Improved Means of Placing Conductors for Electricity Underground.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Placing Conductors for Electricity Underground.
WILSON HARTNELL 8 Blenheim Terrace Leeds Consulting Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Namely an improved means of placing naked or slightly insulated conductors of
electricity underground in such a manner that they shall be well insulated from
each other and from the earth. For this purpose 1 place these conductors in pipes,
preferably of earthenware or stoneware (but which may sometimes be of metal).
These pipes may be jointed to each other by flanges or sockets in the ordinary
way. I support these conductors by bridges of highly insulating material such as
glass or porcelain. These bridges are fixed to certain pipes called bridge pipes
or placed between the flanges or sockets of adjacent pipes or placed in the draw
boxes hereafter described. These bridges are by preference so shaped as to offer
slight impediment to drawing through or over them one or more suitable conductors.
Thus in the simplest arrangement the bridges may be rings of glass, placed within
say a line of earthenware pipes at suitable intervals, so that when a flexible con-
ductor is drawn through them, and held in place with moderate tension it will rest
entirely upon the insulators without the possibility of touching the pipe. Such a
line of pipes must be provided with suitable draw boxes at convenient intervals
and with branches for branch conductors, for ventilation & for drainage there may
also be required junction boxes and drainage boxes.
These pipes may be made with one or more partitions dividing them wholly or
partly into several separate channels. If conductors of different potential be
drawn through the bridge through these separate channels such conductors could
by no possibility come in contact. This system is specially suited for high
potentials. The pipes may be made rectangular oval or any other convenient
section. The draw boxes may also be divided by fixed or movable partitions so
that access may be had to any particular wire without the possibility of coming in
contact with the other wires.
$
The bridges may support one or more independent conductors, for example they
may support two conductors for the parallel system of distribution or three for the
three wire system and so forth.
In some cases independent conductors may be placed in the same pipe, without
any partition.
In other cases these conductors might be lightly insulated as for telegraphic or
telephonic purposes and draw through small holes pierced in the bridges.
Where metal pipes are used it is desirable that they be enamelled inside or
otherwise protected by insulating material.
The particular form of bridge, its dimensions and the number & form of con-
ductors it carries will vary with the particular circumstance. In some cases the
insulating bridge and bridge pipe may be made in one piece, and that part which
supports the conductor may be formed of a more highly insulating material.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Placing Conductors for Electricity Underground
I, WILSON HARTNELL, of 8 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, in the County of York,
Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this 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 refers to improved means of placing naked or slightly insulated
conductors underground, in comparatively small pipes, in such a manner that they
shall be well insulated from each other and from the earth.
In order to fully explain my invention 1 have annexed a drawing on which
Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 16, 18, and 19 are longitudinal sections, whilst 1º, 2º, 3º,
4, 5, 6, 7, 98, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18°, 20°, and 218, are cross sections
through the pipes, etc. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through a draw-box
suited for a line of pipes as at Fig. 1. Figure 14 is a portion of a plan of a box
corresponding to Fig. 14, which is arranged for rectangular pipes with vertical
dividing ribs. Fig. 1 is a section corresponding to Fig. 1, and so on. The same
letters refer to the same parts, or their equivalents, in all the figures. The
drawings are to be taken as examples only, as an almost endless amount of modifi-
cations can be produced. A represents the pipes, B the bridges, C the con-
ductors, D the drainage space, and E the upper space for the push-rod F; further
references will follow.
I place the conductors in pipes, of as small a cross section as convenient,
preferably of earthenware or stoneware, as at Fig. 1; but which may be of
metal, as at Fig. 2. The word conductor must be understood to embrace one,
or more, lines of conductors laid in contact, i.e. bundles of conductors.
I support the conductors by bridges of highly insulated material such for
example as glass or porcelain, which bridges may either be fixed in pipes called
bridge pipes, as at Figs. 3; or dropped into special notches inside such bridge
pipes, as at Figs. 4, 5, 6 etc.; or placed between the flanges or sockets of
adjacent pipes, as at Figs. 2 and 7; or placed in the draw-boxes, hereafter
described, by being dropped into prepared grooves G, G, in the sides of the said
boxes, as in Fig. 8; or placed, and then preferably cemented fast, in the pipes,
whilst being laid, Fig. 9s; or drawn into the pipes subsequently, Figs. 10 and 18.
