Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
I, JOHN NORRIS, of 48 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Hay and
Straw Dealer, 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 :-
The subject of this invention is an improved straw press, and the object is to devise
a simple and effective press which shall be quick in operation, easily worked and not
liable to get out of order.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the figures,
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved press,
Figure 2 is an end elevation,
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a framework consisting of vertical
corner posts A which are united at the sides and ends by horizontal bars B, the said
framework thus forming a skeleton box which is mounted upon a suitable foundation
and may be strengthened by cross ties or other suitable means.
This frame is open at the ends but is closed in at the lower portion of the sides C to
any desired height to contain sufficient straw which when pressed shall form one bale
or truss. Openings c are provided in the sides of the casing C of the framework for
a purpose bereinafter explained.
Running longitudinally upon the top of the framework is a shaft D in suitable
bearings and upon the said shaft are mounted pulley wheels E to which cords e are
secured by means of which a lid F is suspended at any desired height as hereinafter
described. Upon the said shaft D (preferably outside the framework) is secured a
pulley G of a larger dimension than those before mentioned, a cord 9 passing round
this pulley G has. one end secured thereto whilst the other end may be secured to any
convenient cleat, as shown at g'. This cord g is for the purpose of raising or lowering
the lid F; the differential pulleys E & G rendering the operation extremely easy.
The lid F which has been already mentioned, is provided at its corners with anti-
friction rollers f by means of which it moves easily up and down within the framework
and the lid is suspended by the cords e which are attached to the pulleys E as
hereinbefore mentioned.
The framework is provided with a floor or bottom H which is raised a short distance
from the level of the ground and beneath this floor is a small shaft J (running
transversely across the framing) and having ratchet wheels K & K secured to the
said shaft preferably outside the framing: Mounted also upon this shaft J are small
pulley wheels L upon which are wound chains or ropes which are attached at their
other ends to spring clutches M. These clutches M are formed of two arms m pivoted
together and kept open by means of a spring n and provided with a ring for attaching
the clutches to the chains l.
Fixed upon the sides of the lid F are lugs f¹ which when the lid is lowered drop
into the open ends of the before-mentioned spring clutches M, these clutches are
drawn through guides N in or upon the framing by means of the chains / secured
thereto, said guides N causing the clutches M to close upon the lugs f¹ and bring
them and the lid down upon them.
The shaft J beneath the flooring is rotated by means of a lever 0 pivoted on the
said shaft. Upon the lever O is a pawl o adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel K
and being kept in engagement by means of a spring o¹. This pawl is formed with
facets at one end and the pressure of the spring upon these facets retains the pawl
either engaged with or disengaged from the said ratchet wheel. The pawl is thrown
into or out of engagement by the handle o².

page_text: A lever P having its fulcrum at the point upon the framing is provided with a
catch pl which engages with the ratchet wheel K¹ and prevents any loss of pressure
upon releasing the lever 0.
The method of working my press is as follows:-
The lid F is held in a raised position by securing the cord g to the cleat gl and the
straw is placed in the lower part of the press. The lid F is then lowered and the
lugs drop into the spring clutches M. Upon rotating the shaft J by means of
the lever O the lid F is drawn down upon the straw and while the straw is under
pressure, cords the same as used in hay presses are passed through the openings c in
the sides C of the casing and tied or otherwise secured.
The ratchet wheel K₁ is then released by depressing the end p² of the lever P and
the pawl o is thrown out of engagement with the wheel K; the lid is then drawn
up by pulling the cord g said lid taking up the clutches M with them; as soon as the
clutches reach the upper end of the guides N they fly open by the action of the
springs n and release the lug therefrom. The apparatus is then ready for the next.
operation.
In order to allow the bale or truss of straw to be of a rounded form, I place corner
or angle pieces R at the under side of the lid and at the junction of the floor and
bottom or, if desired, the said floor or lid may be constructed to any desired curve
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a straw press the combination with the framing, of the lid rising and falling
therein, suspended by cords from pulleys fixed upon a shaft upon the said framing
and raised and lowered by means of a cord passing around a pulley larger than those
before mentioned, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
'
2. In a straw press the combination with the framing and the lid rising and falling
therein, of a shaft such as J having mounted thereon a ratchet wheel and a lever with
a pawl pivoted on the said lever and together adapted to give motion to the said
shaft substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a straw press the combination with the framing and the movable lid having
lugs thereon, of a shaft such as J having pulleys fixed upon the said shaft, chains or
ropes secured to the said pulleys at one end and provided with spring clutches at the
other end, said clutches closing upon the lugs secured to the lid during its downward
motion but releasing them on raising the lid, the whole arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 28th day of August 1890.