US1480777A

US1480777A - Method and means for building and testing tubular frames

Info

Publication number: US1480777A
Application number: US376561A
Authority: US
Inventors: August D Meiselbach
Original assignee: MARGARET MEISELBACH
Current assignee: MARGARET MEISELBACH
Priority date: 1920-04-26
Filing date: 1920-04-26
Publication date: 1924-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1941-01-15

Description

Jail. 15, 1924.

A. D. MEISELBACH METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING AND TESTING TUBULAR FRAME S Filed April 25 1920 4 Sheds-Sheet 1' Jan. 15, 1924. 2,480,777 r v A. D. MEISELBACH METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING AND TESTING TUBULAR FRAMES Filed April 26 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Jan. 15, 192

- A. D. MEISELBACH METHOD AND mums Ron BUILDING AND TESTING TUBULAKFRAMES 1 Filed April 26. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet s Jan. 15

A. D. MEISELBACH METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING AND TESTING TUBULAR FRAMES 4- Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed- ADril 26 1920 Patented J an. 15,1924, 1

' UNITED STATES PA ENT orr ce. v

AUGUST D. MEISELBACH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MARGARET HEISEL- BACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING AND TESTING TUBULAB FRAMES.

Application filed'April 26, 1920. Serial No. 876,561.

lar or hollow connections and pieces of tub ing, the tubing fitting and joined to the connections and secured thereto by brazing or otherwise. They usually consist of a number of pieces of tubing'either' straight or curved and arranged at various angles.

The practice heretofore has been to arrange the tubes and connections in their desired j relations and by means of pins or the like hold the tubes and connections together while the joints were brazed. It has been common practice to make different sections of the frame at different times and then assemble the several sections together and join them as described above. As my invention has so far been developed for the practical purpose of reducing the cost and increasing the accuracy of results in the building of bicycle frames, I shall describe my invention in reference thereto, but it should be understood that my invention is not thus limited. v A bicycle frame when completed, should be exactly symmetrical upon the two sides of a central vertical longitudinal plane, or the finished bicycle will not be true or hold the several parts; viz., the wheels, et cetera in proper alignment or, relative positions.

For instance the centerdine of the head connection should be in the plane with the clamped rlgidly securing them together b some metalizing process as by'spot wel for therear wheel should be accurate y parallel in position and at equal the center plane. l

In the common process of making frames the parts are made up of the proper dimendistances from necessitating, in a sions and assembled and secured'as already described, the frame and its parts being inspected at the several steps as to alignment and symmetry, but no assurance is had that the final results will be accurate in the symmetrical frame desired. This is but illustrative of the necessity which now exists of bending, springing or otherwise adjusting the several parts to cause them to lie approximately in their true positions. All of these various steps require-the employment of highly skilled labor, but even I so, the results are not satisfactory I,

The bending and adjusting of the" frame produces more or less noticeable depressions, kinks or bends and it is usually necessary to fill these de ressions with solder, actory building two hundred frames a day at least three men to do the soldering. All of this work' and expense is the result of imperfect work and does not add anything of real merit to the result and should not be necessary.

Furthermore when it comes to assembling the frame with wheels, et cetera, it is necessary again to bend and space the various forks to cause the wheels to stand true therein, all of which detracts from the appearance of the machine and adds greatly with solder, or other suitable filling material. 1

My invention resides in a method of arranging the several connections and frame parts or sections in assembled relation, clamping them tightly. together in accurate alignment and symmetry and while thus ing, either electric or acetylene.

. he frame thus having all of its parts 'rigidl joined, itsseveral joints are complete preferably by being dipped into melted brazing material. The frame is then finished having all of the parts cleaned of all superfluous metal, the several openin are accurately. machined and then it is fpdlaced in a testing machine, whichmay 'ing open cracks of various sizes to be filled I tube usually lies within at least one-six-.

nal central plane of the frame. If it does not lie accurately in this plane it is sprung.

to one sideor the other until it does. In building frames in accordance with my present invention, I find that the seat post teenth of an inch of its trueposition. After adjusting the seat post tube accurately, a dowel pin is placed therein to hold it in its true position while the head connection is tested and adjusted. The head connection is tested by a shaft or mandrel held centrall I in the head connection on collars which t the end of the head which have been machined for the ball bearing cups. This shaft projects above and below the head and I rovide slotted members for enement w1th the shaft, said members havm their center lines arranged in said longitu inal central plane and being movable horizontally therein from and toward the vshaft. The slotted ends of these members are adapted to receive the shaft and whenthe head lies in its true position the slotted members can be moved toward the shaft and the shafhwill slide freely intotheslots therein. -o

When the vU-shaped testing members can laced upon the projecting ends of the shai -t freely, the head then lies accurately in said central longitudinal plane.

The next step is to test the rear forks; I provide a horizontal test mandrel or sh ft aving shoulders properly spaced and havingits longitudinal center in the said central longitudinal :plane and-movable, 'as a whole,

back and forth relativel to the rear forks. This member is provide with bosses on its end fittin easily into. the slots of the rear forks an when the member slides easily into both the rear forks and the inner sides of the forks lie snugly against the adjacent facesof the end collars or shoulders the forks are true with the. balance of the frame.

