Improvements in or connected with Whirls used in connection with Sole Sewing and other Sewing Machines, and in Gear for Driving the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
VALIN
Improvements in or connected with Whirls used in connection with
Sole Sewing and other Sewing Machines, and in Gear for Driving
the same.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM FARR, of 434 Hackney Road, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates, first, to the whirl that is employed in sole sewing, and
other sewing machines for laying the thread within the barb of the machine needle;
and second, to the gear for driving the whirls of the said machines whereby an
intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the whirl from driving gear having a
continuous motion at one uniform speed.
Whirls as at present constructed are very liable to become damaged or worn and
thereby rendered useless owing to the top being open thereby allowing tacks, tingles
and the like falling between its teeth formed or cut upon its periphery and that of
the pinion which conveys motion to the whirl.
Now the object of the present invention is to prevent this and to make the whirl
more durable.
According to this invention instead of there being any play between the horn and
the whirl as at present I arrange it to fit as closely as possible to the cap and tip of
the horn, but at the same time to revolve freely so as to prevent there being any
play between the cap and the whirl or the tip and the pinion. The whirl may,
or may not, also be provided with a covering or flange (hereafter termed a
covering flange) similar in construction to that usually provided at the bottom of
the whirl. When the top of the whirl is provided with a covering flange it may be
made to fit into and work in the cap of the horn in a similar manner to that in which
the bottom of the whirl now works in the tip. The whirls may be made either
single or double and parallel or tapered with the teeth cut or made to extend the
full depth, or thickness of the whirl or only a portion thereof. When the whirl is
provided with a covering flange top and bottom, the teeth cut on its periphery may
be made to taper towards each other, and a circumferential groove may if desired
be cut to divide the teeth into two sets. The whirl, when so constructed, may be
made the same diameter at its top and bottom so that it can be readily reversed
whenever any of the teeth in one of the said sets become worn or damaged.
The improvements in gear for driving whirls of said sewing machines cousists in
an arrangement of mechanism whereby instead of permitting the whirl to make one
or more lost revolutions whilst the needle is raised, it remains stationary for a time
after laying the thread within the barb of the needle and during the raising and
lowering of the needle whilst the driving gear continues to revolve.
According to this invention the intermittent rotary motion for obtaining the one
revolution of the whirl may be obtained by means of an eccentric, cam, or pawl and
ratchet or it or their equivalent or equivalents from a train of continuous revolving
gear wheels (suitably mounted in pairs or otherwise on shafts or studs) arranged to
derive motion from the main driving shaft of the machine. When, say a pawl and
ratchet wheel is employed the ratchet teeth (or their equivalents) may be formed on
or attached to the periphery of one of the wheels that communicates motion to the
whirl; and one end of the pawl may be mounted eccentrically on one of the wheels
which gears with say the main driving pinion on the main shaft of the machine.

page_text: By this means the pawl is made to cause the whirl to make one revolution for
laying the thread within the barb of the needle by which the loop is formed and
then to remain stationary until the next revolution of the machine, the pawl in the
meantime being withdrawn by the continuous rotation of the driving gear until it is
in position to engage with another tooth of the ratchet wheel and its connections by
which the rotation of the whirl is continued.
It will be readily understood cam or cams and levers, eccentric, or it or their
equivalents may be employed in place of the said gearing, ratchet wheel and pawl
for obtaining a like result namely to cause the whirl to make one revolution only
for forming the loop.
Dated the First day of March 1894.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FARR,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.
Improvements in or connected with Whirls used in connection with
Sole Sewing and other Sewing Machines, and in Gear for Driving
the same.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM FARR, formerly of 434 Hackney Road, London, but
now of 16 Mentmore Terrace, London Fields, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, 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 relates first to the whirl that is employed in sole sewing and other
sewing machines for laying the thread within the barb of the machine needle; and
second to the gear for driving the whirls of the said machines whereby an inter-
mittent rotary motion is imparted to the whirl from driving gear having a continuous
motion at one uniform speed.
Whirls as at present constructed are very liable to become damaged or worn and
thereby rendered useless owing to the top being open thereby allowing tacks, tingles
and the like falling between their teeth, formed or cut upon their periphery and
that of the pinion which conveys motion to the whirl.
