Improvements in Foot Power Mechanism for Driving Sewing and other Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
[Communicated from abroad by UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of New
York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Foot Power Mechanism for Driving Sewing and
other Machines.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62, Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Registered Patent Agent and Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, as communicated to me, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to improvements in a foot power for driving sewing and
other machines and consists in a novel arrangement of the pedals and driving
clutches, an improved brake, and in novel combinations as are herein more fully
described. The objects of my improvement are to obtain a natural non-fatiguing
movement of the pedals and at the same time to avoid the use of springs or counter
weights to lift the same and also to give a uniform and steady motion to the object
being driven by transmitting the power produced by the operation of the pedals
through a spring which prevents any irregular motion that would otherwise be
produced by the action of the pedals.
In the annexed drawings I have shown my invention in connection with a sewing
machine frame, but it is not limited to that particular class of machines but may be
adapted to many other kinds.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.
Figure 1 shows my invention as applied to a sewing machine ready for use.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the two shafts B and D, and the
mechanism thereon.
Figure 3 is a side view of the entire machine.
Figure 4 shows the volute spring and the case with the cover removed.
Figure 5 shows the clutch and the flange.
Figure 6 is a detached view of the clutch.
Figure 7 shows a modification in regard to the location of the fly wheel.
To enable others to construct my foot power attachment I will give a description
of the same in detail, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed.
The frame A is attached to the frame of the sewing machine in such a position
that the main shaft B is in line with the axis of the driving or fly-wheel C. Two
shafts B and D are arranged horizontally within the frame A, Figure 1, and have
their journals in enlargements in the sides of the frame.
The shaft B has, midway between the sides of the frame, two flanges, a, fastened
to it, on which the clutches, F, act to drive the shaft. Between the flanges and the
sides of the frame, A, are two sleeves G, each of which has a radial arm, c, which
carries one of the clutches, F. Between the frame A and the balance-wheel C,
and on the end of the shaft B a cylindrical case is fastened which contains the
spring E. The balance wheel C, rotates on a stud screwed into the frame and has
a hub on it which enters the spring case.
The sleeves G which have the before-mentioned radial arms, c, are free to rotate
on the shaft and are driven by chains or belts which are wrapped around and
fastened to them and which are also attached to extending arms on the pedals.
Two other chains or belts, g and A, are also attached respectively to the sleeves G
the upper ends of the chains being attached to drums i, j, on shaft D, Figure 1.
The drums i, j, are adjustable on the shaft so that if it is desired to raise or lowe
one pedal relatively to the other, it will be seen by referring to Figure 1 that
loosening the set screw holding one of the drums on the shaft and rotating the
LD Ori

page_text: drum the pedal may be so raised or lowered at pleasure. It will be noticed in
further examining Figures 1 and 2 the chains are so attached and adjusted that
when one pedal is at the end of the driving stroke the other is at the beginning of
the same.
By this arrangement the pedals in a great measure balance each other
and also obviate the use of springs to return the pedal for an effective stroke.
The clutches Feach consist of a curved wedge-shape shoe, 1, Figure 5, operating
in conjunction with a roller, k, carried by arm r, the roller when moving in the
direction of the arrow, acting on the wedging surface of the shoe to force the
shoe onto the flange "a" until friction is obtained great enough to drive the shaft
to which the flanges a, are fastened. When the arm and roller move in the
opposite direction the shoe is released and is carried backward with the roller
by means of a spring b, shown in Figures 5 & 6, the tension of which is adjustable
by means of the slotted arm d, Figures 5 and 6. When the radial arms are at
rest any backward movement of the shaft B, caused by the re-action of the
spring E, is immediately arrested by the wedging of the shoe between the roller
and flange, and to insure this, two side guide-pieces m, preferably of leather are
attached to the wedge and bear on the sides of the flange to hold the wedge in
place on the surfice of the flange so that any backward motion of the flange
immediately wedges the shoe and arrests said motion. It is obvious that when
both sets of arms c, and clutches are in motion that one or the other set acts
continually to wind up the spring E.
In the
The action of the spring, is such that it keeps the wedge and the roller so
nicely adjusted in relation to the flange that when the forward motion of the
flange takes place the wedge acts immediately and prevents any lost forward
motion of the flange in the operation of winding up the large spring E.
reverse movement of the grip when the wedge is released from the flange as
well as in the forward movement of the same, the action of the spring b, is that
of a cushion for the shoe !, and prevents any noise of the parts in the forward
or backward movement of the grip.
The spring b, and adjustable arm to which it is attached operate to hold in place
the shoe on the face of the flange.
The spring E, is a flat volute spring, enclosed in a case y which is attached to
the shaft B. The outer end of the spring is attached to the case and the inner end
is attached to the hub of the fly-wheel C, as shown in Figure 2, the arrangement
being such that when the shaft B is rotated in the direction of the arrows in
Figures 1 and 3 the tendency is to wind up the spring E; and when sufficient
tension is obtained in the spring, the spring acts to start the fly-wheel and the
machinery in gear with it. This gives a steadier motion to the fly-wheel than
would be obtained by attaching it directly to the shaft and is much less fatiguing
to the operator.
The spring E can also, if necessary, be fastened at its inner end to the shaft B,
and the outer end instead of the inner end can be connected to the driving wheel.
The inner end of the spring E, can, if desired, be attached to a gear wheel or any
other mechanism instead of a driving wheel as shown in this case.
The brake H, Figures 2 and 3 is pivoted on ears made in one piece with the
frame A, and is pressed against the periphery of the balance wheel when it is
desired to stop the machine. It is conveniently located so that a
slight sidewise
movement of the knee causes it to come in contact with the fly-wheel as aforesaid
and it also serves as a dress-guard. A spring is attached to the brake to throw
it back from the fly-wheel when the pressure of the knee is removed from said
brake.
The pedals O, Figures 1 and 3 swing from a shaft or rod M fastened into the
legs of the machine, Figure 1, and act alternately as herein before described.
The object of pivoting the pedals at one end is that their weight, in connection
with the weight of the operators' limbs, will prevent any recoil of the spring when
the same is more or less wound up.
The weight of the pedals can be adjusted to suit the resistance of the object

