IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND BALING HAY, COTTON, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Haskins Ladd, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR COMPRESSING AND BALING HAY, COTTON, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS."
A communication from abroad by Peter Kells Dederick, of Albany, New
York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Haskins Ladd at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1881.
JOHN HASKINS LADD, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND BALING HAY, COTTON,
AND SIMILAR MATERIALS." [A communication from abroad by Peter Kells
Dederick, of Albany, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the class of machinery for baling hay,
straw, cotton, and the like described in the Specification of Letters Patent dated
December 19th, A.D. 1879, No. 5207, and according to this Invention I provide
improved means by which one or more sides of the bale chamber of the press may be
adjusted towards and away from each other in such a manner as to remain parallel ;
also improved retainers to retain the pressed material within the said chamber. I also
operate the crank or toggle by means of a double cam and reverse movement of the
horse lever and gear the same in such a manner that the velocity is double and the
power increased, and I connect and support the motor of the press through the
sweep or horse lever and over the horses, by means of which the connections under
the horses are materially reduced and rendered very easy to be crossed, hence the
motor frame may be light and constructed of iron if desired.
I also construct and connect in an improved manner the motor and traverser
and improve the construction of the traverser top, and provide a hinged folder for
folding the overlapping material.
One of the features of this Invention consists in the application of a steam piston
directly or indirectly to a platen in combination with a bale forming cylinder or
case so operated as to separately compress each section of material in forming a
bale, and I may use two or more steam cylinders and pistons of different capacity
FD

page_text: or power, directly or indirectly combined with a platon and bale forming case so
operating in forming a bale that the piston of less power condenses the loose
material, and the more powerful piston completes the pressing of each section..
According to this Invention I construct the baling chamber so that the sides
thereof may be expanded or contracted and retain their parallel positions. For
this purpose the top and bottom are a solid frame, and the remaining two sides are
each a separate frame, so that practically the outside frame of the chamber is
composed of four sections which are supported by timbers and retained in position
and adjusted by rods and nuts which pass through the aforesaid posts or timbers.
By turning the nuts the entire chamber may be expanded or contracted. One,
two, or all the sides may be adjustable, and the adjustable sides may extend the
entire length of the chamber; or only a part of its sides may be adjustable as
desired, and the whole may be constructed of either iron, wood, or other suitable
material. In adjusting these sides inwards the ends towards the press or receiving
box must crowd in so as to form a shoulder, and to prevent obstruction from this
cause I bevel the inner corners of the sides and allow an inner lining of iron or
wood to pass along over the joint and into the press box, thus covering any rough
or abrupt shoulder, as the lining will form a continuous curved inner surface.
By means of the parallel adjustable sides I am able to secure greatly increased
resistance with less damage to the fibre of material to be baled.
There are one or more retainers on each side of the baling chamber to retain the
pressed material after the traverser forces the section past it, as hereinafter set
forth, and is withdrawn. These retainers are pivotted and their ends are pressed
into the chamber by means of a spring at their outer end. This spring may be
spiral or of any other form. The traverser is slotted at its end to receive the
inner end in order to get behind the pressed section and prevent it from expanding
back.
One form of apparatus embodying certain of the improvements to which this
Invention relates is constructed as follows, viz.:-The continuous or perpetual
baling chamber of a baling machine of the class above referred to being constructed
in the usual manner or in the manner above set forth, the material is fed in at one
end thereof. The traverser plays through the press box and is connected by a
pitman to an arm or crank composed of two pieces or parts preferably so arranged
as to admit the end of the pitman between them, and being pivotted together by a pin.
The said parts of the arm have their bearing on a fulcrum rod which passes through
bearings in the top and bottom frame of the press. These parts thus form a loose
toggle joint which may be vibrated across the centre either way, that is to say,
they form a double acting toggle.
