Improvements in and connected with Conduits for Electric Light Wires and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 16 h May. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Conduits for Electric Light
Wires and the like.
We, THE SAFETY TREAD SYNDICATE LIMITED, and JOSEPH MASON and
JONATHAN MASON, Builders, all of 15 Barbican in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
This invention relates to conduits and to what may be called manholes by which
access thereto is obtained.
It is now common to carry electric light wires and the like in tubes or pipes
placed below the street level and at intervals to have boxes or openings provided
with covers, on the removal of which access to the pipes and wires immediately
beneath may be obtained. Where defects in the insulation or joints are found
to exist between two boxes it is necessary either to draw the wire out to the box
or break the road and take up the pipe section where the defect exists.
According to this invention these drawbacks of the present system are to a
large extent obviated and efficient ventilation of the pipes or conduits is secured,
while the admission of rain or surface water is prevented.
To this end it is proposed to make the conduits in rectangular or other section,
and between say each pair of sections to insert an open topped section having
outer flanges projecting above the open top, and upon such flanges to rest a covering
plate (preferably of the character known as the Safety tread) said plate being
provided with a suitable number of ventilating openings placed at points outside
the lines of the top opening of the section. With this construction any water, or
other solid substance entering through the ventilating holes will pass outside of
the conduit, although air or gas can freely pass from the conduit.
Dated the 18th dox of May 1805
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with Conduits for Electric Light
Wires and the like.
We, THE SAFETY TREAD SYNDICATE LIMITED, and JOSEPH MASON and
JONATHAN MASON, Builders, all of 15 Larbican, in the City of London, do
bereby 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 conduits and to what may be called manholes by which
access thereto is obtained.
It is now common to carry electric light wires and the like in tubes or pipes
placed below the street level and at intervals to have boxes or openings provided

page_text: with covers, on the removal of which access to the pipes and wires immediately
beneath may be obtained. Where defects in the insulation or joints of the wires
are found to exist at some point between two boxes it is necessary either to draw
the wire out to the box or break the road and take up the pipe section where the
defect exists.
According to this invention these drawbacks of the present system are to a large
extent obviated, and efficient ventilation of the pipes or conduits is secured, while
the admission of rain or surface water is prevented.
To this end it is proposed to make the conduits in rectangular or other section,
and between say each pair of sections to insert an open topped box or section
having outer flanges projecting above the opening to the conduit, and upon such
flanges to rest a covering plate, said plate being provided with a suitable number
of ventilating openings placed at points outside the lines of the top opening of
the section. Means are also provided for the escape of water.
To clearly explain our invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings
in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cast iron surface box constructed according to
our invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of box, and Fig. 4 is a cross
section of same on line xx.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the box shown consists of a frame having flanges a a²,
such flanges having a channel 6 between same. The flange a is provided with an
opening (or openings) in same, and the flange a¹ with an opening (or openings) d.
Upon the flanges rests a covering plate e the pavement, floor, or road surface, of
which may be provided with means to afford a suitable foothold, that of the
character known as the "Safety tread" being preferred. The plate is provided
with a suitable number of openings e¹ placed at points outside the lines of the
opening of the box or section and as shown directly over the channel b.
may surround the plate and flanges with a loose frame f enclosing the cover, such
frame resting upon a plate g having openings h therein, and this plate and the
flanges may be superposed on the brickwork i or other material forming the opening
or chamber leading to the conduits.
We
It will be seen that any gas accumulating in the conduits or box will escape by
way of the openings c and c¹, while any water which finds its way through the
latter openings will pass into the channel b and from thence through the openings d
and where as the quantity is found to be very trifling it may be allowed to soak into
the earth, or it may be taken by a pipe to the nearest gully.
In Figs. 3 and 4 no outer frame is employed, and the flange a terminates short
of the cover, so that the opening c is a continuous one, the plate e resting on the
flange a¹.
In this case the box is only provided with openings e¹ e¹ on either side
and not at the ends also as in Fig. 4.
The conduit may be made with a continuous opening as shown in the centre
portion of Fig. 3, a number of the plates e being laid together in lengths so that
by lifting the one over the part of the chamber desired it may be readily examined,
or it may be made as shown with the small conduits j³ connecting with the open
chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In conduits for electric light wires and the like an open topped box or section
having outer flanges projecting above the open top, and a covering plate resting
on said flanges and provided with a suitable number of ventilating openings placed
at points outside the lines of the top opening of the section, and means for allowing
water entering through the ventilating holes to pass outside the conduit, substan-
tially as described.

page_text: 2. The construction and use of the conduit box or section and covering plate
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
3. The construction and use of the conduit box or section and covering plate
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
Dated the 18th day of February 1896.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicants.