STRAINING AND FIXING FENCING AND OTHER WIRES
Year: 1885

page_text: JOHN BROWN EVANS Cape Colony South Africa, Farmer do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for STRAINING AND FIXING FENCING AND OTHER WIRES
to be as follows:-
I fix to the ground or onto a post by means of stays or bolts what is known as
a differential pulley block but of new construction having two or more powers and
work it by ratchets and pauls or otherwise the chain from this is coupled to the
wire to be strained-by a peculiar shaped gripper and fixed by clamps-or the wire
ends may be fixed to a lock pillar, or in place of a "Pulley Block," a roller winch
may be used.
In order to guide the coupled wire to the pulley Block I use a small
pulley attatched to an upright, At the end of a line of Fencing or at an angle
I use wood or Iron Rollers to take up the slack of the stays-or they may be
drawn up by means of a screw passing through a nut & with a Handle attached.
In order to carry the coils of wire-I use a druin formed of 2.Plates with stays
between & round washers to guide the wire I also use a staple compasser-to
prevent bending as they are driven also-a splicing Iron of peculiar construction.

page_text: pants in apparatus and Appпances for straining and
Fixing Fencing and other Wires.
I JOHN BROWN EVANS of Mabus, District of Aberdeen, Cape Colony, Farmer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS, IN APPARATUS
AND APPLIANCES FOR STRAINING AND FIXING FENCING AND OTHER WIRES and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a new and improved system of wire fencing, and to new
and improved methods and appliances for erecting fences made of wire of any kind
or form including barb wire.
Wire fences are at present constructed by drawing out a series of wires horizon-
tally by manual labour having first passed them through a straightening machine.
They are then strained singly by means of so-called straining pillars or brackets,
the pillars being permanently fixed in the earth at distances of about 200 yards
apart. One end of the coil is attached to a terminal sunk deeply in the earth and
supported by struts; and the other end of the wire is fixed on the roller of the
straining pillar or bracket, and the wire is then wound and strained by means of a
lever and ratchet, and the ratchet is held in position by a retaining pawl.
Another method of straining the horizontal wires is by the use of an implement
or machine placed against an upright post or pillar, which post or pillar is firmly
fixed and supported by strong struts in front, so as to bear the great strain put
upon it in the act of straining the wire. Such posts have to be erected along
the line of fence at stated distances of no more than about 200 yards apart, and
these remain a portion of the fence.
In my system I use stays at the back instead of struts in front of the terminals,
and stays also for standards at angles. My wire is straightened in the act of
drawing it out by horse or mule. Instead of costly ponderous straining pillars at
every 200 yards, my uprights along the line of fence are all simple standards
of the common size in use, whether of wood or iron. My ground straining
machine is portable, and can be worked at any suitable spot along the line of fence.
I can strain one, two or more wires simultaneously, and that by the application of
a single power only.
My machine is fixed in the ground, whence I directly obtain resisting power for
atraining the wires without the intervention of a pillar or post, which must be of
a costly and substantial nature, and is always supported and encumbered by
struts. Heretofore these massive and expensive structures placed in the fence at
short distances have been an absolute necessity for straining the wires and main-
taining them in a rigid condition.
Heretofore the continuity of the wires has had to be broken at each winding,
straining pillar or bracket at every 200 yards or thereabout. I use wires of 500 or
1000 yards long, more or less, and join these together as required by the length of
fence, forming one continuous unbroken line from terminal to terminal, however
great the distance may be between them.

page_text: Heretofore also it has been usual to support the horizontal wires along the
fence by standards having holes bored in them for the wire to pass through;
or have had slots in them in which the wires are inserted, and in the majority
of cases the wires are wedged or keyed tightly to the standards and suspenders.
In my system the standards or other uprights, except the terminals, are not bored,
but the wires are tied to them by tying wire with what is known as a "knee-halter
knot"; or, in the case of iron standards, they are fastened by twisted loops, as
hereafter described. I also use suspenders of steel, or other material, having
transverse indentations along which the wires pass freely, retaining the horizontal.
wires in position by a wire dropped vertically through a series of holes.
At present the wires are drawn out by manual labour of a severe and trying
kind. I place my coils on a self-acting drum and draw the wire out by horse,
mule, ox, or other animal power.
The object of my invention is to abolish, by my ground machine, the costly and
massive straining pillars now in use; to enable the horizontal wires to be rapidly
drawn out by animal power, to abolish the use of a straightening machine; and to
rapidly strain the wires from the terminals or elsewhere by a portable machine
fixed on the ground, instead of by a winding pillar supported by struts, or by a
machine which presses against a pillar or post of any kind. My object is also
to greatly increase the distance between the terminals, and to maintain the con-
tinuity of the wire to an almost indefinite extent, by joining each length, also
to support the wires at the standards and suspenders in such a way that the wire
will travel freely along them when first strained and at any period afterwards
when it may be found necessary to tighten the fence. In brief, my object is to
introduce methods by which the labour and expense of erecting a fence as at
present constructed shall be considerably reduced.
