USRE3825E - Improvement in sewing-machines - Google Patents

Description

-ywey 2382 Emme@ 2732 8,' A970.

inventor. Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

GEORGE L. DULANEY, OF MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,61f7,vdatedFebruary 1i), 1863; reissue No. 3,825, dated February 8, 1870.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, GEORGE L. DULANEY, of Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, but formerly of Mount Jackson, in Shenandoah county, and

State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewin g-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

Figure 1 is a right-hand elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a left-hand elevation, and Fig. 3 a front elevation, of the same. Fig. 4 represents a reverse View of the pedestal clothtable, with the shuttle, peculiar shuttle-carrier, and feed devices. Fig. 5 represents the needle detached.

My improvements relate more especially to theconstruction and operation of the needlebar; to the construction of the shuttle and its carrier, and to the manner of actuating the shuttle 5 to the manner of, and devices for, producing the feed-motion; to a novel mode and means for giving tension to the needle-thread; and to the devices for taking up the slack thread.

The better to enable others to construct and use my improvements, the following is a description thereof:

At a, Figs. 1 and 2, is represented a suitable bed-plate or platform, mounted, if desired, ou suitable supports or legs b,- or it may be attached to any suitable stand or table, so as to work the machine, if desired, by a treadle. To the platform is cast a standard, c, to which is connected, in suitable bearings, the main coggear driving-wheel d and the small pinion gearwheel e, both working into each other, and attached, by their journals or axles, outside ot' the standard. The axle of the small Wheel or pinion extends horizontally through the standard, and the fly or balance wheel f is confined on the axle of the pinion, and on the inside ofthe standard c, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the axle being long1 enough to extend through a short standard, g, and having afxed to its 7end a disk or circular plate, h,

The balance-wheel f and the disk h extend down through suitable openings formed in the' platform a. Att' i, Figs. 1 and 2, is shown the side view of a striding or arch-like standard, which is formed with a short arm, j. Said standard is detachable, and is confined in position by tenons in the bed-plate, and keyed or pinned on the under side, as at k lc. To the upper end of said standard is attached a crosshead piece, L L, formed with a mortise to fit over the short arm j. This short arm has two mortises formed in it, one on each side, as indicated by the dots at m n, Figs. l and 2. At

o o is a pedestal-standard, formed with shoulders p p and tenon ends, keyed through thev platform a,as indicated at r r. This pedestaL standard has cast or formed upon its upper end a curved table-plate or cloth-support, s, and is also formed with a vertical slot, t, and a smaller-vertical slot, u. The cloth-support s is formed with a slot, fu. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3.) At fw fw is indicated a vertically-arranged sliding needle-bar, formed with an upper curved or arch-like end, x, and a lower elbow-like continuation, Y Y, with a forearm-extension, z e, and a finger-like ex tremity, (fa (f6. This peculiar needle-bar is formed of one continuous piece, its main length working vertically immediately behind the arched standard t t', Figs. 1 and 2, and tting in the mortise a, as dotted in Figs. l and 2. The elbow or lower portion Y Y and the forearm z z are fitted to work in notches in the platform, as indicated by dots a2. The iinger-like extremity (IZ (fo is bent through the slot t t of the pedestal-standard o o. The needle'arm w w has its arched part formed with a head and a set-screw to hold the needle, asindicated at b2. 0n the end of the needle-bar is a small yoke-like device, o2, formed with two small eyes on the left side, and one eye on the right.

