US78294A - Hugh laird - Google Patents

Description

HUGH LAIRD, OF' MEGHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters PatentNa. 78,294, dated ZIIay 26, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-FORKS.

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TO ALL WHM IT MAY CONCER:

Be it -known that Il, HUGH LAIRD, of Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented neiv and useful Improvementsin Hay-Elevating Forks; and I do hereby deelarethe following to be a full and clear description of the same, sufcient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention app'ertains to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which make part ot' this speciiication, and in whichi 4Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of my improved hay-elevating fork, showing the' parte in different position. n

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of thesame, and

Figure 4 is en edge view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The subject of this invention -is a hay-elevating fork of the harpoon kind, and the invention consists in making the stock or main part out of a single piece, or casting it entire; in the provision of an arm projecting horizontally from the upper end of `the fork, and serving to carry an additional guide or loop for the tripping or ydischarging-rope, so as to prevent'the rotation of the fork while being elevated; and finally, in the employment of a rigid bow or compressing-bar, attached totheslide which operates the tines or lifting-prongs, and

serving to contine a larger quantity of hazy upon said tines than the latter could take up alone.

Inthe drawings, A may represent thestock or main part of the instrument, which is east entire, or othcrf wise fprmed so as to consist of but one part. Within the stock A is a longitudinal opening containing the slide B, pivoted to the lower end of which are the tines or elevating-prongs C C. The prongs C are protruded, as shown clearly in figs. 1 and 3, when the slide B is depressed, the curved shape ot' the prongs, together with the internal formation of the stock at its lower end, causing said prongs to freely glide out through' the openings a a. Y Y

In the sidescof the stock are longitudinal slots a', which allow the free vertical movement of a bow or curved bar D, which is krigidly attached tov the slide B, and whichprojeots :1n equal' distance at each side of the stock. v v l The operation of the above-described parts will be readily understood. The slide B being elevated so as to draw `the prongs C C within the stock A, and raise the bar D, as shown in iig. 2, the fork is thereby placed in readiness to penetrate the hay. The fork having been inserted into the hay, the slide B is depressed, in consequence of which the prongs C C are forced out ofjthe stock, so as to occupy a position at right angles to thc stock/A, or nearly so, andthe bar D is simultaneously brought down and made to compress Athe hay above or upon the prongs C C. These'relative positions of the parts are maintained by the engagement ofthe trigger E with the shouldered recess in the slide B, so that the hay raised upon the prongs C C is securely retained thereupon by the curved compressing-bar D. The elevating-rope is attached to the upper'end of the slide B, and the trigger E is pivoted tothe stock A, so that, when the fork is raised to the point'where the hay is to be deposited, the disengagement of the trigger E from the shoulder of b allowsthe stock A to move downward under the Weight of its load, and thus the prongs C C are drawn within the stock while the pressure of har D is removed. The hay thus losing its support, is discharged. The trigger E is pulled by means of the rope or cord F.

It is manifest that by the above-described device D, the lifting or retaining-capacity of the fork is greatly increased.

Projecting rigidly from the upper end of the stock A is an arm, G. The tripping-rope F passes through an eye, loop, orother guide, at the outer end of the arm Gr, thence through a loop on the top of slide B, and thence to the trigger E, to whlch said rope is attached. The employment of the arm G in connection with the tripping-rope subserves a very useful purpose, for it enables a person having hold of the tripping-rope to prevent the rotatign of' the fork, and the consequent twisting ofthe elevating-rope while the hay is being elevated.

The bar D is preferafbly curved as shown, but may be straight if convenience or circumstances should render suchform desirable.

Having thus rescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' The combination of the compressing :md retaining-bar o`1" bow' Dyivith the elevating-tintas or prongs C C, operating substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

To the above specification of my improvement in hay-forks, I have signed my name, this day, the eleventh of February, 1868.

' A, n Y HUGH LAIRD.

Witnesses:

JACOB HENRY, CEAS. D. SMITH.

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