upon Ensilage, Applicable also for Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: upon Ensilage, Applicable also for Analogous Purposes.
We, WILLIAM BAYLISS, of the firm of Bayliss Jones and Bayliss, of Victoria
Works, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, metal fencing manufacturers,
EDWIN JONES, of Henwood House, Compton, near Wolverhampton, aforesaid,
ironworks manager, and ROBERT HOWARTH, of 9 Beaumaris Terrace, Lower
Villiers Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUTTING
A CONTINUOUS PRESSURE UPON ENSILAGE, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction and employment of apparatus
for putting a continuous pressure upon ensilage in such a way as to avoid the
necessity for moving a very considerable weight and so as to avoid the
employment of tightening screws.
This invention consists in the application, for the purpose above named, of the
principle of what is known as "the system of pulleys," so that a comparatively
light weight may be employed to exert a considerable downward pull or pressure
upon the material to be compressed, and may be itself raised, so as to act on the
principle above referred to, by means of a comparatively small force.
According to a simple and convenient form of this application, two pulleys of a
system of pulleys are hung from the end of a cross-beam bearing upon a platform
lying upon the ensilage or analogous material to be compressed. Another pulley
of such system is anchored to the ground or fixed in other position so as to be
immovable except as regards its rotation upon its own axis.
A chain or rope
passes up from a weight hanging on one end thereof over one of the hanging
pulleys, thence around the fixed pulley, thence around the second hanging pulley,
and thence to a hook or other suitable connection anchored to the ground, or
otherwise securely fixed, to which it is itself made fast.
One, two, or more cross-beams may be employed as desired, a separate system
of pulleys being employed for each end of each such beam; or a system of pulleys
may be employed for the corresponding ends of two or more cross-beams, being
connected therewith by a cross-bearer or otherwise. These beams bear upon the
platform lying upon the ensilage (or analogous material) either directly, if slots
J

page_text: are formed in the sides of the silo to admit of the downward passage of the beams,
or through the medium of suitable blocks or distance-pieces.
The hanging weight of each system of pulleys, though itself comparatively light,
exercises a very considerable downward pull upon the end of a beam, owing to the
advantageous manuer, in this respect, in which the system of pulleys enables it to
act; and when it has lowered itself to or near to the ground it is easily raised, so as
to maintain and continue the pressure on the ensilage, by means of differential
or other pulley blocks connected between some fixed point and the part of the rope
or chain passing down to the hook or other fixed part. When the weight has thus
been sufficiently raised, the rope or chain of the system is again hooked or fixed
to the hook or fixed part, so as to take up the slack thereof resulting from the
operation of raising the weight.
It will be seen that the application above-described may be modified at will, as
any desired number of pulleys may be employed, and the end of the rope or chain
may be connected to the beam, if desired, instead of to the ground.
When pulley blocks are connected to a system of pulleys they of course become
for the time being a part of the system, though their purpose in such case is not to
aid in the downward pull of the weight, but simply to enable the weight to be
readily raised.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Putting a Continuous Pressure
upon Ensilage, Applicable also for Analogous Purposes.
We, WILLIAM BAYLISS, of the firm of Bayliss Jones and Bayliss, of Victoria
Works, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, metal fencing manufacturers,
EDWIN JONES, of Henwood House, Compton, near Wolverhampton, aforesaid,
Ironworks manager, and ROBERT HOWARTH, of 9 Beaumaris Terrace, Lower
Villiers Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference
marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this invention is the construction and employment of apparatus
for putting a continuous pressure upon ensilage in such a way as to avoid the
necessity for moving a very considerable. weight, and so as to avoid the employment
of tightening screws; but the improvements herein described are applicable also for
putting a continuous pressure upon analogous materials.
This invention consists in the application, for the purpose named in the title, of
the principle of what is known as "the system of pulleys," so that a comparatively
light weight may be employed to exert a considerable downward pull or pressure
upon the material to be coin pressed, and may be itself raised, so as to act on the
principle above referred to, by means of a comparatively small force.
