An Anti-frictional Parallel Motion for Power Sheep-shears, Horse-clippers, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26.h Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 24th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Anti-frictional Parallel Motion for Power Sheep-shears,
Horse-clippers, and the like.
WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN and THOMAS BURMAN 102 Ryland Road
Edgbaston Birmingham, Manufacturers of Horse-clippers, Sheep-shears etc., do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
The object of our invention is to provide au anti-frictional parallel motion;-
firstly, as a tension for putting pressure, in any convenient position, on the fork
or oscillating lever, which propels and transmits pressure to the cutter of a sheep-
shearing machine. Secondly for supporting the rear end, front end, or any
intermediate part of the fork or oscillating lever, through which the pressure is
transmitted to the cutter.
The oscillating lever, which henceforth we will call the fork, describes an arc of
a circle, in a horizontal line parallel to the face of the comb-plate, and it is in this
plane where we desire to keep it, with a pressure which can be adjusted at will by
the operator of the machine.
It is a parallel motion for a sheep-shear, which preserves an equal tension on the
cutter throughout the whole of the stroke of the fork.
In carrying our invention into effect, we use one or more dumb-bells shaped
rocking-pins, which are a portion of a sphere with the metal cut away, which does
not come into rolling contact, when the machine is at work.
These dumb-bells shaped rocking-pins work in cylindrical shaped recesses, flat
at their base, where the rocking-pins come into contact.
The rocking-pin heads fit the cylindrical recesses, and are guided by their sides.
The faces of the rocking-pin heads (that is the parts which roll inside the
cylindrical flat-bottomed recesses) are a portion of a ball or sphere, and are only
of such a shape, within the limit of the said recesses. The bush into which these
cylindrical recesses are cut, is fixed into the case of the machine. At the opposite
end of the rocking-pins to the bush, in the case of the machine, is another piece of
steel, which henceforth we will call the "pressure-plate." The pressure-plate bas
cylindrical recesses similar to the bush afore mentioned, into which the rocking-pins
work. On the side away from the rocking-pins and near the fork, it is shaped in
a half-cylindrical form, which fits round the fork, which is shaped in a cylindrical
fashion to suit it. The axis of the cylindrical part of the fork, coincides with a
line drawn through the centre of the fork from end to end.
We use the pressure-
plate in this shape when two rocking-pins are used. When we use three rocking.
pins, a ball-shaped bearing on the pressure-plate, or on the fork is necessary.
To make it more easily understood, we will describe the way our anti-frictional
parallel motion works. Suppose the rocking-pins, together with the pressure-plate,
and the bush in the case of the machine, are at the rear end of a fork, of the first
class. Suppose also the crank disc is driving a roller, which is working into a half-
round recess in the rear end of the fork, directly and closely behind the rocking-
pins.
To follow the movements,-When motion is transmitted to the fork from the
crank and roller, it moves the pressure-plate by the cylindrical-shaped portion, and
the pressure-plate moves the rocking-pins by the cylindrical flat-bottomed recesses,

page_text: into which they work. The rocking-pins roll on their spherical faces in the
cylindrical-shaped, flat-bottomed recesses in the pressure-plate, and in like recesses
in the bush, which is fixed into the case of the machine. The fork is supported
by the rocking-pins at one end, and the pressure is put on to the cutter at the
opposite end by means of a tension nut, in, or near the middle of the fork.
Take a case when the pressure-plate, rocking-pins, and bush, (fixed into the case.
or otherwise firmly attached) are used in the front part of the machine.
We call
the front, the part near the comb and cutter. The fulcrum is at the rear. The
three points of bearing on the fork, are the cutter in the front, the rocking-pins in
the middle, and the fulcrum at the back or rear end.
The tension is put on by raising the fulcrum with a screw. The fork is in this
way pressed against the pressure-plate. The pressure-plate presses against the
rocking-pins, which roll one end in it. The rocking-pins press against the bush,
in the recesses of which they roll, which is fixed in, or firmly attached to the case
of the machine. The fore-end of the fork is thus pressed on to the cutter, which
presses on to the comb, and so cuts the wool as desired.
