IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by William
Grover, of the Grover and Baker Sewing Machine Company, residing
at Boston, State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 17th April 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough, Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," (communicated to me from
abroad by William Grover, of the Grover and Baker Sewing Machine Com-,
pany, a person resident at Boston, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is
to say:-
These improvements relate to two classes of machines, viz., first; those
ordinarily termed shuttle machines, in which the interlocking of, the threads

page_text: is performed by an eye-pointed needle acting in combination with a shuttle;
second, those usually termed double-thread loop-stitch machines, in which two
threads are interlocked by the joint agency of an eye-pointed needle and an
eye-pointed thread carrier.
The improvements shown on Sheet First relate solely to shuttle machines,
those on Sheet Second are applicable some of them to shuttle and others to
the other class of machines.
In the Drawings, Sheet First, Figure First, is a side elevation of a shuttle
machine, with parts of the platform cut away; Figure Second is a plan of the
same, the bracket and parts carried by it being removed; Figure Third is a
front elevation, with parts of the platform cut away; Figures Fourth and
Fifth are front elevations, in detail, of the driving pulley, connecting rod, sector
piece, and slotted arm; Figure Sixth is an elevation, in detail, explanatory
of the take-up; Figure Seventh is a plan of the feeding apparatus; and
Figures Eighth and Ninth are front elevations of the sector piece and slotted
shewing a modification of the same, which is, in fact, the plan on which
it is preferred to construct the machine.
arm,.
The improvements as shewn in Sheet First are applicable to shuttlo
machines; they consist in certain new apparatus for actuating the needle,
and in a contrivance, acting in combination with an eye in the needle stuck,
by means of which a large shuttle may be used successfully and conveniently
in connection with a needle having a comparatively short length of stroke.
The machine shewn in the Drawings is an embodiment of that part of the
Invention in a working form, and it contains a bed plate or platform a, a, a,
upon which the, work is supported, a revolving shaft beneath it, upon which
is mounted a cam which acts upon a pin or roller in the end of a bent lever b,
to the long arm of which the shuttle driver is connected. The shuttle is
embraced by the driver, and is supported by and moves in a race in the
usual manner. On the end of the rovolving shaft is a crank pin c and a
cam d, the former acting upon a stud c', and the latter against the lower
surface of the frame e. This frame has two prongs, each of which enters an
ear f, and the prongs are free to slide and oscillate up and down in the holes
in the ears. The unattached end of the frame is forced downwards and away
from the ears by a spiral spring, clearly shewn in the Drawings. When the
shaft revolves, this frame receives motion in four directions, and imparts theso
motions to the roughened feeding surface, which is attached to the upper side
of the frame (see Figure 3d); this surface causes the cloth to advance in the
usual manner. Upon the table is secured a bracket or arm g, supporting in

page_text: it's forward end in proper guides a needle stock h, and an ordinary presser
foot with its usual accessories. This bracket supports also a bobbin for the
upper thread as at i, and a tension apparatus, as at k, which may be of
any ordinary or proper construction; or in place of a tension apparatus on
the thread, it may be placed upon the bobbin. So far there is nothing new in
the construction of the machine. A long rock shaft extends from front to rear
of the machine, and is to be supported in any proper bearings on the bracket,
and its rearward projection n. Near the front end of this shaft an arm l'
is attached, and this arm has a slot in it, which embraces a pin projecting
rearwards from the needle stock (see Figure 1st and 6th). Upon the rear end
of this rock shaft is keyed or otherwise secured another arm m, which I call
a slotted arm, the slot in it being curved, substantially as shewn in the
Drawings. This slot, in the form shewn in all the Figures except the eighth
and ninth, is curved in order that the motions of the needle may be
slower at certain periods of the stroke and faster at others than would be the
case if the slot were straight or of some other curve, thus making the
machine more efficient; but the slot may be straight and its precise curvature
is not material, when the pin o³ hereafter described moves both downwards
and upwards. A rocking sector o is provided upon the projection n at o', a
pin o projects rearwards from this sector and is embraced by one end of a
connecting rod P, whose other end surrounds a crank pin upon the main
shaft. From the front side of the sector projects another pin o³, and this pin
enters and works in the slot of the arm m. Now the pins o and o³ in the form
of the machine shown in all the Figures except the eighth and ninth bear
such relation to each other, and to the location of the main shaft, that a
revolution of the latter causes the pin of to move downwards till it. reaches a
point vertically below the centre o³ (see Figure 5th), and then upwards till it
reaches the position shewn in Figure 6th; here the pin stops and reverses its
motion, descending again to the position shewn in Figure 5th, and then. rising
again to the position shewn in Figures 1st and 3d. The slotted arm, the rock
shaft, the arm, the needle stock, and the needle all being in connection with
this pin, partake of these motions, and the needle will descend to its utmost
limits, rise a little to spread a loop, then descend a little while part of the
shuttle is passing through the loop, and then rise again to its highest limits,
and this second or partial descent and consequent rise occupies the time
during which the needle usually stands still or at rest after having opened: a
loop below the cloth. in ordinary shuttle machines, and this partial descent and
rise effect the same purpose as the rest of the needle. Precisely the same.

