A New or Improved Combined Rack and Trough for Holding Food for sheep and other Animals.
Year: 1886

page_text: A New or Improved Combined Rack and Trough for Holding
Food for sheep and other Animals.
I, JAMES ADAM GORDON, of Arabella, Nigg Station; in the County of "Ross,
North Britain, Sheep Farmer do hereby declare the nature of this invention' to be
as follows:-
•
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved combined rack and trough
for holding food for sheep and other animals, consists of a rack divided longitudinally
at each side into a number of spaces which may correspond to the number of
animals which it is intended should feed at each side at a time: The rack in its
transverse form constitutes a circular segment so that it can be easily turned or
rolled over upon the ground on which it rests, the underside of the rack being
made flat. Into the underside there is fitted a bottom consisting of two troughs.
This bottom is hinged at one side of the rack to enable the rack to be opened up
from the underside and filled with hay. The bottom also serves as a roof for
protecting the hay from moisture, rain. or snow during the time when the sheep
and other animals are not feeding from the apparatus, as, during such times, the
apparatus is rolled half over in order that the bottom comes uppermost. When
the sheep and other animals are about to feed from the apparatus constituting this
Invention, it is rolled back again so that the bottom occupies the lower part. thereof.
The bottom also serves the purpose of keeping the hay off damp ground by which,
in the ordinary mode of feeding sheep and other animals; the hay is frequently
spoiled. The troughs constituting the bottom also serve as receptacles for holding
feed stuff, such as the different kinds of feed cakes, grain and ensilage..

page_text: Food for Sheep and other Animals.
I, JAMES ADAM GORDON of Arabella, Nigg Station, in the County of Ross,
North Britain, Sheep Farmer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED RACK AND TROUGH FOR HOLDING FOOD FOR SHEEP
AND OTHER ANIMALS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
i
"My Invention, which relates to a new or improved combined rack and trough for
holding food for sheep and other animals, consists of a rack divided longitudinally
at each side into a number of spaces which may correspond to the number of
animals, which it is intended should feed at each side at a time. The rack in its
transverse form constitutes a circular or approximately circular seginent, so that it
can be easily turned or rolled over upon the ground on which it rests, the underside
of the rack being made flat. Into the underside there is fitted a bottom consisting
of two troughs connected together. This bottom is hinged at one side of the rack
to enable the rack to be opened up from the underside and filled with bay. The
bottom also serves as a roof for protecting the hay from moisture, rain or snow
during the time when the sheep and other animals are not feeding from the rack,
as, during such times, the rack is rolled half over in order that the bottom comes
uppermost. When the sheep and other animals are about to feed from the rack
constituting my Invention, it is rolled back again so that the bottom occupies the
lower part thereof. The bottom also serves the purpose of keeping the hay off
damp ground by contact with which, in the ordinary mode of feeding sheep and
other animals, the hay is frequently spoiled-The troughs constituting the bottom
also serve as receptacles for holding feed stuff such as the different kinds of feed
cakes, grain and ensilage.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
:
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front elevation, an end elevation and a plan
of a combined rack and trough constructed according to my present Invention.
Figure 4, is an elevation of the same when in an inverted position as hereinafter
explained.
"
:
Figure 5, is an end elevation of the same when in such inverted position.
Figures 6 and 7 are end elevations, drawn to a reduced scale, of slightly modified
arrangements of the same when in an inverted position.
My Invention, which relates to a new or improved combined rack and trough for
holding food for sheep and other animals, as shewn upon the annexed drawings,
consists of the rack a, a, which is divided longitudinally at each side into a
number of spaces which inay correspond to the number of animals which it is
intended should feed at each side at a time, the rack a, a, in itself represented
upon the annexed drawings being divided so as to accommodate in all ten sheep at
a time. The rack as shown at Figure 2, in its transverse form, constitutes a circular,
or approximately circular segment, so that it can be easily turned or rolled over
upon the ground on which it rests, the underside of the ends b, of the rack.a, a¹,

page_text: being made flat as shewn at Figure 2. Into the underside of the rack a, a¹, there
is fitted a bottom consisting of the two troughs c, and d. This bottom is hinged
at its back in the brackets or hinge pieces e, secured to the ends b, of the rack, so
that the said rack a, a¹, is capable of being opened up from the underside and
filled with hay. The bottom troughs c, and d, also serve as a roof for protecting
the hay from rain or snow or other moisture during the time the sheep and other
animals are not feeding from the rack, as, during such times, the said rack is rolled
half over in order that the bottom comes uppermost, that is to say, the rack is
rolled into the position in which it is represented at Figures 4 and 5 of the annexed
drawings. To support the bottom or troughs c, and d, when the rack is in its
inverted position, I provide the forked catch f, or an equivalent catch, which is
pivoted upon the lower front rail of the rack a, a, and bolts the parts together.
The troughs c, and d, when in the relative position in which they are represented
at Figures 1, 2 and 3 serve the purpose of keeping the hay out of contact with
damp or wet ground, such contact which occurs with racks as hitherto constructed
having frequently the effect of spoiling the hay. The troughs c and d, constituting
the bottom, also serve as receptacles for containing feed stuff, such as the different
kinds of feed cakes, grain and ensilage.
To enable the rack to stand steadier in the inverted position in which it is
represented at Figure 5, I construct the said rack so that the two upper longitudinal
rods a, as well as the flattened ends thereof rest upon the ground, that is to say,
in the manner represented on a reduced scale at Figure 6; or such steadiness may
be effected by other means, such for example, as the arrangement shewn at Figure 7,
wherein the outer ends of the before mentioned longitudinal rods a¹, are bent down
so as to constitute feet to support the rack in its proper position. If desired, the
space between the two longitudinal rods a³, of the rack may be closed in by a
piece of sheet iron in order to prevent the hay from absorbing moisture from wet
ground when the rack is its inverted position.
It is to be understood that although I have shewn the bottom of the apparatus
constituting this Invention as composed of two troughs c, and d, yet such bottom
may be composed of a single trough although not serving its purpose so well as the
double trough hereinbefore described and shewn on the annexed drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim
as novel and original or as constituting any part of my present Invention, the parts
shewn upon the annexed and marked a, a, and b, but what I do claim is :-
The combination with the parts a, a¹, and b, of the bottom composed of the two
troughs c, and d, which also serve the purpose of a roof when the rack is in an
inverted position, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth with
reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this ninth date of Aunt 1000