Improvements in or relating to the Sheltering of Corn or other Cut Crops, for the Purpose of Drying, Harvesting, or otherwise Treating the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Sheltering of Corn or other
Cut Crops, for the Purpose of Drying, Harvesting, or otherwise
Treating the same.
1, JOHN RICHMOND, of Dron, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, Farmer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new mode of, and means or
arrangement of appliances which I hereinafter term the "drier" for stacking and
drying, winnowing, or harvesting corn, wheat, and other grain or cut crop, in sheaves
or bundles, and which will have many advantages over the present methods of drying
and then stacking the sheaves, especially in a continuance of wet weather after the
grain or grass has been cut.
"
The improvements of this invention consist in stretching from strong straining
posts sunk to a considerable distance in the ground to sustain the strain, and standing
about 12 feet above, and about 100 yards apart, double lines of wires, about 5 feet
apart laterally, and about 8 inches apart vertically according to the size of sheaves
made. The said wires being supported on strong nails, or pins driven within an inch
home, at a steep angle into intermediate standard posts, about 12 feet in height, and
about 4 or 5 yards apart, the said strainers to be sunk about 5 feet into the
ground, and strongly "ranced or stayed to resist strain of wire, and also strongly
ranced" or stayed sideways to resist wind pressure. The intermediate standard
posts for each line of wire to be placed opposite to each other, and properly fixed
together with strong transverse and longitudinal rails, the posts standing about
5 feet apart from each other, and the posts preferably not less than 6 inches broad.
Other lines of wires, will be stretched on the outside of standard posts and opposite
to, or about 1 inch or more below every third wire, on the inside of standard
posts. Where the wires are on each side of posts, the distance from the wire under-
neath to be 10 inches apart instead of 8 inches, as is the case in the others, to give
space for air to pass between each set of sheaves resting on the three wires above, the
whole to be covered over with a slightly rounded, or nearly flat roof about 9 feet
wide, made of corrugated or sheet iron, or other suitable covering. When filling
the drier," lift the second lowest wire off its supporting nails or pins, and raise
it to the row of nails immediately above, then lay the sheaves across the lowest
wire, stubble end outwards, pass a handful of the straw at the stubble end of the
sheaf, underneath the wire on outside of post, and draw outwards until the wire
touches the band of the sheaf. The first row of sheaves to be laid on the wires at a
slight angle sloping outwards and downwards much the same as would be in a well
built stack. When the lowest wire is filled, let down the wire above into its own
place, and lift the next one above on to the nails above it, and then lay the sheaves
across the one wire, the stubble end of the sheaf, resting on the stubble end of the
sheaf below. The other two rows being done in the same way, until the wires on
each side of posts are reached when a handful of the stubble end of each sheaf, will
again be passed underneath the outside wire, and the sheaf drawn forward, until the
wire touches the band of the sheaf, thereby preventing the sheaf from slipping further
outwards, also preventing it from pressing on the sheaf, underneath, thereby
admitting air between this row of sheaves and the set below. Air holes can also be
left at regular intervals longitudinally between the sheaves, according to condition of
sheaves.
..
the sheaves
When filled, a
Newly cut or wet grain can in this way be stacked on the wire at once,
being packed closely or loosely together according to their condition.

page_text: space is left within the "drior" from end to end between the heads of sheaves
50 built up, thus allowing air and ventilation to play on the loose heads of the
sheaves within the drier," and preventing any heating from possibly occurring.
"
Dated this 18th day of July 1889
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Sheltering of Corn or other Cut
Crops, for the Purpose of Drying, Harvesting, or otherwise
Treating the same.
I, JOHN RICHMOND, of Dron, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new mode of, and means or
arrangement of appliances which I hereinafter terin the "drier" for stacking, drying,
and harvesting corn, wheat, and other grain or cut crop, in sheaves or bundles, and
which will have many advantages over the present methods of drying and then
stacking the sheaves, especially in a continuance of wet weather after the grain or
grass has been cut.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1 shows a front
elevation of one end of the framing of one construction of my new or improved
appliances for stacking, drying, and harvesting cut crops; showing the right hand
end straining posts A of the wires a, b, and intermediate supporting posts B; and
Figure 2 is a transverse end elevation corresponding to Figure I showing the
intermediate supporting standards B, B, and mode of erecting and binding these for
carrying the wires a, b. Figure 3 is a perspective elevation looking from the left
hand end, to a small scale, showing the mode of stacking and carrying the grain on
the wires a, b, of my new or improved appliances.
