Fence Stretcher with Sliding Trolley and Parallel Driveshaft

Abstract

A fence stretcher that has a rail with first and second ends. A driveshaft is longitudinally spaced apart from the rail in a position that is parallel and adjacent to the rail between the rail ends. A trolley is slidably mounted to the driveshaft. The trolley is structured to smoothly and continuously advance along the rail between the rail ends. The fence stretcher allows for quick and efficient stretching of fence wire during fence installation and maintenance processes.

Claims

1. A fence stretcher comprising: a rail having: a first rail end; a second rail end; a driveshaft disposed parallel and adjacent to the rail between the first rail end and the second rail end, wherein the driveshaft is longitudinally spaced apart from the rail; and a trolley slidably mounted to the driveshaft between the first rail end and the second rail end, wherein the trolley is structured to continuously advance along the rail between the first rail end and the second rail end.

2. The fence stretcher of claim 1, wherein the driveshaft is a lead screw.

3. The fence stretcher of claim 2, further comprising: a lead member mounted to the lead screw and structured to translate rotational motion of the lead screw into linear motion of the trolley.

4. The fence stretcher of claim 3, further comprising: a guide member connected between the lead member and the trolley, the guide member structured to cooperate with a rail channel to maintain an orientation of the trolley relative to the rail.

5. The fence stretcher of claim 3, further comprising: a guide member connected between the lead member and the rail, the guide member structured to cooperate with the rail to maintain an orientation of the lead member relative to the rail.

6. The fence stretcher of claim 1, further comprising: a guide member mounted to the trolley and structured to cooperate with the rail to maintain an orientation of the trolley relative to the rail; and wherein the rail is a tube and further comprises: a rail channel disposed between the first rail end and the second rail end and structured to receive the guide member.

7. The fence stretcher of claim 1, further comprising: a torque member disposed at the first rail end and structured to rotate the driveshaft in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

8. The fence stretcher of claim 7, further comprising: a first wire catch disposed at the first rail end and structured to secure a first fence wire for stretching, wherein the first wire catch is mounted at a fixed position adjacent to the torque member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Aspects are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the fence stretcher showing translational motion of the trolley along the rail;

[0027] FIG. 2 depicts a side profile view of the fence stretcher in FIG. 1 showing the post bracket in the closed configuration;

[0028] FIG. 3 depicts a top-down view of the fence stretcher in FIG. 1 showing the driveshaft disposed within the rail channel;

[0029] FIG. 4 depicts a top-down view of the fence stretcher with the trolley removed showing the lead member disposed within the rail channel;

[0030] FIG. 5 depicts a close-up view of the wire catch disposed on the trolley showing a fence wire secured for stretching in line with the rail by the trolley; and

[0031] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of a method for stretching wire fencing with the fence stretcher by continuous linear advancement of the trolley.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The fence stretcher provides continuous engagement and consistent control when tensioning wire fencing, while reducing physical exertion and increasing efficiency. The fence stretcher may tension, splice, install, reposition, mend, and generally handle chains, cables, coils, and other rope-like structures such as high tensile, barbed, or smooth wire fences. The fence stretcher has a rail with first and second ends. A driveshaft is positioned parallel and adjacent to the rail between the rail ends. A trolley is slidably mounted to the driveshaft and structured to continuously advance along the rail between the rail ends. A first wire catch is mounted to the trolley and structured to secure a first fence wire. A second wire catch may be mounted at a fixed position adjacent to the torque member and structured to secure a second fence wire. The trolley's movement between the rail ends stretches the fence wire. The fence stretcher provides continuous and uniform tension on fence wire during fence installation and maintenance applications.

