Improvements in the Construction of Sheepshearing Machines and in the Method of Actuating the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Construction of Sheepshearing Machines and
in the Method of Actuating the same.
I, JOSEPH GEORGE NASH, of Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide in the Province of
South Australia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEEPSHEARING MACHINES AND
IN THE METHOD OF ACTUATING THE SAME and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
"
My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of sheep shearing
machines, and refers more particularly to that class in which a motion is imparted
to the cutter through a flexible tube from a revolving shaft. With the sheep
shearing machines at present in use the usual method is to obtain through a flexible
tube a rotary motion, which by known methods is converted into a backward and
forward motion when imparted to the bar or lever carrying the cutter.
obtaining this rotary motion, considerable friction has to be overcome, and increased
power is necessary for the driving of the cutter through the unavoidable complication
of the parts.
In
The object of my invention is to reduce the friction and to simplify the parts of
the shearing apparatus by conveying the power to the cutter direct from the
revolving shaft. I accomplish this by imparting a backward and forward motion
to the lever actuating the cutter by means of two wires or chains the ends of which
are attached to connecting rods upon a double crank of the revolving shaft and the
other ends to the opposite ends of the bar or carrier actuating the cutter. By
attaching the ends of the driving wires underneath the cutter bar or carrier the
cutter itself is kept constantly upon the face of the comb, and little or no tension is
required.
In carrying my invention into effect, I use preferably two wires, but may employ
only one, providing a spiral spring for the purpose of actuating the cutter bar in
place of the second wire or chain.
I propose to describe my invention in connection with the use of steel or other
wire for actuating the same, but may use cords or chains if sufficiently strong and
rigid for the purpose.
In order that my invention may be well understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1. is an elevation of the shearing apparatus, tubes conveying the wires, outer
casing, and driving shaft complete.
Fig. 2. enlarged side sectional elevation of a connecting rod for the driving shaft.
Fig. 3. a sectional elevation of the contrivance for adjusting the tension of the
wires.
Fig. 4. a sectional plan of the shearing apparatus, the bar or lever forming the
tension of the cutter bar being removed in order to shew the parts more clearly.
Fig. 5. a sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 6. an underneath view of the cutter bar and cutter together with the
actuating wires.
Fig. 7. a detailed view of the cutter bar shewing the method of attaching the
wires.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all figures.
A is the main driving shaft provided with fixed and loose pulleys, to which power
is imparted in any ordinary way. A' double crank of the main driving shaft.
B B connecting rods. B' B' blocks or bearing boxes of the connecting rods B.

page_text: B ball bearings in which the double cranks A' revolve. B' hooks or other
fastenings to which the ends of the wires actuating the cutter bar are attached.
CC main driving wires. C₁ C¹ flexible tubes formed preferably of wire wound
spirally, in which the main driving wires CC work. The upper ends of the
tubes Care clamped to the bed-plate carrying the bearings of the main driving
shaft A the lower ends being attached to the cutter handle. D outer casing or
tube in which the two spirally wound tubes C' are placed. E screw strainer of any
ordinary construction provided at either end with loops to which the wires C C are
attached. The strainers E E are preferably placed at or near the lower ends of
the wire near the cutter handle in order to be easy of access to the operator.
F outer handle or casing of shearing appliance having at one end a bell-shaped
opening into which the lower ends of the flexible tubes C¹ are led, and into which
they are clamped in any ordinary way. G bed-plate. H comb secured to the
bed-plate G. K cutter bar or carrier. K' central pin or stud projecting upwards
from the bed-plate G upon which the cutter bar or carrier K works. K projecting
lugs preferably provided with tapering holes through which the lower ends of the
wires C are passed.
