A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE AND MEANS OF AND FASTENER FOR SECURING TELEGRAPH WIRES TO THEIR INSULATORS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Edward Gilbert, of the City and County of
Edinburgh, North Britain, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE
AND MEANS OF AND FASTENER FOR SECURING TELEGRAPH WIRES TO THEIR
INSULATORS”
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(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Gilbert at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August 1880.
ARTHUR GILBERT, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North Britain.
A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE AND MEANS OF AND FASTENER FOR SECURING
TELEGRAPH WIRES TO THEIR INSULATORS."
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved mode of and special
novel construction of fastener, clamp, or "gripper" for securing telegraph wires to
within the side grooves of their insulators or insulating holders; and which possess
the following advantages over the modes and means heretofore in use of securing
these wires by one or more turns of a binding wire round them in the groove of
each insulator, namely, greater security and permanency in the fixing of the line
wires; great saving of time and labour in the attachment of each "gripper," and
securing of the wire to the insulator, and consequent great saving and advantage in
the erecting or taking down of line wires; great reduction in the surface contact of
the line wire on each insulator, and consequent saving of loss of current in damp
weather, which in long through lines of wire would be considerable; great reduction
of friction and wear of line wires at each insulator, and consequent lessening of risk
of snapping or breaking of the wire; in case of breakage of the line wires, the
lessening of back slip of the broken ends, and damage to the insulators and wires,
and consequent much saving of time and labour in the repair of the line wire.
The nature and novelty of the Invention or improvements consists in the
construction and use of a bow shaped fastener, clamp or clip, made preferably of
malleable iron or malleable cast-iron, having its free ends hooked or turned round

page_text: so as to embrace or "grip" the line wire sone inches in advance of and beyond the
insulator, and pull it firmly into the groove on one side by the insertion of the
strong hollow central breast or bow part of the clamp or clip into the groove of the
insulator on the other side, the curve of the bow clamp or clip being such as to
pull and slightly bend the telegraph wire on each side of the insulator towards or
in a line through its centre, so that the tightness or strain of the tightening up of
the wire thus effectually and automatically secures the wire and its clamp on or
within the groove on each opposite side of the insulator. These new bow clamps
or clips may be of various lengths and curves proportionately to suit the diameter
of the grooved heads of the insulators, and the divergence of the wires from the
straight line at angles, and the gripping pressure or tightness and size of wire or
longitudinal slip or motion desired; and this length might be varied, as, say, from
three diameters to nine diameters of the insulator. These bow clamps or clips
would be preferably galvanized, tinned, or otherwise coated for their protection
against corrosion, and they would be suitable for securing telegraph wires to all
the various ordinary constructions of insulators with grooves round them, such as
Varley's or Andrew's double cup insulators, Jobson's patent screw bolt insulators,
and any other insulators having side grooves.