A full and complete understanding of my invention will be attained from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawin forming part of this specification and in w ich I have illustrated a machine which vI have found best adapted for the practice of my invention.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 vis aside elevation of a machine especial? adapted for clampin the several parts 0 a .Jhicycler frame in t eir proper related "positions and then holding them ri 'dly' in said positions while the several ,joints are spot-welded, a bicycle frame being shown held in clamped position;..

2 upon which the several j Figure 2 is atop plan view of said machine and bicycle frame;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the lined- 1 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary substantially horizontal section on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary substantially horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure l;

Figure isa fragmentary vertical section of the seat post. connectionportion on the line 7- -7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of the connection at the lower end ofthe seat post tube;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear-part of the bicycle frame and the adjusting head; v

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevgtion of the rear fork and the adjusting hea Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear fork and the adjusting head;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section substantially on the line 12-42 of- Fi re 9;

' igure 13 is a side elevation of a machine especially adapted for testing and adjusting the bicycle frame after the several joints have been finished, a bicycle frame being shown as fitting properly in said machine;

Figure 14 is a plan view of the machine and frame shown in Figure 13; and

1 Figure -15 :is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward chine and a bicyc e frame, the

frame shown partly in section.

art of the finishing m'a-- In said drawings, 1 represents a machine in which the several parts of a bicycle frame are adapted. to be positioned, aligned,

clamped and held until the several parts have been secured rigidly together as by I spot-welding or the like.

This machine comprises an elongated base arts are mounted. At the central portion of the base- 2 is arranged two oppositely

ositioned standards

3 and 4.. The standard 3" is relatively low and carries a transversely adjustable shaft 5 in a threaded bearing 6. Theinner end of ,the shaft carries a doweling head 7 adapted to fit within oneiend of the crank case connection 8 of a bicycle frame. The outer end of the shaft 5 carries a hand wheel 9 by which the head 7 can be forced in to clamp a crank 'case or withdrawn to free it. v

The opposite standard 4 is considerably higher than the standard 3 and is high enough to rise above the seatpostconnection 10 of aibicycle frame 11 placed in the machine. Projecting from the base of the standard 4 is a doweling head 12 similar on its free end and disposed opposite to the head 7 and in axial alignment .therewith. This head 12 is .preferablyfixed' and its shoulder 13 which contacts with the opposed end of the crank case 8 is arranged exactly one-half'the length of the crank case from the central longitudinal plane of the machine so that when the crank case is clamped between the shoulder 13 on the head 12 and the corresponding shoulder 14 on the head 7 the crank case will be positioned with its transverse central plane in the longitudinal plane ofthe machine.

The upper end of the standard 4 has secured thereto a projection 15 provided with .a vertical threaded opening 16 in which a threaded shaft 17 is mounted and which is adapted to be moved up and down by a hand wheel 18 on its upper end. The

' center line of the shaft 17 lies in the longitudinal central plane of the machine and said center line extended will cross the center line of the crank case at the transverse center point thereof as both lie in the longitudinal central plane of the machine.

The lower end of the shaft 17 is provided with a shoulder 19 adapted to contact with the upper face of the seat ost connection 10 of the bicycle frame and it is provided with a central doweling'projection 21 fitting within the, seat post connection and adapted to center and to hold this point of the bicycle frame truly in the longitudinal central plane of the machine.

The crank caseconnection 8 is provided with a transverse central nozzle 22 in its upper side adapted to receive and position what is known as a fishtail bushin 28 adapted to project through and beyon A the nozzle 22' andto receive the lower end of the seat post tube 24 and accurately dowel and hold it on the crank case connection 8. The outer diameter of the nozzle 22 and the seat post tube '24 are substantially the same and when the seat post tube is placed upon the fishtail dowel23 and it is forced against the crank case connection its lower end contacts with the outer end of the nozzle 22.

To connect the seat post tube 24 with the seat post connection 10 it is usual to provide a tubular bushing-25' for placement with the connection 10 which has an internal diameter suitable for the seat post of the bicycle. The lower end of this tubular bushing 25 receives, centers and dowels the upper end of the seat post tube 24; i

The seat post connection 16 is provided with a central nozzle 10 on its lower side in which the tubular bushing 25 fits and against the outer endof which the upperend of the seat post tube 24 isadapted to contact. In using the machine for aligning the parts of the bicycle frame the several parts may be

heads

7 and 12. Then the frame is positionedso that the dowel 21 on the shaft 17 can be entered into the open top of the seat post connection. Then the crank case is clamped tightly between the

heads

7 and 12 thus accurately centering the crank case and afterward the shaft 17 is screwed down to force the end of the seatpost tube 24 into tight contact at each end with the adjacent shoulders. The pressure on the seat post tube is longitudinal thereof and sufficient pressure can be applied to tightl close the joints between the ends, of the tu and the adjacent shoulders so that there are substantially no cracks left at these points to be filled with solder after the joints have been brazed.

Besides the crank case, the seat post connection and the vertical seat post tube 24 the'bicy'cle frame consists of a head con nection 26, an upper tubular bar 27 conmeeting the upper end of the head with the seat post connection, a lower tubular bar 28 connecting the lower part of the connection with the crank case, which together canstitutes the forward part of the frame and a rear part or section ofthe frame. rear art of a'bicycle frame consists of two side rames each comprising an upper tubular bar 29 and the lower tubular bar 30.