The conductors for the electricity- or a draw-wire- may of course be placed in
the pipes when the said pipes are first laid, and that through, or over, any
arrangement of bridges. But the bridges and their surroundings and accessories
are by préference so shaped as to offer slight or no impediment to placing the
naked conductor underground at any subsequent period. When the conductors
go through fixed bridges, as at Fig. 1, a conductor, wire, or rod, should be laid
inside the pipes as usual in laying covered cables, unless the bridges have been
placed near enough to allow the insulating holes therein to act as guides for a
flexible rod (say of wood) which may be introduced and pushed through the in-
sulators from one draw-box to another. When the conductors are placed over,
and not through, the bridges a draw-wire may either be inserted when the pipes
are being laid; or, as possible under my arrangements after they are laid, by push-
ing a flexible rod along the upper portion of the pipe, kept free and clear for that
purpose, the said rod being supported on certain partitioning ribs (referred to
afterwards) which divide the pipe into separate channels and compel the rod to
keep to its proper division.
In the first mentioned arrangement the bridges may be rings of glass placed
within a line of say earthenware pipes at suitable intervals, so that when a
flexible conductor is drawn through them and held in its place with moderate ten-
sion it will rest entirely on these insulations, as in Fig. 1, without any possibility
of touching the pipes. If the conductor be sufficiently rigid and the bridges near
each other little or no tension will be needed.

page_text: Such a line of pipes may be provided with suitable boxes, as at Fig. 8, at
convenient intervals, for introducing a pushing rod, drawing in the wires,
coupling them to branches, for access for testing, or any other purposes. There
may also be branches for ventilating as at H, and for drainage as at J, in Fig. 1.
There may of course be secondary junction boxes, or drainage boxes, if required.
Water and moisture should, as far as possible, be excluded from the pipes, but
the possibility of its intrusion and its necessary removal is met by my arranging a
free channel through the line of pipes and bridges for its exit to drains or sump-
boxes. In all the figures the lower portion of the bridge is shown cut away for
this drainage purpose.
The pipes which may be rectangular, round, oval, or of other convenient
section may be made with one or more partitions dividing them wholly or partly
into several separate channels:-(1) for the separation of conductors (especially
of those of high potential); (2) for supporting the bridges; (3) for facilitating the
placing of the conductors underground when no wire has been previously laid or
when the only wire has been accidentally broken; and (4) for drainage. With
regard to drainage no special partition is needed when the bridges have the open
channel below, although a pipe may be beneficially formed as at Fig. 4°.
When conductors of different potentials are drawn through or over insulated
bridges, and through separate channels, as at Fig. 11, they can by no possibility
come in contact. This end may be practically obtained by curtailing the common
partitions K, K, so that the channels through separated below, open into a common
headway above, as shown at Fig. 12. This arrangement renders it feasible to
insert and push along a flexible rod F (from draw-box to draw-box) for the pur-
pose of placing a conductor underground after the pipes are laid. In this case
the rod which practically fills the overhead space rests and is guided on and by
the tops of the partitions or ribs. See dotted outlines Fig. 12.
When once
a conductor is placed in any one such channel as last described, it may be used
to draw in other conductors and that even into different channels, by means of
a suitable overhead carrier, which on being drawn through the upper space
in the line of pipes, lays the addition wire behind it in the selected channel.
Such an upper channel or space may be secured for the push bar by placing ribs,
which partly partition out this channel, at the side of the pipes as at K, K,
Fig. 138, and this obtains whether any other ribs are used or not. See dotted
outline of the pushing-rod F.
Partitions may be carried through certain boxes so as to make the divisions
continuous with those in the pipes; and by this means a conductor may be drawn
through such boxes without access being necessarily obtained to them at that
particular time.
In Figs. 14 and 14* the partitions K, K, are seen running through the box.
