US1628645A - Frncepost and bracing means therefor - Google Patents

Description

y 1,628, M 17 1927 A. w. ANDREWS 645 BNCIPQST AND BRACING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Shut 1 1,628 5 M 17 1927' A. w. ANDREWS 64 FENCEPOST AND BRACING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20. 1925 2 Sheen-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALDEN W. ANDREWS, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

FENCEPOST AND' BRNACIITGA MEANS THEREFOR.

Application iled` July 20, 1925.

My invention relates to as fence post and bracing means therefor-` One of the fundamental objects of the invention is to provide a fence post and brad ing means therefor which will bepractically universal in its adaptability to the numerous situations and requirements encountered in the erecting ofl Wire fencing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desi n of fence post and bracing` means there or which will have thischaracteristic of Wide adaptability and which can be constructed of materials having' maximum durability, suchas reinforced concrete or iron.

The value of this general adaptability of the present fence post and bracing. means therefor is particularly illustrated in the case of railroad work, for fencing off; a section of track or the right-of-wafy. The situations and requirements encountered in this type of fencing are so numerous as to make it impracticabl'e or impossible to employ specially designed pre-formed parts for each of these situations. lFor exam le, ini bracing the cor ner post of a fence t e angle of the corner will in some instances be a right angle and in other cases` it may be an obtuse angle or an acute angle of practically any degree.`

Another situation often encountered is the necessity of hanging a gate in the line of fencing, the postsiofwhich gate shouldy be bracet against the Weight of the gate a'nd the tension of the fence wire. Also, in some instances, it may be `desirable tobrace a long line of fencing by a line post braced in one or both directions. Added to these numerous situations is the problem of erecting such posts` and bracing means 0n uneven ground'.`

By the practice of my invention, asI shall hereinafter describe the same, I provide a fence post and bracin lmeans therefor which is universally adapta le for meeting all of these situations. This fence post and the associated bracing means comprises a small number of pre-formed standard parts, construct-ed of concrete, iron or any other ma.- teriahwvhich parts can be erectedin the field with the greatest ease and facility.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of a preferredrembodiment of my invention. In thedraavings i1- lustra'ting this embodiment:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the main fence post comprising part of my invention.

Serial No. 44,694.

Figures 2, 3 and el. are sectional views of this main post taken on the planes of lines 2 2, 3 3 and 4 4 respectively ofFi'gui-e l.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the diagonal brace or strut which co-operaftes with the above post.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of a slightly modified form of brace.

Figures 6, t, and are detailed views of this brace taken onrthe planes of lines 6.6, 7-7 a'nd 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a line post and its associated collar which cooperate With the above brace or strut.

Figure 10 illustrates the arrangement of the above mentioned parts for bracing the corner of a fence.

Figure 11 is a plan view illustrating the adaptability of these parts to right angle, oblique angle and acute angle corners.

Figure 1:2 illustrates the adaptability of the present invention to the bracing ofgates and gate posts.

Figure 134 shows the invention applied to the line bracing of a fence, and

Figure 14' illustrates the adaptability ofthe system to erection on uneven ground.

Referring first to the construction of the preferred form of post 20 illustrated in Figures l to et, it will be noted that this post is constructed of reinforced concrete having a plurality of reinforcing rods 2l extending longitudinally therethrough. This post and the other elements of the invention can be constructed of ironor any other material, but as illustrative of what I consider the preferred practice I have shown the same all constructed of concrete. Also embodied in this main post 2O in the nature of added reinforcement 22 is the Wire screening or strands of Wire placed around the reinforcing` rods 21.

The lower portion of the post which sets in the ground` is preferably of heavy rectangular cross section, and preferably has` its corners beveled as indicated at 23. Atits upper end the inner corner of the post is beveledv off to a greater depth, as indicated at 24, to reduce the weight of the post.

The intermediate portion of this main post is recessed on two sides as indicated at 26 in Figures l and 3, for the purpose of forming an abutment shoulder, and also for forming bearing` or pressure surfaces for the brace or braces which reinforce the post. The abutment` shoulder is indicated at 27,

(l il it being evident that this shoulder will form a ledge or stop to hold the upper end of the brace at the proper height along` the post. The bearing or pressure surfaces against which the braces exert their bracing pressure are of circular form, preferably consisting of circular ribs or lobes extending longitudinally of the recesses 26. These two ribs or pressure surfaces 28 face outwardly at an angle of from each other to receive the two co-operating braces which are employed when the post is utilized as a corner post. As shown in Figur-e 3 these two ribs or bearing surfaces have circular contours of 18()o or more, so as to maintain an eliective area of pressure Contact with the braces irrespective of the angular positions of the latter around the post.

