IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING. TELEGRAPH AND FENCING WIRES AND OTHER WIRES, AND STRIPS OF METAL, AND IN JOINING WIRES TO RINGS OR HOOKS FOR HANGING PICTURES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sheldon, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING.
TELEGRAPH AND FENCING WIRES AND OTHER WIRES, AND STRIPS OF METAL,
AND IN JOINING WIRES TO RINGS OR HOOKS FOR HANGING PICTURES, AND
FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
Sealed the 5th December 1879, and dated the 17th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sheldon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1879.
JOHN SHELDON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING TELEGRAPH AND FENCING WIRES AND
OTHER WIRES, AND STRIPS OF METAL, AND IN JOINING WIRES TO RINGS OR HOOKS
FOR HANGING PICTURES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
In joining wires according to my Invention I form by casting or otherwise a
thick hollow disc of metal perforated at its centre, and having two holes of the size
of the wires to be joined. The said holes lie parallel and close to one another on
opposite sides of a diameter of the disc. The said perforated hollow disc has a
figure somewhat resembling that of an ordinary metallic eyelet. I pass the ends of
the wires to be joined through the parallel holes in the disc, the said wires being
passed through the disc in opposite directions, their ends protruding a short
distance from the edge of the disc. A pointed conical tool introduced in the
opening in the middle of the disc is inserted between the parallel wires, and the
parts of the wires on which the tool operates are separated and forced into the
marginal portions of the hollow disc. On the removal of the tool, a rivet is put
into the central hole of the disc and rivetted therein, and the semi-circular bends in
the wires are thereby firmly fixed between the said rivet, and the interior marginal
portions of the hollow disc. The wires are thus firmly connected together. If the
rivet be pointed, the preliminary use of a pointed conical tool is unnecessary. In
the case of thin wires, such as bell wires, the circular hollow disc may be replaced
by a cup with a central perforation, and by the operation of an eyeletting tool or

page_text: apparatus, the ends of the wires may be separated, and the edge of the metal cup
turned over them at one operation.
Where it is wished to join wires by means of loops at their ends, the loops may
be formed by passing the wire through the disc, then bending the part passed
through into a loop, and causing the end of the wire to return and pass through
the disc. By rivetting as described a secure loop is formed at the end of the wire.
Where strips are to be joined, the hollow disc has a thickness somewhat greater
than the breadth of the strips, the disc thus becoming tubular, and the holes
through which the strips are passed have the figure of long narrow slots.
In joining wires to rings or hooks, I make a deep helical groove in the shank
of the ring or hook, the said helical groove terminating in a cross hole at the
base of the shank. By passing the end of the wire through the cross hole and
coiling it in the helical groove, the wire becomes firmly connected to the ring or
hook. Or the helical groove may be dispensed with, and the wire passed through
the cross hole, then around the shank, and finally engaged in an oblique slot in
the top of the shank.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sheldon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th December
1879.
JOHN SHELDON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engincer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING TELEGRAPH AND FENCING WIRES AND
OTHER WIRES, AND STRIPS OF METAL, AND IN JOINING WIRES TO RINGS OR HOOKS
FOR HANGING PICTURES, AND FOR OTHER IJKE PURPOSES."
In joining wires according to my Invention I form by stamping, casting, or
otherwise a thick hollow disc of metal perforated at its centre, and having two holes
of the size of the wires to be joined. The said holes lic parallel and close to one
another on opposite sides of a diameter of the disc. The said perforated hollow
disc has a figure somewhat resembling that of an ordinary metallic eyelet. I pass
the ends of the wires to be joined through the parallel holes in the disc, the said
wires being passed through the disc in opposite directions, their ends protruding
a short distance from the edge of the disc." A pointed conical tool introduced in
the opening in the middle of the disc is inserted between the parallel wires, and the
parts on which the tool operates are separated and forced into the marginal portions
of the hollow disc. On the removal of the tool a rivet is put into the central hole
of the disc and rivetted therein, and the semi-circular bends in the wires are thereby
firmly fixed between the said rivet and the interior marginal portions of the hollow
dise; the wires are thus firmly connected together. If the rivet be pointed the
preliminary use of a pointed conical tool is unnecessary.
In the case of thin wires, such as bell wires, the circular hollow disc may be
replaced by a cup with a central perforation, and by the operation of an eyeletting
tool or apparatus the ends of the wires may be separated, and the edge of the metal
cup turned over them at one operation.
Where it is wished to join wires by means of loops at their ends, the loops may
be formed by passing the wire through the disc, then bending the part passed
through into a loop, and causing the end of the wire to return and pass through
the disc. By rivetting as described, a secure loop is formed at the end of the
wire.
Where strips are to be joined the hollow disc has a thickness somewhat greater
than the breadth of the strips, the disc thus becoming tubular, and the holes
through which the strips are passed have the figure of long narrow slots.