We will now proceed to describe our invention as a "tension." The bush in
which the rocking-pins work, instead of being fixed into the case of the machine,
as when used as a "support," is jointed to a screw, which screws into the case of
the machine. The bush is prevented from moving round, by the sides being milled
flat, which sides fit into a recess to suit them, in the case of the machine.
The rocking-pine work into cylindrical flat-bottomed recesses in this bush, (which
is jointed to the screw above mentioned) and also into a pressure-plate, which
is identical in construction to the one explained in the previous portion of this
Patent.
To avoid and frustrate any attempts at infringement we will mention, one by
one, the different inethods, which might be adopted to attain this object.
First method-The dumb-bells shaped rocking-pin is made flat on the two rolling
ends, instead of in the shape of a sphere. The two flat ends work into cups.
one moveable, and the other fixed. The bottom of the cups are made a portion of
a sphere.
Second method-The dumb-bells shaped rocking-pin is made with a cylindrical
flat-bottomed recess at each end, instead of being a portion of a sphere. The
rocking-pin works on a portion of a sphere, over which the cylindrical sides of
the recesses fit. One portion of a sphere is moveable, the other is a fixture.
Third method-The rocking-pin has a cylindrical recess in one end, and a flat-
faced disc at the other end. In other words it has one end similar to the rocking-
pin described under Method Number One, and the other end similar to the
rocking-pin described under Method Number Two. The flat-faced disc end works
into
cup, the base of which is a portion of a sphere. The other end works over
a sphere-shaped projection. The sphere-shaped projection, or the cup, the base
of which is a portion of a sphere are either moveable or fixed, one fixed when the
other is moveable, and vica versa.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1894.
An Anti-frictional Parallel Motion for Power Sheep-shears,
Horse-clippers, and the like.
We, WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN and THOMAS BURMAN 102 Ryland Road,
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Manufacturers of Horse-clippers, Sheep Shears etc. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of our invention is to provide an anti-frictional parallel motion :-
Firstly as a tension for putting an equalized pressure in any convenient position,
on the fork or oscillating lever, which propels and transmits pressure to the cutter
of a sheep-shearing machine, secondly, for supporting the rear end, front end or
any intermediate part of the fork or oscillating lever through which the pressure is
transmitted to the cutter.
The oscillating lever which henceforth we will call the fork, describes an arc of
a circle in a horizontal plane, parallel to the face of the comb plate, and it is in
this plane where we desire to keep it, with a pressure that can be adjusted at will
by the operator of the machine.
It is a parallel movement for sheep-shear which preserves an equal tension on
the cutter throughout the whole of the stroke of the fork. In carrying our inven-
tion into effect we use two or more dumb-bell shaped rocking-pins or plane-keeper
posts, which are a portion of a sphere with the metal cut away which does not come
into rolling contact when the machine is at work.
These dumb-bell shaped rocking-pins work in flat-bottomed circular sinkings,
whose sides act as guides for keeping the acting faces of the pins in their proper
relative positions.
The faces of the rocking-pin heads (that is the parts which roll inside the
cylindrical flat-bottomed recesses) which, as aforesaid, are a portion of a ball or
The bush
sphere are only of such a shape within the limit of the said recesses.
into which these cylindrical recesses are cut, is fixed into the case of the machine.
At that end of the rocking pins opposite to the bush, and carried at the inner end
of the fork, is another block of metal which henceforth we will call the pressure
plate. This pressure plate has cylindrical recesses on its undersi le similar to those
in the bush afore-mentioned, into which the rocking-pins work. The upper side of
the pressure plate near the fork is provided with a half-cylindrical recess into which
the underside of the said inner end of the fork, which is fashioned cylindrical to suit
it, takes.
The axis of the cylindrical part of the fork coincides with a line drawn through
the centre of the fork from end to end. We use the pressure-plate in this form
when two rocking pins are used.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in longitudinal vertical section,
a power sheep-shear or wool clipper constructed and provided with improvements
in accordance with our invention, which has for its object principally, the equaliza-
tion of the cut, which is produced by mounting the reciprocating fork upon rocking
pins or plane-keeper posts, with heads curved to a radius struck from the middles
of the same, hence an anti-friction parallel motion.
