Improvements in Cut-outs for Electrical Uses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cut-outs for Electrical Uses.
I, JOHN CLARKSON REYNOLDS, of '77 Pine Street, in the City of New York, United
States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the class of devices much used in wiring for electric
lighting, etc., and known as cut outs, safety devices and "bugs." A cut-out of this
general character consists ordinarily of a base-piece or block to which the ends of
the circuit wires or terminals are secured and which carries a piece or pieces of
fuse-wire connecting the ends of said circuit wires or terminals at the block. The
fuse-wire is usually of lead, or of some readily fusible alloy and the object is to
provide for automatically cutting out a fixture, lamp, etc., by the melting of the
fuse-wire when from any cause the volume of the electric current becomes
excessive.
The ordinary cut-out has some defects; the screws used to clamp the wires to
the block are not insulated from the wires and in most situations it is necessary
to wrap the cut-out with some insulating fabric, such as rubber tape. If this
wrapping is not carefully done the screws will not be wholly covered and trouble
ensues from their contact with metal parts. On the other hand, if the fuse-wire
melts, it is apt to ignite the wrapping and a fire is the result. The larger
multiple cut-outs are also quite expensive.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, neat and inexpensive
cut-out wherein the wires or other conductors are coupled to studs composed of
insulating material and are pressed into contact. by a cap or enclosing cover also
of insulating material. The clamping is effected by a bolt or the like which is
wholly insulated from the naked conductors. The naked ends of the conductors
and the fuze-wire are wholly enclosed in a casing of refractory insulating material,
and the frayed insulating coverings of the conducting wires are housed in the
casing thereby insuring insulation and greatly enhancing the neatness of the device.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 is a face view of the simple cut-out as it appears with the clamping cap or
cover removed, the underside of the detached cap being also shown in the same
view.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the cut-out in the plane indicated by line. in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the cut-out as it appears when in use.
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a construction of the simple cut-out
wherein two insulated clamping bolts are employed. .These are shown in a cut-out
having a casing of curved form.
Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the cut-out device illustrating a reversal of the
construction seen in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the cut-out showing the central, insulating boss
for the clamping bolt detachable, or non-integral.
Fig. 7 shows how several of the cut-outs may be combined to form a multiple, or
compound cut-out.
Referring primarily to the first three figures. of the drawings-1 represents, a
casing, preferably rounded in cross-section and somewhat spindle-shaped as this form
imparts a neat appearance and avoids angles and corners. This casing, is. hollowed

page_text: or trough-shaped and open-ended, and it will be made from some strong, refractory
insulating material, preferably porcelain or glass.
From the bottom of the cavity in the casing rise two studs, 2, 2, formed integrally
with the casing; about these studs are coiled the hooked, naked extremities, x, of the
respective conductors or conducting wires, X. About these studs, also are hooked or
coiled the respective extremities of the fuse-wire or strip, 3; the extremities, of the
conducting wires, being, of course, in electrical contact with the respective extremities
of the fuse-wire.
Rising from the bottom of the cavity in the casing, at a point between the
studs 2, 2,. is a boss, 4, of insulating material. Preferably this boss will also be
formed integrally with the casing, but it may be non-integral, as seen in Fig. 6..
་
5 is the clamping cap or cover of the casing, said cap having recesses, 2* and 4*,
which, when the cap is in place (Fig. 2), take over the..respective studs 2 and the
central boss 4 and permit the cap to press together the loops or hooks of the wires or
terminals about the studs 2 and insure a perfect contact. The casing 1 and cap 5 form
the major parts of the cut-out.
6 is the securing and clamping bolt, which is passed through coinciding holes
(7 in Fig. 1) in the cap 5 and the boss 4 of the casing, and 6x is the nut on
said bolt.
It will be obvious that when the conductors X are coupled up with this cut-out
the clamping bolt 6 will be thoroughly insulated from said conductors and from
the fuse-wire or strip 3.
The cap 5 fits down into the trough-like recess in the casing 1 and a single
centrally arranged screw or bolt suffices to keep it in place. If desired, however,
two insulated bolts may be used as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the studs 2 are
made to serve as insulating bosses, the boss 4 being omitted as unnecessary. This
construction adds one extra bolt, but it will be found advantageous where the
casing is very long or is curved as in Fig. 4, as it applies the clamping pressure
to insure contact directly at the points where the pressure is required. But two
bolts may however be used in the cut-out seen in Fig. 1 as well.
The studs 2 and boss 4 might be on the cap 5 and the recesses 2x and 4* be
in the casing,
as indicated in Fig. 5, but this is a mere reversal of the construction
of Fig. 2 and the latter construction is preferred.
Small metal washers 8 (see Fig. 6) may be slipped on the respective studs 2, 2, if
desired, to aid in insuring contact.
The object in the construction of Figs. 1 and 2, is to insulate the clamping
bolt 6 from the fuse-wire which extends from one stud 2 to the other, and as
this wire may pass at either side of the bolt, it is preferable to have the material
of the insulating boss extend entirely around the hole 7 through which the bolt
passes.
My invention is applicable to multiple or compound cut-outs, as shown in Fig. 7.
This construction is equivalent, to connecting two or more casings integrally and
arranged abreast, to form a plate or block, 1x, the several caps or clamping
covers 5, being separate or individual so that either may be removed without
disturbing the others. The plate or block 1* may have screw-holes in it to receive
screws, 9, for securing it in place.
It will be noted that my cut-out is self-insulating, requiring no extraneous
insulating devices or coverings; and it will also be noted that the cover 5 is not
merely a cap or cover to house the terininals but a clamp-plate which presses the
terminals into contact with the fuse-wire. The two terminals are substantially
aligned with each other and with the casing and they form no necessary part of
the device itself; they may be simply the ends of the circuit wires.
In order to avoid as far as possible the risk of cracking or bursting the porcelain
from excessive heat when the fuse-wire is melted, the casing and cap, one or both,
may have holes formed in them for the escape of gases and heat generated. Such
holes are seen at 10 in Fig. 1.
.
I have shown the ends of the casing and cap hollowed out' or flared so as to receive:

page_text: the insulating material which enlarges the conductors X, and fit about the latter-
snugly, but this is not essential to my invention.
I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein shown as this may be
varied to some extent without departing materially from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a cut-out for electrical uses comprising
an open-ended, hollowed casing of insulating material, provided with studs of
insulating material in the hollow thereof for the attachment of the conductors, a
cover of insulating material adapted to press upon and clamp together the conductors
at each of the respective studs so as to effect electrical contact between the terminal
and fuse-wire or strip at the stud, and means for binding the cover firmly to the
casing, substantially as set forth.
2. A cut-out for electrical uses comprising a hollowed casing of insulating material,.
open at the ends to receive the terminals of the circuit wires, a clamping cover of
insulating material which fits onto said casing, two studs of insulating material
within said casing and integral with one of the above named major parts, said
studs serving for the attachment of the conductors and said cover serving to clamp.
together the conductors at the point of attachment, and a clamping bolt and nut
for clamping the cover down upon the casing and conductors, said bolt extending
transversely through said casing and cover and being insulated from the conductors.
within the casing, substantially as described.
3. A cut-out for electrical uses comprising an open-ended, hollowed casing of
insulating material, having two studs of insulating material in its hollow and
integral therewith, said studs being for the attachment of the circuit terminals and
the fuse-wire or strip, the said fuse-wire attached at its ends to the respective studs,.
a clamping cover of insulating material having recesses to take over the respective
studs, and means, insulated from the circuit terminals and fuse-wire, for clamping
said cover down upon the wires at the studs whereby electrical contact is assured,.
substantially as set forth.
4. As an improved article of manufacture, a cut-out for electrical uses comprising
a trough-like, open-ended casing, 1, of insulating material, having formed integrally
with it two studs 2, 2, for the attachment of the terminals of the conducting wires,.
a cap 5, also of insulating material and provided with recesses 2*, 2*, to take-
over the studs 2 when the cap is in place, a fuse-wire or strip 3, connecting the
said studs 2, a securing and clamping bolt 6, which extends transversely through the
said casing and cap between the studs 2, the nut on said bolt, and an insulating boss 4,.
in the hollow of the casing and about said bolt, substantially as set forth.
5. A cut-out for electrical uses comprising a hollowed, elongated, open-ended
casing 1, of insulating material having integral studs 2, near its respective open ends
for the attachment of the respective circuit terminals and the attachment of the fuse-.
wire or strip, and insulated means for pressing into electrical contact the ends of the
fuse-wire at said studs and the respective terminals of the circuit wires thereat,
whereby all the naked metallic parts of the conductors are housed within the casing
and are insulated from exterior metal parts, as set forth.
6. The cut-out constructed as described with two bolts 6, and as illustrated in.
Figure 4 of the annexed drawings.
7. The compound cut-out as described, and as illustrated in Figure 7 of the annexed.
drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Mar 1806
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Agent for the Applicant.