IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING BARBED FENCE WIRE
Year: 1884

page_text: I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING
BARBED FENCE WIRE" 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 the manufacture of what is known in commerce as
barbed fencing and particularly to improvements in the apparatus by which such
fencing is manufactured. To clearly explain the Invention reference is made to the
accompanying Drawings which form part of this Specification and in which
Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of a machine for manufacturing barbed
fence wire with the present improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2. represents a front side view of the machine looking in the direction of
arrow a. Fig. 1.
Figure 3 represents an end view of the machine looking in the direction of
arrow b Fig. 1 with the die block removed to more clearly illustrate the
arrangement of the barb wire cutters, hereafter more fully described.
Figures 4. 5 and 6 represent different views of the die block Fig. 4 being an
outside end view looking in the direction of arrow c Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 5 a side
view looking in the direction of arrow e Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 an inner end view
looking in the direction of arrow d Fig. 5. The dies and barb wire guides
hereafter described, also being shown attached to said block in the above Figures.
Figure 7 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the machine taken on
line A B Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow a same Figure.
Figure 8. represents a vertical longitudinal section through the machine, taken
on line C D Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow a, same Figure, showing a side
view of the gripping device for holding the barb wire during the cutting
operation, after it has been coiled about the main wire, as hereafter more fully
described.

page_text: Figure 9. represents a vertical longitudinal section taken at the point indicated
by line E Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow a same Figure, showing a side
view of one of the moveable cutters, its holding block, and mechanism for operating
the same hereafter more fully explained.
Figure 10 represents a central vertical longitudinal section through the machine
taken on line F G Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow a same Figure, showing
a section through the die block before referred to, the barb coiling spindle feed rolls
and other parts, hereafter more fully described.
Figure 11 represents a vertical transverse section taken on line g Fig. 1 looking
in the direction of arrow h same Figure, showing a side view of the mechanism for
operating the bark coiling spindle as hereafter more fully described.
Figure 12 represents a central vertical longitudinal section through the barb
wire guiding and holding device taken on line H Fig. 1 looking in the direction of
arrow i same Figure.
Figure 13 represents a side view of a short section of barbed wire fencing full
size, such as is manufactured by this improved machine and
Figure 14 represents a cross section of said barbed wire taken on line I J Fig. 13
looking in the direction of arrow j same Figure.
The object of this Invention is to utilize in a barb fence machine, or machine for
making barbed fence wire, the coiling motion of the coiling spindle in each direction,
so that a barb or set of barbs will be coiled upon the main fence wire or wires, by
each rotary motion of the coiling spindle. In the Drawings forming part of this
Specification, the part marked K represents the bed of the machine, which is cut
out at the points K¹ to admit of the operation of the several parts extending below
its top surface and is supported upon legs or standards K2 fastened to the floor.
The main shaft L of the machine is arranged to turn in suitable bearings L¹ L²
fastened to the bed K. To the outer end of said shaft is fastened the large driving
wheel or pulley L³ which may be connected by an endless belt with any suitable
and convenient mechanism. Upon the main driving shaft L is secured the bevel
gear M cams N N¹ 0, 0¹; P P¹ and large spur gear Q. Power is transmitted from
bevel gear M to operate the coiling spindle R by means of bevel gear S with which
it engages which is secured to one end of short shaft or journal S₁ turning in
bearings SS secured to the bed K through cam T secured upon said shaft S¹
rocking lever T' provided at one end with a friction roll T and at the other end
with a gear segment part T³, pinion T spur gear T5 and pinion To secured to the
inner end of the coiling spindle R all of which mechanism is fully illustrated in
Fig. 11 of the Drawings.
The cam T as will be observed by said Fig. 11 is provided with a groove k in
which the friction roll T2 travels, when said cam is rotated, thereby raising and
lowering the segmental gear T3 up and down, which operation turns the coiling
spindle R, through the gear and pinions before referred to, towards the right or left
direction, and thus coils, first one barb wire, and then the other upon the main
wire, in rapid succession as the coiling spindle is rotated in each direction, the barb
wire being fed in, alternately from each side of the machine as will be hereinafter
more fully described. The cam Tis made in such a form that the segment T3 which
in connection with the other parts of the machine operates the coiling spindle R
has two periods of rest, holding said spindle stationary a sufficient time to allow
the barb wire and the main wire to be fed into their proper positions. The
cams N N¹ near the ends of main shaft L, are for operating the mechanism for
guiding and feeding forward the barb wires, into the machine. Connection is made
between said cams N N¹ and the sliding blocks N2 N3 by means of hinged rocking
levers N4 N. Said levers are hinged at ¹ to upright standards N° N' fastened
to the bed K which, admits of the levers being rocked up and down as well as
swung around laterally for the purposes hereafter described.
The lateral swinging motion is produced by a friction roll m upon the inner end
of each lever which travels over the side cam surface m¹ of its respective cam and
serves to move the barb wire holding blocks N' N³ forward in the stationary

