Improvements in or relating to Producing (or Maintaining) Continuous Lines of Telegraph Wires, Rails, Pipes, and other Metallic Line Structures, and in Apparatus or Devices connected therewith.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Producing (or Maintaining)
Continuous Lines of Telegraph Wires, Rails, Pipes, and
other Metallic Line Structures, and in Apparatus or Devices
connected therewith.
A communication by ELIAS ELKAN RIES, of South Broadway, Baltimore, in
the County of Baltimore and State of Maryland, and ALBERT HENRY
HENDERSON, of Drexel Building, Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,
both in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Civil 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 :-
In Letters Patent of Great Britain No. 12747, granted on September 20, 1887,
and in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 444,855, granted on January 20,
1891, there has been shown and described portable apparatus for working metals
electrically, and more especially, for electric welding. The apparatus and devices
therein shown are particularly adapted for welding together sections of pipe, rail-
way rails, electric conductors, or other continuous line structures, after the parts
thereof have been placed in position, or while they are being placed in position.
In the said Patents the source of heating or welding current has been shown as
being movable with the other parts of the welding apparatus.
When currents of considerable quantity are needed, as is the case in the welding
of heavy line structures, such as railway rails, or when a large number of wires or
other conductors are to be welded and permanently laid along a common trench,
highway, or other support, either together or at frequently recurring intervals, the
transportation from place to place of the heavy and cumbersome source of current
is both inconvenient and expensive. This inconvenience is more especially felt in
the case where the line structures to be operated upon are deposited in trenches
and conduits, which are necessarily narrow, and do not admit of the introduction
into the same of dynamos, and steam-engines, or other sources of power for operating
the same.
The present invention is designed to overcome this inconvenience and to admit
of the easy and comfortable transportation of welding and other metal working
apparatus, but more especially the former, from place to place along a line structure,
and this object is attained by providing an independent line extending along the
line structure contemplated, and charged with currents which are available along
the entire line, or at predetermined points thereof, and may be used either directly
for producing the weld, or other desired union, or which may be transformed by
induction into currents of the requisite volume and tension for welding. It is,
therefore, only necessary to tap the independent line at the point required, so as
to connect it with the welding apparatus, which thus is reduced to welding clamps,
or to welding clamps combined with a transformer, and provided with the
necessary means for regulating the current.
Welding apparatus of the character herein described, which does not comprise
the ultimate source of current, can be easily and conveniently transported, since it
is both simple and compact, and can readily be used in situations inaccessible to an
equipment carrying its own source of current. Moreover, work may be carried
on at the same time at different portions of the structure, and with economy and
expedition

page_text: All this will more fully appear from the following detailed description, in which
reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the system as
applied to the formation of continuous electric line conductors placed in conduits,
and to the formation of continuous lines of pipe in trenches; but it will be under-
stood that this system is equally applicable to the building of overhead telephone,
telegraph, electric railway, electric light, and other electric or non-electric line
structures, as well as for repairing or joining the ends of conductors already in
position or use.
Figure 1, represents a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a portion of an
underground conduit for electric conductors of all kinds, and equipped with an
independent line carrying the welding currents and showing the improved portable
welding apparatus in position for uniting sections of the conductors contained
within the conduit ;
Figure 2, is an elevation, partly in diagram, of an apparatus designed more
especially for welding together sections of pipe;
Figure 3, is a sectional elevation of the welding apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4, is a sectional plan of the same; and
Figure 5, is an end view of a conduit for electric conductors showing in cross-
section a number of such conductors, together with an independent line charged
with the welding currents in place in the conduit.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts all throughout the drawing.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, there is shown an
underground conduit 1, built in any desired or improved manner, and having any
desired cross-section. By preference, but not necessarily so, the conduit will be
built rectangular in shape, with the corners rounded off, as indicated in Figure 5,
and provided with separate passages 2, each constructed to receive one or more
electric conductors or cables 3, to be used for telegraphic, telephonic, or electric
lighting purposes, or for the transmission of electrical energy to a distance generally.
These conductors or cables are introduced into the passages provided for them,
at man-holes 4, 41, in the usual manner, in sections extending from one man-hole
to the next throughout the whole length of the conduit, and in accordance with
the invention the ends of these conductors or cables are then welded together
within the man-holes.
