Improvements in and connected with Frames for Velocipedes or Carriages of similar Construction.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1898- Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Frames for Velocipedes or
Carriages of similar Construction.
I, PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF, of 19 and 20, Holborn Viad uct, in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
By this invention in frames for velocipedes or carriages of similar construction
the tubular members are preferably mitred or otherwise fitted according to my
invention described in my application for Letters Patent No. 10929 and dated
3rd May 1897, tools of the description described in this application being almost
necessary for the production of good work. According to the above mentioned
application, where two tubes are joined the abutment of the contacting edges
of one tube against the other is so perfect that by mere brazing without the
assistance of internal or external lugs an extremely solid joint is produced.
Where however I do not propose to dispense entirely with joint lugs made of
stamped, cast or pressed metal of the usual type I find it sufficient to substitute
tie-plates of the following description and in some cases acting analogously to the
well-known construction of the double plates of a front fork crown. Sometimes
I employ as a lug a piece of tube of larger diameter than one of the tubular
members, lay it against one of these members excentrically and cut a hole into that
part of this tubular lug which lies furthest from the first member of the frame.
The hole is preferably cut with a circular trepanning tool such as is described in
my Application No. 10929.
The second member of the tube is cut by the same system to the requisite angle
and inserted through the hole in the lug tube, perfect abutment and support
being thus obtained.
Sometimes a piece of sheet metal is folded into a V or a U shape; a drill or
trepanning tool is sent across the two arms of the V or U and a similar tool into the
apex of the V or U. Two tubes are then inserted through the hole so formed,
one of the tubes having been previously cut by the trepanning tool. This con-
struction can be used with advantage even to replace the ordinary seat-lug and
the ordinary bottom bracket or crank hanger piece. The seat lug is formed
either out of an ovalled tube or a U shaped piece of sheet the angles of the tubes
being trepanned through, as in the case of the other joints. The trough of the
U is allowed to project beyond the joint, either in front of it or behind it, in such
a manner that it forms a loop through which the seat-pillar bolt or nip screw can
be passed. The trough then being split after the joint is completed a very effective
clip will be formed.
In the case of a bottom bracket I prefer to use two tubes, an inner one formed
out of sheet metal, weldless or cast tubing or made out of the bar or otherwise
according to the type of the bearing to be contained. The extremities of the
tubes to be jointed at this part of the frame are made with a perfect abutment
against this inner tube. Over this inner tube is placed another of sheet metal
folded so as to afford three V shaped projections. These projections are trepanned

page_text: or drilled through at their apices so as to receive the various tubes to be joined
up. It is obvious that the tubular members of the frame may be made to enter
the inner tube also instead of abutting against the same. For the purpose of
forming the perfected abutting joints with great economy I prefer to use a
revolving headstock capable of carrying a trepanning tool or drill at each end.
The shaft is preferably, whilst revolving, made to reciprocate longitudinally by
any automatic movement. In front of each end of the headstock are placed
swivelling tables and clamps for the purpose of holding the tube to be operated
on. By this means two tubes of varying diameters or to be cut at different
angles can be operated simultaneously or tubes cut to one angle at one end of.
the tool in double lengths can be separated into two lengths at the other end or
two jigs or holders can be used at once for boring the holes in the joint pieces.
Dated this 20th day of August 1897.
Improvements in and connected with Frames for Velocipedes or
Carriages of similar Construction.
I, PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF, of 19 and 20, Holborn Viad uct, in the City of London,
Consulting 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:-
By this invention in frames for velocipedes or carriages of similar construction
the tubular members are preferably mitred or otherwise fitted according to my
invention described in my application for Letters Patent No. 10929 and dated
3rd May 1897, tools of the description described in this application being almost
necessary for the production of good work. According to the above mentioned
application, where two tubes are joined the abutment of the contacting edges is
so perfect that by mere brazing without the assistance of internal or external
lugs an extremely solid joint is produced. Where however I do not propose to
dispense with joint-lugs I find it sufficient to substitute tie-plates of the following
description and in some cases acting analogously to the well-known construction
of the double plates of a front fork crown; sometimes I employ as a lug a piece
of tube of a larger diameter than one of the tubular members to be joined, lay
it against one of these members eccentrically and cut a hole into that part of this
tubular lug which projects from the first member of the frame. The hole is pre-
ferably cut with a circular trepanning tool such as is described in my Application
No. 10929/97. The second member is cut by the same system to the requisite
angle and inserted through the hole in the lug-tube, perfect abutment and sup-
port being thus obtained.
