Improvements relating to Sewing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Sewing Machines.
I, GEORGE ARTHUR Howell, of 12 East Alabama_Street, Atlanta, in the
State of Georgia, United States of America, Attorney-at-Law, at present residing
temporarily at Montague Mansions, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
My invention relates to sewing machines of the kind or class described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent No. 11417 dated the 16th of July 1889
wherein the operating parts are actuated by energy stored in one or more suitable
springs kept in tension while the machine is at work by occasionally operating a
suitable lever.
An important feature of my said invention consists in providing improved means
whereby the motion of the parts can be at once arrested, or the speed thereof
controlled, with great facility and precision.
A. further important feature consists in providing a suitable device for
automatically effecting the locking of the gearing connected with the aforesaid
springs and secured to the under part of the frame when the head of the machine
is turned back so that the tendency of the said springs to run down is effectually
overcome.
My invention moreover comprises other important features hereinafter set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide the machine with suitable
spiral springs contained in a rotary casing similar to that described in the aforesaid
Specification, a pair of these springs being preferably employed fitted one on each
side of the web or spokes of a central wheel in the said casing, one extremity of each
of the said springs being secured to the casing and the other extremity thereof being
secured to one of two short studs or short spindles which project into the casing
from opposite sides thereof and serve jointly as an axle upon which the casing may
rotate.
Each of these short spindles carries a disc having an annular groove on one face
thereof and supported or resting circumferentially in a saddle or recessed piece
firmly secured to the frame of the machine. These discs form part of a friction-
clutch device by which motion is communicated from the operating lever to the
spindles for the purpose of winding up the springs.
The operating lever is provided with a forked or bifurcated extremity upon each
of the arms of which is pivoted a short lever, provided with suitable lateral projec-
tions, one of which at the extremity thereof fits into the annular groove in one of
the aforesaid discs, while two other projections form a kind of jaw or clip into which
the portion of the disc between the said annular groove and the circumference is
adapted to enter when the lever is in position, suitable recesses in the interior faces
of the jaw being provided with removable gripping pieces or teeth set in the
direction in which it is desired to rotate the discs and the spindle connected with
them. The operating lever is moreover provided with an engagement device
preferably actuated by a thumb piece situated upon or near the handle, for throwing
one or other or both of the levers into engagement with the discs by causing their
extremities to be acted on by the inclined surface of a sliding piece adapted to be
moved by the operation of the aforesaid thumb piece so as to cause the levers to
engage with or be disengaged from the said discs as the case may be. The said
sliding piece is so arranged that when in its midway position it permits or effects
the engagement of both levers with the discs while at either extremity of its motion
only one lever is in engagement, the other being disconnected. Thus either spring

page_text: can be wound by itself or the two springs can be wound simultaneously thus enabling
the force of the machine to be varied in cases where materials of different thickness
have to be sewn or to enable the springs to be wound up one at a time to diminish
the effort or degree of force required to effect the winding.
To prevent overwinding of the springs I provide a suitable stop device,
preferably resembling an enlarged Geneva stop, the star wheel of which is
pivoted to the spring case while the pin or finger is secured upon the stud or spindle
of the said casing.
To control the speed of the machine and to automatically effect the locking of
the gear wheels when the head is turned back on its hinges, so as to prevent the
springs running down when the work is taken off them we provide a suitable brake
comprising preferably a sliding friction collar adapted to slide to and fro on the
spindle of one of the gear wheels by which motion is communicated to the operating
mechanism. The forked arm of a bell crank lever engages with a pair of studs on
this collar, the said lever being pivoted upon a sliding sleeve and having its other
arm projecting into contact with a cam-like surface on the engagement piece by
which the head of the machine is secured to the table, so that when the said
engagement piece is turned to permit the head of the machine being raised upon its
hinges, the said cam-surface is moved out of engagement with the arm of the bell
crank lever which is thereby permitted to move, under the action of a spring pro-
vided for the purpose, so as to press the said friction collar laterally against the
gear wheel and lock or practically lock the same against rotation. To regulate
the speed of the machine, I provide suitable means for causing the aforesaid friction
wheel to bear with more or less pressure against the side of the gear wheel while
the machine is at work. For this purpose I prefer to employ a device consisting
of a short screw-threaded shaft adapted to be more or less rotated by pressing on a
suitable pedal or the like which shaft engages with corresponding screw-threads
formed on the interior of the above mentioned sliding sleeve to which the bell-crank
lever is pivoted, so that by causing the said shaft to rotate the sleeve is caused to
move laterally and to press the friction collar more or less against the gear wheel.
