Improved Covers for Shocks of Corn, Haycocks, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Covers for Shocks of Corn, Haycocks, and the like.
1, HIRAM WALKER, of Ile aux Peches, in the County of Essex, in the
Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to improved covers for shocks of corn, haycocks, and the
like, the object I have in view being to protect the same from the action of the
elements while curing in the field.
In the ordinary way of harvesting and curing grain after cutting, it is customary
to shock it in the field, where it is exposed to rain, dews and snow, with the usual
disastrous results.
To this end my invention consists in the novel and cheap construction of thin
covering-boards, adapted to protect the grain in shocks as more fully hereinafter
set forth.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of a shock of grain having my covers thereon.
Figure 2 is an exterior elevation of a cover.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing a pair of these covers in juxtaposition.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slat or batten.
Figure 5 is an edge elevation of a pair of covers lying flat on the ground.
Figure 6 is a detail view of a soft steel ribbon or strip, used to hinge the boards
together.
Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.
In the drawing-
A. represents a sheet of wood veneer which may be three feet wide and four
feet long, by of an inch thick.
B. B. B. are light wood battens riveted across the middle and both ends of the
board, to stiffen it, and to prevent warping.
These battens are longer than the board is wide and the projecting ends, a. are
halved so as to interlock with similar projections on other covers, aud form a scarf-
joint that will support the covers in position and in line.
The covers are binged together in pairs in the following manner-
A thin strip, C. of very soft and tough decarbonized steel, which may be 6 inches
long and an inch wide, is nailed or riveted longitudinally at and to the head of each
board, say six inches from each side. The other end of each strip is in like manner
nailed to the head of the other board in such a way as to leave about an inch of
opening between the head ends when thrown over a shock as in Fig. 1. This
space permits the vapors to pass out of the grain below, facilitates a free circula-
tion of air under the covers and allows the covers to be folded flat together as seen
in Fig. 5-for transportation and storage.
The covers being mado of very thin lumber (cut veneers) are light and cheap,
much cheaper in fact than the canvas tarpaulin sometimes used for this purpose
and far more durable.
When properly seasoned, and before hingeing the parts together, I coat them with
hot aspbaltum or other black waterproof paint or compound which serves a double
purpose, first, to prevent the absorption of moisture, with its evil results, and
second, the black color of these covers retains and transmits the heat of the
sun's rays to the covered grain below, thereby hastening the evaporation of it's
liquids.

page_text: These covers being light and compact are easily transported in the fiold, quickly
applied, aud aftor use, are as easily gathered up and stored.
While these covers may be applied singly to the ordinary round shocks, the best
results are got by putting up the cut grain in long shocks, or by standing round
bunches close together, in line, thus making a long shock. The steel straps
described may be bent back and forth hundreds of times without breaking, but any
other form of hinge may be used in place thereof.
These covers may be used in like manner for protecting hay in winrows built up
as soon as the cut grass is raked, whereby the farmer may take advantage of every
short spell of sunshine and dry weather to cure and store his hay.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The herein described shock-cover consisting of two sheets of wood veneer
hinged together end to end, stiffened by battens transversely riveted thereto,
and having projecting ends scarfed to interlock with similar projections on
other covers, and the whole coated with a waterproof material, substantially as
described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.