Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, THÉODORE LEON VINCENT, of 21 Boulevard Gambetta, Rouen, Seine
Inferieure, in the Republic of France, Velocipede Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to means of applying aluminium in the manufacture of
velocipedes, and more especially to those known as safety bicycles, in order to
obtain greater lightness, greater strength, and generally a richer and more agreeable
appearance.
By the application of my system, brazing being dispensed with, the metal retains
all its strength and, the tension of the frame being obtained by means of screws
and nuts, the result is an easier construction, a greater precision, and the facility of
effecting repairs with rapidity.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have represented a
specimen of the various arrangements in the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a side view of a safety bicycle constructed according to my
invention.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent in section, and on an enlarged scale, the details
of the various parts connected together according to my invention for the construc-
tion of a safety bicycle.
Figures 6 represent in elevation and in section, a pinion or wheel, on the
aluminium body of which is fixed a toothed ring of another metal.
Figures 7 represent in section and to an enlarged scale, a variation in the union
of the various parts.
Figure 8 represents in section and to an enlarged scale the mode of fixing the
spokes to the felloes of the wheels.
Figure 9 represents an exterior view of Figure 8.
Figure 10 represents, partly in section and partly in exterior view, the method of
hooking the spokes to the hubs of the wheels.
As will be seen, the framing is composed of various parts connected together
comprising tubes a supporting the axle of the rear wheel ; these tubes a are
provided with conical parts which are placed in the interior of the parts, which
are screw threaded and receive a plug d, Figure 2, or a nut Figure 1. The
pillar carries the saddle and comprises a tube g, on which is placed a piece
terminated by a screw plug i, the pressure of which exerted on the end of the
tube y ensures the rigidity of the frame, see Figure 3.
The parts of the frame connecting the upright tube g with the head of the
machine, comprise the tubes & whose conical extremities receive in the interior the
pieces upon which are placed the nuts m, Figure 4.
The connection of the steering bar with the frame comprises a T piece 'n, through
which passes the steering tube o fixed by means of nuts o, Figure 5.
The wheel is composed of a body of aluminium p upon which is fixed, by shrinkage
of the metal or by other suitable means, a toothed ring r, Figure 6, of another
metal.
As shown at Figure 7 the arrangement for the connection of the various parts
can be modified in the following manner; the piece c is internally screw threaded
throughout its length, so as to receive at the one end the plug d, and at the other a
hollow plug with milled or angular shaped head, within which is placed the conical
part of the tube a.
'
This arrangement has for its object to obtain greater facility for disconnection
piece by piece, and it permits of freely removing the tube a.

page_text: :
This mode of connection of the tube, starting from the axle of the steering handles
is also capable of application to the other parts.
If, through vibration or other cause, the attachments should be liable to become
loose, I use lock nuts to secure the parts.
The aluminium hub represented at Figure 10 is provided at each side with slits n
and holes o in number equal to that of the spokes p.
Each spoke p is furnished at its lower part with a head y formed on or fixed
thereto. The spoke p is passed through the slit n and the head y is lodged in the
hole o.
The spoke carries at its end connected with the felloe, a head 2, preferably
conical; this head is engaged in a threaded plug s terminated by an angular shaped
head t.
In the holes formed in the felloe u I introduce a socket surmounted by a head.
This socket vis screw threaded in its interior and receives the spoke carrying plugs,
so as to form by their union the connection of the spoke p with the felloe u, see
Figure 8.
To facilitate the screwing and the unscrewing of these two pieces s and "", I have
provided below the head, an angular shaped piece y.
This operation can be effected by means of two keys.
T. L. VINCENT,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, THÉODORE LÉON VINCENT, of 21 Boulevard Gambetta, Rouen, Seine
Inférieure, in the Republic of France, Velocipede 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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in the construction of velocipedes and
more especially to those known as safety bicycles. These improvements have for
their object to enable greater lightness to be obtained and greater strength at the
same time rendering the machine more elegant and more agreeable to the eye.
By the application of my invention by which brazing is dispensed with, the metal
retains all its strength, the various parts of the frame being united by nuts, there
results therefrom a more casy construction, a greater precision by the tension of the
frame being obtained by means of these screws and nuts and repairs can be effected
with greater rapidity.
Further this mode of construction enables aluminium to be applied to the manu-
facture of velocipedes, the properties of which metal especially that of lightness are
well known. (It is nevertheless to be understood that my invention is equally
applicable to velocipedes constructed of iron and steel.)
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have represented in the
accompanying drawing a specimen of the various arrangements enabling my inven-
tion to be carried into effect.
Figure 1. represents a side view of a safety bicycle provided with these special
arrangements.
Figures 2. 3. 4. and 5 represent in section and on a larger scale the various parts of
which the frame of the bicycle is composed.
Figures 6. represent in elevation and in section, a chain wheel constructed to
permit of the employment of aluminium.
Figures 7. represent in section and to an enlarged scale a modification in the mode
of connection of the various parts,

