Year: 1881

page_text: I, EDWARD THOMAS of Oswestry in the County of Salop seek, leave to amend
the specification of Letters Patent No 661 of 1881, as shown in red ink in the
copy of the original specification hereunto annexed.
"
"
Referring to the specification as printed by the Queen's Printers-Page 2 line 5
I strike out from the word "trucks" to the word "with" both inclusive.. Line 6
I strike out completely. Line 13 I strike out the first two words "
may be " and
insert instead the word "are." Between the next word "placed" and the word
"in" I insert the word "not." I strike out the last two words of the line
or truck." Lines 27, 28 and 29 I strike out completely. Line 32 I strike out.
the first two words "truck or." Line 44 I strike out the word "trucks and
substitute therefor the word racks. Line 45 I strike out from the word "but " to
the word "to" both inclusive. Line 46 I strike out completely. Line 48 after
the word "that" I insert the following: "I do not claim as my invention sheep
"racks and troughs combined in which the roof slides off or opens with a common
hinge at its edge like an ordinary box lid or in which the roof does not turn on
quadrants bell cranks or their equivalents projecting therefrom as hereinbefore
"described and that' Line 50 I strike out the words "railway trucks." Line 51
I strike out with the exception of the last word "with." Page 3. Line 1 I strike
out the words "to the ends or other parts of the article " Line 2 I strike out the
words "such manner" and insert instead the words "the manner substantially as
described so" Line 5 I insert after the word "roofs" the words "of sheep racks
and troughs combined. Line 6 I strike out the first three words "one or more."
My reasons for making this amendment are as follows:
'
"
"
That some doubt having been cast on the novelty of the invention per se as
sliding or hinged covers have been applied to trucks and desks and boxes, I wish
to confine my claim to sheep racks and troughs combined and to roofs thereof
rotating on pivots with stops substantially as described.

page_text: In the matter of the application made by Edward Thomas for leave to amend the
Specification of Letters Patent N° 661 of 1881.
I hereby grant leave to the said Edward Thomas to amend the said Specification

