TELEGRAPH CONSTRUC-TION COMP) DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION
Year: 1877

page_text: BIDDLE'S (THE BROOKS' UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH CONSTRUC-
TION COMPANY, LIMITED) DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF
ALTERATION
Filed 8th February 1879.
In the Matter of the Letters Patent granted to BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSULATING TELEGRAPH WIRES, AND IN PRE-
PARING AND LAYING AND MAINTAINING INSULATED SUBTERRANEOUS AND
SUBAQUEOUS TELEGRAPH CABLES." A communication from abroad by
David Brooks, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America, dated the 19th December 1877.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
filed by Clement Miller Biddle, as Chairman, and on behalf of the Brooks
Underground Telegraph Construction Company (Limited), the Assignees of the
above-named Letters Patent to part of the title of the said Invention, and to
portions of the Complete Specification filed on applying for the said Letters
Patent pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and provided.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLEMENT
MILLER BIDDLE, Chairman of the Brooks Underground Telegraph Construction
Company, Limited, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America,
send greeting:
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal Letters
Patent bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven, did give and grant unto the above-named Bristow Hunt, his
executors, administrators, and assigns, the sole privilege of making, using, exercising,
and vending the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSULATING TELEGRAPH WIRES,
AND IN PREPARING AND LAYING AND MAINTAINING INSULATED SUBTERRANEOUS
AND SUBAQUEOUS TELEGRAPH CABLES" (the said Invention having been communi-
cated to him from abroad by David Brooks, of Philadelphia aforesaid), within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, for and during the term of fourteen years thence next ensuing:
11

page_text: '
And whereas the said Bristow Hunt, on the Nineteenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, did cause a Complete Specification in
writing under his hand and seal, purporting to particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
to be duly filed in the great Seal Patent Office :
And whereas by an Indenture of Assignment, bearing date the Twenty-ninth
day of April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, and made between
the said Bristow Hunt of the one part and the said The Brooks Underground
Telegraph Construction Company (Limited) of the other part, and duly registered
in the Great Seal Patent Office, the said Letters Patent were duly assigned to and
are now vested in the said The Brooks Underground Telegraph Construction
Company (Limited), of which I, the said Clement Miller Biddle, am chairman for
all the residue of the said term of fourteen years:
And whereas, since the date of the application for the said Letters Patent and
the filing of the Complete Specification therefor, I have been advised that doubts
may be raised whether or not some of the claims in the said Complete Specification
do not comprise or include supposed improvements or matters which were not new
at the date of the said Letters Patent, and that the title of the said Invention is
too extensive so far as relates to the naming therein of telegraph wires and of pre-
paring and laying telegraph cables.
And in order to remove any such doubts as aforesaid, I propose to make the
Disclaimer, alterations, erasures, and corrections in the said Specification, as herein-
after particularly specified and contained.
NOW KNOW YE therefore that I, the said Clement Miller Biddle, by and with
the leave of Her Majesty's Solicitor General, do hereby, for the reasons aforesaid,
make the following Disclaimer, alterations, erasures, and corrections in the said
Specification, that is to say :-
-
I strike out of the title of the said Invention the words "telegraph wires and in
" preparing and laying."
In page 1 of the said Complete Specification as printed by Her Majesty's Printers
I strike out the lines beginning at line 8 on that page and ending at line 11 on the
following page 2.
Between the lines 11 and 12, on the same page 2 I insert the
following words :-" 'In carrying out the Invention." In line 15 of the same page
I strike out the words "and" and "in paraffine oil," and after the word
"Fahrenheit" in the same line I insert the following words:" to reduce the
"fibrous covering of the wires to the best condition for a thorough absorption of
paraffine oil or other insulating liquid into which it is.”
"
I strike out line 37 on the same page, and in line 55 on the same page I striko
out all the words to the word "of." In the following line, after the word " " pipes,"
I insert the words "are maintained." In the same line I strike out the words
'this is effected,” and after the word "by" in the same line I insert the words
means of."
"
in substitution therofor
In line 5, of page 3, I strike out the word " fluid," and I insert the word " liquid."
In lines 14 to 17 of the same page I strike out all the words after the word
" condition to the end of the sentence.
"
inclusivo
In lines 22 to 55 A of the same page I strike out and disclaim all the words and
Figures.
"and"
In line 56 on the same page I strike out the words "tenth," and after the
word "of" I insert the words “insulating and.”
In line 1, page 4, after the word "maintaining " I insert the words "the fibrous,"
and in line 2 on the same page I strike out the words "within the pipes and under
pressure," and in substitution therefor I insert the words "covering of the wires

