Improvements in Feed and Protecting Barns for Stock.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed and Protecting Barns for Stock.
I, JOHN GEORGE BUSCH, of Potter Valley, County of Mendocino, State of
California, U.S.A., Farmer, 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:-
My invention relates to a barn or structure which is especially designed for the
most economical and convenient feeding of stock of various kinds, and it is
especially useful for the protection of young lambs, kids and other tender animals
just after their birth.
In consists in details of construction which will be more fully explained by
reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a front view of my barn with part of it shewn in section.
Figure 2 is a view of my barn when used for poultry.
Figure 3 is a detail of a side door shewing its hinging and suspending devices.
In carrying out my invention I make a structure of sufficient size for the amount
of stock to be cared for.
In some cases it may be found convenient or practical to make the structure
permanent, and it may also be made so as to be movable from place to place so
that when the ground around and beneath it has become trodden up or saturated
with moisture and deposits, I can by attaching a team to the structure, move it
far enough from its old location, to provide a dry and clean location, thus moving it
from time to time as may be desired, so that the animals can be kept cleaner and
in better health.
A is a structure made of suitably connected timbers and weather boarding, with
a roof B which will shed rain.
Along each side of this structure are a series of racks C formed by bars or rods
facing outwardly and inwardly so as to provide receptacles for hay or such food
as it is desired to place in them.
Below these racks are close bottomed boxes 1) which serve for the reception
of grain, roots and other substances which could not be held in the racks, and which
it is desirable to feed and keep off the ground.
This structure may be provided with wheels or rollers resting upon the ground,
and it may have beams projecting at the ends to provide suitable attachments for
horses by which they can be employed to move the structure as previously described.
At a sufficient distance above the ground is a permanent floor E which may be
anywhere from four to six feet above the ground, and serves to receive the hay.
grain or other material to be fed.
The edges of this floor extend to the edges of the racks C so that any kind of feed
can be easily delivered from these outer edges into the racks or into the boxes
beneath, the sides of the structure being open at their junction with the racks
and the floor /E for this purpose.
When the barn is made stationary, it can be enlarged to accommodate a larger
number of animals by making two or more additional lines of feed racks or troughs
extending through the centre in addition to the ones already described. The

page_text: drive or passage ways between these lines of feed racks will be large enough to
accommodate the animals upon each side of the racks, and they also allow waggons
to be driven in to clean out the spaces when required, and also to bring in roots
and other fodder. Above the floor E are chutes C' which are in line above the
racks C and they extend up as high as desired within the space where the hay is
stored. They serve the double purpose of ventilation and to allow the hay to be
directed into the racks below. The chutes C' have the sides made of open work
sections which are held in place by nails or other fastenings, so that as the surface
level of the hay is lowered, these sections can be removed and stored over head,
thus leaving the chutes conveniently open at all times.
When used for turkey or chicken houses, the space above the floor E may be
enclosed with wire netting, and furnished with roosts, nests, etc., and the space
below may also be enclosed with a netting and reserved for young birds, the feeding
arrangements being properly arranged to suit. The larger and older birds are
allowed to run out and they can always find shelter under the outwardly project-
ing roofs J.
In order to admit the stock into the space beneath I have shewn hinged swing-
ing end gates G which may be provided with wire or other ropes or flexible hoist-
ing devices which are easily attached or disengaged.
In the present case I have shown twisted wires or ropes H adapted to fit into
slots or channels made in the lower edge of the door or gate with a cross-bar I
which extends across the slot and enables the operator to raise the gate at will.
When the gate is to be closed, it is only necessary to slip the cross-bar I out of
the slot in the door to let the door close.
Upon the sides of the structure A, I have hinged vertically movable swinging
roofs J which are made tight so that when these are swung up into about the same
plane with the main roof B of the structure, they form protecting sheds beneath
which those cattle which are to be fed from the outside can pass, while the others
which feed from the inside are admitted through the end gates or doors G pre-
viously described. Any crowding of the animals upon the inside or outside is
thus prevented, since only such a number may be admitted to the interior as can
be comfortably fed without crowding and the gates then closed, the remainder
being allowed to go up to the racks upon the outside and under the cover of the
temporary roof sheds.
