IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES OF AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE ROTATING PARTS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND OF OTHER ANALOGOUS MACHINERY
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 89, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES OF AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING THE ROTATING PARTS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND OF OTHER
ANALOGOUS MACHINERY." -A communication from abroad by George
Lowden, of the City of Brooklyn, State of New York, in the United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th June 1872.
5 I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 89, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES OF AND IN THE MEANS OR APPA-
RATUS FOR OPERATING THE ROTATING PARTS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND OF OTHER
ANALAGOUS MACHINERY," (communicated to me from abroad by George

page_text: Lowden, of the City of Brooklyn, State of New York, in the United
States of America,) to be as follows:-
This Invention refers to those machines wherein a treadle is employed
to transfer a vertical motion into a rotary motion, such as sewing
machines, rotary presses, lathes, and the like.
The improvements will be described with particular reference to
sewing machines.
The advantages of the Invention over the present mode of operating
sewing machines are particularly as follows:-
First. The crank movement is dispensed with which is usually 1
employed to convert the vertical into rotary motion by the action of the
feet upon the treadles.
Second. A more uniform and casy movement is given to the working
parts of the machine.
The Invention will be best understood by reference to the accom- ]
panying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the supporting framework f and
oblique top view of a sewing machine, clearly shewing the individual
parts of my Invention, which are arranged upon the driving shaft S of
the machine. A and A' are two arms which are secured to and vibrate 2
with the treadle bar N when operated by the treadles T, T. The arm A
stands at about ninety degrees, having its tapering top end attached to
the end of the band O, which passes one or more times around the
larger drum D upon the left hand end of the shaft S, which is also
provided with a grooved band wheel B, which operates the needle bar
upon the top of the table. F shews an ordinary fly wheel which may be
placed at any suitable locality upon the driving shaft S, or dispensed
with altogether if preferred. The short arm A' is elevated at an angle of
about fifteen degrees, with its tapering point fastened to the end of belt
or band O¹ that is secured to and passes one or more times around thic
outer periphery of the smaller drum D' upon the right hand end of the
driving shaft S. The drums D, D', are secured to the recls or smaller
drums upon which the flat wound springs W, W¹, are secured to com-
municate motion to the drums D, D', the vibrating bars A, A', and
bands O, O', when operated by the treadle bar N by means of the
treadles T, T. The loose ends of springs W, W₁, are held in position by
means of pins 2, u, passing through the frame f.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a vertical end view of a section of the drum D' cut through
the centre thereof in order to shew the ratchet R secured upon the
shaft S, so that the same will be operated by the pawl P which is
secured upon a pin rivetted or screwed into one of the heads or vertical
5 side of the drum D', which oscillates freely with the spring recl W' upon
the shaft S by the movement of the arm A', which causes the band O'
to operate the drum D', so that the pawl P will operate the ratchet R
and shaft S. When the arms A and A' stand in the position shewn in
dotted lines at a, a', the pawl P will also be dropped in the position
shown in dotted. lines at P'. The larger cylinder D is shewn in this
Figure by a single circle. This drum is also separated around the
shaft S, and provided with a ratchet and pawl similar to D'. The wound
springs W, W, are operated alternately to prevent the band o from
getting too slack as well as assisting the operator to work the treadle
bar N by alternately drawing back the arms A, A', as it (the spring) in
cach drum unwinds after the pawl P is set free or dropped down upon
the bottom side of the drum; and when the spring W is released the
spring W' is at its greatest tension, hence the machine cannot be stopped
upon a dead centre, and the use of the crank motion is dispensed with to
operate the shaft S by the alternate pressure of the heel and toe upon
the treadles T, T", by which means the arms A and A' put the drums
and flat wound springs in motion.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of one-half of the drum D, shewing the
construction of the ratchet R, which is made in three sections screwed
or bolted together. The middle section L may be either leather, hardened
rubber, or wood covered with rubber, or any other non-conductor of
sound; and this section L projects beyond the metallic side plates R, R,
so that the pawl P strikes the rubber or leather first as it falls into the
position shown at P, Fig. 2. W is a vertical section of the wound spring
and recl which is bolted to the side of drum D, so that the drum must
oscillate by the action of the spring as well as by the band O operated by
the arm A, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is another form of a cast metal drum A", in which I dispense
with the use of the pawl shewn at P, Fig. 2. D", D", are teeth upon
the inner side thereof formed by four segments of a circle having four
different centres at right angles to the centre of the shaft S, which is
provided with a solid, band E or enlargement thereof revolving inside of
the oscillating toothed drum A" when operated upon by the friction

page_text: rollers P, P, P, P", in the wedge-shaped cavities formed by the inner
concave surfaces of the teeth D", "D", and the outer periphery of the
rigid band or enlargement E around the shaft S. The whole being
operated alternately by the spring and treadles" as above set forth for
different mechanical purposes, such as rotary presses, lathes, and analagous
uses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
GRIFFITH BREWER, of 89, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, Her special
licence, that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer
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
THE MODES OF AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE ROTATING
PARTS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND OF OTHER ANALOGOUS MACHINERY," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Lowden, of the City of
Brooklyn, State of New York, in the United States of America,) upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer,
my 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.

