IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE AS AERIAL TELEPHONE CONDUCTORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Franz Carl Guilleaume of Cologne, Prussia, German
Empire, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES FOR TRANSMITTING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE AS AERIAL TELEPHONE
CONDUCTORS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Franz Carl Guilleaume at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th October 1883.
FRANZ CARL GUILLEAUME, of Cologne, Prussia, German Empire, "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CABLES FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
AS AERIAL TELEPHONE CONDUCTORS,"
I propose to employ aerial cables in connection with the usual overhead-wires,
and with a view to render the cable serviceable for the combined system of cables
and wires, I have reduced its diameter and its weight to a minimum, made it
flexible and, at the same time, of sufficient tensile strength for crossing the large
spans which occur in the construction of telephone-lines.
The cable is made absolutely air and water-tight, and the conductor is insulated
with a material, specially prepared by me, which is not deteriorated or spoiled in
any way by heat or cold.
I will now proceed to describe the cable.
To begin with, I twist 5 insulated copper wires round a non-insulated sixth wire
of cast steel of great tensile strength which serves both for earth-connection and as
straining-wire.
The 5 insulated wires may each be taped with tin-foil or any other suitable
conducting material before being stranded, or I tape the strand of 5 insulated wires
with tin-foil or other suitable conducting material. I then twist 5 such tin-foil-
taped strands round a core consisting of a strand of 7 or any other suitable number
of cast-steel wires of great tensile strength taped with tin-foil, or any other suitable
conducting material and likewise serving both for earth connection and for straining
purposes.
The cable which is thus formed of 25 insulated wires is then taped with prepared
insulating tape and streaked with lead or any other suitable material, over which

page_text: I provide a coating of asphalted or otherwise prepared tape or yarn with a coat of
white paint.
The number of strands in the cable and of insulated wire in each strand form no
material part of my invention and may be varied at liberty according to circum-
stances. The cable may also be provided with a double coating of lead, with a
wire-sheathing, or it may be strengthened in any other suitable way to render it
fit for being laid underground and under water. Finally it is no material part of
my invention that the copper wires should be insulated with the material specially
prepared by me; indeed any other suitable material, such as guttapercha, india-
rubber or similar material, may be used just as well; but I prefer my own
material because it gives a light, handy and durable cable well adapted for the
purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Franz Carl Guilleaume in the Patent Office on the 3rd April
1884.
FRANZ CARL GUILLEAUME, of Cologne, Prussia, German Empire, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CABLES FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS, MORE PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE AS AERIAL TELEPHONE CONDUCTORS,"
The present system of constructing telephone-lines having become more and
more inadequate, as telephonic communication is extending, I have invented the
improved aerial cable hereafter described which is intended to modify the
complicated and cumbersome system of overhead-wires and bring the same within
practicable limits, lessening at the same time the disturbing influence of induction
by providing amply for discharge and thus insuring a clear and distinct telephonic
conversation.
I propose to employ aerial cables in connection with the usual overhead-wires,
and with a view to render the cable serviceable for the combined system of cables
and wires, I have reduced its diameter and its weight to a minimum, made it
flexible and, at the same time of sufficient tensile strength for crossing the large
spans which occur in the construction of telephone-lines.
The cable is made absolutely air-and watertight, and the conductor is insulated
with a material, specially prepared by me, which is not deteriorated or spoiled in
any way by heat or cold.
I will now proceed to describe the cable by aid of the accompanying drawings
which serve to illustrate the invention.
To begin with, I twist 5 insulated copper wires a round a non-insulated sixth
wire b of cast steel of great tensile strength which serves both for earth-connection
and as straining-wire, or strain-resisting core.
The insulated wires may each be taped with tin-foil c or any other suitable
conducting material before being stranded, or I tape the strand of 5 insulated wires
with tin-foil c c or other suitable conducting material. I then twist 5 such tin-
foil-taped strands round a core consisting of a strand of 7 or any other suitable
number of cast steel wires d of great tensile strength taped with tin-foil c or any
other suitable conducting material and likewise serving both for earth connection
and as a strain-resisting core.
The cable which is thus formed of 25 insulated wires is then taped with prepared
insulating tape e and sheathed with lead for any other suitable material, over
which I provide a coating of asphalted or otherwise prepared tape or yarn with a
coat of white paint.
The number of strands in the cable and of insulated wires in each strand form
no material part of my invention and may be varied at liberty according to
circumstances. The cable may also be provided with a double coating of lead,
with a wire-sheathing, or it may be strengthened in any other suitable way to
render it fit for being laid underground and under water. Finally it is no material
part of my invention that the copper wires should be insulated with the material
specially prepared by me; indeed any other suitable material, such as guttapercha
and india rubber, may be used; but I prefer my own material because it gives a
light, handy and durable cable well adapted for the purpose.

page_text: insulated wires being taped with tin-foil, or other suitable material; and such
strands of tin-foil-taped insulated wires, or tin-foil-taped strands of insulated wires,
being laid round a tin-foil-taped non-insulated strand of straining wires serving
also for earth-connection.
In witness whereof I, the said Franz Carl Guilleaume, have hereunto set my b
hand and seal this 29th day of March A.D. 1884.
FRANZ CARL GUILLEAUME (L.S.)