Improvements in and relating to Electrical Conductors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electrical Conductors.
I, EDWARD DUDLEY LEWIS, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 34 Railroad Street, in the City of Savona, County of Steuben and
State of New York, one of the United States of America, Gentleman; 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 electrical conductors for trolley lines which operate by
overhead conductors. One of the main objects is to insulate the line wire, thereby
preventing injurious results which inevitably happen when a trolley wire as usually
provided breaks and crosses telegraph and telephone wires, or falls to the street.
One of the main difficulties met with in insulating such conductors. is making pro-
vision for electrical contact between the contact wheel and the line wire at all
times, and insuring that the exposed or uncovered side of the conductor shall
normally occupy the lowest position. This objection is obviated by the present
invention in a simple and efficient manner.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following description,
reference being had to the annexed drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the insulated conductor showing the contact wheel
in connection therewith ;
Figure 2 is a cross section of the conductor showing the contact wheel in operative
relation therewith ;
Figure 3 is a detail view showing the holder for attaching the conductor to a
support;
Figure 4 is a detail view of the conductor, insulator, and clip for securing the
insulator on the conductor.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the insulator formed without the
outwardly diverging lower edges.
Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings,
in which
The letter A indicates the main line of conductor which may be of any of the
usual types, but is preferably elongated in cross section.
The lower edge upon
which the contact wheel D is designed to travel is groover, as shown at a', to insure
a seat for the edge of the contact wheel, and the upper edge is provided with a
head a to be gripped by the suspending and insulator attachment devices, as will
more fully appear hereinafter. This conductor may be of any suitable material,
copper being preferred.
The insulator B incloses the conductor on three sides and has its edge portions b
extended beyond the fourth side to constitute guards or protectors. This insulator
may be of any suitable material, being usually a strip comprising layers of ducking
and rubber combined in the ordinary manner and folded over the conductor and
secured thereon. Spring clips Care provided for the purpose and are made to
conform to the conductor so as to firmly clasp the insulator thereon.
By this
means the insulator can, be readily removed for purposes of repairs, splicing, and
replacing it by new when worn or broken, or for any required purpose. If preferred
the insulator may be cemented to the conductor, thereby dispensing with the clips.
The free lower edges of the parallel side-portions of the insulator are flared or

page_text: inclined out at about right angles to the vertical planes of said side portions, as
shown in the drawings. By this construction all rain or other moisture which falls
or settles upon the insulator is prevented from running down the side-portions b
and freezing in the center at the lower ends thereof, thereby interfering with the
contact wheel D; as all moisture falling upon the insulator B will run down its
sides and out to the diverged edges of the outwardly inclined extended lower
edges bb of the insulator, from which it will drip to the ground; thereby pre-
venting the access for the contact wheel D to the lower side of the conductor A
being obstructed by the freezing of any moisture; for in intensely cold weather
if the moisture should freeze on the outside of the insulator and the outside of
the flaring ends or edges b¹, said flaring edges will effectually protect and keep clear
the entrance between the parallel side-portions b, b. The flaring edges may of
course, when preferred, be dispensed with, as shown in Figure 3.
The holder comprises two right-angled brackets E, which have their vertical
members bolted together near the horizontal branches, as shown at e², and have
oppositely curved parts e to receive the conductor, or the head a thereof. The
horizontal members may be secured to a support in any suitable manner, and
terminate in loops or eyes e', which are designed to receive supporting wires.
The contact wheel D is sufficiently thin for a short distance from its peripheral
edge to enter between the guards b and make electrical contact with the con-
ductor A, and is mounted on a trolley arm in the usual manner, so as to convey
the current thereto. This wheel may be a thin disc or bulged at the center, as
preferred.
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:
1. An electrical conductor oblong in cross section and grooved in one side to
receive a contact wheel, substantially as described.
2. An electrical conductor oblong in cross section, having a head at one edge,
the other edge being grooved to receive the contact wheel, substantially as
set forth.
3. An electrical conductor having a flexible insulating strip embracing and
hugging it on three sides, the fourth side being exposed to make electrical contact
with the contact wheel, substantially as described.
4. An electrical conductor having a flexible insulating strip embracing and
hugging closely its three sides, the fourth side being exposed and protected by
edge extensions of the said insulating strip, substantially as described.
5. An electrical conductor having a flexible strip of insulating material folded
around three of its sides, the edge portions projecting in parallel relation beyond
the fourth side, substantially as set forth.
6. An electrical conductor having a flexible strip of insulating material folded
around three of its sides, the edge portions projecting in parallel relation beyond
the fourth side and having the outwardly diverging lower ends, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with an electrical conductor the lower side of which is
adapted for electrical contact with the contact wheel, of the insulating strip folded
over the top and side of said conductor and formed with the parallel downwardly-
extending side-portions having their lower edges extended out at an angle to said
parallel side-portions; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. An electrical conductor oblong in cross section and having side extensions,
a flexible strip of insulating material folded closely around three sides of the
conductor and having edge portions extending in parallel relation beyond the
fourth side, and clips constructed to spring over the lateral enlargements of
the conductor and retain the insulating strip in place, substantially as described.
9. The combination with an electrical conductor oblong in cross section and
having side enlargements, of a holder composed of approximately right-angled

page_text: brackets bolted together against the sides of the conductor, and having deflected
portions to receive the side enlargements of the conductor, substantially as
described.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1895.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.