Improvements in Mechanical Clippers for Sheep and other Animals.
Year: 1890

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Clippers for Sheep and other
Animals.
We, PHILIP ASHBERRY, Burngreve Road, Manager, and WALTER BARNES, Intake
Road, Ivory Carver, both of Sheffield in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention is for improvements in the construction of apparatus for clipping
sheep and other animals, the object being to simplify the mechanism as much as possible,
and to perfect its action.
The apparatus is a mechanical clipper having a reciprocating action, to be driven
by any suitable kind of motive power through the medium of a so called flexible
sbaft.
It consists broadly of a semi-tubular casing shaped so as to be conveniently held in
the hand, having at the front end a comb shaped bottom-cutter, on the upper face of
which is the reciprocating cutter, the back end is jointed and otherwise formed to be
readily connected to the flexible shafting of the motive power.
We propose to make the comb or bottom cutter to fit into the front end of the
casing, (the upper part of which is cut away) up to a shoulder, and to secure it in
position by two screws in open end slots, so that when required by slackening the
screws it can be drawn out and replaced with the least possible trouble.
We prefer, but do not bind ourselves, to make the reciprocating cutter, of a single
V shape with cutting edge on both sides and provided with two holes in its upper face
to receive the ends of the two adjusting screws which project through the underside
of the cutter carrier.
The carrier is an arm extending backwards into the casing, fitting upon a vertical
pin screwed into the bottom of the casing, and to avoid friction it is held and works
between two sets or rings of antifriction balls which are enclosed in annular grooves
formed round and concentric with the vertical pin before mentioned in the upper and
lower faces of the enlarged end of the carrier and in top and bottom collar plates, and
are finally secured by a locknut.
The carrier has thus a circular horizontal movement upon the pin, and it can be
adjusted in height, so as to put more or less pressure upon the cutter, by screwing or
unscrewing the vertical pin which forms its axis.
A short connecting rod with a U shaped end, fits upon two studs (or axes) projecting
from cach side of the boss of the carrier, which passes over the vertical pin, the
opposite end of the rod being cupped to engage with a ball shaped or spherical stud,
forming a crank pin, upon a disc either made solid with or fixed upon the end of the
driving shaft, and enclosed in the casing.
This arrangement enables the rotary motion of the shaft and disc, to impart a
horizontal reciprocating motion to the carrier and to the cutter, which is thus moyed
to and fro across the face of the comb or bottom cutter.
The mechanism before described is enclosed by a cover plate, which we prefer to
make of steel, which is preferably held in position by a lug at the back, and two stude
in front taking into corresponding holes in the casing, and it is secured by a thumb
nut passing on the top part of the vertical screw before named which projects through
the cover plate, near the front, and on the inside of the cover plate we fix a tension
spring, which extends forward and rests upon the front end of the carrier by which it
is carried to and fro and upon which it exerts a pressure which can be regulated to
any extent by the thumbscrew aforesaid as desired.
A
1
1200

