Oct. 7, 1924. W. S.

HARLEY ET A
1,510,937
MOTOR CYCLE
Original Filea Nov. 1, 1919 3. Sheets-Sheet l
Oct. 7, 1924. 1,510,937
W. S. HARLEY ET A.
MOTOR CYCLE
Original Filea Nov. 1, 99. 3. Sheets-Sheet 2

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(Oct. 7, 1924. W. S. HARLEY ET A 1,510,937
MOTOR CYCLE
Original Filea Nov. 1. 1919 3. Sheets-Sheet 3

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 Patented Oct. 7, 1924. 1,510,937
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WILLIAM. S. HARLEY AND ADAIVI ZISKA, JR., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORs
TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON IVIOTOR CO., OF VIILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORA
TION OF WISCONSN.
MOTOR. CYCLE.
Application filed November 1, 1919, Serial No. 335,004, Renewed February 27, 1924.
To all whom it may concern. which are integral throughout their extent
Be it known that we, WILLIAM. S. HARLEY from the front fork journal to the rear axle
and ADAM ZISKA, Jr., citizens of the United plate. .
States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county A further object is to provide a pressed 60
5 of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have steel frame for motor-cycles.
invented new and useful Improvements in A further object is to provide a motor
Motor Cycles, of which the following is a cycle frame proportioned throughout to the
specification. . . stresses to be borne.
This invention relates to motor-cycles. Other objects will appear. . . . . . .. . .
Motor-cycle frames are usually made of The invention contemplates, in its pre- 65
seamless steel tubing which is fitted and ferred embodiment, complementary channel
brazed to forgings at numerous points in the members which are integral throughout, and
frame structure. The inherent temper or means formed thereon for supporting an
stiffness of the seamless drawn tubing is de engine and fuel tank.
stroyed or lessened, at the places where the An embodiment of this invention is shown 70
brazing takes place, and cannot Subsequently in the accompanying drawings.
be restored. Crystallization, due to vibra The views of the drawing are as follows:
tion, begins more readily at these places than Fig. 1 is a view of the motor-cycle em
in the untreated portion of the tubing, and bodying the invention. . .
the strength of the frame as a whole is low Fig.2 is a plan view of the frame. 75
ered to that of these Weakened parts. Fig. 3 is a side view of the frame.
Also, the changes from tubing to forgings. Fig. 4 is a side view of the main mem
at numerous points throughout the frame, bers of the frame with all other parts
materially detracts from the harmonious and omitted. .... .
25 pleasing appearance. .. . Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of 80
This invention is designed to overcome Fig. 4.
these defects, and to produce a motor-cycle Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of
of improved characteristics. . .. . Fig. 4. .. . .
One of the objects of this invention
30 simplify the construction of motor-cycles.
is to Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the brace
and seat support. 85
A further object is to increase the strength Fig. 8 is a side view of the brace and seat
of motor-cycles. . - support with the springs for the seat at
A further object is to increase the dura tached. ;:,
bility of motor-cycles. Fig. 1 shows the complete motor-cycle, , ,
35 A further object is to prevent the lower comprising a front fork 1, a front fork. 90
ing of original temper and stiffness of the journal 2, a frame 3, and rear axle plates,
metal of which the frame is composed. or supports, 4. The engine and associated
A further object is to prevent rapid mechanism is suspended from four arms
crystallization of the metal of which the which are integral with, and depend from
40 frame is composed. the main frame. There are two front arms 95
A further object is to retain all of the 5 and two rear arms. 6; one front and one
original strength of the metal in the finished rear arm being formed from each of the
frame. . main frame members. -i . . . . . .
A further object is to increase the original Figs. 2 and 3 show
45 temper of the metal by the methods em prises, a pair of complementary right and 100
the frame, which com
ployed in forming the frame. . . . left hand channel members 7 which are
A further object is to eliminate the an riveted at one end, to the front fork jour
gular corners and unsightly projections of nal 2, and at the other end to the rear axle
motor-cycle frames and to provide a motor Supporting plates. 4. Between these points
50 cycle frame both harmonious and pleasing in the frame members 7 are integral through- 105.
appearance, and of such proportions as to out. Between the members , the gasoline
adequately carry the stresses impressed tank 8 is carried, which by being bolted
thereon. -- to the members 7 and fitting the inner con
A further object is to provide a motor tour of such members, forms an effective
55 cycle frame which is composed of members brace and spacer. The cross bracing is fur- 10
 sts 1,510,937