page_text: constantly saturated with," and in the same line I strike out the word "fluid," and
in substitution therefor I insert the words "liquid under pressure."
And I do hereby declare that the said Complete Specification when so altered
and amended by this Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration (omitting the
preamble and testing clause) will read as follows:-
<<
"In carrying out the Invention a series of clothed or covered wires is collected
together in a group, which is wrapped preferably with jute, hemp, or other coarse
fibrous strands. The cable thus formed is placed in an oven and subjected to a
temperature of about three hundred degrees to three hundred and twenty degrees
"Fahrenheit; to reduce the fibrous covering of the wires to the best condition for
a thorough absorption of paraffin oil or other insulating liquid, into which it is
"then immersed, or the cable without preliminary heating is immersed in paraffine
"oil heated to the above degree, two or more tubes of appropriate internal
"diameter, preferably ordinary lap, welded tubes of wrought iron are coupled
together so as to form a pipe fifty feet, or thereabouts, in length; this pipe is
"heated to such a degree that all moisture within it is expelled, and while both
"pipe and cable are hot the latter is introduced into the former, as shown in
Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which A represents part of
"the cable to which is attached a wire B somewhat longer than the pipe G, so
"that when the wire has been pushed through the latter the projecting end can
"be seized, and the wire used as a medium for pulling the cable through the
"pipe.
«
"
"
64
<<
"
"1
Figure 2 represents a pipe with cable enclosed ready for transportation and for
laying either under ground or under water.
"After the cable has been introduced into the pipe G, one branch a of a T piece
"D is screwed on to one end of the said pipe, and to another branch b is screwed
a short tube or cap E, which is furnished at the top with a detachable plug e, and
"the ends of the clothed or covered wires of the cable are turned up into this short
"tube, and a third branch f of the T piece is closed with a plug Z or otherwise, a
"short tube F closing the opposite end of the pipe, so that the cable shall be
entirely enclosed, excepting at the plug hole of the short tube E, and through the
plug hole is poured paraffine oil until all the interstices between the cable and pipe
are filled, after which the said hole is closed by the plug e. The pipe is now
ready to be transported with others to the place where the cable has to be laid.
"The pipes G having been hauled to the trenches where they have to be laid, the
"tube F of one length is detached, thereby exposing a portion of the cable, the
"wires of which are then introduced into the T piece of the adjoining tube, and
"turned upwards, so as to be adjacent to the turned-up wires of the adjoining pipe,
as shown in Figure 3; the two lengths are then screwed together, and the two
"sets of turned-up wires twisted together metal to metal, the tube E being detached
" to allow of this; the twisted and exposed wires are then covered with a suitable
"fibrous wrapping, after which the short tube E is screwed into the T piece; this
Tpiece, together with the portions of the pipe connected therewith, is then
"heated until all the moisture acquired by the fibrous wrapping during its exposure
" is evaporated, when paraffine oil is poured into the plug hole of the tube E, after
"
"
"which the said hole is closed.
"
"
"The mode of laying the pipes under water is illustrated in Figure 4, where X
represents the bed of a river or creek, and Y a barge, on which the pipes are
coupled together in the manner described above, the barge being moved from
" time to time as pipe after pipe is added to the coupled pipes, and the latter
sinking to the bed of the river as the barge recodes, the pipes being sufficiently
"elastic to permit this.
"
<
The wires contained in the pipes are maintained in a perfectly insulated con-
"dition by means of a series of stand pipes M (Figure 5), which extend upwards
"above the ground, and communicate with the pipes G containing the wires, the
upper ends of the stand pipes being furnished with detachable plugs, on removing
" which paraffine oil may be poured into them, so that a head of oil may always

