IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC CON- DUCTORS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Gray, of Binswood House, Highbury Hill,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC CON-
DUCTORS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 13th December 1867, and dated the 17th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Gray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
June 1867.
I, MATTHEW GRAY, of Biuswood House, Highbury Hill, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC
CONDUCTORS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
When twisting together several wires previous to their being coated with
gutta percha or compounds thereof, or with other material, air is found to be
retained in the coils, so as only to escape at the time of the subsequent coating
when its escape is found to produce imperfections in such coating. With a .
view to avoid this evil it has been proposed first to coat the internal or core

page_text: wire with a substance adapted to fill up the space between the coils, but such
method I believe has not been found effectual; and one part of my improve-
ments relates to first coating the several wires to surround a central or core
wire, or some of them, with a substance adapted in the subsequent twisting of
these outer wires on the internal or core wire to fill up any space between
them to the exclusion of air; for this purpose the outer wires as they pass
from their bobbins on to the inner or core wire pass through achamber carried
by a revolving twisting frame, and containing a suitable coating solution.
The solution I have found to answer for this purpose is composed of gutta
percha, bitumen, and tar in proportions such as will be kept in a sufficiently
fluid state by the application of heat from lighted gas, or by other suitable
means. The proportions I have found to answer are 2 parts of gutta percha,
1 of bitumen, and 1 of tar. The openings for the passage of the wires into
this chamber are about the size of the wires, so as to prevent the escape of the
contained material at those parts, and those where the wires severally pass out
are adapted to regulate the quantity of material to be applied as a coating,
and both sets of passages are moveable. A flame of gas or other suitable
heat may also be employed to act on the wires about the point where they are
twisted together.
When coating wires(single or compound) for electrical telegraphic purposes
with gutta percha or a compound thereof or with other insulating substance
in a heated state, another part of the improvements relates to means for
drawing upon the coated wire at separate parts of its progress through the
cooling media before winding it on to the reels in order as much as possible to
avoid injury to such coating; for this purpose the fresh coated wire after
being in part cooled by the action thereon of the cold water in the trough or
bath thence passes partly round a grooved roller or pulley of size sufficient to
act by the friction of its holding to put a drag on the coated wire, and which
roller or pulley has a positive motion given to it by band or other suitable
gear. The coated wire from this grooved drum or pulley is conducted into
and again traverses the cold water trough to another grooved drum or pulley,
which has motion given to it by frictional surface driven at a somewhat
accelerated speed adapted to put a slight strain on the coated wire, but which
strain is regulated by the extent of the friction produced. The coated wire
having passed partly round the grooved pulley or wheel is conducted to creels
driven by friction. After each coating of the wire or series of wires with
gutta percha or its compounds, or other insulating material in a heated state,
and the passage thereof through water for its cooling, it is important to get
id of any water adhering to its surface before applying thereto a fresh coating.

page_text: To facilitate the removal of any such moisture I place the coated wire in hanks
or open coils on saddles on other suitable supports in a closed passage or
closet, through which a current of air, by preference heated, is caused to pass.
This passage or closet is provided with several doors or covers to facilitate
entrance thereto for placing or change of the coated wire.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
GRAY, of Binswood House, Highbury Hill, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent, Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Matthew Gray, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew Gray,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew
Gray, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPHIC CONDUCTORS AND IN THE MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Matthew Gray, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matthew Gray, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
When forming electrical telegraph conductors by twisting together several
wires previous to their being coated with gutta percha or compounds thereof,

