IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HAIR DRESSING AND FOR GROOMING HORSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION FOR OTHER MECHANICAL PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred William Turner, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and Newton Wilson, of 144, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HAIR DRESSING AND FOR GROOMING
HORSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION FOR OTHER
MECHANICAL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 14th July 1876, and dated the 20th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred William Turner and
Newton Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
January 1876.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and
NEWTON WILSON, of 144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HAIR
DRESSING AND FOR GROOMING HORSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION
OF MOTION FOR OTHER MECHANICAL PURPOSES."
Our Invention consists in the application of a new description of flexible joint
by means of which we can convey power or motion with great facility and economy
in any desired direction, and though designed specially for use in machines for hair
dressing or the grooming or clipping of horses and other animals yet is applicable
as a means of conveying motion to a great variety of mechanical purposes.
The flexible joint consists of a helical spring suitably attached at its opposite
extremities to two separate shafts, and conveying the motion imparted to the first
in any required angle to the second. It is manifest that the thickness of the wire
employed in this spring and also its mode of attachment, should be regulated
according to the diameter of the shafts to which the spring is attached.
For the purpose of application to machinery for hair dressing we employ an
ornamental column supporting a large fly wheel operated by a treadle, and which
fly wheel drives from the edge of its periphery (which is bevelled to suit) a small
bevel friction wheel fixed to a shaft passing vertically through the upper end of the
column. A spiral or other spring acting on this pinion wheel ensures the required
amount of friction from the driving wheel. The upper extremity of this shaft
which projects beyond the column is connected by means of the helical spring
before referred to to a second shaft, or in fact by a series of such joints to any
תח

page_text: number of such shafts. The last shaft (to which would be attached at pleasure a
revolving brush, drying roller, or clipper), would pass through a tube or case which
would furnish bearings for the shaft and a stationary holder for the operator.
The shafts may be connected with the springs by solder or by suitable collars
fitted with screw threads and lock nuts. The spring itself may be made as described
of a single wire, or it may be covered by an outer and larger spring, and this latter
may be used in connection with india-rubber.
This flexible driving joint may also be used in conveying power for drilling and
cutting, or for a great variety of other mechanical operations, and also for use in
tunnels and mines where power cannot be conveyed by ordinary methods. In such
applications the several jointed shafts may be enclosed in tubes, such tubes being
provided if desired with one or more bearings for the internal shaft to work in.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alfred William Turner and Newton Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th July 1876.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and
NEWTON WILSON, of 144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HAIR
DRESSING AND FOR GROOMING HORSES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION
OF MOTION FOR OTHER MECHANICAL PURPOSES."
Our said Invention relates more particularly to the application and use of a
peculiar universal flexible joint to and in machinery for the grooming of horses and
other animals, for the brushing of human hair, and in many other kinds of
machinery wherein universal joints are required for transmitting power or motion
in various angles or directions as, for example, in boring or rock drilling machines
employed in tunnels and mines.
The said Invention also comprises a peculiar combination and arrangement of
machinery or apparatus for brushing human hair, more especially designed to be
used in conjunction with the herein-before referred to universal flexible joint.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings represents a side elevation and partial section of our
improved universal flexible joint detached. This joint consists essentially of a
helical spring A of any suitable contour or shape secured firmly at each end to the
ends of the shafts to be rotated. Of course the dimensions of the springs and the
thickness of the wire composing the same, and also its mode of attachment, should
be regulated according to the diameter of the shafts to which the said springs are
to be applied. We do not therefore confine ourselves to any particular mode of
securing or attaching the said springs to their shafts, as it is obvious that various
modes will readily suggest themselves to the practical man; for example, in some
cases the springs may be soldered on to the shafts, or they may be secured by
collars fitted with screw threads and lock nuts. In practice we have found it con-
venient to screw the coils of the spring itself at each end on to a correspondingly
cut screw thread formed on an internal spindle a, and to pass on to the said spindle
a collar b which is screwed internally at its enlarged end so as to screw over the
outside of the coils of the spring; this collar is kept in position by a nut c which
is screwed on to the outer end of each spindle a. In this condition the said flexible
joint s ready for application by slipping the collars b into corresponding sockets in
the ends of the shafts to which it is to be applied, which shafts when convenient
we prefer for the sake of lightness to consist of suitable lengths of metal tubing.
