US480941A - Device for driving fence-posts - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

P. STOW.

DEVICE FOR DRIVING FENCE POSTS, 8w.

WITNESSES: p INVENTOR BY Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

UNITED STATES- PATENT QFFICE.

FRANKLIN STOW, OF KIRKNVOOD, NEWY YORK.

DEVICE FOR DRIVING FENCE-POSTS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,941, dated August 16, 1892.

Application filed April 11, 1892, Serial No. 428,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN STOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kirkwood, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Driving Fence- Posts, &c.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to that class of devices used for driving fence-posts, stakes, poles, 850., my object being to provide means which will enable a person to drive fence-posts in the ground Without having to pound upon the top, and thereby split or otherwise injure the post.

A further object of my invention is to enable the operator to drive tall posts and other articles without being compelled to strike such articles on their upper ends, but to strike them at a point near the lower end within easy access of the operator while standing on the ground, whereby a stronger and easier blow can be given.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, strong, and durable device, which can be used upon posts, &c., having different diameters.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar features and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my complete device, with the parts assembled and ready for use; Fig. 2, a similar view, with the detachable parts dissembled to better show their construction; Fig. 3,a perspective view of my complete device as applied and ready for operation upon a fence-post or other object to be driven.

The reference-letter a represents an elongated block of wood or any other suitable material having one side j flattened to fit snugly against a fence-post b or other object to be driven. The oppositeends of this block are provided with ferrules 'i to prevent splitting. These ferrules are securely bound to the block by Wedges k. The center of the block is provided with a transverse hole 6, through which a bolt (1 passes. 'lhisbolt is longer than the diameter of the block andone end is provided with a head on and the other end with a transverse keyhole h, which is adapted to receive a springf to hold the chain and bolt in place. To the opposite ends of this bolta link chain is secured, and this chain is adapted to pass around the object to be driven. One end of the chain is provided with an enlarged link 0, through which the boltdpasses on one side of the block, and the other end of the chain is provided with a series of enlarged elongated links 0'', adapted to pass over the end of the bolt in attaching the block to various sizes of objects preparatory to driving. A washer g is interposed between the links 0" and the key f to effect a better fastening. This chain is made of strong welded iron or steel links ca pable of standing the strain brought to bear upon them.

In attaching and using my device the preparation is extremely simple and convenient, and may be briefly described as follows: Assuming that the boltd has been passed through the link 0 and hole e, so that said link will be held between the head of the bolt and the block, the latter is then placed beside the object to be driven, so that the flat portion j will lie against the side thereof. The free end of the chain is now brought around and one of the links 0 passed over the protruding end of the bolt (1. The washer g is now placed on and the spring-key f passed through the hole h, thereby forming a secure fastening. The driving operation may now be commenced; and it will be seen that the strokes upon the end of the block will tend to lock the block tightly and immovably to the object driven. When said object sinks so far in the ground as to render the driving operation more diflicult, the block can easily and quickly be lifted up to ahigher point and the operation of driving resumed. In case the object driven should be drawn over toward the block while driving, the block can be shifted to the opposite side thereof, whereupon the continued driving operation will tend to draw it over in a more upright position.

Among the advantages my invention possesses may be mentioned the fact that by its use a person is not compelled to stand upon an elevated platform when driving a tall fence-post, stakes, &c., all splitting or battering of the ends of the posts are avoided, and much time and'labor are saved.

In driving hop-poles, bean-poles, &c., my device can be readily attached to the lower end and such objects driven with as much facility as though they were short and stiff, for it will be seen that in driving long poles the bending of the latter under the strokes of the mallet render the strokes more or less ineifective and the operation is most tedious and diflicult.

It is evident that my invention could be changed in many slight ways that might suggest themselves to askilled mechanic. Therefore I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider FRANKLIN STOW. Witnesses:

R. G. DU BoIs, N. HEIME CLENDENIN.

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