GB2331532A

GB2331532A - Electrical device for fencing

Info

Publication number: GB2331532A
Application number: GB9825311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Louis Loughrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-20
Filing date: 1998-11-19
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Also published as: GB2331532A9; GB9825311D0

Abstract

An electrical device 1 comprising a length adjustable electrically conductive wire 3 supported on a retractable spool 4 and connecting means 9 for connecting the wire 3 in an electric fence, the device 1 comprising a housing 2 of an electrically non-conductive material, the spool 4 being mounted within the housing 2 and being rotatable about an axis of rotation within the housing 2, the housing 2 having an aperture 14 through which the wire 3 is extractable and biasing means co-operable with the spool 4 to retract the wire 3 into the housing 2.

Description

1 2331532 1 "A fencing systemy' This invention relates to an electrical

device for a fencing system.

Electrical fencing is widely used in agriculture to contain animals and also to exclude wild animals and vermin from grazing areas. Electrical fencing also facilitates the separation of different types and classes of animals and facilitates effective and efficient land management. For example, it has been shown that electrical fencing when used correctly facilitates an increase in pasture production which in turn encourages high milk and meat production from the pasture.

In electrical fencing, animals are given a sharp but is safe electrical shock to deter the animal from entering or exiting a designated area surrounded by the fencing.

Typically, an electrical fence is made up of a power source, an earthling/grounding system and a fencing system. Generally, the fencing system is made up of a wire passed between posts across a designated area. However, a disadvantage of the known fencing systems is that the fencing systems must be disassembled and reassembled in order to segregate or define a fresh 2 area contained by the fencing. Moreover, generally, it is not possible to define a gate in the fencing system to facilitate entry and exit of animals, equipment and the like.

An object of the invention is to overcome the problems of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical device comprising a length adjustable electrically conductive means and connecting means for connecting the length adjustable electrically conductive means in an electric fence.

Preferably, the length adjustable electrically conductive means is supported on retractable support means. More preferably, the retractable support means comprises a spool.

1 Suitably, the device comprises a housing of an electrically nonconductive material and the spool is mounted within the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation within the housing, the housing having an aperture through which the electrically conductive means is extractable and biasing means co-operable with the spool to cause the spool to retract the electrically conductive means into the housing.

3 Preferably, the electrical device further comprises mounting means for detachably mounting the electric device on a fixture. Preferably, the connecting means comprises detachable connecting means. Advantageously, 5 the connecting means comprises a hook.

Suitably, the biasing means comprises a spring. Preferably, the biasing means comprises a coil spring mounted within the housing and communicable with the spool.

Suitably, the electrical device further comprises gear means to control rotation of the spool by the biasing means. Advantageously, the electrical device further comprises electrically conductive means stop means to restrict the extent to which the electrically conductive means may be retracted into the housing. Preferably, the electrically conductive means stop means comprises an electrically conductive means stop mounted on the electrically conductive means.

Suitably, the electrically conductive means stop means further comprises a break-away connection means on the electrically conductive means to facilitate severing of the electrically conductive means. Advantageously, the break-away connection means is integral with the electrically conductive means stop means.

4 Suitably, the device further comprises warning means to indicate the presence of an electrical current. Preferably, the warning means comprises a lighting means.

Suitably, the electrical device further comprises attachment means to facilitate attachment of a firs electrical device to a second electrical device. Suitably, the attachment means comprises electric attachment means.

Advantageously, the electric attachment means comprises an electric cable.

Suitably, the electric cable is communicable with a power supply source.

1 1 Advantageously, the cable comprises clip means for attaching to the second electrical device or the power supply source.

Preferably, the electrically conductive means is selected from the group comprising an electrically conductive wire, an electrically conductive cable and 20 an electrically conductive tape.

The invention also extends to an electric fence system comprising a gate device as hereinbefore described.

The gate device and the electric fence system of the invention is suitable for use as a gate in electrified f ence systems to define paddocks etc. in a paddock- grazing system. Moreover, the device of the invention is adapted for closing and opening roadways as required to facilitate access to paddocks and the like. The gate device of the invention can also be employed to sub-divide paddocks in order to further strip-graze 10 grass.

At road junctions, the gate device in accordance with the invention can be adapted to divert livestock travelling from the roadway in any desired direction as required. Moreover, the gate device of the invention is can be adapted to divide groups of livestock such as cattle in yards, holding areas and the like. The gate device of the invention is lightweight and accordingly highly mobile such that the gate device may be employed at remote locations as required.

