IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEEP AND OTHER ANIMALS."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Williams, of Chapel Hill Farm, near
Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, Farmer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEEP AND OTHER ANIMALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Williams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th March 1873.
I, JOHN WILLIAMS, of Chapel Hill Farm, near Bridgewater, in the
County of Somerset, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FREDING SHEEP AND OTHER ANIMALS,"
to be as follows, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to supply sheep or other animals with
food distributed so that each has his portion separately without crushing
or the risk of its being blown upon by his neighbour.
The apparatus consists of an inverted conical trough perforated
through the sides and ends at suitable intervals with apertures large
enough to admit the muzzle of the animal just to reach the food

page_text: contained within the trough. The apertures are out slightly sloping
inwards towards but not quite extending to the bottom of the trough
to prevent the food escaping too freely when the trough is first filled.
The area of these apertures can be regulated to suit various descriptions
of food by means of shutters or sliding boards attached to the inside of
the trough and adjusted by means of thumbscrews. The bottom of the
trough resembles in section a series of inverted truncated cones, being
divided transversely and again longitudinally, the latter divisions being
moveable to be used or not as may be required as protection from
rough winds, so that a separate trough is provided for each feeding
aperture.
The apparatus is built upon a platform forming a manger, the bottom
of which slopes outwards so that no water can lie under the feeding
apertures.
The top of the apparatus consists of a span roof guttered at eaves
to carry off the water, and provided with a shifting board throughout
its entire length, by the removal of which board the food is enabled to
be supplied all along the trough. The arrangement of this shifting
board keeps the roof weatherproof, and any suitable means may be
employed for actuating and controlling its movement. The whole
apparatus may be mounted on wheels to enable it to be readily moved
from place to place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAMS, of Chapel Hill Farm, near Bridgewater, in the County of
Somerset, Farmer, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the 28th day of March, in the year 3
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Williams, Her special license

page_text: that I, the said John Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Williams, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEEP AND
OTHER ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Williams, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Williams, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to supply sheep or other animals with
food distributed so that each has his portion separately without crushing.
or the risk of its being blown upon by his neighbour.
The improved apparatus will be better understood by referring to
the Drawings hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
Figure (1) is a side elevation; Figure (2) an end elevation; Figure (3)
a longitudinal section, and Figure (4) a transverse section of the
apparatus which consists of an inverted conical trough (A) perforated
through the sides and ends, or the sides only, at suitable intervals with
apertures or openings (B) of any required size and form, and large
enough to admit the muzzle of the animal just to reach the food
contained within the trough (A). The apertures (B) are cut slightly
sloping inwards towards but not quite extending to the bottom of the
trough, to prevent the food escaping too freely when the trough is first
filled. The area of these apertures can be regulated to suit various
descriptions of food by means of shutters or sliding boards (D) attached
to the inside of the trough, and adjusted by means of thumbscrews or

page_text: other suitable appliances, and to protect the food hinged flaps may be
formed in the sliding boards (D) and with the addition of hoods or
awnings fixed over the flaps or apertures if desired. The bottom of the
trough resembles in section a series of inverted truncated cones or dished
compartments, the trough having a solid bottom (E) which is triangular
in cross section, the compartments are divided by triangular partitions
(F), and longitudinally by a removable vertical board (G) running the
entire length of the trough, this board is intended to prevent the food
being blown through the feeding aperture in case of rough winds, and to
provide, if required, a separate trough for each feeding aperture, the 1
board (G) may be hung upon hooks in the upper part of the feeder
when not in use.
The apparatus is built upon a platform (H) extending all round the
feeder or along the sides only as the case may be, and forming a manger
the bottom of which slopes outwards, and is pierced with suitable holes 1
so that no water can lie under the feeding apertures (B).
The top of the apparatus consists of a span roof guttered at the eaves
to carry off the water, and provided with a shifting board (K) throughout
its entire length, by the removal of which the food is enabled to be
supplied all along the trough. The arrangement of this shifting board 2
(K) keeps the roof weatherproof, and any suitable means may be
employed for controlling the movement of the shifting board, and
the whole apparatus may be mounted on wheels as shown to enable it to
be readily moved from place to place.
Having thus described the object and nature of my said Invention, 2
and in what manner the same is to be carried into effect, I claim,
without confining myself to these precise details, the improved apparatus
for feeding sheep and other animals, substantially in manner as herein
more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Williams, have hereunto set 3
my hand and seal, this 23rd day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.