Improvements in Clipping and Shearing Appliances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clipping and Shearing Appliances.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM KINGS of 1 Claremont Terrace Long Ditton in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to the manner in which I construct and arrange
sheep shearing and horse clipping appliances in order that a mechanical power
motion may be imparted to the cutters instead of a manual one, the attendant
having to hold the appliance by the handle for the purpose of controlling the
power supply and for directing the cutting, clipping or shearing operations only,
and not for the usual purpose of giving the cutters their movement.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing a sheep shearing
appliance, I make the cutter and comb with the teeth upon them in any well known
manner, the one being placed above the other as in the ordinary hand shearing
appliances. The bottom plate or comb I carry from a projecting rib or arm
standing out from a small motive power cylinder while the upper plate or cutting
shears I carry upon the lower plate by means of guide studs or pins attached
thereto, fitting into slots or grooves formed in the shear plate so that a recipro-
cating movement may be made by the top plate while the bottom or comb plate is
kept stationary; I fasten the two plates together by nuts and washers or by
collars and pins attached to the ends of the guide pins or screws. The centre
portion of the back of the upper plate I cut away to clear the projecting arm of
the cylinder, and I provide a hole within the plate to receive a crank pin or lever
pin which transmits the motion of a rocking arm to the cutting plate. Instead of
causing a pin from this rocking arm to work in a hole within the moving plate, I
may make a projecting pin upon the plate to enter the end of the arm, or I may
cause the end of the arm to press against an opening jaw formed within the plate
to receive it, or formed by projecting lugs or pins from the plate. Instead of
fastening the two plates together in the manner hereinbefore described, I some-
times prefer to guide the top reciprocating shear plate by arranging at each end
thereof an oscillating arm or link-the opposite ends of which are secured by pins
to lugs formed upon the cylinder; and upon the fixed pivot or pin arranged
upon the under plate or arm, I secure a spring which upon either side bears down
upon the arms or links and so transmits a slight and uniform pressure to the
reciprocating plates.
The rocking arm I carry upon a pivot fixed preferably upon the projecting lug
or arm standing out from the cylinder, one end of the arm giving motion to the
cutter, the other end receiving motion from a piston or plunger working within the
cylinder. Thus, as the plunger or piston travels backwards and forwards, the lever
or pivotted arm has a rocking motion given it.
The cylinder I construct preferably with its piston working parallel to the
cutting blades, and I form a tail piece upon it which serves the double purpose of a
valve chest and also a means of attachment for the handle for carrying the whole
apparatus. I provide ports within the cylinder in one manner which open into the
chest at one end and into the cylinder at the opposite end, and I employ a valve
which will shut off either one or the other of the ports from the supply within
the chest or chamber so as to enable the compressed air or steam as may be
employed to enter behind the piston or plunger alternately at each end of the

page_text: cylinder. I provide exhaust openings within the cylinder at a certain distance
down from each end, determined by the length of stroke of the plunger so that
the motive power enters within the cylinder by one port controlled by a valve and
exhausts from it through openings or ports controlled and uncovered by the
movement of the plunger itself. The ends of the cylinder I may close by flanges
or cover plates held in position by screws in any well known manner; and the
piston or plunger I make with its central portion cut away or formed to receive
and give motion to the end of the rocking arm or lever; the piston portions fitting
the cylinder at each end, I may make with packing rings or bearing strips, for
ensuring that no escape of air or steam shall arise when working; these rings or
other packing appliances being of any well known kind used for pistons or
plungers in ordinary engine and other cylinders. Over the valve chamber or chest
I place a cover plate screwed in any well known manner, and I place the valve
within arranged preferably as a tongue plate or springing diaphragm web-like arm
fastened at one end in a pair of clipping or other adjustable plates, or carried in
any convenient manner, so as to permit the free end of the arm or plate to close
either of the port openings upon the cylinder; suitable facing strips being
sometimes attached to the ends of the ports for this valve diaphragm to bed
against.