On the centre of the fulcrum rod between the arms I provide metal plates which
have their bearing on the said rod, and between these plates at their ends I secure
planks or beams which are secured together at their outer end, and to the latter
the horse is attached by means of a whiffletree and clevis so pivotted as to swing
over the end of the lever and allow the horses to move and draw either to the
right or left. Another rod is secured to the horse-lever formed by the two planks
or beams at about its centre and pivotted to the top of the fulcrum rod which
supports the horse lever so that it is always retained in a horizontal position.
It will thus be seen that both the horse lever and the crank or arms of the toggle
are pivotted on the fulcrum rod and that they are not secured together, so that as
the horse moves to the left the one end of the metal plates above referred to forces
the crank or toggle over the centre when the reaction of the pressed material causes
it to move on swinging out at the opposite side of the press, and finally is brought
to a stop by the backward limit of its stroke.
The direction of the course of the horse is no reversed, and another charge is
fed into the hopper and press box, and the operation of forcing the toggle over the
centre is repeated by the movement of the horse to the right. Thus the operation
of forming sections and bales is continued, the horse alternately going to the left or
the right in a semi circular path.

page_text: Another form of the said apparatus is constructed as follows, viz., I provide a
baling chamber with suitable spring seated retainers, a press box, a condensing
hopper, and a traverser with a yielding top; a staff or slide bar is attached to the
traverser, and a pitman connects a double crank with the said slide bar. I also
provide an oblong gear wheel, to which the said double crank is attached. I
also provide a driving or power wheel provided with a journal on its lower side
resting in a bed plate secured to the connecting timber; and a shaft projects from
the upper side of the driving wheel, and has its bearings in the frame above;
the said shaft is provided with a sweep plate, to which the horse lever is loosely
attached.
A plank or beam between the motor frame and the press box connects the two
latter, and there are ways between which a slide bar reciprocates. The double
crank above mentioned is rigidly connected with the oblong gear wheel, and a
pitman is attached to the same, as stated. Power is applied to the apparatus by
means of the horse lever above mentioned. Stay rods support standards, from
which extend truss rods to give additional support to the motor-end of the press.
A strip of iron passes through the end of the slide bar, and projects from each side,
working back and forth with the slide bar in the ways above described. Bevil
pieces of iron are placed between the leaves of the traverser, and attached to rods,
whereby the leaves can be adjusted. The whole apparatus is mounted upon axles
made of iron in the form of cranks, so as to admit of the use of high wheels, whilst
allowing the body of the press to run as close to the ground as is practicable, and
I provide a tung or horse pole, attaching it to the forward truck, so as to facilitate
the transport of the apparatus. A horse bridge passes over the connecting timbers
when the press is mounted on wheels.
The goaring whereby the horse power is transmitted to the working parts I
enclose in a suitable iron frame, attaching the latter to the connecting timber.
When the apparatus is in operation the horses will pass under the truss rods,
which are connected with a projection on the horse lever, or with the top shaft
projecting through the sweep or horse lever; or the shaft might be hollow, and the
connection pass through it, or any connection between the press end and motor end
of the apparatus passing above the horse, and through the sweep or horse lever,
may be used, and a chain or other suitable connection may be substituted for the
rods.
In operation the horses are attached to the horse lever, and pass entirely around
the motor, thus rotating the gear-wheels, and giving the traverser a reciprocating
motion, the traverser making two strokes to one turn of the horses.
