Improved Apparatus for Dipping Sheep and other Animals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Dipping Sheep and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH CANNON, of The Avenue, Lincoln, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved apparatus for dipping sheep and other
animals.
The improved apparatus is constructed with a trough for containing the dipping
liquid and with a platform (preferably perforated or equivalently formed) on which
the animal stands while being dipped, such parts being so arranged relatively to
each other as that the dipping operation is effected either by raising the containing
trough relatively to the platform while the latter remains stationary, or by
lowering the platform relatively to the trough while the latter remains stationary,
or by causing both the platform and trough so to alter their relative positions as to
immerse the animal in the dipping liquid contained by the trough.
Such notions of the moving part or parts may be effected automatically, but are
preferably effected by the aid of suitable manually operated appliances, by which
also the return motions to the normal position may be effected.
The trough may be made of metal or of any other suitable material, and of any
desired proportions and may be let into a recess made in the ground or fitted in an
opening made in the bottom of a cart or of any suitably mounted travelling frame
if the apparatus be desired to be moved from place to place. If adapted to be
raised and lowered it is preferably made with a top flange adapted to rest on the
edge of its surrounding or supporting frame so as not to descend below the desired
level.
The platform may also be made of metal or of any other suitable material and
of a size approximately fitting the interior of the trough. It is preferably made
throughout the greater part of its extent, and, if required, around its periphery,
with through openings or apertures of any suitable disposition and shape and of a
size sufficiently small to prevent the animal's feet from getting thereinto.
If the platform is adapted to move relatively to the trough, it normally occupies
a position level with the flanged rim of the trough and is or may be supported in
such position by counterweighted chains, ropes or like flexible connections supported
by suitably arranged pulleys and provided with suitable means of control. Then,
after the animal has stepped onto the platform, the latter may be released so as to
allow of the weight of the animal causing the platform to descend into the trough
and effect the required dipping of the animal. The rising of the animal and the
platform may be effected by adding sufficient weight to the chains or by pulling on
the said flexible connections or otherwise.
If the trough is arranged to be raised in the dipping operation and the platform
to remain stationary, the supporting flexible connections would be connected to
the trough and the raising thereof effected by adding weight to the connections or
by pulling thereon or otherwise, and the lowering thereof effected by removing
weight from the said connections or by releasing the connections or otherwise, the
platform being suspended by chains or supported by rods, bars or other suitable
means reaching to some convenient supporting part above or outside of the
trough.
If the trough and platform be both arranged to move so as to effect the required
dipping with a less amount of vertical movement, the platform may be arranged
to descend (say) half the distance, while the trough is arranged to simultaneously
rise the same or remaining extent, the platform and trough in such case being
connected to independent series of suitably supported flexible connections.

page_text: In lieu of such counterweighting flexible connections, a suitable arrangement of
levers may be employed for effecting the required movements of the part or parts
to be actuated, and such levers may be adjustable so as to vary the extent of
movement as may be required.
Among other advantages arising from the use of such improved apparatus may
be mentioned, that the animal simply steps on the platform and has not to be
lifted or handled as it has to be in existing apparatus of the kind;-there is,
consequently, much saving of labour and trouble and immunity from liability of
injuring the animal if with young; the dipping operation is effected with much
greater facility and there is considerable economy in the use of the dipping
liquid. The dipping liquid is also thoroughly stirred at each actuation of the
apparatus.
An adjustable time glass (containing running sand or the like) may be advan-
tageously fitted to the apparatus and automatically operated at each actuation
thereof so as to afford a ready means of indicating when the animal has been
sufficiently dipped.
Dated this 7th day of December 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Dipping Sheep and other Animals.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH CANNON, of The Avenue, Lincoln, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for dipping sheep and other
animals.
