Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Wire Fencing.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application 19th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Wire Fencing.
I, ALBERT JAMES BATES, residing at 411 Richards Street, Joliet, County of
Wills, in the State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of wire fencing,
particularly that class of fencing known as woven wire fencing. The object of
the invention is to produce in a manner economical in time, cost of machinery,
labor, material, and maintenance, a fence characterized by some or all of the
following features, to wit: a series of longitudinal or strand wires each connected
to the adjacent ones by a series of transverse stay, wires coiled at their end
portions about the strands in such a manner as to interlock the coils of the stay
wires; with barbs or prods where desired formed by the projecting terminals of
the coiled stay wires at some or all the intersections of the wires; graduated or
variable intervals between the several strand wires; intervals long or short, as
desired, between stay wires; the omission of such of the vertical stay wires as may
be desired to vary the size of some of the panel or meshes for special uses or for
the production of various patterns or designs in the fabric; a certain flexibility or
hinging of the stay wires whereby the fence may be bent sidewise without bending
or injuring the stay wires; and a certain tensional elasticity allowing for changes
of temperature when in use in a taut condition; but the emphatic and most.
important characteristic is that the fencing is more cheaply made than has
heretofore been done.
This fencing is made in full width as desired. In service it is merely secured
at intervals to the fence posts-in a taut condition, as is usual in erecting this class
of fencing.
In explaining my invention of machinery by which the fencing is made, I shall
incidentally set forth, as I proceed, the formation of the fencing itself from its
several elementary wires; after which the characteristics of the finished fencing
will be easily made clear. I however desire it to be understood that in my present
specification I make no claim to the fencing itself.
It must be borne in mind that fences having several strand wires and transverse
stay wires are known, and it has already been proposed to make the same by
machinery at one continuous operation, but in doing so the transverse stay wires
corresponding to the spaces have been of necessity divided into sets or groups, the
individual wires of which correspond only to alternate spaces between the strand
wires, and these sets or groups have been fed in and secured to the strand wires
alternately, so that, in the completed fencing, the stay wires are not continuous
across the fabric, but are so located and arranged, that at any given point of the
fencing only alternate spaces between the strand wires are crossed, the other spaces
not being crossed by the stay wires, and the longitudinal wires not being connected
at all at that point.
It is one particular object of the present invention to make by machinery, at a
single operation and in continuous lengths, fencing fabric in which all the
longitudinal wires, or as many as may be desired, are connected together by
transverse stays, and in which each stay consists of wires that are practically
united, continuous, and in line with one another. This I accomplish by feeding in

page_text: all the stay wires for each stay simultaneously and in line with one another
crosswise of the strand wires, and by simultaneously intercoiling them about the
strand wires thereby obtaining superior strength, rigidity, and effectiveness, with
greatly improved appearance.
The best embodiment of any machine or apparatus, at this time known to me,
together with the finished fence, is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming
part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a top plan of my machine;
Figure 2 is a sile elevation of the same, looking at the machine from the right
of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same, looking at the machine from the lower
side of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the machine on line A-A of Figure 2
and 3, looking down;
Figure 5 is a detailed face view of the stay wire coilers, and a side view of the
stay wire cutting-off mechanism, taken on line B-B of Figure 4 looking towards
the right;
Figure 6 is a detailed view of the upper portion of said stay wire-coiling and
cutting-off mechanism, showing the face of one cutter-bar, and the side of the end
portions of the coilers;
Figure 7 is a detailed view, representing a section of the mechanism shown in
Figure 5 with the stay wire cutters thereof brought to the position assumed when
cutting off the stay wire;
Figures 8 and 9 are detailed views representing different stages, in the process
of coiling the stay wire ends about the strand wires ;
Figure 10 is a detailed view, representing a section of the stationary cutter-bar
shown at the right at Figure 5, showing a stay wire guide placed between two
coilers;
Figure 11 is a cross-section of the same on line D-D of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a detailed side view of the mechanism, for operating the stay wire
coilers, the same being a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 2;
Figures 13 and 14 are detailed views, representing sections of the mechanism
shown in Figure 12, showing by dotted lines the different relative positions of the
rack and the coiler pinions;
Figure 15 is a cross-section of said rack and of one of said coiling pinions, taken on
line C-C of Figures 12 and 14, looking down, showing, also, keeper plates at the
sides of said rack;
Figure 16 is a side view of one of the stay wire coiling shafts and pinion, of the
machine, representing the coiling end of the same in section;
Figure 17 is a face view of one pair of the stay wire feed rolls and gears thereof,
of the machine;
Figures 18 and 19 are detailed plan views of said feed rolls;
Figures 20 and 21 represent sections of the finished woven wire fencing as it is
produced by such a machine;
Figures 22 and 23 are detailed views of portions of said fencing showing the
manner in which the stay wire ends are coiled about the strand wires with or
without barbs ; and
Figure 24 is a detailed view of a portion of two take-up rolls of the machine,
with a portion of the fencing shown between them.
