IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Templeton and James Hilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1882.
JOHN TEMPLETON and JAMES HILSON, both of 40, Southampton Buildings, in
the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER APPARATUS FOR
ACTUATING SEWING MACHINES"
Our invention relates to motive power apparatus to be used for the purpose of
driving sewing machines of any of the well known kinds, such motive power being
obtained by the elasticity of a coiled spring connected by suitable gear with the
driving axis of the sewing machine in such manner that it can be readily put in
action or stopped as and when required, suitable appliances being arranged in
connection with it for the purpose of winding up or re-coiling the spring when
requisite, as it becomes uncoiled in giving out its power.
We take a frame of brass or other suitable material in bearings upon or
connected with which we arrange an axis round which is fixed and coiled a spring,
preferably of steel, of sufficient size and length, the outer end of the spring being
connected to an enclosing drum or to a bar or wheel which revolyes upon the axis,
and has formed upon or attached to it a toothed wheel gearing into a corresponding
toothed pinion upon a second axis or shaft which also revolves in suitable bearings
in the frame.
This second axis also carries a toothed wheel gearing with a corresponding
pinion upon a third-axis which is a continuation of, or is connected with, the
driving axis of the sewing machine, and the number of the teeth in the several
toothed wheels and pinions is so proportioned that when the spring is sufficiently
coiled and is then allowed to actuate the wheels by its elasticity the sewing
machine is driven at the desired speed.
In order more effectually to regulate the speed we connect one of the axes
described with a train of a sufficient number of toothed wheels and pinions also
revolving in bearings in the frame of the apparatus, and the last wheel of such
train drives by means of an endless screw a fly" of the ordinary well known
kind, which by the resistance of the air as it revolves limits the velocity and
prevents too rapid a speed from being attained.
The whole of the apparatus described is preferably enclosed in a box or case
which is attached below the table or in other convenient part of the sewing
machine.
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page_text: We arrange a lever turning upon a centre and held by a spring in such a
manner that an arm upon it comes in contact with and prevents the revolution of
the fly, whilst a second arm upon the lever preferably enters simultaneously into
one of a series of notches inside the periphery of one of the wheels which drives
the fly.
This lever is connected to a handle or to a wire or string attached to a handlo
which can be pressed by the hand or foot of the person operating the sewing
machine, so that when desired the fly is released and the machine is set in operation
whilst by removing the pressure the machine is stopped. Sometimes we use a
friction brake upon the end of the lever, which presses upon a drum or wheel
upon the axis of the fly so that the latter is stopped without shock.
Upon the axis which carries the coiled spring we fit a lever or handle and a
ratchet toothed wheel fitted with a spring pall, so that if the lever bo worked
backward and forward the spring is gradually coiled up.
This lever or handle which projects through the case carrying the apparatus
may be worked when required by the person using the machine, either by hand or
by a lever moved by the foot and connected by a. rod or cord to the handle,
a spring or weight being used to bring the latter back after each movement..
Apparatus constructed according to our invention is simple, cheap, durable, and
easily attached to a sewing machine, the working of which is facilitated by
its use.
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