IMPROVEMENTS IN BARBED FENCING WIRE AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME A communi
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Guard Rock of Great Winchester Street in the
City of London for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BARBED FENCING
WIRE AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME A communi-
cation from abroad by James Lees Sheep Farmer, John William Rock
Mechanical Engineer and Charles Gifford Moore Civil Engineer all of
Oamaru in the Provincial District of Otago and Colony of New Zealand
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Guard Rock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1882.
<s
EDWARD GUARD ROCK of Great Winchester Street in the City of London
IMPROVEMENTS IN BARBED FENCING WIRE AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING THE SAME," a communication from abroad by James Lees Sheep
Farmer, John William Rock Mechanical Engineer and Charles Gifford Moore,
Civil Engineer all of Oamaru in the Provincial District of Otago and Colony of
New Zealand
The object of this Invention is to produce an efficient barbed fencing wire at a
lower cost than heretofore.
It is not new to manufacture barbed fencing wire generally and this invention
only relates to the manufacture of a certain peculiar make of such wire in which
barbs of three or five spikes punched out of sheet or strip metal and suitably bent
are enwrapped by three wires twisted into a rope.
In order to make this peculiar kind of barbed fencing wire a novel machine
is employed in which the reels carrying the separate wire strands (which together
form the body of the complete fencing wire) are supported by arms or brackets
projecting from a boss fixed upon a hollow shaft or pillar with which or on which
the whole revolve. These wire strands are each conducted over a guide pulley
and round a twisting pulley into and down the centre of the said hollow shaft or
pillar thence over a straining wheel and on to the final winding drum. As these
reels revolve the separate wire strands are twisted or woven forming a kind of
[Price 6d1

page_text: hollow cone into the apex of which the barbs are automatically placed at regular
intervals and are thus woven into and form part of the complete barbed fencing
wire.
The machine consists of a hollow iron shaft which is supported by plummer
blocks so as to revolve easily therein motion being imparted to it by means of a
pulley. The plummer blocks are fixed upon substantial frames.
Upon the hollow shaft is fastened a boss which is provided with three pair of
arms. Each pair of arms hold by means of a spindle a reel which is fitted with
the wire to be afterwards twisted into the rope, adjustable breaks are provided for
the purpose of regulating the tension on the wire as it leaves the reels.
The wire passes over pulleys supported on brackets bolted to the arms that
support the reels and thence over small pulleys which are held in position by
bearings fastened to a plate the same being secured to the bracket.
When the machine is set in motion the three wires unite into a single rope
which is led through the hollow shaft and round a drawing wheel and thence to a
reel to be wound into a coil.
The drawing wheel is fixed upon an upright shaft which turns in bearings in an
iron pillar. Upon the shaft is keyed a worm wheel acted upon by a worm upon
another shaft. This shaft runs in bearings and has at the end a toothed wheel.
This wheel gears with a similar wheel on the hollow shaft and thus motion is
imparted to the drawing wheel which revolves at a uniform speed proportionate
to that of the hollow shaft.
The drawing wheel has wrapped round it some soft material so that the barbs
may receive no damage.
At equal distances round the drawing wheel are placed levers or grippers. Any
number of these may be used. They may be entirely dispensed with if not found
necessary.
The levers are held in position by brackets bolted to the rim of the drawing
wheel and on the outer end of each is fixed a circular weight capable of revolving
upon the end of the lever. The levers are naturally pressed against the rim of the
drawing wheel and prevent the wire slipping on the wheel as it is drawing it from
the reels. At a certain part of the revolution of the drawing wheel the grippers
need to release the wire and this is accomplished by allowing the round weights
to come in contact with a platform along which they run and the ends of the
levers being thus raised the grip on the wire is released. This platform is
continued round until the place comes where the grip on the wire is to be renewed
and it there terminates thus allowing the weights to again force the levers against
the drawing pulley.
