US1147525A - Wire-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

C. E. MARTIN.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2e. 1913.

Patented July 20, 1915.

'- 3 SHEETS-SHEET Gum,

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. E. MARTIN.

4 WIRE STRETCHER.. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1913.

Patented July 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wiicoow @1 COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH CKLIWASHINHTON. D. c.

C. E. MARTIN.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLlCAT l0N HLED NOV. 2a. 1913.

Patented Jul 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

GLARAN'CE E. MARTIN, OF GRAYSVILLE, OHIO.

WIRE-STBETGHER.

Application filed November 26, 1913. Serial No.

the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a combined wire stretcher, lifting jack, and post puller, and the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following description and falling within thescope of the appended claims. 7

In the drawings there has been illustrated a simple and preferred reduction of my improvement to practice, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the side plate ofthe pawl-controlling mechanism being removed, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a detail central longitudinal sectional view, Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation, partsbeing broken away illustrating the reverse lever operated to permit of a retrograde step by step movement of the rack bar, the operating lever being shown swung the limit of its forward movement, Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the position of the parts when the lever is returning to its initial position, Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 0c-.r of Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is a detail view of the pawl-controlling mechanism, Fig. 8 is an elevation illustrating the device when employed as a lifting jack, Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the device employed as a post puller of the central portion of the improvement, Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of the base of the jack, Fig. 11 is a similar view of the spear, and Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view.

The improvement contemplates the em ployment of a substantially rectangular casing 1 which is properly proportioned to meet the requirements, and the said casing has either integrally formed therewith .or secured thereto, in any desired or preferred manner, a ack head 2 which is arranged adjacent one of the longitudinal faces ofthe casingand disposed tooneof the corners of the casing. The opposite corner of the easing is provided with a bail 3 to which is secured a chain 4., as well as a number of connected rings 5. The chain has its end link Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented July 20,1915. 2

connected with a keeper bar 6, the said bar being of a size suflicient to pass through any of the links,- or through the usual latch member connected with the chain, so as to form the end of the chain with a loop when desired.

The longitudinal sides of the casing 1 are each provided with cam grips 7, each of said grlps being of the usual formation, comprising a handle having a camface which is adapted to be swung toward the horizontal or angular member upon the casing, to grip a. wlre between the cam and the said flanged member.

The casing l is formed with a centrally arranged longitudinally extending passage 8-, for the reception of a rack bar 9. The face of the casing, whichprovides the upper face thereof when the device is arranged as a.w1re stretcher, is open, and the passage 8 is of a less width than the width of the casing proper. The side walls'of the casing, above the passage 8,-and at the corners of. the casing, are provided with bearingme r'nbers 10 and 11 respectively which not. only properly space the sides. of the casing, butwhich bear directly upon the toothed face of the bar 9. The bearing member 11 is in the form of a spool andfis pivotally conneoted to the sides of the casing. The central portion of the spool. bears directly upon j the teeth of the rack bar, while the flanged ends of the spool are disposed a slight distance above the upper walls formed by the passage 8. f i

The upper edgesof the side walls of the casing, at the ends thereof, are horizontal-1y straight, but gradually curve upwardly toward the center of the casing, so that the said central portion of each of the sidesis extended arcuately, as indicated bythe numerals 12. I The bottom of the casing, adj acent the opposite ends thereof, is centrally formed with openings 13'which enter the passage 8, each ofthe openings being adapted for the reception of a roller 14 which is mounted for rotation upon a suitable shaft which passes transversely through the opening and each of which bear upon the lower face of the rack bar 9. The operatinghandle, which is designated by the numeral 15, is pivotally connected, as at 16,between the arcuate portions 12 of the side members of the casing, and the lower portion of the said handle 15 is bifurcated, as at 17, the pivot 16 passing through the arms provided by' the said bifurcation. The side of the handle 15, at what may be termed the outer end of the casing, is notched, as at 18, and the numeral 19 designates a stop plate which comprises a flat curved member that has its lower sides provided with trunnions 20 that are received within suitable openings formed in the sides of the casing, and the upper edge of said member is adapted to be received within the notch 13 to limit the swinging movement of the handle 15 in one direction, and to normally sustain the handle at a right angle to the casing. Pivotally secured within the bifurcated portion of the handle is an upper or working pawl 21, and a lower holding pawl 22. The pawl 21 has secured to its inner face one of the end convolutions of a helical spring 23, the opposite end of the said spring being secured to the stop plate 19, the spring serving as means for forcing the tooth of the pawl 21 into engagement with the teeth of the rack bar 9 as well as causing the curved stop plate to have its engaging end at all times bearing upon the face of the handle 15 and so the spring serves also as a means for returning the operating handle to its initial and normal position. The second or holding dog 22 is provided, adjacent its engaging portion or tooth, with a link 24 which projects downwardly through a suitable opening 25 in one side of the casing, and the bottom of the said casing is provided with a groove or recess 26 which gradually deepens toward the opening 26 with which it communicates. Arranged within the groove or recess 26 is a flat spring 27, the end of which being connected with the link 24, so the pawl 22 is normally forced into engagement with the teeth of the rack bar. Each of the pawls 21 and 22 is provided with a lifting handle 28 and 29 respectively which serves as a means for lifting the pawls out of engagement with the teeth of the rack bar, and so permitting quick retrograde movement of the rack bar when desired. Both of the handles 28 and 29 have their upper edges formed with offset or angular finger-engaging portions, and each of said handles may be so connected with its respective pawl as to raise the same when the finger of the operator engages beneath the angular portions of each of the pawls and exerts an upward and swinging movement thereon, so as to cause the said pawls to be swung concentrically of their pivots.

