IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Perks, of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Ironfounder,. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINE SHUTTLES." A communication from abroad by Joseph Butcher, of
the City, County, and State of New York, in the United States of America,
Japanner.
Sealed the 14th November 1876, and dated the 6th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Perks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1876.
_FRANCIS PERKS, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Ironfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES."
My Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of a closed
sewing machine shuttle, with reference particularly to the covering of the bobbin
cavity and the method of inserting and removing the bobbin. It also consists in
the peculiar construction of the bobbin pivot spring, and in an improved tonsion
for the thread, as will be herein-after described.
My improved shuttle is constructed preferably of solid metal, having a nose and
butt, with a thin vertical wall at the back connecting the two. The space between
the nose and butt forms the cavity of the shuttle to receive the bobbin, which may
be of the usual kind, but when the shuttle is in use the cavity is closed, and the
bobbin protected by a cover. This cover is preferably formed of thin spring metal
bent into a half cylindrical or semi-tubular form, and provided with small projecting
spurs, hooks, or points hooked or inclined outwardly. When the cover is applied
these spurs engage or take into corresponding apertures in the wall, which are also
inclined or bevilled to fit the hooks. The cover being elastic, when it is put on it
is pinched between the thumb and finger, which forces its free edges nearer together
until the spurs coincide with the apertures, when they are slipped into the same.
Being released by the operator the cover springs outward again, and its elastic
force serves to retain the spurs in the holes and keep the cover in place.
If preferred the lower spurs may be first engaged, and then the upper inserted
by pressure on the top of the cover. The cover may be readily removed by reversing
the operation.

page_text: By this construction I provide a shuttle wholly enclosed, with a broad and con-
tinuous surface to present to the part of the machine against which it plays, and a
cover for the bobbin cavity that is readily removed and attached. The parts of the
shuttle are cut away to form a rebate nt the margin of the bobbin cavity, which
rebate forms a shoulder for the cover to rest upon at the ends. The form of this
shoulder is cut away deeper at the points than elsewhere. This allows the cover to
be pinched together at the edges when being put on as above described.
One end of the shuttle, either the nose or butt, is hollowed and arranged to
receive a suitable leaf spring. This spring is inserted at a hole, which may be
closed by a screw plug or permanently, as desired. One branch of the spring forms
an elastic covering for a hole to receive the bobbin pivot or journal, and the other
presses against the opposite wall of the cavity. When the bobbin is inserted the
pivot presses back the branch of the spring, and permits the other pivot to enter its
socket. When resting in its bearings the bobbin is free to turn without interference
from the spring, as the pivots of the bobbin are short enough to prevent the said
spring from pressing on them after the bobbin is in place.
It will be perceived that there is no intervening part between the bobbin pivot
and the spring, as in the ordinary shuttle, and in my improved construction none
is necessary This renders my shuttle much simpler and cheaper than the ordinary
kind.
To the vertical wall is secured a strip of spring metal, preferably of steel, which
'constitutes the tension device for the shuttle thead. This strip or spring is
arianged to press against the wall of the shuttle with elastic force, and is provided
with notches or scrations on its lower edge. The thread coming from the back of
the bobbin passes down around the tension strip, up between it and the shuttle
wall, and thence out at a hole, which is preferably cut half in the wall and half in
the shuttle cover The thread may be made to engage any one of the notches in the
tension strip at pleasure, and the tension be regulated thereby, a notch near the free
end of the strip producing lesstension than one near the other end The notches hold
the thread in place, and preserve an even tension, but one which may be changed in
an instant by the operator.
Before inserting the bobbin it is best to hook the "bight" of the thread around
the free end of the tension strip, and then after the bobbin is in place adjust it to
any notch desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 3
the said Francis Perks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th March
1877.
.
FRANCIS PERKS, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer.
**IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES." A communication from abroad
by Joseph Butcher, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the United
States of America.
The Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of a closed
sewing machine shuttle, with reference particularly to the covering of the bobbin
cavity, and the method of inserting and removing the bobbin. It also consists in
the peculiar construction of the bobbin pivot spring, and in an improved tension for
the thread, as will be herein-after described in the Drawings
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved shuttle; Figure 2 is a similar view with
the cover removed; Figure 3 is a back view, Figure 4 is a plan or top view,
Figure 5 is a plan partially in section; Figure 6 is a plan shewing the cover
partially removed; Figure 7 is a transverse section in the plane of the line a, a,
Figure 2.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively end and rear elevations of the cover for the
bobbin cavity.