I am thus enabled to vary the speed at which the needle operates in a very
convenient and efficient manner.
To prevent the operation of the machine when the same is not in use I form a
V-shaped groove upon a projection on one of the gear-wheels or upon a disc or wheel
secured to the spindle thereof, and I provide in the cover of the machine a short
pointed piece or rod adapted to enter the said V-shaped groove the said pointed
piece or rod being connected with a screw having a suitable finger nut and fitting
into a screw-threaded hole or cavity in the cover of the machine, so that by turning
the said screw the pointed piece or rod can be caused to forcibly enter the said
groove and to tightly hold or jam the wheel or disc and prevent rotation thereof.
It is obvious that in place of the operating lever and the pedal for regulating the
speed, other convenient appliances might be used, as for instance a pedal or pedals
with suitable connections might be used to effect the winding up of the spring while
a hand lever might be employed to regulate the speed of the machine. For con-
venience in use and in packing we provide the operating lever with a suitable rigid
joint which can be readily disengaged to enable the projecting portion of the said
lever to be removed when desired.
The sewing machine which we prefer to use in combination with our aforesaid
improvements is provided with a rotary shaft carried in the arm thereof and
connected by suitable gearing with the aforesaid springs. The shuttle is carried at
the extremity of a long oscillating arm provided beneath the head of the machinė
and firmly secured upon the lower extremity of a vertical shaft, the upper extremity
of which carries a loosely fitting excentric strap or collar or forked piece
surrounding or enclosing an eccentric or cam preferably secured at an angle on the
aforesaid rotary shaft, by the action of which excentric a reciprocating motion is
imparted to the vertical shaft and to the oscillating arm secured thereon. The
feed-dog or the mechanism for feeding the work forward under the needle is

page_text: operated by a pair of oscillating levers secured each upon one of two shafts extending
under the head of the machine, and to which shafts reciprocating motion is
imparted by connecting levers engaging in a cam groove formed on one of the
gear wheels or on a disc connected therewith. One of these levers effects the
raising of the feeding teeth or the feed dog to cause the engagement thereof
with the work, while the other lever effects the to-and-fro movement of the
same. I provide in connection with the shaft to which the lever for raising
the teeth is connected, a suitable device for throwing the said shaft out of
action when it is desired, to prevent the aforesaid teeth engaging with the work this
device consisting preferably of a set screw passing through the collar by which the
communicating lever is supported upon the shaft, and having a suitable thumb nut
by which it can be readily turned to rigidly connect or to disengage the said collar
and the shaft. I moreover provide for varying the length of the stitch by providing
a movable pivot for one of the levers which communicates motion to the shaft for
reciprocating the feeding device, a graduated scale being provided on the machine
to facilitate the adjustment of the said pivot.
The tension device which I prefer to employ for maintaining a constant tension
on the thread while the machine is at work is formed of a flat steel spring bar
through which about midway between its extremities an adjusting screw passes
whereby the same can be more or less compressed to vary the amount of tension.
The thread is passed into an inclined slot extending from one edge of the spring bar
and is carried thence under the forward end thereof. To effect the liberation or
insertion of the thread with facility I provide a finger piece or short lever
whereby the end of the spring bar may be lifted and the pressure thereby
removed from the said thread, without the necessity for turning back the aforesaid
adjusting screw.
501 1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Sewing Machines.
I, GEORGE ARTHUR HOWELL, of 121 East Alabama Street, Atlanta in the
State of Georgia, United States of America, Attorney-at-Law 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 :-
My invention relates to sewing machines of the kind or class described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent No. 11417 dated 16th of July 1889 that is to
say, sewing machines which are actuated by energy stored in one or more suitable
springs the tension of which is maintained while the machine is at work by
occasionally operating a suitable lever.