At cZ e2, Figs. l and 2, is indicated a suitable connecting-rod or pitman, attached by its ends to the needle-bar fw and to the disk h h. and to the long arm of the needle-bar w, on its left side of the arched part, is attached, by a small fulcrum-pin or pivot, a curve-shaped vibrating lever or slack-take-up device, f2 f2, with bent lower end g2, and a small eye, h2, formed through the upper end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

At i2 'i2 is shown the oscillating shuttle-driving lever, of curved shape, but having a straight portion,7c27c2. (See Fig. 4.) This shuttle-driver is formed with a shuttle-carrier, 122192, and is connected to the lower part q of the pedestal 0 by a screw or pin axis, L2, Figs: 1, 2, 4, and, passing upwardly through a slot, fm2, rests within the fork or crotch n2, Fig. 4, and continues upwardly beneath the cloth-table s, to receive the shuttle 02 within the carrier p2 p2 of the shuttle-driver i2 k2,the shuttle being held or supported laterally by the side of the race g2 q2, Figs. 3 and 4. The shuttle-carrier is also supported by a lateral guide bar or staple, r2, Figs. 1, 2, 4. Attached by a suitable axis, s2, to the side of the shuttle-carrier arm is a gravitating pendent shuttle-adjuster, t2 t2, formed with abowed end, a2, Figs. 3 and 4. This bowed end rests upwardly within a slot or a depression, a4, formed in the under side of the shuttle, and indicated by dots in Figs. 3 and 4.

At o3 o3 is indicated the gravitating feed device, of the curved shape shown, its butt-end formed with an elongated opening, p3, extending vertically, and through which passes the pivot or fulcrum-screw g4, and whereby the feed device is attached to the outside of the pedestal o o, Fig. 3. The upper end of this feed device is serrated or notched, as indicated at r3, Fig. 3, and works :freely in the slot /U of the cloth-table s s. Through the short curved end of the feed device o3 o3 is an adjusting or stitch-regulating screw, s3.

At Jv2 o2 m2 wz is shown the gravitating stripper-bar or pressure-pad, the upper part of which is arched, .and the lower part straight, its end passing downwardly through the platform e a, as at '03, and formed with a notch, 04, in which, if found necessary, may be employed a suitable spring, o5, toproduce greater force or pressure ofthe pad against the material to be sewed. To this stripper bar or pad is attached a cam or eccentric lever devicew2, and at Y2 is attached a suitable curved bar, to the end of which is a small dependant, z2, formed of alength of flexible wire bent together, forming a small delicate fork-like device; or a solid strip of metal may be split longitudinally, and the ends thereof opened or slightly extended, so as to answer the desired purpose, and to act as a thread-gripe or take-hold, the particular office of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

At a3 a3, Figs. 1 and 2, is indicated a circular rotating tension device, formed of two'similar thin, iieXible, concave or dished disks provided with series of exible radials b3 b3 b3, at equal intervals apart. These two disks are both tted together, their concave surfaces opposite, thus forming a cavity between them 5- and the radial arms, it will be seen, commence from their point of contact to diverge from each other, so that any two adjacent arms of the opposing disksform an angular space to receive snugly the thread and prevent its slipping, whatever may be its size or number.

Being thus fitted neatly thou-gh not solidly together, a center hole or aperture is formed through their center, by which the device is affixed to a spindle, c3, formed with a screwthread, and said spindle is attached to the end of a stud, d3, which is inserted in the cross-head L L, and it is so applied to said stud that,if desired, it may be turned or swung half-way around thereon, so that the thread in its passage shall revolve the wheel in a reverse direction relatively to its adj usting-nut. On the spindle c3 is a suitable nut or adj usting-tap, e3, the screw-thread on the spindle being, as shown, long enough to receive another or locking nut. In the cross-head at f3 is inserted a smaller stud, its upper end formed with an eye, g3. At h3 is indicated the vspool of thread on the spindle 3, inserted in the leg ofthe standard i i. y When the machine is to be operated by a treadle the platform w a is designed -to be attached to a larger stand or table of any desired shape or size.