This recessed area and the associated ribs or pressure surface 28 may be extended over a considerable length of the post, as for example down to a point adjacent to the ground level, as shown in Figure l. This permits any associated brace to slip down along the post and to take hold at any point along the rib 28 considerably below the shoulder 27. It also permits a brace being engaged against the lower shoulder at the bottom of this recessed portion for bracing the lower portion of the main post, it' such is desired.

It will be observed that the reinforcing materials 21 and 22 are offset from the axial center line of the post (Figure 2) so as to pass up approximately through the center of the ribbed or fluted area (Figure Diagonal holes 31 may be formed through this ribbed or fluted area to pass out at vertically spaced intervals to the outer corner of the post for receiving tie wires or any other fastening connections for fast-ening the fence wire to the post.

Referring now to the construction of the brace 32, it will be observed from Figures 5 to 8 that this brace is of reinforced concrete and is preferably of rectangular cross section with its edges beveled oft as indicated at 33 in Figure 7.

Reinforcing rods 34 having wire mesh or wire strands 35 around the same may be eX- tended through the brace. The ends of the brace are pointed, as viewed in side elevation in Figure 5, thereby forming sloped end surfaces 37 and 38. The end surface 37 at each end of the brace has formed therein a longitudinal groove 39 of the proper size and curvature to engage over one of the longitudinal ribs or pressure surfaces 28 ot' the main supporting post 20. The end surfaces 37 and their associated grooves 39 are located at opposite sides of the brace with respect lto the ends of the brace. as clearly shown in Figure 5. Transverse holes Lll may be provided in the ends of this brace for receiving fastening wires or other means for securing the ends of the hrm-.e to the main post. and to the line post or other anchoring means.

''o provide a point of anchm'age for the other end of the brace 32 ,il prefer to utilim` a line post 43, although other anchoring means may be employed if desired. The post illustrated in Figure 9 is representative. o such line post, and associated with this line post is a collar fla which forms an abutment shoulder 45 for the lower end of the brace. The collar may be slipped down over the line post, or if desired, may be made as an integral part thereof particularly where both are formed of concrete. ln the preferred embodiment the post 43 and collar il are formed as separate concrete units, the post being tapered to bind the collar thereon at certain preferred height for the collar. The cylindrical cross section of the line post Ki3 adjacent to the top of the collar 4H; is ol approximately the same diameter as the circular bearing surfaces 2S-28 of the main post 20. Thus the grooves 39 in the opposite ends of the brace 32 may be formed of the same diameter and the ends of the brace used interchangeably for engagement with the main post 20 or with the line post lil.

In erecting the post 20 and the bracing means therefor, holes are dug at the proper spacing for the main post 20 and the line post 43. rlhese posts are then set in their respective holes and the brace is thereupon set in the inclined position indicated in F igurc l0,with the cylindrical grooves 3) engaging the bearing surface 28 and the cylindrical contour of the line post The post 43 can be shifted back and forth in its respective hole until the end surfaces 38 at the opposite ends of the brace are in firm contact with the shoulders 27 and 45 of the two posts. With the brace anchored in this position it will be obvious that the tension of the fence wires is all carried as a compression stress in the diagonal strut or brace 32. During the setting of these posts, or after the setting has been established, the ends of the brace may be wired to the posts 2O and fle-3 by binding wires 47 passed through the holes ffl-l in the ends of the brace and twisted around the posts 2t) and i3 respectively. These wires are not essential, as the brace is locked in position between the two posts by the engagement of its grooved ends over the cylindrical contours of the pressure surfaces on both posts; but auch wires mav be of assistance in preventingl disengagement of the brace when there is no wire thin sion on the main post 20. The lower end ol the brace 32 has its point of anchoring attachment to the line post below the ,Qrbund level, preferably at a depth of about G inches below the surface.

The full-line illustration of Figure ll shows the braces arranged for a right angle Sil ilu

lou

weeen ai corner. of this same ligure shows the engagement of the braces with the corner post 2() for an acirte'anlgle corner; and the dotted line illustration shows the engagement of these braces` for an oblique angle corner. Attention `is directed to thel fact that in al1 of these po'tions of the braces 32, a substantially urn-form areaL of pressure surface is maintained between the grooved ends of the braces` and: the cylfndfical` contours of the ribs 28. Similarly, for different vertical inclinations of the brace 32, a substantially uniform area of pressure surface is maintained between the end surface 38 of the brace and the shoulders 27 and 45 of the posts 20 and 43. In this connection, I also contemplate roundin the end surface 38, as indicated at 38 in Figure 5a. This rounded end surface will maintain a uniform area of bearing surface through all vertical inclinations of the brace, such as arise particularly from erecting the fencing on uneven ground.

