US3079129A

US3079129A - Fence construction apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3079129A
Application number: US46441A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert S Hulburt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-01
Filing date: 1960-08-01
Publication date: 1963-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1963 R. s. HULBURT FENCE CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1. 1960 Feb. 26, 1963 R. s. HULBURT FENCE CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1960 United States Patent Ofiice 3,079,129 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,079,129 FENCE CONSTRUCTHUN AYPPARATUS Robert S. Hulburt, 900? Kenton Ave, Skoitie, Ill. Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,441 2 Claims. (Cl. 254--29) This invention relates to fence construction apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for constructing or dismantling a fence such as an electric fence or the like, with ease and dispatch. Current fence construction techniques entail a plurality of separate procedures, including placement of the posts and insertion thereof by hammering or the like, straining and stretching of wire, and attaching the wire to the posts. Each of these procedures requires a retracing of steps and generally calls for separate sets of tools. Thus, digging post holes and setting the posts, whether wooden or otherwise, by means of a maul, is slow and tedious work. Often, the resultant structure is insufficiently strong. Unrolling the wire is also a difficult and dangerous job, since the spool of wire is heavy and apt to snarl, and the possibility of lacerations from the Wire is generally present. Further, the process of attaching the wire to the posts often involves complications, since wooden posts require insulators which are apt to become detached, and securing insulators on steel posts is particularly exacting and time consuming since grounding must be avoided. Often, one or more inspections are needed to detect a grounding defect. Dismantling the fence is correspondingly diflicult, dangerous and time consuming and for that reason the task is often neglected, so that the most advantageous use of land is not obtained. The posts are seldom in condition for reuse, since wooden posts rot and splinter while metal posts are frequently bent as they are removed from the ground. Insulators, also, become broken and worn and kinks are formed in the wire. For these reasons, the

fence generally is used for one season only and then must be discarded.

The present invention overcomes these difiiculties by providing a fence construction apparatus which is advantageously used in combination with a tractor or the like and includes hydraulic (i.e., fluid or pneumatic) jack means for inserting and retracting fence posts of preferably metallic construction, together with means for assuring a correct alignment of the posts in the ground and means operable from the tractor, or otherwise, for automatically unreeling or rewinding the wire for the fence as the fence building or dismantling operation proceeds. Indicator means such as a perpendicular bubble may be carried directly on the hydraulic structure for inserting or removing the posts, and guide and steering means are also utilized therewith. The hydraulic means or jack desirably is mounted on a frame carried by the tractor, by means of a universal joint, with telescopically adjustable supports being afforded which may be locked to maintain the jack in the .desired perpendicular, or other, alignment. The fence winder means may also be carried on the frame for supporting the jack, and driven hydraulically fro-m the tractor motor, or otherwise, a level windreel being preferably utilized for this purpose. Desirably, the fence post structure for use with the apparatus of the invention includes a coil-like metal sleeve with an insulator grommet therein, and forming a slot through which the wire may be inserted or removed.

Thus the invention affords a continuous fence construction or disassembly process which may be characterized as employing a straight line mechanical power production principle, thereby eliminating the multiple retracing of steps required with previous processes. Further, the fence thus constructed will have the most important advantages that the end posts will be solidly placed, and where an electric fence is to be made, the

wire will be insulated from the grounding but can be tightened or loosened as desired without complex manipulation of the wire and the insulators therefor. Further, the wire may be made permanently tight.

Thus, when the end posts have been set firmly 'in position, the wire may be attached to a given end post and the tractor with the apparatus as described thereon backed along the proposed fence line and operated as indicated to place posts at desired intervals, with the wire being readily inserted in the insulated holders. At the end of a fence row, an insulated end post is set into position and the wire then may be stretched, by means of the tractor if .desired, and secured to the end post. It may be noted in this connection that a gate may be provided at the end of the fence line and may be utilized to afford the space required for the tractor or apparatus carrying the fence construction device.