The following description in conjunction with the three sheets of drawings and
the claims fully explain and define the invention.
Sheet I. Fig. 1 represents the simplest form of ground straining machine. It
is constructed of wood, iron or other suitable material. When about to use it
I place it on the ground and abut its wings a' against two stay-stakes of wood,
iron or steel, driven into the ground. These stakes again are supported by one or
more stay-stakes at the back of the machine. I then secure the end of a rope
or chain by wire or other means to the roller at a*. In the case of wooden rollers
I use two crowbars passed through holes in the squares at the ends a³ and a* of
the roller. When the roller is made of metal I use two keys having ends in
the form shown at 6, fig. 2, and having long handles, which, when worked,
cause the rope to wind round the roller. This rope having one, end attached to
the wire to be strained the wire is drawn up to the required degree of tension.
Fig. 1 represents a modification of the machine shown at fig. 1. In this form
the cone-shape of the roller b and b¹ enables the operator to draw up the slack of
the wire quickly by attaching the rope at the broad end of the roller at b¹. As the
rope winds towards the smaller end of the roller the power for overcoming the
resistance of the wire is increased on the machine in proportion to the gradually
increasing resistance of the wire being strained.
Fig. 3 represents a more powerful machine, and is capable of drawing either one.
or two wires simultaneously. This machine has what is commonly known as a
chain wheel, that is, a wheel having tongues and recesses into which fit the links
of the chain c¹, by which means the chain and the wire attached to it is drawn up
as the wheel is revolved by means of the lever c³ and pawl c³, and the ratchet
wheel c when it is retained in position or prevented from revolving backwards by
the retaining pawl co. The ratchet wheels c on each side form the collars or
guides for the chain. By means of a hook, c', the frame of the machine is hooked
to the crossbar, cs, and the hook is also swivelled in the frame itself as shown at c²,
This crossbar again is fixed by two set pins c¹¹ to the two stakes cand clo, which
are secured in the ground in the same manner as those mentioned when describing*

page_text: fig. 1.
In order to guide the chain and prevent its twisting when passing into the
recesses of the chain wheel, I fix the rollers c and to the frame, as shown in
the sectional view fig. 3¹. I pass the chain either below or between the rollers.
The bolt of the lower roller passes through the lower holes c¹ on the frame c¹³
of the machine, and the bolt 16 of the upper roller passes through a lug c on the
same frame. These two rollers have recesses cs cut into them, and roll so closely
to each other as only to admit of the chain c¹ passing between them, thus pre-
venting the chain twisting on its way to the recesses of the chain wheel. Another
method of achieving the sanie purpose is shown in the sectional view at fig. 3³
Two arms or links are mounted on the centre bolt 10; or they may be mounted on
the end bolts c¹ or cle. They carry a crossbar c20 having a cross-shaped hole
through which the chain passes, and it is thus guided on its way to the recesses of
the chain wheel. The first slack of the wire is drawn up by working the short
lever c³. A box lever b' fig. 2 is afterwards placed on the end of the short lever c³,
and by this means additional power is obtained. Another method by which I secure
sufficient freedom and 'play for the ground machine to adapt itself to its work is
shown at fig. 33. The frame c15 has a bolt c passing through it, upon which is
mounted an eye c³. This eye has a hole in it for the admission of a round
stake, c. It is supported on the stake by a collar, c, and this again is fixed by a
set pin, c, and by this arrangement the machine accommodates itself to any
varying direction of the chain.
Fig. 4 represents a still more powerful machine, capable of straining either two,
four or more wires simultaneously. It consists of what is commonly known as a
differential pulley block, in which d¹ is the main haul chain which fits into the
recesses of the chain wheel d³, see end view, fig. 41; №³ is a hand haul chain which
fits into the chain wheel, d. Upon the circumference of this wheel is fitted a
ratchet wheel d³ into the teeth of which works the pawl do which again is worked
by a lever d. Upon the end of the frame of the machine are two pins d³ working
in sockets. These sockets are placed over the head of one stay-stake d instead of
two stay-stakes as in the description given of fig. 1. They are fixed in position
by set pins do, thus allowing the machine to swivel round the stake and adjust
itself to the varying direction of the haul chain.
In working this machine the wire to be strained is attached to the main haul
chain d. By pulling the hand chain d' the wheel d is made to draw the main
haul chain d¹ at a low velocity but with greatly increased power. In order further
to increase this power the pawl de is brought into gear with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel d³; and by mounting on the end d of the socket lever 62, fig. 2,
the power is increased to a still greater extent, which is rendered necessary by the
increased resistance of the wires when straining them to full tension, the retaining
pawl preventing its return.
