US782859A - Wire-fence machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wb uw gwuafntoz No. 782,859. PATENTED EEB. 21, 1905. W. L. D. LAKEY. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,1903

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 782,859. PATBNTBD PEB. 21, 1905. W. L. D. LARRY. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,1903A 3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3 i I l 'o wvv/wbon Nog-782,859.

UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

WVILLIAM L. D. LAKEY, OF TIPTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO CHARLES J. GRISSMER AND JOHN T. ADAMS, JR.,

OF TIPTON, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,859, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed November 30, 1903. Serial No. 183,279.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I WILLIAM L. D. LAKEY of Tipton, county of Tipton, and State of Indiana, have inventedk a certain new and useful VVire-Fence Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for making wire-fence fabric wherein U-shaped palings are employed and the strand-wires are to be twisted between the legs of the palings. The nature of this fabric is the same as that shown in the patents to John IN. Dwiggins, No. 474,952, for a wire fence, issued May 17, 1892, and No. 494,983, issued April 4, 1893, for a-wirefence machine; but this machine can make other sorts of wire fence, and I do not wishto limit it to any particular kind.

One feature of the invention consists in providing a construction wherein the means that actuates the twisters also disengages the twisters and the strand-wires from each other after the twist has been made, so that this part of the operation is automatic and it is not required to operate a separate means in order to disengage the strand-wires and the twisters.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the twisters on an oscillatory mech- .anism that is oscillated to bring the twisters and away from the twisters.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a machine in operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the twisting mechanism thrown up out of engagement with the strand-wires, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of a twisting' mechanism and the means for mounting and operating the same, parts being in side elevation and parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the upperI part of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 shows the left-hand end of what is shown in Fig. 4 with the parts in a somewhat diiferent position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for alining the palings.

The machine herein shown is one of a type wherein the twisters are movable away from the strand-wires as distinguished from the type of machine wherein the twisters are stationary and the strand-wires are movable to eral features of this invention are applicable to both types of machines, that herein shown will explain the general nature of said invention.

In operation a plurality of pairs of strandwires l() are stretched in a horizontal position by means on each side of the machine (not shown) and independent of it, so as to hold the strand-wires substantially in the position herein shown. The track-rails l1 extend between said means for holding and stretching the strand-wires. The machine is moved back and forth along the strand-wires and on the track for the purpose of weaving in with the strand-wires the U-shaped palings l2. In the fence shown in Fig. l there are two shapes and sizes of said palings, the outer one being simply U-shaped and the inner one having its legs crossed, as shown. The inner one lits within the outer one. These palings are formed of wire bent in the shape shown. The invention is not limited to any particular form or manner of paling, excepting where. the strandwires must be twisted between palings or parts thereof.

The machine consists of a frame and o f certain parts mounted thereon. The frame con- Although sevsists o f a horizontal portion 13 and a vertical l portion formed of the posts 14 and top crossbar 15. The vertical portion is braced by two braces 16. The horizontal portion of the frame is mounted on truck-wheels 17, which run upon the track-rails 11. The cross-bar 15 constituting a part of the frame has horizontal transverse holes 18 through it for the passage of the strand-wires. These strandwires are stationary while a section-say of twenty or thirty yards-of the fence is being built, and the machine is moved laterally while in use, so that the strand-wires are supported and guided midway by said holes 18. Both strand-wires of each pair pass through a single hole, and it should be large enough to permit them to pass freely through the same.

In operating the machine the U-shaped pallings are inserted longitudinally between the two wires of each pair of all the strand-wires. To render this easy and practical, a spreader 2() extends between the wires forming each pair of strand-wires and has fiat portions where it rests between said wires, the width of which is considerably greater than thc thickness, so that when the spreader is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the strand-wires of each pair will be close together; but when the spreader is turned in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the strand-wires will be spread apart, so that a paling 12 can be readily inserted. The spreader is mounted rotatably in the outer ends of the arms 21, that are secured to the frame and extend forward therefrom, so that they carry the spreader in advance of the frame or mainbody of the machine. The spreader has an upturned end 22, that forms a handle for operating the same.

