опи Appara BECOMING Overhead Telegraphic, Telephonic, and similar Wires.
Year: 1886

page_text: опи
Appara
BECOMING
Overhead Telegraphic, Telephonic, and similar Wires.
We, JOSEPH POOLE, Electrician and KENNETH MAC IVER, Secretary both of
34 Faulkner Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the method of and apparatus for erecting'or repairing
overhead telegraphic, telephonic and similar wires.
At present it is customary, in erecting such wires for the line men to connect
the ends of each span by means of two cords or lines, one end of each being retained
at each end of the span and the other ends being joined together at some accessible
intermediate point. A continuous line is thus formed between the two ends of the
span and by its means the wire is drawn across. In some instances this method of
conveying the wire is modified and only one or more than two cords or lines may
be employed. In cases where a number of wires have already been erected across
or within the space through which the line or cord would have to pass in drawing
the wire across between the two ends of the span, the line or cord has to be
threaded between or passed over intervening wires and this operation not only
involves care and skill but also a considerable expenditure of time and the
annoyance of temporary "short circuits" and "contracts" between the existing
wires,
This invention has for its object to enable the wire to be passed from one
end of a span to the other where one wire has already been erected across the
same or another part of the same span, without the necessity for employing leading
lines or cords as herein before described.
These improvements consist in conveying the wire or a cord to which the wire
may subsequently be attached across the span or distance between two supports by
means of a carrier riding upon or capable of being caused to traverse a wire
already erected, and in the construction and means of operating the carrier.
A suitable and convenient form of carrier may be constructed in the following
manner. Two plates discs or blocks having holes or openings formed through
them are connected together by spiral or other springs and by guide rods in such
a manner that after the two discs plates or blocks have been caused to approach
each other the action of the springs will restore them to their normal or original

page_text: .
relative position. Surrounding or in proximity to the hole in each of the disca
plates or blocks we mount clutches, springs or equivalent apparatus in such a
manner that a wire can be only passed through the hole or opening in one
direction only or, in other words, that the disc can be passed along a wire in one
direction only. The two discs plates or blocks have their clutches arranged in
one direction so that the apparatus can traverse the wire on which it may be
placed but cannot be drawn back. On the leading disc plate or block is mounted
a grooved pulley over which a cord is passed and secured to the following pulley-
The apparatus being placed upon a stretched wire and the cord attached thereto
being pulled the following disc will be drawn forward, the strain of the pull being
then released, the springs will force the leading disc forward when another pull on
the cord will again draw the following disc near to the leading disc and by
repeating the operation a sufficient number of times the carrier is caused to traverse
the distance between the supports at each end of the span. It will be understood
that the end of the wire to be carried across the span may be attached to the
carrying apparatus and that if needed the discs plates or blocks and the clutches
are capable of being opened so as to be placed upon a stretched wire-The wire to
be erected may however be attached to the free end of the operating cord after
the carrier or traveller has reached the far end of the span, or it may be attached
to an independent cord or line connected to the carrier and be drawn across the
span by means of the cord.
The construction of the carrier may be modified to a very considerable extent
thus, in an elementary form, it may consist of three or more grooved wheels or
pulleys arranged to ride upon and under a stretched wire, the pulleys on opposite
sides of the wire being pressed together by springs so as to grip the wire between
the pulleys. The apparatus is carried on a suitable framing to which the wire to
be stretched or erected may be attached for conveyance across the span―This form
of carrier may be actuated by an endless cord passed over a grooved pulley
mounted upon the axis of one of the carrier pulleys or it may be operated by a
single cord attached to a lever or arm pinned to the framing and provided with a
spring to restore the arm to its position after it has been moved-The arm carries
a pawl or detent which takes into the teeth of a ratchet wheel fixed upon the axis
of one of the carrier pulleys-A series of pulls upon the single cord will cause the
ratchet wheel to rotate and with it the carrier pulleys the rotation of which causes
the carrier to traverse the wire upon which it is placed-Clutches or their
equivalent to prevent backward motion may be employed in conjunction with
any form of carrier, and riders may be provided for the wire or cord so that it
may be supported by the existing wire and sagging and possible risk of contact
with other existing wires be prevented-The carriers or travellers moreover may
be operated by an electro or other motor instead of by a cord or line.
11
T