These bars are connected to ether at theirrear ends by the rear whee slotted plate the two lower members 30. These spacers are arranged a suitable distance from the center of the rear wheel of the bicycle to serve as sup rts for the rear mud guard and as usua ly arranged they are placed just beyond the periphery of the rear wheel.

The

The forward end of the tubular bar too ' My method includes the centering of these braces and consequently the

members

29 and 30 as Well as the various extremities of the several parts of the bicycle frame. 7 For centering and aligning the head connection 26 and forcing the

tubular bars

27 and 28 to tight. shoulder fits at theirends I provide a standard 34 rising from the for- Ward end of the base 2 and carrying two vertically spaced horizontally extending mem- I bers 35 and 36.

The u per member 35 is provided wlth a substantially vertical opening 37 and the lower memberv 36 is provided with a similar opening 38. These openings are in axial alignment and in inclined relation to the vertical at the same angle as the head connection 26 is inclined to the vertical when the seat post tube 24 is set vertical, as in the machine, that is with the upper end farther from the seat post tube than the lower end. Theopening 37 in the upper member is larger than the lower opening 38 to receive a clamping cam shaft 39. The lower end 40-of the shaft 39 fits the smaller opening 38 and the upper end 41 fits in the larger opening 37. The middle portion 42 of the shaft is formed eccentric to the axial center line of the shaft as best shown in. Figures 1 and 5 and is adapted to force the head connection 26 rearwardly toward the seat post tube when the shaft is rotated to the position shown in Figure 3, where its cam extends from the rear side of the shaft.

The head 26 is provided with two rearwardly extending

nozzles

43 and 44 to be connected respectively to the upper frame bar 27 and the lower frame bar 28. These nozzles are of the same external diameter as the

bars

27 and 28 and to strengthen the joints between the head and the bars,each nozzle is provided with a fishtail bushing 45 similar to the bushing 23 used in joining the seat post tube 24 to the crank case 8.

Each of the bushings 45 is provided with flanges or partial flanges 46 on their inner ends which are adapted to lie in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the head 26 and to be brazed thereto when the joint is finished. These fishtail bushings are entered into the

nozzles

43 and 44 and then the partial flanges or projections are spread out and formed to conform with the inner surface of the head 26. The outer ends of the

nozzles

43 and 44 are trued up, and as the sheet metal of which the cracks which have to be filled with solder after the brazing operation.

. The rear end of the upper tubular bar 27 isreceived upon and centered by the nozzle 48 formed on the seat post connection and the rear end of the lower tubular bar 28 is receive d and centered. by one of. the fishtail bushings 45 carried in a suitable contral nozzle 49 and formed out of the wall of the crank case 8. a

1 Usually the bicycle frame is brought to the machine with the several arts assembledand loosely held in assem led condition, and after the securing of the vertical bar 24 in place as described the shaft 39 is inserted through the

openings

37 and 38 and through the head 26 with the projecting side of the middle or cam portion 42 of the shaft projecting toward the standard Then by rotating the shaft the cam portion is turned toward the rear and is forced against the flanges 46, forcing them into close contact with the inner wall, of the head 26 and forcing the head, as a whole, toward the seat post tube 24. In this clamping process the

tubes

27 and 28 are clamped endwise tightly between the shoulders on the several connections and the bushings 45 in the head connection are forced tightly into position. To hold the several fishtail bushings 45 in the crank case 8 against being pushed into the connection during the operation of forcing the several tubes into ti ht contact with said connection I preferably insert a cylindrical plug 50 which fits tightly enough Within the hollow crank case to prevent the inward movement of the several bushings.

To hold the head connection from being forced sidewise out of the true vertical central longitudinal plane of the machine when the eccentric shaft 37 is rotated to force the head and bushings rearwardly I provide a slotted guide member 51 having a slot 52 fitting the sides of the head con nection 26 and mounted on the standard 34 for movement back and forth.

The slot extends exactly vertical and central as related to the central vertical plane of the machine so that as the eccentric portion 42 of the shaft 37 is rotated to clamp the frame parts the head 26 is held against sidewise "movement out of its true central position.

It should be understood that the function of" the eccentric or cam shaft 37 will be effective if the rear ends of

tubular bars

27 and 28 are held stationary properly spaced whether by being entered upon the dowels upon the two connections or otherwise, at least so far as the production of the tight joints between the head connection and the tubular bars is concerned. In other'words the method which I have devised of clamping the'head upon the upper and lower bars is new and useful in and of'itself whether combined with the added function of setting the rear ends of the tubular bars on the other connections or not.

