US2920273A

US2920273A - Electric fence tester

Info

Publication number: US2920273A
Application number: US640543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chruszch Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-02-15
Filing date: 1957-02-15
Publication date: 1960-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-05

Description

P. cHRuszcH ELECTRIC FENCE TESTER Filed Feb. 15, 1957 P/r Chrqszch INVENTOR.

BY umvm United States Patent 2,920,273 ELECTRIC FENCE TESTER Peter Chruszch, Backoo, N. Dak. Application February 15, 1957, Serial No. 640,543 2 Claims. (Cl. 32472.5)

lamp so arranged as to be readily replaceable, yet which 's readily visible by the user.

,\supports a test rod but also carries a visual indicator Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an electric fence tester that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, and safe to use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this electric fence tester, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the inventionwshown in use as a fence tester;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, partial vertical, sectional view as taken along the plane of line 22 in Figure'l, illustrating in particular the construction of the bracket utilized in the invention; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional view illustrating in plan view the bracket.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates an electric fence including a continuous conductor 12 carried by a fence post 14 and insulated therefrom by means of insulator 16. In order to determine continuity of the continuous wire or wires 12, the electric fence tester generally designated by reference numeral 18 and comprising the present invention is employed. This fence tester includes a ground rod 20 of considerable length and adapted to be used much in the manner of a cane by the person making the desired tests. The elongated rod 20 is preferably constructed from copper or other suitable electrically conductive material and has a handle 22 at its upper end provided with a knob, as at 24, and formed of any suitable material, such as rubber or the like. The upper end of the rod 20 is fitted into a socket in the handle 22in any convenient manner. The lower end 26 of the rod 20 is conical in shape to form a point for ready insertion into the ground. This is necessitated by the fact that the continuous conductor 12 is grounded at its ends, and by inserting the rod 20 into the ground, it is possible to complete the circuit utilizing the other elements of the invention.-

Clampingly secured about the rod 20 is a bracket 28 which has a bifurcated portion, as at 30, provided with an aperture 32 therethrough for receiving the rod 20. Transverse bores are provided in the bifurcated portion 30 of the bracket 28 for receiving bolt-type fasteners 34 utilizedto clampingly adjoin the bifurcated portions into clamping engagement about the rod 20.

The bracket 28 is provided with a recess 36 therein receiving a neon lamp 38 or the like therein. Positioned Patented Jan. 5, 1960 in overlying relationship with respect to the lamp 38 for holding the lamp 38 in position is a vision plate 40 having an aperture 42 therethrough through which light emanating from the lamp 38 may be perceived. The vision plate 40 is held in place by means of screw-type fasteners, as at 44.

The lamp 38 being of a conventional miniature neon tube has

conductors

45 and 46 connected thereto, which conductors are thereby carried by the'bracket 28. The

conductors

45 and 46 are provided with terminals, the terminals for the conductor 45 being connected by a screw connector 48 to the ground rod 20.

The bracket 28 has an end portion 50 provided with an aperture 52 therethrough through which the test rod 54 extends. The test rod has its end, as at 56, suitably threaded for reception of threaded

nuts

58 and 60 which together hold the test rod 54 adjustably in place while also holding the terminal 62 in electrical connection with the test rod 54.

In use, as the user of this electric fence tester is walking along an electric fence, he plants the ground rod 20 into the ground and allows the test rod 54 to abut against the continuous conductor 12. If there is continuity in the electric conductor 12, the lamp 38 will be excited and there will be a visual indication that current is flowing in the conductor 12. I

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An electric fence tester comprising an elongated and conductive ground rod, an insulating bracket secured at one end to said ground rod, a first conductor connected to said ground rod, a lamp carried by said bracket between its ends and connected to said first conductor, a second conductor connected to said lamp, a test rod of electrically conductive material carried by the opposite end of said bracket and being generally parallel and substantially shorter than said ground rod, said second conductor connected to said test rod, said bracket having a recess therein, said lamp removably received in said recess, and a detachable vision plate having an aperture therethrough detachably secured to said bracket overlying said recess to retain said lamp in said recess.

2. An electric fence tester comprising an elongated electrically conductive rod with a lower ground engaging end, an insulating handle attached to the upper end of said rod, an insulating bracket attached at its inner end to said rod intermediate the ends of said rod and protruding laterally therefrom, a test rod approximately parallel to said ground engaging rod, means fastening said test rod to said insulating bracket near the outer end thereof, a lamp indicator, said bracket having an upwardly opening recess in which said indicator is disposed, and conductors extending from said indicator and connected respectively to said ground rod and said test rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,670 Spoiford June 20, 1916 2,450,153 Moore Sept. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 829,353 France June 24, 1938 855,995 France May 24, 1940 683,997 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1952