In joining wires to rings or hooks I make a deep helical groove in the shank of
the ring or hook, the said helical groove terminating in a cross hole at the base
of the shank. By passing the end of the wire through the cross hole, and
coiling it in the helical groove, the wire becomes firmly connected to the ring or
hook. Or the helical groove may be dispensed with and the wire passed through
the cross hole, then around the shank, and finally engaged in an oblique slot in the
top of the shank.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan, and Figure 2 in side elevation one of my arrange-
ments for joining the ends of telegraph and other wires; Figure 3 represents in
plan, horizontal section, cross section, and side elevation the perforated hollow disc
which I use in joining the said wires; Figure 4 represents in plan, and Figure 5 in
horizontal section the ends of the wires arranged in the hollow disc preparatory to
fixing them in the said disc; and Figure 6 represents in horizontal section and cross
section the wires after their ends have been separated and expanded into the
marginal parts of the hollow disc; Figure 7 represents the same view as Figure 6
after the fixing rivet has been secured to the hollow disc.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

page_text: a is the thick hollow disc made by raising from sheet steel or other metal, or by
casting; the said disc a has perforations b at its centre, and has at opposite sides,
but not in the same line, a pair of holes c, c, c, c, the said holes having a diameter a
little greater than that of the wires to be joined together. The ends d, d, of the
wires to be joined are passed in opposite directions through the parallel holos c, c,
c. c, in the hollow disc a in the manner represented in Figures 4 and 5, the extreme
ends of the wires protruding a short distance from the edge of the disc. A pointed
conical tool being introduced into the central hole b in the disc, its end passes
between and separates the parts of the wires in the disc, and forces the said
separated parts into the margin of the hollow disc, as represented in Figure 6, so as
to give to them a nearly semi-circular figure. In the said Figure 6 the semi-circular
bends in the wires formed by the pointed conical tool are marked d³, d². After the
pointed conical tool is removed from the disc a a rivet e, Figure 7, is put into the
central hole b in the disc and passed between the semi-circular bends d³, d², in the
ends of the wires, and rivetted in its place, as represented in the cross section Figure 7,
and in Figures 1 and 2. The semi-circular bends d², d², of the wires d, d, are
thereby firmly fixed between the said rivet e and the interior marginal parts of the
disc a, and the ends of the wires are thus securely connected together.
Instead of using a pointed conical tool for separating and bending the ends of the
wires, prior to the fixing of the same by a rivet, the fixing rivet may be chisel
pointed, so that the act of driving the rivet separates and forces the ends of the
wires into the marginal portions of the disc, and at the same time fixes the bent
parts of the wires in their places in the disc. The joined wires may be secured to
a wooden post or upright or other surface by means of a chisel pointed nail, the said
nail also serving to secure the bent parts of the wires in the disc.
This part of my Invention is represented in Figures 8 and 9, where the chisel
pointed nail is marked h.
Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which I carry my Invention into effect when
it is desired to connect the ends of wires by means of loops, this method of joining
being especially useful for fencing. In forming the first loop the end of the wire a
is passed through the hollow disc a, and the protruding end bent into a loop f. The
return end of the loop is then passed back through the disc, as represented in
Figure 10. By then separating the parallel parts of the wire, and bending them
into the marginal portions of the disc, and fixing a rivet between the bent parts of
the wire, a secure loop is formed at the end of the wire. In forming the loop
on the end of the wire to be joined to that already formed, the end of the wire to
form the second loop, after it has been passed through the holes in the disc, is
engaged with the loop f, already formed before the second loop is bent, and secured
to its disc. The pairs of holes in the discs are situated in the same line when loops
are to be made on the ends of the wires.
Figure 11 represents in front elevation, Figure 12 in side elevation, Figure 13
in vertical section, and Figure 14 in cross section, my Invention applied to the
joining of the loop end of a flat metallic sash or other line for the purpose of con-
necting the same to the shank or hook of the sash or other weight. In this
arrangement the ends of the case a, through which the doubled end of the line d is
passed, are tubular, and the bent parts d², d³, of the line d are fixed in their places
in the curved parts of the case a by the screw pin e, or by a chisel pointed rivet or
short nail.
Instead of forming the bends d³, d, of the wires or lines by a pointing tool, and
afterwards fixing them by a rivet, as described and represented, the parts of the
wires may be bent and fixed in the disc by an eyeletting operation.