The operation of my improvements is as follows, viz: The material to be sewed is arranged on the table s s, so as to bear or pass olf forward and in front from the operator. The thread from the spool is carried in the direction indicated by the red dotted line t3, and passed through the eye g3 to the right, as at t, under and around and over the radials b3 b3 b3 b3 of the rotating tension device a3; then to the leftdownwardly, as at t5, and returned through the eye g3, and upwardly through the eyes d2 d2 of the needle-bar; thence on the inside through the first left-hand eye of the yoke-like device c2, upwardly, and through the eye h2 ofthe vibratingy lever or slack-take-up device fZfZ; thence downwardly on the right side, and through both the outer holes of the yoke device c2 c2 to the Aleft side, and iinally into the eye of the needle 7"3, Fig. 1.

yThe machine being set in motion by the handle A A, the'main wheel working into the pinion e, the whole mechanism is therehyset in motion, the disk 'h communicating action to the connecting-rod e2, which causes the needlebar 'w w .r x Y Yto slide up and down. When the needle j3 descends it enters the material, and passes far enough through it, and below. the cloth-table s s, to enable it to form the loop at the required time to allow the passage of the shuttle oZ o2, with its bobbin and thread.

In Fig. 1 the needle-bar u: mYzis shown as 'l `-pressing it upward, and turning it on its pivot to the left, at the same time against the material on the cloth-table s s, the gravitating stripper-bar or pressnrepad to2 wz also pressing down ou the top of the material.

It will be observed that in the elevated position of the needle-bar, the shuttle o2 o2 is to- .the-left-hand edge of the cloth-table, and in position as indicated in Fig. 4:.

As the needlebar w m Y z descends to its lowest position, as in Fig. 2, the needle is shown'as having penetrated the material and extended through and beneath the cloth-table s s, where, the loop of the needle-thread being formed, the shuttle with its thread is passed through said loop, the shuttle being in position to the right, as indicated by the dotted representation of the shuttle-carrier p2 112, Fig. 4, and thus, as the needle alternately enters the material, and the shuttle passes into and through the loop of needle-thread, the two threads are interlocked, the stitch is formed, and the sewing is effected.

The peculiar features, however, of my improvements are, as hereinafter named, as follows:' The needle-bar w w Y z da is formed of a continuous single'piec'e of metal, which, because of its' peculiar shape, is made to perform thefourfold office of actuating the needle j, im pelling the shuttle-driver i3 k2, operating the feed-bar devices 03 p3, and also carrying with it and operating the vibrating lever or slack take-up f2 f2. This slack-takeup device, thus connected on an axis to the side ofthe needle-bar, moves therewith, and in passing upwardly the deiected end g2 strikes .against the small staple g4, by which means the eye end h2 ofthe same is raised or thrown upward, describing a short curve, and thereby drawing up the slack-thread of the needle, so as to prevent undue length and spread of the loop. As the needle-arm descends the vibrating lever f2 is carried down with it, the straight part j' f2 bearing against the small staple g4, thus preventing further vibration until the needle-arm is again carried up.

It will be observed that the shuttle-driver i2 t2 has a straight part,k2, which is designed to cause a cessation or slight interval of motion of the shuttle, the object of which intermittent office is to keep the shuttle at rest sufficiently long to allow the needle to pass to its utmost extent without coming in contact with the shuttle.

With reference to my improved feed-motion device 03103 it will be observed that itis part ly self-acting by its inherent gravity, and being suspended on its fulcrum by the elongated slot or opening, having sufficient play upand down and laterally, so as to describe somewhat of an oblique double movement, by which means the material being sewed is pressed upwardly against the pressure-pad wz to2, and forward horizontally from the operator, and after thus moving and returning to its original position the feed device 03p* falls beneath the material, thereby releasing' lit at the required time, and thus alternately feeding the material regularly and aifording the required stitch. This feed device maybe' so regulated by the set-screw s3 as to give any' required length of stitch. Thus, for instance, if the screw s3 be turned to the right the stitch4 is shortened, and if to the left the stitch is lengthened, owing tothe finger rf; (fo continu-1 ing more or less against the screw. v

Another feature of my improvements is the pendent, gravitating', self-acting, shnttle-ad` justing device s2 t2 t2,"the object of which is to lift the shuttle slightly, and thereby accommo date it 'to the curved sweep or stroke of the shuttlecarrier p21?, and prevent'any undue' sweep or play of the shuttle in the race q2 g2, the bow part u2 u2 bearing up and within the slots or depression in the under side of theV shuttle, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Another peculiar feature of my improve-- ments is the little griper or finger device z2,

Fig. 1, which is designed to gripeor hold up the slack-thread of the needle ja should there be too much slack.