Now the object of the present invention is to prevent this and make the whirl
more durable.
I attain these objects by mechanism applied principally and by way of illustration
chiefly to a Blake type of sole sewing machine set forth in the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of portions
of a Blake sewing machine with whirl driving gear applied.
Figs. 3 and 4. are respectively an enlarged side elevation and a plan of a portion
of the gearing for imparting an intermittent motion to the whirl.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively enlarged part sectional elevations of horn,
showing my arrangement of whirl in position and part of mechanism for driving
same.
Figs. 7 to 13 are respectively enlarged elevations and a plan of whirls constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 14 shows a method of imparting the intermittent rotary motion to the whirl
from a pin wheel.
Fig. 15 an elevation of stop motion for preventing the whirl and driving gear
rebounding.
Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are side and end elevations of an arrangement of disc and
cams for imparting the requisite motion for driving the whirl.

page_text: Figs. 19 and 20 are front and end elevations of friction device for obtaining the
same object.
Figs. 21 and 22 shew elevations of application of the driving gear to the principal
parts of what are known as the "National
type of machine.
Like parts in all the views are marked with the same letters of reference.
A is the framework of the machine on the top of which is placed the sewing
mechanism which is of the usual construction, say as on a Blake sole sewing
machine.
For the sake of clearness I have only shown the needle bar B, needle B₁, main
driving shaft C, and balance wheel D as I make no claim to the sewing mechanism
itself independently and separately from its combination with my improvements to
be hereafter described.
The needle bar B and other parts of the sewing mechanism not shown in the
drawings may be actuated in the ordinary manner.
E is the horn upon which the work is placed and it is mounted upon the frame-
work A in the usual way.
Instead of there being any play between the horn and the whirl as at present I
arrange it to fit as closely as possible to the cap e and tip of the horn e¹ (Figs. 5
and 6) but at the same time to revolve freely so as to prevent there being any play
between the cap and the whirl F or the tip e¹ and the pinion G. The whirl F
may or may not also be provided with a covering or flange but in the drawings at
Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown it provided with a projection at the top and bottom of
a similar construction to that usually provided at the bottom of the whirl. When
the top of the whirl has a projection fit may be made to fit into and work in a
recess in the cap e of the horn in a similar manner to that in which the bottom of
the whirl now works in the tip el whereby a covering or flange is provided for
preventing any nails, tacks, or tingles falling into the whirl and damaging its teeth.
The whirl F is countersunk at f¹ on its top and bottom as is now usually done on the
top side only. The whirls may be made either single (Figs. 10, 11, and 12) or
double (Figs. 7, 8, and 9) and parallel (Figs. 9 and 10) or tapered (Figs. 7 and 8)
with the teeth 2 cut or made inclined the full depth, or thickness of the whirl, or
only a portion thereof.
When the whirl F is provided with a projection on the top and bottom, the
teeth cut on its periphery may if desired be made to incline towards each other
as at Figs. 7 and 8 and a circumferential groove 3 (Figs. 7 and 9) may if desired
be cut to divide the teeth into two sets. In the drawings the teeth are shown to
project the full depth of the whirl, but it is not absolutely necessary they should do
So.
The whiri when so constructed, may be made the same diameter at its top and
bottom so that it can be readily reversed whenever any of the teeth in one of the
said sets become worn or damaged. Or when a single set of teeth is employed they
may be cut through as at Fig. 10, the top of the whirl then taking the place of the
flange; or the whirl may be provided with a projecting flange f* on its top edge as
at Figs. 12, 124 and 12. is the hole through which the thread passes to the
needle from spool H mounted on the horn E. The hole fmay pass through the
whirl either vertically or at an angle. f is the needle clearance hole which is
arranged to pass vertically through the whirl.
The gear for driving whirls of said sewing machines consists in an arrangement
of mechanism whereby instead of permitting the whirl F to make one or more lost
revolutions whilst the needle B₁ is raised, it remains stationary for a time (after
laying the thread within the barb of the needle) during the raising and lowering of
the needle whilst the driving gear continues to revolve.