The apparatus is constructed with a trough for containing the dipping liquid or
"dip," and with a platform (preferably perforated or equivalently formed) on which
the animal stands while being dipped, such parts being so arranged relatively to
each other as that the dipping operation is effected, preferably by lowering the
platform and the animal standing thereon into the dipping liquid contained by the
trough, or by raising the trough and dipping liquid relatively to the platform,
while the latter remains stationary, or by causing both the platform and trough so
to alter their relative positions as to immerse the animal in the dip.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the aforesaid preferred arrangement of
the apparatus, in which the dipping is effected by the lowering of the platform
and the animal thereon into the dip contained by a stationary trough.
On the drawings-
Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, represents a plan thereof, part of the perforated bottom of the platform
being removed; and—
Fig. 3, represents a sectional plan, on about the plane indicated by the line a, b,
Fig. 1.
4, represents the trough which may be made of wood or of metal, or of any other
suitable material, and of any desired dimensions. It is constructed with a stepped
incline 5, upon which the dipped animal escapes, after having been subjected to
the dipping operation.
6, represents the perforated platform, which normally occupies the elevated
portion represented in Fig. 1, (with its perforated bottom just below the top edge
of the trough 4,) it being automatically supported in such position by the operation
of counterbalancing weights 8, which loosely fit within boxes 9, (bolted or secured
as at 10, to the outer sides of the trough) and are connected to the end bottom
J

page_text: cross bars 11, of the platform by chains 12, which pass over pulleys 13, pivoted in
guards 14, bolted to the top edge of the trough.
The platform is prevented from being raised above such position, in its normal
working, by a stop 15, at each corner, which is pivoted at 16, to the underside of
an inner flange 17, running alongside the trough, and normally closes an opening 18,
therein. When it is required to remove the platform from the apparatus for any
necessary purpose, the four stops 15, are turned about their respective centres so
as to clear the openings 18, and allow of the platform being raised above the
trough, and of its being wholly removed.
The platform, thus supported by the connected weights, is normally retained in
such raised position until it is required to be lowered into the dip, by a cross
lever 19, (vide Fig. 2.) pivoted at 20, to a bottom central cross bar 11x, and adapted
to engage with so as to rest upon two catch-blocks 21, respectively secured to the
opposite inner sides of the trough. Opposite openings or recesses 22, are made in
the flanges 17, to accommodate the ends of the lever 19, when the platform is being
inserted into or removed from the trough.
The lever 19, is connected with and operated by a vertical lever 23, which is
pivoted at 24, to one of the side rails 25, of the platform and can be set so as to
cause the lever 19, to engage with or disengage from the catch blocks 21.
The platform is further made with side rails 25, with bowed or over connecting
rails 26, with a perforated bottom extending its whole length, and with vertically
disposed angle irons 27, which latter by engaging with correspondingly disposed
angle irons 28, secured to the inner sides of the trough (vide Figs. 2 and 3,) ensure
the regularity of its vertical movements.
In front of the gangway formed by the platform is erected a gate 29, which is
situated above the level of the trough and is secured by pins 30, entering corre-
sponding holes made in the top edges of the trough, and by stay rods 31, and screw
nuts 32, or in any other suitable manner, and is used for preventing an animal,
which has stepped onto the platform 6, from proceeding further while the platform
retains its said elevated position. A similarly situated hinged or other opening
gate may, if required, be arranged at the other end, to control the entrance to the
platform gangway.
As soon as the animal has stepped onto the platform, the dipping operation is
proceeded with, by the attendant shifting the lever 23, to a vertical position which
disengages the lever 19, from the catch-blocks 21, and releases the platform; the
weight of which, together with that of the animal standing thereon then over-
balances the series of weights 8, and the platform and animal slowly descend into
the "dip" in the trough, which is partly filled with the "dip to any required
depth. As the animal is thus immersed the "dip" is injected in numerous fine
streams escaping through the perforated bottom of the platform well into its fleece
so as effectually to get at the parasites which it is desired to destroy.
73
Upon the platform reaching the bottom of the trough, the attendant again
shifts the lever 23, so as to cause the lever 19, to engage with the undersides of
catch blocks 21, (which correspond with those 21, hereinbefore referred to) so as
to secure the platform in its immersed position until the immersed animal has
escaped therefrom, which it is then at liberty to do by running up the stepped
incline 5. Thereupon, the attendant again operates the lever 23, so as to release
the lever 19, from the catch blocks 21*; whereupon, the weights 8, automatically
cause the platform to rise to its normal level, wherein it is secured, as aforesaid,
ready for a repetition of the operation.
