IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS FOR INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS AND IMPROVED MANU- " FACTURE OF COMPOSITION THEREFOR a
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of 323 High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OR PROCESS FOR INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS AND IMPROVED MANU-
"
FACTURE OF COMPOSITION THEREFOR a communication from J Burrows
Hyde of Brooklyn New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS FOR INSULATING ELECTRIC
CONDUCTORS AND IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITION THEREFOR," [a com-
munication from J Burrows Hyde of Brooklyn New York, United States of
America]
This invention relates to a composition of matters for insulating electric wires,
and processes connected therewith. To these ends the invention consists firstly in
the combination of mineral-bitumen and coal-tar pitch, used separately or mixed,
and combined under heat with mineral oil by the process hereinafter set forth.
Secondly in the combination of dry powdered peaty matters with resinous, or
bituminous substance either separately or mixed, and hydro-carbon fluid added
under heat, together with process for compounding the same.
In the above first instance; In a proper vessel over a furnace or fire, melt the
bituminous matters, and when it is fluid ladle it into a mixing-kettle, also over a
fire, but into which first place a gallon or, more of crude petroleum-oil. A scaled
vessel is employed in connection with the mixing-kettle similar to an ordinary
floating gas-receiver, into which the vapors passing off from said mixing apparatus,
are conveyed; and thence-into the furnace instead of directly thereto.
When the materials are thoroughly incorporated and of proper consistency so as
to be impressed by, but not adhere to the fingers when cold, in the temperature of
the atmosphere where made. It may then be dipped into a suitable moulding
apparatus. The wires to be coated should be closely wrapped with two or more
layers of cotton thread, and wound upon reels of proper size from which they are
71

page_text: drawn through a trough or vessel containing a hydro-carbon fluid, as petroleum
which if heated, will accelerate the process of absorption; thence the wires are
passed into the heated composition where the fluid is evaporated the composition
taking its place saturating and coating the cotton covering as they travel through
the apparatus to proper storing reels..
In the above second instance; Take dry peat powder which as a semi-carbonized
matter, will under proper heat readily combine, and form a smooth homogenous
compound with hot melted bituminous and Resinous matters.
I therefore in practising this invention may take any of the following substances
Asphaltum, coal-Tar, Pitch, Petroleum, coke, and such like materials, either separately
or mixed as may be found best for the consistency of the plastic state of the
compound required, temperature of the atmosphere always being considered, and
melt to a fluid state. I then take mineral oil, vegetable oil, or other proper hydro-
carbon fluid if heated the better, and stir the peat powder into it until it is
smoothly incorporated in a thick paste like consistency.
This mixture is then added to the melted compound above, both being hot,
stirring well until the mixture is uniform and in a state that when cold may be
impressed by but not adhere to the fingers, at the atmospheric temperature where
made. I also take raw cotton, fine tow, or other proper vegetable fibre that is
finely divided or silk cord waste, and cut such fibrous matter into short lengths, as
uniformly as possible not to exceed one fourth of an inch long and add it carefully
and gradually so as to mix uniformly as possible through the melted composition
to serve as a binder against too ready fracture in binding The fibre may be mixed
with the fluid before adding it to the Bituminous matter, and in many cases it may
be omitted altogether.
The conducting wires should be wound with two or more layers of cotton thread
and passed through petroleum or other proper hydro-carbon-fluid for thorough
saturation, and then directly into the heated insulating compound described by
any proper apparatus for thorough saturation and coating of the cotton arming.
The oil will be dispelled by the heat and the composition takes its place in
passing through the apparatus, and the wire thus insulated is then passed through
an apparatus similar to a maccaroni press which will cover the wires to a diameter
of say one fifth of an inch; or it may be moulded between grooved rollers for a
similar result, by having sheets of the composition on each side with the wires
between them thus covering a number of wires simultaneously.
The moulded strand_conductor thus formed may be covered exteriorly with a
narrow strip of thin paper, tin foil or woven fabric wound spirally from end to end,
or it may be covered with lead.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Patent Office on the 10th June
1884.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS FOR INSULATING ELECTRIC
CONDUCTORS AND IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITION THEREFOR
A com-
munication from J Burrows Hyde of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.
This invention relates to a composition of matters for insulating electric wires
and processes connected therewith. To these ends the invention consists firstly in
the combination of mineral bitumen and coal-tar pitch, used separately or mixed,
and combined under heat with mineral oil, by the process hereinafter set forth.