page_text: the spokes to the felloes of the wheels.
Figure 9. represents an exterior view of Figure 8.
Figure 10. represents partly in section and partly in exterior view, the method of
hooking the spokes to the hubs of the wheels."
Figure 11 shows in exterior view the arrangement of the chain tension apparatus
of the bicycle.
Figures 12 and 13 represent in detail the various parts of this tension apparatus,
and
Figure 14 shows the method of employing the same.
As will be seen on referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the
framing of my bicycle is constructed first of tubes a supporting the axle of the rear
wheel b, these tubes a are provided at their front ends with conical parts which are
placed in the interior of the parts c which are tapped or internally screw threaded
to receive a screw plug d terminated by a head e Figures 1 and 2.
The pillar carries the saddle and it passes into a tube g on which is placed a
piece terminated at its upper end by a screw plug the pressure of which
exerted on the end of the tube ensures the rigidity of the frame see
Figures 1 & 3.
The parts of the frame connecting the upright tube g with the head of the
machine comprise the tubes whose conical extremities receive in the interior the
pieces upon which are placed the nuts m, see Figure 4.
l
The connection of the steering bar with the frame is as follows: The steering
bar is connected to the tube o by a conical screw and nut o²; the tube o is con-
nected, by means of a conical screw and nut o¹, to another tube which passes
through the head n of the machine and is connected to the steering fork, see
Figures 1 and 5.
The chain wheels of my improved velocipede are composed of a body of
aluminium p, upon which is fixed, by shrinkage of the metal or by other suitable
means, a toothed ring r of steel or suitable metal, sec Figure 6.
As shown at Figures 7, the arrangement for the connection of the various parts.
of the bicycle frame can be modified in the following manner.
The piece c, in lieu of fitting upon the conical part terminating the tube a, is
internally screw threaded throughout its length, so as to receive at the one end the
screw plug d and at the other a hollow plug with milled or angular shaped head,
within which is placed the conical part of the tube a.
This modification renders the disconnection of the frame, piece by piece, much
more easy and it enables the tube a to be readily removed.
This mode of connection represented in the drawing as applied to the tubes
starting from the head of the machine is also capable of application to the other
parts of the frame.
If through vibration or other cause the attachments should become loose I
apply lock nuts to secure all the parts above described.
The running wheels of my velocipede are constructed as shown at Figures 8, 9
and 10. In these figures Z is the hub of the wheel it can be made of aluminium
and is provided at each side with slits n and holes o in number equal to that of the
spokes p of the wheel.
g
Each spoke p is furnished at one end (that applied to the hub) with a head
formed on or fixed thereto. It will be understood that spoke p being passed
through the slit n its head q is lodged in the hole o which is smaller than the
head g
The spoke p carries at its end connected with the felloe a head preferably
conical this head is, engaged in a threaded plug s terminated by an angular shaped
head.t.
The felloe is formed with holes into each of which is introduced a socket v
surmounted by, a head z.
This socket is screw threaded in its interior and receives the plugs of the

page_text: spoke p and by turning this plug, the tension of the spoke and its connection with
the felloe and with the hub are effected.
To facilitate the screwing and the unscrewing of these two pieces s and v I have
provided below the head an angular shaped piece y.
This screwing operation can be effected by means of two keys.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 show an arrangement of tension apparatus which I
apply to the rear ends of the tubes a of the frame, with a view to enable the
required tension to be given to the driving chain.
As shown in these views, the piece c, which may be of steel, aluminium or other
suitable metal, carries at one end a conical part which enters the tube a; this
piece c receives a nut e screwing on to the threaded part d.
The other end of the piece e carries a screw threaded part f, upon which nuts g g¹
are screwed for the purpose of securely holding the piece h, which serves to regulate
the tension of the chain, which latter is effected by unscrewing the nut g' and
screwing up the nut. g.
When employing this form of tension apparatus, the spindle of the back wheel is
carried by or passed through the loops or eyes and also through holes in the
lower ends of the upper back fork a', as shown in Figure 14.
In order to facilitate the taking to pieces of the parts without interfering with
the wheel, I form in the piece h, a mortice jaud two recesses; this mortice; is
arranged so as to permit the piece to be adjusted upon the threaded part. I
form the nuts gg with cylindrical parts which enter the parts or recesses of the
piece h.
It will be understood therefore from the above description, that the dis-
mounting of the piece is easily effected, as it is only necessary to unscrew one of
the screws gorg in such manner as to disengage the parts from the recesses k to
enable the piece to be removed.
I would have it understood that the arrangements above described may be varied
in their forms, material and dimensions without departing from the peculiar
character of my invention.
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. The improved construction of velocipede whereby am enabled to employ
aluminium in the construction thereof, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. The mode of constructing the frame by the connection of tubes, without
brazing, by means of screw plugs and nuts, substantially as herein shown and
described with respect to Figures 1 to 5.
3. The modification in the mode of connecting the tubes forming the frame, by
means of a conical plug externally screw threaded close to its head, a cylindrical
piece internally screw threaded, and an internally coned plug screwing into the
cylindrical piece and binding the conical end of the frame tube between it and the
conical plug, substantially as shown and described with respect to Figure 7.
4. The construction of a chain wheel having a body of aluminium and a toothed
ring of steel or other metal, substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In combination with the construction of velocipede claimed in Claim 1, the
tension arrangement of the chain wheel, consisting principally of a moveable piece
between two nuts on a screwed part, substantially as herein shown and described
with reference to Figures 11 and 12.
Dated this 30th day of August 1892..
THÉODORE LÉON VINCENT,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.