IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING, SHEARING, OR CLIPPING HEDGES, CORN OR CORN STACKS, GRASS LAWNS OR TURF, SHEEP, HORSES, OR OTHER ANIMALS, OB HUMAN HAIR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Ridgway, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the
County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR
MACHINES FOR CUTTING, SHEARING, OR CLIPPING HEDGES, CORN OR CORN
STACKS, GRASS LAWNS OR TURF, SHEEP, HORSES, OR OTHER ANIMALS, OB
HUMAN HAIR."
Sealed the 6th February 1880, and dated the 13th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Ridgway at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1879.
ALFRED RIDGWAY, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING, SHEARING, OR
CLIPPING HEDGES, CORN OR CORN STACKS, GRASS LAWNS OR TURF, SHEEP, HORSES,
OR OTHER ANIMALS, OR HUMAN HAIR."
This Invention relates to cutting, shearing, or clipping instruments or machines
in which a series of cutting teeth are provided and caused to reciprocate or
oscillate over each other, the action of which when applied to hedges, corn or
corn stacks, grass lawns or turf, sheep, horses, or other animals, or human hair,
cuts or clips therefrom, according to the nature of the produce, twigs, straw, grass,
wool, or hair gathered in the teeth.
The object of the Invention is to facilitate and obtain a better, cleaner, and
more certain cut or means of cutting on a series of blades or teeth for the purpose
of cutting, shearing, or clipping hedges, corn or corn stacks, grass lawns or turf,
sheep, horses, or other animals, or human hair.
The Invention relates to the cutting teeth, and consists in obtaining a true shear
or scissor-like cut on a series of blades by causing the edges of the blades to cross
each other at a slight angle similar to that of shears or scissors, and consequently
bring the edges of the top blades in absolute contact with the edges of the bottom
blades when passing over each other, thereby obtaining a better, cleaner, and more
certain cut than heretofore on a series of blades.
In carrying my Invention into effect I use various mechanisms, as appears most
applicable to the different purposes before mentioned, but any of the different

page_text: mechanisms or a combination of the different mechanisms may be made more or less
applicable to any of the different purposes, for all of which different purposes the
object is to cause the edges of the top and bottom blades or teeth to pass over
each other at a slight angle, or cause the edges of the top and bottom blades
to cross each other in passing over each other, and consequently bring the edges
of the top and bottom blades in close and certain contact with each other,
similarly to the blades of scissors or other single cutting shears now in common
use, thereby obtaining a better, cleaner, and more certain cut on a series of blades.
A suitable construction of apparatus for carrying out the principle of my
Invention is the following:-A plate with a number of cutting teeth is caused to
reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth of an under plate with teeth to correspond
to the teeth of the upper plate; the plates are secured together by studs, and
slide in slots in the said plates made to receive the same. The lower plate is
fixed to a handle by which the machine is held or guided to its work.
By another or corresponding handle a rectilinear, reciprocating, or oscillating
motion is given to the top plate through the medium of a lever handle, the fulcrum
of which is formed by a stud which passes through both handles or levers and
connects them together.
The top lever handle is connected to the top plate only by means of a compound
stud, the centre part of which is secured to the top plate and passes through the
centre of the sliding part, which in the motion of the machine works to and fro in
a slot made to receive it in the top part of the top lever handle.
The plates and blades or teeth are slightly bent from the back of the plates to
the points of the blades or teeth, thereby causing the edges of the top and bottom
blades or teeth to come in contact in passing over or climbing up each other.
The plates and blades may either be made of plates of metal so thick that they
will not bend or spring as the edges come in contact or climb up each other in the
motion of the machine, therefore the studs which hold them together are provided
with a spring which allows the studs and blades to give way sufficiently to allow
the top blades to pass over or climb up the bottom blades, and hold the top and
bottom blades sufficiently together to bring the edges in contact in passing over
each other; the studs rest in slots in the top and bottom plates, and project over
the said top and bottom plates, thereby holding the two plates together and
allowing the top plate sufficient oscillation over the bottom plate.
Or the plates and blades may be made of plates of metal sufficiently thin to give
way or bend in passing over each other, therefore the studs which hold the two
plates together may be made rigid.
