Improvements in Insulators for Telegraph Wires and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Insulators for Telegraph Wires and the like.
We, JOHN TAYLOR, Labourer, and WILLIAM TAYLOR, Electrician, both of
Prescot Road, Tarbock, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in insulators for telegraph wires and the
like has for its object an improved construction thereof whereby the wire can
be more easily applied to the insulator and as it is not wound round it a saving
of wire is effected, and consequently the resistance thereof is lessened; the
insulator is less liable to breakage by stone-throwing and from other causes, and
consequent leakage of current is prevented; the insulator will not unscrew under
the influence of vibration, in the case of a breakdown the wire will not run
away; and the insulators cannot become slack or loose causing noise and rattling
when subject to wind.
According to this invention, the insulator which is made of porcelain or
similar non-conducting material is formed with two or more openings through
it in the direction in which a wire passes. The portion of the insulator over
the said openings is removable so as to form a slide. It will thus be seen that
by removing the slide the said openings are exposed.
The telegraph or other wire to be supported is passed through one of these
openings, and to the wire is connected by several strands of wire a piece of
thicker wire parallel to the line wire. This latter piece of wire fits in the
second of the openings through the insulator or may be received in a groove
therein and a cross groove is formed between the two openings within which the
connecting wires lie. In applying the line wire to the insulator, the slide is
removed and the line wire with the connected wires can be placed directly in
the openings without the necessity for threading or twisting the wires round the
insulator. The slide is then replaced and the wires are retained within the
insulator, and owing to the use of the additional wires, the line wire is kept in
its proper position in the insulator and in the event of a wire breaking the
length of the wire cannot "run back" possibly doing damage as it falls to the
ground, only the adjacent length of wire would be affected. These additional
wires also support the weight of the line wire on either side in a better manner
than if such weight were transmitted to the insulator directly by the line wire.
Also by means of the slide the wires can be easily applied to the insulator and
as the wires are not twisted round the insulator a saving in the length of
wire is effected and consequently the resistance of the wire in the circuit is
lessened.
The lower portion of the insulator is formed as usual, of the cylindrical
portions one within the other, and are screwed on the bolts on the telegraph post,
in the ordinary manner. Preferably however, an indiarubber sleeve is fitted
between the insulator and the bolt on which it is screwed so as to further lessen
the leakage of the current.
It will also be seen that as the wire is not twisted round the insulator, the

page_text: latter is not liable to become unscrewed under the influence of vibration and
pull on the wire. As the insulators do not become slack, excessive noise resulting
therefrom, when under the influence of the wind and which is sometimes very
troublesome with telephone wires, is obviated.
In order that there may be less liability to breakage of the insulators owing
to stone-throwing or similar causes, a metal band is arranged round the lower
portion of the insulator which is thus prevented from falling away and probably
causing the wire to make contact with a surrounding portion resulting in leakage
of current.
1 1
ANIT
.
1000
Improvements in Insulators for Telegraph Wires and the like.
We, JOHN TAYLOR, Labourer, and WILLIAM TAYLOR, Electrician, both of
Prescot Road, Tarbock, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention for improvements in insulators for telegraph wires and the
like has for its object an improved construction thereof whereby the wire can
be more easily applied to the insulator and as it is not wound round it a saving
of wire is effected and consequently the resistance thereof is lessened; the
insulator is less liable to breakage by stone-throwing and from other causes, and
constant leakage of current is prevented; the insulator will not unscrew under
the influence of vibration, in the case of a breakdown the wire will not run
away; and the insulators cannot become slack or loose causing noise and rattling
when subject to wind.
According to this invention, the insulator which is made of porcelain or
similar non-conducting material is formed with two or more openings through
it in the direction in which a wire passes. The portion of the insulator over
the said openings is removable so as to form a slide. It will thus be seen that
by removing the slide the said openings are exposed.
The telegraph or other wire to be supported is passed through one of these
openings, and to the wire is connected by several strands of wire a piece of
thicker wire parallel to the line wire. This latter piece of wire fits in the
second of the openings through the insulator or may be received in a groove
therein and a cross groove is formed between the two openings within which the
connecting wires lie. In applying the line wire to the insulator, the slide is
removed and the line wire with the connected wires can be placed directly in
the openings without the necessity for threading or twisting the wires round the
insulator. The slide is then replaced and the wires are retained within the
insulator, and owing to the use of the additional wires, the line wire is kept in
its proper position in the insulator and in the event of a wire breaking the
length of wire cannot "
run back
possibly doing damage as it falls to the
ground, only the adjacent length of wire being affected. These additional
wires also support the weight of the line wire on either side in a better manner
than if such weight were transmitted to the insulator directly by the line wire.
Also by means of the slide the wires can be easily applied to the insulator and
as the wires are not twisted round the insulator a saving in the length of