Ihile a paling' is being inserted, as shown in Fig. 2, the twisters 25 are held above and out of engagement with the strand-wires. In order to twist the strand-wires between the legs of the paling, it is necessary in the machine herein shown to bring the twisters 25 down into engagement with the strand-wires, as shown in F ig. 3. Then the spreader is turned upward from the position shown in Fig'. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, and afterward the twisters are operated and the strand-wires twisted. Then the twisters are elevated away from the strand-wires from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2.

The twisters 25 are toothed wheels slotted radially slightly beyond the center and mounted rotatably in a twister-head formed of two plates 27 and 28. The twisters 25 have laterally-extending hubs to fit in round openings in the plates 27 and 28, and said plates at their lower ends are provided with a downwardlyextending A-shaped slot 29, that corresponds and registers with the slot in the twister as the twister mechanismis lowered to bring the twister into engagement with the strand-wires,

much the same as shown in the patent to Conner, No. 459,926, dated September 22, 1891,

for a netted-wirc-fabric machine. The plate 28, forming a part of the twister-head, is secured rigidly to a tubular arm 30, and the plate 27 is secured to the plate 28 by spacers 31. W'ithin the arm 3() a shaft 32 extends, which carries on its front end a pinion 33, that meshes with the twister 25 for operating the same.

The tubular arms 30 are rigidly secured to a hollow frame or box 34, that at each end has pins 35, pivotally mounted in plates 36, extending upward from and secured to the crossbar 15, constitu ting a part of the main frame. rIherefore while the plates 36 are stationary the arms 30 and the twister mechanisms are mounted oscillatory in said plates. Within each of the frames or boxes 34 there is a pinion 37, mounted on the rear end of each of the shafts 32, that pass through the arms 30, and these pinions 37 all are engaged and actuated by a sliding' rack-bar 38, that has its teeth extending upward and rests with its back upon the cross-bar 15 of the main frame. It moves between and is guided by the downwardly-extending legs 39 of the plates 36, whereby said plates are secured to the crossbar 15 of the frame. The rack-bar 38 is limited in its movement by the stops 4() and 41 at each end that abut against the end of the crossbar 15 of the main frame. These stops are so placed as to cause the rack-bar to give the desired number of rotations, preferably two and one-fourth, to the twisters and to bring the slot in a twister to the desired place with reference to the slot at the lower end of the twister-head. This construction is such, too,

IOC

that it will not prevent the elevation of the twister-heads, and, in fact, when they are elevated sufficiently to escape the strand-wires, as shown in Fig. 2, the rack-bar can operate the twisters, as the pinions 37 will still be in actuating engagement with the rack-bar, and the rack can operate said pinions as long as the teeth of the. two intermesh regardless of the angular position of the pinions.

The rack-bar is actuated by the lever 45, which is forked and pivoted at 46 to the upper end of two bars 47, that are secured to the cross-bar 15 of the main frame. Each downwardly-extending'arm of the lever 45 is pivotally connected to one end of a connectingbar 48 on each side of said cross-bar 15 and rack-bar 38. These connecting-bars 48 are at their other ends pivotally connected with the rack-bar by a pin 49. Said connectingbars 48 are curved downwardly, as shown, in order that they will not interfere with the strandwires during the operation of the rack-bar. Therefore the operation of the lever will cause the reciprocation of the rack-bar and the operation of the twisters in either direction.

The twisters are elevated and lowered into and out of engagement with the strand-wires by the following means: Ashaft 50 is mounted in bearings 51, secured to posts 14 of the frame.