One of the sides of the casing 1, above the rack bar passage 8, is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated opening 30, while each of the pawls is provided, adjacent its engaging face or tooth with angular studs 31 and 32 respectively which enter the said opening and which, through the medium of the springs of the pawls, will be forced toward the lower wall formed by the opening. The studs, however, project a suitable distance beyond the side of the casing and are prevented from contacting with the said lower wall of the opening, in a manner which will presently be set forth. Also the studs may, and preferably are, provided with anti-frictional rollers.

Arranged upon the side of the casing hav ing the elongated opening is a substantially rectangular frame 33. The frame, at the upper portion thereof, is provided with an elongated slot or opening which is arranged over the opening 30, and the lower wall indicated by the numeral 34, is longitudinaly straight and serves as a guide or bearing face for the studs 31-32. The

frame 33 is centrally formed with an elongated opening 35, and with a lower elongated opening 36 and the connecting wall 37 between the said openings and 36 is formed adjacent the end walls of said openings with passages or openings, designated by the numerals 38 and 39 respectively, and these passages are adapted to receive the reduced, substantially rectangular shanks 40 and 41 respectively of curved headed members 42 and 43 respectively, the said heads being arranged for movement within elongated passages provided in the bearing face 34. The shanks 40-41 are preferably notched for the reception of one end of flat springs 44 and 45 respectively. The portions of the shanks projecting within the passage 36 have their ends pivotally connected to a longitudinally extending bar 46, and the said bar has centrally pivotally connect ed thereto a link 47 which in turn is pivotally connected with a rod 48. The rod extends through an opening in the frame 33, and is approximately centrally pivoted, as at 49. The opening through which the rod projects is elongated. Pivotally connected with the said projecting portion of the rod 48 is, what I term, a reverse lever 50. The lever 50 passes through a slot 51 in the offset arm of a bracket 52 which is secured to the end of the casing.

hen the device is employed as a stretcher and the pressure upon the rack bar is excessive, the heads 42 and 43 are in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, that is, when the reverse lever 50 is drawn upwardly of the bracket 52, and the said lever is provided with a notch 53 which is adapted to be swung over the bracket 52 adjacent the slot 51, so the said headed members are retained in this position. When in such position, it will be noted that the head 42 is lowered to the level of the bearing wall 34, while the head 43 is projected slightly above the said wall. Thus the stud 32 contacts with the wall 34, and the stud 31 rides upon the curved head 43. The spring 27 holds the pawl 22 in engagement with the teeth of the rack bar 9, while the pawl 21 may be raised above the said teeth upon the return movement of the operating lever or handle 15. A forward movement of the handle will force the stud of the working pawl 21 over the rounded face of the head 43 to permit of the working face of the pawl being lowered to engage with one of the teeth of the rack bar and force the said rack bar in the direction of the'arrow 54. A reverse movement of the operatingmem ber 15 will bring the stud 31 again over the head 43 and will cause the pawl 21' to be again raised out of engagement with the teeth, the sard'movement also swlnging the pawl 22 toward the'said arrow 54, and further advancing the rack bar in the direction of the arrow. Such operation is continued until the desired longitudinal movement of the rack bar hasbeen obtained, or until the rack bar reaches the entire limit of its movement in the direction of the said arrow. The bar is provided with stops 55 which are adapted to contact with the end of'the casing provided with the jack head 2, to limit the movement of the rack bar in one direction and the end of the rack bar adjacent the said stops is provided with a wire clamp 56, the

same being loosely connected thereto, but

being ofany desired or preferred construction. In the operation of'the device it should have been stated that the chain 4 is arranged upon a postto secure the device to the post, and that one end of the wire is engaged by the wire clamp 56.

The wire maybe clamped by either of the cam grips 7 if desired, and as will be readily understood.

It frequently occurs that thQ WII'G is' stretched too tight, and that a certain amount of slack therein is desired, and to permit suchslack pawls may be brought,

entirely out of engagement with the toothed rack, the strain of the taut wire would be sufficient to entirely remove the rack bar from the casing. Also, when the device is; r