If it is desired to close the device, it is only necessary to let these temporary
swinging roofs down about their hinges and close up the sides of the structure.
In order to suitably hinge these side doors or temporary roofs, I have shown
timbers K extending out at each upper edge and made with a rounded groove to
form journals around which the roof doors are caused to swing.
These journals rest in hooks L made of stout steel the ends being driven through
the sides, and they may be bent around the posts interior thereto as plainly shewn
at L¹.
Any suitable arrangement of wires or ropes or other devices may be employed to
support these shed roofs when open, preferably suspending ropes from above so
that there are no posts or timbers for the animals to push and rub against.
This structure is especially useful also for the care of younger animals such as
lambs, kids, small or young pigs, etc.
Where pigs are to be fed, the racks may be replaced by close containing bins C
these bins having slits or channels opening out at the bottom into the other side,
so as to deliver into shallow troughs D' projecting a short distance out each side
of the bottom.
The slits are near enough to the bottom so that only a small amount of grain
will flow out of them into the boxes or troughs beneath, and the quantity which
has already passed out will automatically check any further flow until it has been
eaten by the animals.
There will never be any large surplus in the troughs to be wasted.

page_text: The outer edges of the troughs preferably have heavy scantlings fastened along
them at such a distance from the bottoms of the grain bins or holders that there
is only room enough for the hogs to insert their noses while feeding with no
opportunity of throwing the grain out.
Through the side or end of the structure, at any suitable point, I make a small
door or opening N which will allow the younger pigs to enter and feed from the
inside undisturbed by the older and larger ones so that all will get their due
share of food.
This structure is of very great value in caring for sheep and goats with young
lambs or kids just born and which, at this age, are very weak and likely to perish
with cold if left out during the night or during storms.
By opening the end doors or gates the sheep or goats with their lambs or kids.
may be admitted, or they may be driven in before the birth of the little ones, and
will be entirely protected from the rain and the cold by reason of the enclosure,
so that by the use of this device I have been enabled to save a large proportion where
without it the loss was formerly very great.
Another great advantage of this construction is the free access of air through
the side racks whereby a complete ventilation is kept up and light at the same
time is admitted so that the animals inside can see as well as those outside.
The whole structure is very inexpensive and makes a great saving in the feed-
ing and care of all kinds of stock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A barn or structure consisting of a closed roof and a floor elevated above
the surface of the ground, permanent sides extending from the sides of the roof
and terminating about on a plane with the floor, a rack consisting of downwardly
converging bars extending along each side of the barn and extending from the
floor line downwardly, the hinged or swinging sections J of the sides forming con-
tinuations of the permanent sides and closing the entrance to the racks from the
outside, and means for holding the movable sections elevated to expose the racks
from the outside and to form temporary roof sheds..
2nd. A barn or structure having a tight roof, sides extending downwardly to
the floor, said floor being elevated above the ground to allow the entrance of animals
beneath, doubled faced racks composed of downwardly converging bars extending
along each side beneath the edges of the floor and boxes or troughs beneath the
racks as shewn, combined roof and side sections having journaled beams or pieces
along the upper edges, and hooks or supports fixed in the frame timbers of the
structure for the support of said hinged timbers, wires or ropes passed into slots
in the free edges of the said hinged portions and cross bars fitted to the wires or
ropes whereby the hinged portion may be elevated and suspended to admit stock
beneath them and form roofs for their protection while feeding.
3rd. A barn or structure consisting of a closed roof and sides and a floor elevated
above the ground, feed racks and troughs disposed in independent lines throughout
the lower part of the structure and chutes or extensions in line therewith in the
part above the said floor, said chutes having removable sectional sides.
Dated this Fourth day of January 1898.
For the Applicant.
GEDGE & FEENY,
60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.
GEDGE & FEENY,
60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.