IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERS FOR RICKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Withey Light, of Winford, near Bristol, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERS FOR RICKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Withey Light at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1877.
JOSEPH WITHEY LIGHT, of Winford, near Bristol. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERS
FOR RICKS."
The object of my Invention is to make a rick cover which can be more readily
put on and taken off than the old fashioned waterproof sheets (which are now used
during the formation of the rick), and without the use of poles, which will serve as
an economical permanent covering in place of the ordinary straw thatch, and which
when not in use can be stowed away in a small space.
The Invention consists in making rick covers of galvanized iron, as herein-after
described.
I take a number of pieces of corrugated galvanized iron, say, 9 feet in length and
two feet in width, the corrugations being in the direction of their length; these pieces
are curved so as to give a sufficient rise, say, two feet, for the water to run off. I
also take a number of other pieces of similar iron of the same width, but by pre-
ference shorter, say, 6 feet long. On each of the first-named pieces I rivet near
each end a transverse piece of iron provided with links and hooks, and on each of
the second-named pieces I rivet near one end a similar piece of iron likewise provided
with links and hooks. Then when I wish to cover a rick I place upon the top
thereof, in the centre of its width, a sufficient number of the longer pieces to extend
the whole length of the rick; then at each side of the row of long pieces I place an
equal number of the shorter pieces, allowing the longer pieces to overlap them about
a foot. I secure the shorter and longer pieces together and the neighbouring pieces
to each other by means of the links and hooks above named, so that all the pieces
are fastened together. The rick is thus quite covered with the galvanized iron, and
Price 6d 1

page_text: all rain that falls upon it runs down the corrugations clear of the rick, while any
steam or vapor arising from the rick is able to escape where the adjoining pieces of
iron meet.
When the cover is only intended to remain temporarily it may be fastened with
ropes, one at each end, but if it has to remain for some time I employ short chains,
one at each end, and one or two at the sides; these chains are attached to the cover,
and their lower ends are secured to the rick by skewers or rods driven into
through the links of the chains.
When the cover is not in use the various pieces may be piled one upon another so
as to occupy a small space.
The dimensions herein-before given are what I consider most suitable, and are
adapted for a rick of 5 to 6 yards in width, but they may be varied as required.
For a rick of 4 yards wide one set of the short pieces with one set of the long pieces
of the above dimensions will be sufficient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Withey Light in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
February 1878.
JOSEPH WITHEY LIGHT, of Winford, near Bristol.
FOR RICKS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERS
The object of my Invention is to make a rick cover which can be more readily
put on and taken off than the old fashioned waterproof sheets (which are now used
during the formation of the rick), and without the use of poles, which will serve as
an economical permanent covering in the place of the ordinary straw thatch, and
which when not in use can be stowed away in a small space.
The Invention consists in making rick covers of galvanized iron, as herein-after
described.
I take a number of pieces of corrugated galvanized iron, say, 9 feet in length
and two feet in width, the corrugations being in the direction of their length; these
pieces are curved so as to give a sufficient rise, say, 2 feet, for the water to run
off. I also take a number of other pieces of similar iron of the same width, but by
preference shorter, say, 6 feet long. On each of the first-named pieces I rivet near
each end a transverse piece of iron provided with links and hooks, and on each of
the second-named pieces I rivet near one end a similar piece of iron likewise
provided with links and with crooks, and another similar piece near the other end,
but on the opposite side or face. Then when I wish to cover a rick I place across
the top thereof, in the centre of its width, a sufficient number of the longer pieces
to extend the whole length of the rick; then at each side of the row of long pieces
I place an equal number of the shorter pieces, allowing the longer pieces to overlap
them about a foot. I secure the shorter and longer pieces together, and the neigh-
bouring pieces to each other by means of the links and crooks above named, so that
all the pieces are fastened together. The rick is thus quite covered with the
galvanized iron, and all rain that falls upon it runs down the corrugations clear of
the rick, while any steam or vapor arising from the rick is able to escape where
the adjoining pieces of iron meet,

page_text: When the cover is only intended to remain temporarily it may be fastened with
ropes, two at each end, but if it has to remain for some time I employ short chains,
two at each end, and one or two at the sides; these chains are attached to the
cover, and their lower ends are secured to the rick by skewers or rods driven into it
through the links of the chains.
When the cover is not in use the various pieces may be piled one upon another,
so as to occupy a small space.
The dimensions herein-before given are what I consider most suitable, and are
adapted for a rick of 5 to 6 yards in width, but they may be varied as required.
For a rick of 4 yards wide one set of the short pieces with one set of the long pieces
of the above dimensions will be sufficient.
The annexed Drawings will enable my Invention to be understood.
Figure 1 is an end view of a portion of a rick cover, with the pieces fastened
together as on a rick; and Figure 2 is a side view, shewing two spans of the said
cover.
A, A, are the longer pieces, say 9 feet in length and 2 feet in width, first herein-
before described, which are placed along the top of the rick in the centre of its
width; a portion only of these pieces is seen in the Figures; they are curved, as
shewn, to any desired extent. B, B, are the other or straight pieces, which are
placed at each side of the row of pieces A, A, and are overlapped by these pieces
about a foot; C, C, are flat iron bars rivetted to the pieces A, A; and D, D, are
similar bars rivetted to the pieces B, B. The bars C, C, and D, D, are provided
with hooks and links, as shewn, so that the neighbouring pieces A, A, may be
attached to each other, and each piece B attached to the corresponding piece A, as
will be clearly understood by reference to the Drawings; E, E, are other similar
bars (shewn by dots in Figure 2) on the other side and near the other end of the
pieces B to enable the neighbouring pieces B to be attached to each other. The
pieces B when in place overlap the eaves of the rick, and some of the bars E have
short chains F attached thereto for the purpose of securing the cover to the rick by
means of skewers or rods driven through these chains into the sides of the rick.
Other skewers or rods may be driven into the ends of the rick through chains G
attached to the bar C on the last piece A. The pieces A and B are made of galvanized
corrugated iron.
As before mentioned the dimensions of the pieces A and B may be varied as
desired, and so may the number of the corrugations or flutes therein, and the means
of attaching them together when in place. H represents a portion of the end of the
rick.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, constructing covers for ricks,
substantially as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Withey Light, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight