A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF INSULATORS FOR ELECTRIC WIRES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric Krauss, Manu-
facturers, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, for
the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF INSULATORS FOR ELECTRIC
WIRES."
Sealed the 6th March 1860, and dated the 19th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Engler and Ernest
Frédéric Krauss at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th September 1859.
We, LOUIS ENGLER and ERNEST FRÉDÉRIC KRAUSS, Manufacturers, of 29,
Boulevart St: Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED SYSTEM OF INSULATORS
FOR ELECTRIC WIRES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to an insulator for supporting wires in the air, and
otherwise for all wires used to conduct electricity, and consists principally in
the application of a glass or crystal bush or fitting in which the wire rests.
This insulator is formed of a ring of malleable iron or other enamelled metal,
presenting at the upper part a V-shaped opening for the introduction of the
wire. It is fixed by a stem or arm to a plate or foot, which is fixed to the
post by means of two screws or bolts: In order to obtain a perfect insulator,
indestructable by the rubbing of the wire, we deposit the said wire on a

page_text: bearing of glass or crystal, encased and fixed by any suitable means in the eye
of the ring, thus the wire can slide freely on the bearing without wearing it,
and without being subject to lose the fluid it transmits. Such is the principle
of our improved insulator.
In the Drawings annexed we have illustrated it in the several Figures, of
which Fig. 1 shows a side view of the insulating hook; Fig. 2, a front view
of the same; while Fig. 3 represents a side view of one of our insulated
supports with bobbins of crystal, of a kind to be employed where the telegraph
or conducting wires are supported simply by being wound round the support.
Fig. 4 represents a section of one of our insulating supports with the ring
entire instead of being of a hook form, which arrangement is preferable for
curved lines where the wire pulls from the post, and where great strength
is requisite.
In the four figures the same letters represent the same parts. a, post;
b, foot of the insulator, fixed to the post by means of screws or bolts c;
d, straps, by which the foot of the insulator is connected to the post;
e, enamelled arm of the insulator; f, enamelled ring; in Figs. 1 and 2 it is
furnished with an opening 9 for the passage of the wire; h, bearing of glass or
crystal, encircled or encased, & fixed by any means in the interior of the
ring f; i, conducting wire. In Fig. 3 the arm e is screwed at its end, and a
The wire
bobbin of glass or crystal placed on it, which is secured by a nut.
is held on this bobbin by simply taking a turn upon it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric Krauss in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, LOUIS
ENGLER and ERNEST FRÉDÉRIC KRAUSS, Manufacturers, of 29, Boulevart St.
Martin, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric Krauss, Her special licence that wė,
the said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric Krauss, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Louis Engler and Ernest
Frédéric Krauss, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED
SYSTEM OF INSULATORS FOR ELECTRIC WIRES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric Krauss, our execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Iuvention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 we, the said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric
Krauss, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet
of Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
(that is to say):-
Our Invention .consists of a new arrangement of insulator for supporting
telegraph or other wires in the air, or for other wires used for conducting
electricity.
The insulators at present: employed are generally made of porcelain, of
tinned or galvanized iron, or of enamelled iron. They are formed, as well
understood, of, first, a cap of porcelain, the head of which is intended for
protecting an enamelled hook immediately under it. This cap carries two
lateral ear pieces, which serve by means of bolts or screws to attach it to the
post. Secondly, of a hook of tinned, galvanized, or enamelled iron, which is.
attached to the porcelain cap by means of any suitable mastic. This method.
is the one generally used, although the insulators may differ in form; it,.
however, presents certain disadvantages, which we will enumerate. The
apparatus in itself is heavy and large, & occupies much space on the post, and
thereby restricts the number of wires which might be carried by it. Further,
it is comparatively expensive. Its attachment to the post is also difficult, as
it often occurs, that either through the dilation of the screws or bolts, or in
laying the line, the ear pieces become separated, thus causing important losses.
But the principal disadvantage is, that porcelain does not completely insulate
the fluid, for when the conducting wire has worn the enamel off the hook on
which it rests, a metallic contact takes place, hence the electricity passes
through the mastic and the cap, from thence to the post, and is lost in the

page_text: ground. The object sought to be attained in forming a cap is, as we have
before observed, to form a protection for the hook, but it will be easily seen,
that this precaution is illusory, for during rain and windy weather, or in mists
or fogs, the covering of the apparatus is as wet as the other parts, and in this
case the loss of fluid is much more.
We have invented an improved arrangement of insulating support which is,
first, simple and light in form; secondly, easily placed or removed; thirdly,
of less cost than those usually employed; fourthly, completely insulating; and,
fifthly, indestructible as regards the continual friction to which the conducting
wire is subjected by the action of the wind, or by dilatation. These several
conditions are realized in the improved insulating support, having a crystal
bearing surface which we will now proceed to describe.
This insulator is formed of a ring of malleable iron, or other enamelled
metal, presenting at the upper part a V-shaped opening for the introduction of.
the wire. It is fixed by a stem or arm to a plate or foot, which is fixed to
the post by means of two screws or bolts. In order to obtain a perfect
insulator indestructible by the rubbing of the wire, we deposit the said wire
on a bearing of glass or crystal, encased and fixed by any suitable means in
the eye of the ring, thus the wire can slide freely on the bearing without
wearing it, & without being liable to lose the fluid it transmits. Such is the
principle of our improved insulator. The Drawings annexed illustrate three
arrangements, in the several Figures of which Fig. 1 shows a side view of the
insulating hook; Fig. 2, a front view of the same; while Fig. 3 represents a
side view of one of our insulated supports with bobbins of crystal, of a kind
to be employed where the telegraph or conducting wires are supported simply
by being wound round the support; Fig. 4 represents a side view of one of
our insulating supports with the ring entire instead of being of a hook form,
which arrangement is preferable for curved lines where the wire pulls from
the post, and where great strength is required.
g
In the four Figures the same letters of reference represent the same parts.
a, post; b, foot of the insulator, fixed to the post by means of screws or
bolts c; d, straps, by which the foot of the insulator is connected to the post;
e, enamelled arm of the insulator; f, enamelled ring, in Figs? 1 and 2 it is
furnished with an opening 9 for the passage of the wire; h, bearing of glass
or crystal, encircled or encased, or fixed by any means to the interior of the
ring f; i, conducting wire. In Fig. 3 the arm e is screwed at its end, and a
bobbin of glass or crystal placed on it instead of the ring f, which bobbin is
secured by a nut. The wire is held on this bobbin by simply taking a turn
upon it, as shown.

page_text: Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the application of a glass or crystal bearing h, fixed in any suitable
manner to a simple enamelled support, the conducting wire resting and sliding
on the glass or crystal bearing.
Secondly, the arrangements of insulators, herein described and illustrated in
the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Louis Engler and Ernest Frédéric
Krauss, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixte
L. ENGLER.
(L.B.)
E. F. KRAUSS. (L.S.)