AN IMPROVED PERMANENT-WAY FOR ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONIC CONDUCTORS." PROAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robert Meyer, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED PERMANENT-WAY FOR
ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONIC CONDUCTORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robert Meyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1882.
HENRY ROBERT MEYER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
PERMANENT WAY FOR ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONIC CONDUCTORS."
My Invention relates to an improved permanent way for electric and telephonic
conductors, such as wires, or ribbons used for telegraphic electric lighting,
telephonic, electric power, and various other like purposes.
According to my Invention I construct an underground, or subterranean
permanent way for electric and telephonic purposes in the following manner.
I use blocks, or slabs, or channels of any suitable non conducting material such
as glass, earthenware, porcelain, terra cotta, cement, or asphalte. I form the
blocks, slabs, or channels of any convenient section and I tongue and groove, and
otherwise attach them together end to end. The upper surface of the block, slab,
or channel I form with ridges projecting up on each side, and I also provide such
upper surfaces with grooves running longitudinally, and I place the wires, ribbons,
or their equivalent in these grooves. I then cover the wires, ribbons, or their
equivalent and all the joints of the permanent way with a suitable non conducting
material such as asphalte, tar, pitch, resinous gums, cement, parrafine, or stearines.
I cover the blocks, slabs, or channels with slabs, flags, or slates of the same
material as the blocks, or other suitable material. These covers are pitched to lap
the joints of the underneath blocks and are arranged to lap over each other and
over the sides of the blocks, slabs, or channels,
In carrying out my Invention the blocks, slabs, or channels forming the
permanent way may be used singly, or in tiers. In the latter case the upper
block would form the cover of the under block in each tier.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Robert Meyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th July
1882.
HENRY ROBERT MEYER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
- PERMANENT WAY FOR ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONIC CONDUCTORS.'
"
My Invention relates to an improved permanent way for electric and telephonic
conductors, such as wires, or ribbons in a naked state, used for telegraphic, electric
lighting, telephonic, electric power and various other like purposes and the
following is a description of my Invention in such full terms, as to enable any one
skilled in the art to which it belongs to make and use the same, reference being
had to the two Sheets of Drawings making a part of this Specification and to the
figures and letters of reference marked thereon, like letters and figures being
used to denote the same, or corresponding parts throughout the various views, and
also assimilating with those used in this Specification.
According to my Invention I construct an under ground, or subterranean
permanent way, or main and insulate naked ribbons, or wires therein to be used
for electric and telephonic purposes in the following manner.
Reference to the Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a permanent way, or main and the
method of insulating naked ribbons, or wires therein according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the permanent way, or main with the cover removed.
Figure 3 is an end section of Figure at X X.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the device which I use for conducting the naked
ribbons, or wires singly from and into the permanent way, or main.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the device shown at Figure 4, also showing
means of connection of the naked ribbon, or wire to the insulated ribbon, or wire."
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modification of permanent way, or
main according to my Invention.
Figure 6 is an end elevation being a section of Figure 5 at X X.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a plan of Figure 5 with cover removed.
Figure 9 is a cross section of a street showing location of the permanent ways,
or mains.
I use blocks, slabs, or channels A formed of glass, earthenware glazed, or
unglazed earthenware rendered impervious to moisture by dipping in hot asphalte,
pitch, tar, resin, stearine, or other suitable water resisting and non conducting
substance, or the slabs A may be formed of porcelain, terra cotta, papier maché,
cement, or asphalte. I form the blocks, slabs, or channels A of section as shown
in the Drawings (see Figures 1. 2 and 3). The blocks, slabs, or channels A are
provided at each end with dovetail incisions B and they are attached together by
means of the key pieces C as hereafter stated. The blocks, slabs, or channels A
are superposed one over the other as shown at Figure 1. The upper surface of each
block, slab, or channel is formed with the side ridges D on which are formed
grooves E. The under surface of the side ridges D are formed with the tongues F,
one on each side which when the slabs A are in position take into the grooves E
as shown at Figure 3. The upper surface of the blocks, slabs, or channels A
is provided with the longitudinal grooves H, which grooves H are used to
receive and contain the naked ribbons, wires, rods, or other electric, or telephonic
conductors. The naked ribbons, wires, or rods are bedded and covered in the

page_text: grooves H with a non conducting material, for example with asphalte, tar,
pitch, resinous gums, cement, parrafine, felt, or stearine. I likewise cover all the
butts and joints of the permanent way, or main with an impermeable non con-
ducting material. I form the lower block, slab, or channel A with a channel J on
its under surface, and I bed the permanent way, or main upon a continuous wooden
sleeper K, which fits into the channel J, or the main may be laid on a brick, or
cement bed, in which case the channel J and the wooden sleeper K are done away
with. Over the top block, slab, or channel AI provide a cover P formed with
tongues F which fit into the grooves E of the top slab A and where the blocks
slabs, or channels A join, or butt together, they are secured by the keys C which
take into the dovetailed incisions B. The ends of the slabs A are formed so that
they lap joint with each other and each tier breaks joint with the tier above. The
lengths of the cover P are also made to lap joint and are made to break joint with
the upper block, slab, or channel. Some of the blocks, slabs, or channels may be
formed in curves and angles, so as to be suitable for turning the corners of streets
and following bends in the streets and connecting one line of permanent way with
another and for feeding branches running out of the principal mains.