Figure 2 represents a topside plan of the said clipper with the fore part of casing
removed, so as to exhibit the pressure plate, fork oi oscillating lever, the fulcrum
and the end connection of the driving shaft.
Figure 3 represents a cross section upon the dotted liner Figure 1.
Figure 4 18 a cross vertical section of the pressure plate and bottom bearing
bush, with the rocking pins between them, upon an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 represents, upon the same scale, an underside plan of the pressure
plate, and
Figure 6 is a topside plan of the bush.
Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the rocking pins separately, the + representing
the centre from which the curves of the heads are struck.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 7 of
the drawings.
Attached to the fore end or fore part a', of the bottom of the casing a, of the
instrument, is a comb plate b, having working and reciprocating upon its topside b',
a lork or cutter c, carried at the extreme fore end of an oscillating lever c¹, turning

page_text: upon a loose and upright fulcrum or centre c², carried by the bottom of the
casing or fiame a.
The after end of the combined fork and oscillating lever is supported upon a
pair of rocking pins or plane-keeper posts d, located in an upright position, one
upon either side of the axial line of the instrument. Each of these said posts has
curved heads or ends d', with the curves of the faces struck from the centre of
the post, and the lower part-spherical ends take their bearings on the flat bottoms e',
of circular sinkings or holes e², made side by side within a bush e, let into and
affixed within the bottom of the casing a, whilst the upper heads or ends take upon
the flat bottoms f¹, of like sinkings or recesses f', formed in the underside of a
loose pressure plate f, fitted into a cross gap c³, made in the after end of the
oscillating lever, whilst its top side has formed within it, a concaved seating f³,
within which the underside of a cylindrical neck c', of the oscillating lever takes
and bears. This pressure piate is capable of a slight lateral movement around the
said cylindrical part e, as a centre when the cutter plate adapts itself to the plane
of the comb plate. This equalization of plane ensures a constant pressure of the
cutter upon the comb plate, and should any inequality occur on wear of the said
comb plate, the cutter is made to follow its plane by being set up through the
medium of a tension nut as hereinafter described.
The tubular after end a² of the casing has inside bush bearings a³, wherethrough
a driving shaft g, having at its front end a crank disc g', carrying a sphere or
roller g2, which takes into an open-sided socket co, carried at the extreme rear end
of the oscillating lever, takes.
Enclosing the mechanism of the instrument is a loose cover h, fitted to the
easing by screws passing through holes in the said cover and into coincident
holes a, made in the solid metal of the casing. This said cover h, has screwed
into it, a tension nut i, carrying a cone-ended impingement spindle ¹, taking into
a centre sinking c, made in the head c', of the fulcium pin c², which head has
interposed between it and a concaved seating, a semi-circular sectioned bearing
block j, threaded around the upper part of the fulcrum pin, thereby admitting of
the cutter plate falling to the plane of the comb plate. The underside of the
tension nut is toothed or racked, with which the free end k³, of a locking spring k,
engages and so keeps the said nut in its adjusted position.
By mounting the combined fork or cutter and oscillating lever upon double
bearing supports, a uniform setting of the said lever is effected and twisting of the
same prevented.
OPERATION.
On motion being communicated to the shaft from any source of power, the same
is rotated and the crank disc at its inner end, and the crank sphere or roller
carried thereby, is turned with it, by which motion the oscillating cutter and its
lever (which is of the first order) is oscillated about its fulcrum as a centre and
the cutter is made to partake of a parallel movement over the face of the comb
plate and with an equalized pressure. That is, the cutting edge of the cutter plate
is made to travel in the same relative plane as the coinb through the medium of
the ends of the rocking pins or plane-keeper posts rolling upon the flat bottoms
of the sinkings of the bushes of the fixed casing and pressure plate.
