Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Animal Clippers or Shears.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Animal Clippers or Shears.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 528, Oxford Street, W., in the County of Middlesex,
Horse Clipper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus, for driving animal clippers
or shears, of the class described in the Specifications of my Letters Patent, No. 4099,
March 18th 1887, No. 4293, March 20th 1888 and No. 9240, May 9th 1895.
The main objects of my present invention are to simplify the construction of
such apparatus and to reduce the friction of certain of the working parts, so that
the machine will require but little power to operate it, while the transmission of
motion to the clipper will be direct and positive.
The apparatus forming the subject of my present invention is somewhat similar
in general design to that shewn and described in the Specification of my Letters
Patent No. 9246 of 1895, but the gear wheels therein employed to multiply the
speed are dispensed with, and a combination of sprocket wheels and chains
employed for that purpose.
The stationary part of the machine consists of a vertical standard fixed in a
suitable base plate, provided with means for attachment to the ground. To the
upper end of this standard is jointed a light tube, or rod, normally sustained in a
vertical, or nearly vertical position by means of suitable springs, or a counterpoise.
At a convenient height on the standard, a horizontal spindle is journalled and
provided with a winch handle for rotation by manual labour, or with fast and loose
belt pullies for power. A large sprocket wheel is keyed on this spindle, and by
means of a chain, drives a small sprocket wheel keyed on a horizontal spindle
journalled at the top of the standard, the said spindle forming the axis about which
the aforesaid light tube or rod turns. A large sprocket wheel on this same spindle,
drives by means of a chain, a small sprocket wheel on a spindle journalled at the
extremity of the said tube or rod. Any suitable form of flexible, or combination of
rigid and flexible shafting, carrying at its lower end the clipping or shearing
instrument, depends from the extremity of this tube or rod, and is driven from the
spindle thereat by means of mitre or bevel gearing.
It will be seen that the required multiplication of speed is obtained by the chains
and sprocket wheels, which, as is well known, transmit motion without the
possibility of slip and with the minimum of pressure on the spindle bearings,
defects inherent in belt or cord driving arrangements, while the noise, friction

page_text: between the teeth and pressure on the bearings attendant on bevel gear driving and
multiplying devices are also avoided.
Dated this 10th day of March 1897
AMBROSE MYALL,
2, Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Animal Clippers or Shears,
We, WILLIAM THOMAS CLARK, of 528, Oxford Street, W., in the County of
Middlesex, Horse Clipper Manufacturer, EDWARD JOIN PIDDUCK, of Hanley, in
the County of Stafford, Jeweller, and JOSEPH DAY, of 480, Oxford Street, aforesaid,
Hosier, the Executors of the late WILLIAM CLARK, of 528, Oxford Street, aforesaid,
Horse Clipper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus, for driving animal clippers
or shears, of the class described in the Specifications of the Letters Patent of the
Lits William Clerk, atoresaid, No. 4009, March 18th, 1887; No. 4299, March 20th,
1888 and No. 5246, May 9th, 1997.
The main objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of
such apparatus and to reduce the friction of certain of the working parts, so that
the machine will require but little power to operate it, while the transmission of
motion to the clipper will be direct and positive.
The apparatus forming the subject of the said invention is somewhat similar in
general design to that shewn and described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 9240 of 1895 aforesaid, but the gear wheels therein employed to multiply the
speed are dispensed with, and a combination of sprocket wheels and chains sub-
stituted for that purpose..
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms part of this specification
and in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a machine, or apparatus for driving animal clippers
or shears, constructed in accordance with the said invention.
The stationary part of the machine consists of a vertical standard A, preferably
formed of a metal tube, fixed in a base plate B, provided, if desired, with means
for attachment to the ground, or floor.
A horizontal stud C is fixed in the upper part of the said standard, and a fly
wheel D is journalled on the projecting end of the said stud, and provided with
a handle Ĕ for rotation by manual labour; but if it is preferred to
drive the machine by power, a spindle is journalled in the standard,
in place of the fixed stud C, having the fly wheel 1) keyed on one end, and a belt
pulley, indicated by the dotted lines F, or fast and loose pullies, on the other end.
H is an extension of the standard A, of reduced diameter, having a horizontal
spindle J journalled in its upper end, parallel with the stud or spindle C.
A small chain or sprocket pinion K, is keyed on one end of this spindle and
driven by the chain L from the fly wheel D, the said fly wheel having teeth formed
upon, or attached to its periphery for this purpose. A sprocket wheel M, of larger
diameter than the pinion K, is keyed on the other end of the spindle J.
The part H of the vertical extension H, is preferably arranged to slide in the
end of H, and can be fixed at any required height by the set screw N, or other
suitable device, for the purpose of readily adjusting the tension of the chain L.

