Improvements in Lightning Arresters for Electric Conductors.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lightning Arresters for Electric Conductors.
I, FRIEDRICH HASELWANDER, of Offenburg, Baden, in the Empire of Germany,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for diverting lightning from
electric conductors, and it consists in causing the lightning to pass through a
chamber containing explosive material, gas, water or other liquid, the power
resulting from the explosion or decomposition being used for diverting the lightning
from the parts which require protection and also for purposes of signalling the
rupture.
The diversion of the lightning may be effected from either the main wire or the
branch wires, or the electric generator may be caused to be disconnected from
the exposed main wire and compensating resistance be switched on, or the branch
wires may be cut out from the endangered main wire which receives the current
from a distant generating station while the branch wires are switched onto
accumulators; or the main wire may be cut off and diverted directly to the earth.
A suitable construction of apparatus for carrying out my invention is as
follows:-
A frame of insulating material is covered on the bottom with a metal plate and
on the top with paper provided on its upper part with a strip of tinfoil, the size of
which must correspond to the ampères passing through it. A space is left between
the metallic plate and the paper cover which contains an explosive material. The
tinfoil is connected by means of clips or contact springs at one end to the main
wire and at the other end to the branch while the metallic plate is connected to the
earth. Lightning passing through the main wire will take the shortest course to
the earth and will therefore pass from the tinfoil through the paper and the
explosive material onto the metallic plate connected to the earth. Through the
explosion of the powder the conducting strip of tinfoil will become torn and
the connection between the main wire and the branch interrupted. The connection
is restored by interposing a new apparatus or lightning-arrester-cartridge in place
of the one which has been destroyed.
In another arrangement of apparatus I make use of a block of insulating material
fixed on an insulating plate. The block supports a metal or carbon plate which is
connected to the earth. A conducting cap is passed over the said block and is
held by contact springs, one of which forms connection with the main wire and the
other with the branch wire. Between the cap and the block a cartridge is inter-
posed having only a paper cover at top and bottom. The lightning would also in
this case pass through the explosive material to earth and effect the ignition of the
explosive material which raises the cap and interrupts connection between the
contact springs.
If water be employed instead of explosive material it would effect the desired
object by becoming evaporated or decomposed by the lightning.
As already mentioned the apparatus can be constructed in various forms.
STALE 1001
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lightning Arresters for Electric Conductors.
I, FRIEDRICH HASELWANDER, of Offenburg, Baden, in the Empire of Germany,
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 relates to a method of diverting lightning from electric conductors,
and to apparatus (which I term a lightning arrester cartridge) therefor.
According to my invention I cause the lightning to pass through a chamber
containing explosive material, gas or water or other liquid, which will be exploded
or decomposed by the passage of the electric current therethrough and I utilize
the power resulting from such explosion or decomposition for diverting the lightning
from the parts which require protection and also for purposes of signalling the
rupture.
The diversion of the lightning may be effected from either the main wire or from
branch wires, or the electric generator, in connection with the conductor, may be
caused to be disconnected from the exposed main wire and compensating resistance
be switched on, or the branch wires may be cut out from the endangered main wire
which receives its current from a distant generating station while the branch wires
are switched onto accumulators; or the main wire may be cut off and diverted
directly to the earth.
A suitable construction of apparatus or lightning-arrester-cartridge, for carrying
out my invention is illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
A frame a of insulating material is covered on the bottom with a metal plate b
and on the top with paper c provided on its upper part with a strip d of tinfoil, the
size of which must correspond to the ampères passing through it.
A space is left
between the metal plate b, and the paper cover c, which space contains an explosive
material d', such as gunpowder. The tinfoil d is connected at one end to the main
wire and at the other end to the branch by means of contact springs e and f
respectively, while the metal plate b is connected to the earth by means of a similar
contact spring g.
Lightning passing through the main wire and contact spring e will take the
shortest course to the earth and will therefore pass from the tinfoil d through
the paper c and the explosive material d' onto the metal plate 6 connected to the
earth. Through the explosion of the powder d¹ the conducting strip of tinfoil d
will become torn and the connection between the main wire and the branch
interrupted. The connection is restored by interposing a new apparatus or
lightning-arrester-cartridge in place of the one which has been destroyed.
In another arrangement of apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, I
make use of a block h of insulating material fixed on an insulating plate i. The
block h supports a metal or carbon plate ; which is connected to the earth by the
wire k, k. A conducting cap is passed over the said block and is held by contact
springs m and n forming connections with the main wire o and branch wire p
respectively. Between the top of the cap and the plate j a cartridge q is inter-
posed consisting of a frame a¹ of insulating material having only a paper covering r
at top and bottom. The lightning would also in this case pass through the
explosive materials to earth and effect the ignition of the explosive material which
raises the cap and interrupts connection between the contact springs m and n.
If water be employed instead of explosive material, it would effect the desired
object by becoming evaporated or decomposed by the lightning.
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
1. The herein described method of diverting lightning from electric conductors

page_text: consisting in causing the lightning to pass through a chamber containing explosive
material, gas or water or other liquid the power resulting from the explosion or
decomposition being used for breaking the circuit and so diverting the lightning
from the parts which require protection, substantially as set forth.
2. A lightning arrester so constructed that the lightning will be caused to pass
through a chamber containing explosive material, gas, or water or other liquid, and
that the power resulting from the explosion or decomposition will be used for
diverting the lightning from the parts which require protection substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3. The improved lightning arresters hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 respectively of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 31st day of October 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.