Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
I, DAVID CROWTHER, of Pickford Street, Milusbridge, near Huddersfield, York-
shire, Engineer, do hereby declare the, nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention has reference to a new or improved means for brazing joints,
such as, for instance, the joints of cyclo frames or fittings or other metal work
whether tubular, hollow or solid, and consists in the production or manufacture of
a composite or combined brazing piece, ring, ferrule, sleeve or strip designed or
made to suit the shape or form of joint for which it is intended, which said brazing
piece, ring, ferrule or strip can be placed direct into, on or over, or between, the
joint and, when fused, will fill the said joint uniformly throughout and thoroughly
and firmly unite the parts together, the primary objects of my improvements
being, (a) to effect a saving of time and labour in brazing and to obtain a uniform
and strong joint; (b), to avoid the manifold evils generated by or resulting from
tho present method of brazing, such as, the prevention of any deposit of flux or
formation of scale on the outside of the joint or parts in proximity thereto and
therefore of subsequent filing and cleaning, the risk of overheating, and the
minimising of oxidation of the tubes or parts; and, (c), to enable unskilled or
cheap labour to be employed in brazing.
My invention consists essentially in combining with any suitable brazing metal
in one piece to fit or surround the joint, a flux which is so applied as to form a
part of the brazing piece ring, ferrule, sleeve or strip, whereby when the said
brazing piece is inserted in or placed on or between the joint to be brazed heat
can at once be applied to fuse same and braze the joint, the proportion of flux
necessary to ensure the flow of the metal when fused being contained in or on said
brazing piece and not having to be supplied by hand as at present.
In carrying out my invention I take a sheet or strip or mould or stamping of
brass or other suitable brazing metal which, for heavy work or strong solid seotions
requiring a very strong joint, is, preferably, of a special mixture or metal fuseable
at an approximately low temperature and possessing great tensile strength, the said
sheet, strip or stamping having one or more folds or one or both edges partially
folded over to form one or more folds. This fold or folds is or are charged or
supplied with any suitable flux which has previously been burut to drive out all
water of combination or otherwise dried to deprive it of moisture or any water of
combination it possesses and then preferably reduced to a powder, the amount of
flux placed in the fold or folds bearing a proportion to the amount of brazing metal
employed while the brazing metal is also proportioned to fill the joint as required.
After being charged or filled with the flux the fold or folds is or are flattened or
closed up to retain same therein. One side or face of the brazing piece may be cor-
rugated or indented, if required, to more securely retain the Hux. The brazing
piece made as above set forth may be in the flat or in lengths or strips which can
intended for; or, for
be bent, rolled or otherwise formed to the shape of joint it
Buch joints as those in cycle frames or fittings, it can be made in the form of a

page_text: ring, ferrule or sleeve and either endless er split. For external joints in cyclo
fittings or other like tubular or cylindrical parts where applicable, I preferably
form or provide a short sleeve below the folded portion containing the flux which
said sleeve fits into the end of the socket or tubo and holds the ferrule or ring in
position until fused and serves also in filling the joint.
If the tube or socket is not made to receive the sleeve, it is rimed out prior to
fitting. the parts together. The tube or socket may also be brushed lightly over
with a flux solution, preferably a boiling solution, before putting the joint together,
although I do not consider this really necessary in ordinary cases. If the solution
be applied cold, it is dried before jointing in order that no moisture can get to the
flux in the ferrule or ring.
In the case of split rings or ferrules the ends thereof may overlap and either be
compressed against each other to give uniform thickness, or otherwise, or they may
be made to meet or be butt-ended.
As an addition to, or instead of, applying the flux to the brazing metal as above
set forth, I may coat or glaze one or both sides of the brazing metal with, or form
thereon a vitreous film or enamel composed of, a concentrated solution of flux
applied either as a boiling solution or otherwise, and afterwards dried or heated to
evaporate the moisture or a per centage of moisture and to cause it to set hard on
the brazing piece, this method of application being more particularly intended for
those joints which do not admit of the brazing piece being folded to contain the flux
therein. For instance, in the case of metal caps or plates used in any quantity I
may unito a piece of barzing metal thereto and on its face form a coating, glaze
or film of flux so that on said cap or plate being afterwards placed on the corres-
ponding part of the fitting and heat applied the metals will be uniformly and
strongly united; or the brazing piece may have a flux coating, glaze or film on
both sides and be placed between the two parts to be brazed together.