As the needle-bar w cY moves upwardly the crossthread in the front holes of the yoke device c2 czis forced between the gripe ends, as at z3, Fig. 2, and is held up until the needle withdraws from the material on the table s s, thus most e'ectually preventing any undue slack ot' the thread or lits tension.

Another novel feature of my improvements is the rotating radial tension device ai b3 b3; which is regulated by the set-screw or nut e3 e3, Fig. 3, which, being turned more lor less, tightens the tension by compressing the cenf tral dished or bowed part, thus-dispensing with the use ofV spiral-springs.

By having the diverging radials b3 b3 the thread is caught at intervals. Hence, should any inequalities occur in the thread, the tension is not interfered with, as would be the case if a continuous grooved disk or wheel were used, which method is employed in many sewing-machines. t

The advantages resulting from using two disks with the radial arms land intervening spaces are that each disk and its arms may be struck out of sheet metal, complete for use, by

one blow of the die-cutter, and all of its radials A dished or bent outward by the same blow; that the cutter thus leaves smooth edges on all the radials on the side against which the thread passes, the outer ragged or bearded edges on the side which was the under one in cutting being always on the outer side, and never in contact with the thread 5 that the spaces between the radials afford ample room for filing away any accidental inequalities or roughness, and allow the placing of the two disks together, so that the edge of one radial shall not (as must be the case of a single disk having no spaces cut away, and whose radial wings are bent in alternate directions) make an abrupt .acute angle with its next adjacent radial, thus avoiding the carrying' of the thread around the edges of the radials, and

` the bowed adjuster u2 u2, so as to adjust the shuttle to its place, as hereinbefore stated.

Having thus shown and described my several improvements in sewing-machines, what I claim as of I'ny own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is as follows, namely:

1. The vertically-acting needle-arm formed of one piece of metal, as indicated at w a: Y z Figs. 1 and 2, which performs the several dierent offices or mechanical functions, as herein set forth and described.

2. The intermittently-acting shuttle-carrier device i2 162192, and guide-rod r2, Fig. 4, combined with the gravitating self-acting shuttleadjusting device s2 t2 u2, Fig. 4,. as shown and described.

3. The gravitating self -adjusting slotted feed device 03 03113914, Fig. 3, formed and hung as shown, and combined with the verticallyreciprocating needle-bar, and operated in the manner described.

4. The self-acting gravitating pad v2 c2 w2 to2, as constructed and combined with the selfacting gravitating feed device o3 o3 p3 g4, the lever device :r2 x2, the curved bar or tension device y2 y2, and the small dependent, flexible, forked-like device z, Figs. l, 2, and 3, substantiallyas shown and described.

5. The shuttle o2 o2, constructed with the bottom slot or depression o4, Fig. 4, and the combination therewith ofthe gravitating selfacting shuttle-adjusting devicesz t2 u2, substantially as shown and described.

6. The vibrating lever or slack-thread ad justerf2 f f2 g2, Fig. 1, as constructed, when combined with the needle bar or arm fw Y z d?, and operating substantially as set forth and described.

7. The curved bar or tension device y2 y? z2, Figs. l, 2, and 3, in combination with the vibrating lever or slack, take-up device f2f2 g2 h2, so as to produce the desired effect, in the manner as shown and described.

8. A tension-wheel, free to move on its sup' form, and a regulating-screw, substantially as described.

10. The combination of disks, having flexible radial arms and flexible dished centers,

with a screw-threaded spindle, a supportingc standard, and an adjusting nut or nuts, substantially as shown and described.

` GEORGE L. nULANEY.

Witnesses:

J. W. DULANEY, JOSEPH LEAs.

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