An important feature of my said invention relates to the construction of the said
winding lever.
Another important feature of my present invention consists in providing
improved means whereby the motion of the parts can be at once arrested, or the
speed thereof controlled with great facility and precision.
A further important feature of my said invention consists in the combination,
with the gearing connected with the aforesaid springs and secured to the underpart
of the frame, of a suitable device for automatically effecting the locking of the said
gearing when the head of the machine is unlatched to allow of its being turned
back so that the tendency of the said springs to run down is effectually overcome.
My invention moreover comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved machine showing one
extremity thereof in side elevation, a portion of the casing being removed to show
the parts more clearly.
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in vertical central section on an enlarged scale
showing the arrangement of the springs and spring casings.
Figures 3 and 4 are views on an enlarged scale showing the winding or operating
lever or handle, Figure 3 being an underside view and Figure 4 a longitudinal
central section thereof the latter showing the relative arrangement of the handle
and one of the parts hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a plan on an enlarged scale of part of the improved speed controlling
device hereinafter described.
Figure 6 represents a view of the underside of the head of the machine, and
Figure 64 is a side view of a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 6.
Figure 7 represents an improved thread tension device hereinafter described.
Figure 8 is a plan, and
Figure 9 a side elevation of a slightly modified winding lever.
Figure 10 is a view of a portion of one of the forked ends of the said winding
lever.
Figure 11 is an inverted plan of a portion of a winding lever constructed
according to a further modification of my invention.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section on the line of the right hand side of the
straight portion of the lever Figure 11 showing the locking device.
Figure 13 is a section through the bifurcated portion of said lever Figure 11 on a
line with the centre of the straight portion of said lever.
Figure 14 is a plan,
Figure 15 an inverted plan, and
Figure 16 a partial side elevation, showing also a portion of the machine arm in
section, of a double spool holder hereinafter described.
Figure 17 is a central transverse section of a handwheel constructed according to
my present invention; and
Figure 18 is a plan, and
Figure 19 an end elevation of a portion of a machine head having my improved
spool winder applied thereto.
Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
A A represent the supports or standards upon which the sewing machine is
fitted, these supports being provided with wheels or rollers B B to facilitate the
movement of the machine from place to place. C represents the table of the
machine and D the machine head a portion of which is removed to show the arrange-
ment of the internal parts more clearly. E E represent the springs in which the
energy is stored for driving the machine. These springs are enclosed in a rotary
casing F and are adapted to be wound up as hereinafter described by means of the
handle or lever G. The rotary casing F is enclosed in a stationary case or cover F.
A pedal H by which the speed controlling mechanism is brought into operation, is
connected with a lever I secured to a part of the said mechanism, by means of a
cord, chain or rod J which is acted on by a spiral spring K whereby the said pedal
is normally retained in its raised position. L represents the star wheel of a stop
device hereinafter described for preventing overwinding of the springs. The spiral
springs E are contained in the rotary casing F after the manner described in the
aforesaid Specification, a pair of these springs being preferably employed fitted one
on each side of a central web or toothed wheel E in the said casing. The said
wheel El gears with one of a series of toothed wheels by which motion is commu-
nicated to the operative parts of the sewing machine when the casing F is caused
to rotate by the springs F. One extremity of each of the springs E is secured to the
casing F and the other extremity thereof is secured to one of two short studs or
short spindles F2 which project into the casing F from opposite sides thereof and
serve jointly as an axle upon which the said casing may rotate.

page_text: Each of the short spindles F2 has firmly secured thereto on the outer side of the
stationary casing F' a disc F3 having an annular groove F' on one face thereof. A
saddle or sickle-shaped piece F³ shown more clearly in Figure 4, is held somewhat
loosely at its lower extremity between a pair of stops F* Figure 1 on the stationary
casing and is provided at its upper part with a claw which fits over the annular
portion or flange of the disc between the groove F and the circumference and acts
as a clip to prevent the discs turning backward as hereinafter described. The said
claw is provided with movable engagement pieces F (see Figure 4) consisting of
small pieces of steel or the like which fit into shallow recesses formed in the claw
and are so arranged in relation to the position of the piece Fs and the disc F³ that
is to say out of the radial line of the said disc that while the disc F³ can turn freely
in one direction, it will be prevented from turning in the other direction by the
engagement of the edges of the pieces F therewith. These discs form part of a
friction-clutch device by which motion is communicated from the operating lever G
to the spindles F2 for the purpose of winding up the springs.
