IMPROVEMENTS IN FENCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Rowell, of 2, Poet's Corner, in the City of
Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FENCES, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Rowell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1880.
DAVID ROWELL, of 2, Poet's Corner, in the City of Westminster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FENCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in wire and other fencing, parts of which
improvements are applicable to telegraphs and other like purposes.
One part of my Invention which relates to wire fencing has for its object
strengthening and otherwise improving it and reducing the cost of its construction,
maintenance, and repair, and this object is effected by securing the wire to the
metal standards by means of encircling staples of any suitable section and
construction. The wire may either be passed through the standard or arranged
on the outside of the same; when the latter arrangement is adopted a flange at an
angle to the body of the standard may in some cases be employed. The staples
may either be made with a tapered end or ends to drive into apertures in
the metal standards, or they may be screw threaded and secured by nuts. The
standards and the wires are thus immovably secured together so that they
mutually support each other, and the weight of-the supports may be reduced whilst
obtaining sufficient resistance, which is equalized throughout the various parts of
the fence. The staples may also be used in combination with heavy metal standards,
which are self supporting and stand independently of the wires; also with con-
tinuous and hurdle fencing for connecting the horizontal and vertical bars, or
certain of them together, and thus dispensing with the necessity for slots or notches
and for loose wedges, keys, or pins liable to be displaced. In continuous and
hurdle fences the staples need not encircle, but may pass through the horizontal
and perpendicular bars and so unite them securely together, a bolt head and rivet
or screwed end being provided for the purpose.
Another part of my Invention relates to an improved form of standard for wire

page_text: fences combining great lightness with strength, and it consists in constructing the
standard of two metal sides or upright bars, or of one piece bent round, either
straight, or curved, or tapered, or one straight and one curved or tapered, connected
together by a web made in one with, or attached to them, or connected together
by distance pieces of any suitable form; or the standard may be made of a quad-
rangular, triangular, circular, or other similar form being composed of segments
secured together by angle or other iron, or it may be formed of two vertical, angle,
or similar bars bolted or rivetted together side by side or one within the other, the
standard above the ground being in this case smaller than the support below the
ground to which it is secured. Or the standard may be formed by a metal tube
bent round at the top so as to form two sides, or by two or more metal tubes
joined together by metal or other distance pieces. These improved standards may
be either taper or parallel, and the wires may either pass through them or be
attached by means of staples in the manner herein before described.
Another part of my Invention relates to improved apparatus for straining wire
in fences, whereby greater compactness in the apparatus with equal efficiency is
obtained.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I employ a stationary ring or disc, or
its equivalent, hereinafter termed a "clutch," which is formed on or secured to one
of the pillars, and is provided on its face with any required number of teeth or
projections arranged at intervals all round it.
The rotatory barrel on which the wire is wound, and which is arranged either
vertically or horizontally in a suitable position relatively to the clutch, is perforated
diametrically, and when it has been turned to the required extent a pin or bolt is
passed through the hole in the barrel and along the spaces between two of the
teeth or projections on opposite sides of the clutch, whereby the barrel is retained
in its adjusted position. This improved apparatus may be employed in com-
bination with a pillar or bracket of any suitable description, either single, double,
treble, or quadruple. The barrel may be made compound, the parts of which it is
composed being fitted together by male and female connection, so as to admit of
the wire being strained in opposite directions. It is proposed to make the barrel
oval in section in order to diminish friction, the hole for it in the frame circular.
This arrangement of barrels or pulleys of an oval section with circular bearings is
also applicable at angles or corners in order to diminish friction and the action of
rust, or the converse arrangement may be adopted, the post or pillar being oval and
the barrel or pulley circular in section.
Another improvement in fences consists of a straight or curved foundation socket
or base for standards, and which is made of a H, T, or other similar webbed section,
and wedge shaped on one or two of its sides with serrations, the said socket when
driven or sunk into the ground being securely retained in position by the serrations
engaging with the surrounding earth, thus resisting its withdrawal.
A further improvement relates to the use in fences of corrugated iron plates,
either single or double, with the corrugations reversed, and either alone or in
conjunction with wires, bars, or standards. When wires or bars are used they
may be secured by staples in the manner herein before described.
The arrangements for supporting standards and supporting and straining wire
are also applicable to telegraphic and other like purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Rowell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd May
1881.
