EP2456298B1

EP2456298B1 - Electric fencing standard

Info

Publication number: EP2456298B1
Application number: EP10819671.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nick Manioudakis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-23
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-23
Also published as: EP2456298A2; WO2011038424A3; AU2010297972A1; WO2011038424A2; ZA201200630B; AU2010297972B2

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a standard for use in electrical fencing.
As used herein "standard" includes an elongate member, which is used alone or in conjunction with other components, to provide support for one or more electrical conductors which form part of an electrical fence. This type of standard can be a stand-alone item, or it could be attached to external support structure such as a wall, an existing fence or the like.
It is known to attach one or more electrical insulators to an elongate metallic member and then to secure electrical conductors to the insulators. The electrical insulators can be designed to be used with metallic tubes, bars, rods or the like or, conversely, a metallic member can be designed so that the electrical insulators are engageable with it. For example FR2551909 discloses the slidable engagement of insulators with an elongate metallic member. Each insulator has shaped projections which are insertable into a slot in the member.
US6325347 teaches a method of attaching a non-conductive bracket to a post which has flanges extending in opposite directions, using a number of clamps which are engaged with the flanges. The bracket is slidable along the post until it is clamped in a desired position.
US 2437344 discloses an insulator which is mounted to a bracket. Both components are secured to an elongate post at a desired position by means of a threaded fastener.
There are however a number of drawbacks associated with the aforementioned techniques. It can be tedious to engage the insulators with the supports. Pre-assembly of the insulators and supports can help save time on site but this possibility is not of great use if the site conditions vary in a way which dictates against a standardized approach. For example, the installation conditions may require the spacings between the insulators to be varied from a standard configuration. Another aspect which must be addressed is the way in which the electric fence is to be erected. If the fence is a stand-alone barrier then the standards which carry the insulators must be sufficiently mechanically strong to carry the electrical conductors and to resist bending or similar forces. If however a wall or a fence, e.g. a palisade fence, is already in place and the security thereof is to be enhanced by the addition of an electrified fence, then the need for mechanically strong standards is diminished to some extent for the electrified fence could be carried on the existing structure.
A further factor arises when the fence is to be installed in corrosive conditions, for example near the sea. The components which carry the electrical conductors should, as far as is possible, be rust-resistant. In order to meet this requirement the components should be non-metallic or, alternatively, should be treated, e.g. by galvanizing, to achieve the required properties.
An object of the invention is to provide a fencing standard which substantially addresses the aforementioned requirements.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides an electrical fencing standard which includes a post which includes an elongate body with at least a first formation which extends longitudinally along the body, at least one electrical insulator, for supporting an electrical conductor, which is movably engageable with the first formation, and at least one component, engageable with the first formation, to retain the insulator at a selected position on the body, wherein the first formation is an elongate undercut channel formation which extends longitudinally on the body, and the component is slidably movable along, and is engaged with, the undercut channel formation, and is positionable between two insulators.
The electrical insulator may be slidable along the first formation to the selected position. The electrical insulator may include a structure which is interengageable with the first formation and which allows for such movement but which prevents or inhibits detachment of the insulator directly from the body without sliding movement.
The body of the post may for example include an elongate rib formation. Preferably, though, the first formation is a first elongate channel formation which extends longitudinally on the body and the insulator has a complementary formation which is engageable with a sliding fit with the first channel formation.
The channel formation is undercut and the insulator preferably has a projection which extends into the undercut of the channel.
The component is engageable with the first formation to locate the insulator in the first channel at the selected position. The component is, itself, slidably movable along, and engaged with, the first channel formation. The component is in the nature of a spacer which spaces one insulator from an adjacent insulator. It is also possible to use two or more of the components, each component acting as a spacer, in order to vary the spacing between adjacent insulators, on a reasonable basis, according to requirement.
A bracket for fixing the post to an external structure may be engaged with the post. Preferably the bracket is engageable with a second channel formation in a similar manner to the insulator. The bracket may include at least one fixing formation which facilitates attachment of the bracket to external structure.