When inserted the collars bare fixed in their sockets by pinching screws, as is

page_text: shown clearly in the detail sectional view of one of such joints at Figure 2. The
said springs may be made either of a single wire, as shown, or they may be covered
by and enclosed within an outer larger spring, which may or may not be covered
or enclosed in india-rubber.
Figure 3 represents a series of three tubular shafts having the said flexible joints
fitted thereto in the manner above described, the said shafts being designed more
especially for the mechanical grooming of horses or other animals. A, A1, A2, are
the three flexible joints, those at A¹ and A² being shown bent or deflected so as to
transmit the motion at a considerable angle; the driving shaft B (a portion of
which only is shown in Figure 3) may be fitted to work in ordinary fixed bearings
mounted on a convenient frame or support, and may be driven either by hand or
by power at a high speed by any well known arrangement of driving or actuating
gear. In the case of grooming machines we prefer to drive the shafts at a speed of
about 600 revolutions per minute. To the end of this driving shaft B we couple
in any well known manner the flexible joint A which is attached to one end of the
adjustable shaft C; this shaft is connected to the second adjustable shaft C¹ by the
flexible joint A¹, and the second shaft is similarly connected by the flexible joint A²
to a third shaft C which revolves inside the outer tubular holder or handle D.
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of this holder showing the internal
tubular shaft C2 and the mode in which the said shaft is connected to the flexible
joint A². This Figure also shows the rotary spindle E which is secured in any
convenient manner to the opposite end of the tubular shaft C2, and receives (see
Figure 3) one of the rotary brushes, driers, or wipers F (shown in enlarged detail
at Figures 5 to 10 inclusive, and herein-after more fully referred to). The holder D
is maintained in its place by the shoulder d on the rotary spindle and the
removeable collar e on the opposite end of the tubular shaft C, the pinching screw
in the said collar serving to hold the collar in its place as well as to secure the
collar b of the spring or flexible joint inside the end of the tubular shaft C, as is
clearly shown in Figure 4. The said peculiar universal flexible joints will transinit
the motion from one shaft to the other at any desired angle without noise or
jarring, so objectionable in universal gearing, and consequently they are especially
adapted for mechanical groomers and hair brushing machines. In this class of
mechanism it is essential that a ready means be afforded for rapidly removing from
and replacing on the spindle the brushes or other instruments employed, also that
the said brushes or other instruments employed in grooming horses shall be so
constructed as not to injure or frighten the animal in any way. For the facility of
changing the brushes or other instruments we simply slip them on to the end of the
spindle E, which spindle in lieu of passing entirely through the brush and presenting
a hard revolving nut or other fastening outside merely enters a portion of the
length of the brush or other instrument, the locking of the same with and on to
the spindle being effected by a stud f (Figure 4) in the collar d which enters a
corresponding hole g (Figure 5) in the butt end of the brush. A spring lever
catch is fitted to the socket of each brush or other instrument (shown clearly in
Figures 5 and 7), a stud in which enters a corresponding hole in the spindle E and
thus locks the instrument on the said spindle. By pressing the thumb on the end
of the spring lever the stud is lifted and the instrument is free to be removed and
replaced by another. A shield or guard plate i is provided for the purpose of pro-
tecting the hand of the operator from injury by accidentally coming in contact with
the catch lever when the brush or other instrument is at work.
