IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."- A communication from abroad
by Marie Ernestine Bourdin, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris,
France.
Sealed the 25th February 1873, and dated the 2nd October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1872.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES,” communicated to me
from abroad by Marie Ernestine Bourdin, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin,
Paris, France, to be as follows:-
==
The object of this Invention, which is particularly applicable to
Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, is to regulate or adjust the
tension of the thread in sewing machines more accurately and effectively
than hitherto, and to prevent breaking of the thread from over tension,

page_text: and for this purpose, according to this Invention, arrangements are
provided and combined with regulating contrivances for indicating the
degree of tension of the thread on a marked or graduated surface, so
that the tension of the thread may be regulated or adjusted to a nicety,
and the degree of tension is shewn.
In carrying out the Invention the regulating contrivances are com-
bined with a sliding curser, running slide, index, pointer, or like
indicating appliance travelling over a surface graduated in manner to
correspond with the various degrees of tension of the thread.
In one arrangement two tubes are used, one sliding telescopically 1
within the other, which other or outer tube contains a spring. Through
these tubes passes a rod or axis. The tension disc or wheel over which
the thread passes, and whereby its tension is regulated, is mounted on
one end of the rod or axis, so as to be free to turn thereon. At the
other end this rod is threaded, and it carries a finger picco or nut, by 1
turning which the inner tube is worked to a greater or less depth in the
outer tube, and thus compresses the spring more or less, and causes the
outer tube, one end of which bears against the tension wheel, to press
more or less thereon, and thereby controls its velocity, and hence
regulates the tension of the thread. The other tube is slotted, and its 2
surface is graduated near the edge of the slot with graduations corre-
sponding with the degrees of tension of the thread. The inner tube
carries a running slide, stud, or curser which travels in the slot over the
graduated scale. Hence, by turning the screw in order to move the
inner tube and regulate the tension, the curser or stud will be brought 2
to the corresponding position on the graduated surface. The tension
may thus be regulated to a nicety.
In a modification of this arrangement the inner tube is dispensed with,
and instead thereof a rod is used which enters the outer tube, which is
tapped to receive it, and the tube contains a spring. The rod is worked 3
more or less deeply into the tube by a nut or thumb and finger piece.
The tube carries a graduated dial, and the rod carries an index pointer
which travels over the dial as the rod is turned to regulate the com-
pression of the spring, and hence regulates the pressure of the tube
against the tension disc or wheel, and the pointer as it turns with the 3
rod shews the corresponding degree of tension on the dial.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Michael Henry, Her special
license, that I, the said Michael Henry, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael Henry, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES,' communicated to me from abroad by Maric
Ernestine Bourdin, of 17, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
dely after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :—
The object of this Invention, which is particularly applicable to
Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines, is to regulate or adjust the
tension of the thread in sewing machines more accurately and effectually.

page_text: than hitherto (and consequently to prevent breaking of the thread from
over tension), and for these purposes, according to this Invention,
mechanical arrangements are provided and combined with regulating
contrivances which indicate the degree of tension of the thread on a
marked or graduated surface, so that the tension of the thread may be
regulated or adjusted to a nicety, and the degree of tension shewn.
In carrying out the Invention the regulating contrivances are com-
bined, as herein-after described, with a sliding curser, running slide,
index pointer, or like indicating appliance travelling over a surface
graduated in manner to correspond with the various degrees of tension
of the thread.
In this arrangement, illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, two
tubes are used; one sliding telescopically within the other, which other
or outer tube contains a spring, such spring also extending into the
inner tube. Through these tubes a rod or axis passes. The tension
wheel or disc over which the thread passes, and whereby its tension is
regulated, is mounted on one end of the rod or axis so as to be free to
turn thereon. At the other end this rod is screw threaded, and it carries
a finger piece or nut, by turning which the inner tube is worked to a
greater or less depth or extent within the outer tube, and thus it com-
presses the spring more or less, and causes the outer tube (one end of
which bears against the tension wheel) to press more or less thereon, and
thereby it controls the velocity of the tension wheel, and hence regulates
the tension of the thread. The outer tube is slotted, and its surface is
graduated near the edge of the slot with graduations corresponding with
the various degrees of tension of the thread. The inner tube carries a
running slide, stud, or curser, which travels in the slot over the graduated
scale. Hence, by turning the screw in order to move the inner tube and
regulate the tension the curser or stud will be brought to the · corre-
sponding position on the graduated surface, so as to indicate the degree a
of tension. The tension may thus be regulated or adjusted to a
nicety.
The accompanying Drawings exemplify the mode in which this
arrangement is carried into practical effect.
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations shewing the apparatus or appliance a
constructed and employed according to this Invention. In Figure 1 it
is shown in its extended or developed position; in Figure 2 it is shewn
in its closed position.

