Improvements in Submarine and Subterranean Electric Cables.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Submarine and Subterranean Electric Cables.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. & Wm Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Elias Flotron, Engineer of 6 Rue d'Amerique, Nice and François
Barthélemy Alfred Royer de la Bastie, Gentleman, of 73 Rue Taitbout, Paris both
in the Republic of France) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of deep sea and underground
cable for the transmission of electric currents for telegraphic, telephonic, lighting
and other purposes.
The chief feature of novelty consists in the employment of toughened glass for
separating and insulating the wires as well as for the external sheathing.
I will first describe the Invention as applied to the construction of a submarine
cable as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. The cable
is formed in the first place of a core c of toughened or ordinary glass composed of
discs or short lengths or sections of any suitable dimensions either star shaped in
cross section as in figure or perforated for the passage of the wires as in figure 3.
Over the star shaped core figure 1 serving to separate the conducting wires is
placed an inner envelope a of glass in the form of short tubes rings or half rings
cemented together and serving to enclose the wires in the grooves of the core.
In figure 3 the inner envelope a is dispensed with the perforated core c serving
both to separate and retain the wires in position.
•
In either case a waterproof coating of indiarubber gutta percha or a composition
of mineral pitch and silica is applied hot upon a serving of cotton tapes wound,
spirally in opposite directions upon the cable or silk tapes coated with linseed oil.
and resin may be employed with advantage. To protect the cable from the attacks:
of marine insects, the insulating material is coated with a poisonous paint composed
of a mixture of prussian blue and turbith which under the action of sea wateri
becomes a very powerful poison.
立

page_text: The whole is then enclosed in an external sheathing which may consist of one
two or more superposed rings or tube sections of glass united together by a sort of
bayonet joint formed of tongues e on one ring or section entering grooves m of
A cable thus
the adjoining ring and partially rotated the one on the other.
constructed is sufficiently flexible to be coiled and transported without difficulty
and is capable of resisting blows, tension or pressure.
In constructing underground cables for electric lighting purposes as well as for
transmitting force to a distance, the conductor and sheath are combined as
represented in figures 7 and 8 in which n is the glass sheathing and p the space
to contain the conductor. Figure 9 shows an angle piece. The conductor in this
case is not laid loosely as before but is completely embedded in the glass; it is
preferred to use very large conductors as shown but which may be varied as
desired.
The conductors are first introduced into the toughened glass tube n into the
space pin which is then run silicate which serves as an insulating material and
also as a cement for uniting the joints when the cable is made in two parts.
These cables being rigid are made in any lengths convenient for transport and
may contain any suitable number of conductors. For the purpose of covering the
joints half, rings are used of suitable thickness cemented together by one of the
means before described.
Ordinary underground cables are constructed as shown in figures 10, 11, 12, of a
core a of toughened glass, porcelain or other ceramic material made either hollow
or solid. This central portion or core is fluted or grooved on its exterior the
grooves being preferably of U form to receive the conducting wires b. In figure 10
the core a is shown as hollow and in figures 11 & 12 it is made solid. The cable
may also be made in several parts enclosed the one in the other as shown in
figure 12 in which case the central portion would be made in one piece while the
surrounding part or parts would be made in two parts a¹ a². These fluted
cylinders which serve to separate the wires may either be closed or open at the
ends and are placed end to end in laying the cablé as hereinafter described. The
number and size of the grooves in the cylinders would of course depend upon
the number and diameter of the wires to be inserted therein. The wires may be
either bare or covered with an insulating coating.
The cable is laid in tubing c of toughened glass, porcelain or other similar material
made in two halves having interlocking longitudinal joints and preferably united
end to end by cylindrical or conical spigot and socket joints as shown in figure 13.
In laying the cable the bottom half of the tube is first embedded in cement d
which is placed in the trench preparatory to laying the cable after which the core
or cores with the wires in position therein are placed in the trough formed by the
half tube and the top half of the tube is then applied thereon. Both the end joints
and the longitudinal joints of the tubes are cemented and closed by an insulating
nonhygrometric substance such as resin, paraffin, tar, pitch &c which effectually
prevents moisture penetrating into the glass tubing when embedding it in the
protective envelope of cement.
Figure 11 shows the method of branching on to an inner or outer wire in this
improved construction of cable.
It will be understood that the Invention is not limited to any particular form of
glass insulating cores for holding the conducting wires which may either be
circular as shown in figures 10, 11 and 12 or of polygonal, triangular rectangular
or other form in cross section.
glass
Figure 14 shows a cable of square section composed of a series of glass plates a
grooved on one face to receive the conducting wires 6 and packed in a.
casing c. The couplings and longitudinal joints are made so far as the altered
form will admit of in the manner explained with reference to figure 10.
་
1..7
To prevent deterioration of the wires from various causes such as the nature of
the wires and of the soil in which they are laid, the joints are coated with a
composition of 2 parts Burgundy pitch to 1 part of tar and 1 part of wax whereby
}

