US446255A - Slat-and-wire-fencing machine - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- (No Model.)

B. HOOVER. SLAT AND WIRE EENOING MACHINE.

No. 446,255. Patented Peb'. 10, 1891.

l/VVEIVTOH ZzeuZer'z 1700067".-

. H ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.)

R. HOOVER.

2 Sheets -Shet 2. v

SLAT AND WIRE FENCING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES. I Wfl Qg M me Nnnms varsns 00., Panto-mum, WASNWRYON, u. c.

llVVE/VTOR fimZenjfaaverx ,UNITED ST TES ATENT OrrrcE,

REUBEN noovna, or BOONE, iowA.

SLAT-AND-WlRE-FENCING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,255, dated February 10, 1891. Application filed September 3, 1890. Serial No. 363,800. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN HOOVER, a citi: zen of the United States, residing at Boone, in the county of Boone and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slat-and-lVire-Fencing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for making wire-and-wood fencing, and has for its object the provision of a loom that will weave any number of double strands up to six, so that the roll after it is woven can be sawed in two in the middle and have each half with three double strands on it to be used to'fence hog-lots, thus weaving it twice as fast as is generally done where the pickets are first cut short and woven into the three strands separately, thus making half of the fence in the same time only.

The principal feature of my loom, distinguishing it from others, consists in a movable head-block or frame in which are arranged the spools or pulleys that twist the wires. This movable head-block can be moved forward by a foot-lever with great force, so as to drive the picket tight in between the spread wires and hold it there at the will of the op erator, so. that the twisting of the wires is commenced close up to the picket, thus causing the wires to cut into the corners-of the pickets and hold them so tightly that they cannot be removed without first breaking them into pieces. Now as the twisting of the wires proceeds the twistforces the head-block back, and this can be controlled by the operator of the foot-lever, so as to cause it to twist very tightly or loosely, or very tightly on the first half-twist so as to cut into the picket, and then loosely during the twisting of the center or space between the pickets, and then tightly on the last half-twist to make a proper square opening for the next picket to be forced into.

The improvement further consists in having a measuring-roller on which are located bands of iron or wood with a raised center to keep the two wires apart and to prevent them for two wires which feed the same twisterspool. These rings, being either rigged or turned onto the shaft on which they are located, cause any detention or strain that may be made by a full spool to be communicated to the whole shaft, thereby distributing the strain on all the wires, thus increasing or diminishing the tension in all the wires and cansing them to all be woven in under the same strain at any given point in the fence, and perfectly equalizing the strain, thus greatly increasing the strength of the fence as well as causing all the wires to twist uniformly. Again, uniformity of tension is a necessity throughout the whole length of the fence, and is interfered with when the spools are full, as the tension on the wires will be increased over the tension on the wires when the spools are nearly empty, in that they turn so much more readily. This I obviate by means of two fiat pieces of iron laid on each other with a wooden bar under them, and holes with bolts passing up through them between each two wires exactly back of the annular ridges on the separating-shaft. The wires pass through between these flat irons and immediately under the nuts on the said bolts. Now, if the nuts be screwed down equally, it will make equal tension on all; but if not it is equalized by the rollers that measure the wire onto the machine. Now, to obviate the difficulty of the unevenness of wire or kinks in it that would not pass between two rigidlyset pieces of iron, I put a rubber washer under the nuts on the bolts passing through these irons and causing the tension, and thus have a slightly self-adj usting tension for each two wires. The foot-lever is changeable, so that it can be operated from either side of the machine, thus making it possible for one person to run the machine and do his own feeding of pickets; but it is advisable for two to operate it, as there is great gain by the division of work and consequent increase of speed.

The improvement consists in the novel features and the peculiar construction and com- "gage with the said heads and with a horizonlooking in the direction of the arrow. Fig.3

is a cross-section on the line Y Y of Fig. 1, looking to the left. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the mechanism for operating the head, which is provided with the Wire-twisting devices. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of'the machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of one end of the ten-- sion mechanism. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionot the tension device on the line Z Z of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 S of Fig. 2, looking to the right. Fig. 9 is a detail sectioh of the annular ribbedring for spacing the parallel wires which form a cable. Fig.