Another form of the said apparatus is constructed as follows:-A bed plate may
be secured firmly to a stationary foundation, but is preferably mounted upon wheels,
so as to constitute a truck; a casing constructed in any suitable manner, and
containing the baling chamber, is mounted on the bed plate, so that it may be
stationary, or so as to slide thereon to a limited extent. Upon the bed plate
opposite the aforesaid casing is arranged a steam engine, the valve of which is
controlled from the piston-rod through the medium of a rod connected at one end
with an arm on the piston rod, and at the other end with an arm on the rocking
valve spindlo. To the outer end of the piston rod is secured a plate or platen of
such a size as to readily enter the open inner end of the chest or casing on the bed
plate. The flange and cap at the rear end of the cylinder are enlarged to form a
second stationary platen, and the engine is so connected to the bed plate that it
may be reversed for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The engine is supplied with
steam from a stationary or portable boiler, and operates automatically, the valve
being so constructed as to reverse the piston at the end of the stroke. The hay or
other material is thrown into the inner end of the chest in front of the platen on
the piston-rod, which as it moves forward compresses the hay in the chest, and
then retires, prior to another quantity of hay being introduced, these operations
being repeated until a bale of sufficient size is formed; the balo is then tied and
removed. It will be seen that by combining the baling chest with a direct

page_text: operating engine the use of cranks, jointed rod, and arms and gearing is avoided,
ensuring great strength and durability, and greatly reducing the weight of the
apparatus. The chief advantage, however, is the simplicity of construction, which
is of the utmost importance in apparatus which have to be handled by farmers and
others unskilled in the use of steam machinery.
By mounting the engine and baling chest upon a truck the apparatus is rendered
portable, and the necessity of employing a separate truck heretofore required with
portable baling presses is avoided. Although I prefer to use a stationary chest and
a movable platen the chest may slide upon the platform, as before described. In
this case the engine is turned, and the chest is connected by rods to the platen at
the end of the piston rod, the hay or other material being forced into the chest as
the latter approaches the stationary platen. It will be seen that the effect is the
same in both cases, the engine directly compressing the material in the baling
chamber. I economize power by the use of a long stroke small cylinder to move
the traverser at the beginning of the operation upon a bale, and by finishing the
_ pressing operation by applying the power of one or more large size short stoke
cylinders. In this class of presses but little power is required to condense the
section for three fourths of the stroke of the traverser, and the remaining one fourth
of the stroke would require greatly increased power. An apparatus of this class
may therefore advantageously be constructed as follows, viz. :-The frame consists
of posts, and there is a condensing hopper, a traverser, a large cylinder, a small
cylinder, a piston rod, and there are pawls hereinafter described.
The end of the piston rod next the traverser is preferably larger than the portion
extending to the second or smaller cylinder, and it thus forms a shoulder which
engages with the pawls above mentioned as the traverser and piston move forward.
The piston head is not secured to the piston rod, but the rod moves through it, so
that the piston head of the small cylinder may continue the reverse stroke when
the piston head reaches the limit of its stroke. The pawls are pivotted to the
piston head or sleeve, and are made to act as pawls to engage with the shoulder by
their own gravity or by means of springs, and are detached or raised on the reverse
movement by inclined or wedge surfaces, with which they come in contact as the
piston head nears the limit of its stroke backwards. The shipping connections may
be automatic if preferred, but I may use a simple hand lever for starting the
machine at each stroke. The said lever through its connections causes the admission
of the steam to the smaller cylinder, and starts the piston and traverser towards
the bale chamber. At the point where the shoulder passes the pawls a connection
from the traverser causes the admission of the steam into the large cylinder, and
thereby the large piston at once becomes operative. At the time when the traverser
reaches the limit of its stroke it trips a lever with connections, thereby reversing
the operation by opening the port of the small cylinder and reversing the piston of
the large cylinder.
I deem it best to apply power at but one side of the piston of the large cylinders,
and to both sides of the piston of the small cylinders, but steam or bydraulic power
may be applied to one or both cylinders, or to but one side of either, as may be
desired. In some cases I use the crank or toggle hereinabove described, and apply
the engines or pistons directly to the crank, so that the small cylinder shall condense
the section, and the more powerful engine be applied to complete the pressing
operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Haskins Ladd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th September 1881.
JOHN HASKINS LADD, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING AND BALING HAY, COTTON,
AND SIMILAR MATERIALS." A. communication from abroad by Peter Kells
Dederick, of Albany, New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the machinery for compressing and
baling hay, straw, cotton, and similar substances or materials described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent, dated December 19th, A.D. 1879, No. 5207,
and comprises various novel features of construction, as hereinafter described.
