AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARTS AND WAGGONS WITH HAY, STRAW, AND OTHER SINILAR PRODUCTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Atkins Collins, of Trowbridge, in the County
of Wilts, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARTS AND WAGGONS WITH HAY, STRAW, AND OTHER
SINILAR PRODUCTS."
Sealed the 2nd October 1868, and dated the 11th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Atkins Collins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
11th April 1863.
I, CHARLES ATKINS COLLINS, of Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARTS AND WAGGONS WITH HAY,
STRAW, AND OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in using an apparatus which is attached to the back
of the cart or waggon and set in action by being drawn after it. The appa-
ratus consists of a framework supported on two wheels having a perch
which can be hooked on to the back of the cart or waggon. Two spars are
attached to the frame by pins, on which they work loosely on each side near
the wheels, projecting obliquely upwards and forwards, with cross pieces to
connect them. There is a support to each spar, the bottoms of the supports
being attached by pins which pass through holes in them to the framework in

page_text: front of the spars. There are several holes in the supports which enable the
inclination of the spars to be varied. There are two horizontal rollers, the
axes of one of which work in bearings at the upper end of each spar, and the
other in bearings in the framework near the lower ends of each spar; the roller
at the lower end is larger in diameter than that at the upper end. The axis
of the lower roller passes through the frame on one side, and is furnished with
a pinion which works outside the frame, and is geared to an interior toothed
wheel fixed to the inside and concentric with the supporting wheel. The
interior toothed wheel is toothed also on the outside, and the outside teeth
drive a pinion on the axis of another horizontal roller which works in bearings
on either side of the frame behind the supporting wheel. The last-mentioned
roller is larger in diameter that the roller first previously described. There
are two checks fixed to the frame on either side of the hindemost roller,
and with a small horizontal roller at the top of them just above the hindmost
roller. Endless bands of canvass or other suitable material pass over the fore-
most roller on the frame and the roller at the top of the spars, and round the
hindermost roller on the frame and the roller on the top of the cheeks. Both
these bands are furnished with a sufficient number of straps of leather or
gutta percha running lengthways on them, and spikes of iron are fixed at
suitable intervals on the straps projecting outwards. Boards run lengthways
on each of the spars to retain the hay or straw on the canvass bands when
being raised by the machine. The lower rollers each consist of an axis with
discs forming the ends of the rollers and spars, running longitudinally at
intervals from one disc to the other, which from the surface of the roller.
The lower rollers must be so placed that when the machine is in action the
spikes shall just or nearly touch the ground.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The perch is hooked on to the
back of the cart or waggon, and drawn after it over the hay or straw in the
field when ready for carrying. The inclination of the spars is adjusted so that
their upper ends may be over the cart or waggon, and in such a position as
that the hay or straw when carried to the top of them may fall properly into
it. As the cart or waggon is drawn along, the revolution of the supporting
wheel, to which the toothed wheel is attached, drives the pinions in opposite
directions, causing the front roller to turn towards the waggon, and the hinder
roller from the cart or waggon. The revolution of the rollars on the frame
set in motion the canvass bands with the spikes upon them, and as the spikes
pass the ground they gather up the bay or straw and bring it up between the
rollers. The position of the upper rollers and the consequent inclination of
the canvass bands is such that the hay or straw when brought up between tho

page_text: and dropped over the Tomat at the cup of the spars into the cart or waggon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Atkins Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
9th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ATKINS COLLINS, of Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Atkins Collins, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Atkins
Collins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Atkins Collins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and. Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN.
IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARTS AND WAGGONS WITH HAY,
STRAW, AND OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Charles Atkins Collins, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Atkins Collins, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by. the
following statement, referenco being had to the several Drawings therein
referred to and hereunto annexed, that is to say:-.
.
::
My Invention consists in using an apparatus or machine on wheels, which
is attached to the back of a cart, and is set in motion by being drawn after
the cart. Such machine includes a combination of two endless bands. Each
of such endless bands work on pairs of horizontal rollers or wheels connected
by an axis, the hindermost band being carried in a direction opposite to that.

