NZ533496A - Electric fence wire reeling apparatus with tension actuated motor drive - Google Patents

Abstract

Strands of electric fence wire may be unwound from or wound onto respective reels 2A, 2B, 2C by motor 6 and gearing. Control is via the reels and by association with a perimeter wire connectable to the apparatus, tension switch and multifunction switch.

Description

53 3 96 15 20 25 Our ref: KDY001 Patents Form No. 5 No. 533496 Dated 14 June 2004 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 40 FENCE REELING METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM I, Peter Kennedy, a New Zealand citizen, of 106 Norwood Street, North East Valley, Dunedin, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be 45 granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z 2 3 AUG 2005 received FENCE REELING METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to electric fence systems and associated reeling apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a reeling apparatus and system, and a method of operation of the apparatus and the like.

BACKGROUND ART Electric fences are well known, and have been in use for many years as an effective means for keeping livestock and other animals within the bounds of the fence, and pests and other unwanted animals out. The installation of such electric fences is a technical and labour 15 intensive exercise involving conductive wire or tape, insulators, posts, and the means to energise the conductive wire or tape and return path to form an effective electrical circuit. For permanently installed electric fences, the expense and labour intensive nature of the endeavour may well be justified. However, in the case of erecting portable and temporary electric fences such a task can be cumbersome and time consuming, particularly if used for 20 short durations and with one person setting up such a system.

It is a non-limiting object of the present invention to provide a reeling apparatus for unwinding and rewinding conductive wire or tape that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which provides the public with a useful choice.

It is a non-limiting object of the present invention to provide an electric fence reeling system that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which provides the public with a useful choice.

It is a non-limiting object of the present invention to provide a reeling method for unwinding and rewinding conductive fence wire or tape that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which provides the public with a useful choice. 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a reeling apparatus for use in unwinding and rewinding flexible electric fence wire and being connectable to a power 5 source for energising the wire and powering the apparatus, the apparatus including a reel means with a reel shaft being mechanically associated with reel gear means, a motor drive means being mechanically associated with the reel gear means, in use, to drive the reel gear means, a control means for controlling the winding and unwinding operation of the reel means by receiving feedback signals from the reel means and by association with a 10 perimeter wire that is connectable to the apparatus, the control means including a fence wire reel tension switch means and a multifunction switch configured and arranged for activating the motor drive means for unwinding and rewinding of fence wire on the reel means.

Preferably the reel tension switch means includes a sensing bar means being pivotably attached to the reel shaft and being adapted with a wire guiding means, in use, enabling the said fence wire to move the sensing bar means between a tilted or angled position and a substantially horizontal position, the sensing bar means having a position, switch electrically connected to the drive means and to a power relay switch, the power switch having a link wire connected at one side to an energiser means and also being releasably connectable to a said perimeter wire fence to create a continuous electrical return path from the link wire through the perimeter wire such that when a user touches the perimeter wire at any point with the unwound fence wire it sends a feedback signal back to the control means causing the reel means to reverse direction and wind back the fence wire until it tensions, at which point the sensing bar means pivots to actuate the reel tension switch means which triggers a solenoid means to actuate a connecting rod that is adapted to engage a ratchet to stop the reel revolving and actuate the power switch to power up the electric fence.

Desirably the sensing bar means includes elongate members pivotably attached to either side of one said reel, and wherein the wire guiding means is attached between the elongate members and transversely across the path of the fence wire, and wherein the fence wire is fed through the wire guiding means. 3 Preferably the wire guiding means are two parallel and spaced apart bars attached between the sensing bar means, the bars being slight spaced apart enough to allow the said fence wire to contact the bars and wherein one of the bars is made of a conductive material 5 adapted with a non-conductive material at the attached ends thereof, in use, to be electrified to supply power to the fence wire being fed between the bars.

Advantageously the bars are substantially vertically aligned with respect to the other, and wherein the conductive bar is the top bar.

Desirably the motor means includes a suitably configured bidirectional DC motor.

Preferably the reel tension switch means includes a reed switch and associated magnet mounted on the sensing bar means.