It will thus be understood that the wire is allowed to slide through the insulated holders so that, for example, when an animal puts pressure upon the Wire, the wire will snap back into position thereafter and will remain tight, without the previously encountered dislodgement of the insulation for the wire.

Dismantling a fence thus formed is accomplished in substantially the reverse manner. Thus the tractor may be moved forewardly along the fence line, and the post driver or hydraulic jack is used to extract the post. Simultaneously, with the movement of the tractor or other vehicle carrying the apparatus, the Wire is rewound on the spool.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fence construction device which is of a simple and unitary construction and permits the steps of fence post insertion, wire stringing and connection of the wire to the post to be accomplished without retracing of steps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence construction apparatus as described which can be used to disassemble the fence, also without retracing of steps and with the several operations proceeding substantially simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described which will build a stable and wellinsulated fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence construction and dismantling device which greatly reduces the time and labor involved with previous methods and which operates automatically to a large extent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence construction apparatus which ensures a correct or desired alignment for the individual fence posts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for constructing and dismantling wire fences in a manner such that, when the fence has been dismantled, the parts may be re-used and great savings thus afforded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence construction device which is readily adaptable to variations in land contour and thereby makes feasible the most efficient and economically advantageous use of the land.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

FIGURE -1 is a perspective view of a fence construction apparatus according to the invention, in combination with a tractor, shown as partly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of control and positioning means for the fence construction apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in vertical section, of a fence post and insulator according to the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the insulator with a fence wire therein (shown rotated 90 from its position in use).

Referring now to the drawings, the fence construction apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a tractor 12 or other dirigible vehicle, as by a frame structure 14 which may be secured to the tratcor by bolts or the like 16, and preferably by a cross brace 18 secured to a downwardly extending portion of the frame 14 by bolts or the like 20 and to a bracket 22 or the like by bolts 24. Thus in a preferred form of the invention the apparatus 10 includes a hydraulic jack 26 pivoted to the frame structure 14 at its lower end by a universal joint 28 for adjustable insertion or removal of fence posts such as the fence post 30 as hereinafter further described. Thus the fence post 30 is adapted to be held in a sleeve 32 on a telescopically adjustable shaft 34 for the jack 26 which carries a bracket structure 36 on which the sleeve 32 is formed. In order to prevent undesirable rotational movement of the sleeve 32, a second shaft 38 preferably is telescopically received .in the jacket portion 40 of the hydraulic jack receiving the shaft 34, and a preferably V-notched guide bracket 42 is also formed on the jacket 40 in register with the depending sleeve 32 to guide the post 30 in cooperation with a lower, V-formed guide 44 and with the sleeve 32.

'It will thus be appreciated that downward movement of the

shafts

34 and 38, and sleeve 32, will drive the fence post 3i into the ground. In order to control this action, hydraulic control means 46 may be formed directly on the jacket 40 and may include a switch element 48 which may .be used with a suitable indexing or instruction plate 56 on the control casing 52.

Suitable conduits

54 and 56 lead from the housing 52 to a source of hydraulic (i.e., fiuid or pneumatic) pressure in the tractor such as a'conventional pump or the like to control the operation of the jack 26.

In order to control the alignment of the hydraulic jack 26, and of a fence post such as the post 30 to be inserted, or alternatively, retracted thereby, a handle 58 extends preferably from the radially outer portion of the casing 52 to the jacket 40, so that by simply grasping the handle the angular position of the hydraulic jack and of the post 30 may be varied, as the result of the provision of the universal joint 28.

