An Improved Portable Sheep Dipping Machine.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Sheep Dipping Machine.
I, GEORGE MCNALLY, of Chapel Hill, Lisburn, County Antrim, Coachbuilder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The machine as constructed under my invention consists of a rectangular tank
provided with an inclined gang-way at one end and a gang-way with a double
inclination at the other end. Arranged round three of the sides of the tank near
its top are three shafts having cog wheels at their ends which gear with one
another. These shafts are revolved by means of cog wheels and handles. At the
bottom of the tank is a platform composed of cross bars of wood or metal and
which is surrounded by a low barrier for preventing the sheep running off. At each
corner of the platform an upright rack is fitted the teeth of which mesh with the
pinions on the aforesaid shafts.
The arrangement is such that when the handles attached to the cog wheels are
turned the shafts revolve and by means of the pinions working in the racks raise
the platform to any desired height. The sheep pass up the inclined gangway on
to the platform which is then, by reversing the motion of the cogs, lowered into
the dip. After the lapse of a sufficient time the platform is again raised and
the sheep passed on to the first incline of the second gangway where they remain
for a short time to allow the superfluous liquid to drain back again into the tank.
Thereafter they pass down the other incline of the
gangway.
Fitted in the tank are two upright shafts each provided with a movable ring or
clamp which can be secured by a pin or screw at any desired height on the shaft.
Each clamp carries a leather or other bag into which the head and ears of the
animal is placed and secured by a strap. The bag prevents dip passing into the
eyes and ears of the sheep.
A perforated tube may also be fitted round the inside of the tank and which is
connected with a force pump. This is for washing the sheep by means of jets of
water forced through the pipe.
Dated this 6th day of August 1895.
1, GEORGE MONALLY, Chapel Hill, Lisburn, County Antrim, Coachbuilder,
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:-
This invention relates to an improved portable sheep dipping machine,
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the machine on the line x-x Fig. 2.
The improved machine consists of a rectangular tank a provided with a
removable gangway b, as shown in dotted lines, at one end, and a gangway c, also
shown in dotted lines, with a double inclination at the other end. Carried in
brackets secured to one side of the tank is a longitudinal shaft e which is
provided with bevel wheels e' at each end. These bevel wheels gear with bevel
wheels f, g, on shafts f, g, carried in the ends of the tank a. The shaft is
provided with pinion wheels f which gear with racks h, h, secured to one end of a
frame or pen i and the shaft g has likewise pinions g³ which gear with racks ), ), at
the other end of the pen. is a crank handle by means of which the shafts e, f, g,
are revolved. As will be seen the shaft e is provided with a ratchet wheel and a
pawl m (the latter pivotted to the tank a) for preventing the shafts turning
back.
The pen or enclosure i which sits in the tank a consists of a grated platform
composed of cross bars of wood or metal fitted in an angle iron or other frame at
short distances apart. The top of the enclosure or pen, which is also preferably
of angle iron, is connected at each side to the bottom or platform by means of
vertical hoop iron or other stretchers .
Fitted to the bottom of the pen i are two vertical shafts or spindles o cach
provided with a sliding arm o¹ capable of being clamped at any desired height on
the spindles by means of pinching screws o'. Each arm carries a leather or other
bag or hood puto which the head and ears of the animal is placed and secured by
a strap. The bags p prevent the dipping fluid passing into the eyes and ears of
the sheep. At the upper end of each spindle o is a hand lever q by means of
which the spindle can be turned. Locking levers with jaws are provided for
locking the levers q in position.
A perforated spraying tube s, which extends round three sides of the pen, is
connected to a force and suction pump t. t is the pump handle. This pump
communicates by a pipe 2 with the dipping fluid in the tank a.
In Fig. 2 the hoods p are shown as turned round and the levers 9 and r are
shown as interlocked. The dotted lines on the plan view Fig. 2 indicate the
position of the hoods p as shown in Fig. 1.
The arrangement is such that when the handle k is turned, the shafts e, f, g, are
revolved and the pinions f³, 92, caused to work in the racks h, j, and raise the pen r
up to the desired height. The sheep, two or four at a time, are now passed up the
gangway on to the platform of the pen where they are secured to the spindles o
the levers q of which are locked by the levers to prevent movement. The pen is
thereafter immediately lowered into the dipping fluid by lifting up the pawl m and
reversing the motion of the handle k. The sheep besides being dipped in the fluid
are or may be also subjected to a spray of fluid from the pipes by operating the
pump t.
After a sufficient lapse of time the pen is again raised, by working the
handle k, and the sheep, after being released from the spindles o, are passed on to
the first incline of the exit gangway where they remain for a short time until all
superfluous liquid on them drains back into the tank a. Finally they pass down
the second incline of the gangway.
If desired the pump t can be connected with a water supply so that the sheep
can be washed with a water spray.
The pen can be made of any suitable material.
The gangways b, c, can be constructed and fitted in any suitable manner.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The construction or general arrangement and combination of parts of the
sheep dipping machine substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
drawings annexed.

page_text: 2. In combination, a tank containing dipping fluid and a platform or pen fitted
therein and which is capable of being raised and lowered by means of rack and
pinion or equivalent mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
3. The combination with a sheep dipping machine of movable vertical spindles,
such as o, and hoods p for preventing dip gaining access to the eyes or ears of the
animals, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 27th day of September 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.