Secondly in the combination of dry powdered heaty matters, with resinous or
bituminous substances either separately or mixed and hydrocarbon fluid added
under heat, together with process for compounding the same.
In the above first instance In a proper vessel over a furnace or fire the
bituminous matters are melted and when it is fluid and ladled into a mixing-
kettle, also over a fire but into which is first placed a gallon or more of crude
petroleum oil. A sealed vessel is employed in connection with the mixing Kettle,
similar to an ordinary floating gas receiver into which the vapors passing off from
said mixing apparatus are conveyed and thence into the furnace instead of directly
thereto.
When the materials are thoroughly incorporated and of proper consistency so
as to be impressed by but not adhere to the fingers when cold in the temperature
of the atmosphere where made It may then be dipped into a suitable moulding
apparatus
The wires to be coated, should be closely wrapped with two or more layers of
cotton thread, and wound upon reels of proper size from which they are drawn
through a trough or vessel containing a hydrocarbon fluid as petroleum, which if
heated will accelerate the process of absorption thence the wires are passed into
the heated composition when the fluid is evaporated, the composition taking its
place, saturating and coating the cotton covering as they travel through the
apparatus to proper storing reels.
In the above second instance dry peat powder is taken which as a semi-
carbonized matter will under proper heat, readily combine and form a smooth
homogenous compound with hot melted bituminous and resinous matters.
Therefore take any of the following substances asphaltum coal-tar pitch
petroleum coke and such like materials either separately or mixed as may be
found best for the consistency of the plastic state of the compound required
temperature of the atmosphere always being considered, and melt to a fluid state
mineral oil vegetable oil or other proper hydrocarbon fluid if heated the better is
then taken and the peat powder stirred into it until it is smoothly incorporated in
a thick paste like consistency.
This mixture is then added to the melted compound above, both being hot
stirring well until the mixture is uniform and in a state that when cold may be
impressed by but not adhere to the fingers at the atmospheric temperature where
made.
Raw cotton fine tow or other proper vegetable fibre that is finely divided or silk
cord waste is also taken and cut such fibrous matter into short lengths as uniformly
as possible not to exceed one fourth of an inch long and add it carefully and
gradually so as to mix uniformly as possible through the melted composition to

page_text: serve as a binder against too ready fracture in binding. The fibre may be mixed
with the fluid before adding it to the bituminous matter and in many cases it may
be omitted altogether
The conducting wires should be wound with two or more layers of cotton thread
and passed through petroleum or other proper hydrocarbon fluid for thorough
saturation, and then directly into the heated insulating compound described by
any proper apparatus for thorough saturation and coating of the cotton.
The oil will be dispelled by the heat and the composition take its place in
passing through the apparatus and the wire thus insulated is then passed through
an apparatus similar to a maccaroni press which will cover the wires to a diameter
of say one fifth of an inch or it may be moulded between grooved rollers for a
similar result by having sheets of the composition on each side with the wires
between them, thus covering a number of wires simultaneously.
The moulded strand conductor thus formed may be covered exteriorly with a
narrow strip of thin paper, tin foil or woven fabric wound spirally from end to
end or it may be covered with lead.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent what
I claim and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is
First. In insulating compounds for electric uses, mineral and coal-tar bitumens
melted and combined with petroleum or mineral oil substantially as described.
Second. An insulating compound for covering electric wires, composed of
mineral oil combined under heat with natural or artificial bituminous matters
substantially as described
Third. The method of coating thread covered electric wires with an insulating
medium, which consists in saturating said covering with a solatile fluid before the
wire enters the heated insulating composition substantially as described
Fourth, In combining bituminous matters with mineral oil by heat, the method
herein described of utilizing the waste vapors evolved which consists in storing
them in a scaled and floating holder from which they are conveyed and used for
heating the furnace.
Fifth. The process of compounding insulating substances for electric uses, which
consists in melting to a fluid state bituminous or resinous matters, then incorpo-
rating hydrocarbon fluid, preferably headed with dry peat powder, then mixing
the two compounds and gradually adding to the melted composition short lengths
of vegetable fibre substantially as described
Sixth. An insulating compound for electric uses; consisting of dry powder from
peat combined with bituminous substances, and hydrocarbon fluid added under heat,
in the manner described.
Seventh An insulating compound for electric uses consisting of dry powdered
peaty matters combined with resinous substances, and hydrocarbon Huid added
under heat in the manner set forth
Eighth In insulating compounds for electric uses bituminous and resinous
substances combined with dry powdered peat and hydrocarbon fluid in the manner
and for the purpose described
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this tenth day of June. in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.