Improvements in the Construction of Frames for Cycles, Autocars and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Frames for Cycles, Autocars
and similar Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Alameda Villa, Armley, Leeds, in the County of.
York, 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 :-
My invention has reference to improvements in the construction of the frames of
cycles, autocars, and similar vehicles, whereby such frames can be made of the
same strength or stronger, though of much thinner material than the frames of
such vehicles as heretofore usually constructed. For this purpose I construct the
frames as I shall now describe by reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, a bicycle frame constructed according to my
invention;
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an outside view and a cross section of a fluted
tube;
Figs. 4 and 5 show respectively in side and end elevation a fluted tube having
plain ends one of said ends being of reduced diameter and
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate my improved method of securing the various parts
together.
I construct the tubular portions of the frame of a cycle or other vehicle, from
pieces of sheet metal of the requisite length, thickness and width to form the
desired tube. In the metal sheets are formed straight or spiral grooves of any
desired configuration, and arranged approximately lengthwise of the sheets which
are afterwards bent to a circular or other form, the two longitudinal edges of
each sheet, which may butt against or overlap each other, being brazed, welded or
otherwise secured together. The said grooves may run the whole length of the
plate, or the plate may be left plain at both ends, so that when formed into a
tube 1, such tube will either have grooves 2 running throughout its length as in
the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or a grooved intermediate portion and
plain ends 3 as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the latter case the
plain ends may be expanded or contracted, to form any required joint.
Instead of forming such tubes or parts from sheet metal as described they may
be formed from plain metallic tubes, which are fluted or grooved lengthwise, either
throughout their whole length or only through part of their length, so as to leave
one or both of their ends plain, the flutes or grooves being arranged either parallel
with the axis of the tube or spirally. The plain end or ends may as in the previous
case, be expanded or contracted to form any required joint, which may be brazed
in the usual manner. Such fluted or grooved tubes may be produced by drawing
plain tubes through fluted dies or by pressure exerted on the outside of the tube
by fluted rollers, or a fluted male die, the inside of the tube being supported
during the operation by a fluted or grooved mandril. Tubes constructed as
described may advantageously be secured together to form a frame as shown in
Fig. 1, by means of connecting pieces each consisting of a short length of tube
forming a nipple piece 4 (Fig. 6) which is formed with one or more longitudinal
slots 5 open at one end, has a plain cylindrical bore and is externally screw

page_text: threaded for a part of its length, the screw threaded part being either parallel or
tapering towards one end. The other or plain end of each nipple piece is shaped
to fit a tube 3 or other part to which it is then connected, at the desired angle by
brazing. On the outer end of each nipple piece is screwed a nut 6 (see Figs. 6
and 8) having an internal thread corresponding to that on the nipple piece and
having either a conical or parallel bore so that when screwed onto the nipples it
will contract the internal diameter thereof. Into each nipple is inserted one of
the plain or other ends of a fluted tube, which is strengthened by an internal
tightly fitting ferrule 7 that is of a somewhat stronger or thicker material than
that of which the tube is made. On the nut 6 being then screwed onto the nipple
piece it will close the latter onto the end of the tube which will thus be held
securely in place. Similar_connections may be used for connecting the tube ends
to the bearing brackets 8 (Fig. 1).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the construction of frames for cycles, autocars and similar vehicles, the
use of tubes formed with longitudinal or spiral grooves, whether such grooves
extend the full length of the tube or not, substantially as herein before described
with reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the construction of frames for cycles, autocars and similar vehicles securing
the tubes and other parts together by screw unions constructed arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
3. Frames for cycles, autocars and similar vehicles constructed with fluted or
grooved tubing secured together by screw unions arranged and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 4th day of December 1896.
R. E. P. CRAVEN,
Registered Patent Agent,
22 Victoria Chambers, South Parade, Leeds, Agent for the Applicant.