Fig. 5 represents a still more powerful machine; it has the advantage of an
extra motion by which the slack of the wire can be drawn up as quickly as by
the machine shown at fig. 3. It chiefly consists of the wheels of an ordinary
differential pulley block; e¹ is the ordinary hand chain wheel; e is the fixed
differential wheel, and es is the movable differential wheel. The circumferences
of el and eare provided with ratchet teeth, and the circumference of the wheel e²
with square teeth, and upon e³ the ordinary chain wheel e carrying the haul chain
which is attached to the wire or wires to be strained. This chain is guided in
delivery by the loose pulley es. Upon the centre bolt is mounted a bow lever e
carrying two ratchet pawis 7 and e, working alternately into the two wheels e¹
and e. The frame e carries two pawls e10 and e!. The former fits into the square
recesses of the wheel e and the latter into the ratchet wheel e³. This frame
also has stay-stakes e and they are fixed in the ground in like manner as in
the description given of fig. 1. els is a stud to hold the frame in position on the
stake.
+
The haul chain is attached to the wire and passed over into the recesses of the
chain wheel e. The retaining pawl ell is placed in action into the wheel e³, the

page_text: retaining pawl e¹o being by the same movement thrown out of gear, pawl e' being
also thrown into gear with the wheel ea, the same movement throwing out the
pawl e. By working the lever the attached pawl e' working the ratchet
wheel e moves the attached chain wheel e, carrying with it the haul chain and
bringing up the attached wire to tension. This gives the quick motion described
when referring to fig. 3.
In order to give the slow motion, the pawl e¹º is thrown into the square recesses
of the wheel e, by the same movement throwing the pawl ell out of gear with the
wheel e. The pawl e is now thrown into gear with the ratchet wheel el, the saine
movement throwing out pawl e', and it is retained in position by the spring elő,
and the springe at the same time retains the pawl e¹0 in a fixed position. By
working the lever es, carrying the ratchet es, this again working in the ratchet
wheel e¹, causes the differentiating gear to act through to the chain wheel e
turning it at a much slower velocity, but with increased power.
Sheet II., fig. 1, represents a plan and fig. 1' a half sectional elevation of a self-
acting drum for uncoiling or coiling wire. The spindle may be placed horizontally
or vertically. It consists of a ring frame a¹ to which are attached by bolts or
studs four handles a. These are connected together by two stays a passing
across and between each pair of handles. Upon the outside circumference of the
ring a¹, and bolted thereto, are uprights a, each carrying a disc plate a¹. Upon
the top of each upright a thumb nut a³ is screwed, holding down a cover-plate aº.
Diametrically across the ring extends a longitudinal, stay, a', which is fixed by
bolts to the circumference of the ring a¹. In the centre of this stay is fixed an
upright spindle a which has also a thumb nut at the top. Upon this spindle
revolves a plate a' with its reel a¹0 formed in segments as indicated in fig. 1, in
order to pack easily for transport. Near the top of this reel are drilled two
holes al for the insertion of a bar which passes the centre spindle, and which is.
used for coiling wire. all is a ring rivetted to the cover plate a, and being close
to the reel a¹o it prevents the wire from becoming jammed. a are holed lugs
attached to the under frame to secure it temporarily to a standard to prevent the
horse or mule from overturning it when drawing out the wire when the machine
is resting on the ground and in use. The same bolts or studs which carry four of
the uprights are continued through the frame, and carry on their inner ends four.¨
small wheels or rollers a¹³, on which the lower plate a rests, and which when the
plate is in motion revolve with it. These rollers share the weight of the coil with
the collar of the centre spindle.
The disc plates a¹ on the uprights a' are loose and free to revolve. They are
supported in an oblique position upon the uprights a' and have their lower edges
resting on the plate a°. Their use is to prevent the wire while uncoiling from
working its way down between the uprights a' and the base plate aº. and so
becoming entangled round the centre spindle.
When about to work the drum, I remove the thumb nuts a³ and the centre
nut a's, and then lift off the cover-plate.a. I now place a coil of wire over the
reel a¹0 and then replace the cover and thumb nuts. The end of this coil of wire
is now taken and the wire is drawn out by hand, horse, or mule..The reel a¹º,
and the plate a revolve upon the rollers a¹. In addition to supporting the discs,
the uprights, when the reel revolves rapidly, act. as checks to prevent the wire
flying out by centrifugal action and becoming entangled with the handles or any
other obstruction near. To serve a like purpose, I also use a casing round the
drum, instead of the uprights, and thus confine the wire within the limits of the
machine. As the plate a revolves, the discs a¹ also revolve.
To prevent the wire, during process of uncoiling, getting over the top of the
upright stays, and so winding round the centre spindle, I rivet a ring all to the
under side of the top plate a, the internal diameter being slightly larger than
the top plate of the reel, and. in depth forming a cap sufficiently deep to cover the
thickness of the plate forming the top of the reel.

page_text: Fig. 2 represents a stay machine for drawing up the stay-wires at the terminals
and angle standards. It consists of an outer frame b¹, standing upon two feet b³.
