Improvements in Machines for Shearing or Clipping Sheep and other Animals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1889',
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Shearing or Clipping Sheep and other
Animals.
I CHARLES BURGON of La Plata Works Malin Bridge Sheffield in the County of
York Sheep Shear Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shearing machines
or apparatus, or machines or apparatus for clipping wool or hair from sheep and other
animals.
My improved machine or apparatus consists essentially of a suitable frame or holder
for carrying a finger bar or comb for collecting or gathering the wool or hair of the
animal to be operated upon; also a cutter or knife which has a reciprocating motion
imparted to it by a driver or carrier and working across the upper face of the finger
bar or comb.
Attached firmly to the frame is a handle of wood and iron through which runs
a spindle, at one end of this spindle is fixed a universal joint, the other end is
terminated by a cam or a disc set eccentrically to the line of the spindle, or a disc into
which a pin is set eccentrically; either or any of these will transmit a reciprocating
motion to the carrier or driver this carrier or driver works upon a stud or pin set
in the frame at a convenient point between the finger bar or comb and the back
part of the frame.
In order to make the cutter or knife and the finger bar or comb cut the wool or
hair in a satisfactory and cleanly manner it is most essential to maintain a uniform
pressure upon the cutter or knife through the whole of its stroke or movement across
the upper face of the teeth of the finger bar or comb, ibis I accomplish in the following
manner: To the front part of the carrier or driver I attach a plate corresponding
with the width of the cutter or knife, or the plate can be made solid with the carriers
or driver. On the under side of this plate is formed a recess or hollow space in
which is fixed a spring and on the same side are two projecting pins or studs which
enter corresponding holes in the cutter or knife.
To effect the necessary compression or tension upon the spring the stud about which
the carrier or driver oscillates is provided with a square part at about the same height
as the top of the carrier or driver, upon which is fitted a collar or washer with a
square or suitable hole through its centre; above the square part the stud terminates
in a threaded or screwed part upon which is placed a nut. Upon screwing down
the nut it actuates the collar or washer which, by pressing upon the upper part of the
carrier or driver, causes the latter to slide down bodily upon the stud, this has the
effect of compressing the spring in the front part of the carrier or driver thus creating
a uniform tension or pressure upon the cutter or knife and keeping it in sufficient
contact with the finger bar or comb to effect a clear cutting of the material.
To obviate the jarring upon the stud which is caused by the rapid reciprocating
movement of the carrier or driver I place a spiral or volute spring, or a spring washer,
between the lower side of the carrier or driver and the frame, this spring is placed
over the stud and being constantly in a state of compression by reason of the screwing
down of the nut at the upper part of the stud it has the desired effect of preventing
jarring and unequal wear of the stud.
The working parts of this machine or apparatus, including the cam or disc or
eccentric, and that part of this carrier or driver oscillating upon the stud, will be
conveniently and suitably enclosed in a surrounding casing or cover so made as to
keep the working parts from injury by dust or wool or other obstacle interfering,
with them.

page_text: To prevent the liability of the nut or the stud coming or working loose and so
destroying the tension necessary for cutting, a spanner is permanently attached to
the nut at the end of the spanner farthest from the nut is a projecting pin, which is
to be inserted in any of a series of holes made in the casing or cover, this series
of holes can be made through an angle of 60 degrees or any other suitable angle, by
this means it will be possible to adjust the tension accurately, and to totally prevent
the nut upon the stud from moving.
This machine or apparatus can be driven by a flexible shaft attached to the
universal joint at the end of the spindle, or by any other suitable mechanism
or gearing in connection with any suitable motive power, or by hand power.
Dated this 5th day of November 1889.
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Shearing- or Clipping Sheep and other
Animals.
I CHARLES BURGON of La Plata Works Malin Bridge Sheffield in the County of
York Sheep Shear Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, and on reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings :-
The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shearing machines
or apparatus, or machines or apparatus for clipping wool or hair of sheep and other
animals; and in order that the carrying out of my improvements in practice may be
fully understood I have illustrated them on the accompanying sheet of explanatory
drawings, and have marked the same with letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following description. The same letters of reference indicate like parts
in all the Figures showing those parts.
Figure 1, is a plan or top view of my improved shearing or clipping machine
complete.
Figure 2, is a side view of the same, showing the casing or cover (u) in
section.
Figure 3, comprises three detail views of the carrier (d) and the spring (m).
Figure 4, is a sectional view of the stud or pin (,) in position for working.
Figure 5, comprises a plan and a side view of the tension nut (s).
Figure 6, comprises views of the washer (,) and its square hole.
Figure 7, comprises a plan and a side view of one arrangement of mechanism or
device for putting on the requisite tension, and
Figure 8, comprises a modified arrangement for the same purpose.
This improved machine or apparatus consists essentially of a suitable frame or
holder " which carries a finger bar or comb b, for collecting or gathering the wool
or hair of the animal being operated upon, also a cutter or knife c, which has a
reciprocating motion imparted to it by a driver or carrier d, and working across the
upper face of the finger bar or comb 1.
.
The cutters or knives and also the finger bars or combs of my machines can be
made with any required number of teeth so as to suit the grade or condition, or the
texture of the wool or hair of the animal operated upon.
Attached firmly to the frame or holder a, is a handle e, which is preferably made of
wood and iron, or it can be made of any other suitable material or compound of materials,
through which handle runs a spindle f. At one end of this spindle is fixed a universal
joint g, the other end is terminated by a cam, or a disc, h, set eccentrically to the
line of the spindle, or a disc is provided in which a pin i, is set eccentrically, either
of these will transmit a reciprocating motion to the carrier or driver d, this carrier or
driver works upon a stud or pin, set in the frame or holder a, at a convenient

