Conduits for Underground Wires for Telegraphic, Telephonic, Lighting, and other Electrical Purposes.
Year: 1884

page_text: Conduits for Underground Wires for Telegraphic, Telephonic,
Lighting, and other Electrical Purposes.
I JOSEPH BRITTAIN PASH of Chelmsford in the County of Essex Agricultural
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND IN THE MEANS OF VENTILATING AND DRAINING CONDUITS FOR UNDER-
GROUND WIRES FOR TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC, LIGHTING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the form and construction of conduits for underground
electric conductors and to the means of draining and ventilating the same, and it
consists in the conduits formed of glazed earthenware tubes having top openings
closed by glazed earthenware covers. The Invention further consists in the
combination with conduits for underground electric conductors of drainage wells
arranged at suitable intervals. The Invention further consists in the combination
with the said conduits and wells, of ventilating shafts, columns or towers.
The electric conductors are placed in a conduit formed of glazed earthenware
tube sections from six to twenty four inches in diameter and coated on the inside
with a mixture of paraffin oil and shellac. These sections are each provided with
a longitudinal top opening extending the entire length of the section with a ridge
or flange running along the outer surface at a short distance from each edge of the
opening, between which ridges fits a transversely curved glazed earthenware cover
(which is coated on the inside with a mixture of paraffin oil and shellac). This
cover is provided on the underside with longitudinal ridges or Banges that fit
between the edges of the opening in the conduit.
If desired the sections can be provided with top openings extending only part
of the length of the section and also provided with covers.
The sections can be
made circular in cross section or they can have a flat bottom and sides and a
curved top, or they can have a straight bottom and a curved top which rises from
the side edges of the said bottom. The sections are provided with side openings
through which the conductors can pass from the conduits into the buildings and
round the outside edge of the said apertures is a small projecting ridge forming a
tube on which a minor conduit of earthenware composition or lead fits. This
minor conduit is a circular pipe which conveys the electric conductor from the
main conduit to the building.

page_text: A series of pipes are united to form conduits under the side walks or streets.
At the ends of blocks of streets or squares, drainage wells are arranged in which
the drainage water collects and is conducted from the same through suitable outlet
pipes, the conduits being inclined towards the said wells. These wells are also
to be used as test boxes for testing the electric conductors and at the same the
branch connections are made.
At the terminals or central stations ventilating columns are arranged which are
also used as test boxes.
The air, gases, etc, in the conduits are conducted under a fire in the ventilating
shafts or towers, which are erected at the central stations and at such other places
as are found necessary, and thus the foul, poisonous, and other gases are removed
from the conduits by the draught produced by the fire, and the gases are rendered
harmless by passing through the fire.
The wells are also erected at the places where the conduits cross each other, or
branch off in different directions.
The electric conductors are labelled or numbered every two feet or less for the
purpose of selecting any wire, as required. The electric conductors are made of
copper coated with guttapercha or of Hoopers' core.
The main conduits are laid under the footpaths between the kurb stones and the
buildings and are covered by flag stones.
Dated the 29th day of December 1884
J. B. PASH.
By A. M. & Wm Clark.
Improvements in and in the Means of Ventilating and Draining 2
Conduits for Underground Wires for Telegraphic, Telephonic,
Lighting, and other Electrical Purposes.
"
"
I JOSEPH BRITTAIN PASH, of Chelmsford in the County of Essex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN THE
MEANS OF VENTILATING AND DRAINING CONDUITS FOR UNDERGROUND WIRES FOR
TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC, LIGHTING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PURPOSES (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Thomas Reynolds James, of Victoria, Australia)
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 the form and construction of conduits for under-
ground electric conductors and to the means of draining and ventilating the same,
and it consists in the conduits formed of glazed earthenware tubes having top
openings closed by glazed earthenware covers. The invention further consists in the

