US2639889A - Fence stretcher - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENCE STRETCHER Arthur Thorsbakken, Alden, Iowa I Application Au ust 21, 1950, Serial No. 180,548

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for stretchin wire fencing before securing it to the posts, and it relates more particularly to an improved clamp for engagement with the fencing, said clamp being adapted for connection with a block and tackle, a tractor or other pulling means to transmit the required pull to the fencing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, light, strong, durable, safe and efiective clamp which may be more easily handled than conventional bolt-contracted clamps, and may be easily applied and released without the use of a wrench.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured from lengths of standard metal stock welded together.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp,

Figure 2 is an edge view, and

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 1.

A preferred construction has been shown in the drawing and will be rather specifically described, but variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Two channel bars 6 and I are provided for disposition at opposite sides of the fencing, the open sides of said channel bars being disposed outwardly. Longitudinal rods 8 and 9 are welded to the closed inner sides 6 and 1- of the bars 6 and 1, respectively, and are disposed in intermeshing relation with each other to tightly grip the fencing, there being preferably one rod on bar 6 and two rods on bar I. The open sides of the channel bars 6 and I are spanned by centrally located elongated plates I and II, respeetively, said plates being welded to the outer edges of the side flanges I2 and 13 of said bars. A chain (not shown) is passed around the central portions of the two bars 6 and l and the plates Ill and H to connect the clamp with a tractor or other pulling means, and said plates effectively reinforce this zone of stress of the clamp.

Upper and lower U-shaped yokes l4 and I straddle the two bars 6 and 1, near the ends of these bars. The two side arms ll; of each of these yokes are welded to the side flanges l2 of the bar 6, and the arm-connecting portions I! of said yokes are spaced outwardly from the open side of the bar 1. Upper and lower wedges l8 and I9 are cooperable with the arm-connecting portions l1 and are welded to the outer edges of the side flanges [3 of bar I, said wedges having uniform inclination in the same direction. Thus, relative endwise movement of the two bars 6 and l in one direction will cause inward movement of said bars to clamp the fencing, and relative endwise movement of said bars 6 and 1 in the other direction will cause release of the clamp from the fencing. When the clamp is disconnected from the pulling means and released, the bar 1 and its wedges l8 and I9 may be bodily withdrawn from the yokes l4 and I5 of the bar 6, permitting quick and easy removal of the entire clamp. It may then be re-assembled and stored conveniently, or re-assembled in operative relation with another reach of the fencing, as required.

In order to tighten the clamp, it is simply necessary to drive the bar I downwardly with respect to the bar 6; and to release said clamp, said bar I is again driven upwardly. These driving operations may be effected with any kind of hand tool or even with a stone, and the ends of bar I are preferably provided with welded-on anvil blocks 20 upon which to deliver the clamp applying and releasing blows. The thick ends 21 of the wedges I8 and I9 may also be struck, if desired, to aid in tightening the clamp, and at least one of the thin ends of said wedges may constitute a shoulder 22 which may be struck, if desired, to assist in loosening the clamp. Each of these wedges is preferably constructed from separate pieces of metal welded together as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel construction has been provided for attaining the desired ends, and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations.

I claim:

1. In a fence stretcher, one clamping bar for disposition at one side of the fencing, U-shaped yokes the side arms of which straddle and are rigidly secured to said bar, the arm-connecting portions of said yokes being outwardly spaced from the fence-engaging side of said one bar, and a second clamping bar for disposition at the other side of the fencing, said second bar extending slidably between said side arms of each of said yokes and being inwardly spaced from said armconnecting portions of said yokes, and wedges rigidly secured to said second bar, said wedges extending longitudinally of the bar and being slidably received between said side arms and contacting slidably with the inner sides of said armconnecting portions, said wedges and said arm connecting portions having uniform inclination in the same direction, whereby relative endwise Sliding of said bars in one direction will cause movement of said bars toward each other and vice versa.

2. A stm-1cture-*v as; specified" in claim": 1; said second bar-being a channel banwithits open side disposed outwardly, said wedges spanning said open side of said channel bar and being secured to the side flanges of said channel bar.

3. A structure as specified in claim- 1"; said second bar being a channel bar with-its open side, L5,

disposed outwardly, said wedges spanning said 4 open side of said channel bar and being secured to the side flanges of said channel bar, and a substantially central elongated plate spanning said open side of said channel bar and secured 5 to said side flanges of said channel bar.

ARTHUR THORSBAKKEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATEsaPATENTS m Number Name" Date 802,435 Van Oct. 24, 1905 968,998 Steuart Aug. 30, 1910 bQQJ-Afl: Mahan May 19, 1914 1,248,529 Nolin et a1. Dec. 4, 1917 1282517B Bradford Sept. 24, 1931 1,859,812,. Wiley; May 24, 1932

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