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for Erecting
Overhead Telegraphic, Telephonic, and similar Wires.
We JOSEPH POOLE, Electrician and KENNETH MAC IVER Secretary both of
34 Faulkner Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster 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 the method of and apparatus for erecting or repairing
overhead telegraphic, telephonic and similar wires.
At present it is customary, in erecting such wires for the line men to connect the
ends of each span by means of two cords or lines, one end of each being retained at
each end of the span and the other ends being joined together at some accessible
intermediate point. A continuous line is thus formed between the two ends of the
span and by its means the wire is drawn across. In some instances this method of
conveying the wire is modified and only one or more than two cords or lines may
be employed. In cases where a number of wires have already been erected across
or within the space through which the line or cord would have to pass in drawing
the wire across between the two ends of the span, the line or cord has to be
threaded between or passed over intervening wires and this operation not only
involves care and skill but also a considerable expenditure of time and the
annoyance of temporary "short circuits" and "contacts" between the existing
wires.
This Invention has for its object to enable the wire to be passed from one end
of a span to the other where one wire has already been erected across the same or
another part of the same span, without the necessity for employing leading lines or
cords as herein before described.
These Improvements consist in conveying the wire or a cord to which the wire
may subsequently be attached across the span or distance between two supports
by means of a carrier riding upon or capable of being caused to traverse a wire
already erected, and in the construction and means of operating the carrier.
A suitable and convenient form of carrier may be constructed in the following
manner. Two plates discs or blocks having holes or openings formed through
them are connected together by spiral or other springs and by guide rods in such a
manner that after the two discs plates or blocks have been caused to approach each
other the action of the springs will restore them to their normal or original relative
positions. Surrounding or in proximity to the hole in each of the discs plates or
blocks we mount clutches, springs or equivalent apparatus in such a manner that
a wire can be passed through the hole or opening in one direction only, or, in other
words, that the disc can be passed along a wire in one direction only. The two
discs plates or blocks have their clutches arranged in one direction so that the
apparatus can traverse the wire on which it may be placed but cannot be drawn
back. On the leading disc plate or block is mounted a grooved pulley over which
a cord is passed and secured to the following disc plate or block. The apparatus.

page_text: being placed upon a stretched wire and the cord attached thereto being pulled the
following disc will be drawn forward, the strain of the pull being then released
the springs will force the leading disc forward when another pull on the cord will
again draw the following disc near to the leading disc and by repeating the
operation a sufficient number of times the carrier is caused to traverse the distance
between the supports at each end of the span.
It will be understood that the end of the wire to be carried across the span may
be attached to the carrying apparatus and that if needed the discs plates or blocks
and the clutches are capable of being opened so as to be placed upon a stretched
wire. The wire to be erected may however be attached to the free end of the
operating cord after the carrier or traveller has reached the far end of the span, or
it may be attached to an independent cord or line connected to the carrier and be
drawn across the span by means of the cord.
The construction of the carrier may be modified to a very considerable extent,
thus, in an elementary form it may consist of three or more grooved wheels or
pulleys arranged to ride upon and under a stretched wire, the pulleys on opposite
sides of the wire being pressed together by springs so as to grip the wire between
the pulleys. The apparatus is carried on a suitable framing to which the wire to
be stretched or erected may be attached for conveyance across the span. This
form of carrier may be actuated by an endless cord passed over a grooved pulley
mounted upon the axis of one of the carrier pulleys or it may be operated by a
single cord attached to a lever or arm pinned to the framing and provided with a
spring to restore the arm to its position after it has been moved. The arm carries
a pawl or detent which takes into the teeth of a ratchet wheel fixed upon the axis
of one of the carrier pulleys. A series of pulls upon the single cord will cause the
ratchet wheel to rotate and with it the carrier pulleys the rotation of which causes
the carrier to traverse the wire upon which it is placed. Clutches or their
equivalent to prevent backward motion may be employed in conjunction with any
forin of carrier, and riders may be provided for the wire or cord so that it may be
supported by the existing wire and sagging and possible risk of contact with other
existing wires be prevented. The carriers or travellers moreover may be operated
by an electro or other motor instead of by a cord or line.
And in order that this invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect we have hereunto appended three Sheets of Drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same. In each of the figures similar letters are
employed to denote similar parts where they occur.
Sheet I. Fig. 1. is a perspective view of a convenient form of the apparatus
constructed in accordance with these Improvements, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section
of one end of the same apparatus and Fig. 3. is a transverse section in front of and
looking towards the plate shown in section in Fig. 2.
A A¹ are two similar plates having a hinged part B B¹, the two parts being held
together by a pin C and a bolt D or by other convenient means which will permit
the two parts to be opened or closed and fastened. E is a grooved pulley mounted
upon the leading plate A¹; F is a cord attached to the back plate A passing over
the grooved pulley and back through an eye in A; G, G are two guide bars secured
to the leading plate A¹, passing through two holes in the back plate and connected
together by the cross piece H; I I¹ are flaps or clutches pivotted respectively on
the hinged parts of A and A' and both opening in the same direction; K K¹, are
springs tending to keep the flaps or clutches I I' closed; L L are spiral springs
around the guide bars tending to force the plates A A¹ apart; M is the telegraph
or similar wire which is omitted in Fig. for greater clearness. In using the
apparatus the hinged parts of A and A¹ are opened so as to admit the wire upon
which they are theu closed and secured by the bolt D.
Each of the flaps or clutches will then be in the position shown in Fig. 2 and it
is obvious that while neither A nor A¹ can be moved to the right upon the wire
either or both of them may be moved to the left with freedom. It follows there-
fore that upon pulling the cord the plate A and its appurtenances will be moved