Assuming that the cutter requires to be set up to the comb plate consequent
upon wear, this is performed by the rotation of the tension nut, which brings the
opposed faces of the cutter plate and comb together and parallel with one another,
in which position they are maintained by the rocking pins without undue friction,
hence an equalized cut, and further, assuming the cutter and comb are so finely set
up as to bring their faces together but not into actual contact, then the said faces
will glide over one another without friction.
Figure 8 represents a modified form of clipper made according to our improve-
ments. In this arrangement the pressure-plate, rocking-pins and bush (fixed into

page_text: the case or otherwise firmly attached) are used in the front part of the machine,
whilst the fulcrum is situated at the rear. The three points of bearing on the fork
are the cutter in the front, the rocking-pins in the middle and the fulcrum at the
back or rear end. The tension is put on by raising the fulcrum with a screw,
whereby the fork is pressed against the pressure plate, which is in turn, pressed
against the rocking pins whose lower ends roll in recesses formed in the top side of
it, whilst their upper ends work in recesses in a bush fixed in, or firmly attached to
the case of the machine. The fore end of the fork is thus pressed on to the
cutter, which presses on to the comb and so cuts the wool.
a is the casing, having fitted to its fore part, a fixed comb plate b, upon the face
of which a cutter plate c, is reciprocated through the medium of an oscillating
lever c', turning upon a fulcrum c, adjustably fitted within the bottom of the
casing a, and having its upper spherical end c, seating itself and taking its bearing
within a recess c, of the oscillating lever c', which is fitted at its fore part,
real ward of the cutter, with a rolling or trunnion-mounted pressure plate f, f³,
(represented in section and plan in Figures 9 and 10) working within a recess
and having its end curved to admit of its free rocking movement therein.
d are a pair of rocking pins or posts, coming between the flat bottoms f¹, of the
circular recesses fs, of the pressure plate and the flats e', of like sinkings e, in
the bush e, carried by the front underside of the attachable and detachable
cover plate h.
The adjustable fulcrum, which acts both as the centre upon which the operating
lever turns and the means of adjustment for setting the cutter to the comb plate 18
locked by the free end k², of the spring k, engaging with teeth or notches in the
adjustable fulcrum pin or post c³.
y is the shaft. working in the after end of the casing, and with the spherical
crank roller g, carried by the crank disc, working within the socketted end c³, of
the oscillating lever c'.
We will now proceed to describe our invention as a "tension." The bush in
which the rocking-pins work, instead of being fixed into the case of the machine,
as when used as a support, is pivoted to a screw cap, which screws onto the case of
the machine. The bush is prevented from moving round by the sides being flat,
which sides fit into a recess to suit them in the case of the machine. The rocking
pins work in cylindrical flat-bottomed recesses in this bush (which is pivoted to the
screw cap above mentioned) and also into a pressure-plate which is identical in
construction to the one last described.
Figure 11 represents a longitudinal vertical section of such an arrangement and
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the same upon the dotted line ', Figure 11.
a is the body of the casing, b is the comb plate, e the cutter or fork carried by
an oscillating lever c', turning upon a fulcrum c2, at its after end c³, and driven by
a shaft, crank plate and roller g. 9', 92, the latter of which works in a gap c, formed
in the middle part of the lever, which is fitted at its front part, behind the cutter,
with a trunnion-mounted and recessed bush e, (the same as already described in
respect of the pressure plate in Figures 8, 9 and 10) whilst a pair of rocking
posts d, are located between flat-bottomed recesses f¹, é¹, formed in the said bush
and a pressure plate which is so fitted as to rise and fall within an opening h³,
without turning, in the outside screwed fore part 3, of a detachable casing cover h,
upon which screwed part, a tension nut, takes, with its interior boss, coming
upou the top-side f³, of the pressure plate and encircling a circular stud f, of
the same.
Figure 13 represents in transverse vertical section, a modified form of the shear
or clipper as represented in Figures 1 and 2. In this said arrangement Figure 13
the pressure plate is convexed upon its topside upon which a corresponding
concaved underside of the oscillating lever seats itself, instead of the said pressure
plate being concaved as in the first described arrangement. The movable part of
the mechanism is mounted upon three rocking posts instead of upon two as
previously represented.

