(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 1.

A., & C. A. CHURCH,

HAY SLING,
No. 384,960, Patented June 26, 1888.

IITVE Ilid I,

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithingrapher, Washington, d. c.

(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 2.
A. & C. A. CHURCH,
HAY SING
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
ANDREW CHURCH AND CHARLES A. CHURCH, OF MORENCI, MICHIGAN.
HAY-SLING.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,960, dated 5une 26, 1888.
Application filed April 16, 1887. Serial No. 235,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: pended and as if embracing a bundle of hay;

Be it known that we, ANDREW CHURCH and Fig. 3, same after coupling of the sections are
CHARLESA, CHURCH, citizens of the United tripped, showing sections disengaged; Fig. 4,
States, residing at Morenci, Lenawee county, an enlarged longitudinal section through our
Michigan, have invented certain new and use trip-lock, showing the same closed; and Fig.
ful Improvements in Hay-Slings, of which the 5, same showing lock open. throughout
following is a specification. Like letters represent like parts
Our invention relates to that class known as the Several views.
'sectional’ hay-slings, composed of two or From each of the rings a lead two ropes, b, Co
O more ropes, parallel or converging at their ends, and a third rope, b. Ropes b, at their ends
united by cross slats or bars. In hay-slings of opposite from the rings, are attached to One
this class the sling is first laid so that the ends of the pieces of sectional cross-bar, and rope
extend beyond the ends of the wagon rack or b' terminates in a loop which slips loosely over
bed. The hay or grain is piled on the sling, the outer end of that section of the cross-bar
and the ends of the sling are then brought to. to which the opposite group of ropes b is at
gether above the hay, which is thus com tached. (See Fig. 1) Section of the cross
pressed into a bundle which may be readily bar is provided at its inner end with a trip
hoisted and conveyed to any desired part of a lock, d, designed to engage an eye or ring c,
now or stack. In certain hay-slings of this on the inner end of section of cross-bar c, thus
class heretofore in use the cross-bars are entire forming a joint which permits the cross-bar to
and the ropes of the sling converge together conform somewhat to the bottom of the Wagon
between the two cross-bars nearest the center bed or rack and permitting the cross-bar to .
of the sling. These ropes are made fast at partially embrace the sides of the load.
this point to a tripping device, which when The locking device d is tripped and un 75
25 operated permits the two halves of the device locked by means of corde in the hands of the
to fall asunder, allowing the released bundle operator. -- - -
to drop. It is found in practice that in this The case of lock d is provided with a mor
arrangement of cross-bars with centrally-con
Verging ropes between them the cross-bars | tisef istoareceive
hookedtheboltend of bar c. on ping, pro
oscillating
press into the hay, so that when the two halves vided with openingh, forming a jaw to receive
of the sling are allowed to drop apart the two the loop or ring c" on bar c.
CrOSS-bar's nearest the center pull the bundle i is a sliding stop to which cord e is at
apart and carry with them a considerable tached, which stop, being slipped under shoul
quantity of hay, which is either scattered der k of bolt f, locks the jaw h against the in
35 about or which must be pulled off from the ner side of the lock-case, as in Fig. 4, prevent
bars. ing oscillation of the bolt f and escape of ring
A further disadvantage of the sling here re c. Stop i being withdrawn, as in Fig. 5, by a
ferred to is the shortness and rigidity of the pull on corde, the weight of ring c" and its ap
CrOSS-bars, the length of which is of course pendages causes bolt f to perform part of a 90
limited somewhat by the width of the wagon revolution, opening jaw hand releasing ring c.
bed or rack upon which the sling is used. l is a coiled spring, one arm of which, l,
The objects of our invention are, first, to ob presses against the shoulder k of bolt?, so as
viate the difficulty here pointed out, and, sec- to tend to keep jaw h open constantly. The
ond, to provide a convenient and reliable trip. spring's other arm, l, engages sliding stop?i, 95
15 lock for our device. We attain these objects exerting a constant pressure thereon in the
by means of the mechanism and arrangement direction of bolt.f. When ring c" is pushed
of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, against the back of jaw h, the pressure of
made part hereof, in which- spring-arm t is overcome, jaw h is closed,
Figure 1 is a plan view of our device as laid shoulder k is moved so that spring-arm forces Ioo
5O upon a Wagon bed or rack to receive its load; sliding stop i forward undershoulder k, catch
Fig. 2, a side elevation showing the sling sus. Jing and holding the hooked bolt in position.
 2 384,960

When cord e is pulled, the reverse operation the load may be dropped, are not new, and
takes place. The pressure of spring-arm t is we do not therefore claim, broadly, a sectional
overcome, sliding stop i is withdrawn, bolt f cross-bar; but
is tripped, and ring c is released, the jaw What we claim as our invention, and desire
5 standing open until the ring is again intro- to secure by Letters Patent, is
duced. 1. In a hay-sling, a single central Sectional
The sling being first arranged as shown in cross-bar composed of two sections meeting 35
Fig. 1, and the sections of cross-bar c c' being centrally of the sling, in combination with a
united by locking ring c' into lock d and slip. trip-lock uniting the adjacent ends of said two
O ping the loops of ropes b' over the outer ends sections, which sections, when said lock is
of sectional bar c c', the sling is now drawn tripped, become disconnected and fall apart,
taut around the bundle of hay to be handled substantially as shown and described, for the
and the load is suspended by rings a from the purpose specified.
usual pulleys and carriage and conveyed to 2. In a hay-sling, ropes b, ropes b, terminat
the point where it is desired to drop the bun-ing in a loop, respectively, and sectional cross
dle. Cord e is now pulled, lock d is tripped, bar c c', in combination with a trip-lock, sub
as hereinbefore described, the sections of stantially as shown and described, for the pur 45
cross-bar c c' fall apart, the loop on the end of poses specified.
rope b slips from its place, the two halves of 3. In a hay-sling, trip-lock d, provided with
the sling fly asunder, and the bundle is oscillating bolt f, sliding stop i, and spring l,
dropped in compact form without being torn in combination with sectional cross bar c c',
apart and without any of the hay being car. substantially as shown and described, for the
ried off on the bars or scattered around, or it purposes specified.
being necessary to pull any of the hay from ANDREW CEHURCH.
25 the bars. CHARLES A. CHURCH,
We are aware that sectional cross - bars Witnesses:
hinged permanently together so as to form a AVERY S. HILL,
hinged frame, through the opening of which RICHARD A. HAYES. &