IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR COVERING WIRE WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

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LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Thomas Truman of Old Burlington Street in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED FOR COVERING WIRE WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Thomas Truman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1883.
EDWIN THOMAS TRUMAN of Old Burlington Street in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR COVERING WIRE WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention has reference to apparatus for covering wire for telegraphic or
other purposes with gutta percha, or other like plastic material in which the wire
to be covered is caused to pass through a chamber or nozzle supplied with plastic
material, by means of a suitable forcing or filling machine. The objects of my
improvements are first to prevent excess of or superabundant pressure upon the
plastic material, and secondly to provide efficient means to fix or regulate the
amount of material supplied to the covering portion of the machine.
For the purpose of my invention I cause the plastic material to pass from the
forcing machine along a tube or channel which has an opening through which such
a portion as is necessary finds its way into the chamber or nozzle in or by which
the wire is covered, while the remainder enters an overflow pipe and either returns
to the forcing machine or is allowed to escape. As thus the flow of the plastic
material from the forcing machine is not impeded, no excess of pressure is put on
in the chamber or nozzle; the wire takes all that is required for the perfect
covering without being unevenly pressed while the quantity supplied is constant
and uniform.
In order to fix or regulate the supply I fit in a continuation of the pipe through
which the material passes from the forcing machine to the opening which leads to
the covering machine or nozzle a screw plug of the full diameter of the said pipe.
This plug can be screwed up so as to leave just as much of the opening uncovered
as will allow the requisite quantity of material to pass, or if required to entirely

page_text: shut off the flow. This arrangement forms a very effective tap or regulator and
according to the pitch of the screw may be made more or less sensitive. It enables
me to regulate to a great nicety the quantity of material allowed to pass to the
nozzle in the act of covering. The superabundant material returns by the
overflow pipe to the forcing machine or is allowed to escape as above mentioned the
pipe or exit being fitted with a similar tap to aid in regulating the pressure by
allowing the material to accumulate to such an extent as may be thought desirable
during the operation of covering.
By the arrangements above described I am able if desired to run two or more
lines of wire either with or without rotation during the covering process in which
case the pipe or channel leading from the forcing machine may have openings at
several points, each opening leading to a separate nozzle or covering chamber and
being commanded by a separate tap or regulator or by a tap common to all as may
be found best.
Although I prefer the special form of regulator or tap above described any other
suitable form of regulator may be employed to control the flow of the material to
the covering nozzle and through the overflow pipe.
My improved apparatus places both the quantity and the pressure of the
material supplied to the covering chamber or nozzle entirely under the command of
the attendant, which is a point of great importance.
I also employ my improved apparatus for regulating the flow or supply of steam,
gas or liquids and for other purposes.
In some cases I employ registering or indicating apparatus in combination with
that employed by me as above described for regulating purposes.
My screw tap may be modified by the introduction of a channel or channels in
the plug and it may have a diaphragm or seating the more effectually to cut off*
the supply or measure the quantity passing, or the plug may be formed of a
cylinder working within a cylinder either by means of a screw or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Thomas Truman in the Patent Office on the 20th February
1884.
EDWIN THOMAS TRUMAN of Old Burlington Street in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR COVERING WIRE WITH PLASTIC MATERIAL,
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention has reference to apparatus for covering wire for telegraphic or
other purposes with gutta percha, or other like plastic material, in which the wire
to be covered is caused to pass through a chamber or nozzle supplied with plastic.
material by means of a suitable forcing or filling machine. The objects of my.
improvements are:-first, to prevent excess of or superabundant pressure upon the
plastic material, and secondly, to provide efficient means to fix 'or regulate the
amount of material supplied to the covering portion of the machine.
For the purpose of my invention I cause the plastic material to pass from the
forcing machine along a tube or channel which has an opening through which such
a portion as is necessary finds its way into the chamber or nozzle in or by which
the wire is covered, while the remainder enters an overflow pipe and either returns
to the forcing machine or is allowed to escape. As thus the flow of the plastic
material from the forcing machine is not impeded no excess of pressure is put on in
the chamber or nozzle, the wire takes all that is required for the perfect covering
without being unevenly pressed while the quantity supplied is constant and
uniform.
In order to fix or regulate the supply I fit in a continuation of the pipe through,
which the material passes from the forcing machine to the opening which leads to
the covering machine or nozzle a screw plug of the full diameter of the said pipe.
This plug can be screwed up so as to leave just as much of the opening uncovered
as will allow the requisite quantity of material to pass, or if required to entirely shut
off the flow. This arrangement forms a very effective tap or regulator of a novel
character and according to the pitch of the screw employed it may be made more
or less sensitive, and so when used for covering purposes it enables the quantity of
material allowed to pass to the nozzle in the act of covering to be regulated as.
required. The superabundant material returns by the overflow pipe to the forcing
machine or is allowed to escape as above mentioned the pipe or exit being fitted
with a similarly constructed tap to aid in regulating the pressure by allowing the
material to accumulate to such an extent as may be thought desirable during the
operation of covering.
By the arrangements above described I am able if desired to run or work two
or more lines of wire either with or without rotation during the covering process
in which case the pipe or channel leading from the forcing machine may have
openings at several points, each opening leading to a separate nozzle or covering
chamber and being commanded by a separate tap or regulator or by a tap common
to all as may be found best.
Although I find it more advantageous to use for the purposes above mentioned
my special form of regulator or tap as above described any other suitable form of
regulator may be employed to control the flow of the material to the covering
nozzle and through the over-flow pipe.
My improved apparatus places both the quantity and the pressure of the material,
supplied to the covering chamber or nozzle entirely under the command of the,
attendant, which is a point of great importance.
I also employ my improved form of regulator or tap as regulating apparatus,
for controlling the flow or supply of steam, gas or liquids and for other purposes. ;

