IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL RODS OR WIRE WITH A VITREOUS COATING, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR TELEGRAPHIC CABLES, AND IN DEVICES FOR ALIGNING AND COUPLING SUCH CABLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL RODS OR WIRE WITH A
VITREOUS COATING, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR TELEGRAPHIC CABLES, AND IN
DEVICES FOR ALIGNING AND COUPLING SUCH CABLES." A communication
from abroad by Philip Arbogast, Glass-blower, and Thomas Joseph MoTighe,
Patent Attorney, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
Sealed the 25th November 1879, and dated the 19th September 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE or
METAL RODS OR WIRE WITH A VITREOUS COATING, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
TELEGRAPHIC CABLES, AND IN DEVICES FOR ALIGNING AND COUPLING SUCH
CABLES." A communication from abroad by Philip Arbogast, Glass-blower, and
Thomas Joseph McTighe, Patent Attorney, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to the enclosing of wires or cables with glass or other
vitreous covering to protect them from the atmosphere, or to insulate them for
electrical use, or for any other purpose to which such vitreous coated wire or cables
are or may be applicable. The Invention also relates to a coupling for connecting
sections of the so called underground telegraph lines, for which use the vitreous
coated wires are particularly designed.
The first feature of the said Invention embraces several modes of accomplishing
the same end, and consists broadly in inserting one or more wires or cables into a
solid mass of hot and plastic glass or other vitreous material, gripping the end or
ends of the wires and drawing them through the mass, whereby the glass adhering.
to the wires is drawn with them and completely encloses each and every one of
them at one operation.-

page_text: It consists further in drawing the conglomeration of wires and glass through a
suitably shaped die or dies, and further in leading the wires to the glass through
a perforated templet or guide plate.
It consists further in laying the wires between two portions of vitreous material
and consolidating them by heat alone, or heat and pressure; further, in arranging
the wires and glass in a metallic trough, which may remain or not as desired;
and further, in the products obtained from the practice of the above modes of
manufacture.
It consists, further, in various modes of shaping the whole mass as hereinafter
fully described.
The second feature of the said Invention embraces several modes of connecting
or coupling the sections together and joining up the wires, and consists in a flanged
coupling box which embraces the ends of the sections, in which box the wires are
connected by contact twisting, soldering, or amalgamating, and insulated, after which
the flanged boxes are bolted or otherwise fastened together, thus securing the joint
and stiffening the line.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus for encasing the wires.
Figure 2 is a view of various sections encased.
Figure 3 shews in section the various steps of the modified process.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of two sections of the product placed together.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4.
Figures 6 and 7 are modifications in section.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the half of coupling.
Figure 9 is a face view of the same.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of two sections coupled together.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section of the same on the line x, x.
'Figures 12 and 13 are face views of modified forms of couplings.
Figures 14 and 15 shew an elevation and details of a modification of the said
coupling.
Figures 16, 17, and 18 are further modifications of the said coupling.
Figure 19 illustrates the manner of tapping for tests or local connections.
The devices required to produce the results according to the first mode are shewn
by Figure 1.
A is a cast-iron vessel (other material may be used) having above it the templet B
or guide plate through perforations in which the wires a are guided. At the bottom
of the vessel A is a round or other shaped opening. After the wires have been
inserted in the templet and passed through the bottom of the vessel A a mass of
molten glass or other vitreous material is placed therein and works its way between
the wires a and fills all spaces; then the wires are drawn downwardly, the glass
adheres to them and is drawn along, and the opening at the bottom gives it any
desired shape. A second die may be used to perfect the finish. The wires alone,
or the wires and glass, may be gripped and drawn out according to the condition of
the glass or the relative sizes wanted. Any kind of wire or cable may be used, and
the product drawn to any required length; the drawing may be either vertical, as
shewn, or horizontal, or inclined. Any number of wires may thus be enclosed, each
completely isolated from the others, thus producing a most perfect vehicle for
electricity. Besides, the product is available for uses other than telegraphy, such as
umbrella handles, gasaliers, lightning-rods, and the like. Figure 2 shews the variety
of forms it may be given by the die and templet. The fluted form provides a
convenient way of tracing any given wire through a long line.
To enclose the wires according to the second mode we proceed as follows:-A
sheet of glass b is laid on a level surface (see Figure 3), the wires a laid along on
top and parallel with each other, and a second layer c of glass is placed on top of
the wires, after which heat is applied in any convenient manner to cause the two
layers of glass to melt together and firmly enclose the wires; any number of

