A Portable Fence-wire Strainer.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Fence-wire Strainer.
I, ROBERT ST. RINGAN MC MICKING, of Manus Station, Tumbèrumba, New
South Wales, Australia, Stock Raiser do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
This invention relates to means for the straining of wire employed in fencing,
and known in commerce as fence-wire strainers.
Usually these said fence-wire strainers are fixedly connected with the straining
uprights or posts, or have been made a part and parcel of, or integral with, the
said, posts or uprights.
When the said straining appliances are fixed attachments, or made integral with
the posts or uprights, the cost in their use is considerable, as each strainer post, or
every eye or hole of each strainer post has to be fitted with a permanent straining
means, and further, such fence-wire strainers as now employed, when in use, are
inaccessible for wedging, as the same have little or no clearances, which renders it
most difficult for the driving home of wedges, after the wires have been
drawn taut.
According to my invention, the appliance or instrument is extremely portable,
and is made in the form of an attachment only, which is applied to each and every
wire to be strained, and is then removed, after the same has been drawn up taut,
and then wedged.
The drawing taut of the wires holds the appliance or apparatus in position, which
has a direct pull, as the same comes, or is located immediately in front of the wire
being strained..
As a further advantage, my new or improved strainer is so mounted and arranged
that all clearance necessary for the proper wedging is allowed for, as 'the axis,
drum or winder part is made to stand a considerable distance away from the hole
in the post, wherethrough the wire passes.
In carrying out one form of my invention, I make the same of a skeleton frame,
with the base or bed of the figure of a staple, or of a lengthened horse shoe, and
from the middles of the outer sides of the branches of the said horse shoe framing
or base, which when in use takes an upright position, outwardly and horizontally
directed brackets or holsters proceed.
These brackets or holsters stand out a considerable distance from the base or
carrying framing, and form at their outer ends, bearings, for the carrying of the
winder drum or axis, around which an end of the wire to be strained is drawn,
by a reversible and sliding "rice" handle, which takes through a bossed eye or
hole in one end of the spindle, or an extension of the winder axis, drum or
the like.
The other end of the spindle, or the gudgeon of the winder, drum or axis, has
fast
bran on it, a ratchet wheel, with the teeth of which, a pawl, jointed to one of the
of the bracket engages.
The acting face of the pawl may be stepped or differentially shouldered, so as to
engage with the ratchet wheel at a half, quarter or fourth of a tooth, hence the
obviating of any back lash in the taut, prior to wedging.
The middle of the frame has a free clearance from the winder or drum axis,
which has a transverse hole through its middle, for holding the wire on starting"
winding...
The direct pull is acquired by the winder or drum axis coming immediately
opposite the wire being strained, and as there is a considerable distance, say three"
or more inches between the hole wherethrough the wire comes, there is ample

page_text: room for the placing of a wedge in the hole from the off side of the post, or that
side where the straining appliance rests.
In use, pass the end of a wire through the hole in the winder axis or drum.
Then rotate the said winder by a lever, and as the wire is being drawn up taut,
allow the appliance to adjust and rest itself against the post. A further drawing-
up of the wire centralizes the said appliance, by bringing the same in front of the
end of the wire being strained, which when brought taut, is then wedged from the
outer end of the hole through which it passes.
It will thus be seen that the appliance is both self-applying, self-adjusting, and
self-holding.
The open or skeleton frame, and the rest bed or carrier, and also the outstanding
brackets or holsters of the winder or drum, may be made out of a single bar or
length of metal; or the brackets may be attachedly connected to the brauches of
the other part by rivetting or otherwise.
•
Deted this 22nd dor of July 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Fence-wire Strainer.
I ROBERT ST. RINGAN MC MICKING of Manus Station, Tumberumba, New
South Wales, Australia, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 an appliances for the straining of wire, employed in
fencing, known in commerce as fence wire strainers.
Usually these said fence wire strainers are fixedly connected with the straining
uprights or posts, or have been made a part and parcel of, or integral with, the
said posts or uprights.
When the said straining appliances are fixed attachments, or made integral with
the posts or uprights, the cost in their use is considerable, as each straining post,
or every eye or hole of each straining post, has to be fitted with a permanent
straining means, and further, such fence-wire strainers, as now employed, when in
use, are inaccessible for wedging, as the same have little or no clearances, which
renders it most difficult for the driving home of wedges, after the wires have been
drawn taut.
According to my invention, the appliance or instrument is extremely portable,
and is made in the form of an attachment only, which is applied to each and
every wire to be strained, and is then removed after the same has been drawn up
taut and wedged.
The drawing taut of the wires holds the appliance or apparatus in position,
which has a direct pull, as the same comes lignable with, or is located immediately
in front of, the wire being strained.
As a further advantage, my new or improved strainer is so mounted and arranged
that all clearance necessary for the proper wedging is allowed for, as the axis, drum,
or winder part is made to stand a considerable distance away from the hole in the
post, wherethrough the wire passes.
In carrying out one form of my invention, I make the same of a skeleton frame,
with the base or bed of the figure of a staple, or of a lengthened horse shoe, and
from the middles of the outer sides of the branches of the said horse shoe framing or
base, which when in use takes an upright position, outwardly and horizontally directed
brackets or holsters proceed.
These brackets or holsters stand out a considerable distance from the base or

