Improvements in Couplings for Electric Wires.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Electric Wires.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc.,
lo hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings for connecting electric wires. The invention
s specially designed for use on railway trains.
The coupling consists of two portions or clamps, which are identically the same
in every respect. Under this invention, each clamp is made with a round solid or
partly solid projection, and with a hollow or tubular projection, so that each clamp
appears, individually, forked-shaped. The solid projections, when the parts are
being coupled together, fit or slide telescopically into the hollow or tubular
projections. The solid projections may be made to fit tightly into the tubular
projections, so that the clamps will hold firmly together, when coupled, or, to
effect this purpose, the tubular projections may be split in any well-known
manner.
The wire or wires, conveying the electric currents, are led up the interior of
each clamp, and one wire, or branch, is led up the solid projection, whilst the other
wire, or branch, is led to the interior end of the tubular projection. Fitted in
connection with one wire or branch, are projecting contact pieces, which may be
of a spear or hook shape. These projecting contacts, are or may be fitted on the
solid projections. Connected with the other wire or branch, are spring contacts,
which are bent to a suitable shape for catching on the heads of the projecting
contacts. The spring contacts are, or may be fitted in the tubular projections.
When the clamps are fitted or coupled together, the springs, in the tubular
projections, override the spear head projections, and so make contact therewith,
and close the circuit. The spring contacts may be fitted on the solid projections,
and the spear head contacts in the tubular projections.
When the coupling is to be used for carrying four or more wires, both projections
are, preferably, made hollow or tubular, and the circuits are closed by means of a
projection or spike, which is suitably insulated, and which is fitted in one of the
hollow projections of each clamp. The projections or spikes have suitable plate
springs, or equivalent, on each side of them, to which two of the wires are attached.
Plate springs, or equivalent contacts, are also fitted in the interior of the other
hollow projection of each clamp, to which the other two wires are attached. When
the parts or clamps of the coupling are pushed into one another, the plate springs,
or equivalent, press against one another, and so make contact and close the
circuits.
Instead of the projections being round, they may be square, or of other suitable
section.
The body of the clamps may be made to carry one of the electric currents,
whilst the other current or currents may be conveyed by wires in the interior of
the clamps.
When used on railway trains, the couplings are connected in the same manner
as the "Shiels & Elliot" couplings.
Dated this 13th day of May 1892.
ADD LOUZ
H. D. FITZP
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Couplings for Electric Wires.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc.,
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 couplings for connecting electric wires. The invention
is specially designed for use on railway trains.
The coupling consists of two portions or clamps, which are identically the same
in every respect. Under this invention, each clamp is made with a round solid or
partly solid projection, and with a hollow or tubular projection, so that each clamp
appears, individually, forked-shaped. The solid projections, when the parts are
being coupled together, fit or slide telescopically into the hollow or tubular
projections. The solid projections may be made to fit tightly into the tubular
projections, so that the clamps will hold firmly together, when coupled, or,
to effect this purpose, the tubular projections may be split in any well-known
manner.
The wire or wires, conveying the electric currents, are led up the interior of
each clamp, and one wire, or branch, is led up the solid projection, whilst the other
wire, or branch, is led to the interior end of the tubular projection. Fitted in
connection with one wire or branch, are projecting contact pieces, which may be
of a spear or hook shape. These projecting contacts, are or may be fitted on the
solid projections. Connected with the other wire or branch, are spring contacts,
which are bent to a suitable shape for catching on the heads of the projecting
contacts. The spring contacts are, or may be fitted in the tubular projections.
When the clamps are fitted or coupled together, the springs, in the tubular pro-
jections, override the spear head projections, and so make contact therewith, and
close the circuit. The spring contacts may be fitted on the solid projections, and
the spear head contacts in the tubular projections.
When the coupling is to be used for carrying four or more wires, both projections
are, preferably, made hollow or tubular, and the circuits are closed by means of
a projection or spike, which is suitably insulated, and which is fitted in one of the
hollow projections of each clamp. The projections or spikes have suitable plate
springs, or equivalent, on each side of them, to which two of the wires are attached.
Plate springs, or equivalent contacts, are also fitted in the interior of the other
hollow projection of each clamp, to which the other two wires are attached.
When the parts or clamps of the coupling are pushed into one another, the plate
springs, or equivalent, press against one another, and so make contact and close the
circuits.
Instead of the projections being round, they may be square, or of other suitable
section.
The body of the clamps may be made to carry one of the electric currents,
whilst the other current or currents may be conveyed by wires in the interior of
the clamps.
When used on railway trains, the couplings are connected in the same manner as
the "Shiels & Elliot " couplings.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of one form of the coupling.
Fig. 2 is an end view of one part or clamp, of the coupling, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, in a vertical plane, of another form of the
coupling.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on a horizontal plane, of the same coupling.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, whereon the same reference letters, wherever repeated,
indicate similar or like parts:-
As shown, the coupling consists of two portions or clamps a, b, which are
identically the same in construction. Each clamp is made with a projection a¹, b',
which is solid or partly solid, and with a hollow tubular projection a², 6. The
parts are so arranged that when fitted together, the projection of the clamp b
slides telescopically into the hollow projection a³ of the clamp a, and the pro-
jection a' of the clamp a likewise elides into the hollow projection 6 of the clamp b.
The telescoping of the projections a², b', b³, a', are preferably sufficiently tight to
hold the two parts or clamps of the coupling together. Screwed into the pro-
jections a, b, are insulating plugs a, b, which are made of vulcanite or other
suitable insulating material. Screwed or fitted into these plugs are contact
pieces a, . These contact pieces have preferably projecting heads, which may be
formed with two spring prongs a³, 1º bent into a form somewhat similar to that of
a spear head. The wires c and f, conveying the current, are connected to the
ends of the contact pieces a, b, as shown. Fitted at the bottom of the tubular
projections, a, are insulating plugs a, b in which are fitted contacts a', b',
having outwardly projecting spring forks a³, 68, at their ends. The electric wires e
and d are connected to the contacts a', '. As shown at Fig. 1, when the clamps
are coupled together, the spring forks of the contacts 6', a', override and spring
grip the prongs on the opposite contacts a, b, and in this manner, when the parts
of the coupling are joined together, the circuit is completed. The parts of the
coupling can be easily pulled apart when uncoupling railway carriages or breaking
the circuits.
The form of coupling shown at Figs. 1 and 2, is only intended for carrying two
wires.
The coupling shown at Figs. 3 and 4, is designed for carrying four wires. In
this arrangement, both of the projections are preferably hollow or tubular, as
shown, and the insulating plugs a, b, have longitudinal extensions j, j¹. Fitted
to the extensions, at either side, are spring contacts g, g', which are kept insulated
from one another by the projections. The opposite plugs a, b, have but short
projections h, ', to which are fitted spring contacts i, . The electric wires are
connected to the spring contacts, as shown.
When the parts or clamps are coupled together, the projections b³, a², slide
telescopically into the projections a', 6', and the spring contacts i, , override and
spring grip against the contacts g, g', so as to complete the circuits through the
different wires.
The projections may be of square, oblong or other suitable shape instead of
round.
In an arrangement such as that at Fig. 1, the body of the coupling may be
made to carry one current and the internal wires the other.
The coupling may be modified in its construction, without departing from the
principle of the invention.
Instead of having prongs aº, 6º, at the ends of the contacts a*, 64, solid heads or
projections may be used in lieu thereof.
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. A coupling for electric wires, constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed.
2. The modified construction of coupling, substantially as hereinbefore described,
with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of March 1892
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.