US166719A - Improvement in feed-racks - Google Patents

Description

M RALPH F eed-Racks Patented Aug. 17, 1875.

No.l 6.6,719.

um\ i H n n I/H I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHIAS RALPH, -or URSA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-RACKS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,719, dated August 17, 1875; application filed June 30, 1875. i

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHIAS RALPH, of Ursa, in the county of Adams, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feeding'Oribs, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view.

My invention relates more especially to that class of cribs or mangers, which are designed for feeding swine; and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a very simple, cheap, and effective device of this character is produced.

The nature and operation of my improvement will be readily obvious to all conversant with such matters from the following description:

In the drawing, A represents the body or sides of the crib, B the bottom, and l the platform or table. The body A is composed of slats or bars framed into or supported by proper corner posts or uprights, and arranged sufficiently near together to prevent the ears of corn from escaping through them. The bottom B is inclined, its lowest side or edge being nearest the platform I, which is hinged at J J to corresponding corner-posts of the body A. Two vertical standards, 0 O, are centrally disposed in the body A, and in the slot D of the standard 0 there is pivoted a lever, E, carrying at its outer end or short arm the gate F G, working in the ways or runlets h h. Beneath the standard 0, and the slats connected directly with the same, there is a lateral opening throughwhich the corn passes from the interior of the body A onto the table I when the gate F G is raised.

In the use of my improvement the bodyA is filled with corn, the table I being turned down. The gate is then raised by depressing the lever E, which may be secured in position by means of a pin and the slot D in the upper end of the standard 0. The platform I enables the swine to shell and eat the corn with facility, and prevents much of the waste which would otherwise occur. After each feedin g the crib may be readily closed by elevating the lever, and turning up the platform,- efi'ectually shutting out all access to its contents, but which is rarely necessary. The inclined bottom B serves to feed the corn forward antomatically to the opening under the gate, but I do not confine myself strictly to arranging the bottom in this manner. The crib, being portable, may be used in any desired position on the farm, but is preferably arranged in an opening in a fence or building, in such a manner as to have the platform I flush therewith when closed, the body Abeing located within the building or outside of the fence when not in use, in a manner and for reasons which will be readily understood without a more explicit description.

Having thus explained my improvements, what I claim is- The improved feeding-crib described, consisting of the body A, provided with the inclined bottom B, gate F G, and hinged table I, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

MAT'IHIAS RALPH. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

GEO. M. JANES, [L. s.]

J os. W. EMnRY. [L. s.]

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