page_text: of the cart wheels, while the foremost band works in the same direction as
that of the cart wheels. Each band is carried within a short distance of the
ground, the hindermost band being the nearer to the ground, and as the
machine is drawn after the cart, such hindermost band being caused to move
in a direction contrary to that of the cart collects the bay upon the ground
over which such band passes, and brings the hay into contact with the fore-
most band, and the hay is thereupon elevated and carried on to the cart..
One method of performing the said Invention is shewn by Figures A and B.
Figure A is a side elevation of the machine, and Figure B a plan view of
the lower part of the machine, its upper part being omitted in this Figure for
tho sake of simplicity. According to this method I employ two endless bands,
and the machine is supported on two wheels, one of which acts as a driving
wheel, the horizontal spar Numbers 10 to 11, Figure A, forming the lower
part of one side of the frame of the machine, a corresponding horizontal spar
forming the lower part of the other side of such frame, see Figure B. Such
spars are connected at the points 10, 10, and 11, 11, by cross pieces,
Figure B. A separate spar, Numbers 12 to 14, is attached by a pin or
hinge near Number 12 (on which it works loosely) to each spar, Numbers 10
to 11. The two spars, Numbers 12 to 14, incline upwards and forwards, so
that the upper ends of such spars project over the back of the cart. There
are cross pieces to connect such spars.. To each spar, Numbers 12 to 14,
there is a separate support, Numbers 13 to 15, one end of which works upon a
binge or pin at Number 18, while the other end is attached by a pin, Number 16,
to the spar Numbers 10 to 11. There are several holes in each support, so
as to enable the position of the pin, Number 16, and consequently also the
inclination of the spars, Numbers 12 to 14, to be varied. Numbers 1,
Figures A and B, are the wheels which support the frame of the machine, and
are placed on either side of such frame on its outside revolving on axles
Numbers 2. One of such supporting wheels acts as a driving wheel, and
carries concentric with itself and between itself and the frame an exterior and
interior toothed wheel, Numbers 3. Numbers 4 are the foremost lower
roller revolving inside the frame on an axis, Number 17, Figure B, which
works in bearings in the frame below the spars, Numbers 10 to 11. Such
axis is prolonged on one side through the frame towards the driving wheel, so
as to carry outside the frame a pinion, Number 18, which is geared to the
interior toothed wheel attached to the driving wheel. Number 5 is the fore-
most upper roller revolving between the spars, Numbers 12 to 14, on bearings
near the upper end of these spars. Number 7 is the bindermost lower roller
revolving inside the frame on an axis, Number 19, Figure B, which works in

page_text: bearings in the frame below the spars, Numbers 10 to 11. Such axis is
prolonged on one side through the frame towards the driving wheel, so as to
carry outside the frame a pinion, Number 20, which is geared to the exterior
toothed wheel attached to the driving wheel. Numbers 21 aro spars fixed to
either side of the frame. Numbers 8 is the bindermost upper roller revolving
between such spars on bearings, Numbers 22, at their upper ends. The axes
of the four rollers are horizontal and parallel to each other. The two lower
rollers are larger than the two upper rollers, and the hindermost lower roller
is larger than the foremost lower roller. Each of the two lower rollers
consists of two discs forming the ends of such roller, and connected by an
axis, and of staves or spars running from the circumference of one such disc
to that of the other such disc at intervals, and parallel to the axis of the
roller. An endless band of canvas or other suitable material, Numbers 9,
passes under the hindermost lower roller, Number 7, and over the hindermost
upper roller, Number 8. Another similar endless band, Number 6, passes..
under the foremost lower roller Number 4, and over the foremost upper roller
Number 5. Each of these bands is furnished with a sufficient number of
straps of leather or gutta percha, running at intervals of about twelvo inches
lengthways along such band, and spikes of iron about four inches long are.
fixed at intervals of about twelve inches on the straps. When each endless
band is placed upon its rollers the spikes project from its external surface
perpendicularly to such surface. Boards are placed lengthways on each side
of the foremost canvass band from the side of the foremost lower roller (next
to the bindermost lower roller) to the foremost upper roller, as shewn by the
dotted lines, Numbers 23. The bindermost lower roller must be placed so
near the ground that the spikes on the endless band which passes under such
roller may as it revolves nearly touch the ground, and the relative positions of
the pair of bindermost rollers and of the pair of foremost rollers must be such
that as they respectively revolve the spikes on the endless band which passes
under the hindermost lower roller may come into contact between the lower
roller with the spikes on the other endless band. There is a perch, Number 24,
having a ring or eye at its end, which hooks on to a hook at the back of the
cart. The machine is drawn after the cart over the bay when ready for
carrying as it lies in the field. The inclination of the spars, Numbers 12
to 14, is so adjusted that the roller, Number 5, projects over the back of the
cart as the cart is drawn, followed by the machine. The revolution of the
driving wheel as the machine is drawn along causes the pinion; Number 20,
and with it the hindermost lower roller to revolve, as shown by the arrows,
Figure A, in the direction opposite to that of the driving wheel, and the band