page_text: or with other material, one part of my improvements relates to first coating
the several wires which are to surround a central or core wire or some of
them with a substance adapted in the subsequent twisting of these outer wires
on the internal or core wire to fill up any space between them; for this
purpose according to this first part of the Invention the outer wires as they
pass from their bobbins on to the inner or core wire pass through a chamber,
carried by a revolving twisting frame and containing a suitable coating
solution. The solution I have found to answer for this purpose is composed
of gutta percha, bitumen, and tar in proportions, such as will be kept in a
sufficiently fluid state by the application of heat from lighted gas or by other
suitable means. The proportions I have found to answer are 2 parts of
gutta percha to 1 of bitumen and 1 of tar. In some cases gutta percha and
tar may be employed in proportions of one of gutta percha to two of tar. The
openings for the passage of the wires into this chamber are about the size of
the wires, so as to prevent the escape of the contained material at those parts,
and those where the wires severally pass out are adapted to regulate the
quantity of material to be applied as a coating, and both sets of passages are
moveable; heat is also employed to act on the wires about the point where
they are twisted together.
The second part of the improvements relates when coating wires (single or
compound)for electrical telegraphic purposes with gutta percha ora compound
thereof, or with other insulating substance in a heated state, to means for
drawing upon the coated wire at separate parts of its progress through the
cooling media before winding it on to the reels or creels in order as much
as possible to avoid injury to such coating while it is cooling; for this
purpose the fresh coated wire after being in part cooled by the action thereon
of the cold water in the trough or bath, thence passes partly round a grooved
roller or pulley of size sufficient to act by its holding to draw the coated wire,
and which roller or pulley has a positive motion given to it by band or other
suitable gear. The coated wire from this grooved drum or pulley is conducted
into and again traverses the cold water trough to another grooved drum or
pulley, which has motion given to it by frictional surface driven at a somewhat
accelerated speed adapted to put a slight strain on the coated wire, bat which
strain is regulated by the extent of the friction produced; the coated wire
having passed partly round the grooved pulley or wheel is conducted to creels
driven by friction. After each coating of the wire or series of wires with
gutta percha or its compounds or other insulating material in a heated state,
and the passage thereof through water for its cooling, it is important to get rid
of any water adhering to its surface before applying thereto a fresh coating.

page_text: a plau view of parts of apparatus with adaptations according to the first part
of the Invention.
Figures 4,5,6, and 7,show some portions of the apparatus on a larger scale
separately, in order that their character may be more clearly understood. In
each of the views the same letters are used to indicate corresponding parts
wherever they occur. The line a indicates an inner or core wire, and b, b, b,
outer wires to be laid on to the core wire. The inner or core wire is supplied
from a reel or otherwise, and it is guided as is well understood to pass up the
interior of the hollow tube c. The wires bare supplied from bobbins b¹
supported on the table c', which is capable of revolving with the tube or
column c by being affixed to it. The wires b according to this part of the
improvements in passing up to the inner or core wire a pass through a
chamber d which is affixed to and revolves with the tube c and table c¹; each
wire in passing into this chamber & passes through an opening formed in a
screw nipple or die e or other suitable instrument capable of removal for
change or otherwise to the size of wire for the time being applied on to the
inner or core wire, the opening in each nipple e being such that whilst it admits
of the free passage of a wire through it, it at the same time prevents as much
as possible the coating solution escaping in that way from the chamber d;
cach wire in passing out from the upper part of this chamber d passes through
a hole in another screw nut or plug for other moveable piece, the hole in
which is adapted to act as a gauge and regulate the quantity of solution
carried forward on each wire b. The chamber d may be kept heated by the
flame of a jet of gas; but I prefer to employ the heat of steam acting in a
chamber g surrounding the chamber d; similar heat may also be applied to
act on the wires a and b about the point where they come together. The
under side of the table c¹ is formed with or has applied to it a circle of teeth c