Preferably the reel gear means includes a main drive shaft rotatable by the motor and associated reduction gearbox to which a gear cog is mounted adjacent each reel shaft, and wherein the gear cog is intermeshed with a corresponding reel shaft cog for each reel shaft.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of unwinding and rewinding flexible electric fence wire connectable to a reeling apparatus that is associated with a suitable energiser, the method including the steps of: a.) pulling a fence wire attached to a reel means and reel sensing means to cause a 25 motor drive means associated with the reel means to wind out the fence wire to a desired length and affixing the fence wire in place, the end of the fence wire being adjacent a perimeter wire that is electrically connected back to the reel means; b.) touching the perimeter wire with the fence wire to send a feedback signal to the 30 reeling apparatus to reverse direction of the reel to tension the fence wire and to lock the reel in position and connect power to energise the fence wire; and when unwinding after use a user will manually switch off power to the fence wire by activating a power switch, and then 4 c.) removing the fence wire from its attachment and touching the perimeter wire with the fence wire to send a feedback signal to the apparatus that activates the motor to rewind the fence wire onto the reel means; and d.) cease operating the motor means driving the reel means when the fence wire is 5 fully retracted.

Desirably in step d.) a bulbous cone is attached to the end of the fence wire, and wherein the reel is provided with sensing bar means adapted to sense the cone at the end of the wire and trigger a reel tension switch means that causes the motor drive means to cease 10 operation.

Preferably the sensing bar means includes elongate members pivotably attached to the rotational shaft of a reel, and wherein a wire guiding means is attached between the elongate members and transversely across the path of the fence wire, and wherein the fence wire is fed through the wire guiding means with the bulbous cone attached on the other side of the guiding means from the reel.

Desirably the wire guiding means comprising two parallel and spaced apart bars attached between the sensing bar means, the bars being slight spaced apart enough to allow the fence wire to contact the bars but not wide enough to allow the bulbous cone to pass therethrough, and wherein one of the bars is made of a conductive material adapted with a non-conductive material at the attached ends thereof, in use, to be electrified to supply power to the fence wire being fed between the bars. 2 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: illustrates a reeling apparatus 1, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: illustrates a view of the reel gearing mechanism between the reel drive means and the reel means; Figure 3: illustrates a system for controlling the operation of the reeling apparatus 1; Figure 4: illustrates a reel sensing and controlling system for use in the reeling apparatus; Figure 5: illustrates an electrical fence system; Figure 5a: illustrates a wire 30 passing through the eyelet of a standard post 47; and Figure 5b: illustrates the cone 43 of a wire 30 being mounted to an end post 49.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to figures 1 to 4, a reeling apparatus, generally referred to as 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The reeling apparatus 1 is configured and arranged to allow, in use, an electric wire or tape 30 to unwind from at least one reel 2, as shown as the top reel 2 in the figures, for use as an 25 electric barrier for livestock, farm animals or otherwise. Each reel 2 comprises flanges 3 on either side of the wire 30 and being part of, or attached to, a central cylindrical reel core 4. The reel core 4 is adapted to be rotatable about a central reel shaft 5, and/or the reel shaft 5 is adapted to engage the inner wall of the reel core 4 such that, in use, the shaft 5 rotates the reel 2.

It will be appreciated that the number and type of reels 2 used in the invention and with any application depends, generally, on the type of livestock or animals being restrained within the electric fence set up around the livestock. As an example of some of the different types of 6 electric fence configurations, generally one wire can be used for restraining dairy cows, two wires also for cattle and horses, three wires also for bulls, four wires also for sheep.

It is seen that the present invention can be configured and arranged with any reasonable 5 number of wires 30 on any number of suitable reels 2. In this non-limiting embodiment three reels 2a, 2b, 2c are spaced apart and substantially vertically aligned and rotatably associated with respective reel shafts 5a, 5b, 5c. The reels 2b,2c are mounted between brackets 62, the brackets of the reels 2b,2c being adapted with wire guides 63 for guiding the winding out and winding in of respective wires 30. It is envisaged that in some applications more than one 10 reel 2 may be mounted about the reel core 4 (not shown).

The electric wire or tape 30 is any form of conductive strip, tape, wire or polywire, and is usually flexible in form. In one version it is a light flexible polyethylene wire with strains of stainless steel woven through it. For purposes of this description, the energisable material that 15 is capable of being wound onto and unwound from the reeling apparatus 1 will be broadly referred to as the wire 30.

