Improvement in Wire Fences.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
Improvement in Wire Fences.
I, PERCY RICHARD JULIUS WILLIS, of 55 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by Isaac C. Allen, of 53 Ross Street,
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Inventor,) and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :--
The object of this invention is to construct a wire fence of a very rigid nature, so
that it cannot be pulled down or bent out of shape by pressure brought to bear
upon it by animals, or from other sources.
In the drawings hereunto annexed, Fig. 1., is a front view of so much of a wire
fence as will serve to illustrate this invention: Fig. 2. is a detail view thereof.
:
A, A, refers to vertical posts of any desired form, inserted in the ground for
supporting a panel of fence between them. The end-posts, viz. those to which the
extremities of the wires are rigidly attached are provided with a brace bar B. The
posts may be placed at any distance apart as found most convenient. The wires
are attached to the end-posts rigidly, or may be provided with any desired
tightening device as indicated by dotted lines at C, so as to enable the wires to be
drawn taut as is customary in wire fences. The intermediate posts are however
provided with staples through which the wires are passed in the usual manner.
At suitable distances between the adjacent supporting-posts A are vertical stay-
rods D preferably of wood. These stay-rods are secured to the fence wires by
staples or other securing devices.
A series of diagonal braces E extend from the bottom of one post to the top of
the adjacent stay-rod D, and from the top of said stay-rod to the lower end of the
next one, and so on alternately to the next post. The braces E are rigidly secured
to the stay-rods D and to the end-posts A. The wires are also secured to the
braces by staples or other devices.
In Fig. 2 is shewn a method of connecting the stay-rods D and braces E at either
the top or bottom of the fence. The upper or lower end of the stay-rod D, (as the
case may be) is cut away or tapered as shewn to adapt it to the ends of the braces E
which are formed in the shape shewn. A bolt F or nails may then be employed to
secure the parts together.
Any number of stay-rods and braces may be employed between two adjacent
posts, as found most convenient, and although only one panel of fence is illustrated,
it will be understood that all the panels of the fence are constructed in the same
way. Spring-acting or automatic tension devices of any preferred form are located
in each wire, as indicated at G, to compensate for the expansion or contraction of
the wires by changes in temperature, and to keep them always taut.
A fence constructed in accordance with this invention will be found to be
extremely rigid, and the wires will readily bear the weight of a person climbing
over them without injuring the fence.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a wire fence the combination with two adjacent supporting posts and
a series of vertical stay rods disposed at intervals intermediate said posts, secured

page_text: to said wires and unconnected with the ground, and a series of diagonal rigid
braces extending from one post in zig-zag form to the other, said braces being
connected alternately to the top and bottom portions of the vertical stay rods,
substantially as described.
2. In a wire fence, the combination with the supporting posts, and a series
of wires secured thereto, of a series of vertical stay-rods, disposed at intervals
intermediate said posts, and secured to said wires, and a series of diagonal rigid
braces extending in zig-zag form from one post to another and rigidly connected
alternately to the top of one stay-rod and the bottom of another, said braces being
also secured to the wires, substantially as described.
3. In a wire fence the combination with two adjacent supporting-posts and
a series of wires secured thereto, of a series of vertical stay-rods disposed at
intervals intermediate said posts secured to said wires and unconnected with the
ground and a series of diagonal rigid braces secured to said wires extending from
one post to the other in zig-zag form, said stay-rods alternately having their upper
ends and lower ends shaped as shewn to engage the ends of said braces, and bolts
passing through said braces and stay-rods to secure them rigidly together,
substantially as described.
Dated this 0th dow of August 1004
PERCY R. J. WILLIS.