For this purpose, there are placed in the conduit, as a permanent or temporary
equipment of the same, two electric conductors 5, 5', which form the circuit for
currents generated at some fixed point on the line, or at the end of the line, as is
found most convenient, and in each man-hole these two line conductors are placed
conveniently close together, as shown in Figure 1, upon a switch-board 6, provided
with plug holes 6, 6, by which the line may be tapped, as will hereinafter more
fully appear.
Instead of the plug holes 6, 61, binding posts, terminal clamps, or
any equivalent connecting means may obviously be used.
By preference, the independent line is charged with alternating currents of high
tension, and if that is the case, the welding apparatus is formed, as indicated in
the man-hole 4, in Fig. 1, and shown in enlarged views in Figures 3 and 4.
Mounted within a box or enclosing case, preferably rectangular in shape and
provided with feet, as shown, there is a transformer 7, of any approved type and
constructed to receive high tension alternating electric currents in its primary
coil 8, which currents are converted into quantity currents of lower tension in the
secondary coil 9, of the transformer. Within the case and preferably separated
from the transformer by a partition 10, there is a reaction coil 11, the sections of
which are connected with contact plates 12, on the outside of the case, in the path
of a switch-arm 13.
One terminal of the primary coil 8, of the transformer is connected to a
binding 14, on the outer side of the case, and the said post is connected to a
plug 15, by means of a flexible conductor 16; the other terminal of the coil 8, is
connected to one end of the reaction coil 11, by a conductor 81. The plug 15, is
provided with two exposed metallic split jack-pin terminals 17,17, one being connected

page_text: to the flexible conductor 16, and the other to another flexible conductor 18, leading
to a binding post 19, on the case, the said binding post being in turn connected to
the switch arm 13, by a conductor 191, shown in dotted lines.
The terminals of the secondary coil 9, of the transformer are connected to
welding clamps 20, 21, mounted on the top of the case, on a bed or base piece 22,
the clamp 21 being fixed and the clamp 20 adjustable to and from the said fixed
clamp 21, on a guide 23, on the bed 22, the clamps being insulated from each other,
as shown at 28.
The clamp 20, is adjusted on its bed by means of a screw rod 24, provided at one
end with a hand wheel or crank 25, and at the other end entering a nut formed in
the clamp 20; the rod 24, is held against longitudinal movement by a suitable
bearing 26, formed on one end of the bed 22.
Each clamp is composed of two jaws 27, 28, hinged together and locked one to
the other by a latch arm 29, in the manner shown and described in English Letters
Patent No. 127 17, granted September 20. 1887. The bearing faces of the jaws,
which may be made removable, are formed to receive and hold electric conductors
of any desired shape, and in Figures 1 and 3, the ends 31, of such conductors are
shown secured in the clamps, in position to be brought into contact by a suitable
manipulation of the hand-wheel 25, and are then welded together by the passage
through the abutting ends, of an electric current of proper heating effect.
The welding apparatus described with reference to Figures 3 and 4, is also
provided with a combined vise and anvil 30, or other tools, to be used as occasion
requires.
An apparatus thus constructed is used as following:-
When the conductor or cable sections 3, are properly placed in the conduit, with
their free ends in the man-holes, as hereinbefore described, the portable welding
apparatus is carried to one man-hole, and placed either at the bottom of it, as
shown, or it may be suitably supported upon a shelf or other rest projecting from
one of the walls of the conduit, according to the position of the conductors to be
united. It may also be placed near the opening of the conduit, either outside or
within the same, when used to join wires or cables before the latter are placed in or
drawn through the conduit.
The conductor or cable sections 3, are longer than is required for bridging the
man-hole, and the ends of the same are bared and inserted and clamped in the
welding clamps 20, 21, respectively. The plug 15, is then applied to the switch-
board 6, that is to say, the jack-pins 17, 17, are inserted into the plug holes 61, 6¹,
whereby the independent line 5, 51, is tapped by the primary coil of the converter.
The movable clamp 20, is now adjusted to bring the ends 31, of the conductors 3,
in abutment, pressing the same into contact with moderate pressure, which is
maintained until the end of the operation, the switch arm 13, being meanwhile
moved over the terminals of the reaction coil regulator, so as to control the current
flowing through the primary coil, and graduate the strength of the current induced
in the secondary circuit; according to the requirements of the work in hand.
In this manner, one section of a conductor 3, is welded to the other, and in the
same manner all conductor sections terminating at the man-hole are welded.
The plug 15, is then withdrawn, and the welding apparatus is ready to be moved
to the next man-hole for a repetition of the same operation.
