US2628075A - Fence and fence post construction - Google Patents

Description

1953 K. T. TORSTENSEN FENCE AND FENCE POST CONSTRUCTION Filed March 13, 1950 INVENTOR.

KmsT/A/v If TORSTENSEN ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 FENCE FENCE POST CONSTRUCTION Kristian Trygve Torstensen. Millet,v Alberta, Canada Application March 13, 1950, Serial No. 149,240

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fence post construction and particularly to fence post construction employing a plurality of cement units fitted over a metallic.

rod with the fence wires being received in grooves in the end surfaces of the units.

Among the features and advantages of the instant invention are its simplicity and the ease with which it may be constructed at the factory and assembled at the site. Further, the fence post construction is cheap and the cement units may be made rapidly in conventional mass production machinery. Again, the posts will not deteriorate or decompose as in the case of the usual wood posts.

A further feature and advantage of the instant invention is the fact that the fence wire may be placed in contact with a thin metal rod which serves as a central stringer for the blocks which comprise the post, thereby establishing a ground contact. This feature is particularly important in the protection of live stock during electrical storms in that the charge of the lightning is dissipated to the ground and does not electrccute live stock which may be in contact with or adjacent the fence, at not uncommon mishap in fences employing non-conductive posts such as wood.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a cement block. used to construct a post.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a fence embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a fragment of a fence.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a modified block.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a further modified block.

As has been indicated, the instant invention is concerned with a fence post construction wherein a plurality of concrete blocks formed with a central core II are placed over a rod l2 having a diameter only slightly less than that of the core.

The blocks l0 used in the fence post construction are preferably formed of concrete and, particularly, may be made in automatic machinery such as that used for the production of cement building blocks. It will be understood that the shape of said blocks in cross-section is optional, in that they may be made round (as shown in Figs. 1-4) square (as shown in Fig. polygonal or in any other desired shape. Preferably said blocks are circular and approximately three inches in diameter and approximately eight inches in height. The central axis is provided with a core H for the reception of the rod 12, the

2 diameter of the core being slightly greater than that of the rod with which. theblocks for the buildingare used. Across one of the end surfaces of the block is a V-shaped. groove 13 for the reception offence wire. 14,, said groove being ,so dimensioned that when a, fence wire is clamped between two adjacent blocks the wire. 14 will be held in place and willnot sag. Preferably the groove is so positioned-that the fence wire I i will be held in contact with the rod l2 so that an electrical connection between the two will be established and maintained. i

The rod I2 is preferably round in cross-section and of a diameter of approximately fivesixteenths inch. Its length determines the height of the fence post l6 and preferably it is a little greater than amultiple of the length of an indi: vidual block ID. A head I! is provided at one end of the rod as by welding around steel washer thereto, said headbeing of the same or lesser diameter than that of a block. The head it constitutes the abutment for the lowermost block It. It also establishes good ground contact for the dispersion of lightning when the post It is buried in the soil. The upper end of the rod is threaded to receive nut l8.

In construction of a fence, a rod i2 of suitable length is selected for the required height of the post It. The required number of blocks Hi to complete the required height of post is placed over the rod, the lowermost block abutting the head IT. The end of the post It is then suitably anchored and buried in the soil. The horizontal fence wires M are then placed inside the grooves 13 and pulled tight so that the wires do not sag. The nut l8 which bears against a washer is is tightened thus exerting pressure clamping all the blocks on rod l2 together and thus the fence wires M are clamped within grooves it. Because of the tapered shape of the grooves l3 and the flat end surface of the adjacent block bearing against the side of the wire l4 opposite the groove 43 the wire is clamped securely in position. Further, as has been stated, wire I4 is in contact with the rod l2 and any electrical charge transmitted to wire it is grounded. In this connection the grooves l3 are provided alongside of the central bore of the blocks but in such a fashion that the bore is cut into in order to insure electrical contact.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the block Ida illustrated in Fig. 1 and wherein the shape of the block is rectangular rather than cylindrical.

A modification is indicated at Fig. 4 wherein for convenience in assembling the posts at the site, diametrically opposed markers 2| are provided on the exposed surface of the blocks l0 in alignment with the ends of the transverse groove 13 so that the workmen assembling and setting the posts and wire fencing may readily determine the proper positioning of the grooves I3 for rapid construction of the fence. The markers 2| may be painted on the exposed surface or may be formed as an indentation or protuberance on the surface of the block. Preferably the markers may be formed as grooves at the time the block units are stripped from the casting machine.

A principal advantage in the present fence construction lies in the cheapness of the posts employed from the standpoint of originalinvestment and maintenance and replacement. Fencing, in the vast ranching and other areas is a serious economic factor and this is particularly true where timber is scarce. In this connection many of the areas requiring extensive fencing are practically devoid .of accessible wood fence posts, or, the posts which are available are extremely expensive. The present invention solves the problem from the standpoint of initial cost. installation and maintenance.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fence post construction comprising a plurality of relatively short, solid, vertically stacked, cylindrical blocks having a relatively small diameter bore extending axially thereof and a chordal, indented continuous 'V-shaped groove in at least one end thereof, said groove being in communication with said bore and slightly onset with respect to the axis of said bore, a metal 4 rod having a diameter only slightly less than that of said bore extending through the bores of all of said blocks, a plurality of fence strands each carried in one of said grooves, and means on said rod to clamp said stacked blocks in position with respect to each other, said grooves, bore and rod being positioned with respect to one another so that each fence strand is clamped in its v-shaped groove by adjacent blocks and said fence strands and rod are in electrical contact with said fence strands being maintained in straight lines.

2. A fence post construction comprising a plurality of relatively short, solid, vertically stacked blocks having a relatively small diameter bore extending axially thereof and an indented, continuous V-shaped groove in at least one end thereof, said groove being in communication with said bore and slightly oifset with respect to the axis of said bore, a metal rod having a diameter only slightly less than that of said bore extending through the bores of all of said blocks, a plurality of fence strands each carried in one of said grooves, and means on said rod to clamp said stacked blocks in position with respect to each other, said grooves, bore and rod being positioned with respect to one another so that each fence strand is clamped in its V-sliaped groove by adjacent blocks and said fence strands and rod are in electrical contact with said fence strands being maintained in straight lines.

KRISTIAN TRYGVE TORSTENSEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,710 Annable o Feb. 3, 1885 411,027 Heindel l Sept. 17, 1889

Images