At the opposite end to the feet a hole is made to afford a clear passage for
a screw b³, at the inner end of which is a double hook 6º, and upon the outer end
is a nut b. To the hooks are attached the two links be and the steel discs b' with
serrated edges, all of which are mounted on the frame 68, the links being kept in
place by a split pin 6º. In using this machine I place the two feet 6' against the
terminal or angle standard. I now close the eccentrics on the stay-wire which has
been passed through this terminal or angle standard. I then place a key over the
but b, and wind up the screw, and by this means tighten up the stay-wire. The
stay-wire is then held in position by a plug or clip, and the machine is removed.
After this the end of the stay-wire is wound round the pole and fastened off, or if
a clip is used it is left permanently on the stay-wire.
Fig. 3 represents the form of stake or stakes used with the ground straining
machine as shown on Sheet I. They consist of iron or steel bars flattened out at
the ends and twisted. When using the ground machines in soft ground the earth
plates c¹ and c³ are bolted to the stakes by the bolts c³. One pair of stakes c
and cis first inserted into the ground. Either of the ground straining machines
shown on Sheet I. can be slid over the top of the stakes and held in position by
the set bolts, or they may be otherwise attached to them. The back stake c is
also inserted in the ground, preferably at a distance of about 8 feet, and the shackle
and chain c is taken and fixed to the hook c, passing across the top of the stay-
stakes c and co. The varying length between the back stake and the front stakes
is accommodated by the links of the chain c. Other stakes are fixed behind if
necessary, and attached in the same manner if the strain be unusually great on the
machine. Or, in ground suitable for the purpose, I sometimes use instead of
stakes a common iron anchor or grapnel, in order to form a resistance against the
strain of the wire.
Fig. 4 represents a swivel gripper for taking hold of the wire to be strained. It
consists of a frame d¹ with lugs, through which are passed two pins d'. On these
work two eccentric rollers, d³, having serrated edges. Two holes are made on the.
side opposite the pins; through these holes are passed two links, d³, and these two
links are passed through another link, d. At the end of the link d' is fixed a
Bwivel, do, having an eye upon it, which is attached to the haul-chain d. The
wire to be hauled is placed between the eccentric rollers do, which are closed
upon it, the other end of the chain de being attached to the ground machine; and
when the chain is strained it causes the rollers to further close and grip the wire
firmly.
I also use a double swivel gripper. It is a combination of two swivel grippers,
one of which is shown at fig. 4. These grippers are attached to each other at the
swivel ends by a length of chain d or other connecting material three or four feet
long, more or less, and are used for holding one horizontal wire by another in the
fence.
Fig. 4* represents what I call a swivel chain pulley. This chiefly consists of one
large or two small sheaves, the sheave ¹ being prepared with a groove to fit the.
chain. It is mounted on an axle and runs freely in the frame 13. At one end a
thumb-bolt is passed through the frame and on it is carried the swivel 15 to
which is attached the haul chain & coming from the ground machine. Over the
sheave is passed a chain 17. At each end of the chain is a swivel gripper, such as
is represented at fig. 4. I use this compensating chain pulley when straining two
wires at one operation by the use of one ground machine. By mounting two or
more sheaves on the same axle 1, and passing a chain over each sheave, each
chain having two grippers, I am enabled to strain two or more pairs of wires
simultaneously at one operation and by one ground machine only.
"
At fig. 5 is shown a guide pulley e¹, mounted in a frame e', and having a groove
for the haul-chain to run on. · The frame is tied by a short chain to the standard
at or near the elevation at which the wire is to be strained in the fence.

page_text: Fig. 6. shows a clip made of iron, steel or other material. It is formed of two'
plates, roughed and ribbed on one side, and having two or more bolts passing
through them. These are used for enclosing and holding together the points of
the wire f¹ and f, at the locking point or elsewhere. They are also used for
locking single wires at bored terminals and other places.
Fig. 7. shows another form of clip through which the wires g¹ and g² are passed
together diagonally, whereupon the bolts are tightened, so as to hold the wires
together within the clip.
By slackening the bolts and drawing the wire or wires further through the clips
the wire or wires can be tightened at any time, and afterwards bolted firmly
together.
:
Fig. 7 is still another form of clip for locking two wires. It consists of a
frame m through which passes a pin m³. On this pin are mounted two eccentric
rollers m³, having serrated edges. The greater the strain the tighter the eccentrics
grip. The points of the main wires on each side are passed through between the
rollers and the frame, and are allowed to hang several inches, for the purpose of
being gripped in the process of re-tightening the wires.
Fig. 8 represents a tool of iron, steel or other material for joining wires. It has
two wings h¹ and h²; on his fixed a stud or pin h. At the opposite end is a
shackle ho, which passes over the opposite wing h¹ and holds the wings together.
The joining strut he is a piece of round iron or steel grooved on the edge and in
which the wire rests.