The operating lever G shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4 is provided with
a forked or bifurcated extremity upon each of the arms G₁ of which is carried a
short lever a pivoted at 6 aud, provided at its extremity with a suitable lateral
projection cupon which is fitted a roller c', adapted to enter the aforesaid annular
groove F of the corresponding disc F³, and form a fulcrum for the lever G as
shown more clearly in Figure 4, the object of the roller c¹ being to permit of the
lever pressing upon the edge of the annular groove F4 during the rotation of the
disc without setting up unnecessary friction. I also provide on each of the arms G
a pair of projections & which form a jaw or clip and which are adapted to fit over
the portion of the disc between the said annular groove F and the circumference
of the disc when the lever is in position, suitable recesses in the interior faces of
the jaw being provided with removable engagement pieces d' which are set out of
the radial line of the disc and are inclined in the direction in which it is desired to
rotate the disc. I prefer to so arrange the parts that the discs F³ shall be rotated
in the downward movement of the lever G and for this purpose the pieces d' are
set as shown in Figure 4 so that when the handle is raised they slide freely over the
disc F but when it is depressed the edges of the said pieces engage therewith and
rotate the same. In the operation of winding the springs, the rollers c' on the
projections c on the extremities of the levers a enter the annular grooves F and
abutting against the edges thereof serve as fulcra for the operating lever G when
the same is depressed, while the jaws d, and the engagement pieces d' grip the said
dise and rotate the same. By lowering either arm G₁ of the lever G bodily with
respect to the roller & the pieces of that arm are brought more nearly into a
radial line of the disc F³, in which position they will not grip the disc during the
downward movement of the lever; in other words the said arm is thereby thrown
out of action. For effecting the lowering of either arm G' in order to prevent
either spring E being wound by the movement of the lever G I provide the
following device, that is to say, I mount within the fork formed by the arms G¹ a
bent or curved sliding piece of steel or other suitable elastic material formed with
inclined surfaces f', and against the piece f, the tail ends a¹ of the levers a are
pressed by means of springs f*. The sliding piece f is connected by a crank g'
(the pin of which projects into a slot or hole in the piece f) and shaft with the
handle G² of the lever G in such a manner that when the handle G³ is partially
rotated the piece is caused to move or slide within the fork in one or other
direction. The said sliding piece is so arranged that when in its midway position
the arms a¹ of each lever a occupies the position indicated in Figure 4, that is to say,
they are in such a position that when the lever G is operated, both the springs E are
wound simultaneously. By moving the piece in one or other direction and so
causing one of the inclines f' to slide over the end of its lever a', the corresponding
arm G is lowered into the inoperative position, and then when the lever G is operated
that arm does not act to turn its disc F³. Thus either spring can be wound by itself,

page_text: or the two springs can be wound simultaneously so enabling the power of the motor
to be very conveniently varied as may be required for sewing materials of different
thickness. Or by this means the springs may be wound up one at a time to diminish
the effort or degree of force required to effect the winding. A thumb catch e
operated by a spring is hinged to the handle G2 and notches are provided in
the handle G, the parts being so arranged that the catch can in certain positions
of the handle G² be forced into one or other of the notches to lock the handle in
that position. By this means the handle G2 can be locked in its middle or either
of its extreme positions. To prevent overwinding of the springs, I provide a
suitable stop device comprising a star wheel L, Figure 1, which is pivoted to the
rotary spring case F, and a pin or finger L' secured upon the stud or spindle of the
said casing and adapted to engage with the star wheel in such a manner as to cause
the partial rotation of the said wheel on its axis at each revolution of the casing F
in a well known manner, as for instance in connection with the Geneva-stops of
watches. When the casing F has performed a certain number of revolutions,
corresponding to the number of arms on the star wheel, a projecting tooth L² on the
said star wheel is brought into engagement with the pin L' and the rotation of the
said casing is thereby arrested.
