An Improved Sheep Shearing Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Sheep Shearing Machine.
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
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to sheep shearing machines.
Its main object is to provide a sheep shearing machine which will give more
satisfactory results with less expenditure of driving power than those hitherto con-
structed, and one, moreover, that will not be so liable to get out of order or be so
readily worn out by sand or grit getting into the mechanism.
It consists in a sheep shearing machine constructed as hereinafter described, one
of its features being that the cutter has an approximately rectilinear movement
imparted to it through the medium of a pair of operating levers worked laterally
by means of a square sleeve fitting loosely on a crank pin at the end of the driving
spindle of the machine and acting through the medium of a connecting bridge piece.
By this means I am enabled to maintain a more uniform cutting angle throughout
the whole stroke of the machine, and at the same time provide a more accurate
contact between the principal wearing surfaces.
Another feature of my improved sheep shearing machine is that the teeth of
the cutter are set differentially-that is, each tooth is so set as to commence to cut
later than the preceding one, and so set that no more than two of them are in cut
together. By this means a much steadier cut is obtained with less expenditure of
power, and the vibration of the machine is considerably reduced.
Other features of my invention are: 1st, The means employed for shutting out
sand or grit from the machine; 2nd, the simple and convenient starting and
stopping device for throwing the machine into or out of gear by the grasp of the
shearer on the handle; 3rd, the improved means for applying the tension to the
cutter; and 4th, the improved means for imparting the approximately rectilinear
motion to the cutter.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and
Fig. 2 a plan of my improved sheep shearing machine, with the tension gear and
cover removed.
Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the machine taken on line 3-3,
Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 4-4, Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation and
Fig. 6 a plan of the casing of said machine.
Fig. 7 is a vertical central section on line 7-7, Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a front end elevation and
Fig. 9 a rear elevation of the casing.
Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section on line 10-10, Fig. 6.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation and
Fig. 12 a plan of the cover of my improved sheep shearing machine.
Fig. 13 is a vertical central section on line 13-13, Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the dust plate, or guard, which I arrange behind
the front of the cover of the machine.
Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the driving spindle of the machine.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the square sleeve, or wearing block, in which
the crank pin on the driving spindle works.
Fig. 17 is a front elevation.

page_text: Fig. 24 is a section thereof on line 24-24, Fig. 23.
Fig. 25 is a side elevation and
Fig. 26 a plan of the lever used for throwing the machine in and out of gear,
whilst
Figs. 27 and 28 are respectively a front and side elevation of the stop piece for
said lever.
Figs. 29 and 30 are sectional elevations illustrating the way this lever is used
for throwing the machine in and out of gear.
Figs. 31 to 34 are diagrammatic plans illustrating the operation, and construc-
tion of the comb and cutter of my machine.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same, parts throughout the
drawings.
A represents the casing of the machine, having sides, a, extending to the front
edge and having a rearwardly projecting stem, a', of sufficient length to form a
good bearing for the central driving spindle, B. Two recesses, a², are formed in
this casing, one on either side of the centre, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 6: and 8;
and the bottom of each of said recesses is fitted with a conical cup, a³, to, receive
a corresponding conical pivot, c, on the rear end of each of the operating
levers, C, which said ends extend upwards, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and fit
comparatively closely within the recesses, a², so as to effectually retain said levers
in position.
Two upwardly projecting lugs, at, are formed on the casing, A, to support the
forward end of the starting lever, F, and between these lugs is pivoted a stop
piece, G, adapted to limit the movement of said lever. This stop piece is so
arranged as that by its depression said lever is allowed to rise higher than its
normal position, thus enabling the pins, o!, to be drawn out of the slots, f, thereby
allowing the forward part of the driving spindle, together with the shearing part
of the machine, to be instantaneously separated from the handle and the hinder
part of the spindle to which the driving gear is attached. This gives great facility
for adjusting and repairing the machine proper.
H represents a cover which is fitted over the top and front of the sides of the
casing, A, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, in order to enclose the moving parts of the
'machine as much as possible. It is formed with two openings, h (Fig. 11,) in front
of sufficient width to allow the cutter operating levers, C, to travel laterally for
the requisite distance.
The driving spindle, B (Figs. 3 and 15,) is provided at its forward end with a
collar, b, from which projects, a crank pin, b', whilst its rear end is fitted with one
half, 62, of a clutch, whose other half, 3, is carried upon a short spindle, B', to
which motion is imparted in any convenient manner. A square, sleeve or wearing
block, I (Figs. 2, 3 and 16,), is fitted upon the crank pin, b, of the driving
spindle, B, and is arranged to work up and down within, a vertical channel,, formed
in the back of, a bridge piece, J (Figs. 2 to 4 and 17 to, 20,), which is provided on
each side with a downwardly projecting pin,, fitting each into, a hole, c¹ (Figs. 2
and 22,) provided for the purpose at about the centre of each of the operating
levers, C. It is also formed with a groove or channel, j, extending from, side to
side along its upper surface and fitted with a number of balls, j³; which are
retained in position by, small pins,, at each end, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 17, 18
and 19.
