Improvements in Spring Motors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALBERT A. WOOD, of 174, South Forsyth Street,
Mechanical Engineer, GEORGE ARTHUR HOWELL, of 121-2, East Alabama
Street, Attorney and Councillor at Law, WILLIAM INUS ZACHRY, of Park
Street, West End, THOMAS SUMNER LEWIS, of 51, East Mitchel Street,
and JOHN MOMAN BROSIUS, of 61, Forest Avenue, Capitalists, all of Atlanta,
Georgia, United States of America.]
Improvements in Spring Motors.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention consists of a peculiarly constructed spring and mechanism for
winding it, mechanism for transmitting stored up power and to regulate,
automatically and arbitrarily, the speed resulting therefrom, and of other details, all
of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be fully described
in this Specification. The figures showing the invention as being attached to a
sewing machine are briefly described as follows:
Figure 1 is an elevation of the back side of a sewing-machine, showing a part of
the table and the motor a part of the motor being in vertical section central to the
axis of the spring.
Figure 2 is a cross-section of the table and a view of the motor, looking from the
direction of the right hand side of Figure 1, showing the connection of the motor
mechanism with that of the sewing-machine.
Figure 3 is a view of the pedal by which the speed of the machine is arbitrarily
governed.
Figures 4 and 4 show an enlarged view of the locking mechanism by which the
motion of the motor may be prevented.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the motor, the view being from a direction opposite
that shown in Figure 2, a part of the figure being in section on the lines 5, Figures 6
and 8, and another part having a portion broken away to show the winding
gearing inside the motor casing and a brake to prevent an accidental recoil of the
spring.
Figure 6 shows a plan of the winding gears and the brake to prevent the recoil,
the casing being in section on line 6. Figure 5, and also of the part shown in
vertical section in Figure 5, the crank and hanger being in section on lines 6 and 6',
respectively, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a section through the casing cover on the line 7, Figure 6, and shows
an end view of the brake to prevent the accidental recoil of the spring, and its
lateral position to the winding gears.
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8, Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a profile of a section on line 9, Figure 1, and shows the planet gears
that first transmit the power from the spring. The pinion of the disc that carries
the second pair of planet gears is shown in section. This figure also shows a part
of the device for limiting the winding and unwinding of the spring.
Figure 10 is a profile of a section on the line 10, Figure 1, and shows the second
pair of planet gears; and, in section, the pinion of the spur-gear that drives the
crank-shaft.
Figure 11 is a view of the disc that carries the first pair of planet gears and the
device for limiting the coiling and uncoiling of the spring.
Figure 12 in a national vino
TI

page_text: The pare, trave "
arrow 13, Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a section through a portion of Figure 11 on the line 14 in that figure,
showing the attachment of the spring.
1.
Figure 15 is a side view of the spur-gear that drives the crank shaft and of the
back of the contiguous bevelled winding gear, showing the device by which an
excessive speed is automatically, prevented.
Figure 16, is an edge view, from the top, of the spur gear shown in Figure 15
and an horizontal section, on the line 16 in that figure, of the bevelled
gear, showing
a profile of the back of the bevel-gear with which the governor has frictional
contact.
In these figures, the different details are uniformly marked by reference
characters.
The sewing machine head A, table B and band-wheel C. Figures 1 and 2, may
be of any ordinary construction as the device to be hereinafter described is shown
as having connection with the band-wheel driving crank, but the usefulness of many
of the features of the invention are not limited to this form of construction nor to
the driving of sewing-machines, as many other kinds of machines can be driven by
this motor with equally good results, and often it might be preferable to make the
connection between the motor and machine by a belt instead of the connecting rod
that is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The connecting rod C¹ best shown in Figure 2,
connects the treadle crank c on the band-wheel shaft with the crank-disc D by
means of the link D', said link being journalled in the connecting rod and in the
disc, as shown. The arm C2 is pivoted on the bracket C³ and on the connecting
rod C and gives the said rod fulcrumal support and cause it to carry the crank c
over the dead-centres." The disc Dis fastened on one end of the shaft D2 and
on the other end is fastened the pinion D3 which is best shown in Figure 1, as is
also the train of gearing that will now be described, except when reference shall be
made to other figures.
The spur-gear E, that engages with the pinion D³, and the discs F and G, that
carry the studs and g on which run the planet gears F and G³, run loosely on the
winding-shaft L that will be described hereafter. The planet gears G¹, running on
the studs on the disc G, engage the internal gear G, preferably cast integrally
with the casing H, and the pinion F2 on the disc F, as shown in Figures 1 and 9.
The planet gears F', running on the studs on the disc F, engage the internal
gear F3 and the pinion E on the spur-gear E, as shown in Figures 1 and 10. Thus
it will be seen that the crank-shaft is driven by a system of planet and spur gearing
from the disc G.
The compound torsion spring K is attached at one end to the disc G and the
other to the disc L; the preferred form of attachment being best shown in
Figures 11 and 14, and consists of the bent ends of the spring passing through a
slot and around one of its edges, the slotted portion of the disc and the ends of the
spring being shown in sectional Figure 14; both the discs G and L being alike in
this respect.
