Improvements in Laying Electric Conductors, and in Forming Branch Connections therefrom.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1835-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Laying Electric Conductors, and in Forming Branch
Connections therefrom.
I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER JECKELL, of 47 Vespasian Street, South Shields, in
the County of Durham, Electrical Engineer to the Borough of South Shields, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its objects to effect an improved method of laying and of
making connections to, or joints in, conductors for electrical purposes when laid in
cast iron pipes, so that cables may be laid enclosed in pipes and branch connections
made with the main cable, with the same facility as in the case of "armoured
cables laid directly in a trench, thereby obtaining all the combined advantages of
the two systems of laying cables.
"
The pipes enclosing the cables, which pipes are as preferably small in diameter
as will admit of the cable being drawn through, will be cut, (in the event of the
connection being made after the pipes are laid) at any point where it is desired to
make the connection and the severed ends of the pipes fitted with annular plugs or
ferrules around the main cable made of wood or other insulating material, in
halves. The necessary connections from the main electrical conductor to the
branch conductors are made by means of metallic couplings so put together as to
be very readily fitted upon the cables.
A cast iron casing, forming the junction box, made in halves, is then bolted
around the pipe and branch cable where used so as to enclose the whole of the
connections and, the upper half being lifted, to give complete access to the interior.
The ends of this casing will be provided with socket joints into which the ends of
the pipes are secured by means of lead or other suitable material.
Immediately behind the socket joint in the casing I propose to provide a recessed
space, fitted with a vent, to drain off any water which may accumulate in the pipes,
such recessed space being separated from the space containing the connections by a
water tight joint.
The main and branch cables are kept in proper position inside the casing
by means of suitable insulating supports, and the whole of the space inside the
casing enclosing the conductors may be run up with insulating composition, if
considered desirable. The usual bye pass for the current, in way of the branch
connection, will be provided but in a simpler and less expensive manner than in the
systems now in use. My invention is equally applicable to either concentric or
single cables or multiple cables.
Dadhi. 14th of contambon 1001

page_text: Improvements in Laying Electric Conductors, and in Forming Branch
Connections therefrom.
I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER JECKELL, of 47 Vespasian Street, South Shields, in
the County of Durham, Electrical Engineer to the Borough of South Shields, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention has for its objects to effect an improved method of laying and of
making connections to, or joints in, conductors for electrical purposes when laid in
pipes, so that cables may be laid enclosed in pipes and branch connections made
with the main cable, with the same facility as in the case of "armoured " cables
laid directly in a trench, thereby obtaining all the combined advantages of the two
systems of laying cables.
The pipes enclosing the cables, which pipes are preferably as small in diameter
as will admit of the cable being drawn through, will be cut, (in the event of the
connection being made after the pipes are laid) at any point where it is desired to
make the connection and the severed ends of the pipes fitted with annular plugs or
ferrules around the main cable, made of wood or other insulating material, in
halves. The necessary connections from the main electrical conductor to the
branch conductors are made by means of metallic couplings so put together as to
be very readily fitted upon the cables.
A cast iron casing, forming the junction box, made in halves, is then bolted
around the pipe and branch cable, where used, so as to enclose the whole of the
connections and, the upper half being lifted, to give complete access to the interior.
The ends of this junction box will be provided with socket joints into which the
ends of the pipes are secured by means of lead or other suitable material.
Immediately behind the socket joint in the junction box 1 propose to provide a
recessed space, fitted with a vent, to drain off any water which may accumulate in
the pipes, such recessed space being separated from the space containing the
connections by a watertight joint.
The main and branch cables are kept in proper position inside the junction box
by means of suitable insulating supports, and the whole of the space inside the
junction box enclosing the conductors may be run up with insulating composition,
if considered desirable. The usual bye pass for the current, in way of the branch
connections where concentric cables are used can be provided but in a simpler and
less expensive manner than in the systems now in use. My invention is equally
applicable to either concentric or single cables or to multiple cables laid in pipes
or troughs.

page_text: lower half A' which are counterparts of each other and are secured together by
bolts B inserted in snugs C cast on each half, the joint between the two halves
being made perfectly close by the insertion of some suitable material in the
groove D which extends all round the faces of the two halves. At each end of
the junction box is a socket box E E¹ to receive the ends of the pipes F F¹
enclosing the main cables G' G the annular space between the cable casing and
the socket being closed by plugs of wood or other material, fitted in halves, and
the ends of the pipes are secured in the socket boxes by lead or other suitable
material. Immediately behind these socket boxes is a watertight diaphragm H,
cast one half in each half of the junction box, forming a cavity J into which any
water accumulating in the pipes F F¹ will be received and drained off by
vents K K¹.
LL' are diaphragms, cast. one half in each half of the junction box, the cables
being served with lapping M M' to make a watertight joint the main and branch
cables being kept in position by stays N N fitted into the junction box the
cavities T T T are run up with a water resisting compound and the whole of the
central portion of the box 00 if desired may also be run up with insulating
composition through the plugs P P in upper half of the box. The branch
cables P P are electrically connected with the main cables G' G' by metallic
couplings QQ in halves so as to be readily fitted as clasps around the main
conductors, the branch cables being lapped where they pass out of the junction
box at R to form a watertight joint.
When the main cable (or cables) is laid in the first instance with a branch cable
(or cables) at certain fixed points, a junction box will be inserted at such points
but, when a branch connection is to be afterwards made with the main cable (or
cables), the enclosing pipes will be cut and the lower half A¹ of a junction box
inserted underneath, the "serving" on the main cable (or cables) being cut and
stripped off when necessary and the cables being separated sufficiently to allow the
couplings QQ2 to be attached and electrical connection made between the main
and branch conductors the whole interior of the box being now accessible. The
upper half A of the junction box is now placed in position and bolted down
securely closing in the junction until required to be opened for examination or
repairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvements in junction boxes for forming junctious in and branch
connections from electric conductors laid in pipes or closed troughs so as to secure
the combined advantages of the systems of laying armoured cables laid in trenches
and of laying cables enclosed in pipes or closed troughs viz. :-
1st. To effect the complete insulation of any or every cable and prevent water
accumulating to the injury of insulation.
2nd. To give increased facilities for making branch connections, either at the
time of laying the cable or cables or afterwards at required points and for
examination of the junctions, repairs or renewals.
3rd. To effect thorough protection of mains, or branch, connections from
injury.
2nd. The improved junction box and connections between the main conductors
and branch conductors comprising a box constructed of two parts A and A' bolted
together having a perfectly close grooved joint at D, sockets E E¹ to receive and
make secure the ends of the pipes F F¹, enclosing the main conductors G! G³,
watertight diaphragms H H forming water trap with discharge vents K K, and
fitted with stays N N to support the conductors G' G' and branches P1 P2 in
position, means for filling the central portion of the junction box OO and end
cavities T T T with insulating material, and metallic couplings Q Q fitted as

page_text: clasps around the main conductors all substantially as described and illustrated by
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of January 1895.
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P. A.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.