The gangway up the incline 5, may be closed by a hinged or other gate under
the control of the attendant, if required, so as to keep the animal confined in the
dip for such a time as may be required.
The operations of the lever 19, in locking the platform in its raised or immersed
positions, may be rendered automatic by sloping the faces of the blocks 21, 21*,
against which the lever strikes in ascending or descending, and by applying a
spring to the lever 23, so as to cause it, immediately the lever 19, clears such

page_text: blocks, to automatically resume its locking position, thus leaving the unlocking of
the platform only to be attended to by the attendant when the animal is safely on
the platform and ready to be dipped, and when it has escaped therefrom after
having been dippėd.
The trough is provided with handles 33, by means of which it can be shifted as
desired. It may rest on the ground, or may be let into a recess formed in the
ground, nearly to the level of its top, or as deep as may be required, or it may be
fitted in an opening made in the bottom of a cart or of any suitably mounted
travelling frame if the apparatus be desired to be locomotive.
If its top edge is much above the level of the surrounding ground, an easy means
of access to the level of the platform is provided by a stepped incline or gang-
way 34, which is detachably hooked as at 35, to the one end of the trough, a
corresponding stepped incline or gangway 36, being likewise detachably hooked, as
at 37, to the other end of the trough, to facilitate the easy escape of the dipped
animal to terra firma.
66
We find it in practice not so advantageous to raise and lower the trough
relatively to the platform, owing to the greater weight of the trough and contained
dip" to be manipulated, but if the trough is required to be movable relatively to
a stationary platform, it is made without the incline 5; and is preferably made
with an outer surrounding flange adapted to rest on the edge of its surrounding or
supporting frame so as not to descend below the desired level.
In such event, also, the chains 12, or other supporting flexible connections would
be connected to the trough and the raising thereof effected by adding weight to
the connections or by pulling thereon or otherwise, and the lowering thereof
effected by removing weight from the said connections or by releasing the
connections or otherwise, the platform being suspended by chains or supported by
rods, bars, or other suitable means reaching to some convenient supporting part
above or outside of the trough.
If the trough and platform be both arranged to move, so as to effect the required
dipping with a less amount of vertical movement, the platform may be arranged
to descend (say) half the distance, while the trough is arranged to simultaneously
rise the same or remaining extent, the platform and trough, in such case, being
connected to independent series of suitably supported flexible connections.
In lieu of such counterweighting flexible connections, a suitable arrangement of
levers may be employed for effecting the required movements of the part or parts
to be actuated, and such levers may be adjustable so as to vary the extent of
movement, as may be required.
:-
Among other advantages arising from the use of such improved apparatus, may
be mentioned that the animal simply steps onto the platform, and has not to be
lifted or handled as it has to be in existing apparatus of the kind,--there is, conse-
quently, much saving of labour and trouble and immunity from liability of injuring
the animal, if with young: the dipping operation is effected with much greater
facility and there is considerable economy in the use of the dipping liquid. The
dipping liquid is also thoroughly stirred at each actuation of the apparatus.
An adjustable time-glass (containing running sand or the like) may advan-
tageously be fitted to the apparatus and automatically operated at each actuation
thereof so as to afford a ready means of indicating when the animal has been
sufficiently dipped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
-
1. The herein before described improved apparatus for dipping sheep and other"
animals.
2. The combination, in apparatus for dipping sheep and other animals, of a trough
for containing the dip, with a platform preferably perforated or equivalently formed

page_text: 3. In apparatus for dipping sheep and other animals; a vertically operating
platform for supporting the animal to be dipped, adapted to be lowered by the
weight of the animal and to be automatically raised to its normal level when
relieved from the weight of the animal, and provided with means of securing it
in both its raised and immersed positions, and of guiding it in its vertical
movements.
Dated this 7th day of September 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.