Instead of the brazing motal being in the sheet or solid state it may be perforated
or indented, or in the form of gauze with the flux contained in the perforations
openings or indents.
It will be obvious that other methods of applying the flux to the brazing piece
so as to be contained therein or thereon and form a composite or combined brazing
piece on the lines above described, may be adopted as found best suited to particular
joints or giving better results.
In round oval or D shaped external joints in which brazing rings without sleeves
have to be used I preferably bevel or chamfer the inner edge of the end of the
socket or fitting so that when the joint is put together a channel will be formed
around same which will guide the brazing metal, when fused, to the joint and
prevent it running over.
I may add to the flux employed cobalt nickel, iron or manganese, or phosphorous,
compounds of phosphorous, or phosphates or other like chemicals or substances
which may or may not enter into combination with the brazing metal on fusion
and which may be found to aid in making or strengthening the joints brazed
therewith.
In brazing with my improved brazing pieces, rings, ferrules, sleeves or strips, the
heat is first applied to the bottom of the joint (which is supported in a vertical
position) and then gradually brought up to the brazing piece.

page_text: I, DAVID CROWTHER, of Pickford Street, Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, York-
shire, 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:―
This invention has reference to a new or improved means for brazing joints,
such as, for instance, the joints of cycle frames or fittings or other metal work
whether tubular, hollow, or solid, and consists in the production or manufacture of
a composite or combined brazing piece, ring, ferrule, sleeve or strip, designed or
made to suit the shape or form of joint for which it is intended, which said brazing
piece, ring, ferrule or strip can be placed direct into, on or over, or between, the
joint and when fused will fill the said joint uniformly throughout and thoroughly
and firmly unite the parts together, the primary objects of my improvements being,
(a) to effect a saving of time and labour in brazing and to obtain a uniform and
strong joint; (b), to avoid the manifold evils generated by or resulting from the
present method of brazing, such as, the prevention of any deposit of flux or forma-
tion of scale on the outside of the joint or parts adjacent thereto and therefore of
subsequent filing and cleaning, the risk of over-heating and the minimising of
oxidation of the tubes or parts; and, (c), to enable unskilled or cheap labour to be
employed in brazing.
My invention consists essentially in combining with any suitable brazing metal in
one piece to fit or surround the joint, a flux which is so applied as to form a part of the
brazing piece ring, ferrule, sleeve or strip, whereby when the said brazing piece is
inserted in or placed on or between the joint to be brazed heat can at once be applied
to fuse same and braze the joint, the proportion of flux necessary to ensure the flow
of the metal when fused being contained in or on said brazing piece and not having
to be supplied by hand as at present.
In carrying out my invention I take a sheet or strip or mould or stamping of
brass or other suitable brazing metal which for heavy work or strong solid sections
requiring a very strong joint, is preferably of any suitable metal or mixture of
metals fuseable at an approximately low temperature and possessing great tensile
strength, the said shoot, strip or stamping having one or more folds or one or both
edges partially folded over to form one or more folds. This fold or folds is or are
charged or supplied with any suitable flux which has previously been burnt to
drive out all water of combination or otherwise dried to deprive it of moisture or
any water of combination it possesses and then preferably reduced to a powder, the
amount of flux placed in the fold or folds bearing a proportion to the amount of
brazing metal employed while the brazing metal is also proportioned to fill the
joint as required. After being charged or filled with the flux the fold or folds is
or are flattened or closed up to retain same therein. One side or face of the brazing
piece may be conugated or indented if required, to more securely retain the flux.
The brazing piece made as above set forth may be in the flat or in lengths or strips,
which can be bent rolled or otherwise formed in the shape of joint it is intended
for; or, for such joints as those in cycle frames or fittings, it can be made to the
For external joints in
form of a ring ferrule or alcove and either endless or split.
cycle fittings or other like tubular or cylindrical parts where applicable I preferably
form or provide a short sleeve below the folded portion containing the flux which
said sleeve fits into the end of the socket or tube and holds the ferrule or ring in
position until fused and serves also in filling the joint, or the ring or ferrule may
be secured in position by a piece of wire or the like. The tube or socket may also

page_text: be brushed lightly over with a flux solution preferably a boiling solution before
putting the joint together although I do not consider this really necessary in
ordinary cases. If the solution be applied cold, it is dried before jointing in order
that no moisture can get to the flux in the ferrule or ring.
