Improved Gear for Driving Small Machines, such as those used for Sheep Shearing Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
COMI LEID DIDUIFICATION.
Improved Gear for Driving Small Machines, such as those used for
Sheep Shearing Purposes.
I, HENRY BLAND, of Norton Street, Leichardt, near Sydney, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Engineer, 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 has been devised for the purpose of providing an improved gear
for driving small machines, such as those used for sheep shearing purposes.
It comprises
1. A detachable overhead gear, which can readily be fixed in a very short time
even by an unskilled workman, and which can be removed without loss of time.
2. A universal coupling, which is very simple in construction, not liable to
become accidentally displaced, whilst it can quickly be disconnected if required.
3. A counterbalance lever, which is used for taking some of the weight of the
machine off the user's hand when the invention is applied to hand machines such as
sheep shearing machines.
4. A flexible shaft, which is durable, supple and light, and that will not require
to be oiled so often.
5. A universal joint, which is entirely enclosed within a dust-proof casing.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a general view, showing the complete arrangement of my improved
gear for driving small machines, illustrating it as applied to a sheep shearing..
machine.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan of the universal joint above referred to.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section on line 4--4, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the left-hand part of the casing of the universal
joint, and
Figure 6 is a similar view of the right-hand part thereof, whilst
Figure 7 is a plan of said right-hand half of said casing.
Figure 8 is a plan, and
Figure 9 a side elevation of the double-toothed crown wheel constituting part
of the joint.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of one of the bevel pinions which engages with said
crown wheel.
Figure 11 is an end elevation, and
Figure 12 a side elevation of another part of said joint.
Figure 13 is a plan, and
Figure 14 an end elevation of the counterbalanced lever which I use for partially
supporting the machine driven by my gear.
a
Figure 15 is a plan of part of the flexible driving shaft, together with
universal coupling, whereby it may be connected with the spindle by which it is
driven.
Figure 16 is a side elevation of said universal coupling, and
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the connecting block used therein.
Figure 18 is a side elevation, and
Figure 19 a plan of one half of said universal coupling.
Figure 20 is a side elevation, and
Figure 21 a plan of the rectangular connecting block shown in Figure 17.
Figures 22 and 23 are similar views to Figures 18 and 19, but illustrating the

page_text: ;
Figure 24 is a sectional elevation, showing the overhead part of my improved
gear fitted in position, and having a driving spindle connected to it.
Figure 25 is a front elevation of part of the device used for connecting the
sheathing of said spindle with said overhead.
Figures 26, 27 and 28 are respectively side and front elevations and plan of part
of said device for connecting the casing of said spindle to the overhead, and
Figures 29 and 30 are front and side elevations respectively of the lower part of
said connecting device.
Figure 31 is a side elevation, and
Figure 32 a plan of part of the contrivance used for automatically throwing the
driving spindle out of gear when it is lifted.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A (Figure 4) represents part of the spindle of a sheep shearing or other machine
to which motion is required to be imparted from the flexible part, B, of the driving
shaft (Figures 1 and 15) in such a manner as not to interfere with the movement of
the machine in any direction. For this purpose I provide my improved gear with
a universal joint, which consists of a double crown wheel, C (Figures 4, 8 and 9,)
that is, one formed with teeth upon both faces and adapted to gear with two bevel
pinions, cc, the former being fitted or formed upon the end of the spindle, A, and
the latter upon another spindle, A¹, which is connected or secured to the end of the
flexible part of the driving shaft in the ordinary or any other convenient manner.
This double crown wheel, C, works upon a screwed stud or bolt, c², passing through
the centre of and connecting the two casings, c³ and c* (Figures 2 to 7,) the former
of which is formed with a sleeve, es, encircling a bush, a (Figure 4,) in which the
spindle, A, rotates, whilst the casing, c', is formed with a similar sleeve, c, encircling
a bush, a', through which the spindle, A¹, passes. These two casings, cand c³,
when connected together by the stud or bolt, c³, completely enclose the gear-
.ing, C-c-c', as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, but they are free to turn relatively to
each other upon the central stud or bolt, c³, in a plane at an angle with the axis of
the driving spindles. The sleeve, c³, is fitted over and secured to a split ring, D,
which is fitted into an annular recess, d, formed around the bush, a, and the sleeve, co,
is similarly secured to another split ring, D', fitted into an annular groove, d¹ (see
Figures 4 and 12,) in the bush, a', to which the end of the usual sheathing, E
(Figure 1,) surrounding the flexible shaft, B, is secured in any convenient
manner.
