IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT COVERINGS FOR STACKS OR RICKS OF CORN OR OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Turton, of Wombourn, in the County of Stafford,
Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMANENT COVERINGS
FOR STACKS OR RICKS OF CORN OR OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Turton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1877.
JOHN TURTON, of Wombourn, in the County of Stafford, Farmer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PERMANENT COVERINGS FOR STACKS OR RICKS OF CORN OR OTHER
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
On each side of the roof of the rick I place pieces of timber extending downwards
from the top to the eaves. Each piece of timber is placed edgeways upon the rick,
and at a distance from the next piece. The pieces on one side are fastened at the
top to the corresponding pieces on the other side by any suitable fastening. Widths
of felt or other suitable material are laid lengthways of the rick, and consequently
across the pieces of timber, or else in a position extending downwards from the top
to the eaves, and consequently in the same direction as the timber. The widths of
felt overlap each other to make the joints rain-tight. In the edges of the felt are
placed eyelets. Metal pegs are passed through the corresponding eyelets in the two
thicknesses of felt (where the widths overlap each other), and into the rick. Some
or all of the pegs may be passed through the pieces of timber as well as through
the two thicknesses of felt.
When the widths of felt are placed lengthways, the edges at the top of the rick
are fastened together through eyelets by means of wire or cord, or otherwise.
When the widths of felt are placed parallel with the timbers, each width may be
continued over the top of the rick to form the corresponding width for the other
side.

page_text: The felt may be fastened at the eaves by metal pegs, as aforesaid, or by means of
cord or wire passing through eyelets, and attached to thatch pegs inserted in the
rick below the eaves.
The felt may be fastened at the ends of the rick by either method just described,
or by means of cord or wire passing through eyelets on one side and across to the
corresponding eyelets on the other side. The pieces of timber are of sufficient
depth to raise the felt in ridges, and thus allow for ventilation from the eaves to the
top. The top ends of the timbers keep the felt sufficiently high to allow for venti-
lation between the top of the rick, which may be slightly flattened, and the under
side of the felt and timber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Turton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November
1877.
JOHN TURTON, of Wombourn, in the County of Stafford, Farmer. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PERMANENT COVERINGS FOR STACKS OR RICKS OF CORN OR OTHER 1
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
The Drawings are to a scale of half-an-inch to a foot.
Figure 1 is part of a side elevation of the top of a hay rick; Figure 2 is an end
clevation of Figure 1, the left half being shown in section.
The same
parts.
letters occurring upon both the Figures 1 and 2, indicate corresponding
A, A, etc., are pieces of wood lying edgeways upon the rick. Each piece of wood
lying on one side of the rick is fastened at the top to a corresponding piece on the
other side of the rick. B, B, etc., are distance pins. Each pin B has a collar near
each end, the outer faces of the collars being the same distance apart as the distanco
between two of the pieces of wood, and the pins B, B, etc., thus act as distance
pieces for the pieces of wood. The ends of the pins B, B, etc., beyond the collars
pass through the pieces of wood, and are tightened up with thumb-screws or nuts:
Every alternate-pin-B-is-somewhat out-of-line with the pin next to it, to enable it
to be passed through the wood.The-ends-of-the-pins-B, B, etc., at the ridge pass
through the two thicknesses of wood, as shewn, and thus form the connection for
the corresponding pieces on each side of the rick; the collars of the ridge pins are
consequently-closer together than the collars of the eave pins. C, C, etc., are strips-
-of-felt overlapping one another, as-shewn-in-section by Figure 2. I prefer to allow
about one and a half or two inches of overlap. The strips of felt are fastened down
by means of the pegs D, D, etc., which are passed through eyelets in the felt and
through holes in the pieces of wood right into the rick. The top width of felt is
laid along the ridge, so that half. the width lies on one side of the.ridge, and the
other half on the other side of the ridge, the edge in each case overlapping the next

page_text: width of felt, and being pegged down the same as at the other joints. The felt is
kept up in ridges along the pieces of wood A, A, etc., thus allowing for ventilation,
and falls into valleys between. The felt is put on in lengths of about two yards
each, for convenience in uncovering the rick when cutting the same. For corn ricks
the strips of felt are preferred to be put on in continuous lengths. Cords or
wire E, E, are passed along the valleys right over the rick, and are secured to
pegs F, F, pushed into the rick. The eaves and valley's are thus secured against
the lifting force of the wind. The felt is turned down at the ends, and is held by
cords G, G, G, G, the three former passing from eyelets on one side of the rick to
corresponding eyelets on the other, and the latter passing (on each side) from an
eyelet to a peg H pushed into the rick. There is a direct draught under the ridge
of the rick, as shewn at J, the top strip of felt being turned under or back at each
end of the ridge, to allow free passage for the air. Either or both ends of the ridge
can be closed, as desired. The distance pins B, B, etc., enable the workmen to put
the pieces A, A, etc., in their exact position to suit the eyelets in the felt, and also
keep the felt from being pulled down too close to the rick at the ridge. For the
sake of rendering the Drawing more clear, the felt is shewn covering only three of
the pieces A, A, etc.
Instead of the top strip of felt being laid on the ridge, as shewn, the strips
may be laid on so that the top edges of two strips come together at the ridge.
The edges of the felt along the ridge are then fastened together through eyelets
by means of wire or cord. More eyelets may be put into the lowest strip, that part
of the same may be under the strip above if necessary to make up the size of the rick
instead of using a narrower strip.
Figure 3 is a part side elevation, and Figure 4 a section of the top of a hay rick
covered with felt, laid in strips from eave to cave, each strip passing right over the
rick. The same letters of reference occurring upon Figures 3 and 4 indicate corre-
sponding parts. The strips of felt C¹, C, etc., overlap each other on the pieces of
wood A, A, etc. In other particulars the arrangement is the same as that before
described. Metal eyelets (preferably of brass) are let into the felt wherever a peg
has to pass through. The pegs are preferably of wrought iron, and may be
galvanized.
The pieces of wood may be spaced further apart (say, six feet apart), for corn
ricks, in which case one or more intermediate pegs between the pieces of wood are
passed through the two thicknesses of felt and into the rick. When intermediate
pegs are used the cords E, E, may be twisted round them as they are passed along
the valleys.
In the illustrations felt is supposed to be the covering shewn, but any suitable
material may be used, such, for instance, as sheet iron, galvanized or otherwise, and
also corrugated sheet iron. The application will be sufficiently obvious without
need for illustration. Sheet iron may be obtained in continuous rolls of consider-
able length under the name of "continuous roofing," and when applied in this
form the appearance would be much the same as the felt in the illustration; other-
wise, of course, cross joints will occur as well as longitudinal joints.
Intermediate distance pins may be used, as desired, according to the nature of the
covering material and the size of the rick, to more effectually keep up the covering
material for the purpose of ventilation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not
limit myself to the exact details as described and shewn, as such may be varied in
many obvious ways without lessening the utility of my Invention, but what I claim
as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The method of covering stacks or ricks of corn, or other agricultural produce
with strips of felt, sheet iron (galvanized or otherwise), corrugated sheet iron, or
other suitable material, by laying the same upon strips of wood shaped to raise tho
said materials in ridges, or to keep them above the rick, and fastening the said

page_text: materials to the strips of wood by pegs pushed into the rick, the said pieces of wood
forming also a rigid frame above the flattened part of the top of the rick, all sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn.
Second. The distance pins between the pieces of wood, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Turton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
JOHN TURTON. (L.S.)