In using this tool for joining two ends of wires, the wings are opened on the
hinge h³ and the joining strut he is placed on the pin h. The wings are then
closed and locked by the shackle hs. I now pass through the holes or spaces h?
and 8, and in opposite directions, the ends of the wires d' and d³, to be joined as
shown on Sheet III., fig. 4. Holding the joining tool in one hand, with the other
hand I twist the ends of the wires in a long twist over the main wires on each
side. I now pass the eye-bolt, fig. 81, Sheet II., over the point of one of the wires
through the hole or eye n¹, and then turn the eye-bolt-round the main wire until
the eye-bolt works off and leaves the end of the wire. The other wire end is
then treated in the same manner, and the joint is complete, as shown at fig. 4,
Sheet III.
When the wire is too brittle to form short close twists, and will only admit of
long twists, or when wires of a small size are used, their ends are apt to slide over
each other until they become released. When this is likely to occur I pass a
piece of tying wire, about two feet in length, down through the two loops formed
on each side of the joining strut. I then replace the joining tool in position over
the strut. The short piece of joining wire is now lying across the centre of the
strut.in the direction of the line of fence and in the notch hio, fig. 8, Sheet II.
I then twist the ends of the wire with the eye-bolt around the already twisted
ends of the main wires on each side. The ends of the piece of joining wire are
twisted to some inches beyond the twisted ends of the main wires.
Fig. 9 represents a box for oiling the wires. This box i is made of galvanized
iron or other material, and is surmounted by a hinged lid . In this lid are
mounted two grooved pulley rollers. In the lower compartment ¹ are mounted
one or more spindles it, working loosely in bearings in the inside of the box.
At one end of each spindle, is a washer . Against each washer, and on each
spindle is a pair of convex discs and . These are held together by a light
spiral spring, which is again kept in place by a washer and a split pin behind.
Beneath the two pairs of discs, which face each other on their concave sides, is a
réservoir 10. The cover is held down by means of a spring catch 2. When
using this apparatus I first fill the compartment with oil, or any other material
for preserving the wires, up to the spindles of the discs. I place the wire to be
oiled between the two pairs of discs and i, about midway between the spindles
and the upper circumference of the discs. I now close the lid and secure it by
the catch, taking care that the two rollers ride on the top of the wire. I now

page_text: draw or push the box along the wire, and the discs revolving in the oil, or other
material, carry up a portion of it and deposit it upon the wire. Two or more
boxes may be used to oil two or more wires at the same time.
Fig. 10 shows a staple guide for driving staples into standards made of very
hard wood. It is made of iron, steel or other material. At each end is a chamber
which fits over the staple. The chamber k¹ is deeper than the chamber k³.
In using this tool I place the end k¹ over the staple, and drive the staple down
until it is level with the edges of the chamber. I now twist the tool until one
side of the staple gets into the slot. I then place the other chamber k³ over the
staple to drive the staple further into the wood until it is level with the edges of
this chamber, and it is removed in the same manner. The dotted lines k³ indicate
a staple.
Fig. 11 represents a tool I use for extracting staples. It consists of a piece of
flat steel tapered towards one end. This tapered end is inserted into the staple to
be extracted. It is then driven in by a hammer until it reaches the broad end,
when the staple loosens its hold of the wood.
Sheet III., Fig. 1 represents a standard made of steel or other material. It may
be solid, hollow, square or any other section. It has transverse notches a¹, in which
the horizontal wires are retained, and tied by wire at the opposite side. Or it is
notched for 'the tying wire to rest in, the horizontal wires passing freely through
the loop of the tying wire. In all cases, whether I use round wood or iron
standards, I use the mode of tying shown in fig. 5. e¹ is the wire as tied round
the standard, and at fig. 5¹ I show the disposition of the wire with the standard
removed. This knot, which I call the knee-halter knot, is also used in tying the
guide pulleys, as shown on Sheet II., fig. 5.
When the standards Sheet III., fig. 1 are used in soft earth I fix earth-plates a
by means of bolts and nuts. These are bolted on before the standards are placed
in the earth, and add to their resisting power.
At fig. 1¹ is represented in section, about full size, and in detail, the form of hitch
I adopt for securing the horizontal wires to iron suspending standards in the fence.
a shows the horizontal wire, a the fastening wire, and at the form of hitch. The
hitch is made previous to its being passed over the standard, and the hitch is
inserted in the notch at the back of the standard. I then take a tapered bolt and
insert it in the loop or ring, and give the bolt a turn until an eyelet is formed,
through which the horizontal wires are threaded. As will be seen, the horizontal
wire a³ in section is perfectly free and clear.
.
Or instead of a hitched loop I take a welded loop a³, fig. 12, and after it is
passed over the standard and placed in the notch a' I form an eyelet a similar to
that shown in fig. 1¹ and already described.
