US2317240A

US2317240A - Lubricating system for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US2317240A
Application number: US339438A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick F Zeier
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: Singer Co
Priority date: 1939-04-15
Filing date: 1940-06-08
Publication date: 1943-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-20
Also published as: GB539249A; FR868565A; GB537161A; US2291129A; US2266140A; US2325928A; GB535543A; CH254773A

Description

F. F. ZEIER April 20, 194".

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 15, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1943. F. F. ZEIER 2,317,240

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 15, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 April '20, 1943, F. F. ZEKER' LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 15, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 i A I .4 gm: 2G9 1%43. F. F. ZEIER LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 15, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 P 1943- F. F. ZEIER 2,317,240

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 15, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet s MIIIIIWIIII/I/AIEZ'li/Il/II/IIIII/I/I/IAIIIUQ 'lllllllllim Fmdenb llZez'er Patented Apr. 20, 1943 LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Frederick F. Zeier, Fail-field, Conn., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation oi. New Jersey Original application April 15, 1939, Serial No.

Divided and this application June 8, 1940, Serial No. 339,438

9 Claims. (01. ll2256) This invention relates to sewing machines and has to do with an improved system and mechanism for automatically lubricating various operating instrumentalities, so that the sewing machine may operate at a comparatively high speed efllciently and effectively for long runs.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision in a sewing machine of a lubricantsump containing oil adapted to be contacted by means operable only during the operation of the sewing machine for splashing the oil into selectively located reservoirs connected by conduits to distribute oil to various bearings and operating parts within the machine-frame.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel metering devices in the various lubricant-conducting conduits whereby the quantity of oil distributed to the points requiring lu- Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken along the line 2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket-arm of the machine with the head-end in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 44, Fig. 1, showing the oil-metering device which is adapted to govern the amount of lubricant directed to the needle-bar crank and link.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of the oil-metering stem disclosed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 6-.6, Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a rear end elevation of the machine with the balance-Wheel removed.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the counterremoved therefrom to expose the mechanism within the bed.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line l0l0, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line ll-l I, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a top plan of the machine-bed with the work-supporting plate removed to expose the lubricant-distribution pipingsystem.

Fig. 13 is a front side elevation of the machinebed, partly in elevation and partly in section, to further illustrate the lubricant-distribution piping system.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line l4-l4, Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line I5-I5, Fig. 9.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line l6l6, Fig. 9.

Fig. 1'7 is an enlargedvertical section taken substantially along the line I'l-ll, Fig. 9.

This application is a division of my copending application 'Serial No. 267,958, filed Apr. 15, 1939.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a sewing machine comprising a frame including a rectangular bed I from one end of which rises a standard 2 of an overhanging bracket-arm. 3 terminating in a head 4. The rectangular bed I is composed of vertically disposed front and

rear side walls

5 and 6, and end walls. I and- 8. Intermediate the

end walls

1 and 8 are two dividing

walls

9 and 10 which separate the bedl into three rectangular compartments II, I! and I3. Disposed in compartments II and I2 are the beneath-the-bed stitch-forming instrumentalities and the lower four-motion feeding mechanism, together with the connections for actuating the same. Each of these two compartments is open at the bottom to permit the precipitation of spent oil, lint and dirt from the, mechanism within these compartments. Come; partment l3 forms the lower portion or sump if a lubricant-chamber and is closed at the fbot tom by means of a removable circular sheet-Y metal cover-plate I4. I V 1 Secured upon the rear end-portion of the bed I, see Fig. 1 is the standard 2 of'the, bracket-arm 3. The standard has integrally formed therewith a vertical internal partition I5 which extends from the rear end wall 8 of the bed I to a cover-plate l6 detachably secured upon the top of the bracket-arm 3, and divides the space within'the standard intothe oil or splash-lubrication chamber I3 and a belt compartment I1. The open end-face of the belt compartment n is adapted to be closed by means of a sheet-metal plate l8 which functions to protect the operator from contacting the driving belt housed within the belt. compartment l1. In order to facilitate removal of the plate l9, it is provided with two keyhole slots l9 entered by the spacing studs 20 threaded into the partition I5, and with afinger-hole 2!, whereby the plate l3 may be easily grasped.

