AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPLIANCES FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF WIRE FOR FENCING AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Eyre, of Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London, and Ernest Heathfield, of the same Place, Iron Merchants, for an
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPLIANCES FOR SECURING THE
ENDS OF WIRE FOR FENCING AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Eyre and Ernest
Heathfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th
December 1880.
**
HERBERT EYRE, of Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, and ERNEST
HEATHFIELD, of the same Place, Iron Merchants. AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND
APPLIANCES FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF WIRE FOR FENCING AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to join the lengths of wire used for fencing,
telegraphic, and other purposes in a simpler and more effective manner than
heretofore.
Hitherto it has been usual in making a joint to turn back the ends of the wire
so as to form loops, and then to twist the free ends round the main portions of the
wire, an operation which requires some skill to perform, and also necessitates the
use of wire of better quality than would be otherwise required.
In order to carry out our Invention we flatten the ends of the wire and insert
them into a kind of buckle. This buckle we form of a strip of flat metal about
two inches in length, and we punch or cut therein two slots in line with one
another and longitudinally of the strip. At about two thirds of the length of each
slot the strip is turned or bent at right angles, so that, say, one third of each slot
shall be at right angles to the other two thirds.
The flattened ends of the wire are inserted in the longer portions of the slots,
and are brought down flat onto the centre of the buckle in such a manner that
the wire will project out of the buckle and through the turned up parts of
the slots.

page_text: In order to prevent the ends from coming out of the slots during the handling
of the wire we conveniently secure to the buckle a strip of zinc or other metal to
form a flap which when the ends are in place can be brought down over the ends
and turned over at the back of the buckle, thus holding the wires securely in their
place.
It will be evident that the ends of the wire may be made to take any desired
form and engage in suitably formed slots, and that the mode of securing the ends
is applicable to other purposes than those specially mentioned.
By the use of this Invention a considerable saving of time, and also in the
quantity of wire used will be effected, and the necessity for the employment of
skilled workmen will be to a great extent obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Eyre and Ernest Heathfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd June 1881.
HERBERT EYRE, of Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, and ERNEST
HEATHFIELD, of the same Place, Iron Merchants. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND.
APPLIANCES FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF WIRE FOR FENCING AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to join the lengths of wire used for fencing,
telegraphic signalling, and other purposes, in a simpler and more effective and
economical manner than heretofore.
Hitherto it has been usual in making a joint between two lengths of wire to
turn back the ends of the wires so as to form loops and then to wrap the free ends
round the main portions of the wires, an operation which requires some skill to
perform owing to the difficulty of twisting wire of the usual gauge for the above
mentioned purposes round its own diameter without causing considerable loss of
material and labour from breakages which are 'sure to take place unless wire of
better quality than would otherwise be required is used.
In carrying out our Invention we flatten the ends of the wires and insert them
into a kind of buckle or holdfast which is so arranged that the shoulders of the
flattened portions of the wires when these portions are brought down flat on the
base of the buckle will jam in the buckle and thereby be securely held.
In the accompanying Drawing we have shewn in detail the various parts con-
stituting our improved fastening. The ends a¹ of the wire a we prefer to flatten
out into the form shewn in the side view, Fig. 1, by means of dies specially formed
for the purpose, but it will be evident that the flattening out may also be effected
by hand.
The buckle or holdfast into which these flattened ends of wire are to be inserted
we form of a strip of flat metal 6 (see Fig. 2) of varying length according to the
size of wire to be joined, and in this strip b we punch or cut out two slots 6' a short
distance apart on the same, and longitudinally of the strips b. The ends of the
strips are then turned or bent up at right angles, say, on the dotted lines, Fig. 2,
so that, say, about one third of each slot or so much as will allow of the wire
when placed in position lying in a direct line with the base of the buckle will
be at right angles to the other two thirds or remainder of the slots. The
length and width of the slots will vary according to the size of the wire being
used.
The flattened ends of the wire are inserted edge-wise in the slots from the back
of the buckle or holdfast b, as shewn by dots in Fig. 3, which is a plan view of the
fastening partly in section. They are then turned half round and brought flat
against the inner face of the base of the buckle, see Figures 1 and 3. The round
portion of the wire will enter the turned up portion of the slots (see the end view,
Fig. 4), and the shoulders of the flattened portions of the wire will be brought to
bear against the edges of the slots, as shewn clearly in Fig. 1.
A complete junction for the ends of the wires will thus be effected, and so long
as the wires are at tension it will remain good. Should however the wires become
slack from any cause the ends of wire will have a tendency to become unlocked
and come out of the buckle.
In order to avoid this inconvenience we rivet or otherwise secure to the back of
the buckle or holdfast b a strip of zinc or other suitable metal c (Figures 1 and 4)
which when the wire ends are in place is brought down over them, and is then
turned up under the lower edge of the buckle, as represented by the thick line in

page_text: the cross section, Fig. 5. The ends of the wire are thereby secured and prevented
from coming out of the buckle or holdfast.
Instead of being rivetted the strip c may be formed into a clip which may be
placed loosely round the buckle and the wire ends.
In joining wires for telegraphic purposes we prefer in addition to the clip to
solder the wires to the buckle, by which means a complete metallic contact is
ensured as the formation of oxide on the wire ends is thereby prevented.
By the use of this Invention a considerable economy in labour and in the
quantity of wire used will be effected, and the labour may be less skilled than
heretofore.
The removal of the fences so formed will also be greatly facilitated, and the
necessity for cutting the wires will be avoided.
It will be evident that the buckle or holdfast 6 and strip c is equally applicable
for joining the ends of rods or bars.
Having now explained the nature of our Invention for "Improvements in the
Mode of and Appliances for Securing the Ends of Wire for Fencing and other
Purposes," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we
claim,―
First. Securing together lengths of wire by flattening out the ends of the wires
and inserting them into a buckle or its equivalent in the manner substantially as
herein shewn and described.
Second. As a means for securing the ends of wires a buckle or holdfast such as b
or its equivalent for receiving the flattened ends of the wire, and with or without
the clip c for maintaining the wires in position, substantially as shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Heathfield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and eighty one