The wire 30 is capable of being energised by any known and suitable type of energiser means (not shown) such that the wire 30, when extended or unwound and in use, functions as an 20 energised barrier for restraining livestock and the like in a designated area. It will be appreciated that an electrical power source means, known in the industry as an energiser, will be configured and electrically connected to the wire 30 for use in the apparatus 1 of the invention. The energiser can be rated at any desirable voltage, and is usually between 6 to 24 volts input voltage with an output voltage of up to 10,000 volts. The energiser generally 25 supplies a pulsed voltage charge every second or so. The energiser unit is usually associated or powered by mains power suitably transformed or by a rechargeable power supply which may be a 12 volt DC rechargeable battery offering a power output of about, for example, 2 Amps or being of any other suitable power rating. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the battery can be recharged by a suitable solar panel or mains power supplied via 30 appropriate power transformer means or by a diesel generator or otherwise.

The reels 2a, 2b, 2c are suitably adapted to allow a crank handle to be mechanically associated with the shaft 5 in order to allow, in use, the manual rotation of any number of 7 reels 2, as required. However, the manual operation of the apparatus 1 is only an optional feature.

This invention advantageously offers the further feature of incorporating a bi-directional 5 motor drive means adapted with suitable reel gear means to drive the reels 2 in both directions for winding in, and winding out, the electric wire 30. As seen in figures 1 to 4, the reel drive means includes a suitable motor 6, and more preferably a direct current bidirectional motor, mounted to a casing or housing 7 and wherein the drive shaft (not shown) of the motor 6 is mechanically coupled to a main shaft 8 through a gearbox means 9. The gearbox means 9 10 includes a reduction gearbox with an arrangement of gear cogs for reducing the rotational speed of the motor 6 to a suitable reel speed of the reel shaft 5 through the reel gear means and for increasing the torque for rotating the reel shafts 5.

An actuating lever arm 10 functions to engage and disengage the motor 6 with the main shaft 15 8. This operation is achieved by the lever arm 10 being mounted through the top plate of the housing 7 to a thrust bearing engaging member 11, and whereby the engaging member 11 is actuated by the lever arm 10 to engage and disengage with the thrust bearing 12 mounted to the main shaft. The thrust bearing 12 being mounted on the main shaft 8 and being adapted to prevent the main shaft 8 from moving axially. The thrust bearing 12 is configured to work in 20 conjunction with a clutch dog 13 such that, in use, the clutch dog 13 is actuated to engage and disengage the main shaft 8 with the motor shaft (not shown) as and when required.

It is seen that each reel 2 is provided with reel gear means including a reel shaft gear 14 mounted to each respective reel shaft 5, and each of the respective reel shaft gears is suitably 25 meshed to engage a respective main shaft drive gear 15. It is seen that once the motor is engaged to rotate the main shaft 8, the main drive gears 15 will drive the reel shaft gears 14 to rotate the reel shafts 5 and hence rotate the reels 2.

A reel ratchet mechanism is preferably provided with the invention as seen more clearly in 30 figure 3 in conjunction with the other figures. Each reel shaft gear 14 is provided with a ratchet arrangement for the purpose, when activated, of allowing the reel 2 to wind in the electric wire 30 and to prevent the winding out. Each reel shaft 5 is mounted through an aperture 16 made in the rear wall 17 of the housing 7. Each reel shaft gear 14 is provided 8 with tabs 18 that function as pawls and a ratchet 19 mounted to the housing wall 17 about the gear 14 such that the tabs 18 lock against the ratchet 19 when the gear 14 rotates in one direction and allows rotation of the gear 14 when driven in the opposite direction.

Each ratchet 19 is controlled by operation of a ratchet rod 20 and associated ratchet brackets 21 that, in use, are actuated by a ratchet button 22 adapted to lift the ratchet rod 20 when pressed downwards by operation of a pivotable rod actuation lever or rocker arm 23 connectable at one end to the button 22 and the top end of the rod 20 at the other end of the arm 23.

In its passive state as shown in figure 3, the protruding shoulder 25 of the ratchet 19 is positioned to interlock between the tabs 18 of each respective gear 14 such that a tab 18 locks the gear 14 against the shoulder 25 to prevent the winding out of wire 30 but allowing the winding in, as required. To disengage the ratchets 19 from the gears 14, a user will actuate 15 the button 22 causing the rod 20 to lift, and whereby each associated ratchet bracket 21 lifts each respective ratchet 19 about pivot pin 24 causing each ratchet 19 to release from its respective gear 14 and thus allow bi-directionality of the reel gears 14 for both winding out and winding in of wire 30 from the reel 2.