page_text: they are rendered perfectly watertight and this result is still more effectually
ensured by the pressure produced by the setting of the cement in which the
enclosing tubes are embedded which permits of obtaining a vacuum throughout
the entire length of the tubing, or of introducing a preservative gas suited to the
nature of the conducting wire.
Although any suitable material such as glass porcelain or ceramic pastes may be
employed for making the insulating and seperating core and the protective
sheathings in the manufacture of the cables as herein described, it is preferred
to use for the purpose toughened fint or other glass the physical and mechanical
properties of which permit of obtaining results unattainable with other materials
including ordinary glass.

page_text: Improvements in Submarine and Subterranean Electric Cables.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Elias Flotron, (Engineer), of 6 Rue d'Amérique, Nice and François
Barthélemy Alfred Royer de la Bastie, (Gentleman) of 73 Rue Taitbout Paris, both
in the Republic of France) 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 an improved construction of deep sea and underground
cable for the transmission of electric currents for telegraphic, telephonic, lighting
and other purposes.
The chief feature of novelty consists in the employment of toughened glass for
separating and insulating the wires as well as for the external sheathing.
I will first describe the Invention as applied to the construction of a submarine
cable as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. The cable
is formed in the first place of a core c of toughened or ordinary glass composed of
discs or short lengths or sections of any suitable dimensions either star shaped in
cross section as in figure 1 or perforated for the passage of the wires as in figure 3.
Over the star shaped core figure 1 serving to separate the conducting wires is
placed an inner envelope a of glass in the form of short tubes rings or half rings
cemented together and serving to enclose the wires in the grooves of the core.
In figure 3 the inner envelope a is dispensed with the perforated core c serving
both to separate and retain the wires in position.
In either case a waterproof coating of indiarubber gutta percha or a composition
of mineral pitch and silica is applied hot upon a serving of cotton tapes wound
spirally in opposite directions upon the cable or silk tapes coated with linseed oil
and resin may be employed with advantage. To protect the cable from the attacks
of marine insects, the insulating material is coated with a poisonous paint composed
of a mixture of prussian blue and turbith which under the action of sea water
becomes a very powerful poison.
The whole is then enclosed in an external sheathing which may consist of one
two or more superposed rings or tube sections of glass united together by a sort of
bayonet joint formed of tongues e on one ring or section entering grooves m of the
adjoining ring and partially rotated the one on the other. A cable thus constructed
is sufficiently flexible to be coiled and transported without difficulty and is capable
of resisting blows, tension or pressure.
In constructing underground cables for electric lighting purposes as well as
for transmitting force to a distance, the conductor and sheath are combined as
represented in figures 7 and 8 in which n is the glass sheathing and P the space to
contain the conductor. Figure 9 shows an angle piece. The conductor in this
case is not laid loosely as before but is completely embedded in the glass; it is
preferred to use very large conductors as shown but which may be varied as
desired,

