Ior other rurposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Ior other rurposes.
I, GEORGE DAGGETT SUTTON of No. 146 West Tenth Street, New York, in the
County of New York and State of New York, United States of America, Tailor
and Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to conduits for electric wires and cables, and for other
purposes; and it has for its object the furnishing of a practicable method of laying
electric wires and cables beneath the surface of the ground, without materially
interfering with the paving of the carriage-ways or side-walks of cities. Such
conduits may also be used for accommodating the pipes for compressed air and other
motive-power systems. And when put into use my system will require but slight
cost for maintaining it, and besides it will furnish ready means of access to the
wires and cables whenever occasion may arise for repairs to the same, or for any
enlargement of the service.
The sheet of explanatory drawings herewith appended will enable others to
understand my invention and its several modifications.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of one side of a street, including the
curb and side-walk, showing one form of my invention; Figure 2 is a transverse
vertical section of another form of the hollow curb; Figure 3 is a plan view of a
section of the removable cover; Figure 4 is a horizontal section of parts of two
sections of the hollow curb, showing one method of uniting the sections; Figure 5
is a cross section of one side of a street including the gutter, curb, and side-walk,
showing the application of my improvements; Figure 6 is a cross section of the
gutter and curb in a modified shape; Figure 7 is a similar view, showing modifica-
tions in shape; Figure 8 is a top plan view of the bottom of the curb or gutter;
Figure 9 is a side view of the outer wall of the curb or gutter; Figure 10 is a
transverse vertical section of a structure in which the curb and gutter are com-
bined, and Figure 11 is a detail showing a corner piece to be used on corners where
there are culverts.
In the drawings (figure 1) A indicates the carriage-way of a street, B the side-
walk, and C the curb conduit, which latter will be made of regulation size, and by

page_text: preference will be composed of cast iron, although any other metal or material
adapted for the purpose may be used instead of cast iron. This conduit, as shown
in the several views, may be twenty inches deep, more or less, according to the
requirements of the service for which it is intended, and from five to eight inches
wide at its top, more or less, to meet the conditions of city and town regulations.
It is designed to occupy the same relation to the carriage-way and side-walk that
the stone curb in general use now occupies, extending slightly above the surface of
the carriage-way but being substantially on a level with the side-walk. In this
view (figure 1) the rear wall a of the conduit C is perpendicular and its front wall b
is inclined from the top downward. In practice the inclination of wall b will be such
as to provide a width of about four inches more at the base of the structure than
at its top; but I do not confine myself to any exact proportions. The advantage
of this form of the curb is that increased capacity is afforded without lessening the
strength of the structure. The pressure of the carriage-way upon the inclined wall b
will have no tendency to rupture the casting, as might be the case if the said wall
were curved and the paving blocks rested upon the joint of the curve. It will also
be observed that the inclination of the wall 6 above the surface of the carriage-way
is such that the wheels of vehicles when passing along the streets will not come in
contact with the cover D of the curb, thus avoiding liability of the cover being
injured.
The letter c indicates a lining of cement or any other nonconducting substance.
This lining may be about three-eighths of an inch thick. Its object is to avoid
any possibility of the metal composing the hollow curb detrimentally affecting the
electric wires and cables which may be located within the same. Of course the
wires and cables will be properly insulated-and may be provided with an armor
of lead or other suitable material. When thus protected there is little if any
liability of trouble arising from induction; but the non-conducting lining serves
as an additional safe-guard in this particular. This lining is not absolutely
essential to the success of this plan of accommodating the wires beneath the
surface of the ground, and its use may be dispensed with if thought desirable.
The cover D of the curb is inade in sections and is corrugated as shown in
figure 3. This cover D may be in a single piece, or it may be made with solid
sections d and removable centre lid e. By this construction-to which I do not
confine myself however openings are provided for access to the hollow curb
without the necessity of lifting the entire weight of the cover D. As shown in
figures 1 and 2 the outer edge of the cover D is provided on its under surface with
a downwardly projecting hook-shaped extension f which catches under a lug g on
the inner surface of the outer wall of the curb C. The exterior surface of the
upper edge of the outer wall of the curb C may be slightly rounded or bevelled as
shown at h, and the outer edge i of the cover C may be correspondingly bevelled,
thus overcoming the objection to a sharp edge on the outer or exposed side of the
curb. The cover C may be made quite thick at its edges, so that when in position
it will afford strength and solidity to the structure.