"
Referring to these Drawings:-The improvements of my invention consist in
stretching two lines or sets of wires a, b, as bereinafter described, from strong end
straining posts A, A, sunk to about 5 or 6 foet into and below the surface of the
ground G to sustain the strain of the wires a, b, stretched between these posts A and
standing say about 12 to 16 feet high, and about 100 yards apart. Two sets of these
posts A, A, would be erected about 5 feet apart laterally one at each end of the
arrangement or stack, and the wires a, a, would be about 8 to 12 inches apart
vertically over each other on the inside according to the size of sheaves made. These
wires a, a, so strained between the posts A, A, would be supported on strong five
inch "garron nails or equivalent pins a driven within an inch home, at a steep
angle, as shown to a large scale in Figure 4, into intermediate wire supporting
standard posts B, B, of about the same height as the straining posts A above the
ground G, and about 4 or 5 yards apart longitudinally between the said posts A, as
seen more particularly in Figure 1, and about 5 feet apart inside, being the distance
between the sets of wires a, a, ranged along the inside edges of these posts B. B, as
seen particularly in Figure 2. The straining posts A besides being sunk in the
ground G, as stated, are strongly "ranced" or stayed, as indicated at A' in Figure 1
to resist the strain of the wires a, b, and both these posts A and the intermediate
supporting standard posts B are strongly "ranced or stayed sideways by "rances
or stays A, B, preferably bolted to the standards to resist wind pressure. And the
standards B, and rances B would each rest on a couple of bricks at their lower
""
29

page_text: $$
37
"
ends G', sunk half their depth in the ground G, as shown particularly in Figures 1
and 2. The intermediate standard posts B for each side line of wires a are placed
opposite to each other, and properly bound together with strong transverse rails B¹
below, and at the top by the rails B', as also by their stays B as seen in Figure 2,
and longitudinally at the top by the beams or wall plates B for supporting the
corrugated sheet iron or other roof (; the standards B preferably being not less than
6 inches broad and about two to three inches thick. Other lines of wire b, b, are also
stretched on the outside of the straining posts A, A, and carried on iron or wood
brackets B projecting out in front of the standard posts B. B, about 8 to 10 inches
from the inside wire a above it, and about 1 inches below this wire and secured in
notches in the outer upper end of the brackets B.
Where the wires a and b are on
each side of the posts B, the distance from the wire underneath is to be 10 inches
apart, instead of 8 inches, as in the case of the three above, to give a space of 2 inches
or more at s for air to pass between each set of sheaves S resting on the three
wires a, a, a, above each wire b which supports the outer stubble ends of the sheaves S
and gives them a downward outward slope to carry off any moisture, the same as in
the case of an ordinary well built stack. Each double standard B, B, would have its
rances or angled stays B" angled or "ranced" to the opposite sides alternately, as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. The whole would be covered over with a
slightly rounded, or nearly flat roof C, about 9 or 10 feet wide, made of corrugated or
sheet iron, or other suitable covering. In putting these improvements into practice I
prefer that the straining posts A should not be less than 10 inches at the upper small
ends, and care must be taken in sinking those posts A 6 feet or so in the ground, to
pack the earth very hard around the posts to keep them firm, besides being "ranced
above at A, A1, as before described. The beams or runners B³ supporting the roof C
should not be less than 5 inch battens, and in lengths sufficient to cover two spaces,
that is jointed on the top of each alternate standard B, as shown at B Figure 1, and
would be notched or checked about 2 inches into the top of the intermediate
standards B, and besides being nailed on to the top of the intermediate standards B,
they should be stapled down thereto by wire. If corrugated iron is used for the roof,
it also besides being nailed to the runners B³ should at intervals be tied down with
galvanized wire, especially in exposed situations, a slightly curved roof, as shown
in Figures 1, 2 and 3 would be sufficient, or when made of straight corrugated
iron it would have an incline of half an inch or so to the foot to ensure
the carrying off of the water. The runners 133 must not be nailed or checked
on to the top of the end straining posts A A but attached so as to allow for
the possible slight yielding of the strainers brought about by wire tension; and the
wires a, b, would all be strained up to those end posts A, A. by any of the ordinary
screw or wheel mechanism used for doing so, and secured to the straining posts A, A,
while they only rest on the intermediate standards B, B, as herein before described.
