Improvements in Frames for Drying and Curing Grass, Grain, and Pulse Crops.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1891-Accented, 8th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Frames for Drying and Curing Grass, Grain, and
Pulse Crops.
We, PETER LOVE, Civil Engineer, and MATTHEW HENRY BOWEN, Farmer,
both of 18 Ravensbourne Road, Catford, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to frames for holding carrying and exposing grass
grain and pulse crops for the purpose of curing same and preserving them from
damage by weather and birds. The improvements consist of three or more
triangular shaped frames arranged in pyramidal fashion at an angle of about 45°,
supported by three or more poles, the poles being stuck in the ground at same
angle and tied together where they meet and form an apex. On or in this apex
is fixed a straight pole standing up which carries on it a waterproof cap. The
frames are supported by the poles and said frames stand off the ground; wire or
rope is wound round the frames more or less horizontally.
The grass or other material placed on and over the frames in a manner
similar to thatching a roof. In fact the frames and grass resemble a thatched
roof standing off the ground so that the air can pass under and through the
frames.
Dated this 8th day of July 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Frames for Drying and Curing Grass, Grain, and
Pulse Crops.
We, PETER LOVE, Civil Engineer, and MATTHEW HENRY BOWEN, Farmer,
both of 18 Ravensbourne Road, Catford, in the County of Kent, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide frames on or over which grass and
other green fodder crops or other crops if desired may be placed after cutting
for the purpose of exposing the same in a suitable manner for curing, by keeping
said crops suspended above the ground so as to allow free entry of air and wind
under the whole frame and crops thereon, and so shaping the frames that the
crops are supported thereon in the general form of a cone or pyramid the apex
of which is guarded by a cap of waterproof material so that rain is prevented so
far as possible from soaking into the crops and tends to run off the same as from
a thatched roof.
The improved frame consists essentially of poles or frames either temporarily
or permanently fixed or connected together in such a way that when placed or
fixed upon the ground they form a structure of pyramidal form with a central
pole projecting upward to a short distance above the apex to carry the waterproof
cap.
Thus, three or more poles may be stuck into the ground so that they lean at an
angle of about 45° and meet together at an apex where they are tied together and
to a central vertical pole projecting slightly above the apex.
These poles may
support triangular frames, or may be provided with suitable projecting ledges or

page_text: bearers such as nails to carry the crops and rope or wire may be wound round
about them in substantially horizontal direction so as to form of the whole a
pyramidal structure of open work the interstices being such that they are not le.ge
enough to allow the crops to fall through.
These constructions will be readily understood without drawings and may be
varied at will without departing from the spirit of this invention which contem-
plates a pyramidal frame of cheap and serviceable construction with ledges to
support the crops from slipping or blowing off the frames and a projecting
structure to carry a waterproof cap to guard the uppermost sheaves or layers of
the crops stacked upon the frame.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a form of collapsible frame, Fig. 1 being
a perspective view of the said frame, Fig. 2 a view of the same in use, on a
smaller scale.
The three legs a a a are fastened, jointed or hinged to the central vertical pole b
and the three legs ccc are likewise connected jointed or hinged to the three
horizontal cross bars d d d, respectively hinged at their other ends to the
legs a a a. The horizontal bars e e e connect the legs a cacac each to the next
at or near the lower ends of the said legs which are intended to rest upon the
ground. The opened frame assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 the lower end
of the pole being suitably fastened to one of the cross bars d d d at or near
the crossing points of said bars. When this fastening is disengaged the frame may
be folded up by folding the legs a a a together and the legs c c c together the latter
moving downward by reason of the method of hinging them by intermediate
bars d d d so that the bars e e e come together.
The legs a and c carry the spikes f which serve to support the crops and also to
hold down the wire or rope g which is wound about the frame.
On the head of the pole b is placed the cap h which may be made of wood,
galvanized iron, or waterproofed canvas or like material. .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
For the curing of harvested crops
1. A frame of pyramidal form with a projection at the apex and ledges to carry
crops placed on said frame.
2. The combination of said frame with the waterproof cap has set forth.
3. The constructions of frame herein-described.
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HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.