IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GATES, HURDLES, PALISADING; AND FENCING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hill Onions, of No. 44, Queen Street, Wolver-
hampton; in the County of Stafford, Metal Broker, for the Invention of “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GATES, HURDLES, PALISADING; AND
FENCING."
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 13th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hill Onions at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th July 1877.
CHARLES HILL ONIONS; of No. 44, Queen Street, Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Metal Broker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GATES,
HURDLES, PALISADING, AND FENCING."
The great defect in the construction of wrought-iron gates, hurdles, palisading,
and fencing, has been that the horizontal bars soon become loose and rickety in the
holes of the upright bars, supports, and middle standard; and the article becomes
unsound and insecure.
Now the object of my Invention is to remedy this defect and objectional con-
struction of such fencing. This I accomplish in a simple and easy way by bending
or cranking the horizontal or perpendicular bar, bars, rod or rods, at that part where
the rod or tar is placed in the hole of the upright or cross bar or part, when the
fence is made. I crank or bend the top horizontal bar only, or I crank the two
bars or rods, the one at the top and the other at the bottom or under side; or I crank
or bend all the horizontal bärs inserted in the fencing, and one or any of the per-
pendicular bars, in either case as inôst desirable, according to the length, width, and
height of the gate, burdle, palisading, and fencing required to be made.
The mode I adopt for cranking the perpendicular or horizontal bars is by pressing,
wliicli perfectly cranks them, and at the same time the rod on each side of the crank
is kept perfectly straight and ready for use. This method of cranking and fixing
the horizontal bar or bars affords great rigidity to the hurdle or fence, as the bars
are strained to compensate for the depth of the crank; besides, there is another
advantage in placing the cranked bars in position in opposite directions; it becomes

page_text: impossible for the hurdle or fence to become loose or rickety, for when the ends are
riveted to the outside standards they are perfectly rigid, and the hurdle will prove of
a very firm construction and very durable.
That my Invention may be clearly comprehended I annex Drawings shewing the
improved parts with letters of reference thereto.
Figure 1, longitudinal section of the horizontal bar, cranked or bent at the part a,
full size.
Figure 2, side view of a fence rail, the horizontal bars cranked at A, B, C, D, and
rivetted at e, e, f, f, g, g, h, h, to the outer standards.
Figure 3, longitudinal section of the horizontal lower bar, shewing the crank b in
reverse position to the crank a in the top horizontal bar, full size.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Hill Onions in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 9th
January 1878.
CHARLES HILL ONIONS, of No. 44, Queen Street, Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Metal Broker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GATES,
HURDLES, PALISADING, AND FENCING."
There has been hitherto a great defect in the construction of wrought-iron gates,
hurdles, palisading, and fencing, arising from the perpendicular and horizontal bars
or rods soon becoming loose and rickety in the holes of the bars through which they
pass in forming the fencing.
Now the object of my Invention is to remove this defect, which I accomplish in
an easy and simple way: I first bend or crank the rod or bar, either in its cold or
heated condition, by placing the part to be cranked over a die or mould, then-by
steam or any other power I cause a force or pressure bar. to descend upon the rod
or bar, which bends it into the required curve for use.
By the continuous motion of the pressure bar downwards and upwards, the, rods
can be cranked or bent into the shape required with great ease and. rapidity by
simply removing the cranked bar, and placing another bar upon the die or mould
during the ascent and descent of the pressure bar. By this method I prepare the
bars or rods ready for constructing the fencings or gates to be made.
In constructing this improved fencing or gate, I apply the cranked rods or bars
either with one or more cranked rod or rods to each hurdle or gate, according to
the strength and stability required, and I place them in position perpendicularly
or horizontally as may be required for gates, hurdles, palisading, and fencings. This
improved method of cranking and fixing the bars vertically or horizontally gives
great rigidity to the gate or fence when made. By this means the bars are strained
to compensate for the depth of the crank, which is only of a very slight curve.
There is also another important advantage; by placing the cranked part of the bars
in position opposite to each other side by side, they strain in opposite direction, and
thus produce perfect rigidity to the article made, and which prevents its becoming
loose or rickety when the bars are riveted or placed in their correct position.
That my Invention may be clearly comprehended, I annex Drawings shewing.the
improved parts with letters of reference thereto..

page_text: Figure 1, longitudinal section of the cranked rod or bar in a horizontal position
placed in the hole of the upright or standard; a, a, a, is the cranked bar; b is the
upright through which the bar is passed. At the points c, d, e, the bar presses
against the upright with a wedge-like force or pressure.
Figure 2, front view of a fence rail or hurdle, shewing the crank in the rods and
in position in opposite directions at A, B, f, f, g, g, each respectively the ends of the
rods rivetted to the standards.
Figure 3, longitudinal section of the horizontal lower bar, shewing the cranked
part h in position and strain directly different from and contrary to the cranked part
shewn at A, Figure 2.
Figure 4, front view of a continuous fencing, shewing the cranked bars at i, i, i,
jj, j, fitted into the uprights or standards C, C, C.
Having now explained the object of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid, the making of gates, hurdles, palisading, fencing, and continuous fencings,
with the rod or rods, bar or bars, cranked at any point in its or their length, and
applied in position vertically or horizontally in making steel or iron gates, hurdles,
palisading, and fencings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hill Onions, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES HILL ONIONS. (L.S.)