page_text: P is a light tube jointed to the part H, so that it can turn about the spindle J
as a centre, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is advisable that the
said tube be arranged to turn around the exterior of the journals of the spindle J,
as shewn in Fig. 2, and not be journalled on the said spindle itself, as in that case
its weight, would add greatly to the friction and extra power would be wasted in
driving the said spindle.
The tube P is normally sustained in the position shewn by the full lines in
Fig: 1, by means of a pair of springs QQ, similar in construction to and acting
in a similar manner to those shewn in Fig. 2 of the aforesaid Specification
No. 9246 of 1895.
A horizontal spindle R is journalled in a fork S at the top of the tube P, parallel
with the spindles C and J, and has a sprocket pinion T, keyed on one end. This
pinion is smaller than the sprocket wheel M and is driven therefrom by the
chain V. An extension arrangement, as indicated at W, is provided in the tube P
for adjusting the tension of the said chain, in a similar manner to that described
with reference to the standard H.
A short spindle X journalled in a tube Y having a forked extension Z at its
upper end jointed to the fork S, is driven from the spindle R by the mitre gears a a.
To the end of this spindle X a flexible shaft b is attached, having the clipping or
shearing instrument e fixed to its lower end.
In Fig. 2 the flexible shaft is removed and the spindle X turned up vertically,
to shew more clearly the arrangement of the fork joint and mitre gears.
The springs QQ are just of sufficient strength to lift the tube P into the position
shewn by full lines in Fig. 1, and in such position there is practically no weight
on the hand of the operator directing the clipper, but the said tube can easily be
drawn down into the horizontal position indicated by the dotted lines, when it is
required to use the clipper at a greater distance from the machine, and the said
springs automatically raise the tube again as the clipper is brought back. The
instrument can thus be readily used to operate over a considerable area. In place
of springs a counterpoise may be applied to a downward extension of the tube P
to serve the same purpose, but this increases the weight of the apparatus and inter-
feres somewhat with its portability.
It will be seen that the required multiplication of speed is obtained by the chains
and sprocket wheels, which, as is well known, transmit motion without the
possibility of slip, and with the minimum of pressure upon the spindle bearings,
defects inherent in belt or cord driving arrangements, while the noise, friction
between the teeth and pressure on the bearings attendant on bevel gear driving
and multiplying devices, are also avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a clipper driving machine, in combination, the standard A, H, the fly-
wheel D with sprocket teeth, the sprocket pinion K and the spindle J, at top of said
standard, driven by said fly wheel through the chain L, the sprocket wheel Mon
said spindle, the arm P turning about said spindle, the sprocket pinion T and
spindle R at end of said arm driven by said wheel M through the chain V, the
spindle X and flexible shaft b, driven from said spindle R by gears a a, and the
springs QQ (or counterpoise) supporting said arm P and its attachments, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
2. In a clipper driving machine, in combination, the standard A, H, the extend-
ng chain adjustment H¹, the fly wheel D with sprocket teeth, the sprocket
pinion K and the spindle J on extension H³, driven by said fly wheel through the
hain L, the sprocket wheel M on said spindle, the arm P turning about said
pindle, the extending chain adjustment W, the sprocket pinion T and spindle R
t end of said arm, driven by said wheel M through the chain V, the spindle X
nd flexible shaft b, driven from said spindle R by gears a a, and the springs QQ

page_text: (or counterpoise) supporting said arm P and its attachments, all substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
Dated the 10th day of December 1897.
AMBROSE MYALL,
2, Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.