Attention is directed to the fact that the curved pressure surfaces 28 on the main post are located close to the outer sides of the post whereby the line of bracing support afforded by the brace or braces 32 is brought into close proximity to the plane of the fence wires at any angle of corner of the fence, to the end of eliminating torsion on the post from the tension of the fence wire.

Figure 12 illustrates the use of the main post 20, brace 32 and line post 43 for defining the sides of a gate opening in a line of fencing. The gate post on which the gate is hung is amply reinforced against the tension of the fence wires by its brace 32 and is also reinforced against the weight of the gate by this brace. In order that the post 2() may be readily adaptable to this use as a gate supportinor post it is also provided with holes 49 extending transversely therethrough for receiving bolts or eyes 5l which support the gate 52. The post at the opposite side of the gate opening is, of course, amply braced against the tension of its fence wires by the brace or strut 32.

Figure 13 illust 'ates another application of the invention in the form of a line of fencing braced against tension in one orboth directions. In this adaptation the several fence wires 53 are fastened to a central line post 43-any suitable anchoring means being embodied in these line posts for fastening the fence wires thereto. This central line post is laterally braced in one or both directions by the brace or braces 32 which extend down into anchoring engagement with a lateral post or posts 43. The grooved upper ends of the braces embrace the circular sides of the centralpost 43 and' are preferably wired to these posts by a binding wire 54 passed through the openings 4l and around the central post.

The dash and dot line illustration The adaptability of the combination to the erection of fence on uneven ground is illustrated in Figure let. Irrespective of whether the line post 43` is higher or lower than the mainpst 2O the grooved ends of the brace 32 maintain an effective area or bracing contact with the two posts, and the other sloped surfaces 38" at the ends of the brace remain in firm pressure engagement with the shoulders 27 and 45. j j i Although in the drawings and in the above description, I have confined myself to what I consider the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that various modifications are contemplated and the invention should, therefore, be limited nierely by the scope of the appended claims. For example, instead of having the pressure or bearing surface 28 of convex curvature and the bearing surface 39 of concave curvature this relation might be reversed, i. e., the bearing surface 39 could be formed of convex curvature for fitting into a bearing surface 28 of concave curvature. The invention is, of course, applicable to farm use, highway use, etc., and to the support of any style of fencing.

Having now described my invention, what I consider as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fence post including a longitudinal recess extending a portion of the length of the post, two arcuate surfaces extending lengthwise of said recess, and a shoulder adjacent each end of ,said surfaces, each shoulder presenting an uninterrupted contact surface extending across both of said arcuate surfaces, said shoulders and arcuate Surfaces being adapted to receive the thrust of compression members extending at any angle from said post.

2. A fence post including an enlarged base portion, an enlarged upper end, two arcuate ribs extending between said enlarged portions, said ribs projectii'ig at right angles, a shoulder extending across the upper ends of said ribs, and a second shoulder extending across the lower ends of said ribs, said shoulders being inclined and being adapted to cooperate with said ribs to help lock in position and receive the thrust of a compression member extending at any angle from said post.

3. A fence post including a longitudinal recess extending a portion of the length thereof, an arcuate surface extending lengthwise of said recess, a shoulder adjacent each end of said recess. said shoulders and recess being adapted to help lock in place and receive the thrust from a diagonal brace extending from said post at any one of a plurality of angles.

4. A concrete fence post comprising a portion of reduced cross section, an enlarged portion adjacent an end thereof, arcuate suraces extending lengthwise of said reduced portion, and a shoulder formed by said enlarged portion and presenting an uninterrupted contact surface extending across said arcuate surfaces, said shoulder and surfaces being adapted to receive the thrust of one or incre. diagonal braces extending from said post in various angular relationships.

5. In combination, a fence post having a longitudinal recess extending a portion of the Alength thereof, an arcuate surface extending lengthwise of said recess, a shoulder adjacent each end ol' said recess, and a diagonal brace having an end formed to cooperate with one of said shoulders and said arcuate surface when said brace is placed in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said post.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe iny naine this 13th day of July, 1925.

ADEN lV. ANDREWS.

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