IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SHEARING AND WASHING SHEEP OR OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Wilson, of No. 17, Gracechurch
Street, in the City of London, Mechanical Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SHEARING AND WASHING
SHEEP OR OTHER ANIMALS."
Sealed the 9th August 1870, and dated the 10th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th February 1870.
I, JOHN CHARLES WILSON, of No. 17, Gracechurch Street, in the City
of London, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SHEARING AND WASHING
SHEEP OR OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:—
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery and appliances
for shearing or clipping and washing sheep or other animals in a

page_text: more convenient and expeditious manner than has heretofore been
practicable.
The shearing or cutting apparatus, which is held in the hand of the
shearer, consists of a series of cutting blades similar to those of a mowing
machine, that is to say, there are two serrated plates placed one above
the other, the one being stationary and the other moveable, the latter
operating transversely across the other with a scissor-like action. The
stationary plate is provided with a guard placed underneath it, which
protects the animal being sheared from injury from the points of the
teeth. The moveable plate derives its motion from a small revolving or
rotary engine affixed to the stationary plate. This small engine is worked
by means of air or other fluid obtained either directly from a large
engine, which I call a motor engine; or from a reservoir supplied by an
engine, or where water is used from a natural head the fluid is conducted
to the small engine through a flexible or jointed tube. I construct the
small revolving engine with a crank. or eccentric upon its spindle or
shaft which actuates the moveable serrated cutting plate. I construct
the said small revolving engine in such a manner that its exhaust pipe
discharges its contents towards or in the direction of the cutting teeth
of the apparatus so as to clear away from them the wool or hair which
is being cut, or a separate fan may be used for this purpose. The com-
pressing or motor engine is preferably constructed as described in the
Specification of an Invention for which I'obtained Provisional™ Pro-
tection, bearing date. December 3rd, A.D. 1869, No. 3499, and which
may be connected directly to the small engine by the flexible or jointed
tube, or may be arranged to fill a reservoir or accumulator. The said.
engine may be worked either by hand, steam, or any other power.
!:
-
The said motor engine is available also as a pump wherewith to
wash the sheep: previous .to. their being sheared, its suction pipe being
connected to any convenient water supply, and its discharge pipe
provided with a nozzle of ordinary construction through which the water
is ejected upon the animal. After the sheep are thus washed the said
motor engine is connected with the cutting apparatus by means of the
flexible or jointed tube above described or with the reservoir, and the
sheep are then sheared or clipped...

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Charles Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CHARLES WILSON, of No. 17, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Charles Wilson, Her special licence,
that I, the said John Charles Wilson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Charles Wilson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SHEARING AND WASHING SHEEP OR OTHER ANIKALS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Charles Wilson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Charles Wilson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being. had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery and appliances
for shearing or clipping and washing sheep or other animals in a
more convenient and expeditious manner than has heretofore been
practicable.

page_text: shearer, consists of a series of cutting blades similar to those of a mowing
machine, that is to say, there are two serrated plates placed one above
the other, the one being stationary and the other movable, the latter
operating transversely across the other with a scissor-like action. The
stationary plate is provided with a guard placed underneath it, which
protects the animal being sheared from injury from the points of the
teeth. 'The movable plate derives its motion from a small revolving or
rotary engine affixed to the stationary plate. This small engine is
worked by means of air or other fluid obtained either directly from a
large engine, which I call a motor engine, or from a reservoir supplied
by an engine, or where water is used from a natural head the fluid is
conducted to the small engine through a flexible or jointed tube. I
construct the small revolving engine with a crank or excentric upon its
spindle or shaft which actuates the movable serrated cutting plate. I
construct the said small revolving engine in such a manner that its
exhaust pipe discharges its contents towards or in the direction of the
cutting teeth of the apparatus so as to clear away from them the wool or
hair which is being cut, or a separate fan may be used for this purpose.
The compressing or motor engine is preferably constructed as described
in the Specification of an Invention for which I obtained Provisional
Protection, bearing date December 3rd, A.D. 1869, No. 3499, and which
may be connected directly to the small engine by the flexible or jointed
tube, or may be arranged to fill a reservoir or accumulator. The said
engine may be worked either by hand, steam, or any other power.
The said motor engine is available also as a pump wherewith to wash
the sheep previous to their being sheared, its suction pipe being con-
nected to any convenient water supply, and its discharge pipe provided
with a nozzle of ordinary construction through which the water is
ejected upon the animal. After the sheep are thus washed the said
motor engine is connected with the cutting apparatus by means of the
flexible or jointed tube above described or with the reservoir, and the
sheep are then sheared or clipped.

page_text: Figure 3 is a section of the motor engine or revolving pump, which is
connected to the said small engine by a flexible tube.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the apparatus adapted for washing the
animals. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The knives a of the cutting apparatus may have a reciprocating or a
continuous rotary motion. In the first case the cutter is connected to a
small crank or eccentric on the spindle of the small engine 6, whereas in
the latter case tho cutter would be fixed directly upon the said spindle;
c is the pipe which connects the said small engine with the revolving
pump; d is the exhaust aperture through which the air is blown to clear
the teeth of the cutter.
In Figure 4 it will be seen that the cutting apparatus is removed
from the end of the pipe cand the nozzle e is fixed on the said pipe.
The suction pipe f is then attached to the revolving pump, its end being
placed in any convenient stream, pool, or receptacle containing water.
The pump being then set in motion the washing of the animal is
accomplished as above set forth.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
The combination of a revolving air pump with a cutting apparatus
and the adaptation of the said pump for washing the animals, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Also in combination with the cutting apparatus the small revolving
engine for driving the same, and for blowing a current of air upon the
teeth of the said apparatus to clear away the cut portions of the wool or
hair, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charles Wilson, have hercunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
0
Witness, -
W. ROB. LAKE.
JOHN C.. WILSON. (L.S.)