Fig. 2 represents a suspender or "dropper," to shorten the tension of the wire
between the intermediate standards. It is made of steel or other material, and is
placed flatways on the fence.. It has transverse indentations. or ribs b¹, into which
the horizontal wires are placed. I then pass a vertical locking wire b³ downwards
as seen in the enlarged side view fig: 24 through holes made above and below each
rib. The locking wire is passed in front of the horizontal wire b³, and at the back
of the suspender. The top 6° fig. 2 of the locking wire is then bent over to keep
it in position. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the top rib and fig. 2¹ a side view of
one of the intermediate ribs. The horizontal wires are allowed a large space in the
rib to enable them to run freely. The base of the suspender may be bent at right
angles to form a foot, as shown at fig. 23, to hold the. weight of wire above it; or
when a ground wire forms part of the fence this ground wire carries the weight of
the suspender and the wires above it, and prevents the suspenders from entering
into the earth or soil. With this latter arrangement no feet are required for the
suspender. To prevent the suspender from shifting on the fence into an oblique
position, I sometimes tie it to a horizontal wire, or fasten it by wedge as shown in
fig. 2, or by other means,

page_text: Fig. 3 represents a ground fork-hook, made of iron or other suitable material.
It consists of a bar having prongs c¹ at each end. The under side of the bar is
notched for the reception of wires strained along the ground when forming a
burrow-proof fence. I drive the fork into the earth across, and spanning the
ground wires c', at the same time saddling each wire with its appropriate notch.
Fig. 6 at A shows that the stay-wires, emanating from one single point, are
attached to the terminal on one side only, and not radiating in different directions
from the terminal, as is common in supporting other fixtures of a similar nature,
such as telegraph poles, but neither of which methods has hitherto in any form been.
adopted in wire-fencing.
At the end B of the fence, fig. 6, is shown a rod of iron or steel f³ four or six
feet in length, according to the depth at which the anchor-stone f¹ of the terminal
is buried in the earth. It has an eyelet at each end, one of which is connected
with the anchor-stone, and to the other are fastened the horizontal wires passing
through or tied to the terminal. Or in place of the rod I use a length of galvanized
wire, folded in the form of a skein of thread, and twisted by a bolt or rod of wood
or iron, leaving at each end an eyelet, one of which is connected to the anchorage
and the other to the horizontal wires behind the terminal post.
Fig. 6¹ is another form of. stay. It consists of a chain f, terminating at each
end with a ring. One end of the chain I form into a loop, which surrounds the
anchor-stone or anchor-beam of wood f³, and to the other ring the horizontal wires
are fastened after they have been passed through the terminal for the purpose.
Having described all the tools and appliances, I now proceed to show how they
are used in erecting a wire fence on my system. .
Although my appliances are used with very great advantage when the coils of
fence wire are of the ordinary varying lengths, I prefer to use coils of equal and
unbroken lengths, whether 100 or 1000 yards long. I use the self-acting drum
shown at fig. 1, Sheet II., for uncoiling the wire. "I place suspending standards,
similar to those illustrated at fig. 1, Sheet III., 200 feet apart, more or less. If the
horizontal wires are fastened to them by tying wire, this tying wire is first tied
round the suspending standards, and a loop is formed with it, through which the.
horizontal wire is threaded, or I use the loops or rings figs. 1' and 12. The inter-
mediate standards are tied to the horizontal wires, as also are suspenders when
made of wood. This is done after the wire has been strained through the suspending
standards.
0
I proceed in the following manner to erect a fence 2000 yards long, composed of
twelve wires, eleven of which are fastened to the uprights above ground, and the
twelfth is strained along the ground, but neither stapled nor tied to the standards.
Each coil of wire is 500 yards long. I first dig holes for the anchor-stones f¹ of
the terminals A B, fig. 6, Sheet III., and also holes for the suspending standards
shown at f5, fig. 6, through the staple or tying wire or loops of which the horizontal
wires are threaded. Holes for the suspending standards having been dug they are
inserted therein, and the excavated earth is returned and tightly rammed around it.
At the terminal A, and to the back thereof, I secure seven or more stays f 11 to a
stone f¹ three or four feet long, called an anchor-stone, which is then buried flat-
ways in the ground. Or the stays may be anchored to a piece of wood or iron f³,
or secured to one or more earth-plates. I twist the top stay-wire round the top
of the terminal at A, fig. 6, and the lower stay round the bottom, and secure the
remaining stays to the terminal in proportion as the straining of the horizontal
wires progresses. Or instead of stay-wires I use a rod of iron f' terminal B, or
a chain ffig. 61 secured to the anchor-stone to act as a stay, connecting thereto
the horizontal wires after passing them through the holes in the terminal.
I now place six coils of wire at each of the terminals A and B, and twelve coils
at each of the points D C and E, making in all forty-eight coils. C is the locking
point of the wires, approximately midway between A and B, while D and E are
nearly in the middle of the length AC and C B. I place one self-acting drum,

page_text: .
fig. 1, Sheet II., at A and another at D. I commence at the terminal A, by placing
a coil on the reel of the self-acting drum.