To control the speed of the machine and to automatically effect the locking of
the gear wheels when the machine head is turned back on its hinges, so as to
prevent the running down of the springs, I provide the device hereinbefore referred
to with which the pedal H is connected. This device effects the controlling of the
speed by means of a brake which is caused to act on one of the train of gear wheels
with more or less pressure as hereinafter described. This brake (see Figure 5)
comprises a sliding friction collar M adapted to slide to and fro on the spindle M¹
of one of the gear wheels by which motion is communicated to the operating
mechanism. The forked arm N of a bell-crank lever engages with a pair of
studs N' on this collar, the said lever being pivoted at N2 upon a nut O and having
its other arm N³ projecting into contact with a cam-like surface on the engagement
piece P by which the head of the machine is locked or secured to the table. The
position and shape of this engagement piece which is secured to the head of the
machine is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the said engagement piece is
turned on its axis to permit of the head of the machine being turned upon its
hinges, the said cam-surface thereon is moved out of engagement with the arm N³
of the bell-crank lever which lever is thereby permitted to turn on its pivot, under
the action of a spring Q provided for the purpose, so as to press the said friction
collar M laterally against the gear wheel, with sufficient force to prevent the
rotation of the said gear wheel. An auxiliary spring M2 is also provided around
the spindle M' to assist in pressing the collar M against the wheel. To regulate
the speed of the machine, I provide suitable means for causing the aforesaid
friction collar M to bear with more or less pressure against the side of the gear
wheel while the machine is at work. For this purpose I prefer to employ a device
consisting of the short screw-threaded rotary shaft I' upon the outer extremity of
which is secured the arm or crank I and which is adapted to be more or less
rotated by pressing on the pedal H connected with the said crank I by the rod or
link J as hereinbefore described. The screw-threaded shaft I¹ enters and engages
with corresponding screw-threads formed on the interior of the above mentioned
nut O to which the bell-crank lever is pivoted. Thus by causing the said shaft I¹
to rotate by pressing the pedal H more or less, the nut O carrying with it the bell-
crank lever pivoted thereto is caused to move laterally and to press the friction
collar M more or less against the gear wheel on the spindle or axle of which it is
mounted. I am thus enabled to vary the speed at which the needle operates in a
very convenient and efficient manner. I have shown the shaft I provided with a
left hand screw thread. In some cases I provide it with a right hand screw thread
and I place the arm or crank I on the other side thereof, that is to say, so that the
arm projects towards the front of the machine instead of towards the back.

page_text: I preferably bend the said arm round the casing F and within the fork of the
lever G so as not to interfere with the movement of the said lever. The pedal for
actuating the arm I may be placed on either side the machine.
To prevent the operation of the machine when the same is not required, I form
a V-shaped groove R (Figure 1) upon a projection on one of the gear-wheels or
upon a disc or wheel secured to the spindle thereof, and I provide in the cover of
the machine a short wedge-shaped piece S adapted to enter the said V-shaped
groove the said wedge-shaped piece being carried upon the extremity of a screw. S¹
having a suitable head or thumb piece S2 and fitting into a screw-threaded hole or
cavity in the cover of the machine, so that by turning the said screw the wedge-
shaped piece S can be caused to forcibly enter the said groove and to tightly hold
or jam the wheel or disc and prevent rotation thereof.
The operation of this part of my improved apparatus is as follows.-The rotary
handle G2 is first turned into the position to effect the engagement of one of the
clutch arms G' with the particular one of the two discs F³ to which it is desired to
impart motion or to effect the engagement of both of the clutch arms with the two
discs F³ for the purpose of winding the spring or springs connected therewith.