page_text: being driven. It will also be seen that by placing an extra weight upon one of the
pedals that the foot power can be operated by the use of the other pedal only.
The pedals may be supplied with cushions, on the underside of the knee, to obviate
any jarring from striking the floor. Instead of the clutches and flanges, pawls and
may
be employed without altering the spirit of my invention.
Figure 7 shows a modification of Figure 1, in regard to the position of the fly
wheel, it being located in Fig. 7 between the friction clutches instead of at the end
of the main shaft B as in Figure 1, the operation of the machine however is not
changed by this modification.
ratchets
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me,
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the pedals O, of the clutches F, carried by reciprocating
arms driven by chains or leather belts from the pedals, flanges a, fastened to the
driving shaft, the shaft B and its bearing, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the shaft D, having adjustable drums connected by chains
or belts to the sleeves G whereby alternate reciprocating motion is insured to the
clutches F, with the pedals O, driving shaft B, clutches F, and flanges, a, as
described and set forth.
3. The combination of the pedals O, of the sleeves G carrying clutches or their
equivalent and of shaft D, having adjustable drums the said parts being connected
by chains or belts as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the shaft B and balance wheel C, of the volute spring E,
substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination of the brake H, with the balance wheel C, as shown and
described.
6. The combination of the pedals O, sleeves G carrying clutches F, or their
equivalent, shaft D, drums i, j, and the connecting chains or belts shaft B,
spring E, balance wheel C, and brake H, all the said parts combined and arranged
as shown and described.
7. The combination of the frame A, the pedal shaft M, the pedals O. The
sleeves G, the arms on said sleeves G, the flanges a, the spiral spring b, the friction
shoe 1, the adjustable drums i, j, and shaft D, the main shaft B, the spring case y
the volute spring E, and the combined dress guard and brake H as shown and
described.
8. In a foot power in which the power produced by the action of the feet is
transmitted through a spring to the object being driven. The pedals journaled at
one end so that their weight in connection with the weight of the operators' limbs
prevent the recoil of the spring while in operation.
9. In a power transmitter, the pedals pivoted at one end, chains or belts con-
necting pedals to sleeves, with shaft B and chains or belts connecting sleeves with
adjustable drums on the shaft D, as shown and described.
10. In a foot power in which the power given by the pedals is transmitted
through a spring. The fly-wheel C, mounted loosely on the stud. The stud and
its bearing. The spring E, fastened to the elongated hub of the fly-wheel. The
spring case y, to which the outer end of the spring is attached and the shaft B and
its bearings as shown and described.
11. The combination of the shaft D the drums and j and the chains or belts
connecting said drums with sleeves G as shown and described.
12. The combination of the adjustable arm d, the spring b, the roller k, the wedge
shape shoe, the flange and sleeve G, substantially as described.
13. In combination with frame A, the pedals O the sleeves G, the adjustable
drums i, j, the connecting chains or belts and the shafts B & D and their bearings,
substantially as described.
14. The combination of the wedge shaped shoe l, and the roller k, for the
purposes set forth.

page_text: 15. The combination of the wedge shaped shoe l, the roller k, the adjustable
arm d, and spring b, as described.
16. In the clutch as herein described the adjustable arm d and spring b, for the
purposes set forth.
17. The adjustable arm d, the spring b, and wedge shaped shoe l, as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
18. In a foot power wherein the fly-wheel is loosely mounted on a stud, and the
stud is secured to the main frame, a volute spring attached at one end to the hub
of the fly wheel, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
19. In a foot power for running sewing and other machines, a spring actuated
brake for stopping or regulating the speed of the machine as herein shown and
described.
20. In a foot power for running sewing and other machines a spring actuated
brake, one end of which is journaled on to the main frame, the other end provided
with a friction surface which by a sidewise motion of the knee comes in contact
with the periphery of the driving wheel as set forth.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.