Improvements in Conductors for Telegraphs, Telephones, and Electrical Distribution.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Conductors for Telegraphs, Telephones, and
Electrical Distribution.
1, JAMES SWINBURNE of 66 Victoria Street Westminster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the reduction of the cost of distribution of
electrical power: and conductors made in accordance with it, can be employed for
distributing electrical power in lighting, traction, or similar systems, or for
telegraph or telephone lines.
At present in such systems copper is invariably used as the conducting material.
But the conductivity of fairly pure zinc, is such that zinc can be used commercially
as a cheaper substitute for copper to perform the same work.
According to my invention zinc should be deposited electrically, by any suitable
process, such as Ashcroft's, and may, if it is found to pay, be specially refined by
electrolysis or distillation. It is then rolled or drawn into bars, rods, or wires, as
the case may be, and used for electric mains, leads, or conductors.
Conductors made according to my invention are also more economical than those
of copper when subject to corrosion by electrolysis, as the money value of the
metal eaten off by a given leakage current is less. Similar considerations apply to
determine the most suitable forms of joints & connections to be used with the new
conductors so as to utilize to the full the change of sectional area & greater
cheapness of the material.
L1906
JAMES SWINBURNE.
Improvements in Conductors for Telegraphs, Telephones, and
Electrical Distribution.
I, JAMES SWINBURNE of 66, Victoria Street, Westminster, 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 :-
My invention has. for its object the reduction of the cost of distribution of
electrical power; and conductors made in accordance with it can be employed for
distributing electrical power in lighting, traction, or similar systems, or for
telegraph or telephone lines.
At present in large power systems copper is invariably used as the conducting
material; but the conductivity of fairly pure zinc is such, that zinc can be used
commercially as a cheaper substitute for copper to perform the same work. Zinc
may be used in many cases for telegraph and especially telephone wires. For a
given expenditure a certain conductivity or conductance is obtained, but the

page_text: conductor is larger, having a higher specific resistance than copper. This reduces
the evil effects of self-induction, or, as it is commonly called, the "skin effect," so
that messages can be more easily sent.
According to my invention zinc should be deposited electrically by any, suitable
process, such as Ashcroft's, and may, if it is found to pay, be specially refined by
electrolysis or distillation. It is then rolled or drawn into bars, rods, or wires, as
the case may be, and used for electric mains, leads, or conductors.
Conductors made according to my invention are also, more economical than those
of copper when subject to corrosion by electrolysis, as the money value of the
metal eaten off by a given leakage current is less. Similar considerations apply
to determine the most suitable forms of joints and connections to be used with the
new conductors, so as to utilize to the full the change of sectional area and greater
cheapness of the material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction of electric mains, leads, and conductors of zinc substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 5th day of December 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.