It will be understood that the construction of apparatus will require modification
to adapt it for the different uses to which it may be applied, but such modifications
need no description, as in all cases the general principle of the Invention is
retained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Ridgway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1880.
ALFRED RIDGWAY, of 18, Market Place, Macclesfield, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES FOR CUTTING, SHEARING, OR
CLIPPING HEDGES, CORN OR CORN STACKS, GRASS LAWNS OR TURF, SHEEP, HORSES,
OR OTHER ANIMALS, OR HUMAN HAIR."
This Invention relates to cutting, shearing, or clipping instruments or machines
in which a series of cutting teeth are provided, and caused to reciprocate, oscillate,
or rotate over each other, the action of which when applied to hedges, corn, grass
lawns or turf, or other vegetable produce, sheep, horses, or other animals, or human-
hair, cuts or clips therefrom, according to the nature of the produce, twigs, straw,
grass, wool, or hair gathered in the teeth. The object of the Invention is to
facilitate and obtain a better, cleaner, and more certain cut or means of cutting on
a series of blades or teeth for the purpose of cutting, shearing, or clipping hedges,
corn, grass lawns or turf, or other vegetable produce, sheep, horses, or other
animals, or human-hair.
'
The Invention relates to the cutting teeth, and consists in obtaining a true shear
or scissor like cut on a series of both top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth, by
bringing the edges of the top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth when passing
over each other in absolute and certain contact, alternately both in a to and fro
motion, or a circular reciprocating, or a continuous rotary motion, or in a to or fro
motion only by causing the edges of the top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth
to cross each other at a slight angle similar to those of single cutting shears or
scissors now in common use, and consequently to bring the edges of the top blades
in absolute and certain contact with the edges of the bottom blades, and vice-versa,
thereby obtaining a better, cleaner, and more certain cut than heretofore on a
series of both top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth, either in a to and fro or
rectilinear reciprocating motion, a circular reciprocating motion, or a continuous
rotary motion of the blades over each other. In carrying my Invention into effect
various mechanisms may be used, as appears most applicable to the different
purposes before mentioned, but any of the different mechanisms herein described, or
a combination or modification of the different mechanisms, may be made more or
less applicable to any of the different purposes before mentioned, for all of which
different purposes the object is to cause the edges of the top and bottom sections,
blades, or teeth to pass over each other at a slight angle, or cause the edges of the
top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth to cross each other in passing over each
other, and consequently to bring the edges of the top and bottom sections, blades,
or teeth in close or certain contact with each other, similarly to those of single
cutting shears or scissors now in common use, thereby obtaining a better, clearer,
or more certain cut than heretofore on a series of top and bottom sections, blades,
or teeth, either in a to and fro rectilinear reciprocating motion, a circular recipro-
cating motion, or a continuous rotary motion of the blades over each other. In
order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect,
I have shewn in Drawings hereunto annexed instruments or machines constructed
according to my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine suitable for cutting hedges, corn, grass, lawns,
or turf, of which Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation; Fig. 3 is a section full size through
the levers d¹ and d² and slide stud s, and shews the top and bottom blades in the
position shewn in Fig. 1, and shews a gradual contact of the cutting surface or
edges, beginning from the heel of the sharp blades, or teeth, or shear b¹ and b², and
also the manner in which the blades cross each other; Fig. 4 is a section shewing
the blades and b when the blades b' have passed over the blades 6% to the dotted

page_text: position n, Fig. 1, and again shewing the manner in which the blades cross each
other at this point; Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 1 shewing the blades b¹ and 6³
when the blades b¹ have passed over the blades 6 and completed the cut. The
mechanism is arranged as follows:-A plate a' with a series of coarse cutting
teeth b¹ are caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth 62 of an under plate a²
with teeth to correspond with the teeth of the upper plate. The under plate a² is
fixed to a handle d², h¹, Figs. 1 and 3, by which the machine is held and guided to