[0033] FIG. 1 depicts a fence stretcher 100 that comprises a rail 110 and a driveshaft 120. The driveshaft 120 is structured to continuously advance (see movement arrow 145) a trolley 140 along the rail 110. The rail 110 extends longitudinally between a first rail end 112 and a second rail end 114. The rail 110 may be approximately 24 in length. The rail 110 may be an elongated rod, strut, or bar made of a solid material, such as metal, that is durable and lightweight. The rail 110 may be a tube having a hollow interior that is rectangular or cylindrical in shape. A rail channel 115 may be disposed in the rail 110 between the first rail end 112 and second rail end 114. The rail channel 115 may be structured to cooperatively receive the driveshaft 120.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, driveshaft 120 is disposed within rail 110 that is a tube. Driveshaft 120 may be an elongated structure mounted between the first rail end 112 and second rail end 114. The driveshaft 120 may be approximately 24 in length. Driveshaft 120 may be mounted between a first bushing 124 disposed at the first rail end 112 and a second bushing 126 disposed at the second rail end 114. Bushings, which may be made of a brass alloy, are shown disposed at an end cap mounted to the rail ends. Driveshaft 120 may be disposed parallel with the rail 110 between the first rail end 112 and the second rail end 114. The driveshaft 120 may be longitudinally spaced apart from the rail 110.

[0035] Driveshaft 120 may comprise a bar, shaft, or cylindrical rod of metal, such as alloy steel, with a threaded section 122. Threaded section 122 may comprise a single or series of external threads or grooves running helically around driveshaft 120. For example, driveshaft 120 may comprise an Acme screw or all-thread rod. The diameter of driveshaft 120 may be between and 1, or further between and , between and , or between and . In one example, an Acme rod used for the screw shaft was in diameter.

[0036] Driveshaft 120 may function as a lead screw. Lead screws, also known as power screws or translation screws, are screws that may be used as a linkage in a linear actuator device to translate rotary motion into linear motion. Other mechanisms, such as worm gear trains, pulleys, hydraulic pistons, or chain drives may function in place of the driveshaft 120 to apply an actuating force to tension fence wire.

[0037] Tensioning fence wire can be conducted without directly leveraging, ratcheting, or winching the trolley 140 along the rail 110 of fence stretcher 100. A torque member 130 disposed at the first rail end 112 mechanically couples with an external torque tool. Torque member 130 receives power from external torque tool and transfers that power from the external torque tool to driveshaft 120 in the form of rotational motion. External torque tools may include, but are not limited to, a variety of different cordless/corded drills, powered/manual impact wrenches, hand ratchets and wrenches, including socket adaptors.

[0038] Socket adaptors for the external torque tool may cooperatively engage a torque head 132 of torque member 130. The torque head 132 may be a polyhedral structure that couples and interlocks with a socket of the external torque tool. The torque head 132 may be a hexagonal bolt head that is received by a cooperatively shaped socket of the external torque tool. Other alternative designs and shapes may be used for torque head 132. Socket adaptors that cooperate with torque head 132 may have a socket size of between and 1, or further between and , between and , or between and . In one example, the socket adaptor has a socket to cooperatively fit with torque head 132.

[0039] Torque head 132 may be connected to a torque body 134 of torque member 130. The torque body 134 may be an elongated cylindrical structure that is terminally connected to the driveshaft 120 opposite a connection of torque body 134 with torque head 132. Torque body 134 is structured to transfer the rotation of torque head 132 by the external torque tool to rotate the driveshaft 120. As shown in FIG. 2, torque head 132 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction 136 or a clockwise direction 138 to rotate driveshaft 120 and linearly move a trolley 140.

[0040] Trolley 140 may be slidably mounted to the driveshaft 120 between the first rail end 112 and second rail end 114. The trolley 140 may be structured to cooperatively engage and continuously advance along the rail 110 without interruption. The trolley 140, powered by driveshaft 120, traverses the rail 110 in a linear path between the first rail end 112 and the second rail end 114, and vice versa. Torque may be transmitted to the trolley 140 from the driveshaft 120 in a high-power drive mode or a low-power drive mode.

[0041] The trolley 140 may function as a positioner mechanism when driven. Trolley 140 is structured to pull wire into a final stretch position along a longitudinal axis that is parallel and adjacent with rail 110. The trolley 140 may be driven intermittently or continuously between initial and final stretch positions. As shown in FIG. 1, trolley 140 may be transported from a first stretch position 116 to a second stretch position 118, or vice versa. The trolley 140 may move to, and stop at, an infinite number of stretch positions along the rail 110 between rail ends.