To provide a means of attachment and connection for intermediate points, where
it may be necessary to tap the main to connect with the electric, or telephonic wires
carried by the slabs A, use the device R shown in detail at Figures 4 and 4ª.
This device consists of the arm R which passes up through the cover P. The under
side of the cover baving a semi circular recess R¹ to receive the arm. The naked
wire from the main is threaded through the arm, which is of ebonite, or earthen-
ware and is of sufficient length to radially reach any of the grooves H by turning
the arm R round in the semi-circular recess R¹. In applying the arm R a leaden
washer b of the shape shown in Figure 44 is first inserted in the hole g in the
cover P. The washer is then rivetted by pressing out its edges, so as to secure it
permanently in its place, or the washer b may be made to screw into the cover.
The cover P is then placed over the arm, or device R which passes through the
centre of the washer b. The arm R is then secured firmly in position by the nut S.
An impermeable substance, such as pitch, or tar is poured hot round the orifice in
the cover P to render the joint between it and the washer b watertight. The
connection with a conductor leading out of, or into the main is made in the
following manner. After the nut S is firmly screwed down onto the leaden washer b,
the wire leading through the device R is cut off at about e, leaving only sufficient
length exposed to allow for soldering. A wire properly insulated and covered with
an outer coating of lead d and of sufficient length to reach the lamp, or building to
be supplied with electric, or telephonic service is procured and a part of the leaden
coating and sufficient length of the insulating material having been removed from
one end to allow for soldering its extremity to the end of the ribbon, wire, or rod
projecting through the arm R, the end laid bare is threaded through the funnel &
which is constructed of stout lead, or brass. The wire is threaded through the
smaller orifice, and the end of the wire and also the end of the ribbon, wire, or rod
projecting through the arm R are carefully cleaned bright and twisted round each
other and thoroughly soldered together at e. The joint in the wires thus made is
carefully covered with sheet india rubber, or other suitable material to ensure
perfect insolation. The funnel is now slipped down over the joint e until it rests
on the leaden washer b to which it is firmly. soldered and pitch, or asphalte is then
poured in at the top of the funnel until full: and finally the end of the funnel is
firmly soldered to the leaden coating d of the insulated conductor. By this means
I relieve the arm R from all strains by bringing them to bear directly on the
washer b. The device R fitted as just described may also be applied at the side of
the slabs A. In this case the slabs A where they butt are kept slightly apart to
allow for the insertion of the device R as shown at Figure 8. The device R would
vary in length according to the position of the ribbon, wire, or rod with which
connection is required. To provide for any inequalities that may occur in the
continuous lining of the grooves H I champher the edges of the ridges existing

page_text: between the grooves as shown at h. By this arrangement I secure sufficient
latitude to allow for any irregularities that may occur in the continuous lining.
In constructing a continuous permanent way, or main according to my Invention,
continuous under sleepers made in two widths of timber well seasoned and creosoted,
each length breaking joint with and bolted to its fellow, or a foundation of cement,
or brick, or iron channels are first laid, then the under lengths of the slabs A are
placed on, or in such foundation. The slabs are then connected together by the
key pieces C which ship into the dovetail incisions B, such incisions are then solidly
filled in with asphalte, or cement. The under lengths of the slabs A being thus in
position, the naked ribbons, wires, or rods which are to serve as the conductors are
placed in the grooves H of the slabs A being bedded therein, and covered over
with asphalte, or like plastic non conducting material, a like impermeable material
is also run into the grooves E on the side ridges D of the slabs A. The next tier
of slabs A is then placed on the one just laid and the second set of naked ribbons
wires, or rods are laid and bedded and covered in the grooves H of the second tier
in like manner to the under tier. When the requisite number of tiers has been
placed and laid, the whole is surmounted by the cover P, all joints and connections
being thoroughly paid and set with asphalte cement, or other suitable impermeable
material.
