Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Fencing.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1897
1000
T
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Fencing.
I, GEORGE MILLER, trading as William Miller & Sons, of Monmore Green
Hurdle Works, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Metal Fencing Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to metallic fencing of the kind commonly called vertical
bar fencing which is capable of accommolating itself to the inclination of the
ground on which it is erected and consists of the improvements hereinafter
described in the construction of the said fencing whereby the erection or putting
together of the parts of the said fencing is facilitated and may be effected without
the employment of skilled labour.
In constructing metallic fencing according to my invention I fix to the vertical
end supports or standards in the ordinary way an upper and lower longitudinal bar
preferably of channel section. Between the said end standards a series of vertical
bars are equi-distantly arranged the said vertical bars passing through holes in
the said upper and lower longitudinal bars. All the said vertical bar except those
which are to be used as additional or intermediate supports for the lower longi-
tudinal bar are connected to the upper and lower longitudinal bars as hereinafter
described.
I prefer to make the vertical bars of L or angle iron and I will describe my
invention in connection with the use of vertical bars of angle iron but I wish it
to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular section of iron for
the said vertical bars.
I make holes in the upper and lower longitudinal bars of a shape corresponding
to that of the sectional figure of the vertical bars and of a size sufficient for the
said vertical bars to fit loosely therein. I pierce each of the said vertical bars
near the top and bottom ends, preferably at the angle, in such a way that, after
the vertical bars have been passed through the holes in the longitudinal bars,
tongues may be made to project respectively over the lower longitudinal bar and
under the upper longitudinal bar. It will thus be understood that while the
series of vertical bars are securely held of fixed between the upper and lower longi-
tudinal bars the said vertical bars are capable of retaining their vertical position
while the longitudinal bars may be inclined at a considerable angle to the
horizontal.
The vertical bar or bars which are to constitute intermediate supports for the
lower longitudinal bar and prevent sagging of the same are made longer than
the other vertical bars and are provided at their lower ends with feet or ground
plates. The said bars are so pierced that tongues may be made to project there-
from under the lower longitudinal bar and thereby constitute supports for the
same. The said vertical bars may have near their upper upper ends piercings
which will permit of tongues being forced from the said vertical bars both under
and over the upper longitudinal bar or only over the upper longitudinal bar.
Or each of the said vertical bars may have a hole immediately over the upper

page_text: longitudinal bar through and in which a pin, cotter or rivet may be driven and
fixed for preserving the upper longitudinal bar to its bearings on the tongues
of the other vertical bars of the fencing.
Although I prefer to form projections on the vertical bars by raising tongues
therefrom yet I do not limit myself thereto as where thought necessary or desir-
able, projections may be otherwise formed. For example pins or studs may be
fixed, by riveting, screwing or otherwise, in holes made in the vertical bars at
the desired distances apart, the projecting parts of the pins replacing the pro-
jecting tongues herein before referred to.
Dated this Seventeenth day of December 1897.
Improvements in the Construction of Metallic Fencing.
I, GEORGE MILLER, trading as William Miller & Sons, of Monmore Green
Hurdle Works, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Metal Fencing Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention 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 to metallic fencing of the kind commonly called vertical
bar fencing which is capable of accommodating itself to the inclination of the
ground on which it is crected and consists of the improvements hereinafter
described in the construction of the said fencing whereby the erection or putting
together of the parts of the said fencing is facilitated and may be effected without
the employment of skilled labour. Further, by my invention the parts of the
said fencing may be conveniently packed in bundles for transit or storage the parts
of the said fencing being put together at the place where the fencing is to be
erected.
In constructing metallic fencing according to my invention I fix to the vertical
end supports or standards in the ordinary way an upper and lower longitudinal
bar. I prefer to use iron of the section commonly called channel iron for the
said longitudinal bars but I do not limit myself thereto as iron of other sectional
figure such for example as LT or plain bar iron may be employed with the same
or nearly the same effect. Between the said end standards a series of vertical
bars are arranged preferably equi-distantly the said vertical bars passing through
holes in the said upper and lower longitudinal bars. All the said vertical bars
except those which are to be used as additional or intermediate supports for the
lower longitudinal bar are connected to the upper and lower longitudinal bars
as hereinafter described.
I prefer to make the vertical bars of L or angle iron and I will describe my
invention in connection with the use of vertical bars of angle iron but I wish it
to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular section of iron for
the said vertical bars.