page_text: wire is effected and consequently the resistance of the wire in the circuit is
lessened.
The lower portion of the insulator is formed as usual, of the cylindrical
portions one within the other, and are fitted on the bolts on the telegraph post, in
the ordinary manner.
It will also be seen that as the wire is not twisted round the insulator, the
latter is not liable to become unscrewed under the influence of vibration and
pull on the wire. As the insulators do not become slack, excessive noise resulting
therefrom, when under the influence of the wind and which is sometimes very
troublesome with telephone wires, is obviated.
In order that there may be less liability to breakage of the insulators owing
to stone-throwing or similar causes, a metal band is arranged round the lower
portion of the insulator which is thus prevented from falling away and
causing the wire to make contact with a surrounding portion resulting in leakage
of current.
And in order that this invention may be more readily understood reference is
had to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an insulator constructed according to this invention,
partly in section the slide being supposed half removed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same and
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the wire as fitted for attachment to the insulator.
The insulator A, which is of porcelain or similar non-conducting material is
formed with two openings a a through it in the direction in which a wire passes.
A portion is cut away over the said openings with dovetail edges a² and a
slide B is adapted to fit therein so as to complete the shape of the insulator.
On removing the slide B the openings a a¹ are exposed. A cross groove a³
connects the two openings a a².
Referring to Fig. 3, the telegraph or other wire C is connected by several
strands of wire e to a short length C¹ of thicker wire which is thus held parallel
to the wire C.
In applying the wires to the insulator, the slide B is removed and the
wires CC can be placed directly in the openings, aaa¹ respectively, without
the necessity for threading or twisting the wires. The slide B is then replaced
and the wires Ce C¹ are retained within the insulator A. The wires C¹ e serve to
hold the line wire C in its proper position and it will therefore be understood that
the line wire C cannot "run back" if the wire should be broken and the damage
would be confined to the length of wire which was broken. The wires C¹ c also
provide a better support for the line wire on each side of the insulator. Moreover
the fitting or removal of the wire C is easily effected, as it is only necessary to
remove and replace the slide B. *
The insulator A is formed as usual with an inner portion A adapted to be
fitted on to the telegraph post in the ordinary manner. An india-rubber sleeve
(not shown) may however be fitted within the inner portion A¹ to lessen vibration
and leakage of current.
A metal band A2, fitted round the lower edge of the insulator A serves to hold
the portions of the insulator together should it be broken by stone throwing or
the like, and thus preventing leakage of current which might result should the
insulator fall away. The band A rests loosely on the lower flange of the
insulator so that it can be readily removed or fitted on another insulator if
desired.
There is no necessity for the guard often fitted to insulators as the band A
affords sufficient protection.
When the insulators are used for wires weighing 6000 s. to the mile or other
heavy wires it may be advisable to give the wire one turn round the insulator to
ensure sufficient support.
By making the insulator A and slide B of different colours, a means is provided

page_text: for readily distinguishing the insulators on all posts belonging to any particular
wire.
For instance, all the insulators for one wire may be white with a white slide;
another set may be white with a black slide; and still another with white slide.
Further combinations of other colours may be also employed and thus will
facilitate the work of a linesman greatly as he will be able to readily follow out
any particular wire.
If desired, the insulators may be constructed with double slides so that one
insulator will serve for two wires one on each side, or they may be arranged for
more than two wires without departing from this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) An improved means for supporting telegraph and other wires on posts or
the like, comprising an insulator having two parallel openings through it con-
nected by a cross groove and a slide adapted to be covered by a slide, and a
short length of wire connected to the line wire in a parallel manner, the said wires
being adapted to fit in the openings and groove in the insulator, being placed
directly therein when the slide is removed and held in position thereby in use,
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(1) An improved insulator for telegraph and other wires, having an opening for
receiving the line wire a parallel opening for receiving a short length of wire
connected to the line wire, a cross groove in which the connection wire is received
and a slide which when removed allows of the wires being directly placed in the
openings and groove and when in place, holds them in position, substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
(3) In an insulator for telegraph and other wires, openings a al, cross groove³
dovetail edges a² a², slide B, inner portion A', and metal band all arranged
substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes specified.
(4) In a means for supporting telegraph and other wires the combination with
an insulator as in Claim 3 of line wire C, wire C¹ and connecting wires c
substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 28th day of May 1899
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.