[0042] Trolley 140 may comprise a mounting plate 142. Mounting plate 142 may be rectangular in shape and made of a solid flat material, such as metal, that is durable and lightweight. Mounting plate 142 may cooperate with the rail 110 to maintain the riding orientation of trolley 140 during linear actuation. In cooperation with rail 110, mounting plate 142 may prevent a lead member 150 from rotating within rail channel 115 as driveshaft 120 revolves to move mounting plate 142 upon rail 110. In cooperation with rail 110, mounting plate 142 may prevent a guide member 160 from rotating within guide-receiving slot 125 as driveshaft 120 revolves to move mounting plate 142 upon rail 110. As a result, rotation of driveshaft 120 transfers power to the lead member 150 and guide member 160 to move trolley 140.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, lead member 150 is movably mounted upon driveshaft 120. Lead member 150 may be structured to move linearly upon the driveshaft 120 while received within the rail 110 that is a tube. Alternatively, lead member 150 may be structured to move linearly upon the driveshaft 120 while receiving the rail 110 that is an elongate bar or rod. Lead member 150 may be a rectangular block, such as a threaded nut, or cylindrical section made of metal, such as plastic, bronze, or copper alloys. The internal nut material may be made from a lubricating polymer. Lead member 150 has an internal thread that cooperates with external threads of the driveshaft 120. External threads of driveshaft 120 convert rotational motion into linear motion so that lead member 150 moves linearly upon the screw shaft over a consistent amount of lead.

[0044] The lead is the linear distance traveled by the lead member 150 along its longitudinal axis during one complete screw revolution (360) of driveshaft 120. As the lead increases, the linear speed of lead member 150 increases, and vice versa, as the lead decreases, the linear speed of lead member 150 decreases. A formula such a 1/TPI (threads per inch) or the number of revolutionsturns per inchthe driveshaft 120 takes to move lead member 150 one inch may be used in calculating the lead. The lead ratio of driveshaft 120 may range between 1/4 and 1/12. The lead ratio of driveshaft 120 may further range between 1/5 and 1/10, between 1/5 and 1/9, between 1/6 and 1/10, between 1/5 and 1/7, between 1/6 and 1/8. In one scenario, an Acme rod having a lead ratio of 1/6 was used as the screw shaft for driveshaft 120. Depending on the TPI of the threaded section 122, the lead of lead member 150 may increase stretching speed during fence tensioning applications. Stretching speed may be over five times faster than when using conventional fence stretching tools such as a come-along.

[0045] The rail channel 115 may be structured as a T-shaped opening with a guide-receiving slot 125 in the rail 110 tube to receive a guide member 160. Guide member 160 may be received with the guide-receiving slot 125 in a sidewall of rail 110 tube. Guide member 160 may be mounted upon lead member 150 disposed within rail channel 115. Guide member 160 may be a cylindrical section or a rectangular block, such as may be sourced from metal key stock material, to ride cooperatively within guide-receiving slot 125. Guide-receiving slot 125 may have an opening width of between and 1. The opening width of guide-receiving slot 125 may be further between and , between and , or approximately in width.

[0046] Guide member 160 may be mounted between lead member 150 and trolley 140 so that the components move together as a unit during linear actuation by driveshaft 120. Guide member 160 may be structured to cooperate with lipped edges of rail 110 on either side of guide-receiving slot 125. Guide member 160 keeps the orientation of trolley 140 relative to rail 110 while lead member 150 slides within rail channel 115. In one example, the guide member 160 may be mounted between the lead member 150 and the rail 110. The guide member 160 structured to cooperate with the rail 110 keeps the orientation of the lead member 150 relative to the rail 110. In another example, the lead member 150 may be mounted between the guide member 160 and the rail 110. The lead member 150 structured to cooperate with the rail 110 keeps the orientation of the guide member 160 relative to the rail. Therefore, rotational motion of driveshaft 120 does not convert into rotational motion of the lead member 150 and/or guide member 160, but is converted into translational motion of trolley 140.

[0047] A first wire catch 170 is structured to receive and hold a wire 10 for stretching. The first wire catch 170 may be mounted in the first stretch position 116 near the first rail end 112. The first wire catch 170 may be mounted in the second stretch position 118 near the second rail end 114. As shown in FIG. 5, first wire catch 170 is mounted to trolley 140 so that it is moveable. A terminal end of wire 10, or some point along a strand of the wire 10, may be inserted into first wire catch 170. First wire catch 170 may engage and lock the wire 10 between a wire guide 172 and a restraint member 174.

