length of the tube. In other cases one tool is adapted to engage in the
axial hole of the plug and a second tool or wrench is employed to rotate the first,
this second tool being applied through the head, bottom bracket or other part to
which the tube is being secured. By employing a series of wrenches, the engaging
parts of which are formed at different angles, the rotation of the first tool is readily
effected. By these means I avoid cutting holes through the lugs in order to get at
the plugs.
My invention is applied to the several joints and to the frames of cycles and other
such vehicles generally whether made of steel, aluminium alloy or other tube, sub-
stantially in the manner hereinbefore described, but if the plugs and tubes are both
of aluminium alloy I prefer to make the former harder than the latter to prevent
seizing. Detail modifications may be made without exceeding the fair scope of my
invention.
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 a frame for a cycle or other such vehicle forming one or more of the joints
by coning outwards the mouth of the tube and internally screw threading the end
of the tube beyond the said conical portion, screwing or thrusting the said end of the
tube into a suitable lug and expanding the same firmly therein by screwing into
the tube end a plug one part of which is conical and another part screw threaded
to engage with the conical and screw threaded parts respectively of the tube end,
substantially as set forth.
2. In frames for cycles or other such vehicles, the combination of,-a suitable
lug; a tube having a conical mouth, and an internally screw threaded part beyond
the said mouth; and, a plug having one part of its exterior conical and another
part screw threaded, and having a non circular bore; all combined, arranged and
adapted to operate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. In a joint of the kind herein referred to, thickening the end of the tube either
homogeneously, or by the application thereto of a liner or sleeve, the said liner or sleeve
having projections around one end adapted to engage in recesses or notches formed
in the extreme end of the tube, or other means for preventing its rotation in or on
the said tube, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. A frame for a cycle or other such vehicle having one or more of the joints
constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hartford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.