The lever G is then forcibly depressed and the pieces d'engage with the disc F³
and cause the rotation of the said disc and of the spindle F2 to which the same is
secured, thereby partly winding up the spring connected therewith. When the
lever G is raised, the disc F³ is prevented from following the same by the clutch
pieces F in the picce F which engage therewith and prevent its turning
backward, the pieces in the upward movement of the lever slipping freely
over the surface of the disc. The lever G being again depressed the pieces d' once
more engage with the disc F3 and rotate the same thereby further winding up the
spring, the disc F3 being prevented as before from turning backward when the
lever G is raised. This is continued until the springs are wound up sufficiently.
During that time the sewing machine may have been at rest being held or secured
by the wedge-shaped stop-piece S or the machine may have been continuously at
work. In the former case the machine is started by simply withdrawing the said
stop-piece when the springs E cause the casing F to rotate about the spindles F2
and the toothed wheel E secured thereon communicates motion to the gearing by
which the sewing machine is driven. The machine is maintained in operation by
occasionally operating the lever G as required.
It is obvious that in place of the operating lever G for winding up the springs
and the pedal H for regulating the speed, other convenient appliances might be
used, as for instance a pedal or pedals with suitable connections might be used to
effect the winding up of the spring while a hand-lever might be employed to
regulate the speed of the machine. For convenience in use and in packing I may
also provide the operating lever with a suitable rigid joint capable of being readily
disengaged to enable the projecting portion of the said lever to be removed when
desired.
I also provide suitable stop pieces T T, each consisting preferably of a socket
into which pieces of india-rubber are fitted for the purpose of limiting the extent
of motion of the operating lever G and for preventing the accidental knocking
of the same against the other parts of the machine.
It is obvious that any suitable form of sewing machine may be employed. in
combination with my present improvements without departing from the nature of
my said invention.
I find it advantageous however to employ in combination with my aforesaid
improvements a sewing machine in which the sewing mechanism is operated by a
rotary shaft carried in the arm of the machine and deriving its motion through
suitable gearing as shown from the aforesaid springs E. The shuttle U (see
Figure 6) is carried at the extremity of a long oscillating arm U' provided beneath
the head of the machine and firmly secured upon the lower extremity of a vertical
shaft V (shown in Figure 1) the upper extremity of which carries a loosely fitting

page_text: eccentric strap or collar V₁ or forked piece surrounding or enclosing an eccentric
or cam W secured at an angle on the aforesaid rotary shaft by the action of which
eccentric an oscillatory motion is imparted to the vertical shaft and to the arm U¹
secured thereon. The feeder Us for feeding the work forward under the needle is
operated by a pair of oscillating arms or levers X X' secured each upon one of two
shafts X2 extending under the head of the machine, to which shafts reciprocating
rotary motion is imparted by connecting levers engaging in a cam groove formed
on one of the gear wheels or on a disc connected therewith. One of the levers X₁
is mounted directly upon the shaft by which it is operated and turns about the axis
of the same while the other lever X which carries the feeding device is connected
to a crank X³ fixed upon the other shaft X' whereby it is caused to reciprocate to
and fro to effect the necessary lateral movement of the feeding teeth. The lever X
is slotted at its end to receive a pin X* mounted in the lever X'. These parts are
shown more clearly in Figure 6. By this construction it will be seen that one of
the arms X serves to move the teeth to and fro while the other arm X¹ serves to
raise them sufficiently to effect their engagement with the work. I provide in
connection with the shaft to which the lever for raising the teeth is connected, a
suitable device for throwing the said shaft out of action when it is desired to
prevent the aforesaid teeth engaging with the work. For this purpose the arm or
lever that effects the oscillation of the said shaft X' is connected thereto by a set
screw passing through the collar by which the said lever is supported upon the
shaft, this set screw having a thumb screw by which it can be readily screwed in
one or the other direction to rigidly connect or to disengage the said collar and
the shaft. When disconnected, the shaft remains inoperative, and the feeding
teeth are not raised, and consequently no feeding takes place. I moreover provide
for varying the length of the stitch by providing a movable pivot for one of the
levers which communicates motion to that reciprocating shaft X' which effects the
lateral movement of the feeding device and I provide a graduated scale to facilitate
the adjustment of the said pivot.