The apparatus for feeding the barbs into the twisting wires consists of a thin
plate of metal turning accurately upon a spindle and the periphery of which is
provided with slots placed at regular distances. This plate is made to revolve
slowly by means of a worm and worm wheel. At the end of the worm shaft is
fixed a grooved pulley over which runs a strap and as the strap passes also over
another grooved wheel which is constantly revolving the tendency of the plate is
also to revolve, But it is prevented from so turning by a spring catch which holds
it and the strap therefore slips round the pulley. This catch is so fixed that it
enters the slot opposite to it exactly as another slot is in position opposite to the
apex of the cone of twisting wires and the said catch is provided with adjusting
screws to ensure accuracy in the position of the slots.
Whenever the catch is pulled back the strap turns the pulley and the plate
revolves until the next slot comes round when the plate is again fixed by the catch
holding it. The catch is released by means of a pin upon a disc at the end of the
revolving shaft this pin comes in contact at every revolution of the disc with a
lever and by raising it pulls a string that is fastened to it at one end and to the
catch at the other.
In this manner the slots in the plate are presented in succession in front of the
cone of twisting wires. The above mentioned slots are filled with barbs by an

page_text: attendant and they are thus presented regularly to the feeding rod which inserts
them into the twist of the wires.
This feeding rod consists of a spindle running in bearings, and it will be seen
the rod is hollow and a smaller part slides within it being kept extended by a
spring. A balance weight is fixed beneath the sliding rod and thus the forked
end always resumes its position on leaving the twisting wires. The spring allows
the spindle to yield when it carries the barb into the twist and exercises a slight
pressure thereby ensuring the correct placing of the barb.
Motion is given to the feeding rod by means of a lever and connecting rods.
A wheel runs upon a cam fastened upon the revolving shaft and thus a recipro-
cating action is imparted to the fork. A slot on the plate being filled with a
barb and brought into position the cam turns and the fork carries off the barb and
inserts it into the twist of the wires. On the return of the fork the catch releases
the plate until the next slot is presented and the next barb being brought into
position is ready for insertion by the fork. A balance weight is used for keeping
the roller upon the cam.
The revolving shaft that gives motion to all the feed gearing has upon it a mitre
wheel. This gears into a similar wheel on another shaft. This shaft runs in
bearings and on the other end is keyed a bevel wheel. An upright shaft runs in
a footstep and bearing and on the top of it is keyed a wheel gearing into another
wheel on the hollow shaft. At the other end of the shaft there is a pinion gearing
into another pinion and thus the whole revolves in due proportion to the reels
of wire.
The barbs are cut or punched out of sheets or strips of steel iron or other metal.
The tool used for the said cutting or punching should have a shearing motion in
order to ensure the desired sharpness of the spikes.-They are bent into suitable
shapes either at the time of cutting or punching or by subsequent operation.

page_text: Figure 45 shews a three strand barbed fencing wire complete with three
pointed barbs this being the most advantageous form although five pointed barbs
may be used.
Figures 47 and 49 show the three and five spiked barbs as respectively cut from
sheet or strip metal and Figures 46 and 48 show the same barbs in section after
bending and enwrapped by the wires. Figure 1 shows a side elevation Figure 2
a plan and Figure 3 an end elevation of a machine suitably arranged and con-
structed for the manufacture of barbed wire in accordance with this invention.
Figure 4 shows a section of the rod for feeding the barbs into the twist of the
wires.
The machine consists of a hollow iron shaft A which is supported by plummer
blocks B and C so as to revolve easily therein motion being imparted to it by
means of a pulley D. These plummer blocks are fixed upon substantial metal
frames 44.
Upon the hollow shaft A is fastened a boss E which is provided with three
pairs of arms F F G G and H H¹ ea pair of arms is held by means of a
spindle J and a reel K which is filled with the wire to be afterwards twisted into
the rope. Adjustable breaks L are provided for the purpose of regulating the
tension on the wire as it leaves the reels.

page_text: The wire passes over the pulleys M which are supported on brackets N bolted
to the arms that support the reels and thence over small pulleys O which are
held in position by bearings fastened to a plate P the same being secured to the
bracket N.
When the machine is set in motion the three wires unite into a single rope at Q
which is led through the hollow shaft and round a drawing wheel R and thence to
a reel to be wound into a coil.