IIO

ISO

lt carries cranks 52, to which connecting-bars 53 are pivoted at one end, and at the other end said bars are pivotally connected with the tubular arms 30 by stirrups 54, which are clamped by screws 155 to the arms 30. This stirrup arrangement renders the connection between the arms 30 and bars 53 adjustable. so that the position of the twisters can be fixed and predetermined. The shaft 50 is actuated by an L-shaped lever 55, that at one end is secured to said shaft and at the other end has a handle. It is drawn downward by a spring 56, which tends to throw the twisters upward and out of engagement with the strand-wires. A similar spring 57 on the other end of the shaft 50 cooperates with the spring 56, it being secured at its upper end to a crank-arm 58 on the shaft 50. The twisters are moved down into engagement with the strand-wires by throwing the lever 55 forward into the position shown in Fig. 1, and when in that position it is caught by a catch 60, secured on the back ofthe post 14. That catch holds said lever up and the twisters down in operative engagement with the strand-wires. When, however, the lever 55 is moved laterally off said catch 60 by any means, the springs 56 and 57 immediately throw the lever 55 down and the twisters up out of engagement with the strand-wires. To render this part of the mechanism positive, the shaft 50 is mounted so as to have a slight longitudinal play and a spring 61 is placed about it and presses at one end against the bearing .51 and at the other end against one of the cranks 52, so that it tends to press said shaft 50 to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, and that tends to move the lever 55 over into positive engagement with the catch 60.

The lever 55 is disengaged from its catch by throwing it to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, and that also slightly moves the shaft 50 -to the right against the action of the spring 61. This disengaging movement of the lever 55 and the twisters is caused.by a finger 63, that is adjustably connected with the end of the rear connecting-bar 48 by the bolts 64, passing through a slot in said finger. Said finger 63 is a flat spring that will pass the lever 55 as the connecting-bar 48l is pushed inward or to the right, as shown in Fig. 4; but after the end of the linger 63 has passed the lever 55, as shown in Fig. 4, and the lever 45 and rack-bar 38 are reversed the reverse movement of the rear connecting-bar 48 to the left, as seen in Fig. 4, will dislodge the lever 55 from the catch-plate 60.

The leg of the paling' after it has been inserted is alined or made straight transversely of the strand-wires to make a fence fabric of accurate design by the ends of two arms or rods 70, that extend from the cross-bar to the front andare utilized also as an additional support for the spreader, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6. The outer ends of these rods or arms are provided with a notch 71, as seen in Fig. 6, in position t0 engage the inner leg of the picket and push it into alinement when the machine is brought up to the work each'timc after a picket has been inserted. A guide 72 also projects forwardly from the bar 15 in a direction parallel with the strand-wires,the heads of the palings being caused to abut against said guide when the palings are introduced between the strand-wires to insure the heads of the palings being alined with each other, and thus imparting to the fence a uniform height at all points throughout its length.

The machine, as shown in Fig. 1, has the parts in their position after the strand-wires have been twisted between the legs of a paling and slightly after thereverse movement of the lever 45, rack-bar, and twisters has been made. The machine is there shown pushed back from the palings in an unusual position in order that the view of the parts of the machine would not be obstructed by the palings. Just at the time of the complete operation of the twisters in the process of twisting the strand-wires their slots are not in line with the slots in the lower part of the plates 27 and 28; but the twisters make about onefourth of a turn farther to the right. Then the lever 45 is moved toward the left and the twisters are reversed in their rotary movement, so that the slots in the twisters move down into alinement with the slots in the plates 27 and 28, and that is the position of the parts shown 'in Fig. 1; but about the time the slots in the twisters come into alinement with the slots in the plates 27 and 28 the finger 63 on the rear bar 48 moving to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, pushes the lever 55 o the catch 60, and all the twisters are thrown upward to the position shown in Fig. 3. The machine is then pushed back on its track somewhat away from the palings into the position shown in Fig. 1, although it need not be quite so far as there shown. The spreader 20 is then turned from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, a paling inserted from the right-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, to the left between the strand-wires. The machine is then moved forward from the position shown in Fig. 1 up against the fence already made until the twisters extend about midway over the paling, as seen in Fig. 2, and the ends of the alinement-arms force the IOO IIO

inner leg of the paling into the desired transis thrown backward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, so that the strand-wires will come close together in the middle of the twisters. The lever 45 is then pulled toward. the operator to the right to the position shown in Fig. 1, which will cause the operation of the twisters, and the process above outlined is repeated for each paling.

