AN IMPROVED BRUSHING MACHINE FOR CLEANING HORSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BRUSHING MACHINE FOR CLEANING
HORSES." A communication from abroad by James H. Small, of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd January 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BRUSHING MACHINE FOR
CLEANING HORSES," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a machine for cleaning horses and is designed
as a substitute for the usual hand apparatus; it has a rotary brush
driven from a suitable prime mover, and capable of free adjustment and

page_text: application to the different parts of the animal, whereby the most
thorough cleaning of a horse is effect in a few minutes.
The said Invention more especially consists,―
First. In the combination with the driving shaft revolving in fixed
bearings, and a horizontal transmitting shaft connected with the former
by a universal joint, of a rotary brush mounted on a shaft arranged
parallel with the transmitting shaft and a countershaft, bevel gear
wheels and two elbow bearings connecting the said brush shaft with the
outer and free end of the transmitting shaft in such a manner that the
rotary brush is enabled to be placed in any desired position and can
thereby be readily brought in contact with all parts of the horse.
Second. In the combination with the rotary brush and shaft, counter-
shaft, connecting bearings, and gear wheels of a transmitting shaft
composed of an enclosing hollow shaft and a solid shaft coupled there-
with and capable of longitudinal adjustment therein, whereby the
length of the transmitting shaft can be increased or diminished as re-
quired.
Third. In the combination with the stationary driving shaft and
transmitting shaft coupled thereto by a universal joint, of a counter-
balancing lever turning in a bearing pivotted vertically above the
universal joint, and connected at its outer end by a link with a bearing
through which the transmitting shaft passes, so as to counterbalance
the latter, the rotary brush, and intermediate parts.
Fourth. In the combination in a machine for cleaning horses, of a
conical brush mounted on a movable shaft with the small end outward
so as to adapt the same to be introduced with its smaller end into the
narrow spaces behind the cars under the heels and in other parts of the
animal.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 "AN
IMPROVED BRUSHING MACHINE FOR CLEANING HORSES," a communication to me
from abroad by James H. Small, of Buffalo, New York, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to a machine for cleaning horses and is designed
as a substitute for the usual hand apparatus; it has a rotary brush
driven from a suitable prime mover, and capable of free adjustment and
application to the different parts of the animal, whereby the most
thorough cleaning of a horse is effected in a few minutes.
The said Invention more especially consists,-
First. In the combination with the driving shaft revolving in fixed
bearings, and a horizontal transmitting shaft connected with the former
by a universal joint of a rotary brush mounted on a shaft, arranged
parallel with the transmitting shaft and a countershaft, bevel gear

page_text: wheels and two elbow bearings connecting the said brush shaft and the
outer and free end of the transmitting shaft in such a manner that the
rotary brush is enabled to be placed in any desired position and can
thereby be readily brought in contact with all parts of the horse.
Second. In the combination with the rotary brush and shaft, counter-
shaft, connecting bearings, and gear wheels, of a transmitting shaft,
composed of an enclosing hollow shaft and a solid shaft coupled there-
with and capable of longitudinal adjustment therein, whereby the
length of the transmitting shaft can be increased or diminished as re-
quired.
Third. In the combination with the stationary driving shaft and
transmitting shaft coupled thereto by a universal joint, of a counter-
balancing lever turning in a bearing pivoted vertically above the
universal joint, and connected at its outer end by a link with a bearing
through which the transmitting shaft passes, so as to counterbalance
the latter rotary brush and intermediate parts.
Fourth. In the employment in a machine for cleaning horses of a
conical brush mounted on a movable shaft with the small end outward
so as to adapt the same to be introduced with its small end into the
narrow spaces behind the ears, under the heels, and in other parts of
the animal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the said improved machine;
Figure 2 is a detached sectional view on an enlarged scale of the sus-
pended bearing, hollow and enclosed shafts; Figure 3 is a cross section
on the line X, X, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detached sectional view of the
universal joint connecting the driving shaft with the transmitting shaft;
Figure 5 is a sectional front elevation on the line y, y, Figure 1; Figure 6
is a side elevation of a modified form of the said improved machine;
Figure 7 is a front elevation; and Figure 8 a plan of the same. Like
letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, A is the frame of the machine; B is the
horizontal driving shaft supported in fixed bearings a attached to the
main frame A, and provided with a tight and loose pulley b, b', to
which motion is transmitted by an endless belt from any suitable prime
The transmitting shaft is composed of an outer hollow
mover,

