Improvements in Electric Cables.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DAVID BROOKS, Junior, of No. 107, S. 3rd Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in Electric Cables.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in coverings for electric cables, and it
consists in providing the wires with a covering composed of a double layer of
tin-foil having between them an adhesive oil, the adjacent edges of each of the
layers overlapping.
It also consists in so insulating an electric wire or cable that the employment
of an insulating material or compound in liquid, molten or other condition is
obviated.
The cable is formed of a bunch of insulated wires, which may be bound together
by braid or tape, so as to prevent separation of the same.
The cable as produced
is now saturated with an insulating compound, and then wrapped with tin-foil or
thin metallic tape or ribbon, having its adjacent edges overlapping, after which
the wrapping is coated with a hot or liquid compound of an adhesive nature such
as rosin and rosin oil or asphaltum and oil, and the like of such character that
while preventing the separation or parting of the layers, will permit them to move
or slide upon each other, and a second wrapping of tin-foil or thin metallic tape or
ribbon is wound over the first layer in a similar manner to the first, and pressed so
that the two layers adhere.
A covering of braid or tape of fibrous material is then placed over and around
the tin-foil, the material being also saturated in a molten or liquid adhesive
compound.
•
Around the braid or material is wound or wrapped a second double layer, of
tin-foil or thin metallic tape or ribbon, after which the braid or tape of fibrous
material is wrapped or wound around the layers and the surface is painted or
otherwise coated with, or the whole is dipped in a hot molten or liquid compound,
such as asphaltum and oil the result being a cable having a protective covering of
a superior order.
It will be seen that as thus covered, the cable may be bent in short curves, and
while the inner layer may break, the outer layer moving upon itself and the ioner
layer, will preserve the joints without breaking or opening the same.
The bunch of fibrous or tissue covered wires composing a cable is primarily
subjected to a drying temperature of about 212° for a period of twenty-four hours,
more or less so as to entirely expel all moisture from the coverings of all the wires
of the bunch. Immediately after drying, while the cable is yet warm, an air-tight
covering or incasement such as lead, rubber, or tin-foil, or a combination thereof, is
placed around the cable or bunch of wires.
It will be seen that the cable now consists of an outside air-tight covering, and
an inside bunch of dried fibrous-covered wires, dry air occupying the interstices of
the fibrous covering, instead of the usual insulating material employed in, liquid
molten or other condition, thus avoiding the employment of such material, and the
operation of applying the same by saturation or filling in.
After the fibrous, covered wires are dry, they may be coated with powder, such
as powdered dry lime, flour, soap-stone, marble-dust, or the like and the ends or
terminals of the cable are saturated with a suitable compound or sealed up to
prevent moisture from entering the fibrous materials from the ends.

page_text: Owing to the coating of powder, the moisture which may enter at any place
where a cut or break occurs in the outside air-tight covering, cannot penetrate but
to a limited extent, as the powder, such as flour forms a barrier to the rapid
absorption of water. This allows the break to be repaired before any considerable
damage has occurred.
Dated this 15th day of January 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cables.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention relates to coverings for electric cables and consists in providing..
the wires with a covering composed of a double layer of tin-foil having between,
them an adhesive oil, the adjacent edges of each of the layers overlapping.
It also consists in so insulating an electric wire or cable that the employment of
an insulating material or compound in a liquid, molten or other condition is
obviated.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be.
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure represents a side elevation of an electric cable covered in accordance
with the invention, the layers constituting the covering being partly unwrapped so
as to show the construction more clearly and
Figure 2 represents a cross section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.
A. designates a bunch of insulated wires, which may be bound together by braid
or tape, so as to prevent separation of the same. The cable thus produced is
saturated with an insulating compound, and then wrapped with tin-foil or with a
thin metallic tape or ribbon having its adjacent edges overlapping, after which the
wrapping is coated with a hot or liquid compound of an adhesive nature such as
rosin and rosin oil or asphaltum and oil and the like of such character that while
preventing the separation or parting of the layers will permit them to move or
slide upon each other, and a second wrapping C of tin-foil or thin metallic tape or
ribbon is wound over the first layer in a similar manner to the first, and pressed so
that the two layers adhere.
A. covering D of braid or tape of fibrous material is. then placed over and around
the tin-foil, the material being also saturated in a molten or liquid adhesive
compound:
Around the braid or material is wound or wrapped a second double layer E F
of tin foil or thin metallic tape or ribbon after which the braid or tape G of fibrous
material is wrapped or wound around the layers E F and the surface is painted or
otherwise coated with, or the whole is dipped in a hot molten or liquid compound,
such as asphaltum and oil the result being a cable having a protective covering of
a superior order.
It will be seen that as thus covered, the cable may be bent in short curves, and
while the inner layer may break, the outer layer moving upon itself and the inner
layer will preserve the joints without breaking or opening the same.
The bunch of fibrous or tissue covered wires composing a cable is primarily
subjected to a drying temperature of about 212° for a period of twenty-four hours,
more or less, so as to entirely expel all moisture from the coverings of all the wires

page_text: of the bunch. Immediately after drying, while the cable is yet warm, an air tight
covering or incasement, such as lead. rubber, or tin foil, or a combination thereof
is placed around the cable or bunch of wires.
It will be seen that the cable now consists of an outside air-tight covering, and
an inside bunch of dried fibrous covered wires, dry air occupying the interstices of
the fibrous covering, instead of the usual insulating material employed in a liquid
molten or other condition, thus avoiding the employment of such material, and the
operation of applying the same by saturation or filling in.
After the fibrous-covered wires are dry, they may be coated with powder, such
as powdered dry lime flour, soap-stone. marble dust, or the like and the ends or
terminals of the cable are saturated with a suitable compound or sealed up to.
prevent moisture from entering the fibrous materials from the ends.
Owing to the coating of powder, the moisture which may enter at any place.
where a cut or break occurs in the outside air-tight covering, cannot penetrate but
to a limited extent, as the powder, such as flour, forms a barrier to the rapid
absorption of water. This allows the break to be repaired before any considerable
damage has occurred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent declare that what I claim is :-
First. A cable having a coating of a double layer of tin-foil and an adhesive oil
or substance between the said layers, permitting the same to move one on the other-
without separating or breaking joints, substantially as described.
Second. A cable having a covering of a double layer of tin-foil with an adhesive
oil between the same, each of the said layers having overlapping adjacent edges,.
and the adhesive oil permitting a sliding movement of the layers on each other
without separating the said parts being combined substantially as described.
Third. An electric cable consisting of a bunch of dry fibrous-covered wires.
having the interstices between the said wires filled with dry air, a coating of
powder on said wires and an air-tight incasement inclosing the same substantially
as described.
Fourth. A bunch of dry fibrous-covered wires with the interstices filled with dry
air, and an air-tight incasement inclosing the same, forming a cable, the ends
whereof are provided with means for preventing moisture from reaching the fibrous.
coverings of the wires, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of February 1809
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..