IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO Sewing Machines, Part of wHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Skelding Tongue, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO
Sewing Machines, Part of wHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES.”
Sealed the 4th February 1879, and dated the 24th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Skelding Tongue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1878.
THOMAS SKELDING TONGUE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SEWING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in driving mechanism especially
applicable to sewing machines and other similar purposes.
In adapting the same to a sewing machine or other stand or frame I arrange the
centre or fulcrum bar of two treadles at the front thereof, leading the treadles
therefrom rearwards or away from the operator, that is, in the reverse direction to
the usual arrangement; and at the rear of the frame or stand I centre between and
at right angles to the treadles a beam which is connected thereto and oscillated
thereby; and from the rear end of one of these treadles rises a connecting rod
which is attached to a crank on and thus actuates the driving shaft. On this shaft
are two wheels, a fly wheel which is fast upon it, and a driving wheel which runs
loose thereon except when brought into action by the fly wheel, as herein-after
described. The boss of the driving wheel is recessed and fitted with a turned
square ring of iron, and which is slotted to receive a small wedge which is acted
upon by two (or more) pegs set excentrically upon the dise of the fly wheel (which
comes against and closes the recessed face of the driving wheel) in such a manner
that the outermost pin on striking the wedge springs the ring and locks both the
wheels together and drives the machine, whilst the other or innermost pin reverses

page_text: and frees the ring. For moving the machine in the reverse direction the fly wheel
turns leaving the driving wheel loose on the driving shaft.
The driving wheel being either stationary or movable upon the shaft at the will
of-the-operator_he_is_enabled to wind the cotton-without-driving the machine.
By the application of the above-described driving mechanism to such and other
similar uses the driving and action is rendered much less laborious than heretofore,
the beam being situated with its treadles at the rear of the machine in lieu of at
the front, the latter being too direct a motion and tiring and difficult to work, but
by transferring them to the position above described motion is imparted and
sustained with greater ease and facility.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Skelding Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1879.
THOMAS SKELDING TONGUE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SEWING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in driving mechanism
especially applicable to sewing machines and for other similar purposes, is illustrated
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings in Figure 1, and in detail in Figures 2
to 4.
Figure 1 illustrates the application of the improved driving mechanism to a
sewing machine stand or frame.
1 represents the centre or fulcrum bar of two treadles 2, and which I arrange at
the front of the frame or stand 12, leading the treadles therefrom rearwards or
away from the operator, that is, in the reverse direction to the usual arrangement;
and 3 represents a beam which I centre, as at 13, at the rear of the frame or stand
between and at right angles to the treadles, and connect it thereto by links 14 so
as to be oscillated thereby. From the rear end of one of the treadles rises a
connecting rod 4 which is attached to a crank 5 on the driving shaft 6, which is
thus actuated.
On the shaft 6 are two wheels (7, 8,), a fly wheel 7 which is fast upon it, and a
driving wheel 8 (for actuating the sewing machine or other mechanism) which runs
loose thereon except when brought into action by the fly wheel, as herein-after
described. The boss of the driving wheel 8 (or of the fly wheel, as may be
preferable in some machinery) is recessed and fitted (as shewn in Figure 2) with a
turned ring of square iron 9 (shown detached in Figure 3), and which is cut across
or slotted to receive a small wedge 10 which is acted upon by two (or more)
pegs 11 set excentrically upon the disc of the fly wheel 7 (or of the driving wheel,
as may be preferable in some machinery), which comes against and closes the
recessed face of the driving wheel in such a manner (as shown in Figure 4) that
the outermost (or innermost) pin on striking the wedge springs the ring and locks
both the wheels together, thus causing the machine to be driven, whilst the other
pin reverses and frees the ring. For moving the machine in the reverse direction
the fly wheel turns, leaving the driving wheel loose on its shaft.
The driving wheel being thus either fast or loose upon its shaft at the will of the
operator he is enabled to wind the cotton for shuttles or on spools without driving
the machine.
By the application of the above-described driving mechanism to such and other
similar purposes or uses the driving and action is rendered much less laborious than
heretofore, the beam being situated with its treadles at the rear of the machine in
lieu of at the front, the latter being too direct a motion and tiring and difficult to
work, but by transferring them to the position above described motion is imparted
and sustained with greater ease and facility.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The novel and peculiar combination and application in driving mechanism
applicable to sewing machines and for other similar uses of a fly wheel having
excentrically set pins with a driving wheel recessed and fitted with a spring ring
and a wedge acted upon, as above described, by the said pins, and the improved
arrangement and application of the treadles with their necessary connections,

page_text: substantially as above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
===
-In-witness-whereof, I, the said Thomas Skelding Tongue, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year-of-our-Lord-One_
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
JOHN-KENDRICK.
THOMAS SKELDING TONGUE. (L.S.)