Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Velocipedes and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Velocipedes and
similar Vehicles.
I, EDOUARD VERSCHAVE FILS, of 17bis, Rue Pavée, l'aris, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The extremely attractive idea of suppressing in the parts of velocipedes, and
like machines, brased and like joints, which cause rapid wear and frequently
even rupture, has not hitherto been carried into effect in a really practical
manner.
Having experimented for some time in a different direction, that is to say by
endeavouring to substitute for a frame constructed of tubes, an arrangement con-
sisting of two stamped halves lap jointed together, I have succeeded in perfect-
ing such a method, and it is the improved means which I have devised with
this obect, as a whole, which forms the subject of this invention.
The principle of the method consists in forming the frame of a velocipede,
or any of its parts such as the forks, handle bar and seat pillar, not of tubes
but of sheet metal parts shaped by stamping and assembled by lap jointing
their edges.
In order that such a system may offer the requisite strength, I have found that
it is necessary to multiply the turned-down parts or folds for engagement and
to reinforce the portions most exposed to deformation or rupture by means of
special parts which are arranged upon the inside of the finished article.
In constructing the frame of a safety bicycle comprising the following parts,
the steering-post socket, the upper and lower members, united by the saddle
post, the lower rear fork the arms of which are united at the top of the saddle
post by means of two tubes which form the upper rear fork, I proceed as follows:
I cut out from plates of suitable dimensions two parts or pieces and stamped
them in such a manner that each of the parts intended to constitute the half of
a tube presents the form of a semi-circular channel provided upon one side
with a flat edge and upon the other side with an edge bent at right angles.
The raised ribs of the edges are upon one side of the strip which constitutes
one half of a tube, and upon the other on the second half tube, which is the
counterpart of the first.
The raised edge of one of the frame halves is applied upon the flat edge of
the other. The lapping or assemblage is effected in the following manner.
The two edges to be assembled are brought together and the raised portion
or rib is turned down upon the flat edge, a second lap is made with the extremity
of the joint thus formed, the whole of the folds are then turned down upon

page_text: the body of the tube and brought within the tube so formed in such a manner
that it presents no projection.
In order to strengthen the frame, it is provided internally with reinforcing
pieces formed of stamped and folded sheet steel; these parts are placed in posi-
tion before the two halves of the frame are brought together, and become fixed
within the tube when the assemblage is terminated. The part or piece which
reinforces the steering socket presents two branches which enter the upper
and lower tubes of the frame; another piece reinforces the saddle post and the
rear extremity of the top tube.
The crank axle bearing is a piece of cast steel presenting arms reinforcing
the rear bottom tube and the saddle post at their lower extremities, behind
this part, a fork fits into the extremities of the stamped parts constituting
bottom rear fork.
This part (the crank axle bearing) is placed in position between the arms
of the fork at their commencement; grooves are formed upon the surface of
the said part for the reception of the assembling portions after they have been
forced within the tubes.
In order to shape the tubes constituting this fork, there is placed within the
branches of the crutch of the fork a piece of sheet metal of horse shoe shape
presenting two edges bent at right angles towards the interior of the fork;
these edges are assembled with those of the crutch.
The extremities of the rear fork are formed in the following manner:
Cast metal lugs are formed with a shank of semi-circular cross section which
enters the extremity of the D-shaped tube constituting the rear fork and which
is compressed upon this shank, which is provided for that purpose with grooves
into which the metal is forced. A small plate rivetted upon the fork prevents
the lug from rotating upon itself.
The saddle post is formed from a piece of sheet steel to the required form,
stamped, and finally bent and lapped so as to present an L-shaped form.
The two branches of the seat pillar are reinforced by means of tubes which
also project inwardly when the lapped joints are forced in. The laps are then
removed for a portion of the length of the vertical branch; as a result of this
there are formed grooves which are guided by the forced in laps of the upper
portion of the saddle tube and prevent lateral displacement.
The front fork is formed in the following manner: From sheet steel two
parts are cut out and suitably stamped; one of these is reinforced by two stamped
sheet metal pieces placed in the fork at the point of bifurcation: the whole
is then reinforced by a liner of cast steel inserted within the two reinforcing
parts. The edges of the two fork halves are lapped and the lap joint forced
inwards in the manner above described: the fork so constituted is then provided
with a tube forced upon its upper portion in such a manner as to permit of the
formation of a screw-thread at this place.
The fork post is of somewhat smaller diameter than the distance separating
the two laps of the steering post socket, after they have been forced in, in order
that it may work freely within this socket.
The handle bar is also formed by means of stamping and lapping and is pro-
vided with a liner which, like those previously described, is formed of folded
sheet metal with assembled edges.
The liner is formed of a cut out stamped and bent piece of sheet metal, and
is inserted for the purpose of reinforcing the handle bar where the two arms
branch out.
The saddle pin is tightened by means of two lugs which on the one hand are
rivetted upon the top tube of the frame, and on the other hand are connected
by means of a bolt, which at the same time serves to maintain the two tubes
which form the upper rear fork.
These two tubes are formed from sheet metal rolled and lapped in the same
manner as the other parts of the frame, each of which is provided with two