The tension device which I prefer to employ for maintaining a constant tension
on the thread while the machine is at work is shown in Figure 7. This tension
device is formed of a flat steel spring bar Y secured on the upper part of the arm
of the machine. Through this bar passes about midway between its extremities an
adjusting screw Y' which is screwed into the arm of the machine whereby the same
can be more or less compressed to vary the amount of tension. The thread is
passed into an inclined slot Y2 extending from one edge of the spring-bar and is
carried thence under the forward end thereof, which said end presses upon the arm
of the machine with more or less force according to the adjustment of the set
screw Y¹. To facilitate the insertion or withdrawal of the thread I provide a
finger piece or short lever Z by pressing on which the end of the spring bar may
be lifted and the pressure thereby removed from the said thread without the
necessity for turning back the aforesaid adjusting screw.
Referring to Figures 8, 9 and 10, the lever a in this modification is arranged to
have its fulcrum in the upper part of the annular groove F, and the tail end a¹ of
the said lever is pressed upwards or away from the arm G¹ of the lever G by a
coiled spring which has the effect of securing the required initial pressure of the
pieces d' against the flange of the disc F³ to enable them to bite without slipping
when the lever G is depressed. The pressure of the pieces d¹ being increased by
the downward movement of the lever G in proportion to the resistance will cause
the discs to revolve with the downward movement of said lever. The upward
movement of the lever G will relieve the pressure of the pieces d' on the flanges
and consequently the said pieces will slip during the upward movement of the
lever.
To prevent the engagement of one or the other of the forked ends of the lever
with its corresponding discs in order that but one spring may be wound, provision
is made for depressing the rear end a¹ of the lever a as shown in Figure 9 which

page_text: also has the effect of depressing the corresponding spring f* thereby preventing
the initial pressure of the pieces d' against the flange, that is necessary to cause
their engagement with said Hange. To effect this, the levers a are provided on the
ends opposite the rollers c¹ with cam-like faces a² as shown in Figures 9 and 10,
and pivoted to the sides of the arms G¹are fingers G³ that have, at their upper
ends inward projections which are adapted by their proportions and positions to be
forced on to the cam faces a² and depress the end a¹ of the lever a as shown in
Figure 9.
Each of the fingers G³ is coupled by rods G³ to the opposite ends of a lever G
centrally pivoted on the lever G, said lever G being provided with a handle G
whereby it may be operated to put either finger G in engagement with the tail
end of the corresponding lever a. The proportions of the fingers G³, the lever G*
and the connecting rods G³ are such that both of the fingers G³ may be simul-
taneously disengaged from the cam faces on the levers a and that either of the
fingers G³ may be forced on, and depress its lever a and thereby prevent the
winding of the corresponding spring.
Referring to Figures 11 to 13 which show my improved winding lever provided
with a joint which may be made flexible or rigid at the will of the operator, the
said lever consists of two parts or members one of which, that connected with the
discs to be operated upon, is provided with a rectangular shaped recess G'in its
under side. The outer end wall of the said recess is partially cut away to permit
of the introduction of the other member or part G of the compound lever. Lips G³
project in line with the lever from the portion of the end wall not cut away. The
end of the lever G is adapted to fit within the recess G7 and is provided with
lips G correlative with the lips G8 and hence adapted to engage therewith. The
said lever Gis provided with a rounded end G10 and near said end is formed a
transversely extended slotted hole G". A pin G" passes through the walls of the
recess G7 and through the slot G" and a flat nut G¹³ turning freely on said pin G²
and also fitting the slot G" forms a bearing box between said pin and the side walls
of said slot. The lever G mounted as above described is capable of a sliding
movement on the pin G₁ sufficient to permit of the disengagement of the lips G³
and G., and when so disengaged, the lever will swing loosely about the pivot G¹².
The sliding movement of the lever is resisted by a spring arrangement comprising
a block G concaved on its end to fit against the rounded end Go of the lever, said
block being fixed to a pin G1 which is mounted to slide in a hole G in the inner
end wall of the recess G³, and a coiled spring G enclosing said pin and resting on
the bottom of said hole G1 and on the back of the block G¹.
