IMPROVEMENTS IN
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Ashberry at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1881.
PHILIP ASHBERRY, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
SHEEP SHEARS."
"
'IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in steel sheep shears, and more particularly
to shears made from one piece of steel in the manner described in the Specification
to Letters Patent granted to James Ball, dated the Second of February, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty five, No. 294, in contradistinction to steel sheers made
according to the Specification of Letters Patent granted to William Hopkinson,
dated Eleventh December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty six, No. 3255.
The advantages of my Invention over the former are to increase the side strength,
and thus prevent the blades from opening sideways, without interfering with the.
elasticity of the bow, but rather tending to improve it; whilst the advantages of
shears made according to my Invention over those made in two separate pieces
which are afterwards secured by and depend on two rivets placed in the bow, as
described in the latter Specification, are increased firmness and durability, and the
certainty of a similarity of temper in the two blades, which is almost impossible in
shears made of separate pieces of steel which are used promiscuously.
In carrying out my Invention, which has reference more particularly to the
formation of the bow of the shears, I cut out or otherwise form shears of one piece
of steel, the portion intended for the bow being of sufficient length to enable it to
be bent with a central part projecting inward somewhat in the shape of the centre
of the letter W.
The point of the projection being formed by the steel being doubled closely
together, it acts as a rigid stay in the centre of the bow, counteracting any
tendency of the shear blades to open sideways. I further strengthen the projecting
part of one or more rivets to prevent it from being forced open, but the rivetting
inay, if required, be dispensed with.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Ashberry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th May
1881.
PHILIP ASHBERRY, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
"SHEEP SHEARS,"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of steel sheep
shears formed of one continuous piece of steel in a somewhat similar manner to the
shears described in the Specification to Letters Patent granted to James Ball,
dated the Second February, One thousand eight hundred and sixty five, Number 294,
in contradistinction to the mode of constructing sheel shears described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to William Hopkinson, dated the Eleventh
December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty six, Number 3255.
In carrying out my said Invention, which has reference to the formation of the
bows or springs of the shears, the blades, limbs, and bows of the shears are cut out
or otherwise formed of one piece of sheel, and I make the part intended for the
bow or spring of extra length, and bend it inwards with a central projection or
flange somewhat in the shape of the centre of the letter W, which acts as a rigid:
stay in the centre of the bow or spring, thereby preventing or counteracting any
tendency of the shears to open out sideways.
This folded or doubled projecting part may if necessary be further strengthened
by one or more rivets or bolts passing through, thus clamping it securely together
to prevent the possibility of its being forced open or apart.
By the use of my said Invention I obtain increased side or transverse strength
by means of the rigid stay, whereby all tendency of lateral action in the shear
blades is prevented without interfering with the elasticity of the bow or spring,
but in fact rather tending to improve it, whilst by constructing such shears in one
piece I secure increased firmness of action and durability, together with certainty
of a similarity of temper in the two blades, which is almost impossible in shears
constructed of separate pieces of steel somewhat promiscuously used.
Aud in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a plan of a pair of shears
constructed in one piece of metal, with the bow arranged according to my said
Invention; and Figure is a sectional elevation of the bow and limb of the shear,
the section being taken along the line X, X, Figure 1.
A, A, B, B¹; and C, C', are the blades, limbs, and bow respectively of a pair of
shears formed of one continuous piece of steel. The blades and limbs are of
ordinary form, the section of the latter being preferably curved or semicircular, as
shewn at b in Figure 1, so as to secure strength, lightness, and economy, with the
maximum power to resist torsion and flexion. At the bow or spring C, C', the
metal is flattened out to a comparatively thin broad rectangular section to present
the required elasticity, and this part is bent inwards in the centre so as to form a
folded projection or flange D, which in the example illustrated is likewise secured
from opening out or being forced apart by means of the rivet or bolt E, but which
may be left simply bent or folded where practicable without the addition of rivets
or bolts.
The projection or flange D constitutes a rigid stay, which without interfering
with the elasticity of the bow imparts great strength, firmness, and durability, whilst
at the same time the lateral displacement of the blades is prevented, and as the
shears are constructed of one piece of steel greater facility is afforded for securing

page_text: uniformity of temper than is practicable when shears of similar construction are
made in two pieces attached together.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
Forming the continuous bows or springs of sheep shears with a folded projecting
stay, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Ashberry, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.
PHILIP ASHBERRY. (L.S.)