I convey the air or steam through an opening provided preferably in the exterior
end of the cylinder tail piece and I make the handle in any convenient manner with
: a screwed end to admit of a hose or other coupling or union piece being connected to
it for supplying the air or steam. I may, and I sometimes prefer to arrange a
regulating spring valve, upon the valve chamber or upon the pipe. connection,
which may be convenient for manipulation as the shears are held. I prefer to
employ compressed air, and when so doing, I may cause the exhaust air from the.
cylinder to be directed to the cutting ends of the blades for blowing off the
shearings or cuttings, and dust and dirt, from the surface.
For the convenience of construction I sometimes prefer to arrange my cylinder
and valve chamber in two equal halves or sections having the joint or section
line longitudinally through the centre of the valve chamber and diametrically
through the centre of the cylinder; and I secure these two sections together
mainly by means of a pin or stud to which I also secure my diaphragm plate or
valve. I am thereby enabled to dispense with the use of a valve chamber cover
and cylinder covers.
I vary the shape and arrangement of my cylinder arms and projections together.
with the form of valve and arrangements or ports to suit any particular require-
ment, sometimes making my cylinder tail, with its valve chamber therein, to be
enclosed by a sleeve or jacket forming an outer tubular handle for manipulating
it, while the valve I cause to work horizontally or vertically as may be desired.
I modify the shape and arrangement of the mountings and fittings to suit the
type of shearer or clipper to which my improvements are to be attached.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Clipping and Shearing Appliances.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM KINGS, of 1 Claremont Terrace, Long Ditton, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and 5
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention has reference to the manner in which I construct and arrange

page_text: sheep shearing and horse clipping appliances in order that a mechanical power
motion may be imparted to the cutters instead of a manual one, the attendant
having to hold the appliance by the handle for the purpose of controlling the
power supply and for directing the cutting, clipping or shearing operations only
and not for the usual purpose of giving the cutters their movement.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved power cutter and shears.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line ax, and Figure 3 is a side elevation
of the same.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y y.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing a sheep shearing appliance
I make the cutter A and comb B with the teeth upon them in any well known
manner the one being placed above the other as in the ordinary hand shearing
appliances. The bottom plate or comb B I carry from a projecting rib or arm, or
ribs or arms C standing out from a small motive power cylinder D, while the
upper plate or cutting shears A I carry upon the lower plate by means of guide
studs or pins E secured to the ends of arms M, which studs fit into slots or
grooves E formed in the shear plate or upon bearing blocks attached to the shear
plate so that a reciprocating movement may be made by the top plate A while the
bottom or comb plate B is kept stationary; or I fasten the two plates together
and so guide the one upon the other by nuts and washers, or by cottars secured to
the ends of the guide pins or screws provided upon the bottom plate. I provide
a hole within the plate A, such hole being for the purpose of receiving a
crank pin or lever pin K which transmits the motion of a rocking arm K to
the said cutting plate. Instead of causing a pin from this rocking arm to work
in a hole within the moving plate I may make a projecting pin upon the plate to
enter the end of the arm, or I may cause the end of the arm to press against an
opening jaw formed within the plate to receive it, or formed by projecting lugs or
pins from the plate.
I sometimes prefer to guide the top reciprocating shear plate, as herein before
mentioned, by arranging at each end thereof an oscillating arm or link M, the
opposite ends of which are secured by pins m to lugs M¹ formed upon the cylinder
or upon the arms or brackets C fixed thereto; and upon the fixed pivot or pin F
arranged upon the arm I, I secure a spring plate G which upon either side bears
down upon the arms or links M and so transmits a slight and uniform pressure to
the reciprocating plate.
It is to be understood that the arms M referred to are incapable of oscillation
in the same plane as the shears, and consequently the pins E, which are secured
to their outer ends, remain stationary and work in their slots E' by the
reciprocation of the upper plate.
The rocking arm Ki carry upon a pivot F fixed preferably upon the projecting
lug or arm standing out from the cylinder D, one end of the arm giving motion to
the cutter, the other end K2 receiving motion from a piston or plunger working
within the cylinder. Thus as the plunger or piston L travels backwards and
forwards the lever or pivoted arm K₁ has a rocking motion given it.
