An Improved Wire Stretcher for use in Fencing and for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Wire Stretcher for use in Fencing and for other
purposes.
I, ISIDORE BARTHOU, Senior, of Pau, Basses-Pyrénées, in the Republic of
France, Gentleman 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 comprises a stretcher for use in stretching and keeping taut wires
and the like of any kind, and principally those used for fencing purposes for
telegraph wires and like purposes where wires are stretched from post to post.
The object of the present invention is more particularly to produce a stretcher
which need be made in one size only and will act equally well with wire of any
diameter large or small within the limits of those usually employed for the purposes
above specified, this will obviate the inconveniences of having to match the stretcher
to the wire to which it is to be applied and of having to employ a number of
different sized keys for tightening the wires when they are carried by stretchers of
different sizes. A further object is to cheapen the cost of construction of the
stretcher.
The annexed drawings illustrate this invention and the manner of constructing
and applying it ;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stretcher.
Fig. 2 is a view of its key.
Fig. 3 shows its application to wires of different kinds tightened at an end post.
Fig. 4 is a similar view showing its application to wires intermediate of the
posts.
The stretcher itself is simply a bar of cast iron or other metal made with a
central drum A terminating at each end in an annular flange, two annular grooves B
beyond the said flanges respectively and two ends C C, usually square in cross
section, made to fit in the key D which is used as a lever to revolve the stretcher.
The central drum is pierced with a cross passage of convenient size not less than
the diameter of the largest wire and the square or other ends CC are pierced
near the grooves B with cross passages O'O' of smaller diameter suitable for passage
of a wire as hereinafter described.
The stretcher is employed as follows. A wire E, or two wires joined together,
forms or form a bail the ends of which encircle the stretcher and occupy the
grooves B B so that the stretcher may be freely revolved in the holder which this
bail constitutes. The bail may be double or single, may be passed round or through
a post (Fig. 3) or made or attached at the end of a length of wire (Fig. 4). The
wire 3 3b or 3° or 4 or 4 to be stretched is passed with its end through the
hole O and the stretcher is revolved by means of the key D applied to either end
of the stretcher. When sufficient tension has been created, a length of wire a is
passed through one of the holes O¹ in one end of the stretcher and through one of
the holes, usually the parallel one in the other end and the two ends of this wire
are firmly twisted together.
This wire prevents the stretcher from revolving under the tension since the
wire a arrives against the bail E or the wire to be held stretched and prevents
further movement of the stretcher.
Whenever the wire is to be re-tightened the locking wire a is undone, the
necessary number of turns given to the stretcher by means of the key D and the
wire a replaced.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1) A stretcher consisting of a bar having or composed of a central drum with
hole for attachment of a wire, two annular grooves one at each end of the drum
and one or two squared or other shaped ends for reception of a key; and provided
with passage ways in the said ends for the purpose set forth.
2) A stretcher for wires and the like consisting in a rotary bar having a central
drum with passage way, two annular grooves and two ends squared or otherwise
with passage ways in or through said ends, a bail or double wire encircling the
said bar and lying in the grooves thereof and a length of wire adapted to be passed
through the end passage ways and to be fastened to lie parallel with the rotary bar
substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of December 1899
R. HADDAN,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.