Improvements in Horse-clippers and like Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Horse-clippers and like Apparatus.
I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 180 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to horse-clippers and similar apparatas, and is chiefly
designed to improve the construction and increase the efficiency thereof.
The horse-clippers generally employed comprise a steel or other comb over which
is reciprocated a second comb, the teeth of the two combs being sharpened at
their edges so as to cut any hair or the like which may extend through the spaces
between the teeth of said combs.
Now according to my said invention, instead of employing an upper reciprocating
comb as above mentioned, I employ an endless chain bearing a series of knives,
which are caused to move over the teeth of a relatively fixed comb. In this manner
I am enabled to obtain a direct continuous cutting action of the knives instead of
an intermittent action as in the apparatus employed heretofore.
In constructing a clipper according to my invention, I provide a preferably
triangular frame, along the front edge of which is mounted a suitable steel or
other comb, the rear angle or corner of the said frame being provided with a suitable
handle. Over the said comb is moved a chain, bearing inclined or raking knives, the
said chain passing over guide pulleys at each end of the comb and over a sprocket-wheel
which is preferably arranged at the rear angle or corner of the triangle and is provided
with a handle or other suitable means whereby it may be readily tarned. I also
provide a guide or pressure bar or piece which is adapted to engage with the upper
side of the chain, or, if desired, of the teeth thereof, so as to maintain the said teeth
in contact with the teeth of the comb above mentioned.
I prefer to so construct the chain that the knives. are formed integrally with the
links or with alternate links thereof, for example, I make the links bearing the knives
of suitable shave to bed evenly on the upper surface of the comb, and I make the upper
or intermediate links of suitable form to engage with the guide or pressure bar above
montioned.
In some cases, I find it advantageous to provide means for varying the tension of
the chain, for example, I make the pivot or arbor of one or more of the said guide or
sprocket-wheels adjustable in suitable guides by means of a leading screw or in any
other suitable manner.
My improve clipper can be employed for any of the purposes to which such
apparatus can be applied. It can be driven by hand, or by an electric motor, or in
any other suitable inannor. When driven by means of an electric motor, I prefer to
mount the said motor on the clipper itself and to supply the electric current
thereto by flexible conductors from an accumulator or other suitable source of
electricity.
It is obvious that the construction of my improved clipper can be somewhat
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention, for example,
.

page_text: the knives may be made separate from, and be afterwards attached to the
endless chain.
Dated this 20th day of August 1896
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
1, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declaro 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:-
My invention relates to horse-clippers, sheep-shears and similar apparatus, and is
chiefly designed to improve the construction and increase the efficiency thereof.
The horse-clippers heretofore generally employed comprise a stool or other comb
over which is reciprocated a second comb, the teeth of the two combs being.
sharpened at their edges so as to cut any hair or the like which may extend
through the spaces between them.
Now according to my said invention, instead of employing an upper reciprocating.
comb as above montioned, I employ an endless chain bearing a series of knives,.
which knives are caused to move successively over the teeth of a relatively fixed
comb, by the rotation of a driving-wheel around which the said chain is passed.
In this manner I am enabled to obtain a direct continuous cutting motion of the
knives, instead of an intermittent action as in the apparatus heretofore employed.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be.
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of one form of my improved horse-clipper or sheep-
shears, part of the frame being broken away.
Figure 2 is an edge view, partly in section, of the said clippor or shears.
a is a plate or frame of suitable shape which is provided with a bandle a'.
Along the front edge of this plate or frame is formed or provided a suitable stoel
or other comb, or stationary series of knives or blades b. Upon the said plato or
frame a is arranged an endless chain c bearing inclined or raking knives c', the
said chain being passed around guide-pulleys d near each end of the comb b, and
around a sprocket-wheel or driving-wheel e, all so arranged that the knives or
blades c can be moved successively over the teeth or blades of the comb b. The
said wheel e is provided with a crank-handle e', or other suitablo means wheroby
it may be readily rotated. I also provide a guide or pressure bar or plate f
which bears against the upper side of the chain so as to maintain the knives or
blades thereof in contact with the teeth or blades of the comb b. The plate fis
held firmly in place by wing-nuts fitting upon the bolts or studs g carrying the
pulleys d, in such a manner as to hold the endless chain in place whilst permitting
it'to be moved freely by means of the whoel e.
I prefer to so construct the endless chain that a knife is formed integrally with
each link thereof as shown; I can, however, make the said chain with the knives
formed on or attached to alternate links thereof, for example, I can make the lower
links bearing the knives of suitable shape to bed evenly on the upper surface of
the comb, and the upper or intermediate links of suitable form to engage with
the guide or pressure bar above mentioned.
In 'some cases, I find it advantageous to provide means for varying the tension

page_text: of the chain, for example, I make the pivot or arbor of one or more of the said
guide or sprocket-wheels adjustable in suitable guides by means of a leading screw
or in any other suitable manner.
My improved clipper can he employed for any of the purposes to which such
apparatus can be applied. It can be driven by hand, or by an electric motor, or in
any other suitable manner. When driven by means of an electric motor, I prefer
to mount the said motor on the main plate or frame of the clipper itself, and to
supply the electric current thereto by flexible conductors from an accumulator or
other suitable source of electricity, which conductors are preferably passed through
the handle of the apparatus.
It is obvious that the construction of my improved clipper can be somewhat
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention, for example,
the knives may be made separate from, and be afterwards attached to the endless
chain; and the form and arrangement of the guide-pulleys and driving-wheel may
be varied.
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 :-
First. A horse-clipper, shoep-shears or like apparatus, in which an endless chain
provided with knives or blades is arranged in combination with a stationary series.
of blades and is passed around guide-whoels or pulleys and around a sprocket-wheel or
driving-wheel for imparting motion to it, substantially as herein before described.
Second. The improved clipping or shearing machine constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the-
purposes, above specified.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.,
Agents for the Applicant.