Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, HARRIET RUTH TRACY, of Richmond Terrace, New Brighton, Staten Island,
New York, United States of America, Inventor, 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 :-
The object is to produce a simple, compact, and efficient sewing machine, with
comparatively few parts, in which both threads may be used directly from the spool,
or from a ball, or cop; in which machine the needle-thread may continually pass
immediately through, by, or beyond the shaft, with formation of a comparatively
small loop and engage the lower thread with readiness and facility.
The invention consists in the combination with a revoluble carrier or shuttle, to
receive a spool ball, or cop of thread, and having a projection or a depression provided
at each side (or a projection on one side and a depression at the other), of a shaft
having a projection or a depression at one end, or, where the shaft is in two parts,
projections or depressions intermediately at the adjacent ends, the projection or
depression, or projections or depressions on the shuttle being of a form, (as by being
of any regular shape other than circular, or by being of irregular shape) suitable to
be borne against by the corresponding part or parts on the shaft to revolve it, while
still fitting loosely therein or thereon, and permitting the passage of thread between
the shuttle and the shaft.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation, of a sewing-machine embodying my invention,
showing a power-shaft in two parts, with the shell-shuttle interposed.
Figures 2 and 3 are views, showing depressions in the end or ends of the
shaft, for engaging corresponding projections on the side or end of the shuttle.
Figures 4 and 5 are views, showing enlargements upon or applied to the end
or ends of a shaft, having depressions of form to engage correspondingly formed
shuttles, and impart motion to them while being held loosely.
Figure 6 is a side elevation, showing the interior of one form of shuttle, displaying
an externally-rounded sleeve projecting from one shell, with a squared opening for
the end of the spool-shaft, projecting from the complemental shell.
Figure 7 is a sectional view, showing an embodiment, wherein the shaft is
divided, the adjacent ends to have indentations, the shuttle is provided with
projections received by the indentations, the shuttle is sustained in operative position
by the preferable means of yielding pressure, one shell adjoins the other leaving a
circumferential slit, and the peculiar beak appears.
Figure 8 is a view, showing a modified form of device for retaining the shuttle in
position, in which the power-shaft is not in two parts, but the shuttle is held between
the end of the power-shaft and an upright.
Figure 9 is a side elevation, showing the shuttle with indentations and the shaft
with projections fitting these to turn the shuttle.
The point of the invention is to produce a sewing machine in which a revoluble
carrier for containing the shuttle-thread and provided with any suitable opening
from which this can be served, may be held in the line of the driving-shaft in such
manner that while it will receive continuous motion from the same, there will
still be capability of passage between it and the shaft for the needle-thread.
A represents a power-shaft in suitable bearings and having a driving-wheel a to
which motion is to be imparted.
B represents a shuttle, consisting of two shells band b¹ placed together, leaving a
rim-space between the two, and serving to permit draught of thread from within the
case, while this is revolving. One shell may overlap the other, the over-lap then

page_text: to this.
The shells may be connected by a sleeve 2, from one shell slid and held longitu-
dinally upon a bar 63 from the other, and not turning thereon.
This device connects the shells and furnishes a shaft to receive a spool or ball
supplying the lower thread.
On the portion 6 is a thread-engaging device or beak 6 to engage the loop of the
needle-thread, separate it, and carry it around the case, to engage the shuttle-
thread.
The beak may have a lateral projection, serving as a shed, to prevent the needle-
thread from entering the shuttle.
An end or the ends of the shaft adjacent to the shuttle are hollowed or projecting,
or one end is hollowed and the other projecting, and the hollow or the projection will
be in any but circular form; at the part where motion is to be imparted to the
hollow or projection, the shaft-end or ends receive a suitably shaped portion of the
shell, of relative size and shape to fit loosely the hollow or the projection, the
relative parts being rounded or smooth to obviate obstruction to the passage of thread
between them.
The end of the shaft may have an enlarged portion of the contour described for the
end of the shaft, where this is used directly to engage the shuttle-that is be either
rounded-oblong or rounded-polygonal in form. In this case, the shuttle need not
have projection or indentation, but fitting the enlargement or enlargements on the
shaft, will be turned by its body. Suitable forms are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
Instead of employing a divided shaft, one side of the shuttle may be supported by
any means which will hold it in position adapting it to connect with the shaft, and at
the same time permit passage of thread entirely around it.
The shaft may have projections and the shuttle depressions, or the shaft may have
depression at one part and projection at the other, and the shuttle projection at one
side and depression on the other.
I preferably mount the shuttle on one side at least, in a yielding support, this, at
the same time, permitting the shuttles ready insertion and removal. The following
device will serve. In a support F, having a hollow portion, is a spring f with tension
regulated by a follower f, held in desired position by a set-screw. One end of the
shaft bears against the spring affording yielding pressure upon it, holding it in
yielding contact with the shuttle.
Retraction of the shaft against the spring enables ready removal of the shuttle.
1 represents the needle-bar, with the needle d attached. Motion is imparted to
the bar through the cam d¹, the vertical rod d² having a pin or roller entering the
groove in the cam, and the arm d³.
Motion being imparted to the power shaft, the needle is moved down, carrying its
thread through and beneath the cloth, and the loop formed as the needle begins to
ascend is engaged by the beak . As the shuttle revolves, the needle-thread is spread
over it opening the loop, which passes between the shuttle and its supports, engaging
and locking with the shuttle thread.
The taking-up of the needle-thread may be accomplished by any suitable take-up
device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
First. In a sewing-machine, in which a reciprocating eye-pointed needle is
employed, a driving-shaft provided with a rounded-oblong or rounded-polygonal
engaging-end, in combination with a correspondingly-provided case or shuttle mounted
loosely against the said end contiguous to the needle-there being complemental
means upon the opposite face of the shuttle to engage and support the same, and
driven from the shaft by the described rounded-oblong or rounded-polygonal engaging-
end thereof, the case or shuttle having a thread-engaging device and a continuous

page_text: opening, whereby the loop of thread thrown out by the needle will be taken by the
thread-engaging device, be spread over the outer surface of the shuttle, and be
passed through the juncture thereof with the driving-shaft to be locked by the
thread from the shuttle.
Second. The combination with a shuttle having a circumferential slit, of the
peculiar beak, as and for the purpose described.
Dated the 22nd day of October 1889
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.