IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENCES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES OF WIRE."
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Greening, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Wire Worker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENCES AND OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES OF WIRE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin
Greening at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 15th February 1853.
1.
..
I, BENJAMIN GREENING, of Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Wire Worker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention-for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENCES AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES OF: WIRE" to be as follows:-
The first improvement. consists in machinery for--making wire
work for fences or other articles, by placing longitudinal wires at
suitable distances apart; small wires are wrapped round the longi-
tudinal ones, and other wires are introduced at right angles to the
longitudinal wires, thereby forming meshes of any required size.
The machinery for effecting this is put in motion by a steam engine

page_text: or other suitable power, and sheets of any convenient length and
breadth may be made.
Secondly, in machinery for making fences or other articles by
wrapping longitudinal wires with small wires, which are formed
into loops at suitable intervals to receive the cross wires.
Thirdly, in machinery for twisting two or more longitudinal
wires together, and introducing cross wires, either twisted or plain,
between the longitudinal wires.
Fourthly, in machinery for twisting longitudinal wires together
for short distances, then separating the wires and uniting them
again by twisting, so as to form sexagonal meshes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Benjamin Greening in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 13th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
BENJAMIN GREENING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Wire Worker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Greening, Her
special licence that I, the said Benjamin Greening, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as. I, the, said Benjamin
Greening, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENCES
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES OF WIRE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Greening, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Greening, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
My Invention consists of improved machinery for making wire
into fences and other similar articles. In manufacturing such
articles, it has hitherto been customary to employ hand labour; the
object of my improvements is to dispense in a great measure with
hand labour, and to employ steam or other power instead, thereby
producing a better article at less expence.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pur-
sued by me, reference being had to the annexed two Sheets of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
:
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a machine for making fences or
other similar articles; Figure 2, is a transverse section of the same
taken through the line A, B, on Figure 1; Figure 3, is a plan view
of the 'machine; and Figure 4, is a plan of the apparatus for inserting
the cross wires. The fence or other article produced on this
machine, contains eleven longitudinal wires about four inches apart;
and of any convenient length, and the cross wires are placed about
an inch and a half apart, but the number of and distances between
the wires can be varied according to circumstances. The wires
forming the longitudinal portion of the fence are marked a; they are
placed on reels b, supported in the arms b'; which are hinged to a cross
shaft 6, placed near the floor at the front of the machine. Each of the
wires a, is guided under and over the five pulleys c (only one set
of which is shewn in the plan view), by which it is straightened
before it passes through the tubes d: These tubes and the parts in

page_text: The
it is
The
connexion therewith are drawn full size in Figures 7, 8, and 9, of
Sheet 2; they are supported in the bearings e, and e¹, and to each
tube (except the two outermost) is fixed a bracket d', containing
the bobbin f, for the wrapping wire g, by which the cross wires are
securely bound to the horizontal wires a. The brackets d', for the
outermost tubes are fixed on the bosses of the pinions d³, as shewn
in Figures 7, and 9: the object of this arrangement is to allow the
outermost tubes to slide through the boss of the pinion, and to
enable the bracket to revolve independntly of the tube.
wrapping wire is guided over a little grooved pulley f', after
drawn off the bobbin f, by which it is guided to the wire a.
cross wires, which are marked h, are introduced under the wires a,
near the ends of the tubes d, and they are cut to the required length
and bent over the two outermost wires a, by suitable machinery,
which will be explained hereafter. The wire fence is carried forward
by the endless chains i, passing over the rollers j, and k, and it is
wound upon the drum l, to which motion is given by a strap and
pulley, or in the manner hereafter to be explained in reference to
Figures 11, and 12. The various parts of the machine are set in
motion in the following manner: Upon the driving shaft m, is
fixed the fast pulley m', to which motion is given by a steam engine
or other motive power; the bevel pinion m², fast on the shaft m, is
now supposed to be in gear with the pinion n, which imparts the
requisité motion to the machinery for introducing the cross wires h,
and various other pieces in connection with the shaft s. Above the
pinion n, is another pinion p, which gives motion to the tubes d,
and to the machinery for carrying the fence or other article forward.
The pinion m³, also fast on the shaft m, gears into a large bevel
wheel o, in the face of which is a groove for changing the position
of the shaft m, which is supported at one end in a swivel bearing
projecting from the frame side, and at the other end by a bearing in
the upright bar q, from which projects a stud furnished with an an-
tifriction roller entering into the groove in the face of the wheel o.
When the antifriction roller is in that part of the groove marked o¹,
the pinion m³, gives motion to the pinion n; when it is in that