In the drawing, the ends 3', of the conductor sections are shown much longer
than is required in practice, but in all cases, these conductors when welded together
will form a loop or festoon, as shown; and it will be understood that the portions
which had been bared for welding will be again wrapped with suitable insulation,
as indicated at 31.
It will be understood that the welding apparatus is employed in the same manner
for making joints or cross connections between the wires of one conduit and those
of another, whether such connections are made at the time the wires are originally
laid or subsequently thereto. It will furthermore be understood, that the welding
apparatus described, may and is intended to be likewise employed to produce

page_text: soldered or brazed joints between the wires of the same or different lines or cables,
instead of welded joints, with equal facility, when these are desired. In such case,
the ends of the wires to be joined are clamped as already described, the current
derived from the fixed line serving to heat the same to the required soldering or
brazing temperature, a suitable flux and the desired soldering or brazing compound
being applied to the joint either before or during the heating operation.
In the same way, wires that have been soldered, may be separated, and if
desired, connected to other wires, by first clamping the wire at either side of the
joint in the welding jaws and passing a current of the proper strength across
the joint to soften the same, the same source of current and portable apparatus
serving for any and all of these operations. By this method, the use of twisted or
spiral joints may be dispensed with, and a durable and uniform joint produced.
If the permanent line 5, 5', is charged with a continuous current of the requisite
volume for welding, soldering or brazing directly with the same, then the trans-
former is omitted, and instead of the reaction coil 11, a simple rheostat is employed
to regulate the strength of the welding current. In this case, the conductor 16,
leading to the plug 15, is continued from the binding post 14, directly to the
welding clamp 20, and the conductor 81 coming from one terminal of the rheostat
is directly connected with the welding clamp 21. These connections are indicated
in Figure 3, at 16', 181, in dotted lines.
Thus far the invention has been shown only in connection with conductors
carried in underground conduits; it will be evident that it may likewise be applied
in the construction and subsequent maintenance and repair of surface and overhead
pole lines. The conductors carrying the welding or metal heating current are in
that case preferably extended along the surface or overhead line as the case may
be, while the same is in course of construction or immediately upon its completion,
the placing and connection of the subsequent conductor sections being carried on
by its aid, as already described, at any desired number of points thereof.
In Figure 2, the invention is illustrated mainly in diagram, as applied to the
welding together of sections of pipe laid in a trench. The parts composing the
apparatus are supposed to be collected and arranged in a box, substantially in
the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, and except as to the means for tapping the
permanent line, the devices are practically the same.
There is a bed piece 22, having its ends slightly upturned as shown at 32, and
each provided with a bearing face 33, of insulating material, forming rests for
pipe sections 34, 34, to be welded together, and arranged so as to hold these sections
in alignment. The welding clamps 20, 21, are mounted upon this bed 22, in
substantially the manner described with reference to Figure 3.
It will at once be apparent that pipe sections held by the clamps may be readily
brought into contact, and on the passage of a suitable current, may be heated to the
proper degree and upset, so as to form a welded joint.
An alternating current dynamo 35, or other suitable source of current is located
at some distant point, and an independent overhead line 5, 5', is extended along the
line of the trench in which the pipe is to be laid, and this line is tapped by sets of
contact rollers or trolleys 171, 17, which, by the conductors 16, 18, convey the
current to the primary of the transformer, or, if the current be of sufficient
volume, directly to the welding clamps, as the case may be, thus performing in
this instance the functions of the plug 15, shown in connection with Figure 3.
It will be clear that the same arrangement is likewise applicable to the electric
welding of railway rails, shown in the aforesaid Patents and to other line structures.
In the case of welding pipes, the welding clamps 20, 21, are preferably provided
with dies of such shape as to leave a slight ridge 36, completely surrounding the
pipe outside of the joint, so as to strengthen the same, and render it secure against
leakage, and, on transferring the welding apparatus to the next joint, that portion
of the pipe line which has already been completed may be filled in and covered in
the usual manner.
It will be understood, that while the invention has been shown as applied solely

page_text: to electric welding, soldering and brazing operations, the portable welding apparatus,
with its source of heavy current, clamps, etc., may also be used for other electric
metal working operations, such, for example, as electrically heating the metal
preparatory to cutting or shaping or otherwise treating the same, in addition to
electric welding and joining, the invention is, therefore, not restricted to the latter
in applying the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. The method of producing continuous metallic line structures, such as lines of
wires, rails, pipes and the like, which consists in establishing an initial electric
circuit along the line of the proposed structure or structures, and charging said
circuit with suitable current; laying successive sections of the wire or other metal
designed to constitute or form part of the structure along the line of way, and
electrically welding or uniting the ends of the sections so as to form a continuous
or unbroken structure by subjecting the ends to be united directly or indirectly
to the heating action of the current flowing in the initial circuit, substantially as
described.