The bracket-arm 3 at the standard end is provided with an internal partition 22 and at its head-end is provided with an internal partition 23, which partitions define a compartment housing the eccentrics and some of the connections for actuating the needle and top feeding mechanism described fully in my copending application Serial No. 267,958 of which this is a division. In addition to defining the compartment, the

partitions

22 and 23 provide bearing supports for the ball bearing 24 and the plain bearing 25 in which is journaled the main or armshait 26. To lend support to the end-portion of the arm-shaft 26 adjacent the standard 2, there is provided an additional ball bearing 21 and supporting means therefor which are mounted in the vertical internal partition I of the standard 2. Fixed upon the end of the arm-shaft 26 is the usual belt-driven balancewheel 28.

Secured upon the other end of the arm-shaft 26 is the usual. counterbalanced needle-bar actuating-crank 29 fitted with a hollow crank-pin 36 connected by a tubular link 3| to a hollow pin 32 integral with a split collar 33 clamped upon the endwise reciprocatory needle-bar 34 carrying at its lower end the needle 34'. The needle' bar 34 is journaled in the two spaced lugs 35 and 36 formed upon the vibratory frame 31 pivotally hung at its upper end upon a stud 38 secured by screws 39 in the top of the head 4. The vibratory frame 31 is adapted to vibrate in the line of feed in timed relation with the various feeding elements and it derives its vibratory movement from an adjustable eccentric 40 secured upon the arm-shaft 26 within the compartment in the bracket-arm' defined by the

partitions

22 and 23. The mechanism used to connect the vibratory frame 31 with the adjustable eccentric is fully illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 267,958, above referred to, and therefore no further description need herein be required.

Cooperating with the needle 34' in advancing the work through the machine is a top feed-dog 4| carried on the lower end of a feed-bar 42 vertically reciprocable in a suitable bearing pro-' vided in the vibratory frame 31. Cooperating with the top feed-dog 4| is a presser-foot 43 carried on the lower end of a presser-bar 44 .vertically slidable in the machine-head 4 and yieldingly biased into engagement with the work by a leaf-spring 45. The feed-bar 42 and presser-bar 44 are connected to be alternately raised and lowered in proper sequence through suitable connections with an eccentric 46 secured upon the arm-shaft 26 adjacentthe adjustable eccentric 40. The connections utilized to alternately raise and lower the feed-dog 4| and presser-foot 43 are also fully disclosed and described in my eopending application Serial No. 267,958, above referred to, andtherefore no further description of these elements need herein be required.

Longitudinally of the bed I there is journaled in the plain bearing 41, ball bearing 43 and ball bearing 49, which are fixed in the walls 9, I6 and 9, respectively, the lower rotary main-shalt 69 connected at one end to the arm-shaft 23 to rotate at a one-to-one ratio by a conventional spreader mechanism and lower four-motion feeding mechanism illustrated in the present drawings are identical with those disclosed and fully described in my copending application Serial No. 267,958, above referred to, no further description of these mechanisms need be given.

Considering now the automatic lubricating system used to thoroughly oil all the bearing points I in the machine, in the bed I and standard 2 is an oil-chamber l3 having a sump closed at the bottom by means of a removable circular coverplate H, see Fig. 1. Oil is introduced into the sump through an oil-cup 51 threaded into the wall IU of the bed, the level of the 011 being determined by the top of the oil-cup. Contacting the oil contained in the chamber I3 is anoilsling in the form of a ring 58 running on a grooved driving collar 59 secured upon the lower main-shaft 50. This oil-sling during the opera tion of the machine creates an oil-mist throughout the entire oil-chamber l3 of the machine and the oil particles suspended in this atmosphere are deposited upon a downwardly inclined collector-plate 66 at the top of the chamber II. The oil upon the collector-plate 60 runs. down the same and into an open-topped reservoir 6| sustained in position at the upper end of the chamber |3 by two retaining screws 62. Projecting into the reservoir 6| is a horizontal lubricantconduit 63 which extends lengthwise of and within the confines of the bracket-arm 3 and terminates in the partition 23 adjacent the machine-head 4.