A simple and convenient form of such application, according to this invention,
is illustrated by the drawings herewith, of which figure 1 is a front elevation
shewing an apparatus for putting a continuous pressure on one end of one of the
cross-beams upon the usual platform lying upon the ensilage or analogous material
to be compressed, and shewing also, in longitudinal section, au arrangement of
portable winch for winding up the weight when necessary. Figure 2 is a side
elevation of figure 1, with the winch omitted. Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken
on line xx of figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on line y y of figure 2;
and figure 5 is a transverse section through the upper part of a silo, to a reduced
scale, shewing one of the cross-beams and platform, and also means by which the
pressure may be conveyed from the cross-beams to the platform, when the latter is
at a level below which it is inconvenient to draw down the cross-beams.
The saine letters of reference occurring upon two or more of the views indicate
corresponding parts.
A is a foundation block or plate fixed within the earth. B B are two uprights
(preferably of iron or steel of T-section, having bulbed edges a a as shewn) fixed
to the block A by means of bolts b b etc. These uprights form, preferably, part of
the framing of the silo (when the apparatus is connected with such a structure).
CC is one of the ends of a cross-beam which lies upon the usual platform Con
the top of the ensilage or analogous material to be compressed. This cross-beam
consists, preferably, of two beains bolted together with distance pieces between,
and. is trussed on its upper side by means of the bolt c passing through a plate D

page_text: on each end of the cross-beam. E E¹ are pulleys, one on each end of a bar d
which is carried in jaws e e fixed to the cross-beain. These pulleys are capable of
turning easily on the ends of the bar d. F is a pulley carried transversely to the
pulleys E E¹, between straps f f fixed to a snug G upon the foundation block A
(or to other fixed part). H is a pulley anchored to the block A (or to other fixed
part) and employed for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained; but for the
purpose immediately under consideration it is sufficient to regard this pulley as
fixed rigidly and having the chain g g etc. fastened to it, and in such case the
pulley may of course be replaced by a hook or catch, if desired. The chain
passes from the pulley H around the upper side of the pulley E, from front to back,
thence down around the lower side of the pulley F, thence upwards and around
the upper side of the pulley E', from back to front, and theuce down to a con-
nection with a rod carrying the weight for producing the required downward
pressure on the end of the cross-beam C C. etc. are some of a number of
separate pieces forming this weight, and are preferably made about 56 pounds each.
When a silo 16 feet by 10 feet 8 inches on plan is to be fitted with our improved
apparatus for putting on a continuous pressure, four of the apparatuses described
are usually employed, one at each end of each of two cross-beams, and twenty of
the 56 pound weights are carried by each rod j. The bottom weight is preferably
cast on to the bottom end of the rod j, which may be split for the purpose as shewn
by broken lines, figure 2. Each weight has, preferably, a raised part or bung & cast
on its upper side to fit easily within a corresponding recess in the underside of the
weight immediately above it, so as to keep such latter weight in place, and (with
the exception of the bottom weight) has a slot m from its central hole to its cir-
cumference, to enable it to be readily placed around the rod j. The edges of the
weights are formed to an Ogee curve in section to enable them to be readily
handled.
It will be seen from the illustration that, as there are four hanging chains to.
the system of pulleys, the weight on the rod j will exert a fourfold effect on the
end of the cross-beam C C, that is to say, a weight of 10 hundredweight will exert
a downward pull of two tons on the end of the beam; whereas, by pulling
downwards at the fall end of the chain, to raise the weight, a resistance of
10 hundredweight, plus the frictional resistance, is all which has to be overcome.
г
The foundation block is formed to the shape shewn on plan so that, if desired,
a well may be sunk in the ground to allow greater range for the descent of the
weights.
The weights acting through the chain g g etc. and system of pulleys, put a
continuous and uniform pressure upon the material to be compressed.
