Improvements in the Construction of Frames for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Frames for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
JAMES SWALWELL, 29 Godfrey Road Newport, Mon., Manager of Works, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in forming that part of a joint, commonly called the lug
or socket; used in the construction of frames for cycles and other vehicles that
are built up of tubing; by raising or forming the lugs or sockets out of the stock
or tube at any desired position or angle, by slitting the tubes several times and at
different angles across that portion where the joint is required. The result is
that several shaped pieces are formed, attached to the tube at their bases,
these shaped pieces are then raised by suitable tools either to stand up square
from the tube or to any desired angle. The slits may be made to radiate from
the centre of that portion of the tube used to form the A shaped pieces, or from
any other point than the centre if so desired, thus forming A shaped pieces of
varying sizes. In constructing one class of cycle frame I form two sets of these
A shaped lugs or sockets in the tube which forms the steering head, at the angle
required. The bottom bracket I form from a piece of tube by raising four such
A shaped lugs or sockets upon it. The ends of the tubes are made the same
radius as the inside of the tube from which the lugs are raised and to form a
joint are fitted inside the lugs until the end is flush with inside of tube. They
are then brazed together-the shape of the lugs facilitates. the brazing-and the
result is a joint which is both light and strong. In some cases I slit the end of
the tube and such slits are allowed to project inside the socket tube and may
be turned over to support the lugs of socket at their base. It will be seen that
sockets of any desired shape can be thus raised.
That which I consider novel in this invention is forming the lugs or isockets
used in the construction of, frames for cycles and other vehicles, from the tubes
by slitting and raising them where required to form the joints in framesi for
cycles or other vehicles, substantially as herein described.
Dated this Wirst day of December 1896.
Improvements in the Construction of Frames for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
JAMES SWALWELL 29 Godfrey Road Newport Mon. Manager of Works 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 consists in forming that part of a joint, commonly, called a lug

page_text: or socket used in the construction of frames for cycles & other vehicles that are
built up of tubing, by raising or forming the lugs or sockets out of the stock or
tube at any desired position or angle, by slitting the tubes several times and at
different angles across that portion where the joint is required. The result is
that several shaped pieces are formed attached to the tube at their bases,
these shaped pieces are then raised by suitable tools either to stand up square
from the tube or to any desired angle. The slits may be made to radiate from
the centre of that portion of the tube used to form the A shaped pieces, or from
any other point than the centre if so desired, thus forming A shaped pieces of
varying sizes. In constructing one class of cycle frame I form two sets of
these. shaped lugs or sockets in the tube which forms the steering head, at the
angle required. The bottom bracket I form from a piece of tube by raising four
such shaped lugs or sockets upon it. The ends of the tubes are made the
same radius as the inside of the tube from which the lugs are raised & to form
a joint are fitted inside the lugs until the end is flush with inside of tube. They
are then brazed together in the usual way the shape of the lugs facilitates the
brazing and the result is a joint which is light and strong..
In some cases I slit the end of the tube and such slits are allowed to project
inside the socket tube and may be turned over to support the lugs of socket at
their base. It will be seen that sockets of any desired shape can thus be raised.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a steering head with one of the sockets fitted with
tube and showing the method of making the joint.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a steering head.
Fig. 3 shews a method of slitting for a right angle joint, with horns of equal
.length.
Fig. 4 shews method of slitting for angle joints with horns of varying length.
Fig. 5 a method of slitting for oblong joints...
Fig. 6 & 7 shew a method of slitting from a prepared tube for angle sockets
with horns of equal length.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a bracket shewing a compound socket and
method of fitting seat & bottom tube in same.
Fig. 9 shews method of preparing ends of tubes, where they abut against each
other.
Fig. 10 is a section through back lugs of bracket, shewing the internal threaded
rings, these threaded rings may be either brazed or forced into their position by
pressure.
Fig. 11 shews a developed plan of bracket shewing method of slitting for a
compound joint having lugs or horns of various shapes and lengths.
Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation shewing the tools used and the method of forcing
the lugs or sockets outwards.
Fig. 13 is a section of a bracket block, or die, and Fig. 14 a front elevation of
same.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the manner in which my invention is to be performed in raising the lugs or sockets
from a piece of tube to form the joints in a steering. head of a bicycle frame and
it will be seen that by similar means lugs or sockets can be raised where required
'to form the other joints in frames for cycles or other vehicles:
In preparing a steering head, I use a piece of tube of suitable length to allow
of its being belled out or expanded at each end as shewn in Fig. 1 & 2. I then
slit the tube as shewn in plau Fig. 4 at different angles across the parts where
joints are required.
This slitting I do by any well known means but preferably with a small circular
saw, the tube being held in centres in a rest which can be set at the different
angles required for the slits, when the slitting has been performed the next and
concluding operation, is the raising or forcing outward of the lugs to form the
joints at the required angle. This I carry out in the mauner shewn in Fig. 12.

page_text: A A is a sectional elevation of a block or die which is made in two halves, and
bored to fit tube E as shewn, the recesses into which the horns are to be forced
outwards, are bored to the size of tube to be fitted in socket plus the two thicknesses
of socket tube, the operation is as follows, the cap B having been removed the'
prepared piece of tube is placed in block A, with the slits opposite the recesses.
into which they are to be lifted. The cap B is then replaced, and the lever C is
passed inside the end of tube, and mounted on pin F. pressure being applied to.
the outer end of lever C the horns are forced outwards into the position shewn,.
the lever C is then withdrawn, and a block similar to D is placed inside the tube-
and a threaded bolt is passed through the ends of the horns from the outside and.
screwed into block D until the collar on bolt reaches A on continuing turning the
bolt in the same direction block D is drawn completely through the socket and
lifted out at the top, when this operation has been performed at each end, the.
sockets may be cleaned and the tube ends fitted therein, either just flush with
inside of tube E or projecting inwards with slit ends these projections may be.
turned outwards to support the horns of sockets at their base, this is effected by
the lever C being fitted with a block of suitable shape for this purpose. Or as soon.
as sockets have been completed they may be removed and the tube ends fitted
elsewhere.
It will be seen that the shape of the sockets and number of horns can be.
varied to suit requirements and that tubing of any description or material that is
ductile enough for the purpose may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I.
claim is..
Forming the lugs or sockets used in the construction of frames for cycles and
other vehicles from the tubes by slitting and raising them where required to form
the joints substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.