Improvements in the Manufacture of Sewing Machine Shuttles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Sewing Machine Shuttles.
I, JOHN THOMAS, of 11 Clerkenwell Close, in the County of Middlesex, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Shuttles for sewing machines have been hitherto made by striking up a case of
sheet steel and then fitting in by brazing or otherwise blocks of metal in the two
ends of the shuttle; or same have also been stamped out of a solid piece of metal,
or cast, but when this is done there is great difficulty in cleaning out the inside of
the shuttle and drilling the holes straight for the bobbins to work in.
The objects of my invention are 1st to overcome these difficulties, and 2nd to
enable such shuttles to be made lighter than hitherto.
The invention consists broadly in forming such shuttles in a much more
economical and efficient manner, whereby no difficulty will be experienced in
accurately forming the holes in the blocks to receive the ends of the spindle of
the spool.
I may form the case of my shuttle either by pressing or bending up a sheet of
metal, by stamping same from a bar or rod of metal, by casting same, or I may
form same from metal of trough section of the desired form, which I cut to the
required length, but in all cases I form such case either without one or without
both of the blocks to form the ends of the shuttle, and I subsequently insert. such
block or blocks into the case and secure same therein by soldering or otherwise,
the block or blocks inserted itself or themselves forming the end or ends of the
case, the latter forming no part of such end or ends, but only extending a sufficient
distance over the block or blocks to enable the latter to be firmly secured thereto.
By this means I am able to form the holes in the block or blocks to receive the
end of the spindle of the spool, before inserting such block or blocks in the case,
such holes being either drilled or they may be stamped in the block or blocks.
When one block is formed integral with the case, as the other end of such case
is open before the block is inserted therein, there will be no difficulty in forming
the hole in the block which is solid with the case.
When I stamp the hole in the block for the point of the shuttle, I form such
hole from the bottom or rounded part of the block up to the required point on
which the spool spindle will bear when inserted, and when the block is inserted in
the case the latter closes the bottom of such hole. For the block which is to close
the rear of the case the hole if stamped will be formed from the top downwards
to the requisite depth, so that the hinged retaining plate or "gate" will be brought
over that end of the spool spindle and so secure the latter in the case in the
ordinary manner.
I might if desired press, stamp or cast the cases of two shuttles in one length,
with either their rear or their front ends joined together, and with the opposite end
of one shuttle at each end, so that by dividing the case in the middle and inserting
the block of the requisite shape in the open end of each the two shuttles will be
completed.
The holes and also the bar for the tension of the thread may in the case of
pressing or bending be formed in the sheet either before or after the case is
pressed up.
Dated this 30th day of March 1893
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant. :

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Sewing Machine Shuttles.
I, JOHN THOMAS, of 11 Clerkenwell Close, in the County of Middlesex,
Sewing Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Sewing machine shuttles have hitherto been produced by striking up from
a metal blank of the exact size, a complete case with nose and heel, and then
strengthening the latter by fitting therein blocks of metal, which are secured by
brazing or otherwise.
This mode of production has a disadvantage, inasmuch as there is a great deal
of waste, because, in forming the heel, the metal is liable to crack or split, thus
rendering the case useless.
To get over this difficulty it has been proposed to stamp the case with the
strengthened ends out of a solid piece of metal, or to cast it, but either plan
has further disadvantages: viz., that the shuttle is too heavy, and great difficulty
is presented in cleaning out the inside, and in drilling the holes straight for the
bobbin or spool spindles to work in.
Now, the object of my invention is to overcome these disadvantages, and
otherwise to simplify the manufacture of shuttles for sewing machines.
In carrying out my invention, I take a sheet metal blank of the exact size
of the case, minus the nose and heel, and in this blank I form the thread holes
and slot.
By thus forming the holes and slot while the metal blank is flat, I can readily
remove any burr that may be formed, and smooth out the holes, so that they will
not cut or ravel the thread.
I next submit the blank to the action of suitable dies, by which it is bent round
to approximately the form of the body of the shuttle.
Or I may cast this portion of the case, or cut the lengths from metal of trough
section. I then insert the nose and heel blocks in the open ends of the trough-
shaped body, and secure them therein by brazing, or in any other convenient
manner, having first produced in the blocks the necessary recesses or holes to
receive the spindle ends.
In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated my mode of manufacturing
shuttles for sewing machines, thus:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shuttle;
Fig. 2 is an underside plan view;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the nose detached; and
Fig. 4 a back view; while
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side view and a front view of the heel.
Fig. 7 illustrates a modification in the manufacture of a shuttle.
B is
A is the body of the shuttle, produced from a blank as before mentioned.
the nose, and the heel. The nose, as will be seen in Fig. 3, is formed with an
undercut shoulder of a depth, say, equal to the thickness of the metal of the body,
so that it will fit into and be held firmly by the body, to which it is brazed or
soldered. The recess a for the end of the spindle is a groove formed in the
back of the nose, from the top, downwards, to the centre, as shown at Fig. 4.
The heel C is formed with a shoulder, which fits into the body, to which it is
brazed or soldered, and the groove or recess 6 for the other end of the spindle is
formed from the bottom, upwards, to the centre. The usual provision will be made
to retain the spool in the case.

page_text: In Fig. 7, the body and nose (or it may be the heel) of two shuttles are stamped
or cast at one time, and the body is divided at the dotted line X-X. The heel
or nose block, as the case may be, is inserted as before described.
By this plan, one end of the shuttle body will be always open, so that by a
suitable tool, the inside of the body may be properly cleaned out, and the hole
or grooved recess in the formed end may be readily and accurately produced by
drilling or otherwise.
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 :-
:-
The mode of manufacturing sewing machine shuttles as herein shewn and
described, and consisting in forming the body separate from the ends, or with only
one end, and subsequently adding the end block or blocks to form the nose
or heel, or both, the requisite holes or recesses in the end blocks for the spool
spindle being produced, and the cleaning out of the inside of the body effected,
previous to the insertion of the loose end or ends, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Din 20th Jan of Tanum 1004
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.