The retractable or recoilable nature of the electrically conductive means of the gate device in accordance with the invention facilitates fencing with ease and minimum effort such that large or small openings may be defined by the gate device as required.

6 The invention will now be described having regard to the accompanying drawings in which:

is Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a gate device for use in an electric fencing system in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gate device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section through the gate device of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a gate device for use in an electric fencing system in accordance with the invention; Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section through the gate device of Fig. 4 showing the internal components of the gate device; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the wire stop of the gate device of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a cut away side elevation of the gate device showing the internal gear mechanism with the direction of movement of the wire of the 7 device being indicated by the arrows; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the gear mechanism of Fig. 7 and the spool for holding the wire of the gate device; is Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the gate device of Fig. 4 mounted on a wall with the gate device shown in three positions with respect to the wall Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the gate device of Fig. 4 mounted on the corner of a wall with the gate device being shown in three positions with respect to the corner; Fig. 11 is a front perspective view from above and one side of the housing of the gate device of Fig. 4; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the housing of the gate device of Fig. 4; Fig. 13 is a top schematic plan view of a field provided with an electric fencing system with gate devices in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 14 is a top plan schematic view of a field

8 provided with an electric fencing system with gate devices in accordance with the invention; Fig. 15 is a top plan schematic view of a field with two road ways provided with an electric fencing system in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 16 is a top plan schematic view of the field of Fig. 15 with the electric fencing system arranged in a second arrangement, and

Fig. 17 is a top plan schematic view of the field of Fig. 16 with the electric fencing system arranged in yet an alternative arrangement.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a gate device 1 of a fencing system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is made up of a disc like housing 2 for housing an elongate electrically conductive wire 3 on a spool 4. The wire 3 is attached at one end to a coiled biased spring 31 which in turn is connected at its other end to a centre screw mounting 5.

The spring 31 serves to bias the wire into the housing 2 such that the wire 3 is automatically retracted into the housing 2 when released.

9 At its other end, the wire 3 is connected to a handle 6 having a hooked tip 7. The handle 6 is provided with a cylindrical gripping portion 8 from which the hooked tip 7 extends. Upon contact of the hooked tip 7 with an electrical fence system, the wire 3 of the gate device carries an electrical current to act as a barrier to animals.

Externally, the housing 2 is provided with a mounting bracket 9 for mounting the gate device 1 on a post or the like in a fencing system as shall be explained more fully below. The mounting bracket 9 is made up of an outer portion 10 defining a through hole 32 for securing the mounting bracket to a. post while outwardly extending arms 11 extend between the housing 2 and the is mounting bracket outer portion 10. A connecting pin 12 extends through the outer portion 10 and the outwardly extending arms 11 to connect the outer portion 10 to the outwardly extending arms 11 in a pivotable fashion.

The disc-like housing 2 is provided with an exit slot 14 through which the wire 3 can exit from the spool 4 within the housing 2 for connection at the handle 6 to an electrical fence system.

The wire 3 is electrically conductive to deter animals and the like from traversing the wire 3 in conventional f ashion.

1 Pigs. 4 to 12 show a second embodiment of a gate device 1 in accordance with the invention. The gate device 1 of the second embodiment is broadly similar to the gate device of Figs. 1 to 3 and, accordingly, like numerals indicate like parts. As shown in the drawings, the gate device 1 is made up of a housing 2 for housing an elongate electrically conductive wire 3 on a spool 4. In the present embodiment, the housing 2 is made up of a main housing portion 63 similar to the disc like housing described in relation to Figs. 1 to 3 and a secondary housing 64 integral with the main disc like housing 63 but extending rearwardly from the main disc like housing 63 at the side of the main disc like housing 63 remote from the slot 14 through which the wire 3 exits the main disc like housing 63. The secondary housing 64 is adapted to define the outwardly extending arms 11 for mounting the gate device 1 of the invention. Accordingly, the outwardly extending arms 11 of the present embodiment are integral with the housing 2 to provide increased strength to the gate device 1 and also to minimise the number of components in the gate 1 of the invention.

The outwardly extending arms 11 are adapted to engage with the mounting bracket 9 to mount the device 1 on a 11 structure in a desired location.

The mounting bracket 9 of the present embodiment is made up of an outer portion 10 defining top and bottom support arms 33 between which the outwardly extending arms 11 of the housing 2 are supported. More particularly, the support arms 33 are provided with top and bottom support arm holes 35 while the outwardly extending arms 11 of the housing 2 are provided with complimentary holes 34 to define with the support arm holes 35 through holes through which a bolt 37 may be passed and secured in place by a nut 36 to mount the housing 2 on the bracket 9.