It will be understood that in many cases as for example when the main is used
for electric lighting it is unnecessary for the whole number of tiers to run the
entire distance, for instance in three miles of lighting, the upper tier will only run
the first mile, the second tier would then become the upper. tier and would have a
total length of two miles, the under tier running the whole length of three miles, so
that the cover would descend from the top tier to the bottom tier during the length
and wherever necessary during the length, the connecting devices R are brought
through the cover, or through the side of the main as before described.
In like manner where additional tiers of ribbons, wires, or rods are introduced
by for instance a branch running into and requiring connection with the main, such
additional tier, or tiers would be placed over the top tier of the main and the
cover P would be placed to surmount the bighest layer. The connecting devices R
being used for effecting communication between the branch and the main, or
where the branch could be connected to the top tier of the main an angle,
or curved slab would be used connecting with the top slab A and at the same
level.
In the arrangement shown as Figures 5 6. 7 and 8, I use a box pipe a which
may be of iron, slate, earthenware, or cement. The slabs A are constructed as before
described of glass, glazed earthenware, or unglazed earthenware steeped in hot
pitch, asphalte, or varnish, the slabs A having the grooves H before spoken of. The
lower slabs are laid first, the naked ribbons, wires, or rods are placed in the
grooves H and properly bedded in with asphalte, or other suitable substance. The
next tiers are then laid consecutively, in like manner and the cover P put on
the joint of the cover being well payed with an impermeable substance. The
slabs A are in this case made of simple flat pieces without the side ridges D and
the grooves E and the tongues F and without the overlapping pieces.
The connecting devices R for the slabs A may be brought through the side of the
box a as shown at Figures 5 and 8 in which case the butts of the slabs A are kept
apart to allow for the insertion of the device R, as shown at Figure 8.
The permanent way, or main may be laid under the roadway, or under the
side walk, as shown at Figure 9.
I would here state that I am aware that wooden grooved boards, or sleepers have
been proposed for carrying electric wires, and I disclaim the use of such boards, or
sleepers. Further the wood is subject to dry rot'and is affected by damp in which
state it becomes a conductor of electricity. I am also aware that metal channels
with grooved surfaces have been proposed for insulated wires. Neither do I claim
broadly, sectional insulating troughs, having a detacheable cover, whether the same
have single, or multiple, wire grooves, for I am aware that the same have been

page_text: described as made of wood, glass and bitumenous materials, slate and the like, but
what I claim as the Invention herein described and secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First A permanent way, or main for electric, or telephonic currents, consisting of
naked ribbons, wires, or rods laid and embedded in grooved blocks, slabs, or
channels of the material herein set forth, which said grooved blocks, slabs, or
channels, combined with the non conducting material used for covering, or bedding
the naked ribbons, wires, or rods provide and secure the insulation of the several
naked ribbons, wires, or rods from the earth and from each other, the whole sub-
stantially as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second A permanent way, or main for electric and telephonic currents consisting
of naked ribbons, wires, or rods embedded in superposed blocks, slabs, or channels
of glazed earthenware, or unglazed earthenware rendered impermeable by immersion
in hot asphalte, pitch, tar, or varnish, substantially as herein described and shown
in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third The construction and arrangement of the permanent way, or main for
electric and telephonic currents consisting of the naked ribbons, wires, or rods
embedded in the superposed grooved slabs, or channels A substantially as herein
described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth Arranging grooved slabs, blocks, or channels and the ribbons, wires, or
rods therein contained for various distances, substantially in the manner herein
described.
Fifth In the permanent way, or main for electric and telephonic currents, tapping
and conducting the ribbons, wires, or rods substantially in the manner herein
described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Sixth The conductor device R constructed and arranged as herein described and
shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I the said Henry Robert Meyer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
SERTTRA
HENRY ROBERT (L.B.)
METER.