IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF " SILOS OR 16
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Butler of Blackheath in the County of
Kent Managing Director of the Imperial Stove [sic] Company Limited for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF " SILOS OR
16
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James William Butler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1883.
THE
JAMES WILLIAM BUTLER of Blackheath in the County of Kent Managing
Director of the Imperial Stone Company Limited "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF "SILOS" OR RECEPTACLES FOR PREPARING FOOD FOR CATTLE
FOR WINTER USE
"
My Invention relates to the construction of the receptacle known as a
"Silo"
whereinto in the spring time green produce such as is suitable for winter food for
cattle is placed and submitted to pressure during the summer to render it fit for
winter food for cattle.
According to my said Invention I construct a "silo" as follows:-I dig or form
in the ground a pit or hole with sides sloping from top to bottom towards the
centre in which I fix an upright post upon which are hung a series of frames
shaped to correspond to a portion of the finished "silo " they carrying boards which
form a plate against which the lining is filled. The earth forming a corresponding
portion of the sloping sides of the pit or hole is cut away vertically to accommodate
the said frames the said vertical cutting away of the earth extending beyond the
outer parts of the frames to an extent corresponding to the thickness which the
wall or lining of the "silo" is to have. The space between the outer parts or
plates of the frames and the earth is then filled in with concrete or the like and in
the meantime the next portion of the inclined sides of the pit or hole is similarly
cut away the parts of the frames as the parts are cut away being successively
turned away from the concrete (which will have set) and brought opposite the cut
away parts and concrete or the like is then poured into this space and these
operations are repeated until the whole of the sides of the "silo" are thus formed

page_text: when the frames are removed. When the frames are brought into position before
the concrete is poured in between them and the opposite wall of earth struts or
pieces are placed between the said frames and the wall of earth to act as retainers
for the latter. The bottom of the "silo" is covered with a layer of concrete or the
like in which a well may be formed for collecting moisture which may run down
from the materials in the "silo" the said well being provided with a pipe led to
the surface so that liquid as it collects in the well can be pumped out through the
said pipe.
When the walls of the "silo" are finished a strong frame-work is placed in the
bottom of the "silo" at the junction of the parts of which vertical Iron rods are
inserted of a length about equal to the height of the "Silo" they passing through
a frame corresponding to the bottom one and being there provided with screws
and nuts. When the "silo" is filled with the material the upper timbers are forced
down by the nuts carrying with them door-like framed panels extending from
cross piece to cross piece of the upper framing and pressing the material down with
the requisite force.
Another mode of applying the requisite force to the surface of the material in
the "silo" is by building iron rods into the body of the concrete lining and
sufficiently above the surface thereof to allow of their upper ends passing through
half timbers on edge so that they are securely held down and a jack may then be
applied between these timbers and the panels or covers so as to obtain the necessary
pressure on the material when a filling piece of a proper length may be inserted
and the jack removed to another position to renew the operation. It is obvious
however that weight may be applied to the material in a variety of ways for
example it may be applied by a number of blocks of a suitable shape to form
when put together a complete cover. These blocks can be removed by means of a
ring or its equivalent provided for the attachment of a rope for removing any block
as required.
The walls or linings instead of being made with liquid concrete may be built up
of brick or blocks preferably made of concrete and with perforations therein. Or
they may be of metal plates which can be rivetted or fastened together to form an
air tight or approximately air tight compartment. In place of providing means
for removing the material from the upper part of the "silo means may be
provided at the lower part consisting for example of a door at the lower part of
the side down to which an inclined road may be cut.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James William Butler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th November 1883.
THE
JAMES WILLIAM BUTLER of Blackheath in the County of Kent Managing
Director of the Imperial Stone Company Limited "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF "SILOS " OR RECEPTACLES FOR PREPARING FOOD. FOR CATTLE
FOR WINTER USE."
My Invention relates to the construction of the receptacle known as a "Silo"
whereinto in the spring time green produce such as is suitable for winter food for
Cattle is placed and submitted to pressure during the Summer to render it fit for
winter food for Cattle. I will explain my Invention with reference to the
accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section of a "Silo" or
receptacle arranged or constructed according to my Invention, the left hand half of
the Figure shewing the method employed in constructing the "sile," and the right
hand half of the said Figure shewing the " silo" as completed. Figure 2 is a plan
the quarter part at A shewing the method employed in constructing the "silo," the
half part at B shewing the bottom part of the "silo" when finished, and the
quarter part at C shewing the lid or cover in place. From these illustrations the
following description of the method of constructing the "silo" and the arrangement
of the parts in the completed "silo" will be readily understood.