Mounted upon the conduit 63 adjacent the I 63. Drilled lengthwise of the block 64 is a bore 66 connected by an inclined duct 61 to the conduit 63. Disposed in the bore 66 are wicks 63, the free ends of which project beyond the ends of the block 64 and are positioned to be contacted by the wicks 69 and 19 disposed in cavities formed in the pitmans 1| and 12, respectively, of the top feeding mechanism, see Fig. 3, thereby to distribute oil on the faces of the eccentrics 40 and 46, and through the

longitudinal bores

13 and 14 of the pitmans 1| and 12 to the pivot points. It will be understood from the above that oil is conducted from the conduit 63 to some of the bearing points in the top feeding mechanism, and that the amount of oil delivered is effectively controlled by metering screws 15 in the block 64 which are adapted to compress and loop-seizing and bore 18 opening into a vertical bore 11 extending through the bearing bushing 25 in the partition 23 and opening at its lower end into the armshaft bearing surface of the bushing 25. Adjacent the bottom of the vertical bore 11 in the bearing bushing 25, see Fig. 1, is a relatively small horizontal bore 18 terminating in a peripheral groove 18 formed in the reduced end-portion 88 of the bushing 25. The reduced end-portion 88 of the bushing 25 extends into an undercut recess 8| in the counterbalanced needle-bar crank 28, which recess, as shown in Fig. 8, is eccentrically located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm-shaft 28. Extending radially from that portion of the undercut recess 8| which is at the greatest distance from the axis of rotation of the arm-shaft 28 is a bore 82 opening into the central bore 83 of the hollow crank-pin 38, which central bore 83 is connected by radial ducts to a central bore 84 of the hollow needlebar link 3|. It will be understood that oil is conducted from the lubricant conduit 83, through the

bores

18 and 11 to the shaft bearing surface in the bushing 25, and that oil is also conducted from the vertical bore 11 through the horizontal bore 18 to the peripheral groove 18, where the oil drips off into the undercut recess 8| and by centrifugal force is caused to move along the inclined side of the recess 8| to the point which is at the greatest distance from the axis of rotation of the arm-shaft 28 where it enters the radial bore 82 and is finally distributed to the bearings at the opposite ends of the needle-bar link 3|.

In order to effectively control the amount of lubricant to be conveyed to the needle-bar mechanism, two

metering devices

85 and 88 are used. The metering device 85, best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, comprises a'hollow stem having at its upper end a flange 81 maintained seated in a cavity 88 in the bracket-arm 3 by a lock-nut 88. At its lower end, the stem is provided with a head 88 having three vertical grooves 8|, 82 and 83.

Grooves

82 and 83 open into, the bottom surface of the head 88 and permit the oil in the vertical bore 11 to drain into the shaft bearing in the bushing 25. Groove 83 is provided so that a portion of the oil contained in the vertical bore 11 may drain into the horizontal bore 18 in the bearing bushing 25. To vary the volume of oil delivered to the horizontal bore 18 it is only necessary to loosen the lock-nut 88, insert a screw-driver in the slot 84 in the top of the stem and turn the same to bring the groove 83 out of register more or less with the horizontal bore 18 in the bearing bushing 25. By thus varying the size of the opening between the head 88 of the metering device and the horizontal bore 18 more or less oil is delivered to the needle-bar mechanism. In the event it is desirable not to automatically lubricate the needle-bar mechanism, the horizontal bore I8 may be closed completely by turning the stem of the metering device until the groove 83 is entirely out of register with the horizontal bore 18. The stem of the metering device, see Fig. 5, is made hollow and is provided with several radial ducts 85 so that oil may be introduced into the shaft bearing in the bushing 25 by means of an oil-can prior to starting the machine after it has been at rest for a considerable period of time. the lubricant-conduit divides into two separate branches, one for the shaft bearing and the other for the needle-bar actuating mechanism, and

v metering device 85 which is effective to control It will be understood that the volume of oil delivered to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

The metering device 88 disclosed in Fig. 1 is preferably a screw-stud having an attenuated body 88 and an enlarged head 81 which fits snugly within the central bore 83 of the hollow crankpin 38. It will be understood that the oil collected in the undercut recess 8| and delivered through the radial bore 82 is distributed to the hollow needle-bar link 34 through the passage between the bore 83 of the crank-pin 38 and the attenuated body 88 of the screw-stud 88. The amount of oil delivered to the needle-bar link 34 is controlled by turning the screw-stud in or out of the central bore 83 sufllciently for the head 81 to move-across the outer end of the radial bore 82 in the counterbalanced crank 28. This shifting of the screw-stud eifects a change in the size of the oil-passageway and thereby controls the distribution of the oil.