It will be appreciated that it is desirable to .provide a.suitable vertical, or in the case of posts for-contour farming orthe like, an angular alignment for the hydraulic jack which remains fixed for an-individual fence inserting or removal action. To this end, telescoping guide shaft and locking means are provided which include the individual shaft structures 60' and 62. Only one of these shaft means need be used, although the use of a pair of .sufch shaft means is advantageous. Thus the shaft means .60 and 62 may include a shaft portion 64, as illustrated with respect to the means 60, and a shaft portion .66, with the shaft portion 64 being pivotally secured to the frame 14 by a universal joint 68 and with the shaft portion 66 being pivotally secured to the jacket 40, as

for example at the bracket or guide 42, by means of a universal :joint 70. A shaft portion 72 of the means 62 maybe secured by a pivotal joint 74 to the bracket 22, and a shaft portion 76 may be secured to the housing 40, as at the bracket 42 by a universal joint 78, as seen in FIGURE 2. The universal joint means and 78 may include a sleeve 89 on the bracket 42 extending horizontally at the inner or rear edge thereof, the bracket 42 being shown as formed integrally at the bottom of .the casing '52 with the guide port-ion'thereof at the front of the casing 40.

Thus the shafts 64 and 66-and the

shafts

72 and 76 may be telescopically related with the

shafts

66 and 76 being movable into and out of the tubular portions 64 and 72 in the form shown. Angularly rotatable locking means 82 and 84-may-be provided, in accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art, to be rotated 'termined spaced intervals. be carried in a suitable container or quiver on the tractor and placed in the sleeve 32 in guided relationship as by perpendicular handle portions thereof to locking and unlocking positions respectively. Such means may include an internally threaded conformation for the

sleeve portions

86 and 88 thereof coacting with tapered externally threaded split sleeve elements (not shown) on therespective portions 64 and 72, or other suitable locking means may be afforded. Thus when the hydraulic jack 26 is in a desired perpendicular or other alignment the locking means 82 and 84 may be locked to hold the shaft means 60 and 62 at a desired extension to maintain such alignment. As hereinabove set forth, the shaft means will afford free angular movement of the hydraulic jack '26 about the universal joint 28 prior to locking thereof.

In order to determine when a perpendicular alignment for the hydraulic jack 26 has been achieved, a perpendicular bubble level 89 is provided, preferably in the top portion of the casing 52. Thus a simple reading of the bubble means 89 will demonstrate the correctness of the alignment of the jack, and of the fence post 30 to be driven thereby.

Also in accordance with the invention, and to permit the fence construction to proceed on a straight line mechanical production principle so as to eliminate multiple retracing of steps, Wire dispensing and collecting means are provided as indicated generally by reference numeral 90. The means 90 thus includes a level wind reel 92 mounted as by a bracket means 94 and 96 to the frame 14. The reel 92 may be hydraulically actuated from the tractor I2 by suitable shaft means and includes guide means 97 for level wind feeding or retracting of the wire 98, although other forms of reel or spool could also be used in accordance with the invention. A sleeve portion may be incorporated in the guide means 97 having outwardly tapering ends to permit ready movement of barbed wire onto and off from the reel. A fence Winder control ltltl is provided which is operable from the seat of thetractor in a preferred form of the invention, by means of an elongated shaft 102 pivotally connected to a lever 104 for controlling the winding action of the reel .92 in a forward or reverse direction as desired, as driven by hydraulic power from the tractor, or by mechanical vdrive extension means from a suitable drive shaft (not shown).

Desirably, the fence posts 30 are of a steel or metal shaft construction pointed at the lower ends 108 and carrying ring-like insulator means 110 adjacent their upper ends. The insulator means 110 may be welded or otherwise suitably connected to the shaft and have an outer portion 112 of steel or other suitable material and an inner rubber or insulative grommet portion 114 received therein to hold the wire out of contact with the rod or shaft 30. Also, to permit ready insertion and removal of the wire 98, without inadvertent release thereof, the ends of the ring member 110 are displacedlaterally and then brought toward one another in overlapping relationship, as shown, so that a relatively diagonal slot 1-16 is defined therebetween. Thus by manually twisting the wire to a slight extent, the wire may be selectively slipped into position or removed, and thereafter tightened or loosened through the insulator without the 'need for complicated manipulation and disengagement of the wire from the insulator.