Having properly clamped the head connection an the upper and lower bars as described upon the seat post connection, and the crank case connection the next step is to position and clamp the rear parts of the frame. I v

The rear side frames which each consists of an upper bar 29, a lower bar 30, and a rear wheel slotted connection 31 are first assembled, The connection 31 is usually shown at 56, Figure 11,. by means of a suit-' able round ended punch. The side frames are brought to the machine thus assembled and the forward end of the upper tube 29 is placed upon a suitable doweling projection 57 formed-upon the seat post connection 10. The seat post connection is provided with two of these projections. 57 one for each of the u per tubes 29 and slightly spread apart so t at they can be drawn toether to properly clamp a seat post which ts within the seat post bushing 25. The bushing 25 has a longitudinal slit or cut 58 connecting with the space between the lugs or the projections 57 so that it can be compressed upon the seat post. The forward ends of the bars 29 are thus brought close together while the rear ends are spaced apart in position to receive the rear axle of the rear wheel between them. The forward ends of the lower bars are received and properly fixed upon suitable dowels 59 on the crank? case 8'. These dowels 59 are formed of the fishtail bushings which are mounted withinsuitable hollow bosses or projections 60 projecting from the crank case, and spaced the same distance laterally" from the longitudinal central plane of the frame.

To properl space and set the rear ends of the rear si e frames, that is the rear wheel slotted plates 31, I provide a transverse 'shaft 61 having fixed collars 62 at its ends,

"on the rear axle.

diaetrically arranged projections the outer faces of said collars forming shoulders which are spaced apart the same as and simulate the fixed collars or bearings at the ends of the rear wheel hub and carried Upon these shoulders .are

shown b section lining in Figure 10, which substantially fill the slots 64 for the rear axle in theconnections 31. Centrally upon the projections 63 I provide the shaft member 61, threaded projections 65 extending axially of the shaft 61,- for receiving clampin nuts 66 by which the plates 31 can be tightly clamped against the collars 62. When so clamped the plates 31 are arranged with their slots 64 exactly parallel with each other. I mount the member 61 in a horizontal position in a bore 67 provided in a block 68 which in turn is mounted ina vertical opening 69 provided in -a longitudinally movable head member 70. 5 Y

This head70 is carried on a shaft 71 a1;-

ranged longitudinally of the machine and extending horizontally and is held against transverse movement in true vertical position by projections or flanges 72 which engage the parallel sides 73 of a guide member 74 mountedon the base 1 of the machine a the rear end thereof.

The guide member 73 is provided'with a standard 75 'at its forward end and a similar standard 76 at its rear end and in which the shaft 71 is rotatably mounted. The shaft is screw threaded between said standards and the head is provided with a threaded opening for receiving the same. The shaft is held against longitudinal movement by a collar 77 which bears against the rear end of the standard 76 and a similar collar 78 which bears against the forward side of the standard 75. The shaft is provided with a hand wheel 79 on its rear end by which it can be rotated to move the head 70 and the member 61 back and forth. The member 61 is arranged and held with the outer surfaces of the two collars 62 the same distance from the vertical central longitudinal plane of the machine so that when the plates 31 are clamped upon same they are spread equally from the central plane of the machine.

In assembling a frame the slotted plates 31 are clamped upon the ends of the member 61 against the outer surfaces of the collars 62 by the nuts 66. The forward ends of the

bars

29 and 30 are then entered upon their respective doweling projections and the head with the member 61 is pushed forward by the screw shaft 71 untilthe several ends of the tubes are pressed firmly into contact with the opposing shoulders on the connections 8 and 10.

One importantfeature of my method and machine resides in the accuracy of the-spacing of the rear slotted plates 31 for the rear wheel from the center of the crank case 8 which, of course, determines the spacing of the crank shaft and the axle of the rear wheel. amount of adjustment of the rear axle in the slotted plates for the wear of the chain is limited and must be so arranged that the removal or addition of one link in thejusual one-inch pitch chain, now commonly used, will cause an adjustment of the rear shaft within the available adjustment provided by This feature is important as the the slottedplates. In other words having decided on the chain to be used and the dimensions of the bicycle frame, the crank such spacing. This is accomplished by pro:

vid' a projection, 80 on't-he forward end of the head 70-wh1ch is adapted to contact a head 70 fittin between parallel vertical walls 82. This is or the purpose of permitting the rear ends of the shaft to adjust themthe limiting shoulders.

selves slightlyvertically so that both the lower rods 30 and the upper rods 29 shall be properly clamped tightly endwise between In using the machine, having set in the side frames as described it is only necessary for the worlman to turn the hand wheel 7 9 and force the head 70 as far forward as it will go, that is with the

projections

80 and 81 in contact. At this time all of the side bars 29 and30 should be tightly bound between the centering shoulders. If they are not thus bound then there has been a mistake made in preparing some of the parts. i

As the side bars 29 and 130 of the rear frame are curved and inclined laterally .their rear ends being spread farther apart than their forward ends, it is necessary. to pro erly position and space these bars and hol them in such spaced relation relatively to the rim of the rear wheel. For the spacing of these bars I provide U-shaped strut until the several tubes and the several connections are permanently joined together

members

83 and 84 which simulate somewhat the shape of the upper 'and lower parts of the rear frames. he member 83 is adapted to lie within the side bars 29 which form the upper rear fork and the member 84:

is adapted to lie between the side bars 30 of the lower part of the rear frame. E ch of these members is pivotally mounted on i 87 on the up the forward part of the head 70 on suitable bolts 85 and 86 respectively. These members are somewhat shorter than the space between the sidebars and each is provided with a forward central doweling projection r member and 88 on the lower member. T e forward'portions 89 and 90 of these members fit tightly between the

bars

29 and 30 respectively at substantially the point where the rim and tire of the rear 'wheel will be positioned, so that when the frame is properly clamped in the machine these forward ends of the '

U-shaped strut members

83 and 84 properly space the side bars of the rear part'of the bicycle frame apart.