page_text: which passes under such roller to move under such roller in a direction-
opposite to that of the cart, while it causes the pinion, Number 18, and
foremost lower roller to. revolve, as shewn by the arrows, Figure A, in the
direction of the driving wheel. When the rollers are set in motion, the
endless band, Number 9, passing under the hindermost lower roller in
the direction shewn by the arrows, takes up the hay and brings it into
contact with the other endless band, Number 6, and this other endless band
carries the hay between the boards, Numbers 23 (which are intended to
retain the hay from falling over the side of the band), up to and over the
foremost upper roller, Number 5, and thus causes the hay to fall into
the cart.
Another, and as I think preferable, method of performing the said Inven-
tion is shewn by Figures C and D. Figure C is a side elevation of this
machine; Figure D a plan view of the lower part of this machine, its upper
part being omitted in this Figure for the sake of simplicity. According to
this latter method, instead of using two endless bands of canvass or other similar
material with iron spikes, I employ two endless bands, each of which is formed
of a pair of endless chains revolving on two pairs of polygonal chain wheels,
such pair of chains being connected at proper intervals by iron rods parallel
to each other, and at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the pair of
chains, and for this purpose I use bars of angle or L-iron, as well for strength
as in order to take a firmer hold of the bay The spaces between the
parallel rods on the hindermost pair of chains are longer than the spaces
between the parallel rods on the foremost pair of chains. The machine is
supported by two wheels, one on either side, and a third smaller wheel under
the middle of the frame at the back part of it, and which acts as a guide wheel.
According to this method the spars Numbers 10 to 11, Numbers 11 to 13,
Numbers 13 to 10, and Numbers 10 to 12, Figure C, and which are bolted
together, form one side of the lower portion of the frame of the machine.
The horizontal spars, Numbers 10 to 11, are connected at the points, Numbers
10, and Numbers 11, by cross pieces, Figuro D. The spars, Numbers 10 to 13,
are also connected below the points Numbers 18 by a cross piece, and the
framo is strengthened by diagonal spars from point Number 10 on one spar,
Numbers 10 to 18, to point Number 13 on the other spar, Numbers 10 to 18,
and vice versa. Numbers 14 to 15 is a spar on either side of the frame,
which moves loosely upon a pin, Number 16. Number 12 to 17 is a spar
on either side of the frame attached to the spar, Numbers 14 to 15, by a hinge
or pivot at Number 17. When the machine is ready for work, the spars,
Numbers 14 to 15, are placed so as to form a vertical continuation of the

page_text: spars, Numbers 10 to 13, the lower ends of the spars, Numbers 14 to 15,
being attached to the spars, Numbers 10 to 13, by pins at the points, Num-
bers 14, and the lower ends of the spars, Numbers 12 to 17, are then also
attached by pins to the spars, Numbers 11 to 13, at the points, Numbers 12.
Each spar, Numbers 14 to 15, carries a small arm, Numbers 18 to 19, pro-
jecting forward from the point, Number 18, and bent downwards from the point,
Number 19, and another small arm, Numbers 20 to 21, projecting backward
from the point, Number 20, which is above the point, Number 18, and near
the upper end of the spar, Numbers 14 to 15, when in position for working.
There is outside each spar, Numbers 14 to 15, a lever, Numbers 22 to 24,
resting in a point, Number 28, attached to the bent portion of the arm, Numbers
18, 19. Such levers extend in front and rear of the spar, Numbers 14 to 15,
and are bent so that the arms which are in front of the spar, Numbers 14 to 15,
approach nearer to each other than the arms which are in the rear of such spar.
The levers carry between them and in front of the machine a light platform of
boards, Numbers 23, 23, 24, 24, Figure E (which is a plan view of such
levers and platform) and at the extremities of each lever (Number 24,
Figure C) there is a weight, Number 25; such weights are so adjusted that
when the platform has not any hay or other material upon it the platform
remains in a horizontal position, but when the platform is loaded with a
sufficient quantity of hay, it overbalances the weights at the ends of the levers
and inclines, as shewn by the dotted lines, Numbers 24' to 22¹, so as to allow
such hay to slide from the platform, and thereupon the weights cause the levers
to resume their horizontal position. There is a stop to prevent the weights
raising the end, Numbers 24, Figure C, of the levers above a horizontal position.
Numbers 1, Figures C and D, are the larger supporting wheels, and also act
as driving wheels. They are placed on and at a short distance from either side
of the frame towards the front part, and are rigidly, connected by an axis,
Numbers 2, Number 26, Figure D, which works in bearings on either side of
the frame at Numbers 27, Figure D; such axis carries in the interval between
cach driving wheel and the frame, a spur or toothed wheel, Numbers 3, Figures
C and D. Number 28 is the smaller wheel which supports the frame working
in bearings in a fork, Number 29, attached to a circular rod, Numbers 30,
the upper part of which passes through a bearing bolted to the horizontal spar
Numbers 11 to 11, Figure D, and through the support, Number 31, Figure C,
and carries near its upper end a horizontal handle, Numbers 82. By this
bandle the rod can be turned, and the vertical plane of the smaller wheel can
be changed at pleasure, so that such wheel acts as a guide wheel to the
machine. Numbers 4 are the two foremost lower chain wheels revolving in

