US344751A - Combination-rack for wagons - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) .2A SheetS-Sheet--1- M. RICE.

COMBINATION RACK FOR WAGONS.

No, AJL'VM Patented June 29,1886.

W22@ .was I In V602 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. RICE.

COMBINATION RACK POR WAGONS. No. 344,751. PatntedJ-une 2 9, 188.6.

r4NiTEn Partnr rerun,

MICHAEL RICE, OF BROOKFIELD, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,751, dated dune 29. 1886.

Application ilcd March 1G, 1886. Serial No. 195,449. (No model.)

To all' whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MICHAEL Bron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookfield, in the county of Linn and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usei'ul Improvements in Combination Vagon-Racks, of which the following is a speciication, rel"- erence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the wagon-box placed between the standards and on the bolster and adapted as a wood-rack. Fig. 2 is a like View of the hay-rack adapted to be used on the wagon-box. Fig. 3 is a like View showing the hog or sheep coop adapted to be used on the wagon-box; Fig. 4, detail in perspective of the coop; Fig. 5, like view of end door of coop; Fig. 6, like View of hayrack and box; Fig. 7, end elevation of the hayrack on the box. i

This device belongs to that class called farm-wagons; and the object of the invention is to provide, with the smallest detail of parts and at the least expense, a device in which shall be combined a wood-rack, a hayrack, and a hog or sheep coop, these separate carriages being the ones most in use on a farm. Vith this end in view I have produced a combination wagon-rack that is adapted not only for all these above specied uses, but to a wide variety of other uses, which need not now be specially pointed out, as they will readily occur to any farmer.

Having now in a general way stated the nature and scope of my invention, I will proceed to describe it in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In these, A A denote wagon-axles of any ordinary construction, and B B the bolsters over them, suitably provided with the standards b. Upon the bolster and between the standard is placed the wagon box or bottom C, where it fits in place very snugly. This floor is so constructed by end and side sills, c c', as to constitute a sort of tray or box about twelve feet long and some four inches deep, and provided with the usual cleats at the bottom and sides, to hold it in place on the bolsters or wagon-body. On each of the side sills are placed staples ci, extending outwardly and secured on the inside.. In order to change the device into a wood-rack, bars D are placed along each side of this box or bottom C in the staples c2.

NVhen the device is to be used as a hay-rack, the bars D may be removed, and upon the bottom C is placed the rack E. This is made of longitudinal top strips, e, and bottom strips, e', suitably secured together by cross-pieces c2. The longitudinal top strips are placedat each side, and are laid iiat and on the same horizontal level, While the bottom strips are placed edgewise between the middle and the end of the cross-pieces, and thus the under longitudinal strips, c', are adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the box C, and the inside top strips, c, will be supported on the tops of the standards b. The rack will thus be held in place for any ordinary use; but, if desired, any additional means for attaching the rack to the box may be used.

It will be observed that this rack has no box or bottom,properly so called,the box C answering all those purposes; also, that by the construction above described the sills can be made very much lighter than is usual, as the rack is so fully and adequately supported when in position on the box C that it need not be made as strong as in cases where it has verymuch less support.

In order to change the device into a coop or cage for hauling sheep, hogs, poultry, 85e., the hay-rack will be removed, and a cage, F, parallelogram in shape, made of side and top longitudinal pieces, f, cross-pieces f, and close ends f2, and havingan open bottom, and having the ends of its side standards, f3, adapted to fit into the staples c2. When the cage is so fitted in place, it will rest on the holsters B and between their standards b, and the box or tray C will constitute its bottom. Access to the interior of the cage is had through the ends f2, by removing the vertical rods f which pass through the staples f5. The device as thus made combines in the smallest compass and at the least expense the conveyances needed by the farmer for doing the chief part if not all of the cartage of the farm.

The device is very cheap in structure. It saves the wear and tear on the ordinary wagonbox which farmers use so much for many purposes, which they would not do if they had some cheap and substantial combination-rack of this kind, such as is now presented. It is IOO cheap, and can be made by any common workman. It is light, and the several parts can be easily changed from one sort of rack to the other, or taken oif in whole or in sections.

When used as a hay-rack, the wagon-wheels are coupled out as far as necessary, and the back and fore ends of the hay-frame may project over as far as desired. This has the advantage of raising the fore end of the frame up so that it does not interfere with front wheels of the wagon as common hay-racks do. I am aware it is not new to make a combined hay and stock rack, and I do not broadly claim any such device.

Having now described iny invention, what I consider new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i s

' l. In a'farin-Wagon, the combination ofthe axles A and bolsters B, having standards b, with the box C, made as described, and provided with the staples c, and the hayrack E,

on the upper edges of the box, all as shown and described.

2'. The combination of the cage F, composed of the longitudinal strips f, cross-pieces f', provided with standardsfa, and having closed ends f2, locked by rods fi, and the axles A, holsters B, having standards b, and the box C, having staples c2, all substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL RICE.

Witnesses:

W. H. BROUNLEE, GEO. N. ELLIOTT.

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