Improvements in Couplings for Electric Conductors.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
Improvements in Couplings for Electric Conductors.
We, THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY, LIMITED, of 83, Cannon Street,
in the City of London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (which has been communicated to us from abroad by Frank E. Case,
residing at Schenectady, in the County of Schenectady, State of New York, United
States of America, Electrical Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates to separable couplings for electric conductors, by
which they may be readily joined or separated, as occasion may require. It has
for its object to provide a simple and cheap coupling, easily made, readily and
securely fastened and as easily taken apart, in which the parts attached to each
cable or conductor are duplicate and interchangeable so that only one pattern
need be kept in stock, and in which ample contact area is provided so that the
resistance of the joint will be inappreciable. Many devices have been made
having this object in view, and, while they have been to a greater or less extent
successful, most of them are either insecure or too costly to be commercial.
The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is
a perspective of one of the couplings, separated so as to show the interchangeable
parts as they appear upon the ends of the cable, Fig. 2 is a plan of one of the
couplings assembled, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
The main feature of the coupling as here represented is the slot in the end of
each part registering with a screw fixed in the other part, and a depression on
the back of each part of the coupling in which the head of the screw may be set
to secure the parts in place. As an additional feature, in order to render it easy
to assemble the coupling, a pin is fixed to each part so that when the two parts
of the coupling are put together, they form a practically rigid whole.
Referring now to the drawings, A. is one part of the coupling, of which the
surface A forms the electrical contact. It will be observed that this may be
made of any area desired. At the end is a slot A2 designed to register with a
screw B on the other part of the coupling. On the back of the coupling centered
with the end of the slot is a depression A³, in which the head of the screw_sets
when the parts are secured in place. On the inner face of the meeting surfaces
is a squared pin C making a working fit with the slot A2 of the other part of
the coupling. When the parts are assembled, both of the screws are turned until
they clear the top of other part of the coupling, as shown on the right, for
instance, in Fig. 3. The two parts are then brought firmly together, the pin C
and the screws forming a guide so that they are not likely to become laterally
displaced; the screws are then turned until the parts are locked close, the head
of each screw seating in one of the depressions A³, as shown in Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention (as communicated to us from abroad) and in what manner the same is
to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:-
1-As a new article of manufacture, a coupling for electric conductors. com-

page_text: prising counterpart terminals having slots registering with screws, and depres-
sions in which the screw-heads may rest to secure the parts together.
2-As a new article of manufacture, a coupling for electric conductors, consist-
ing of counterpart terminals having contact surfaces, screws seated in the contact
surfaces, slots in the ends of the parts registering with the screws, and depres-
sions on the outer surfaces in which the screw heads rest.
3-As a new article of manufacture, a terminal for an electric conductor,
having a contact surface, a screw passing through the contact-surface near one
end, a slot at the terminal end, and a depression on the side of the terminal away
from the contact surface, with which the head of the screw in the other terminal
may register.
4 As a new article of manufacture, a terminal for an electric conductor having
a longitudinal slot, a screw and a pin in line with the slot, and a depression in
the back of the terminal at the end of the slot.
Dated this 25th day of October 1898
THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON Co., LTD.,
W. MARTINDALE,
A. R. MONKS,
}
Directors,
ALFRED CLEMENTS,
Assistant Secretary,