Year: 1888

page_text: I PHILIP ASHBERRY of Upperthorpe, Sheffield, in the County of York, Manager,
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:
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of Sheep Shears, the
object being, to enable the user to readily adjust the spring power of the bow to
the desired strength.
I am aware that various methods have been proposed to accomplish this purpose,
and I therefore do not claim the idea broadly, but only my hereinafter described
method; and in order that my invention may be clearly defined and understood,
I have annexed a sheet of Drawings to which I shall refer, the same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in either figure.
.
Fig. 1, represents the shanks and bow of a shear with method of adjustment.
Fig. 2, a modification in construction.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a double-bow shear made in two
parts A & B, I make the centre part or joint of the bow C, rather longer than is
usual, and preferably secure the two parts together by rivets as shown in Fig. 1, but
other means may be employed for this purpose.
The two parts of the joint C, are constructed to bear with their inner faces against
each other from the top downwards to the position at D, or thereabouts when the
Shears are at rest, and without the aid of the adjusting screw (or its mechanical
equivalent) E, and in this essential point I differ from other methods.
I preferably employ a slot F, made longitudinally through the joint pieces C, to
receive and retain a small bolt or other equivalent device, capable of being moved in
the slot and fixed at any desired point, and when so fixed, to form a point of resistance
from which the action of the bow (when in use) commences.
By this simple arrangement of an adjustable point of resistance, acting against the
two parts of the joint pieces C, which in their normal or resting position are always
bearing against each other from the top to. the point D, I can obtain any reasonable

page_text: variation in the power of the spring action, without materially altering the relative
position of the blades.
Although I prefer to use a slot as shown I may use an adjustable outside clip in
conjunction with the joint constructed as before described.
In Fig. 2, I show a modification in the construction of the joint pieces, by means
of which I can obtain an increased range in the variation of the power of the
spring, I accomplish this by making the joint pieces before described, taper (as
shown), leaving the extreme ends through which the rivets G are passed, of the
original thickness.
Instead of the screwbolt E shown I may use an appliance formed like the letter H,
which can be passed in a vertical position through the slot F, and then turned
horizontally across the joint pieces; my invention may also be applied to double
bow Shears formed out of the solid, that is not joined by rivets as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is
1-In the construction of Sheep Shears, the arrangement of the parts forming
the adjustable spring regulator, as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
2-In the construction of an adjustable spring regulator for Sheep Shears, making
the ends to close against each other, so that the adjustable appliance forming the
point of resistance, may be moved and fixed at any point between its extreme limits
without altering the relative position of the blades, substantially as herein before
described and shown in Fig. 1.
3-In Sheep Shears having an adjustable spring regulator as described, con-
structing the parts C, with a tapering form, from the point D, or thereabouts to a
short distance from their ends which are left thicker for the rivets to pass through, for
the purpose herein before specified, and as shown in Fig. 2.
Dated the 11th day of April 1888
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.