Referring to these views and to the reference numerals therein, 1 denotes the
bed plate of the machine arranged in a horizontal position upon any suitable
foundation and secured thereto by foundation bolts.
2 indicates the head plate supported in a horizontal position above the bed plate
upon posts 3 and 4, which rise from the bed plate and form bearings and supports
for the wire-feeding, coiling, guiding and cutting mechanisms, as well as performing
other functions which will be hereinafter described. 5 denotes a post that is fixed
to the bed and head plates in line with the posts 3 and 4, and 6 is a column located

page_text: between the posts 4 and 5 and forming a support for certain take-up rolls and
tension devices which will also be described later on.
Journaled on the upper side of the head plate 2 in stand-bearings 7 and 8 is a
shaft 9, having fixed thereon a bevel gear wheel 10 and a ratchet wheel 11, having
four teeth. The shaft 9 bas also splined upon it bevel gear wheels 12 and 13, and
loosely journaled upon the shaft is also a belt pulley 14 which has fixed to its hub
a spur pinion 15, all as illustrated in Figure 1. Likewise journaled upon the upper
side of the head plate in bearings 16 and 17 is a shaft 18 having a combined cam
and crank wheel 19 at one end, a crank disk 22 at the other end, a spur gear
wheel 20, and an eccentric 21. Also journaled in a bearing 23 midway between
the shafts 9 and 18 is an intermediate gear pinion 24 meshing with the spur
pinion 15 and the gear 20, and operating to transmit movement from the former to
the latter, so that a belt passing around the pulley 14 will drive the shaft 18 and its
connected parts; and thereby, through the agency of the arm 26, which is sleeved on
the shaft 9 and carries a spring pawl 27 arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet
wheel 11, and the connecting rod 25 which is arranged to connect the arm 26 with.
the crank disk 22, to intermittently drive the shaft 9 and its connected parts.
Stepped or mounted in boxes 28 and 29, respectively, on the bed plate, are
shafts 30 and 31, which extend upwardly through the head plate and have fixed on.
their upper ends, respectively, bevel pinions 32 and 33, so located and arranged that
gear 13 on shaft 9 may be set to mesh with the pinion 32, and gear 12 on the same.
shaft may be set to mesh with the pinion 33. The shaft 31 extends upwardly
through a stand bearing 34 above the pinion 33, and has fixed to its upper end a
horizontally-operating flanged belt pulley 35.
Below the head plate 2 the shaft 30 has fixed thereon a spur gear 36, and at a.
corresponding point the shaft 31 has a similar gear 37. These two gears are
connected together through the intermediacy of an idler 38, which is studded to
the under side of the head plate, so that when one of the shafts is driven the other
will be likewise operated. The object of making the gears 12 and 13 splined and
movable on the shaft 9 is that either one may be caused to mesh with its fellow
gear on the shafts 30 and 31. When the gear 12 meshes with the gear 33, the
movement transmitted to the shafts 30 and 31 will be equal to that imparted to
shaft 9. As the ratchet wheel 11 has four teeth and is operated one tooth at each
stroke of pawl 27, this movement of shaft 9 and shafts 30 and 31 will be one-quarter
turn; but when the gear 12 is moved out of mesh, and the gear 13 is moved into
mesh with the gear 32, then the movement transmitted to the shafts 30 and 31 will,
because the gear 32 has a pitch diameter of one-half that of the gear 13, be a
one-half turn at each movement of shaft 9. This interchange of motion is for the
purpose of varying the take-up movement of the machine and thereby altering the
intervals between the stay wires affixed to the strand wires. All this will be more
fully explained later on.
.
Journaled in bearings in the posts 3 and 4 are a series or plurality of coiling
shafts 39 arranged vertically over one another and located at graduated distances
apart. These graduated distances correspond to the spacing of the strand wires.
The shafts 39 are centrally and longitudinally bored to provide passageways
there-through for the longitudinal or strand wires 113 of the fencing, and each is
provided at the end where the wire enters with a pinion 43 and a wire guide 40.
The opposite side of each of these coiling shafts is provided with a tip 41 that is
screw threaded into the end of the shaft, and is provided with two oppositely
located, longitudinally extending, coiling pins 42. The coiling shafts are all
placed so that their pinions 43 are in vertical line at the outer side of the post 3,
and so that their coiling ends and the pins 42 protrude a short distance from the
post 4, toward the center of the machine, as shown in Figure 4.