In the event that the undercut recess 8| in the counterbalanced needle-bar crank 28 becomes flooded with oil, the excess is thrown off by the oil-sling 28' integral with the crank 28 and returned within the bracket-arm 3 by the inclined drainage duct 88 in they lower portion of the bearing bushing 25. Any excess oil collected in the bracket-arm 3 is returned to the lubricantchamber I3 through the drainage duct 88 in the partition 22.

Considering now the lubricating of the mechanisms within the bed I, it will be observed in Figs. 7, 12 and 13 that in the lower portion of the lubricant-chamber I3 there is provided a sheet-metal oil-collecting plate I88 having depressed therein two troughs 8| and I82. Trough I8I is provided with an aperture which overlies a reservoir I83, and trough I82 is provided with an aperture and overlies a reservoir I84. Each of these reservoirs is preferably split at one end and wedged in the end-wall 8 of the bed I by a tapered screw I85. Secured to the other end of the reservoirs I83 and I84 are lubricant mains I88 and I81, of which main |8I is fitted with a regulating screw I88 for controlling the amount of oil delivered thereby. Projecting from the main I88 are oil-pipes I88, II8, III and H2, and projecting from the main I81 are oil-pipes H3, H4, H5, H8 and H1. Each of the oil-pipes projecting from the lubricant mains I88 and I81 is wick-filled and is adapted to distribute the oil by capillary attraction to the various wickfilied pockets and oil-holes in the connections and bearings in the mechanism within the bed.

Tracing the flow of oil from each oil-pipe, it will be seen from Figs. 12 and 15 that oiipipe I88 delivers 011 to an oil-hole in the lug II8 integral with the rear wall 8 of the bed I and that the oil is led through the oil-hole into a central bore 8 in the stationary pintle I28 and then into a central bore I2I in the feed-lift rock-shaft I22 of the lower four-motion feeding mechanism, thereby lubricating the supporting bearings therefor. Oil-pipe II8, see Figs. 10 and 12, delivers oil to the oil-hole I23 in the supporting lug I24 for the hollow rod I25 upon which is journaled for oscillation the loop-spreader actuating sleeve I26. Lubricant delivered to the bore of the hollow rod I25 is dispersed by small radial ducts I21 to the bearing surface between the hollow rod I25 and the sleeve I28. Oil-pipe III, see Figs. 12 and 1'1, delivers oil to an oil-hole I 28 in the wall 8 of the bed I, the oil lubricating the bushing I29 through the duct I38 and ultimately finding its way through thecuts I3I along a central bore I32 in the feed-advance and -return rock-shaft I33, lubricating all the supporting bearings therefor. Oil-pipe II2, see Figs. 9, 12 and 14, conveys oil to an oil-hole I34 in the wall 9 of the bed I, the oil-hole I34 terminating in the bearing surface of the bushing 41 in which is journaled the forward portion of the lower main-shaft 50. The surplus oil in this shaft bearing is collected at one end of the bushing 41 upon a reduced por-. tion I35 thereof. This reduced'portion I35 is received in an undercut I formed in the inner face of the looper-actuating crank 55 and the oil collected on the reduced portion I drips into the undercut I38 and is conveyed by a central bore I31 and radial ducts I30 in the crankpin I33 to the sleeve I40 and the guide-rod I4I. Surplus oil from the sleeve I40 and guide-rod I 4| lubricates the hollow pin I42. The elements 55, I39, I40, I and I42 all form a portion of a looper actuating mechanisms which is fully disclosed and described in my copending application Serial No. 267,958, filed-April 15, 1939, referred to hereinbefore.