According to my said Invention I construct the "silo " as follows "I dig or
form in the ground a pit or hole with sides sloping from top to bottom towards the
centre as indicated for example by the dot and pick lines in Figure 1 and in this
pit or hole I fix an upright post D upon or to which can be hung or attached or
against which can be supported a series of frames or supports d shaped to
correspond to a portion of the finished "silo," they carrying boards d² which form
a plate against which the lining E is filled. The earth forming a corresponding
portion of the sloping sides of the pit or hole is cut away vertically to accom-
modate the said frames, the said vertical cutting away of the earth extending
beyond the outer parts of the frames to an extent corresponding to the thickness
which the wall or lining E of the "silo" is to have. The frames d are preferably
made in vertical portions d³ dd³ and the earth may be cut away in vertical
sections, that is to say, the first portion of the earth at 1. 2. 3 may be cut away
and one portion of the frame put in place. Then the next portion of the earth
2. 3. 4. 5 may be cut away and the next portion of the frame put in place and then
the portion of the earth at 4, 5, 6, 7 be cut away and the last portion of the frame
be put in place. The space between the outer parts or plates d' of the frames and
the earth forms a kind of mould which is then filled in with concrete or the liko
and in the meantime the next portion of the inclined sides of the pit or hole is
similarly cut away and the frames are then turned or moved from the part which
has been filled in with concrete or the like and brought to the part which has been
last cut away. The space between the frames and the earth is then similarly filled
with concrete or the like and so on, the parts of the frames as the portions of the
earth are cut away being successively turned away from the concrete (which will
have set) and brought opposite the cut away parts of the earth, concrete or the like
being then poured into this space, these operations being repeated until the whole
of the sides of the "silo" are formed, when the frames are removed. When the
frames are brought into position before the concrete is poured in between them
and the opposite wall of earth, struts or pieces are or may be placed between the
said frames and the wall of earth to act as retainers for the latter. The bottom
of the "silo" is covered with a layer f of concrete or the like in which a well f
may be formed for collecting moisture which may run down from the materials in
the " silo," the said well being provided with a pipe or passage f³ led to the
surface so that liquid as it collects in the well can be pumped out through the said
pipe.

page_text: "
When the walls of the "silo are finished a strong frame work H is placed in
the bottom of the "silo" at the junction of the parts of which, vertical iron rods g
are inserted of a length about equal to the height of the "silo," they passing
through a frame K corresponding to the bottom one and being there provided with
screws and nuts i When the "silo" is filled with the material the upper timbers
of the frame K are forced down by the nuts carrying with them door-like framed
panels L extending from cross piece to cross piece of the upper framing K and
pressing the material down with the requisite force. The framing K may be in
lengths only extending from bolt to bolt so that they may be readily removed
singly to give access to the panels L.
Another mode of applying the requisite force to the surface of the material in
the "silo" is by building iron rods into the body of the concrete lining and
sufficiently above the surface thereof to allow of their upper ends passing through
half timbers on edge so that they are securely held down and a jack may then be
applied between these timbers and the panels or covers so as to obtain the necessary
pressure on the material, when a filling piece of a proper length may be inserted
and the jack removed to another position to renew the operation. It is obvious
however that weight may be applied to the material in a variety of ways for
example it may be applied by a number of blocks of a suitable shape to form
when put together a complete cover. These blocks can be removed by means of a
ring or its equivalent provided for the attachment of a rope for removing any block
as required.
The walls or linings, instead of being made with liquid concrete, may be built
up of brick or blocks preferably made of concrete and with perforations therein.
This is the mode of filling shewn in the Drawing. In place of providing means
for removing the material from the upper part of the "silo," means inay be provided
at the lower part, consisting for example of a door at the lower part of the side
down to which an inclined road may be cut.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First In the construction of "silos," or receptacles for food for cattle, the
employment of frames or supports to form a space or mould for constructing or
forming the sides of the "silo," or receptacle, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second A "silo" or receptacle for food for cattle constructed in the manner
herein before described under several modifications.
Third In the construction of "silos" or receptacles for food for cattle, a well
for moisture or drainage in combination with a pipe or passage or passages for the
removal of the contents of the said well, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth In the construction of "silos," or receptacles for food for cattle, the
combination of the frames H and K, panels L, and means for pressing the contents
of the "silo," or receptacle, between them, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James William Butler have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal this twenty second day of November One thousand
cight hundred and eighty three
JAMES WILLIAM BUTLER (L.S.)