IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED TREADLE
MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES." A com-
munication from abroad by Carl Brandtner, of Reading, in the County of
Berks, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
aled the 2nd June 1876, and dated the 10th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1876.
ALEXANDRR MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SEWING AND
OTHER MACHINES."
The object of the Invention is to provide an improved treadle motion for sewing
and other machines, by which the motion may be imparted in an easier and less
fatiguing manner, so that the injurious influence of the common treadles will be
avoided and a considerable speed of the machine be obtained.
According to this Invention the treadle is centrally pivoted to suitable front
and rear bearings for the purpose of swinging laterally on the pivots; the feet
are placed on the treadle at both sides of the pivot shaft, and a rocking motion
imparted to the treadle by a side motion of the legs; the swinging side motion of
the legs is less fatiguing and injurious than the up-and-down motion required in
the common treadles in use; a rigid rod is attached firmly to the rear end of the
treadle connected at the upper end by a crank rod with the crank shaft that turns
in bearings attached to the table or standards of the machine; the crank shaft
carries the fly wheel and imparts by a concentrically grooved friction disc, and &
second leather or rubber-lined wheel at right angles thereto, motion to the driving
shaft that turns in bearings of the standards, and transmits the power by pulley and
belt to the sewing or other machine.
The friction wheel of the driving shaft may be adjusted thereon to greater or
lesser distance from the centre of the friction disc to impart a quicker or slower
speed to the driving shaft.
The side rocking of the treadle on its pivots may be readily kept up without
fatigue for any length of time, as it requires hardly any effort and does not exert
the injurious influence on the spine, as the working of the present treadles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
June 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SEWING AND OTHER
MACHINES." A communication to me from abroad by Carl Brandtner, of Reading,
in the County of Berks, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of the Invention is to provide an improved treadle motion for sewing
and other machines, by which the motion may be imparted in an easier and less
fatiguing manner, so that the injurious influence of the common treadles may be
avoided and a considerable speed of the machine obtained.
The Invention consists of a centrally pivoted and laterally swinging treadle that
is connected by a rigidly attached rod and crank rod with the crank shaft of the
fly wheel, the crank shaft imparting by friction wheels motion to the driving
shaft.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the
improved treadle mechanism, Figure 2 being a horizontal section of the same on the
line x, c.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
According to this Invention A represents the treadle which is centrally pivoted
to suitable front and rear bearings for the purpose of swinging laterally on the
pivots. The feet are placed on the treadle at both sides of the pivot shaft, and a
rocking motion is imparted to the treadle by a side motion of the legs. The
swinging side motion of the legs is less fatiguing and injurious than the up-and-
down motion required in the common treadles in use. A rigid rod B is attached
firmly to the rear end of the treadle, and connected at the upper end by a crank
rod Č with the crank shaft D that turns in bearings a attached to the table or
standards of the machine. Shaft D carries the fly wheel E, and imparts by a
concentrically grooved friction disc D¹, and a second leather or rubber lined wheel F
at right angles thereto, motion to the driving shaft G that turns in bearings of the
standards and transmits the power by pulley and belt to the sewing or other
machine.
The friction wheel F of the driving shaft may be adjusted thereon to a greater or
lesser distance from the centre of the friction disc to impart a quicker or slower
speed to the driving shaft.
The side rocking of the treadle on its pivots may be readily kept up without
fatigue for any length of time, as it requires hardly any effort, and does not exert
the same injurious influence on the spine as the working of the present treadles.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, 1 declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination of a centrally
pivoted and laterally swinging treadle by a rigidly attached connecting rod with a
crank rod, fly wheel, crank shaft, and speed regulating friction wheels of driving
shaft to impart greater or less speed to driving shaft, substantially in the manner
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK.
(L.S.)