page_text: layers b, c, d, e, may thus be consolidated. Then layers may be applied hot and
consolidated by pressure, or they may be cold and consolidated by heat, or heat and,
pressure combined. The layers may be placed in a metal trough C and left therein,
in which event the trough becomes permanently a part of the product. By facing
two such pieces together and applying heat the form shewn by Figures 4 and 5 is
produced, having an iron sheathing on all sides to protect the glass against rough
handling such as might fracture it. Or the layers may be placed on a flat sheet
and subsequently drawn or rolled to a semicircular form, as in Figure 6; or they
may be similarly worked up from trough shape to a cylinder, as in Fig. 7.
The layers of glass may be made by pouring, rolling, drawing, or any other available
process.
Convenient means for aligning the wires a and forming square ends on the glass
are also shewn by Figure 5, where the wires are passed through perforated end
plates or templets f, which after the operation is concluded and any necessary
annealing done are removed from their position, when the ends guarded by them
will be found square and perfect. The sheet iron trough may be removed after
annealing, or it may be substituted by a fire clay mould. In event of the iron
sheathing being left permanently on the glass it may be coated with any suitable
non-corrosive substance or antiseptic varnish.
The remaining Figures of the Drawing illustrate my improvements relating to
the means of joining up sections to form a number of continuous lines of wire.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 shew different views and forms of one style of
coupling. In this, as in all the others, the two ends of each section are embraced
in flanged boxes, the flanges being transverse as shewn, or longitudinal where a
very secure grip is desired on the sections. The boxes D are made large at the
junction and small enough back of the junction to snugly fit the sections of line. A
block B of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material is perforated and the
wires slipped into the perforations, or the insulating block may be located by pouring
white liquid. The wires are thus kept apart at their exit from the glass, and their
ends are bent up out of line, as shewn by Figures 8, 9, 12, and 13. Then the two
ends of the section are placed together till the wires respectively come in contact
two and two, after which bolts may be applied to the flanges and great pressure
obtained. The faces of the blocks B¹ may be grooved to insure accuracy of contact.
Instead of direct contact a double concave conducting strip i may be inserted
between the pairs of wires and held in place by the projection k entering a hole in
the block B¹. Figures 16 and 17 show a modification in which the wires are laid
into grooved conducting strips set in a double conical or double wedge shaped
block G of rubber or equivalent substances, and two annular cones or wedges H, H,
applied outside, and the whole compressed together powerfully by bolts through the
previously described flanged boxes D. By any of the above means the surface in
contact may be increased till the total surface at any joint is equal to the total
section, so that there ought to be little or no leakage or loss by resistance.
Figure 18 shews a modification of Figure 10, in which the wires are soldered or
amalgamated together; they may also be twisted. Figure 19 shews a means of
tapping a line. The coupling is slackened a little and a non conducting plug m
having two connecting surfaces n, n, is inserted between any given pair of terminals;
then the bolts are tightened and the connections made with the surfaces n, n.
When the boxes D are flanged longitudinally I provide them with an enlarge-
ment at the middle, bend up the wires as before, twist them two and two, place the
boxes in position, and then pour in melted insulating material through a suitable
opening which can then be plugged.
The couplings can be protected from injury by varnish or anti-corrosive coating.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The mode of enclosing wire in vitreous material by inserting the wire in
a solid mass of molten vitreous material, and then drawing the one (the wire or

page_text: mass of vitreous material) away while the other is stationary, substantially as
described.
Second. The mode of forming rods of glass coated wire by first drawing the said
wire through a solid mass of molten glass and then through a suitable shaping die,
substantially as described.
Third. The mode of forming the rods of glass-coated wire by passing the said
wire through a guide plate, then through a solid mass of molten glass, and finally
through a suitable shaping die, substantially as described.
.
Fourth. The mode of forming rods or lengths of glass-coated wire by laying the
wires between two separate layers of glass or vitreous material, and consolidating
the whole by heat or pressure, or both, substantially as described.
Fifth. The mode of forming sections of encased glass coated wire by inserting a
lining of glass in metal trough, then laying the wire on the said lining, next
inserting a top layer of glass and consolidating the whole by heat, or pressure, or
both, substantially as described.
Sixth. A fluted glass rod having wires passing through the same, corresponding
with the fluting, substantially as described.
Seventh. A series of glass-coated wires, or wires coated with vitreous material
encased in a metallic shell open at one side, substantially as described.
Eighth. In a series of glass-coated wires, the glass having moulded ends, sub-
stantially as described.
Ninth. The detachable perforated guide plates as the means for moulding the ends
of the lengths and aligning the wires, substantially as described.
Tenth. As the means for connecting the sections of underground telegraph con-
ductors, two flanged sleeves having enlargements at the middle, and embracing the
sections, with suitable means for tightening the said sleeves together, substantially
as described.
Eleventh. The mode of coupling telegraph wires by bending the wires out of line,
inserting between them a grooved conducting strip, and compressing the whole
between insulating blocks, substantially as described.
Twelfth. The mode of coupling telegraph wires by soldering, twisting, or
amalgamating the ends together, and then pressing them between blocks of
insulating material, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. The coupling, consisting of two perforated blocks of insulating
substance in combination with suitable means for forcing them together, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourteenth. The coupling consisting of two perforated blocks of insulating sub-
stance, suitable means for forcing them together, and interposed conducting strips,
substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The coupling consisting of two blocks of insulating material, and the
flanged sleeves enclosing the said blocks, with suitable means for forcing them
together, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.