Improvements in the Securing of Wire Fencing to Standards, and in Fixing the Standards of Wire and other Fencing.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Securing of Wire Fencing to Standards,
and in Fixing the Standards of Wire and other Fencing.
C
I, FREDERICK BALL of the Firm of Ball & Horton of Birmingham Road,
Stratford upon Avon in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SECURING OF WIRE FENCING
TO STANDARDS; AND IN FIXING THE STANDARDS OF WIRE AND OTHER FENCING,"
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 first to means of securing or fixing fence wire to standards
and other uprights constituting fencing; whereby wire strained or stretched
between standards and other uprights, is fixed by bending or crooking the wire
out of a straight course, by means of a drawing up or tightening expedient, as
hereinafter described; and my said invention relates further to the setting up, and
fixing of the standards, not only of strained wire, but of fencing generally. This
is effected by means of an earth screw or winged socket made separate or inde-
pendent of the standard, and is secured in position, by being driven home into the
earth, and affixed to the standard by means of a pin or cotter.
The first part of my improvements is applicable to the securing and fixing of
both plain and barbed fencing wire.
Figure 1 represents a series of standards provided with wire securing means,
made according to my invention, the said view also shows fence wire strained and
held between the said standards. Figure 2 represents a portion of a standard
partly in section showing the fence wire stretched and passed through the standard,
subsequent to being fixed or secured thereto. Figure 3 shows the same with the
fence wire fixed and secured by being drawn or crooked upwards, out of a straight
line. Figure 4 is a part vertical section of a standard in a direction at right angles
to figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings.
a are fence wires secured to the bar or pillar like standards b. Each of these
standards b are provided with coincident holes 6 on opposite sides, and through
these holes the fence wire a passes. c is affixing, tightening or drawing up.
expedient in the form of a bar which works within the middle of the standard.
This bar is preferably flat and is provided with holes c which are at the same
relative distances apart as the transverse through holes in the standards.

page_text: The top portion of the bar c³ is reduced in breadth, and a screw thread cut
thereon, and upon which wormed part a screw nut or terminal cap d takes. The
nut has preferably upon its underside a neck or boss d², which fits into the top of
the standard, and affords a means of keeping the bar c in a central position. The
standard may also be provided with guide snugs 63 wherein the lower part of the
bar slides, when the bar is of a less breadth than the internal diameter of the
standard.
In securing and fixing fencing wire, it is only necessary for the side holes 6' in
the standard and the holes c2 in the bar to be in the same line, as best seen in
in figure 2, when the wire a is passed through the three coincident holes b³ c² b³.
When in this position the wire is free to be strained or stretched by the usual means;
and when so stretched, the nut or terminal cap d is rotated, so as to raise the bar c
to a higher position, thereby drawing or forcing upwards simultaneously the whole
of the wire strands passing through the holes in the bar; that is, in consequence of
the upward movement of the bar, the parts of the wires within the inside of the
standard are collectively deflected or bent out of a straight line, which deflection
tightens and fixes the wire or wires within, or to the standard; so that no pull upon
the wire can change its position or remove it from the standard, in consequence of the
incurvated forced up crank part a² lying above the plane of the wire or at a higher
level as represented in figure 3.
Figure 5 represents a modification showing my improvements applied to an
ordinary fencing standard.
a are the fence wires, b the standard having a turned or angle top b³, with an
eye through which the screwed end c³ of the fixing bar c passes. The lower end
of the bar c projects through a hole or opening b in the foot part of the standard,
which forms a guide; so that on the raising and lowering of the bar c from the
position figure 5, the wires are forcibly bent upwards or downwards, as the case
may be, so as to change the plane of the wire at that part, in order to affix or secure
the said wire to the standard. The raising and lowering of the bar is effected by
the screw nut d as before described.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of figure 5. Figure 64 shows the wires before being
fixed.
Figure 7 represents my improvements applied to the securing and fixing of barbed
fence wire.
e is a standard made preferably from troughed or channelled iron having inclined
side gaps e, coming opposite to each other.
The wire tightening or fixing bar f is also provided with side gaps or slits which
are marked f2. The barbed wire is connected to the standard by slipping the wire
laterally into the gaps or slits, when the slits of the bar and standard are coincident,
the fixing or securing of the wire being effected by the forcing downwards of the
bar, by means of a screw and nut, or other expedient, such as a wedge or taper pin
marked g driven through holes in the standard and through a hole in the bar.
Figure 8 shows the wire fixed or secured and forced downwards between the
edges of the slits ef; the bent or forced down part is marked a²; the said figure 8
is a side elevation of figure 7. Figure 9. is a side elevation, when the entrances to
the slits in the standard and the bar coincide. Figure 10 is a plan of figure 7, and
figure 11 is a transverse section of figure 8.
Figure 12 represents part in elevation and part in section a standard secured in
position by means of a detachable winged socked or earthworm, which is driven
into the earth and the standard afterwards or subsequently affixed or secured
thereto, by a wedge or key, or by other suitable means.
h is the detachable or loose earth socket with oblique plates, or wings 2, which
form screw like arms, and are of such a pitch as to admit of being driven into
unloosened soil. ³ is a hole or eye passing through the body h. is the key for
affixing a standard to the said earth socket.
Figure 13 shows the socket partly in section. Figure 14 is a plan with the
socket and affixing key in transverse section, and Figure 15 is a part section of the

page_text: winged socket separately. This winged socket is applicable to the fixing of
standards generally.
By employing sockets as described, there is no liability of the standards becoming
withdrawn from the ground, on atrain being put upon the wires, as is common with
standard affixing devices of the ordinary kind, when wire fencing is employed on
uneven ground; and further, the ground wherein a standard is secured, remains
firm, as it is unnecessary to unloosen the earth, from the fact that the inclined
wings of the socket worm their way obliquely, on being driven home.
Although I have described generally that the fixing of the wire to standards is
effected by drawing up means from the top, yet the affixing bar may be drawn
from or near the lower part of the standard. And further, the wires may be bulged
at points within the standards or near the standards by a bar which presses laterally,
(upon the wires) instead of longitudinally as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
First. Affixing or securing fencing wire to standards and other uprights by
bulging or forcing a portion of the wire of the fence out of a straight line, so as to
make a bend or incurvated part above or below the plane of the other part,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
Secondly. The construction of standards for wire fencing, consisting essentially
of an upright with a pressure or bending bar or rod, disposed within or running
parallel thereto. The said upright and bar or rod, being provided with coincident
transverse holes or gaps, through which the fence wire passes or engages. The bar
or rod for the bulging or bending of the wire out of a straight line being operated
by a screw and nut, wedge or taper pin. The standard and wire affixing expedient
or expedients being constructed and working, so as to bulge the wire simultaneously
in the ways and for the purpose substantially as described and set forth in figures 1
to 13 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. A detachable winged earth socket for the affixing and securing of
standards or uprights in position; the wings or blades of the said socket being
inclined or made screw like to admit of being driven home. The socket being con-
structed, and the standard or upright affixed thereto, substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Dated this funt Tranha-100-