IMPROVEMENTS IN HOOPING BALES OR BANDING THEM WITH IRON AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITHBLE TO
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Riddle, of Larkhall Lane, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOOPING
BALES OR BANDING THEM WITH IRON AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
Sealed the 20th April 1869, and dated the 10th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Riddle
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th November 1868.
I, WILLIAM RIDDLE, of Larkhall Lane, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HOOPING BALES OR BANDING THEM WITH IRON AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be
as follows:-
My improvements relate to the method of hooping or banding bales
by forming loops at the ends of the hoops which encircle the bale, and
passing a stiff lath or spear through such loops, as is described in the
Specification of a former Patent granted to me and dated the 8th day of
May 1862, No. 1376.

page_text: According to my present Invention I bend the ends of the hoops that
are to go round a bale packed under pressure into the form of loops as
is shown edgeways at A instead of as at B as heretofore practised by me.
The ends of the hoops on a bale being brought side by side, and the
spear or lath being passed through the folded ends or loops, when the
pressure is released from the bale the hoops are not dependent on the
elasticity of the bale for holding on to the spear, the inner fold a
tightening on the spear with the strain. The spear should fit tolerably
well; I prefer to bend the hoop red hot. This method of securing the
ends of iron bands is applicable to other purposes, such as in constructing
military bridges when hoop iron is used, in securing the metal laths of
bedsteads, and in the construction of fences when hoop iron is employed.
The traces of carriages may also be thus secured. This method of
fastening metal bands takes the place of rivetting or other modes of
fastening.
To draw hoops on to and around a bale I construct a hook or implement
to hold or seize the hoops by a sort of fork, which is passed above and
not as heretofore into the spear loop of the hoop; this leaves more
room for the spear to enter before taking off the implements, and the
implements are easier removed. The hook or implement consists of
a blade, by preference of steel, with a lug at one extremity projecting
from its side; this lug is bent over so as to come parallel to the blade,
and the hoop iron enters between the blade and the lug, the lug takes a
firm bearing upon the loop of the hoop. When pushing in the spear or
lath fastening I use a toothed rod held so as to prevent the hoops
swerving on one side, as swerving on one side causes friction and prevents
entrance of the spear. The rod is furnished with as many teeth as there
are hoops, and they are placed at corresponding distances apart. When
the lath or spear is to be inserted into the loops of the hoops the bar is
fixed with its teeth bearing against the hoops close up to the loops, and
the spear is then readily thrust through the loops, the friction which
opposes the entrance of the spear being small when the hoops are steadily
held.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Riddle in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
RIDDLE, of Larkhall Lane, in the County of Surrey, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord Once thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes.
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Riddle, Her special
licence that I, the said William Riddle, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Riddle, 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 "IM-.
PROVEMENTS IN HOOPING BALES OR BANDING THEM WITH IRON AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURP: BES,' upon the condition. (amongst others) that I, the said
William Riddle, 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 William Riddle, do hereby declare.
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements relate to the method of hooping or banding bales.
by forming loops at the ends of the hoops which encircle the bale, and
passing a stiff lath or spear through such loops, as is described in tho
Specification of a former Patent granted to me and dated the. 8th day of
May 1862, No. 1376.

page_text: by me. The ends of the hoops on a bale being brought side by side, and
the spear or lath being passed through the folded ends or loops, when the
pressure is released from the bale the hoops are not dependent on the
elasticity of the bale for holding on to the spear, the inner fold a
tightening on the spear with the strain. The spear should fit tolerably
well. I prefer to bend the hoop red hot. This method of securing the
énds of iron bands is applicable to other purposes, such as in constructing
military bridges where hoop iron is used, in securing the metal laths of
bedsteads, and in the construction of fences when hoop iron is employed.
Traces of carriages may also be thus economically made. This method
of fastening metal bands takes the place of rivetting or other modes of
fastening.
To draw hoops on to and around a bale I construct a hook or imple
ment to hold or seize the hoops by a sort of fork, which is passed above and
not as heretofore into the spear loop of the hoop; this leaves more room for
the spear to enter before taking off the implements, and the implements
are easier removed. The hook or implement consists of a blade or bar, by
preference of steel, with a lug at one extremity projecting from its
side; this lug is bent over so as to come parallel to the blade, and the
hoop iron enters between the blade and lug, and these take a firm
bearing upon the loop of the hoop. When pushing in the spear or lath
fastening I use a toothed rod held so as to prevent the hoops swerving
on one side, as swerving on one side causes friction and prevents
entrance of the spear. The rod is furnished with as many teeth as there
are hoops, and they are placed at corresponding distances apart. When
the lath or spear is to be inserted into the loops of the hoops the bar is
fixed or held with its teeth bearing against the hoops close up to the
loops, and the spear is then readily thrust through the loops, the friction
which opposes the entrance of the spear being small when the hoops are
thus steadily held.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and

page_text: unto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a front view of the material
parts of a machine which I employ in order to shape the ends of the
metal bands, which are by preference formed of hoop iron. The complete
metal loop (shown Figure 5 enlarged) is made by bending the hoop
between two mandrils or flat pieces of steel revolving in bearings
moveable in a vertical direction over a fixed anvil d. Figures 1 and 2
represent the hoop between sliding mandrils b, c, in rising and falling
bearings m, m; these bearings are connected by a cross piece o, and
slide up and down on projections on the anvil: On-turning the
bush 1, Figure 2, by a handle on it not shown the mandrils revolve and
bend the hoop a on the fixed anvil d, the bearings moving as the hoop
is bent. When the mandrils arrive at the position, Figure 3, the
mandril c (see Figure 2) is withdrawn, and then the continued rotation
of the bushes n, n², of the bearings brings the hoop into the form shown
in Figure 4, or approximating thereto; a blow of a hammer or any
suitable pressure compresses the loop, as shown in Figure 4, to make it
neat, and then the mandril 6 is withdrawn. The bushes or masses of metal
n, n, may be connected by toothed wheel gearing prolonging the metal out
beyond the bearings m to allow spur wheels to be attached. A handle
on n may also be used for hand bending. In place of two mandrils a
solid fork may be used, such as is shown in edge view at Figure 6 and in
plan atFig ure 7; this fork conveniently bends hoops placed between its
prongs at y, Figure 6, and very easily if the hoop is made red hot. In
finishing the loop of the hoop it is slidden to part p, and struck flat
with a hammer, or submitted to the pressure of a lever press or other
press. Such a fork arrangement may be worked in bearings by suitable
mechanism, and apparatus on this principle or the former may be
worked by steam-driven shafting suitably applied to be thrown out of
gear when required. The bands are placed around the bale whilst it is
contained in the press, and held under pressure in the same way as
when hoops with rivetted joints are employed as is usual, and the spear
is then threaded through the looped ends of the hoops. To prevent
the hoops from shifting sideways whilst the spear is being drawn
through the instrument shown at Figure 14 may advantageously be
used.

page_text: Figure 8 shows the sort of lattice of hoop and lath or spear suitable
for being drawn over rivers or ravines for bridge purposes. Lengths of
10 or 20 feet when bent at their ends may be put together with spears
in successive series, and on this lattice work, affixed across a river or
ravine, a plank road may be laid; the lattice or combined hoop work t
may be attached on both banks to trees or mooring apparatus, as well
understood by military men; such lattice work may be used with
stout upright spears for light fencing. For bridges the loops of the
hoops should be upwards, or the maximum security will not be
attained.
Figure 9 shows a section of hoop and angle iron for bedsteads. I
use two lugs & let into the angle irons forming the sides of ordinary
metal bedsteads, and between any two, lugs the bent hoops forming the
bed laths are inserted, and through the lugs and loops of the hoops the
spear is inserted; this fastens the hoop-iron bed laths to the angle iron
of the bedstead,
Figures 10 and 11 show an arrangement for traces. A is an iron
stanchion fixed to the carriage; the hoop loop is passed over it, and a
pin put through at 7.
Figure 12 is a side view and Figure 13 a plan of a draw or drag
hook for drawing bands taut on bales. The hoop a lies in the bent
lug or hook, and this without interfering with the spearway through
the loop of the hoop, sce a³.
Figure 14 is a rod of oak with iron hooks or teeth { let into it. This
is for drawing hoops sideways in spearing bales. I have found it con-
venient, but it requires a little practice in use.
Figures 15 and 16 show spear and hoops, edge and plan views.
The loop, fold, or bend (Figure 5) will not be found to unfold from the
lath or spear when a tensile strain is applied to it; the hoop will
break first.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I
claim the improvements in hooping or banding bales substantially as
herein described.
3
I also claim the apparatus, substantially as herein described, applicable 3
in hooping or banding bales, and to other purposes.

page_text: I also claim the application of such apparatus in the construction of
military bridges, metal laths of bedsteads, fences and traces for carriages,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Riddle, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
W. RIDDLE. (L.S.)