This intermittent rotary motion for obtaining the one revolution of the whirl may
be obtained in a variety of ways such as by means of an eccentric, cam or cains, or
pawl and ratchet or it or their equivalent or equivalents from a train of continuous
revolving gear wheels (suitably mounted in pairs or otherwise on shafts or studs)
arranged to derive motion from the main driving shaft C of the machine. In the
drawings Figs. 3 and 4 a method is shown for deriving said motion from a pawl I

page_text: retained to its work by a spring i and ratchet wheel J mounted on shaft k to be
presently described.
The main shaft C may, if desired, be lengthened and on the end opposite to the
balance wheel D is mounted, either inside or outside, (generally the latter on
machines now in use) of the post A' a slotted disc plate L armed with a pin or
stud capable of adjustment in the slot * arranged concentrically with the axis of
the driving shaft C.
At a suitable distance from the pillar A' is provided a bearing or pillar A³ in
which is mounted a short shaft or stud k on which the pawl lever K works,
preferably on the outside of the pillar A2. The outer end of the pawl lever K is
connected to the pin of the disc plate by a rod K' by which an oscillating motion
is imparted to the pawl lever K. On the shaft k is also mounted a ratchet wheel J
(preferably also outside of pillar A,) with which the pawl I engages, and a spur
wheel N (preferably inside of the pillar A³) arranged to gear with a pinion N'
mounted on a short shaft or stud n carried by bracket n' fixed to the framework A
of the machine. On the shaft n is also mounted a bevel wheel O arranged to gear
with a bevel wheel O¹ on vertical shaft 02 carried in bearings on the framework A
through which the intermittent rotary motion is conveyed to the whirl F through
bevel gearing O³, horizontal shaft O, bevel gearing O, vertical shaft 08 (within
the horn E) bevel gearing O', horizontal shaft 08, within the horn, bevel gearing 0³,
angular shaft O upon or in which the pinion G, which gears with the teeth of the
whirl F, is mounted or formed. Or a similar motion may be obtained for inter-
mittently rotating the whirl say for instance by mounting a number of pins 12 around
the face of the disc L at suitable distances apart, and arming them with steel
runners or bowls arranged to gear directly with the teeth of the ratchet wheel J as
shown at Fig. 14. By this means the pawl I, lever K, and connecting rod K'
would be dispensed with.
Or in place of the disc L a spur wheel may be mounted upon the driving shaft C,
and arranged to gear with a second spur wheel mounted on a stud fixed to the
framework of the machine. The second spur wheel would in this case be provided
with the pin arranged at a distance from the centre of the spur wheel and to
engage either directly or by means of a connecting rod with the lever K carrying
the pawl I.
In order to prevent or obviate any rebound of the whirl and its driving gear
when working at a high speed on the main driving shaft, I employ one of the
methods shown respectively at Figs. 3 and 15. At Fig. 3 a cam or eccentric P is
mounted on the main shaft C and arranged to operate the end Qx of a lever Q
pivoted or jointed to a bracket or support R fixed to the table portion of the
framework of the machine. The opposite end of the lever is arranged to engage
with a ratchet or catch wheel S mounted on the shaft n. The ratchet or catch
wheel S is provided on its periphery at the top with a catch s and on the opposite
and lower portion of its periphery, as shown in the drawings, with ratchet
teeth in which the spring T, fixed to the bracket R¹, is made to engage for
preventing the shaft rebounding after it has been stopped by the end Q' of
lever.
The end Qis depressed by the spring 2 which is also employed for retaining
the end Q of the lever Qin contact with the cam P. The cam P is tined to raise
the end Q clear of the catch s just before the shaft a commences to revolve.
When motion is transmitted to the shaft n through gearing N N' the power is
sufficient to overcome the pressure of the spring T.
