IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS
Year: 1884

page_text: DI BUIFICATION.
We DAVID WARD of West Street, Sheffield in the County of York, Manufacturer,
and PHILIP ASHBERRY of Upperthorpe Sheffield aforesaid, Manager do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of sheep shears, and
particularly to shears in which the two blades are made separately and are
connected at the bow, the object of our invention being to enable the blades to be
readily separated for sharpening or for other purposes, such as to. replace a damaged
blade, or so that the blades may be exactly matched in temper; and to be secured
in the required position for cutting, with absolute certainty and dispatch.
Unskilled inen will appreciate the advantage of being able to take the blades
asunder for sharpening, which avoids the risk of straining the bow, and altering
the "set" of the blades. We are aware that shears have been made with the
blades arranged to swivel upon a fixed centre, and also that loose blades with
shanks to fit into the socketed shanks have been used, but without success.
Now in order that our invention may be fully understood we shall in our
Specification refer to the annexed sheet of drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon;
Fig. 1, represents a pair of sheep shears constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 2, shows the joint separated.
Fig. 3, is a screw key for operating the nut.
Fig. 4, 5 and 6, show arrangements of making the joint with a clasp.
Fig. 7, shows the application of a vertical elongated indentation instead of the
round ones shown in Fig. 2.
In carrying out our invention we make the shear in two parts similar to those
described in the specification of Patent N° 3255 but differing therefrom in the
following material particular, that the blades are not permanently secured together
as there described, but are made so that they may be readily separated. In Fig. 1,
AA are the blades, B B the shanks, C, C, the halves of the bow divided at D.
We make each part a facsimile of the other and the parts of the bow marked E
and F that form the joint, are provided with indentations G, and corresponding
projections H, round being a convenient form, but any other shape of indentation

page_text: may be used such as vertical or transverse grooves as in Fig. 7. these are for the
purpose of locking the two parts in position accurately but always in such a manner
that they can be separated readily.
We form such indentations and projections by stamping the parts in dies so that
when put together, one part will fit into the other, and may be finally secured by
means of a screw and nut I and J.
To prevent the loss of the nut we enlarge the end slightly after it is passed
through the part E, and a slot L is provided in the other part F, to enable the two
parts to be separated.
To make the joint without indentations we use the modifications or equivalents
shown in Fig. 4, 5, 6.-In Fig 4 it will be seen that the top edges are formed with
duplicate catchpieces Q, and the parts may be finally secured by a screw bolt, or by
means of a clip R, driven over them.
The modifications shown in Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate a simple means of securing
the joint by means of a clasp S, the turned over edges fitting into slots formed in
the ends of the bow, and finally secured by a bolt. To deaden the unpleasant
jarring when the stops of the shears come in contact, we attach two cushions K, K,
preferably of leather by means of a metallic clip, passed through the cushions and
also through a hole in the stops, this method enables the cushions to be easily
detached for renewal
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, We declare that what
we claim, is:-
1st In sheep shears in which the blades are made so as to be taken apart, the
combination of indentations and corresponding projections, or equivalents,
(for finding and retaining the exact position of the blades) with a bolt and
nut passed through a hole in one part of the shear, and a slot with an open
end in the other part, as described and illustrated.
2nd In sheep shears in which the blades are made to be taken apart, the use of
the locking devices, in Figs 4. 5. 6. 7.
3rd The method of attaching cushions to the stops of shears by means of metallic
clasps as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 22nd day of September 1884.
ROB F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicants.