IMPROVEMENTS IN BARBED METALLIC FENCING, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BARBED METALLIC FENCING, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
MAKING THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Thomas Valentine
Allis, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
=
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Philip Middleton Justice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1880.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BARBED METALLIC FENCING, AND
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME." [A communication from
abroad by Thomas Valentine Allis, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America, Manufacturer.]
This Invention relates to that kind of barbed metallic fencing, consisting of a rod
or bar and barbs integral therewith, which barbs are made out of one or more thin
fins produced upon one or more sides of the rod or bar in the rolling of it, or out
of the edges of a plain or flat bar by punching or otherwise cutting away portions
of the fins, so as to leave points or barbs at suitable distances apart along the rod
or core, said points or barbs resembling saw teeth in form, and being made to
project in various radial directions by twisting the rod or bar. It also relates to
the dies employed in the cutting or punching of the fins or bars for the removal of
those portions thereof between the points or barbs which are to be displaced in the
making of the barbs. The first part of the Invention consists of a blank for the
making of rods, having a single row of points or barbs with narrow webs of the fin,
out of which the barbs are formed retained along the core or body of the rod, and
connecting the bases of said barbs also with a plain rib on the side opposite to the
barbs, which said blank consists of two rods or cores connected by a thin web, out
of which the barbs for each rod are to be formed, and with a narrow outside web
to each rod to form the plain rib opposite to the barbs; the said connecting web

page_text: -
being so proportioned as to breadth that the forming of the barbs and the
separation of the two rods may be effected by the one operation of the punches by
which the barbs are shaped. The advantage of this particular form is the
utilization of the natural tendency of the rolls to form fins on the edges of the
metal, being rolled for the making of the narrow fins, while the arrangement
whereby the metal for the wider barb fins is disposed so as to constitute a web to
connect the two rods in one and the same bar during the rolling process, and
whereby in the subsequent barb-forming process the punches necessary for shaping
the barbs of one rod are equally operative for making those on the other, and with
no more work than is requisite for one, economises largely in cost of manufacture.
The second part of the Invention consists in the combination with a rod having
barbs on one side only and narrow webs of the fin, out of which they are made
along said rod, and between said barbs of a narrow plain fin on the opposite side of
the core, the object of which is to connterbalance the webs between the barbs in
twisting, and cause the rod to twist straightly, which the said webs prevent when
not so counterbalanced because of the greater quantity of metal on that side.
This part of the Invention relates particularly to rods having only one row of barbs
upon one side, and made from a fin that is radial to the core, so that the core swells
out beyond both sides of the fin, a form which requires that the bed die of the
punches employed for cutting the barbs shall have a groove in its face, in which
the core or rod may lie while the fin lies on the flat surface of the die face to be
punched, in which form of rod the aforesaid narrow webs between the barbs cannot
be dispensed with to enable the rod to twist straightly without the combination of
the aforesaid narrow fin with it, because dies cannot be made to cut the fin close to
the rod or core and be sufficiently durable for practical use for the hollow in the
face for the groove for the core weakens the metal just back of the cutting
edge by causing the same to be a sharp angle, which breaks away by the
pounding and hammering of the punches, consequently the distance between
the edge of the groove, for the core and the cutting edge of the die has to
be increased sufficiently to allow of a sufficient breadth and body of metal
level with the flat surface of the die to protect the cutting edge from which
it is plain the narrow web between the barbs necessarily results. When
the rod is to be armed with two rows of barbs there are like narrow webs
between the barbs of each side which makes the rod twist equally, but it is found
in practice that one row of barbs is really just as useful as two, so that it is highly
desirable to avoid the unnecessary expense of punching two rows, the punching
being the most expensive part of the process of manufacture, but to make rods
with one fin only for the one row of barbs has been found impracticable owing to
the irregular and crooked twist resulting from the one sided preponderance of
metal above described, wherefore I have devised the narrow plain balancing fin in
combination with the rod, having one row of barbs made out of a fin radial to the
core, of which fin narrow webs are retained along the core between the barbs.