its work. By another or corresponding handle d', h², Figs. 1 and 3, a rectilinear
reciprocating or oscillating motion is given to the top plate a¹ through the medium
of a lever handle d', e, h², the fulcrum e of which is formed by a stud e which
passes through both handles or levers and connects them together. The lever
handle d', e, h2, is connected to the top plate a¹ only by means of a compound
stud 8, Figs. 1 and 3, the centre part of which is secured to the top plate a¹ and
passes through the centre of the sliding part, which in the motion of the machine
works to and fro in a slot 82, Fig. 3, to receive it in the top part of the lever
handle d, e, h³, as shewn at Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The plates a' and a³ and the blades
or teeth b¹ and 62 are bent from the point a¹, a³, to the point m, Fig. 5, as shewn,
thereby causing the edges of the top and bottom blades to come in contact in
passing over or climbing up each other. The two plates a¹ and a³ are held
together by means of studs c¹ and c. The studs c¹ and c³ and the blades o¹ and 6ª
are held together by screws r, Figs. 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8; the plates and blades, as
shewn, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are made of metal so thick that they will not give, bend,
or spring as the edges come in contact or climb up each other, therefore the studs
which hold them together are provided with a spring p in the cavity q, which
allows the studs and blades to give way sufficiently to allow the top blades to pass
over or climb up the bottom blades, and hold the top and bottom blades sufficiently
together to bring the edges in contact in passing over each other. The studs c¹
and c* rest in slots 1, Fig. 1, in the top and bottom plates a' and a³, and project
over the said top and bottom plates, as shewn, Figs. 4 and 5, thereby holding the
two plates together and allowing the top plate sufficient oscillation over the bottom
plate. The plates and blades, as shewn, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, are made of metal
sufficiently thin (or of sheet steel about 23 guage) to give way or bend in passing
over each other, as shewn, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, therefore the studs c¹ and c² are made
rigid. Fig. 9 is a plan of a machine for cutting or clipping horses, sheep, or other
animals, of which Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are sectional elevations. The mechanism is
arranged as follows:-A plate a¹ with a series of cutting teeth 61 and 62, Figs. 9,
10, 11, 12, and 13, of suitable size as applied to the different purposes, which are
let into grooves g¹ and g³ in the top and bottom plates provided to receive the same,
are caused to reciprocate or oscillate over the teeth 62 of an under plate a², Figs. 9,
10, 11, 12, and 13, the teeth of which are let into the said plate a² in grooves
provided to receive the same. The under plate a² is fixed to a handle d², h², by
which the instrument or machine is held or guided to its work; by another or
corresponding handle d, h², a rectilinear reciprocating or oscillating motion is given
to the top plate a' through the medium of a lever handle d', h³, the fulcrum e of
which is formed by a stud e which passes through both handles or levers and
connects them together. The lever handle d', h³, is connected to the top plate a¹
only by means of a compound stud 8, Figs. 10 and 12, the centre part of which is
secured to the top lever handle d', h³, and passes through the centre of the sliding
parts, Fig. 12, which in the motion of the machine works to and fro in a slot
made to receive it in the top plate a¹, as shewn at 8, Fig. 12. The teeth in the
plates a¹ and a* are held in the grooves in the plates a¹ and a³ by a rod r, Figs. 10,
11, 12, and 13, which is received in a groove made in the said teeth and sides of the
grooves in the plates a¹ and a³ to receive the same. The said rod r, Figs. 10, 11, 12,
and 13, also serves to keep the heels of the teeth 61 and 62 slightly apart, and
thereby causes the teeth of the top plate to pass over the teeth of the bottom plate
at a slight angle, and thereby produce the desired shear or scissor-like cut. The said
rod also serves to prevent the top plate a' from pressing on the teeth as the top

page_text: plate a¹ is carried or slides on the said rod r and the heel of the bottom plate a³,
thereby allowing the teeth b¹ a little play to work up and down in the grooves in
the top plate when passing over the teeth in the bottom plate a³. The required
amount of pressure is given to the teeth in the top plate to cause them to cut when
passing over the teeth in the bottom plate by the spring p, Figs. 9, 11, 12, and 13,
the amount of pressure being adjusted by the screw m' and the bolt m³, which
passes through the plates a¹ and a², the spring p, the equalizing plate 1, Figs. 9, 11,
12, and 13, and holds them together. The spring p is slit so as to allow each tooth