Or if preferred the arrangement shown at Fig. 15 may be employed for
preventing or obviating any rebound of the whirl and its driving gear. In this
view N is the large gear wheel on shaft k in the periphery of which are mounted a
Dumber of pins S arranged to engage with a notch Q of a lever Q jointed to
support R for preventing any rebound. The lever Q is arranged to be operated
by cam P mounted upon the main shaft C. The eam P is timed to allow the
lever to fall into the position shown just before the ratchet lever K finishes its

page_text: traverse. A spiral spring T or a flat spring T', shown in dotted lines may be
employed for keeping the lever Q in contact with the cam. I would have it
understood that in place of the notch Q' and pins S a projection might be provided
on the lever Q arranged to engage with teeth or recesses on the periphery of the
wheel N.
At Figs. 16, 17 and 18 I have shown the intermittent rotary motion imparted to
the whirl from the driving shaft of the machine having a continuous motion at one
uniform speed from cams through a lever, connecting link and disc. In these
views A is the top of the framework which supports the sewing mechanism, A¹ is
the pillar in which the main driving shaft is journaled, A² a second pillar in which
the small stud or shaft k is journaled, on one end of which is mounted the disc L
which may or may not have a slot hole * in which the pin I may or may not be
adjusted. On the driving shaft may be mounted two cams P3 P4 either separately
or arranged in the form of a plate cam. Cam P³ is arranged to operate upon the
end q¹ of cam lever Q which is jointed to a pivot or support R³ fixed to the top of
the framework A. To the end of lever Q³ is jointed as shown a connecting
link Qone end of which is attached to the pin / of disc L. Whilst the opposite
end of said connecting link is armed with a runner Q which works in the slot U¹
of the sliding frame U which is employed for and operated by the cam P' for
carrying the disc link over its top and bottom centres. The frame U is arranged
to slide backwards and forwards in slot holes provided for it in the top of the
framework and it is kept in contact with the perimeter of the cam P₁ by means of
spring U. Spring U³ is employed for keeping the end of lever Qin contact
with the cam P³. At Fig. 17 I have shown the springs U2 U³ dispensed with and
in place of the cams P3 P4 being separate they are shown in the form of a double
plate cam, that is to say a groove in the form or contour of cam P³ is cut in one
side of a plate and a second groove in the form or contour of cam P is cut on
the opposite side of said plate. When this is the case the end q' of lever Q³
will be armed with a runner and the sliding frame U arined with a
runner U, the runners 3 and U₁ are arranged to work respectively in the cam
grooves P³ P
Motion is conveyed from the cam Ps acting on end q' of lever Q³ which as the
said end of lever reciprocates conveys through the link Q an intermittent rotary
motion to the disc L mounted on shaft k, on which one of the bevel wheels O is
also mounted. Simultaneously with this motion the sliding frame U is operated by
the cam P for the purposes herein before described.
It will readily be understood that the herein described cam arrangement may be
easily and readily adapted to the method of driving the whirl on what is known as
the "National "machine an outline or diagram of the driving arrangement of
which is shown at Figs. 21 and 22; as these views are fully lettered to correspond
with the descriptions already given the action of these parts will be readily
followed without again minutely describing them; the shaft 0 in these views
and the supporting bracket X for the whirl and its pinion are made adjustable in
the ordinary manner to permit of adjustment of the looper.
At Figs. 19 and 20 is shown a friction clip arrangement for imparting an inter-
mittent rotary motion to the whirl acted upon by a cam. In these views which
are only shown in outline, on the main driving shaft C is mounted a cam P
arranged to operate upon the double ended lever L** mounted loosely on the
small shaft or stud k. On the shaft or stud is also mounted and keyed a disc L
provided with a projecting rim or flange L*. The friction clips L*** are arranged
at one end to grip the projecting rim or flange L* and to engage at the other end
the notches formed for their reception in the hub of the lever L**. The
springs Lxxxx being employed for retaining the friction clips to their work.