Oil-pipe II3, see Figs. 9, 11 and 12, delivers oil to a wick-filled pocket I43 in the pitman- I44 which connects the feed-lift rock-shaft I22 with the eccentric 53 on the lower main-shaft 50. Oil

' i in the wick-filled pocket I43 lubricates the eccentric 53 and .the pivot-pin at the opposite end of the pitman I44. Oil-pipe II4, see Figs. 11 and 12, delivers oil to a laterally projecting wick I45 carried by a pitman I40 which connects the spreader mechanism with the eccentric 54 on the lower main-shaft 50. The wick 145 contacts the surface or face of the eccentric 54 and effectively lubricates the same. Oil-pipe II5. see Figs. 12 and 17, delivers oil through an oil-hole I41 in the end-portion of the feed-advance and -return rock-shaft I33 into thecentral bore I32, thereby assisting in furnishing oil to lubricate most of the bearings for the lower feeding mechanism. Oil pipe II6, see Figs. 10 and 12, conveys oil to a wick-filled pocket I48 formed in the pitman I49 which connects the feed-advance and -return rock-shaft I33 with the adjustable eccentric 52 on the lower main-shaft 50, the oil in the pocket I48 lubricating the adjustable eccentric and being conveyed by the longitudinal bore I50 to the opposite end of the pitman I48. Oil-pipe II'I, see Figs. 12 and 16, delivers oil through the oil-hole I5I to a central bore I52 in the tubular looper-supporting rod I53, the oil in the central bore I52 being conducted by radial ducts I54 to a cut-out I55 in the sleeve I56 upon which is clamped the looper-carrier I51.

From the above description, it will be understood that an automatic lubricating system has been provided which, while the machine is in. operation, thoroughly and effectively oils all the bearing points without attention by the operator, except of course when the machine has been idle for a considerable period of time in which case priming holes have been provided, whereby the operator may initially oil the machine. Obviously any surplus oil which is thrown off by I the operating parts within compartments II and I2 in the bed I, or collected on the operating parts when they are not in operation, is collected in a box-like drip-pan I58 upon which the machine is adapted to rest. During the operation of the machine the oil-sling 58 creates in the lubricantchamber I3 an atmosphere laden with oil particles which are deposited on the downwardly inclined collector-plate 60 and on the collectorplate I00. The oil thus deposited on the plates 60 and I00 runs into the reservoirs GI, I03 and I04, and from these reservoirs through suitable lubricant-conduits to all the bearing points requiring automatic lubrication. The various metering devices in the lubricant-conduits provide means for effectively controlling the volume of oil distributed.

To facilitate retaining the oil-sling ring 50 in operative position upon its driving collar 53, the oil-collecting plate I00 is preferably formed with a horizontally disposed retaining finger I00 (Figs. 7 and'lZ) which overlies the oil-sling ring 50 and prevents the same from becoming dislodged from the driving collar 53 during shipment of the machine.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A sewing machine having a frame including a bed and an overhanging bracket-arm; a lubricant supply in said frame; a bearing bushing in said bracket-arm; an actuating shaft journaled in said bearing bushing: a reciprocatory needle-bar journaled in said bracketarm and operated by mechanism including a crank fixed to said actuating shaft; means for conducting oil from said lubricant supply to said bearing bushing and to said needle-bar actuating mechanism including a vertical bore opening into the shaft bearing-surface of said bushing and a horizontal bore intersecting said vertical bore for conducting oil to said needlebar actuating mechanism; and a metering device in said vertical bore operable to provide means for regulating the amount of oil distributed to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

2. A sewing machine having a frame including a bed and an overhanging bracket-arm: a lubrication compartment in said frame; an oilreservoir within said lubrication compartment: an oil-sling operable in said lubrication compartment to replenish the supply of oil in said reservoir; a bearing bushing in said bracketarm; an actuating shaft journaled in said bushing; a needle-bar journaled in said bracket-arm and reciprocated by mechanism connected to said actuating shaft; a vertical bore in said bracket-arm opening into the shaft bearingsurface of said bushing; means including a conduit connecting said oil-reservoir with said vertical bore for delivering oil to said shaft bearing; a horizontal bore intersecting said vertical bore for delivering oil to the needle-bar actuating mechanism; and a metering device operable to provide means for regulating the amount of oil distributed to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

3. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm; a bearing bushing fixed in said bracket-arm, said bearing bushing having a reduced end-portion; means for delivering oil to said end-portion; an actuating shaft journaled in said bearing bushing; a needle-bar journaled in said bracket-arm; mechanism including a crank secured to said actuating shaft for operating said needle-bar, said crank formed with an eccentrically disposed recess adapted to receive the reduced end-portion of said bearing bushing so as to collect oil therefrom; and means connected to the eccentrically disposed recess at the point of maximum distance from the actuating shaft to deliver oil collected in said recess to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

4. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm; a bearing bushing fixed in said bracket-arm, said bearing bushing having a reduced end-portion; an actuating shaft journaled in said bearing bushing; means including a vertical bore opening into the shaft bearing surface in said bushing and connected by a substantially horizontal bore to the reduced endportion of said bushing for delivering oil to said -shaft bearing and to said reduced end-portion:

a needle-bar journaled in said bracket-arm; mechanism including a crank secured to said actuating shaft for operating said needle-bar,

said crank formed with an eccentrically located recess adapted to receive the reduced end-portion of said bushing for the collection of oil therefrom; means connected to the eccentrically located recess at the'point of maximum distance from the actuating shaft to deliver oil collected in said recess to the needle-banactuating mechanism; and a metering device in said vertical bore operable to provide means for regulating the amount of oil distributed to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

5. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm; a lubrication compartment in said frame; a shaft extending through said lubrication compartment; an oil-agitator located adjacent the bottom of lubrication compartment and actuated by the above mentioned shaft; a reservoir within said lubrication com,- partment adapted to-be replenished by said oilagitator during operation of the machine; a bearing bushing fixed in said bracket-arm, said bearing bushing having a reduced end-portion; an actuating shaft journaled in said bearing bushing; lubricant conducting means including a vertical bore opening into the shaft bearing surface in said bushing and connected by a substantially horizontal bore to the reduced endportion of said bushing for delivering oil collected in said reservoir to said shaft bearing and to said reduced end-portion; a needle-bar journaled in said bracket-arm; mechanism including a crank secured to said actuating shaft for operating said needle-bar, said crank formed with an eccentrically located recess adapted to receive the reduced end-portion of said bushing for the collection of oil therefrom; means connected to the eccentrically located recess at the point of maximum distance from the actuatin shaft to deliver oil collected in said recess to the needle-bar actuating mechanism; and a metering device in said vertical bore operable to provide means for regulating the amount of oil distributed to the needle-bar actuating mechanism.

6. A sewing machine having a frame including an overhanging bracket-arm; a bearing in said bracket-arm; an actuating shaft iournaled in said bearing; a needle-carrying-bar Journaled in said bracket-arm and operated by mechanism connected to said actuating shaft; means including a lubricant-conduit having separate branches for distributing oil to said shaft-bearing and to the mechanism for operating said needle-carrying-bar; and means at the junction of said branches for regulating the volume of oil conducted by one of said branches.

7. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm; a needle-carrying-bar journaled in said bracket-arm; an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; mechanism operated by said actuating shaft for imparting reciprocatory movements to said needle-carrying-bar, said mechanism including a crank having a hollow crank-pin; means for conducting oil through said hollow crank-pin to lubricate said needle-carrying-bar reciprocating mechanism; and means located in the hollow of said crank-pin for regulating the volume of oil distributed to said mechanism. I

8. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm; a needle-carrying-bar journaled in said bracket-arm; an actuating shaft journaled in said bracket-arm; mechanism operated by said actuating shaft for imparting reciprocatory movements to said needle-carrying-bar, said mechanism including a crank having a hollow crank-pin; means for conducting oil through said hollow crank-pin to lubricate said needlecarrying-bar reciprocating mechanism; and means located in the hollow of said crank-pin for regulating the volume of oil distributed to said mechanism, said last named means including a stud having a reduced body portion intermediate its ends providing with said hollow crank-pin a lubricant passageway.

9. A sewing machine having a frame including a bed and an overhanging bracket-arm; a lubricant supply in 'said frame; a bearing bushing in said frame; an actuating shaft journaled in said bearing bushing; mechanism connected to be operated by said actuating shaft; means for'conducting oil from said lubricant supply to said bearing bushing and to said mechanism operated by said actuating shaft including a bore opening into the shaft bearing-surface of said bushing and a duct intersecting said bore; and an oil metering device disposed in said bore for controlling the quantity of oil delivered through said duct, said metering device including a stem having ahead formed with a plurality of oil-conducting grooves of which one is provided with a closed end below the level of said duct for delivering oil to said duct, and means provided for moving said groove relative to said duct to change the size of the oil delivery passageway.

FREDERICK F. ZEIER.