Improvements in Sheds for Drying and Storing Grain or similar Crops.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheds for Drying and Storing Grain or similar
Crops.
I, JAMES GILLESPIE, Bank Agent, South Queensferry, N.B., do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention lias for its object the providing of a cheap serviceable shed for
drying and storing grain or similar crops, preferably in the form of sheaves.
The sheds when not required for drying or storing may be utilised for various
other purposes.
In carrying out my invention there is secured in, or on the ground at suitable
distances apart, two pairs of uprights of any suitable section. These uprights are
securely bound together at their tops by light bars on which a corrugated iron or
other roof is fixed. The roof may be either inclined or curved and provided with
a ventilator or ventilators as desired. Between each longitudinal pair of uprights
a series of mattresses are arranged. These mattresses in cross section are highest
at the middle and drooping towards the sides. The grain to be dried or stored is
laid transversely along each side of a mattress and having its stubble-ends out-
wards. The mattresses are constructed of light iron end frames which are con-
nected together by tubes or bars at their sides and top, the intervening spaces
being interlaced with wire or hoop-iron. The end frames of each mattress are
clamped to the uprights by means of glands but free to move upwards and down-
wards thereon. When a mattress has been loaded with grain it is drawn upwards
preferalily by hand-by means of two ropes having rings at one of their ends,
which engage with fixed hooks-one on each of the glands on the end frames
of the mattress. The ropes are led upwards and over pulleys then downwards
to where the power is to be applied, said pulleys being carried in brackets on the
top of the uprights. Each mattress after being loaded is drawn upwards and
held up by means of a pawl hinged to each gland and engaging with ratchet teeth
formed or fixed on each upright. The rings on the ends of the ropes are then
disengaged from the fixed hooks and placed on the hooks of the next mattress to
be raised, and so on until all are raised. The pawls are made with hooks which
counterbalance the pawl and thereby keep it always in position for engaging with
the teeth. When it is desired to lower the mattress for discharging or otherwise,
the rings on the rope ends are engaged with the hooks on the pawls of each mat-
tress, and by putting a slight strain on the ropes the pawls are drawn clear of
the ratchet teeth thereby allowing of the mattress being lowered.
Instead of having a separate rope for each end of the mattress, they may both
be carried to one end and connected together, so that the lifting and lowering
may be worked from one end of tlie shed, suitable guide pulleys being provided
for the purpose.
Instead of a fixed roof the top mattress may be constructed so as to form an
adjustable roof.
Dated this Sixth day of July Biolitoen hundròd and ninety-nine

page_text: Improvements in Sheds for Drying and Storing Grain or similar
Crops.
1, JAMES GILLESPIE, Bank Agent, South Queensferry, N.B., 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 has for its object to provide a cheap serviceable shed for drying
and storing grain or similar crops said crops being by preference in the form of
sheaves. The sheds when not required for drying or storing may be utilised for
various other purposes.
And in order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be
properly understood I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory drawings the
same reference lotters being used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a part
end elevation of a section or length of shed. The section is comprised of two pairs
of uprights and a roof. Owing to want of space the right hand pair of uprights.
and a portion of the roof and mattress in Fig. 2 are not shewn. In these figures
only one mattress is shewn to each pair of uprights, said mattresses being in
their raised position. It must be understood however that any number of mat-
tresses may be employed consistent with the height of the uprights. On Sheet 3
of the drawings several details are shewn on a larger scale. Figs. 3 and 4 are
views as at right angles to each other of the top of an upright provided with a
guide pulley to be used in operating the mattresses. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are
respectively a side elevation an horizontal section and an end elevation of the parts
constituting the mechanism employed in raising supporting and lowering the
various mattresses which carry the grain to be dried or stored.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew secured in the ground at suitable distances apart two pairs
of uprights A. These uprights A are bound together at their upper ends with
bars B. The structure thus formed has fixed on it a corrugated iron or other
roof, C. The roof U is shewn inclined from its apex but it may be curved or
otherwise and is provided with a ventilator D at or near its middle. Between
each pair of uprights A a series of mattresses E is placed one above the other.
The mattresses E. in cross section are by preference highest at their middle and
drooping towards the sides. The grain to be dried or stored is laid transversely
along each side of the mattresses E, with its stubble end outwards. The mat-
fresses E are constructed with light iron end frames connected together by
tubes e at their sides and having the intervening spaces interlaced with wire or
hoop iron. The end frames e of each mattress are clamped to the uprights A
by means of glands F fixed to them but free to move upwards and downwards
thereon. When a mattress E has been loaded it is' drawn upwards preferably
by hand by means of ropes G which have rings g at their inner ends. These
rings g are made to engage in any convenient manner with lifting hooks II one on
each gland F on the end frames e of the mattresses E. The ropes Gare led
upwards from the hooks H on the glands F of the mattress E over guide pulleys J
thence downwards to where the power is to be applied, said pulleys J boing
carried in brackets K fixed to the uprights A. Each mattress E after being
loaded is drawn upwards by the ropes G and held up by means of pawls L hinged
to the glands and engaging with ratchet teeth M formed or fixed on the
uprights A. The rings 9 on the ends of the ropes G are then disengaged with
the hooks H of the raised mattress and engaged with the hooks H of the next

page_text: mattress E to be raised and so on. The pawls L have made in one piece with
them hooks N which counterbalance and keep them in position for engaging, with
the ratched teeth M. When it is desired to lower of adjust the mattresses E
the rings.g on the ropes G are engaged with the hooks N of the pawls Land by
putting a strain on the ropes G the pawls L are drawn clear of the ratchet teeth,M
thereby allowing of the mattresses E being lowered.
Instead of having a separate operating rope for each end of the mattresses the
ropes may be joined together in such a manner that the lifting adjusting and
lowering can be performed from any desired position additional guide pulleys
being provided for this purpose if necessary.
Instead of the roof being fixed to the structure as hereinbefore described the
top mattress of each tier of mattresses may be constructed with a roof..
It must be distinctly understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated more especially as regards the section of
the uprights. Although the drawings shew the uprights of circular section hori-
zontally they may be of girder, cruciform, or other section. The operating
mechanism being arranged at the front back or sides whichever is most con-
venient. The various lengths or sections of sheds can be placed side by side longi-
tudinally or both. When the sheds are arranged longitudinally one upright only
may be employed between the adjacent ends of cach tier of mattresses. These
uprights being of such a section as will admit of the operating mechanism for
cach tier being fixed thereto.
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 arranging and combining together of the parts constituting my
improved shed and the manner of operating the mattresses all substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The mattresses constructed and operated all substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. The hinged pawl and hook constructed and operated all substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. The rope or ropes in combination with the lifting and lowering looks
and guide pulley or pulleys operated and constructed all substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The upper mattress of each tier of mattresses constucted with a roof all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
JAMES GILLESPIE.