Improvements in the Means of Protecting Electrical Conductors.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Protecting Electrical Conductors.
I, JOHN AUGUSTINE KINGDON of 29 Marlborough Hill, St. John's Wood in
the County of London, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention is especially applicable to underground electrical conductors
employed for the distribution of electricity for light and power, or for telegraphs
and telephones. Such conductors are usually insulated with india rubber, or other
soft material and are liable to be damaged by stones or workmen's tools when
buried underground.
In order to thoroughly protect such insulated electrical conductors from
mechanical injury either when being laid or subsequently on taking up the ground,
I place over the insulated conductor a channel or trough of iron, steel or other
metal, of a U shaped section. The insulated conductor is laid in the round of the
trough, and the opening of the trough may be closed by a strip or cover of wood,
metal, or other material so as to enclose the conductor. The trough is preferably
inverted so that the strip or cover is below the cable or conductor and the metal
trough being above the cable protects it from injury by stones or picks or other
tools or otherwise, either when the cable is being laid, or if the ground is
subsequently opened.
The trough and its cover are made in long lengths as convenient, and the joints
of the one may be intermediate between the joints of the other. At the joints of
the trough I may place short pieces of metal shaped so as to fit over the joint and
bent so as to clip the trough underneath. At intervals the cover or strip may be
secured in its place by wire or other fastenings or metal clips or otherwise. The
iron or steel troughs and covers may be galvanized or otherwise protected from
rust by any suitable composition, or bitumen may be run in all round the trough.
Any number of conductors or cables having more than one conductor may be
protected by the troughs. The trough may have any convenient section, and may
approximately fit the cable. The conductors within the troughs may be insulated
in any known manner. Bare conductors may be employed with porcelain or other
insulators. The troughs and covers may be of rolled iron or steel or cast in any
suitable metal.
Datel this non 1.
Mah 1901
Improvements in the Means of Protecting Electrical Conductors.
1, JOHN AUGUSTINE KINGDON of 29 Marlborough Hill, St. John's Wood in
the County of London, Electrical Engineer 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:-
t
My invention is especially applicable to underground electrical conductors
LD017

page_text: employed for the distribution of electricity for light and power, and for telegraphs.
and telephones. Such conductors are usually insulated with india rubber or other
soft material and are liable to have their insulation damaged by stones or
workmen's tools if buried underground without some means of protection.
In order to thoroughly protect such insulated conductors from mechanical injury
either when being laid or subsequently when taking up the ground, I place over the
conductor a channel or trough of iron, steel or other metal of a U shaped section.
The insulated conductor or cable is laid in the round of the channel or trough, and
the mouth of the channel below the cable is closed by a strip or cover of iron,
wood or other material which fits into the channel. The U shaped channel or
trough being above the cable protects it from injury by stones or otherwise either
when the cable is being laid or if the ground is subsequently opened.
The accompanying figures illustrate the method of protecting an insulated table
according to my invention. Like letters indicate like parts in the different
figures.
Figure 1. is a section of the U shaped channel or trough. This is cheaply
manufactured of rolled iron or steel and may be in any convenient lengths, and of
such section as to fit easily over the insulated cable which it is used to protect.
In Figure 2. S is a section of the strip or cover which fits into the mouth of
the channel. This is of iron, or other metal or of wood or any other suitable
material.
Figure 3 is an elevation and Figure 4 an end view of the wrought iron sockets
or sleeves which I employ to make a joint between two lengths of the U channel.
In Figure 5 is shown a section of an insulated cable protected according to my
invention. C is the copper conductor which conducts currents of electricity for the
distribution of light or power, or for any other known object. The conductor C
is insulated in any known manner by a covering or coverings I of india rubber,
gutta percha, or other material or combinations of materials. The iron channel U
is placed above the cable or insulated conductor so as to protect it from mechanical
injury. The strip S of wood metal or other material is fitted into the mouth of
the channel U so as to enclose the insulated conductor.
In Figure 6 is illustrated the method of joining two lengths of the U shaped
channels U according to my invention by means of the sleeve or socket shown
separately in Figures 3 and 4.
The two channels U fit into the socket J which is bent round below so as to pass
under the strip S and secure it in its place.
The joints of the strip S may be intermediate between the joints of the channel U.
At intervals in addition to the sockets J I may use wire or other fastenings to
secure the strip S in its place.
The Ushaped channels are preferably manufactured of rolled iron or steel but
may also be cast in iron or any metal or made of other material.
The channel is preferably of a section to approximately fit the cable so that
accumulations of coal gas in the space round the cable are prevented.
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. A protector for electric cables consisting of a U shaped channel of rolled
metal placed above the cable and closed below by a flat strip fitting into the mouth
of the channel.
2. Protecting an underground electric cable by means of a U shaped channel,
fitting closely round the cable and having its mouth closed by a metallic or other
strip below the cable.
3. The combination of channels enclosing electrical conductors, with sleeves for
making the joints in the channels and with metallic or other strips fitted into the
mouth of the channels.
4. A conduit for electrical conductors consisting of U shaped channels having

page_text: their mouths closed by means of strips, and joined together by means of sleeves
fitting over the ends of the channels and under the strips.
5. Protecting electrical cables, laid underground, by means of a rolled metallic
U shaped channel substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1894.
J. A. KINGDON.