Year: 1888

page_text: 1 JAMES HENRY WHITNEY of 280 Stewart Buildings in the City of New York
United States of America Gentleman, 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:—
The objects of my invention are to make the treadle completely elastic in its fulcrum
bearing and action under all circumstances whatever the pressure applied thereto and
to secure all the necessary and incidental benefits of such a construction. So-called
elastic treadles have been heretofore made but so far as I am aware they are elastic
only under limitations that is to say, they are elastic under a limited amount of
pressure, but as the pressure is increased they finally reach a solid bearing like that
of the ordinary treadles, long in use because they rest upon or are supported by a
spring interposed between the treadle and a fixed and solid fulcrum or bearing. My
invention differs from these in being so constructed that there is no solid fixed or
rigid fulcrum or bearing that no amount of pressure will bring the treadle to a solid
bearing, and that to whatever extent pressure is applied thereto, the resilient action of
the spring or a portion thereof, may be realized and utilized, first, to assist the action
of the feet and limbs in the act of recovery and second to contribute an appreciable
amount or proportion of the original pressure taken up by the spring to the operation
of the mechanism intended to be driven by the treadle and its pitman; as for instance
in a sewing machine. In other words, my treadle has no solid bearing, but only an
elastic one.
I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1, is a front view of a stand having a treadle, a balance
wheel and a pitman connecting the two. Fig. 2 is a detail view; in part sectional,
showing one side of the treadle provided with a projecting arm or trunnion suspended
in and by a spring. Figure 3 is a front view of the spring and its chamber, case, or
cover; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views showing a modification.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
S, is an ordinary sewing machine stand H a balance wheel, T the treadle, and P
the pitman. The two legs or sides of the stand are provided with arms or
brackets A A which may be of any desired form and attached to the legs of the stand

page_text: in the usual way. Each one of the arms AA is provided with a tubular spring-
chamber or case which is provided with a cover D. In each one of these spring
chambers a coiled spring E Figures 2 and 3, is suspended from the pin F, which is
preferably made to pass through the walls of the upper part of the chamber C, through
the cover D and also through an eye B at the upper end of the spring E. The lower
end of the spring E is also provided with an eye B¹, to receive the trunnion G of the
treadle T. The tubular spring chamber C is slotted on the side adjacent to the treadle
as shown at K and the trunnions G pass through the slots to engage the eyes of the
springs, being made of a size to fit easily but not loosely therein and so as to permit
the treadle to rise and fall, while the trunnions being held by the sides of the
slots K K are permitted to move vertically therein, and thereby hold the treadle T in
proper relations to the pitman, the machine, the other mechanical parts, and also to
the feet of the operator when actuating it without at any time or at any point of their
action reaching a solid bearing, or bearings, the trunnions being held by the spring
and suspended from above. Of course the trunnions fit the eyes of the springs E E
not too tightly on each side of the treadle but so as to allow the proper vibratory
motion of the treadle. The balance wheel H has the ordinary fixed bearing but may
have any other suitable bearing.
Starting with the highest and in fact the normal position of the treadle as fixed by
the weight of the treadle and the stiffness of the springs on each side when the foot of
the operator is placed upon the treadle the amount of depression or the position of the
treadle will depend upon the weight and the pressure bearing upon the treadle and
will therefore vary as they vary; but in whatever position the treadle will be held in
place by the joint action of the springs E E and the sides of the slots K K in contact
with the trunnions G G ; and at whatever point the vibratory motion may be given
to the treadle motion will be transmitted through the pitman to the balance wheel, to
the driving wheel, and to the sewing machine, or other mechanism to be operated.
When the weight or pressure of the foot upon the treadle is diminished the treadle
will rise under the action of the springs and thereby contribute a certain amount
of force and motion either in raising the forward part of the treadle, the pitman &c.,
together, with the toes of the operator, or to aid the operator, whenever the pressure
on the heel is relaxed in raising the heel and to some extent the leg preparatory to
the succeeding vibratory action of the foot. Consequently the operator will be
assisted by the springs to a greater or lesser extent in both the toe and the heel
motion, and an appreciable portion of the weight and pressure brought to bear upon
the springs will be recovered, returned, or contributed to the operator of the
mechanism and also to the movement of the foot and leg of the operator without
subjecting the operator to any shock receivable from, or caused by, a fixed bearing,
the effect of which is not only to cause a useless expenditure of muscular force to be
taken up by the machine and the floor but through repeated shocks thus given to the
muscles and the nerves to cause an earlier consumption or exhaustion of the power
of the operator, or in the case of a vigorous operator, the employment and waste of an
excess of power.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a modification which consists in the substitution of flat
springs L, L, secured to the legs of the stand, in and by which the trunnions G G of
the treadle T, are supported as shown in partial sectional view in Figure 6 wherein
the pin O is shown passing through a lug on the treadle, or through the side of the
treadle and as held thereby a pin or nut N. As the treadle T has an upward and a
downward motion permitted by the flat springs L L as previously described in the
case of the springs EE it is necessary that the nut or pin N should be so located as to
permit such motion and it must not be in absolute contact with the lug or side of the
treadle when in its normal position otherwise the treadle would be practically held
firmly and rigidly and the vibratory spring action could not be obtained. In this
modification the treadle T vibrates on the pins 00, one on each side-but as the
pin is supported one each side-by a spring, the treadle is still without any fixed
bearing whatever, or it has a completely elastic bearing and will operate in the same
manner as heretofore described.

page_text: It will be observed that the treadle T is a balanced treadle, and that the fulcrum is
central as well as elastic, thus equalizing approximately at least or alternating the
leverage of the treadle for the heel and toe. It will also be observed that strictly
speaking the treadle is not supported as from below but is suspended as from above
and therefore however much pressure may be put upon the treadle it can never reach
a solid bearing but as the pressure increases the spring opens or expands instead of
becoming compressed.
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 :-
1. A balanced treadle suspended from vertically yielding spring bearings only.
2. The balanced treadle T suspended from and in combination with the
springs E, E.
3. The treadle T suspended from the springs E E and the slotted chambers C, C,
all in combination.
4. In combination a balance wheel, a pitman for operating the same, and a balance
treadle connected therewith and suspended from spring bearings.
5. A balance treadle provided with trunnions G G arranged to vibrate vertically in
the slots K K in combination with the springs E, E.
Dated this 18th dor of December 1900
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.