The curb C may be made in sections of any convenient length which are joined
by any suitable method. In figure 4 the joint is an ordinary pipe joint; and in
putting the sections together, packing similar to pipe-joint packings may be used
for making the joints tight. At the street corners the sections of the curb may be
made curved or angular, to meet the demands of the regulations under which the
curb may be laid. In figure 11 I show a corner-piece for corners at which culverts
or sewer openings are located. The application of this feature to my system is
obvious.
The interior of the curb C may be provided with suitable supports ; at appro-
priate distances apart, for the electrical conductors, when it is desirable to separate
several systems of wires from one another. The letter k indicates pipes or tubes
of a compressed air or other power or supply system. It is understood of course.
that when service connections for electric lighting, or other purpose, are required
the curb will be tapped in the appropriate place for making these connections.

page_text: If thought desirable the curb can be formed, in casting, with a series of such
openings, which may be afterward provided with plugs until required for use.
E indicates a lamp post for an electric light.. It will be located in close proximity
to the hollow curb C, and its interior connected with the interior of the curb, 80
that the light will ventilate the conduit formed by the curb. There may be as
many of these lamps as necessary or desirable; and instead of an electric light the
ordinary gas light may be utilized for this purpose.
It is of course obvious that the streets of a city may be lighted by lamps taking
the electric current from wires located in my curb conduit.
The only difference between the curb conduits shown in figures 1 and 2 is that
in the latter the front wall b is perpendicular, and not inclined as in figure 1. If
found desirable the cover D may be secured in position by screws at its inner edge,
as shown at figure 2.
In figures 5, 6 and 7 I show hollow curbs and gutters adapted to be used
separately or together. In figures 5 and 7 the curb C has both of its walls
perpendicular, and in figure 6 the rear wall a is perpendicular while the front
wall b is inclined from the top to the hottom. The inclined wall 6 of figure 6 gives
greater interior space to the curb without lessening its strength; and where the
curb is used independently of the hollow gutter F the inclined wall will furnish a
certain amount of support for the gutter stones, and is a safe-guard against the
wheels of vehicles coming in violent contact with the top of the curb or with the
cover D. These advantages are also applicable to the structure shown in figure 1.
The cover D in these views, figures 5, 6 and 7, is somewhat different in form from
that shown in figures 1 and 2; and in using the former I may employ a gasket m
of suitable material for the purpose of making a tight joint between the cover and
curb. The bottom of each section of the curb will by preference be made as shown
in figure 8 which is a ground plan of the bottom G, which bottom is formed with.
alternate solid and open spaces-the letter H indicating the solid portions. By.
this construction a saving in material is effected, and the curb section rendered
lighter than it would be if provided with an entirely solid bottom.
The hollow gutter F is designed to occupy the same relation to the carriage-way
which the ordinary gutter occupies. It may be made with both its front and rear
walls n, o perpendicular, as shown in figure 7, or with both of said walls inclined,
outwardly, as shown in figure 6, or with only its front wall n inclined, as shown in
figure 5. When the gutter F is used in connection with the curb C its rear wall is
best made to conform to the inclination of the front wall of the curbing; but.
when the gutter is used alone, without the curb C, the preferred form will be that.
shown in figure 6, with the rear wall perpendicular and the front wall inclined
from the top to the bottom. By this construction I provide more interior space
than if the outer wall were perpendicular, and besides furnish a certain degree of
support for the paving blocks at the edge of the gutter. The interior of gutter F,
(which gutter is to be made in sections the same as the curb C), may be lined the same
as the curb, and its top C' and bottom G¹ may be solid, or may be made precisely:
like the top and bottom of the curb C, as explained. The cover of the gutter, will.
be smooth on its exposed surface. For the purpose of this description figures 8
and 9 may be deemed to show the top and bottom, respectively, of the gutter as
well as of the curb. When the gutter F is used without the curb the side-walk
may be constructed to extend out to the gutter, or an ordinary stone curb may be.
interposed between the side-walk and gutter. When the gutter F and curb C are
used conjointly they may be connected by the headed bolts p provided with nuts
which may be secured against displacement by any of the commonly employed
nut-locks. To accommodate the bolts p the rear wall of the gutter F is perforated
and the front wall of the curb is provided with elongated slits or openings 8. By
this means the gutter can be adjusted vertically to bring it to the proper position
with reference to the grade of the carriage-way.