page_text: carrying framing, and form at their outer ends, bearings, for the carrying of the
winder drum or axis, around which an end of the wire to be strained is drawn, by a
reversible and sliding "vice handle," which takes through a bossed eye or hole in
one end of the spindle, or an extension of the winder axis, drum or the like.
The other end of the spindle, or the gudgeon of the winder, drum or axis, has fast
upon it, a ratchet wheel, with the teeth of which, a pawl, jointed to one of the
branches of the bracket engages.
The acting face of the pawl may be stepped or differentially shouldered, so as to
engage with the ratchet wheel at a half, quarter or fourth of a tooth, hence the
obviating of any back lash in the taut, prior to wedging.
The middle of the frame has a free clearance from the winder or drum axis, which
has a transverse hole or holes through its middle for holding the wire on starting
winding
The direct pull is acquired by the winder or drum axis coming immediately
opposite or lignable with the wire being strained, and as there is a considerable
distance between the said axis and the hole in the fence wherethrough the
wire comes, there is ample room for the placing and driving home of a wedge
in the hole from the offside of the post, or that side whereon the straining appliance
rests.
The open or skeleton frame and the rest bed or carrier, and also the outstanding
brackets or holsters of the winder or drum, may be made out of a single bar or
length of metal, or the brackets may be attachedly connected to the branches of the
other part by rivetting or otherwise.
Instead of the rest bed or footing frame being made of the figure of a staple
horse shoe, the same may be made in the figure of a close frame. Or the said
framing, in order to provide for the necessary clearances, may be made in the form
of two horse shoe shaped brackets, united together by a cross stay.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in front elevation, a portable
fence wire strainer, constructed, arranged and provided according to my
invention.
The footing frame will be seen to consist of a skeleton bearer, of the figure.
of a horse shoe, and across which, from projecting brackets terminated by
bearings, the winder drum, around which the fence wire is coiled and drawn up,
is directed.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fence, showing my new or improved fence
wire strainer in use.
Figure 3 represents a transverse section of Figure 1 upon the dotted lines A B,
showing the stand-away character of the bracket portion of the appliance, so as to
leave ample clearance for the passing and driving home of the wedges necessary
for the fixing of the strained wire, after the saine has been fully pulled up taut.
Figure 4 represents an end elevation of the said appliance, and Figure 5 is a
transverse section upon the dotted lines (. D Figure 1, showing the skeleton
organization of the frame.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
a is a footing frame or horse shoe shaped bearer, having branches or sides a²,
from the opposite sides of the middles of which, pillar or outstanding brackets b
are directed, and with the terminal ends of them having bearings 6, which carry
the necks c, of a winder axis or drum c, located between the bearings of the
said brackets, and crossing bridge wise, the footing frame a, which is open at
bottom a', and has fitted upon its inner side, spikes or pointed studs a³, for taking
into the wood of a post, whereby the footing frame is prevented from slipping or
shifting when in use.
Fast upon one end of the winder axis or drum is a toothed ratchet wheel d, with
the shoulders of the teeth of which, a gravitating pawl e, carried from the side of
the adjacent bracket 6 engages, and prevents the back movement of the said winder
drum, on the wire being strained.
b
.

page_text: The ratchet end of the bearing neck has a square end 3, for the taking of
the end of a long lever, for pulling up the tension, whilst the outer and bossed
end c, which has a hole c, directed transversely through it, and is fitted with
a sliding handle f, for the initial rotation of the winder axis and pulling up of
the wire.
c, c', are threading holes for the ends of the fence wire g, to pass through prior
to the taking up of the said ends round the winder axis.
Assuming a wire requires to be strained, my strainer attachment is then placed
upon the off side of the post, and with the top-side of the periphery of the
winder axis, lignable with the fence wire hole through the post, and with the
branches or legs of the footing frame directed downwards, and the bracket directed
outwards.
Then by passing the end of the wire through the holes c, c', in a threaded manner;
on the turning of the handle, forwardly, the slack of the wire is taken up, and coiled
around the winder axis or drum, and as the said wire tightens by the direct pull, the
spikes upon the footing frame are driven into the post, hence the automatic or self-
holding in position of the straining appliance.
By now placing a long lever upon the square end 3, and turning the same, the
necessary straining or pulling up is thereby accomplished.
This done, place the wedge in position and drive the same home. Then,
remove the appliance, and coil the end of the wire around the post, and which
is then affixed by twisting by a key in the ordinary way; the wedge is then
removed, and is employed for the holding of a second wire, while making the
connection as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what "I
claim is
-;
First: A portable fence-wire strainer, consisting essentially of a skeleton frame,
with a brought-forward or set-back winder axis, mounted within bearings, whereby
the said strainer is self applied, self-adjusting, and self-holding, with clearances for
the placing and driving home of strained wire affixing wedges.
-
Secondly In the carrying frames of portable fence-wire strainers, making the
footing frame in the form of a semi-enclosed or horse-shoe shaped figure, with
brought-forward or set-back pillar brackets having bearing ends, wherein the
winder axis or drum of the appliance is mounted and works, whereby the post
holes, consequent upon the skeleton construction of the frame of the appliance, are
made accessible.
Thirdly-In portable fence-wire strainers, the general construction, arrangement
and combination of the parts, as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892.
ROBERT ST. RINGAN MOMICKING,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.