AN IMPROVED FORM OF CHAIN FOR PROTECTING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND FOR CONNECTING THEM WITH FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO OTHER APPLIANCES TO FACILITATE PROVISIONAI,
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Robert Lucas, of the Telegraph Construction and
Maintenance Company, of 38, Old Broad Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED FORM OF CHAIN FOR
PROTECTING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES, AND FOR CONNECTING THEM
WITH FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO OTHER APPLIANCES TO FACILITATE
PROVISIONAI, SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Robert Lucas at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1881.
FRANCIS ROBERT LUCAS, of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance
"AN
Company, of 38, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
IMPROVED FORM OF CHAIN FOR PROTECTING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES,
AND FOR CONNECTING THEM WITH FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO OTHER APPLIANCES
TO FACILITATE ESTABLISHING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH LIGHTSHIPS.".
This Invention consists of a double link chain with a submarine telegraph cable
drawn through it between the links in such a manner that the telegraph cable
passes straight through the centre of the chain cable, and is protected by the links
which enclose it from dragging and chafing on the bottom with the motion of
lightships in tides and currents; it may also be used for protecting cables. from
ship's anchors, for crossing rivers, or on the coast, where great strength is
required.
In connecting submarine cables with lightships the double chain containing the
telegraph cable is laid out from the vessel and anchored with a mushroom anchor,
either by shackling the anchor on a few fathoms from the end of the chain, or by
having a mushroom with a tubular shank on the end of the chain, the telegraph
cable in that case passing through the shank of the mushroom, and being then laid
to the shore in the usual way.

page_text: If the vessel is to be moored the top end of the double chain is connected to a
swivel having a hollow spindle, and the telegraph cable is passed through the
centre of it, as described in Bedwell's Specification, No. 367, of 1876, a second
ordinary mooring chain and anchor being laid and connected to the swivel in the
usual manner.
The telegraph cable is releived of the turn or twist occasioned by the ship.
swinging to the tide by a swivel joint in the telegraph cable placed over the bows
of the ship, and which is so made as to allow the turns to run out without inter-
fering with the electrical connection through the cable.
A sufficient length of spare cable is coiled on board the ship to allow of veering
out when necessary from stress of weather or other cause.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Robert Lucas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th February 1882.
FRANCIS ROBERT LUCAS, of the Telegraphic Construction and Maintenance
Company, of 38, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
" AN
IMPROVED FORM OF CHAIN FOR PROTECTING SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES,
AND FOR CONNECTING THEM WITH FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO OTHER APPLIANCES
TO FACILITATE ESTABLISHING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH LIGHTSHIPS."
This Invention consists of a double link chain with a submarine telegraph cable
drawn through it between the links in such a manner that the telegraph cable
passes straight through the centre of the chain cable, and is protected by the links
which enclose it from dragging and chafing on the bottom with the motion of
lightships in tides and currents; it may also be used for protecting cables from
ship's anchors for crossing rivers, or on the coast where great strength is
required.
In connecting submarine cables with lightships the double chain containing the
telegraph cable is laid out from the vessel and anchored with a mushroom anchor,
either by shackling the anchor on a few fathoms from the end of the chain, or by
having a mushroom with a tubular shank on the end of the chain, the telegraph
cable in that case passing through the shank of the mushroom, and being then laid
to the shore in the usual way.
If the vessel is to be moored the top end of the double chain is connected to a
swivel having a hollow spindle, and the telegraph cable is passed through the
centre of it, as described in Bedwell's Specification, numbered 367, of the year
1876, a second ordinary mooring chain and anchor being laid and connected to the
swivel in the usual manner.
The telegraph cable is relieved of the turns or twists occasioned by the ship's
swinging to the tide by a swivel or revolving joint in the telegraph cable placed
over the bows of the ship, and which is so made as to allow the turns to run out
without interfering with the electrical connection through the cable.
A sufficient length of spare cable is coiled on board the ship to allow of veering
out when necessary from stress of weather or other cause.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrates my Invention. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal elevation of the chain cable with the telegraph cable A, A, running
through its centre. The chain B, B, is made double, each link being studded, and
in order to prevent the links coming together and gripping the cable each corner
of every link is recessed to receive the next link.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of same; Figure 3 is the revolving joint on
the telegraph cable. It consists principally of two hollow flanged castings A, A,
(made preferably of malleable iron or steel) into which the ends of the cable are
passed, and to which they are secured by passing the outside or covering wires of
the cable through holes a, a, in the castings, bending them back until they lie flat
on the cable, and serving round all with wire. The flanges on the outer ends of
the castings are embraced by a cupped ring B put on in two pieces and bolted
together. This while allowing the castings perfect freedom of motion in every
direction prevents their coming apart more than a certain fixed distance; Figure 4
is an end view of the same.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the revolving joint shewing the
arrangements for ensuring electrical contact and insulation between the two ends
of the conductor. c, c, is the gutta percha core which passes through the centre of
a rod of vulcanite D, and is made watertight in the same by the stuffing box and

page_text: gland E, E. The rod D has a square shoulder fitting loosely in a square recess in
the casting A The rod D projects sufficiently to allow it to pass through a
stuffing box and gland F, F, into the vulcanite cylinder G, G. The cylinder G, G,
is secured in the casting A by the set screw g. The opposite end of the core c, c,
passes through the bottom of the cylinder G, G, and is made watertight by the
stuffing box and gland H, H. The two ends of the conductor are kept in contact
by means of a loose spring I rubbing on contact plates K, K, which are soldered
one on each end of the conductors.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means employed
in carrying out the same, I declare that. I claim,―
•
First. The new improved method of connecting light ships or floating stations
with the shore and with one another by means of submarine cables, substantially
as herein shewn.
Secondly. I claim the exclusive use of a double chain containing a telegraph
cable, or through which a telegraph cable can be passed while such chain is used
at the same time as a mooring chain or anchor chain to a lightship or other floating
station, the chain protecting the cable from chafe while dragging on the bottom,
or as a protection from ship's anchors, for crossing streams, or for coast cables,
substantially as herein described and shewn.
Thirdly. I claim the exclusive use of a swivel or revolving joint in the telegraph
cable, such joint allowing the two parts of the cable to revolve freely in either
direction, and permitting the movement of such parts within certain limits in any
direction, at all times preserving the electrical continuity and insulation of the
conductor or conductors, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Fourthly. I claim the exclusive use of the method of attaching the telegraph
cable to the swivel or revolving joint in the manner herein shewn.
Fifthly. I claim the exclusive use of each or any of the above means or appliances,
and of any combination or separate use of each or any of them for any of the
purposes herein set forth, or for any purpose not herein mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Robert Lucas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
.
FRANCIS ROBERT LIICAS
FRANCIS ROBERT LUCAS