In the case of split rings or forrules the ends thereof may overlap and either be
compressed against each other to give uniform thickness, or otherwise, or they
may be made to meet or be butt-ended.
As an addition to, or instead of applying the flux to tho brazing metal as above
set forth, I may coat or glaze one or both sides of the brazing metal with, or form
thereon a vitreous film or enamel composed of, a concentrated solution of flux
applied either as a boiling solution or otherwise, and afterwards dried or heated to
evaporate the moisture, or a percentage of moisture, and to cause it to set hard on
the brazing piece, this method of application being more particularly intended for
those joints which do not admit of the brazing piece being folded to contain the
flux therein. For instance, in the case of metal caps or plates used in any quantity
I may unite a piece of brazing metal thereto and on its face form a coating, glaze
or film of flux so that on said cap or plate being afterwards placed on the corres-
ponding part of the fitting and heat applied the metals will be uniformly and
strongly united; or the brazing piece may have a flux coating, glaze or film on
both sides and be placed between the two parts to be brazed together. Instead
of the brazing metal being in the sheet or solid state it may be perforated or in-
dented, or in the form of gauze with the flux contained in the perforations openings
or indents.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, reference is hereafter had to
the annexed sheet of drawings, forming a part of this Specification, in which:
Fig.1 is elevation shewing the construction of my improved composite or com-
bined brazing material or piece; Fig. 2 is perspective view shewing the brazing
piece or material as bent or made to form a circle or ring to fit over tubulur
fittings; Fig. 3 is similar view of a wire band for securing the said ring on the
fittings.
Fig. 4 is sectional plan shewing the wire band applied to the brazing ring, and
Fig. 5 is section of the ball head lug of a cycle frame illustrating the method of
applying my improved composite brazing rings thereto.
Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, letter a denotes a strip of brass or brazing metul
having its lateral or longitudinal edges a', a³, folded over on one side thereof
and overlapping each other, so as to enclose and seal up within the inner fold,
at b, a supply of flux, such as borax, which has previously been burnt to drive out
all water of combination and then preferably reduced to a powder. The lateral
edges a, a, of the strip a are folded over by passing a length of strip between a
series of rolls, which first bend the edge a¹ to an angle to form a channel into which
the flux is charged, after which the edge as is bent over and both edges flattened
upon the enclosed flux in the form shewn at Fig. 1.
The strip a with its enclosed flux can be used in the form shewn at Fig. 1 for
solid flat or butt ended joints; and if the joint is angular, the strip is bent to fit
it. For tubular joints, however, such as those in cycle frames whether round, oval,
or D shaped in cross section, the strip a is indented centrally along its length to
forin a groove c and then is bent round a mandrel to the section desired, to form a
ring or ferrule, as shewn at Fig. 2. To prevent the ring or ferrule, when applied
over the joint, from expanding under the influence of the heat applied and falling
away previous to being fused, I forco over the said ring and into the groove c
therein a split band d composed of iron wire having a higher fusing point than
brazing metal, and which will spring a little.
When forced into the groove & the hand holds the opposing ends of the ring a
close to each other, allowing said ring to be pushed over the tube it is made to
fit and holding it securely in position thereon until the whole of the ring a hos
been fused when it can be easily removed from the tube while hot by a pair of
pincers or pliers. If the ring a were not secured on the tube to be brazed by

page_text: some such means as the band d, one half of the ring might be fused before the
other half thereby allowing the latter half to fall, or to be blown away by the jet
from the blow pipe, and there would also be the danger of the whole ring dropping
by reason of it expanding when heated and leaving the walls of the tube.
The wire band d could be laid in a straight length on the brazing material
when folding over the edges a, a, so as to be secured within the folds, but I have
found it preferable to apply the band on the outside of the ring a as described.
In placing the band d around the ring a the meeting ends of same are arranged
to be a little removed from, or on the opposite side to the meeting ends of the
meeting ends of the ring a, as, will be seen at Fig. 4.
