US849441A

US849441A - Anchor-post and stretcher.

Info

Publication number: US849441A
Application number: US32094806A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Underwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1906-06-09
Filing date: 1906-06-09
Publication date: 1907-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1924-04-09

Description

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1906.

7n: NORRIS PITB'KJ co-. WASHINGTON, m c.

ANCHOR-POST AND STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed June 9, 1906. Serial No. 320,948.

To ail whom, 2125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK UNDERWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Anchor-Posts and Stretehers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fences which are made of wire supported between posts and stretched to a high degree of tension thereon. While it is adapted to all styles of fence of this kind, it is particularly designed to be used in connection with those fences which comprise a multiplicity of longitudinal wires held at suitable distances apart by vertical stay-pieces. The longitudinal wires in such fences are usually provided with tension curves consisting of spiral portions or oll'sets, which give elasticity, but which it is necessary to put under tension in order to prevent the fence from sagging and to take up any slack which may arise from temporary stretching of the fence either by mechanical strain or by changes of temperature. In erecting this class of fence it is customary to attach one end to an anchor-post and to use a stretching device attached to a second anchor-post at the other end of the fence, to which after the wire is stretched it is attached and secured under tension, after which the stretching apparatus is removed. The apparatus for this purpose is more or less cumbersome and is provided with clamping means to which the wires are temporarily attached during the stretching process and until they are secured to the post. l/Vhen removed, there is no. means to restretch the fence in case of sagging or necessary repairs except by using the same or a similar device, entailing much less of time and labor which is especially skilled in this class of work.

It is the object of my invention to provide an anchor-post which, with certain attachments forming a part of my invention, shall itself provide the stretching means, which is at all times adapted to loosen or restretch the fence in case repairs or a different tension is desired, and by which the fence may be erected and attached quickly and easily without the necessity of skilled labor to manipulate it.

The princi les of my invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a fence when in position and attached to my improved anchor-post and stretching device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan of the post, ratchet, and

strut attachment. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. at is a plan of the bottom anchorage or bearing. Fig. 5 shows a side bearing. Fig. 6 is a crank or wrench for turning the ratchet-wheel, and Fig. 7 is a fractional view of a post with wire-securing strip attached.

Further describing my invention with reference to the drawings, in which like charac ters of reference denote like parts throughout, 1 is a circular post, which may be of any suitable or convenient size or material, though I prefer to use gas-pipe or other metal tubing. The lower part thereof is set into the ground to a proper de )th and the lower end pivoted upon a base-plate 2, which may have the upwardly-projecting lug 3 fitted to the inside diameter of the pipe or post and which should be mounted upon the foundation-block 1. A casing 5 of suitable size may surround the post to prevent the earth from being packed against it, so as to interfere with its free movement. I do not consider this necessary, but find that in practice it may be omitted if desired.

A broad bearing to support the post against side strain is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which 6 represents a support of suitable size or shape, with a bearing-block 7 mounted thereon having a curvature corresponding to the outside curvature of the post and which should be set in the ground near the surface to take the strain caused by stretching the fence, as hereinafter described.

An abutment for bracing the post is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the head 11 is provided with a lug 13. The head 11 is attached "to the lower part of the post by the

rods

14 and 15, which are centrally hooked together at 16. to each other and interchangeable and provided with threaded ends and nuts 17. The lug 13 is inserted into a pipe or timber forming the strut 20, which at the other end is se cured to a suitable bearing-block 21, which is mounted on the post 22, placed. at a proper distance from the strut. A cross-bracing of the two posts may be effected by means of the tiewire 23, which may be attached to the secondary post 22 at the upper part and secured to the anchor-post by being passed therearound at 24, security against sliding upward being afforded by hooking it under the attaching portion of the

rods

14 and 15.

Fitted to the top of the post is a ratchetwheel 30, having the toothed projections 31 These are preferably similar on one face and the similar but reversed teeth 32 on the other face. The inside diameter of the ratchet-wheel is such as to allow it to fit snugly over the post 1, which is provided with notches on the upper edge into which fit lugs or inwardly-projecting parts 35 on the ratchet-wheel 30. The said ratchet-wheel is provided with a peripheral groove 36, and the head 11 has a correspond ing projection 37, adapted to fit in said groove and prevent the ratchet-wheel from vertical displacement.

A pawl 38 is pivoted at 39 and provided with a counterweight 40, so that the point thereof will engage the notches on the under side of the ratchet-wheel and hold the same securely against reverse movement when the strain of the wire is thrown upon the post to which it is attached.

