Year: 1896

page_text: ALBERT ERNEST JENKS, Clyde House, Heath Town near Wolverhampton Iron
Merchant and Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:--
I take two flat steel plates of suitable size & thickness and through the centre of
each, cut a hole having one or more snugs or projections. I next take pieces of tube
or sheet metal rolled into the shape of a piece of tube having one or more indentations
cut in each end to meet the above mentioned snugs. One of the said steel plates is
then passed over each end of the tube or rolled metal the snugs regulating the
distance at which the plates remain apart. I then rivet up the ends of the said
pieces of tube making the whole Crown solid and firm. Holes may be pierced in the
ends of the said plates for the side forks to be fastened through.
Dated this 26th day of October 1806
ALBERT ERNEST JENKS.
I, ALBERT ERNEST JENKS, of Clyde House, Heath Town near Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Iron Merchant and Manufacturer, 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 has for its object an improved construction of fork crown for a cycle
or similar vehicle, according to which the crown is made of sheet metal in a simpler
and cheaper manner than heretofore, and in a complete form so that it may be passed,
as an entire structure, over the steering spindle or tube, for fixture thereto.
A fork crown constructed according to this invention consists of a pair of plates or
flanges to receive the upper ends of the fork sides, and of a barrel which joins
together the middles of such plates and is of an internal diameter to surround the
lower end of the steering spindle or tube. Each plate is cut out of sheet metal to
the exterior shape required, and with a hole through each end to suit the sectional
shape of the fork sides, and with a hole through the middle to receive the barrel;
and lugs or nibs are left projecting from the sides of the holes through the middles of
the plates, for a distance corresponding to the thickness of the metal of the barrel.
A blank to form the barrel is also cut out of sheet metal, and is bent into the

page_text: cylindrical shape required; but previously to bending it to such shape, and,
preferably, by the operation of cutting out the blank, notches are cut in the top and
bottom edges thereof. These notches are each of a width to receive one of the lugs
and are somewhat deeper than the thickness thereof, and are formed in such position
in the edges of the metal that they form notches in the ends of the barrel in such
position as to register or coincide with the lugs of the plates when the plates are
passed over the ends of the barrel. The plates are securely fixed to the barrel by
passing them, respectively, over the ends thereof with their lugs within the
corresponding notches, and then riveting the ends of the barrel somewhat over the
outer faces of the plates. The barrel may be cut-off from a length of tube, but it is
preferred to form it from a flat blank, owing to the greater convenience which such
method affords of forming the notches.
A convenient practical application of the invention is illustrated, by way of
example, by the drawings herewith. Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the plates
ready for fixture to the barrel. Figure 2 is a view of one of the flat faces of the
notched blank which is intended to form the barrel. Figure 3 is an end view of the
barrel. Figure 4 is a plan looking down upon the top of the crown. Figure 5 is a
vertical longitudinal section taken through the centre of the crown; and Figure 6 is
a vertical transverse section taken through the centre of the crown.
A are the plates, and a the openings through the ends thereof to receive the fork
sides. b (Figure 1) shews the middle opening through one of the plates. c are the
lugs projecting into the middle openings of the plates. C is the blank from which
a harrel B is formed by bending the metal to shape. d are the notches formed in the
top and bottom edges of the blank, and when the blank has been bent into the
cylindrical or barrel form shewn by Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, the notches d appear as
notches in the ends of the barrel. These notches are of a width which just allows the
Jugs c to be passed tightly thereinto, but are somewhat deeper than the thickness of
the lugs c so that when the plates A are put into position around the ends of the
barrel B, and the lugs c are pressed against the inner ends of the notches d, the ends
of the barrel project somewhat beyond the outer faces of the plates to allow of their
being rivetted somewhat over such faces as shewn by Figures 4, 5 and 6. The lugs c
extend inwards from the sides of the openings through the middles of the plates A
only for the thickness of the metal of the barrel, so as not to project into the lumen
or bore of the barrel.
When the plates A have been fixed to the barrel B in the manner shewn by
Figures 4, 5 and 6, the lugs c engaging with the notches d securely prevent the
plates from turning in relation to one another or the barrel, and these lugs pressing
against the inner ends of the notches also securely keep the plates properly apart
from one another, while the riveting over of the ends of the barrel securely keeps the
plates rigid with the barrel. To fix the crown to the steering spindle or tube, the
barrel B, with the plates fixed thereto, is passed over the spindle or tube, and
the crown is then brazed thereto.
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. A fork crown for a cycle or similar vehicle, of which the flanges or plates are
formed of sheet metal and fixed to a barrel which is of a diameter to receive the
steering spindle or tube, substantially as described.
2. A fork crown for a cycle or similar vehicle, of which the flanges or plates are
formed with lugs or nibs, such as c, which are engaged with notches, such as d, formed
in the ends of a barrel, such as B, substantially as described.
3. A fork crown for a cycle or similar vehicle, constructed of two plates or flanges
cut to the desired shape from sheet metal and having lugs or nibs which project into
the middle openings therethrough, and of a barrel hent to shape from a sheet metal
blank which has notches formed in the upper and lower edges thereof and which
consequently appear in the ends of the barrel, the said lugs or nibs engaging with the

page_text: notches of the barrel, and the ends of the barrel being riveted over the outer faces of
the plates, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1897.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.