IMPROVE- MENTS IN WIRE NETTING MACHINES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: We, THOMAS EDWARD BOND, of 8, Thorpe Street, Engineer, and JAMES
MACDONALD GARLAND, of Temple Street, Accountant, both in Birmingham,
Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WIRE NETTING MACHINES to be as follows:-
"
Our Improvements relate to the class of machines known as netting machines
for making wire netting for fencing and other like purposes and are applicable
to both hand and power machines. Our object being to simplify the con-
struction and to add to the general efficiency and economy in the working of such
machines.
In netting machines hitherto constructed for what are known as hand machines
considerable skill and attention were required in working, three distinct move-
ments being required to form the meshes of the wire, all of which had to be
manipulated by the attendant in charge, which added considerably to the cost of
production; and in order to overcome these defects power machines were since
substituted so as to work automatically-Numerous defects have however hitherto
arisen in the working of such machines owing to their complication and liability to
derangement of the working parts.
Our Invention consists:
:
Firstly In an improved method of operating the slides, pinions and peg-rolls
for producing the netting whereby we are enabled to give a longer twist to the
meshes of the netting and so to form a better shaped and more perfect mesh.
We construct a frame which carries the driving parts; this frame may either be
placed apart from the machine or bolted thereto. Upon the frame is a horizontal
driving shaft with fast and loose pulleys which connect to the motive power.
This shaft gears by a pair of bevel wheels into a vertical shaft which is carried by
the framing. Upon each end of the said vertical shaft are keyed two adjustable
cranks or disc plates which give motion to two racks for driving the pinions in the
sliding plates which twist the wires for forming the netting; the said racks are
operated by slotted links from the cranks or disc plates. The slotted links work
in guides and are coupled to the racks in any convenient manner. We also place
friction rollers within the slide plates for adjusting the racks to the pinions.
Instead of operating the racks by means of the links we may connect them to the
cranks or discs by ordinary connecting rods for giving the requisite motions: but

page_text: we prefer to use the links before described as they give a more direct action and so
considerably reduce the friction of the racks. Upon the said vertical shaft we
fix a single or double cam or a pair of cams may be used. The said cams work
on rcllers which give an intermittent semi-rotary motion to a second vertical
shaft by a sliding plate which is connected to the shaft by an arm or lever. Upon
the said second vertical shaft are also fixed two cross arins, or double levers, which
are connected to the sliding plates containing the racks and pinions by connecting
rods. These latter connections give the necessary sliding inotion to the pinion
plates.
We provide a second horizontal shaft which works in bearings within the
framing and is driven by a pinion fixed thereon and working in the bevel wheel
above mentioned placed upon the said first vertical shaft. Upon the said second
horizontal shaft is placed another bevel pinion which gears into a bevel wheel on a
third vertical shaft which transmits motion to the peg-roll of the machine by a
worm wheel and worm for giving the requisite motion to the roll in the usual
manner.
As a modification of this arrangement instead of giving a continuous rotary
motion to the peg-roll by the means last described, we sometimes prefer to give
the same an intermittent rotary motion by such an arrangement as the following.
Upon the second horizontal shaft above mentioned we provide a spur wheel
which gears into a spur crank disc having a pin to which is attached a connecting
rod the upper end of the connecting rod is connected to a rocking lever working
loosely upon the roll shaft. A ratchet wheel is keyed upon the roll shaft into
A second pawl is
which works a pawl giving the intermittent motion to the roll.
placed so as to gear into the ratchet wheel nearly opposite the lever pawl so as to
prevent the roll turning by the tension given to the wire.
Secondly: In power netting machines hitherto constructed considerable difficulties
have arisen owing to the racks and pinions having a tendency to ride over each
other when the pinions become worn which causes the sliding pinion plates to
spring laterally and so to strain the machine.
We now overcome the above defect of springing of the sliding pinion plates by
the provision of truss plates or beams. These beams are preferably bolted to the
framing of the machine and have friction rollers within them which are adjusted
by and held to the sliding pinion plates by set pins and lock nuts. Or the sliding
pinion plates may be stiffened by having the truss plates or beams formed with or
attached to them.
°
We also place friction rollers underneath and at the sides of the sliding pinion
plates in the framing of the machine. It will be seen that the plates are carried
upon the rollers instead of upon flat surfaces as heretofore which considerably
reduces the friction and wear and tear of the machine.
:
Thirdly Our Invention further consists in the provision of means for locking
the sliding pinion plates of wire netting machines during the time of travel of the
racks for turning the pinions. It is found in practice that when the sliding pinion
plates have moved and brought another set of pinions opposite each other, that, at
the moment prior to the racks beginning to turn the pinions, the racks have a
tendency to force the plates lengthwise thus causing considerable strain on the
pinions to bring the plates into position; and to enable the pinions to do this
freely the holes in the plates are now filed so as to take the corners off the same to
let the pinions turn so as to bring the plates into position; this causes the holes in
the plates to wear oval, thus tending to strain the pinions which again causes them
to jamb with the rack which is liable to throw them out of gear and often to
break the pinions. We now entirely overcome this defect by locking the plates to
cach other upon each fresh traverse at the moment before the racks commence
to turn the pinions; the plates are thus firmly locked together which prevents the
lengthwise strains.