"
At this stage I employ a harnessed horse or mule and a boy. To the "swingle-
tree or draught-bar of the harness I attach a short piece of chain, and to the end
of this a swivel gripper fig. 4, Sheet II. I take the end of the coil of wire, and
giving it a slight bend,'fix it in the gripper. The boy now leads the mule on and I
hold in my hand the gripper which is fastened to the end of the wire. On arriving
at the first suspending standard I pass to the right or left, as the case may be, and
pass the next suspending standard on the opposite side, and thus I continue
passing on alternate sides of the suspending standards until I reach the point D.
This wire I call the ground wire. It lies flat along the ground, and is neither
stapled nor tied to the standards but for a rabbit fence, which must have all its wires
on the same side of the standards, I either staple or tie the ground wire to them.
On arriving at the point D, the coil of 500 yards has exhausted itself off the
drum at the terminal A. I now place a coil on the drum at D and return with the
second wire, which is the lowest suspended wire in the fence. On my way to A
with this wire, and as I pass each suspending standard I release the point of the
wire from the jaws of the gripper, and pass it through the staple or eyelet on the
standard, and then refasten the point of the wire in. the gripper. On arriving
at A. I secure the end of the ground wire to the terminal, and afterwards the wire
just brought down from D. Or I secure them to the stay made of an iron rod f³, or.
chain-stay f' by first passing them through holes bored in the terminal as shown at
terminal B. I now place a third coil on the drum at A and proceed to D, threading
the wires on the suspending standards as I go along the line, along which I pass and
repass in like manner until all the twelve wires are drawn out between A and D.
I now remove the drum at A to the locking point C, and I draw out all the
remaining wires between this point and D in precisely the same manner that
I drew out the wires between A and D, joining them at D to the ends of the first
section of wire, ending at D, with the joining tool, fig. 8, Sheet II. I now proceed
to draw out the wires and join them between B and C in the same manner as the
wires were drawn out and joined between A and C. I then proceed to strain the
fence wires with the ground machines in the following manner:-
I plant ground machines at D and E, and at C. It is unnecessary to have more
than one machine between A and C or between C and B and two at C. A fence
of 2000 yards can be drawn up with four machines only. But when fencing on a
large scale I use more machines, and this greatly facilitates the work. I shall now
assume I have fourteen ground straining machines. I place six of these at D and
six at E, and two at the locking point C. The machines are fixed in the ground
near a standard, on which the small guide pulley, fig. 5, Sheet II., is temporarily
hung at or near the elevation at which the horizontal wire is to remain to the
fence. I take the haul-chain of one of the machines at D and pass it through the
guide pulley, fastening the gripper at the end of the haul-chain to the top or first
horizontal wire, and then I work the lever of the machine until the wire is fully
strained. I proceed in the same way to attach another ground machine to the
second wire of the fence, which is then also strained. To prevent the gripper
from revolving, so as to cause the horizontal wire to twist over the haul-chain
when straining, I insert a piece of wood with a weight attached to its end through
one of the links of the gripper, to steady it.
While the first two ground machines hold these two wires I take a chain swivel
gripper gl, as referred to after describing fig. 4, Sheet II., and with it secure the
second wire to the first wire, as shown at fig. 8, Sheet III. The 2nd machine is
now released, and with it I strain up the third horizontal wife, leaving it in
possession of the 2nd machine. I now take the 3rd machine and strain the fourth
wire, which I secure to the third wire with another swivel chain gripper g². The
3rd machine, which held the fourth wire, is now released, and is set to strain up
the fifth wire of fence, which is then left in possession of this machine. I now
take the 4th machine to strain up the sixth wire, which I secure to the fifth wire

page_text: by a chain gripper g³. The 4th machine, which held the sixth wire, is then released,
and with it I strain the seventh wire, leaving it in possession of the machine.
I take the 5th machine and strain the eighth wire; which is secured to the seventh
wire by a chain gripper g. The 5th machine, which held the eighth wire, is then
released, and with it I strain the ninth wire, leaving it in possession of the machine.
I now take the 6th machine and strain up the tenth wire, which is fastened by a
chain gripper go to the ninth wire. The 6th machine, which held the tenth wire,
is then released, and with it I strain up the eleventh wire and leave it in possession
of the machine. Eleven wires, the whole number suspended, are now held by the
machines and chain grippers. The twelfth, or ground wire, still remains to be
strained, but this must be left over to be strained alone, when the machines and
grippers are released. Otherwise I make the 5th machine hold an extra wire by
the chain swivel gripper 96, and by the 6th machine I strain the twelfth or ground
wire and leave it in the possession of this machine.
Having strained all the wires up from A to D, fig. 6, I now proceed to the
point E and with the six machines there fixed I strain the wires from the
terminal B to E in the same way as I strain the wires from the terminal A to D.
