AU2013100301A4 - Strainer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A strainer assembly comprising a bottom section, a top section and top and bottom section attachment means used to secure the top and bottom sections together, the attachment means comprising spaced threaded male portions and cooperating threaded female portions, each attachment means having at least one control handle adapted to rotate so that the attachment means may be moved between secured and unsecured positions. 12 - 151/4 FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) 37 \43 31

Description

1 STRAINER ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] THIS INVENTION relates to strainer assemblies and in particular but not limited to strainer board assemblies of the type employed to strain fencing wire of the square or rectangular sheepyard mesh type and in a particular example to a strainer board which is simpler and easier to apply than the prior art. BACKGROUND [0002] Present strainer boards are applied to mesh laying on the ground using a bottom section placed on the ground under the mesh, a top section is placed on top of the mesh and then the top and bottom sections are secured together with the mesh between them. The top and bottom are secured together either by the use of wedges or a nut and bolt. The wedges are usually driven into place with a hammer. A tool is required to tighten the nuts. [0003] It is an object of the present invention to simplify the way the top and bottom sections are secured. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0004] With the above object in mind the present invention resides broadly in a strainer assembly preferably a strainer board assembly comprising, a bottom section, a top section and top and bottom section attachment means used to secure the top and bottom sections together with wire mesh between them, the attachment means comprising spaced male portions and cooperating female portions receiving the male portions, each attachment means having at least one control handle adapted to rotate so that the attachment means may be moved between secured and unsecured positions.

2 [0005] In a preferred embodiment there is provided a strainer board assembly comprising a bottom section and a top section, the attachment means comprising male portions in the form of spaced threaded bolts or stubs projecting from the bottom section, female portions in the top section being spaced holes to receive the bolts, and the attachment means further comprising handle mounted nut means being adapted to fit the bolts, each handle mounted nut means having a projecting handle section so that the nut may be rapidly spun down along the bolt and finally secured using the handle. [0006] The bottom section may be of any suitable shape and configuration but is typically elongated, more preferably a long rod is used having a profile adapted to fit a corresponding section of the top section. The corresponding section in which the bottom section fits is typically an elongate gap in the top section. [0007] The top section may be of any suitable shape and configuration but is preferably elongated having a bottom section receiving portion, typically the bottom section receiving portion is an elongate gap serving to locate the top section over the bottom section. [0008] Typically, the bottom section has a top part which may be a round or a generally curved top portion with spaced threaded rod or bolt sections projecting upwardly therefrom. In order to receive the bottom section, the top section preferably comprises parallel spaced bars or rods spaced slightly less than the width of the top part of the bottom section. Thus in a preferred form the bottom section is made from a cylindrical bar and the top section is made from the same or similar bar but using two bars placed close together and secured by spaced plates welded to the bars. Preferably, the spaced plates have holes so the bolts or stubs in the bottom section may pass between the bars and through the plates. [0009] The nuts and bolts or stubs may have any suitable matching thread and preferably matching threads that facilitate a rapid spin down and able to apply enough load to secure the board to wire for wire straining purposes. [0010] The handle can be of any form that makes it easy to rotate without using any additional tool and in the case of the rapid spin version typically comprises a balanced and symmetrical 3 handle so that it may be manually flicked into a spin and as well provide sufficient leverage for final tightening after it spins to a stop. Thus it could range from a hand-wheel type to a simple crank arm. Preferably, however, the handle comprises, by analogy, a "propellor" type handle having two opposing handle sections or blade like sections. The handle sections are typically inclined from a centre where the nut is and when fitted to the threaded bolt are inclined away from the top section of the strainer. Preferably, the control handle comprises a propellor type handle having two opposing blade sections and the nut comprises a central threaded hole inside a collar, the blade sections being bilaterally inclined to form a V-shape . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a typical prior art arrangement of strainer boards set opposite each other to enable fit off of a section of fence mesh; Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating the top section and bottom section of a strainer board according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a drawing of the strainer board of Figure 2 with the sections secured together; and Figures 4-11 are part views illustrating operation of the handles, bolts and nuts used to secure the sections together. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0012] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a set of strainer boards 10, set up to strain fence 11 (they are usually sold in pairs) according to the prior art. Each strainer board 12, 13 have been secured to square mesh sheep wire 14 and the chains 15 and 16 in conjunction with lever and ratchets 17 and 18 are used to pull the strainer boards 12, 13 toward each other, thereby placing tension on the fence wire. This example is used to fit off wire between the two strainers. If wire was being strained relative to a post only one strainer would be used.

