IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Burgon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1882.
CHARLES BURGON of Sheffield in the County of York, Sheep Shear Manu-
facturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS."
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the manu-
facture of shears for shearing sheep, according to which, shears will be produced
that can be ground and sharpened without straining and injuring, or even breaking
their bows, as hitherto so frequently done, by reason of the shearers having to press
the blades one over the other, in order to grind and sharpen them; but according
to this Invention, the shearer can take the shears in halves, or he can loosen them
so as to enable him to turn the blades in any position he may wish for grinding
and sharpening, thus preventing the spoiling of or injuring the shears, as mentioned;
and without doing the least harm to the set or cut of the blades.
In carrying this Invention into effect, the improved shears will in the first place,
be manufactured in two parts or pieces, as hitherto, the bow being so made and cut
or divided that each end of it will be turned circularly inwards and upwards (thus
forming a double bow) the extremity of one end being just opposite to the other,
and each extremity is pierced with rivet or screw holes for the purpose of screwing
or rivetting the two ends together.
In addition to, and in combination with, the foregoing this Invention consists in
providing and in encasing or surrounding the extremities of both ends of the
double bow, with a metallic or other suitable box or cap, which is fitted and
secured on to the ends of the bow in a suitable manner the means I prefer being
to pass a screw (or screws) through the centre or other convenient part of the box
or cap, and tighten it up on the two ends of the bow by the aid of a small spanner,

page_text: or by other suitable means; the one, or more, screws at the side or sides of the cap
or box will have countersunk heads so as to entirely bury them in the side or sides
of the cap or box, in order to prevent their catching in the wool of the sheep.
The screws will be tightened up as required, with a small screw driver, or by
similar means to prevent the sides of the bows moving, which would let the shears 5
slip off the cut when in use.
The principal object of applying and using a screw (or screws) is, that the
divided portions of the bow may be loosened, in order that each blade of the shears
may very readily be turned round or reversed, and the box or cap taken off, when
required, for the purpose of grinding and sharpening in a much more convenient 1
and less injurious manner than as at present.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Burgon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1882.
CHARLES BURGON of Sheffield in the County of York Sheep Shear Manu-
facturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the manu-
facture of shears for shearing sheep according to which invention shears are
produced that can be ground and sharpened without straining and injuring, or even
without breaking their bows, as hitherto so frequently done, in consequence of the
Shearers having to press or pass the blades one over or across the other in order to
grind and sharpen them; but according to this invention the Shearer is enabled to
take the shears in halves or he can loosen them in order to turn the blades in any
position he may require for cleaning or for grinding and sharpening them, thus
preventing the spoiling or injuring of the shears as mentioned, and not doing the
least harm to the set or cut of the blades.
In order that the carrying out of my Invention in practice may be the more
completely understood I have illustrated the same on the accompanying sheet of
explanatory drawings, on which are shown two modifications of my improvements
in sheep shears, as examples of the best means I have discovered of successfully
carrying my Invention into effect.
The first modification of my improvements is shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, on
the drawings; Figure 1, being a front elevation or view of a complete pair of
shears; Figure 2, a view of the bow portions of the shears, shown as taken asunder;
Figure 3, side and end elevations of the box or cap (and which may also be termed
a slide or slot) which is provided to fit onto and encase or surround the extremities,
or nearly so, of the double bow of the shears; and Figure 4, shows the kind of
screw and nut which may be used to secure the box or cap to the ends, or nearly
so, of the double bow.
According to this modification, my improved shears are, in the first place,-made
in two parts or pieces, as hitherto; the bow being so made and cut or divided that
each end of it will be turned circularly inwards and upwards, thus forming a
double bow as shown on the drawings at Figures 1, and 2, and each curved up end
of the bow is pierced with holes for rivets or screws (shown at Figure 2), the
Cippermost holes being provided for the purpose of rivetting or screwing the two.
ends together, and the lower holes being for rivetting or screwing the under-
mentioned box or cap onto the bows.
-
In addition to and in combination with the foregoing, this Invention particularly
consists, in providing and in encasing or surrounding both ends of the double bow
with a metallic or other suitable box or cap which is shown at Figure 3. This
box or cap is accurately fitted and secured on or surrounding the ends of
the double bow, just below the uppermost rivet or screw holes above referred
to. The box or cap, which has an opening or slot made through it, is tightened
up or secured in its required position on the two bows. by means of one or...
more screws (or rivets if desired) and a nut or nuts; the most suitable kind of
screw with nut, being shown at Figure 4. The tightening up or loosening may be
effected by means of a spanner or any other convenient means; and in order to
prevent any exposed screw heads (if ordinary headed screws are used) from catching
in the wool of the sheep, the screw heads can be countersunk in the box or cap.
The object in providing applying and using a rivet or screw (or screws) at the
extremities of the double bow is, that the divided portions of the bow may be

page_text: loosened in order that each blade of the shears may be turned round or reversed
without being taken asunder as shown in figuro 40, (the box or cap being first taken
off) for the purpose of cleaning or grinding and sharpening the blades of the shears
in a much more convenient and less injurious manner than as heretofore. The
rivets or screw heads can be made or placed flush with the outsides of the ends of
the double bow so that the box or cap can be easily passed over them in being
taken off.
The second modification of my improvements is shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7,
on the accompanying sheet of drawings. Figure 5, represents a front view or
elevation of the bow end of a pair of shears made according to this modification;
and Figures 6, and 7, are the bow portions of the same separated.
Figure 6, shows a modification or application in a more simple form of the box
or cap (Figure 3), which in this example is permanently fixed or secured (or it may
be cast on) to one extremity or end of the double bow of the shears,-by rivets or
screws, or in any other convenient way. In this box or cap an opening or slot is
made up the middle or side of it for the purpose presently pointed out.
Figure 7, represents the opposite end of the bow, which is made with a kind of a
bayonet or other suitably formed spring at its extremity, which spring is so shaped
as to slide and fit snugly into the opening or slot in the box or cap represented in
Figure 6; and when in, the two ends of the double bow are held together as
securely as if, they were locked, and they can be very easily taken asunder,
when the blades are required to be cleaned or ground or sharpened.
Having thus particularly described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings my improvements in sheep shears, and the manner or modes of con-
struction in which my invention is or may be carried into practical effect, I have
to observe in conclusion that what I believe to be new and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore mentioned Letters Patent is :-
The production or manufacture of improved Sheep Shears in such a manner that
the shears can be taken in halves, or loosened for the purposes of more readily and
effectually cleaning grinding or sharpening them, and without straining and
injuring and even without breaking the bows as so frequently done hitherto,
substantially as herein before described, and as illustrated on the accompanying
sheet of explanatory drawings; or any mere variation or modification thereof in
the forms, or construction and putting together of the parts constituting the
improved sheep shears.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Burgon have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.