Improvements in Machines and Apparatus for the Dipping of Sheep.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 20th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines and Apparatus for the Dipping of Sheep.
WALTER BLAKE of 43 Cannon Street London, Business Manager to Jeyes'
Sanitary Compounds Company Limited, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An improved form of machine for dipping sheep, whereby a larger number can
be simultaneously dipped, a larger number stand in drainer, and for a longer time,
han by any existing method, effecting a great saving in time and material.
All dipping machines at present in use consist primarily of a rough trough or
ib, into which sheep are dipped, whilst being held by two men, one at a time,
en lifted from the tub and allowed to run away, carrying with them & utterly
wasting a large quantity of the dip, altogether a slow and wasteful operation, and
at the same time inefficient, the sheep not being long enough time in bath to get
the fleece saturated to the skin & to perfectly destroy all parasitical life therein.
By my method the sheep after being plunged into the bath are allowed to wade
to the opposite end, and to pass out of the bath by a corrugated inclined gangway
into what is called the drainer.
There may be six or seven sheep in the bath at one time, and twelve or more in
drainer.
The drainer is a platform slanting slightly towards the bath, and reconveying
the dip which drains from the sheep back into the bath.
This drainer is divided by a rail in the centre running lengthways thus forming
two alleys, one being filled with sheep from the bath, while the other is being
emptied of sheep already dipped which are discharged at the other end of the
drainer down an inclined board into the open field.
The gate closing the first alley is then opened and sheep admitted from the
bath, and so on alternately, until the dipping of the whole of the flock is
complete.
In existing sheep dipping machines the whole apparatus such as it may be
requires to be loaded into carts to be conveyed to another dipping.
By my invention the dipping trough or bath forms the body of a vehicle, is
provided with strong axle and a pair of large wheels, and is fitted with a pair of
hafts to enable it to be horsed, and it is so constructed and arranged that all the
st of the apparatus packs away inside the trough, and in this compact and
onvenient way it is removed to the place of the next dipping.
The apparatus should be placed in a trench dug in the ground when being
ranged for use, but it is easily adaptable for use on a stone or paved floor of
ard.
The apparatus may be made of iron or wood, I prefer wood, but it may also be
built of brick, stone, or concrete on large farms as a permanent structure.
October 10th 1800

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines and Apparatus for the Dipping of Sheep.
WALTER BLAKE of 43 Cannon Street London E.C. Business Manager to Jeyes
Sanitary Compounds Company 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:-
The object of this invention is to simplify & render more effective the operation
of washing sheep, commonly called "sheep-dipping."
The objections to the methods hitherto in use are manifold. The whole system
being superseded by my invention.
Figure 1. represents the sheep-dipping apparatus packed ready for transit. The
whole of the fittings & parts necessary to fit up the machine when in use, are
packed away in the body of the dipper--this same body forming the bath of the
apparatus when fixed & in use. The whole machine is here shown, with wheels &
shafts ready for to be horsed for transit.
Letter a. is the bath or trough, now shown as the vehicle.
Letter b. is one of the shafts, which fits into the slot c., & fastens with pin d.,
all of which are detachable & removable at pleasure.
The letters e. e. e. e. is the cover which fits on top of the trough or bath, & which
when in use forms a portion of the apparatus.
The wheels, f, are ordinary tall hickory cart wheels, easily detachable when the
apparatus is being fixed for use.
Figure 11. shows a flat section of the machine when fixed on the cart ready
for use.
Letter a. is the trough or bath which is sunk in the ground up to the wheel
axles.
Letters b. h. is a corrugated incline, widening towards the top, up which the
sheep proceed when leaving the bath.
Letters c. c. c. c. is the drainer, which is divided in the centre by a rail, forming
two alleys along which the sheep have to pass after leaving the bath, each side
being filled and emptied alternately, allowing the sheep to stand until most of the
liquid remaining in their fleeces is drained out and returned to the bath by the
arranged incline of the drainer.
Letter d. is the gate which operates the entrance to both alleys alternately, as
required, viz. as one is closed, the other naturally is open.
Letters e. e. are the wheel axles, which, when the machine is fitted into the
ground, drop into a narrow trench, thus forming a fixing for the bath, & steadying
the whole apparatus.
Letters ff. is the corrugated inclined board down which the sheep pass into the
field when they are drained sufficiently.
The object of these two alleys is, that a continuous stream of sheep are leaving
the bath, & a continuous stream are leaving the drainer, during the whole time of
the dipping, and by thus retaining a number of sheep in the drainer, a large saving
of the dipping liquid is effected.
Figure 3 is an upright section of the machine shown as fixed for use. The
dotted lines a. a. are the shafts when fixed as described in Figure 1.
Letters b. b. is the bath or trough, shown let into the ground to its proper
depth.
Letters c. c. c. is a framing or fence forming the enclosure of the draining
boards; this fence or framing being fixed to the uprights d. d. d. which uprights
rest upon the ground & produce an incline necessary to carry the drained dip back
into the trough.
Letters e. e. e. is a wrought-iron light guard, which fits in the sockets in the

page_text: framing at f. ff. f., its object being to prevent the sheep leaping over the side
of the drainer, the guard is easily removable when required for packing up.
Letter g. is the corrugated inclined board shown in Figure 2, at letter f., & is
for the purpose of enabling the sheep to get away from the drainer.
Letter h. is a small revolving gate on hinges, fitted to each side of the machine,
to prevent the sheep leaping over the side of the bath when they reach the top of
the corrugated incline.
Figure 4 shows the apparatus in outline, fixed for use & showing the water-level
in the bath..
Figure 5 is an end section of the machine, when packed for transit.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of providing for a large number of sheep to enter & remain in
the bath at one time.
2. The method & apparatus for allowing a large number of sheep in a continuous
stream to pass through the drainer.
3. The form & construction of the trough which enables it to contain all the
fittings of the apparatus & be used as a vehicle.
4. The use & application of wheels & shafts fitted to the bath or trough, both
wheels & shafts being readily detachable.
Dated this 19th day of May 1893.
WALTER BLAKE.