The first part of the said Invention relates to the construction of the bale-
chamber of the press.
This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accom.
panying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a press provided with my improve-
ments; and
Figures 2, 3, and 4 reprosent portions of the same detached.
A, B, C, D, represent the four sides or plates of the baling chamber, which may
be constructed as shewn, or in any other suitable manner, so that the said sides
may be expanded or contracted, and at the same time retain their parallel position.
I have shewn the top and bottom plates B, D, of the said baling chamber each
constructed in one solid piece, and in such a manner that the' under surface of the
depending flanges of the top forms the upper sido of the upper slot E, and the
upper surface of the flanges on the bottom forms the lower side of the lower slot E,
that is to say, the said plates are of such a shape as to form the angles or corners
of the baling chambers. Each of the two sides A, C, is constructed separately, and
practically the outside frame of the baling chamber is composed of the four sections
A, B, C, D. These sections are supported by the timbers F, F, and are retained in
position and rendered capable of adjustment by the rods G, G, and H, H, which
pass through the posts or timbers F, and are provided with screw nuts. By turning
the said nuts the entire chamber may be expanded or contracted. One or more of
the said parallel sides may be adjustable, and may extend the entire length of the
chamber, or only a part of the length thoreof, as desired. The said sides are
preferably constructed of either iron or wood.
In adjusting these sides inwards the ends towards the press or receiving box I
will form a shoulder, and to prevent obstruction from this cause I bevel the inner
ends of the sides, as shewn at K in Figure 3, and extend the inner lining L of iron
or wood along over the joint and into the said press box, thus preventing the
existence of any rough or abrupt shoulder at this part as the lining will form a
continuous curved inner surface to the chamber.
By means of the parallel adjustable sides I am enabled to secure greatly increased
resistance with less injury to the fibre of the material to be baled.
Another part of this Invention relates to improvements in the construction of
and manner of applying the retainers for preventing the rearward movement of
the pressed material. This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 1
to 3, in which M represents my improved retainer; there may be one or more
of these retainers on each side of the chamber to prevent the rearward movement
of the pressed material after the traverser forces each section of such material
past the said retainer or retainers and is withdrawn. These retainers are pivoted
at N, as shewn, and their inner ends are pressed into the chamber by means of a

page_text: spiral or other spring at their outer 'end. The retainers hold the pressed material
at the sides and prevent all reaction, except to the very slight extent at the
centre thereof due to the expansion of the pressed material when the traverser
retires.
The traverser is slotted at its forward end to receive the inner end of the
retainers, in order that they may pass, behind the pressed section and prevent its
expanding rearwardly.
Another part of this Invention relates to an improved method of operating the
crank or toggle of such presses.
This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 of the Drawings,
in which
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a baling press provided with my improved
traverser actuating mechanism, and
Figure 6 is a similar view of portions of the same drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is a plan or top view, and
Figure 8 a side elevation also drawn to an enlarged scale of portions of the said
mechanism.
A represents the baling chamber, and B is the hopper through which the hay
pr other material is fed to the said chamber.
The traverser C plays or moves through the press-box D, and is connected by
the pitman E to the arın or crank F. This arm F is composed of two parts
preferably arranged to admit the end of the pitman E between them and pivoted
together by the pin G. The said two parts of the arm F have their bearing on a
fulcrum pin or rod H, which passes through and has its bearing in portions of the
frame of the press, as shewn. These parts thus form a loose toggle joint which
may be vibrated across the centre in either direction, thus forming a double acting
toggle.
On the centre of the rod H and between the two parts of the crank F I place
metal plates I, I, which have their bearing on the said rod H, and between these
plates at their ends I secure the planks or shafts K, K, which constitute a lever,
and are secured together at their outer end L. The horse is attached to the said
shafts by means of a whiffletree and clevis M pivoted, as shewn, so that they may
be swung over or around the end of the lever to allow the horse or horses to move
and draw either to the right or left.
