Improvements in Couplings for Electric Wires.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr.. 1893
PROVISIONAL 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 to be as follows:-
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. Each portion is made of round, square
or other suitable shape at the back end and has a projecting front part of preferably,
semi-circular shape. The portions of the coupling are hollow or partially hollow.
Fitted in the projecting part is an insulating bearing face preferably made of
vulcanite or ebonite through or in which the electric contact having the wire
attached to it is fitted. The contact is preferably made in the form of a plate or
other suitable spring.
Fitted on or made one with each portion of the coupling is a semi-circular shield
which corresponds to and is larger in diameter than the semi-circular projecting
part and is so fitted relatively to said projecting part that, when the two portions
of the coupling are brought together the projecting part of each portion fits or
slides into the shield of the other, so that the coupling has a cylindrical
appearance.
In this way the two flat surfaces of the projecting parts, which carry the
contacts, are brought into parallel opposition.
The portions of the coupling are so made as to fit, preferably, telescopically into
one another and the shields may be made so as to spring grip the projecting parts
and hold the portions of the coupling in place. The contact springs may be so
made as to aid in the gripping or holding of the parts of the coupling together.
Instead of making the coupling so as to appear cylindrical it may be made so as
to appear box or oblong shape. In this case the projections would be made
rectangular in front view.
The coupling may be made to carry two or more wires by merely multiplying the
contacts and wire connections.
Under a modification the parts of the coupling may be made with inclined
bearing faces and with or without spring contacts. When spring contacts are not
used projecting contacts may be employed.
To lock or aid in the locking of the parts of the coupling together a projection,
hook, or clip, or its equivalent may be fitted on one or both parts and be gripped
and held in place by a spring hook or catch.
The coupling may itself be used as a contact for conveying an electric current.
The coupling can be easily pulled asunder or uncoupled without breaking or
damaging the parts.
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Electric Wires.
1, 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.

page_text: The coupling consists of two portions. Each portion is made of round, square
or other suitable shape at the back end, and has a projecting front part of,
preferably, semi-circular shape. The portions of the coupling are hollow or
partially hollow. Fitted in the projecting part is an insulating bearing face,
preferably, made of vulcanite or ebonite through or in which the electric contact
having the wire attached to it is fitted. The contact is, preferably, made in the
form of a plate or other suitable spring.
Fitted on or inade one with each portion of the coupling is a semi-circular shield
which corresponds to and is larger in diameter than the semi-circular projecting
part and is so fitted relatively to said projecting part that, when the two portions
of the coupling are brought together the projecting part of each portion fits or
slides into the shield of the other, so that the coupling when joined, has a
cylindrical appearance.
In this way the two flat surfaces of the projecting parts, which carry the contacts,
are brought into parallel opposition.
The portions of the coupling are so made as to fit, preferably, telescopically into
one another and the shields may be made so as to spring-grip the projecting
parts and hold the portions of the coupling in place. The contact springs may
be so made as to aid in the gripping or holding of the parts of the coupling
together.
Instead of making the coupling so as to appear cylindrical it may be made so as
to appear box or oblong shape. In this case the projections would be made
rectangular in front view.
The coupling may be made to carry two or more wires by merely multiplying the
contacts and wire connections.
Under a modification the parts of the coupling may be made with inclined bearing
faces and with or without spring contacts. When spring contacts are not used
projecting contacts may be employed.
To lock or aid in the locking of the parts of the coupling together a projection,
hook or clip, or its equivalent may be fitted on one or both parts and be gripped
and held in place by a spring, hook, or catch.
The coupling may itself be used as a contact for conveying an electric current.
The coupling can be easily pulled asunder or uncoupled without breaking or
damaging the parts.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the coupling.
Fig. 2 is a cross section, on the line -, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one half or part of the coupling.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the same half or part of the coupling, and on'
the line y-y, Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line a-x, Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a slightly modified form of the coupling.
Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line y-y, Fig. 6, and showing the parts as at right
angles to their position in that figure.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of a rectangular coupling.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of another modified form of the coupling.
Fig. 10 is a cross section, on the line -z, Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a further modification of the coupling.
Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line 2-2, Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a view of a modified form of shield.
Referring to the drawings, whereon the same reference letters, wherever repeated,
indicate similar or like parts:
The coupling, Figs. 1 to 5, consists of two parts or portions a, b, which are
exactly similar in construction. The parts a, b, which may be cylindrical in shape,
as shown, are preferably made hollow, and have projections a', 6', of semicircular
shape, and hollow recesses a², 62, also of semicircular shape. When the parts a, b,

page_text: of the coupling ar fitted together, the projection of the one part slides into the
recess of the other part, and vice versa.
Fitted in the projecting parts, are insulating bearing faces c, c', preferably made
of vulcanite or ebonite. In or to these bearing faces or plugs, which may be held
in place by suitable screws, spring contacts d, d', are secured. The contacts are,
preferably, made in the form of plate springs, and are bent in the manner shown, so
that, when the parts of the coupling are pushed into one another, they bear and
tightly press against each other.
The spring contacts may be held in place by bolts e, e', which pass through the
insulating plugs. The electric wires f,f', are connected to the bolts, which serve
as binding screws.
The recessed parts a³, 6 are formed by fitting metal shields g, g', of semi-circular
shape, on the outside of the parts a, b, by means of screws h. These shields are of
larger internal diameter than the projecting parts a', 6', so that these parts can
slide telescopically into place.
Strips of rubber i may be fitted on the faces of the projecting parts a', b', for the
purpose of preventing moisture gaining access to the contacts.
Two wires and two contact springs may be fitted in each part of the coupling, as
shown at Figs. 2, 4 and 5, or only a single wire may be led into each part.
In Figs. 6 and 7, the bearing faces or plugs c, cl, are shown as fitted at a slight
angle of inclination to the general axis of the coupling.
In Fig. 8, the coupling, instead of being cylindrical in shape, is made rectangular
in form. The parts are similar in every other respect to those of Figs. 1 to 5. In
this case, also, the one part telescopes into the other.
In Figs. 9 and 10, the parts a, b, are made solid (and of wood or ebonite) instead
of being hollow, and the spring contacts d, d', are screwed into the solid material.
The wires f, fare led along the central passages j, j. The shields g, g' are fitted
on to the outside of the parts, by the screws h.
In Figs. 11 and 12, the parts are shown as fitting telescopically into one another,
and as being spring gripped, by means of the ball projections l, l, which are screwed
into the projections a, b, and which fit into and are gripped or held by the spring
forks m, m', which are fitted at the back of the recesses a², b².
Fig. 13 shows a shield, which is split or made with a longitudinal slot n, so as to
give it a spring action. The shield, in this case, itself serves as the spring grip.
The contact springs, by overriding one another, act as a locking arrangement,
and, when it is desired to uncouple the parts, they can be easily pulled apart.`
If desired, the coupling itself may be made to serve as one contact, and carry one
of the electric currents, while the other current may pass along the wires, and
through the spring contacts.
The parts of the coupling may be further modified, without departing from the
principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A coupling for electric wires, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described,
and as shown under different modifications, on the drawings annexed.
Dated this 8th day of February 1893.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
Glasgow and London, Agent.