IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Smith, of Finsbury Place, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINERY."-A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Proctor, of the City of Boston,
and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th September 1874.
I, GEORGE HENRY SMITH, of Finsbury Place, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINERY,”
to be as follows :—
1
This Invention relates to improved mechanism for driving sewing
machines and other light machinery, in which springs for giving motion
to the parts, and a train of gear wheels for communicating the motion to
the machine, are employed, and consists of means whereby the springs

page_text: are prevented from breaking on being overwound. Also in an arrange-
ment by which either one or two springs may be used at pleasure, and
in means for regulating the expenditure of power.
The frame of the apparatus consists of two metal plates, in which the
bearings are formed for the journals of the shaft, on which both springs E
are mounted, and also the shafts carrying the gearing, said plates being
held together by bolts or rods and supported on the under side of a
suitable table or stand. The two springs are both made fast at one end
to their cases or drums in the usual manner, and one of them is also
permanently attached to the shaft, the other being however so connected]
by means of a collar placed on the shaft, provided with a pin projecting
therefrom inserted in a hole formed on the inner end of the spring, that
said spring may be used at pleasure.
To prevent the springs from being overwound a cam or stop is
mounted on the spring shaft to work in connection with a wheel ]
revolving on a stud secured to the frame of the apparatus. This wheel
is provided with two or more slots in its periphery, in which the stop-
enters while revolving on the spring shaft in winding up. When
however the springs have been sufficiently wound up this stop is caused
to come in contact with the periphery of the wheel and prevent any
overwinding.
The brake for regulating the expenditure of power consists of a handle
projecting on the upper side of the table, provided with a friction pad
acting on a fly or balance wheel, which is placed outside the frame upon
the same shaft which carries the pulleys for transmitting the power to
the machine to be driven. This brake handle fits in a socket on the
table when the brake is to be applied, and when it is to be taken off
the wheel the handle is raised up out of its socket or recess and allowed
to rest on the upper surface of the table.
An additional brake is provided, which may be used in conjunction
with the one already described, or to control the movements of the
machine when the other is not in operation, consisting of a rod or strap
of wood or metal connected to a collar on the frame of the apparatus,
and operating on the shaft on which the balance wheel is mounted.
The Invention also has for its object to enable these machines to
employ Q greater number of annings
An
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page_text: diameter, so as to render the movements of the apparatus more steady,
while its dimensions remain virtually the same, and to this end it
consists in the employment of one or two additional or outside plates
held at a suitable distance from and securely fastened to the interior
gear supporting plates or frames. Between these inside and outside
plates the balance wheel and spring drums are mounted, so that their
diameter need not be limited by the position of the shafts of the
train of gear wheels, and any of them may be provided with auxiliary
springs without interfering with each other, as they may alternate on
either side between the inside and outside plates, or be arranged on
the projecting end of the shaft, where it extends through the outer
plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Henry Smith in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY SMITH, of Finsbury Place, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Henry Smith, Her special
licence that I, the said George Henry Smith, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Henry Smith,
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 MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINERY," a communication
to me from abroad by Joseph Proctor, of the City of Boston, and
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Henry Smith, my

page_text: 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-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Henry Smith, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the two
accompanying Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improved mechanism for driving sewing
machines and other light machinery, in which springs for giving motion
to the parts, and a train of gear wheels for communicating the motion to
the machine, are employed, and consists of means whereby the springs
are prevented from breaking or being overwound. Also in an arrange-
ment by which either one or two springs may be used at pleasure, and
in means for regulating the expenditure of power.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation a
of the improved motor showing one of the driving springs and the
friction brake for checking the movement of the parts; Figure 2 is a
plan or top view showing the cases which enclose the springs, the fly
wheel, and the gearing which communicates the motion to the sewing
machine; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the train of 2
gear wheels, the device for preventing the breaking of the springs by
winding up too far, and one method of applying the break; Figure 4
is a detached view of the collar, which is used upon the winding shaft
to enable one spring to be thrown out of gear whenever it is desirable to
do so.
Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the several
Figures.
A is a table or frame, to the under side of which the machinery is to
be attached.
3
A¹, A¹, the frame of the motor composed of two plates of metal, in 3