I make holes in the upper and lower longitudinal bars of a shape corresponding
to that of the sectional figure of the vertical bars and of a size sufficient for the
said vertical bars to fit loosely therein. I pierce each of the said vertical bars
near the top and bottom ends, preferably at the angle, in such a way that after
the vertical bars have been passed through the holes in the longitudinal bars,
tongues may be made to project respectively over the lower longitudinal bar and

page_text: under the upper longitudinal bar. It will thus be understood that while the
series of vertical bars are securely held or fixed between the upper and lower longi-
tudinal bars the said vertical bars are capable of retaining their vertical position
while the longitudinal bars may be inclined at a considerable angle to the
horizontal.
The vertical bar or bars which are to constitute intermediate supports for the
lower longitudinal bar and prevent sagging of the same are made longer than
the other vertical bars and are provided at their lower ends with feet or ground
plates. The said bars are so pierced that tongues may be made to project there-
from under the lower longitudinal bar and thereby constitute supports for the
same. The said vertical bars may have near their upper ends piercings
which will permit of tongues being forced from the said vertical bars both under
and over the upper longitudinal bar or only over the upper longitudinal bar.
Or each of the said vertical bars may have a hole immediately over the upper
longitudinal bar through and in which a pin, cotter or rivet may be driven and
fixed for preserving the upper longitudinal bar to its bearings on the tongues
of the other vertical bars of the fencing.
Although I prefer to form projections on the vertical bars by raising tongues
therefrom yet I do not limit myself thereto as where thought necessary or desir-
able projections may be otherwise formed; for example pins or studs may be
fixed by rivetting, screwing or otherwise in holes made in the vertical bars at
the desired distances apart, the projecting parts of the pins replacing the pro-
jecting tongues hereinbefore referred to.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in elevation a length of
vertical bar fencing made according to my invention erected on level ground and
Figure 2 represents in elevation a similar length of fencing erected on inclined
ground; Figures 3 and 4 represent cross sections of the said fencing, the vertical
bars represented in the said Figures 3 and 4 being partly in elevation and partly in
section; Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of the said fencing.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in front elevation a portion of one of the vertical
bars.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a portion of a fencing having an intermediate sup-
port of the ordinary kind for the lower longitudinal bar.
Figures 9 to 14 both inclusive represent modifications in details hereinafter
particularly described.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are drawn to a larger scale than
Figures 1, 2 and 8.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
The lengths of fencing Figures 1 and 2 consist essentially each of two longi-
tudinal bars A, A of channel section combined with equi-distant vertical bars B
and b. The said longitudinal bars A, A are connected at their ends to end
standards or supports e, c. Two of the equi distant vertical bars, namely those
marked B constitute intermediate supports for the lower longitudinal bar A.
The longitudinal bars A, A have a series of equi-distant holes a, a hest seen
in Figure 5 the shape of the holes corresponding with the cross sectional figure
of the vertical bars B and 6 employed and of a size sufficient to permit the vertical
bars to fit loosely therein. I form near the top and bottom of each of the vertical
bars b, and also near the bottom of the vertical bars B, projecting tongues 62 62
the said projecting tongues 2 being either formed by making two longitudinal
piercings and one top cross piercing in the bar b as represented in Figure 6,
or by making slots in the bar as represented in Figure 7, the part or tongue b³
formed by the said piercings or slots being prized or pressed outwards simul-
taneously with the piercing or slotting of the said bars or subsequently by a hand
tool or by other means so as to project from the said har as represented in
Figures 3 and 4. The piercing or slotting of the vertical bars B and b is effected at
the works where the said bars are made but the prizing or pressing outwards of the

page_text: tongues thereby formed although preferably done simultaneously with the
piercing operation, may be left to be performed by those engaged in the erection
of the fencing. I, form near the top of the intermediate bars B holes through
which cotters 6 (preferably split cotters), pins or the like are passed (see Figure 5)
on the erection of the fencing, the split parts of the cotter being opened outwards
to prevent its accidental withdrawal from the hole through which it has been
passed. Although I prefer to employ cotters, pins or the like for the projections
at the top of the bars B I wish it to be understood that inverted tongues 63 may
be formed the said inverted tongues being prized or pressed outwards so as to
overhang the edge of the hole a in the longitudinal bar A after the said vertical
bar B is in place. The vertical bars B have ground plates 63 or feet of the ordinary
construction.
1
Although I have represented two bars B in the length of fencing one only may
be used or where thought necessary or desirable more than two of the said bars B
may be employed.
The fencing is put together in the following manner.
The series of vertical bars b, bare passed through the holes in the lower longi-
tudinal bar A the projections 62 resting on the top of the said lower longitudinal
bar. The holes in the upper longitudinal bar A are passed over the tops of the
vertical bars b the upper longitudinal bar descending on the vertical bars b until
its underside comes in contact with the series of upper tongues b² of the vertical
bars b on which tongues the upper longitudinal bar A rests."
