Improved Wire Draw-vice, particularly intended for Use in Telegraph and Telephone Wire Line Work.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
Improved Wire Draw-vice, particularly intended for Use in
Telegraph and Telephone Wire Line Work.
I, WILLIAM BROOMHEAD SHAW of 15, Valley Road, Anfield, Liverpool,
Lancaster, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved wire draw vice and key, particularly
intended for use in telegraph and telephone live work, and it is also applicable to
other purposes where such an appliance is required, the object of my invention
being to provide a device by means of which telegraph, telephone anl other wires
may be stretched or strained with the utmost exactness and nicety, the action of
the appliance being most simple and direct, while owing to the form of the device,
no ratchet wheel is required, and there is therefore no likelihood of the wire being
broken through the ratchet wheel having to go another tooth.
In carrying my invention into practical effect the drum is suitably mounted
between two uprights and furnished with a worm wheel keyed or suitably attached
to the spindle of same, the said worto wheel being rotated by means of a screw or
worm suitably arranged in bearings. The lower part of the appliance consists of
two arms, capable of being drawn together by means of a screw, which form the
vice, while a spring, rivetted to one arm of the device and bearing against the
other, serves to open the arms readily when required. The key is made in
the form of a handle and fits on to the square end of the worm, so that by
rotating some, the worm wheel is revolved and with it the drum around which
the wire is coiled. The key or handle is constructed so as to fit over a small set
screw in the lower part of the jaws of the vice for the purpose of assisting the
spring when any particular or special wire is being dealt with, while the said key
or handle is further capable of fitting over the thumb screw on the jaws of the
vice to enable the operator to secure any additional hold on the wire in the
said vice.
Dated this 10th day of February 1905
Improved Wire Draw-vice, particularly intended for Use in
Telegraph and Telephone Wire Line Work.
I, WILLIAM BROOMHEAD SHAW, of 15, Valley Road, Anfield, Liverpool,
Lancashire, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to draw-vices or appliances for use in the erection of

page_text: telegraph and similar wires, whereby a tension is put upon said wires; and
consists in the application of worm gearing to the winch or winding barrel of said
draw vices.
Hitherto such winches have been turned by an ordinary crank handle, and fitted
with a pawl and ratchet to prevent unwinding, or "flying back."
According to my invention I mount upon the spindle of the winch barrel a worm
wheel which gears with a worm mounted in the frame of the winch. The worm
spindle is squared at each end to receive a key or handle, by which it is revolved.
By the use of such worm and wheel the necessity for a pawl and ratchet is obviated
and at the same time an additional purchase is obtained upon the winch barrel. It
will also be understood that by the adaptation of worm gearing to a wire draw-vice
as above described, the highest tension may be gradually attained and without risk
of fracture to the wire by the wireman attempting to go one tooth further as with
the present ratchet arrangement, whilst the nature of the gear effectually prevents
the winch from flying back" and obviates the danger of fracture or teetli stripping,
to which a pawl and ratchet arrangement is liable.
In the drawing hereto annexed Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 à side view of
a draw-vice constructed according to this invention:
a is a worm, mounted in the frame of the winch, and 'gearing with a worm
wheel which is fixedly mounted on the spindle of the winch barrel c. The
worm a is formed with squared ends. d, adapted to receive a key e, or cranked
handle.
"
fis the vice, tightened by the butterfly nut g, and is of the type at present
. employed.
The action of a draw-vice is so well known that its operation may be briefly
stated as follows:- - When it is required to couple two ends of a line wire, such for
instance as telegraph, telephone, signal, or other wire, under tension, one end of the
wire is secured in the vice by the butterfly nut g. The other end of the wire is
passed through the aperture c¹ in the barrel e and is wound round the barrel by
turning the handle e, worm a and worm wheel & until sufficient tension is put upon
the wire, when the two ends are coupled together.
may
A hook is preferably mounted on the draw-vice, upon which it
he hung,
or to which may be attached a safety line which prevents the appliance falling when
one of the wires breaks.
Instead of the winch being combined with a vice as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it
may be provided with a plain hook, k, as shewn in Figure 3, to which may be
attached any other vice or appliance which the wireman may wish to use.
Preferably the hook and vice are interchangeable, by means of the nut and
bolu m.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with the winding barrel of a wire draw-vice of the type
described, of worm gearing, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as
described.
2. A wire draw-vice comprising a worm a, wheel b, barrel c and vice for
hook, arranged, combined and operating substantially as herein set forth with
reference to the drawing hereto annexed.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent,
10, St. George's Orescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.