IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR MAKING ENSILAGE STACKS
Year: 1885

page_text: HENRY CHARLES TUCKER Inventor & Surveyor, 44 Warwick Road Banbury,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR MAKING
ENSILAGE STACKS to be as follows:-
In the construction of twin-beams A. A. placed across the top of a stack with
the ends projecting sufficiently from the sides of the stack, to which rods or
arms B. are attached in connection with a virticle screw O. and levers so as to rise
or lower the beams to form a press.
Each beam is formed of two pieces of timber edgeways, placed a certain distance
apart. To the under edges cross boards D. are nailed or fixed projecting more or
less from the outer sides of the timbers, so as to form a broad face to press down.
The two beams A. A. are placed a certain distance apart with the ends projecting
from the sides of the stack to admit of the scroll end of an iron rod or arm B. being
attached by means of a bolt E. inserted through the thickness of the beam and
through the scroll of the arm, so as to be free to act similar to a hinge joint.
The other end of the before named rod or arm, is firmly fixed to the upper main
nut F. of the virticle screw C.
The virticle or main screw C. is so made as to opperate in opposite directions to
screw up and down at the same time, when a wrench or lever is applied to the
centre square G made for that purpose.
The guide roller H. is attached to the upper nut of the virticle screw, the roller
moves up and down against the side of the stack for the purpose of keeping the
virticle screw in position, the rollers being opposite, or one each side of the stack.
The lower main screw nut I. is firmly fixed to standards K. attached to
sleepers L or other firm foundation, provision being made for the standards to
move up and down when the bolt O. is removed and the lever applied.
The effect is that when the several parts are together and the power applied to
the centre of the virticle or main screw, it rises the twin beam and by a reverse
action lowers the beam to form a press. The beam being at all times on the top
of the stack.
To the before named sleepers, a stout iron arm or loop M. is bolted, so shaped as
to fit the end of a lever which takes a bearing on a projection formed on the standards
supported by the sleepers but so arranged as to answer to the lever N. which is of

page_text: sufficient length to be kept in position by means of a chain fastened to the sleeper
of the other standard, and by attaching a weight to the extreme end of the lever,
the effect is that the levers act in combination with the main virticle screw to
pull down the twin-beam when the bolt O. is removed, so forming a continual
pressure.
While the stack is being built and consolidating the sides are closely shaved to
take a composition prepared from clay & lime, as a thin rough-cast is applied and
pressed in with a wet wood roller so that no thickness of composition remains on
the face or sides of the stack. The effect of this is that when the consolidation is
going on, the pressure squeeses the composition and by that means seals the sides
to exclude air.
F
The first novelty claimed is the construction and means of rising and lowering
the twin-beams without entirely removing them from the top of the stack.
The second novelty is the power obtained by the screw and lever so as to effect
a continual pressure.
The third novelty is the prepared composition applied to the sides of the stack to
exclude air.
Fourth claim, is the combination of the several parts constituting a means, or
system of making Ensilage Stacks as a public benefit.

page_text: เ
I HENRY CHARLES TUCKER 44 Warwick Road Banbury Building Surveyor do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR MAKING
ENSILAGE STACKS,' and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
.
The object of my invention is to effect an improved system to preserve grass or
other crops suitable for the purpose by means of mechanical compression and
especially the means of raising and lowering beams and by other means hereafter
specified applicable to making Ensilage Stacks as food for cattle.
My Invention consists in the construction and employment of two or more
ribbed beams and other similar intermediate beams which may be placed a suitable
distance from each other across the top of a stack, and then connected at each end
by means of a bar so that all the beams may move at the same time and in that
position the.ribbed beams are fixed but the intermediate beams slide on the con-
necting bar The ends of these beams may project a suitable distance from the
side of the stack to admit one end of two arms or rods being attached by hooks or
similar means on the bar which passes through the end of each beam The other
end of the same arm is attached to the nut of the vertical screw so that by the
action of the screw and nut which is attached to a plank the beams may be raised
or lowered to form a press on the top of a stack, as more particularly described and
referred to by Drawings accompanying this Specification, as
Fig. 1. Is the elevation of the side of a stack shewing two sets of screws and
plank attachments as applied for raising or lowering the beams one part shows the
position of the beams under an ordinary thatched roof the other part shows the
plan of roof before named:
Fig. 2. Is section of stack.showing the screw and plank arrangement.on.opposite
sides in connection with the beams across the top of the stack. It also shows the
pitch of an ordinary thatched roof.
→ J
Fig. 3. Is a plan of the top of a stack one part shows the arrangement of the
beams and the other part shows the outline and half plan of an ordinary thatched
roof.
0
Fig. 4. Is enlarged front view of the vertical screw and plank with its con-
nections to the beams herein, before named and the manner by which it is
Bupported.
Fig. 5. Is enlarged side view of the vertical screw, and plank attachment showing
its connections to the beams herein before named and the manner by which it is
supported.
Fig. 6. Is enlarged sectional plan showing the vertical screw nut attachment to
the plank so as to slide up or down.
Fig. 7. Is enlarged sectional plan shewing the lever action attached to the plank
and applied to the screw, also the manner of supporting it as hereafter more
particularly described..
Each ribbed beam A and A¹ Fig. 4. can be constructed by placing two pieces of
wood or metal or bars a suitable distance from each other, each piece or bar may

