lundi 2 février 2009

How Electricity Transformed Sewing

03:17 Posted by: Marokko Suche 0 comments

By David Trumble

The awesome invention of the sewing machine has inspired creativity for over 150 years.

The first sewing machine was official invented when Elias Howe filed his patent in 1846. His machine required physical energy from the user to make the machine work. The user would either turn a hand crank or pump a treadle device with his or her feet. We might say it ran be human power.

Hand cranks, treadle devices, wheels, belts, and gears turned by the force of the users hand or foot. Sewing was resulted by the transfer of this movement across an upper and lower shaft to the various parts of the sewing machine. This movement caused the needle to rise and fall, while the hook and feed systems moved in concert.

Electrical motors were eventually introduced, but doing so required a new wave of invention. The mechanical devices previously used were replaced by the electrical motor. It was necessary to convert the electrical energy from the motor to mechanical energy within the sewing machine. The result was the use of a belt to transfer the power to the upper shaft of the sewing machine.

Another revolution launched when the electric motor replaced the treadle or hand crank. Sewing quickly became faster, more reliable, and easier. The electric motor could run for hours without ever growing weary. It was common for existing machines to be retrofitted for use with electric motors. Treadle and hand cranks were removed and motors connected via a belt drive. Electricity was transformed into mechanical power.

These motors convert AC (standard household Alternating Current) electricity from the home power outlet into usable kinetic energy to drive wheels, belts, gears, and levers. An AC electrical motor uses electricity to create magnetic flux between coil windings and a central core. The magnetic charges cause the center shaft of the motor to turn generating kinetic or mechanical energy. The turning shaft is connected to a gear or belt drive wheel. A belt wraps around this connection transferring the mechanical energy to the upper of the sewing machine. From this point the wheels, belts, gears, and levers transfer the energy through the sewing machine causing its parts to sew. Today many commercial sewing machines continue to use external sewing machine motors, but most home sewing machines have built in motors.

Today there are two different types of motors used in sewing machines. One is AC and the other is DC. While the flow of electricity must always operate in a continuous loop or circuit, that loop is constantly flipping back and forth with Alternating Current. That loop continues to flow in only one continuous direction positive to negative with Direct Current. Transformers are used to convert one to the other. Electric motors come in two types AC and DC. In both cases the electricity used to run the motor must operate in a continuous unbroken circuit or loop. If the flow of electricity in the circuit flows in one direction and then in the opposite direction, it is called alternating current. If the flow is in only one direction within the loop, it is DC or direct current. Use of a transformer can convert AC to DC or the reverse.

Machines that depend on the use of AC motors, levers, gears, and associated mechanical devices are known as mechanical sewing machines. For many years this was the only kind of sewing machine. Today most low end sewing machines and many commercial sewing machines continue to use AC motors.

In recent years, another revolution has begun. The introduction of integrated computer circuits and other electronics have brought huge improvements in the reliability and smoothness of operations. Another advancement has been the introduction of DC pulse motors to control the sewing machine and produce stitches. The result has been amazing. These modern sewing machines make sewing so much easier and enjoyable.

To repair sewing machines, it is essential that you identify and understand the sewing machine power system. As a sewing machine user, it helps to understand how the sewing machine should work. If you are considering the purchase of a new sewing machine, consider the features of its power system.

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