ther secured by means of a bracing and seat wards its rear end. Throughout its extent
supporting plate 9 whose curved flanges are the frame is free from abrupt changes of
fitted to the top flanges of the members configuration,
outline. As a
sharp corners, and angular
whole the frame presents a
and riveted thereto. Adjacent the point
where the rear fork begins to form, an ad pleasing, harmonious appearance, and gives O
ditional, channel shaped, cross brace iO is the effect of a unitary structure as distin
provided and riveted to lugs 11 formed upon guished from the other types of motor
cycles in which each element, of the com
the upper and lower flanges of the membe's posite
7. Upon the brace 10, lugs 12 are provided frame, stands out, distinct and Sep
O to which the rear mud guard is riveted. arate. 5
In addition to the good appearance and
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of the frame increased
members 7. The members 7 are tapered strength secured by this type of
and of channel shape with upper and lower frame, such a frame may readily be stamped
inwardly directed flanges 13 and 14, espec and formed. It may be blanked out in One
5 tively, and a central Web. The depth of press and formed in another, thereby 8:
these frame members gradually decreases to greatly lessening the Operations necessary
from the central portion to the front and ingproduce a motor-cycle frame, and retain
and, in fact, even enhancing its original
rear ends, thereby providing greatest.
strength at the place where the greatest temper, strength, and stiffness by the work S 5
20 strains occur. Two lugs 5 and 6 extend ing it receives in forming.
downwardly from each frame member vised Obviously other structures may be de
and are themselves channel shaped, With in set which will embody the invention here
their front and rear flanges 15 inwardly di Whatforth. is claimed is:
rected. The members 5 and 6 are provided 1. A motorcycle comprising a front jour 90
with suitable openings 16 for receiving the nal, rear axle Supports, a pair of comple
bolts for attaching the engine and associ
ated parts. A boss 17 is formed on One of inentary channel members connecting the
the members 7 for receiving the pivot fo!' journal and axle Supports, and an engine
the gear shift lever. Suspended from and positioned below the
Figs. 2 and 3 show the front folk jour channel 2. A
Innembers.
motorcycle, comprising a front fork
95
nal 2 and rear axle plates attached to the
frame members 7. The front fork journa journal, rear axle supports, and a frame
has a hollow Wedge shaped, rear portion having complementary channel members ex
which accurately fits the inner portion of tending in unbroken continuity from the
35 the members and is riveted thereto at front fork journal to the axle supports, the
its top, sides, and bottom portion. middle of said frame members lying in a
The rear axle plates are slotted to re Substantially horizontal plane with one end
ceive the rear axle fastenings and are pro extending upwardly at an oblique angle and
the other end extending downwardly at an
vided with lugs for the attachment, thereto oblique
40 of the mud guard, support, and a side car. angle.
The forward portion 19 of these plates 4 are 3. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork
channel shaped with upper and lower fianges journal, rear axle Supports, and a frame
which taper towards the forward end. having complementary channel members ex
These portions are fitted within the channel tending in unbroken continuity from the
45 frame members 7 and are riveted thereto front fork journal to the axle supports, a O
at their side, top, and bottom. portion of the frame members intermediate
A bracket 20 is attached to each arm 5 the ends thereof being arranged in a substan
and extends forwardly, downwardly, and tially horizontal plane. One end thereof ex
outwardly. The outwardly extending arms tending upwardly towards the front fork
50 21 form a support for the foot, boards 22 and the other end extending downwardly to
(Fig. 1), being attached thereto by thread wards the rear axle.
ed pins 23 which are brazed to the arms 21. 4. In a motorcycle having a front fork
Figs. 7 and 8 show the cross brace and journal and rear axle Supports, a compressed
seat support 9. This member has a raised Steel frame comprising a pair of comple
forward portion 24 to which is secured a mentary channel members extending from 2. O
rearwardly extending seat spring 25. At the front fork to the axle supports, each
an intermediate point on the spring a Sup member being integral throughout its length
port 26 is provided, which is adapted to and having a substantially horizontal por
be adjustably secured in a channel 27 formed tion, an upwardly extending portion at one
* 60 in the member 9. side of the horizontal portion and a down
The frame dips downwardly from its Wardly extending portion at the other side
front end, increases in depth and extends thereof.
substantially horizontally at its middle por 5. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork,
tion, and finally bends downwardly on a a rear axle Support, a pair of complementary
65 long radius curve, tapering gradually to members extending from the front fork to 30
 1,510,937
the axle support, and a fuel tank enclosed
wholly within the complementary members.
6. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork,
rear axle supports, a pair of members, each
5 integral throughout its length connecting the
fork and supports, a brace extending be
tween the members and rigidly fastened
thereto, and a seat mounted on the brace.
7. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork
O journal having a rearwardly extending por
tion, a pair of rear axle supporting plates,
a pair of complementary channel members
secured to the rearwardly extending portion
of the journal and to the rear axle plates,
5 and a seat supported solely by the channel
members.
8. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork
journal, a pair of rear axle plates, a rectan
gular frame extending from Said journal to
said plates, said frame comprising two op
posed channel members each integral
throughout the entire length of the frame,
and a fuel tank enclosed entirely within the
channel members.
9. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork
journal, rear axle Supports, an engine, a
frame composed of a pair of opposed chan
nel members each extending from said jour
nal to said supports and unbroken through
30 out, and a depending arm formed upon each
channel member for Supporting said engine.
10. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork
journal, rear axle supports, a pressed steel
frame composed of a pair of opposed chan
nel members extending in unbroken continu 85
ity from the front fork journal to the rear
axle Supports, and a fuel tank enclosed
within the channel members.
11. A motor-cycle frame comprising a
pair of pressed steel channel members ex 40
tending substantially the entire length of the
body of the motor-cycle, each of said channel
members being integral throughout and
comprising upper and lower flanges, an in
termediate web, and a pair of downwardly 45
extending arms.
12. A motorcycle frame, comprising a
front fork, rear axle supports, a pair of
channel members extending in unbroken con 50
tinuity from the fork to the supports, a fuel
tank enclosed within the channel members,
and a seat supported by the members.
13. A motorcycle frame, comprising a
front fork journal, rear axle supports, a pair 55
of complementary frame members extending
between the front fork and axle supports,
the middle of the complementary members
lying in a substantially horizontal plane
with one end thereof extending upwardly
towards the front fork journal and the other 60
end extending downwardly towards the rear
axle Supports.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto sub
Scribed our names.
WILLIAMS. HARLEY.
ADAM ZISKA, JR.