page_text: Figure 10 is an elevation showing the adaptation of the improvements to a double
nosed shuttle
The improved shuttle is constructed preferably of solid metal, of the form shewn
in the Drawings, A. being the nose; B, the butt; and C representing a thin vertical
wall at the back connecting the two. The space between the nose and butt forms
the cavity of the shuttle to receive the bobbin D, which may be of the usual kind.
This cavity is shewn open in Figures 2, 5, and 10, but when the shuttle is in use
the cavity is closed and the bobbin protected by a cover E, as shewn in Figures 1
and 4, and in detail in Figures 8 and 9. This cover is preferably formed of thin
spring metal bent into a half cylindrical or semi-tubular form, as seen in Figure 8,
and provided with small projecting spurs, hooks, or points F, F, hooked or inclined
outwardly. When the cover is applied these spurs engage or take into corresponding
apertures G, G, in the wall W, which are also inclined or bevilled to fit the hooks.
The cover being clastic when it is put on is pinched between the thumb and finger,
which forces its free edges nearer together until the spurs F, F, coincide with the
apertures G, G, when they are slipped into the same Being released by the operator
the covor springs outward again, and its elastic force serves to retain the spurs in
the holes and keep the cover in place.
If preferred the lower spurs may be first engaged, and then the upper inserted by
pressure on the top of the cover. The cover may be readily removed by reversing
the operation.
By this construction I provide a shuttle wholly enclosed, with a broad and con-
tinuous surface to present to tlie part of the machine against which it plays, and a
cover for the bobbin cavity that is readily removed and attached. The parts A
and B of the shuttle are cut away to form a rabbett H at the margin of the bobbin
cavity, which rabbett forms a shoulder for the cover E to rest upon at the ends.
The form of this shoulder is best represented in Figure 7, where it will be seen that
it is cut away deeper at the points I, I, than elsewhere. This allows the cover to be
pinched together at the edges when being put on as above described.
One end of the shuttle, either the nose or butt, is hollowed, as shewn in Figure 5,
and arranged to receive a suitable leaf spring J. This spring is inserted at a hole K,
which may be closed by a screw plug or permanently, as desired. One branch of
the spring forms an elastic covering for a hole L to receive the bobbin pivot or
journal, and the other presses against the opposite wall of the cavity. When the
bobbin is inserted the pivot presses back the branch of the spring J and permits the
other pivot to enter its socket. When resting in its bearings the bottom is free to
turn without interference from the spring, as the pivots of the bottin are short
enough to prevent the said spring from pressing on them after the bobbin is in
place.
It will be perceived that there is no intervening part between the bobbin pivot
and the spring, as in the ordinary shuttle, and in this improved construction none
is necessary. This renders the shuttle much simpler and cheaper than the ordinary
kind.
To the vertical wall C is secured a strip of spring metal M, preferably of steel,
which constitutes the tension device for the shuttle thread. This strip or spring is
arranged to press against the wall of the shuttle with elastic force, and is provided
with notches or serrations on its lower edge, as shewn. The thread coming from
the back of the bobbin passes down around the tension strip, up between it and the
shuttle wall, and thence out at a hole N, which is preferably cut half in the wall
and half in the shuttle cover, as shown. The thread may be made to engage any
one of the notches in the tension strip at pleasure, and the tension be regulated
choreby, a notch near the free end of the strip producing less tension than one near
he other end. The notches hold the throad in place and preserve an even tension,
but one which may be changed in an instant by the operator.
Before inserting the bobbin it is best to hook the "bight" of the thread around
he free end of the tension strip, and then after the bobbin is in place adjust it to
ny notch desired.

page_text: Having thus described the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is
to be performed, I claim,-
(First). A sewing machine shuttle having a nose and butt or two noses, a vertical
wall (c) next the needle, and a suitable cover for the bobbin cavity, so that tho
bobbin is entirely enclosed, substantially as specified.
(Second). A sewing machine shuttle having a back wall c, a nose A. and butt B,
or their equivalents, in combination with a tubular clastic cover E for the bottom
cavity, arranged to cover the said cavity and be secured to the shuttle wall, sub-
stantially in the manner shewn and for the purpose set forth.
(Third). The elastic semi-tubular cover E provided with spurs or hooks F, F, in
its edges, in combination with suitable corresponding apertures G, G, to form a
spring catch for retaining the cover in place on the shuttle, substantially as set
forth.
(Fourth). The device for allowing the insertion of the bobbin and for retaining it
in place, consisting of the spring J resting in the cavity or recess in the butt or
point of the shuttle, the hole L, and the bearing pivot of the bobbin, all combined
and arranged as set forth.
(Fifth). The tension device, consisting of a strip of spring metal M notched at the
lower edge, and secured by one end to the back wall of the shuttle, so arranged that
the degree of tension may be regulated by causing the thread to engage any desired
notch, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Perks, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
FRANCIS PERKS. (L.B.)