Thirdly. The Invention of improvements in the fencing consists in the fins or webs
formed on the body or core in or about the plane of one side or face of the core,
or in other words the core or body made with one flat side from the edges of
which the webs or fins extend in the plane of said side, the object of which is to
contrive a shape which will allow of punching the fins away between the barbs
closer up to the sides of the core than can be done in the case of rods with radial
fins to make lighter and cheaper fencing when required. Fourthly. The Invention
of improvements in fencing consists in the manufacture of barbed metallic fencing
composed of a plain flat bar or strip with integral barbs of less thickness than the
bar or strip, by punching or cutting away portions of said bar along one or both
edges between points which are left for the barbs, and then thinning and drawing
the said points by rollers, hammers, or other means to elongate and reduce them
to the proper thickness and length. The object is to cheapen the cost of manu-
facture in the making of barbs on a rod or bar of greater thickness than the barbs,
which form is found in practice to be in some cases a desirable arrangement of

page_text: barbed fencing both for service and economy of metal. The economy of cost in
manufacture results in this case from the difference between the cost of rolling
plain flat bars or strips and that of rolling cores or rods with fins. The bar or rod
must have certain size and surface area to be sufficiently sightly to animals, and
for tensile strength which is largely in excess of the thickness needed for the
barbs; if the bar is plain or flat and parallel sided, or approximately so, which
is the form contemplated in this case on account of the cheapness of its manu-
facture. Moreover to cut the barbs as long as required from a flat bar of
proper thickness for the bar itself would waste too much in the metal cut
away and in unnecessary thickness of barbs. In the machinery for making
the barbs the Invention consists, firstly, of a contrivance of the punch and die to
make the desired triangular and sharp pointed form of barbs by cutting away
portions of the fins between the barbs and along the rod or core, the construction
being such as not to cut away all all of the metal of the fins close up to and along
the core between the bases of the barbs, but to leave the aforesaid narrow webs of
the same in connection with the core or body of the rod for preserving greater
strength thereto between the barbs than if cut close to the core, and also for
enabling the die to have greater breadth and body of metal along the side of the
groove in its face in which the core lies, while the fins are cut to prevent the
metal from breaking or chipping off by the blows of the punches as aforesaid.
And, lastly, the Invention consists of an arrangement whereby a series of punches
and dies may be employed in a gang to expedite the work, without employing
the sharp and weak pointed dies that would be necessary if a gang or series were
arranged in the order of the barbs and spaces between them, which points would
not be lasting. An odd number of punches and dies are generally employed,
preferably three, to which the blank feeds the distance of two recesses m and one
face n, as shown in the Drawings which form part of this Specification. If five
punches and dies are employed the blank feeds the distance of three recesses m and
two faces n.
The improved form of blank is represented in cross section in Fig. 1 and in plan
in Fig. 2, which also shows a short section of the blank punched and pointed or
barbed and separated into two finished rods as far as the same are completed
before twisting. This blank consists of the two cores or rods a united by a
thin web b, and each rod having a narrow thin fin C outside. The web b is
reduced in thickness to the required thickness of the barbs d, and in breadth it is
equal to the length of one barb, plus a small allowance for shearing off to make the
points sharp, also the breadth of two webs e which are portions of the wide web b
or fin, out of which the barbs are made that are retained along the cores or rods
between the base of the barbs for greater strength of the rods when required and
for allowing the requisite breadth of metal between the groove f and the cutting
edge g of the dies Figs. 3 and 4, Fig. 3 showing the faces of bed dies A for punching
the form of rod shown in Fig. 2, also shown in Fig. 7, where it is represented in
the complete twisted form, and Fig. 4 showing the face of bed die B for
making the barbs on a single rod with two rows of barbs, one opposite the other,
or with one row, and with the same intervening webs e along the core a and
between the barbs d. This form of rod is made from the blank represented in
plan and partly punched in Fig. 8, cross section in Fig. 9, and in the completely
finished form in Fig. 10. The dies shown in plan Figs. 3 and 4 are also represented
in side elevation in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, together with their punches i, j,
Figs. 3 and 5 full size, and Figs. 4 and 6 half size. It will be noticed that this
form of blank Fig. 1 is adapted for being made in the simplest manner of rolling,
and is also adapted for making barbed rods with one row of barbs, and one narrow
plain fin balancing the webs between the barbs better than any other form known.
