On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The annexed engravings are views of an improvement'for a new plan of fastening the bows in ox yokes, invented by Messrs. Trua & Morrell, of Hampton Falls, N. H., who have taken measures to secure a patent. Fig. i is a vertical section, showing how one of the bows is secured by a spring in the hole of the yoke-beam, and figure 2 is a view of the spring which fastens the bow. The same letters refer to like parts. A is the yoke-beam (a part of it only is shown); it is made in the common manner. E is the bow, it is formed like those in common use, with the exception ot a part near the inside end, having a notch made in it in which a plate of metal, F, is secured by screws or otherwise; this plate has two recesses or notches, c, made in it. The bow is represented as being inserted in the yoke beam, A, and secured in its place by a bent steel spring, D. The inner bow-hole, C, is wider than the outer one,—a a showing the enlargement to allow the spring to act. This spring is secured by a screw at the top ot the beam, and a screw, b, at its lower bend, supports it in its place. D' is a projection on the spring which fits into the recess, c, in the metal plate, F, of the bow. G is a catch on the end of the spring. OPERATION—By taking hold of the catch, G, of the spring, and pulling it towards o, the projection, D', is then drawn of the recess, c, in the bow, to allow it (the bow) to be pulled out; the spring, on being released, immediately springs back. To insert the bow, the spring is drawn to the one side, in the same manner as the bow is released, and then it (the bow) is pushed up into the holes of yoke beam A, either with the lower or upper recess, c, as may be desired opposite the projection, D', of the spring. By releasing the spring from pressure on catch, G, the projection, D', springs into the recess, c, and keys the bow to the yoke beam. In a certain sense it may be called a self-keying yoke, and is a good improvement over the eye and loose wedge key, for fastening the bow to the beam in yoking up. More information may be obtained by letter addressed to the inventors.