The drawing wheel R is fixed upon an upright shaft S which turns in bearings
contained in the iron pillar T.
Upon the shaft is keyed a worm wheel U acted upon by a worm V upon
another shaft W. This shaft runs in bearings X X' and has at the end a toothed
wheel Y this wheel gears with a similar wheel Z on the hollow shaft A and thus
motion is imparted to the drawing wheel R which revolves at a uniform speed
proportionate to that of the hollow shaft A. The drawing wheel R has wrapped
round it some soft material so that the barbs may receive no damage.
At equal
distances round the drawing wheel R are placed levers or grippers one of which is
shown at 2. Any number of these may be used but 8 is found most advantageous
they may be entirely dispensed with if not found necessary.
The levers are held in position by the brackets 3, 3, bolted to the rim of the
drawing wheel R and on the outer end of each is fixed a circular weight 4 capable
of revolving upon the end of the lever. The levers are naturally pressed against
the rim of the drawing wheel R and prevent the wire slipping on the wheel R as
it is drawing it from the reels. At a certain part of the revolution of the drawing
wheel R the grippers need to release the wire and this is accomplished by allowing
weights 4 to come in contact with a platform 5 along which they run and the ends
of the levers being thus raised the grip on the wire is released. This platform is
continued round until the place comes where the grip on the wire is to be renewed
and it there terminates thus allowing the weights to again force the levers against
the drawing pulley R.
The apparatus for feeding the barbs into the twisting wires consists of a thin
plate of metal 6 turning accurately upon a spindle 7 and the periphery of which is
provided with slots placed at regular distances. This plate is made to revolve
slowly by means of a worm 8 and worm wheel 9 at the end of the worm shaft 10
is fixed the grooved pulley 11 over which runs a strap 12 and as the strap passes
also over the grooved wheel 13 which is constantly revolving the tendency of the
plate 6 is also to revolve; But it is prevented from so turning by a spring catch 14
which holds it and the strap 12 therefore slips round the pulley 11. This catch 14
is so fixed that it enters the slot opposite to it exactly as another slot is in position
opposite to the open of the cone of twisting wires and the said catch is provided
with adjusting screws 15 to ensure accuracy in the position of the slots.
Whenever the catch is pulled back the strap 12 turns the pulley 11 and the
plate 6 revolves until the next slot comes ronnd when the plate is again fixed by
the catch holding it. The catch is released by means of a pin 16 upon a disc 17 at
the end of the revolving shaft 18 this pin comes in contact at every revolution of the
disc with a lever 19 and by raising it pulls a string that is fastened to it at one end
and to the catch 14 at the other
In this manner the slots in the plate 6 are presented in succession in front of the
cone of twisting wires. The above mentioned slots are filled with barbs by an
attendant and they are thus presented regularly to the feeding rod which inserts
them into the twist of the wires as will be more fully described.
This feeding rod shown on a larger scale at Figure 4 consists of a spindle 20
running in bearings 21 and 22 and it will be seen that the rod is hollow and a
smaller part 23 slides within it being kept extended by a spring 24. A balance
weight 25 is fixed beneath the sliding rod 23 and thus the forked feeder 23 always
resumes its position on leaving the twisting wires. The spring 24 allows the spindle
to yield when it carries the barb into the twist and exercises a slight pressure
thereby ensuring the correct placing of the barb.

page_text: Motion is given to the feeding rod by means of a lever 27 and connecting rods 28.
The wheel 29 runs upon a cam 30 fastened upon the revolving shaft 18 and thus a
reciprocating action is imparted to the fork 26. A slot on the plate 6 being filled
with a barb and brought into position the cam turns and the fork carries off the
barb and inserts it into the twist of the wires. On the return of the fork the
catch 14 releases the plate 6 until the next slot is presented and the next barb being
brought into position is ready for insertion by the fork. The balance weight 31 is
used for keeping the roller 29 upon the cam.
The revolving shaft 18 that gives motion to all the feed gearing has upon it a
mitre wheel 32 this gears into a similar wheel 33 on another shaft 34. This shaft
runs in bearings 35 and 36 and on the other end is keyed a bevel wheel 37. An
upright shaft 38 runs in a footstep 39 and bearing 40 and on the top of it is keyed
the wheel 41 gearing into another wheel 42 on the hollow shaft A.