The support arms 33 of the mounting bracket 9 are connected by a vertically disposed cross-bar 13.

The cross-bar 13 is further provided with means for connecting the mounting bracket 9 to a wall bracket 38 mounted on a wall 65. The crossbar 13 is provided with an outwardly and rearwardly extending mounting lug 39 adapted to receive a pin 41 therethrough. The pin 41 20 is inserted in a complimentary bracket lug 40 extending outwards from the wall bracket 38. The pin 41 is removable from the lugs 39 and 40 to remove the device 1 of the invention from the wall bracket 38.

12 The device 1 of the invention is further provided with a power supply cable 42 which extends laterally outwards from the housing 2. The power supply cable 42 is communicable, internally, with the wire 3 so that current may be transmitted to the wire 3 from the power supply cable 42. The power supply cable 42 is further provided with a clip 43 at its free end for attaching the power supply cable 42 to a power supply source.

The housing 2 of the gate device 1 is provided with a recess 45 defined on the external face of the housing 2 and shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the power supply cable 42 and the clip 43 for storage.

The wire 3 of the gate device 1 is provided with a wire stop 45 adjacent its free end to prevent complete is recoiling of the wire 3 into the housing 2. The wire stop 44 is dimensioned to be greater than the dimensions of the slot 14 of the housing 2 to prevent full retraction of the wire 3 into the housing 2.

The wire stop 44 is located on the wire 3 so that following full retraction of the wire 3, a portion of the wire 3 remains protruding from the housing 2.

The wire stop 44 is typically formed from a rubber material and is substantially block like in shape. In 13 particular, the wire stop 44 is made up of a wire stop base portion 46 and a wire stop top portion 47 mountable on the wire stop base portion 46.

The wire stop base portion 46 and the wire stop top portion 47 are each provided with first and second screw holes 48,49 located at diagonally opposite corners on each of the wire stop base portion 46 and wire stop top portion 47. The first and second screw holes 48,49 of the wire stop base portion 46 and wire stop top portion 47 are adapted to be contiguous upon mounting of the wire stop top portion 47 on the wire stop base portion 46. The first and second screw holes 48,49 are adapted to receive a self-tapping screw 50 for securing the wire stop top portion 47 to the wire is stop base portion 46.

The top - face 66 of the wire stop base portion 46 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 51 insertable in a corresponding recess (not shown) on the underside 67 of the wire stop top portion 47. The lug 51 serves to locate the wire stop top portion 47 on the wire stop base portion 46 and also as a mounting means for the wire 3. In particular, the wire 3 is looped to define a wire loop 53 locatable on the lug 51.

The top face 66 of the wire stop base portion 46 is 14 further provided with a wire channel 52 disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the wire stop 44. The wire channel 52 is adapted to receive the wire 3 between the wire stop base portion 46 and wire stop top portion 47.

in a preferred embodiment the wire 3 is provided with a weakened portion along its length to define a breakaway point to facilitate severing of the wire 3 upon application of excessive force from a vehicle or the like to the wire 3 thereby preventing damage to the device 1. In the present embodiment the weakened portion is incorporated into the wire stop 44 so that the wire 3 is severed from the outside face of the wire stop 44 (i.e. the face of the wire stop 44 remote from the slot 14) when excessive force is applied to the wire. Accordingly, the wire stop 44 prevents full retraction of the wire 3 even following accidental severing of the wire 3.

Fig. 5 also shows a modification to the mounting bracket 9 and the wall bracket 38 is provided with an upwardly disposed finger 54 adapted to receive the mounting bracket 9 of the device 1. Moreover, the mounting bracket 9 is provided with an opening 68 defined on the cross-bar 13 adapted to receive the finger 54 to mount the device 1 on the wall 65.

is Internally, the main disc like housing 63 is provided with a gear mechanism 55. The gear mechanism 55 is adapted to effect extension and retraction of the wire 3 and is made up of a main gear wheel 56 rotatably mounted in the housing 2 and engagable with a secondary gear wheel 57 also rotatably mounted within the housing 2. The main gear wheel 56 and the secondary gear wheel 57 are both provided with inter-engagable teeth so that rotation of the main gear wheel 56 effects rotation of the secondary gear wheel 57.

The main gear wheel 56 and the secondary gear wheel 57 are mounted within the main disc like housing 63 with the rotational axes of the main gear 56 and secondary gear wheel 57 disposed parallel to the theoretical is rotational axis of the main disc like housing 63.