page_text: "exist to ensure the penetration of the liquid insulating material to all parts of the
" interior of the pipes, and prevent the access of moisture thereto. These stand
pipes may be arranged about a mile apart, and they may communicate with
"elevated reservoirs.
$8
"
"Where a station occurs the flow of oil from the pipes into the station may be
prevented by packing into the end of the pipes paraffine wax or other equivalent
insulating material.
"One stand may suffice for many miles of pipes containing the wires, providing
"it is placed at the highest portion of the line.
"
"
"Other liquid insulating mediums besides paraffine oil may be used for main-
taining the clothed wires in the pipes in a proper insulated condition.
"Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
"with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention com-
"municated to me by the above-named David Brooks, the herein-before described
"mode of insulating and keeping the clothed or covered wire or wires in the pipes
" in a constantly insulated condition by maintaining the fibrous covering of the
"wires constantly saturated with a supply of insulating liquid pressure."
under
And I, the said Clement Miller Biddle, do hereby further declare that the
above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alterations are not nor is any part
thereof intended to extend the exclusive right granted by the said Letters Patent,
and that these Presents shall not extend the said exclusive right in any way
whatever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Clement Miller Biddle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
'
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Clement Miller Biddle,
Chairman of, and on behalf of, the Brooks Underground Telegraph Construction
Company (Limited), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America,
as assignees of the Letters Patent, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with
the Specification to which the same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INSULATING TELEGRAPH WIRES, AND IN PREPARING, AND LAYING, AND MAIN-
TAINING INSULATED, SUBTERRANEOUS AND SUBAQUEOUS TELEGRAPH CABLES."
A communication from abroad by David Brooks, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
in the United States of America.
Sealed the 15th February 1878, and dated the 19th December 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1877.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSULATING TELEGRAPH WIRES, AND IN PRE-
PARING AND LAYING, AND MAINTAINING INSULATED, SUBTERRANEOUS AND
SUBAQUEOUS TELEGRAPH CABLES." A communication from abroad by David
Brooks, of Philadelphia, Pennsylania, United States of America,
This Invention relates, firstly, to the insulation of telegraph wires clothed or
covered with cotton or other fibrous material, the object being to perfectly insulate
such wires.
In carrying out this feature of the Invention copper wires are preferred, and
these are clothed or covered with cotton yarn by means of an ordinary wrapping,
braiding, or plaiting machine. Other fibrous clothing or covering may be employed,
but cotton is the cheapest, and serves the desired purpose well. A coil of this
clothed wire is subjected in a suitable oven to a heat of about 300° to 320° Fahrenheit
for an hour or an hour and a half, during which time all the moisture will be evapo-
rated, and the gases generated by the exposure of the fibres to the heat will be
evolved. While the coil is at about this temperature it is immersed either in melted
paraffine or paraffine oil until the fibrous clothing or covering is thoroughly satu-
Price 6d1

page_text: '
rated, after which the clothed wire will be ready for use.
The preliminary heating
of the textile covering reduces it to the best condition for that thorough absorption
of the paraffine which ensures the best insulating effect.
Another mode of carrying this part of the Invention into effect is by heating a
supply of paraffine or paraffine oil to about 300° or 320° Fahrenheit, and then
immersing in it the coil of clothed wire without a preliminary heating thereof, the
heat of the paraffine or paraffine oil being sufficient to expel all moisture and gases
from the fibrous covering, which is consequently impregnated with the insulating
material.
The Invention relates, secondly, to the preparation of telegraph cables to be laid
under ground or under water.
A series of clothed or covered wires is collected together in a group, which is
wrapped preferably with jute, hemp, or other coarse fibrous strands. The cable thus
formed is placed in an oven and subjected to a temperature of about 300° to 320°
Fahrenheit, and then immersed in paraffine oil; or the cable without preliminary
heating is immersed in paraffine oil heated to the above degree. Two or more tubes
of appropriate internal diameter, preferably ordinary lap-welded tubes of wrought
iron, are coupled together so as to form a pipe fifty feet, or thereabouts, in length;
this pipe is heated to such a degree that all moisture within it is expelled, and while
both pipe and cable are hot the latter is introduced into the former, as shown in
Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which A represents part of the
cable, to which is attached a wire B somewhat longer than the pipe G, so that when
the wire has been pushed through the latter the projecting end can be seized and
the wire used as a medium for pulling the cable through the pipe.
Figure 2 represents a pipe with cable enclosed ready for transportation, and for
laying either under ground or under water.
After the cable has been introduced into the pipe G, one branch a of a T piece D
is screwed on to one end of the said pipe, and to another branch bis screwed a
short tube or cap E, which is furnished at the top with a detachable plug e, and the
ends of the clothed or covered wires of the cable are turned up into this short tube,
and a third branch of the T piece is closed with a plug 2 or otherwise, a short
tube F closing the opposite end of the pipe, so that the cable shall be entirely
enclosed, excepting at the plug hole of the short tube E, and through the plug hole
is poured paraffine oil until all the interstices between the cable and pipe are filled,
after which the said hole is closed by the plug e. The pipe is now ready to be
,transported with others to the place where the cable has to be laid.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to the mode of laying the cables described above.
The pipes G having been hauled to the trenches where they have to be laid, the
tube F of one length is detached, thereby exposing a portion of the cable, the wires
of which are then introduced into the piece of the adjoining tube and turned
upwards, so as to be adjacent to the turned up wires of the adjoining pipe, as shown
in Figure 3; the two lengths are then screwed together, and the two sets of turned
up wires twisted together metal to metal, the tube E being detached to allow of
this; the twisted and exposed wires are then covered with a suitable fibrous
'wrapping, after which the short tube E is screwed into the T piece; this piece,
together with the portions of the pipe connected therewith, is then heated until
all the moisture acquired by the fibrous wrapping during its exposure is evaporated,
when paraffine oil is poured into the plug hole of the tube E, after which the said
hole is closed.
The mode of laying the pipes under water is illustrated in Figure 4, where X
represents the bed of a river or creek, and Y a barge, on which the pipes are coupled
together in the manner described above, the barge being moved from time to time
as pipe after pipe is added to the coupled pipes, and the latter sinking to the bed
of the river as the barge recedes, the pipes being sufficiently elastic to permit this.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to the assured maintenance of the wires con-
tained in the pipes in a perfectly insulated condition; this is effected by a series of

