US2047730A

US2047730A - Lubricating device for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US2047730A
Application number: US735606A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Fleckenstein
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: Singer Co
Priority date: 1934-07-17
Filing date: 1934-07-17
Publication date: 1936-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-14

Description

y 1936- G. -A. FLECKENSTEIN LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 17, 1954 0 7 x 5 E Z 5:.....: ,LMHV Mw -HJ: I V I ,|i

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LUBRICATWG DEVICE FUR SE NES George A. Fleckenstein, Stra'tford, o" assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. .li., a corporation of New .iersey Application July 17, 1934, Serial No. 735,606

ii "Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lubricating means for actuating mechanism of sewing machines and more particularly the needle-bar and take-up actuating mechanism of sewing machines.

In the operation at high speeds of sewing machines, it is absolutely essential that, the connections for reciprocating the needle-bar and for actuating the take-up be adequately lubricated and in a manner not requiring frequent attention on the part of neglectful operators, in order to obviate undue wear and burning out of the parts.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide means whereby an initially properly lubricated needle-bar and take-up mechanism of j a sewing machine may be operated for an unusually extended period of time without requiring any attention of the operator as to lubrication. A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for conducting lubricant to actuating mechanism of a sewing machine.

The invention consists in the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, in connection with the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a front end elevation, partly in section, of a sewing machine containing the improved lubricating means. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the bracket-arm head of the sewing machine, substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on a reduced scale, similar to Fig. 2 but viewed in the opposite direction and with the actuating mechanism illustrated in a different position of the parts. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section of the lining material for the head.

Referring to the drawing, the improved lubricating means is illustrated as embodied in a sewing machine having a frame comprising a bedplate I and a bracket-arm terminating at its free end in a hollow head 2, overhanging the bed-plate and closed by a removable'coverplate 3.

.Journaled in the bracket-arm is a rotary main crank-piniwithin the. head"2.; Pivotally en bracingthe crank-pinG a bearing-sleeve 1 at the upper end of ajneedlebar reciprocating link 8, having at its lower enda bearing-sleeve 9. The I link bearing-sleeve 9 embraces a pivot-stud l0 extendin'g from 'a collar l I suitably clamped upon the upper end of a needle-bar l2. The needlebar I2 is journaled for endwise vertical reciprocation in a bearing-bushing l3 suitably fixed in the or needle-reciprocating shaft 4, to which is secured a counterweighted crank-disk 5 carrying a lower portion of the head 2, said needle-bar carrying a needle M.

Ofiset laterally from and integral with the link bearing-sleeve l is a take-up actuating bearingsleeve it, which pivotally embraces a pin it of a 5 fulcrum-block W, said fulcrum-block being apertured transversely of the pin it to slidingly receive a guide-rod B8 of an angular take-up member i8, H9. The arm E9 of the take-up member extends through a slot 20 in the bracket-arm head 2 and at its free end is provided with the usual thread-aperture 2i. Integral with the take-up member I8, 09, at the point of juncture of the guide-rod it ,with the arm i9, is a bearingsleeve 22 pivotally mounted upon a fulcrum-pin 23 suitably secured in the frame head 2. While the needle-reciprocating and take-up mechanism described is well known in the art, it has become increasingly difiicult to maintain adequate lubri cation of the bearing surfaces of the link-sleeves l, 9 and i5, under the increasing requirements of high speed operation.

In accordance with the presentinvention, the inner face of the head 2, which houses the needle and take-up mechanism, is partly lined with a 25 combination lubricant-absorbent and conducting material adapted to hold a very substantial quantity of lubricant and conduct it to points of delivery of' the lubricant to the bearing-sleeves i and 9. To this end, the absorbent and conducting material selected comprises transversely arranged and interwoven strands 24 of cotton or other material having high capillary conductivity of lubricant, which interwoven strands are in con-, tact with and preferably embedded in sheet material 25 having relatively low conductivity of lubricant, but capable of absorbing and storing a very substantial quantity of the lubricant. A preferred absorbent material 25 comprises felted wool fibers in which the cotton strands 24 are embedded.- I v In the present case, the described

lining

24, 25 is secured, by screws 26, to the inner face of the bracket-arm head front wall. The lining preferably has a folded or doubled lower end portion 21 supported by the bottom wall 28 of the bracketarm head 2, said bottom wallbeing provided with a recess 29 constituting 'a lubricant collecting well which is. overhung by the doubled portion '21 of the lining. This doubledportion-Z'I of the lining a is apertured to receive and closely embrace the needle-bar l2,"and i'sin the present case also re-'- cessed to embrace the upper end of the bushing l3, the latter serving as an anchorage for said lining portion 21. A lateral extension 30 of the upper end of the lining is supported by a sheetmetal plate 3| bent to provide a lining-supporting ledge 32, said plate 3| being secured by the upper of the screws 26.