DAVID ROWELL, of 2, Poet's Corner, in the City of Westminster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FENCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES,"
My said Invention relates to improvements in wire and other fencing, parts of
which improvements are applicable to telegraphs and other like purposes.
One part of my said Invention which relates to wire fencing has for its objects
strengthening and otherwise improving it, and reducing the cost of its con-
struction, maintenance, and repair, and these objects are effected by securing the
wire to the metal standards by means of encircling staples of any suitable section
and construction. The wire may either be passed through the standard or arranged
on the outside of the same; when the latter arrangement is adopted a flange at
an angle to the body of the standard may in some cases be employed. The
staples may either be made with a tapered end or ends to drive into apertures
in the metal standards, or they may be screw threaded and secured by nuts. The
standards and the wires are thus immovably secured together so that they may
mutually support each other, and the weight of the supports may be reduced whilst
obtaining sufficient resistance, which is equalised throughout the various parts of
the fence. The staples may also be used in combination with heavy metal
standards which are self supporting, and stand independently of the wires; also
with continuous and hurdle fencing for connecting the horizontal and vertical bars,
or certain of them, together, and thus dispensing with the necessity for slots or
notches, and for loose wedges, keys, or pins liable to be displaced. In continuous
and hurdle fences the staples need not encircle but may pass through the horizontal
and perpendicular bars and so unite them securely together, a bolt head and rivet
or screwed end being provided for the purpose.
Another part of my said Invention relates to an improved form of standard for
wire fences combining great lightness with strength, and it consists in constructing
the standard of two metal sides or upright bars, or of one piece bent round, either
straight or curved (in section), or tapered, or one straight and one curved or tapered
and connected together by a web made in one with or attached to them, or
connected together by distance pieces of any suitable form; or the standard may be
made of a quadrangular, triangular, circular, or other similar form, being composed
of segments secured together by angle or other iron, or it may be formed of two
vertical, angle, or similar bars bolted or rivetted together, side by side or one
within the other, the standard above the ground being, in this case, smaller than
the support below the ground, to which it is secured. Or the standard may be
formed by a metal tube bent round at the top so as to form two sides, or by two
or more metal tubes joined together by metal or other distance pieces. These
improved standards may be either taper or parallel, and the wires may either
pass through them or be attached by means of staples in the manner hereinbefore
described.
Another part of my said Invention relates to improved apparatus for straining
wire in fences, whereby greater compactness in the apparatus with equal efficiency
is obtained.
In carrying out this part of my said Invention I employ a stationary ring or
disc or its equivalent, hereinafter termed a "clutch," which is formed on or secured
to one of the pillars, and is provided on its face with any required number of teeth
or projections arranged at intervals all round it. The rotatory barrel on which

page_text: the wire is wound, and which is arranged either vertically or horizontally in a
suitable position relatively to the clutch, is perforated diametrically, and when it
has been turned to the required extent a pin or bolt is passed through the hole in
the barrel and along the spaces between two of the teeth or projections on opposite
sides of the clutch, whereby the barrel is retained in its adjusted position. This
improved apparatus may be employed in combination with a pillar or bracket of
any suitable description, either single, double, treble, or quadruple. The barrel
may be made compound, the parts of which it is composed being fitted together
by a male and female connection so as to admit of the wire being strained in
opposite directions. The journals of the barrel may be made oval in section in
order to diminish friction, the hole for it in the frame being circular. This arrange-
ment of barrels or pulleys of an oval section with circular bearings is also applicable
at angles or corners in order to diminish friction and the action of rust, or the
converse arrangement may be adopted, the hole in the post or pillar being oval and
the barrel or pulley circular in section.
Another improvement in fences consists of a straight or curved foundation
socket or base for standards, and which is made of a H, T, or other similar webbed
section, and wedge shaped on one or two of its sides with serrations, the said
socket, when driven or sunk into the ground, being securely retained in position
by the serrations engaging with the surrounding carth, thus resisting its
withdrawal.
A further improvement relates to the use in fences of corrugated iron plates,
either single or double, with the corrugations reversed, and either alone or in
conjunction with wires, bars, or standards. When wires or bars are used they may
be secured by staples in the manner hereinbefore described.
