US89104A - Sewing-machines - Google Patents

Description

o. i@ Si? @timed tant @admittance AMOS WHITTEMORE,.OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 89,104, dated April 20,1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A Mos WHITTEMORE, of Gambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Mechanical Movement, for Operating Sewing-M achines, Vatchmakers Lathes, and other light machinery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure 1, sheet 1, is a perspective view of one form of my improved mechanical movement applied to a sewing-machine, and adapted for driving such machine by a person sitting thereat.

Figures 2 and 3, sheet 1, are side elevations of the seat in two positions.

Figure 4, sheet 1, is a friction-regulator, for reducing -or increasing the speed of the machine.

Figure 5, sheet 1, is a friction-brake, for stopping the machine Without removing the weight from the seat.

Figure 6, sheet 2, is an enlarged side elevation of a' train of wheels adapted for receiving rotary motion from a movable support, and transmitting motion to sewing-machine, lathe, or other lighty machine.

Figure 7, sheet 2, is a front elevation of movable support-s, adapted for transmitting motion to a sewing-machine, lathe, or other light machine, by the weight of a person standing thereat.

Figure 8, sheet 2, is a side elevation of g. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

The nature of my invention consists, iirst, in a novel arrangement and combination of a seat-frame, having a curvilinear vibrating movement, with a pawl, a ratchet,

or other toothed wheel, an intermediate system of gearwheels, and a driving-shaft of a sewing-machine, or other small machine, which is to be driven by force of gravitation, whereby a person sitting on the seat in a steady posture is enabled, by his weight alone, to keep Third, my invention consists in the combination of the device for equalizing the speed of the machine driven, with the seat, ratchet, and pawl, and intermediate gearing, whereby the machine may be run regularly by persons of different weights.

My invention consists, fourth, in the combination of the pawl and ratchet of the vibrating seat, and the ratchet and pawlsi oli the vertically-movin g feet-stands,

with the intermediate mechanism and driving-shaft of a sewing-machine, or other small machine, whereby the operator can, at will, operate the machine to be driven by his weight, either in a sitting or a standing posture.

My invention consists, fifth, in locating the axis of the seat-frame below and in line, or nearly so, with the axis of the ratchet-wheel, in combination with the applying of the pawl, near the upper end of the seat-frame, so that the seat-frame, by being adjusted to a nearly upright position, will move the pawl some distanceiback of the centre of the ratchet, and thus insure action upon a large number of the ratchet-teeth before lthe weight of the operator is"re quired to be withehawn from the seat, in order to commence a new run of the machine, and also along leverage for readjusting the seat is obtained. Thus, without the use of a spring as a retainer of power, and also without the necessity of resorting to a straight or vertical movement, in connection withthe direct application of the weight of the operator, I am enabled to drive the machine without muscular power being -brought into play, other than for readjusting the seat.

My invention consists, sixth, in the combination of the foot-rest M m with the seat-frame,'arranged as described, and connected with the driving-shaft of a sewing-machine, or other small machine, by intermediate gearing.

My'invention consists, seventh, in the combination of the stop S with the pawl and with the seat-frame, which operates as described.

To enable others skilled inthe art to understand my invention, I will describe the best means known to me for carrying it into effec-t.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the table of a sewing-machine, and B the balance-wheel or pulley applied to the driving-shaft of such machine, which shalt is driven by means of a belt, c, passed around said wheel, and also around a large balance or iy-wheel, D, shown in iig. 41.

The fly-wheel D is applied to a shaft, b', which has its bearings in a frame, C, that may be secured perma- 'nently to the table A, in any suitable manner, or it may be constructed so as'to have an independent support, with means for readily attaching it to or detaching it from said table. A

The frame O is designed for containing and supporting a train of large and small gear-whcels,which will communicate a fast rotary motion t0 the fly-wheel D, from a comparatively slow rotary motion given to the horizontal shaft 1.

The drawings, figs. 1 and 2, represent a train of eight wheels geared together, so as to communicate a' very rapid rotary motion' to the ily-wheel D, `but a greater or less number of wheels may be used in the train.

The main spur-wheel H of this train is keyed upon the horizontal shaft I, which I shall 'term the main driving-shaft, and which carries on one end, outside of frame C, a ratchet-wheel, J, the teeth of` which are engaged by a gravitating pawl, or dog, G, that is pivoted, at t, to one of two vibrating arms K, upon which a seat, K', for the operator' of the machine, is supported.

The two seat-arms K K are pivoted, at their lower ends,'at c c, to a base-support, L, so that they can vibrate in vertical planes.

The pawl, or dog G is arranged on top of the ratchetwheel J, and provided with an arm, S, extending from one side of it, so as to check the seat K' and freeends of arms K K, when they have descended as'fa'r as required.

The seat-carrying arms arepivoted in, or nearly in, a vertical plane intersecting theaxis of the shaft '1, and these arms rise on that side of sliaft I nearest the table A, so that the weight of a person sitting on the seat K' will be transferred to' the wheel J, through pawl G, in such manner as will cause this wheel to turn slowly in the direction indicated by the arrows in figs. I, 2, and 3, and as this wheel turns by the weight of the person' upon seat K', this seat will slowly descend, and at the same time move forward toward table A, until the stop S comes in contact with the -frame C.

Fig. 2 represents the seat at its higest point, and f5 shows the seat when checked at its lowest point.

