US1106771A - Tool for building and repairing wire fences. - Google Patents

Description

R. L. BINGHAM. TOOL FOR BUILDING AND REPAIRING WIRE PBNGES. AFPLIOATIONTILED SEPT. 10- 1912. 1 0 ,771, Patented Aug. 11-, 1914.

2. SEBETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR M RMerZ'LBmg/zm. fi mwm BY v v 4 A TiORNEY R. L. BINGHAM. TOOL FOR BUILDING AND REPAIRING WIRE FENCES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1912. 1 ,1 0 ,771,, Patented Aug. 11,191 I 2 SHBETS-BHBBT 2.

WITNESSES 2 INVENTOR MW fiabefz LBilly/lam 1n: NORRIS PETERS 60.,PH01O IITHO WASHINuTON. D. n2v

' ROBERT L. BINGHAM, 0F MIDLAND, TEXAS.

TOOL FOR BUILDING AND REPAIRING WIRE FENCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Application filed September 10, 1912. Serial No. 719,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT L. BINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Midland, in the county of Midland and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tools for Build ing and Repairing vVire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful tool for building and repairing wire fences, the most essential function of the tool being that of a wire stretcher.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient tool that will combine the features of a wire stretcher, staple puller, hammer, and a crow-bar.

A further object is to provide a tool that will be adapted to secure together the two extremities of a broken fence wire so that the same may be tied or inter-twisted.

With these and various other objects in view, my invention has relation to certain novel features of the construction and operation, an example of which is described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tool in which are embodied the novel features constituting the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a removable head member adapted to be carried by one extremity of the tool. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a pivoted dog which engages a rack of ratchet teeth formed upon the body of the tool. Fig. d is a detail ectional view of the same taken upon the line'4l-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts in all the figures, the numeral l'denotes an elongated metal bar provided with a handheld 2 at one extremity, and having the other extremity wedge shaped, as indicated at 8. The handhold extremity of the tool is provided with an aperture 2*, through which a wire may be passed to anchor or secure the device to any suitable support during the operation of stretching a. wire. The opposite lateral edges of the bars are provided with racks of ratchet teeth. 1, the teeth of one of these racks having a staggered relation to those of the other. The function of these two racks will presently be made clear. The wedge shaped extremity of the bar 1 is adapted to enter a suitable socket provided in a head member 5, the-two partsloeingheld in this relation by a set-screw 6. At one end of the head member 5, a hammer face 7 is provided, and at the other end of the member 5, a pair of claws 8 are formed to act in conjunction as a staple puller. That surface of the head 5 which is directly opposite to the socket receiving the wedge shaped extremity of the bar 1 is made slightly concave, as indicated at 9, the purpose of this particular construction being explained hereinafter. The two end portions of the head 5 are slotted as indicated at 10, and within each slot a roller 11 is rotatably mounted. The purpose of the slots 10 and the rollers 11 will presently be made clear.

A frame which is mounted upon the bar 1 and is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of said bar will now be described. Thi frame comprises two lever bars 12 parallel to the bar 1 and respectively adjacent to the two edges of said bar, and a pair of cross-pieces 1.3 connecting the extremities of the bars nearest adjacent to the hand-hold 2, the two cross-pieces 13 being disposed one at each side of the bar 1. The connection established between the bars 12 and the cross pieces 13 is a pivotal one, which will preferably be established by bolts as indicated by the numeral 1 1. On each side of the bar 1 the crosspieces 13 are rigidly connected by webs 13 each of which presents a rounded face to the bar 1 as shown in Fig. 3. These webs retain the pieces 13 in proper relation to the bar 1. The cross-pieces 13 are provided with inwardly directed lateral ribs 1 1 as shown in Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the lever bars 12 are swung alternately and when the bar 12 is swung outward it engages the ribs and swings the pieces 13 on the pivot bolt 1 1 of the other bar. From the above description it is apparent that the bars 12 are maintained in a certain spaced relation at one extremity by the cross pieces 13, but the other extremities of the bars 12 are free to swing to or from the bar 1 about the bolts 14 as pivots. The free extremities of the bars 12 are temporarily held in a parallel relation and adjacent to the bar 1 by an elastic collar or band 15 carried by the free extremities of the two bars. This band is used merely to hold the lever bars against swinging while the tool. is being carried from place to place. The end portions of the bars 12, which are connected by the cross-pieces 13, are longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 16, and in each slot,

there is pivotally mounted a dog 17, the pivot pins being indicated at 18. The wedge shaped extremity of 'eachclog which engage the correlated racks 4. has greater thickness than the portion of the dog which is mounted in the slot 16, the enlarged extremity thus formed being mdlcated by the numeral 19. The other extremities of the two dogs are formed with handles 20, so proportioned and spaced as to be simultane ously gripped in one hand by the operator. By pressing the hand-holds together, the

operator may simultaneously swing the two dogs out of engagement with their respective racks 4:- 7