page_text: gearing, said plates being neid in position by means of bolts or rods
which pass through them, and have nuts upon their outer ends, which
press such plates against shoulders upon said rods.
B is a shaft, which extends through both of the side plates of frame A',
and projects beyond each for a distance sufficient to admit of there
being placed upon its outer squared ends a key for winding up the
springs.
O is a pinion gear wheel, which is placed upon the shaft B at the point
about midway between the sides of the frame, and so arranged as to
mesh with the spur wheel C¹. This wheel O' is placed upon the spring
shaft, and receives its motion in the winding up of the machine from
the wheel C, but which in expending the force of the springs imparts its
motion to the train of wheels soon to be described.
D, D, are the cases, which inclose the springs D', which are made
fast to the cases in the usual manner, and at their opposite ends to the
shaft, upon which the driving wheel O¹ is placed, one of them being
permanently attached thereto in the usual manner, while the other is so
arranged as to be capable of being connected with or disconnected from
such shaft at pleasure. The means of effecting this connection is shown
at B', Figure 4, and consists in a collar placed upon the shaft C³, and
having a pin projecting therefrom for the purpose of entering a hole
formed in the inner end of the spring.
When it is desirable to use both of the springs the end of the one last
referred to is placed upon the pin on collar B', when by turning shaft C¹
both springs are wound up, and the forces of both are expended in
turning the shaft and the parts connected therewith; but when only one
spring is required the end of this one is detached from the pin and the
other is used in the usual manner.
E is a cam, which is attached to the shaft which carries the springs,
and so arranged as to extend into slots formed in the periphery of
wheel E', which is made to revolve upon a stud secured in the frame A¹,
as shown in Figure 2. This last-named wheel consists of a disc of metal
provided with two or more slots formed as shown in Figure 3, the object
of which is to permit the cam to enter such slots in the winding up of
the machine, the number of turns which the shaft is permitted to make
being regulated by the number of slots in said wheel, so that when the.

page_text: spring has been wound up as far as it is safe to wind it the cam in its
revolutions will come in contact with the periphery of the wheel, and
thus prevent the further turning of the shaft C2, and consequently the
further winding of the spring. This disc or wheel may be held in its
position longitudinally, with reference to the cam, by means of a spring
placed between it and the inner surface of frame A¹.
F, F¹, F², F³, F, F³, and F are a series of gear wheels mounted upon
suitable shafts, which have their bearings in the sides A', A', of the
frame, such wheels transmitting the power of the springs to the shafts,
upon which the pulleys K, K, and the regulating fan are placed. The
number and relative diameter of the wheels may be such as to give the
required motion to the pulleys which transmit the power to the machine
to be driven.
G is a fly or balance wheel placed upon the same shaft which carries
the pulleys K, K, but outside the frame A¹, its outer end being sup-
ported by a yoke secured to such frame. It will be seen that owing to
the arrangement of gearing this wheel will necessarily run at a high
rate of speed, and that thus it will more fully accomplish its object,
which is to steady the movements of the machine.
His a fly or fan, which is placed upon the same shaft as is the pinion
wheel F, it being located upon the outside of the frame A, and like the
balance wheel G, having a high velocity. This fan or fly is so arranged
that it may be turned upon its own axis, and so that it revolves with the
shaft to which it is attached.
I is the handle of a brake, which acts upon the balance wheel G
located upon the upper side of the table A, which is provided with a
socket for the lower end of said handle to enter, so that when it is
desirable to apply the brake to the wheel it is permitted to enter such
socket, but when it becomes necessary to release the wheel the handle
is raised out of its socket or recess, and is allowed to rest upon the upper
surface of the table, by which means the rod which connects it with the
brake lifts such brake from the wheel, and it no longer offers any
resistance to the movements thereof. To again apply the brake it is
simply necessary to turn the handle until it enters the recess, when the
spring or brake will fall and act upon the wheel.
12 is a collar, which is secured to the frame A¹ by a screw, as shown
in Figure 3, it being made to grasp and hold the two arms of a rod or