To permanently hold the side bars 29 and 30 I provide tubular braces or supports 32 for the upper fork and 33 for the lower fork. The-brace 32 is received between the two bars 29 at thepoint where they are bent in to draw them together to correspond with the projections on the seat post connection upon which they are doweled and similarly the brace 33 is placed between theforward end of the bars 30 where they are means the crank case 8. The tubular strut 32 is provided with a central opening 93 to receive a small doweling projection 94: on the projection 87 carried by the U-shaped member 83 and similarly the strut 33 is provided with a small central hole 95 to receive a small projection 96 on the projection 88 carried by the U-shaped memberS.

In assembling the frame on the machine the tubular strut braces 32 and 33 are placed are forced tightly between the side bars of.

the rear forks. The doweling o enings 93 and 94 in said tubular braces ing centrall arranged and the projections upon whic they are mounted being1 centrally 'ar- 4 ranged. relatively to the mac ine, the centering of the side bars of the ream/fork is assured.

Having tightly clam d the sdweral members of the frame in t e machine, they are all held in such. tightly clamped position by spot welding or by other suitable means. Preferably they are joined by means of an oxyacetylene welding torch the welding particularl joinin the en s of the tubes to the hea connection 26, th seat post connection 10, the crank case connection 8, and the rear fork connection 31, as indicated on the several drawings by the weld spots 96.

Besides the welding of the parts together.

.parts into their desired positions.

It'sometimes occurs that in assembling the tubes and connections it is necessary to spring the tubes to cause their end to receive the doweling parts. This results frominaccuracy in the production of the dowels or in their insertion in the connec tions. In any event the heating of the end portions of the tubes and the doweling connections relieves all strains so that when the frame is relieved of the clamping pressure 4 in the machine there is no tendency for the various parts to spring out of their true:

positions. I V

Having thus temporarily and rigidly con-I nected the several parts of the rams togather intheir true positions as determined by the machine, the frame is next removed from the machine and the several connections are completed and made permanent by suitable brazing operations, such as by dipping the several connections into melted lars and then the frame is tested as to its.

exact trueness or correctness in a machine which is similar to themachine .in which the several parts were clamped and set as previously described.

While it would be possible to test the frame thus completed in the machine as already described, I' preferably provide a machine especially adapted for this testing operation, which machine I have illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

In describing the testing machine and its operation I will first describe the differences between the testing machine and the setting machine which are especially adapted to facilitate the testing operations.

Instead of the means for clamping the head by forcing itrearwardly I provide simple means for testing the alignment or position of the head 26. Instead of the threaded shaft 71 and head. for clamping the rear part of the frame, I provide a similar head which is freely movable longitudinally of the machine for testing the posi-- tions of the rear slotted plates 31, and instead of the screw threaded clamping shaft 17 at the upper end of the standard 4 I provide a testing member which can be freely lifted u and down in a guide bracket for testing t 1e position of the seat post connec'- tion. In place of the cam shaft 37 I provide a straight shaft 97 longer than the head 26' and adapted to be centered therein by dowcling caps 98 at the lower end and 99 at the upper end. The collar 98 is fixed on the shaft 97 and the collar 99 is removable therefrom-and is adapted to be locked in vposition on the shaft and against the upper end of the head 25 by means of a locking pin 100 projecting laterally from the shaft 97 and an L-shaped slot 101 in the periphery of the collar 99. As-best shown in Figure '15'the collar 98. is rovided with a doweling projection 102 fitting within the lower end of the head 26 and the removable collar 99 is provided with a similar doweling pro; jection 103 fitting within the upper end of the head 26 so that 'when the shaft is clamped in the head it stands in central position in relation to the head 26.

For centeringthe crank case 8,upon the of the several openings for the machine I provide exactly the same centering devices as used in the clamping machine, viz: the fixed doweling head 12 and the transversely movable doweling head 7, and in placing the bicycle frame in the testing machine I first clamp the crank case between these two heads by means of the screw threaded shaft 5 which carries the movable head 7.

Having thus clamped the crank case in the machine it is now merely necessary to test the several extremitieshof the frame to find out whether they lie in their'true and proper relation to the central vertical longitudinal plane of the testing machine. In

this process of testing I first test the seat 7 post connection 10 and for this purpose instead of the screw threaded clamping shaft 17 I provide a shaft 104 which is mounted in vertical position with its axis lying accurately in the central longitudinal plane of the machine and which is slidable up and down in a bearing 105 carried by the-upper end of the standard 4 and provided on its lower end with a doweling pin 106 whicn accurately fits in the seat post opening. For convenience in operation I provide a supporting pin 107 rojecting laterally from the shaft 104 an I provide an upwardly projecting nozzle 108 on the bearing 105 upon which the projection 107 can rest with the lower end 'of the shaft 104 free of the bicycle frame and provided with a vertical slot 109 in which said projection 107 is re ceived when it is desired to drop the shaft with the (loWel106 in the seat post opening of the bicycle frame. At the time that the frame is first clamped in the testing machine the shaft 104 is raised and supported in raised position by the projection 107 resting upon the top of the nozzle 108. After the frame back and forth until the seat post connection is aligned transversely with the dowel and then if the dowel enters the seat post opening the frame is true, but if the seat post opening stands to one side or the other the frame is sprung or forced side,- wise until it stands accurately beneath the shaft 104 and so that the dowel 106 will freely drop into the seat post opening. When this occurs it is known that the seat post connection lies aecuratelysin .the central longitudinal plane of the frame.