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Clippers for Sheep and other
Animals.
We PHILIP ASHBERRY, Burngrenve Road, Manager, and WALTER BARNES, Intake
Road, Ivory Carver, both of Sheffold in the County of York de 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 :—
This invention is for improvements in the construction of apparatus for clipping
sheep, and other animals; the object being to simplify the mechanism as much as
possil le, and thereby enable it to be driven with a minimum of power, also to render
it moro perfect in its operation.
The apparatus is intended to be held in the han 1, and to be driven by any kind of
motive power, transmitted through the medium of a so called flexible shaft.
The cutter has a horizontal reciprocating motion upon the face of a bottom cutter or
comb, and the pressure or "cut" is easily adjusted or regulated.
We have illustrated the apparatus and its mechanical parts in the annexed drawings,
in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the clipper, with part of the casing cut away to show
the interior.
Fig. 2, is a plan, part being in section, and other parts removed.
Fig. 8, plan and side view of reciprocating arm, and connecting rod.
Fig. 4, details of the driving joint.
Fig. 5, view of modified arrangement of reciprocating arm, and tension bar.
Fig. 6, plan of same, with case removed.
The apparatus consists, (speaking broadly) of a semitabalar casing and cover A,
and B, shaped so as to be conveniently hell in the hand, having at the front end a
comb-shaped bottom cutter C. on the upper face of which the cutter D), works to and
fro, being driven by reciprocating mechanism inside the casing, connected with a
revolving flexible shaft driven by any motive power.
We propose to make the comb U, to fit into the front end of tho easing A, and
socure it in position by screws E, in open slots F, so that by slackening the screws,
the comb can be drawn out and replaced.
We may make the cutter proper, D, with one or more points, but preferably throe
as shown, and provided with holes G, to receive corresponding studs H, projecting
from the under face of the tension bar or driver I; the shallow segmental groove J,
is merely to reduce friction between the cutter and the comb.
The tension har or driver 1, is attacked to the reciprocating arm K, and can be
pressed down upon the cutter with any required degree of force without interfering
with the adjusted position of the arm by means of the adjusting screw L, and the
screw may be fixed in position, when adjusted, by a spring catch, or other moans.
The reciprocating arm with the carrier, is hold between two circles of antifriction
balls M and N, rolling in annular grooves nada in the collars O and P, these collars
are carried by the vertical sorewed stud Q, secured to the easing A.
We prefer to make the collar P, solid with the screw, but the upper one O, is
provided with a screw thread and is therefore adjustable in its height, and when by
setting it down upon the balls the proper pressure is put upon the arin K, it is secured
by the locknut R.
Although the arm K, has a circular reciprocating motion, concontric with the stud Q,
it does not bear upon the stud, its action being entirely upon the balls controlled by
the annular grooves, causing the minimum of friction.
The reciprocating motion is imparted by a connecting rod S, fitting upon studs or
pins projecting from each side of the boss of the arm K, the opposite end of the rod
engaging with the eccentric pin of a revolving disc T. The said pin is made partly
spherical, and its into a corresponding recess formed in the end of the con-
necting rod.

page_text: The dise T, is fitted upon a short shaft, fitted with an adjustable nut, and working
upon antifriction balls as shown in Fig. 2, the screwed end of the shaft projecting from
the end of the casing.
When the above mentioned shaft revolves it imparts a horizontal reciprocating
motion to the arm K, the driver or carrier I and cutter D, moving the cutter to and
fro across the face of the comb C.
The loose cover B, is secured by a screw V, taking into a threaded hole in the top
of the stud Q, or it may be hinged to the casing, and when closed may be secured by
any suitable appliance.
As a means by which the motive power may be transmitted from the flexible shaft
to the clipper, leaving the clipper free to be moved about in any direction, we have
constructed a specia! form of coupling or universal joint, shown in Fig. 4.
It consists of a ball W and socket X, fitted together in the manner shown; the
socket is constructed to screw firmly upon the screwed end of the shaft which projects
from the end of the casing of the clipper. The ball cannot escape from the socket,
which is closed upon the ball at one end, and forms a bearing or seat for it to work
against.
The driving connection is made by two antifriction balls Y, let into concave recesses
formed in the inside of the socket, and also fitting into a concave groove Z, passing
round the periphery of the ball Wi to which the end of the flexible shaft is secured.
A modified arrangement of the parts beforo described is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in
which the arm K, is shortened, so as to bring it very nearly inside the cover B, and
the driver I, has a ball shaped fulcrum fitting in the cupped end of K, the pressure or
tension being applied to the cutter by turning the nut L, and raising the back end
of I. The nut is held where desired by a spring catch or the like.
By the peculiar construction of our clipper, and the novel adaptation of antifriction
ball bearings to the reciprocating arm K, and the driving joint or universal joint or
coupling to which the flexible shaft from the motor is attached, we have materially
reduced the frictional contact of such parts, and have produced a compact and efficient
clipper that can be worked with a minimum of power and practically without vibration,
or shako.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1-In a clipper for clipping sheep and other animals the combination of the various
parts, marked, A, B, C, D, 1, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, constructed and arrangod
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings annexed.
2-In a clipper, for clipping sheep and other animals the construction of the
reciprocating apparatus, consisting of the parts K and S; the collars O and P; the
circles of balls M and N; the spring carrier I, and stud Q, substantially as herein-
before described, and shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
3-The modified construction of the arm K, with a driver I, working upon a ball
fulcrum, substantially as hereinbefore described, and shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
4-In clippers for sheep and the like, the method of putting pressure on
the cutter, by means of a har I, or its equivalent, attached to the reciprocating arm,
so that it can be set down upon the cutter, without disturbing the position of the arm,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 29th day of October 1890.