[0048] Wire guide 172 may be an elongated rod, strut, or bar made of a solid material, such as metal, that is durable and lightweight. In one example, wire guide 172 may include a top plate that overlaps a bar of key stock material to provide a notch for holding wire 10. Wire guide 172 may be mounted atop mounting plate 142 of trolley 140. Fasteners, such as metal bolts, screws or rivets, may be disposed through wire guide 172 at a first guide end 171 and a second guide end 173, or welding may be used to secure the wire guide 172 at a fixed position on mounting plate 142. Wire guide 172 may be mounted generally adjacent and parallel with rail 110. Wire guide 172 may maintain wire 10 parallel with the longitudinal axis of driveshaft 120 while being stretched. Wire guide 172 may be mounted at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of driveshaft 120 to support slight tension on the wire 10 secured within first wire catch 170.

[0049] Restraint member 174 may be an elongated rod, strut, or bar made of a solid material, such as metal, that is durable and lightweight. Restraint member 174 may be pivotally attached to mounting plate 142 of trolley 140 at a pivot joint 175. A pin or rod, such as a threaded bolt, screw, or rivet may be disposed through pivot joint 175 into mounting plate 142. Pivot joint 175 may be disposed at a middle portion between a restraint end 176 and a trigger end 178 of restraint member 174.

[0050] Restraint member 174 may be pivotable between a wire restraint position and a wire release position. In the wire restraint position, the longitudinal body of restraint member 174 disposed between the restraint end 176 and trigger end 178 aligns generally perpendicular relative to the longitudinal body of wire guide 172 and/or the wire 10 strand, as shown in FIG. 5. In the wire release position, the longitudinal body of restraint member 174 aligns adjacent and parallel relative to the longitudinal body of restraint member 174 and/or the wire 10 strand.

[0051] Restraint end 176 may be convexly curved and comprise a plurality of wire engagement teeth. At least one tooth of the plurality of wire engagement teeth may extend outwards from the restraint end 176. The at least one tooth is structured to contact and grip a wire 10 held by the wire guide 172. The wire guide 172 may have a corresponding concavely curved sidewall disposed below the top plate to receive the wire 10 that is flexed by the restraint end 176.

[0052] Trigger end 178 may be convexly or concavely curved with a smooth or grooved surface. Trigger end 178 may extend outwards beyond a perimeter of the mounting plate 142. Trigger end 178 may be structured to be moved about the pivot joint 175 by a hand or finger of an operator to release or restrain (see movement arrow 179) the wire 10 disposed within the first wire catch 170.

[0053] In one scenario, fence stretcher 100 may use the first wire catch 170 to pull wire fencing from one end towards a post engagement bracket 190 anchored to a post on the other end. On one end of fence stretcher 100, the first wire catch 170 may be positioned in a first stretch position 116 to grasp an end of the wire to be stretched. On the other end of fence stretcher 100, the torque member 130 mechanically couples to the external torque tool. The wire 10 is tensioned inline with fence stretcher 100 by the first wire catch 170 moving to second stretch position 118. Once the driveshaft 120 is halted, first wire catch 170 may securely hold the wire 10 at a fixed position adjacent to the torque member 130 until the terminal end of the wire 10 is tied off onto the post.

[0054] In another scenario, fence stretcher 100 may use the first wire catch 170 and a second wire catch, simultaneously, to pull wire fencing from two ends of fence stretcher 100 together. On one end of fence stretcher 100, the first wire catch 170 may be positioned in a first stretch position 116 to grasp an end of a first wire to be stretched. On the other end of fence stretcher 100, the second wire catch may be mounted in a second stretch position 118 at a fixed position adjacent to the torque member 130 to grasp an end of a second wire to be stretched. The torque member 130 mechanically couples to the external torque tool. The first wire and the second wire are tensioned in line with fence stretcher 100 as the first wire catch 170 moves from the first stretch position 116 towards the second wire catch at the second stretch position 118. Once the driveshaft 120 is halted, first wire catch 170 may securely hold the first wire and the second wire catch may securely hold the second wire at fixed positions until terminal ends of the wires are spliced together to join the separate wires into one united strand.