The arrangements for supporting standards and supporting and straining wire are
also applicable to telegraphic and other like purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 to 11 (on Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings show parts of
various forms of wire fencing arranged according to my said Invention. Figure 1
represents a horizontal section of the standard, in which the wire A is shown secured
to the inner side of one flange by means of a staple bolt B and passing through the
other flange at C':
In Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, which represent elevations, the wire A is shown passing
through the standards at C and secured on the inner side of a top or side flange by a
single hooked bolt or by a staple bolt, as shown respectively at B and B in Figures
4 and 2.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section, and Figures 7 and 8 are corresponding elevations
of a modified arrangement, in which the wires A pass outside the framing or
standards, and are held in the desired position by means of encircling hooks or
staples B, as before described.
In the arrangement shown in sectional plan in Figure 9 and elevations in Figures
10 and 11, a metallic bar A¹ is substituted for the ordinary fencing wire as
previously mentioned, and these metallic bars are suitably secured to the
standard flanges by means of an ordinary screw bolt B2 or other equivalent
means.
At Figure 11s are represented various forms of staples for rigidly securing the
wires to the feucing frames or standards, which may be constructed of tapering
form to facilitate their introduction into apertures in the framing, into which they
are securely driven, or they may be provided with an ordinary screw thread and
nut, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Figures 12 to 30 represent various improved forms of fencing standards con-
structed and arranged according to my said Invention so as to securo maximum
strength with the minimum amount of metal, by which lightness and reduction in

page_text: cost is obtained. For this purpose I construct them on the beam and girder
principle for economically and judiciously distributing the metal so as to obtain the
most useful and uniform section.
In Figure 12 the standard is formed of two metal cheeks or flanges (1) united by
a web plate or distance piece 2 suitably and conveniently connected, as for
example, by angle irons, or to projections D, as shown at Figure 13, the relative
position of the wire being represented in all cases by the letter A.
In Figure 14 the standard is constructed of two angle irons or cheeks of L
section and secured together by a distance piece or sheet 2 rivetted to the flanges,
while the wire A passes through the body of the standard and is suitably held by
the staple B.
In Figure 15 the wire is seen to pass outside the standard held in a similar
manner, while the frame is of channel iron section.
Figure 16 only differs in having the support formed of semi circular section;
while in Figure 17 the sides are parallel and prolonged so as to form a
V section.
In Figure 18 the standard is constructed as a square plate box girder post formed
of 4 plates 3, rivetted at the corners to as many right angle irons 4; while in
Figure 19 three plates are used in a triangular form, and secured at their vertices
by acute angle irons.
In Figures 20, 21, and 22 tubular girder posts or standards are shown. In
Figure 20 the desired number of plates are bent to the required radius and secured
by strip and butt joints; in Figure 21 two semicircular plates 3, 3, only are
employed and united in a continuous circular section by a long rivet or bolt E,
which may be tubular, for the wire to pass through; while in Figure 22 the
standard is composed of four curved plates 3, 3, rivetted to curved T irons 4.
Figure 23 shows another modified form, in which a flanged curved plate 5 is
rivetted to a flat one 6, forming a kind of plano-convex section.
In Figure 24 three tubular standards 7 are employed, which may be constructed
as herein before described, and triangularly arranged so as to carry the wires or bars
on distant pieces which serve also as struts and ties.
Figures 25 to 30 inclusive represent different forms of standards constructed of
the various sections of ordinary rolled plates and angle irons. In the first example
the post is represented of T iron of uniformn section; in Figure 26 of two angle irons
rivetted together to form a T iron; in Figure 27 an angle iron rivetted to a plate; in
Figure 28, two plates at right angles united by an angle iron; in Figure 29 of rolled
Tiron, additionally strengthened by angle irons in the corners or angles, while
in the last example at Figure 30 an angularly bent plate is employed, with a
smaller corresponding strengthening plate secured to its inner side.
Figures 31 and 32 represent elevations of other forms or modifications of girder
posts or standards. In the former the sides may be constructed of wrought iron of
any suitable section in two separate pieces or continuous, as indicated by the dotted
lines at F, and maintained in a parallel relation by screw or fancy struts G
and H. At the top and bottom additional union is afforded by the piece I,
which may if desired be constructed hollow to allow the wire to pass through, and
the framing J, which carries a pulley K in the corner standards, for readily
changing the direction of the wires to any horizontal inclination requisite in angular
fencing operations, the journals of the bearings of the said pulley being constructed
as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 33 and 34.
In Figure 32 the standard is similarly constructed and tied with light scrowl or
lattice work, but somewhat tapering in its length, being rather broader at the base.