To the upper
To the lower part of post 3 is fulcrumed a bell-crank lever 44.
part of the post, in vertical line with the lever 44, is fulcrumed a compound' bell-
crank lever 45. This lever 45 has three arms, one downwardly extending, one
upwardly extending, and one extending laterally parallel with the lever 44. The

page_text: upwardly and laterally extending arms are each provided with wrist-rollers, 46
and 47, respectively, that are arranged to operate against peripheral cams 48
and 49 on the cam wheel 19, which cams are of such form as to impart an inter-
mittent oscillating movement to the compound lever 45 and to lock it against
movement during the intervals of its throw. A connecting rod 50 joins together
the laterally extending arms of the levers 44 and 45 so that an equal movement
may be imparted to each. 51 denotes a bar which is pivotally studded to the
downwardly extending arms of the levers 44 and 45. This bar 51 has forwardly
extending side-plates or keepers 52 and 53 fixed to it, the keepers 52 being part of
the vertically extending plate 54, as shown.
Slidingly held between said keepers is a rack-bar 55, its back against the
bar 51. This bar is provided on its sides with longitudinal grooves 56, in which
grooves lie inwardly projecting ribs or flanges on the keepers 52 and 53, which
hold the rack in place and allow it to slide vertically along bar 51.
Pivotally connected to the back of the rack-bar 55, by a box 58, is a lever 57.
This lever is pivoted at its opposite end to the upper end of au upright connecting-
rod 59 which is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 60 upon the bed-plate 1.
Pivoted to the central portion of the lever 57 is a crank-bar or rod 61 which
extends and is connected to the crank 62 of the cam-wheel 19. Movement is
imparted from said crank to the lever 57, and a reciprocating motion is thereby
given to the rack-bar 55. In order to accommodate the motion of the box 58, the
rack-supporting bar 51 is suitably cut away as at 151. The arrangement of the
rack-bar is such that when in position shown in Fig. 13, its teeth face and engage
the pinions 43 of the coiling shafts 39, but when held back as in Figs. 12, 14
and 15, by the action of the levers 44 and 45. its teeth will be out of gear with
said pinions. The object in thus holding and operating the rack-bar is that at
each upward movement thereof it will be in mesh with. and rotate the coiler
pinions, and at each downward movement it will be held out of mesh with said
pinions so as not to rotate them. In this way the coilers are rotated only in one
direction. For the purpose of locking the coiler pinions against rotation when the
rack is out of mesh therewith, the plate 54 which is held close to the ends of the
coiling shafts and pinions, is provided with a series of inwardly extending pins 63,
one più being so located relatively to each pinion, on the opposite side from the
rack, that when the rack is in mesh with the pinions, the pin will be out of
engagement, and when the rack is out of mesh, the pin will engage the pinion
and prevent its turning from the proper position for remeshing with the rack, all
as clearly shown in Figures 13 and 14.
To afford entrance for the strand wires 113 to the coiling shaft 39, and to permit
movement laterally with respect to the pinions 43, the plate 54 has a series of
short slots 64 extending laterally (Figures 13 and 14).
Journaled to the post 3 and the head-plate 2, at one side of the coiler pinions 43
is a vertical shaft 67 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), having fixed on its upper end a bevel
pinion 68 arranged to gear with, and be intermittently operated by the gear 10 ou
the end of shaft 9. Fixed on this shaft 67 at graduated distances corresponding to
the positions of the coiling shafts is a plurality of feed rolls 69 of graduated sizes.
Journaled in bearings at the free ends of pairs of spring arms 70 (which are secured
to, and supported by, an upright bar 71 extending parallel with said shaft) are
corresponding feed rolls 72, arranged respectively to operate one with each roll 69
and each twice the diameter of its fellow roll 69. Each pair of these feed
rolls 69 and 72 is provided with a pair of intermeshing spur gears 73 and 74 to
impart a positive rotation to the rolls 72 from the rolls 69 (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 17, 18, 19).
There is one pair of spring arms 70 for each of the rolls 72, one arm being below
and the other above the roller, and secured to the upright bar 71; in proximity to
each pair of these arms is a bracket 75, to which is pivoted a cam-faced lever 76,
these levers being for the purpose of being turned to bring their cam faces against
the spring arms 70, and so hold the feed roll 72 in yielding contact with the stay
wires, which are fed into the machine between the rolls, or turned to release said

page_text: spring armis 70 from such force, so that they will hold the rolls 72 out of contact
with the wire to stop the infeeding of the wire during the operation of the machine.