page_text: motions may, however, be imparted to the needle by a modification of the
position of the pins and of the shape of the slot in the slotted arm, all other
parts of the machine remaining the same. In this modification, which is the
preferred plan, the pins are arranged relatively to each other substantially as
shewn in Figures Eighth and Ninth, and the connecting rod oscillates the pin o
upwards and downwards, much as in. the previously described arrangement.
The pin o³ in this case is so arranged in relation to the oscillations of the sector
that it moves downwards and towards the shaft 1, till it reaches a point
vertically below the pin o¹, or nearly so, and then retreats and rises on the
same side of a vertical line drawn through the centre of pin o¹. The pin o
does not pass that vertical line as in the first described arrangement, but in
order to effect a slight rise of the needle after it has reached its lowest point,
and a corresponding and immediately succeeding descent, the slot. is curved
downwards as from a to y, in Figures Eighth and Ninth, and this part of the slot
is so curved that as the pin o³ descends and moves towards the shaft it lifts the
slotted arm, and consequently the needle. When the pin o³ is at the end of
the slot (see Figure 9th) the needle has been slightly elevated from its lowest
position, and as the same pin oscillates backwards away from the shaft 7, its
first action is to depress the needle again to its lowest position.. When tho
pin thus moving reaches the position shewn in Figure Eighth the needle is again
at its lowest point of depression, and as the pin o³ moves further away from
the shaft l, it lifts the needle until the pin ceases to oscillate in that direction,
the needle at that moment. being at its greatest elevation. Various degrees
in the curvature of the slot will alter the motions of the needle in degree,
and to such extent the curvature is not of great importance, but it is essential
that the slot in this modification of the machine (Figures Eighth and Ninth)
should be so curved that the pin o³, while oscillating towards the shaft l, shall
first depress the needle to its extreme limits and then lift it again slightly. The
motions of the slotted arm, rock shaft, and needle are substantially the same in
both modifications. In the one first described the slight rise of the needle
depends upon the fact that the pin 03 oscillates on each side of a vertical line
drawn through the centre of the pin or shaft o'. In the latter, this same slight
rise is consequent upon the before described curve of the slot in the slotted
Just in rear of the arm la lever p is passed through a hole or orifice
in a supporting piece q. One end of this lever embraces a pin r, upon the
arm ', and the other end has an eye in it as at s; the lever is free to rock and
slide in its supporting piece, and the arm when in motion causes the eye s
to descend as the needle stock ascends, and vice versa. The upper thread
arm.

page_text: passes from the bobbin through the tension apparatus, thence through
the eye s, in the vibrating lever p, thence through an eye as at t, in the
top of the needle stock, thence between the two plates of a friction apparatus
as at v, then through an eye in the bracket as at w, and finally through the
eye of the needle: When the stock ascends it lifts thread upwards from
the cloth twice as fast as the stock rises, owing to the fact that the thread
leads in a bight through the eye in the stock, and as the stock thus rises the
eyes descends and pulls thread through the eye in the stock as fast as the eyes
descends and to the extent of its descent. These actions on the thread are
reversed as the needle and stock descend, and it follows that the eye in the
stock and the eye in the lever, by their joint action, control an amount of slack
thread equal in length to twice the rise of the needle eye above the cloth
added to the range of motion of the eye in the lever. q. By thus controlling a
large amount of slack tbread in proportion to the extent of motion of the
needle, a comparatively large shuttle can be used in connection with a needle.
having a comparatively small range of motion and the machine is therefore.
more efficient in its action. The friction apparatus consists of two small
dises pierced at their centres and supported upon a screw or pin. The discs
are forced towards each other by a spiral spring, and the thread passes and is.
nipped between them. This nip on the thread is a very slight one, merely.
sufficient to prevent the slack thread dropping below the needle point as the
latter descends. When the eye of the needle passes below the cloth the
slack thread is pulled downwards through this friction apparatus,. and when the
stock rises and the eyes descends to take up slack the thread renders easily.
through the friction discs.
.
.
In Sheet Second are shewn the improvements chiefly applicable to double-
thread loop stitch machines, and in this Sheet Figure First. is a side elevation.
of a machine with certain portions of the platform or bed plate removed to.
show the working parts; Figure Second is a similar side elevation, with the
working parts in a different position; Figure Third is a front elevation with.
parts of the platform removed; Figures Fourth and Fifth are side elevations.
in detail of the needle, the thread carrier, and the assistant looper; Figures.
Sixth and Ninth are elevations of the needle and assistant looper; Figures.
Seventh and Eighth are plans of the assistant looper and thread carrier; Figure
Tenth is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation of the main
shaft, thread carrier, stock, and apparatus for moving the same; and Figure
Eleventh is an elevation of the thread carrier stock, the crank pin and sleeve
being shown in section.
:

page_text: .'
Part of the improvements shown on Sheet Second are applicable only to
machines making what is commonly termed the double thread looped stiteb,
and consist in certain mechanism for actuating the thread carrier, and in com-
bining the same with an assistant looper. The other improvement shown on
Sheet Second was designed especially for use in such machines, but is appli-
cable also to other varieties of sewing machines, and consists in certain
apparatus for governing the upper thread in its passage from the bobbin to the
needle.
In this description the term thread carrier is applied to the instrument with
an eye near its end that controls the lower thread, passing bights of it through
loops of upper thread and holding loops of its own thread in position to be
entered by the needle. This instrument is often called the lower needle, as it
is shaped somewhat like an ordinary eye-pointed needle.
.
In this description that side of the machine marked A is called the left and
that marked B the right side of the machine, and the end of the machine
nearest the needle is termed the front and the end nearest the rock shaft the
rear of the machine. All parts of the machine are mounted on a platform or
bed plate a, whose upper surface supports the material to be sewed. Attached
to the upper part of this bed plate is an arm or bracket b, in the front end of
which is supported an ordinary presser foot slide and spring, and from the lower
side of the bed plate descends two hangers c, c, in which in proper boxes is
mounted the main shaft d; at one end of this shaft is a crank pin d', taking into
á slot in an arm e, which makes part of or is secured to a rock shaft f, and from
this rock shaft projects the needle arm e'. The rock shaft is pivotted and rocks
upon two pins in a manner well known in sewing machines, and when the main
shaft d is revolved the needle arm will oscillate, causing the needle g attached
thereto to rise above and descend below material lying on the bed plate. On
the main shaft is keyed a driving pulley h, and it also carries two cams i, k,
which, aided by a spring 1, give proper motions to an ordinary four-motion-
feeding surface m. The hub out of which the cam k is cut, is on the side
nearest the right side of the machine formed into a surface, whose periphery.
lies in a plane slightly out of perpendicular to a line passing through the
centre of the main shaft. A piece of metal n, from which projects a sleeve o,
is then secured with its flat side parallel to the surface last named by a pin
or screw p, and between this flat side and the surface is clamped the thread
carrier stock q, to one end of which is secured the thread carrier q'. This
stock is slotted, as clearly shown in the Drawings (especially at Figure 11th),
the sleeve passing through the slot; it is also drilled through just above the slot,