Once the ratchets 19 are disengaged, the ratchet rod 20 is advantageously retained in a lifted or raised state by way of a bush 26 being attached to the rod 20, and wherein the bush 26 is associated with a latching tongue 27 that is attached to a solenoid armature 28, and wherein the tongue 27 wedges or latches under the bush 26 to keep the ratchet rod 20 in a lifted position when the solenoid armature 28 is in the de-energised extended position. The tongue 25 27 is kept in an extended position by reason of a spring on the armature 28 that is under tension to force the armature 28 outwards when de-energised. A rod spring 31 is stretched and tensioned when the ratchet rod 20 has been lifted and retained in a lifted position by operation of the tongue 27. It is seen that when the solenoid 29 is powered or energised, it will operate to pull in the armature 28 and hence the tongue 27 will move out and away from 30 the bush 26 and release the rod 20, and due to the tension in the rod spring 31, will pull the rod 20 downwards in a lowered position causing the ratchets 19 to reengage the reel gears 14. The ratchet rod 20 is also associated with the sensing bar mechanism and feature of the invention that is now described with particular reference to figure 4. 9 The invention advantageously provides a wire sensing and control means for sensing and controlling the winding and unwinding operation of the invention. The wire sensing and control means includes a sensing bar means 32 associated, and in close proximity, with the 5 reel 2. The sensing bar means 32 is preferably hinged or pivotably connected to a reel bracket 33. The reel bracket 33 is mounted about the reel 2 with the shaft 5 mounted through bracket apertures 34. It will be appreciated that the fastening means may be applied to secure the bracket 33 to the housing 7 for additional rigidity and securement. The bracket 33 being adapted with pivot pins 35 forming a pivot point attaching the sensor bar bracket 36 thereto, 10 thus allowing the sensing bar means 32 to pivot vertically in an up and down motion about pivot point 35, as required.

The sensing bar means 32 includes insulators 37 attached to respective brackets 36. The insulators 37 are adapted to receive a signal bar 38 mounted between the insulators 37. A 15 second bar 39 is attached at both ends to mounting blocks 40. The second bar 39 is aligned in parallel with the signal bar 38 such that wire 30, in use, can be fed between the bars 38, 39. The mounting blocks 40 are attached to the insulators 37 with pins 41 allowing the gap between the bars 38, 39 to open and close, as required.

A sensing bar position switch 42, desirably in the form of a reed switch, is mounted to the reel bracket 33 and is suitably adapted to sense tension in the wire 30 when wound out and set and to trigger the sequence for applying a voltage to the wire 30. A magnet 42a is mounted on the bracket and in aligned with the switch 42 such that when the sensing bar means 32 is rotated such that the bars 38, 39 are raised high, the magnet 42a comes into close contact with the 25 reed switch 42 and causes the switch 42 to close, and the switch 42 to reopen when the magnet 42a is moved away from the switch 42.

It is seen that vertical movement of the ratchet rod 20 also triggers a multifunction relay switch 60 that is associated with the sensing bar means. The hinged arm 61 is associated with 30 the ratchet rod 20 at one end and is adapted at the other end to touch either of the points of the switch 60. It is seen that when the rod 20 is lowered to engage the ratchets 19, it will cause the switch 60 to toggle to supply power in the form of a pulsed voltage charge or the like to the wire 30.

Referring now also to figures 5, 5a, 5b, an electrical fence system is now described.

The wire 30 wound on the reel 2 is desirably terminated with a cone 43. The cone 43 is made 5 of any suitable resilient and durable material, and it is seen in figure 5 that the end of the wire 30 can be tied or supplied with a bulbous end portion 44 to prevent the wire 30 from pulling through an aperture 45 in the cone 43 yet be contained inside the cone 43 itself.

When the fence is being set up, the wire 30 can be advantageously strung through the eyelets 10 46 of a standard removable electric fence post 47. The post 47 is common in the industry for use in electric fence systems, and can be used with the system of the invention. However, the end post 48 is preferably constructed with at least one cone socket 49 for use in allowing the cones 43 to be releasably attached in the cone sockets 49 at the far end of the wire 30.