N represents a rod, which is secured to the lever K at about its centre, and
which is pivoted to the upper end of the rod H; this rod H thus supports the said
lever K, so that the latter is always retained in a horizontal position. It will be
seen that both the horse lever K and the crank or toggle F are pivoted on the
rod H and that they are not secured together; therefore as the horse moves to the
left one end of the double plate I forces the crank or toggle F over the centre
when the reaction or expansion of the compressed material reverses it, so that it
swings out at the opposite side of the press, and finally is stopped at the backward
limit of its stroke.
The horse is then caused to travel in the opposite direction, and another charge
is fed into the hopper B and press-box D, and the operation of forcing the toggle
over the centre is repeated by the movement of the horse to the right. Thus the
operation of forming sections and bales of compressed material is continued, the
horse alternately travelling from to the left and right in a semicircular path, and
at each movement the crank or toggle is forced over the centre, as above explained,
thus pressing a section of loose material, the power being reversed and the crank
or toggle projected to the opposite side by the expansion of the pressed material.
Another part of this Invention relates to improved mechanism or gearing for
imparting movement to the crank or toggle, so that the velocity of the same is
doubled and the power increased.
Another part of the said Invention relates to the method of connecting and
supporting the power producing mechanism of the press through the sweep or
horse lever and over the path traversed by the horses, so that the connections

page_text: under the said path are materially reduced and rendered very easy to be crossed;
hence the frame of the said mechanism may be made light, and constructed of iron
if desired.
Another part of the said Invention relates to the manner of connecting the
power transmitting mechanism and the traverser, and to a device for folding the
overlapping material in the press.
These parts of the said Invention are illustrated in Figures 9 to 16, in which
Figure 9 is a perspective view of my improved press mounted upon wheels and
ready for operation.
Figure 10 is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale shewing the press box
and bale chamber and illustrating the manner of constructing and applying the
folder.
Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view shewing the power transmitting mechanism
of the press and its connections with the traverser, together with the connecting
plank or timber and the manner of supporting the same, and
Figure 12 is a plan or top view of the said power transmitting mechanism and
its connections.
°
Figure 13 illustrates the arrangement of a simple crank with the horse lever
attached directly thereto.
Figure 14 represents a portion of the press box and bale chamber, showing the
manner of forming the stationary retaining shoulder and a spring seated
retainer.
Figure 15 is a plan or top view illustrating the manner of constructing and
attaching the tongue or horse pole to the forward truck.
Figure 16 is a perspective view shewing my improved iron frame for supporting
the power transmitting mechanism and illustrating the manner of attaching the
same to the connecting timber of the press.
A represents the bale chamber and B the press-box; C is the condensing
hopper; D represents the traverser provided with a yielding top, and E represents
the staff or sliding bar attached to the said traverser; F represents a pitman
connecting the crank to the said sliding bar E; G represents an elliptical gear
wheel to which the double crank o, o, is attached; H represents the driving
or power transmitting wheel provided with a journal on its lower side resting in a
bed-plate secured to the connecting timber; I is a shaft projecting from its upper
side; this shaft has its bearings in the frame above, as shewn, and is provided with
a sweep plate K. to which the horse lever is loosely attached; M represents the
connecting plank between the frame J and the press box B; N, N, represent ways
between which the slide E moves end wise. The double crank o, o, is made rigid
with the elliptical gear wheel G, and the pitman F is attached to the same as above
specified; L represents the said sweep or horse lever, through which power is
applied to the aforesaid gear wheels; a, a, are stay-rods to support the standards b, b,
from which extend truss-rods c, c, to give additional support to the end of the
press at which the driving mechanism is situated; d is a metal strip passing
through the end of the slide-bar E projecting from each side and working to and
fro with the said slide-bar in grooves in the ways N; e, e, are bevelled pieces of
metal placed between the leaves of the traverser and attached to rods whereby the
said leaves can be adjusted.