In crossing intersecting streets the gutter conduit F will be extended across the
roadway in an obvious manner, the covers of the sections of that portion of the

page_text: conduit being on a level with the surface of the paving of the roadway and being:
corrugated on their exposed surfaces as is usual with castings occupying such
positions. The gutter F may be fourteen inches, more or less, in depth, and from
eight to twelve inches wide; more or less. The space between the gutter and curb
may be packed by any suitable substance as indicated at t.
I propose to provide a bed of pebbles of several feet thickness for the curb and
gutter to rest upon, as shown in figure 5, in order to effect suitable drainage for.
such water as may pass into or around the structure.
One advantage of making the gutter and curb of independent receptacles is that,
those wires or cables that are employed for very delicate service, as in telephonic or
electric light systems, may be consolidated in one receptacle, thus avoiding an
objection often made to a common conduit for the various electric wire systems.
This objection may also be overcome, in the use of my conduits, by enclosing wires.
of the nature mentioned within suitably insulated boxes which may be arranged at
different levels within the conduits. Another advantage of this plan of independent
receptacles, when the arrangement shown by me is employed, is that the gutter can
be readily adjusted to suit the grade of the carriage-way which could not be done
if the receptacles were permanently joined together.
In figure 10 I show a cross section of a combined curb and gutter, the curb
portion being provided with a detachable cover. In this view C is the combined
structure and D' is the removable cover over the curb portion. This structure may
be made of any suitable material, and by preference will be of the form shown-
without interior division walls, and with its front wall inclined from the top to the
horizontal space forming the gutter, and from said space inclined to the foot of the
combined structure, as clearly shown in this view (figure 10). Its dimensions in
depth and top surface, its detachable cover, and the manner of connecting its
various sections &c. will be substantially the same as set forth in describing the
other views of the drawings.
While the primary object of my invention is to furnish an inexpensive and
effective electric wire conduit, I do not confine myself to such use. For electric
wire purposes it possesses obvious advantages, as by its use the carriage-way of
streets need not be disturbed either for putting down the system or for purposes
of repairs and additions of new wires or cables. In crossing intersecting streets the
wires or pipes may be conducted from the hollow curb through suitable boxes
specially designed for such service, by means of any of the well-known devices
in use for transmitting objects from one point to another-as for instance an
arrangement of cords and pulleys.
Having thus 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. A hollow street-curb having its front wall inclined from the top to the bottom
and provided with a removable cover, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. A hollow street-curb having a perpendicular rear wall and an inclined front
wall, and provided with a removable cover, substantially as set forth.
3. A hollow street-curb having a lug g formed on its inner surface, and having
the upper edge of its exterior surface rounded or bevelled as shown, in combination
with the cover D) whose under surface is provided with a downwardly projecting
hook-shaped extension f and whose outer edge i is rounded or bevelled, substantially
as set forth.
4. The hollow curb having the supports or ledges ; and provided with the
removable cover D, substantially as set forth.
5. The hollow gutter F combined with the hollow curb C, both receptacles being
independently constructed and connected to each other so that the gutter may be
adjusted vertically with relation to the curb, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 6. The hollow curb C whose front wall is inclined from the top to the bottom, in
combination with the hollow gutter F whose rear and front walls are similarly
inclined, the two receptacles being independently constructed, and adjustably
connected to each other, substantially as set forth.
7. The hollow curb C having elongated slits or openings in its front wall, in
combination with the hollow gutter F having bolt-holes in its rear wall, and the
bolts p, substantially as set forth.
8. A combined hollow curb and gutter comprising a single chamber without
interior division walls, the curb portion thereof being open at top and provided
with a removable cover, substantially as set forth.
9. A combined hollow curb and gutter comprising a single chamber without
interior division walls, and having its lower front or gutter wall inclined outwardly
from top to bottom, substantially as set forth.
10. A combined hollow curb and gutter comprising a single chamber, and having
its upper and lower front walls inclined from top to bottom, substantially as set
forth.