Improvements in or relating to Spring Motors for Sewing Machines or the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
Improvements in or relating to Spring Motors for Sewing
Machines or the like.
I, Charles AARON LORING, of Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America,
Lawyer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to spring motors for sewing and other machines, the object
of the same is to produce a motor which shall be compact in its arrangement,
effective in operation and capable of adjustment upon the table of a sewing machine
or under said table.
A further object is to provide simple and efficient means for breaking the motor.
A further object is to so construct a spring motor that its speed may be easily
regulated and that it may be stopped at the will of the operator.
With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth
and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved motor
showing the casing partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a view of the same, with the
rim of the casing removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of modifications.
A. indicates a sewing machine table and B a casing of sheet metal or other suitable
material. The casing B is preferably made oblong in shape, having flat upper and
lower edges a, and flat side faces 6. The upper and lower edges a, are provided
with perforations c, for the reception of suitable fastening devices d which pass
through perforations e in the sewing machine table, whereby the casing may be
secured either to the top or the under side of the table.
Secured to one side of the casing B are two brackets or arms ff with eyes to
form bearings for a shaft G. This shaft is furnished with a crank D at one end
and a vertically fixed bevel gear E at or near the other end, which meshes with a
vertically fixed bevel gear F secured on one end of a shaft G', which latter is
journalled in the side walls of the casing B. The horizontal shaft G' carries loosely
thereon, a drum, H, the periphery of which at one side is provided with teeth for a
purpose which will be presently explained, and this horizontal shaft G is further
provided with a vertically fixed ratchet wheel 1, which is designed to be engaged
and prevented from backward movement by a pivoted pawl J.
A coiled spring K is secured at one end to the shaft G, and at its opposite end to
the drum H. It will thus be seen that when motion has been imparted to the main
operating shaft G through the medium of the crank shaft G, and bevel gearing E, F,
the spring will be wound upon the shaft G.
In lieu of the crank arm D and gears E, F, for winding the spring K, these parts
may be dispensed with and the end of the shaft G which projects beyond the casing
will be provided with a ratchet wheel J to receive a dog J³ attached to suitable
operating lever K, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, by the co-operation of the lever K¹,
ratchet wheel J and dog ³, a very simple ratchet mechanism will be provided.
A. horizontal shaft L is mounted in the casing B and provided with two vertically
fixed gears 1, L of different dimensions, the smaller one L' of which meshes with
the drum gear and the larger one with a pinion M secured to a horizontal shaft N,
which latter carries a drive pulley S. The pulley S is connected by means of an
endless drive belt N', with the hand wheel W of a sewing machine or other machine,
which is to receive motion.
When it is desired to connect the motor with a sewing machine or other machine,
having a band wheel, it is simply necessary to make the belt connection between the

page_text: band wheel of the machine to be driven and the pulley S, after which the pawl J is
thrown into the teeth of ratchet I, when, by turning the crank handle D, the spring
will be wound upon the main operating shaft G. Now it will be seen that the
action of the spring in its tendency to unwind will rotate the drum gear H around
the shaft G, and which, through the medium of the intermediate gear will rotate
the pulley S, and drive the belt thereon..
Keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft N is a friction wheel and pivoted to
the casing B in proximity to the friction wheel, or to a rod or bar B1 secured to
said casing, is a brake shoe h, which shoe is adapted to partially encircle the friction
wheel and is maintained normally out of contact therewith by means of a spring i
secured at one end to said shoe and at the other end to the casing. A cord or rodf
is attached at one end to the friction shoe and at the other end to the treadle j of
the sewing or other machine. A hand screw k is passed through a threaded eye
in the rim of the frame or casing B. By turning the hand screw it will come into
contact with the periphery of the drum H and thus check or stop the motor.
It will thus be seen that the operator can regulate the speed or stop the driving
mechanism by pressing the foot on the treadle, said treadle being connected with
the brake shoe h, as above described. When the pressure on the treadle is released
the spring raises the shoe from the friction wheel 9. When it is desired to hold
in check or stop the action of the spring, the screw will be turned until it comes
in contact with the periphery of the drum, by which means the normal speed of the
apparatus may be regulated.
In the modified form of the brake as shown in Figure 4, the brake shoe his
pivoted at its curved end, in proximity to the friction wheel and the curved end
of the shoe passes beneath said wheel. At the free end of the shoe /, one end
of a spring is secured, the other end of said spring being secured to the casing at
a point above the shoe, so that the shoe will be maintained normally in contact with
the friction wheel 9. The free end of the shoe is connected by means of a cord
or rod, with the treadle j. With this arrangement, when it is desired to start or
regulate the motion of the motor, pressure is applied to the treadle to withdraw the
shoe from the wheel g, or to regulate the pressure of said shoe against the wheel
g.
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
-
1. A machine motor consisting essentially of a casing having flat sides the latter
having perforated ears whereby the casings can be attached to the upper or under
side of a table, driving mechanism within the casing, a driving wheel and a friction
wheel located outside the casing and a brake pivoted to the casing and adapted to
engage the friction wheel, substantially as set forth.
2. In a spring motor, the combination with a casing of a drum therein having
teeth at or near one side thereof and a thumb screw secured to the casing with its
free end in position to engage the smooth section of the drum whereby the speed of
the latter can be regulated, a shaft mounted in the casing, gearing connecting the
teeth on said drum with the shaft, a friction wheel and a driving wheel on said
shaft, a shoe to engage said friction wheel and means for actuating the shoe,
substantially as set forth.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.