IMPROVEMENTS IN PILLARS AND APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE."
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harper, of the City and County of Aberdeen,
North Britain, Fence Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PILLARS AND APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd December
1863.
I, JOHN HARPER, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain,
Fence Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PILLARS AND APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of machinery,
apparatus, or means to be used for setting up and straining wire for fencing
and for other generally similar purposes. The improved arrangement espe-
cially relates to the pillars or posts and their details and appendages, as adopted
for setting up and straining the wire. The pillar in each case is cast or formed
hollow, and contains the whole of the gearing or straining apparatus.
The straining apparatus itself consists simply of a plain barrel or winding
spindle working in bearings in the pillar, and having a square or polygonal
hole cast or formed in its one end for the reception of a crank or winch handle
by which it is actuated, so as to wind on the wires, and maintain them in

page_text: their requisite state of tension by the insertion of a small key, which is made
to fit into slots formed partly in the barrel and partly in the pillar. From the
form of the pillar the internal gearing is less liable to derangement from
exposure to the atmosphere than in other forms of pillars where the gearing
is less protected, it being more like a perfect tube, it can therefore be cast
lighter and with equal strength, having but a small portion of its surface
broken by holes. By detaching the straining apparatus the pillar itself can
be used as an intermediate pillar, thus enabling it to serve a two-fold purpose,
at the same time maintaining uniformity throughout the whole of the fence.
Another advantage resulting in the use of the pillar arises from the form of
its foot, by which it is held fast in the ground after having been well rammed
around with soil; the holding power being gained by an oblong flat plate at
the lower extremity, as well as by two projections from the sides of the pillar,
having their flat surfaces at right angles to the direction of the strain.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Harper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HABPER, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain, Fence Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Harper, Her special licence that 1, the said John
Harper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as. I, the
said John Harper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times there
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PILLARS AND APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Harper, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Harper, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the arrangement and
construction of machinery, apparatus, or means to be used for setting up and
straining wire for fencing, and for other generally similar purposes, such
improved arrangements especially relating to the pillars or posts and their
details and appendages as adopted for setting up and straining the wire. The
pillars which I employ are cast or formed hollow, and contain the whole of
the gearing or straining apparatus.
The straining apparatus itself consists simply of a plain barrel or winding
spindle working in bearings in the pillar, and having a square or polygonal
hole cast or formed in one end thereof for the reception of a crank or winch
handle by which it is actuated, so as to wind the wires on the barrel or
winding spindle. The wires are retained in their requisite state of tension
by the insertion of a small key which is made to fit into slots formed in the
barrel, corresponding slots being formed in the pillar, so that when two such
slots are opposite to each other they constitute a socket for the reception of
the key.
An important feature in my Invention is that, from the form of the pillar,
the internal gearing is less liable to derangement from exposure to the
atmosphere than in other forms of pillars. Where the gearing is less pro-
tected, and from the pillar approximating in form to a perfect tube, it can be
cast or formed so as to be light, and yet possessing considerable strength,
having but a small portion of its surface broken by holes. By detaching the
straining apparatus, the pillars can be used as ordinary intermediate pillars,
thus enabling them to serve a twofold purpose, while at the same time
uniformity is maintained throughout the whole of the fence.
I should here observe, that although I have, in the preceding description
of my Invention, spoken of it only in relation to fences, yet it is equally
applicable, and can be employed to great advantage in straining telegraph
wires, and, indeed, for straining wires in any case in which they are extended
and supported by means of a series of pillars or posts. As in many cases
there may be a considerable strain upon the pillars, I obtain a holding power
for the same by placing a flat plate at the lower extremity of each pillar, such

page_text: plate being of an oblong or other convenient or suitable shape, and also by
having projections from the sides of the pillar with their flat surfaces at right
angles to the direction of the strain, and additional spurs may also be
employed. By these contrivances, when the soil has been well rammed around
the lower extremities of the pillars, they are held perfectly upright, and
capable of resisting any strain. I wish it to be understood, however, that I
do not claim the last-mentioned arrangements and contrivances for retaining
the pillars in a vertical position as forming any part of the Invention for
which the said Letters Patent have been granted to me, inasmuch as similar
or analogous arrangements and contrivances have been known and employed
for like purposes for a long period.
I will now proceed to describe the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature and details of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
In Sheet I, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the straining pillars;
Figure 2 is a pillar shewn in section, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of a
pillar shewing the square hole for the insertion of the crank or winch handle
at A, the key herein-before mentioned being shewn at B. In these three
Figures the flat foot plates and the projections from the sides of the pillars
for securing them in a firm and perpendicular position are represented.
Figure 4 is a plan of a pillar and the barrel or winding spindle; Figure 5 is
a vertical section of part of a pillar taken transversely through the barrel or
winding spindle, and showing the square hole for the insertion of the crank
or winch handle, and the notches or slots in the barrel or spindle and in the
pillar for the admission of the retaining key, before-mentioned. The relative
position and number of such notches or slots, as will be manifest to any
person acquainted with mechanical arrangements and construction, can be so
determined and proportioned as to admit of the wire being strained to any
desired degree of tension.
In Sheet II., Figure 1 is a vertical section of part of a straining pillar. A
being the barrel or winding spindle; B is the key for retaining the barrel or
spindle in any desired position, and C is the crank or winch handle. Figure 2
is a longitudinal section of the barrel or winding spindle, and Figure 3 is a
transverse section of the same.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe,
in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
herein-before mentioned and described, as variations may be made therefrom
without departing from the principles or main features of my said Invention ;
and that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as my

page_text: Invention is, the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts and
mechanism forming the pillars and apparatus for straining wire, as herein-
before substantially set forth and described, or any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harper, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN HARPER. (L.S.)