Abstract: This invention relates to clamps for attachment to the legs of animals, especially sheep, and among other things may be used for suspending the animals by their four legs for shearing and other treatment operations.A clamp according to the invention comprises two pivotally connected clamp members between which the leg is clamped. The clamp is normally maintained in its open condition by at least one return spring, and is closed, in opposition to the spring or springs, by means actuated by a fluid under pressure.Preferably the clamp, is normally locked or retained in its open condition so that it cannot be closed by the said fluid pressure means until it is released by operation of an actuating member.One of the said clamp members is preferably fixed to a clamp carrier member, in which case the other or pivoted clamp member is opened and closed by the said spring and fluid pressure means respectively.

Abstract: Hydraulic pulse generating apparatus for actuating one or more slave motors, comprises at least one hydraulic master cylinder, which in use is connected to a slave motor by flexible tubing or otherwise.The master cylinder is fitted with a reciprocating plunger which is operated by power actuated driving means, and the cylinder communicates with a hydraulic fluid reservoir which is maintained at a pressure intermediate the maximum and minimum pressures produced in the cylinder by operation of the plunger.Manual control means are provided, to prevent the transmission of pressure pulses to the motor while the power actuated driving means continues to operate and for this purpose the master cylinder preferably communicates with a transfer chamber, the volumetric capacity of which is variable by operation of the manual control means.Means are also provided whereby, when the capacity of the transfer chamber is thus increased beyond its normal capacity, the further inflow of fluid from the reservoir is prevented.

Abstract: A shearing handpiece comprises a body having a cutter arm pivotally mounted thereon between coaxial laterally arranged cylinders each fitted with a plunger which transmits inward movements to the cutter arm by an intervening connecting rod. One at least of the cylinders forms a part of a hydraulic slave motor and the plunger of the other cylinder is preferably constantly urged inwardly by a spring.Each connecting rod preferably has at each end thereof a semi-spherical head which seats in a corresponding socket in the arm or in the respective plunger as the case may be, these connecting rods being retained in position by the spring.The slave motor is operable by successive pulses imparted thereto through a flexible connecting tube by a hydraulic pulse generator comprising at least one master cylinder fitted with a power operated master plunger and the handpiece is provided with a control valve operable to isolate the slave motor from the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for shearing sheep and other animals comprises a handpiece provided with a reciprocating fluid operated motor, the reciprocating element of which directly actuates a transversely oscillatable cutter operating member. The handpiece is connected by flexible tubing to power generating means by which successive pressure pulses are imparted to the fluid, preferably a hydraulic fluid, such pulses being transmitted through the tubing to the motor so that the cutter operating member of the handpiece is oscillated in unison therewith. The said power generating means preferably comprises a master cylinder which communicates with a hydraulic fluid reservoir which maintains the system full of fluid and said pressure pulses are produced by a plunger which is reciprocated in the master cylinder by power operated means.