IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEARS FOR SHEARING SHEEP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1882

page_text: · LETTERS PATENT to William Smith of Sheffield in the County of York
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEARS FOR
SHEARING SHEEP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th January 1882.
WILLIAM SMITH of Sheffield in the County of York IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHEARS FOR SHEARING SHEEP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
This Invention relates to sheep shears and to shears for other purposes.
This Invention consists in the employment of a fixed two edged blade between
the two movable blades of a pair of shears by which two sets of cutting edges
are formed, and by which double the quantity of wool etcetera can be cut at one
operation
In carrying my Invention into effect the two outer blades with the shanks and
bows can be made of the ordinary form in which shears are constructed when
made in halves with the exception that the bow ends instead of being brought
together and rivetted are secured to the end of the centre (two edged) blade.
One method of connecting the shank of the centre blade to the bow ends of the
outside blades is to form the shank flat and to close the ends of the bow on to it
and rivet the three parts together.
Another method is to rivet wedge or otherwise secure the shank of the centre
blade to a curved connecting piece and also secure the bows of the outer blades to
the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th July
1882.
WILLIAM SMITH of Sheffield in the County of York IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SHEARS FOR SHEARING SHEEP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
This Invention relates to sheep shears and to shears for other purposes.
This Invention consists in the employment of a fixed two-edged blade between
the two moveable blades of a pair of shears by which two sets of cutting edges
are formed and by which double the quantity of wool &c. can be cut at one
operation.
In carrying my Invention into effect the two outer blades with the shanks and
bows can be made of the ordinary form in which shears are constructed when
made in halves with the exception that the bow ends instead of being brought
together and rivetted are secured to the end of the centre (two edged) blade.
One method of connecting the shank of the centre blade to the bow ends of the
outside blades is to form the shank flat and to close the ends of the bow on to it
and rivet the three parts together.
Another method is to rivet, wedge or otherwise secure the shank of the centre
blade to a curved connecting piece and also secure the bows of the outer blades to
the sainc.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate my Invention, Fig. 1 is a front view of
the improved shears closed; Fig. 2 is a front view of the shears open; Fig. 3 is an
edge view of the shears; Fig. 4 is an outside end view of the bow; Fig. 5 is an
inside end view partly in section of the bow and centre blade as taken through
the dotted line Y Z (Fig. 2); Fig. 6 is a side view partly in section of the meeting
ends of the bow and the junction therewith of the centre blade; Fig. 7 is a cross
sectional view showing the form of the three blades on the dotted line T V
(Fig. 2). A is one blade shank and half bow and B is the other blade shank and
half bow of a pair of shears; C is the centre blade; D is the clip rivetted to the
two meeting ends of the half bows of the parts A and B; E is the wedge which
secures the centre blade C to the parts A and B.
The parts A and B are secured together by the clip D and the rivets F F¹ and
the centre blade C is secured thereto by the wedge E; when the wedge E is
driven out the blade C can be removed for the purpose of sharpening it and the
cutting edges of the blades of the parts A and B.
Fig. 8 to Fig. 17 inclusive illustrate the detail parts of my improved shears in
process of manufacture and as first rolled and cut out in blank form. Fig. 8 is a
front view and Fig. is an edge view of the blade shank and half bow A;
Fig. 10 is a front view and Fig. 11 is an edge view of the blade shank and half
bow B; Fig. 12 is a front view and Fig. 13 is an edge view of the centre blade C;
Fig. 14 is a front view and Fig. 15 is an edge view of the clip D; Fig. 16 is a
front view and Fig. 17 is an edge view of the wedge E. The parts A and B are
twisted to form the rounded handle and to make the bow at right angles to the
blade as is now done in shears of ordinary construction and as shown in Fig. 1 to
Fig. 6; the blank D (for the clip) is recessed for the wedge and is lapped over to
form the clip as shown in Figs. 1. 2. 5 and 6.
The parts A, B, C, D, and E after being cut out in the blank form are forged
ground fitted and finished as shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 7.
I do not confine myself to the precise method of securing the centre blade C to
the bow of the parts A and B as the same may be varied without departing from
the essential features of my Invention.

page_text: 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 herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
Improvements in the construction of shears for shearing sheep and other
purposes by the employment of a fixed central two edged blade with shank
secured to the meeting ends of the half bows of a pair of ordinary spring shears in
such a manner as that when the two shanks of the spring shears are pressed by
the band of the operator the blades thereof will close onto the fixed central blade
and when the pressure is removed the two blades will spring back therefrom
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Smith have hereunto set my hand
and seal this First day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two,
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.S.)