Improvements in Electric Cables.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cables.
I, JOHN DUNCKLEE GOULD, Broker, of 399 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to cables for conducting electric currents, and the main
object is to so construct the cable that the several conductors carried thereby may
be readily distinguished one from another, thus facilitating the work, and avoid-
ing mistakes in making electrical connections, as well as saving the loss of time
required at present in testing the conductors for the proper circuits and a further
object is to so construct the cable that several different kinds of electrical work
may be simultaneously performed, either with open or closed circuits, or both
together.
The invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts, as
will be hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in both views.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a cable embodying my invention, with certain portions
broken away to more clearly show other portions; and
Figure 2 is a section through the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
The cable as here illustrated is designed for several circuits, including a fire
alarm circuit, and as such it comprises a core 1, of fusible material, such for
instance as lead, and to increase its conductivity I may extend a wire 2 of copper
or similar material longitudinally through it. Surrounding the core is an
insulating material 3, which preferably has a less resistance to heat than the
core 1.
For this purpose paper or a suitable textile material may be employed.
Wound spirally around the insulating material 3 is a series of electric con-
ductors 4, 5 and 6, and to separate one conductor from another, a cord or strip of
insulating material 7 is wound between adjacent conductors. The cable when
thus constructed is provided with a covering B of insulating material.
I have here shown three conductors as wound spirally around the insulating
material 3, but it is to be understood that there may be a greater or less number
without departing from the spirit of my invention. Each of the conductors 4,
5 and 6 as here shown, consists of a number of strands laid parallel one with
another, and forming what may be termed a ribbon or band conductor. By this
construction I provide the required area of conductivity in a completed cable of
small circumference, as compared with a cable consisting of a number of wires
each having the conductive area of the ribbons or bands.
For the purpose of facilitating the work of making electrical connections, I
make the several conductors distinguishable one from another, and preferably this
will be done by means of various colors. For instance; the conductor 4 may be

page_text: of copper and nickel-plated or tinned, thus making it white; the conductor 6 of
plain copper wire without covering, and the conductor 5 may be part copper and
partly tinned or nickel-plated.
The manner of making electrical connections with this cable will be quite
apparent without further description, but it is to be understood that I may employ
the several distinctive conductors independently of a core comprising a fusible
conductor; however, when the cable is used in connection with a fire alarm system,
the fusible conductor will be connected with one pole of an alarm actuating electro
magnet, and one of the outer conductors may be connected to the other pole of the
magnet; therefore should a fire take place in a building through which the cable
is extended, the heat generated will burn away the insulating material 3, and fuse
the conductor 1 with the other conductor, thus automatically closing the circuit,
and as this fusing may take place at any point, it is obvious that the cable is
practically a thermostat throughout its entire length.
The conductors 4, 5 and 6 may be employed as complete metallic circuits for
electrically operated devices, or each may be employed in connection with a ground
circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An electric cable, comprising insulating material, and a series of con-
ductors extended along the insulating material and insulated one from another.
the several conductors being distinguishable one from another by having their
exposed surfaces of metal differing in colour one from another, and capable of receiv-
ing and holding solder, substantially as specified.
2. An electric cable, comprising a fusible core, an insulating material covering
the same, a series of conductors wound spirally around said insulating material, and
an insulating cord wound between adjacent spirally wound conductors, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. An electric cable, comprising a fusible core, a copper or similar wire extended
longitudinally through said core, an insulating material covering the core, a series
of conductors wound spirally around said insulating material, and an insulating
cord wound spirally around the insulating material between adjacent spirally
wound conductors, substantially as specified.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK.
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.