US2336534A - Twisting device - Google Patents

Description

mec. E4? gg. y g E, BORR 2,336,534

frwIsTING DEVICE Fled-F6b. 1l, 1942 EL @Tm L A fr0/mary l* .3T-TCT... E 5; l L

Patented Dec. 14, 1943 uNrrso anaal 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in twisting devices and is particularly well adapted for use in the twisting of wires.

Heretofore, twisting devices have been provided for various wire twisting operations, but such devices have had many disadvantages. Due to the use of moving machined parts, frequent oihng was required, parts often became clogged or worn out, and various adjustments were required before the device could be operated. It has also been customary to operate such wire twisting devices by means of handles or other operating members which were rotated to produce the desired twisting of the wire. In many uses, however, such as concrete forms or other cramped spaces, rotating handles or operating members cannot be used because of lack of space.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a twisting device of this character which will be free from the disadvantages of the devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a twisting device of this character which requires no oiling, which is not subject to damage from abrasion, which has no adjustable parts and which has no parts subject to clogging or wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which has operating members movable in a line rather than rotatably about a pivot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specication and wherein like char-l acters of reference denote like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device in assembled position ready for operation;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral Iii designates the annular rim of the wire twister which, in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, has a gap or opening Ii at its lower portion. A cross bar ignconnects opposite sides of the rim IB at a point slightly above the center of the rim as viewed in Fig. 1, and in this figure the crossbar I2 is in a horizontal position, in spaced parallel relation to the gap or opening I I.

A prong I3 extends from the cross bar I2 towards the gap II, and joins the cross bar at a right angle and at a point a, little to the left of the center of the cross bar, as viewed in Fig. 1. The prong I3 has its end pointed and curved slightly to the right in Fig. 1, terminating at a point spaced a short distance from the gap II. A rib l-i connects the rim II adjacent the left side of gap II in Fig. 1 with the cross bar I2 at a point spaced a substantial distance from the prong IS, and the rib Ill extends in spaced substantially parallel relation to the prong, being curved adjacent its outer end to correspond to the curvature of the end portion of the prong.

yThe outer periphery of the rim I@ is provided with a plurality of substantially equally spaced ratchet teeth I5, shown as ten in number although any suitable number may be employed, and between each tooth I5 and the adjacent portion of the rim a deep reentrant notch I6 is provided. The teeth I5 are preferably spaced a substantial distance apart, and as viewed in Fig. l, extend in a clockwise direction over the notches IIS. Each notch IG is connected at its inner portion with the next adjacent tooth I5 by a relatively smooth, unbroken surface Il. Y

While the twister, comprising the rim ii), bar I2, prong I3, rib Hl and teeth I5, may be formed in any suitable manner, it is shown as cast integrally in one piece, such as a malleable iron casting, with spaces between the bar I2 and rim I0 and between the rib Ill and the adjacent portion of the rim IE.

A ring I8 is shown extending through a small opening I9 provided in the cross bar i2 for a purpose to be later described.

For use with the twister, a pair of similar handle members are provided. Each of the handles comprises an elongated body member iii which maybe of wood or other suitable material. A

pair of spaced plates 2| are secured at their upper ends to the lower end of each handle 2S by means of bolts 0r rivets 22 and spaced apart by the thickness of the handle 2li which may or may not be notched to receive the plates. The upper portions of the plates 22 are disposed in alignment with the handle 2i) while their lower ends are inclined from a point immediatelir below the end of the handle. A bolt or rod 23 rigidly connects the plates at a point adjacent but spaced from the lower ends of the plates. The plates 2I and bolt 23 are preferably of metal or other strong.

material, and the spacing of the plates is maintained by the handle 2li and rod 23. This spacing is such that the teeth I5 or rim IIJ of the twister may be freely inserted between the plates. Either or both of handles 2B may be provided at its upper end with a hook member 24 for engagement with the ring I8 or other part of the twister to lift the twister from relatively inaccessible points such as from between concrete forms or the like.

In operation, the twister is lowered in the position shown in Figure 1 so that the wires to be twisted will pass through opening I I. The prong I3 is passed between the wires 25, and in a cramped space, the cross bar I2 may be rested upon the Wires. The handles 20 are then applied by inserting the rods 23 in notches I6 with the adjacent teeth I5 extending between the spaced plates 2|. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that with the teeth extending in a clockwise direction, the rod 23 of the right handle 29 is passed under a tooth I 5 into its notch I8, and that a vertical upward pull o-n handle 20 will cause the twister to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. It will also be seen that the rod 23 of the left handle 20 is inserted downwardly into one of notches I6 and that vertically downward movement of the handle will cause a counterclockwise rotation of the twister. When the twister has been rotated as far as possible with one setting of the handles, its position can be maintained by holding the left handle while the right handle is moved to a lower tooth and notch at which time the twister may be held in position until the left handle is shifted. The operation is then repeated until the desired twisting of the wires 25 has been accomplished. When the twister is turned around so that its teeth extend in a counterclockwise direction, the action will be the same but the handles 20 will have their direction of movement reversed, the twister will be rotated in a clockwise direction and the wires 25 will be twisted in a different direction. If the twister is used in a cramped space such as a deep concrete form, it may be lowered into .position by passing the hook 24 under the upper portion of rim IIJ, or under cross bar I2 or through ring I8 and lowered by means of the handle 20. The twister may be removed by means of the hook 24 and if dropped to the bottom of the form or other relatively inaccessible spot, it can readily be lished out by means of the hook 24 and rin-g I8 or other portion of the twister. During rotation of the twister, the prong I3, bar I2 and rib I4 cooperate to insure proper twisting of the wires 25. By

leaving spaces between the rim I0 and bar I2 and rib I4, less metal is required, the twister is light in weight and openings are provided for handling the twister by means of hook 24 or by other means.

An important feature of the present invention is the movement of the handles 20 in a vertical line to rotate the twister. In many places, such as concrete forms, the space is often narrow and deep and obstructed by reinforcements, spacers and the like, which render inoperative any twisters having handles which must be rotated or moved in an arc. The handles 20 of the present invention, however, are movable in a straight line with very little side motion and consequently can be slipped between obstructions and operated without interference from such obstructions. By reason of the inclined lower portions of the plates 2l, the handles 20 are spaced outwardly from the twister so as to be free to move vertically for a substantial distance without interference from the twister rim or teeth. Due to the fact that the handles are separate from the twister, the device is not only easier to transport, but can be inserted and operated in many cramped spaces where it could otherwise not be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

In a device of the character described, a wire twisting member having Wire engaging elements,

a series of undercut ratchet teeth spaced about the periphery of said wire twisting member and extending in a single direction with respect to the periphery of said twisting member, and a pair of independent longitudinally movable operating handles adapted to removably engage ratchet teeth on opposite sides of said twisting element -for twisting engagement therewith toimpart a rotative movement to said twistingr element when f said handles are moved in opposite directions, a

ring secured to said twisting member, and a hook carried by one of said handles for engagement with said ring forlifting said twisting member.

EVERETT E. BORR.

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