IVith the twisters set considerably to the front the machine does not have to be moved so far away from the work every time a paling is inserted, as there is more room for the operation of the workman than if the twisters were located beneath or above the rack-bar 38 and the frame. The spreader oscillates always with the machine, so that it is never out Y of place, and its supports act as means for 1. In a machine of the kind described, thev combination with twisters and means for holding strand-wires so they will be engaged and twisted by the twisters, of a single lever that operates the twisters and disengages them and the strand-wires from each other.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with twisters and means for holding the strand-wires stationary and so they will be engaged and twisted by the twisters, of a single lever that operates the twisters and moves them from the strand-wires.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a stationary frame, an oscillatory frame mounted in connection therewith, twisters carried by said oscillatory frame in advance thereof and means carried by said frames for operating' the twisters.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a bar having holes in it for receiving the strandwires, twisters, means pivotally connected with the frame in vertical alinement with said holes 'for carrying the twisters in advance of the frame and in alinement with the holes, and means for operating the twisters.

5. In a machine of the kind described, twisters, oscillatory arms carrying the twisters, mechanism for oscillating said arms for movingI the twisters into and ont of engagement with the strand-wires, and means for op` erating said twisters.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, a reciprocating rack-bar, arms pivoted to said frame and extending in advance of the rack-bar, twisters carried by said arms in advance of said rack-bar, and means carried by said arms for transmitting motion from thel rack-bar to the twister mechanism.

7. In a machine for weaving palings with strand-wires, a machine-'frame movable along' 'the strand-wires, twister mechanism carried by said machine frame, and a horizontal spreader mounted in connection with said frame for vertically spreading the strand-wires for the insertion of the palings.

8. In a machine for weaving palings with y,strand-wires, a machine-frame movable along the strand-wires, twister mechanism carried by said machineframe, and a horizontal spreader mounted in connection with said frame in advance thereof and extending between said strand-wires.

9. In a machine for weaving palings with strand-wires, a frame, twister mechanism carried by the frame in advance thereof, and a horizontal spreader mounted in combination with the frame and between the frame and twister mechanism for spreading the strandwires for inserting the palings.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a frame having holes in it for the strand-wires, twisters mounted in advance of the frame and in alinement with the holes, and a spreader between the frame and twisters.

l1. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, suitable twister mechanisms carried by and mounted in advance of the frame, and means between the frame and twister mechanisms for alining a paling.

12. In amachine of the kind described, twisters, means that hold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, spring-actuated mechanism that moves said twisters away from the strand-wires, a catch that holds said mechanism from the action of the spring, and means that operates the twisters and also disengages said mechanism from the catch to permit the spring action thereof.

13. In a machine of the kind described, twisters, means that hold the strand-wires in position to be engaged by said twisters, mechanism that moves said twisters into engagement with the strand-wires, a spring that resists said movement, a catch that engages said mechanism and resists the action of the spring, and means that operates the twisters and also disengages said mechanism from said catch and permits the spring to act.

14. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means for holding strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters, oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, and a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires.

15. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means for holding the strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters, oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending' to actuate said lever so as to disengage the twisters from lthe strand-wires, a catch for engaging said lever to resist the action of the spring, and means for operating the twisters and also disengaging said lever from the catch.

16. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means for holding strandwires in position to be engaged by said twisters, oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame so as to have a slight longitudinal movement, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending to actuate said lever so as to disengage the twister mechanisms from the strand-wires, a

catch that engages said lever to resist the action of the spring, a spring on said shaft tending to draw it and said lever toward and into engagement with said catch, and' means for operating the twister mechanisms and also disengaging said lever from the catch.

17. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, tubular arms pivotally mounted in connection with said frame and extending in advance thereof, twister mechanisms mounted on said arms, means for operating said twister mechanisms, a shaft mounted in connection with the framework, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars pivoted to said cranks and connected with said tubular arms, and a lever secured to said cranks whereby the twister mechanisms are elevated and lowered.

