US390046A - Wire-fence tightener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B; WARNER.

WIRE FENCE TIGHTENER.

l I W WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT Grinch.

EBENEZER WARNER, OF TOMAH, WISCONSIN.

WIRE=FENCE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,046, dated September 25, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, EBENEZER WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tomah, in the county of Monroe and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Tighteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, 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 and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers, and has for its object the provision of a device for taking up slack in awire when the wire is too loose and for loosening the said wire when the tension thereof is too great, which will be simple, capable ofbeing readily applied,cheap, efficient, and durable.

The stretcher consists of a Windlass having a lever or arm and a pivoted catch at the end of the lever. This pivoted catch forms an extension of the lever when turned parallel therewith-and forms a look when turned crosswise of the lever.

The improvement consists in the peculiar construction and combination .of the parts, which hereinafter will be more fully described and claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of a section of fence embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the wire-tightening device on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of a modification.

The fence is composed of the longitudinal wires A and the fence-posts B and O. The posts B are the main posts and are set up first in the construction of the fence, and are capable of being rotated to tighten the wire, thereby performing the function of a Windlass. The posts 0 are intermediate supports between the posts or windlasses B. The Windlass or post has a journal, I), at its lower end, which is stepped in a block set in the ground, and is provided with a flange, b, which overlaps the opening in the block and prevents the entrance of wet dirt, 850., therein, besides steadying the post. The kerf d, formed in the Windlass or post, extends from the top of the said post to within a short distance of its lower end and is adapted to receive the fencewires, which are clamped between the two parts of the said post. The lever or arm D is formed of two corresponding parts which are secured to or form a part of the post or Windlass. The short arms (1 of the parts of the lever are secured together by the bolt 6, and the long arms d of the said parts are held together bythe bolt 0. The pivoted catch E is placed between the parts of the lever and is mounted on the bolt 0. When the frame is set up, the wires composing it can be stretched or slackened, as required, by rotating the post to the right or the left, as desired. The catch E is first turned parallel with the lever D to pass between the fence-wires. When the desired tension on the fence-wires is obtained, the catch E is turned to set crosswise of thelever,and, resting against the fence-wires, prevents any retrograde movement of the post. By leaving off the lower end, b, of the Windlass it is adapted for a wiretightener for general use, and can be applied to a fence already set up.

Fig. 3 shows a modification, in which the post or Windlass B and the lever D are composed of one part, there being no kerf to separate or divide it. The catch E is pivoted to one side of the lever by the pivot or bolt e The wires are held to the post in any desired manner, as by the hooks F.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a wire fence, the combination,with the fence-wires, of the post having the fence-wires connected therewith, and having ajournal at its lower end, which journal is adapted to he stepped in a block in the ground, and is provided with a flange at its upper end to overlap the sides of the opening in the block in which the said journal is stepped, the lever forming a part of the post, and the catch pivoted to the said lever and adapted to form an extension of the lever and to set crosswise of the fence-wires and engage therewith to prevent the post turning back when the said wires are tightened, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fence, the combination, with the fence-wires, of the post having ajournal at its lower end and having its upper portion sepav rated or divided into two longitudinal halves In testimony whereof I aliix nlysignatui'e in by a kerf, the lever composed of two correpresence of two witnesses. spondin parts which are carried by the parts of the wi ndlass, the bolts for securing the parts EBENEZER' WARNER 5 of the lever together, and the catch placed be- \iVitnesses:

tween the parts of the lever and mounted on A. I. LAOEY,

one of the said bolts, substantially as specified. S. SPEOHT.

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