ELECTRIC FENCING COMPONENTS

Abstract

The invention provides components for an electric fence. The components are made of a composite material including a derivative or a combination of minerals and a polymeric material.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An electric fence component, made of a composite material including: a derivative or a combination of minerals of which the major mineral component is aluminium oxide or silica; and a thermoplastic polymeric material.

13. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the component is selected from any one of: a post, a dropper post, a bracket and a wire mounting fitting.

14. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the composite material includes between 50 and 90 mass percent of the mineral derivative in the form of a powder and between 50 and 10 mass percent of a polymeric material.

15. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material is selected from any one of Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

16. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mineral has a particle size in the micron range.

17. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mineral has an average particle size in the range of 300 to 600 microns.

18. The electric fence component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mineral Titanium Oxide is added.

19. An electric fence, which includes an electric fence component as claimed in claim 12.

20. A composition for the manufacture of components for electric fencing, which composition includes; between 50 and 90 mass percent of a mineral derivative in the form of a powder of which the major mineral component is aluminium oxide or silica; and between 50 and 10 weight percent of a thermoplastic polymeric material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The invention is now described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the drawings:

[0027] FIGS. 1 and 3 shows an electric fence, in accordance with the invention,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows details of a post of the electric fence,

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a bracket for an electric fence, in accordance with the invention;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an electric fence erected with the brackets;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows aide and top view of another embodiment of a fence comprising components of an electric fence in accordance with the invention; and

[0032] FIG. 7 shows detailed views of some of the components.

[0033] Referring now to the drawings, the component, generally indicated with reference numeral 10, shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3 is a post for an electric fence and the component shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a bracket for an electric fence, which can be mounted to an existing post for a fence or a wall.

[0034] A first set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of thermoplastic HDPE polymeric material and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in the Free State South Africa known as Bultfontein. Analysis of the screened mineral powder showed the major components to be 91 mass percent silica and 4.4% Aluminium oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0035] A second set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of thermoplastic HDPE polymeric material and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in close to the town of Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa known as Bronx. Analysis of the mineral powder showed the major components to be 87 mass percent silica, 6% aluminium oxide and 2.6% iron oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0036] A third set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of thermoplastic polypropylene and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in the Free State South Africa known as Bultfontein. Analysis of the mineral powder showed the major components to be 91 mass percent silica and 4.4% Aluminium oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0037] A fourth set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of thermoplastic polypropylene and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in close to the town of Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa known as Bronx. Analysis of the mineral powder showed the major components to be 87 mass percent silica, 6% aluminium oxide and 2.6% iron oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0038] A fifth set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of PET and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in the Free State South Africa known as Bultfontein. Analysis of the mineral powder showed the major components to be 91 mass percent silica and 4.4% Aluminium oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0039] A sixth set of components is extruded or moulded from pellets of a composite material, which includes 40 mass percent of PET and 60 mass percent of a silica based mineral powder having an average particle size of 450 micron. In this case, the mineral powder was sourced from a stone quarry in close to the town of Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa known as Bronx. Analysis of the mineral powder showed the major components to be 87 mass percent silica, 6% aluminium oxide and 2.6% iron oxide with the rest made up of trace minerals. During mixing of the above two components, 1% UV stabilising agent, 2% colour agent and % flow improving agent is added. These additives are commercially available under different names in powder form.

[0040] In a first example, the post and bracket is provided with holes 12 for receiving electric wiring 14 there through. The bracket is further provided with holes 16 for mounting the bracket to a wall or existing fence post.

[0041] In another example as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 a fence 9 is provided, which includes a palisade fence combined with an electric fence. The extruded posts 10 are extruded from pellets of the described composite material in sizes, 50 mm×50 mm, 75 mm×75 mm and 100 mm×100 mm. The posts are extruded with internal strengthening cross members 18 X-shaped in cross section. Bottom 20 and top 22 caps are provided for the posts. The fence further includes extruded angled horizontal rails 24 provided with slots 26 for receiving pales 28 of angled sections there through. The left post 10 as shown in FIG. 6 is elongated and provided holes for receiving electric fencing 30 there through. It is to be appreciated that the composition of the components for the fence gives it good structural strength, durability and insulating properties so that no special connectors and brackets are required as would be required for a typical metal fence. This leads to a material cost and installation time saving.

[0042] The composite material can also be used to manufacture other posts such as sign posts and dropper posts such as y-posts.

[0043] It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.