The electric fence system additionally utilises the electrical conductivity from an existing perimeter fence wire 50 for use as a form of signal return path to the apparatus 1 for controlling the operation of the reel 2. This fence 50 may comprise galvanised steel wire and in many applications is readily available as the signal return path. A link wire 51 connects the perimeter wire 50 to the apparatus 1 and any breaks in a perimeter wire may be bridged by 20 a linking cable under a gate or otherwise as required.

The apparatus 1 may be desirably attached to a ground anchoring means in the form of a post 52. The post 52 may be adapted with foot pegs to allow a user to easily position, and reposition, the apparatus 1 for ease of portability.

In operation, a user will position the apparatus 1 adjacent a perimeter fence wire 50 and attach the link wire 51 from the apparatus 1 to the perimeter wire 50. An energiser will be activated to supply power to the apparatus 1. The lever arm 10 is actuated to engage the drive motor 6 with the drive gear means to enable synchronous rotation of all the reels 2 attached to the 30 respective shafts 5. The ratchet button 22 is triggered to disengage the ratchets 19 and allow the reels 2 to rotate as required. Activation of the button 22 also sets the multifunction switch 60 for the sensing bar means to receive signals from the sensing bar means position switch 42. 11 It is seen that the electric fence wire about the top reel 2 is fed through the bars 38,39 of the sensing bar means 32, and in operation, the wire can be pulled to rotate the bar 32 upwards and trigger the position switch 42 to start the motor 6.

At this point the apparatus 1 is set to reel out the wire or wires 30. The reels 2 start winding out when a user applies tension by pulling out the wire 30 on the wires 30 mounted on respective reels 2 on the apparatus 1. If tension is released the position reed switch 42 will open and cause the motor 6 and hence the reel 2 to stop rotating. This action can occur when a user is feeding the wire 30 through the eyelet of a standard post 47. When tension is applied 10 again the reel 2 continues to unwind the wire 30, and such action is taken until the required length of wire 30 is extended from the apparatus 1. The cones 43 attached to the ends of the wires 30 are attached to the post 48 in that the cones 43 are lodged into respective cone sockets 49.

At this point a user can advantageously touch the wire 30 to the perimeter fence 50 which sends a feedback signal back through the perimeter wire 50 to the apparatus 1 causing the reel 2 to reverse direction and wind the wire or wires 30 back until it is sufficiently tensioned or taut causing the sensing bar means 32 to tilt toward a substantially horizontal position, and thus moving the magnet 42a close to the position switch 42 which will close the reed switch 20 42 and activate the solenoid 29. Once the solenoid 29 is activated, it pulls the tongue 27, and by operation of the spring biased tension on the rod 20, the rod 20 is forced downwards which causes the ratchets 19 to reengage and the tabs of the reel gears 14 to lock against the shoulder 25 of each respective ratchet 19 to stop any further movement of the reels 2. By operation of the arm 61, this toggles the sensing bar means multifunction switch 60 to connect and start 25 supplying power in the form of a pulsed voltage charge to the wires 30.

To deactivate and dismantle the electric fence that has been set up and is powered, a user will actuate the button 22 to lift the rod 20 and to toggle the switch 60 causing power to cease being supplied through to the wire 30. This action also disengages the ratchets 19 to unlock 30 the gears 14 and allow a user to activate the winding in of wire 30. A user will remove the cones 43 from the respective cone sockets 49 and then touch the wire 30 on the perimeter fence 50 causing a feedback signal to initiate operation of the motor 6 and reels 2 to start rewinding. The reels 2 may rewind until the cone 43 snags against the bars 38, 39 and the 12 position switch 42 activates to reengage the ratchet 19 into the gears 14 to stop rotation of the reels 2.

It will be appreciated that materials used for components of the invention include any suitable 5 and durable materials, for example only but not limited to, timber, metal, plastics materials, fabrics, rubber, ceramics, glass or any combination thereof.

Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. 10 Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those 15 skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims. 13

Claims (14)

1. A reeling apparatus for use in unwinding and rewinding flexible electric fence wire from a reel and being connectable to a power source for energising the wire and powering the apparatus, the apparatus including a reel means with a reel shaft being mechanically associated with reel gear means, a motor drive means being mechanically associated with the reel gear means, in use, to drive the reel gear means, a control means for controlling the winding and unwinding operation of the reel means by receiving feedback signals from the reel means and by association with a perimeter wire that is connectable to the apparatus, the control means including a fence wire reel tension switch means and a multifunction switch configured and arranged for activating the motor drive means for unwinding and rewinding of fence wire on the reel means.
2. A reeling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the reel tension switch means includes a sensing bar means adapted with a wire guiding means, the sensing bar means being pivotably attached to a reel bracket mounted to the reel shaft, in use, enabling the said fence wire to move the sensing bar means between a tilted or angled position and a substantially horizontal position, the sensing bar means having a position switch electrically connected to the drive means and to a power relay switch, the power switch having a link wire connected at one side to an energiser means and also being releasably connectable to a said perimeter wire fence to create a continuous electrical return path from the link wire through the perimeter wire such that when a user touches the perimeter wire at any point with the unwound fence wire it sends a feedback signal back to the control means causing the reel means to reverse direction and wind back the fence wire until it tensions, at which point the sensing bar means pivots to actuate the reel tension switch means which triggers a solenoid means to actuate a connecting rod that is adapted to engage a ratchet to stop the reel revolving and actuate the power switch to power up the electric fence.
3. A reeling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the sensing bar means includes elongate members pivotably attached to the reel bracket on either side of the reel, 14 Intellectual Pronertv Office of N.z. 2 7 OCT 2005 and wherein the wire guiding means is attached between the elongate members and transversely across the path of the fence wire, and wherein the fence wire is fed through the wire guiding means.
4. A reeling apparatus according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the wire guiding means are two parallel and spaced apart bars attached between the sensing bar means, the bars being slight spaced apart enough to allow the said fence wire to contact the bars and wherein one of the bars is made of a conductive material adapted with a non-conductive material at the attached ends thereof, in use, to be electrified to supply power to the fence wire being fed between the bars.
5. A reeling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bars are substantially vertically aligned with respect to the other, and wherein the conductive bar is the top bar.
6. A reeling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor means includes a suitably configured bidirectional DC motor.
7. A reeling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the reel tension switch means includes a reed switch and associated magnet mounted on the sensing bar means.
8. A reeling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the reel gear means includes a main drive shaft rotatable by the motor and associated reduction gearbox to which a gear cog is mounted adjacent each reel shaft, and wherein the gear cog is intermeshed with a corresponding reel shaft cog for each reel shaft.
9. A method of unwinding and rewinding flexible electric fence wire connectable to a reeling apparatus that is associated with a suitable energiser, the method including the steps of: _ 15 intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 7 OCT 2005 RECEIVED a. pulling a fence wire attached to a reel means and reel sensing means to cause a motor drive means associated with the reel means to wind out the fence wire to a desired length and affixing the fence wire in place, the end of the fence wire being adjacent a perimeter wire that is electrically connected back to the reel means; b. touching the perimeter wire with the fence wire to send a feedback signal to the reeling apparatus to reverse direction of the reel to tension the fence wire and to lock the reel in position and connect power to energise the fence wire; and when unwinding after use a user will manually switch off power to the fence wire by activating a power switch, and then c. removing the fence wire from its attachment and touching the perimeter wire with the fence wire to send a feedback signal to the apparatus that activates the motor to rewind the fence wire onto the reel means; and d. cease operating the motor means driving the reel means when the fence wire is fully retracted.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein in step d. a bulbous cone is attached to the end of the fence wire, and wherein the reel is provided with sensing bar means adapted to sense the cone at the end of the wire and trigger a reel tension switch means that causes the motor drive means to cease operation.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the sensing bar means includes elongate members pivotably attached to the rotational shaft of a reel, and wherein a wire guiding means is attached between the elongate members and transversely across the path of the fence wire, and wherein the fence wire is fed through the wire guiding means with the bulbous cone attached on the other side of the guiding means from the reel.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the wire guiding means comprising two parallel and spaced apart bars attached between the sensing bar means, the bars being slight spaced apart enough to allow the fence wire to contact the bars but not wide enough to allow the bulbous cone to pass therethrough, and wherein one of the bars is made of a conductive material adapted with a non-conductive material at 16 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 7 OCT 2005 RECEIVED the attached ends thereof, in use, to be electrified to supply power to the fence wire being fed between the bars.
13. 13. A reeling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
14. 14. A method according to claim 9 substantially as herein described. PETER KENNEDY By his Attorneys SCHUCH & COMPANY per: 17 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 7 OCT 2005 RECEIVED