Various devices may be adopted to carry out this object:-one airangement,
which is meant as a type only, being as follows. We drill two holes in one of the

page_text: sliding pinion plates into which drops a locking pin or bolt. This bolt is held
down by a spring and is carried by a framing which is bolted to the other sliding
pinion plate. Attached to the rack plate and moving with it we provide a locking
plate having raised projections the distance between which is adjustable. On the
termination of the traverse of the slides the locking plate is brought into such
position as to admit of the bolt dropping into one of the holes in the sliding pinion
plate, thus securely locking the same, just before the rack commences to turn the
pinions. When the rack has finished its travel for that particular stroke, the
locking plate having moved under the locking bolt without lifting it until the
termination of the traverse, the bolt will be raised by the higher projecting part
sufficiently to clear the slide plate and so, by the combined movement of the
locking plate and slides, the bolt will drop into the opposite hole in the slide before
the pinions have again commenced to turn and the plates will be securely locked
during the time the pinions are turning.
Instead of operating the locking pin and bolt by a plate attached to the rack as
above described it may be lifted at the proper moment and released by means of a
toothed wheel fixed on the peg-roll.
Any of the preceeding improvements are applicable to existing machines whether
worked by hand or power.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We, THOMAS EDWARD BOND, of 8, Thorpe Street, Engineer, and JAMES
MACDONALD GARLAND, of Temple Street, Accountant, both in Birmingham,
་་ IMPROVE-
Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
-MENTS IN WIRE NETTING MACHINES" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our Improvements relate to the class of machines known as netting machines for
making wire netting for fencing and other like purposes and are applicable to both
hand and power machines. Our object being to simplify the construction and to
add to the general efficiency and economy in the working of such machines.
We proceed with reference to the accompanying drawing to fully describe our
Invention.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a power wire netting machine embodying our
Invention Fig. 2 is an end elevation and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same; Fig. 4 is a
part cross-section of the same on line X. X. of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a modified
arrangement of mechanism for actuating the peg-roll; Fig. 6 shews an arrangement
of mechanism for locking the pinion plates and Fig 7 shews a modification of the
same.
In netting machines hitherto constructed for what are known as hand machines
considerable skill and attention were required in working, three distinct movements
being required to form the meshes of the wire, all of which had to be manipulated
by the attendant in charge, which added considerably to the cost of production;
and in order to overcome these defects power machines were since substituted so
as to work automatically. Numerous defects have however hitherto arisen in the
working of such machines owing to their complication and liability to derangement
of the working parts.
Our Invention consists:
Firstly In an Improved method of operating the slides, pinions and peg-rolls
for producing the netting whereby we are enabled to give a longer twist to
the meshes of the netting and so to form a better shaped and more perfect
mesh.
We construct a frame A which carries the driving parts; this frame may either
be placed apart from the machine B or bolted thereto as shewn. Upon the frame A
is a horizontal driving shaft C with fast and loose pulleys D which connect to the
motive power.
This shaft gears by a pair of bevel wheels c', c² into a vertical
shaft E which is carried by the framing A. Upon each end of the shaft E are
keyed two adjustable cranks or disc plates F which give motion to two racks G¹, G'
for driving the pinions in the sliding plates H, H which twist the wires for forming
the netting, the said racks are operated by slotted links I from the cranks or disc
plates F. The slotted links I work in guides i and are coupled to the racks in any
convenient manner. We also place friction rollers K within the slide plates for
adjusting the racks to the pinions.

page_text: Instead of operating the racks by means of the links I we may connect them to
the cranks or discs by ordinary connecting rods for giving the requisite motions,
but we prefer to use the links before described as they give a more direct action
and so considerably reduce the friction of the racks. Upon the vertical shaft E is
fixed a single or double cam L or a pair of cams may be used. The said cams work
on rollers which give an intermittent semi-rotary motion to a second vertical
shaft M by a sliding plate N which is connected to the shaft by an arm or lever m'.
Upon the vertical shaft M are also fixed two cross-arms or double levers O which
are connected to the sliding plates, containing the racks and pinions, by connecting
rods P. These latter connections give the necessary sliding motion to the pinion
plates.
We provide a second horizontal shaft which works in bearings within the
framing A and is driven by a pinion working in the bevel wheel c³ placed upon
the vertical shaft E. Upon the shaft Q is placed another pair of bevel wheels q¹, q²
which give motion to a vertical shaft R and connects it to the peg-roll Z of the
machine by a worm wheel and pinion 1, 2 for giving the requisite notion to the
roll in the usual manner.