The pulley His anchored to the block A by means of straps a' a' fastened to
the block. K K is a portable winch on running wheels p p and legs q, and has
a barrel L, worm-wheel M, worm N, and handle n. The running wheels p p are
mounted to turn loosely on the axle of the barrel, for convenience of construction,
and to throw the weight chiefly on the wheels and thus facilitate the removal of
the winch from place to place. When it is required to raise the weight suspended
from the chain g g etc. this portable winch is wheeled into the position shewn,
and the fall end of the chain g g etc. is led under the pulley H and connected to
the barrel L, and such fall is drawn down by means of the winch until the weight
is sufficiently raised. The pulley H is constructed so that a considerable portion
of each alternate link of the chain passing around it projects from its periphery
as shewn. is a slotted opening through the straps al al in such position and of
such length and shape, as shewn, that a pin s can always be passed through both
slots so as to be between the portions of two alternate links projecting from the
periphery of the pulley H. When, therefore, it is desired to slacken off the chain
from the winch, the pin s is passed through the slots r, and thus as the chain is
slackened off from the winch it tightens itself between the pins and pulley H.
This means of fixing the chain is preferred to a hook or catch, as the chain cannot.
be unfastened from the pulley and pin until the whole weight has first been taken.

page_text: by means of the winch, and thus the danger of the weight being dropped by a
mischievous person, or by accident, is avoided.
When the cross-beams are used for a silo, and reach the limit of their descent,
the weights are taken off the rod j, and the beams and platform may then be
raised and placed on a fresh supply of cut crop, after which the weights.are
replaced, and so on as may be desired. If, however, it is not desired, in such case,
to supply further cut crop for compression, the arrangement illustrated by figure 5
may be adopted. In this figure CC is one of the cross-beams as before, and C¹
the platform the top of which may be at any desired level below the underside of
the beam CC. A is a supplementary cross-beam lying direct upon the platform,
and B B are uprights conveying the pressure from the beam CC to the beam A
By these means the ensilage or analogous material may be followed down by the
pressure from the upper cross-beams to any desired level.
One application only of "the system of pulleys" has been described and illus-
trated, for the purpose of putting a continuous pressure upon ensilage and analogous
materials, but it is obvious that the arrangement described and illustrated may be
considerably modified, by employing any desired number of pulleys, and any
convenient combination of systems; and the apparatus, substantially as described,
may be employed either for compressing material in a silo or analogous enclosure,
or in an open stack..
The fall end of the chain gg etc. may be fastened, if desired, to the beam CC,
instead of as described, in which case the pulley H becomes part of the "system
of pulleys."
A system of pulleys, substantially as described, may, if desired, be employed
either for each end of each cross-beam, as before described, or a separate system
of pulleys may be employed for the corresponding ends of two or more cross-beams,
by connecting such system with a longitudinal beam lying upon the ends of the
cross-beams.
Any convenient means for raising the weight may be employed in lieu of the
winch described, such, for instance, as a pair of pulley blocks connected to the fall
of the chain g g etc. and to a fixed part at or near the ground; or, of course, the
weights etc. may be removed from the barj and be carried up a ladder and
replaced thereon, after such bar has been drawn up.
A chain has been referred to as employed for the system of pulleys, but a rope
may, of course, be employed for this purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The application of the principle known as "the system of pulleys" to the
purpose of putting a continuous pressure upon ensilage and analogous materials,
whereby a comparatively light weight may be employed to exert a considerable
downward pull or pressure upon the material to be compressed, and may be itself
raised by a comparatively small force, substantially in the manner described and
illustrated.
2. The improvements in apparatus for putting a continuous pressure upon
ensilage and analogous materials, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In apparatus for putting a continuous pressure upon ensilage and analogous
materials, the pulleys E E' carried upon the end of one of the cross-beams C C
upon the usual platform, or connected to a longitudinal beam which is itself
connected with the corresponding ends of two or more of such cross-beams, in
combination with the pulley F anchored to a block fixed within the ground, or to
other fixed part, and with the chain (or rope) gg etc. and weight (male up
preferably of a number of small weights ectc.) and suitable means for holding
or retaining the fall end of the chain, substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The employment of a portable winch, in combination with suitable means,
substantially as described, by which such winch may be employed to wind up the

page_text: weight employed in apparatus, substantially as described, for putting a continuous
pressure upon ensilage and analogous materials.
5. The combination of a portable winch K K and fixed pulley H, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of the pulley H, slots r, and pin s, for the purpose of
securely holding the fall of the chain g g etc., substantially as described and
shewn.