The standard may be designed to be installed at an end of an electric fence, at a location at which an electric fence changes direction for example through 90º or 270º, or at a location which is between ends of a fence. The invention is not limited in this regard for the inventive principles which are described herein can be used in the construction of standards for various kinds of installation locations.
The use of tensioning devices to keep the electrical conductors in an electric fence taut under different operational conditions is well established. Typically these tensioners are installed at the ends of an electric fence although they could be at various other locations. It falls within the scope of the invention to design the tensioners so that they are, themselves, directly engageable with the channel formation in the body of the post.
If the standard is to be used at a direction-changing position then direction-changing devices e.g. wheels or similar guide structures may be engaged, at least, with the first channel formation.
In one form of the invention the elongate body includes a first and a second said elongate undercut channel formation and the component has a spacer which is engaged with the first undercut channel formation. A fixing bracket is then engageable with the second undercut channel formation.
Preferably all of the components of the standard are made from a weather-resistant electrically insulating material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view from one side of an insert assembly used in an electrical fencing standard according to one form of the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates, in enlarged detail, an insulator in the insert assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view from a front side of insert assembly shown in Figure 1 i.e. in the direction of an arrow marked 3 in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of portion of a post, used in the fencing standard, illustrating its cross-sectional shape;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a rear side of a bracket engaged with a post according to Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a partly exploded view showing how components can be interconnected, according to requirement, to make up a fencing standard;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of a standard according to the invention illustrating a bracket and an insulator engaged with a post;
Figure 8 shows the arrangement of Figure 7 in cross section;
Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate different possible erection conditions;
Figures 12 and 13 are views of possible variations of the invention; and
Figure 14 illustrates how a plurality of the standards can be used in the construction of an electrified fence of enhanced security or deterrent value.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of an insert assembly 10 which includes an elongate member 12, a plurality of spacers 14 and an electrical insulator 16.
The elongate member 12 is intended to be used with a post 18 which is illustrated in perspective in Figure 4.
The post 18 has a body which is electrically insulating and which is preferably extruded, for example out of glass fibre, aluminium or a similar appropriate material, or pultruded from a suitable material, optionally with fibre reinforcing. The body has a central rib 20 and first and second elongate undercut channel formations 22A and 22B respectively. Each channel formation, in cross section, is generally in the form of a T and has a relatively large transversely extending base 24, adjacent the rib 20, and a mouth 26 of reduced dimensions.
Figure 1 illustrates three spacers designated 14A, 14B and 14C respectively. In cross section the spacers are substantially identical. However the spacers could come in different lengths, according to requirement. Figure 6 shows in perspective the spacers 14B and 14C engaged with the post 18. Each spacer has a central section 30 which is dimensioned to fit closely inside the mouth 26 of one of the channel formations, and a plurality of transversely extending pairs of projections 32 which are at regular intervals along the length of the spacer. For example the spacer 14C is shown with two pairs of the projections 32. Each projection, in cross section, has a T-shape which accords generally with the base 24 on each undercut channel formation.
The spacers, which are made from an electrically insulating material, can be separately fabricated or can be integrally formed but comprising a plurality of spacer segments which are linked to each other along respective lines of weakness 40. Each spacer segment can therefore, if required, readily be detached from an adjacent segment.
Figure 2 is a side view, in enlarged detail, of an insulator 16 which is made from an electrically insulating material. The insulator includes an upper hook-shaped portion 44 and a lower, upwardly extending, portion 46 which, at an upper extremity, is slightly spaced from the portion 44 to define a narrow entrance gap 48, between opposing surfaces of the portions 44 and 46. The entrance gap leads into a larger retention formation 50. A small web 52, which braces the portion 46, has an oval hole 54.
The insulator 16 extends from a T-shaped support 56 which is clearly shown in cross section in Figure 8. The T-shaped support has a bridging section 56 which fits closely through the mouth 26 of the undercut channel formation 22A, and a transverse projection 58 which fits closely into the base 24 of the undercut channel formation in a post 18. The arrangement however is such that although the T-shaped support can be engaged with the body of the post 18 the fit between the two components is not particularly tight and it is possible to adjust the position of the insulator, in a longitudinal sense, relative to the body of the post by sliding the insulator along the undercut channel formation.