1
K (Figs. 3, 4, 23 and 24) represents a tension spring, which is made, comparatively
broad, as illustrated in Fig. 23, and whose forward end is turned up slightly, as

page_text: illustrated at k, whilst its rear end is arranged to rest upon the central part of the
casing, A. The tension of this spring can be adjusted to any required extent by
means of a screwed thumb nut, k₁, fitting over a correspondingly screw threaded
stud, ², projecting up from the central part of the casing, A.
The front ends of the operating levers, C, are formed each with a downwardly
projecting pin, e² (Figs. 1, 4 and 21,) fitting into a hole 1 (Figs. 31 to 34,) formned
in the cutter, L.
These levers, C, are also each formed, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 21 and 22, with
a circular boss, c³, set in towards the centre of the machine, and adapted to fit
within openings, n (Fig. 14,) formed in a dust-plate, N, which is fitted behind the
front of the cover, H, and is pressed forwards against said cover by a small spiral
spring, n' (Figs. 2, 3, 17, 19 and 20,) fitted within a recess, n, formed for the
purpose in the front of the bridge-piece, J.
represents a handle fitted over the stem, a', and clutch 2, 3, and arranged to
slide to and fro thereupon. Its forward end is provided with two outwardly
projecting pins, o' (Fig. 1,) over which fit slots, f, cut in lugs f¹, on the forward
end of the starting lever, F, which latter is fulcrummed upon a pin f, passing
through the lugs, a, of the casing, A, and is provided with a flat spring, f³, which
always tends to keep it in its raised or out of gear position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3
and 29, that is in contact with the spring stop piece, G, which is also pivoted
between the two lugs a*.
According to my invention I make the reciprocating cutter, L, with differential
teeth; that is, I arrange said teeth so that they commence to cut one after the
other. This will be understood on reference to Figs. 31 to 34, where one tooth, 1,
is shown as just commencing its cut in the first-mentioned figure. By the time it is
about half way through its cut, the second tooth, 12, will commence to operate as
illustrated in Fig. 32, and by the time this second tooth is half way through its cut,
and the first tooth quite through, the third tooth, l, will commence to cut as
illustrated in Fig. 33; and similarly by the time the second tooth has completed
its cut, and the third tooth is half way through, the fourth tooth, 14, will be com-
mencing to operate as illustrated in Fig. 34. By these means the cut, instead of
taking place at two points only in the revolution, will be distributed over a greater
number of points.
Partly by the rectilinear movement imparted to the cutter, L, by the arrange-
ment of levers which I employ, and partly by reason of the shape of the butt end
of the slots between the teeth of my comb, I am enabled to considerably reduce the
cutting angle between the cutting edge of the teeth of the cutter and the cutting
edge of the teeth of the comb, and thus obtain a more efficient result with less
tendency to push the wool out of the comb. The comb, M, at those portions, m, of
its teeth over which the cutter, L, works, is formed with parallel sides, the space
between the teeth at that part being approximately equal to their width. In front
of this part the teeth are made to taper slightly up to their points, so as to ensure
an easy ingathering of the wool.
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 a sheep shearing machine the employment of a cutter having its teeth set
to cut differentially, that is, so that each tooth commences to cut after the preceding
one and by preference, so that no more than two teeth can be in cut at the same
time, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a sheep shearing machine the combination with a reciprocating cutter of a
pair of operating levers, such as C, fulcrummed at their rear ends and connected
together by and driven through the medium of a bridge picce, such as J, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. In a sheep shearing machine the combination with a pair of operating levers,
such as C, fulcrummed at their rear ends within the casing of the machine and
connected at their forward ends to a reciprocating cutter; of a bridge piece, such
as J, connecting said levers and having a vertical slot, such as j, within which a
square sleeve or block, such as I, upon a driving crank works, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In a sheep shearing machine the employment of a pair of cutter operating
levers, such as C, fulcrummed at their rear ends within a recess formed to receive
them in the casing of the machine, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a sheep shearing machine the employment of a broad flat spring, such as K,
bearing upon a bridge piece connecting the two cutter operating levers at its
forward end, in combination with a thumb nut, such as k', bearing upon the centre
of said spring, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a sheep shearing machine the combination with a broad flat spring, such
as K, for adjusting the pressure of the cutter on the comb of a bridge piece, such
as J, fitted with a series of rollers or balls, such as j³, upon which the front curved
edge of said spring is arranged to bear, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a sheep shearing machine the employment of a sand shutter, such as N,
fitting over the cutter operating levers of the machine and pressed against the
front part of the cover thereof by a spring, such as n, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of
the accompanying drawings.
8. In a sheep shearing machine the combination with a pair of clutches, such
as 62, 63, adapted to connect the two parts of the driving spindle of the machine
together, of a hand lever, such as F, mounted upon the casing of the machine
adjacent to the handle, and adapted to throw said clutches in and out of gear with
each other, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained,
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a sheep shearing machine the employment of a spring stop, such as G, for
limiting the movement of a lever, such as F, used for throwing the two halves of a
starting clutch into gear with each other substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. In a sheep shearing machine the combination of the forward part of a
driving spindle, such as B, mounted in fixed bearings and having one half of a
clutch on its end; with the hinder part of such driving spindle, such as B', mounted
in bearings within a sliding handle, such as O, arranged to be slid to and fro by
means of a hand lever, such as F, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and explained, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
minster Lin
ninety two.
HENRY BLAND.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.