US727925A

US727925A - Automatic feed-box for horses or cattle.

Info

Publication number: US727925A
Application number: US14436203A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elisha Jefferson Faulkner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-02-21
Filing date: 1903-02-21
Publication date: 1903-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1920-05-12

Description

No. 727,925. y PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

E. J. FAULKNER.

AUTOMATIC FEED BOX FOR HORSES 0R CATTLE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1903.

K0 MODEL.

m: NORRIS PETERS co PHOTOLITHQ. WASHNGTON, n. c.

NITED STATES- Patentetl May 12, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC FEED-BOX FOR HORSES OR CATTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,925, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed February 21, 1903. Serial No. 144,362. (No model.)

To all whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA JEFFERSON FAULKNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kimball, in the county of McDowell, State of West Virginia, have invented certain, new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feed-Boxes for Horses or Cattle, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box empty, showing the cover raised and the feedelevator depressed; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical sectional view; Fig.3, a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4: a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a feed-box in which. the feed will.

be automatically pressed against a grating through which it may be pulled by the feeding animals.

Another object of the invention is toproduce a feed-box which will be efficient in operation and yet so simple in construction that its liability to become disarranged will be re mote. V

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates a rectangular box of suitable height, to the upper end of which is hinged a rectangular cover 2. This cover is formed of a rectangular open frame, preferably made of metal, and within this frame'are secured at suitable distances apart parallel cross-bars 3. Connected. to one side edge of this cover. is one end of a jointed brace 4., the other end of this brace being pivoted to the side of the said box near the upper end thereof.

Centrally within the rectangular box and extending from the bottom thereof about twothirds the height of the box is a vertical rec: tangular compartment 5, which receives and guides a post 6, to the upper end of which is secured the horizontal platen 7. This platen is of the same outline as the interior of said box and fits snugly therein and at the same time is freely movable up and down in said box. Extending laterally from the lower end of the vertical platen carrying post is a treadle 8, Whose outer'end projects through a vertical slot in one of the outer walls of the feedbox. To the lower end of the guide-post on opposite sides thereofare secured cords 9, whichextend upwardly along the sides of the post, said cords lying in vertical grooves formed inthe inner sides of the compartment and passing outward over pulleys 10 in the upper end of the compartment, said pulleys being suitably mounted on the outer sides of the wall of the compartment. To the outer free ends of these cords are connected weights 11, said weights being'sufficient to lift the platen and a full charge of feed, their purpose being to force the feed upward against the cross-bars of the cover in order that the horses or other stock feeding at the box may be able to reach it and draw it out between the bars. To the outer ends of the treadle 8 is connected one end of a cord 12, said cord extending around the small pulley 13 near the bottom of the box, thence upward through a guide l4,itsupper'freeehd being connected to a small metallic ring15, which is adapted to be engaged on a horizontal pin 16, projecting from the side of the box, whenever it is desired to depress the -platen tothe limit of its movement and to hold it in its depressed position. This is done when filling the box. An automatic spring-1atch17 is provided with a beveled head '18, which is forced outward by the edge of the cover as said cover is closed. This spring-latch works on the pin 16, with which the ring 15 is adapted to be engaged. The purpose of this is that after the feed-box has been filled it will be simply necessary to close the'cover, which as it'descends will contact. with the'bev'eled head'of the spring-catch and force it outward sufficiently to push the ring off of the pin16, thereby releasing the platen and permitting the weights 11 to elevate it and the feedcontained in thefeed-box.

Along one edge of the vertical slot in the box through which the outer end of the treadle 8 projects is arrangeda suitable scale which will indicateby the position of the treadle on said scale the amountof feed in the box.

A grain-trough 19, preferably of metal, is secured to one side of the feed-box at the upperedge thereof.

When it is desired to fill the box, the treadle is depressed with one foot and the ring 15 lifted and engaged over the pin 16.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple feed-box which will automatically place the feed against the cross-bars of the cover and which will be very efficient in operation and will prevent waste of the feed. It will further be noted that the construction of the feed-box is exceedingly simple, and that the possibility of its becoming inoperative is very remote, and that should it become disarranged repairs may be quickly and easily made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a feed-box the combination of a vertical receptacle, a cover hinged to the upper end thereof and provided with a suitable grating, a platen within the receptacle, a central post depending from said platen, apair of weights connected to the lower end of said post by flexible cords and adapted to raise said platen, a treadle connected to the lower end of said post and extending to the outer side of the receptacle, whereby the platen may be depressed, and means for locking the treadle in its depressed position.

2. In a feed-box the combination of a vertical receptacle, a cover hinged to the upper end thereof and provided with a suitable grating, a platen within the receptacle, a central post depending from said platen, a pair of weights connected to the lower end of said post by flexible cords and adapted to raise said platen, a treadle connected to the lower end of said post and extending to the outer side of the receptacle whereby the platen may be depressed, a cord connected to the outer end of said treadle, suitable guides for said cord, and means for securing the free end of said cord to hold the platen in its depressed position.

3. In a feed-box the combination of a vertical receptacle, a cover hinged to the upper end thereof and provided with a suitable grating, a platen within the receptacle, a central post depending from the said platen, a pair of weights connected to the lower end of said post by flexible cords, and adapted to raise said platen, a treadle connected to the lower end of said post and extending to the outer side of the receptacle whereby the platen may be depressed, a catch connected to the side of the box and adapted to lock the cover closed, said catch being adapted to be automatically moved by the closing of the cover, and means operated by the movement of said catch to release the platen.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of February, 1903.

ELlSHA JEFFERSON FAULKNER.

Witnesses:

W. J. POE, B. STONE.