In some cases I provide the said traverser or plunger with a hinged leaf D', as shown
in Figure 11s, and arrange beneath the said leaf a spring or springs D³, preferably of
steel, secured to the said traverser at Ds and arranged to press the said leaf upwards..
A¹, A', are the axles constructed of iron and cranked so as to permit the use of
high wheels whilst allowing the body of the press to run as close to the ground as
practicable; B' represents the tongue or horse pole attached as shown to the
forward truck; C¹ represents the horse-bridge extending over the connecting
timber when the press is mounted on wheels; D' represents one form of the spring-
seated retainers; El represents a portion of the side planking shewing the form of the
stationary retaining shoulder; F', Figure 10, represents my improved hinged folder,

page_text: which is designed to fold downward that portion of the hay or other material that
overlaps the traverser after the latter is withdrawn; G¹ represents my improved
iron frame for supporting the power transmitting mechanism and shews the manner
of attaching the same to the connecting timber.
Heretofore in this class of presses in which the horses pass over the power
transmitting devices and connections it has generally been found necessary by
reason of the vibratory movement of the pitman to bridge it over to enable it to
be safely crossed by the horses; this arrangement seriously impairs the portability
of the press and necessitates very strong and heavy connections between the power
transmitting mechanism and the press box in consequence of their being all on one
side of or below the sweep or horse lever, thus rendering impracticable any.connec-
tion above. By the use of the slide or staff E, which is arranged in suitable
guides and which has an endwise siding motion instead of a vibratory motion, the
horses can easily and safely step over it (even if it is not boxed over) without the
bridging. The slide bar or staff E is shewn firmly secured to the traverser, but it
may be pivoted thereto if desired or indirectly attached to the said traverser.
To further reduce the size of the lower connection and facilitate the stepping of
the horse I use a connecting plank M extending lengthwise under the slide E and
of small dimensions, so that the crossing of both the plank and slide or staff
together necessitates but a short step for a horse.
This connection is ample for sustaining the strain lengthwise, but the power
being exerted entirely at one side of the connection M. it would spring in the
middle and render the press inoperative if not supported by the standards b, b, and
the stay rods a, a, attached thereto; these standards are supported by the stays
a, a, and the rods c, c, are connected to the said standards at such a height that the
horses may pass conveniently under them, these rods c, c, being connected with a
projection on the horse lever, or with the top of the shaft projecting through the
sweep or horse lever, as shewn. As a modification of the above the shaft may be
made hollow with the connection extending through it, or any other suitable
connection may be used between the press and the power transmitting part of the
machinery above the horse. A chain or other suitable connection may be sub-
stituted for the aforesaid rods. It will be observed that as the horse lever rotates
entirely around its fulcrum all over head communication is impracticable except at
the said fulcrum or centre around which the lever rotates, and it is by forming the
connection through this point that I am enabled to support the power end of the
machine by stays extending above the horses, and thereby am enabled to use
connections that can be passed over by a horse.
In the operation of this machinery the horses are attached to the horse-lever, and
pass entirely around the power transmitting mechanism through the opening H¹,
thus rotating the gear wheels and imparting to the traverser a reciprocating motion
in such a manner that the said traverser makes two strokes to one turn of the
horses..
The hay or other material is pitched into the hopper and forced down into the
press box, where it is compressed into a section, two sections being formed at each
turn of the horse or horses, and the operation is thus continued in the ordinary
manner.
Another part of the present Invention relates to the application of a steam piston
directly or indirectly to a platen in combination with a bale forming cylinder or
case so operated as to separately compress each section of the bay or other material
in forming a bale. This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figures 17
and 18 of the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 17 is a side elevation partly in section, shewing a portable hay press
constructed in accordance with this part of my Invention, and
Figure 18 is a plan or top view of a similar press shewing the parts in a different
position.
