An Improved Brazeless Joint, especially applicable to the Framings of Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Brazeless Joint, especially applicable to the Framings of
Cycles.
I, JOSEPH SEIL, Tool Maker, residing at 41, Alton Road, Bournbrook, in the
City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the connection of tubular members as, for instance,
the tubular members of a cycle's frame, and consists in an improved mechanical
joint whereby the said connection can be more simply performed and rendered
more neat than hitherto; the principal object being to supersede the well-known
brazed joint in tubular parts, and also make the said parts capable of being again
detached if necessary.
This invention differs materially from the majority of mechanical joints, inas-
much as there is no socket part into which the one tubular member, which is to
be connected to the other, fits, and is afterwards mechanically fixed. In carry-
ing this invention into effect in connection with the framing of a cycle. a plug
is first built up upon the one part so as to extend outwardly from its side, over
which the open end of the other tubular part fits socket-like and is mechanically
affixed. Assuming the forward end of the top frame bar member of a cycle is
to be connected to the socket of the steering head, a piercing is formed through
the latter's walls at one point, and a strengthening bush is placed within the
steering socket's end. Adjacent to the piercing is mechanically built up a hollow
plug, extending outwardly from the steering socket, the said plug consisting for
the most part of a cylindrical nozzle or tubular ferrule externally screwed upon
its one end. and provided with a flange upon its other end.
This nozzle or ferrule is passed through the piercing in the steering socket
from the inside of the latter, and has its flanged part left projecting into but
lying flush with the steering sockets strengthening bush. The bore of this
nozzle adjacent to the flange is coned, for the purpose as hereinafter described.
whilst the flange itself is set at an angle with the body and axis of the nozzle
so as to conform to the angular direction of attachment of the tubular parts.
Upon the circular body of this nozzle fits a short cylindrical sleeve. the inner
face of which abuts against the inside of the steering socket and conforms to its
angle, and the outer face of which is faced at right angles to its axis. The bore
of this sleeve, which is tight fitting upon the nozzle. is parallel from its inner
face for a short distance. but it is formed into a conical seating towards its outer
part, for the purpose of accommodating a conical and rotatable screw nut which
forms the medium for locking the said sleeve upon the nozzle and also the nozzle
to the steering socket. This conical screw nut engages the externally screwed
part upon the outer end of the nozzle, and it is set up preferably by a forked
or a pegged spanner.
Thus, is mechanically formed upon the steering socket a perfectly true cylin-
drical rigid plug or tubular extension, which is to constitute the supporting

page_text: A trans-
means for the end of the top frame bar member. The end of this top frame bar
member is fashioned concaved in one direction, so as to enable it, when in
position, to fit saddlewise upon the outside diameter of the steering socket, and
its end is strengthened by the insertion of a steel liner or short tube-length.
This fitting saddle-wise of the one tubular part upon the other is important,
as so long as the parts are in contact they are stayed by it in one direction.
The end of the top frame bar with its steel liner is made to fit the outside
diameter of the sleeve, and is preferably placed thereon a good fit.
verse peg of stout metal is passed through the end of the top frame bar member
adjacent to or against the end of the plug, and this peg passes through an eye
carried upon the one end of a screwed draw bolt located axially within the bore
of the nozzle, and this draw bolt is operated by a conical screw nut working upon
the coned part of the bore of the nozzle; its direction being to pull the tubular
member onto the plug and keep it there with its end fitting saddlewise over the
steering socket. The conical nut operating the draw bolt is introduced into the
coned part and onto the screwed end of the draw bolt from the inside of the
steering socket, and is preferably operated by a forked or a pegged spanner.
The outside diameter of the sleeve of the plug may be slightly coned, but is
not anticipated that this will be necessary, and the walls of the nozzle and also
those of the sleeve may be split and made to yield for the purpose of frictionally
locking the pulling-up nuts and expanding, slightly, the parts of the joint.
I wish it to be understood that the transverse pin through the tubular member,
which is pulled saddlewise onto the steering socket, abuts against the outside
end of the plug and against the face of the sleeves conical affixing nut, so that
it is staved against becoming in any way bent.
The details of this invention may be altered. in certain reasonable, respects
without departing from the scope of the invention, but it will be evident of the
importance in building the part up, as described, so that a geometrically true
joint is the result.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Brazeless Joint, especially applicable to the Framings of
Cycles.
I, JOSEPH SEIL, Tool Maker, residing at 41, Alton Road, Bournbrook, in the
City of Birmingham, 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 relates to the connection of one tubular member to another
and particularly to the tubular members of a cycle's frame, and consists' in 'an
improved construction of mechanical joint which gives the connected-up parts a
one-piece appearance, brings tube flush to tube, and renders the connection of
the parts more simple of performance and more neat than hitherto the primary
object of the invention being to provide a really useful substitute for the well-
known brazed joint, and further to make a joint capable of being easily taken
apart at any time desired. The invention differs materially from the majority
of mechanical joints inasmuch as there is no socket part on the one tubular member
to receive the end of the other tubular member.