page_text: strap I, which passes around the shaft, upon which the balance wheel G
is secured. This rod or strap, which may be of wood or metal, serves as
an additional brake to the machine, and may be used in conjunction
with the one already described, or may be used to control the movements
of the machine when the other is not in operation by placing the foot
in the loop at the lower end of the rod or strap I', and either pressing
down, so as to bring strap I' upon the shaft, or by raising it up, so as
to bring the opposite side of the strap in contact with the under side of
the shaft.
The Invention also has for its object to adapt such a machine to the
employment of larger or a greater number of springs without interfering
with the necessary arrangement of the train of gears, and at the same
time give greater strength to the apparatus and render its movements
more steady, and consists in the employment of two additional or
outside plates, held at the proper distance from and securely fastened to
the interior gear supporting plates or frames. Figure 6 is a plan view,
Figure 7 an end view, and Figure 8 a side elevation illustrating this part
of the Invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the three Figures.
a, b, are two interior plates, which enclose the entire train of gears,
and may be set apart just a sufficient distance to admit of the free move-
ments thereof. The closer they are together the more rigid become the
bearings of the gear shafts. Outside of these two plates are arranged
two other plates c, d, upon the same securing rods or bolts, and sufficient-
distance apart from the interior plates to admit of the introduction of
such springs as it may be desirable to employ. The shafts of such gears,.
as it is designed to furnish with springs, extend through, and have
additional bearings in the said plates c, d, and they may project beyond
The driving pulley shaft also extends through, and has
additional bearing in one or both the plates c, d, and the balance wheel
arranged on said pulley shaft is located between the plates 6 and d.
will thus be seen that the fly wheel (or balance wheel) and the springs
and their cases or drums may have such fixed or extensible diameter as
desirable without being circumscribed by the position of the shafts of
the intermediate gears of the train, and that any number of the shafts
may be provided with auxiliary springs without interfering with each
other, as they may alternate on either side between the inside and
the same.
It

page_text: outside plates, or may be arranged on the projecting end of the shaft
where it extends through the outer plate.
An ordinary friction or fan règulator j is arranged at the tail end of
the gear, and is adapted to regulate the speed of the motor.
By reference to the Drawing, and more particularly Figure 6, it will
be seen that the diameter of the balance wheel / may be of such extent
as to go beyond the shafts of any number of intermediate gears which
may be employed between its shaft and the first shaft, which it may be
desirable to extend through the whole four plates, and the extent and
diameter of the spring drums is limited only in the same manner.
It will be readily understood that where two plates only are used the
diameters of the balance wheel and any springs that are used are
absolutely determined by the shafts of the intermediate gear, and the
greater the width of the springs the consequently greater distance apart
must be set the plates resulting in the certain wabbling and tremulous
motion of the apparatus.
Practical experiment has demonstrated the fact that the strain exerted
by a powerful spring, such as are used in this class of motors, tends
to wrench or twist the joints, and results in the loosening of all the
parts.
All these difficulties are overcome by these improvements, and the
advantages secured of increasing the number and sizo of the springs and
balance wheels, while the general dimensions of the apparatus may be
virtually the same.
The same end may be attained to a limited extent by the employment
of one additional plate, but I have preferred to describe the best and
most practical arrangement of the Invention.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The arrangement of the two springs upon the same shaft, one
being attachable and detachable at pleasure, and the other permanently
attached thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2ndly. The arrangement of the spring brake, having the friction pad
attached to its end, and its handle I with reference to the wheel G,
operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3rdly. The combination of the shaft 0%, the collar B¹, and the
spring D', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4thly. The combination of the collar I', rod or strap I', and foot rod I*
with the shaft, upon which the balance wheel G is placed, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
5thly. In combination with the interior frame or plates a, b, and train
of gears embraced therein, the outer plates c, d, constructed and arranged
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Smith, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.