In practice, the movement of the seat K', toward and from the table A, need not exceed twelve inches, which will not be found inconvenient to the operation, inasmuch as the forward motion will be very slow and regular.

M represents a rest for the feet of the operator, which Vmay be secured permanently to a fixed crosslbar, A', oi the table A, in such relation to the seat K the feet.

This foot-rest M is provided with a heel-piece,.m, shown, which will afforda purchase for the heels of the operator in the descent of the seat K, while the rest M will afford a purchase for the legs in the act lof raising the seat or pushing it back, after every descending stroke.

During the descent of K, by the weight of the operator upon it, avery rapid rotary motion will be communicated to the fly-wheel D during the ascending, as well as the descending strokes of the seat K. A pawl,'or dog, Gr', may be pivoted to one of the seat-arms K,'so as to act upon wheel J during the backward strokes of the seat, and turn it in the same direction as when the pawl, or dog G is acting upon it.

I do not confine myself to the use oitwo pawls, or

dogs for acting upon wheel J, as the pawl, or dog G, acting alone by the weight of the operator upon seat .K, will give a regular motion to the wheel D, if this wheel is properly balanced or loaded.

' It is obvious that the wheel J may bedispensed with, and the spurred 'wheel H of the train arranged so as to be directly acted upon by either one or both of the dogs, thus dispensing with one wheel.

The frame C and itstrain may be enclosed Within a box, or closet, so as to be out of sight and out of the way.

As the weight of dii'lerent persons operating the same machine will vary considerably, I have provided for maintaining a given rate of speed, or for increasing or diminishing the speed of the machine at pleasure, also for stopping the machine, when required, without rising from the seat.

In 1i g. 4, B represents the driving-shaft of a sewingmachine, to which I apply a spring, g, which is secured to the cloth-bed, and provided with an adj usting-screw,

g, that is tapped into the cloth-bed, and adapted for actingupon spring g, so as to press its free end with more or less force upon the shaft B.

By regulating the pressure of spring g on shaft B',

this shaft may be more or less restrained, and its speed regulated to a nicety.

For stopping the movement of the machine at any moment, I employ a friction-stop, shown in fig. 5, consisting of a vibrating arm, d, and a loaded arm, d.

The arm cl* has aiiction-surface applied to its lower edge, and this arm, together 'with the loaded arm 1l, is fastened to a shaft, da, and 'so arranged and supported, in relation' to the ily-wheel D,that when arm d is adjusted in the position indicated by red lines in iig. 5, its weight di will press the arm d* upon the periphery of said. wheel, and stop its motion;

In lfigs. 7 and 8, sheet 2, I have represented another mode of transmittingrotary motion to the drivingshaft i, by the weight of a person upon a vertically- ,movable support.

This arrangement is especially adapted for a standing-position, and, if desired, it may be employed in combination `with the vertically-movable seat K, so that, should an operator become fatigued by sitting, he can communicate motion to the machine while standing.

Under this arrangement I employ two ratchetwheels J J, keyed on shaft I, and support the outer end ofv this shaft by a standard, L', rising from .the basel L. v

Wheels J J are arranged a proper distance apart, and acted upon alternately by two gravitating pawls, or dogs, U U, which are applied, respectively, to two standards It It, rising perpendicularly from horizontal foot-rests RF R2.

The standards R It are pivoted, at e e, to the extremities of a vertically-vibrating lever, V, having its fulcrum, e', upon a bracket, or standard, W, rising from and secured to the base L, in a position 'centrally betbat a person sitting at the table can conveniently rest tween the two wheels J J, as shown in iig. 7.

The upper ends of standards. R R are 'guided and held in proper position, in their vertical movements,

by means of vibrating arms T T, which are pivoted at t t.

R is a base-piece, upon which the foot-rests R2 Rz are alternately arrested in their descent.

A person standing vwith his feet upon the two rests RF R2, and alternately transferring his weight from one rest to another, can conveniently communicate a continuons rotary motion to the shaft I.

Having described two practical modes for enabling the operator of a vsewing-machine, lathe, or other light machinery, to utilize the weight of his body, as a power for driving such Imachinery, I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the precise mechanical devices herein employed, as other means, equivalent thereto, may be adopted for eiieeting a similar result.

1. The arrangement and combination of the seatframe K K, pawl G, ratchet, or other equivalent toothed wheel J, an intermediate train of gearing, and the driving-shaft B of a machine which is to be operated by force of gravitation, all substantially as described.

2. The combination of the friction-brake d (1*, or its equivalent, with the seat-frame K, pawl G, ratchet J, or other equivalent wheel, an intermediate train of gearing, and the driving-shaft B', of a machine which is to be dri-ven by force of gravitation, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination of the speed-equalizer g g, or its equivalent, with the shaft B', and with the seatframe K K, pawl G, ratchet J, or its equivalent, and an intermediate train of gearing, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the pawl K and ratchet J of the seat-frame, andthe ratchets J J and pawls U U of the movable foot-standsR2 R2, or their equivalents, an intermediate train of gearing, ahd the shaft B', substantially as described.

5. The combination of the lever V, vertically-moving foot-'stands R2 R2, pawls U U, and ratchets J J,

all substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a mechanical movement, for operating small machines by the weight of the operator, locating the axis of the seatframe K K below and in line, or nearly so, with the shaft I, in combination with the arranging of the pawl G, near the upper end of the seat-trame, substantially as described.

7. i-he combination of the foot-rest M m with the

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