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas, of Oswestry, in the County of Salop,
IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP RACKS AND TROUGHS
COMBINED, TRUCKS AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH ROOFS OR COVERS THAT
for an Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1881.
EDWARD THOMAS of Oswestry in the County of Salop "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEEP RACKS AND TROUGHS COMBINED, TRUCKS AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH
ROOFS OR COVERS THAT REQUIRE TO BE FREQUENTLY OPENED AND CLOSED."
This Invention chiefly consists in constructing the roof so as to partially rotate
on two pivots one at each end and be stopped at the right points by stops or their
equivalent.
:.
In practice I make it preferably of corrugated iron, secured upon a pair of angle
iron and bar iron quadrants or bell cranks, one at each end, but other materials can
be used. The pivots upon which these quadrants or bell cranks turn are placed not
in the centre, but preferably nearer the back of the rack or truck, so that when the
roof is closed its tendency will be to remain closed by a portion of its own weight
against. the force of the wind and similarly when opened as hereafter described it
will remain
In working the Invention if the roof be in normal position all that is required
to open it, is to raise the front edge with a pushing strain and it will rotate
backward; to close it a simple pull forward is all that is required, its own weight
keeping it open till so pulled. The stop I prefer to be a simple bar of iron secured
to the arched ends of the truck or sack and turned up at each end, the ends of the
bars coming against one of the bars of each quadrant at the ends of the stroke,
namely when perfectly open and fully closed. For trucks that have to be open
at either side, I prefer to place the pivots in the centre. In my sheep racks the
lid and the roof are one and the same thing; this simplifies the construction
considerably.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1881.
EDWARD. THOMAS of Oswestry in the County of Salop "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEEPS RACKS AND TROUGHS COMBINED, TRUCKS AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH
Roors on COVERS THAT REQUIRE TO BE FREQUENTLY OPENED AND CLOSED."
This Invention chiefly consists in constructing the roof so as to partially rotate
on two pivots one at each end and be stopped at the right points by stops or their
equivalent.
It t!
.
.:
In practice I make it preferably of galvanised sheet iron secured upon a pair of
angle iron and bar iron quadrants or bell cranks one at each end but other
materials can be used. The pivots upon which these quadrants or bell cranks turn
are may be placed not in the centre but preferably nearer the back of the rack or
truek so that when the roof is closed its tendency will be to remain closed by a
portion of its own weight, and similarly when opened as hereafter described it will
remain so.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates a sheep rack the roof of which is made
double acting or to open in either direction. A is the roof B a strong angle iron
frame (to which the roof is attached) revolving on the pivots a, a¹, C bracket with
slots c, c¹ in which the pivots a. and a slide.
In working the Invention if the roof be in normal position all that is required
to open it is to raise the front edge with a lifting strain and it will rotate backward
on the pivot a in the bottom of the slot c, the pivot a¹ at the same time rising in
the slot c, until it comes in contact with the upper end where it is stopped. The
lower end of the slot acts as a stop when closed-to close it a simple pull forward
is all, that is required its own weight keeping it open till so pulled.
13
When used-for-railway-trucks a bolt or hasp-is-attached to the end-of-the-truck
and-secured-to-the-centre of the bar D, and which may be locked securing the-roof
against the action of the wind, and contents-from-being pilfered.
In single acting roofs where they only open to one side I dispense with the
slotted bracket C pivotting the frame B at a¹ and attach stops to the ends of the
truck-er rack at the points where the slot c terminates, or at a point between
c, and c¹. The stop may be a simple bar of iron turned up at each end, the ends
of the bars coming against one of the bars of each quadrant at the ends of the
stroke, namely when perfectly open and fully closed; but I prefer the stops being
attached to an arched bracket similar in form to bracket C shown in Drawing
(but not slotted) having raised lugs or stops at a point between c and c¹ and at a
at the latter point a cotter or other fastening may be used to keep the roof more
securely closed. In my sheep racks the lid and the roof are one and the same
thing, this simplifies the construction considerably.
Of course I do not confine my Invention to the particular shape of roof shown,
as it is obvious that it could be used with conical roofs and other shapes that
require to be opened and shut frequently and may also be made in one or more
.