The spring K is composed of a series of coils K', K, K³ and K', the number
being governed by the requirements, and the object being to obtain a greater clasticity
than could be gotten in a common torsion spring of a given length and strength;
the different coils being made from wire of a gage in proportion to its length, in
order that the limit of torsional elasticity of each shall be the same, of course the
limit of elasticity of the entire spring is that of its separate coils and its strength is
the combined strength of the coils.
The disc G is screwed on the sleeve G³, Figures 1 and 12 said sleeve being a
running fit on the shaft L'. It is preferable that the sleeve G³ should have only as
much length as necessary to furnish a sufficient bearing for the disc G and that the
balance of the length of the shaft between the discs G and L should be covered
with similar loosely running sleeves G that can usually be made from common pipe,
in short sections. The object of the short sleeves is to furnish a core for the spring

page_text: that will run each section having a tendency to accommodate itself to the difference
in the speed of revolution at the different longitudinal points of internal bearing
of the spring, there being no other friction of practical consequence in the spring.
These sleeves fill the space between the two discs, and the collar G', fastened on
the shaft L, prevents their spreading. The collar G', also has, in connection with
the wheel G³, another function; namely, that of limiting the winding and unwinding
of the spring K. The collar G has a projecting finger o¹ that, at each revolution,
engages one of the pins g² on the wheel G³ on the face of which is a series of circular
indentations g of the same radius as the collar G' and the same in mumber as the
pins. The collar G has a depression g', shown in Figures 11 and 13, in its face
to allow the point between the indentations to pass. At a little less than a
revolution in either direction the part on the wheel G will meet the part
the collar G and stop the winding or unwinding in that direction.
On
The spring K being attached to the discs G and L, its effective force is exerted
on the disc G, and the spring is wound, and the accumulated tension is held, by the
dise L, as will be explained. The disc is fastened on the shaft L', preferably by
being screwed on and keyed as shown in Figure 1. Near the other end of the
shaft L is keyed the bevel gear M and on the lateral shaft N, Figures 5 and 6
and 7, is the pinion N. The other end of the shaft N1 at the front of the machine
table, is journalled in the hanger O, on the front side of which is the cylindrical
part which is eccentric to the shaft, and on the shaft is fastened the disc P
having an interior cylindrical surface surrounding the part O.
Referring to Figure 8: the turning of the disc P in the direction indicated
by the arrow will wind the spring and on the stopping of the winding the
disc will be held and reaction will be prevented by the friction of the curved
wedge between the eccentric cylindrical surface on the part 01 and the
internal cylindrical surface p'. The spring Q' presses the wedge in the direction
of the convergence of the opening between the part O' and the surface . To
provide against the consequence of the accidental slipping of the friction clutch
thus described, a safety brake R, Figures 5, 6 and 7, is applied to the winding
gears M-N. The brake R consists of an arm pivoted on the hub of the gear M
and pressed by the coil spring R' against the washer R that is fastened to the
hub by the pin 7, Figure 5, and revolves with it. While the gear M moves
forward, or upwardly, as shown in these figures, it will carry with it the brake R
by frictional contact with the washer R, until the brake is stopped by contact
with the casing cover H¹, but when moving downwardly, or in the backward
direction, the said frictional contact will carry the lower edge of the brake R
down into the teeth of the pinion N, which by its backward revolution will
give the brake a lateral movement carrying the upper edge into the teeth of
the gear M as shown by the broken lines R³, Figure 7, effectually locking these
gears and preventing the further reaction of the spring K. The forward move-
ment of the gears will release the brake and the spring R' and the frictional
contact of the brake R with the washer R2 will return it to its normal position.
On the hub of the disc P is journalled a flanged sleeve S having an eccentric
cylindrical part St that is surrounded by the internal cylindrical surface on
the disc P, the said internal cylindrical surface and eccentric cylindrical part
being provided with a contacting curved wedge and a spring Q2 that are like,
and perform the same functions as, the wedge Q and spring Q, described above.
On the side of the flange of this sleeve and at a right angle to its axis, is a
rectangular hole through which the crank T passes. The crank T slides
through this hole to adjust its length and is held in position, as to length, by
the screw T. By reason of the friction clutch connecting the sleeve S with
the winding shaft, the crank may be used as a crank or as a lever winding by
a back and forth movement.
The speed of the crank disc D and of the driven machine is regulated by the
pressure of the friction brake-lever V, Figures and 2, against said disc; the
pressure being given by the foot pedal W, Figure 3, pivoted near the floor and

page_text: connected with the lever V by the rod W' passing loosely through a hole in
the free end of the lever V and through a hole in the lug d on the journal
box Ds. Connection between the rod W' and the lever is by a coil-spring W
of considerable stiffness, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the brake lever V
is held away from the disc D when not in use by the lighter spring, shown
in the same figure, which abuts against the bottom of the lug d and the top
of.
the brake lever V. After the brake lever V shall have been pressed against
the disc sufficiently hard to stop the machine it may be locked in that condition
by compressing the spring W enough to cause the notch W, Figures 4 and 4*,
in the rod W to coincide, vertically, with the lever W³ The rod W is
flattened for a short distance above the notch we, as shown at w' in Figures 4
and 4, and the lever W has a notch formed between the prongs and w
which will allow the rod to drop slightly and catch on the shoulder formed by
the flattened portion w, as shown by the broken lines in Figure 4, which will
prevent the turning back of the lever W without first slightly raising the rod W¹,
which will prevent the accidental unlocking of the friction lever.
To prevent an excessive speed that might be caused by accidentally removing
the resistance to the force of the spring, the arm Z, Figures 15 and 16, is pivoted
to the side of the gear E and is so proportioned and arranged, as shown in
these figures, as to be thrown out by centrifugal force into contact with the
bevelled back side of the gear M, which is always stationary or running in
the direction opposite to the gear E. The weight of the arm and the stiffness
of the spring Z should be such as will cause the spring to hold the arm in the
position shown by the broken lines at any ordinary or desired speed, but
that will allow the centrifugal force, at any faster speed, to throw the arm to
the position shown in Figure 15, in which position the face Z³ will come into
contact with the bevelled surface Z on the back of the gear M, and by reason
of the turning point of the lever being nearer to the centre of revolution than
the contacting point on the surface Z, the wheel E running in the direction
indicated by the arrow, will force the face Z3 against the inclined surface Z,
with a force in proportion to its resistance to slipping and to the angle of the
arm and thus regulate the speed with the required accuracy.
It is obviously
non-essential that the part having the surface Z should be a gear.
The preferred form of construction for the frame of the outlying parts of the
machine, that is to say, the parts not contained in the casing HH, is by a
pipe or tube, L, Figure 1, that connects the hanger L3, in which the shaft L'
is journalled, with the casing H; the pipe D', saine figure, that connects the
box D, in which the crank shaft D2 is journalled, with the casing H; and the
pipe O³, Figures 2, 5 and 6, that connects the hanger O, in which the shaft. Ni
is journalled, with the casing cover H, the pipe being screwed into the
respective parts. The casing and hangers may be attached to the driven machine
in any approved way, they being shown as screwed to the wooden table of a
sewing-machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreigu correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a device of the class specified, the winding shaft N', the drum P fastened
on said winding shaft and having an internal cylindrical surface p¹, a stationary
boss O the cylindrical surface of which is correlative and eccentric to said surface p¹,
and a wedge Q fitting said correlative surfaces for the purpose specified.
2nd. In a device of the class specified, the gears M and N journalled so as to
intermesh, the stop R journalled freely on the hub of the gear M, the washer R
forming a shoulder on the said hub for the portion of said stop around said shaft,
and a spring R¹ operating to cause frictional contact of the stop and the said
shoulder. substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In a device of the class specified, the gears M and N in the train of winding

page_text: mechanism and the automatically acting stop R mounted on a spring shaft, and
having frictional contact with the moving parts of the said mechanism and adapted
to engage both said gears, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose
specified.
4th. In a device of the class specified, a shaft surrounded by a coiled torsion spring
and a multiplicity of short sleeves forming a core for said spring and running loosely
on said shaft for the purpose of preventing the wearing of said spring.
5th. In a motor, a torsion spring consisting of a series of different size wires.
coiled concentrically, the smaller wires being arranged inside the others in
graduated order, said wires being secured at their ends to discs, substantially as
described.
6th. In a device of the class specified, as a means of limiting the winding and.
unwinding of the driving spring, the collar G attached to the winding shaft and
revolving with it and having the projecting parts & and 9° and the depression 9* in
combination with the disc G that is revolved by the driving spring and has
journalled on its side the wheel G carrying a series of pins g on its side and an
equal number of circular indentations gin its periphery, and the projecting part g³,.
all constructed and arranged substantially as described.
7th. In a device of the class specified, as a means of transmitting rotary motion
from one crank to another, the crank disc D, the link D' pivoted thereon, the
connecting rod C¹ pivoted to the link D' and to the crank c of the machine to be
operated and the pendulum arm C² stationarily pivoted at one end and at the other
pivoted to the middle of the connecting rod C, substantially as specified.
8th. In a device of the class specified, the combination of the rod W having the
notch, the lever V, lug d, and the lever W³ pivoted on said lug d and adapted to
be turned into the said notch and prevent movement of said rod, for the purpose
specified.
9th. In a device of the class specified, the combination of the rod W₁ having a
notch and a flattened portion e, a lug d through which said rod may move
vertically, a brake-lever Velastically connected to said rod and operating upon a
wheel, and a lever W³ pivoted on said lug, said lever having prongs w² and wª.
thereon, substantially as described.
10th. In a device of the class specified, the arm Z pivotally secured to a wheel or
gear E, the part having the internal conical surface and means for holding said
arm normally and elastically away from the said surface, the said arm being so
pivoted relatively to the surface 7 as to be thrown out against said surface by the
increased centrifugal force due to an excessive speed, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
1
1303
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.