US779218A - Wire-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. G. W. HABLAN.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

@Vitmum No. 779,218.y PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

- G.,W. HABLAN.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,218, dated January 3, 1905.

` Application iilerl May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,436.

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM HAR- LAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Otterville, in the county of Oooper and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements inwire-stretchers especiallyadapted for use in stretching wire fabric such as used in the construction of fences; and its object is to provide means whereby the fabric can be quickly and thoroughly stretched by one operator.

The invention consists of a pivoted lever which is adapted to be connected to a fixed post or other like object and which has oppositely-disposed hooked arms connected thereto at opposite sides of the pivot and which are normally held in proper relation to each other by a'spring connecting the same.

The invention also consists of means for automatically moving the hooked arms into engagement with the object to be gripped thereby.

The invention also consists of the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure l isa ers aective view showinuV m improved-wire-stretcher applied to a fence fabric. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stretcher. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the arms and a portion of the lever, parts of said arms and the telescoping connecting-rodsbeing shown in section.

Referring' to the figures by numerals of reference, l is a lever having a socket 2 at one end, in which is arranged a handle 3. Oppositely-disposed semicircular extensions t are formed integral with the lever l, and at the center of the circle formed by these extensions is a pivot-pin 5, on which is arranged a yoke 6, having a chain 7 secured to it. rl`his chain has a hook 8 at its free end. A curved strip 9 is formed concentric with one of the extensionst and is connected thereto by means of arms 10, and this strip 9, as well as the extension A to which it is connected, is slidably mounted within similar oppositely-disposed arms l1, having hooked claws l2 at their free ends. Screws 13 are adjustably mounted within the lever 1 at opposite ends of the strip 9 and are provided with thumb-nuts 14, by means of which they may be readily locked in adjusted position.

A slotted rod 15 is pivoted to one of the arms 11 and has a threaded end 16, adapted to project into an oppositely-screw-threaded sleeve 17, which also engages the threaded end of a rod 18. This rod is pivoted to the other arm 1l. The pins 19, forming thepivots of the rods l5 and 18, also serve as means for securing the ends of a coiled spring' 20 to the arms I1.

When it is desired to stretch wire fabric, strips 2l, of wood or other material, are clamped on opposite faces thereof, and a chain 22 or other iexible object is fastened to the central portion of the strips 21. Chain 7 is then looped about a fixed post 23 and is secured in place by placing hook 8 in engagement with one of the links of the chain. Chain 22 is then placed in engagement with the hooked claws 12 and the lever l is swung backward and forward upon its pivot-pin 5. When the lever is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the forwardly-extending' arm 1l will draw chain 22 longitudinally,while at the same time the rods 15 and 18 will swing the other arm 1l over said chain and over the hooked claw in front thereof and will cause the claw to contact with and automatically grip the chain in advance of the first-mentioned arm 1l. This automatic engagement bythe claws is produced by the spring 20. It will thus be seen that the continual operation of the lever l will cause the chain 22 to be drawn gradually tward the post 23, and therefore strips 21 will also be drawn toward it and the wire fabric connected to the strip will be pulled taut. rI`he adjustable screws I3 abut against the arms Il when lever l nears the limits of its movement, and therefore serve to positively move the arms 11 toward the chain 22 when the same is to be engaged thereby.

In the foregoing description I have shown IOO the preferred form of my invention; butI do not limit myself thereto, as 'I am aware that modiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The combination with a lever fulcrumed between its ends; of hooked arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, a spring connection between the arms, and means for limiting the movement of the arms in opposite directions. 2. The combination with a lever fulcrumed between its ends; of hooked arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, a spring connection between the arms, and supporting means for the arms connected to the lever.

3. The combination with a lever fulcrumed between its ends; of hooked arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, a spring connection between the arms, supporting means for the arms connected to the lever, and adjustable arm-contacting devices upon the lever.

4. The combination with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends; of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, said arms having' hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted to one of the arms,

a rod pivoted to the other arm, an adjustable connection between the rods, and a spring connection between the arms.

5. The combinationv with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends; of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, said arms having hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted to one of the arms, a rod pivoted to the other arm, an adjustable connection between the rods, means for limiting the movement of the rods in opposite directions, and a spring connection between the arms.

6. The combination with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends; of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, said arms having hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted to one of the arms, a rod pivoted to the other arm and adjustably connected to the first-mentioned rod, an armsupporting device extending from the lever, a spring connection between the arms, means for limiting the movement of the arms in op posite directions, and arm-contacting devices adjustably connected to the lever.

vIn testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAM HABLAN.

W'itnesses:

L. P. FAIRFAX, J. H. GUNN.

Images