Improvements in Gambrels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug, 1895-Accepted 28th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Gambrels.
I, CHARLES AUGUST LARSON, Mechanic, residing at Stillwater, in the County
of Washington, State of Minnesota, one of the States of the United States of
America, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings:
My invention has for its object to provide an improved gambrel, for use by
butchers and others in dressing and handling carcasses of slaughtered animals.
To this end, the invention consists of the novel features of construction herein-
after described and defined in the claims.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Therein like letters
referring to like parts,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved gambrel, right side up and with
the sections locked together in their straight line and rigid position.
Figure 2 is a cross section, on the line ¹¹ of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gambrel shown in Figure 1, after it has
been given a half turn, to bring the same bottom side up, and one of the sections
has been unlocked and permitted to turn down or buckle on the central section.
Figure 4 is a vertical section, on the line, of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modification, with the gambrel shown right
side up,
and the sections in their straight line and rigidly connected positions.
Figure 6 is a section, on the line ³ ³ of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a perspective view, of the parts shown in Figure 5, after the gambrel
has been given a half turn and one of the sections has been unlocked and permitted
to buckle or turn down.
Figure 8 is a section on the line a x of Figure 7.
Figures 9 to 15 inclusive, are outline or diagramatic views, chiefly in perspective,
illustrating some of the different uses or ways in which the improved gambrel is
applied and manipulated.
The gambrel, as shown, is constructed with a central section a, and a pair of end
sections b, which are pivotally connected to the central section a, by strap-hinges c,
so as to splice thereto with lap-joints, which will brace against each other with a
trussing action, in co-operation with the strap-hinge c, when the gambrel is right
side up, as shown in Figure 1, and in some of the other views. As shown, this
splicing and bracing lap joiut, between the sections, is obtained by cutting away
the central section, to form the shoulder a¹ and the reduced portion a³, and by
reversely cutting away the outer section b, to form the shoulder 6' and the reduced
portion. Hence, when the said sections are united. by the strap hinge c, applied
to the top of the gambrel with its pivot directly over the joint between the outer
end of the central section and the shoulder of the end section, the said parts
will brace together with a trussing action, under strain, applied downward to the
outer ends of the gambrel, so as to be rigid with each other in a common line, so
long as the gambrel is held right side up.
:
To insure the rigid connection between the sections, until such a time as it is
desired to permit the other section b to turn or. buckle from the central section a,
a suitable locking device d is provided, which is shown as secured to the central
section, and as adapted to engage over the inner end of the adjacent outer section b
when thrown into line with the central section, as shown in Figure 1. This detent.

page_text: or locking device d is in the form of a spring catch, adapted to automatically
assume its locking position, and to be released by the thumb or finger of the
operator.
For co-operation with the gambrel proper, a hanger is provided which will
permit the gambrel to make a half turn or roll-over to turn the same bottom-side-
up, or from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 5, to the position shown in
Figures 3 and 7.
As shown in Figures 1 to 4, and the diagram views 9 to 15, this hanger is
composed of a pair of sections ff, which are hinged together, as shown at f³, and
are of semi-circular form, adapted to fold together and enclose or embrace the
gambrel section a, to which they are applied. The hanger section f is fixed to
the center of the gambrel section a, and is provided with an upturned lip or
lug The other section f of the said hanger, is pivoted to the section f, as
already noted, and is provided with a spring-catch f, adapted to engage with the
lug to lock the gambrel right side up to the said hanger, as shown for example,
in Figure 1, and is provided, also, with an eye-lug f, projecting outward radially,
for securing the hanger and gambrel to an overhead rope, or other support. The
said hanger ff' &c. is so applied to the central section a of the gambrel, that
when the said parts are locked together, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the eye-
lug will be at the top of the gambrel and directly in line with the median line
through the strap hinges e, which unite the outer gambrel sections b to the central
:section a thereof.
The spike ended tips are formed with the brad or point proper g, the spool
section 1 and the ferrule g², by which the said tips are made fast to the outer
end of the body portions of the gambrel sections b. As shown in Figures 1 to 4,
and 9 to 15, the said tips have their parts g g' in the axial line of the ferrule
portions, and the axis of the gambrel. In the modification, shown in Figures 5
to 8 inclusive, however, the said tips have their portions g g¹ formed integral with
an offset part or cranklike projection 9, of the ferrules g, so as to bring the
points eccentric to the axis of the ferrules and the axis of the gambrel, as is
desirable for co-operation with the modified form of hanger, shown in the said views.
This modified hanger is in the form of a sleeve h, having a radial eye-lug h', a
peripheral slot * and a spring-catch or locking detent . The gambrel section a,
is provided, at its center, with a bearing band h, provided with a lock-notch /5
and a passage for a screw-bolt, by which the said parts h and * are secured in
working position, relative to each other, and the gambrel section a. The band is
of a diameter to fit snugly within the hanger-sleeve h; and when thus together, the
band is slipped over the gambrel to the proper point. The screw is then
applied, through the slot of the sleeve and the passage for the same in the band,
and screwed into the body of the gambrel section a. This will hold the band h
in a fixed position on the gambrel and co-operate with the slot h³ of the hanger to
limit the rotary movement of the gambrel within the sleeve of hanger h¹. The
band thus forms a metallic bearing for the hanger-sleeve and the notch /*
thereof will co-operate with the latch 3, to hold the gambrel right side up, as shown
in Figures 5 and 6.
When thus held right side up, if the latch * be lifted out of the notch h³, the
strain from the carcass on the crank-like tips of the gambrel, will turn the gambrel,
until the said crank tips come to their lowermost point, or into the position
shown in Figures 7 and 8. Otherwise stated, this form of hanger, in co-operation
with the offset or crank action tips gggg, will permit the gambrel to take a
half turn, under the weight from the carcass, the same as with the form shown in
Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, but without the drop at the center of the gambrel, which
is incidental to the form of hanger ff &c.; shown in the said Figures 1 to 4.
Each form of the hanger has some advantages peculiar to itself. The longer drop
afforded by the form shown in Figures 1 to 4, is, in some respects, a convenience
for taking down the carcass, while, on the other hand, the form of hanger hh,
shown in Figures, 5 to 7 inclusive, has the advantage of continuously sustaining the

