IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO POSTS OR SUPPORTS FOR TELEGRAPH[IC] WIRES OR THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Harris Lake at the Oflice of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1882. A communication to
him from abroad by Joseph Gabriel Richard, of Paris France,
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO POSTS OR
SUPPORTS FOR TELEGRAPH[IC] WIRES OR THE LIKE" Communicated to him from
abroad by Joseph Gabriel Richard, of Paris France,
Up to the present time wires arranged above ground have been supported in the
air by posts or supports of wood or iron, or by sheet metal tubes The foot or base
of the post has always been fixed in the ground by placing it in a hole whose depth
is varied according to the nature of the soil and the estimated rigidity which the
said post should have to resist the wind, the earth removed in the formation of
such hole being thrown back again and rammed or otherwise compressed around
the said post to retain it in position. In some cases stones are placed within the
hole around the base of the post and rammed or otherwise forced down in order to
increase the stability of the said post and sometimes the foot or base of the said
post is surrounded by brickwork or the like.
This method of fixing posts possesses a serious disadvantage which has not
heretofore been overcome, that is to say the wood, iron, sheet metal tubing, or other
material of which the post is formed is always exposed to the action of water, the
earth, and the salts and acids which it contains and to the insects which live in the
soil. It follows therefore that as soon as the said posts are fixed in position their
rapid destruction commences at all parts of the saine which are in contact with
the destructive agents, the earth, water, and constant humidity, notwith-
standing all the precautions which may be taken such as impregnating them with
chemical agents, steeping or painting them, or applying tar to them, carbonizing
them, or the like.
There is nevertheless a means of overcoming, preventing, or at least reducing to a
considerable extent the destructive or deteriorative action upon the wood by isolating
it from the humidity of the earth which rots the wood and corrodes the iron or
metal tube and it is by this means possible to prevent the decomposition of the
wood and the oxydation or rust of other materials.
My Invention relates to this means of preservation and it consists in isolating
the foot or base of the post from the ground and destructive elements by enclosing

page_text: the part of the said post which is susceptible of being attacked by the humidity of
the earth, in an impermeable box, cylinder, base or block.
I can produce such an isolation by coating the lower part of the post with india
rubber or gutta percha or by enclosing it in fabrics impregnated with greasy and
isolating substances but the increase in the outlay renders this means of isolation
less advantageous notwithstanding the advantages resulting from its employment.
The method of isolation which is the most efficacious and resists indefinitely the
destructive action produced by water, the earth, the animalcules and acids, consists
in carefully introducing the part of the post liable to be attacked, in a box, tube
socket, base, or block of hard homogeneous and non porous stone, or in marble or
granite having the same properties as such stone; the effects of water and of the
soil and humidity and oxydation, and the injurious action of insects are thus
obviated. The part of the posts which is intended to be enclosed in the orifice
formed in such stone, marble, or granite is dressed and smoothed and the space
between the wood, or metal and the stone, marble or granite at the parts where they
come in contact are caulked as perfectly as possible; the joints may be stopped with
hydraulic cement molten lead, or other fusible materials where solidity and
resistance entirely prevent infiltration.
The boxes, tubes, sockets, or bases of stone marble or granite are slightly grooved
at the part which receives the post. The said post is so reduced in size as to
correspond with the size of the hole adapted to receive it and when introduced
into the said hole forms above the same a covering or shield which serves to carry
away rain or other water which runs down the post.
The
The invariable stability of the boxes tubes sockets, blocks, or bases is obtained
either by the pressure of the earth upon them or by the aid of masonry.
nature of the soil will permit the proper estimation as to the length of the base
required, the extent to which it may be bored or perforated, and the extent to which
it should be sunk in the ground.
The boring of the boxes, sleeves, tubes, blocks, sockets, or bases of stone, marble,
or granite may be effected in the ordinary manner that is to say it may be effected
by hand with chisels for small depths or by a revolving tube or drilling apparatus
according to the depth of the hole required.
The diameter and depth of the holes vary according to whether the posts are
formed of wood, iron, or metal tubing and are suited to the resistance which the
post is designed to overcome.
The arrangement above described constitutes by reason of its mobility, lightness,
utility and solidity means whereby a wooden post is caused to last at least four
times as long as those heretofore used and to these posts as well as posts constructed
of iron, hollow metal, or cast iron imparts great efficiency.
The aforesaid box, tube socket, block, or base and the hole in the same may be
square, cylindrical, or of any other suitable form and the machinery for the boring
of such hole may be arranged either horizontally or vertically according to the
position of the pieces to be bored.
In the above description I have described my improvements as applicable to
telegraph posts. It will be readily understood however that my invention is equally
applicable to all other posts or supports adapted to be secured in the ground.