IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE FOR FENCES OR THE LIKE
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I, CHARLES OSBERN RALPH WALKER, of Coolart, Balnaring, in the Colony of
Victoria, Station Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STRAINING WIRE FOR FENCES OR THE LIKE
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
'
This invention has been devised for the purpose of producing a wire strainer so
cheap, that it may remain permanently affixed to the wire fencing, and so simple
that it may be instantly used for tightening or slackening the wire at pleasure. It
consists of a short roller recessed in the centre for about one third of its length, 80
that its ends are of a larger diameter than its centre. This central recess is the
part on which the wire is wound or unwound, and has a hole made quite through
it for the purpose of receiving and fastening the end of the wire. Each of the two
ends has two holes made quite through it preferably at right angles to each other.
These are for the purpose of receiving the ends of the levers by which the strain is
put upon or released from the wire, and also for receiving a comparatively short
retaining pin, which locks against the post through which the wire passes and
preserves the strain on the wire.
The method of using is as follows. Supposing the fencing to be already erected
the end of the wire to be strained is unfastened and passed through the hole in the
recessed part of my contrivance so as to press it against the outer end of the post.
The ends of two short levers are then placed in one of the holes on both of the
enlarged ends of my roller so as to revolve it and are then removed from one to
the other of such holes in succession so as to wind the wire on the central recessed
part. This is continued until the strain is sufficient, a short retaining pin is
then placed in one of said holes so as to press against the post, the levers are then
removed, and the contrivance allowed to remain there. If at any future time the
wire requires to be again strained or slackened, it is only necessary to place either
or both of said levers in the holes as before, remove the retaining pin, and either
wind tighter or slacken at will.
My contrivance may be made either of metal or wood as preferred and of any
size although I prefer to make them of solid iron about five inches long, one and a
half inches diameter, at the ends, and one inch in the centre. I may make them
tubular if I can obtain any material strong enough to bear the strain,

page_text: Referring to my drawings Figures 1 and 2 shew respectively face and end view
of my contrivance Figure 3 represents one of the levers for revolving it and
Figure 4 one of the retaining pins all full size, while Figure 5 shews on a smaller
scale a perspective view of part of a post for wire fences representing the upper wire
as having been strained; and the lower one as in the act of straining. A A are the
enlarged ends of the roller and B the recessed part. A¹ A¹ are the holes which
I prefer to make quite through the enlarged ends although it is not absolutely
necessary that they should go quite through, B¹ is the hole quite through the
recessed part for the purpose of receiving and fastening the end of the wire to be
strained. CC are the levers, and D the retaining pin.
On referring to the lower wire it will be seen that its end has been passed
through the hole B¹ and fastened, then the levers CC are placed alternately first in
one hole A¹, and then in the next, until the whole of the slack has been taken up,
then one of said levers is taken out, and a retaining pin D inserted, as shewn with
respect to the upper wire, and so left until the tightened wire requires to be
either slackened or re-tightened. When this is the case, the levers C must first be
placed in the holes A¹, the retaining pin D removed, and the roller allowed or
compelled to revolve in the required direction. After this object has been accom-
plished and the wire re-strained, the retaining pin D is replaced as before. It will
thus be seen that a boundary rider simply needs to carry with him two of the
levers C in order to adjust all the wire strainers on an estate.
If desired it may be so arranged that these rollers are fixed on opposite sides of
the post, so as to equalise the strain, and it is to be noticed that unless the recess B
is made. in the rollers, the wire will jamb between them and the posts, and the
ends of the rollers be forced away from them, so that without this recess the
contrivance would be quite unworkable. I may also substitute cranked levers
fitting in the ends of the rollers, for the straight levers C if I so desire.
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
Wire strainers consisting of a roller hollow or solid and having a recess in the
centre on which to wind the wire and enlarged ends in which are holes to receive
the ends of levers whereby to strain the wire and afterwards to receive a retaining
pin substantially as herein described and explained.
Dated this twenty-eighth day of July-One thousand eight hundred and