page_text: parts as may be most convenient, and for racks trucks that have to be opened at
either side I prefer to place the pivots as shown in the Drawing but-may-do-so-close
to-the-centre-line-of-the-truck.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as my invention sheep
racks and troughs combined in which the roof slides off or opens with a common
hinge at its edge like an ordinary box lid or in which the roof does not turn on
quadrants bell-cranks or their equivalents projecting therefrom us hereinbefore
described and that what I believe to be new and desire to protect under the herein
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First. The manufacture of sheep racks and troughs combined, railway trucks
and-other-articles-of-the-eharacter described in the title of this Specification with
roofs or covers hinged or pivoted to-the-ends-or-other-parts-of-the-article by means
of frames, bell crank levers or their equivalent, in the manner substantially as
described so sueh-manner that when fully opened and also when entirely closed the
roof shall be in stable equilibrium substantially as described.
Second. The construction of movable roofs of Sheep racks and troughs combined
formed to partially rotate on pivots one-or-more at each end and to be stopped at
the right points by stops or their equivalent substantially as and for the purposes
described.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Thomas have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 15th day of August in the year of our Lord 1881.
Witness
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS,
EDWARD THOMAS. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas, of Oswestry, in the County of Salop,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP RACKS AND TROUGHS
COMBINED, TRUCKS AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH ROOFS' OR COVERS THAT
REQUIRE TO BE FREQUENTLY OPENED AND CLOSED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1881.
EDWARD THOMAS, of Oswestry, in the County of Salop. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEEP RACKS AND TROUGES COMBINED, TRUCKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH
ROOFS OR COVERS THAT REQUIRE TO BE FREQUENTLY OPENED AND CLOSED."
This Invention chiefly consists in constructing the roof so as to partially rotate
on two pivots, one at each end, and be stopped at the right points by stops or their
equivalent.
In practice I make it preferably of corrugated iron secured upon a pair of angle
iron and bar iron quadrants or bell cranks, one at each end, but other materials can.
be used. The pivots upon which these quadrants or bell cranks turn are placed not
in the centre but preferably nearer the back of the rack or truck, so that when the
roof is closed its tendency will be to remain closed by a portion of its own weight.
against the force of the wind, and similarly when opened, as hereafter described, it
will reniain.
In working the Invention, if the roof be in normal position, all that is required
to open it is to raise the front edge with a pushing strain and it will rotate
back ward; to close it a simple pull forward is all that is required, its own weight
keeping it open till so pulled. The stop I prefer to be a simple bar of iron secured
to the arched ends of the truck or sack, and turned up at each end, the ends of the
bars coming against one of the bars of each quadrant at the ends of the stroke,
namely, when perfectly open and fully closed. For trucks that have to be open
at either side I prefer to place the pivots in the centre. In my sheep racks the
lid and the roof are one and the same thing. This simplifies the construction
considerably.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1881.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWARD THOMAS, of Oswestry, in the County of Salop.
SHEEPS RACKS AND TROUGHS COMBINED, TRUCKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES WITH
ROOFS OR COVERS THAT REQUIRE TO BE FREQUENTLY OPENED AND CLOSED."
This Invention chiefly consists in constructing the roof so as to partially rotate
on two pivots, one at each end, and be stopped at the right points by stops or their
equivalent.
In practice I make it preferably of galvanised sheet iron secured upon a pair of
angle iron and bar iron quadrants or bell cranks, one at each end, but other
materials can be used. The pivots upon which these quadrants or bell cranks turn
may be placed in the centre, but preferably nearer the back of the rack or truck,
so that when the roof is closed its tendency will be to remain closed by a portion
of its own weight, and similarly when opened, as hereafter described, it will
remain so.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates a sheep rack, the roof of which is made
double acting, or to open in either direction. A is the roof; B, a strong angle iron
frame (to which the roof is attached) revolving on the pivots a, a²; C, bracket with
slots c, c, in which the pivots a and a¹ slide.
In working the Invention, if the roof be in normal position all that is required
to open it is to raise the front edge with a lifting strain and it will rotate backward
on the pivot a in the bottom of the slot c, the pivot a' at the same time rising in
the slot c until it comes in contact with the upper end where it is stopped. The
lower end of the slot acts as a stop when closed. To close it a simple pull forward
is all that is required, its own weight keeping it open till so pulled.
When used for railway trucks a bolt or hasp is attached to the end of the truck,
and secured to the centre of the bar D, and which may be locked securing the roof
against the action of the wind and contents from being pilfered.
In single acting roofs where they only open to one side. I dispense with the
slotted bracket C pivotting the frame B at a¹, and attach stops to the ends of the
truck or rack at the points where the slot c terminates, or at a point between
c and c¹. The stop may be a simple bar of iron turned up at each end, the ends
of the bars coming against one of the bars of each quadrant at the ends of the
stroke, namely, when perfectly open and fully closed; but I prefer the stops being
attached to an arched bracket similar in form to bracket C, shown in Drawing,
(but not slotted) having raised lugs or stops at a point between c and c¹, and at a
at the latter point a cotter or other fastening may be used to keep the roof more
securely closed. In my sheep racks the lid and the roof are one and the same.
thing. This simplifies the construction considerably.
Of course I do not confine my Invention to the particular shape of roof shown,
as it is obvious that it could be used with conical roofs and other shapes that
require to be opened and shut frequently, and may also be made in one or more
parts as may be most convenient, and for trucks that have to be opened at either
side I prefer to place the pivots as shown in the Drawing, but may do so close to
the centre line of the truck.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―-
First. The manufacture of sheep racks and troughs combined, railway trucks,
and other articles of the character described in the title of this Specification with

page_text: roofs or covers hinged or pivoted to the ends or other parts of the article by means
of frames, bell crank levers, or their equivalent, in such manner that when fully
opened, and also when entirely closed, the roof shall be in stable equilibrium,
substantially as described.
Second. The construction of movable roofs formed to partially rotate on pivots,
one or more at each end, and to be stopped at the right points by stops or their
equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 15th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1881.