In operation, therefore, insulated end posts are set firmly in position and wire 98 attached thereto. The tractor is then moved along a proposed fence line and the manual control 46 is operated by means of the lever 48 to periodically drive the posts 30 into position at prede- The posts themselves may shown when desired. The sleeve 32 is dimensioned to freely receive the upper end of the post so that the post may be driven into the ground to the desired depth by force or impact produced by the jack. Manually operable release and latching means for the sleeve 32 may also be provided within the scope of the invention. A chain may be wrapped around the post and engaged in hook means 87 on the bracket 36 for extraction of the post, if desired, although other gripping means may also be used for this purpose. Thus the jack may be aligned by means of the bubble 89 for setting the post perpendicularly, although when a new direction for the fence is taken, it may be desired to set the posts angularly outwardly to a slight extent as may be accomplished by guiding movement with the handle 58. The aligning action may be accomplished simply by gripping the handle 58 to pivot the jack about the universal joint 28 with the shaft means 61 and 6-2 being telescopically adjustable by a suitable positioning of the locking means 82 and 84 in release position. When the appropriate alignment has been achieved, the locking means 82 and 84 may be locked to hold the jack in position during the driving operation. The wire 98 may be inserted through the individual insulator means 110 on the respective fence posts 30 as the operation proceeds, and at the end of the fence row insulated end posts are set and the wire is stretched and secured thereto. As hereinabove indicated, the space required for the machinery such as the tractor 12, at the end of the fence line, in completing the fence, may be used to provide a gate for the field defined by the fence.

The wire may be stretched without difficulty because of the loose connection in the respective insulators 116. Also as hereinabove indicated, when pressure is exerted upon the assembled wire, it is permitted to slide through the holders and will thereafter snap back into position so that dislodging of the insulation is avoided and the entire wire remains taut.

It will be appreciated that multiple wire fences may be constructed in accordance with the invention, by utilizing two or more reels in the manner described. And the machine may be made heavier or lighter as required to meet various conditions, and, for example, a permanent fence could be constructed thereby, as well as exceptionally light fences.

Dismantling the fence is accomplished in substantially the reverse manner. Thus the tractor may be driven forward while winding the wire onto the reel 92 rather than unwinding it as in the preceding steps. The hydraulic jack is utilized to pull up the posts from the ground, and for this purpose a chain or the like may be wound around the post to secure it in position for extraction. Thereafter the chain may be removed and the post put back into the post container on the tractor. The Wire can, therefore, be continuously rewound on the spool during disassembly of the fence without a separate operation being required for this purpose.

It will thus be seen that an effective apparatus for economically constructing and removing fences has been provided, whereby the fence may be placed where it is most needed, and moved when desired for the best use of the land. The invention accordingly represents a further step in the mechanization of farm operations which has proceeded at an accelerating pace since approximately 1910. Since farming units have become progressively larger and fewer people are required to produce a given amount per acre, the fence construction apparatus of the invention is particularly important. Pastures are becoming increasingly central in livestock farming and, correspondingly, contour farming is coming into its own, being only restricted by the availability of good fence construction and dismantling means.

It will be readily understood that the utility of the land can be greatly improved if fence rows can be changed at will. Thus the harvest season can be prolonged with conventional fields and many fields may be pastured earlier in the spring or later in the fall because of the ease of providing a fence around them. For example, a farmer having a plot suitable for pasturing may currently be unable to pasture the plot because of the pressure of time for harvesting corn, fall plowing and the like. By means of the invention, such a plot could be fenced without interference with the other farming operations.

Further, many farms today are only partially fenced and such fences as are used are in constant need of repair. The apparatus of the invention will permit complete fencing and repair to be accomplished without difficulty and will also be a great asset in livestock farming, since pasturing is the most economical method of harvesting and maintaining fertility. The advantages of increased mechanization in fence construction and dismantling will be readily apparent to those skilled in the agricultural art. Thus the apparatus will have application to a full range of farming operations as carried out today, and its use will increase as familiarity with the advantages thereof progresses.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for assembling and disassembling wire fences of the type employing fence posts formed as narrow diametered elongated rigid articles being sharpened at the lower extremities to permit insertion into or removal out of the ground without drop-hammer or repetitive impact elfect or bending of said post, the improvement of,