page_text: which are taken into by the teeth of a pinion on an arm h³, by which the table
c¹ and parts carried thereby are caused to revolve in the stationary framing A ;
but as such motion, together with the method of feeding the wires and carrying
them forward when combined constitute no part of the present improvements
I have not thought proper further to refer to them.
Figure 8 shows a side view, Figure 9 a plan view, Figure 10 a sectional
view, and Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 detail views of parts of apparatus
arranged according to the second head of the Invention. represents portions
of the cold water trough; the red lines; represent wires which have been
coated with gutta percha or a compound thereof in a heated state as is well
understood by persons engaged in such manufacture, and which wires are
passing in the direction of the arrows. The wires having passed from one to
near the other end of the trough i then pass over a pulley k which has here-
tofore been simply allowed to turn freely alone by the action of the wires
thereon, and it is by preference formed, as shown, with a series of grooves /¹
to receive each a separate wire; the grooves of the pulley k are lined or have
a bedding of soft india-rubber, upon which the coated wire rests, whilst
according to arrangements hitherto adopted this pulley is simply loose to move
only by the action thereon of the wire passing round it; according to my
improvements it is affixed to a shaft or spindle l, upon which is applied the
pulley to receive a strap or band from the pulley m affixed on the shaft
or axis m¹ and thereby receive a positive motion, and consequently a positive
and uniform motion is given to the wire as it is thereby drawn from the
covering apparatus dependent upon the speed given to the axis v; each wire
thence passes back under the guide roller n into the water contained in the
trough i, along which it again traverses to the extent desired, and thence it
rises under the roller o up to a pulley p, of which in this case there are a
series, one for each wire applied to the shaft or axis q, to which they are
held by frictionable pressure between the fixed collar q' and the moveable
collar q (shown by the detail views, Figures 11 and 12) which is formed with
a female screw to turn on the thread q³ formed on the shaft or axis q, by
turning which nut or collar q² the series of pulleys p may be held together, so
as to cause them to be moved with though at a different speed from that of
the axis q, depending upon the strain exerted or slip permitted by the amount
of pressure or friction applied to their surfaces by the action of the nut or
collar q². To render the friction obtained more effective there are applied
pieces of cloth or other fabric between the bosses of the respective pulleys and
the coliars q' and q² as indicated by the colored lines . The collar q² may
be fixed or set where required by a set screw ' or otherwise; the shaft or

page_text: axis 7 is like the shaft or axis supported to revolve in bearings carried by
the trough i, and it has affixed upon it a drum or pulley q' to receive a strap
or band r from the drum or pulleys affixed on the shaft or axis s'. Each wire
for the time under operation thence passes from a pulleyp to a reel or creel t,
of which there are seven shown (but the number may be varied to the number
of separate wires to be operated upon) they are applied to axes or spindles t¹
which are driven by bands or straps u¹ from the pulleys a acting on pulleys t²
affixed on those axes t¹. The pulleys u are also held to their axes u² by
frictional contact with the surfaces u³, u; the surface thereof being
adjustable by screwing on the shaft u², as is more clearly shown by Figures 13
and 14. The shafts m', u², and s¹, are driven by worm wheels v applied on
the shaft v', taking into the teeth of wheels 2 applied on the respective
shafts m', u², and s', and whilst a positive motion is thus given to the pulley k
the motion to the pulleys p and creels t are such as to put a progressive drag
on the wires for the time under operation; the speed of such wires being
entirely dependant on the motion of the pulley .
Figure 15 shows a front view, Figure 16 a plan view, and Figure 17 a
section of apparatus, arranged according to the third part of the Invention.
In this case there is provided a close passage A, through which a current of
air, by preference heated, is caused to flow by a fan D or otherwise; in this
passage are placed a series of saddles or supports B, upon which are placed
the hanks or open coils C of wire to be dried, and to facilitate access to this
chamber for placing and removing the hanks or coils there is provided opposite
and over each saddle or support B, or two or more of them, a door E and
a cover F turning on hinges, or otherwise capable of ready removal or
opening.
Having thus described the Invention, and means which I adopt in carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise arrangements shown and described, as variations may be made
therein without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but
what I claim is,-
First, the adaptation or combination of means for effecting the coating of
the outer wires when twisting together several wires to be used as electrical
conductors for telegraphic purposes, substantially as described under the first
head of Invention.
Secondly, I claim the application of a positive motion to the pulley k, and
a progressive but accommodating motion to the pulleys p, substantially as
explained.
And, thirdly, I claim the drying coated wires by placing them suspended

page_text: in the form of hanks or open coils in a draft or current of air in a closet or
passage, substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Gray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
MATTHEW GRAY. (L.S.)