US748697A - Half to william r - Google Patents

Description

No. 748,697. PATBNTBD JAN. 5, 1904.

1 o. BUSH. y

WIRE STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION FILED' APB. 29. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Q n 'www Patented January 5, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

CHARLES BUSH, OF SOHOOLHOUSE, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR'OF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM R. CARNAHAN,`OF SOHOOLHOU'SE, WEST VIR- GINIA.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. r748,697, dated. January 5, 1904.

Application filed April 29, 1903i Serial No. 154,770. (No model.)

.To all whom, it tay concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BUSH, acitzen of the United States, residing at Schoolhouse, in the county of Jackson and State of West Virginia, have invented a certain new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers, the object in view being to provide asilnple, cheap, and /etective wire-stretcher of lever form embodying means forengaging a fenee-y post and using the same for a fulcrum about which the stretcher is operated, the wirestretcher also embodying a knuckle-jointed gripping-head having a plurality of wiregrips which adapt the ldevice to be used either in connection with rough, smooth, or barbed wire.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the wire-gripping devices that they will not interfere with each other, one of the wire-grips being so connected with the gripping-head that it may be readily detached therefrom. rlhe gripping-head is so connected pivotally with the main body of the wirestretcher that it can swing only in acertain plane, which has the eiect of steadying the operation of the stretcher and rendering the same more reliable and rapid in use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated,and claimed. -V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the wirestretcher and the method of using the same.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the wirestretcher, illustrating the rst step in the operation of stretching a fence-wire. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the stretcher and wire after the latter has been stretched and is in readiness to be fastened to a post. Fig. 4 is an enlarged dei-ail plan View of the wire-gripping head with one of the wire-grips removed. Fig. .5 is a detail turned in the operation of stretching a wire.

The lever also comprises a heel extension 5, which is substantially parallel with the main body 1 of the lever and is connected with said main body by means of the gooseneck or seg-- mental portion 3. Said gooseneck or se?,- mental portion 3 is strengthened by means of a reinforcing rib or ange 6, extending along the outer side thereof, as shown.

In carrying out the present invention the wire-gripping head 7 is connected, by means of a knuckle-joint 8, with the extremity ofthe Aheel extension 5 of the lever, said knucklejoint consisting of a plurality ot`inter1itting and overlapping ears connected by a single pivot or bolt 9, which allows the grippinghead to swing only in the same plane with the heel extension 5, thereby keeping the wire exactly in alinement with the lever as the wire is 'carried across the post prior to being secured thereto.

At its extremity the gripping-head 7 is provided with a claw lO, which is used princi- `pally for obtaining a hold upon rough or barbed wire, in which event the other gripping device hereinafter described is detached. The othergrippingdevice consists of athum hlever 1l, provided at one end'with an exteriorly roughened or serrated head l2, having oppositelvprojecting trunnions or pintles 18, which are received in oblique slots 14 in a pair of oppositely-arranged lugs or ears l5, projecting from the same side of the grippinghead 7 as the claw 10 and as clearly shown device.

in Figs. 2 and 3. The trunnions or/pintles 13 are eccentric with relation to the curvature of the head 12 of the detachable grip, so that as the lever 11 is rocked the head 12 operates to grip the fence-wire between itself and the gripping-head 7 or release said wire, as the case may be.

After the lever has been swung around the post to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the wire has thereby been stretched across the post a staple or other suitable fastener 16 is driven across the wire and into the post. This operation is facilitated by vmeans of a retainer-hook 17, which is jointed to the handle, as shown at 18, and provided with one or more hooks 19, either of which may be engaged over the fence-wire, (shown at 20,) so as to hold the wire-stretcher as a whole in place while driving the staple or securing the same to the post.

The inclined slots 14 allow the detachable grip to be removed from the gripping-head by turning lthe same toward the claw 10. In any other position, however, the grippinglever 11 through the medium of the pintles 13 and inclined slots 14 is prevented from becomingl accidentally disconnected from the In operating upon smooth wire the gripping-lever 11 is employed, the wire passing between the jaws of the claw 10. In stretching rough or barbed wire, however, the lever 11 is preferably detached and the claw 10 used alone. The claw 10 and the gripping-head 12 are arranged in longitudinal alinement with each other, and therefore do not interfere.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, s

1. In a Wire-stretcher, a lever provided with a gooseneck for embracing a post, a heel eX- tension at the extremity of the gooseneck, a gripping-head having a knuckle-jointed connection with said heel extension, a wire-gripping device carried by said gripping-head, and an auxiliary wire-grip detachably connected with the gripping-head.

2. In a wire-stretcher, a lever provided with a gooseneck, adapted to embrace a fencepost, a heel extension connected with the eX- tremity of said gooseneck, a wire-gripping head having a knuckle-jointed connection with said extension, and adapted to swing in the same plane with said extension, a wiregripping claw carried by said head, and an auxiliary detachable wire-grip consisting'of a lever provided with a gripping-head, pin

ties at opposite sides of the head, and lugs on the main gripping-head provided with inclined slots to receive the pintles of the anxiliary gripping device, substantially as described'.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES BUSH. Witnesses:

JAMES CANTER, DUDLEY RoLLINs.

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