Figure 5 shows a bracket 60 in perspective and in enlarged detail from a rear side, while Figure 8 shows the bracket in cross section. The bracket has a T-shaped support 66 which is generally the same as the T-shaped support 58, and a fairly large flange 70 which projects to one side of the T-shaped support and which is formed with a hole 72. The bracket is preferably made from an electrical insulating material.
An end cap 80, shown at an upper side in Figure 6, is engageable with a press fit with an end of the post 18. The end cap has a base section 82 and, on an inner surface, projections 84, only one of which is partly visible in Figure 6, which can respectively enter the undercut channel formations and engage therewith. This engagement can be of a frictional nature. Preferably though a stronger attachment force is obtained through the use of a grub screw, or the like (not shown) which is carried by the cap 80, and which can be screwed into tight physical contact with a surface of the post.
Figure 6 illustrates, partly exploded, a fencing standard 86 according to the invention, which is constructed by engaging the insert assembly 10 of Figure 1 with a post 18. The electrical standard 86 is, in effect, based on modular considerations. The body of the post 18 is extruded or pultruded and can be cut to length according to requirement. The insulator 16 is one of a plurality of similar insulators each of which is engageable with a sliding action with an undercut channel formation so that it can be positioned at a selected position on the body of the post. A selected combination of the spacers 14A, 14B, 14C etc. which, for example are 50mm or 100mm long, can be positioned between adjacent insulators to hold the insulators in position at the chosen locations.
Referring to Figure 5 the bracket 60 can be moved with a sliding action along the undercut channel formation 22B in the post 18 to a desired position. At this point a fastener, such as a screw, not shown, is screwed through a hole 88 in a boss 90 to penetrate into the rib 20 of the body of the post. The bracket is then fixed to the post. The outwardly projecting flange of the bracket is readily accessible so that a fastener can be passed through the hole 72 to secure the bracket to external supporting structure e.g. an existing fence, wall or the like.
The insulators are combined with the spacers, as required, and are positioned on one side of the post 18. End caps 80 are fixed to the respective ends of the post to restrain the spacers and insulators against sliding movement. Once the assembly process has been completed electrical conductors, not shown, according to requirement and choice, are passed through the entrance gaps 48, or are threaded through the holes 56, in the respective insulators, in order to engage the conductors with the insulators.
Although the accompanying drawings show that the insulators are on one side only of the post 18 this is not necessarily the case for each undercut channel formation can be engaged with insulators, as may be required. The insulators can thus be placed on opposing sides of the post to increase the density of the electrical conductors.
The invention holds a number of benefits. The insulators are readily and quickly engaged with the post according to requirement. This enables the configuration of the assembled standard to be matched, on site, to prevailing installation conditions. Figure 9 for example illustrates an arrangement in which the insulators 16 are all on one side of a post 18 at spacings 94 which are variable according to requirement but which, for the described conditions, are multiples of the minimum length of a spacer. For example if a spacer 14 is 50mm long then the spacing 94 between two adjacent electrical conductors 96 can be 50mm, 100mm, 150mm or 200mm. Usually insulators will be engaged with the first channel formation 22A, and brackets with the second channel formation 22B. This is not necessarily the case though for insulators can also or alternatively be engaged with the formation 22B.
Figure 10 shows an arrangement in which a first set of insulators, designated 16A, are on one side of a post 18 and a second set of insulators, designated 16B, are on an opposing side of the post. The conductors 96 are thus on each of two opposed sides of the post and, overall, the deterrent effect of the fence is enhanced.
Figure 11 shows a standard which is attached to one side of a wall 100 by passing fasteners, not shown, through brackets which are engaged with the post. Insulators 16C are engaged with the post on a lower side which is remote from the wall. Above an upper end 102 of the wall insulators 16D are fixed to the post but positioned so that they are over the upper end. Thus at a lower side of the standard the electrical conductors 96 are on one side of the post while, above the wall, the electrical conductors are on an opposite side of the post.
The preceding characteristics and features allow the security of the resulting fence to be increased without significant additional cost and allow the installation factors to be tailored to meet the site conditions.