page_text: Figure 15 & Ivazivuumal Sectiva vi figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front view of the tension wheel.
In "Wheeler and Wilson" and in certain other sewing machines the
thread passes round a grooved tension disc, roller, or wheel, to which the
thread gradually unwinding as each stitch, is being formed communicates
rotary motion. Of course the degree of tension of the thread depends
on the degree of freedom of the wheel's rotation; the greater the pres-
sure or friction exerted on the wheel the less freely it will turn, and the
less freely the wheel turns the greater will be the tension of the thread,
and vice versa.
a, b, are two metal tubes or cylinders arranged telescopically, the inner
tube 6 sliding in the outer tube a, the tube a being open at one end to
receive the tube b. The tubes are supported by the frame of the
machine near the tension wheel k. i is a rod which passes through the
tubes a, b, longitudinally. This rod i is screw threaded or tapped for a
portion of its length. At one end of this rod the tension wheel k is
mounted, over which the thread passes. One end of the tube a is flanged
and bears against the wheel k. 1 is a spiral spring coiled over the rod i.
The minimum tension of this spring corresponds with the maximum
expansion of the double tube appliance a, b; and the maximum tension
of the spring corresponds with the greatest relative approximation of the
tubes, that is to say, the minimum development of the double tube
appliance. The tension of the spring is regulated or controlled by the
position of the tube in the tube a. The pressure of this spring is
exerted on the double tube appliance a, b, and the flanged end bears
against and exerts pressure upon the wheel k, so as to control its velocity.
m is a nut or nurled-edged button screwed on one end of the rod i. By
turning this nut or button the tube 6 is caused to advance or recede in
the tube a to the required extent, so as to regulate the tension of the
spring 2, and the position of a curser, stud, or pointer 8 which is attached
to the tube 6, and works or slides in a longitudinal slott formed in the
tube a.
A graduated scale is marked on the edge of this slot.
The person working the sewing machine can set the thread at the
required tension by turning the milled-edged button or nut m, thereby
causing the tube 6 to advance or recede to the required extent in the
tube a, the position of the stud or curser & on the scale at the edge of
the slot indicating and corresponding with the degree of tension

page_text: required, the corresponding compression or expansion of the spring
exerting the required consequent pressure on the tension wheel k, and
thereby controlling the tension of the thread accordingly, such tension
being indicated on the scale, as explained. The tension of the spring,
and consequently of the thread, will of course be at its minimum when
the curser or index studs is at zero on the graduated scale, as shewn in
Figure 1, and the tension of the same will be at its maximum when the
curser or studs is at the last graduation of the scale, as shown in
Figure 2. Thus by turning the button or nut m to the required extent,
the tension may be readily regulated in accordance with and as indicated
by the graduated scale, and in consequence the stitch in so far as it
depends on the tension may be regulated accordingly.
The apparatus is disposed either horizontally or vertically according to
the construction or position of the tension arrangements of the particular
sewing machine to which the apparatus may be applied. For instance,
in Wheeler and Wilson's sewing machine the improved appliance is
mounted in a horizontal position on the left-hand side of the stitching
arm, into which the end j of the rod i is fitted. This rod is slotted as
shewn at i*, Figures 2 and 3, for a portion of its length, so as to render
it somewhat clastic, and give greater purchase to the button m, and also
prevent the ordinary vibration of the sewing machine from disturbing its
action.
In a modification of this arrangement the inner tube 6 is dispensed
with, and instead thereof a screw, screw pin, or screw rod is used, which
enters the outer tube a, which tube is tapped to receive it, the tube
The screw
containing a spring acting on the tension wheel as before.
pin or screw rod is worked more or less deeply into the tube which
carries a graduated dial at one end; and the screw or screw pin or rod
carries an index pointer which travels over the dial as the screw or
screw pin or screw rod is turned to regulate the compression of the
spring, and hence to set or regulate the pressure of the tube against the
tension disc or wheel, and the pointer as it turns shows the corresponding
degree of tension on the dial.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim, the employ-
ment in or application to sewing machines of an apparatus or appliance,
constructed as above described, in which the tension of the thread is set
to the required degree or point, and indicated by means of a curser,

page_text: slide, stud, index, or pointer, substantially in manuer set forth for the
purpose of regulating or adjusting such tension as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
E. DE PASS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)