thecasingtotravel upon the rack bar, and

used as a lifting jack, in a manner whichwill presently be set forth, it is desirable that the jack, after elevating an axle. or the like to a suflicient height, shall allow the said axle-to gradually drop without inflicting injury to the wheels upon the axle, and to accomplish both of these purposes, the reversing device carried within the frame 33 is provided. Now, by reference particularly to Fig. 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that when the reverse lever 50 is swung to bring its notch 53 out of engagement with the bracket 52 as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the springs 44 and 45 exerting a tension upon the shanks 40 and 41 of the heads 40 and 42 will elevate both of the said heads 42 and 43 a desired distance above the bearing face 34. The stud 31, of the pawl 23 when the handle 15 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, is retained centrally upon the head 43, while the stud 32 has entirely passed over the head 42, so that the pawl 22 engages with one of' the teeth of the rack bar. It must, of course, be understood that ,a pull is directed upon-the rack bar in a direction reverse to the arrow 54. Now, the handle1-5 isiswung in the direction ofthe arrow 54, which causes the stud 32 of the pawl22 to travel onthe headfl42 to raise the said pawl out of engagement'with the teeth of the rack bar." The length ofthe head 42 and 43 is greater than the distance" between the teeth of thel'mck bar by the position of thestud 32 with relation to the head 42, and the arrangement of the stud 31- of the pawl 21 upon the head 43 is such that said rack bar when the pawl 22 is entirely raised from engagemen't'with the teeth, thus permitting a retrograde movement. of the rack bar equalling approximately one-half of the length of one ofthe teeth of said rack 1 bar. This movement be kept up until the desired amount of slack is obtained when the device is used as a wire stretcher, or until the casing and its jack head 2 are lowered upon the bar when the device'is employed as a jack.

When stretching wire andthere is'no post or tree to which the chain 4 may be attached,

I provide the forward end of the rackbar'c with a removable spear 57.- Ihrevers'e the position of the device, that-is, I insert the pointed end of the spear in whatin'ay be termed the outer face of theend post. *As stated the cam grips are arranged. upon the opposite sides of the casing. I hold the casing and operate the lever 15 which causes when the wire is properly arranged upon the side of the fence, I secure the said wire thereto by the employment of staples. This may be accomplished with ease by simply allowing the casing to bear upon the side of the operator and to prevent the spear from becoming disengaged from the end post.

The spear is formed with a socket 58 which is adapted to snugly receive the end of the rack bar, and the said spear, is provided with a threaded opening upon one of its sides which communicates ,with the socket, the

said opening being provided for the rece'p-" tion of a thumb screw 59. When the device is employed as a lifting jack, I remove the spear 57, and substitute in lieu thereof, a base 60. The base provides a rectangular member having its upper. face centrally formed with an enlarged boss 61, the boss causing the pawls to be disengaged from the rack bar. The reverse lever is in its upper position, that is, the head 42 is arranged below or in a plane with the bearing member 34, and the head 43 is only slightly projected beyond the said face. The lever is then operated, as above described, until the axle is sufiiciently raised. In lowering the axle, the reverse lever is operated to permit of the heads 42 and 43 projecting beyond the bearing wall or face 34, and the operation of the lever permits of the downward movement of the jack head and casing step by step until the wheels of the vehicle are returned'to the ground. "When the device is employed for raising posts from their holes-in the ground, the base is still retained upon the rack bar, and the chain 4 may be wrapped around the post, or gripping members may be attached to either the bar 3 or the rings 5 which also engage with the post. The handle 15 is actuated by one hand of the operator, and the operators second hand is em ployed for steadying the post as well as for slightly moving the post to loosen the earth within which it is imbedded.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity of the device as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appertain without further detailed description. 7

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, a casing having its sides provided with cam grips, a rack bar extending through the casing, a handle pivoted to the casing, pawls pivotally connected with the handle and coacting with the rack bar, springs for holding the pawls in engagement with the teeth of the rack bar, means for elevating one of the pawls above the teeth of the rack bar when the handle is in an inoperative posi- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the I of said heads being tion, a stop member co-acting with the handle, the spring of the last mentioned pawl adapted to be also connected with the stop.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a casing provided with a passage, a rack bar arranged within the passage andextending beyond the casing, a handle pivotally connected with the casing, two pawls pivotally connected with the handle, springs for forcing the pawls to their work, a stud arranged transversely of each of the pawls, a bearing face for the studs, tWo members having curved heads, means for normally sustaining one of the headed members below the bearing face and the second headed member partially projected beyond the said face to provide a surface upon which the stud of one of the members will act to raise one of the pawls out of engagement with the tooth rack when the handle is moved in one direction, and means for projecting this head and forcing the second head over the bearing face to permit the studs alternatively engaging with the said heads and whereby both of the pawls will be momentarily brought out of engagement with the rack bar when the handle is operated.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a casing having a passage, a rack bar arranged within the passage, a pivoted operating handle, a working pawl and a holding pawl pivotally connected with the handle, a stop member comprising a swinging plate bearing against the handle and adapted to engage with a notch therein to prevent the movement of the handle in one direction, a spring upon the casing, a rod connecting the holding pawl of the spring, and a spring connecting the working pawl with the swinging plate, the pawls-each having a transverse stud passing through an opening in the casing, a frame upon the casing, provid ing a bearing face for the stud, spring pressed members having curved heads, one partly projected above the bearing face and co-acting with the stud of one of the pawls, and locking means for the headed members for sustaining the heads thereof in contacting position-with the studs of the respective pawls.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARANCE E. MARTIN.

W'itnesses NINA WHITAORE, LELA MARTIN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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