Fixed in suitable bearings upon post are a series or plurality of stay-wire guide
tubes 77, each tube being arranged to receive the wire fed forward by one pair of
rolls 69 and 72. These tubes are cach curved laterally toward the coiling shafts
and upwards and inwards to a point a little below the coiling end 41 of one of the
coiling shafts 39, so that the wires fed through said tubes pass upwardly across the
face of the coilers 41 between or through the strand wires and between the coiling
pins 42 in the curved courses represented in Figs. 5 and 6.
The post 4 in addition to providing fixed bearings for the coiling ends of the
coiling shafts 39, constitutes the stationary cutter-bar of the machine and carries
secured to its side a plurality of fixed cutters 78, which are held to their seats by
means of plates 79 and are adjusted by set screws 80. These cutters are SO
arranged in relation to the coilers 42, and so timed in their cooperation with a
movable cutter as to cut the stay wires when a sufficient length has been fed
through the guide tubes to span the spaces between adjacent coilers or the
longitudinal strand wires, passing through them, leaving ends long enough to form
the coils and projecting barbs or prods if desired.
There is one such cutter, for
each coiler except the upper one, and each operates in conjunction with a movable
cutter which I now describe.
Referring to sheet 5 of the drawings, 81 denotes a bar extending parallel with
the bar 4 and movable toward and from the latter. It is pivotally mounted at its
ends upon the wrists 82 of eccentric levers 83 and 84, which are fulcrumed on fixed
pins 85 and 86. Rod 87 connects levers 83 and 84 together so that their movement
will be equal, and rod and levers are operated by eccentric rod 88 and the
eccentric 21.
1
This bar 81 constitutes the movable cutter-bar of the machine, and mounted on
its side in substantially the same manner that the stationary cutters 78 are seated
in the 'bar 4, are a series of cutters 89 arranged to cooperate with the fixed
cutters 78 and to cut the wire 114. The movement of each of these cutters, owing
to the operating connections described, is in a downward curve, as shown in dotted
lines in Figure 9.
Attached to the post 4 in fixed relation to the coilers may be wire guides 90,
occupying the intervals between the coilers, and guiding wires 114, when the coilers
are not in such close proximity as to render guides unnecessary. These guides are
open-faced grooves, 91, of a form preferably corresponding to the curvature of the
stay wires and provided with yielding face plates 92, having spring hinges as shown
in Figure 10. These operate to normally cover the grooves 91 and hold the wires
in the guides, but they permit the wires to be drawn laterally therefrom after the
cuilers have wrapped and secured the ends around the strand wires. They serve to
guide the stay wires, so that they may not be deflected from their proper course
and so that they will be held properly between the coilers while being coiled around
the strand wires. After the stay wires have been attached to the strand wires, the
forward feeding of the fencing through the machine forces open the yielding face-
plates and releases the wires. The spring hinges cause the face-plates to again
close ready for a succeeding feeding of the stay wires. In Figure 5 these guides, 90,
are omitted to avoid confusion.
Fixed upon the shaft 30 is a plurality of take-up rolls 93 corresponding in
number to the number of strand wires 113 and arranged at graduated distances
apart, in accordance with the arrangement of the coilers. Each of the rollers 93
is provided with peripheral notches or recesses 94, adapted to receive and loosely
fit the coiled ends of the stay wires either with or without barbs or projecting ends,
as may be required. Fixed upon the shaft 31 is a like series of rolls 95, arranged
in the same order. Supported in bearings in spring arms 96, attached to the
column 6 by means of brackets 97, are a corresponding series of tension.rollers 99.
These tension rollers are arranged in the same order as the take-up rolls 93 and 95,
so that the take-up mechanism for each strand wire comprises à series of three

page_text: .
rolls, viz. 93, 99 and 95. Each of the tension rollers 99 is adjusted to bear against
or be relieved from its fellow rolls 93 and 95 by means of a cam-faced lever 98,
similar in action to the levers 97.
100 represents the vertically arranged widening-drum for reeling up the
completed fencing. It consists of two parts, preferably of wood, nearly semi-
cylindrical, which are seated at their lower ends in recesses in a stand 101 and are
locked therein by means of a cross-key 102 passing through the parts of the drum
and through the central vertical plate of the stand. The stand 101 rests in
bearings on the bed-plate, in box 103. The upper ends of the sections of the drum
are placed in a head-piece 105 which is similar in construction to the stand 101 and
is fitted on a short shaft 108, journaled in a box 106 attached to one end of the
laterally extending arm 107 of the head-plate. A key 104 similar to the key 102
in the stand 101 locks the upper end of the sectional drum in the head piece.
Sleeved on the upper end of the shaft 108 is a belt pulley 111 similar to the
pulley 35 on the shaft 31. Attached to this pulley is a spring pawl 109, and fixed
on the upper end of the shaft 108 of the druin is a ratchet wheel 110, arranged so
that its teeth will be engaged by the pawl. A belt 112 transmits motion from the
pulley 35 to the pulley 111 and so to the drum mechanism, reeling the completed
fencing into rolls as it is delivered from the take-up mechanism. The pawl and
ratchet connection between the pulley 111 and the drum is to permit the manual
rotation of the drum to take up the slack when starting the winding.