The main gear wheel 56 is provided with an outwardly extending coil spring pin 58 along its central longitudinal axis adapted to receive a coil spring 31 to effect rotation of the main gear wheel 56. The main 20 gear wheel 56 is in turn in communication with the spool 4 so that the gear mechanism 55 effects retraction of the wire 3.

As shown in Fig. 9, the gate device 1 may be mounted on a wall 59 and is rotatable on the wall 59 about an 16 angle of 1801C on the mounting bracket 9. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 10, the gate device 1 of the invention may be mounted on a corner 60 of two corner defining walls 59 so that the gate device 1 may be rotated around the corner 6 as required. Rotation of the gate device 1 of the invention on the wall 65 and the corner 60 is facilitated by the mounting bracket 9 and the corresponding wall mounting bracket 38 so that the location of the wire 3 with respect to the wall 65 and corner 60 may be varied as required. The gate device 1 is further provided with a sign 61 as shown in Fig. 11 to indicate to an operator, passers-by or the like that the wire 3 is carrying electric current. As shown in Fig. 11, the sign 61 is located on the housing 2 adjacent the slot 14 while the housing 2 may be further provided with a flashing light 62 located on the top face of the housing 2 to also indicate the live nature of the device 1 of the invention. The flashing light 62 is electrically powered and is in communication with the electric power supply source and may be formed from a light emitting diode or the like.

It will be appreciated that the wire 3 could be formed from an electrically conductive cable or tape or the like. In addition, the wire 3 could be made up of a polythene coated string-type material or the like.

17 In use, the gate device 1 of the invention is employed in an electric wire fencing system. The electrical wire system is provided with a power source, an earthling/grounding system and a wire mounted between posts and communicable with the power source and the earthling/grounding system.

Pigs. 13 to 17 show the gate device 1 of the fencing system of the invention in use in electric wire fencing systems. Generally, the gate device 1 is mounted on a moveable or permanent post 30 in an electric wire fencing system and the wire 3 of the gate device 1 is extended to contact engaging contacts located on a post 30 of the electrical fence system as shall be explained more fully below. Similarly, the permanent or fixed is wire portion 3 of the electrical fencing system is supported between permanent posts 30 to define the fenced off area of the electrical fencing system. The power source and earthling/grounding systems are omitted for clarity.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic top plan view of a roadway 15 having a first field 16 and a second field 17 disposed either side thereof. The first field 16 and the second field 17 are both provided with electrical wires 3 disposed between the posts 30 of an electrical wire fencing system to sub-divide the first field 16 and the

18 second field 17 into first, second and third segments 18,19,20 respectively.

The wire 3 also extends parallel to and either side of the roadway 15. However, as shown in Fig. 13, each second segment 19 of the first field 16 and the second field 17 is provided with a gate device 1 in accordance with the invention adjacent the roadway 15. The housing 2 of each gate device 1 is mounted on a post 30 which can be located as desired.

As shown in the drawing, the wire 3 of each device 1 is extended and is contiguous with the wire 3 proper of the fencing system extending parallel to the roadway 15 while the handle 6 is attached to a post 30 adjacent the post 30 on which the housing 2 is mounted. The is wire 3 of the gate device 1 permanently separates the first segment 18 from the second segment 19. The handle 6 is detachable from the post 30 such that the wire 3 is retractable into the housing 2 by the spring 31 to create an opening 29 through which animals may pass to facilitate access for example to the lower second segment 19 as shown in Fig. 13. Such an opening is indicated by a broken line in Fig. 13. Accordingly, the handle 6 of each gate device 1 may be retractable engaged with adjacent posts to facilitate access or indeed restrict access by animals to various segments 19 of f ields.

Fig. 14 shows an alternative arrangement of wire 3 across and between a first field 16 and a second field 17 separated by a roadway 15 as previously described. in the present embodiment, the wire 3 is arranged to define two adjacent paddocks at each outer edge remote from the roadway 15 of the first and second fields 16,17. Moreover, in the present embodiment, intermediate centre posts 21 (between the standard mounting posts 30 as previously described) are disposed along the path of wire 3 of the fencing to which handles 6 of gate devices 1 in accordance with the invention may be attached to facilitate or restrict access to the paddocks 22 as required. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 14, the paddocks 22 are formed by extending the handle 6 from a.gate device 1 in accordance with the invention such that the housing 2 of the gate device is contiguous with a permanent wire portion at a post 30 and the handle 6 is attached to the centre post 21 to define the paddock 22 to the rear of the wire 3 of the gate device 1. Access to the paddock 22 is facilitated by simply removing the handle from the centre post 21 and retracting the wire 3 of the device 1 into the housing 2.