page_text: vertical planes inside the frame at either side; such wheels are placed behind
the driving wheels, and aro rigidly connected by an axis, Number 33, Figure D,
which works in bearings at either side of the frame, and which axis being
prolonged through the frame carries a pinion, Numbers 34, on either side of
the frame. Numbers 5, Figures C and E, are the two foremost upper chain
wheels revolving respectively in vertical planes immediately above the lower
chain wheels, Numbers 4, Figures C and D, upon a rod which passes through
their centres, and is fixed to the supports, Numbers 18, 19, Figures C and E.
An endless chain, Number 6, passes under one of the foremost lower chain
wheels, Numbers 4, and over that foremost upper chain wheel, Numbers 5,
which is on the same side of the machine. Another endless chain passes
underneath the other foremost lower chain wheel over the other foremost upper
chain wheel. This pair of endless chains are made of flat links about eight
inches long jointed together, and are connected by bars of iron, the ends of
which are riveted to the middle of each link, and for this purpose I use bars
of or angle iron, as well for strength as in order to take a firm hold of the
hay. The pair of foremost lower chain wheels, the pair of foremost upper
chain wheels, and the foremost connected pair of endless chains, Figure C,
correspond respectively to the foremost lower roller, Numbers 4, the foremost
upper roller Numbers 5, and the foremost endless band Number 6, Figure A.
Numbers 7 are the two bindermost lower chain wheels revolving in vertical
planes inside the frame. These wheels are placed towards the back part of
the frame, and are rigidly connected by an axis, Number 35, Figure D, which
works in bearings at either side of the frame underneath the spars 10 to 11,
and which axis being prolonged through the frame carries a pinion, Number 36,
on either side of the frame. Numbers 8 are the two hindermost upper chaiu
wheels, which are supported and revolve in a similar manner to the foremost
upper chain wheels, and aro placed similar positions with regard to the
lower chain wheels, Numbers 7, as the upper chain wheels are placed with
regard to the lower chain wheels, Numbers 5. An endless chain, Numbers 9,
passes under one of the hindermost lower chain wheels, and over that hinder-
most upper chain wheel which is on the same side of the machine.
Another endless chain passes underneath the other hindermost lower chain
wheel and over the other hindermost upper chain wheel. This last-mentioned
pair of endless chains are made precisely like those firstly described, and are
connected by bars of L or angle iron in the same manner, except the bars are
attached only to the alternate links. The pair of hindermost lower chain
wheels, the pair of hindermost upper chain wheels, and the hindermost pair of
connected endless chains, Figure C, correspond respectively, but in varied posi-