As a modification of this arrangement instead of giving a continuous rotary
motion to the peg-roll by the means last described we sometimes prefer to give the
same an intermittent rotary motion by means of such an arrangement as shewn in
Fig. 5. Upon the second horizontal shaft Q above mentioned we provide a spur
wheel q³ which gears into a spur crank disc S having a crank pin 8¹ to which is
attached a connecting rod 83; the upper end of the connecting rod is connected to
a rocking lever 83 working loosely upon the peg-roll shaft. A ratchet wheel 4
is keyed upon the peg-roll shaft into which works.a pawl s giving the intermittent
motion to the peg-roll. A second pawl is placed so as to gear into the ratchet
wheel nearly opposite the lever pawl so as to prevent the roll turning by the tension
given to the wire.
Secondly In power netting machines hitherto constructed considerable diffi-
culties have arisen owing to the racks and pinions having a tendency to ride over
each other when the pinions become worn which causes the sliding pinion plates to
spring laterally and so to strain the machine.
We now overcome the above defect of springing of the sliding pinion plates by
the provision of truss plates or beams T, as shewn in Fig. 3. These beams. are
preferably bolted to the framing of the machine and have friction rollers T¹ within
them which are adjusted by and held to the sliding pinion plates by set pins and
lock nuts t¹. Or the sliding pinion plates may be stiffened by having the truss
plates or beans formed with or attached to them.
We also place friction rollers T2 underneath and at the sides of the sliding pinion
plates in the framing of the machine. It will be seen that the plates are carried
upon the rollers instead of upon flat surfaces as heretofore which considerably
reduces the friction and wear and tear of the machine.
:
Thirdly Our Invention further consists in the provision of means for locking
the sliding pinion plates of wire netting machines during the time of travel of the
racks for turning the pinions. It is found in practice that when the sliding pinion
plates have moved and brought another set of pinions opposite each other, that, at
the moment prior to the racks beginning to turn the pinions, the racks have a
tendency to force, the plates lengthwise thus causing considerable strain on the
pinions to bring the plates into position; and to enable the pinions to do this freely
the holes in the plates are now filed so as to take the corners off the same to let the
pinions turn so as to bring the plates into position; this causes the holes in the
plates to wear oval, thus tending to strain the pinions which again causes them to
jamb with the rack which is liable to throw them out of gear and often to break
the pinions. We now entirely overcome this defect by locking the plates to
each other upon each fresh traverse at the moment before the racks commence to
turn the pinions; the plates are thus firmly locked together which prevents the
lengthwise strains.

page_text: Various devices may be adopted to carry out this object:--one arrangement,
shewn at Fig. 6, and meant as a type only, being as follows: We drill two
holes ¹, h² in one of the sliding pinion plates H into which drops a locking pin or
bolt U. This bolt is held down by a spring and is carried by a framing U
which is bolted to the other sliding pinion plate. Attached to the rack plate and
moving with it we provide a locking plate V having raised projections the
distance between which is adjustable but which is nearly equal to the traverse of
the racks. A roller W held in the slider U traverses between the projecting pieces
in the recess as shewn. The operation of this action is as follows:-On the termi-
nation of the traverse of the slides the locking plate V is brought into the position
as shewn, which admits of the bolt U dropping into one of the holes (say h¹ as
shewn) in the sliding pinion plate H thus securely locking the same, just before
the rack commences to turn the pinions. When the rack has finished its travel for
that particular stroke, the locking plate V having moved under the roller W on the
locking bolt U without lifting it until the termination of the traverse, the bolt U
will be raised by the roller running on the higher projecting part v sufficiently to
clear the side plate H and so, by the combined movement of the locking plate and
slides, the bolt will drop into the opposite hole in the slide before the pinions have
again commenced to turn and the plates will be securely locked during the time
the pinions are turning.
Instead of operating the locking pin and bolt by a plate attached to the rack as
above described it may, for instance, be lifted at the proper moment and released
by means of a toothed wheel Y fixed on the peg-roll shaft, as shown in Fig. 7.
Any of the preceeding Improvements are applicable to existing machines whether
worked by hand or power.
We wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details
as herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied without departing.
from the nature of our Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In wire netting machines the improved method of operating the slides and the
racks and pinions by means of the gearing as herein illustrated and described.
2. In wire netting machines the use of two racks in combination with the slides
for operating the pinions as herein illustrated and described.
3. In wire netting machines the use of the slotted links I as and for the purposes
herein illustrated and described.
4. In wire netting machines the application and use in combination with the
sliding pinion plates of the truss beans T with or without their friction rollers and
the adjusting screws as and for the purposes herein illustrated and described.
5. In wire netting machines the provision of means for locking the sliding plates
substantially as and for the purposes herein illustrated and described.
6. The general combination of parts so as to form one complete wire netting
machine whether the same be used for hand or power, substantially as and for the
purposes herein illustrated and described.