IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF BARBED FENCE WIRE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer of 33 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF BARBED FENCE WIRE" A communication
from abroad by Thomas Hutchings Dodge and Charles Grenfill Washburn
both of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF BARBED FENCE
WIRE"
(A communication from abroad by Thomas Hutchings Dodge and Charles
Grenfill Washburn, both of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts United States
of America)
This Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 represents a short piece or section of barbed wire as it would appear if
the process of manufacturing the same were not carried out to the extent shown in
Figures 3 and 3ª of the Drawing as will be hereafter more fully described, yet said
barbed wire as shown in said Figure 1 can be used with good results although not
to the same extent as that shown in Figures 3, 3a and 4 of the Drawing.
Figure 2 represents an opposite side view of the parts shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a side view of a section or piece of barbed wire embracing
additional features of practical utility and novelty.
Figure 3a represents a side view of a portion of the parts shown in Figure 3,
after the same has been turned about a quarter around to bring the barbs on the
left, into the positions shown in Figure 3a and Figure 4 represents a section on
line x, x Figure 3
In the Drawing the main wire C has coiled thereon two barb wires D and E
and these barb wires are fed to the machine by automatic machinery and are
cut off at the points d and e after the ends D' and E¹ have been coiled upon the
wire C
The end D¹ of one barb wire is run upon one side of wire C while the end E'
of the other barb is run upon the other side of the main wire C and these ends
are run past the main wire C a sufficient distance to form the double coil F each

page_text: barb wire making two turns about the wire C and its ends left projecting to
form barbs as indicated in the Drawing.
Prior to this Invention attempts had been made to manufacture a cabled
four pointed barbed wire with the barba upon only one wire but resort was had
to rather complicated arrangements such as twisting one barb wire around its
fellow the whole or a part of the distance in order to secure a tight lock and which
constructions were objectionable as presenting projections and enlargements in the
coils and also preventing the plain or unbarbed wire G from being cabled or
twisted with the barbed wire C so as to be compact, close even and uniform and
thereby preventing such a construction as to secure a uniform strain and tension
on both main wires.
By this process the barb wire ends D' and E¹ are wound on the wire C and their
ends left standing out at right angles or nearly so, as shown in Figures 3 and 4
while the other ends D and E which stand oblique as shown in Figures 1 and 2
when cut off are struck with a sudden and quick blow at the points 1 and 2¹
thereby forcing the end E up against the coil a of the barb wire D and the end D
up against the coil 6 of the barb wire E which securely locks the coils together
and at the same time straightens out the ends D and E so that they will stand out
at right angles or nearly so (see Figure 3a) to the wire C the same as the ends D¹
and E as in Figure 3.
Wire G is cabled with the barbed wire C so that it will rest against the barb
ends E¹ and also press on the bases of the barb ends D¹ and E¹ and by which
arrangement both barb coils are still further secured in position.
It will be understood that by the action of setting back the ends D and E the
pitch of the coils or screw formed thereby is changed from what it is in the middle
of the coils or screws, and hence the whole coil is rendered rigid as if set nuts were
used.
The barbed wire thus manufactured allows an expansion and contraction of each
main wire comparatively independent of its fellow while the coils of the barb wire
are such that both main wires can be closely cabled together and so evenly as to
make both main wires of about the same length and hence both take and resist any
strain brought to bear upon any given cabled strand when in use, thereby
obviating the objections to interlocking and winding the barbs about both main
wires. Then again the barbs being made to stand out straight obviates the
objections to oblique barbs, the latter being more liable to injure stock.
The blow is struck against ends D and E while the wire is moving forward with
the barbs thereon in the direction indicated by arrow 3¹ Figure 2.
Of course said quick spring blow can be struck when the wire is at rest and
hence the Invention is applicable to machines in which the wire to be barbed is
fed forward intermittingly or at stated intervals.
The position of the barb-wires after they have been run forward from the spool
of wire preparatory to being coiled about the main stand C to form the double
coil F is shown in dotted lines Figure 2. Wire C passes through a rotating and
coiling head which has upon its front end two coiling pins projecting forward one
pin for each barb wire and by the rotation of said head and pins the barb wires
are coiled about the wire C to form the coil F after which the barb wires are cut at
the points d and e-when the wire and its attached group of barbs passes on and
the operation is repeated.
It is preferred to have the main wire C fed forward by a continuous motion, the
coiling head having a reciprocating motion so that the barb can be coiled on wire C
when it is moving forward with the same or nearly the same speed of the main
wire C the head face being arranged to force and straighten up the ends D¹ and E
at end of the coil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st June 1882.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF BARBED FENCE
WIRE" A communication from abroad by Thomas Hutchings Dodge and Charles
Grenfill Washburn, both of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, United States
of America.
Fig. 1. represents a short piece or section of barbed wire as it would appear if the
process of manufacturing the same were not carried out to the extent shown in
Figs. 3, and 3 of the Drawing as will be hereafter more fully described, yet said
barbed wire as shown in said Fig. 1. can be used with good results although not to
the same extent as that shown in Figs. 3. 3 and 4. of the Drawing.