page_text: ways NS NS said forward movement feeding the barb wires into the machine, the
necessary distance to wrap the coils around the main wire and form the barb points.
The said blocks N' N³ are forced or drawn back into their normal positions ready.
for feeding forward the barb wires for the next succeeding barbs by the contraction
of spiral springs N° which are fastened at one end to the forward ends of the sliding
blocks N2 N3 and at their opposite ends to the stationary blocks N10 in which the
ways Ns are formed.
The sliding blocks N2 N³ are each provided with a barb wire holding device, for
gripping the barb wire to feed it forward when the blocks are moved forward, as
before described. Said device consists of a flat spring N" in this instance fastened
at n. n, and provided with an enlarged inner end n which is roughened upon its
lower side to facilitate holding the barb wire when it is depressed so as to bear
upon the surface of said wire and to further facilitate the holding operation the top
surface of the block is raised a little just under the head n¹ and also roughened, or
a small block n² inserted in the block at that point to serve the purpose stated see
Fig. 12 of the Drawings. A guide opening n³ is formed in each of the blocks N² N³.
in this instance under the outer end of the springs N" to admit of the passage of
the barb wire under said springs, and between the jaws before described as shown
by dotted lines n in said Fig. 12. The springs N are depressed to grip the barb
wires as before described by the depression of the outer ends of levers N* N* which
is done by the action of the cams N N¹ upon the inner ends of said levers an ear or
projection n being formed on each lever which lays upon the surface of its
respective cam, thus imparting its action to the lever as aforesaid. The outer ends
of the levers N N are kept in their proper position upon the blocks N2 N3 by
means of pins o fastened in said blocks which pass up through vertical slots o¹ (see
Fig. 1) formed in the ends of levers N' No. The backward movement of the
blocks N2 N3 is governed when sprung back by the spiral springs N° before
described by means of adjustable set screws p which may be turned in or out in
the upright bearings p¹ fastened to bed K. The purpose of cams O. O' on shaft L
are to operate the moveable jaws o² so as to grip the barb wires between said jaws
and the stationary jaws o³ while said barb wires are being coiled about the main
wire as will be hereinafter described. The moveable jaws O2 are formed upon, or
fastened to one end of the levers O* while their other ends are made to bear against
the cam surface of their respective cams, so that the action of the cams will be
imparted to them. And the levers are drawn back by means of spiral springs 05.
which are secured at one end to said levers, and at the other end to some stationary
part of the machine. The lever shown in Fig. 2 is curved or extended down lower
than the other lever upon the opposite side of the machine for the purpose of
escaping contact with rocking lever T¹ when the parts are in operation. The
stationary jaws o³ are in this instance formed upon the blocks N10 but if preferred⚫
they may be attached to or formed upon the bed K. The cams P P' on shaft Lare for
the purpose of operating the moveable cutters P³ of the machine which cut the barb.
wires to form the barbs, as hereinafter described, said cutters P2 are fastened in the
sliding blocks P3 by means of set screws q Said blocks P³ are fitted to slide
forward in stationary blocks P* secured to the bed K, they are forced forward to
cut the barb wires by their respective cams P P' through the medium of angular.
levers P attached to the rear ends of the blocks, and fitted to slide back and forth
in ways formed in the stationary blocks P7 and by means of friction rolls Ps
against which said cams P P¹ bear. Said rolls P8 are fitted to turn on studs or
pins fastened in the sides of levers P. The blocks P³ and cutters P2 are in this
instance drawn back into their normal positions after each cutting operation, by
means of spiral springs ² see Fig. 1, fastened at one end to the stationary blocks P7
and at the other end to the rear ends of sliding blocks P³. The barb wires are cut
to form the barbs by passing the cutting edges 8 of the moveable cutters P²
forward past, and in close contact with the cutting edges S₁ of the stationary
cutters or dies S2 which are fastened in the stationary block Q fastened to bed K.
The cutters being arranged at an angle as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the barb
1

