Means for Compressing Ensilage Stacks and Trusses of Hay or Straw.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1889
Completo Specification Loft, 11th Feb, 1900 Accepted, 15th Mor, 1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means for Compressing Ensilage Stacks and Trusses of Hay or
Straw.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD MARTIN Implement Agent Abbots Ripton Hunts. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Chains are passed over the stack to be pressed about three feet apart and connected
to two tubes one on each side of stack to each of these tubes is attached a length of
rope the bottom end of each rope is connected to a winding drum on each side which
are bolted to a beam passing under the stack.
Pressure is applied by means of a screw, wheel and winder as follows. A handlo
is fitted on a spindle carrying a worm or screw which works in a toothed or cog wheel
on the end of each winding drum. On the worm spindle is also fitted a weighted
lever and ratchet which is used to give continual pressure to the stack as it settles
after all the slack rope has been wound in by means of the handle.
Pressure can also be applied with my winding drums by laying poles or pieces of
wood on top of stack and passing a rope over all and connecting to a winding drum
on each side.
For large stacks two or more sets of the above appliances can be used.
The same pressure of screw, wheel and winder as above can also be applied for
trussing hay and straw.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Compressing Ensilage Stacks and Trusses of Hay or
Straw.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD MARTIN, Implement Agent, Abbots Ripton, Hunts. 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 has for its object improvements in means for compressing ensilago
stacks by an improved arrangement of chains or ropes passing over the same and to
an apparatus for imparting the requisite tension to the said chains or ropes and the
necessary pressure to the truss of hay, straw or the like.
Chains are passed over the stack to be pressed about three feet apart and connected
to two tubes, one on each side of the stack. To each of these tubes is attached a
length of rope; the bottom end of each rope is connected to a winding drum on each
side, which is bolted to a beam passing under the stack. Pressure is applied by
means of a screw, wheel and winder, as follows. A handle is fitted on a worm or
screw which works in a toothed or cog wheel. At the end of each winding drum on
the worm spindle is also fitted a weighted lever and ratchet which is used to give
continual pressure to the stack as it settles down after all the slack rope has been
wound in by means of the handle.
Pressure can also be applied with my winding drums by laying poles or pieces of
wood on the top of the stack and passing a rope over all and connected to a winding
drum on each side.
For large stacks two or more sets of the above described appliances can be used.
The same pressure of screw, wheel and winder as above described can also be
applied for trussing hay and straw.

page_text: And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I have appended
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a stack undergoing compression; in this arrangement the
chains press directly on the, stack. Fig. 2 is,a,vertical section of the same arrange-
ment, taken along the line A- - - B, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of a modified
arrangement. Fig. 4 is a detail view.
According to my invention proceed as follows: I first select the spot. upon
which to build the stack of ensilage and then dig a trench within which 1 place
the beam A, the top of which, is made eflush with the surface, of the ground.
Pieces of wood B are then placed, cross-wise, on the beam. A to prevent it from
being pulled up into the stack when the pressure is applied and also to serve as
a means for distributing or equalizing the pressure at the lower part of the stack.
The crop which is to undergo compression is placed upon the pieces, of wood B,
and the application of the pressure is effected as hereunder described.
Care the chains that are passed over the top of the. stack, which is formed
with sloping sides. The chains C are connected to the metal tubes D'by means
of the sliding collars E, screwed hooks and nuts. G. By this arrangements of
collars screwed hooks and nuts not only can pressure be applied by means of the
chains to the whole stack but the pressure of the chains can be independently
adjusted by turning the nuts. The rods H are connected at one end to the-
tubes D, by means of clips E', the positions of which on the tubes. D are fixed by
means of set-screws not shown in the accompanying drawings, and are connected
at their other ends to common links or rings I. The books Jengage with the rings I,
and to the lower ends of the hooks are fastened lengths of rope K, that are wound
on drums or winders L which form part of the tension imparting apparatus. The
other ends of the ropes K are fastened to the drums L which are fixed on the
axles M, turning in the frames N. The frames N'are.bolted to the beams A Motion
is given to the drums L by means of the worms O which engage with the worm
wheels P, fixed to or formed in one with the drums L. Bearings N₁ are provided in
the frames N in which the worm shafts turn. Qare removeable handles by means of
which the worms, Oaro turned and the drums L rotated. The handles: Qare used
for taking in the slack of the ropes K. Upon the worm shafts are mounted ratchet
wheels and levers S carrying pawls Twhich engage with and drive the ratchet
wheels R. This arrangement, of, ratchet wheels,,levers and pawls is employed to apply
the pressure after the slack has been taken..in., If,desired,ja..continual pressure on
the stack can be maintained by attaching weights U to the ends of the levers.S.. I
prefer to make the positions of the weights U on the levers S,adjustable by means of
slots and set-screws.
It is evident that I might place poles or pieces of wood lengthwise on the sloping
sides of the upper part of the stack, and either pass the chains C'or a single rope
over the same and by using the above described tension imparting apparatus
in conjunction with these arrangements I can apply the necessary pressure to the
stack.
Fig. 3 is a section of a stack which may be round, square, oval or oblong in plan.
In this modified arrangement beams B₁ are placed on the top of the stack and a cross-
beam A is laid upon the beams B₁. The upper ends, of the ropes K.are provided
with hooks J which engage with iron pins J¹ fixed in the ends of the cross-
beam A. Fig. 4 is a plan showing the manner in which I prefer to make the
cross-beam A¹. I construct it of two pieces A, which are placed on their sides
and joined by blocks a.
An obvious modification of my invention, as applied to stacks or silos, would
be to place the above described arrangement of beams B and, cross-beam A¹ on
the top of the crop and fix the tension imparting apparatus on, the cross-beam A¹.
The lower ends of the ropes K would in this case be fixed to the beam A or to
plates fixed in the walls or sides of the silo, and the upper ends of the ropes K,
which are fastened to the drums L, as aforesaid, would pass-over pulleys fixed at

page_text: the outer ends of the cross-beam A'. The upper ends of the ropes K might pass
direct to the drums L, instead of passing over pulleys.
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). The improved tension imparting apparatus described herein and illustrated
in the Figures of the accompanying drawings.
(2). The means of connecting the chains passing over the stack to the tubes on
each side of it, whereby independent adjustment of the pressure exerted by the
chains is attained, substantially as described herein and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
(3). The improved arrangements of apparatus for compressing ensilage, sub-
stantially as described herein and illustrated by the Figures of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated way
τ' ου και
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.