page_text: In some cases I employ registering or indicating apparatus in combination with
that employed by me as above described for regulating purposes, so as to indicate
the pressure employed or the quantity of plastic material or fluid allowed to pass
or for both purposes.
In some cases my improved screw tap or regulator is modified by the introduction
of a channel or channels in the plug and is provided with a diaphragm or other
seating so as inore effectually to cut off the supply or measure or regulate the
quantity passing or the plug may be formed of a cylinder working within a
cylinder either by means of a screw or otherwise.
In some cases I so arrange an exit tube that the surplus material will run in the
opposite direction to the wire; this I effect by allowing the wire to pass through
a tube which is within another tube in such manner as to allow the surplus material
to pass backwards-along the outer tube in the contrary direction to the flow of the
wire. If this overflow pipe be arranged in this manner the overflow will be
conveyed froin the nozzle up to its point of exit. An over-flow may have been
some-times provided for machines in the use of which the wire to be covered does
not rotate, in such case it is a simple matter to allow an exit at any point, but the
arrangements as herein described and claimed are applicable to all forms of
covering machines, and also when many or few wires are covered at one time.
In the construction of my improved regulator or tap when intended to be
employed for regulating the flow of steam, gases or other fluids I cause a
diaphragm to be placed at the end of the inlet pipe nearest to the. screw chamber
to form a seating for the screw to rest upon when screwed down and I mako
an opening in the diaphragm at one side of the centre of the plug or screw which
opening is entirely closed when the screw is forced down tight on to its seating.
And in the plug or screw 1 form a channel or way on that side of its centre which
when it is screwed home will be the contrary side to that of the opening in tho
diaphragm or seating, consequentially the channel will be brought opposite to the
opening in the diaphragm when the screw is rotated half a turn. The channel so
formed in the scrow or plug is carried so far as to enable a perforation to be made
in it at a point opposite the exit tube. By this means when the screw is forced
tight on to the seating there will be no exit because the channel in the plug will
be on the side where there is no inlet but by giving the screw or plug one half turn
the two openings of its channel will be brought to the side where the entrance
opening of the seating is and therefore both the inlet and the outlet will be open.
This screw may be tapered for a thread or two at its iuner end so as to ensure
closure, and the outer end may pass through a stuffing box. The parts must of
course be very carefully fitted together and be made of suitable materials and the
seating may be lined or packed as is well understood.
Another modification of my improved regulator or tap suitable for regulating
the flow or supply of steam, gas or liquids and for other purposes I construct as
follows: I place a diaphragm in the steam or fluid way pipe so as to entirely
block the way, and I form two holes in the pipe one on either side of this
diaphragm so that they are separated by the diaphragm. Over these holes I place
a cylindrical casing large enough to more than cover both so that its diameter shall
allow a screw or other plug fitted therein to cover both holes perfectly and when
down on the holes to perfectly close both. In this plug when it is.n plain cylinder
I make an opening or channel by preference of a V shape the two openings at the
end being exactly over the two openings in the way-pipe before described and the
channels from tliese two openings meet at the point of the V. When the plug is in
such a position that the ends of the V opening or channel are each opposite the
holes in the way pipe the steam or fluid will pass up one leg of the V and down
the other and the way would not be impeded but on turning the plug both the
openings of the V will be caused to occupy positions which do not coincide with
the holes in the way pipe and the way will be entirely shut. The bottom of the
casing must of course be shaped so that the end of the plug and its seating shall
accuratoly fit. The plug when in the form of a plain solid cylinder is, worked by-a

page_text: portion passing through a stuffing box to ensure soundness in the joint and I also
prefer to cause the cap or plate of the stuffing box to screw down at pleasure on
to the top or ledge of the plug to fix it down on the seating and thus prevent its
rising when turned. In some cases a nut may be employed to prevent the plug
from unduly rising. When the plug is in the form of a screw its end is made plain,
that is to say without any openings or channels, because when it is turned it
rises from its seating and allows the fluid to flow from one hole of the way pipe to
the other.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :-
1. Constructing apparatus used in covering wire with plastic material with an
over-flow pipe through which the surplus material returns to the filling or forcing
machine substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In combination with an over flow pipe in apparatus for covering wire with
plastic material I claim the use of a plug or tap such as is herein before mentioned
to control the over flow substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus used in covering wire with plastic material and in which the wire
is caused to rotate on its axis during its passage through the covering chamber or
nozzle I claim the combination therewith of an over flow pipe such as is herein-
before described whether such pipe conducts the surplus material back to the
filling or forcing machine or not.
4. The several modifications of regulators or taps constructed as herein before
described for the purpose of regulating the flow or supply of steam, gas or other
fluids or liquid or semi-liquid substances.
In witness whereof I the said Edwin Thomas Truman have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twentieth day of February One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four.
EDWIN THO³. TRUMAN (L.S.)