page_text: lugs formed with grooves upon which the tube is compressed by rolling; these
lugs serve to unite these tubes at the upper portion of the saddle tube and to
the lugs in which the branches of the lower rear fork terminate.
Dated this 13th day of January 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Velocipedes and
similar Vehicles.
I, EDOUARD VERSCHAVE FILS, of 17bis, Rue Pavée, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 extremely attractive idea of suppressing in the parts of velocipedes, and
like machines, brased and like joints, which cause rapid wear and frequently
even rupture, has not hitherto been carried into effect in a really practical
manner.
Having experimented for some time in a different direction, that is to say by
endeavouring to substitute for a frame constructed of tubes, an arrangement con-
sisting of two stamped halves lap jointed together, I have succeeded in perfect-
ing such a method, and it is the improved means which I have devised with
this object, as a whole, which form the subject of this invention.
The principle of the method consists in forming the frame of a velocipede,
or any of its parts such as the forks, handle bar and seat pillar, not of tubes
but of sheet metal parts shaped by stamping and assembled by lap jointing
their edges.
In order that such a system may offer the requisite strength, I have found that
it is necessary to multiply the turned-down parts or folds for engagement and
to reinforce the portions most exposed to deformation or rupture by means of
special parts which are arranged upon the inside of the finished article.
Such are the characteristic features of the improved devices which constitute
my invention, and which I will now describe with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a safety bicycle frame formed in accord-
ance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
The frame comprises the following parts, the steering-post socket A, the upper
and lower members B and C united by the saddle post D: also the lower rear
fork F the arms of which are united at the top of the saddle post D by means
of two tubes G which form the upper rear fork.
The frame consists of two portions cut out from plates of suitable dimensions
and then stamped in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. in such a manner that
each of the parts intended to constitute the half of a tube presents the form of
a semi-circular channel provided upon one side with a flat edge a (Figure 4)
which represents a section on line 4 4 Figure 3 and upon the other side with
an edge bent at right angles.

page_text: The raised ribs c of the edges are upon one side of the strip which con-
stitutes one half of a tube, and upon the other on the second half tube, which
is the counterpart of the first.
The raised edge b of one of the frame halves is applied upon the flat edge a
of the other, as shewn in Figure 5 which represents a section one line 5 5
Figure 3. The lapping or assemblage is effected in the following manner:
The two edges to be assembled are brought together (see the partial section
upon a larger scale, Figure 6), and the raised portion or rib c is turned down
upon the flat edge a (Figure 7), a second lap is made with the extremity of the
joint thus formed (see Figure 8), the whole of the folds are then turned down
upon the body of the tube (Figure 9) and brought within the tube so formed
(Figure 10) in such a manner that it presents no projection.
In order to strengthen the frame, it is provided internally with reinforcing
pieces H and formed of stamped and folded sheet steel; these parts are placed
in position before the two halves of the frame are brought together, and become
fixed within the tube when the assemblage is terminated. The part or piece H
(of which Figure 11 is a plan view) reinforces the steering socket and presents
two branches which enter the upper and lower tubes of the frame; another
piece J reinforces the saddle post and the rear extremity of the top tube.
The crank axle bearing is a piece of cast steel K presenting arms d and e
reinforcing the rear bottom tube and the saddle post at their lower extremities;
behind this part, a fork L fits into the extremities of the stamped parts con-
stituting bottom rear fork.
Figure 12 is a plan view of this part K placed in position between the arms
of the fork at their commencement; grooves are formed upon the surface of
the said part K for the reception of the assembling portions after they have
been forced within the tubes.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the same upon a larger scale.
In order to shape the tubes constituting this fork, there is placed within the
branches of the crutch of the fork (see Figures 14 and 15) a piece of sheet
metalf of horse-shoe shape presenting two edges bent at right angles towards
the interior of the fork; these edges are assembled with those of the crutch,
as shewn in Figure 16.
The extremities of the rear fork are formed in the following manner.
Cast metal lugs M (the arrangement of which is shewn in Figures 17, 18
and 19) are formed with a shank of semi-circular cross section which enters the
extremity of the 'D-shaped tube constituting the rear fork and which is com-
pressed upon this shank, which is provided for that purpose with grooves into
which the metal is forced. A small plate m riveted upon the fork L prevents
the lug from rotating upon itself.
The saddle post is formed from a piece of sheet steel cut out in the form,
shewn in Figure 20, then stamped, as shown in Fig. 21, and finally bent and
Japped so as to present an L-shaped form represented in Figures 22 and 23.
The two branches of the seat pillar are reinforced by means of tubes g g',
which also project inwardly when the lapped joints are forced in. The laps
are then removed for a portion of the length of the vertical branch; as a result
of this there are formed grooves which are guided by the forced in laps of the
upper portion of the saddle tube and prevent lateral displacement.
Figure 24 is a sectional view through the horizontal branch of the seat
pillar Figure 25 is a section through the vertical branch.
The front fork is formed in the following manner:
From sheet steel two parts are cut out and suitably stamped; one of these
is represented by N Figure 26. It is reinforced by two stamped sheet metal
pieces h (of which Figures 27, 28 and 29 are detail views) placed in the fork
at the point of bifurcation; the whole is then reinforced by a liner of cast
steel (Figures 30, 31 and 32) inserted within the two reinforcing parts h. The