I have found the above described method of making the composite brazing
material, when employing powdered flux, to be simple and easy but it will be obvious
that the powdered flux can be enclosed within a brazing metal in other ways than
that described, such as in a hollow casing or sheath which is subsequently flattened or
in an endless ring whose edges could be turned over each other and flattened against
the flux introduced within the folds.
Instead of encasing powdered flux in a brazing, metal in the manner above
described, I can apply the flux in the form of a concentrated solution or in a
powdered or other suitable form which is spread, brushed or otherwise applied
evenly over or to the surface of a sheet of brazing mteal which is then passed
through a furnace or oven having a sufficiently high temperature to vitrify or solidify
the flux which thus forms a vitreous enamel, glaze or film on the surface of the
brazing metal. The composite brazing material thus made may be in the flat
sheet or strip or shaped to fit the joint and either plain perforated or reticulated.
I have shewn at Fig. 5 the manner of applying the composite brazing rings to
the joints of cycle frames for brazing the parts together. e represents the ball
head lug of a cycle frame and f and g the two tubes which fits into and are to be
brazed to same. The rings a are passed over the ends of each tube f, g, before
said tubes are inserted into the lug e and when the tubes have been inserted in
said lug, the rings a are placed a little away from the end of each joint, say, about
one quarter of an inch, where they are firmly held by the tension of the core d..
It is essential in brazing by means of said rings, that the joints should be vertical,
a suitable brazing hearth preferably of the kind embodied in another application
for Letters Patent made by me on the first day of April 1897, No. 8345, partially
surrounding same so as to throw back the heat on to the rear and lateral sides of the
joint where the jet from the blow pipe cannot very well be directed. In holding
the joint vertical, as shewn in the case of the tube f, the spelter on fusing flows
down the tube and between it and lug e right to the bottom of the joint (which has
been heated from the bottom upwards) filling said joint uniformly on all sides
from the bottom up to the top thereof.
When the tube has been brazed to the lug e, the tube g is brought quickly to
the vertical to braze it to the said lug. The quantity of brazing metal necessary
to nicely fill any particular size of joint being first ascertained, the requisite
proportion can be put into each brazing ring of the same size for corresponding
joints, and the flux applied in such proportion as will ensure the ready flow of the
metal when fused, the proportions of the two materials being varied for larger and
smaller joints, in a ratio approximating to the increase or reduction in the diameter
and depth of joint, which can be judged fairly accurately, or may be found by
experiment.
The composite or combined brazing material or strip, ring, or ferrule made as
herein described is ready for immediate application to its particular form of joint
and only needs fusing after the joint has been heated to give a perfect weld; it
requires no skilled labour to attach it in position on the fitting or to braze the
joint; it fills the joint uniformly throughout, and avoids the deposit of spelter on
the outside parts, such as takes place in the ordinary process of brazing, and conse
quently minimises the filing and cleaning of the outside parts of the joints after
brazing.

page_text: For brazing liners in tubes the ring a is preferably made in two coils and is
inserted inside the tube above the liner.
For heavy parts or strong solid sections requiring a very strong joint, a brazing
metal of any suitable mixture or composition possessing great tensile strength and
fuseable at an approximately low temperature, may be employed.
The brazing material above described may be made in any form shape or size
to correspond with the description of joint for which it is intended there being
such a variety of joints that it is impossible to enumerate all.
I may add to the flux employed cobalt nickel, iron or manganese or phosphorous,
compounds of phosphorous, or phosphates or other like chemicals or substances
which may or may not enter into combination with the brazing metal on fusion
and which may be found to aid in making or strengthening the joints brazed
therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. A brazing material for brazing joints comprising a brazing metal, and
a flux enclosed within longitudinal folds or side walls of the said metal substantially
BS set forth.
Secondly. A brazing material for brazing joints comprising a brazing metal and
a flux applied in any suitable form to the brazing metal piece, or ring and vitrified
in the form of an enamel or coating on the surface of said brazing piece or on or in
the ring by subjection to heat, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The combination, with a composite brazing material comprising a
brazing metal and a flux associated in one piece and made to fit tubular parts, of
a non-brazable or iron wire band for securing the brazing piece or ring to the
fitting above or over the joint to be brazed substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1897.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.