page_text: The conductors are first. introduced into the toughened glass tube n into the
space p in which is then run silicate which serves as an insulating material and
also as a cement for uniting the joints when the cable is made in two parts.
These cables being rigid are made in any lengths convenient for transport and
may contain any suitable number of conductors. For the purpose of covering the
joints half rings are used of suitable thickness cemented together by one of the
means before described.
Ordinary underground cables are constructed as shown in figures 10, 11, 12, of a
core a of toughened glass, porcelain or other ceramic material made either hollow
or solid. This central portion or core is fluted or grooved on its exterior the
grooves being preferably of U form to receive the conducting wires b. In figure 10
the core a is shown as hollow and in figures 11 & 12 it is made solid. The cable
may also be made in several parts enclosed the one in the other as shown in
figure 12 in which case the central portion would be made in one piece while
the surrounding part or parts would be made in two parts a¹ a². These fluted
cylinders which serve to separate the wires. may either be closed or open at the
ends and are placed end to end in laying the cable as hereinafter described. The
number and size of the grooves in the cylinders would of course depend upon
the number and diameter of the wires to be inserted therein. The wires may be
either bare or covered with an insulating coating.
The cable is laid in tubing c of toughened glass, porcelain or other similar
material, made in two halves having interlocking longitudinal joints and preferably
united end to end by cylindrical or conical spigot and socket joints as shown in
figure 13.
In laying the cable the bottom half of the tube is first embedded in cement d
which is placed in the trench preparatory to laying the cable after which the core
or cores with the wires in position therein are placed in the trough formed by the
half tube and the top half of the tube is then applied thereon. Both the end
joints and the longitudinal joints of the tubes are cemented and closed by an
insulating nonhygrometric substance such as resin, paraffin, tar, pitch &c which
effectually prevents moisture penetrating into the glass tubing when embedding it
in the protective envelope of cement.
Figure 11 shows the method of branching on to an inner or outer wire in this
improved construction of cable.
It will be understood that the Invention is not limited to any particular form of
glass insulating cores for holding the conducting wires which may either be
circular as shown in figures 10, 11 and 12 or of polygonal, triangular rectangular
or other form in cross section.
Figure 14 shows a cable of square section composed of a series of glass plates a
grooved on one face to receive the conducting wires band packed in a glass
casing c. The couplings and longitudinal joints are made so far as the altered
form will admit of in the manner explained with reference to figure 10.
To prevent deterioration of the wires from various causes such as the nature of
the wires and of the soil in which they are laid, the joints are coated with a
composition of 2 parts Burgundy pitch to 1.part of tar and 1 part of wax whereby
they are rendered perfectly watertight and this result is still more effectually
ensured by the pressure produced by the setting of the cement in which the
enclosing tubes are embedded which permits of obtaining a vacuum throughout
the entire length of the tubing, or of introducing a preservative gas suited to the
nature of the conducting wire.
Although any suitable material such as glass porcelain or ceramic pastes may
be employed for making the insulating and seperating core and the protective
sheathings in the manufacture of the cables as herein described, it is preferred to
use for the purpose toughened flint or other glass the physical and mechanical
properties of which permit of obtaining results unattainable with other materials
including ordinary glass.

page_text: In consequence of the hygrometric properties of the glass employed in the
construction of the cables it should be coated with a mixture of pitch, resin or
other resinous or bituminous substance reduced to the desired fluid condition by
adding linseed oil. The proportions of resin or pitch and oil may vary according
to the consistency to be imparted to the coating. The mixture is applied on the
glass and also at the joints of the cable in such manner as to form the whole into a
solid block, absolutely impervious both to moisture and air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The improved construction of submarine and underground cable consisting
in the application and combination of short lengths, sections or pieces of toughened
or other glass, porcelain, earthenware or other similar insulating material made in
the form of star shaped discs or sections or cylinders either fluted or perforated, the
same being so combined, arranged and cemented together as to receive, enclose,
insulate, and protect the conducting wires, the whole substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings.
2nd. The special application and employment in the manner herein described of
toughened flint or other glass in the construction of all kinds of submarine or
underground cables as specified.