Having adjusted the frame so that the dowel 106 will drop freely into the seat post opening I then proceed to test the accuracy i and lower ends respectively of the shaft 97.

These heads are mounted upon longitudinally moving

shafts

112 and 113 respectively carried in horizontal bearings provided in the standard 34. Each of these heads is U-shaped, as best shown in Figure 14, and

adapted to be moved back and forth from and toward the frame to engage the ends of the shaft 97. These heads are at first in withdrawn positions, as shown in dotted lines. The U-shaped slots 11% are made wide enough to span the shaft 97 and in testing upon the ends of the shaft then the forward end of the bicycle frame is adjusted by forcing the head one way or the other, or twisting the frame until the heads 110 and 111 will slide freely upon the ends of the shaft 97 into the position shown in full lines in the drawing, at which time it is known that the head 26 lies acrurately inthe central longitudinal plane of the frame. The next point to test is the position and relation of the rear part of the bicycle frame. This is accomplished by means of a head 115 similar to the head 70 and slidable back and forth on a member 116 similar to the memher 7 3. Instead of the screw threaded shaft 71 for forcing the head forward and back, I provide a guide shaft 117 which supports and guides the head 115 accurately. The head 115is provided with a vertically movable block 118 similar to the block 68 and which carries a member similar to the member 61, simulating the rear axle and hub of the rearwheel of the bicycle, having shoulders 119 similar to the outer faces of the collar 62 on the member 61 for accurately spacing the rear slot-ted members 31 apart,

"and the member 61 is provided with diametrically extending projections similar to the projections 63 on the member 61 for entering and testing the positions of the slots in the members 31.

In testing the rear portions of the bicycle frame the head 115 is moved forward on the shaft 117, first to test-the accuracy of the transverse positions of the slotted plates 31 and when these lie accurately against the shoulders 119, then the diametrical doweling projections are entered into the slots in the plates 31 to test the accuracy of their being parallel with ear-h other. When the head 115 can be moved forwardly and the testing projections entered freely into the slots in the plates 31 with the inner sides of the plates 31 in contact with the-shoulders 119,

then it is determined that the rear forks are accurately spaced, uniformly from the longitudinal central plane of the frame and the and adapted to contact with the projection 3 51 when the'block 115 is at the extreme forwardlimit of its movement, thus testing the accuracy of the spacing of the crank case 8 from the position of the axle of the rear wheel, whereby it is known that a certain,

length of chain can be used and will accurately fit upon the gear wheel and sprocket of the machine when assembled and bring the adjustment of the rear axle within the length of the slots in the plates 31 in the removal or addition of a link, asthe chain needs adjustment in the use of the machine.

For testing the points 90 on the rear forks as to their exact spacing from the center plane of the frame, I provide two testing forks 121 mounted .7 in the testing machine and similar to the U-shaped members 84 on the clamping machine. 'lthese testing forks 121' are each rovided with a transversely arranged ca ipering rod 122 at its free end, the ends of the rod 122 adapted to just pass the inner sides of the adjacent rear fork sides when the testing forks are swung up and down. The ends of the-rods 122 are set equidistant from the center plane of the frame and the rods are the proper length to test the spacing of the rear forks;

Having thus tested and adjusted the frame to lie with its longitudinal vertical plane accurately in the longitudinal vertical plane of the machine the frame is then removed from the machine and is ready to be finishedby the usual enameling process, and it is known that when the frame is assembled with the other parts of the bicycle to form the complete bicycle every part and portion thereof will be in pro er alignment and relative position and wil not need to be adjusted in such assembling.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I -do not limit nor confine my invention to the several specific steps or sequence of steps of the several s e'cific constructions herein described and siown.

I claim: 1 a

1. The herein described method of build ing tubular frames which consists in clamping one part of the frame provided with means for doweling tubular parts thereon" in a 'fixed position, setting the remainingconnections in positions relative to said fixed connection, with tubularconnectingparts arranged between said connections, then forcing said remaining connections towards the fixed connection to tightly clamp the intervening tubes and while the several parts of the frame are thus-clamped, rigidly N and permanently securing the several connections to the several tubes so that when the connections are relieved of pressure the several parts will remain rigid in their true fixed connection to tightly clamp the intermediate tubes and holding them centrally relativel .to said longitudinal central plane, and whi e the several-parts of the frame are thus clamped, rigidly and permanently securing the several connections to the several tubes so that whenthe connections are re lieved of pressure the several parts will remain rigid in their true relative positions.

3. The herein described method of building tubular frames consisting of tubular parts joined to a hollow connecting part, which consists in loosely doweling-the t'ubular parts upon th-e'connection, fixing the opposite ends of said tubular parts in their true relative positions, and forcing the connection in the general direction of the fixed ends of the tubular parts to close the joints between the tubular parts and the hollow connection, and while the parts are thus held, rigidly welding the hollow connection to the tubular parts.