page_text: wires are cut upon a corresponding angle t (see Fig. 13) to form the barb points *,
said barb wires being fed into the machine upon a level or horizontal plane as
indicated by dotted lines 2 Figs. 3 and 6 and dotted lines n Fig. 12, of the
Drawings.
In this instance, just back of the cutting edges S¹ of the stationary cutters S²,
are formed guiding grooves u which serve the purpose of properly guiding the barb
wires, between the coiling pin or finger u' and the main wire, when said barb wires
are alternately fed forward to be coiled upon the main wire, and cut off, as herein-
after described. Guides ¹ secured to die block Q and having guide holes or
openings u for facilitating the aforesaid guiding operation, are also in this instance
employed. The coiling spindle R is fitted to turn in bearings R' R' of stationary
block R³ secured to bed K. Next to bearing R¹ is secured a ring or collar v upon
the coiling spindle R and between said ring or collar, and the bearing R³ is
arranged over said spindle R, a spiral spring v. The purpose of the former, is to.
govern the forward movement of the spindle, and of the latter, to produce a
constant forward pressure, thus giving to said spindle a backward springing
motion, so that the barb wire may be properly coiled upon the main wire by the
coiling finger u. In the operation of coiling the barb wire upon the main wire,
the barb wire is first fed forward from one side of the machine, between the coiling
finger u and the main wire, the proper length to form the barbs. The main fence
wire being fed forward in the manner hereinafter described through a central
longitudinal opening u formed in the coiling spindle R; said coiling spindle is
then turned by the mechanism before described, and the coiling finger u, by its
rotary motion coils the barb wire around the main wire spirally, backwards towards
the centre of the machine, the spindle R being forced backward, as the coil is
formed by the pressure produced against its end by said coiling operation. The
spiral spring v¹ before referred to, admitting of this backward movement.
the coil is finished, with the free end of the barb wire extending out upon the
opposite side to form one of the barb points, the undetached portion upon the other
side, is cut apart from the barb wire to form the other barb point, by passing the
moveable cutter by its stationary cutter as before described.
After
In practice the barb wires are coiled twice around the main wire by the coiling
finger u. After the barb has been coiled upon the main wire and cut off, as above
described the main wire, and the barb wire upon the opposite side of the machine
are immediately fed forward, and the next barb is coiled around the main wire, by
the reverse motion of the coiling spindle R, thus utilizing the.motion of the spindle
in each direction, to coil a barb on the main fence wire as before described. The
main wires are fed into and through the machine and twisted together, as fast as
the barbs are coiled upon the central strand as before described, in a similar manner
to that employed in other machines for manufacturing barbed wire fence now in
general use. In this instance I arrange the feed rolls Q1 Q2 on shafts or
journals Q, Q turning in suitable bearings formed in the housings Q³.
The journal of the upper rolls Q' is arranged in loose bearings, so that said rolls
may be adjusted by means of set screws ww to obtain a greater or less pressure
upon the main wires, passing between the two sets of feed rolls to feed them
forward properly. The lower shaft or journal Q is extended out longer than the
upper one and to its outer end is secured a star wheel U having radial slots U¹
formed in its inner side, and a corresponding number of lateral notches x across its
periphery. Upon a short journal V turning in bearings V1 V1 fastened to bed K, is
secured a wheel or disc V2 which is provided with a friction roll V³ upon its outer
side near its periphery; and upon said journal, next to disc or wheel V2 is also
secured a pinion V which engages with the spur gear Q on main driving shaft L.
Therefore when said main shaft revolves the disc V2 is turned, and the friction
roll V³ enters one of the radial slots U' of star wheel U which in this instance
turns said wheel one fifth of a revolution (the distance between one set of barbs,
and the next) when the V shaped head ¹ of spring W enters one of the notches x
and holds the wheel in that position until the roll Vs enters the next succeeding

page_text: slot U and turns the wheel another one fifth of a revolution, for the next
succeeding barb. Any other device for feeding the main wires forward may be
used in connection with my improvements if preferred and more than one coiling
spindle may be used, and the barbs may be coiled upon both main wires without
departing from the principle of my Invention. The parts marked y y and y¹ y²
represent guides for conducting the two main wires to and from the feed
rolls QQ
The guide y for the central main wire upon which the barbs are secured,
consists in this instance of a long pipe or tube extending from the feed rolls which
feed forward said main wire to nearly the end of the coiling spindle R, thus
forming in connection with longitudinal opening in said coiling spindle Ra
continuous guide from the feed rolls to the point at which the barbs are coiled on.
The other main wire which is fed forward by the other set of feed rolls is conducted
over the several parts of the machine in a line parallel to the central main wire by
suitable guides not shown in the Drawings, and as fast as the central wire is
barbed and fed forward, the two wires are intertwisted to form one double barbed
strand, by means of a suitable twisting machine, arranged at a short distance from
the end of the barbing machine, and constructed in any of the well known forms
in general use. As the twisting machine does not constitute a part of my present
Invention I have not shown it in the Drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,
1 In apparatus for manufacturing barbed fence wire, means for supporting and
feeding the main wire or wires, and means for supporting and feeding the barb
wires in combination with the coiling spindle, and means for operating the same,
all arranged and operating substantially as described whereby the barb wire is
coiled upon the main wire or wires by the rotary movement of the coiling spindle
in each direction, substantially as shown and described.
2nd In apparatus for making barbed fence wire, the combination with the coiling
spindle of alternately acting barb wire feeding devices placed on opposite sides of
the coiling spindle, substantially as shown and described.
3rd In apparatus for making barbed fence wire, the combination with the coiling.
spindle, of moveable and stationary cutters, placed on opposite sides of the coiling
spindle for cutting off the barb wires, working alternately, substantially as shown
and described.
4th In apparatus for barbing fence wire, the combination with the coiling
spindle, of alternately acting barb wire feeding devices placed on opposite sides of
the coiling spindle and alternately working moveable and stationary cutters placed
on opposite sides of the coiling spindle substantially as shown and described.
5th In apparatus for making barbed fence wire, a coiling spindle, having a
coiling motion in each direction and adapted to coil on the barbs substantially as
shown and described.
Dated this Twenty ninth day of Annil AD 1001