The strand wires employed in the manufacture of the fencing are represented
at 113 and are taken directly from the coils or spools on which the wire is received
from the wire-making machinery. These wires are passed one through each coiler 39,
thence to and between the faces of the take-up rolls 93, 99 and 95, and thence
about the rolls 95 to and around the winding drum 100. During the operation of
the machine these wires are intermittently pulled forward through the coilers by
the take-up rolls and delivered to the winding-drum.
The stay wires also are taken from the usual coils or spools and placed one
between each pair of feed rolls 69 and 72, which rolls, by reason of the intermittent
movement that is imparted to them, feed the wires forward and across the longi-
tudinal wires 113 with an intermittent motion. The relative pitch diameter of the
gear 10 on the main shaft 9 and gear 68 on the vertical shaft 67 is such that at
each actuation of the shaft 9 the roils 69 make one complete rotation; and the
graduated diameters of these rolls are such that they each feed forward a length
of the stay wires sufficient to span the respective spaces between the strand
wires 113 and to make the coils about them.
Projecting ends forming barbs may be left on the coils, or the ends may be
completely coiled up, as may be desired.
In feeding the stay wires, their coil curvature is maintained and utilized so that,
as the wires pass from the tubes 77, which are vertically in line with the end of
the coilers, they pass up beyond the nose of the stationary cutters 78, between the
strand wires 113 and one coiling pin 42, thence on an inward or laterally curving
course over the cutter 78 next above, and thence between the coiling pin 42 and
the strand wire of the coiler next above, but on the other side of this upper strand
wire, opposite to that of the lower strand wire; formerly passed. This appears
clearly in Figs. 5 and 6.
The several stay wires thus fed forward are presented with their body portions
bowed off from the post or stationary cutter bar 4, and with their end portions
crossed at the strand wires, their ends also inclining towards and against the tips
of the coilers and within the limit of the pins 42, so that the rotation will cause
the pins to engage the ends and jointly intercoil them with each other and
around the strand wires. This joint action of the coilers causes all the meeting
ends of the lengths of stay wires which span the spaces between the strand wires
to be intercoiled and form a practically continuous stay wire across the width
of the fencing The bowed and inclined positions of the end portions of the stay

page_text: wires during the coiling clears the main ortions from the tips of the coilers.
sufficiently so as not to be caught by the pins 42 (Fig. 6).
The in-feeding of the stay wires takes place at the time the pawl and ratchet.
mechanism 11, 25, 26, 27, actuates the shaft 9, and at this tim: also the strani.
wires are pulled forward with the recently attached stay wires by the rolls, 93, 99,.
95, the fencing being wound up on the drum 100. During the one-hilf movement.
of the machine (half revolution of shalt 18) while the shaft 9 is idle, the coiling
shafts are rotated to coil the ends of the stay wires around the strand wires.
In the construction of the feed rolls 69 and 72, the latter are inade twice the
diameter of the former, and when all the rolls, 72, are made with full peripheries,
as shown in Figure 18, they are in constant contact with the stay wires, and at.
each revolution of the roll 69 they make one-half a revolution, resulting in the
production of the fencing shown in Figure 20. For the purpose of producing the
fencing shown in Figure 21, with alternate stay wires shorter (that is to say
connecting less than all the strand wires), the rolls 72, or such of them as represent
the blank spaces in the fencing shown in Figure 21, are cut away at one-half of
their peripheries, as shown in Figure 19, so that at each alternate half rotation
they will be relieved from pressure against the stay wires 114 and not feed them,
but at the succeeding alternate half rotations their full peripheral portions will
engage with and feed forward the stay wires.
Figure 20 shows fencing with no barbs or prods. Figure 21 shows barbs upɔn
some of the coils, as at 114 X, 114 Y, 114Z; while in Figures 22 and 23 the
barbs are shown in dotted lines and the coils without barbs show in full lines. The
barbs are formed merely by making the stay wires somewhat longer than for
fencing without barbs and merely setting the cutters to cut them diagonally and
pointed, instead of square and blunt. The operation of the coiling pins, 42, is
concluded while the ends yet project sufficiently and in direction to form laterally-
projecting barbs or prods. Both ends may be so left to form to barbs at each
coil as shown at 114 X, or a single end may be left. At the top or bottom of
each transverse series of strand wires the end may be left projecting vertically
constituting a single barb, as at 114 Y. If desired, on the other hand, three barbs
or prods may be formed at such a point by placing and coiling in with the stay
wires short lengths of similar wire sufficient only to form the coil and leave both.
its ends as barbs.