Figure 5 is a side elevation and partial section of one of our brushes for grooming
horses; and Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same. This may consist of stiff
bass or of bristles, according to the work to be done, but we arrange the bristles k
or other material of the brush upon the stock so as to form a hemispherical
ended brush which shall present no hard projections liable to injure or frighten the
animal by coming in contact with it. The instrument shown in side elevation and
partial section at Figure 7, and in transverse section at Figure 8, is a drier and
polisher composed of a number of discs of thick absorbent felt m, m, mounted on

page_text: a central wooden stock with intermediate washers of wood or other suitable
material n between them, the whole being pressed together and maintained in
place by a smooth and rounded end cap o, which is screwed to the outer end of the
stock with countersunk screws, or otherwise.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a wiper for wiping or squeezing out the per-
spiration; and Figure 10 is an end elevation and partial transverse section of the
same. It consists, like the previously described instruments, of a wooden stock l
made to slip easily on and off the spindle E. To the said stock we secure a number
of wipers p, p, consisting, by preference, of strips of vulcanized india-rubber dis-
posed longitudinally round the stock and made to radiate therefrom, as is clearly
shown in the Drawings. The said strips p may be secured to the stock in any
suitable manner, but we prefer to fasten them thereto by wooden or metal slats q
screwed into correspondingly shaped grooves made to receive the strips p. The outer
ends of the strips of rubber should be rounded so as to present a general rounded
contour at the end of the instrument. It is obvious that a similar arrangement of
apparatus fitted with a revolving mop-head "swab" or brush may be beneficially
applied to the washing of carriages, in which case the brush might be supplied with
a continuous stream of water by a flexible pipe connected to the holder or handle D
and communicating with the inner tube C2 and with the spindle E, which should
be hollow and perforated, as should also be the stock of the brush, so that the
water may readily saturate the same, and thus effectually cleanse the carriage.
The same arrangement of shafts and universal flexible joints may also be used for
working horse clippers or sheep shearers, if desired. In order to support the weight
of the shafting one or more of the shafts may be provided with a loose ring r
(Figure 3) to which a cord is attached, such cord passing over a fixed pulley and
having a counterweight hung to the opposite end thereof.
Our improved arrangement of machinery or apparatus for brushing human hair,
applicable also as the prime mover for the grooming of horses and other animals, is
shown in elevation on a small scale at Figure 11; it consists of an ornamental
column or upright A supporting a fly wheel B provided with a crank pin a worked
by a foot lever C. The said fly wheel has its periphery bevelled and so constructed
as to drive by friction alone a small bevel friction wheel D which is mounted on a
vertical shaft or spindle E passing up through the centre of an open frame A¹ fixed
on the top of the column A, and is maintained in frictional contact with the
bevelled rim of the fly wheel B by a helical or other spring, shown dotted at b.
To the upper extremity of the vertical spindle E which projects above the top of
the column, there is secured one of our universal flexible joints, with which an
adjustable shaft and second flexible joint are connected. To this adjustable shaft
there is connected, by another of the said flexible joints, the rotary spindle F, which
receives the handles and revolving brush, which brush is made to slip on and off
with facility.
Figure 12 is a side elevation and partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale
showing a portion of the said spindle F having the two handles G, G¹, and brush H
mounted thereon. The bristles of the brush H are omitted in our Drawing. The
stock of this brush is provided with a metal collar c, c¹, at each end, the collar c
having a notch therein to receive a corresponding tooth or projection d on a collar e
fixed on the spindle F, so as to lock the brush to the said spindle and ensure its
rotating therewith. Any ready means may be adopted for maintaining the outer
handle in its place, provided that facility be afforded for readily removing and
resecuring the same, or changing the brushes. For example, the spring lever
catch h, herein-before described, may be applied thereto, as shown in Figure 12,
the pin engaging into an annular groove made in the spindle; or the arrange-
ment shown at Figure 13 may be employed.
We propose to make the rotary brushes by securing the bristles into a flat
piece of leather of requisite thickness, having holes punched therein at regular
intervals to receive the bristles. When furnished with bristles the said piece of
leather is to be laid round the wooden or other stock of the brush, as shown at g,

page_text: in Figure 12, and secured thereon by screws, or otherwise, so that when the
bristles are worn out all that is requisite is to remove the leather and apply a
fresh one ready provided with bristles, thus preserving the stock and fittings of
the brush.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of the herein-before described universal flexible joints
and adjustable shafts or spindles with brushes and other appliances for the
grooming of horses and other animals, for the brushing of human hair, for rock
drilling and boring, and for other like machinery, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The peculiar combination and arrangement of machinery or apparatus
for brushing human hair comprising an upright columnar support with fly wheel
and vertical spindle driven by frictional gearing in conjunction with two or more
adjustable shafts connected by the herein-described universal flexible joints, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated by our Drawings.
Third. The peculiar construction of rotary brushes and other instruments
employed for grooming horses, and for brushing human hair, and the adaptation
thereto of the herein-described arrangements for facilitating their more ready
adjustment upon and removal from the actuating spindle, as herein-before described
and illustrated by our Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Newton Wilson, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Alfred William Turner, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
NEWTON WILSON. (LS.)