IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COVERED WIRE FOR ELECTRICAL PURPOSES YLONEDY OD ADDADATIO THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Halkyard of the City of Providence, State of.
Rhode Island, United States of America for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COVERED WIRE FOR ELECTRICAL PURPOSES
YLONEDY OD ADDADATIO THEREFOR
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Halkyard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1883.
WILLIAM HALKYARD, of the city of Providence, state of Rhode Island, United
States of America, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COVERED WIRE
FOR ELECTRICAL PURPOSES AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This invention has reference to the manufacture of covered wire or conductors
for electrical purposes and to machines or apparatus for providing. the wire or
conductors continuously with a metallic covering while the wire passes through the
machine. The invention consists partly in the peculiar and novel construction of
the various instrumentalities by which a metallic armor is placed around an insulated
wire, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. Figure 1. is a top view of my
improved machine. Figure 2. is a side view of the same. Figure 3. is a sectional
view of a conductor wire surrounded with insulating material and a sheet-metal
covering partly enclosing the same. Figure 4. is a sectional view of an insulated
wire enclosed in a metal sheeting. Figure 5. is a sectional view of an insulated
wire enclosed in a metal sheeting and covered by metal tube. Figure 6. is a view
of the draw-plate in which the metal sheet is drawn around the insulated wire.
Figure 7. is a sectional view of the device from which the solder is supplied to the
wire. Figure 8. is a sectional view of the soldering iron by which the solder is
spread. Figure 9. is a sectional view of the soldering iron by which the closed
joint is heated so as to melt the solder and secure the joint. Figure 10. is an
enlarged sectional view showing the device by which the wire is covered by fluid
metal. Figure 11. is a view of an adjustable draw-plate for forming the sheet
around the wire. Wire cables have heretofore been protected by a metal armor
consisting of wires and spirally wound metal strips for the purpose of protecting
the electrical conducting wires placed in the core of the cable. This invention

page_text: differs from such construction for cables, in that the same is covered by a strip of
metal formed around the cable having the edges overlap and soldered together, so
that the joint extends lengthwise to the cable and encloses the same air and water-
tight. But the special object of the invention is to provide telegraph and particu-
larly telephone wires with a continuous flexible metallic covering by which the
insulating material is protected, and with which wire a complete metallic circuit
can be formed and thereby all induction and other disturbing influences prevented.
The switch-boards being constructed so as to make connections with the central
wire and with the metallic covering. In the drawings a. is the central conducting
wire, b. is the insulating material surrounding the conducting wire, c. is the metal
sheeting by which the wire is covered, d. is an outer covering which may consist of
lead, tin, or any other suitable material by which it is desired to cover the wire.
Referring now to the machine and the operations performed therein; A. is a reel of
electrical conducting wire covered with insulating material not readily affected by
heat. B. is a reel on which a continuous strip of sheet-metal which is to be used
for covering the insulated wire is placed. The sheet from the reel B. and the
insulated wire from the reel A. are passed over guide rolls to the draw-plate C.
shown enlarged in figures 6 and 11. This draw-plate is provided with a round
bole and a slit, so that the strip of sheet metal is bent around and close to the
insulated wire, as is shown in figure 3. The draw-plate, shown in figure 11., has
only a round hole in the plate and is provided with the adjustable guide c¹. by
which the strip of sheet-metal is bent around the insulated wire. After passing
through the draw-plate C., the wire with the sheet covering in the condition shown
in figure 3. passes under the soldering fluid delivering device D. This device may
be constructed to supply any desired material to act as a flux and facilitate the
soldering of the joint. E. is the reservoir containing the solder, it is shown enlarged
in figure 7. surrounded with the annular gas-pipe e., by which the solder is main-
tained in a fluid state and supplied in a fine stream to the joint. I do not wish to
confine myself however to this method of supplying the solder, as the solder in the
form of a thread or wire may be continuously supplied and laid into the joint.
F. is a soldering iron, shown enlarged in figure 8. f. is the gas supply pipe, f. is
an opening around the gas supply pipe by which air is drawn into the interior of
the soldering iron F., the gas is turned in the interior and the products of com-
bustion pass out by the holes ƒ ƒ. The front of the soldering iron F. is formed
to fit the inside of the joint, as is shown in figure 8., and by it the solder is melted
or softened so as to spread evenly over the surface of the joint. G. is a pair of rolls
by which the tangential lip of the sheet lining shown in figure 3. is rolled down
into the form shown in figure 4. when the wire is presented to the soldering iron H.
shown enlarged in figure 9. which differs from the one shown in figure 8. by the
form of the end only, and which is maintained at a heat that will readily melt the
solder and secure a firm and durable joint. The covered wire now passes through
the draw-plate J. and may at once be wound on a reel, or it may be covered with a
protective covering which may consist of lead, tin, or any other material. K. is a
reservoir containing the material for covering the wire and L. is the draw-tube
through which the wire is drawn, shown enlarged in figure 10., in which l. is the
connecting pipe by which the draw-tube L. is connected with the reservoir K. The
wire which in the covered condition is marked W., passes axially through the
pipe . which is contracted at each end and provided at the end at which the wire
enters with the stuffing box 12., which if the covering material consists of lead, tin,
or other metal which has to be kept heated, is packed with asbestos or other
material not affected by such heat, the opposite end is provided with the former
tube 3, which when a metal coating is to be placed on the wire is made of such
length as will ensure the cooling of the metal before the wire leaves the tube 13.
The covered wire W. is now drawn on the revolving reel N., mounted on the shaft O
driven by bevelled gears from the shaft P. by the driving pulleys Q. R. R. are the
gas pipes by which the gas supply is connected with the burners for heating the
various parts in which heat is required. The operation is continuous and not
"

page_text: expensive, a large quantity of wire can be covered in one machine.
strengthened by the metal covering much lighter wire may be used.
As the wire is
Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by
letters patent: First; The improved conducting wire covered with insulating
material surrounded by a strip of metal the edges of which overlap and are secured
by solder, so as to form a seam longitudinal to the wire, as described. Second ;-
In a machine for covering wire, the combination with the reels containing the
insulated wire and the covering strip, of the draw-plate C. for forming the strip
around the wire, a device for supplying the solder, means for closing the strip, and a
soldering device for heating the joint, as described. Third; In a device for
covering wire the combination with the tube ., of the stuffing box 12. and the
former tube 3. extending beyond the tube sufficient to cool the metal, as and for.
the purpose described. Fourth; In a machine for covering wire the combination
with the reels A and B., of the draw-plate C., the solder supplying device E., the
irons F. and H., the draw-tube L. and reel N. constructed to bend a strip of metal
around the insulated wire and solder the joint, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Halkyard, have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my seal, this the Twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
WTT I TAM
TTATIVAD
L
In presence of:-
JOSEPH A, MILLER Jr
M. F. BLIGH.
WTT TA TTATIVAD