page_text: portion D, which is coupled to the stationary driving shaft by a universal
joint C, and an inner solid shaft D' arranged axially in the hollow
shaft D, so as to be capable of being drawn in and out as desired for the
purpose of adjusting the length of the transmitting shaft; e is a hollow
sleeve or bearing screwed in the end of the hollow shaft D, and secured
by set screws f or otherwise to form a guide for the shaft D' which
snugly fits therein. The sleeve e is provided with a fixed feather or
key e fitting in a longitudinal groove d in the shaft D', whereby the
rotary motion of the hollow shaft D is transmitted to the shaft D¹ in all
positions of the latter; 9 is a cylindrical enlargement secured to the
inner end of the shaft D' to guide the same in its longitudinal movement
in the hollow shaft D. The shaft D¹ may however be made square in
cross section if preferred, when the bearing will be provided with a
corresponding square passage and the key e¹ and groove d will be
dispensed with for the purpose of transmitting motion; h is a short.
countershaft arranged at the outer and free end of the shaft D₁ at right
angles thereto, and connected with the same by an elbow bearing and a
pair of bevel wheels k. H is the rotary brush mounted on the shaft /¹;
the latter is arranged at right angles to the countershaft h, to which it is
connected by an elbow bearing , and a pair of bevel wheels k'. That
portion of the elbow bearing which holds the shaft ', serves as a
handle for manipulating the brush H, which may also be provided with
an additional handle at the outer end. The brush H is made conical in
shape and is mounted on the shaft with the smaller end outward,
whereby the operator is enabled to introduce the said smaller end into
the narrow spaces at the heels, behind the ears and in other parts of the
horse; m is a bearing arranged at the outer end of the hollow shaft D;
it is attached by a link n to the outer end of a horizontal beam o whose
opposite end is provided with a weight o' sufficient to counterbalance the
weight of the shafts D, D', brush H, and connecting parts. The beam o
turns in a bifurcated bearing p which is provided with a vertical pivot p¹
arranged above the joint C in a bracket q secured to the main frame A,
as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5. By this means the beam o of the
counterbalance is enabled to adjust itself readily to all positions of the
transmitting shaft.

page_text: an angle of about 30 degrees from the axis of the stationary shaft B,
without impairing the transmission of power. This arrangement permits
sufficient movement at the outer end of the shaft D' to enable the
brush to reach all parts of the horse from the head to the heels; the
shaft B is arranged at half the height of an average horse above the
floor. The brush H can be turned by means of the elbow bearings i, a,
on the countershaft h, and also on the shaft D'as an axis, whereby it
may be placed in any desired position, and can readily be brought in
contact with all parts of the horse. The perfect adjustability of the
brush to the position of the horse and its parts is attained by the
longitudinal adjustment of the transmitting shaft D, D', while the
vertical movements of the brush are rendered perfectly easy by the
counterbalance.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, represent this said improved machine with the
driving shaft B₁ arranged vertically in the main frame A. The
transmitting shaft D, D', is geared with the driving shaft by bevel
wheels r,,; the wheel r is secured to the upper end of the driving
shaft B', while the wheel is mounted on the inner end of the trans-
mitting shaft. The latter is connected with the driving shaft by two
bifurcated frames or bearings 8, t, through whose knuckles passes a
shaft u which carries the gear wheel 7. The frames turns loosely on the
shaft B¹ forming a bearing for the shaft u, while the frame t turns on
the shaft and forms a bearing for the shaft D; both frames 8 and t,'
together with the gear wheels r; r³, ³, form a universal joint which
allows the transmitting shaft to be placed at any desired angle with 2
reference to the shaft B', without interfering with the transmission of
power. To prevent excessive friction between the gear wheels, and
the frames is supported by a circular track 8¹ upon which it rides. The
frame is provided with a bail in which the counterbalancing lever o
is pivoted vertically above the shaft B₁ which forms the centre of the a
universal joint.
21
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination with the stationary driving shaft and moveable 3
transmitting shaft connected therewith by a universal joint of the rotary
brush and shaft H, ', countershaft, elbow bearings i, ', and bevel
wheels k, k, as herein set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination with the rotary brush and shaft H, h',
countershaft h, connecting bearings and gear wheels of a universally
jointed transmitting shaft composed of the hollow shaft D and the en-
closed shaft D', capable of longitudinal adjustment in the shaft D, as
liercin set forth.
Third. In a machine for cleaning horses the combination with the
fixed driving shaft and transmitting shaft connected therewith by a
universal joint of the bearing m, link n, and counterbalancing lever o,
supported in the pivoted bearing p, p, as herein set forth.
Fourth. In a machine for cleaning horses, a conical brush mounted
on a moveable rotating shaft, as herein described and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)