page_text: forward along the wire while A¹ remains stationary; on releasing the cord, A¹ will
advance, being forced forward by the springs L L while A remains stationary.
Hence by repeated pulls upon the cord F a step by step or creeping motion is set
up in the apparatus which carries it to the opposite end of the span.
It will be evident that the details of construction of this form of the apparatus
may be considerably modified but we have found the arrangement shown in the
drawings and herein before described give good results in practice.
Sheet II. Figs. 4 and 5 represent in side and end view a modification or
alternative form of the apparatus. N N N₁ are three grooved pulleys mounted
upon the framing O which also carries another hollow grooved wheel or pulley P
containing a helical spring Q indicated by dotted lines Fig. 4. On the spindle of
the pulley P is also mounted so as to rotate independently, a ratchet wheel R and
a grooved pulley S which gears by a band T with a similar pulley U fixed in the
axis of the pulley N¹. The framing O is hinged at the axis of P and the two parts
may be connected or separated at the fork V when it is desired to place the
'creeper" upon or remove it from the wire M. When in position the telegraph
wire passes between N N and N¹ and the tractive or adhesive force may be
increased by the spiral spring W which tends to pull the two parts of the framing
together. A pawl is pinned upon the spring pulley P so that it engages with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel R and the cord F is attached to the grooved rim of the
same pulley, round which it may take one or more turns. The creeper or apparatus
being placed upon the wire M and the cord F being pulled, the spring pulley P is
rotated and through the pawl, ratchet wheel and connected pulleys S and U, the
grooved pulley N₁ is similarly rotated upon the wire M along which the creeper
consequently travels. At the end of the pull the cord F is slackened or released
when the helical spring Q rotates the pulley P in the opposite direction rewinding
the cord F thereon ready for the next pull.
During this reverse motion of P the pawl rides over the teeth of the ratchet
wheel and no motion is imparted thereto. A succession of pulls upon the cord F
will consequently compel the creeper to traverse the wire M as far as may be
desired. The pulley N¹ may be driven by toothed gearing instead of by pulleys
and band S T U and the spring pulley and ratchet and pawl may be arranged in
the opposite manner that is to say so that the pull on the cord shall coil the helical
spring which in uncoiling rotates the ratchet wheel, instead of the coiling of the
spring and the rotation of the ratchet wheel being both performed by pulling the
cord. A detent may be pinned to the framing and engage with any of the grooved
pulleys to prevent back motion.
Sheet III. Figs. 6 and 7 represent modified forins of similar apparatus. N N N¹ are
three grooved pullies riding upon and gripping between them the telegraph or
other wire M. A ratchet wheel R is fixed upon the axis of the pulley NT with
which engages a pawl pinned upon the lever X to which the cord F and a spiral
spring Y are attached. Another pawl or detent Z is pinned to the framing O and
engages with the ratchet wheel to prevent back motion.
As represented in Fig. 6. a pull upon the cord causes the pawl on X to ride over
the teeth of the ratchet wheel; on releasing the cord the spring Y draws the
lever X backwards when the pawl thereon engaging with the ratchet wheel, the
latter and with it the pulley N¹ are rotated and the apparatus is consequently
propelled along the wire M. In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the rotation of
the ratchet wheel is produced directly by the pull of the cord and the lever X is
restored to its position by the spring Y. In each case the pulley N¹ may be
rotated by the cord F wound around a bobbin on the same axis or by an endless
cord passing round a grooved pulley. Fig. 8. shows a modification of the creeper
illustrated in Fig. 4 the chief alteration being in a rearrangement of parts in such
a manner that the grooved pulley N¹ is driven directly from the hollow pulley P
instead of indirectly.
It is quite possible to employ two pulleys only instead of three as shown, but it
is more convenient to use three.

page_text: It will be understood that a far greater number of combinations and arrange-
ments of parts than have been herein before described and illustrated on the
appended drawings might be constructed and that we have limited our description
to the combinations arrangements and methods of construction of the apparatus
which appear to produce the best means of carrying our invention into practical
effect. So far, we find that the types of apparatus respectively illustrated in
Figs. 1 2 and 3, and in Figs. 4 and 5 give the best results.
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) The method of conveying a cord or wire across a span, which consists
essentially in carrying one end of the cord or wire by means of a
"
creeper or
carrier apparatus capable of traversing or of being caused to traverse the span by
travelling upon an existing wire.
(2) In a creeper or apparatus for travelling upon an existing telegraph or similar
wire, two clutches capable of being moved along the wire in one direction only,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated on
Sheet I of the drawings appended hereto.
"
$3
(3) In a creeper or apparatus for travelling upon a telegraph or similar wire,
two or more grooved pulleys N and N¹ one of which may be intermittently or
continuously rotated, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
and as illustrated on Sheets II and III of the accompanying drawings,
Dated thio 14th
1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants,
70, Market Street, Manchester.