Whenever the end of lever L** is raised by cam Pe the friction clips L*** will
thereby be tightened upon the rim or flange L* and for imparting the intermittent
rotary motion to the disc L, shaft k and gear wheel O. But when the end of
lever L is depressed the friction clips are drawn towards the ends of said lever by

page_text: the springs L**** and ride freely round the path of the rim or flange L* without
imparting any motion to the disc L and shaft k.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-
The machine having been threaded in the usual manner, and the work placed
upon the horn E. The whirl is arranged to have its thread hole 4, when the
machine is not in motion, at the side of the operator and when the top of the
whirl Fis not protected by a flange e², the cap e prevents a tack falling into it
from being carried round as is the case when a continuous rotary motion is imparted
to the whirl. On motion being imparted to the driving shaft Cat each revolution
of the disc L the pawl I, by means of lever K being connected by rod K₁ and pin
to the disc, is made to actuate one or more teeth of the ratchet wheel J which by
means of the gearing N, N¹ O 0' 0³ 0³ 0' 0º, shafts 03 04 06 08 010, and
pinion G impart an intermittent rotary motion to the whirl F which causes it to
make one revolution for laying the thread issuing through hole f* from spool H,
within the barb of the needle by which the loop is formed and then to remain
stationary during the raising and lowering of the needle B', for completing the
stitch and feeding the work, until the next revolution of the machine, the pawl in
the meantime being withdrawn by the continuous rotation of the disc L until it is
in position to engage with another tooth of the ratchet wheel and its connections
by which the rotation of the whirl is continued.
The whirl and driving gear is prevented rebounding by the catch wheel S,
lever Q and spring T as described.
I would have it understood that the herein described driving gear and parts
connected therewith may be readily adapted and applied to other sewing machines
besides the Blake type of machine in which say for instance a looper or equiva-
lent mechanism is used in place of a whirl, such class of machines being well
known and frequently used in the boot and shoe trades for the objects I aim to
attain.
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. In a sole sewing machine substantially such as herein described and illustrated
the combination with the driving shaft of the machine and the sewing mechanism,
of means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the whirl from driving
gear having a continuous motion at one uniform speed, whereby the whirl makes
one revolution for laying the thread, which forms the loop, within the barb of the
needle and then remains stationary-during the raising and lowering of the needle
for completing the stitch and feeding the work,—until the next revolution of the
driving shaft as set forth.
2. In a sole sewing machine the combination of au intermittently rotating whirl
mounted within the horn supported in bearings on the framework of the machine,
said whirl receiving its intermittent motion through actuating mechanism as
described arranged within, around, and above the horn from a driving shaft
revolving at a uniform continuous speed, said whirl remaining stationary after
making one revolution for laying the loop thread in the barb of the needle whilst
the needle is raised and lowered for completing the stitch and feeding the work as
set forth.
3. In a sole sewing machine the combination of framework A, needle bar B
armed with a barbed sewing needle actuated by the main driving shaft C, horn E,
whirl F, pinion G, ratchet wheel J, pawl 1, and its lever K, connecting rod K',
disc L and the gearing and shafts described for imparting an intermittent rotary
motion to the whirl from the main driving shaft of the machine having a uniformly
continuous motion as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The whirl capable of being reversed as its teeth become worn, with or without
a projection formed on its upper and lower ends and having straight or inclined
teeth on its periphery extending the whole, or a portion of its depth, with or

page_text: without a circumferential groove at or about its centre for dividing the teeth into
two sets substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
5. In a sole sewing machine, the combination of a whirl F as described working
in recesses in the tip and cap of the horn and having its upper end protected by a
flange, pinion G on angular shaft 010 within said horn, bevel gears 0° 07′0'
arranged respectively on the ends of the shafts 010 08 and O within the horn, and
on horizontal shaft O' gearing with vertical shaft O³, bevel gearing O' respectively
on shafts O2 and n, spur gearing N N on shafts n and k, ratchet wheel J on said
shaft k, lever K oscillating on said shaft k, pawl I carried by lever K and engaging
with said ratchet wheel J, rod K' connecting pawl lever K with pin mounted
eccentrically on a disc L fixed on the end of main driving shaft C, carried in
bearings on the framework of the machine, needle bar B receiving its motion from
shaft C, as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a sole sewing machine the combination with a whirl making one revolution,
of the mechanism for preventing the said whirl and its driving gear rebounding
substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 3 and 15 of the
annexed drawings.
7. In a sole sewing machine the combination with a whirl making one revolution,
of the mechanism for imparting the intermittent rotary motion to the same,
substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 16, 17, 18, 21
and 22 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-ninth day of December 1894.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FARR.