page_text: Drewer & improvements on Yo
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:-
This Invention refers to those machines wheroin a treadle is employed
to transfer a vertical motion into a rotary motion, such as sowing
machines, rotary presses, lathes, and the like.
The improvements will be described with particular reference to
sewing machines.
The advantages of the Invention over the present mode of operating
sewing machines are particularly as follows:-
First. The crank movement is dispensed with, which is usually em-
ployed to convert the vertical into rotary motion by the action of the
feet upon the treadles.
Second. A more uniform and easy movement is given to the working
parts of the machine.
The Invention will be best understood by reference to the accom.
panying Drawings.
The arm A
attached to
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the supporting framework f, and
oblique top view of a sewing machine, clearly shewing the individual
parts of the Invention which are arranged upon the driving shaft S of
the machine. A and A' are two arms which are secured to and vibrate
with the treadle bar N when operated by the treadles T, T¹.
stands at about ninety degrees, having its tapering top end
the end of the band O, which passes one or more times around the
larger drum D upon the left-hand end of the shaft S, which is also
provided with a grooved band wheel B which operates the needle bar
upon the top of the table. F is an ordinary fly wheel which bc
may
placed at any suitable locality upon the driving shaft S, or dispensed
with altogether if preferred. The short arm A' is clevated at an angle
of about fifteen degrees, with its tapering point fastened to the end
of belt or band O' that is secured to and passes one or more times
around the outer periphery of the smaller drum D' upon the right-hand
end of the driving shaft S. The drums D, D¹, are secured to the recls
or smaller drums, upon which the flat wound springs W, W¼ are

page_text: secured, to communicate motion to the drums D, D', the vibrating bars
A, A', and bands O, O', when operated by the treadle bar N by means
of the treadles T, T¹. The loose ends of springs W, W', arc hield in
position by means of pins u, u, passing through the frame f.
Figure 2 is a vertical end view of a section of the drum D' cut
through the centre thereof in order to shew the ratchet R secured upon
the shaft S, so that the same will be operated by the pawl P, which is
secured upon a pin rivetted or screwed into one of the heads or vertical
side of the drum D', which oscillates freely with the spring reel W
upon the shaft S by the movement of the arm A', which causes the
band O' to operate the drum D', so that the pawl P will operate the
ratchet R and shaft S. When the arms A and A' stand in the position
shown in dotted lines at a, a', the pawl P will also be dropped in the
position shown in dotted lines at P¹. The larger cylinder D is shewn
in this Figure by a single circle. This drum is also operated around the
shaft S and provided with a ratchet and pawl similar to D'. The
wound springs W, W', are operated alternately to prevent the band O
from getting too slack, as well as assisting the operator to work the
treadle bar N by alternately drawing back the arms A, A', as it (the
spring) in each drum unwinds after the pawl P is set free or dropped
down upon the bottom side of the drum, and when the spring W is
relaxed the spring W' is at its greatest tension, hence the machine
cannot be stopped upon a dead centre and the use of the crank motion
is dispensed with to operate the shaft S by the alternate pressure of
the heel and toe upon the treadles T, T", by which means the arms
A and A¹ put the drums and flat wound springs in motion.
Figure 3 is an enlarged section of one half of the drum D, shewing
the construction of the ratchet R, which is made in three sections
screwed or bolted together. The middle section L may be either leather,
hardened rubber or wood covered with rubber, or any other non-
conductor of sound, and this section L projects beyond the metallic side
plates, so that the pawl P strikes the rubber or leather first as it falls
into the position shewn at P', Fig. 2. W, Figs. 3 and 5, sliew in vertical
section the wound spring and reel, which is bolted to the side of
drum D, so that the drum must oscillate by the action of the spring
as well as by the band O operated by the arm A, Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is another form of a cast metal drum, in which the use of the
pawl shewn at P, Fig. 2, is dispensed with. D, D, are teeth upon the

page_text: inner side thereof, formed by four segments of a circle having four
different centres at right angles to the centre of the shaft S, which is
provided with a solid band E or enlargement thereof revolving inside
of the oscillating toothed drum when operated upon by the friction
rollers P, P, P, P, in the wedge-shaped cavities formed by the inner
concave surfaces of the teeth D, D, and the outer periphery of the rigid
band or enlargement E around the shaft S. The whole being operated
alternately by the spring and treadles, as above set forth for different
mechanical purposes, such as rotary presses, lathes, and analogous uses.
A more easy motion than has been heretofore obtained is given to
the machine by the application of two oscillating drums of different
diameters with ratchets R and pawls P, or. by the device shewn at
Fig. 4, all arranged upon the main shaft S and operated by the wound
springs W in conjunction with the bands O and vibrating arms A
alternately operated by the heel and toe of the operator upon the
treadles T, T, upon the bar N.
The novelty of the Invention is confined to the application and
arrangement of the several oscillating devices upon the main shaft and
treadle bar, consisting of two drums D, D', of different diameters, with
pawls P, P, and flat wound springs W, W', upon reels (forming a part
thercof), in combination with the ratchets R secured upon and revolving
with the shaft S inside of said drums to be operated by the bands O, O',
arms A, A', treadle T, T', on bar N, on a ratchet forming a part of the
inside of the drum itself, with friction rollers P, P, (in lieu of the
pawl P), as shewn at Fig. 4.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The oscillating drums D, D', with wound springs W, W¼, and
pawls P, P, forming a part thereof, to alternately operate the ratchets
R, R, which are secured to the shaft S, in combination with the
arms A, A', flexible belts or bands O, O', treadles T, T", and bar N,
all arranged and operating in the manner substantially as above set
forth.
Second. A metallic drum provided with teeth D, D, formed by
segments of an arch upon the inner side of said drum, in combination
with round or cylindrical metal rollers P, P, P, P, with or without
flexible pads, balls, or rollers R, R, all arranged and operating around

page_text: the revolving shaft S for different mechanical purposes wherein treadles
are used, substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.