In drawing the strand wires through the coiling mechanism by means of the
take-up rolls, they are pinched by the rolls with sufficient pressure to feed them
through the machine and on toward the winding-drum, and the rolls are SQ
located that the coils of the stay wires about the strand wires register with the
peripheral notches or recesses 94 of the rolls 93 and 95 so as not to crush the coils,.
and for the further purpose of making short bends or crimps in each strand wire
at the stay wire coils, to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the stay wire
coils, and incidentally to afford some elasticity to the finished fencing and so
adapt to expand and contract under atmospheric influences. The manner of
this crimping will be understood from Figure 24 where the plain surface of the
roll 99 causes the coils of the stay wire to pass into the recesses 94, and the
shoulders of the roll 93 adjoining the recesses bend the strand wires as there
represented.
When the take-up rolls are given a oue-fourth rotation at each actuation of the
machine, the advance of the strand wires is such that the stay wires will be placed
sufficiently close together for their coiled ends to register with each peripheral
notch 94, but when a one-half rotation is given the rolls for each actuation of the
machine only every other notch 94 will register with the stay wire coils.
The construction and operation of the machine being as above described, it will
be noted that fencing of various heights or widths may be made by omitting one
ór more of the strand wires 113 and the corresponding stay wire 114; also that.
the stay wires may all be made continuous across the fencing, or alternate ones

page_text: only may go clear across, the others being omitted in part so as to extend as far
across only as may be desired. It will also be noted that by graduating the
distances apart of the coiling shafts, the strand wires may be uniformly spaced
apart or be closer together at the lower part of the fencing. Furthermore the
intercoiled ends of stay wires at each junction, either with or without barbs, can
be freely turned upon the straud. wires, thereby forming side-turning hinged
joints. The several strand wires with the stay wire sections attached to them
and thus hinged together are therefore flexible sideways without danger of bending
the stay wires.
Heretofore in applying staywires to the strands of a full panel of wire fence it
has been common to use single lengths of stay wires jointly connecting all the strands.
In applying such stay wires, a number of separate and successive operations,
equal to the number of the strand wires, are necessary to properly apply and
secure them. By my invention, on the other hand, separate lengths of stay wires
(equal in number to the spaces between the strand wires to be connected) are
employed and the operations of intercoiling them all around the strand wires are
simultaneous and rapid, greatly decreasing the cost of the fencing. Thus for a
twelve-strand fence as shown, a single length of stay wire would require twelve
successive coiling operations to apply it to the twelve strands; whereas by reason
of the plurality of stay wires used in my invention but one joint operation of all
the coilers is needed to apply them. Therefore the fencing in the latter instance
may be made twelve times more rapidly-twelve times more in a given time-
than the older styles. The reduction in price is therefore remarkable. The other
features and advantages have also been fully pointed out.
In the following claims, I do not wish to be understood as contemplating or
restricting myself to the details of construction of the individual elements which
make up the several parts or combinations of the machine herein illustrated and
described, as I regard the invention as of a character to admit of variation of these
details within considerable limits without departing from its spirit. For example,
the details of the coilers, the cutters, the feeding and take-up mechanisms, and
other parts may be differently constructed, so long as the organization, relative
arrangement, or principles of operation are preserved; and the framing of the
machine, the gearing, &c., are features that admit of a particularly wide range of
modification within the skill of the designer and machine constructor.
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 machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand wires, mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires, mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths of the
stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, and mechanism for
simultaneously coiling the adjacent ends of the lengths of the stay wires around
the strand wires.
2. In a wire fence machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand wires, mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for
cutting off suitable lengths of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand
wires, and mechanism for intercoiling the adjacent ends of the lengths of the stay
wires around the strand wires..
3. In a wire fence machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand wires, mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires in line with one another transversely of the strand
wires, mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths of the stay wires to span the
spaces between the strand wires, and mechanism for intercoiling the adjacent ends
of the lengths of the stay wires around the strand wires.

page_text: 4. In a wire fence machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand wires, mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires in line with one another transversely of the strand
wires, mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths of the stay wires to span the
spaces between the strand wires, mechanism for coiling the outer ends of the outer-
most lengths of the stay wires around the border strand wires, and mechanism for
intercoiling the adjacent ends of the lengths of the stay wires around the intermediate
strand wires.
5. In a wire fence machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of lougitudinal strand wires. mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for
cutting off suitable lengths of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand
wires, mechanism for simultaneously coiling adjacent ends of the lengths of stay
wires around the strand wires, and mechanism for crimping the strand wires at the
junction of the stay wires to more firmly secure the latter.