The overhead part of my improved gear is best illustrated in Figures 24 and 25,
and consists of a bracket, F, bolted or otherwise secured to any convenient support
(such for instance as a baulk of timber,) and having a downwardly projecting
bush, in which is fitted a sleeve, g, projecting down from a grooved pulley, G.
Over this bush, f, is fitted a short sleeve or tube, H, which is formed at its lower
end with two outwardly projecting pins, h, with which two hooks, ³, upon the upper
end of the tube or casing, i, encircling the spindle, I, can engage. A spindle, J, is
passed down through the bush, g, of the grooved wheel, G, and has the spindle, I,
connected to it by means of the universal coupling, K, which is constructed as
follows An upper forked piece, k (Figures 18, 19 and 24,) is formed in the usual
way with two ears, k¹, the necks of which are reduced in width and between which
is supported a rectangular block, L, by means of a pin, (Figures 15 and 24,)
passing through said ears. This block is formed with two grooves or recesses, 1,
one on each side, to receive projections, 12, on the ears of the lower forked piece, k2..
-These projections are preferably made solid with said ears, and are adapted to
over the reduced neck of the upper cars, k³, and then fit into the recesses, l, in the
rectangular block, L, the weight or pull of the gear keeping said projections
in contact with said recesses, whilst permitting freedom of motion, such as is usual
with the ordinary universal joint, and at the same time enabling it to be quickly
disconnected or connected at will.
•
pass
A similar coupling, M (Figure 1,) is fitted at the lower end of the spindle, I, to
connect it to the flexible part, B, of the driving shaft, and upon the sheath above.

page_text: this joint I sometimes pivotally support a rod or lever, N, having one end formed
with a loop, n, through which the sheath, E, and flexible part, B, of the driving
shaft can be passed, whilst the opposite end of the said lever is fitted with an
adjustable counterbalance weight, n', which is hollowed out on top, as shown in
Figure 14, so that when the flexible part, B, of the driving shaft is drawn out
straight with the rigid spindle, I, said weight will lie on either side of said spindle
without interfering with such movement. When in its normal position, the counter-
balance weight, n', will take a considerable portion of the weight of the machine
off the user's hand.
The upper end of the spindle, J, is provided with a cap, j, having recesses, j',
and underneath which is a spiral spring,, whose tendency is always to raise said
spindle and said cap out of gear with the projecting pins, 13, on the grooved
wheel, G, and which is enabled to do so if the spindle, I, and sheathing is raised
slightly, the effect being to stop the rotation of said spindle, and therefore of the
flexible driving-shaft, so as to admit of the latter being readily oiled.
The flexible part, B, of the driving shaft is constructed as illustrated in Figure 15,
with an ordinary core, b, of catgut or other suitable material, round which a fine
wire, &', is tightly and closely bound. The ends of this wire are passed through
holes in and secured to collars formed upon the universal couplings, M and C, and
its effect is partly to prevent the wear and tear of the catgut or other core and
partly to increase the strength, as well as to retain a quantity of oil between the
convolutions of the said wire casing, bl, so as to enable the shafting to run for a
considerable time without requiring to be oiled.
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 gear for driving small machines such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a spindle (such as J) normally connected with a driving pulley (such
as G) or other rotating part of said gear in combination with a spring (such as 1³)
adapted to raise said spindle out of gear, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figure 24 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In gear for driving small machines such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, the combination with a universal coupling (such as K) of a sheathing
surrounding the spindle to which motion is to be imparted and having hooks (such
as h¹) whereby it can be connected to a sleeve (such as H) supported upon the
overhead bracket, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Figures 24
to 30 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In gear for driving small machines, such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a universal coupling consisting of two forked pieces, one having a square
block (such as L) pivoted between its ends, and the other having two inward
projections (such as 12) adapted to engage within recesses (such as ) formed in
the sides of said block, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained, and as illustrated in Figures 1, 15, 16, 17 and 24 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In gear for driving small machines, such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a counterbalanced lever (such as N,) having its forward end formed with
a loop (such as n,) through which the casing and flexible part of the shaft of the
machine can pass, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained, and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In gear for driving small machines, such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a composite flexible shaft, consisting of a core of catgut bound tightly
round with fine steel or other wire, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained, and as illustrated in Figure 15 of the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 6. In gear for driving small machines such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a universal joint having the two halves of its casing pivotally connected
together so that they can rotate upon each other in a plane at an angle to the
driving shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and explained,
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In gear for driving small machines, such as those used for sheep shearing
purposes, a universal joint consisting of a double crown wheel (such as C) in gear
with two pinions mounted in bearings within the two halves (c³, c,) of a casing
enclosing said wheels, and connected together by the bolt upon which said double
crown wheel is mounted, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
-explained, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-two.
HENRY BLAND.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.