in the top plate to work independently of the other; the spring p is also secured
in position by the two pins n, which also serves to keep the equalizing plate 7,
Figs. 9, 11, and 13, in position, as shewn on Fig. 9. The top plate a¹ and the
spring pare slotted to allow the said top plate a¹ and spring p, a sufficient
rectilinear reciprocating and oscillating motion about the bolt m². Fig. 15 is
another plan of a machine for cutting or clipping sheep or other animals or human
hair, of which Figs. 17, 18, and 19, are sectional elevations. The mechanism is
arranged as follows:-A rod r, Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, with a series of
teeth, which are separately connected or hinged by the hinges a¹, which are
secured to the top blades by the screws m¹ and m³, the said rod being secured to
the sides of the bottom plate a' by the screws ³, Fig. 15, the sides of the bottom
plate a³, Fig. 20, being turned up to receive the said rod r, Fig. 20; the rod thereby
carries the heels of the blades b², Figs. 17, 18, and 19, slightly apart from the heels
of the bottom blades 63, thereby causing the edges of the top and bottom blades to
pass over each other at a slight angle, and cause the edges of the said top and
bottom blades to come in contact in passing over each other. Fig. 17 is a sectional
elevation shewing the angle or shear of the blades when in the position shewn in
plan Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation shewing the angle or shear when the
top blades have been brought into the position shewn by the dotted lines n, Fig. 15,
and shews the manner in which the top blades gradually climb up the bottom
blades or teeth. Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation shewing the angle when the top
blades have passed over the bottom blades and completed the cut; the top blades b¹
in passing over or climbing up the bottom blades 6 work on the hinge a¹, and the
requisite amount of pressure to keep the edges of the said top blades in contact
with the edges of the bottom blades and cause them to cut in passing over the
bottom blades is given by the springs p, which are secured to the back part of the
hinge a³, Figs. 15, 17, 18, and 19; the said back part of the hinge a³ is also hinged
upon the rod r.
The bottom plate a³ is slightly twisted, so that when the blades b²,
Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19; are secured to the said bottom plate a³ by the screws m³
and m, the point 63 of the blade 6 is sufficiently higher than the point 6* of the
adjoining blade 63 to allow the point of the blade 6' to fall sufficiently to obtain a
shear or to cross the edges while passing over or climbing up each other. Motion
is given to the machine as follows:-The under plate a² is connected to the side of
the handle d' by the stud e', which forms a hinge joint. The other or corresponding
side of the handle d' is connected to the back part of the hinge a³ by the
stud e³, which also forms a hinge joint; by this means a rectilinear reciprocating or
oscillating motion is given by pressing the handle or handles together; when the
cut is completed the blades 61 are brought back again ready for another cut by the
spring or bow part of the handle 8, Fig. 15.
Fig. 21 is another plan of a machine for cutting or clipping sheep or other
animals or human hair; Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of the same. The mechanism
is arranged similarly to the grass cutter, Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, but shews the teeth
and other mechanism adapted to sheep shearing or horse clipping, the only material
difference being in the teeth, Figs. 21 and 22, being made longer than the actual
cutting part to give the teeth the requisite amount of spring in passing over each
other, as before described, and also in there being an under plate 18 to prevent the
wool, hair, or other produce gathered in the teeth passing farther down than the
actual cutting edges of the teeth, or the part where the blades come in actual
contact with each other in passing over each other. In addition to this there is

page_text: also an equalizing top plate l, to equalize the pressure given to the teeth through
the stud c¹ and screw r; also instead of the blades being bent, as shewn in the
grass cutter, Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the heel of the top plate al slides upon a plate t,
which is secured to the bottom plate a², to give the blades 6¹ the requisite amount
of shear in passing over the blades b, as before described.
Fig. 23 is another plan of a machine for cutting or clipping sheep or other animals
or human air; Fig. 24 is a sectional elevation of the same. The mechanism is
arranged as follows:-A circular concave plate a², with a series of cutting teeth b*
all round, is caused to reciprocate, or oscillate, or rotate under a convex plate a¹
with a series of cutting teeth 61 to correspond with the teeth of the under plate a².
It will be seen that owing to the respective concave and convex formation of the
plates aand a¹, and blades 62 and b¹, the edges of the respective blades of the
lower and upper plates a² and a' are in the reciprocating, oscillating, or rotary
motion of the machine kept in absolute and certain contact, as before described in
the rectilinear bending grass cutter blades, Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. The additional
bottom plate is to prevent the wool, hair, or other produce gathered in the teeth
passing farther down than the actual cutting edges of the teeth, or the part where
the blades come in actual contact in passing over each other. The bottom plates a³
and are secured to the shaft d by the screw c, they are also secured to the shaft d
by a tongue in the end of the shaft d, which fits in a corresponding slot in the
plates a² and 2. The top plates a¹ and are secured to a tubular cylinder e by
the screws ff; to the tubular cylinder e is secured a handle h by the rod and
the screw 8, by which handle the machine is held and guided to its work; the
shaft d also serves to secure the top and bottom plates and blades together by the
flange, which projects over the top plate U, and holds the blades together and gives
the requisite amount of pressure for cutting; to the said shaft d is also connected
a spiral spring p, which enables the operator to work the machine. at any angle,
the said spiral spring being connected with a telescope shaft with a universal joint
at the top, to which motion may be given by any convenient means, the said spiral
spring being covered over externally by an indian-rubber or other flexible tube,
which is connected to the exterior of the tubular cylinder e, and is stationary in the
motion of the machine; this is to prevent the wool or other produce being cut by
the machine from twining round the said rotary spiral spring p. By the means
before described a rotary motion is given to the bottom blades and teeth b², and so
performs the cutting operation. If desired a circular reciprocating or oscillating
motion may be given to the blades or teeth to the extent of passing over one, two,
three, or more blades, as may be desired, by any known means. I also shew at
Fig. 25 the size of teeth for the grass cutter that I deem the most practical, and
also a very simple and practical means of putting the same together. The plan,
Fig. 25, shewing the plates, teeth, and slots is full size. The top and bottom
plates are secured together by the clamps, Figs. 26 and 27, as follows:-The clamp
while open, as shewn at Fig. 26, is inserted through the slots of the top and bottom
plates, and then an additional plate of the same thickness as the said plates is
placed under the clamps, and then the clamps are pressed or bended together as
close as possible, as shewn at Fig. 27, when the additional plate is then withdrawn,
which then allows sufficient play for the two plates and blades to work easily over
each other, motion being given to the said plates and blades, as already described in
the description of Figs. 1 and 2. Having now described several different means or
mechanisms by which the scissor or shear like cut may be obtained, I would make
the following observations as to the best known practical, simple, and cheap means
of obtaining the said shear or scissor like cut on a series of top and bottom sections,
blades, or teeth :-
Firstly. I deem it the most practical and inexpensive to make the plates and
blades for any of the different purposes out of one sheet or piece of steel, as shewn
and described at Figs 1 to 8 inclusive, and Figs. 21 to 25 inclusive.
Secondly. For sheep shearing a driving apparatus may be used to give motion
to the machines, such as has been before used for similar purposes. By this means

page_text: a reciprocating, or oscillating, or rotary motion may be given to any of the
machines, as may seem most applicable or desirable for any of the different
purposes.
Thirdly. The size and construction of machine I prefer for hedge cutting is that
shewn and described, Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The size and construction of machine
I prefer for grass cutting is that shewn and described in the description of Figs. 25
to 27 inclusive. For sheep shearing I prefer the size and description of teeth and
machines described at Figs 21 to 24 inclusive. The thickness of plates and blades
I prefer is about 18 gauge.
For horse clipping I prefer size of teeth shewn at Figs. 9 and 10, but constructed
similarly to Figs. 21 and 22. The thickness of plates and blades I prefer for
horse clipping is about 19 guage. Motion may be given to the blades automatically
similarly to a reaping machine for cutting corn or grass.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to
limit my claim solely to the exact arrangement of mechanism herein described, as
the same may be greatly varied without departing from the true character of my
Invention. What I claim and wish to protect by these my in part recited Letters
Patent is the various methods of obtaining or producing a shear or scissor-like cut
on a series of both top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth, by bringing the edges
of the top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth when passing over each other in
absolute and certain contact alternately, both in a to and fro motion or in a circular
reciprocating motion, or a continuous rotary motion, or in a to or fro motion only,
by causing the edges of the top and bottom sections, blades, or teeth to cross each
other at a slight angle, similarly to those of single cutting shears or scissors now in
common use, for the purpose of cutting or clipping hedges, corn, grass lawns or
turf, or other vegetable produce, sheep, horses, or other animals, or human hair.
In witness thereof, I, the said Alfred Ridgway, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, A.D. One thousand eight hundred
and eighty.
ALFRED RIDGWAY. (L.S.)