page_text: point between the finger bar or comb b, and the back part of the frame or
holder a.
attach a
In order to make the cutter or knife c, and the finger bar or comb b, cut or clip the
wool or hair in a satisfactory and cleanly manner it is most essential to maintain a
uniform pressure upon the cutter or knife c, through the whole of its stroke or
movement across the upper face of the teeth of the finger bar or comb b, this I accomplish
in the following manner :-To the front part of the carrier or driver d,
plate &, corresponding with the width of the cutter or knife c, or the plate can be
made solid with the carrier or driver. On the underside of this plate a recess or
hollow space, is formed in which is fixed a spring m, and on the same side
are two projecting pins or studs n, which enter corresponding holes in the cutter
or knife c.
To effect the necessary compression or tension upon the spring the stud or pin j,
about which the carrier or driver d, oscillates, is provided with a square part o, (shown
at Figure 4) at about the same height as the top of the carrier or driver d, upon
which is fitted a collar or washer p, with a square or other suitably shaped hole y,
(see Figure 6) made through its centre; above the square part the stud or pin j,
terminates in a threaded or screwed part, upon which a nut s, is fitted. Upon
screwing down the nut s, it actuates the collar or washer p, which by pressing upon
the upper part of the carrier or driver d, causes the latter to slide down bodily upon
the stud or pinj, this has the effect of compressing the spring m, in the front part of
the carrier or driver d, thus creating a uniform tension or pressure upon the cutter
or knife c, and keeping it in sufficient contact with the finger bar or comb b, to effect
a clear cutting of the wool or hair.
To obviate the jarring upon the stud which is caused by the rapid reciprocating
movement of the carrier or driver d, I place a spiral or volute spring t, or a spring
washer, between the lower side of the carrier or driver and the frame or holder a, this
spring is placed over the stud or pinj, and being constantly in a state of compression,
by reason of the screwing down of the nuts, at the upper part of the stud, it has the
desired effect of preventing jarring and any unequal wear of the stud.
The working parts of this machine or apparatus, including the cam or disc or
eccentric, and that part of the carrier or driver oscillating upon the stud, will be
conveniently and suitably enclosed in a surrounding casing or cover u, so made and
fitted as to keep the working parts from injury by either dust or wool or hair or other
obstacle interfering with the working mechanism.
To prevent the liability of the nuts, on the stud j, becoming or working loose and
so destroying the tension necessary for cutting, a spanner, is permanently attached
to the nut. At the end of the spanner furthest from the nut is a projecting
pin w,
which is to be inserted in any one of a series of holes a, made in the casing
or cover this series of holes can be made throughout an angle of 60 degrees or
any other suitable angle, by this means it will be possible to adjust the tension
accurately and to totally prevent the nuts, upon the stud j. from moving. Or
the same result can be effected by using the fastening or securing device shown at
Figure S, which consists of a nut the underside of which is formed into a ratchet
wheel y, and to prevent the nut working loose a suitable pawl and spring z, is or can
be used if required.
The mode of actuating and working this machine or apparatus is as follows:-To
the end of the universal joint g, a suitable flexible shaft is attached, this on being set
in motion gives the motive power to the spindle, which in turn causes the cam or
eccentric to act upon the driver or carrier d, and produces an oscillatory movement
of the same.
The active cutter or knife c, being firmly attached to the driver or carrier moves
across the face of the stationary finger bar or comb b. A properly rated speed of
the oscillating parts having been attained and the necessary tension being put upon
the cutter by the nut s, or the spanner e, the machine or apparatus can then be
applied to the sheep or other animal and the result will be that the wool or hair is
quickly and cleanly cut or clipped.

page_text: Besides being driven by a flexible shaft,, as mentioned; this machine or apparatus
can be driven or actuated by any other suitable driving mechanism or gearing in
connection with any suitable and convenient motive power or motor, or it can be
actuated by hand power when required.
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 :-
The improved general construction and the particular combination arrangement
and use of the working parts in the whole constituting a new more simple and more
efficient shearing or clipping machine or apparatus, and its application and use
for shearing the wool of sheep or other animals, or for clipping the hair of animals,
substantially as is hereinbefore described, and as illustrated on the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
Dated this 20th dow of Navambar 1880
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, High Street, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.