Terminals for Cables of Electrical Conductors.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Terminals for Cables of Electrical Conductors.
I, JOHN CECIL REILLY, Electrical Engineer, a Citizen of the United States,
now residing at No. 49 Putnam Avenue, in the City of Brooklyn, County of Kings,
and State of New York, U.S.A., 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a suitable and effective device for
preventing access of air and moisture to the insulated conductors of a sheathed cable,
which device at the same time furnishes a ineans for distributing the several
conductors forming the cable and separately connecting them to isolated or
independent conductors.
I provide a box, the body of which is formed of insulating material, and which is
provided with a removable longitudinal section or metallic cover. I place or form
ribs on the walls to furnish seats or bearings for connecting-posts. The edges of
these ribs are planes beveled at a suitable angle to furnish surfaces for bearing, or
upon which to inscribe the number or designation of each connecting-post and its
attached conductor. There is a groove separating adjacent ribs for the purpose of
extending the surface and cutting or dividing the continuity of any film of moisture
which might otherwise gather and electrically connect two adjacent lines or rows of
connecting-posts. The removable section or cover of the box is secured in position
by screws which extend through the cover, and which enter screw-threaded plugs
or bushings in the edge of the box. I also interpose strips or gaskets of rubber
between the cover and the edges of the box to insure an air-tight fit. There is a
circular orifice in the lower end of the box to receive a section of pipe. This is
secured into position, and a collar formed integral with the pipe-section finds a seat
on a gasket and is retained in place by screws or pins. This pipe-section is of
greater diameter than the cylindrical sheath or covering of the cable, if such sheath
is of metal; but if the sheathing is of rubber or some fabric the pipe-section is of
less diameter. The core of the cable or the insulated wires pass through the pipe-
section into the box or terminal, where the wires are distributed one to each con-
necting-post. The junction between the cable-covering and the pipe-section is
hermetically closed and sealed by the use of either solder or a suitable insulating
compound. In either case the pipe-section may be unscrewed from its seat in the
terminal if it is found easier or more expeditious than to remove the solder or
luting material. Saddles of cast or other suitable metal are screwed to the box or
terminal, and the extended arms of such saddles are made to conform to the shape
of the surface against which the terminal is fixed, whether it be flat or round.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Fig. 1 is a face view of the terminal with attached cable, part of the terminal
and of the cable being broken away to clearly show the relation of the parts.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the terminal in position, showing also the supporting-
saddles.
Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the terminal on line 3---3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the pipe-section and means for fixing it in
position; and
Fig. 5 is a section showing a box or terminal formed with straight or plane sides.
B is the box shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, approximately semi-cylindrical in
form. The section or cover C, is straight or flat and is removable. It is secured
to the edges of the section B, by screws U, which extend into plugs or socket
pieces T, preferably made of brass, screw-threaded externally and internally, and
seated in the edges of the section B. Between the cover and the edges of the box

page_text: are interposed strips, sheets or gaskets Z, of rubber, to form an air-tight joint. I
prefer to make the cover, C, of metal, as when thus made it serves to strengthen
and brace the box which, being of rubber or similar material, sometimes tends to
become distorded. Furthermore a metallic cover can be made to fit the box
more closely, and better stands wear, handling and rough usage.
The material of the box is some suitable insulating material. I prefer hard
rubber, which I cast in a mould. Near the edges of the section B, I form the
material into ribs M, M, cach pair separated by a deep groove I. This rib
formation is to provide a stronger support or seat for rows of couplings or con-
necting-posts which pass through the ribs and are furnished with screw-threaded
washers R, R, upon both ends, so that wires may be separately attached to both
ends of the connecting-posts, the wires of the cable on the inside, and the separated
conductors on the outside. The ribs M, on both sides, near the edge of B, are
beveled to furnish prominent surfaces V, upon which the numbers or arbitrary
designations of each and every connecting-post may be inscribed, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 3. The ends of the semi-cylindrical section B are thicker than the
other walls of the terminal, as shown in Fig. 4. One end has a circular opening,
screw-threaded in its interior to receive the screw-threaded end of the pipe-
section P. This pipe-section P is of metal, having a collar p integral therewith.