4. The herein described method of connecting a hollow connecting memberto two tubular parts extending'from one side there;

of which consists in providing the hollow member with connecting nozzles, placing doweling tubes in said nozzles having v flanged projections extending within the hollow connection, placing tubular members on said doweling tubes, fixing the free ends of the tubular parts in their true relative positions, then applying pressure to the flanged ends ofthe doweling tubes and forcing said flanges against the inner surface of the hollow connections and the hollow connection in the general direction of the.

' fixed ends of the tubular parts to close the joints between the tubular parts and the nozzles, and while the parts are thus clamped. producing motalized connections,

between t enozzle and the tubular parts.

5. The herein described method of building a tubular frame which consists of a sub.-

stantially central connection and end connections and tubular parts joining the. connections, which method consists in loosely assembling the several parts of the frame, v

clamping the central connections rigidl in deslred positions relatively to a central ongitudinal plane, then forcing the several other connections towards the said central connection with the several tubular parts interposed and while forcing said several connections toward the central connection, holding all of said connections in their desired positions relatively to said central longitudinal plane of-the frame to be produced, and when the several other connections have been forced toward the central connection to tightly clamp the tubes, producing molecular connection between the tubes and the several connections for rigidly retaining the parts in their several related positions.

6, Theherein described method of build-- ing a tubular bicycle frame consisting of a hollow crank case, a hollow head, a hollow seat post connection, slotted rear wheel connections and tubular members connecting the several connections, which method consists in clamping the crank case with its transverse center plane in a given plane, setting the head in said given plane with the tube arranged between the head and the crank case, setting the seat post'connection in said plane with a tube arranged between the crank case and the seat postconnection,

and another tube arranged between the seat post connection and the head, setting slotted plates for the rear wheel axle parallel to each other and at equal distances from said given plane and interposing tubular connections between said slotted plates and the. a

crank case, and between said slotted plates and the seat post connection, holding the head connection and the seat post connection 1n said central longitudinal plane and .the slotted connections at the rear in the said positions relative to said plane and forcing all of said connections toward said fixed crank case and forcing the head and said slotted connection toward the seat post connection to clamp all of the tubes en'dwise between the several connections and while thus clamped ri idly securing said tubes at their ends to t e several connections by welding. v

7. The herein described method of centering and spacing the rear, side frames of a bicycle frame in the manufacture thereof which consists in holding the crank case connection and the seat post connection in fixed positions relatively to each other and y with their transverse center planes in a given lane, arranging the slotted connec-' tions or the rear wheel axle at equal distances from said plane and parallel toeach other and with suitable tubes joining said slotted connections to the crankcase and seat post connections, then applying pressure to said slotted connections to force them forwardly toward the crank case and toward the seat post connection to firmly clamp the said, tubes endwise' between the connections, arranging a separator between the two u per tubes at the point just beyond that w ich will be occupied by the rear wheel tire and a similar spacer between the lower bars 7 and forcing said tubular connections between the upper and lower bars, then per manently connecting all of the side tubes to the rear slotted connectionathe lower tubes to the crank case, the upper tubes" to the seat post connections and the hollow braces to the "upper and lower tubes respectively,

s. In a machine of the kind described, 'means for holding the rear ends of the upper and lower bars of the forward endof a bicycle frame in proper relative position, and

means for forcing the .head connection toward said rear ends to clamp said head upon said tubes.

9. A-machine for building bicycle frames l having a central longitudinal plane, means for clamping the crank case 'Wlth itstransvverse center plane in'said central .plane of the machine, means for holdingtheseat post connection with its center in the said central plane, means for holding the head of the bicycle frame centrally in relation to said -center plane, means for forcing the seat post connection toward the crank case, means for forcing the head connection in the general direction of the seat post and the crank case to cause the'tubes of the bicycle frame to be tightly clamped endwise, while the several connections are retained in said central plane and to be retained in such position while being permanently joined as by weld- 10. A machine for building bicycle frames having means for rigidly clampingthe crank connection in a given position; with its transverse center plane in the longitudinal central plane ofthe machine, a head mounted on the machine carrying a horizontal shaft havin end shoulders equi-distant from said centra Y plane'and adapted to receive and space the rear slotted connections of the bicycle frame, parallelprojections on the two shoulders for aligning the slots of said rear slotted connections, means for clamping the connections against said shoulders, means for positioning a seat post connection above the'crank connection and centered onsaid central plane, and means for forcing the said head toward the crank case to tightly bind tubular members joinin the several connections. v v

11, machine for building bicycle fram 1 having means for rigidly clampin the-crank connection in-a given position wit its trans- 1 .ve'rse centers. plane in the 10 'tudinal central plane of the machines ead mounted achine carrying ahorizontal shaft income space the rear' slotted connections of the bicycle frame, parallel projections on the two shoulders for aligning the slots of the rear connections, means for clamping the connections against said shoulders, means for positioning a seat post connection above the crank connection and centered on said central plane, means for forcing the said head toward the crank casetotightly bind tubular members between the connections and to hold them vin "such condition, and means carried by the head for centering the upper and lower between their en 12. A machine for building having means for rigidly clamping the crank connection in a given position with its trans- "verse center plane in they longitudinal central plane-of the machine, a head mounted in the machine-carrying. a horizontal shaft.