page_text: edges of the two fork halves N are lapped and the lap joint forced inwards in
the manner above described; the fork so constituted is then provided with a
tube (Figure 33) forced upon its upper portion, in such a manner as to permit
of the formation of a screw-thread at this place.
The fork post is of somewhat smaller diameter than the distance separating
the two laps of the steering post socket, after they have been forced in, in order
that it may work freely within this socket, as shewn in the sectional view
Figure 34.
The handle bar is also formed by means of stamping and lapping. Figure 35
represents the stamped part and is provided with a liner k which, like those
previously described, is formed of folded sheet metal with assembled edges.
Figures 36, 37 and 38 are sectional views illustrating sections of the part
before bending and lapping.
The liner is formed of a cut out, stamped and bent piece of sheet metal,
and is inserted for the purpose of reinforcing the handle bar where the two
arms branch out.
The saddle pin is tightened by means of two lugs n n (Figures 1 and 2) which
on the one hand are riveted upon the top tube of the frame and on the other
hand are connected by means of a bolt u, which at the same time serves to
maintain the two tubes G which form the upper rear fork.
These two tubes G are formed from sheet metal rolled and lapped in the
same manner as the other parts of the frame, each of which is provided (Figures 3,
9 and 40) with two lugs formed with grooves upon which the tube is com-
pressed by rolling; these lugs serve to unite these tubes at the upper portion
of the saddle tube and to the lugs M in which the branches of the lower rear
fork terminate.
I may modify the various constructional details described in the above speci-
fication, and the material and dimensions of the various parts of which a frame
constructed in accordance with my invention is constituted.
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 manufacture of frames, forks, handle-bars, and seat pins of cycles
and other similar vehicles without brazing, substantially as above described
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
(2) In the manufacture of the frames and other parts of cycles and the like
as claimed in Claim 1 the forming of the edges of the different stamped sheets
which constitute the frame with multiple folds for the purpose of increasing
resistance to deformation.
(3) In the manufacture of the frames and other parts of cycles and the like
as claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement of liners within the frame, at the places
most subject to rupture, such as the steering socket, the top of the tube carrying
the saddle pin and so forth, these liners being constituted by a sheet of cut-
out, stamped and bent steel, the edges of which are merely brought together.
(4) In the manufacture of the frames and other parts of cycles and the like
as claimed in Claim 1 the reinforcement of the crank-axle bearing and of the
commencement of the front fork by means of cast steel insertions corresponding
with the internal contour of the respective parts, such insertions being pro-
vided with grooves for the reception of the lapped joints of the parts which
cover them when such joints are forced within the tubes.
(5) In the manufacture of the frames and other parts of cycles and the like
as claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement of the fork ends of the rear forks,
these fork-ends being compressed within the respective extremities of the parts
constituting these forks, which are assembled by bolting.
(6) In the manufacture of the frames and other parts of cycles and the like

page_text: as claimed in Claim 1 the reinforcement of the saddle pin by means of a ver-
tical tube; the lap forced into this part being removed for a portion of its length
in order to form two slides guided by the forced-in lap joints of the upper
portion of the tube carrying the seat pin.
Dated this 13th day of October 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.