page_text: combination with conduits for underground electric conductors of drainage wells
arranged at suitable intervals. The invention further consists in the combination
with the said conduits and wells, of ventilating shafts, columns or towers.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a street provided with my improved
conduit for electric conductors. Figure 2 represents a series of streets in section
showing the arrangement of the drainage conduits. Figure is a cross sectional
elevation of a street showing the conduit and ventilating device Figure 4 is a
longitudinal elevation partly in section of one of the sections of the conduit for
receiving the conductors. Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the same on
the line x, x figure 4. Figure 6 is a longitudinal view of the cover separately
Figure 7 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of a modification of the
conduit Figure 8 is a cross sectional elevation of the same on line y, y figure 7.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section and figure 10 is a cross
sectional elevation of another modification of the conduit Figure 11 is a diagram
plan of the general system of conduits the ventilating furnace being shown in
sectional elevation.
The electric conductors are placed in a conduit formed of glazed earthenware
tube sections A from six to twenty four inches in diameter fitted together with
spigot and socket joints and coated on the inside with a mixture of paraffin oil and
shellac. The sections A are each provided with a longitudinal top opening B
extending the entire length of the section with a longitudinal ridge or flange C
running along the outer surface at a short distance from each edge of the opening
between which ridges fits a transversely curved glazed earthenware cover D which
is coated on the inside with a mixture of paraffin oil and shellac. This cover is
provided on the underside with longitudinal ridges or flanges E that fit between
the edges of the opening B.
The ends of these covers are rebated as shown in figure 6 so that the covers of
adjoining sections will overlap at the joints independently of the socket joints of
the sections.
The covers are secured in place by a wrought iron clamp & engaging with the
ridges c as shown.
If desired the sections A can be provided with top openings extending only part
of the length of the section and also provided with covers.
The sections can be
made circular in cross section as shown in figure 5 or they can have a flat bottom
and sides and a covered top as shown in figures 7 and or they can have a straight
bottom and a curved top which rises from the side edges of the said bottom as
in figures 9 and 10. The sections are provided with sockets I at the side to
receive branch pipes of earthenware composition or lend through which the electric
conductors are conveyed from the main conduit to the building.
A series of open pipe sections are united to form conduits under the side walks
and in these open conduits the wires are laid parallel to about /rds of the depth
of the conduit one third being left for ventilation. Where the conduits cross
streets ordinary earthenware pipes may be used as shown in figure 3. At the ends
of blocks of streets or squares, drainage wells F are arranged in which the drainage
water collects and is conducted from the same through suitable outlet pipes the
conduits being inclined towards the said wells. These wells are also to be used as
test boxes for testing the electric conductors and at the same the branch connections
are made.
At the terminals or central stations ventilating columns G are arranged which
are also used as test boxes.
As shown in figure 11 indraught terminal pillars are provided at the ends of
the several branch conduits of the system the air gases etc in the conduits are
conducted under a fire in an airtight furnace surmounted by a ventilating shaft or
tower erected at the central station and at such other places as are found necessary

page_text: and thus the foul poisonous and other gases are removed from the conduits by
the draught produced by the fire and the gases are rendered harmless by passing
through the fire.
The wells Fare also erected at the places where the conduits cross each other,
or branch off in different directions.
The electric conductors are labelled or numbered every two feet or less for the
purpose of selecting any wire, as required. The electric conductors are made of
copper coated with guttapercha or of Hooper's core.
The main conduits are laid under the footpaths between the kerb stones and
the buildings, and are covered by flag stones.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The respective forms and constructions of glazed earthenware conduits for
underground electric conductors made in sections spigot and socket jointed together
with longitudinal flanged top openings and provided with removable earthenware
covers fitting in said openings and with outlets for the branch conductors
substantially as specified and shown in the drawings and the method of laying
'electric conductors therein as described.
2. The combination with conduits A for underground electric conductors of
drainage wells and test boxes F arranged at suitable positions and intervals as
shown and described.
3. The general arrangement and combination of conduits A for underground
electric conductors, drainage wells and test boxes F and an air tight furnace with
a ventilating shaft column or tower, forming a system substantially as described
and shown in the drawings for the purpose of carrying out the method of
ventilation specified.