Fig. 2. represents an opposite side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3. represents a side view of a section or piece of barbed wire embracing
additional features of practical utility and novelty.
Fig. 3. represents a side view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 3. after the
same has been turned about a quarter around to bring the barbs on the left into
the positions shown in Fig. 3A. and
Fig. 4. represents a section on line x. x. Fig. 3.
In the Drawing the main wire C. has coiled thereon two barb wires D and E.
and these barb wires are fed to the machine by automatic machinery and are cut
off at the points d and e. after the ends D₁ and E¹ have been coiled upon the
wire C. The end D¹ of one barb wire is run upon one side of wire C. while the
end E. of the other barb wire is run upon the other side of the main wire C and
these ends are run past the main wire C. a sufficient distance to form the double
coil F, each barb wire making two turns about the wire C. and its ends left
projecting to form barbs, as indicated in the Drawing.
Prior to this Invention attempts had been made to manufacture a cabled four
pointed barbed wire with the barbs upon only one wire but resort was had to
rather complicated arrangements, such as twisting one barb wire around its fellow
the whole or a part of the distance in order to secure a tight lock and which
constructions were objectionable as presenting projections and enlargements in the
coils and also preventing the plain or unbarbed wire G from being cabled or
twisted with the barbed wire C so as to be compact, close, even and uniform, and
thereby presenting such a construction as to secure an uniform strain and tension
on both main wires
By this process, the barb wire ends D' and end El are wound on the wire C
and their ends left standing out at right angles or nearly so as shown in Figs. 3
and 4 while the other ends D and E (which stand oblique as shown in Figs. 1.
and 2 when cut off are struck with a sudden and quick blow at the points 1' and
2 thereby forcing the end E. up against the coil a of the barb wire D and the
end D up against the coil b. of the barb wire E which securely locks the coils
together and at the same time straightens out the ends D. and E. so that they will
stand out at right angles, or nearly so, (see Fig. 34.) to the wire C. the same as the
ends D and E as in Fig. 3.
Wire G. is cabled with the barbed wire C. so that it will rest against the barb
ends E¹ and also press on the bases of the barb ends D¹ and E and by which
arrangement both barb coils are still further secured in position.
It will be understood that by the action of setting back the ends D and E. the
pitch of the coils or screw formed thereby is changed from what it is in the middle of

page_text: the coils or screws, and hence the whole coil is rendered rigid as if set nuts were
used.
The barbed wire thus manufactured allows an expansion and contraction of each
main wire comparatively independent of its fellow while the coils of the barb wire
are such that both main wires can be closely cabled together and so evenly as to
make both main wires of about the same length and hence both take and resist
any strain brought to bear upon any given cabled strand when in use thereby
obviating the objections to interlocking and winding the barbs about both main
wires.
Then again the barbs being made to stand out straight obviates the objections to
oblique barbs the latter being more liable to injure stock.
The blow is struck against ends D and E while the wire is moving forward with
the barbs thereon in the direction indicated by arrow 31. Fig. 2.
Of course said quick spring blow can be struck when the wire is at rest and
hence the Invention is applicable to machines in which the wire to be barbed is
fed forward intermittingly or at stated intervals.
The position of the barb wires after they have been run forward from the spool
of wire preparatory to being coiled about the main strand C. to form the double
coil F is shown in dotted lines Fig. 2. Wire C. passes through a rotating and
coiling head which has upon its front end two coiling pins projecting forward one
pin for each barb wire and by the rotation of said head and pins the barb wires
are coiled about the wire C. to form the coil F after which the barb wires are
cut at the points d. and e. when the wire and its attached group of barbs passes on
and the operation is repeated. It is preferred to have the main wire C. fed forward
by a continuous motion the coiling head having a reciprocating motion so that the
barb can be coiled on wire C when it is moving forward with the same or nearly
the same speed of the main wire C. the head face being arranged to force and
straighten up the ends D¹ and E' at end of the coil.
What is claimed is
First. The improved process of manufacturing four pointed barbed wire,
consisting, first, running the ends of two barb wires diagonally across the wire to
be barbed one on each side thereof second, coiling said ends into a double coil F;
with the ends D' and E'. left projecting in opposite directions, and third, setting
back the last cut ends D and E of the barb wires against the coils a. and b. by a
sudden and quick blow and straightening out the ends at right angles or nearly so
to the main wire, for the purposes set forth.
Second. The herein described improved process of manufacturing completed four
pointed and cabled wire shown in Figs. 3. 3. and 4. of the Drawing.
Third. In the process of manufacturing four pointed barbed wire, straightening
the barb ends by a quick and sudden blow for the purposes stated.
Fourth. As an improved article of manufacture, cabled four pointed barbed wire
the barbs being run upon opposite sides and coiled about and supported upon only
one main wire substantially as shown in Figs. 1. and 2. of the Drawing and for the
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Griffith Brewer have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two:-
E. G. BREWER. (L.S.)