At the other end of the shaft 38 there is a pinion 43 gearing into the bevel
wheel 37 and thus the whole revolves in due proportion to the reels of wire.
The barbs are cut or punched out of sheets or strips of steel iron or other inetal
of the forms shewn at Figures 47 and 49. The tool used for the said cutting or
punching should have a shearing motion in order to ensure the desired sharpness of
the spikes. They are bent into suitable shapes shown at Figures 46 and 48 either
at the time of cutting or punching or by subsequent operation. The barbs are
en wrapped in the twist of the wires as shown at 46 and 48. Figure 45 shows a
small portion of the completed wire with a three spiked barb.
Having thus described the nature of the invention communicated to me from
abroad it must be clearly understood that no claim is made broadly to the
manufacture of barbed fencing generally or to any of the separate mechanical parts
of the machinery herein before described which are well known and in common use,
But what I do claim on behalf of the said James Lees John William Rock and
Charles Gifford Moore is :-
First. The improved arrangement and combination of the hollow shaft A with
the revolving reels K the spring break L the guide pulleys M and the grooved
pulley O so as to form an open cone of twisting wires thus enabling barbs to be
inserted with ease and certainty substantially in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement and combination of the hollow ended feed
rod 20 with the sliding part 23 the forked end 26 the spring 24 and the balance
weight 25 substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and shown in
the drawings annexed.
Third-The improved arrangement combination and application of the feed
rod 20 the connecting rods 28 the lever 27 the pulley 29 the cam 30 and the
balance weight 31 substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings
annexed.
Fourth. The improved arrangement and combination of the slotted plate 6 with
the feed rod 20 and fork 26 substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
represented in the drawings annexed.
Fifth. The improved arrangement and combination of the revolving plate 6 the
worm wheel 9 the shaft 10 the grooved pulleys 11 and 13 the slip belt 12 the
spring catch 14 the disc 17 the pin 16 and the lever 19 substantially as described
and represented in the drawings annexed.
Sixth. The improved arrangement and construction of the adjustable gear Y Z
with the worm V the worm wheel U and the drawing wheel R to regulate the pitch
of the twist upon the wires substantially as described and represented in the
drawings annexed.
Seventh. The improved arrangement and combination of the gripping levers 2
with the wheel R substantially as described and represented in the drawings
annexed.
Eighth. The improved arrangement and combination of a barb of three spikes
with a wire rope of three strands substantially as described and shown in the

page_text: drawings annexed so as to form a fencing wire having barbs each spike of which
is held on each side by a strand.
Ninth. The improved arrangement and combination of a wire rope of three
strands with a barb of five spikes held by the wires substantially as described and
shown at figure 48 of the drawings annexed.
Tenth. The improved arrangement and combination of mechanism for inserting
between the strands of a rope of any number of wires any barb without the necessity
of any pause in the formation of the rope substantially as described and represented
in the drawings annexed.
Eleventh. The improved forms of barbs as substantially as herein described and
shewn at Figures 46, 47, 48, 49, of the drawings annexed.
Twelfth. The improved manufacture of barbed wire formed as described and
represented by the insertion of spiked barbs substantially as described between three
strands of wire and retained by twisting the strands into a rope the same to be used
as a fencing wire.
Thirteenth. The improved arrangement of mechanism substantially as described
and represented in the drawings by which the barbs are inserted into the wire rope
by means of the feeder disc and stop action and gearing.
Fourteenth. The improved arrangement and combination of the various parts
of the machinery or apparatus substantially as described and represented in the
drawings annexed.
Fifteenth. The improved arrangement and combination substantially as described
and represented in the drawings of the revolving reels with a hollow pillar bracket
or shaft, upon or with which the reels revolve and through which the wire is led
after being twisted, such combination enabling the barbs to be inserted with ease
and certainty.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Guard Rock have hereunto set iny
hand and seal this sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
E. G. ROCK (L.S.)