This modification of my Invention is illustrated in plan in Figure 12, and hori-
zontal and cross sections in Figure 13; Figure 14 represents the cup or disc before
the eyeletting operation. In this modification a nearly closed cup or hollow disc
of the kind hereinbefore described is used, excepting that the central holes are made
smaller, as seen in Figure 14. After the ends of the wires have been passed through
the disc eyeletting tools are made to operate upon opposite faces of the disc or shell,;

page_text: so as to turn inwards the metal g, at the centre of the shell or disc, around the
wires, and at the same time bend the wires into the marginal portions of the disc
or cup, as seen in the cross section of Figure 13.
a is the
Or when thin wires such as bell wires are to be joined a separate eyelet may be
used, as illustrated in plan and cross section in Figure 15, where a represents the
cup or hollow disc; d, d, the joined wires; and h, the eyelet closed upon the bent
parts of the wires and upon the cup or disc. Figure 16 represents in front eleva-
tion, Figure 17 in horizontal section, Figure 18 in side elevation, and Figure 19
in cross section a hat and coat hook made of wire, the ends of the wire of which
the hook is made being joined together according to my Invention.
tubular case, in which the bent parts of the ends of the wire are fixed, the said case
being constructed as described and represented with respect to cases for joining flat
lines, excepting that the case is provided with flanges b, which serve as the fixing
plate by which the hook is screwed to the rail, door, or other surface. The wire
having been passed through the tubular case a, and bent into the hat and coat
hook, the return ends c, c, are again passed into the tubular case from opposite
sides, and the parts at a³, a², are expanded into the semi-circular sides of the case a,
and fixed by the rivet d.
Figure 20 represents in plan, Figure 21 in longitudinal section, and Figure 22 in
cross section, my arrangement for joining strips of motal, such as hoop iron.
This arrangement differs only from that used for joining wires in respect of the
size and shape of the case a, in which the ends d², d³, of the strips d, d, are connected as
represented, the ends of the strips being placed in the case, expanded thoroin, and
afterwards fixed by the rivet e.
Figure 224 represents my Invention applied to the joining of continuous fencing.
In the said Figure 22 a, a, are the hollow and perforated discs, and b, b, the bent
wiros, which are fastened together side by side by the said discs a, a, in the manner
before described.
Although my improvements in joining wires and strips are principally applicable
to the joining of metallic wiros and strips, yet they may also be applied to the
joining of other substances, such for example as non-metallic cords, strips, or bands
of leather and the like.
Figures 23 and 24 represent my arrangement for joining wires to rings or hooks,
and Figure 25 is a part of the same.
i is the ring (or hook), in the shank or stem k of which I make a deep doublo
helical groove at l, l, the said grooves terminating respectively in straight grooves
m, m, in the flat sides of the base of the stem (see Figure 24). The flat part of the
base of the stem is screwed on its edges at n, and a barrel p (shown separately in
Figure 25), is furnished with a hollow screw q to screw upon the screw n of the
stem. The wire is folded, and the doubled part passed through the ring i and seated
near the doubled part in the grooves m, m.
The end of the wire which has been
passed through the ring i is coiled in one of the helical grooves 7, and that portion
of the unfolded part of the wire r situated near the doubled part is coiled in the
other helical groove l. By now screwing the barrel p upon the stem it bears upon
the coils of the wire in the helical grooves, and securely retains the said coils in
the said grooves. The end of the wire is thus firmly connected to the stem of the
ring or hook.
Figure 26 represents in elevation, and Figure 27 in section, a modification of the
last described arrangement for joining a wire to a hook or for other like purpose,
such for example as joining a cord to a hook.
8 is a spring hook, having a stem with helical grooves in it similar to the grooves
described with respect to the ring or loop, Figures 23 and 24. To the front side s³
of the hook a tongue t is fixed, which passes through a slot in the other sides of
the hook, the end of the tongue t being furnished with a hole. In joining the wire
or cord to the hook the sides of the hook is closed upon the other side 8, and the
extreme end of the wire or cord u is passed through the hole in the tongue t. By
loosing the hook its elasticity causes the end of the wire or cord to be gripped

page_text: between the tongue t and the backs of the hook. The wire or cord u is then coiled
in the helical groove in the stem of the hook, and a sliding tube w placed on the
said stem to retain the wire or cord in the said helical groove. The end of the wire
or cord may he doubled, and the doubled end coiled in the helical grooves of the
stem, as in the arrangement, Figures 23 and 24.
In place of the belically grooved stem described and represented a plain stem
may be used, but I prefer to employ a helically grooved stem.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention,-
But I claim as my Invention of "Improvements in Joining Telegraph and Fencing
Wires and Strips of Metal, and in Joining Wires to Rings or Hooks for Hanging
Pictures, and for other like Purposes,"
First. Joining the ends of wires or strips of metal and other materials for various
purposes by means of a hollow perforated disc or tubular case, through which disc
or case the ends to be joined are passed, and in which the said ends are separated
and bent, the bent ends of the wires or strips being fixed in the hollow disc or case
so as to firmly join the two ends of the wires or strips together, substantially in the
several ways described and illustrated, whether the ends of the wires or strips are
joined directly together or by means of loops; also applying the said method of
joining to the joining of the ends or other parts of wires or strips together for the
formation of loops and hooks, and such other articles as the same is or may be
applicable to, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1
to 224, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangements or combinations of parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the accompanying Drawings, for
joining wires to rings or hooks for hanging pictures and for other like purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sheldon, have hereunto set my hand
this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN SHELDON. (L.S.)