a self-propelled vehicle having a central hydraulic power source contained therein,

a frame support connected in firm assembly to said vehicle,

a telescopic two-way hydraulic jack firmly connected to said support and mounted in a vertical position,

said jack hydraulically operated by means of hydraulic conduits connected to said jack and said central hydraulic power source,

a means at the upper extremity of said jack and connected in firm assembly to said jack to positively engage said fence post and move it by means of said telescopic jack to force said fence post into or out of the ground,

a wire reel connected in firm assembly to said frame support,

said reel being hydraulically operated by means of hydraulic conduits connected to said ree'l and said central hydraulic power source,

a control valve means in said conduits operable from the vehicle to control hydraulic pressure in said conduits,

thereby regulating the direction of rotation and torque on said reel,

said reel thereby Winding or unwinding wire attached to said reel and regulating the tension applied to said Wire.

2. For use with a narrow diametered steel fence post of the type having a sharpened end at lower extremity thereof,

a frame support connected in firm assembly with said vehicle,

a two-way telescopic hydraulically operated jack,

said jack being pivotally connected at the lower extremity of said jack to said frame support of said vehicle and said jack having a telescopically adjustable shaft movable in a vertical direction,

conduit means connected to said central hydraulic power source and to said jack to operate said jack hydraulically,

manual operating control means connected in said conduit to regulate hydraulic pressure in said conduit for determining vertical motion to said jack,

said jack having means at its upper extremity for positively engaging said fence post to move said fence post in the direction of said jack with a continuously applied hydraulic pressure action,

external guide flanges connected in firm assembly to said jackrto guide said fence post and thereby minimize deflection of said fence post during insertion into or removal from the ground,

telescopic guide shafts connected to said jack and to said frame of said vehicle for adjusting the vertical alignment of said jack,

said telescopic guide shafts having a locking means to establish and maintain adjusted vertical alignment of said jack,

and leveling determining means responsive to perpendicular alignment of said jack connected to said jack fordetermining the level adjustment of said jack.

References {Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stern Apr. 7, Starling May 30, Roe Dec. 30, Blane Mar. 15, Lockwood July 22, Lindquist Apr. '7, Nichols June 22, Chicane June 17, Parker et a1. Nov. 24, Shaver June 14,

Claims

1. IN A DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING WIRE FENCES OF THE TYPE EMPLOYING FENCE POSTS FORMED AS NARROW DIAMETERED ELONGATED RIGID ARTICLES BEING SHARPENED AT THE LOWER EXTREMITIES TO PERMIT INSERTION INTO OR REMOVAL OUT OF THE GROUND WITHOUT DROP-HAMMER OR REPETITIVE IMPACT EFFECT OR BENDING OF SAID POST, THE IMPROVEMENT OF, A SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE HAVING A CENTRAL HYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE CONTAINED THEREIN, A FRAME SUPPORT CONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLY TO SAID VEHICLE, A TELESCOPIC TWO-WAY HYDRAULIC JACK FIRMLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT AND MOUNTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION, SAID JACK HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC CONDUITS CONNECTED TO SAID JACK AND SAID CENTRAL HYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE, A MEANS AT THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID JACK AND CONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLY TO SAID JACK TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE SAID FENCE POST AND MOVE IT BY MEANS OF SAID TELESCOPIC JACK TO FORCE SAID FENCE POST INTO OR OUT OF THE GROUND, A WIRE REEL CONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLY TO SAID FRAME SUPPORT, SAID REEL BEING HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC CONDUITS CONNECTED TO SAID REEL AND SAID CENTRAL HYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE, A CONTROL VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUITS OPERABLE FROM THE VEHICLE TO CONTROL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN SAID CONDUITS, THEREBY REGULATING THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION AND TORQUE ON SAID REEL, SAID REEL THEREBY WINDING OR UNWINDING WIRE ATTACHED TO SAID REEL AND REGULATING THE TENSION APPLIED TO SAID WIRE.