page_text: part marked o³, the pinion m³, gears into the pinion p; and when it
is in the part marked o³, the pinion m³, is held out of gear, with both
the pinion n, and p; this is occasionally necessary to allow the
various pieces in communication with the pinion n, to regain their
positions after the cross wire h, has been introduced. The pinion .p,
is fixed on a short upright shaft, to the other end of which is fixed
a pinion p', which gives motion to the pinion p², on the horizontal
shaft 23, on which the skew pinions p', are fixed; these pinions are
placed in such positions that they communicate motion in opposite
directions.to the tubes d, by gearing into the pinions d³, on opposite
sides; by this means the wrapping wires g, on the bobbins f, are
wound in contrary directions round the horizontal wires a. I wish
to observe here that the pinions d', are loose on the outermost
tubes d, and that the brackets d', of the said outermost tubes are
fixed on the bosses of the pinions. Upon the horizontal shaft p³, is
also fixed a pinion p³, which gives motion to the chains i, by the
pinion 7, and diagonal shaft r, to the other end of which is fixed a
worm, gearing into a worm wheel K', on the shaft of the rollers ;
the flanges on these rollers serve to lift
The
the fence beyond the reach
of the points projecting from the wire chains i, the links of which
chains take in between the teeth of wheels cast with the rollers k,
as shewn in the plan Figure 3. The mechanism for introducing the
cross wire h, is actuated by the pinion n, see Figure 1; this pinion
communicates its motion to the lower horizontal shafts by bevel
pinions as clearly shewn in the Drawing. The coil of wire from
which the cross wires h, are cut, is placed on a bobbin t, mounted
horizontally at one side of the machine, as shewn at Figure 4.
end of the wire after passing between straightening rollers t',
is taken hold of by the nippers 2; these nippers are furnished
with toggle joints and they are hinged to blocks sliding to and
fro' along the rails t. This to and fro' motion is imparted to the
nippers by a cord u, passing round the grooved pulley u¹; the cord,
after passing over the guide pulleys 2, is made fast to the block on
which the toggle joints, are hinged. Upon the same shaft as the
grooved pulley u', is a small pulley u³, to which one end of the

page_text: chain, is fixed; the other end, after passing over the guide pulley
u, see Figure 1, is made fast to the lever u; this lever is acted
upon by the cam s', fixed near the outer end of the shaft s.. In
Figure 1, the lever u, is shewn in the position it assumes when the
nippers t, are near the frame side, as seen in Figures 2, and 3; but
as soon as the shaft s, has performed another fourth of a revolution,
the cam s¹, allows the counter weight u, to move the pulley u', in
the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, thereby bringing the nippers
towards the bobbin t, as shewn in Figure 4; in which view they are
shewn in the position ready for carrying forward a fresh portion of
When the
the wire, when the cam s¹, again acts on the lever u.
wire h, is being introduced across the machine, the brackets d, are
all down, as shewn in Figures 1, and 3; the wire is therefore, sup-
ported by the said brackets until the required length has been cut
off by the shears v, which will be explained hereafter. The arms w,
fixed on the shaft w', are then raised by the cam s, on the shaft s;
these arms hold the wire h, in contact with the under side of the
wires a, until the two outermost tubes d, are projected forward
sufficiently to bring the nibs d³, seen best in Figures 7, 8, and 9,
under the ends of the said wire; the nibs are then turned partly
round, by which means the ends of the wire h, are bent over the
outermost wires a. The mode of projecting the tubes forward and
turning them partly round, is as follows: Upon the shaft s, are
fitted loosely two cams s³, and two groove pulleys st, see Figure 2;
these cams and pulleys are connected to the shaft s, by the arms' s³,
and by studs s", passing through segmental slots in the face of the
grooved pulleys s'; the object of these segmental slots is to allow
the shaft s, to revolve sufficiently for introducing the wire h, before
the tubes d, are acted upon; each of the cams s³, acts on a double
forked lever s, the upper portions of which have pins fitting in the
grooves of the pulleys d', fixed to the outermost tubes d. To each
of the grooved pulleys s', is fixed the end of a chain se, the other
end of which is fixed to the pulley d'; consequently when the shaft
s, see Figure 1, has performed another fourth of a revolution the
studs so, having already arrived at the end of the segmental slots
in the pulleys s4, carry the said pulleys partly round with them,