The insulators and the spacers are made from any suitable electrically insulating material, e.g. polyethylene, and thus the assembled standard is rust free. The posts can be made to any practical length and can be cut on site to meet requirements. The components are light and can be packaged densely for transport purposes. This substantially lowers transport costs.
Figure 12 shows a body of a post 18 in cross section. A tension spring 120 extends from a mounting component 122 which, in cross section, is complementary to the undercut channel formation 22A. This type of arrangement typically is located at an end position on an electrified fence. This is not necessarily the case though for a similar tensioning mechanism could be engaged with the same or the other channel formation, and extend in an opposing direction. An elongate electrical conductor 96 is engaged with the spring. The function of the spring is to keep the conductor taut under different operating conditions.
Figure 13 shows a modified body of a post 18A which has four undercut formations 22. Each is substantially the same as what has been described hereinbefore. In cross section though the post 18A is substantially more rigid than the post 18. Thus the post 18A can be used at an end of a fence. A component 124 engaged with one of the channel formations can be connected to a straining wire 126 which is, for example, anchored to the ground to enhance rigidity and stability of the post. A custom-made component 128 which is engaged with two of the channel formations can be used to change the direction of an electrical conductor 96A through 90º. The conductor lies in a shallow groove formed in an outer surface of the component which is indicated by a dotted line 130.
A significant benefit can be realised through the use of the electrical fencing standards of the invention. As is shown in Figure 10, the insulators 16A can be positioned on one side of a post and a second set of insulators 16B can be positioned on an opposing side of the post. In Figure 10 the positions of the insulators 16A and 16B are in register. Assume that every second insulator 16A is omitted and that every second insulator 16B is omitted. The two sets of insulators are however positioned so that an insulator 16A is effectively positioned between two adjacent insulators 16B although the insulators 16A and 16B are on opposite sides of the post 18. In other words, as is shown in Figure 14, the insulators on opposing sides of the post are staggered. If a succession of standards made up in this way are used in the erection of a fence then the conductors 96, extending the length of the fence, can be woven around alternate posts. The security of the fence is thereby considerably enhanced without additional expenditure. An electric fence can be attacked by trying to displace the electrical conductors from one another or from the supporting posts. This type of operation is far more difficult to carry out when the conductors are in a woven orientation as shown in Figure 14.

Claims

An electrical fencing standard (10) which includes a post (18) which has an elongate body with at least a first formation (22A, 22B) which extends longitudinally along the body (18), at least one electrical insulator (16), for supporting an electrical conductor, which is movably engageable with the first formation (22A, 22B), and at least one component (14A, 14B, 14C), engageable with the first formation (22A, 22B), to retain the insulator (16) at a selected position on the body, the first formation (22A, 22B) being an elongate undercut channel formation (22A, 22B), which extends longitudinally on the body, characterised in that the component (14A, 14B, 14C) is slidably movable along, and is engaged with, the undercut channel formation, and is positionable between two insulators (16).
A standard according to claim 1 characterised in that the electrical insulator (16), includes a structure which is engageable with the first formation (22A, 22B), and which allows for sliding movement relative to the formation and which inhibits detachment of the insulator (16), directly from the body without sliding movement.
A standard according to claim 1 or 2 which is characterised in that it includes at least one bracket (60) which is engaged with the first formation (22A, 22B), and in that it includes at least one fixing formation (66), which facilitates attachment of the bracket (60) to an external structure.
A standard according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the elongate body includes a first and a second said elongate undercut channel formation (22A, 22B), wherein the component is a spacer (14) which is engaged with the first undercut channel formation (22A), and a fixing bracket (70) is engaged with the second undercut channel formation (22B).
An electric fence which includes a plurality of electrical fencing standards, a plurality of insulators (16) on the standards, and a plurality of electrical conductors which are engaged with the insulators (16) characterised in that each electrical fencing standard is according to claim 1, and in that the standards are arranged so that the insulators (16), on one standard are aligned with, but oppositely directed to, the insulators (16), on an adjacent standard, whereby each electrical conductor is engaged with an insulator (16) on a first side of a first standard and with an insulator (16) on a second side which faces in an opposing direction to the first side, of a second standard which is adjacent the first standard.