page_text: tions, to the hindermost lower roller, Numbers 7, the hindermost upper roller,
Numbers 8, and the hindermost endless band, Numbers 9, Figure A. Tho
lower chain wheels are of larger diameter than the upper chain wheels, and
all the chain wheels are polygonal, each side of the polygon being equal to a
links of the chains. I find it convenient to make the upper chain wheels
pentagonal, and the lower chain wheels octagonal. The pair of hindermost
lower chain wheels are placed so near the ground that as they revolve the
endless chains passing under them and the iron bars which connect such chains
respectively pass within five or six inches of the ground, and the pair of fore-
most lower chain wheels are placed so that the chains under them pass within
twelve to fourteen inches of the ground, and the relative positions of the pairs
of chain wheels is such that the hindermost pair of chains with their connec-
ting bars are immediately after passing under the hindermost pair of lower
chain wheels in the direction shewn by the arrows, Figure C, brought between
the two pairs of lower chain wheels nearly into contact with the foremost pair of
chains with their connecting rods, which pass under the foremost pair of lower
chain wheels in the direction shewn by the arrows, Figure C, and is carried
at a short distance from and nearly parallel to such foremost pair of chains
until it reaches the space between the two pairs of upper chain wheels.
Numbers 37 are toothed wheels revolving outside the frame on bearings abovo
cach horizontal spar, 10 to 11. The toothed wheels are geared to the spur
wheel Numbers 3, and also to the pinions, Numbers 34.
Each pinion,
Numbers 36, is geared to a toothed wheel, Numbers 38, on the outside of, the
frame working on bearings in the spar 10 to 11. Each pinion, Number 34,
carries a crank, Numbers 39, which is linked by a shaft, Number 40, to a crank,
Number 41, on the toothed wheel, Number 38. The driving wheels by
means of the toothed wheels, Numbers 3, communicate motion to the toothed
wheels, Numbers 37, which being geared to the pinions, Numbers 34, drive the
pair of foremost lower chain wheels in the direction shewn by the arrows, being
the same direction as that of the driving wheels. The pinions, Numbers 34, also
cause the cranks, Numbers 39, to revolve, and thus by the connecting shafts,
Numbers 40, cause the cranks, Numbers 41, and toothed wheels, Numbers 38,
to revolve in the same direction as that of the pinions, Numbers 34, and the
toothed wheels, Numbers 38, being geared to the pinions, Numbers 36, cause
the hindermost lower chain wheels to revolve in a direction opposite to that
of the driving wheels. The machine is attached to the back of a cart by a
chain and hook so that the platform, Numbers 24, 23, 23, 24, projects over
the back of the cart, and as the cart is drawn, followed by the machine in
Figure C, from right to left, the bindermost pair of endless chains with their

page_text: connecting rods moving under the hindermost lower chain wheels in a direction
opposite to that of the cart, and taking up the hay brings it into contact with
the foremost pair of endless chains, and it is then carried up between the fore-
most and bindermost pair of chains (and so secured from being blown away by
wind or otherwise falling) until such chains separate near the upper pairs of
chain wheels, when it falls outside the foremost upper pairs of chain wheels
on to the platform Numbers 24, 23, 23, 24. As soon as a quantity of hay
has been collected on the platform sufficient to overbalance the weights
Numbers 25 the platform inclines downward as shewn by the dotted lines
Numbers 22', 24', and allows the hay to slide into the cart, and such platform
then resumes its horizontal position and again receives the bay until a quantity
is again collected sufficient to overbalanco the weights, when the platform again
inclines downward. When the machine is not needed for use the lower ends
of the spars Numbers 14 to 15 can be detached from the points Numbers 14,
and the lower ends of the spars Numbers 12 to 17 can be detached from the
points Numbers 12, and fastened by pins at points in the frame near the points
Number 12, and then the spars Numbers 14 to 15 turning on the pivot
Number 16 assume the position shewn by the dotted lines Numbers 14' to 15',
while the spars Numbers 12 to 17 assume the position shewn by, the dotted.
lines Numbers 121 to 171, Figure C.
"
In the foregoing Specification the expression "cart or waggon can be sub-
stituted for the word "cart" wherever it occurs, and the expression "hay, straw,
or other similar products" can be substituted for the word "hay" wherever
it occurs.
I do not claim under the above-mentioned Letters Patent the use of endless
bands or endless chains as original, nor do I claim as original the use of one
endless band or of one pair of connected endless chains as an elevator for bay
or straw, but I claim as original the combination of two endless bands with
spikes, or two pairs of endless chains connected with iron rods, for the purpose
of loading carts or waggons while in motion with bay, straw, or other similar
products as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Atkins Collins, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October. in the year of our Lord
CHARLES ATKINS COLLINS. (L.s.)