The size and shape of the paddock 22 can be altered by adjusting the location of the centre post 21.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 show an alternative top plan view of a field provided with a second roadway 23 oriented substantially perpendicular to the first roadway 15 such that a top left corner field 24, a top right corner field 25, a bottom left corner field 26 and a bottom right corner field 27 is defined by the first and second roadways 15,23. Each face of each field 24,25,26,27 adjacent respective roadways 15,23 is provided with an electric wire 3 of the fencing system in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Fig. 15, a gate device 1 in accordance with the invention is disposed at the intersection of the roadways 15,23 such that the housing 2 of the gate device I is attached to a corner post 30 located adjacent the intersection of the roadways 15,23 of the upper right field 25. The handle 6 of the gate device I is attached to the diagonally opposite post 30 disposed at the intersection of the roadways 15,23 of the bottom left field 26. The wire 3 of the gate device 1 is passed through a loop 28 disposed on a post disposed at the intersection of the first and second roadways 15,23 at the bottom right field 27 such that the wire 3 def ines a reversed L shape so that animals can be directed along the roadway 15 and between the 21 fields 24,25 if desired.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 16, the handle 6 of the gate device 1 is passed through the loop 28 as previously described but is attached to a post disposed at the intersection of the roadways 15,23 of the upper left field 24 such that animals are directed along the roadway 23 between the bottom left field 26 and bottom right field 27.

Fig. 17 shows an arrangement similar to the arrangement shown in Figs. 15 and 16. However, as shown in Fig. 17, two gate devices are provided. The housing 2 of a first gate device 1 is attached to a post disposed at the intersection of the roadway 15,23 at the top right field 25 while a second gate device I is provided with a housing 2 attached to the gate post disposed at the intersection of the first and second roadways 15,23 of the bottom right field 27. The handle 6 of each of the first and second gate devices I is attached to the directly opposite post 30 i.e. at the intersection of 20 the roadway 15,23 of the top left field 24 and bottom left field 26 respectively such that any animals will be directed along the roadway 15 only such that the roadway 23 is closed by the wire 3 disposed between the housing 2 and the handle 6.

22 The wire 3 of the device of the invention can be manufactured from materials known in the art such as steel or a combination of polypropylene and steel. housing 2 of the device of the invention is typically manufactured from an electrically non-conductive material such as plastics.

Claims

An electrical device comprising a length adjustable electrically conductive means and connecting means for connecting the length adjustable electrically conductive means in an electric fence.
2. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the length adjustable electrically conductive means is supported on retractable support means.
3. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in the retractable support means comprises a spool.
4. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the device comprises a housing of an electrically non-conductive material andthe spool is mounted within the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation within the housing, the housing having an aperture through which the electrically conductive means is extractable and biasing means cooperable with the spool to cause the spool to retract the electrically conductive means into the housing.
S. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising mounting means for detachably mounting the 24 electric device on a fixture.
6. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the connecting means comprises detachable connecting means.
7. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 6 characterised in that the connecting means comprises a hook.
8. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7 characterised in that the biasing means comprises a spring.
9. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 8 characterised in that the biasing means comprises a coil spring mounted within the housing and communicable with the spool.
10. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 9 further comprising gear means to control rotation of the spool by the biasing means.
11. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 10 further comprising electrically conductive means stop means to restrict the extent to which the electrically conductive means may be retracted into the housing.
12. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 11 characterised in that the electrically conductive means stop means comprises an electrically conductive means stop mounted on the electrically conductive means.
13. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 further comprising a break-away connection means on the electrically conductive means to facilitate severing of the electrically conductive 10 means.
14. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 13 characterised in that the break-away connection means is integral with the electrically conductive means stop means.

is
15. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 14 characterised in that the device further comprises warning means to indicate the presence of an electrical current.
16. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 15 characterised in that the warning means comprises a lighting means.

26
17. An electric device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 16 further comprising attachment means to facilitate attachment of a first electrical device to a second electrical device.
18. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 17 characterised in that the attachment means comprises electric attachment means.
19. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 18 characterised in that the electric attacbment means comprises an electric cable.
20. Axl electrical device as claimed in Claim 19 characterised in that the electric cable is communicable with a power supply source.
21. An electrical device as claimed in Claim 20 is characterised in that the cable comprises clip means for attaching to the second electrical device or the power supply source.
22. An electrical device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21 characterised in that the electrically conductive means is selected from the group comprising an electrically conductive wire, an electrically conductive cable and an electrically conductive tape.

27
23. An electrical device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
24. A fencing system comprising an electrical device 5 as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 23.
25. A fencing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.