Improvements in Sheep Shearing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheep Shearing Machines.
We, THE WOLSELEY SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE COMPANY LIMITED, of
4, Sun Court, Cornhill, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to us by Frederick York Wolseley of The Union Club,
Sydney, New South Wales, Gentleman) 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 sheep shearing machines in which a cutter is recipro-
cated above and in contact with a comb by means of a vibrating lover which receives
its impulses from a pin on the end of a revolving disc no matter by what means said
disc is actuated. This invention has been devised in order to produce a neat handy
effective and economical sheep shearing machine.
These improvements in sheep shearing machines consist mainly in the angular
set of the crank pin upon the revolving disc or crank and the peculiar frusto-
conical roller upon said pin working in the back end of the vibrating lever; in the
peculiar method of distributing the pressure or tension of the cutter upon the comb
by means of a second or auxiliary lever pivotted to the main vibrating lever and
having a central toe; in the peculiar method of imparting the pressure or tension
directly to said auxiliary lever and secondarily to the main vibrating lever; and
in the peculiar methods of regulating the degree of pressure or tension. These
improvements consist secondly in the special combinations and arrangements of
niechanical parts hereinafter particularly described and claimed.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawings herewith in which
Figure is a sectional elevation of a sheep shearing machine-constructed
according to these improvements;
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section of the same; and
Figure 3 a cross section on line a a (Figure 1).
Figure 4 is plan of part of the casing showing tension screw.
Figure 5 is sectional elevation of a similar machine with a modification of the
tension devices.
Figure 6 is a plan and
Figure 7 a cross section on line bb (Figure 5).
In the end A' of frame or casing A is screwed the hollow socket-piece B through
which passes the reduced end B₁ of tube socket or bearing B2 the neck B³ forming
with said reduced end a shoulder B tightened up against said socket-piece by mut
or washer B³. Within the tube or socket B revolves the driving spindle B
having both ends screwed the outer end B7 to receive a bevel-toothed wheel or
other part of a universal joint and the inner end B to receive a disc B' having an
angular crank pin 110. This crank pin is so set on the disc that its centre line
produced is part of the periphery of a cone whose apex is the geometrical fulcrum
of the vibrating lever. A bevelled roller B" (whose tapered sides produced would
point to said geometrical fulcrum) on said crank pin B10 takes within jaw C' of the
end C² secured to the vibrating lever C by screws C³. Said vibrating lever C is
fulcrumed by bearing C on pivot A2 which is the globular end of a bulb pin
screwed into casing and fastened by check-nut A³. Said bearing C+ is lubricated
from oil cup C to which oil is supplied through hole C. The other end C' of
vibrating lever C is recessed or channelled at C for the reception of an auxiliary
or second lever C having heel C and horizontally pivotted by pin C¹ to lever Ċ
while its outer end or toe C2 presses upon the centre tooth of the cutter D. The
outer end of the main vibrating lever is bifurcated and its forked ends or toes ¹³

page_text: have pintles C taking into said cutter D while said ends C" press upon the outer
sides or outer teeth of said cutter D causing the pressure or tension on auxiliary
lever C and secondarily upon main lever to be thus equalized and distributed
throughout the cutter. The pressure or tension is imparted direct to the auxiliary
lever Co by thrust pin E one end of which bears against heel C10 and the other has
a socket E' taking around the spherical end E2 of bulb of temper screw E. The
socket E' secured in the aperture A in the top of frame or casing A is the female
for said temper screw E3 which is provided with oil reservoir or receptacle E' for
lubricating socket E¹ by conduit E. The screw E³ on its upper end has snugs E
taking into grooves E' cut in the keep E10 which is an annulus having a serrated
bottom face pressed into contact with a corresponding serrated top face of
socket E by spring E" rivetted to the cover A5 by means of which said keep E
and screw E are retained in their set position nothwithstanding vibration of the
machine.