page_text: load or weight of the carcass, while permitting the gambrel to inake the half turn,
and at the same time, lower the carcass a distance equal to the throw of the crank
sections g of the tips.
Having regard not to the operation or usage of my improved gambrel, the same
is probably obvious from the statements already made and the illustrative diagrams
Figures 9 to 15 inclusive.
In Figure 9, the gambrel is shown as applied for upholding the slaughtered
animal k, ou the floor p, in proper position for skinning. In Figure 10, the gambrel
is shown, as applied to a carcass r, with the gambrel bottom side up and one of the
sections buckled or in position to spread the legs of the carcass, under the
leverage action of bringing the gambrel sections into line with each other. A
rope s is also shown as applied to the eye-lug of the hanger, for raising the animal
into the position shown in Figure 11. In Figures 12 and 13, the action of taking
down the carcass by an operator t is illustrated. Figure 12 shows the operator, as
in position to take part of the weight of the carcass with his left arm, while
using his right hand to release the catch or locking detent f, for permitting the
hanger and gambrel to make a half turn, so as to shift from the position shown
in Figures 1 and 2, to the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 13. Figure 13
shows the operator as sustaining most of the weight of the carcass with his left
arm, while supporting a part of the gambrel with his right arm, with the right end
section of the gambrel shown as unlocked from the central section, and as buckled
or turned down, for permitting the release of the carcass. Figure 14 shows a
carcass r, supported by an ordinary wooden gambrel w, with my improved gambrel
applied as a spreader, first to spread and then to hold the cleft parts opened up or
spread apart, so as to permit the free use of the cleaver, for continuing the dividing
action. Figure 15 shows the improved gambrel, as applied to support the
carcass y with a flexible connection c, shown as applied to the spool portion g
of one of the tips, external of the part of the animal engaged by the tip, for
holding one half of the carcass, after the other half has been severed therefrom.
From the foregoing illustrations, it must be obvious that this form of gambrel is
capable of a wide range of use, as a convenience in dressing and handling the
carcasses of slaughtered animals.
1
Of course, it will be understood, that it is capable of many other uses, in
addition to those illustrated. It will also be understood, that the details of the
construction might be changed without departing from the spirit or principle of my
invention.
The nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed having been particularly described and ascertained, what is claimed and
desired to be secured by Patent is as follows:-
1. A gambrel made up of three sectious, the outer or end members of which are
pivotally united to the central section by connections constructed to permit the
outer sections to be turned downward, with respect to the central section, while the
central section is held stationary, and locking devices for locking the outer
sections to the central section, when in line therewith, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. A gambrel made up of two or more sections which unite with a lap joint and
are pivotally connected by a hinge which co-operates with the lap joint to hold and
brace the said sections rigidly together, when the gambrel is right side up, and which
permits one section to turn or buckle on the other when the gambrel is turned
bottom side up, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a gambrel, of a hanger for the same constructed to
permit the gambrel to make a half turn or roll-over for turning the same bottom-
side-up and a detent or locking device for locking the gambrel to the hanger top
up, substantially as described.
side
4. The combination with a three section gambrel, the center sections of which
are connected to the central section by lap joiuts and hinges which render the

page_text: sections rigid with each other when the gambrel is right side up and permit the
same to buckle when the gambrel is turned bottom side up, of a hanger applied to
the central section of said gambrel and constructed to permit the gambrel to make.
a half turn and a detent or catch for locking the gambrel to the hanger right side
up, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a gambrel, of a roll-over or sectional hinged hanger
applied thereto and provided with a locking device, for securing the hanger
sections in their closed or gambrel embracing position, and releasing the same
to permit the gambrel to make a half turn and effect a drop, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with the gambrel, composed of the central section a and the
end sections connected thereto by the lap joints and strap hinges c, as described,
of the hanger applied to the central. section thereof and consisting of the half
clasp, fixed to the gambrel, the half clasp fl hinged to the section f, the
spring-catch on the section f1 engageable with the lug f³ on the section f, and
the eye-lug f³ fixed to the section 71, all arranged and operating substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of August 1895.
CHARLES AUGUST LARSON,
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicant.