IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING SEWING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lewis, of No. 5, Wych Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Model Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING SEWING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
Sealed the 20th May 1864, and dated the 24th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lewis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th November 1868.
I, JAMES LEWIS, of No. 5, Wych Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Model Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING SEWING MACHINES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention is designed principally for the purpose of rendering spring
power, such as is used in clockwork, applicable for driving sewing machines,
and such other machines as do not require a great amount of power to drive
them. It will be readily perceived that if an ordinary spring barrel, such as
is used for clockwork, be connected by a train of multiplying wheels to the
driving spindle of a sewing machine it could be made to drive the machine
at the requisite speed, but that this power would last for so short a time
that it would be practically almost useless.
The object of this Invention is to remedy this defect by so combining two or

page_text: more springs and barrels together as that they shall act upon the same train
of wheels and keep them (and consequently the machine) in motion a pro-
portionately longer time, according to the number of springs and barrels that
may be employed. I arrange two or more springs upon the same axial line,
but upon separate arbors, and I connect them together and to the train of
multiplying wheels which drive the machine in the following manner :-The
first spring barrel I construct in a precisely similar manner to an ordinary
clockwork barrel, having a spring inside it, one end of which is is connected to
the barrel and the other end to a hook on a short central arbor, the latter
being furnished with a ratchet wheel and a squared end for winding up the
spring as usual. At the back of this first barrel (and in the same axial line as
the arbor above mentioned) I fix a second arbor with a similar hook, spring,
and barrel, repeating this arrangement for as many springs as may be required
to keep the machine in motion for the desired length of time. It will be
evident that upon applying a key to the squared end of the first arbor and
winding up the spring, as soon as the latter is completely wound up its barrel
will commence to revolve, and by means of the arbor at its back will wind up
the second spring, and so on. The train of wheels is applied to the second
barrel (or last of the series if more than two are used) and the successive
uncoiling of the springs will keep the machine in motion until all the springs
have been uncoiled.
Any ordinary arrangement for stopping and starting the machine when
wound up may be employed, but I prefer to use a friction break brought to
bear against a drum or pulley by means of a treadle worked by the foot. If it
be required to stop the machine for any length of time a locking pin or catch
may be employed.
It will be obvious that my Invention is equally applicable for driving any
other machines which are capable of being driven by ordinary clockwork, and
which it is required to keep in motion for a greater length of time than would
be possible by any ordinary arrangement of clockwork.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEWIS, of No. 5, Wych Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer a
and Model Maker," send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the 27th year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Lewis, Her special license that I, the said James
Lewis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Lewis, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DRIVING SEWING MACHINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Lewis, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one
of them, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Lewis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say:-
This Invention is designed principally for the purpose of rendering spring
power, such as is used in clockwork, applicable for driving sewing machines,
and such other machines as do not require a great amount of power to drive
them. It will be readily perceived that if an ordinary spring barrel, such as
is used for clockwork, be connected by a train of multiplying wheels to the
driving spindle of a sewing machine it could be made to drive the machine at
the requisite speed; but that this power would last for so short a time that it
would be practically almost useless.
The object of this Invention is to remedy this defect by so combining two
or more springs and barrels together as that they shall act upon the same
train of wheels and keep them (and consequently the machine) in motion a
proportionately longer time, according to the number of springs and barrels
that may be employed. For example, I arrange two or more springs
upon the same axial line but upon separate arbors and I connect them