page_text: be deeper in the middle than at the ends or I may have them the same depth from
end to end, but the top edge is straight upon which a metal bar or straining rod B.
is secured as shown in Fig. 5. These straining or strengthening rods B have eyes
formed to the ends C to admit the connecting rod D. Fig. 4 to pass through them
and the ends of the beams may project sufficiently from the side of the stack so
that the arms E. Fig. 4. and 5. can be attached to the before named connecting
bar D. by scrolls or hooks b or similar means, so as to pull down or raise it up by
the action of the vertical screw F. Fig. 5. To the under edge of the beams A and A¹
ribs or boards G. may be nailed or fixed projecting more or less from the outer sides
of the before named pieces or beams A and A¹ so as to form a broad face to press
down. These boards or ribs may be either close together, or I may have a space
between them.
Two beams H. H. Fig. 4. are then placed a suitable distance from each other
so as to cover about six feet in width more or less, and being connected by means
of the bar or rod D. at each end so that both the beams move at the same time by
one operation, when the power is applied to the vertical screw F. which constitutes
a twin beam press.
Intermediate wood pieces or bars L. may be required which may be the same
shape as the bars forming the beams A and A', and straight on the top edge but
have no ribs or crossboards on the under edge, this difference is to allow them to
slide on the bar D, when they are not required for pressing, and for convenience
in building the stack, by this means equal pressure on the top of a stack is
obtained.
:
The other end of the before named arms E. are so shaped as to fit into a mortice
on each side of the screw-nut K. these arms may be keyed or bolted to the nut so
that by the operation of the screw F. together with the nut K. the arms E. are
raised or lowered so that by the other end of the arms being hooked or otherways
attached to the connecting bar or rod D. the beams can be raised or lowered to press
the top of a stack, and when these beams are so raised the stack can be built
higher while the beams are suspended across the top of the stack so that at each
operation they can be raised or lowered until the stack is completed, when the top
will be comparatively level or flat.
The main or vertical screw F. working in the nut K. is attached to a plank L.
the nut is supported by the plank by means of cranked brackets M. Fig. 6. which
may be shaped so as to grip and slide up and down on the edges of the plank as a
guide, when the power is applied to the screw. The lower end of the same screw
is fitted to a socket N. Fig. 4. 5. 7. which by means of a flange is bolted to the
plank L. and projecting from the plank so as to be in a line with the nut K. the
bottom end of this screw bar passes through the socket and is keyed top and
bottom, by this means the screw bar is secured to the socket so that when the
cross handle or lever O. Fig. 4. 5. 7 is keyed to the screw bar and worked either
by hand or a longer lever, the screw then pulls down or raises the nut K..which
takes effect on the beams so they are raised, or lowered by turning the screw
reverse ways,
On each side of the socket N. lugs P. are formed these lugs project for the
purpose of fixing the support Q Fig. 4 5. and 7. these supports can be firmly
keyed to the lug on each side of the socket. The before named support can also
be bolted to a block of wood R. or deeper placed under the stack.
At the same time and while the before specfied compression, sinking or con-
solidation is progressing I find it requisite to preserve the fodder by excluding air
by the application of a dressing in a liquid form which is thrown or dashed on the
outside of the stack by means of an ordinary hand brush or in a simlar manner.
I then press it in by means of a roller or in some such manner so as to leave no
thickness on the face.
This dressing is composed of a preparation from a particular kind of clay, salt,
and lime, in suitable proportions, incorporated and ground together to a powder,
I then mix it with sufficient water to bring it to the consistency of thin paint
•

page_text: I may supply this dressing either as a powder or mixed with water as before
specified.
The effect of this dressing is that it squeeses together as the consolidation of the
stack progresses and by that means forms a thin crust which will not dry and is
harmless to cattle.
.
The above mentioned crusting or sealing may be so pressed in as to leave no
thickness on the side of the stack to crack or fall off.
When the stack is to the intended height it may then be thatched in the ordinary
way or it may be covered with any suitable rooting.
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
First. The means applicable to raising two or more beams at the same time by
one operation and by a reverse action to lower the same on the top of a stack of
grass or other crops to compress it so as to make ensilage or food for cattle
substantially in the manner herein before described.
Second. The attachment of a vertical screw and nut to a plank the arms in the
nut being connected to bars connecting the ends of the beams as substantially
herein before described.
Thirdly. The means of applying power to the screw by means of short or long
levers and thereby raising and lowering the beams as substantially herein before
described.
Fourthly. The air sealing composition or dressing and the manner of applying
the same as substantially herein before described.
Fifthly. The combination of the before named claims as applied to or operating
together or separately which constitutes my improved System for making Ensilage
Stacks as a food for cattle and as substantially herein before described and as a
public utility.