"
56
Sometimes a piece of sheet metal is folded into a V or into a U shape; a drill or
trepanning tool is sent across the two arms of the V or U, and a similar tool into the
apex of the V or U. Two tubes are then inserted through the hole so formed,
one of the tubes having been previously cut by the trepanning tool. This con-
struction can be used with advantage even to replace the ordinary seat-lug and
the ordinary "bottom-bracket
or crank-hanger" piece. The seat lug is formed
either out of an ovalled tube or a U shaped piece of sheet, the angles of the tubes
being trepanned through, as in the case of the other joints. The trough of the
U is allowed to project beyond the joint, either in front of it or behind it, in such
a manner that it forms a loop through which the seat-pillar bolt or nip-screw can
be passed. The trough then being split after the joint is completed a very effective
clip will be formed.

page_text: In the case of the bottom bracket I prefer to use two tubes, an inner one formed
out of sheet metal, weldless or cast tubing or made out of the bar or otherwise
according to the type of the bearing to be contained. The extremities of the
tubes to be joined at this part of the frame are made with a perfect abutment
against this inner tube. Over this inner tube is placed another of sheet metal
folded so as to afford three V shaped projections. These projections are trepanned
or drilled through at their apices so as to receive the various tubes to be joined
up. It is obvious that the tubular members of the frame may be made to enter
end.
the inner tube also instead of abutting against the same. For the purpose of
forming these perfectly abutting joints with great economy I prefer to use a
revolving headstock capable of a trepanning tool or drill at each
The shaft is preferably whilst revolving made to reciprocate longitudinally by
an automatic movement. In front of each end of the headstock are placed
swivelling tables and clamps for the purpose of holding the tube to be operated
on. By this means two tubes of varying diameters to be cut at different
angles can be operated on simultaneously or tubes cut to one angle at one end of
the tool in double length can be separated into two lengths at the other end or
two jigs or holders can be used at once for boring the holes in the joint pieces.
Referring to the drawings on Sheet 1, Fig. I represents part of a bicycle frame,
composed of the steering or socket tube a, the diagonal tube b, the front tubes c
and d and the chain or compression tubes e, e¹; part of one of the seat or rear
stays is shewn at f.
Where these tubes meet they should perfectly abut and fit into the sheet metal
lugs or tie-plates of V, U or other suitable shape, A, D, B, and C which keep
them together until they are brazed if brazed joints are desired, or bolted up if
brazeless joints are preferred. Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper part of the bicycle
frame; Figs. 3 & 4 are separate illustrations of the bottom bracket in elevation
and in plan respectively. Fig. 5 shews a modification in design of the socket or
head lug A; Figs. 6 and 7 modifications of seat-lug C,. It will be seen that the
lugs are formed by bending or folding metal into a V, U or other trough form,
or so as to form several troughs and projections; the projecting angular parts are
pierced for the reception of one or more tubes whilst the sides may be pierced for
the reception of other tubes; the edges of the folded metal form strengthening
webs and to a large extent dispense with the necessity of additional so-called
liners" or reinforcements."
The "
66
66
bottom bracket" may be built up of a short tube B¹ and a series of V
or U shaped lugs, such as connect the tubes a and c, but one lug B may be used
folded so as to afford three projections for the purpose of receiving the tubes d, b,
and the chain-stays e and e as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4.
i
The seat lug is split and nipped by the seat pillar-bolt g and lock nut h (Fig. 2)
and can serve as the connection for the rear-stays f in the usual manner.