page_text: thereby causing the cams s, to act on the levers s, and project the
tubes d, the proper distance for bringing the nibs a,, under the wire
; the chains s", are at the same time drawn tight, consequently the
action on the chains so, turns the outermost tubes d, partially round
in contrary directions, thereby causing the nibs d. to bend the ends
of the wire h, round the outermost wires a. The shears v, see
Figures 1, and 3, must be moved sideways when the wire h, is cut,
in order to allow the bracket d', to revolve; for this purpose it is
necessary to employ a cam s', for opening and closing. the shears,
and another cam s8, for moving them sideways. By the time, these
operations have been accomplished, the bevel wheel o, has performed
so much of a revolution that the antifriction roller in the upright
bar q, has arrived in the groove o; consequently the pinion m³, is
lifted out of gear with the pinion n, thereby stopping the shaft s.
As soon as the pinion m³, has been raised out of gear with the
pinion n, the shaft s, is carried round in the contrary direction to
that indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, until the studs "s, arrive
at the other ends of the segmental slots in the pulleys is, by the
counterweight s", passing over the pulley s2, fixed on the shaft s:
When the pinion m³, is elevated into gear with the pinion p; the
tubes d; and rollers j, and, which had before been stationary, are
put into motion thereby, first wrapping the wires g, round the
crossings of the wires a, and h, and then only round the wires a;
the roller, carrying at the same time the fence, which is now com-
plete, forward and delivering it to the drum ; upon which it is
wound. As soon as the bevel wheel o, has completed 'a revolution
the antifriction roller is again in that part of the groove marked o';
consequently the tubes are stopped and the shaft s; is again put in
motion, thereby introducing another cross wire h, and performing
the other operations before described. I wish to remark here, that
altho' I have shewn a machine capable of being put in motion
by a steam engine or other power, and only requiring an attendant
to keep the bobbins filled with wire, it may, however, in some cases,
be desirable to perform some of the operations by hand; I also
propose, for some descriptions of fences; to have a feeding apparatus
for introducing the cross wires h, at each side of the machine; this

page_text: would be requisite when a short wire reaching about half way across
the fence is introduced between, each of the cross wires h, or when
two narrow fences or other similar work are made on the same
machine. The machinery shewn in Figure 5, represents certain alte-
rations in the machine previously described, to render the same
capable of producing fences or other similar articles having the
cross wires bound to the longitudinal ones by loops of wire, instead of
by being wrapped once round, as in the mode before referred to. In
this view many of the pieces are similar to those in Figure 1, and
are 'marked with the same letters of reference. In this instance it is
requisite to move all the tubes d, to and fro' in the direction of their
axes. This is effected by securing all the bearings e, and e', to a
plate e, to which is jointed one end of the link es, the other end
being jointed to a crank on the shaft e', as shewn by dotted lines.
On the shaft eis fixed a disk e, having a pin projecting from it
to act on the lever e, to which is jointed the link e; the other ex-
tremity of this link is jointed to the piece es, the object of which
will be explained presently. The groove in the face of the bevel
wheel. o, must in this instance be provided with two neutral parts o³,
in one of which the antifriction roller projecting from the upright
bar 9, is now supposed to be; the pinion m², see Figure 1, is there-
fore out of gear with both the pinions n, and p; the toothed segment
p', on the back of the wheel o, is now supposed to be entering into
gear with a pinion on the shaft e; consequently when the bevel
wheel o, revolves in the direction of the arrow, the segment o*,
moves the shaft et, through half a revolution; during this time the
pin in the disk e moves the piece e, into the position indicated by
dotted lines, and at the same time moves the plate e2, and all the
tubes d, towards the piece e8; the tubes are then made to revolve
about half arrevolution by the groove o", elevating the upright of
and bringing the pinion m³, into gear with the pinion p; and at the
same time the pin projecting from the disk e, having passed beyond
the end of the lever es, allows the weight e, to draw the pieces es,
back to their original positions; by this means loops are formed by
the wires g, passing under the projections on the said pieces es,
and into these loops the wires h, are introduced when the antifric-