G, G, show the slots into which the bridge may be dropped. When a junction is
made with a branch wire the said wire must be taken underneath as shown, as a
clear headway above is wanted for the movements of the carrier when further
conductors are laid.
The bridges may support one or more conductors, for example they may support
two conductors for the parallel system of distribution Fig. 6; or three for the
three wire system, as at Fig. 12; or any number of independent conductors, as
may be required, as at Fig. 15º. As already inferred, independent conductors
may be placed in the same pipe without necessarily needing any of the lower pro-
tecting channels or partitions, provided however that suitable bridges are arranged.
But certain partitioning ribs must in all cases be provided when an overhead
push bar and carrier is to be introduced;-first to divide off the top channel for
the said push-bar; second, to settle the position to be occupied by the line of
bridges, and third, to secure a proper portion of the under part for drainage. Of
course wherever a push bar has thus been thrust a carrier can follow, which will
then lay any conductor in any pre-determined place. This division of the pipe into
three portions is clearly seen in Fig. 6. Here two ribs K, K, partition off the

page_text: top and provide seatings for the bridges, which, being all of one size, stand one
behind the other in the positions intended for them, and these bridges being cur-
tailed below leave the proper drainage channels open. The same divisions are
shown in Fig. 15 in a modified form. It must be understood that whatever ribs
are used to partition the pipes into channels, I run the same ribs through the
entire length, so as to fully support and guide the push bar.
Projecting feathers or keys are introduced between pipe and pipe, when circular,
to keep these ribs relatively true one with another, as at L in Fig. 16. Dowels L
are also used, as in Fig. 1.
Pockets, when required, need only be introduced in these continuous ribs at the
desired points for inserting a bridge; the said bridge being dropped down, in all
cases where possible, level with the said rib, so as to offer, slight impediment to
anything drawn or pushed along the top of such dividing ribs.
In certain cases the conductors may be lightly insulated as for telegraphic and
telephonic purposes, and may be drawn through small holes pieced in the bridge,
as at Fig. 10%.
Pipes made with one or more continuous ribs running throughout need not
necessarily be fitted with fixed bridges, as shoes, carrying bridges, may be drawn
into place by attaching them at suitable distances apart to the conductor, or to a
draw-wire, as at Figs. 10 and 10%. Such bridges may thus be drawn in and out
(for threading in additional conductors etc.) without the possibility of the con-
ductors getting out of true line or leaving their allotted channel, because of the
partitioning ribs K, K, which here act as guides. Such a shoe may have mounted
thereon any class of insulating bridge and may bear many wires as at Fig. 10%.
To assist a movable bridge over slight impediments its feet have their toes M, M,
Fig. 10, well rounded off. Another class of this bridge, which may roll along the
partitioning ribs, is shown at Figs. 18 and 18.
Metal pipes may be used under special circumstances, but I prefer in such case
to protect them, more or less, inside, with an insulating material such as enamelling
would provide. Metal pipes are however costly and this tends to defeat my
financial object.
The particular form of bridge, its dimensions, and the number and form of
conductors it carries, will vary with the particular circumstances.
The bridge may consist of two or more pieces, as in Figs. 2, 7, and 17 etc., they
may also be simple or compound, as shown, resting preferably in recesses in the
continuous ribs used for partitioning out the section of the pipe, as shown in
several figures.
The surface of the bridge over which the conductor is drawn may be protected
by a loose. piece which may be of metal, Fig. 19. In some cases the bridge may
be in one piece with the bridge pipe, and that part which supports the conductor,
whether fast or loose, may be made, as at Fig. 3, of more highly insulating
material. Here the bridge is shown with a loose insulating piece which may how-
ever be made solid with the remainder if such were desired. When loose, the
insulating portion may be made in three pieces, the middle being dropped in last,
as at Figures 3 and 76.
Fig. 17 shows a bridge whose feet rest on the bottom of the pipe; here
arranged for bell insulators, the top channel would carry the push bar F etc. as
shown in dotted outline.
Bridges may be in tiers, as at Fig. 20, or may be arranged in pairs, side by side,
as at Fig. 21%, where the section is a broken one. Both these arrangements allow
additional wires to be drawn in afterward, the carrying frames (see dotted lines)
resting on or near the dividing ribs as shown.