18. In a machine of the kind described, .a frame, tubular arms pivotally mounted in connection with the frame and extending in advance thereof, twister mechanisms mounted on said arms, means for operating said twister mechanisms, a shaft mounted in connection with the framework, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars pivoted to said cranks at one end and at the other end secured to said tubular arms so as to be adjustable longitudinally of the latter and a lever on said shaft whereby the twister mechanisms are elevated and lowered.

19. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, arms extending in advance of the frame, an inner plate secured to the outer end' of each of said arms, an outer plate, spacers that secure said plates together, a shaft extending through each of said arms, a pinion on each end of said shaft, twisters mounted between said plates to mesh with said pinions at one end of said shaft, and means for actuating' the pinions at the other end of said shaft.

:20. In amachine of the kind described, a frame, twister mechanisms, a reciprocable rack-bar mounted on the frame for operating the twister mechanisms, a lever pivoted to the frame near one end of said rack-bar, and a connecting-rod extending from said lever and pivotally connected with the other end of the rack-bar.

2l. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twister mechanisms, a reciprocable rack-bar mounted on the frame for operating the twister mechanisms, a lever forked at one end to form two arms that` are pivotally mounted in connection with one side of-the frame, and a pair of connecting-bars extending from the arms of said level', one on eachA side of the frame and pivotally connected to the remote end of said rack-bar.

22. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters` means that hold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending' from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever on said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending to elevate said twisters, a catch that engages said lever and resists the action of the spring, a rack-bar and mechanism for operating the twisters, a lever for actuating said rack-bar, and means connected with said last-mentioned lever for disengaging the other lever from said catch so that the spring will act to elevate the twisters.

23. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means that hold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, oscillatory means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending' to elevate said twisters, a catch that engages said lever and resists the action of the spring, a rack-bai' and mechanism for operating the twisters, a lever pivoted to the frame at one side thereof, connecting-bars extending from said last-mentioned lever and pivoted to the relnote end of the rack-bar for actuating it, and a springfinger on one of said connecting-hars that while moving' in one direction disengages the other lever from said catch but when moving lin the reverse direction will not affect such lever.

24. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters, means that hold strand-wires in position to be engaged by the twisters, oscillatory'means on which the twisters are carried in advance of the frame, a shaft mounted on the frame, cranks on said shaft, connecting-bars extending from said cranks to the means for carrying the twisters, a lever secured to said shaft that operates it and moves the twisters into and out of engagement with the strand-wires, a spring tending to elevate said twisters, a catch that engages said lever and resists the action of the spring, a rack-bar and mechanismV for ,operating the twisters, a

IOO

IIO

lever pivoted to the frame at one side thereof,

25. ln a machine of the kind described, a

frame, plates secured to the frame and extending from the same in pairs, a reciprocable rackbar mounted on the frame and movable through said plates, a box pivotally mounted between each pair of said plates, a tubular arm connected with said box and extending forward, twister mechanisms mounted on the forward end of each arm, a shaft extending through each of said arms and box, a pinion mounted in said box on said shaft in engagement with said rack-bar, and means for oscillating said arms so that the pinions will in all positions of said arms be in actuating engagement with the rack-bara 26. ln a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters mounted in advance of tho frame, and arms extending from the frame toward the twisters for aliningl the paling'.

27. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters mounted in advance of the frame, arms extending from the frame toward the twisters and notches in the ends of said arms for receiving and alining the paling'.

28. ln a machine of the kind described, a frame, twisters mounted in advance of the frame, a spreader, and means secured to the frame for holding said spreader between the frame and twisters, said holding means being in transverse alinement and formed to aline a paling when the machine is movedV up to its work.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

WILLIAM L. l). LAKEY.

Witnesses:

V. H. Locxwoon, Jol-IN T. ADAMS, Jr.

Images