6. In a wire fence machine, the combination of mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand wires, mechanism for intermittently
feeding a plurality of stay wires transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for
cutting off suitable lengths of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand
wires, mechanism for intercoiling the adjacent ends of the lengths of the stay
wires around the strand wires, and mechanism for taking up the fencing as it is
formed.
7. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, a plurality of guides through which stay.
wires are fed transversely to the coilers, mechanisin for cutting off suitable lengths.
of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, and mechanism for
holding the stay wires intermediately of the coilers while their ends are being
coiled round the strand wires.
8. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, a plurality of guides through which stay
wires are fed transversely to the coilers, mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths
of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, and guides adapted
to hold the cut lengths of the stay wires intermediately of the coilers while their
ends are being coiled around the strand wires, and to yield so as to release the stay
wires after the coiling operation.
9. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, a plurality of guides through which
transverse stay wires are fed to the coilers, mechanism for feeding in the stay wires
transversely of the strand wires, and mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths of
the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, said feeding and cutting
mechanisms being arranged and adapted to feed the stay wires in and cut them eff
with the ends of adjacent lengths over-lapping at the coilers.
10. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, mechanism for feeding a plurality of stay
wires transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths
of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, and mechanism for
rotating the coilers in oue direction only to coil the ends of the stay wires around
the strand wires.
11. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, mechanism for feeding stay wires to the
coilers transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for cutting the stay wires,
mechanism for intermittently rotating the coilers in one direction only, and
mechanism for locking the coilers against rotation during the intermission of their
rotation.
12. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, mechanism for feeding stay wires to the
B

page_text: coilers transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for cutting the stay wires, a
rack and gear mechanism for rotating the coilers in one direction only, and
mechanism for throwing said rack into and out of engagement.
13. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, mechanism for feeding stay wires to the
coilers transversely of the strand wires, a rack and gear mechanism for intermittently
rotating the coilers in one direction only, mechanism for throwing said rack into
and out of engagement, and means for locking and holding the coilers while the
rack is out of engagement, so as to prevent rotation and insure the re-engagement
of the rack.
14. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers arranged
in line with one another, a rack and gear mechanism for rotating said coilers, said
rack being supported in parallel relation with the line of coilers by pivoted levers,
and mechanism for swinging the levers to throw the rack into and
engagement.
out of
15. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers arranged
in line with one another, a gear rack for rotating said coilers, a rack supporting
bar, pivoted levers carrying said bar, a rod connecting said levers, mechanism for
swinging the levers to throw the bar and its rack toward and from the coilers, and
mechanism for reciprocating the rack.
16. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers arranged
in line with one another, the gear-rack 55 supported in parallel relation with the
line of coilers on pivoted levers 44, 45, the rod 50 connecting said levers to
move together, and the cam-wheel 19 upon which the rollers 46, 47 of the lever 45
work.
17. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers, arranged
in line with one another, the gear-rack 55 supported in parallel relation with the
line of coilers on pivoted levers 44, 45, the rod 50 connecting said levers to move
together, the cam-wheel 19 upon which the rollers 46, 47 of the lever 45 work, the
lever 57 pivotally connected to the rack-bar and to the connecting rod 59, and the
rod 61 connecting the lever 57 to the crank 62 of the cam-wheel.
18. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers arranged
in line with one another and provided with pinions, a reciprocating rack-bar in
parallel relation with said line of coilers and adapted to be thrown laterally into
and out of engagement with said pinions, a keeper-plate movable laterally with
the rack-bar, and pins 53 on the said plate at the side of the coiler pinions opposite
from the bar.
19. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, guide tubes corresponding to the coilers
for feeding transverse stay wires thereto, and intermediate guides located between
the coilers for directing the stay wires from one coiler across the intervening space
to the next adjacent coiler.
20. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, guides extending between the coilers for
directing the stay wires from one coiler across the intervening space to the adjacent
coiler, and cutters for cutting the stay wires after they have been projected
through the said guides, said guides being adapted to hold the stay wires
during the operation of the coilers and to release them after the coiling is
completed.
21. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, co-operating rolls tor feeding stay wires
through the coilers transversely of the strand wires, and mechanism for throwing
some of the feed rolls out of action, so as to interrupt the feeding-in of some of the
stay wires.
22. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, the shaft 67 carrying feed rolls 59, one for
each coiler, the co-operating feed rolls 72 mounted in spring arms and geared to the

page_text: rolls 69, and means for throwing the rolls 72 into and out of operative connection
with the rolls 69.
23. In a wire fence machine, the combination of the driven feed rolls 69, the
co-operating rolls 72 geared to the rolls 69, the spring arms 7u in which the rolls 72:
are mounted, and the cam-faced levers 76 for throwing the rolls 72 into operative
connection with the rolls 69.