An instrument for tightening the ratchetwheel is shown in Fig. 6. A body portion 42 is provided with oppositely-placed but conformable teeth 43 and 44, while sleeves 45, of suitable external diameter to fit the inside of the anchor-post, project upwardly and downwardly from the body portion. Holes 46 in said sleeves afford means by which a bar may be inserted for turning the instrument.

Then it is desired to stretch a fence by the mechanism above described, the separate wires are secured to the post. This may be done by providing properly-spaced openings, into which the bent or hooked ends of the wires may be inserted.

Another practical means of securing the wires to the post and one by which the spac ing of the wires may be varied as desired is illustrated in Fig. 7, in which 47 is a strip of material applied longitudinally to the face of the post 1 and secured in place by screws 48 or other similar devices. The securingpoints need not necessarily be near together, but will ordinarily be suflicient if at the extreme ends of the strip. The wires are placed under the securing-strip at proper distances apart and bent thereover. When the post is turned so that the wires are wrapped around it, they will inclose the strip, and the strain of the wires, which is constantly in creasing, will secure the strip to the post against possibility of displacement. The proper end of the tightening instrument being placed downward, the sleeve 45 inserted into the post, and a bar placed in the openings 46 of the upwardly-projecting sleeve, and the ratchet-wheel is thereby turned, winding the fence upon the post, while the backward movement is prevented by the dog 38. WVhen the fence is sufficiently strained, the tightening instrument is removed, and the fence will remain tightly strained until released, if necessary. If it is desired to use the post in stretching a'fence from the opposite direction, the double-faced ratcaettightening instrument, which is duplicately formed, will also be reversed in use to correspond, and the post will be turned to the right instead of the left, as first described.

[ claim 1. In an anchor-post and stretcher; .a rotatable post, means for securing fencing thereto, means for rotating the post, a brace to engage the post rigidly secured to the ground at a distance therefrom, and me ans for locking the post to the brace against reverse rotation.

2. in an anchor-post and stretcher, a post rotatable in the ground, means for attaching fencing thereto, a ratchet wheel or collar on the post independent of the fencing-attaching means, a brace to engage the collar secured against rotation by engagement external to the post, and means for mutual engagement between the brace and the collar.

3. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a circular column attached to and rotatable in the ground, a ratchet-collar secured to the column, a brace to engage the ratchet-collar secured against rotation by means independent thereof, and a dog on the brace to engage the ratchet-collar.

4. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a rotatable column, a brace and head to support the column, a dog on the brace-head, said dog and brace-head being adapted to mutual pivotal engagement on either side of the head, and an invertible collar on the column, said collar having conformably but oppositely placed ratchet-teeth on the upper and lower faces respectively adapted to be engaged by said dog.

5. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a rotatable column, a brace therefor, a brace-head to engage the column, pivots on either side of the brace-head, a dog mountable on said pivots, and an invertible collar on the column, said collar having conformably but oppositely placed ratchetteeth on the upper and lower faces respectively and adapted to be engaged by said do E. in an anchor-post and stretcher, a circular column attached to and rotatable in the ground, a ratchet-collar secured to the column, a brace for the post, a dog on the brace to engage the ratchet-collar, and a turning wrench having a central body portion with upper and lower faces, said faces having oppositely-placed but conformed teeth adapted to engage the teeth on the collar.

7. in an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of an anchor-block, a column rotatable thereon, a brace for the column to engage the head thereof, and a tie-rod to connect the anchor-block and the brace.

S. In an anchor-post and stretcher, the combination of a column, a foundation-block therefor, a ratchet-wheel on the upper part of wheel may be reversed, in which case the l the post, a brace-head engaging the ratchet- Wheel, a brace to engage the brace-head, and sleeve on the bearing-block, a post adapted a tie-rod to secure the brace-head to the to rotate in said sleeve, and means for securfoundation-block. ing the post against reverse rotation.

9. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a foun- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 5 dation-block secured in the ground, a col hand, this 2d day of June, A. D. 1906, in the I 5 umn pivotally mounted thereon, and a bearpresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

lng-block in the ground adapted to engage FRANK UN DERl/VOOD. the post midway of its length. l/Vitnesses:

10. In an anchor-post and stretcher, a O. K. CHAMBERLAIN,

1o foundation-block secured in the ground, a A. S. PHILLIPS.