At the top is shown a tubular bearing 1, through which the fencing wire may pass,
while in the scrowl work intermediate supports are provided, as at M and N, which
may be employed when desired.
These improved standards, which are either parallel or tapering, may support
the wire fencing, either by passing through itself, or by staples to the inner or
outsides of the same.

page_text: Figure 33, on Sheet 2, represents a side elevation, and Figure 34 is a sectional
plan of my improved apparatus for adjusting or tightening wires in fences, whereby
great compactness and efficiency is obtained. The apparatus is shown in the
Drawings in combination with a suitably constructed support or standard, and
of a quadruple description, for carrying the terminations of four separate wires
approaching each other in horizontal planes at right angles. For this purpose a
"clutch "O, consisting of a ring or radial projection in any desired number is fixed
or formed on the faces of the pillars or standards.
The barrel P on which the wire is wound may be arranged to turn upon a
vertical or horizontal axis as required, providing the "clutch" occupies a corre-
spondingly relative position. The barrel is diametrically perforated to receive
pins Qin the proper relative position to engage with the clutch projections o.
One end of the barrel is provided with a countersunk square spindle R with sufficient
annular clearance to receive a winch handle or lever for turning the barrel for
winding up the wire in order to obtain the requisite tension, after which operation
the pins are introduced into the holes in the barrel, and passed between the
projections in the clutch o, so as to prevent the barrel from slipping or turning
backwards.
In cases where it is required to tighten or adjust on one barrel two wires in the
same horizontal plane from opposite directions, the barrel is formed of two
independent parts P and P', one being provided with a pin or projection S, which
fits into a recess or bearing formed in the other, so that each half is free to turn in
either direction independently of the other. The journals of the barrels may be of
oval section to reduce friction, and other mechanical equivalents may be substituted
in various parts of the apparatus without departing from the essence of my
Invention. Figures 35 and 36 represent a side view and a front sectional
elevation of my improved foundation socket or base for receiving or supporting the
fencing standards; and Figures 37 and 38, shown in transverse sections through
such sockets, the sections being taken along the lines 1, 2, and 3, 4, respectively.
These sockets or bases are formed of cast iron, and provided with two parallel
tapering checks or flanges V, V, united by a web U, and the former have barbed
or serrated edges to render their extraction from the ground difficult, while their
tapering form allows on the contrary a comparatively easy penetration.
At the top and broadest part is provided a rectangular socket T for the reception
of the base of the standards, which may be of H, 1, or other suitable section, as
previously described, and which are subsequently secured therein by the introduction
of wedge shaped keys T¹.
Figures 39 and 40 represent a side view and plan respectively of another form
of improved fencing consisting of a combination of corrugated iron plates, either
single or double, with standards and longitudinal wires or bars, to which they are
suitably jointed, or separately secured by staples, hooks, or clips, as above described.
The part of the fencing marked a on the Drawings shews an arrangement in which
a corrugated plate is supported and secured to wires on either sides by staples or
hooked bolts as previously described; with regard to the plain wire fences at b, the
corrugated plate is shewn held by wires and staples from one side, while at c the
wire passes through the centre of two reversed corrugated plates which are secured
to the former in an exactly similar manner.
It is obvious that bars, as herein before mentioned, may be substituted for the
wires. The arrangements hereinbefore described for supporting standards and for
supporting and tightening wires are also applicable to telegraphic and other like
purposes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The mode of securing wires or bars to standards by means of staples, bolts,

page_text: or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The peculiar constructions of standards or supports for the wires or their
equivalents, the latter being secured to the standards by means of staples, bolts or
their equivalents, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and as illustrated in Figures 13 to 30 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The peculiar constructions of standards or supports for the wires or their
equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in Figures 31 and 32 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In corner posts, the employment of the pulley K for changing the
direction of the wires or bands, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figure 31 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The apparatus for supporting and tightening or adjusting wires, wherein
the winding barrel is provided with holes to receive stop pins to engage with
projections or a clutch formed or fixed on the framing, the whole being constructed
and arranged so as to operate substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in Figures 33 and 34 of the Drawings.
Sixth. The construction and arrangement of foundation socket or base for
receiving and supporting standards, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 35, 36, 37, and 38 of the Drawings.
Seventh. The use in fences of corrugated iron plates, either single or double,
with corrugations reversed face to face, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 39 and 40 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Rowell, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.
DAVID ROWELL. (L.S.)