Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Electric Wires,
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1881
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Electric Wires,
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B. Sc., do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings for connecting electric lighting, telephone
and telegraph wires and it is principally designed for use on railway trains,
The coupling consists of two parts, each with, preferably, a long and short pro-
jection, properly cut or recessed so as to clamp or lock into one another when
brought together.
The electric wires are led down or through each part and terminate in contacts
which are, preferably, arc shaped and one above the other. The terminals or
contacts, one positive and one negative, aro inserted in a plug or piston of vulcanite
or other suitable insulating material, fitted in each part at, preferably, right angles
to its length. Surrounding the plug is a band or washer of rubber or equivalent
material to keep out moisture.
The terminals are tapered away, wedge-shape; so that when the parts are locked
together, they jam themselves tight.
The parts of the coupling are, preferably, each made with a circular flat-grinding-
face, which fit against one another when the parts are coupled. The parts are also
cut away or bevelled at each end so as to, on the principle of the wedge, lock tight
together when the parts are clamped.
When the two parts are clamped together, the plugs are in contact and the
terminals press against one another, so that the electric circuit is closed.
the
The terminals may have springs to aid in pressing them together, or plugs
may be spring plugs.
1.73
Electric currents of high tension may be used with this coupling, as the terminals
are far enough apart to prevent short circuiting.
Dated this 29th day of August 1891.
.H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Electric Wires.
1, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B. Sc., 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:-
This invention relates to couplings for connecting electric lighting,, telephone,
and telegraph wires and it is principally designed for use on railway trains.
The coupling consists of two parts, cach with, preferably, a long and short pro-
jection, properly cut or recessed so as to clamp or lock into one another when
brought together.
***
The electric wires are led down or through each part and terminate in contacts
which are, preferably, are shaped and one above the other. The terminals or
contacts, one positive and one negative, are inserted in a plug.or piston of vulcanite
or other suitable insulating material, fitted in cach part at, preferably, right angles
to its length. Surrounding the plug is a band or washer of rubber or equivalent
material to keep out moisture,

page_text: .
The terminals are tapered away, wedge-shape, so that when the parts are locked
together, they jam themselves tight.
The parts of the coupling are, preferably, each made with a circular flat-grinding-
face, which fit against one another when the parts are coupled. The parts are also
cut away or bevelled at each end so as to, on the principle of the wedge, lock tight
together when the parts are clamped.
When the two parts are clamped together, the plugs are in contact and the
terminals press against one another, so that the electric circuit is closed.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a side view of one half of the coupling.
Fig. 2 is an end view.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.
Fig. 4 is a plan view.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the coupling with the parts coupled or clamped together.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detail views.
Referring to the drawings, whereon the same reference letters, wherever repeated,
indicate the same or similar parts.
The two parts A, A', of the coupling are precisely similar in construction, and,
when brought together, can be locked or clamped by first merely holding one part
in each hand at a position vertical or nearly so and then bringing them into a
horizontal position, so as to lock into each other. When so locked or clamped, the
coupling cannot be pulled asunder until the parts are lifted or thrust upwards.
When the couplings are applied to railway carriages for signalling, telephoning
or the like, the parts are attached to the carriage ends by rubber, cauvas or other
suitable tubing which encloses the electric wires and grips on to the stepped ends C
and C' of the coupling, (see Fig. 5.).
In the present invention, which is a further development of the invention set
forth in Shiels and Elliot's prior application No. 10260 of 1891, only two
wires H, H', are, by preference, used for conveying the electric current. The
wires H, H', are placed vertically one above the other and pass up the hollow stem
of the clamps (see Fig. 3). As each part of the coupling is precisely similar, I will
only, herein, describe the construction of one of the parts A.
The clamp A, Figs. 1 to 4, is hollow, as aforesaid, and has inserted in its long
projection, a plug E. of vulcanite or other suitable insulating material, in which is
inserted two terminals I, J, which are arc-shaped as shown at Fig. 1. These
terminals in plan view, Figs. 8 and 9, appear tapered or wedge like, the terminal I
being tapered the opposite way to the terminal J. Small screwed projections I¹, I';
J, J; may be fitted to or made in one with each terminal (see Figs. 6 and 7)
which pass through the plug Eand enable the terminals to be secured tightly in
place by small nuts P or equivalent. The wires are connected to one of each pair
of the projections, as shown Figs. 3, 6 and 7. The upper terminal I may be the
positive one and the lower terminal J the negative one or vice versa. The terminals
are sufficiently far apart to prevent short circuiting. The plug E is inserted into
the clamp at right angles as shown and is, preferably, surrounded by or screwed in
a metal casing F. The plug may be made of wood or other material with a rim,
ring or edge of vulcanite or other insulating material to prevent leakage of
electricity.
To prevent water passing between the plugs E when the clamps A, A¹, are
coupled together, an india-rubber or other suitable ring or washer G is let into
each clamp so as to encircle each of the plugs E. These rings, when the parts
are coupled, press against each other and effectually exclude water or dust.
The plug E may be kept in place by a pin K, passing vertically through the
plug as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1. B is the circular flat-grinding face for
facilitating the coupling of the parts firmly and tightly together.
The curved projection L of the part A, fits into the opening M of the opposite
part A' and vice versa. The projection L is cut away at L' and O to enable the

page_text: parts to be more easily fitted together and likewise the short projection N is cut
away at N' for this purpose. The projection N may be a separate piece fitted on
to the clamp, as shown in dotted lines at D Fig. 5.
The wires may be passed through a hole or holes D' in the casing F.
The projection M' prevents the parts, when locked, from falling downwards.
The terminals I, J, of each part of the coupling may have springs to aid in
pressing them together, or the plugs may be spring plugs.
Electric currents of high tension may be used with this coupling, as the terminals
are far enough apart to prevent short circuiting.
The coupling hereinbefore set forth can be made at a small price and whilst
being easily locked together, ensures a sure contact between the terminals.
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
olaim is:-
-
1. A coupling constructed substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with reference
to the drawings annexed.
2. The tapered, are-shaped terminals I, J, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
.
3. The rubber or equivalent ring or washer G, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.