page_text: together and to the train of multiplying wheels which drive the machine in
the following manner. The first spring barrel I construct in a precisely
similar manner to an ordinary clockwork barrel, having a spring inside it, one
end of which is connected to the barrel and the other end to a hook on a
short central arbor, the latter being furnished with a ratchet wheel and a
squared end for winding up the spring as usual. At the back of this first
barrel (and in the same axial line as the arbor above mentioned) I fix to the
said barrel a second arbor with a similar hook, spring, and barrel, repeating
this arrangement for as many springs as may be required to keep the machine
in motion for the desired length of time. It will be evident that upon
applying a key to the squared end of the first arbor and winding up the spring,
as soon as the latter is completely wound up its barrel will commence to
revolve, and by means of the arbor at its back will wind up the second spring,
and so on.
The train of wheels is applied to the second barrel (or last of the
series if more than two are used) and the successive uncoiling of the springs
will keep the machine in motion until all the springs have been uncoiled.
This same principle may be carried out in a somewhat modified manner by
arranging the springs and barrels side by side, each barrel having a toothed
wheel which gears into a similar wheel keyed on the arbor of the next spring
of the series, and so forth.
Any ordinary arrangement for stopping and starting the machine when
wound up may be employed; but I prefer to use a friction break brought to
bear against a drum or pulley by means of a treadle worked by the foot. If
it be required to stop the machine for any length of time a locking pin or
catch may be employed.
It will be obvious that my Invention is equally applicable for driving any
other machines which are capable of being driven by ordinary clockwork, and
which it is required to keep in motion for a greater length of time than would
be possible by any ordinary arrangement of clock work.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for " Improvements
in Driving Sewing Machines, which Improvements are also applicable for
Driving other Machinery," I will now proceed to describe more in detail the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly understood, I
have annexed hereunto a sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference, corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
Figure 1 is a plan view; and Figure 2 a horizontal section of my improved

page_text: arrangement of spring power for driving sewing and other machines as first
above described; and Figure 8 is a plan view of a slightly modified arrange-
ment of the same.
In Figures 1 and two a, a, is the frame supporting two arbors b, b, and c, c,
both mounted in the same axial line; but so as to be capable of turning
independently of each other. The outer end of the first arbor b, b, is squared
and is provided with a ratchet wheel and catch d, d, as usual for winding up
and retaining the spring. e, e, is a barrel mounted loosely on the arbor b, b,
and connected to it merely by the coiled spring f. f, the outer end of which is
rivetted to the barrel and the inner end attached by a hook or pin to the
arbor. To the back of the barrel e, e, is rivetted or otherwise fixed the arbor
c, c, which has a spring f¹, f, and barrel e', e¹, connected to it in a similar
manner; that is to say, the spring is rivetted to the barrel and hooked on to
the arbor. The outer circumference of the barrel e¹, e², is provided with a rim
of spur teeth g, g, by means of which it communicates motion to the train of
multiplying wheels h, h. Upon turning the arbor b, b, by means of a key fitted
on to its squared end, it will first have the effect of winding up the spring
ff, and when this is effected (upon continuing to turn the key) the barrel
e, e, will commence to revolve, and by means of the arbor c, c, will wind up
the second spring f, f, and thus a series of any required number of springs
may be wound up. When more than two springs and barrels are used the
ring of spur teeth g, g, which gives motion to the multiplying wheels, is fixed
on the last barrel of the series; the length of time that the machine will keep
in motion depending upon the number of the springs employed.
An obvious modification of the above described arrangement is shown
drawn to a smaller scale at Figure 3, in which the arbors are not mounted
in the same axial line, although the same principle is adhered to of causing
each barrel to wind up the following spring of the series and imparting motion
to the multiplying wheels from a rim of teeth on the last barrel.
a, a, is the frame, and b, b, and c, c, are the first and second arbors, d, d, is
the ratchet wheel and catch, and e, e, is the first barrel containing a coiled spring
connected to it and to the arbor b, b, as in the preceding case. On the barrel e, e,
is a rim of teeth f, f, gearing with a wheel f", f', keyed on the arbor c, c, so that
as soon as the barrel e, e, commences to revolve it winds up the spring of the
barrel el, e', and this second barrel el, e, in its turn winds up the spring of the
barrel el, e, by means of the wheels f", f". The last barrel of the series, as
before, has a rim of teeth g, g, by means of which it drives the multiplying wheels
h, h. The rotary motion obtained from the successive uncoiling of the springs
may be communicated to the machine to be driven, by toothed wheels, pulleys,

page_text: and band, crank, excentric, or other similar well known means in connection
with the multiplying gear h, h.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
Improvements in Driving Sewing Machines, which Improvements are also
applicable for Driving other Machinery," 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 I claim, as my Invention, arranging two or more springs
and barrels in juxtaposition upon independent arbors, in such a manner that
the first barrel (on turning) shall wind up the spring of the barrel next in
succession and so on, and the last barrel of the series shall impart motion to
the machine to be driven, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
above particularly set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lewis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
GEORGE DAVIES, Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.
JAMES LEWIS. (L.S.)