[0055] A handle 180 may be laterally connected to rail 110 for support of rail 110 by an operator during tensioning applications by fence stretcher 100 for fence installations and repairs. Handle 180 may allow an operator to securely grasp fence stretcher 100 during fence stretching operations. Handle 180 may be positioned adjacent to, or opposite, the post engagement bracket 190 on rail 110.

[0056] Post engagement bracket 190 may be structured to engage a fence post and brace the fence stretcher 100 against the fence post. A fence corner, running post, or similar fence structure may engage with the post engagement bracket 190 to anchor the fence stretcher 100 in place. Post engagement bracket 190 may be an elongated plate coupled to the fence stretcher 100. Post engagement bracket 190 may comprise a first transverse plate 195 mounted perpendicularly between a first leg plate 196 and a second leg plate 198. The first leg plate 196 and second leg plate 198 may be adjacent and parallel, one to the other, to form an H-shaped structure with first transverse plate 195. The first leg plate 196 and second leg plate 198 may be elongated curved structures composed of a strong durable and lightweight metal. The first leg plate 196 may be terminally connected to rail 110.

[0057] As shown between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, post engagement bracket 190 may be pivotally attached to rail 110 at a pivot joint 194. A pin or rod, such as a threaded bolt, may be disposed through pivot joint 194 into post engagement bracket 190 for mounting with rail 110. A fastening nut may secure the post engagement bracket 190 at the pivot joint 194. Post engagement bracket 190 may be pivotable between an open, unfolded configuration (shown in FIG. 1) and a closed, folded configuration (shown in FIG. 2). In the unfolded configuration, the first leg plate 196 and second leg plate 198 are perpendicular relative to rail 110. In the folded configuration, the first leg plate 196 and second leg plate 198 are adjacent and parallel relative to rail 110. In one example, a pivot block was mounted to rail 110 to prevent post engagement bracket 190 from over-extending past a generally perpendicular position with the rail 110. Alternatively, post engagement bracket 190 may be fixedly attached to the rail 110 by welding, fasteners, or other attaching means.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, post engagement bracket 190 has a curved body 192 with a plurality of post engagement teeth. The curved body 192 may be C-shaped. At least one tooth of the plurality of post engagement teeth are laterally connected to a concave portion of curved body 192 positioned opposite a convex portion. The at least one tooth is structured to penetrate and grip a wooden fence post.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example method 600 for stretching wire fencing with the fence stretcher. A trolley is slidably mounted to a driveshaft at a first rail end of a rail of the fence stretcher, according to step 610. A first fence wire is attached to a first wire catch disposed at the first rail end of the fence stretcher, according to step 620. A second fence wire may be attached to a second wire catch disposed at a second rail end of the rail, according to step 630. The second wire catch may be mounted adjacent a torque member of the fence stretcher. The driveshaft is rotated by the torque member to advance the trolley in a linear path along a longitudinal axis of the rail, according to step 640. The trolley is continuously advanced from the first rail end towards the second rail end by the driveshaft to tension the first fence wire, according to step 650. The first fence wire may be pulled in line with the rail towards the second rail end by the trolley, according to step 660. Alternatively, the first fence wire and the second fence wire may be pulled in line with the rail by the trolley, according to step 670. The first fence wire and the second fence wire may be tensioned together, simultaneously, without interruption.

[0060] It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein described. That although the drawings and specification set forth a preferred embodiment, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a description sense only and embody all such forms as come within the scope of the following claims.

[0061] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0062] For the convenience of the reader, the above description has focused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention and conveys the best mode contemplated for carrying it out. Throughout this application and its associated file history, when the term invention is used, it refers to the entire collection of ideas and principles described; in contrast, the formal definition of the exclusive protected property right is set forth in the claims, which exclusively control. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations. Other undescribed variations or modifications may be possible. Where multiple alternative embodiments are described, in many cases it will be possible to combine elements of different embodiments, or to combine elements of the embodiments described here with other modifications or variations that are not expressly described. A list of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, nor that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. In many cases, one feature or group of features may be used separately from the entire apparatus or methods described. Many of those undescribed variations, modifications and variations are within the literal scope of the following claims, and others are equivalent.