The outside narrow fins c are the result of the natural finning action of the rolls on
metal, while the middle web comes of the space between a pair of plain rolls only
having grooves for the cores a. The radial disposition of these fins to the cores a
demands the grooves f in the die blocks A, B, wherefor in order to make the

page_text: cutting edge of the die substantial, and also for cutting the notches between the
barbs, so as to leave the webs e, the die is made with a flat face h between edge g
and groove f. The other form of rod consisting of a core a with one flat side, and
one or two rows of barbs parallel to the flat side is shown in plan view partly in
the blank and partly finished in Fig. 11, in cross section in Fig. 12, and in the
complete twisted form in Fig. 13.
Fig. 14 is a plan of the face of the die D without groove f, and Fig. 15 a side
elevation of said die and its punches . This rod having one side flat and coincident
with one side of the barbs lays on the flat surface of the die block D to be punched,
which block not having to be grooved for the rod may have its cutting edge g
adjusted to cut the fin close up to the side of the rod without detriment to its
power of durability, thus permitting all of the fin to be cut away to make barbs of
a given length from fins of less breadth for economy of metal when lighter fencing
is required. The weight is still further diminished by lack of the full rounded form
of the rod or core. This form of rod affords greater length to the consumer per ton,
but for localities and conditions requiring greater weight and strength, the forms
represented in Figs. 7 and 10 are preferred, and a particular advantage of these
forms lies in the greater surface and more visible and sightly appearance attained
by the disposal of their excess of metal or most of it in the flat webs or fins along
the core which is another object had in view in making them. For punching the
blank represented in Fig. 1, and converting it into two barbed rods each having a
single row of barbs, four dies 1, 2, 3, and 4 with their corresponding punches i are
used in such arrangement that the barbs of one rod are made of metal between the
barbs of the other rod, which would be punched away were each rod punched alone.
Ea punch and die corresponds with the shape of the spaces between the points of
2.
rods, the angular set of each successive die and punch being the reverse of each
cher, and four being used to expedite the work. They are numbered respectively
from left to right, which is the direction in which the blank is supposed to feed.
With the four punches the blank shifts forward at each operation the distance from
centre to centre of two barbs and two spaces, say, from a to x, if six punches and dies
were used the blank would feed the distance of three barbs and spaces, and so on,
but for practical use four punches are considered best. But while this arrangement is
especially applicable for pointing and separating the rods of the blank of Fig. 1, that
which is shown in Figs. 4 and 6 is required for punching the fins of single rods having
either one or two fins b¹. The same groove f for the core or rod is employed together
with the breadth of face h between the groove and the cutting edge for making the
webs e, but the punches ; and the die recesses m correspond in shape with the
spaces between the barbs to cut along webs e and the adjacent sides of two barbs,
said punches and dies being in duplicate; for barbs of two fins, and in an arrange-
ment for employing a series in a gang, the punches and die recesses are located apart,
the distance from outside to outside of two barbs, and one space between said barbs
with intervening faces n corresponding in form to said barbs and space, and an
odd number is employed, preferably three, while the blank feeds the distance of
two recesses m and one face n. If five punches and dies are employed the blank
feeds the distance of three recesses m and two faces n. It is manifest that an even
number of punches and dies in the alternate arrangement herein shown of parts m
and n would not be operative. This construction of punches and dies is also
designed for making sharp points to the barbs by shearing the second cut of each
barb across the line of the first one, which is effected by making the faces n a little
wider than the length of the barbs are to be, and so adjusting the breadth of
recesses m and punches ; as to cut in the last operation across the lines of the
first cut, the fins being also made a little wider than the length of the barbs when
finished. This may also be done however with the dies and punches of Figs. 3
and 5, If these punches and dies were arranged in a gang or series in the order of
the barbs and the spaces between them the dies would have to be pointed sharp
like the barbs, which would not be a durable shape; moreover, in such arrangement
they could not be made to shear cut the points as stated.