A is the bed-plate, which may be secured firmly to a stationary foundation, but
which is preferably mounted upon wheels; B is a casing constructed in any suitable

page_text: manner and containing the baling chamber. This casing is fixed to the bed-plate,
or is so mounted as to be free to slide thereon. Upon the said bed-plate opposite
the casing B is arranged a steam engine C, the valve of which is controlled from
the piston-rod a through the medium of a rod b connected at one end to an arm
on the piston rod, and at the other end to an arm c on the rocking valve spindle d.
To the outer end of the piston rod is secured a plate or platen e of such a size as to
readily enter the open inner end of the chest or casing B.
The flange and cap at the rear end of the cylinder are enlarged to form a second
stationary platen e¹, and the engine is so connected to the bed plate that it may
be reversed to the position shewn in Figure 18 for the purpose hereinafter
described.
The engine is supplied with steam from a stationary or portable boiler, the said
valve being so operated as to reverse the piston at the end of its stroke. The hay
is thrown into the inner end of the chest B in front of the platen e, which as it
moves forward compresses the hay in the said chest, and then retires prior to the
introduction of another quantity of hay, these operations being repeated until a
bale of sufficient size is formed, the bale is then tied and removed.
It will be understood that by combining the baling chest B with a direct
operating engine the use of cranks, jointed rods, and arms, and wheel gearing is
avoided, thereby ensuring great strength and durability, and greatly reducing the
weight of the apparatus.
The chief advantage however of this arrangement consists in the simplicity of
the construction, which is of the utmost importance in apparatus which has to be
employed by farmers and others unskilled in the use of steam machinery.
By mounting the engine and baling chest upon wheels the apparatus is rendered
portable, and the necessity of employing a separate truck, heretofore required with
portable baling presses, is avoided.
Although I prefer to use a stationary chest B and a movable platen, the chest
may be arranged to slide upon the platform, as above described. In this case the
engine is turned into the position shewn in Figure 18, and the chest B is connected
by rods L to the platen e, the hay being forced into the chest as the latter
approaches the stationary platen e¹. It will be seen that the effect is the same
in both cases, that is to say, the engine acts directly to compress the hay or other
material in the baling chamber.
Another part of this Invention relates to the use of two or more steam cylinders
and pistons of different capacity or power directly or indirectly combined with a
platen and bale-forming case, and so operated to form a bale that the piston of the
least power condenses the loose material, and the more powerful piston completes
the compressing of each section.
According to this part of my Invention I economize the power by the use of a.
small cylinder with a piston having a long stroke to move the traverser to effect
the preliminary compression of the hay or other material, and then finish the
pressing operation by applying the power of one or more large sized cylinders with
& piston or pistons having a short stroke, the whole being arranged to work
automatically or otherwise.
It should be observed that in this class of presses but little power is required
to condense the section for three fourths of the stroke of the traverser, whilst the
remaining one fourth of the stroke requires greatly increased power, so that the
use of one or more cylinders of the same diameter for the entire stroke on each
section would occasion a loss of fully three fourths of the steam or power. This
loss of steam or power is prevented by my improvements, whether applied directly.
or indirectly by means of gearing or other suitable machinery.
I will now proceed to describe a method of carrying this part of my Invention
into effect, although the devices shewn may be varied by the substitution therefor
of any well known devices used in steam and hydraulic machinery.
Figure 19 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a baling press provided
with the aforesaid large and small cylinders.

page_text: In this Figure A, A, are the longitudinal timbers of the frame, and B is the
condensing hopper; C is the traverser; D is the large cylinder, and E the small
cylinder; F is a piston rod which serves for both pistons; and G, G, are pawls for
effecting the connection of the said rod with the piston of the large cylinder.
The end of the piston rod F next to the traverser is preferably larger than the
portion extending to the cylinder E, and it thus forms a shoulder H which engages
with the pawls G, G, as the traverser and piston move forward. The piston I is
not fixed on the piston rod F, but this rod moves through the said piston so that
the piston of the cylinder E may continue its return stroke when the piston I
reaches the limit of its stroke. The pawls G, G, are pivoted to the piston I or its
sleeve J as shewn, and are arranged to engage with the shoulder H by their own
gravity or by means of springs, and are detached or raised in the backward move-
ment of the pistons by the inclined or wedge shaped surfaces K with which they
come in contact as the piston I approaches the limit of its backward stroke.