page_text: stand pipes M (Figure 5), which extend upwards above the ground, and communicate
with the pipes G containing the wires, the upper ends of the stand pipes being
furnished with detachable plugs, on removing which paraffine oil may be poured
into them, so that a head of oil may always exist to ensure the penetration of the
fluid-insulating material to all parts of the interior of the pipes, and prevent the
access of moisture thereto; these stand pipes may be arranged about a mile apart,
and they may communicate with elevated reservoirs.
Where a station occurs the flow of oil from the pipes into the station may be
prevented by packing into the end of the pipes paraffine wax or other equivalent
insulating material.
One stand may suffice for many miles of pipes containing the wires, providing it
is placed at the highest portion of the line.
Other liquid insulating mediums besides paraffine oil may be used for maintaining
the clothed wires in the pipes in a proper insulated condition, and air or gas con-
tinually maintained under pressure in the pipes may be used, providing always
that the air or gas has first been deprived of its moisture by heat or chemical
treatment.
Having now described the nature and objects of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated to
ne by the above-named David Brooks,―
First. The mode, herein-before described, of insulating telegraph wires clothed or
covered with fibrous wrapping, that is to say, heating the said wires to about from
300° to 320° Fahrenheit, and while at this heat immersing them in melted paraffine
or paraffine oil.
Second. Insulating clothed telegraph wires by immersing them in paraffine or
paraffine oil heated to a temperature of about from 300° to 320° Fahrenheit, sub-
stantially as berein-before described.
Third. The mode, herein-before described, of preparing a group of clothed or
covered telegraph wires for underground or subaqueous use, that is to say, confining
the group with suitable fibrous wrapping or covering, heating the wrapped group to
about 300° to 320° Fahrenheit, or immersing it in paraffine oil heated to about that
temperature, and then introducing it into a heated metal tube, all substantially as
herein-before described.
Fourth. A telegraphic cable consisting of a series of coupled pipes containing a
wrapped group of wires insulated with paraffine oil, substantially as herein-before
described.
Fifth. A metal pipe containing one or more clothed or covered wires embedded
in insulating material, and having projecting ends protected at one end of the pipe
by a detachable tube, as herein-before described.
Sixth. A metal pipe containing a clothed wire or wires embedded in insulating
material, and having at one end a T piece with detachable short tube, into which
the wire or wires is or are turned, substantially as herein-before described.
Seventh. The mode, herein-before described, of coupling the said pipes together
and connecting and insulating the connections of the wires in the said pipes, that is
to say, twisting the wires together metal to metal, wrapping the twisted ends and
protecting the same by a tube, into which fluid-insulating material is poured, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
Eighth. The mode, herein-before described, of removing the moisture from the
exposed portions of the clothed wires at the joint, that is to say, heating the said
pipes and coupling at the joint to a temperature of about 300° Fahrenheit, and then
applying the paraffine oil in the manner described.
Ninth. The node, herein-before described, of laying the pipes containing the
clothed or covered wire or wires under water, that is to say, sinking the coupled
pipes, as section after section is added, in the manner substantially as set forth.
And, Tenth. The heroin-before described mode of keeping the clothed or covered

page_text: wire or wires in the pipes in a constantly insulated condition by maintaining
within the pipes and under pressure a supply of insulating fluid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
BRISTOW HUNT. (L.S.)