AN IMPROVED TELE- GRAPH INSULATOR
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Woodman, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TELE-
GRAPH INSULATOR."
Sealed the 24th October 1856, and dated the 8th August 1856.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Woodman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 8th August 1856, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WOODMAN, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention of "AN IMPROVED TELEGRAPH
INSULATOR," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say: -
Instead of cementing the stalk of the hook through which the wire passes
into a thimble, and cementing the said thimble into a cylindrical chamber of
a cast-iron bell, I make the bell open at the back with a cap or cover to fit
closely on it. I fasten the stalk of the hook or eye into a conical-shaped non-
conductor; this non-conductor, with the hook or eye, I pass through the bell at
the back, and by its conical shape, the smallest part being foremost, forms a
wedge, whereby it is evident the more stress or strain comes upon it, the tighter
it will fit, and thus become waterproof; and as an additional tightener, I put

page_text: an elastic ring round the thick end of the non-conductor, which causes it to
fit perfectly close, and the cap or cover aforesaid being then put on, and secured
by a peg or pin, preserves it from the weather or accident. It is evident that
by this plan, whenever the hook or eye becomes broken or out of order, it may
be taken out and repaired, or replaced with a new one, without disturbing the
whole of the insulator, by merely taking off the cap or cover, and taking out
the non-conductor and hook or eye.
The construction and arrangement of this insulator will be clearly under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is
a view of the insulator complete, and Fig. 2, a view of the conical non-con-
ductor, with the hook or eye attached. a represents the hook or eye; b, the
conical-shaped non-conductor; c, the elastic ring, and d the cap or cover,.
which slides on the outside of the bell, and is secured by the pin or pro-
jection e.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature and particulars of
my said Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect,
I would have it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without
departing from the principle thereof; but what I claim as of my Invention is,
the arrangement and construction of the insulator, for the purpose herein
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Woodman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named John Woodman, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JOHN WOODMAN. (L.8.)