By reference to Fig. 7., the method of securing the lower ends of the wire C will
be clearly seen. The hole in the lug K tapers ontwards, the inner end being of
only sufficient size to allow the single wire to pass through. The end of the wire
is passed through, doubled over, and being drawn back into the tapering hole,
cannot pass through. K projecting lugs or studs fitting into similar recesses
provided in the cutter. L cutter. M spring lever forming the tension of the
cutter bar or carrier. M projecting lug or block provided with ball bearings and
attached to or actuated by the outer end of the spring or tension lever M.
M² adjusting screw. M³ central screw for retaining the spring or tension lever in
position. N projecting stops for the cutter bar or carrier K placed one on either
side of the bed-plate.
In practice it may be necessary to insert small hardened plates in the upper
surface of the cutter bar or carrier K where it takes a bearing against the ball
bearings of the projecting lug or block M'. The projecting lugs K though shewn
on the underneath face of the cutter bar or carrier, may be placed on the upper
surface of the same and the actuating wires brought over in place of under the
cutter bar or carrier. I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the one or the other position, neither do I confine myself to the method shewn of
attaching the cutter to the cutter bar or carrier, nor to the method of attaching the
wires, nor to the method of actuating the wires by a double crank of a revolving
shaft, though the methods shewn answer the purpose.
In practice the action of my invention is as follows:-Power being imparted to
the main driving shaft A the double crank A' actuates the connecting rods B
causing first one and then the other to pull its respective wire. The lower ends of
the wires C being attached direct to the lugs K' à backward and forward motion
is imparted to the cutter bar or carrier K upon the pin or stud K', and the cutter L
is with it carried backwards and forwards upon the upper surface of the comb H.
Owing to the double crank A¹ being of small size the carrier K can be driven at
a high speed and there being little or no loss of power owing to the direct method
employed of driving the same, the size of the comb H and the cutter L can, if
desired, be increased. The upper surface of the cutter bar or carrier K pressing
constantly against the ball bearings with which the lug or block M¹ is provided
when from any cause it is desired to alter the tension of the cutter,-that is to say
to adjust the cutter L to the comb H-this can be done readily even when the
machine is running, by means of the adjusting screw M. By raising or lowering
the latter the lug or block M¹ can be caused to press more or less upon the upper
surface of the cutter bar or carrier K and the cutter L be brought more or less
closely to the comb H.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as my invention the connecting
rods B provided with ball bearings, nor the strainer or wire tension E, but,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In the construction of sheep shearing machines the herein described contrivance
for actuating the cutter bar or carrier, consisting essentially of two wires, cords, or
chains, or a single wire in combination with a spiral spring driven direct from the
main driving shaft and imparting a reciprocal or backward and forward motion to
the cutter bar substantially as herein described.
2. In the construction of sheep shearing machines a cutter bar or carrier such
as K provided with a stud or pin such as K' and with projecting lugs such as K*
substantially as herein described and for the purpose indicated.
3. In the construction of sheep shearing machines the combination with a cutter
bar or carrier such as K capable of having a reciprocal or backward and forward
motion upon a stud or pin K¹ of two main driving wires such as C attached to
projecting lugs such as K² formed one on either end of the cutter bar or carrier K
and actuated by a revolving shaft or other suitable means substantially as herein
described and for the purpose indicated.
4. In the construction of sheep shearing machines the combination of a cutter
bar or carrier such as K to which a reciprocal or backward and forward motion is
imparted by two driving wires such as C or their equivalent, or by a single main
driving wire in combination with a spiral spring actuating the other end of the
carrier, of a tension spring or lever such as M provided with a projecting block
such as M having ball bearings, and capable of being adjusted by means of a thumb
screw such as M or by other suitable means, all substantially as herein described,
and for the purpose indicated.
5. In the construction of sheep shearing machines the combination with a cutter
bar or carrier such as K to which a reciprocal or backward and forward motion is
imparted by means of two main driving wires, or their equivalent, of a cutter such
as L attached thereto by means of suitable lugs or studs such as K³ substantially as
herein described and for the purpose indicated.
Dated this 24th day of November 1801
J. G. NASH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.