page_text: According to this invention an attached hollow plug is fitted to one of the
tubular members to be connected, so as to rigidly stand out from its side and
be carried by it mechanically true and in line upon, which said plug the one
end of the other tubular member to be connected up is adapted to fit socketwise,
and be there clamped and rigidly fixed so that it becomes for all practical
purposes a part of the said plug.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, on which is shown the connection of the front end, of the top tubular
frame bar member to the steering socket of a diamond frame of a cycle. In
the said sheet Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the exterior appearance of the
tubular parts connected up, Fig. 2 a vertical section showing the whole of the
parts constituting the joint assembled and connecting up the tubular members,
and Fig. 3 a similar sectional view as Fig. 2, but with all the parts of the joint
separated. Fig. 4 is a modification showing the application of the invention
to aluminium tubing.
In the said figs. a is the tubular socket of the steering head, and a² its top
end which is fitted with a strengthening bush or reinforcement ³. This rein-
forcement has a hole a bored through its walls at one part, and so has the top
part of the socket, the said hole being of smaller diameter and marked a³,
and coming coincident with the hole a as aforesaid. c is a cylindrical nozzle
or ferrule of a tubular construction, and having upon its one end an enlarged
part or a flange 2, and which is adapted to be passed through the hole in
the socket a from the inside, so that the body part of the said nozzle projects
outwardly, and the flange fits the hole at in the reinforcement and abuts against
the inner face of the tube a. This nozzle or ferrule is also externally screwed
for a short distance at its end ³, longitudinally split at from its flange end, and
its bore, adjacent to the flange, formed into a coned seating c
C
Upon the circular body of this nozzle e fits a short cylindrical sleeve d, the inner
end d² of which abuts against the face of the steering socket a and conforms to its
curvature and angle, and the outer end of which is formed at right angles to its
axis. The bore of this sleeve is for a distance of a size to nicely fit upon the body
of the nozzle, but a part of it at the outer end d³ is formed into a conical seat-
ing d for the purpose of accommodating a conical and rotatable screw nut e, which
forms the medium for clamping the said sleeve upon the nozzle and the nozzle to
the steering socket. The walls of the said sleeve are also split for a distance at d³.
This conical screw nut engages the externally screwed part 3 upon the outer end
of the nozzle c, and is preferably set up by a forked or a peg spanner. Thus so
far is mechanically formed upon the steering socket a perfectly true rigid plug
or tubular extension which is to constitute the supporting means for the end of
the top frame bar member which is required to be connected to the steering socket,
and this plug, when its component parts are properly machined and set out, must,
of necessity, pull up in a perfectly true line.
The end of the top frame bar member f is fashioned concave in one direction
so as to enable it, when in position upon the plug, to fit saddlewise upon the out-
side face of the steering socket a; the said end being strengthened by the inser-
tion into the bore of the tube of a steel liner or short tube length f. This fitting
saddlewise of the one tubular part upon the other is important, as so long as the
parts are in contact they are stayed, by it, against any twisting movement. The
end of the top frame bar f is adapted to fit the outside diameter of the sleeve d
preferably a good fit, and a transverse pin or peg g² of stout metal is passed through
the said frame bar's end, with which the one end of a screwed draw-bolt g engages;
the said bolt being located within the bore of the frame bar near its end. The
free end of this draw-bolt is screwed, and a conical nut h, which takes its bearing
on the seating in the nozzle, engages it, in order to pull the tubular frame bar
onto the sleeve d, and keep it there with its end 2 fitting saddlewise; the said
nut being introduced into the said seating and onto the end of the draw-bolt
from the inside of the steering socket and operated by a box spanner.

page_text: This conical nut h has two functions, one of which is to pull the top frame
barf fully home against the steering socket a, and the other to expand radially
the nozzle c and sleeve d, so as to cause the said sleeve to grip onto the surface of
the bore of the tube f; the walls of the said ferrule and sleeve yielding at their
split parts to allow of this. The transverse pin g may be disposed through the
tube so as to abut against the end of the conical nut e.
In Fig. 4 a method of connecting the draw-bolt to an aluminium tube i is shown.
This consists in internally screwing the end of the tube for a short distance, and
mounting the bolt centrally within an externally screwed cylindrical piece c²,
which is adapted to engage the screwed part in the end of the tube. The bolt g
is kept from, rotating independent of the cylindrical piece by a key or feather
projection g, and from dropping out of the said piece by a back plate g¹.
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
First. A mechanical joint distinguished by an attached hollow plug fitted to
one of the connected-up tubular parts so as to rigidly stand out from its side and
be carried by it, upon which said plug the one end of the other tubular con-
nected-up part fits socketwise, and is held and rigidly fixed by a drawbolt and nut
or other similar clamping and pulling-up devices, substantially as described and
set forth.
Second. A mechanical joint comprising an expandible nozzle or ferrule c engag
ing the side of one of the connected-up tubular parts so as to project, a sleeve d
fitting and fixed over said nozzle or ferrule so as to lock the ferrule to the tube
carrying it and become itself locked, and which can be slightly expanded radially,
and another tubular member whose one end is adapted to fit socketwise over the
said sleeve and to bifurcate or fit saddle-wise around the exterior surface of the
tubular part carrying the nozzle, and which is held and clamped onto the said
sleeve by a draw-bolt g carried by itself, and with which engages a coned nut
pulling up against a seating in the bore of the ferrule, substantially as described
and set forth.
Third. In combination in a mechanical joint, a tubular member a having a
hole as in its side, a nozzle or ferrule e having parts 2, 3, 4, and c, engaging said
tube and hole, a cylindrical sleeve d having parts dd fitting over said ferrule
and bifurcating the tube a at its inner end, a clamping nut e engaging screwed
part on nozzle c so as to lock sleeve d thereon, and clamp nozzle a tubular member f
fitting endwise over sleeve d so as to partly embrace tube a, and which carries
arts g, g, and a locking nut which works on coned seating and which engages
the screwed part of g, and which pulls the part f fully home and radially expands
the parts c and d so as to cause them to grip the bore, of the tubular member f
substantially as described
Fourth. In a mechanical joint, fitting the one tubular part to the other so that
the end of the one bifurcates, partly embraces, or fits saddle-wise onto the outer
surface of the other and makes a flush joint therewith incapable of being twisted.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1808
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.