page_text: and into this hole is slipped a loose sleeve r, rounded or spheroidal on its
periphery, and bored out cylindrically. This sleeve is free to slide on a
stationary pin r, and the stock q can rock over the periphery of the sleeve,
this pin and sleeve forming a pivot on which the stock oscillates. When the
main shaft revolves the surface n and the pin p and sleeve o revolve with it,
and as the sleever and pin r' form a pivot or centre of vibration for the thread-
carrier stock, the revolution of the sleeve o will cause the thread carrier to
vibrate from front to rear of the machine, and vice versa. As this stock is
confined against a revolving plane out of perpendicular to the contre line of
the main shaft, the revolutions of that shaft will cause the thread carrier to
vibrate from right to left, and vice versa; and during such vibrations the stock
will rock on the sleeve r, and this latter will slide on the pin r. In order to
give these motions to the stock with mathematical precision, the sleeve r
should be on its periphery a portion of a perfect sphere, and this sphere should
be confined in the stock as a cup-and-ball joint; and I intend sometimes to
use such a construction, but that shewn in the Drawings is sufficient for
practical purposes, and cheaper. The thread carrier must vibrate from front to
rear sufficiently far to seize, hold, and release loops of upper or needle thread
as usual, and must vibrate sidewise to a distance equal to its own width and
the diameter of the needle. Any clamp or clamps may be substituted for the
piece n, so long as they permit the shaft to revolve and the stock to move
from front to rear, and cause the stock to be held firmly against the inclined
surface, and an ordinary pin, without a sleeve, may revolve with the shaft and
enter the slot in the stock, or the stock may receive its front and rearward
motion from some other instrumentality; while its sidewise motions are
caused by the inclined revolving plane surface. When the shaft is revolved,
and thread supplied in any ordinary way to the needle and thread carrier, and
cloth or other suitable material is placed upon the table, the needle will
descend to its lowest limit, as in Figure 2d, will rise a little to open a loop,
and the thread carrier advancing on the left side of the needle will enter the
loop (see Figures 4th and 7th.) The needle then rises to its full extent, and
after leaving the cloth and before it enters it again the cloth is fed, and
the thread carrier has advanced to its full extent (towards the rear of the
machine) and has retreated again, and while so doing has moved sidewise to the
right, so as to be on the right side of the descending needle. As the needle con-
tinues to descend all parts arrive at the position shewn in Figures 5th and 8th,
and the needle enters between a loop of its own thread, a portion of lower
thread, and the thread carrier, as clearly shewn in Figures 5th and 8th; the needle

page_text: continues then to descend, and the thread carrier to retreat till the positions
shewn in Figure 2d are again. reached, and before the parts reach the position
shewn in Figure 4th, the thread carrier has moved over to the left so as to be and
pass on the left side of the needle. There is nothing new in a thread carrier
moving in four directions, advancing, retreating to the right and to the left,
but the mechanism by which those motions are imparted to the needle is new.
In order to assist the thread carrier in carrying that portion of its own thread
which leads from its eye to the cloth out of the way of the needle, there is
used in combination with it a device termed an assistant looper's.
The acting
part of this instrument is a small stationary surface lying in line or nearly so
with the left side of the needle, and to the rear of it; this surface projects
below the lower side of the platform, and when the thread carrier is advanced
to its utmost limit (see Figure 1st) lower thread leads from the hole in the
table through which the needle passes to the eye of the thread carrier, and in
doing so leads along the left side of the acting surface of the assistant looper s.
When the thread carrier retreats, thread is pulled through its eye by an ordinary
vibrating spring lying between the lower tension apparatus t and the carrier,
and as the thread carrier moves over to the right the thread hangs on the
surface of the assistant looper by friction, and a part of the lower thread is
kept more completely out of the path of the upper needle than it would be if
it led directly from the cloth to the eye of the carrier. This action takes
place for the reason that, the assistant looper forces the lower thread first to
lead from the cloth rearwards and downwards to its surface, and then rear-.
wards, sidewise, and downwards to the eye of the thread carrier: This portion
of, lower thread is thus bent into a sort of bow, and the needle enters between
this bow and the thread carrier. When the stitch is a long one, as repre-
sented in Figure 8th, the assistant looper performs little or no duty; but when
the stitches are short it acts very successfully, but even then it is not abso-
lutely necessary, although it makes the machine more perfect, and prevents
missing stitches. As before stated, this assistant looper and the mechanism.
for actuating the thread carrier are useful only in machines making a double
thread looped stitch.
The other improvement shewn on Sheet 2d is chiefly applicable to sewing.
machines of that class, but is useful in other varieties of sewing machines,.
and this improvement has for its object the keeping of an equal tension 'on
the thread even when the length of stitches is, suddenly altered or a sudden
jump is made from thin to thick material, or from one thickness to a number.
of thicknesses of cloth or other goods. This contrivance consists essentially:

page_text: of two tension apparatus or frictions applied to the needle thread, the one
weaker than the other and stationary, and the other stronger and reciprocatery,
the two acting in connection with an eye or leader on the needle arm, and tho
latter moving in such manner that the stationary friction apparatus prevents
thread from falling slackly in the way of the needle point, as the latter
penetrates the cloth, while at the same time slack thread is formed by the
approach of the moving towards the stationary tension.
In the Drawings the bobbin holding thread for supply of the needle is shewn
at u; it is mounted loosely on a spindle, and from it the thread is led through
a reciprocating friction apparatus v, mounted on a prolongation w of the
needle arm e', which extends rearwards from the rock shaft. The thread is
next led through. a stationary friction apparatus or thread drag x, mounted on
any convenient standard attached to the bed plate, and thence passes through
a third friction contrivance or drag y near the end of the needle arm. These
tension or friction contrivances or thread drags are, as represented in the
Drawings, composed. of discs mounted on a spindle and pressed together by a
spring. These discs are concaved on their adjacent sides except at the edges,
where they are bevelled away from each other or convex. When thread is
passed between them it is nipped and has a drag put on it, and a turn may be
taken around the spindle on which the discs are supported. The pressure
of the spring on the stationary tension should be adjusted by a screw nut (see
Figure 3d) and the springs on the other drags need no adjustability, although
they may have it. By looking at Figures 2d and 3d it will be perceived that
the drag is so mounted in relation to the drag y, and the needle arm pivot
is in such relation to the two, that the distance between x and y increases as
the needle descends, and the distance between vand x decreases during the
same time. The tension apparatus y is a very light one, its sole purpose as
a tension apparatus is to lift up thread on one side of the needle as the latter
ascends, whilst still below the cloth, and thus prevent formation of a loop
on that side of the needle opposite to that on which the thread carrier enters.
Its other office is that of an eye or leader for the thread, and any eye or pin
serving as a leading block may in some cases be substituted for it. As before
stated, the amount of friction imposed upon the thread by a is less considerably
than that imposed by y. The sum of both is to equal that imposed by one
tension when only one is used, as is ordinarily the case.
In the action of the machine, as the needle rises to the position Figure 1st it
takes thread off of the spool against the drag of all the tensions; as it descends
it takes thread from ax, but as v approaches x faster than y recedes from. it

page_text: follows that slack thread will form between vand x (see Figure 2d); when the
loop of upper needle thread is released by the thread carrier backing out of
it, the tension imposed by x will be sufficient to draw that loop up to the cloth
as the needle descends, and if a long stitch is taken or the needle passes
suddenly through a thicker material the extra thread required will be taken
from, the slack between x and v, and the drawing out of this thread is
retarded by the friction on a only, instead of by the whole drag on the thread;
it therefore follows that thread will never be stretched so as to spring back
and prevent the formation of a loop when the needle ascends, and it also
follows that the thread will be less liable to abrasion in the eye of the
needle, and these effects follow from the combination of a reciprocating and a
stationary tension, and an eye or leader acting as described. The stationary
drag has been described as imposing less tension on the thread than the moving
one, and it is best so to adjust them, but the tension of the moveable may be
as great or greater than that imposed by the stationary, and the same bene-
ficial results follow, but the action will be less perfect. Any proper or known
instrumentalities for producing a drag or tension upon thread may be substi-
tuted for those described, provided they are mounted relatively to each other
and act substantially as described, and the spool itself may be mounted where
vis; and have a friction or drag applied to it, and the same results will be
produced.
In the improvements described by reference to Sheet 1st, the points claimed
as new are,-
First, the combination, substantially as described, of a slotted arm, a
vibrating sector provided with pins, and a connecting rod acting in.com-
bination, substantially as described, to move a sewing machine. needle,
substantially in the manner specified.
• Second, the arrangement of these devices, as described at the rear end
of a bracket, in connection with the arrangement of a rock shaft extending
lengthwise of the bracket, and moving an arm that actuates a needle stop, the
arrangement being substantially such as set forth..
Third, in combination with an eye in a needle stock, as specified, a vibrating
lever provided with an eye descending as the needle rises, the two acting in com-
bination, under a mode of operation substantially as set forth to control thread.
And in the improvements described by reference to Sheet 2nd of the Draw-
ings, the points claimed as new are, -
First, imparting a vibrating motion to a thread carrier in directions, perpen-
dicular to its advancing and retreating motions, or nearly so, by means of a

page_text: revolving surface inclined to a revolving shaft, the thread carrier stock
being forced against that surface, and the contrivance acting substantially as
specified.
Second, imparting four motions to a thread carrier by means of an inclined
revolving surface, a pin or sleeve, and a pivot, the whole either acting on the
stock or controlling its motion, substantially as specified.
Third, in combination with a thread carrier having four motions, a stationary
assistant, substantially such as described, the two acting in combination, sub-
stantially in the manner set forth.
And, lastly, a vibrating thread tension in combination with a stationary
thread tension and an eye or leader on a needle arm, when the three are
relatively arranged and act in combination substantially as described, for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)