Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
I, FRANCIS ASBRIDGE BEEBY, of Abercorn House, Castletown Road, West
Kensington, and of Birkby House, near Maryport, Cumberland, Barrister at Law,
lo hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means for driving sewing machines and
which have been designed to supersede the existing means of driving such
machines by hand or by foot power and so as to leave greater freedom to the
hands and feet for guiding and otherwise attending to the work and for starting
and stopping the machine as required.
To this end, the invention consists essentially in the application to the pur-
pose of the invention of spring driving gear which can be wound up by hand or
by foot, and in various coupling devices for connecting the actuating mech-
anism with the sewing machine as hereinafter more particularly described.
In one modification of the invention, I construct the sewing machine with a
casing containing a coiled spring the one end of which is connected to the casing
and the other end to a spindle which projects through the casing and externally
thereof is fitted with a toothed wheel which gears with a toothed wheel applied
to the main shaft of the machine which also carries a fly wheel and which is
thus directly driven from the spring motor. The toothed wheel on the mainshaft
is made fast to a suitably lined projecting brake wheel by which the speed at
which the machine is driven can be regulated or the machine can be stopped by
means of a suitable lined brake which is connected to and applied by depressing
a treadle. The spring within the casing can be wound up (even when the
machine is working) by a second treadle, this arrangement leaving the
machinist's hands free for manipulating the work, and the feet for regulating
the speed or winding the spring or starting and stopping the machine as required.
In lieu of the treadle for winding up the spring, a key may be used for such
purpose; or, the spring may be wound up by reversing the fly wheel, i.e., turn-
ing it in the reverse direction to that in which it turns when operated by the
spring. In lieu of connecting the driving spring spindle directly to the sewing
machine main shaft a train of speed gearing may be interposed between said
spindle and shaft.
I also use in connection with this modification a second encased spring serving
to restrain or govern the operation of the driving spring and also for stopping
the sewing machine when required. This spring regulates the rate of speed by
operating through the brake treadle rod which is retained in the desired position
by ratchet teeth. When it is desired to stop the machine the treadle rod is
caused to rise to its fullest extent so as to apply the full brake pressure to the
brake wheel. This braking gear can be dispensed with and replaced by the
hand braking gear hereinafter described. The speed may also be regulated by
means of a small wheel (with screw) or a small lever with spring attached to the
brake in which case both treadles may be dispensed with.

page_text: The improved driving gear or suitable modifications thereof may be made as
attachments applicable to existing sewing machines and may be coupled thereto
as hereinafter described.
In one modification, the fly wheel, the actuating encased spring, a toothed
ratchet wheel, and the brake wheel are all mounted on a spindle in such manner
that the spring can be wound up by reversing the turning of the fly wheel as
aforesaid, and the brake wheel for stopping and regulating the speed of the
machine is manipulated by a treadle controlled by a second encased spring as
aforesaid. In this arrangement, the motor spindle is arranged endwise of the
sewing machine shaft and is connected thereto by a coupling and detachable
through pin.
In one form of the coupling device, I connect the spindle and shaft ends by
means of screws and clasps.
In another form of such device, I use hinged pins for connecting the spindle
and shaft ends, the hinged ends of the pins, after being passed through the
connected spindle and shaft ends, being so turned as to secure the pins from dis-
ledgment, and such pins may be further secured by small springs and clasps
suitably arranged.
In another form of such device, especially suitable for light machines, I adapt
the spindle and shaft ends with clasps and springs adapted to engage each other
upon being pressed together.
In another form of such device, I make the spindle and shaft ends
to fit the one into the other and secure them together by means of hinged pins
which are passed therethrough and their ends turned and secured by small
springs.
In another form of such device, I employ similarly arranged spindle and shaft
ends and a sliding clutch which is movably secured by screws, but which has a
limited movement along the sewing machine shaft, when released from being
secured by the screws enabling it to be disconnected from the motor spindle, so as
to enable the driving spring to be wound up by turning the fly wheel in the
reverse direction as aforesaid.
For winding up the spring by means of the fly wheel, I apply to the fly wheel
a turn down handle, which, when in use for winding up the spring, projects so
as to be readily taken hold of, and, when the machine is running, turns down
and lies in the plane of rotation.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
I, JANE ELIZABETII BEEBY, of Abercorn House, Castletown Road, West Ken-
sington, Gentlewoman, Administratrix of the Estate of Francis Asbridge Beeby,
formerly of Abercorn House, Castletown Road, West Kensington, and of Birkby
House, near Maryport, Cumberland, Barrister at Law, but now deceased, 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 follow-
ing statement:
This invention consists in the application to sewing machines of an automatic
motor for use when in work and it also relates to improved means for driving