page_text: Figure 14 is an underside plan of the loose pressure plate f.
a is the casing, h is the cover plate, e is the fixed bush let into the casing a and
having three confine sinkings e, into which the lower ends d' of the posts d take,
whilst the upper ends of the said posts take into three like confine sinkings, made
within the loose pressure plate f, having upon its top side a convexed rib f*, upou
which a like concaved part e of the oscillating lever c¹, takes.
Figure 15 represents a modified form of rocking post and its bearings made
according to our invention. The enlarged ends of the post are made flat or have
plane surfaces, which take within cups or recesses in pressure plate and bush
respectively, which cups have their bottoms formed hemispherical or convexed,
with the curves struck from a radius comprehending one half of the height of
the post.
d is the post, d¹ the flat enlarged ends, taking their bearings upon the hemi-
spherical or convexed bottoms e', f', of sinkings or recesses e, f, formed in a bush e
aud pressure plate f, respectively.
Figure 16 represents a further modification of rocking post and its bearings
constructed according to our invention.
In this arrangement, the ends of the pins are formed into cups or enlarged parts
with socketted middles having flat bottoms taking their bearings upon portions of
spheres carried by the pressure plate and bush respectively and having curves
struck from a radius comprehended by half the distance between the bottoms of
the cupped ends.
d is the post, d' the cupped ends having flat bottoms &, taking their bearings
upon studs e and, carried by bearing plate and bush respectively and having the
ends e,, forned into portions of spheres of the radius already described.
Figure 17 represents another modification of rocking post, made according to
our improvements.
d is the post, with an enlarged and flat end d¹ taking upon an hemispherical
bearing e', (struck from a radius equal to half the height of the post) at the end of
a socket e, of a tension or bush e, whilst the other end d³, is made into the form
of a cup or recess d³, having a flat bottom d, and taking upon a part spherical
bearing of a part f, also struck from half the height of the post, that is the
distance between the flat top d¹, and the flat bottom d.
Figure 18 represents a horse or bair chipper, having rocking posts made in
accordance with our improvements.
Figure 19 is a cross section upon the dotted lines Figure 18.
C
bis the comb plate, e the reciprocating cutter plate, operated by the lever i. his
a cap, made fast with the handle h', h is a tension and h³ are post setting-up screws
with cupped bearings upon their undersides.
d are posts, as in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 13 with their hemispherical bearing
ends taking upon the flat ends of sockets c¹, h. By providing such post supports,
the cutter plate is made to move upon the comb plate in a constant parallel plane.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In sheep shears, horse clippers and the like, making the reciprocating
cutter parts travel in a constant plane parallel to the comb plate through the
medium of rocking pins or plane-keeper posts, having other part spherical heads
working on flat bearing surfaces, or flat heads working on curved or part spherical
beatings or abutments carried by a fixed part and a movable part respectively of
the clipper, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. In sheep shears, horse clippers and the like, making the bearing ends
of the said plane keeper posts, referred to in the preceding clum, work within
sockets or sinkings which form confines for the said ends, substantially as described
and set forth.
Thirdly. In sheep shears, horse clippers and the like, the combination with

page_text: rocking pins or plane keeper posts, of an adjustable pressure plate, either plain
fitted or trunnion mounted and with or without a corresponding fixed bearing bush,
-ubstantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly. In a sheep shear, horse clipper or the like, the combination with
cutter plate, comb plate and oscillating lever, of separated and double rocking
bearings or plane-keeper posts, the cylindrical middle part of the said oscillating
lever seating itself within a semi-circular channel sunken within the pressure plate
or adjustable bearing, substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly. In sheep shears and wool and hair clippers, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts as described and set forth in Figures 1,
2, 3, 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly. In sheep shears and wool and hair clippers, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts as described and set forth in Figure 8
less the fulcrum and tensioning means.
Seventhly. In sheep shears and wool and hair clippers, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts, as described and set forth in Figure 8.
Eighthly. In sheep shears and wool and hair clippers, the general construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts as described and set forth in Figure 13.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1895.
WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN,
THOMAS BURMAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.