IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING TELEGRAPH WIRES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING TELEGRAPH WIRES." A communi-
cation from abroad by William Bancroft Espeut, of Spring Gardens, Buff Bay,
Jamaica, West Indies.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. “IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING
TELEGRAPH WIRES." [A communication from abroad by William Bancroft Espeut,
of Spring Gardens, Buff Bay, Jamaica, West Indies.]
In order to ensure proper insulation in an inexpensive manner when telegraph
wires are carried under the earth instead of on poles or other fixtures above the
surface of the ground, as is for the most part usual, I employ where there is heavy
traffic an iron tube lined inside with the material or ware now used for porcelain
pole insulators, such lining being formed in one or more longitudinal compartments
as desired, or where there is not the risk of breakage from heavy traffic I prefer to
use tubes or pipes made of the porcelain ware in lengths of suitable and convenient
size, and connected by thimbles to allow the end of one pipe to touch the end of
the other pipe, care being taken to cement the two ends with white lead; these
thimbles may be of iron or ware as desired. These ware-pipes can be made to
contain one or several wires; in the latter case I cast the pipe solid but perforate it
longitudinally, so that the walls of each division shall constitute an insulator for
the wire in each cell or division. I connect these ware pipes by white lead cement,
and where necessary, as at stations, fix a T piece to allow of a wire being removed
from the pipe without affecting the insulation thereof or of the other wires. To do
this I file or cut a groove or way at the end of the pipe in the wall of the cell
containing the wire to be removed, and through this notch the wire passes into the
T piece. These T pieces will be thimbles to fit over the pipes so as to allow the
end of one pipe to be placed quite close to the other, as in the ordinary joints, and
cemented together with white lead. For bends and angles suitable pieces of ware
pipe divided and cemented as described must be used. The division walls of each cell
or longitudinal compartment will constitute an effective insulation of the wires, and
if the pipes are properly cemented together so that water cannot enter at the joints
of the pipes several telegraph wires can be safely, easily, and cheaply conveyed.
under ground.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd September
1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAYING
TELEGRAPH WIRES." A communication from abroad by William Bancroft Espeut,
of Spring Gardens, Buff Bay, Jamaica, West Indies.
.
In order to ensure proper insulation in an inexpensive manner when telegraph
wires are carried under the earth instead of on poles or other fixtures above the
surface of the ground as for the most part usual, I employ where there is heavy
traffic an iron tube lined inside with the material or ware now used for porcelain
pole-insulators, such lining being formed in one or more longitudinal compartments
as desired, or where there is not the risk of breakage from heavy traffic I prefer to
use tubes or pipes made of the porcelain or ware, in lengths of suitable and convenient
size, and connected by thimbles to allow the end of one pipe to touch the end of the
other pipe, care being taken to cement the two ends with white lead; these thimbles
.may be of iron or ware as desired. These ware pipes can be made to contain one
or several wires; in the latter case I cast the pipe solid but perforate it longi-
tudinally so that the walls of each division shall constitute an insulator for the wire
in each cell or division. I connect these ware pipes by white lead cement, and
where necessary, as at stations, fix a T piece to allow of a wire being removed from
or entered into the pipe without affecting the insulation thereof or of the other
wires; to do this I file or cut a groove or way at the end of the pipe in the wall of
the cell containing the wire to be removed or entered, and through this notch the
wire passes into or from the T piece. These T pieces will be thimbles to fit over
the pipes so as to allow the end of one pipe to be placed quite close to the other,
as in the ordinary joints, and cemented together with white lead. For bends and
angles suitable pieces of ware pipe divided and cemented as described must be
used.
The division walls of each cell or longitudinal compartment will constitute an
effective insulation of the wires, and if the pipes are properly cemented together so
that water cannot enter at the joints of the pipes several telegraph wires can be
safely, easily, and cheaply conveyed under ground.
In order that the said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into-effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end view of a tube such as is employed according to this Invention
for containing telegraph wires.
a, a, a, are the telegraph wires lodged in the several compartments of the tube.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of two such tubes butted end to end as they are to
be laid, and with a thimble consisting of a short length of metal or porcelain ware
tube covering the ends. The thimble should be an easy fit and should be put on
with white lead mixed to the consistency of paint so that a perfectly water tight
closing may be ensured.
Figure 3 is an end view of a thimble.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a T piece which takes the place of a plain thimble
at any point where a wire is to be led out or in.
Where strength is required these porcelain ware tubes are inserted as a lining
into iron pipes.
In conclusion I would observe that although the before mentioned porcelain

page_text: ware is I believe the best for carrying the Invention into effect, yet other and
inferior glazed ware may be used for that purpose if care be taken in the glazing.
What I claim is the improved method of laying the telegraph wires, substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.