The cylinder D I construct preferably with its piston L working parallel to the
cutting blades, and I form a tail piece H¹ upon it which serves the double purpose
of a valve chest and also a means of attachment for the handle H2 for carrying
the whole apparatus. I provide ports n n' within the cylinder, in one manner,
which open into the chest at one end and into the cylinder at the opposite end,
and I employ a valve N which will shut-off either one or the other of the ports
from the supply within the chest or chamber so as to enable the compressed air or
steam as may be employed to enter behind the piston or plunger alternately at
each end of the cylinder. I provide exhaust openings O within the cylinder at a
certain distance down from each end determined by the length of stroke of the
plunger so that the motive power enters within the cylinder by one port
controlled by a valve and exhausts from it through openings or ports controlled

page_text: and uncovered by the movement of the plunger itself. The ends of the cylinder
I may close by flanges or cover plates held in position by screws in any well known
manner and the piston or plunger I make with its central portion cut away or
formed to receive and give motion to the end of the rocking arm or lever; the
piston portions fitting the cylinder at each end. I may make my piston with
packing rings or bearing strips for ensuring that no escape of air or steam shall
arise when working, these rings or other packing appliances being of any well
known kind used for pistons or plungers in ordinary engine and other cylinders.
Over the valve chamber or chest I place a cover plate secured in any well known
manner, and I place the valve within arranged preferably as a tongue plate or
springing diaphragm web like arm fastened at one end N¹ in a pair of clipping
or other adjustable plates or carried in any convenient manner so as to permit the
free end of the arm or plate to close either of the port openings upon the
cylinder; suitable facing strips being sometimes attached to the ends of the ports
for their valve diaphragm to bed against.
I convey the air or steam through an opening H³ provided preferably in the
extreme end of the cylinder tail piece, and I make the handle H² in one
convenient manner with a screwed end to admit of a hose or other coupling or
union piece being connected to it for supplying the air or steam.
I may, and
sometimes prefer to arrange a regulating spring valve upon the valve chamber
or upon the pipe connection, which may be convenient for manipulation as the
shears are held.
I prefer to employ compressed air, and when so doing I may cause the exhaust
air from the cylinder to be directed to the cutting ends of the blades for blowing
off the shearings or cuttings and dust and dirt from the surface.
For the convenience of construction I sometimes prefer to arrange my cylinder
and valve chamber in two equal halves or sections H1 H2 having the joint or
section line longitudinally through the centre of the valve chamber and
diametrically through the centre of the cylinder, and I secure these two sections
together mainly by means of pins or studs H H. I also secure my diaphragm
plate or valve to one of the studs H. I am thereby enabled to dispense with the
use of a valve chamber cover and cylinder cover.
I vary the shape and arrangement of my cylinder arms and projections
together with the form of valve and arrangement of ports to suit any particular
requirement, sometimes making my cylinder tail with its valve chamber therein,
to be enclosed by a sleeve or jacket forming an outer tubular handle for manipu
lating it, while the valve I cause to work horizontally or vertically as may be desired.
1 modify the shape and arrangement of the mountings and fittings to suit the
type of shearer or clipper to which my improvements are to be attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1.) In clipping and shearing appliances the application of a cylinder and
piston to utilize compressed air or steam for setting in motion the cutter, by
means of a reciprocating or rocking lever operated by the piston working within
the cylinder.
(2.) The combination and arrangement of a cylinder having a double ended
piston working within it with a rocking lever or arm for giving motion to the
cutters shears or blades substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(3.) In clipping and shearing appliances the combination and arrangement of a
cylinder with a central passage or chamber through the interior of which the steam
or compressed air may be taken while the exterior surface permits of the operator
holding the same as a handle or is capable of being attached to a handle
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: (4.) The construction and arrangement of a motive power cylinder formed
with end flanges, or divided and joined at central meeting faces, having the supply
ports controlled by a central valve substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(5.) The construction and arrangement of air or steam power clipping and
shearing appliances substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of October 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.