The shipping connections may be automatic if preferred, but in this instance I
have shewn a simple hand lever L for starting the machine at each stroke. The
movement of this lever through its connections admits the steam to the cylinder E
and starts the small piston and the traverser C towards the bale chamber M.
When the shoulder H passes the pawls G, G, a connection from the traverser
admits the steam into the cylinder D at the point P, when the large piston at once
applies its power. When the traverser C reaches the limit of its stroke it trips
the levers Land A', thereby reversing the operation by opening the port of the
cylinder E at B', and reversing the movement of the piston of the cylinder D.
I prefer to apply power to one side of the piston in the cylinder D, and to both
sides of the piston in the cylinder E, but steam or hydraulic power may be
applied to one or both sides of the pistons of one or both cylinders, or to one side of
either piston, so that each shall execute its respective movements to accomplish the
purpose specified.
In the operation of the machine the hay or other material is introduced by the
hopper B to the space in front of the traverser C, and steam is admitted to the
cylinder E to drive the piston F and traverser C forward, thereby condensing
the section of hay or other material with the use of a small quantity of steam, but
when the shoulders H engage with the pawls G the said section has by this time
become so compact that much greater power is required to effect its further
compression; steam is therefore admitted into the cylinder D; and furnishes the
power required to complete the compression of the section for the last fourth part
of the stroke of the traverser.
Figure 20 represents in perspective a modification of the last described mechanism.
In this modification I utilize a crank or toggle Q, and connect the engines or pistons
directly to the said crank, so that the small cylinder will condense the section of
hay or other material, and the more powerful engine will come into operation to
complete the pressing operation.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,―
First. In a baling press in which the bales are made by the compression of.
successive quantities or sections, and which has a bale chamber formed with one or
more of its sides or portions of its sides adjustable to expand or contract the said
bale chamber, the side plates B, D, constructed to form the angles or corners of.
the said chamber, substantially as above set forth.
"
Second. In the said press the bale chamber provided with the said plates and
with means for effecting. the parallel adjustment of the side or sides in combination'
with the bevelled ends K and inner lining L, as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In the said press the combination with the baling chamber and traverser
of the hinged spring seated retainer or retainers (with or without the folder), all'
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the pivoted adjustable sweep or horse-lever of the

page_text: devices, substantially as shewn in Figures 5 to 8 of the Drawing, arranged and
operating as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In the power transmitting mechanism the combination of the elliptical
gear wheels with the crank, whereby the velocity is doubled and the power
increased, as above set forth.
Sixth. A baling press in which the hay or other loose fibrous material is pressed
in sections by a reciprocating traverser, and which is connected to the power
transmitting mechanism by connections below the horse lever in the circuit of the
horse, and which has the press and power transmitting mechanism connected above
the sweep or horse lever, and through or by means of the horse lever or power
transmitting shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. In a baling press the combination of the elliptical gear wheels with the
traverser through the medium of the pitman and the slide or staff, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. In the said press the top or overhead connection in combination with
the said power transmitting mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. In the said press the combination of the connecting timber M and shaft E
with the press-box B and the frame J or G¹, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Tenth. In a baling press the traverser with its top or upper portion composed
of one or more leaves or springs made adjustable, as shewn in Figure 11, or as in
the modified form shewn in Figure 11ª, and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of the baling chest or chamber and the engine C
having a platen e connected to its piston rod and operating directly to form a bale
by packing the material in small quantities or sections in the baling chamber at
each forward stroke or movement of the piston, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination with the baling chamber and traverser of two or more
steam or hydraulic cylinders of different dimensions adapted to the separate
condensation or compression of each section, so that the one will condense the
loose charge, and the other will complete the condensing or compressing operation,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Haskins Ladd, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
•
JUHN HASKINS LADD. (L.B.)