If tension be resorted to a cross bar for straining the conductors must be pro-
vided at each end of a main draw-box, unless the insulating bridge be made strong
enough to take the strain. No cross bar is shown on the drawing.
The smaller the pipe the nearer the bridges should be to prevent the conductors
sagging down into the drainage space, which would be objectionable; and all

page_text: stability.
The end piece of the flexible pushing rod, must be shaped to fill it's guiding
channel; and the remainder of the rod (which for use at a draw-box must be made
up of short lengths) may be jointed in any suitable manner (say like a chimney
sweep's). If this latter part does not rest on the guiding ribs, nor gets sufficient
support from the bridges, other cross pieces must be fixed to it, so as to guide and
keep the whole in true line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
But in the first place it must be understood that I limit my claims to arrange-
ments such as necessitate the use of draw-wires, or what I have termed a push-
rod, as my invention is to facilitate the placing and insulating of naked or slightly
insulated conductors in underground pipes too small to be subsequently accessible
after the bridges, etc., are in place, except by some such mechanical devices as
here mentioned.
1. The combination or arrangement of (1) an electrical conductor or bundle of
conductors, with (2) insulating bridges, placed in (3) a line of encasing pipes, in
such a manner that the said bridges divide the line of pipes in cross section into
three portions, viz. an upper portion E for the conductors, a central portion B for
the bridges, and a lower portion D for drainage, substantially as described, and
after the manner shown in Figs. 1, 3, etc.
2. The combination or arrangement of (1) an electrical conductor or bundles of
conductors, or lines or bundles of independent conductors, with (2) open topped
insulating bridges, mounted in or on (3) continuous partitioning ribs, arranged in
the interior of the encasing pipes, in such a manner that the said bridges and ribs
divide the line of pipes in cross section into an upper channel E for the reception
of a push-rod, (and afterwards a carrier) a central portion B occupied by the body
of the said bridges, whose open bases leave a lower portion D for drainage, sub-
stantially as described and after the manner shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6, etc.
3. The combination or arrangement of (1) an electrical conductor or bundles of
conductors, or lines or bundles of independent conductors, with (2) open topped
insulating bridges, mounted in or on continuous. partitioning ribs, arranged inside
the (3) line of encasing pipes, which pipes are thus divided into three sections,
viz. an upper, E, for the reception of a push rod (and afterwards a carrier) a
central portion B occupied by the body of the said bridges, whose open bases
leave a lower portion D for drainage, substantially as described, and after the
manner shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 15%, etc.
4. The combination or arrangement of (1) an electrical conductor, or bundles of
conductors, or lines or bundles of independent conductors, with (2) open topped
insulating bridges, so arranged in (3) lines of piping provided with continuous
partitioning ribs, that the pipes have an upper channel E for receiving a push-rod
(and afterwards a carrier), a central portion occupied by the bridges B, and a lower
open channel D for drainage substantially as described, and after the manner
shown in Fig. 173.
5. The combination or arrangement of a line of pipes partially divided by con-
tinuous ribs, and therefore ready to receive a push-rod, with movable bridges for
drawing the insulators and conductors in and out of the said lines of pipes after
they have been laid, substantially as described, and after the manner shown in
Figs. 10 and 18.
6. The arrangement of multiple open topped insulating bridges placed inside
piping having continuous ribs, for the purpose of receiving push-rods (and after-
wards carriers), and subsequently a series of independent or other electrical
conductors, substantially as described, and after the manner shown in Figs. 20"
and 21
:

page_text: 7. The arrangement of earthenware boxes, in a line of pipes encasing electrical
conductors, having grooves for the reception of insulating bridges, substantially
as described, and after the manner shown in Fig. 8.
8. The arrangement of a box, in a line of pipes encasing electrical conductors,
with partitioning ribs .corresponding to its line of pipes, to enable a push-rod or a
carrier to traverse across the said box without access being necessarily acquired
thereto, substantially as described, and after the manner shown in Figs. 14 and 14".
Dated this 23rd day of July 1891.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.