Abstract: The back EMF generated in armature coils is substantially balanced by causing the coils located a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the armature to have fewer turns than the coils located closer to the armature axis of rotation. Alternatively, rather than decrease the number of turns in the coils, the same balancing affect can be achieved by increasing the electrical resistance of the coils located a greater distance from the armature axis of rotation.

Abstract: A presser foot with a grooved sole plate for use in the formation of buttonholes on a sewing machine is pivotally mounted on a screw with which the foot can be moved laterally relative to the shank to position a groove dividing ridge with respect to a sewing needle.

Abstract: A sewing needle in which an elongated locator portion is provided extending transversely from the shank and of a length to extend from a retaining means fixing the sewing needle to the needle bar, sufficiently and in a direction to permit its use as an accessory driving stud.

Abstract: A sewing machine bed having main and open channel sections is molded of glass reinforced thermosetting plastic composition which is injected into the mold through a side gate located opposite the juncture of the main and channel sections providing advantageous fiber orientation resulting in dimensional stability and freedom from warpage.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based motor control system provides overload protection by incrementing a register whenever a full power condition exists and decrementing the register when less than a full power condition exists. When the register reaches a predetermined value, this indicates an overload condition.

Abstract: Flexible tubing for use in connecting a pneumatic foot controller to a sewing machine is provided at one end with a detachable plastic connector including a tight fitting tube supporting sleeve and a serrated end fitting which is locked in place in the tubing with the sleeve.

Abstract: A thermally responsive slam shut valve assembly includes a generally tubular body member having an internal valve seat at one end, a spider member connected to the other end of the body member, a cup shaped valve inside the body member, a valve stem connected to the valve and extending through a central opening in the spider member, a coil spring surrounding the stem between the valve and the spider member, and fusible means surrounding the stem outside the body member for preventing the valve from moving into sealing contact with the valve seat until the temperature of the fusible means goes above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A sewing machine loop taker is disclosed having a replaceable adjustable hook beak and needle guard fabricated as a integral element in which the dimensional relationships established in fabrication are not influenced by the means for securing or the provisions for adjustment of the element relatively to the loop taker.

Abstract: A power spray nozzle using a single fluidic oscillator to disseminate liquid, selectively and cyclically, from one end of a floor brush to the other and return.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating and assembling a sewing machine hook shaft and hook body by which the required critically accurate shapes may be attained in a particularly cost effective manner.

Abstract: A chain stitch insert receivable in the bobbin case of a sewing machine is formed with a topside ledge which captures and consumes thread as a hook point carries a loop of thread around the bobbin case. The ledge enables the formation of chain stitches without the need for a special eyelet on the machine.

Abstract: An internal gate rotary vane fluid meter which has markedly improved performance as a result of precise control over the geometry and dimensions of the rotating elements and the fluid flow path. In particular, the fluid meter has a gate with at least two pockets which rotates at the same velocity as a rotor having the same number of vanes and the inner diameter of the rotor vanes is controlled to provide a properly sized orifice between the vane inner diameter surface and the gate hub so as to provide a driving torque to the gate due to the passage of the vanes through the gate pocket, the gate driving torque being balanced to match gate retarding torques due to fluid dynamic losses, friction of the gate drive train and friction of the gate bearings.

Abstract: A sewing machine pushbutton control is provided in a floating extension with a toggle which assists the movement of a plurality of cam followers into operative engagement with buttonhole controlling cams and actuating mechanism for a needle bar and feed regulator.

Abstract: In an electronically controlled sewing machine which has the capability of accepting plug-in modules consisting of read only memories, a method is provided for checking the integrity of the module memory and the means for coupling the memory to the sewing machine controller. The controller reads the first two locations in the memory to check for the presence of alternating patterns of ones and zeros which indicate that shorted or open data lines are unlikely. Another location in the memory contains the number referred to as a checksum. The controller adds the contents of all the other locations of the module memory to this checksum. If the module is undamaged, this sum will be zero. If the sum is not zero, the controller recognizes that a faulty module has been inserted and advises the operator accordingly.

Abstract: A manual thread cutter for a sewing machine is disclosed in which a cutting blade is supported on a canted surface merging toward the corner of the hollow interior of a face plate covering the head end of the sewing machine. A slot extends continuously through adjacent walls of the face plate approximately medially of the canted surface so that sewing thread may be drawn through the slot to the cutting edge of the cutting blade. A platform extends from one of the adjacent walls coextensive with the bottom surface of the slot so that thread may be pivoted about the platform and drawn into the slot to impinge upon the cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Abstract: An in-line sander for hand held operation and having a housing in which a rotating electric motor drives a drive shaft to rotate on a first axis, with a second axis of the drive shaft canted to the first axis and supporting a bearing thereon. A bearing housing is supported on the bearing to orbit therewith, the bearing housing having an arm extending to a platen support and extensibly and pivotably connected to a portion thereof. This orbiting of the bearing housing influences motion of the platen support in accordance with the angle of the cone described by the second axis of the drive shaft. The platen support is made of a resilient material and carried by the housing on legs extending to a base portion, which legs have a low moment of inertia in the direction of in-line sanding, and a high moment of inertia normal to the direction of in-line sanding, so as to be disposed to motion in the in-line sanding path only.

Abstract: A pushbutton control for a sewing machine is provided with a pivotably mounted carrier for a bell crank which is operably connected to a needle bar. Bight controlling movements are imparted to the needle bar according to the actuation of the bell crank and carrier.

Abstract: A coupling in the drive train between a sewing machine motor and mechanism for driving the sewing instrumentalities of the machine is provided with resilient bumpers. The coupling is further provided with tangs which interface with the bumpers in a manner that is effective to render the spring rate of the coupling variable and reduce both vibrational effects and impact forces in the machine.