US2538172A - Electric fence and control system therefor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1951 P. swu. 2,538,172

ELECTRIC FENCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed D90. 20, 1946 5' [3 g 2e Fl 6. .1 v Q Pat ented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FENCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM THEREFOR Paul Stull, Marion, Ohio Application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,508

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to stock enclosures and more particularly to an improved arrangement of and control system for an electrically charged stock. enclosure.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electric fence arranged as a stock enclosure and a control system for said fence, the system being very simple as to the construction and arrangement of parts, not hazardous to man or animal, non-productive of radio interference and inexpensive to operate. 7

A further objector the invention is t provide an improved arrangement andcontrol system of the character described which is adaptable to single Or multiple arrangements of electrically charged wires encircling one or more areas to form separate enclosures, wherein alarm and si nal means are provided signifying by said alarm and signal means in which enclosure contact with a fence wire is being made, wherein there is no current flow except when the wires forming the enclosure are grounded by an animal or other extraneous conductor, wherein minimum inductance is employed so that radio interference is minimized, and wherein the shock experienced by an animal coming in contact with a fence wire is momentary so that an opportunity is afforded for the animal to free itself from the wire without unnecessary punishment.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a physical arrangement of parts of a control system for a stock enclosure according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric fence system associated with the elements shown in Figure 1. V

Referring to the drawings, I l designates a cabinet having a control panel l2. Mounted on panel i2 are alarm bells l3 and I4, lamps l5 and I6, resistors H and i8, fuses i9 and 25, a terminal strip 2i, a pair of switches 22 and 23, a pair of lightning gap- arrestors 24 and 25, a pair of dashpot type relays 25 and 21, push button switches 28 and 29 and a terminal strip 35. In Figure 2, 3i designates an inner stock enclosing wire and 32 designates an outer stock enclosing wire. The inner stock enclosing section may include an extra wire and the outer section may include an extra wire, these extra wires being of similar configuration to wires 3| and 32 and'being optional. The incoming utility Wires are designated at 3 34 and 35. wire 35 being a rounded neutral and being connected to the ground buss I The Wires 33, 34 and 35 19 with contacts 39 and 40 and bridges a pair of spring cushioned contacts 4| and 42, as shown in dotted view in Figure 2. When the relay is depenergized, bar 38 moves slowly back into contact with contacts 39 and 40, the time delay being adjustable, as in conventional dashpot relays of this type. Relay 21 is similar, and has a contact; bar 43 which normally bridges a pair of contacts:

44 and 45 but which moves into contact with a.

pair of spring-cushioned contacts 45 and 41 upon.

energization of the relay. Upon deenergization of relay 21, bar 43 moves slowly back into bridging relation with contacts 44 and 45.

Wire 3! is charged by a circuit comprising a conductor 48, resistor [8, a conductor 49, contact 45, bar 43 in the normally deenergized position of relay 21, contact 44, a conductor 55, fuse 20, a conductor 5|, a switch blade 52 of a line switch, generallydesignated 53, and line conductor 34. The winding of relay 2'! is connected between conductor 49 and a center tap of resistor l8. Connected across said resistor is the signal lamp l6. Switch 29, which is employed for testing purposes, is connected between conductor 48 and a conductor 54 which is connected to ground 3 buss 36. Signal bell i4 is connected between contact 41 and conductor 54 through switch 23. When wire 3| is engaged by an animal, current flows through the animal from the charged wire and at the same time produces a voltage drop across resistor l8. The current flow through wire 3| energizes the signal lamp l6 and at the same time energizes relay2l, causing bar 43 to move out of contact with contacts'44 and 45 and into bridging contact with contacts 46 and 41. This opens, the charging circuit to wire 3| and deenergizes relay 21. Bar 43 remains in contact with contacts 46 and 41 fora time period determined by the adjustment of the relay and then drops back into bridging contact with contacts 44, and 45. If the animal is still engaged with wire 3| it experiences another momentary shock and the cycle is repeated. If the animal has freed itself, relay 2'! remains deenergized. If switch 23is in its closed position, an audible signal will be given an y bell 14 during the time that bar 43 is in bridea ing engagement with contacts 46 and 41, thus audibly warning of the path to ground previously established at wire 3|, and if said warning continues to be periodically sounded, it indicates that wire 3| has been accidentally grounded or that an animal has become inextricably entangled with said wire.

A circuit with circuit elements thereof similar in all respects to that described above is provided for outer enclosure wire 32 and the operation thereof is exactly the same as described in connection with the enclosure wire 3|. When a path to ground is established at wire 32, the current flow through the circuit causes relay 28 to be energized and illuminates signal lamp [5. Contact bar 38 opens the charging circuit at contacts 39 and 49 and bridges contacts Al and 42 for a predetermined time period before dropping back into engagement with contacts 39 and "49. During the time period, bell 43 gives an audible signal, assuming that switch 22 is in its closed position. Said time period allows an animal to extricate itself from the enclosure wire after re" ceiving the preliminary momentary shock. The charging line circuit to wire 32 is controlled by a knife switch 55 which connects said line circuit to line conductort3; knife switch 56 being included in line switch 53.

In testing the circuits, the push button switches 28=and 29-are respectively closed, thereby grounding the respective enclosure wires. fhe circuit elements may then "be checked to determine if their operation is normal.

While a specific embodiment of an arrangement for controlling an electric fence system has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications Within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of the character described, 'a fence to be grounded by ananimal walking upon the ground, a lead wire connected with the fence, a switch connected in the lead wire and including a moveable element, a dashpot relay connected when the dashpot relay is energized.

2. In a system of the character described, a fence to be grounded by an animal walking upon the ground, a lead wire connected with the fence, a switch connected in the lead wire and including a moveable element, a dashpot relay connected with the moveable element to shift it to an openposition and retard its closing movement, a resistor connected in the lead Wire between the switch and fence, a circuit connected with the dashpot relay and lead wire adjacent to one end of the resistor and with the resistor nearits center, a second lead wire which is grounded,

,a wire connected with the first lead wire upon that side of the first switch remote from the resistor and connected with the second lead wire, and a switch connected in the last-named wire and including contacts to be engaged and elecjtrically connected by the moveable element of the first-named switch when the dashpot relay is energized.

PAUL S'IULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED S'IATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 13,856 Raney Dec. 29, 1914 155,696 Wilson N July 7, .1891 1,544,536 Stewart June 30, 1925 1,558,101 Lieb Octv 20, 1925 2,079,636 Sharp May 11, 1937 2,355,752 Repking Aug. 15, 1944 2,375,458 Agnew et al. May "8, 1945

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