page_text: sewing machines designed to supersede the existing means of driving such
machines by hand or foot power and so as to leave greater freedom to the hands
and feet for guiding and otherwise attending to the work and for starting and
stopping the machine as required.
To this end, the invention consists in the application to the purpose of the
invention and in the manner hereinafter described of spring driving gear adapted
to be wound up by hand or by foot, and in various coupling devices for con-
necting such driving mechanism with the sewing machine as also hereinafter
described.
One modification of the invention is represented on the accompanying draw-
ings in Figures, 1, and 2, which respectively represent a treadle sewing machine
adapted with the improved driving mechanism, in side elevation, and the
improved driving mechanism in end elevation and on a larger scale.
In this modification, the sewing machine is constructed or fitted with a
casing, a, containing a coiled spring (or springs) b, represented in dotted lines
in Figure, 1, and the ends of which are connected respectively to the casing and
to a spindle, c, which projects through the casing, and, externally thereof, is
fitted with a toothed wheel, d, which gears with a toothed wheel, e, applied to
the main shaft, f, of the sewing machine, which shaft is thus directly driven
from the spring motor and carries a fly-wheel, g. The wheel, e, is made fast
to a leather, rubber or other suitably lined projecting brake wheel, h, by which
the speed at which the machine is driven can be regulated, or the machine can
be stopped, the brake wheel being acted on by means of a like or other suitably
lined brake block (or blocks) i, which is (or are) connected to and applied by
depressing a treadle, j.
The motor spring, b, can be wound up (even while the machine is working)
by a second treadle, k, and held by a ratchet wheel and pawl, 7, so leaving the
machinist's hands free for manipulating the work, the feet, in this arrangement,
being used for regulating the working speed or winding the spring or starting
and stopping the machine as required.
The driving spring may, however, be wound up by means of a key (as here-
inafter described with reference to Fig. 3,) or, by turning the fly wheel, g, in
the reverse direction to that in which it turns when operated by the spring.
The operation of the driving spring, b, is governed through the brake block
(or blocks) i, by a second spring, 1, (vide also Fig. 4,) the spring, l, regulating
the rate of speed by operating through the brake treadle, j, which it allows to
ascend to the desired position, in which the treadle is retained by ratchet teeth m,
engaging with a part of the machine frame. When it is desired to stop the
machine, the treadle, j, is caused, and is allowed by the spring, 7, to rise to its
fullest extent so as to apply the full pressure of the brake block or blocks, i, to
the brake wheel, h.
in
The brake may, however, be applied by hand, as represented
Fig. 3, which represents, in side elevation, a modification of the inven-
tion suitable for hand or non-treadle machines and in which the driving spring
is represented as wound up by a key, 8, and the brake is represented as applied
to the brake wheel by a small lever, n, attached to the brake and adapted to be
pulled over to apply the brake block to the brake wheel.
In lieu of connecting the driving spring spindle directly to the sewing machine
main shaft, a train of speed reducing gearing maybe interposed between said
spindle and shaft.
The improved driving gear or suitable modifications thereof may also be made
as attachments detachably applicable to existing sewing machines and may be
coupled thereto as hereinafter described.
In one modification, shown in side elevation, in Fig., 4, and in end elevation,
in Fig. 5, the fly wheel, g, the encased driving spring, b, a ratchet wheel and
pawl, 7, and the brake wheel, h, are all mounted on the motor spindle, f, in such
manner that the spring can be wound up by reversing the turning of the fly

page_text: wheel as aforesaid, and the brake wheel, h, for stopping and regulating the speed
of the machine is manipulated by the treadle, j, controlled by the spring, , as
herein before described. In this arrangement, the motor spindle, f, is arranged
endwise of and is detachably connected to the sewing machine shaft, p, by a
socket, 10, into which the shaft end enters and by a removable through coupling
pin, 11.
In another form of coupling device, (vide Figs., 6, to 8,) hinged pins, q, are
used for connecting the spindle and shaft ends and the pin bent ends are further
secured by small springs and clasps, u, suitably arranged.
In another form of such device (vide Figs., 9, and 10,) especially suitable for
light machines, the spindle and shaft ends are fitted with hinged clasps, v, and
springs, x, adapted to engage each other upon the shaft and spindle end
plates, 11, 12, being brought together.
In another form of such device (vide Figs., 11, and 12,) the spindle and shaft
ends are made to fit the one into the other and are secured together by means
of hinged pins, q, passed therethrough, their hinged ends, r, being held by
springs, u, and their other ends being secured by springs, 2.
In another form of such device, (vide Figs., 13, and 14,) a sliding clutch, 3,
serves to connect the spindle and shaft ends, the clutch being secured by screws, l,
but having a limited movement determined by a flange, 4, along the sewing
machine shaft when released from being secured by the screws, enabling it to
be disconnected from the motor spindle, so as to enable the driving spring to be
wound up by reversely turning the fly wheel as aforesaid without interfering with
the sewing machine."
For winding up the driving spring, b, by means of the fly wheel, the latter
is fitted with a turn-down handle, 6, (vide Figs., 15, and 16,) which, when in
use for winding up the spring, projects so as to be readily taken hold of, and,
when the machine is running, turns down and lies in the plane of rotation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. The combination of a spring or other motor with a sewing machine in such
a way as to enable the person using it to dispense with the personal application
of power during its use.
2. The application to sewing machines of spring driving gear as hereinbefore
described with reference more particularly to Figs., 1, to 5, of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The respective coupling devices for connecting the spring driving gear with
the sewing machine to be actuated hereinbefore described with reference to
Figs., 6, to 14, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June 1809