page_text: tion roller arrives at that part of the groove marked o', in the
manner previously described. When the second neutral part of the
groove marked o³, comes in contact with the antifriction roller, the
pinion m², is again out of gear. with the pinions 2, and n, and the
segment o³, comes into gear with the pinion on the shaft e', and
makes it perform another half revolution, thereby bringing the
plate e, into the position from which it started.
This moving back
of the plate e, draws all the wires g, tight, and secures the cross
wires h, to the horizontal wires a, by a loop, as shewn full size in
Figure 6.
When that part of the groove marked o², comes into opera-
tion, the wires g, are wrapped round the wires a, until the bevel
wheel o, regains the position shewn in Figure 5, when all the opera-
tions are repeated in the same order.
I will now proceed to describe, in reference to Figure 10, on
Sheet 2, the machinery for making fences or other similar articles
having the small wires similar to g, in Figure 7, twisted together,
instead of the longitudinal wires marked a, in Figures 1, 3, 5, and
6. The machinery for producing this sort of work is simpler than
that above described, inasmuch as the reels b, are dispensed with,
and instead of the tubes d, solid shafts marked x, in Figure 10,
may be adopted. To the end of the shafts, double brackets 1,
are attached, containing two bobbins f, and two guide pulleys,
f; h, represents 'part of one of the cross wires which are introduced
across the machine in the manner previously described, and they
are held at their proper distance by the twisting together of the
longitudinal wires g. It is evident that when one machine is em-
ployed for producing different sorts of work, the brackets d',
can be removed from the ends of the tubes d, and the brackets a
substituted in their stead. In Figures 11 and 12, I have shewn
an arrangement of machinery for winding the fence or other wire
work on to the drum l. When this mode of winding up the work
is adopted, the endless chains i, and roller j, shewn in Figure 1,
may he dispensed with; in this instance, to the shaft of the drum 1,
is keyed a scroll, the smallest radius of which is equal to the radius
of the drum ; the radius of the scroll is gradually increased ac-
cording to the increasing diameter of the coil wound upon the drum

page_text: 1: a chain, is wound around the scroll l', and after passing partly
round the toothed wheel, and pulley ³, it is collected in a box
or allowed to drop on the floor near the machine; the boss of the
pulley k³, is screwed to fit the thread on the stud", as seen in
Figure 12. The operation of these parts is as follows:-The
machine is now supposed to be set to work, and the end of the fence
or other article is secured to the drum ; the roller k, in revolving,
gives motion to the toothed wheel and to the chain , which acts
on the scroll, thereby winding the fence or other article on to the
drum ; and as each step of the scroll is equal to the thickness of
the fence or other article under operation, it is evident that the
speed on the circumference of the scroll will at all times be uniform.
The object of the thread on the stud K', is to bring the pulley K³,
and with it the toothed wheel K2, towards the frame, side, as the
chain is unwound off the scroll ; by this means the pull of the
chain, is at all tinies nearly in a direct line from the scroll.
apparatus for winding up the fence or other article is particularly
advantageous when the cross wires. h, are of thin wire, and when
they are so close together that there is not sufficient space för
admitting the points projecting from the endless chains i.
This
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the best
means with which I am acquainted for performing the same, I wish
it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the details herein
given, so long as the peculiar character of any part of my Invention
be retained; but what I claim is, the improved machinery herein-
hefore described, and shewn in the annexed Drawings, or any com-
bination of the same for making fences or other similar. articles of
wire.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Greening;..have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three..
BENJAMIN GREENING. (L.S.)