4 [0013] The strainer boards are applied while the fence wire is flat on the ground and then they are stood upright as shown in Figure 1. Thus while on the ground a bottom section is placed under the wire and a top section 19, 20 (the bottom section is behind the top section in Figure 1) and in this case secured using nuts placed on bolts and secured using a spanner or other similar tool. In Figure 1 four nuts 21 are shown. [0014] Each top section 19, 20 has a hook or shackle 22 at each end so the chains may be connected. [0015] Applicant's invention operates in a similar way but with a different construction of the top and bottom section and a different arrangement for securing the sections together. [0016] Referring to Figures 2 and 3 a typical strainer board according to the present invention is illustrated. In Figure 2 the bottom section 23 and top section 24 are shown apart and in Figure 3 the assembly 25 is shown put together. The bottom section 23 comprises a cylindrical bar 26 having a central threaded stud 27 and end studs 28 and 29. These are welded or otherwise secured to the bar 26. [0017] The top section 24 includes end skid portions 30 and 31 and two bars 32 and 33 made from the same or similar sized bar as bar 26. The bar 26 is slightly shorter. The bars 32 and 33 are separated by a gap less than the diameter of bar 26 so bar 26 will wedge between them when on the ground. The bars 32 and 33 are held in spaced relation by being welded to end skid portions 30 and 31 and also three spaced plates 34, 35 and 36. The plates 34, 35 and 36 have holes 37, 38 and 39 respectively. The studs 27, 28 and 29 pass through these holes when the top section and bottom section are operatively engaged. [0018] An elongated plate 40 is welded to the end skids and the bar 33 and carries hooks or shackles 41 and 42. Thus when the top section and bottom section are in operative position together they may be secured using a nut and handle assembly as shown at 43, 44 and 45 in Figure 3.

5 [0019] A carry handle or chain/wire attachment is shown at 46. While this will facilitate carrying a strainer this could also be used to attach a chain in order to tension wire using a strainer board according to the present invention. Since the strainer board effectively operates as a clamp a single strainer can be used to tension wire as long as there is something to take the load, normally employing a chain and in conjunction with one or more lever and ratchets of the type illustrated at 17 and 18 in Figure 1. [0020] Referring to Figures 4-11 the construction and operation of the nut and handle assembly will be described in greater detail. [0021] The thread selected in the preferred embodiment is a relatively coarse "acme" thread so that suitable load may be applied and as well the nut may be spun down into position simply, easily and rapidly and finally tightened without the need for an extra tool. [0022] The nut and handles assembly 44 is illustrated and it is generally of a "propellor" configuration having opposed handle sections 47 and 48 bilaterally inclined away from a central through hole 49. Opposite and axially aligned with the through hole 49 is a threaded collar 50. [0023] In Figures 4 and 5 the operator is shown as carefully engaging the threads. Hand position is then moved to the extremity of one of the handles 47, 48 in preparation to commence a "spin". In Figure 7 the hand of the operator is in the process of being released as the handle is manually "flicked" into a spin. The nut spins down the thread. Figure 8 is to illustrate the completion of the spin as soon as the collar 50 has engaged the plate 35 it will come to a stop. The operator then in Figure 9 initiates a final turn and then with the grip shown in Figure 10 tightens the connection. The stub 27 can be seen poking through the hole 49 in the handle and the final position is shown in Figure 11. [0024] It will be appreciated that handle and nut assemblies 43 and 45 operate the same way. [0025] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A strainer assembly comprising a bottom section, a top section and top and bottom section attachment means used to secure the top and bottom sections together, the attachment means comprising spaced threaded male portions and cooperating threaded female portions, each attachment means having at least one control handle adapted to rotate so that the attachment means may be moved between secured and unsecured positions.

2. A strainer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises spaced threaded rods projecting from the bottom section, spaced holes in the top section to receive the threaded rods, and each control handle comprises handle mounted nut means having a projecting handle section, the threaded rod and nut having threads selected so that the nut may be rapidly spun down along the threaded rod using the handle and finally secured using the handle.

3. A strainer assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control handle comprises a propellor type handle having two opposing handle sections.

4. A strainer assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each spaced hole is located in a plate and the threaded female portion includes a collar projecting from the control handle and being adapted to abut the plate when the sections are secured.

5. A strainer assembly according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or 4 wherein the control handle comprises a propellor type handle having two opposing blade sections and a central threaded hole, the blade sections being inclined to form a V-shape .