Improvements in Treadles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr.,
1890
Improvements in Treadles.
I, FRANK BENJAMIN JOHNSON, of Parkville, in the County of Kings and State of
New York, United States of America, Inventor and 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
spring-supported, pivottally-acting treadle for machines driven by foot power, whereby
the treadle can be rocked or oscillated upon its pivots to give the desired vertical
throw to the pitman attached thereto without compressing the springs to their injury
or causing discomfort or fatigue to the operator, and at the same time the springs
will be compressed and will expand sufficiently, under the weight of the feet and
limbs of the operator and movements and forco naturally applied to oscillate the
treadle, to reduce and distribute shocks and strains attending the operation of such
machines; and whereby, horizontal and vertical movements, to and from the operator,
are given to the treadle which, by changing the angle of the treadle and the pitman,
greatly assist the easy and effective operation of the machine.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a treadle and supporting springs containing my
invention and their attachments;
Figure 2 is a sectional view through the line x, x of figure 1, showing also the
driving wheel of a machine;
Figure 3 is a plan and sectional view of a modified form of treadle supporting
springs.
In the drawings A represents a treadle of substantially the usual construction for
foot power machines; B, B are coiled springs located at or near the ends of treadle A
and having one of their ends loosely attached to the treadle so that it is pivoted to
rock or oscillate upon these points of attachment. The springs B, B are preferably
made of steel wire properly tempered and spirally coiled, and they are conveniently
attached to the treadlo A by shouldered screws C, inserted through eyes formed at
the end of each spring and screwed into the treadle, the eyes of the springs being
held loosely between the head of the screws and the treadle, thus pivoting the treadle
upon the springs. The pivotal points are preferably at about one-third width of the
treadle, the lesser part of the treadle, as divided by the line of oscillation, being
towards the operator. The opposite ends of the springs B, B are fixed to the frame
of the machine, conveniently to a rigid rod or bar D connecting the standards thereof.
This union is conveniently made by inserting the ends of the springs into holes bored
through the rod D and fixing them in position by riveting or bending, or by any
other desirable means. The rod D is rigidly attached to the frame of the machine.
The treadlo A, as will be observed, is supported wholly by the springs B, B, and
is free to move in any direction in which it is carried by the action of the springs,
either vertically, or horizontally, that is to and from the operator.
It is especially noticed that the attachments of the springs to the treadle are at a
considerable distance from, and in a lateral direction to, the axes of the springs, or in
other words, they are outside of a vertical plane passing through the axes of the
springs, and that consequently, whenever the springs are contracted or expanded, the
treadle through its attachment to the ends of the springs will be moved in a hori-
zontal direction, or to or from the operator. For instance, when the springs are
compressed, the points of attachment and oscillation are lowered and the treadle A
and the lower end of the pitman attached thereto will be moved horizontally or
laterally by reason of the swinging of the ends of the springs attached to the treadle
on their axes as centres while the springs are being compressed. When the
pressure

page_text: is removed or relaxed, as is the case with each revolution of the driving wheel, and
the contracted springs oxpand, the points of attachment are moved upward and at
the same time horizontally, and the treadle A and the lower end of the pitman are
also moved in a horizontal direction, or in a reverso direction to their movement
when the springs were being compressed.
The advantages resulting from these horizontal movements of the treadlo consist
largely in changing the angle between the treadle and the pitman at the proper
times to assist the upper end of the pitman to pass its dead centres. It is also true
that the vertical and horizontal yielding movement of the treadle prevents shocks and
strains to the operator and relieves the limbs by permitting a constant change of
position and straightening thereof, thus overcoming the cramping of the ankle-joints
and other annoying and injurious effects resulting from a fixod or anyielding position
or movement of the treadle. These advantages will be fully recognized and appreciated
by those skilled in the art of treadle power.
The drawings show the springs as pivotally attached to the treadle and fixedly
secured to the rod D. It is evident, however, that this arrangement could easily be
reversed, and the springs be fixedly secured to the treadle and pivoted to the bar D
or other part of the frame of the machine. Also, that the springs could be fixedly
secured to both the treadle and the rod D, and the ends of this rod be journalled in
the frame to give the required oscillation. This I regard as simply a mechanical
change of arrangement without in any substantial particular departing from the
principle of my invention.
I do not desire to limit my invention to the use of springs of any special con-
struction or shape, or to any special arrangement of the springs in relation to the
treadle or the place or manner of their attachment thereto or to other parts of the
machine, further than that the treadle shall be pivoted so that it is free to rock or
oscillate and shall be supported upon springs. The form of spring F shown in
figure 3 of the drawings, which is a spirally coiled spring slipped upon the rod D
and secured thereto by a screw or other means and pivotally attached to the
treadle, may be used to advantage. Many other forms of springs variously attached
to the treadle and other parts of the machines can be employed to fulfil the
conditions of my invention.
The advantage of spring-supported and pivottally operating treadles as compared
with those which are spring-supported but not pivoted, or those which are pivoted
but not spring-supported, are obvious and important. In those which are simply
spring-supported the springs must be compressed sufficiently to give the desired
throw to the pitman and this soon weakens or sets the springs or wearies the
operator. By the use of spring-supported and pivottally-operating-treadles the
pitman can be attached directly to the treadle and the range of vertical movement
necessary to give the desired throw to the pitman is easily secured, by rocking or
oscillating the treadle upon the pivots, without the application of force sufficient to
weaken the springs or cause discomfort or fatigue to the operator. At the same
time the springs, under the weight of the feet and limbs of the operator and the force
naturally applied to oscillate the treadle, are brought into action sufficiently to give
the desired horizontal or lateral movements to the treadle and its attached pitman,
and at the same time to reduce and distribute the shocks and strains and give the
desired relief and comfort to the operator.
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 ;-
First. The combination of a treadle and spring connections pivotally supporting the
same from the frame of the machine, the springs being secured to the frame and
to the treadle by a fixed attachment at one end and by a pivotal attachment at
the other end, whereby the contraction and expansion of the springs will give to
the treadle combined vertical and horizontal movements, as and for the purpose set
forth..

page_text: Second. The combination of a treadle and supporting springs, the springs being
pivotally secured at one of their ends to the treadle while their opposite ends are
fixed to the frame of the machine, whereby the contraction and expansion of the
springs will give to the treadle combined vertical and horizontal movements, as and
for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination of a treadle and supporting springs, the springs being
secured to the frame of the machine and to the treadle by fixed attachments at their
one ends and by pivotal attachments at their other ends, the points of attachment
between the treadle and the springs being out of a vertical plane through the axes of the
springs whereby the contraction and expansion of the springs will move the treadle
horizontally, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of March 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.