Fig. 6
shews a form C in which the split and the bolt are conveniently placed to the
front of tube b; in Fig. 7 the lug is formed out of a piece of tube squeezed into
an oval shape. It is evident that lugs of this description are more reliable and
more interchangeably held in jigs for the purpose of being bored than are those
of ordinary shape whereas the ordinary lug is suitable for one size of tube and one
particular angle, at each branch, the lugs above described are capable of a much
greater range in each direction.
Sheet 2 illustrates the machine tool I prefer to employ for the purpose of shap-
ing the ends of the tubes to be joined or of piercing the lugs, Fig.
elevation and Fig. 9 the plan.
being the
Spindle A runs in the end bearing of headstock on bed being driven by pulley B,
the key of which travels in a bed or slot in spindle A of sufficient length to allow
of considerable end motion. Pulley C rides loose on spindle A and is rigidly
connected with worm D by which it drives worm wheel E; the latter by means
of the links F and G causes the collar H and thereby the rotating spindle A to
reciprocate. I and K are tubular cutters mounted on the ends of spindle A

page_text: and W are guide bushes for the same.
O and Pare blocks mounted on
pivots U, V on the same bed as headstock on bed and carrying guides or
clamps Q, Q&R, R¹ for the purpose of receiving the rough lengths of tubes.
S, S₁ are stops to regulate the lengths to which the tube is to be cut and are
mounted on T, T¹ which are rigid rods carried by and swivelled to any required
angle together with the blocks O and P. The modus operandi is as follows:-
Supposing a supply of tubes for the purpose of c in Fig. 1 have to be cut so as
to be of exactly the proper length and to fit exactly to tubes a and b in Fig. 1,
cutters I, K, and stop-blocks S S would have to equal in diameter the tubes a
and b; the angles of the stop blocks to their supports T¹, T, and the angles of the
latter to the spindle A would have to be adjusted to the same degrees as those
formed by tubes cand a and c and b; stop block St must be locked on support T
at a distance from pivot U equal to the distance of the centres of tubes and b
along the tube c, and the stop block S must be locked on support T, Y at exactly
double this distance from the centre of pivot V.
Now a tube Y of gauge and diameter suitable for c is passed through the
clamps R, R and a small piece parted off by the cutter K; whilst the latter is
receding, this tube is pushed tightly up to stop S when it will be cut through by
the return of cutter K; after the first double length Y is cut it is passed through
clamps Q, Q¹ tightly up to stop S¹ and parted into two lengths Z, Z¹ by cutter I
equal in every way to the required tubes c.
In this way while one end of the tool is cutting off a double length piece, the
operator can insert a previously cut double length at the other end, and then while
it is being parted by the second cutter, he can feed on the rough tube at the
first end.
In a similar way the blocks O and P may be made to carry the fixings for
holding the lugs previously described so that one lug can be operated on whilst
the next one is being fixed, and a great deal of time, of tool and jig making is
saved.
Having now particularly described 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 joint piece for connecting two or more tubes, made of sheet or of tubing
with one or more angular projections and perforated for the purpose and in the
manner substantially as described.
(2) V or U shaped pieces forming double web joints and connecting two pieces
of tube in the manner of A and D in Fig. 1 or A¹ in Fig. 5.
(3) The double or treble webbed seat-pillar joints for velocipedes C, C¹ and C
in Figs. 1, 6 & 7 substantially as described.
(4) A star-sectional web-joint for the purpose of holding together several tubes
constructed and pierced substantially as shewn at B in Figs. 1, 3 & 4.
(5) The shell B, Figs. 1, 3 and 4 for the purpose of containing the bearing of a
velocipede constructed substantially as 'described.
(6) An automatically reciprocating tool with revolving drills or cutters at each
end operating alternatively in the manner described.
(7) The combination of a revolving and reciprocating spindle A Figs. 8 and 9
carrying cutters at each end with the swivelling blocks 0 and P carrying adjust-
able fixings for the purposes described.
Dated this 20th day of Max 1808