In operation the spindle B being revolved by flexible shafting or by other well
known means through appropriate gearing the roller B" having free up and down
movement as it revolves with disc but held sideways in jaw C gives recipro-
cating or vibrating notion to lever C upon its fulcrum A' which motion is
imparted to the cutter D reciprocating it above and in contact with comb F.
When regulating the degree of tension upon cutter D the keep Eto is first slightly
raised against the pressure of spring E" from contact with the serrated face of
socket and then revolved as desired. This regulates the temper screw Es in
socket E and noves the bulb end E² of said screw and lowers or raises as the case
may be the socket end of E' of rod E causing the point of said rod to increase or
diminish the pressure upon the levers C" and C and upon the cutter D. The
screwed telescopic form of pin E gives further means of rough adjustment so as to
provide for wear interchangability &c. In the modified construction of sheep
shearing machines shown in Figures 56 and 7 the actuating mechanism is identical
with that first described but the frame or casing and the tension regulating devices
are somewhat varied. The frame or casing is made in two parts a bottom
frame A carrying the comb and having flanged sides A' taking over the edges of
the sides of the top or main frame A and being pivotted thereto by fulcrum
pins As its back end taking against a frusto-conical collar or end piece G screwed
into the end of socket piece A forming part of the top frame A. The centre linc
of screw E3 is situated almost in a straight line with the centre of the tension
thrust pin E so that the pressure from said screw is given more directly upon
lever C. Screw E³ is screwed into an aperture in the top frame A and is turned
therein (when required for adjustment) by a turn screw. The tension to obtain
pressure or thrust on pin E may be roughly adjusted by means of screw E³ and
inore particularly and finely regulated by turning frusto-conical collar or end
piece G which pressing the end of the casing A downwards at the back moves
said bottom frame A on fulcrum pins As and presses the comb affixed to it
upwards against the cutter D the pin E joint C₁ centre toc C and bifurcated
ends C ensuring equality of distribution of said pressure. It is to be clearly
understood that although it is hereinbefore described in connection with certain
specified tension devices the auxiliary or secondary lever jointed to the main
vibrating lever and through which the pressure is imparted to said main vibrating
lever may be used with advantage in combination with other tension devices or any
means of imparting pressure to it.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is declared that what is
claimed is :-
First. In sheep shearing machines the combination and arrangement with the
vibrating lever and with the driving disc or a crank having an angularly set crank
pin of a tapered friction roller upon said pin working in the back jaw of said lever
substantially as herein described and explained.

page_text: Second. In sheep shearing machines the combination and arrangement with the
main vibrating lever pressing upon and actuating a cutter of a secondary or
auxiliary lever pivotted to said main lever and tension devices adapted to impart
pressure or tension to said auxiliary lever directly and to said main lever through
the pivotted joint thereto of said auxiliary lever substantially as herein described
and explained.
Third. In sheep shearing machines the combination and arrangement with the
main vibrating lever having a bifurcated fore-end attached to and actuating a
cutter of an auxiliary lever pivotted to said main lever pressing upon the centre of
said cutter and receiving and distributing the pressure from tension devices
substantially as herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Fourth. In sheep shearing machines the combination and arrangement with
the cutter and its vibrating lever of tension devices consisting of a thrust pin
taking in a heel of said lever (or of a jointed auxiliary of said lever) a globular
bearing and a regulating or teminpet screw whose inuer end forms part of said
globular bearing substantially as herein described and explained and illustrated in
the drawings.
Fifth. In sheep shearing machines the combination and arrangement with the
cutter and comb the vibrating lever and the casing containing same of tension
devices consisting of a thrust pin taking on or in said lever a part of said casing to
which the comb is attached fulcrumed or pivotted to the other part thereof and
means for adjusting such pivotted part-casing so as to regulate the pressure or
tension of the comb against the cutter substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Sixth. The particular combinations and arrangements of mechanical parts
altogether forming an improved sheep-shearing machine substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.
Seventh. The particular combinations and arrangements of mechanical parts
altogether forming a modified improved sheep-shearing machine substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 5 6 and 7 of the
drawings.
Dated the 4th day of March 1908
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.