I may have one, two or more spool holders h Figures 14 to 16 fixed to a common
plate which is preferably attached to the machine arm or head by a circular
spring piece h². The said spring piece is formed with two spring ears ³ and is
attached to the under side of the plate. It is adapted to fit tightly within a
socket h* provided in the machine head or arms to receive it.
To provide for disconnecting the hand wheel from its shaft to admit of winding
or filling a spool.without operating the needle I construct the parts as shown in
Figure 17, that. is.to say,.I make the hand wheel i and the last wheelj of the train
of gearing, in one casting, and I mount the said casting loose in its axle or shaft k.
On the, end, of the. said: shaft I.secure by a screw or otherwise a driving piece!
which is formed with a recess 12 in which is fitted to slide a pin ³. The said pin is
attached to a,spindle. of smaller diameter than the pin and that projects through
an opening in the driving, piece 7 and to which at its outer end is attached a knob
or handle,. A. spring. placed within the recess 12 operates to force the pin 1³
outwards causing it to project into one or other of series of holes prepared to
receive it in the hand wheel i. It is obvious that when the pin so projects into one
of the holes i, as shown in the figure the hand wheel and the piece will be coupled
together and must rotate together, while when the pin is withdrawn from the
hole the parts are disconnected and the hand wheel, is free to revolve without

page_text: driving the piece 1. The knob or handle 1 for withdrawing the driving pin is
provided with a small projecting pin which is arranged in one position of the
knob to pass into a hole formed in the outer face of the piece and when in this
position the spring is free to act to force the driving pin into the aforesaid hole i.
By however, withdrawing the driving pin and then partially rotating the knob
the pin is caused to bear against the face of the piece land in that position it
prevents the driving pin being pushed outwards into engagement with the hand
wheel.
In Figures 18 and 19 I have shown my improved method of mounting the bobbin
winder. The winder consists of a frame m which is hinged at m¹ to a bracket m²
attached to the machine head. A lip m³ formed on the frame m is constructed to
engage with the bracket m² when the frame is in the winding position so as to
support the frame in that position as clearly indicated in Figure 19. The rubber
wheel n of the winder may be pushed inwards when the spool is removed so as to
escape the hand wheel i when the winder frame is turned upwards into the
inoperative position indicated by broken lines in Figure 19.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim :-
First. In a sewing-machine the combination with two or more springs for driving
the same, of the improved means for effecting the winding of the said springs either
separately or together, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In a sewing machine, the combination with one or more suitable springs
and gearing for driving the said machine, of a device whereby, when the head of
the said machine is unlocked to admit of the same being thrown backward, the
locking of the said gearing will be automatically effected and the running down of
the said springs thus prevented.
Third. A sewing-machine provided with one or more suitable springs and gearing
for driving the said machine and having a device comprising a suitable brake
operated by a pedal or handle whereby the said brake can be pressed more or less
tightly upon one of the gear wheels to regulate the speed of the machine sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In a sewing machine, the employment for operating the feeding device,
of the oscillating or reciprocating levers one of which imparts a to-and-fro
movement thereto while the other effects the raising of the same into engagement
with the work, as herein before described.
Fifth. A sewing machine provided with the springs E fitted in the rotary
casing F and secured to the spindles F, and having suitable means for effecting
the rotation of the said spindles and the winding up of the springs both when the
machine is in motion and when it is at rest.
Sixth. In a sewing-machine provided with a pair of springs and with driving
gearing connected therewith, a bifurcated or forked handle G for winding the said
springs provided with the levers a and springs f* mounted one on each of its
arms G and suitable projections & having pieces d¹ forming a clip to grip the
winding discs, together with a sliding piece for cam fingers G³ for disengaging the
said clip when desired substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes
specified.
Seventh. The improved tension device constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. The improved winding lever provided with a joint which may be made
flexible or rigid at will substantially as described with reference to Figures 11
to 13.
Ninth. In the sewing machine herein before described, the device for connecting
and disconnecting the needle driving shaft and hand wheel, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 17 and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Tenth. The improved sewing-machine constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 9th day of May 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.