Improvements in Wire Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Couplings.
I, WILLIAM EDGAR BANTA, of No. 40 West Main Street, Springfield, Ohio,
United States of America, Horologist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 certain new and useful improvements in wire couplings,
the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification, and on which
like reference letters indicate corresponding parts:
Fig. 1, represents a side view of my device employed to couple the joining ends
of line wires:
Fig. 2, a section on the line, a, of Fig. 1:
Fig. 3, a side view of a convenient form of manufacture;
Fig. 4, a section on the line y, y, of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 5, a modification of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6, a slight modification of Fig. 1.
The letters A, A', designate the joining ends of telegraph or other wires which it
is desired to couple. The letter B represents a helical connector of encircling
pieces, coils or wires, either in the form of a coil or otherwise, and adapted to be
slipped over the joining ends of the line wires A, A' and to bite onto the same
under the strains to which the said wires are subjected. The helical connector B,
is preferably joined by a longitudinal piece C, brazed or otherwise joined longi-
tudinally to said connector, and conveniently formed by turning out one end of the
encircling wire, and extending it longitudinally as shown in Fig. 1. This will
connect a portion of each piece or coil to the longitudinal extension, while the
diametrically opposite portions are free to move sidewise, and by said movement to
grip onto the said enclosed wires, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the joining
wires are turned outward after the coupling is slipped over them, so that the pull on
the wire will cause one portion of the coil to move past the other on the coupled
wires. This biting action caused by the sidewise movement of one portion of the
coil past the other portion will be increased in proportion to the strain put upon the
line wires, as before stated, and thus the coupling will bite the harder in proportion
to the strain. The stiffness of the joining wires is generally sufficient so that only
a simple outward bend as at a, is enough to engage the coupling. For greater
security, however, the end may be turned sharply outward, as at a¹.
The longitudinal piece C, is formed integrally, or otherwise, with the helical
connector itself, see Figures 3 and 4, and brazed or otherwise attached thereto. If
desired, said longitudinal piece may be attached to the sides of each coil, as indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this case each coil will move about a central
transverse axis b, b, one portion tending to move in one direction, and the opposite
portion in the opposite direction, in the same manner as previously described. If
desired, only one longitudinal piece may be used instead of two.
A. convenient
While I have shown this coupling composed of a single piece of wire, it may be
otherwise formed, as long as the idea of encircling pieces, coils or wires adapted to
bind upon the line wires under the coupling strains, is carried out.
form of manufacture is shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which a tube of elliptical, or
other cross-section, is divided into encircling bands D, by saw-cuts or otherwise, so
that they form a continuous piece by means of the undivided longitudinal portion E.
The cross-section of which encircling portions D, is rectangular in this case, instead

page_text: of circular, but the action is similar to that of the coupling previously described, as
is indicated by the dotted position at D', under the coupling strain.
Figure 5, shows another form of dividing the tube so as to leave an integral
longitudinal connecting portion at the side, in which case the encircling pieces will
be moved about the axis b, b, as before described in Fig. 2. The shape of the tube,
thus divided to allow the above described action of its component parts, may be of
any convenient cross section; either elliptical as shown in Figures 4 and 5, or other-
wise, if adapted to couple two or more wires, according to circumstances.
Thus it will be seen that a simple connector produced which is readily applied
to couple the joining ends of wires, and may be capable of being manufactured in
large quantities. Also the line wires may be readily uncoupled by relieving the
strain thereon, and straightening the joining ends, whereby they may be readily.
removed from the coupling without the destruction of the latter.
In Fig. 6 is shown a helical connector in which the ends are brazed, soldered or
otherwise connected to prevent the encircling gripping pieces or coils, from pulling
apart, as shown at F, F. Two or more of the end pieces or coils may be connected
together by soldering or otherwise, as indicated in this figure. The biting action of
the coupling is the same as in those above described, as the parts of the encircling
portions at F, move in one direction, and the diametrically opposite parts in the
opposite direction, when subjected to the coupling strains on the line wires.
This application is a division of the one for wire couplings, filed by me June 11th,
1890, serial number 354,988, in United States of America.
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 :-
:―
1st. In a wire.coupling, the combination with the ends of line wires bent outwardly,
of a connector or coupling composed of encircling coiled wires joined together, and
adapted to bite onto said line wires under the coupling strain.
2nd. The combination with the ends of line wires bent outwardly, of a coupling
consisting of surrounding portions,,and a longitudinal portion integral with and
connecting together the said surrounding portions, whereby the said surrounding
portions bite upon and grip the line wires under the coupling strains.
3rd. In a wire coupling, the combination with the ends of line wires bent outwardly,
of a connector composed of encircling coiled wires embracing said line wires, and a
connecting bar or piece secured to said cncircling coiled wires substantially in line
with the axis of the same, whereby all of the encircling wires move in one direction
at the part to which said connection is connected, and move in the opposite
direction at the diametrical part, when the coupled line wires are put under strain,
whereby a gripping action is secured.
4th. As an improved article of manufacture, a wire coupling composed of
encircling coiled wires, and a longitudinal connection joining the encircling portions
of said wire, whereby one part of each encircling portion is adapted to move in one
direction, and the diametrically opposite part in the opposite direction under the
coupling strain, thereby gripping the enclosed line wires.
Dated this 30th day of September 1892.
WILLIAM EDGAR BANTA.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.