IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTORS APPLICABLE TO THE DRIVING OF SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
Patent Agents, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTORS APPLICABLE TO
THE DRIVING OF SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Perrier and Boccard the younger, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 15th May 1877, and dated the 16th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1876.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of 5,
Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOTORS APPLICABLE TO THE DRIVING OF SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES." A
communication from abroad by Messieurs Perrier and Boccard the younger, of
Paris, France.
Heretofore, when it has been desired to employ the tension of a spring as a motor,
for example, to drive sewing machines, a single spring has usually been employed;
the result is that it has been found impossible to produce a continuous power for a
sufficiently long period.
This Invention is based as it were on the principle of the multiplication of
springs acting successively without being disconnected, and all capable of being.
wound up at one and the same time. To obtain this result a metal cylinder is
mounted on a shaft, divided by washers forming part of the cylinder into as many
compartments as there are springs employed to produce the desired power during.
a given time. This cylinder carries a pinion at each end, the diameter of which
is calculated according to the speed at which it is desired to drive the machine.
This cylinder is provided with a case only, exposing to view the two pinions in
such manner that this case cannot turn with the cylinder.
A ratchet mechanism fixed at the end of the cylinder allows all the springs to be.
wound up at one time. When the springs have received their tension, if by any
convenient arrangement all the springs but one are prevented from unrolling, it is.
clear that this single spring acting will turn the motor shaft, but if at the moment -

page_text: when this spring is becoming completely unwound an automatic arrangement sets
at liberty the second spring which will act in its turn and will continue the action
produced by the first spring which has ceased to act. The movement can thus be
continued by a succession of springs placed alongside one another and acting one
after the other. To release the said springs successively and at the proper times
it is proposed to have an arrangement fixed on the shaft and worked by another
spring of sufficient size to last during the action of the several springs aforesaid.
This shaft carrying, for example, an endless screw, or operating in any other
convenient manner, so as to release the several springs at the proper time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th May
1877.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of
5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex." "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOTORS APPLICABLE TO THE DRIVING OF SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES. A
communication from abroad by Messieurs Perrier and Bocard the younger, of Paris,
France.
Heretofore, when it has been desired to employ the tension of a spring as a
motor, for example, to drive sewing machines, a single spring has usually been
employed; the result is that it has been found impossible to produce a continuous
power for a sufficiently long period.
This Invention is based as it were on the principle of the multiplication of
springs acting successively without being disconnected, and all capable of being
wound up at one and the same time. To obtain this result a metal cylinder is
mounted on a shaft divided by washers, forming part of the cylinder into as many
compartments as there are springs employed to produce the desired power during a
given time. This cylinder carries a pinion at each end, the diameter of which is
calculated according to the speed at which it is desired to drive the machine. This
cylinder is provided with a case, only exposing to view the two pinions in such
manner that this case cannot turn' with the cylinder.
A ratchet mechanism, fixed at the end of the cylinder, allows all the springs to
be wound up at one time. When the springs have received their tension, if by any
convenient arrangement all the springs but one are prevented from unrolling, it is
clear that this single spring acting will turn the motor shaft, but if at the moment
when this spring is becoming completely unwound an automatic arrangement sets
at liberty the second spring, which will act in its turn, and will continue the action
produced by the first spring which has ceased to act. The movement can thus be
continued by a succession of springs placed alongside one another and acting one
after the other. To release the said springs successively and at the proper times it
is proposed to have an arrangement fixed on the shaft, and worked by another
spring of sufficient size to last during the action of the several springs aforesaid.
This shaft, carrying for example an endless screw, or operating in any other con-
venient manner, present successively before each spring an apparatus for setting it
at liberty and to produce its action.
The accompanying Drawings will more clearly explain the Invention. On a
shaft A there are a series of springs B, B¹, B", terminating in wheel gearing
C, C¹, C, and enclosed in boxes or barrels in the ordinary way. The central
shaft A on which each spring is fixed communicates. motion, as indicated by the
pinions h, e, d. The pinion d is keyed on the driving shaft of the machine which
carries a fly wheel ; it is this shaft which transmits motion to the machine. All
the springs are wound up at one time by means of the lower shaft T carrying a
spring, capable of being unwound during a time equal to that which puts the

page_text: springs B, B¹, B, in tension. A crank drives a pinion v, and by a combination of
ratchets arranged so as to stretch the springs at the same time; it is this shaft
which regulates the system for rendering all the springs and allowing them to act
successively one after the other to produce this motion.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that limiting the combination of mechanism
which may be varied without departing from the Invention, I claim,-
First. The employment of a series of springs placed alongside one another on the
same shaft and operating one after the other for giving motion to sewing and other
machines, substantially as described.
Second. The winding up at one and the same time of all the springs, substantially
as described.
Third. The employment of a supplementary spring having a speed equal to the
speed of the successive springs above described and intended to render these springs
successively independent of one another, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ALEX BROWNE. (L.S.)