IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Vyle, of 22, Borough Road, Middlesbro', Telegraph
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND
11
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Vyle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1880.
SAMUEL VYLE, of 22, Borough Road, Middlesbro', Telegraph Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND METHOD OF TESTING LIGHTNING
CONDUCTORS."
This Invention relates to the construction of lightning conductors or protectors
in such manner as to allow of their condition with respect to effectiveness of action
or defects being readily ascertained.
For this purpose I construct such conductors of copper or other suitable metallic
substance with an insulated wire set within the core of an outer cable, wire, or
tube, the top of such insulated wire being soldered, brazed, or otherwise metallically
connected with the top of the outer cable, wire, or tube, which latter I insert in
the ground where it ends, whilst the insulated wire is carried from the bottom of
the outer cable, wire, or tube, up to any suitable adjacent place above ground, and
there connected with the key of a testing apparatus, which also consists of a
differential galvanometer, battery, switch, resistance coil and connections. The
back of the key may be earthed or not as desired.
In order to test the conductor or protector, and ascertain its condition, the key
of the testing apparatus is depressed, when a deflection of the galvanometer needle
takes place by reason of the passage of electricity from the battery to the insulated
wire set within the core of the outer cable, wire, or tube to the top, when it
descends by this latter to the earth. Unless the continuity of the wire be good, no
current will be passed. By reason of the disconnection at the switch no current
can pass through the other half of the differential galvanometer, but on turning the

page_text: switch the current divides itself equally between the circuit formed by the insulated
wire and outer cable, wire, or tube, and the resistance coil which should be made
exactly equal to the other circuit. This being so, any defect in the lightning
conductor or protector would betray itself by the needle not balancing but shewing
a deflection. When a deflection is received, it is evidence of some defect which
should be attended to.
In the case of existing lightning conductors, I fix an insulated wire cased in
tubing for protection from the weather by the side of the ordinary conductor, and
connected to it metallically at the top, this outside wire serving for the same
purpose, and being operated in the same manner as the wire set within the core, as
above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Vyle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th March
1881.
SAMUEL VYLE, of 22, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Telegraph Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND METHOD OF TESTING LIGHTNING
CONDUCTORS."
This Invention relates to the construction of lightning conductors or protectors
in such manner as to allow of their condition with respect to effectiveness of action
or defects being readily ascertained.
For this purpose I construct such conductors of copper or other suitable metallic
substance with an insulated wire set within the core of an outer cable, wire, or
tube, the top of such insulated wire being soldered, brazed, or otherwise metallically
connected with the top of the outer cable, wire, or tube, which latter I insert in
the ground where it ends, whilst the insulated wire is carried from the bottom of
the outer cable, wire, or tube, up to any suitable adjacent place above ground, and
there connected with the key of a testing apparatus, which also consists of a
differential galvanometer, battery, switch, resistance coils and connections. The
back of the key which is connected to the testing wire may be earthed or not as
desired.
In order to test the conductor or protector to ascertain its condition, the key of
the testing apparatus, which I will call A, is depressed, when a deflection of the
galvanometer needle takes place by reason of the passage of electricity from the
battery through one coil of the galvanometer to the insulated wire set within
the core of the outer cable, wire, or tube to the top, when it descends by this latter
to the earth. Unless the continuity of the wire and cable be good, no current will
be passed, indicated by the needle remaining stationary. By disconnection at a
key acting also as a switch, which I will call B, no current can pass through the
other coil of the differential galvanometer, but on depressing B as well as A, the
current divides itself equally between the circuit formed by the insulated wire and
outer cable, wire, or tube, and a resistance coil, which should be made exactly
equal to the other circuit; this being so, any defect in the lightning conductor or
protector would betray itself by the needle not balancing, but showing a deflection.
In such a case, an auxilliary key, which I will call C, comes into use, and its
depression at the same time as B shows whether the earth of the conductor is
good, or whether the default is above ground, as the current is then divided between
B and C, whose resistances are equal. If right, the needle should balance.
In the case of existing lightning conductors, I fix either an open copper or
metallic wire insulated in the ordinary way with porcelain or other supports, or an
insulated wire cased in tubing for protection from the weather by the side of the
ordinary conductor, and connected metallically at the top, this outside wire serving
for the same purpose, and being operated in the same manner as the wire set within
the coil, as above described.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which like parts are
indicated by similar letters and Figures of reference,-
Figure 1 is a plan of the differential galvanometer and other parts of the testing
apparatus, and Figure 2 is a cross section of the same, in which A is a key for
the testing wire; B, key (or switch) to resistance coil B¹; C, key (auxiliary) to
earth of conductor through resistance coil 01; a, b, c, are studs leading to coils of
galvanometer and battery; D, differential galvanometer; E, testing wire; F, con-
ductor earth; G, one pole of battery; and H, ordinary earth and other pole of
battery. 1, 1, 1, 1, are terminal screws; 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, are connecting wires;
3, galvanometer needle; and 4, galvanometer coils.

page_text: Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of the conductor or
protector with an insulated wire d set within the core of an outer cable, wire, or
tube e, and insulated by means of the insulating material.
Having now described my said Invention, and the method of carrying the same
into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise method hereinbefore described, as the same may be effected in other ways
without affecting the principle of the Invention.
What I claim is,―
1st. The construction of lightning conductors or protectors with an internal
insulated wire connected at the top with the lightning conductor or protector
proper for testing purposes, substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 3
of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
2nd. The employment for testing purposes of an exterior wire insulated in the
ordinary way, or an insulated wire cased in tubing or otherwise protected, connected
metallically at the top of an ordinary lightning conductor or protector, and serving
the same purpose, and being operated in the same manner as the wire set within
the core of a cable, wire, or tube, substantially as described.
3rd. The employment of a differential galvanometer, battery, switch, resistance
coils, and connections for the purpose of testing lightning conductors or protector,
substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Vyle, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
SAMUEL VYLE. (L.S.)