24. In a wire fence machine, a stay wire feeding mechanism including suitably
driven pairs of feed rolls 59, 72, one roll of each said pair making one complete rotation
in a plurality of operations and having a portion of its periphery cut away corre-
sponding with its movement at one operation, whereby the feeding action will be
omitted at intervals as described.
25. In a wire fence machine, the combination of strand wire feeding mechanism,.
stay wire feeding mechanism, and stay wire cutting and coiling mechanism, with
mechanism for crimping the strand wires at the junction of the stay wires, said
méchanism consisting of rolls between which the completed fencing passes, one of
said rolls having a plain surface and the other being provided with notches or
recesses into which the coils of the stay wire pass.
26. In a wire fence machine, the combination of strand wire feeding mechanism,.
stay wire feeding mechanism, mechanism for cutting the stay wires and for coiling:
them around the strand wires, the tension roll 99 having a plain periphery, and
the take-up roll 93 having notches or recesses 94 in its periphery, the surface of
the rollers 99 and 93 being in such proximity that the strand wires are crimped.
at the junction of the stay wire coils as the coils pass into the recesses 94.
27. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers, a
stationary cutter-bar, carrying a plurality of cutters corresponding to the coilers,.
a movable cutter-bar carrying a plurality of cutters corresponding to and.
co-operating with the fixed cutters, and mechanism for moving the movable cutter-
bar toward and from the stationary bar to operate all the cutters simultaneously.
28. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers, a
stationary cutter-bar carrying a plurality of cutters corresponding to the coilers,
and a movable cutter-bar carrying a plurality of cutters corresponding to and
co-operating with the fixed cutters, said movable bar being mounted on eccentric
wrists 82 of a pair of levers 83, 84, connected together by a rod 87, and means for
operating the levers.
29. In a wire fence machine, the combination of take-up rolls for taking up
the completed fencing, tension rolls co-operating with said take-up rolls, spring
arms in which the tension rolls are mounted, and cam-faced levers for throwing
the tension rolls into operative connection with the take-up rolls.
30. In a wire fence machine, the combination of strand wire feeding mechanism,
stay wire feeding mechanism, mechanism for cutting the stay wires and coiling
them around the strand wires, mechanism for taking up the completed fencing, and
differential gearing for driving the take-up mechanism, whereby the intervals
between the stay wires may be varied.
31. In a wire fence machine, the combination of the shafts 30, 31 of the take-up.
mechanism, said shafts being inter-geared by the gears 36 and 37 respectively, and
the idler 38, of the drive shaft 9 having the adjustable gears 12 and 13 adapted to
mesh with the gears 32 and 33 on the shafts 30 and 31 respectively.
32. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a winding drum, a ratchet
wheel fixed on the shaft of the drum, a driving wheel loosely journaled on said
shaft, and a pawl carried by the driving wheel and engaging the ratchet wheel.
33. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a longitudinally sectional
winding drum, a driven head-piece in which the ends of the drum sections are
fitted, a rotable stand in which the other ends of the drum sections are fitted, and
means for releasably securing said sections together and to the head and stand.
34. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a driven head-piece, 105, the
rotary stand 101, the longitudinally sectional winding drum composed of the
parts 100, 100, and the detachable fastening pieces 102 and 104.

page_text: 35. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers through
which longitudinal strand wires are fed, a plurality of guides through which stay
wires are fed to the coilers transversely of the strand wires, mechanism for feeding
the stay wires through the guides, and mechanism for cutting off suitable lengths
of the stay wires to span the spaces between the strand wires, said guides being
curved so as to present the ends of the stay wires at an angle to the face of the
coilers in order that the body position of the wires may not interfere with the
action of the coiling pins.
: 36. In a wire fence machine, the combination of a plurality of coilers arranged
in vertical line one over another, a plurality of similarly arranged guides and feed
rolls for feeding the stay wires to the coilers, take-up rolls for taking the fencing
from the coilers, and a winding drum for reeling the completed fencing, said take-up
rolls and winding drum being located and arranged in parallel relation to the lines
of coilers and stay wire feed-rolls.
37. In a wire fence machiue, the combination of bed and head-plates, suitably
connected by vertical standards, a plurality of coilers arranged in vertical line one
over another, a vertically reciprocating rack-bar in parallel relation with the line
of coilers, a plurality of vertically arranged guides and feed rolls for directing
and feeding stay wires to the coilers, and take-up and tension, rolls for taking the
fencing from the coiling, said take-up rolls being located and arranged vertically
in parallel relation to the line of coilers.
Dated this 19th day of February 109,1.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.