A couple of wires c, c, would be stretched from a cross beam A at the lower part of
the straining posts A, A, and supported on the transverse rails B' of the intermediate
standards B, B, for the purpose of keeping the heads of the lowest row of sheaves S
off the ground G, as indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. For filling the
drier with the cut crop three buildings of 5 feet each in height will be found most
convenient. Two buildings from platforms will thus be required, mason's trestles
9 feet high with two different heights of steps should be used. The highest step
should be 9 feet high so as to allow the builder to stand erect under the roof.
trestles with planks are required to allow the builders to pass along the drier outside
thus preventing loss of time in building. Two men can build to one forker putting
the crop on the platforms, or on to the sheaves already built. In building or filling
this drier with the cut crop the second lowest wire a ought to be raised on to the
nails a' immediately above so as to allow room for the first wires a and b to be filled
with sheaves. When that is filled put the second lowest wire a back to its original
position on its nails, over the filled in sheaves on the first row of wires, and then fill
in the sheaves over this after raising the third wire to give room for putting in the
sheaves and so on resting the lower stalk ends of each fourth set of sheaves on the
Extra

page_text: outer wire b. When laying the sheaves on to each set of double wires a and b, pass
a handful of the stubble end of the lowest side of the sheaf S, underneath the outer
wire b and draw the sheaf outward until the said outer wire touches the band of the
sheaf, thus preventing the sheaves from slipping outwards, and from unduly pressing
on each other, besides providing the spaces for ventilation between its third set of
sheaves S as shown more particularly in Figure 3: The lowest wires a, b, should be
stapled firmly to the foot of each intermediate standard B, so as to prevent the possi-
bility of the standard slipping off the bricks. Air holes or spaces can be left at
regular intervals longitudinally between the sheaves S, according to dampness or con-
dition of sheaves. Newly cut or wet grain can in this way be stacked on the
wires a, b, at once, the sheaves being packed closely or loosely together longitudinally
according to their condition. When filled, a space S' is left within the "drier" from
end to end between the heads of the sheaves S so built up, thus allowing air and
ventilation to play on the loose heads of the sheaves within the "drier," and prevent
any heating of the crop from possibly taking place.
For small farms and crofts, smaller and lighter portable or self contained frames
would answer the purpose, without straining posts at the ends sunk into the ground,
such as having a strong framed drier with broad end posts or standards bound together
by longitudinal frames at top and bottom and in the centre, as indicated in front view
in Figure 5, and bound together transversely and portably, and set on bricks G¹ on
the ground G, having intermediate wire supporting standards also set on bricks and
which may be staked to the ground G at the outer ends of the transverse rails and
stays on opposite sides, as indicated in Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details as to sizes of the timber parts of the
frame or the mode of securing the same, or of carrying the wires on them, as these
may be very materially altered without departing from the essential nature of my
invention, but I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The system, or mode and means of stacking, drying, and harvesting corn,
wheat and other grain or cut crop by mounting same in sheaves on sets of wires
stretched between vertical posts and intermediate standards, with a covering roof over
them, substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The constructing and use of wires stretched between end straining posts,
and supported on intermediate standards, for the purpose of stacking, drying and
harvesting corn, wheat, and other grain or cut crop in sheaves, substantially as and in
the manner herein; described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In a system of stacking, drying and harvesting cut crop on stretched wires,
the constructing and use of inner wires stretched between end straining posts, and
supported on intermediate standards, with outer wires at intervals for supporting and
steadying the st ble ends of the sheaves, and leaving space for air ventilation,
substantially as ein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
D
1
10
A1 1900
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.