havingend shoulders equi-distant' from said central plane and adapted .to receive: and.

space the rear slotted connections'of'the bicycle frame, parallel projections on thetwo s oulders for aligning the slots of said rear connections, means for clamping the connections against said shoulders, means for positioning a seat post connection above the crank connection and centered, on said central plane, means for forcing the said head toarts of said -rear.frame'- bicycleframesward the crank case to tightly bind tubular members between the connections, and said horizontal shaft mounted in a floating block carried in a vertical slot in the head so that as the head is forced forward the shaft can set itself to equalize the pressure on the upper and lower bars of the frame 12}. A machine for building bicycle frames having means for rigidly clamping the crank case in a given position with its transverse center planein the lon 'tudinal central plane of the machine, a sad mounted on the machine carrying a horizontal shaft having'end shoulders equi-distant from said central plane and adapted to receive and space the rear slotted connections of the bic cle frame, parallel projections on the two 8 oulders for aligning the slots of the rear slo ted connections, means for clamping the connections against said shoulders, means for positioning a seat post connection above the crank connection and centered on said central plane, means for-forcing the said head toward the crank case to tightly bind tubular members between the connections,

said horizontal shaft mounted in a floating block carried in a vertical slot in the head so that as the head is forced forward said shaft can set itself'to equalize the pressure on theupperand lower bars of the frame,

and a stop for limiting the forward movement of said head.

14. A machine for building bicycleframes verse center plane in the longitudinal contral plane of the machine, a head mounted on the machine carrylng a horizontal shaft having end shoulders equidistant from said central plane and adapted to receive and space the rear slotted connections of the, bi-

cycle frame, parallel projections on the two shoulders for alignlng the slots of the said rear connections, .means for clamping the connections against said shoulders, means for positioning a seat post connection above the crank case and centered on said central plane, means for forcing the said head toward the crank case to tightly bind the tubular members between the connections, and a stop for limiting the forward move'mentcf the'head to .a determined position which shall correctly space the crank connection from the slotted connections.

15. The herein described method of buildmg tubular frames which consists in clamping tubular parts between tubular connections with doweling members joining said parts, then permanently and rigidly joining the ends of the tubular members to the connections and dowels by means of heat and thereby relieving the strains incident to the clampin operation.

Th s

16. ing tubular frames which consists in compressively clamping tubular' parts between hollow connections with doweling members joining said parts,'then spot welding the ends of the tubes to the connections totemporarily rigidly hold the several parts in their relative relations, then relieving the arts of compression and brazing the several omts.

17. The herein described method of producing rigid tubular structures consisting of tubular members joined to tubular connectors by tubular dowels havin flanged heads, which method consists in p acing the tubular dowels with their flanges inside of. the tubular connectors, placing the ends of the tubular members on the projecting ends of the dowels, then forcing thetubular connection toward each other to place the tubular members under compression by pressure applied to the flanged ends of the dowels and while the parts are thus held metallically and rigidly joining the tubular parts to the connections and dowels.

18. In a machine for. building the rear portion of bicycle frames, means 0 clamping the crank case in a fixed position with its transverse center plane in thelongi- I tudinal central plane of the machine, means .above the crank case for positionmg a seat post connection with its vertical central plane in the central plane of the machine and for compressively clamping the tubular herein described method of buildr rigidlya shaft arranged perplendicularly to the central plane pf the mac ins and having-end shoulders equ1d1stant from the'central plane and adapted to receive and space the rear slotted connections of the frame, tubular members between the rear slotted connections and the crank case and seat post connection the transverse shaft being freely movable bodily up and down to accommodate itself to the relative length of the connecting tubular members so that when the head is moved to place the tubular members under compression the compression will be equalized upon the upper and lower tubes.

19. In a machine for building tubular frames such as bicycle or similar frames having a part comprising two side members joined together at one end and spaced apart at their opposite ends to receive a wheel between them, fixed means for retaining the joined ends symmetrically in reference to the central plane of the machine, a movable head adapted to receive and symmetrically position the free .ends of the reference to the central plane as the head is moved to produce compression upon said members.

20. In a machine for building tubular framessuch as bicycle orjsimilar frames having parts symmetrically arranged in reference'to a central plane, and comprising a crank case, a seat post connection, a tube joining said parts, symmetrically formed rear forks extending from the crank case and seat ost connections and joined together at their rear ends by rear wheel supporting plates, means on the machine for setting and holding the crank case with its transverse central place in the central plane of the machine, means for forcing the seat post connection toward the crank case, a

ice

head longitudinally movable on the machine between same w on the head is moved forward to set the tubular side members upon the crank case and seat post-connections.

21. In a machine of the kind described,

means for rigidly holding the crank case connection of a cycle frame. ahead adapted, to receive the free ends of the rear fork of the frame and longitudinally movable on the machine forforcing the tubular memconnection, a member mounted at one end on said head adapted to extend out along said support and to set the side members bers of the rear fork toward the crank case r transversely equal distances from the cenpivotally mounted at one ed to be engaged with sides of the fork-between their ends at points adjacent to the periphery of the wheel to be carried thereby and adapted be said sides equally distant from the central plane of the machine at said points.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of April, 1920,

AUGUST ID. MEISELBACH. Witness:

EDWARD FAY WILSON.