2. The method of producing continuous metallic line structures, which consists
in establishing an initial electric circuit along the line of the proposed structure
and charging the same from a fixed station with alternating currents, laying
successive sections of the said structure along the line of way, and in electrically
welding the ends of the sections to each other by tapping the said circuit at one
or more points by inductional transformers, and subjecting the ends to be united
to the heating action of the converted secondary current or currents, substantially
as described.
3. The method of producing and maintaining a line of telegraph wires, or other
electrical conductors, which consists in primarily erecting a single wire or circuit,
charging the same with current capable of developing the requisite heating effect,
and utilizing the said current at various points along the line of way either directly
or indirectly, to produce the necessary union or joint between the other sections
of conductors constituting the line of wires, substantially as described.
4. The method of constructing a line or lines of electric conductors, which
consists in utilizing the current flowing in one line of conductors to produce the
welds or joints in another line or lines extending in a direction parallel therewith,
substantially as described.
5. The method of electrically heating sections or portions of metallic line
structures preparatory to welding, soldering, brazing or otherwise treating the
same, which consists in establishing a permanently charged electric circuit
extending along the line of said structure, and in including the sections or portions
of the structure to be heated, either directly or indirectly, in the said charged
circuit, substantially as described.
6. The method of electrically heating sections or portions of metallic line
structures preparatory to welding, soldering, brazing, shaping, or otherwise treating
the same, which consists in establishing a permanently charged electric circuit
extending along the line of said structure; including the sections or portions to be
heated, either directly or indirectly, in the said charged circuit; and in varying
or graduating the flow of heating current through the sections or portions of the
structure to be heated, to suit the requirements of the welding, soldering, brazing,
shaping or other operation, substantially as described.
7. An underground or other conduit or way, provided with supports for electric
conductors and cables, said conduit or way having a permanent line of conductors
extending along the same and charged with electric current or currents, in com-
bination with an electric welding, soldering or brazing apparatus arranged and
designed to be supplied with current therefrom, and adapted to produce electrically

page_text: welded, soldered or brazed joints in or between the other wires carried by the said
conduit or way, substantially as described.
8. In a system of electrically heating sections or portions of metallic line
structures preparatory to welding, soldering, brazing, shaping or otherwise treating
the same; the combination of a permanent line of conductors extending along the
line of the structure and charged with suitable currents; a portable metal working
or holding apparatus for clamping the sections or portions of the structure to be
united or treated, and connections between the said apparatus and the said
permanent line conductors, substantially as described.
9. In a system of electrically welding or uniting successive sections of metallic
structures, the combination of a permanent line of conductors extending along the
line of the structure, and charged with suitable currents; with a portable electric
welding or metal-working apparatus, and means for tapping the permanent line by
the said apparatus, substantially as described.
10. In a system of electrically welding successive sections of metallic structures,
the combination of a permanent line of conductors charged with alternating
currents of high tension, and extending along the line of the structure; with a
portable welding or metal-working apparatus comprising a transformer, welding or
heating clamps, and a current regulator, and means for tapping the permanent line
by the primary of the converter, substantially as described.
11. In a system of laying conductors in underground conduits, the combination
of a permanent line of conductors established in said conduit, and charged with
suitable currents; with a portable welding apparatus, and means for tapping the
permanent line by the welding apparatus at the man-holes of the conduit,
substantially as described.
12. In a system of electrically welding lines of conductors at the man-holes of
underground conduits carrying such conductors, the combination of a permanent
line established in the conduit and charged with suitable currents; with a
switch-board or connecting terminals for the said line in each man-hole, a portable
welding or metal working apparatus, and a plug or equivalent connection, for
tapping the permanent line at the switch-board by the welding apparatus,
substantially as described.
13. A portable welding or metal-working apparatus, comprising an inductional
converter and a reaction coil housed within a casing, welding or heating clamps
constituting the terminals of the secondary of the converter, mounted upon the
casing, and a tapping plug flexibly connected with or constituting the terminals of
the primary of the converter, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of June 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.