To each dog there is connected one extremity of a chain 21, which chain'passes 1 closely adjacent to the correlated bar 12, and

also passes through the slot 10 which is in alinement with said bar 12, the chain being carried by the correlated roller 11 in passing through said aperture 10, the point of attachment of the chain 21 to the dog 17 with relation to the pivot bolt 18 is such as to tend the force of the extremity 19 unto the teeth a of the bar 1. The length of the two chains is sufiicient to permit the adjustable A frame comprising the parts 12 and 13 to be displaced to the handle extremity of the bar 1 without drawing the ends of the same through the slots 10. The free ends of the two chains are respectively provided with means for engaging a wire these means being duplicated upon each chain extremity. Said means in each case comprise a hook 23 and wire clamping device 24:, consisting of a plate having a channel or groove 25 adjacent to one lateral edge and an eccentrically pivoted cam 26 adapted to engage a wire between its rim and the bed of said channel. In bringing the clamping device into engagement with the wire, the wire is first 1 passed through the channel 25, and the cam 26 is rotated until its rim comes into contact with the wire resting in. the channel. A longitudinal strain exerted upon the wire will tend to produce further rotation of the cam and thus will clamp the wire more securely in proportion as the strain upon the wire is increased.

In using the tool to connect the ends of a broken wire, the frame carrying the lever bars 12 and pawls 17 is moved up to the head thus paying out the chains 21 whereby sufficient length is given to engage the broken extremities of the wire in the clamps 24k and leave enough of the wire ends projecting to twist together when. thesplice is made. The lever bars 12 are then swung toward and from the bar whereby "the frame is moved away from the head and the chains pulled through the head. .Vhen the clamps 24 are drawn together the free ends of the wire may be twisted together. It is apparent that as one of the lever bars 121s swung outward the correlated pawl 17is moved into engagement with the next tooth l, and

when the bar is swung inward the frame is moved away from the head 5.

In using the tool to stretch awire' the end 2 of the bar 1 is suitably fastened to a post and the head 5 directed toward'the wire to be stretched. The'frame carrying the bars Only one chain is used. The clamp 2 1 of the chain is engaged with the wireand the lever bars 12 swung to step the frameialongthe bar l-away from 12"and pawls 17 is moved up to the head 5 i to pay out the chains.

the head and thus draw the wire taut. By.

placing the end of'a piece of pipeover the reduced ends 22 of the bars 12'the leverage may be increased.

The tool may be conveniently carried on horseback and used by fence riders. Should a broken or burned post :and slack wires be encountered, the claw 8 is used to pull out staples. Toset anew post-the head 5'and frame carrying bars 12 and p'awls 17 are removed and the bar 1 used ,to dig a new hole.

After the post is set the frame and head are replaced. To tighten the wires the operator places the tool horizontally with thepost' received in the recess 9'of the head and the end 2 resting against his body. The tool is disposed against the post at right angles to the wire. and the hooks 23 engaged. with the wire on each side of the post.,- By manipulating the bars 12 the wire. is drawn toward the head 5 on each side ofthe post and the slack thus taken up. These drawn or looped portions of the Wire may be tied by a short piece of wire extending around the post therebetween. Staples maybe driven with the end 7 of the head 5. j I 7 It is obvious that various changesmay be made in the form and proportion of parts of the above described device without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of thersame, and the invention is, 1

frame adapted to undergo adjustment longitudinally of the bar, a pair of dogs pivotally mountedupon sald frame and respectlvely adapted to engage the two racks of ratchet teeth, a pair. of chains each having one extremity connected to one of the dogs, said chains being" respectively passed through apertures provided in said heads, and a means for engaging a wire carried at the other extremityof each chain.

2. In a'device ofthecharacter described,

the combination with an elongated bar, having racks of ratchet teeth provided on two of said head and means for engaging a Wire its opposite lateral edges, of a head carried secured to the other extremity of each chain. at one extremity of said bar, a frame adjust- In testimony whereof I have signed my able upon said bar comprising two arms name to this specification in the presence of 5 parallel to the bar pivoted at correspondigig two subscribing Witnesses.

extremities u on crossieces exten in etWeen said ai" n1s, a paii' of dogs pivd tally ROBERT BINGHAM' mounted upon said frame and respectively Witnesses: engaging the racks of ratchet teeth, a chain W. F. Runs, 10 connected with each dog passing through W. H. Rnonns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

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