The end of pipe-section P is screw-threaded, as at t. The pipe-section is screwed
into the box-section B until the collar p rests firmly against a gasket g, and screws 19
and 20 prevent the pipe-section from becoming loosened in use. The diameter of
pipe-section P, outside the terminal B, is made of a size to fit the exterior of the
protecting-sheath d, of the cable, if it be a lead pipe, or the interior of a rubber or
other suitable covering, if a fabric is used. The core, upon entering the terminal,
has its assembled conductors separated, and the insulated conductors are attached
to a series of connecting-posts-one conductor to each post--conductor No. 1 being
attached to post No. 1, conductor No. 2, the post No. 2, and so on throughout the
series. The cover is then placed in position and screwed down.
In Fig. 3 the saddle S is shown. There are two of these, one for each end of
the terminal. Each saddle has arms, one pair of which is made to conform to the
shape of the terminal, and another pair to the surface upon or against which the
terminal is to be fixed or placed. The saddle is screwed to the terminal and to
the supporting-surface, as shown. The semi-cylindrical form of the terminal shown
in Figs. 1 to 4 economizes space, and is well adapted for practical use. It is strong
and more readily sheds water and moisture. By forming the box of insulating
material, I avoid the condensation of moisture, which, when the temperature
changes rapidly, becomes frosty and tends to produce an escape or leak liable to
interrupt the use of the conductors for telegraphic or telephonic communication.
By constructing the terminal box as set forth, it is unnecessary to separately
insulate each individual connecting-post.
In Fig. 5, I have shown a terminal box wherein the section B, instead of being
semi-cylindrical, is formed with a flat back piece, and flat or straight sides flaring
outwardly from the back piece. In other respects the construction is similar to
that above described.
The saddle S, in this instance, has straight arms S', within which the section B
fits snugly, and to which it is secured by screws.
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
1. A cable-terminal having its body-portion made of insulating material, such as
rubber, a removable metallic cover which, in addition to closing the box, serves to
brace its sides, means for securing the cover to the body-portion of the box, and
posts for connecting wires on the outside of the box with those inside.
2. The combination of a cable-terminal, of cast or molded insulating material, in
two sections, one or more ribs or strips upon the exterior surface of one section, a

page_text: series of connecting-posts extending through said ribs, a section of pipe united to a
perforated end of said section, a series of insulated conductors having a sheathing
united to said pipe-section, and electrical connections between the connecting-posts
and conductors, respectively, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a cable-terminal of hard rubber, in two sections, parallel
ribs upon the exterior surface of one section separated from each other by grooves
or channels, said ribs having a beveled plane-surface for the inscription of numbers
or letters, a series of connecting-posts extending through said ribs, a section of pipe
united to a perforated end of said section, a series of insulated electrical conductors
having a suitable protecting sheathing united to said pipe-section, and electrical
connections between the interior terminal of said connecting-posts and said insulated
conductors, respectively, substantially as described.
4. A cable-terminal having one or more thickened ribs in which connecting-posts
are located, a removable cover, and a section of pipe forming a joint with the cable
sheath, through which the cable-core is introduced, substantially as described.
5. A cable-terminal of insulating material, in two sections, combined with metal
plugs or socket-pieces set into the edges of one section, to form bearings for the
screws by which the two sections are united, substantially as described.
6. A. cable-terminal having one or more thickened ribs in which connecting-posts
are located, a flat removable cover, a section of pipe forming a joint with the cable-
sheath, and through which the cable core is introduced.
7. A cable-terminal box having its body portion B made of insulating material,
a straight or flat removable cover, screws extending through the cover and entering
metallic screw-threaded plugs or socket-pieces in the edge of the body-portion, and
a series of connecting-posts extending through the body-portion B, for joining wires
inside the terminal box with those outside.
8. A terminal box consisting of a body-portion made of insulating material having
a flat back-piece and outwardly-flaring sides, ribs or enlargements on these sides,
near their outer ends, connecting-posts extending through these ribs and into the
box for joining wires outside with those inside, and a removable cover, secured to
the outer ends of the sides.
Total this 10th Jr of Nawah 1901
JOHN CECIL REILLY.