IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET CURBS AND GUTTERS INTENDED FOR THE RECEPTION OF TELEGRAPH WIRES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET CURBS
AND GUTTERS INTENDED FOR THE RECEPTION OF TELEGRAPH WIRES."
A communication from abroad by John D. Townsend, of the City of New
York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1881.
56
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS
IN STREET CURBS AND GUTTERS INTENDED FOR THE RECEPTION OF TELEGRAPH
WIRES." A communication from abroad by John D. Townsend, of the City of
New York, United States of America.
The object of the Invention is to so construct the curbs and gutters of streets
that the space now occupied by the ordinary curbstones and gutters may be utilized
for the reception and preservation of telegrap, telephone, and other wires; and it
consists in two or more boxes or cases suitably connected together, the openings.
being covered by a single removable cover, forming the step and gutter piece, the
cases being laid parallel and occupying the space beneath the curb and gutter. It
further consists in details of construction that will be hereinafter more fully set forth
in the Specification, and pointed out in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view (partly in section) of my improved curb and gutter;
Figure 2 is a section showing the ordinary curb and gutter; Figure 3 is a section
of the removable cover forming the curb and gutter piece; Fig. 4 is a section of
the wire inclosing cases, with the removable cover in its fixed position; Figure 5 is a
top view of the cases showing the method of joining the sections together by flanges;
Figure 6 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 5. It is well known that the present
method of supporting telegraph and other electrical conductors upon poles is not
only expensive and dangerous but also renders repairs exceedingly difficult. This
is especially the case in cities where the conductors are liable to injury by vehicles
striking the supporting poles, and where they are often destroyed by fire, and fire
ladders, building latters, &c. Moreover, by being constantly exposed to the direct
action of the weather, the wires become oxidised and deterioration takes place, which
is a source of electrical resistance and ultimately of destruction to the wires. In the
Dis

page_text: device the objections above noted are entirely removed or reduced to a minimum,
as the wires are protected from the dust, weather, and ordinary accident. In my
device it is only necessary to remove the cover from the inclosing cases to detect
and repair an injury or replace the conductors. Again, the repairs incidental to
municipal authorities for curbs, gutters, &c., will be removed and obviated, as such
repairs, &c., will be done by the organization or company owning or controlling my
device, and it is of course obvious that the expense of repairs, replacing of curbs
and gutters, is an item which amounts to a large sum even for a single year.
Referring more particularly to the Drawings, Figure 1, J represents the pavement or
sidewalk, C, C, the curb, and G the gutter place or piece, cast in piece with the curb
plates or pieces C, C. In Figure 2 L represents the ordinary curb stone, M the gutter
stone, and I the paving stones. The curb and gutter stones above referred to are
to be removed and the space thus obtained filled by the two conductor cases A, B,
Figure 4, the first of which occupies the space taken up by the curb stone L, and the
latter B the space underneath the gutter stone. The cases may be made in sections
of suitable lengths and joined together by suitable flanges, for the purpose of
excluding moisture and dirt, as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. The chambers may be
made separate and suitably joined together, as shewn in Figure 4, or they may be
made in one piece. If deemed necessary the curb and chambers may be made of
artificial stone, concrete, &c.; I prefer, however, to make them of cast iron. The
sides of the cases and cover are made with flanged projections D and f. The flanges
D receive the screws or bolts E, by means of which the cover is held in place,
while the exterior flanges f serve to more effectually exclude dirt and moisture. The
gutter plate G is provided with an exterior flange against which the the paving
stones are placed. At street crossings the space underneath the flagging will be
occupied by the transverse cases P which open into the main conduits, and may
extend underneath the side walk to adjoining buildings, so as to carry the con-
ductors directly into the buildings. These transverse conduits may be carried under
the sidewalks at any point. The crosswalks are covered by the plates O, having
the flanges f, the ordinary cross walk stones being shown at 0. The joints of the
chambers may be filled with any suitable elastic cement, or be filled with lead so as
to exclude moisture. The interior of said cases or chambers may be coated with a
suitable insulating substance and the exterior coated or painted with tar, &c. I
prefer to insulate the conductors themselves in the ordinary way, and thus save the
cost and expense of general repairs from oxidation.
CLAIMS.
1st. A hollow street curb and gutter consisting of a flanged case or chamber
forming the curb, and a parallel flanged case forming the gutter, the cases being
suitably connected together at the sides and ends, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
2nd. A conduit for telegraph and other conductors, consisting of a flanged case or
chamber forming a street curb, a parallel flanged chamber forming the gutter, the
chambers being suitably connected together at the sides and ends, and covered with
a removable cover forming a step and gutter piece for the curb and gutter, sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this. Fourth day of January, A.D. 1881.
T
TLARDAN