Any lubricant thrown off from the actuating mechanism within the head 2 and against the

lining

24, 25 will be absorbed by the felted wool fibres 25 thereof and will be conducted by the interwoven cotton strands 24 to the point where the lubricant is again delivered to the actuating mechanism. As the wool fibres 25 are adapted to absorb a considerable quantity of lubricant and hold said lubricant until drawn upon by the cotton strands 24, according to the rate of. delivery ofthe lubricant to the actuating mechanism, it is evident that the machine may be operated for a substantial period without requiring any attention in the matter of lubricating the parts supplied with lubricant by the lining. Excess lubricant will also be collected by the well 29 and supplied therefrom to the lower end of the

lining

24, 25.

Entering the well 29 is a lubricant conducting cord 33 extending into contact with a dispensing pad 34 suitably secured, as by screws 35, to the inner face of the rear wall of the bracket-arm head. This arrangement, in general, is similar to that disclosed in my prior patent application Serial No. 709,253, filed Feb. 1, 1934.

The bearing-sleeve I of the needle-bar reciprocating link 8 is provided in the portion of the wall facing the front or lined wall of the head 2 with a segmental aperture 36 of which the chord 3'! comprises the back wall of the aperture considered as to the direction of travel of the bearing-sleeve 1 past the

lining

24, 25, it being understood that the crank-pin 6 rotates clockwise when viewed as in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The bearing-sleeve 1, during its rotation, contacts the lining portion 30 andthe back-wall or chord 31 ofthe aperture 36 serves to scrape lubricant from said lining during each rotation of the crank-pin. The scraped off lubricant enters the aperture 36 whereby lubricant is regularly supplied to the bearing surface of the sleeve 1 during the operation of the machine.

The bearing-sleeve 9 of the link 8 is provided in its bottom wall with an aperture 38, leading to the bearing surface of said sleeve. At each reciprocation of the needle-bar, the apertured portion of the bearing-sleeve 9 descends into contact with the lower end portion 21 of the lining and in fact partly buries itself in said lining portion 21, thereby picking up from the saturated lining sumcient lubricant to adequately supply the bearing surface of the sleeve 9. The engagement of the bearing-sleeve 9 with the lining portion 21 causes the latter to be depressed or flexed and to dip into the well 29 of the bracket-arm head, therebyserving to maintain the lining saturated with lubricant. The compression of the lining portion 21 serves to squeeze out free particles of lubricant which are picked up by the reciprocating needle-bar. While the lining portion 21 embracing the needle-bar con-' stantly wipes off excess lubricant, sumcient lubricant remains upon the needle-bar to adequately 'fore be noted that each of the bearing surfaces of the three link sleeves is constantly and adequately supplied with lubricant which may be repeatedly used when thrown off by the actuating mechanism within the bracket-arm head.

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

l. A sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm head provided with a lubricant well, needle-bar actuating mechanism housed within the bracket-arm head, and means for dispensing lubricant to said mechanism com prising a lining for said head of lubricant-absorbent and conducting material extending from said well and into the path of movement of said actuating mechanism.

2. A sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm head, a needle-bar journaled in said head for endwise reciprocation, a

pivot-stud projecting from said needle-bar, a

needle-bar reciprocating link having a bearing sleeve pivotally embracing said pivot-stud, said sleeve being provided with an aperture leading to the bearing surface of the sleeve, means for actuating said link to reciprocate said needle-bar, and a lubricant-absorbent material disposed below said sleeve in intermittent engagement by the apertured portion of said sleeve.

3. A sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm head provided with a lubricant-collecting well, a needle-bar journaled in said head for endwise reciprocation, a pivot-stud projecting from said needle-bar above said well, a needle-bar reciprocating link having a bearing sleeve pivotally embracing said pivot-stud and provided at the bottom thereof with an aperture leading to the bearing surface of the sleeve, means for actuating said link to reciprocate said needle-bar, and a lubricant absorbent and dispensing material disposed within said head and overhanging said well for engagement by the apertured portion of said sleeve.

4. A sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm head, a needle-bar journaled in said head for endwise reciprocation, a lubricant-absorbent material closely embracing said needle-bar within said head, and means intermittently compressing said lubricant-absorbent material to squeeze therefrom lubricant taken up by the reciprocatory needle-bar.

5. A sewing machine having a frame, an actuating mechanism housed by said frame, and a frame lining extending into close proximity to said actuating mechanism for supplying lubricant thereto said lining comprising a sheet consisting of lubricant-storing material and lubricant-conducting strands embedded in said lubricant-storing material substantially throughout the length thereof, said strands having relatively higher lubricant conductivity than said lubricantstoring material directionally toward said actu ating mechanism. 1

6. A sewing machine having a frame, an actuating mechanism housed by said frame, and a frame lining extending into close proximity to said actuating mechanism for supplying lubricant thereto, said lining comprising a sheet consisting of lubricant-storing material and a plurality of interwoven relatively transverse strands embedded in said lubricant-storing material, said strands having relatively higher lubricant conductivity than said lubricant-storing material directionally toward said actuating mechanism.