The vertical bars B which are to constitute intermediate supports for the lower
longitudinal bar A are passed from the underside of the lower longitudinal bar
through the holes in the said longitudinal bar which they are to occupy and
through the corresponding holes in the upper longitudinal bar A until the pro-
jecting tongue 62 near the bottom of the said bar B comes in contact with the
underside of the lower longitudinal bar A as best seen in Figure 4. The holes
in the vertical bars B are made at such a distance from their upper ends that they
come immediately above the upper longitudinal bar A so that on the passing of
the cotters 6 through the said holes the said cotters preserve the upper longitudinal
bar to its seat on the series of upper tongues of the vertical bar b. It will
thus be understood that while the vertical bars B and bare secured from endwise
motion with respect to the longitudinal bars they are so loosely connected together
that on the inclination of the longitudinal bars in one or other direction the bars B
and are capable of retaining their vertical position.
Although I have described and represented and prefer to use a split cotter b
for the top fastening of the vertical bars B yet I wish it to be understood that
the upper ends of the said vertical bars B may be provided with inverted tongues 62
which may be pressed outwards so as to overhang the edges of the holes in the
upper longitudinal bar A which the said bars B occupy after the said bars B
bave been arranged in position.
I wish it to be understood that the vertical bars B may be dispensed with and
be replaced by bars b, but in this case I use, where an intermediate support or
intermediate supports for the lower longitudinal bar A are thought necessary
or desirable, ordinary foot or ground plate supports d of the kind represented in
Figure 8.
Although I prefer to arrange the projections with respect to the longitudinal
bars and to obtain the said projections in the manner herein before described and
illustrated I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the said arrange-
ment or to the method of obtaining the said projections. For example, the pro-
jections may be arranged in either of the three ways illustrated in Figure 8;
that is to say. the vertical bars b may have projections or tongues under the lower
longitudinal bar and over the upper longitudinal bar as shown in the four left
hand vertical bars in the said Figure 8: or the said bars b may have projections
on the underside of the upper longitudinal har as well as over the said upper longitu-
dinal bar as in the case of the three right hand vertical bars b in Figure 8, the

page_text: tongues near the bottom of the said bars being retained as in the case of the
third bar from the right hand side of the said Figure 8 or being dispensed with
as in the case of the two right-hand bars b in the said Figure 8, the vertical bars b
in the latter case depending from the upper longitudinal bar A; and further the
tongues 62 instead of being formed at the angle of the bars they may be formed
in the flat faces of the angle bar. I may obtain the projections by passing a pin
through a hole in the vertical bar and rivetting up the ends of the said pin as
illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Or I may obtain the said projection by passing
headed pins through holes in the vertical bars and bending down the shauks of
the said pins as illustrated in Figure 11. Or I may obtain the said projections
by the use of screw bolts and nuts as illustrated in Figure 12.
And although I have represented the longitudinal bars only of channel section
and the vertical bars only of L section or angle iron I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to these sectional figures of the said longitudinal and
vertical bars as iron of any web like section for the said bars may
be employed. For example the vertical bars B and b may be made
of the section represented in Figure 13 or of the channel section repre-.
sented in Figure 14 or bars of girder section or flat iron may be employed for the
longitudinal or vertical bars with the same results as are obtained by the use of
channel and angle iron.
Where in the description hereinbefore given I have spoken of iron as the metal
of which the fencing is made I wish it to be understood that steel may be sub-
stituted for iron.
Bars of round (cylindrical), square or triangular cross section not being readily
pierced are not available for fencing made according to my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
invention:-
claim as my
First The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts of
metallic fencing hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings the said construction and arrangement of parts consisting essentially
of two longitudinal bars with end standards or supports and a series of vertical
bars preferably equi-distant loosely connected to the said longitudinal bars the said
vertical bars having a cross sectional figure which will permit of their being
readily pierced the said longitudinal bars having a series of holes of a shape corre-
sponding with the cross sectional figure of the vertical bars through which holes
the vertical bars are passed the said vertical bars being retained in position by
projections or tongues obtained in either of the several ways herein before described
and illustrated.
Secondly; In the construction of metallic bar fencing:-connecting the verti-
cal bars loosely to the longitudinal bars by means of projections obtained by
slitting or slotting the said bars in the ways hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings and forcing out the tongues thereby formed, or
obtained by piercing holes in the said vertical bars and passing pins, cotters or
the like therethrough substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Thirdly The combination with metallic fencing of the kind claimed in the
prior claims of an intermediate support or intermediate supports for the lower
longitudinal bar the said intermediate support or intermediate supports
being formed in one piece with the loosely connected vertical bars substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Thirteenth day of September 1898.
GEORGE MILLER.