I leave all the wires at D and E in possession of the machines and chain grippers,
and proceed to the locking point, C. At this place there are the two ground
machines, viz., one at f, which strains the wires from the point E, and one at f?,
which strains the wires from the point D. I have standards ƒ9 and f 10 placed on
each side of the locking point, on which to hang two guide pulleys as at g, fig. 8.
I now, with the machine at f7, strain the topmost horizontal wire which comes from
the terminal A, and with the machine at f8. I strain the wire coming from the
terminal B. These two wires are kept at the same elevation by the guide pulleys.
The wires are now drawn until they have passed each other, and overlap at the
point C. A clip, fig. 6 or 7, or 7ª, Sheet II., is now passed over the wires, and
fastened so tightly on them that upon releasing the two machines the wires remain
at full strain. Ends of the wire to the extent of a few inches are left hanging
from the clip, so as to afford a grip for the machine when in future the wires
require tightening. I then strain all the wires successively downwards in the same
manner, and the fence is completed. As each wire was strained the chain gripper
and the machine gripper attached to it at the points D and E were relaxed, and
dropped from the wire. If any of the grippers have not been freed I remove them
by hand. I now proceed to lift my machines, and remove them and other temporary
portable appliances from the field.
I close up the end of the fence and protect the stays by placing a standard where
the top stay enters the earth, filling up the space between the standard and terminal
with wires and suspenders as shown at the terminal A, fig. 6, Sheet III.
I have now shown how I strain and maintain at full tension twelve wires at one
point, with six ground machines and six chain grippers. With a long chain swivel
gripper h¹, fig. 9, and a compensating chain pulley h³, each machine will draw two
wires and h at a time, as shown, and therefore fewer ground machines are
required. Three powerful ground machines, as shown fig. 5, Sheet I., having com-
pensating chain pulleys, and four ordinary chain swivel grippers are sufficient
to strain and hold twelve horizontal wires at full tension. The object of the
compensating chain pulley shown at fig. 4*, Sheet II., and at h³, fig. 9, Sheet III.,
is to equalise the strain of the two wires in case, one has more slack in it than the
other. When this is the case the tension is equalised by the altered position of
the grippers, as shown at h³, fig. 9, Sheet III.
With one of these powerful machines, as shown at fig. 5, Sheet I., four wires hº,
h, h8 and he can be strained and held at the same time, as shown at fig. 9, Sheet III.,
by having a pulley with two sheaves instead of one, as shown in fig. 4, Sheet II.
In order to strain six or more wires at one time three or more pulleys can be
mounted on the same frame.
Having strained the wires of the fence through suspending standards I now
proceed to oil the wires. The oiling boxes, fig. 9, sheet II., are filled to one half

page_text: their depth, and are placed on the wires and are drawn or pushed along the wires,
by which they are thoroughly oiled as a protection against rust.
I next proceed to place the intermediate standards in. the fence, fig. 1, Sheet III.
Holes are made in the ground for these, into which they are inserted, and earth
is rammed tightly around them. The horizontal wires are then tied to the inter-.
mediates with the "knee-halter knot" shown at fig. 5 and 5¹.
I now place the suspenders, fig. 2, in between the intermediate standards and
secure them to the horizontal wires. and lock them, the ground wire supporting the
suspenders and the wires above.
i
When necessary I strain extra wires on and along the ground with the ground
straining machine see a fig. 1. sheet. III:: The terminals are. blocks of wood or
iron, placed lengthways on the ground, and partly embedded in it. These terminals.
have holes through which the ends of the wires are passed, and. these wires I
secure to the stay or stays at the back of the upright terminals. At the angles in
the fence I place similar blocks of wood or iron, having notches made in them,
through which the wires are strained; these notches are formed to suit the varying
angles of the fence.
I maintain the ground wires at their proper respective distances along the line
by driving at intervals the ground fork, fig. 3, sheet III., into the earth over and
across the ground wires, saddling each wire with its respective notch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The portable straining machines or "ground machines" as shown and
described.
2nd. The use of a portable ground machine for straining wire in the manner
substantially as described.
3rd. The portable drum for coiling and uncoiling wires, substantially as shown
and described, and its application to the erection of wire fences or lines of wire,
substantially as described.
4th. The combination of swivel and gripper, as shown and described..
5th. The combination of chain and gripper, herein called a chain swivel gripper,
as shown and described.
6th. The combination of two swivel grippers, chain and pulley, to- form a
compensating chain gripper, as shown and described.
7th. The various forms of wire clips, as shown and described.
8th. The combination of straining machine and gripper, called herein a stay
machine, as shown and described.
9th. The various methods of fixing terminals as shown and described.
10th. The application of the knee-halter knot to holding the horizontal wires to
the uprights, as shown and described.
11th. The joining tool, as shown and described.
12th. The wire joint, as shown and described.
13th. The staple guide, as shown and described.
14th. The standards, as shown and described.
15th. The suspenders, as shown and described.
16th. The ground fork, as shown and described.
17th. The new type of fence and the method of erecting the same, substantially
as described and illustrated.