10 is a longitudinal section of one of the twistin devices.

The frame A of the machine may be of any well known construction, and is adapted to supportthe operating parts.

The head B, provided with the wire-twisting mechanism, is mounted on ways on the frame and is operated by any suitable means from the treadle or foot-lever O. The shaft D i's'provided with vertical arms (1, which ental arm d, which is connected by a rod 0 with the treadle or foot-lever O. \Vhen the lever or treadle O is pressed upon, the shaft D is turned on its axis, and the arms (1, which engage with the head B, effect a forward movement of the said head for the purpose hereinbefore specified. The head B is composed of side bars Z2 and end pieces I). The twisting-heads E arejournaled in the side bars I) and are connected so as to operate simulta neously, preferably by being geared with the shaft F, which is journaled at its ends in the end pieces I). The'gearing found to give the best results, combined with simplicity and economy of construction, is an endless band orcord, which takes several turns around the shaft F and around the twisting heads. This shaft F is turned by means of the crank j, which is applied to its outer end.

with a picket-supporting barb which,besides forming a rest for the picket,also serves to The bar 19 is is returned to an operative position, and the spacers S S projected across the path of the picket by the spring 77., which is interposed between the levern and a vertical post of the frame.

The spindle I, on which the completed fence is wound, is journaled at its ends to the frame and is provided at one end with means for rotating it on its axis to wind the fence thereon. The ratchet-wheel i at the end of the spindle is operated on by the alternately-actuated pawls t", which are pivotally connected with the lever The stop 2', projected from the frame, limits the movement of the lever F. The spindle I being lower than the head 13, the fencing is deflected between the said head and the spindle and passes over the guide or fending roller i The fencing is supported between the guide-roller 71 and the spacing devices on the rest J, which comprises cross-barsj and short bars j,extending in the direction of the length of the fence.

The reel-frame K is preferably independent of the frame A, being secured to the floor or otherwise supported in position. The reels of wire L are suitably mounted on the frame K, so as to turn freely and not interfere with one another. The tension contrivance M comprises the beam 071., the metal plates m, the rubber or other elastic washers m the bolts m passing through beam on, plates m, and washers m and the adjustingnuts m mounted. on the bolts m. The wires Z pass between the plates on, and through guides m on the beam 012, and through 'correspondin g guides 01 on the beamN. Between the beams N' and m is journaled the shaft 0, which is provided with metal or wooden bands b,'that have annular ridges 0'. The wires Z pass once around these bands, and the two wires which 'com'pose'each cable are disposed one on each side of the annular ridges 0, which keep them separated.

The purpose of the shaft 0 is to'control the movement of the wires and cause them to feed alike, thereby insuring the production of a practically straight fence. The wires take one complete turn around the shaft 0, this being sufficient to get the required tension or friction between the shaft and the The head B is provided on its front sidewires to cause the'latter to feed alike when the shaft 0 rotates, which latter is effected when winding up the completed fence, which draws the wires forward.

' It will be observed that the head' B is pushed back by the tension on the wires during the twisting process, the closeness ofthe twist being regulated by the degree of resistance offered by the head caused by the Work man pressing more or less on thefoot-lever O. The headis carried forward, after each picket has'been bound in, by pressing on the outer end of the lever O.

The operation of the invention is manifest to one skilled in the art to which this invention appertains from the detailed description in the statement of the object of the invention. Hence a further description is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 'ent, is

1. In a fence-machine, the combination, with the head provided with the WiretWisting mechanism and having the picket-supporting bar I) and the stop I) at the end of the said bar b and means for moving the said head horizontally, of the spacers 8 in front of and independent of the said head, and means for operating the said spacers to project them in and out of the path of the completed fence, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of the Wire-twisting mechanism,- the tension device M, having guides m the beam N, parallel with the tension device M and having guides 71, which correspond with the guides m, the shaft 0 between the tension device M and the beam N, and the metal bands 0 on' the shaft 0, having the ridges 0' in line with the guides m and at, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN HOOVER.

Witnesses:

W. S. BIOKSLER, J. H. SMULLIN.

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