page_text: ...Fig. 16 is a cross section, and Fig. 17 a plan of the blank, as I propose to roll it
for the making of plain flat bars with barbs upon the edge or edges made by first
forming points of the full thickness of the bar and then rolling, hammering, or
otherwise, drawing, elongating, and thinning them. Fig. 18 is a plan showing
the same arrangement for making two barbed bars out of one blank, as is
shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 19 and 20 are cross sections of the finished barbed
bars showing slight modifications in the arrangement of the barbs, and Fig. 21
is a side view of the complete. barbed rod or bar twisted as usual to project the
barbs in different radial directions. D is the plain flat bar or blank for two
barbed rods or bars; al and d' represents the barbs which, when produced by the
punches, as indicated in Fig. 18, are the same thickness as the bar and a little
shorter than when finished, say about one third, and by preference the edges
cut by the punches are a little concave, so that when hammered or rolled down
to elongate them they will become about straight by the tendency of the metal
to take the reverse or convex form along the edges under the action of the
rolls or hammer. After punching out the surplus metal between the barbs I
propose to pass the barbed bars a¹ between roller s or hammer dies arranged
to roll, hammer, or press the barbs to about one third of the thickness of the bar,
and elongate them, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. In this way I produce the bar
by the simplest and cheapest method of rolling, and make the barbs of required
length and as thick as it is desirable to have them without so much waste of metal
cut away as there would be if the bar was wide enough to afford the length without
drawing the barbs, also without the waste of unnecessary thickness of the barbs.
It is believed that this form of bar is equally as good when twisted as the round or
kindred forms with fins, the quantities of metal being the same, and when due
proportions of breadth and thickness are preserved, which proportions are for the
mean according to my experience breadth about the same as the length of the barbs
when finished, and thickness about three times that of the finished barbs; but they
may vary to some extent, of course care being taken that the bar shall not be
much increased in breadth by reduction of thickness, which greatly lessens the
lateral and torsional rigidity.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the Invention of my foreign
correspondent, and in what manner the same may be practically employed, I would
have it understood that I do not claim broadly cutting sharp points by shearing
the final cut across the edge made by the previous cut, nor do I claim broadly the
arrangement of a series of punches and dies in a gang, but I do claim the improve-
ments hereinbefore described and represented in the Drawing, as follows
First. The blank for the manufacture of barbed metallic fencing, consisting of
two cores or rods a connected by a thin web b, adapted for the cutting of barbs to
each rod or core in the manner described, and a narrow fin c to each rod or core
opposite to the connecting web b, as set forth.
Second. The hereinbefore described improved barbed metallic fencing rod having
a narrow plain balancing fin together with and opposite to one row of barbs, made
out of a fin radial to the core of the rod, of which fin a narrow web e is retained
along the core between the barbs.
Third. The improvement in barbed metallic fencing, consisting of the body or
core of the rod, having one flat side with barbs formed on the said body or core in
the plane of said flat side or about in said plane, as described.
Fourth. The method of making barbed metallic fencing, consisting of a flat bar
with integral barbs of less thickness than the bar along one or both edges of the
same by punching or cutting away portions of the bar between points retained for
the barbs, and drawing and thinning the points by rolling, hammering, or pressing,
as described.
Fifth. The improved barbed metallic fencing, consisting of a flat bar with
integral barbs of less thickness than the bar along one or both edges of the same,
substantially as described.
Sixth. In dies for cutting barbs out of fins that are radial to the core of a metallic

page_text: fencing rod, and which dies have a groove f in the face for said core, a face h
between said groove, and the cutting edge g, extending said edge g beyond the
radius of the core of the rod for the retention of webs e between the barbs and for
durability of the dies, as before described.
Seventh. The combination of a punch ; with a die having a recess m, faces h, n,
and groove f, constructed and arranged to cut the adjacent sides of two barbs d,
also web e between said barbs and along the rod, and also to point the barbs by
shearing the final cut across the first one, as described.
Eighth. A gang. of punches j and die recesses m for cutting the barbs of metallic
fencing, arranged the distance apart of two barbs and one space between said barbs,
and having die faces n between said recesses m corresponding in length to said two
barbs and one space, and the said gang consisting of three or any greater odd
number of punches and corresponding die recesses.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
1880
PHILIP M. JUSTICE. (L.S.)