IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF TELEGRAPH AND OTHER POSTS OR UPRIGHTS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN LOWERING THE POSTS OR UPRIGHTS INTO AND WITHDRAWING THEM FROM THEIR SOCKETS
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John McCool at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th May
1874.
I, JOHN M'COOL, of Plumstead, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOCKETS TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF TELEGRAPH AND OTHER POSTS OR UPRIGHTS, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN LOWERING THE POSTS OR UPRIGHTS INTO AND
WITHDRAWING THEM FROM THEIR SOCKETS," to be as follows :-
The object of my Invention is to construct sockets in such manner
that posts or uprights may be readily inserted therein and withdrawn
therefrom as required, and be securely held in place when therein. I
construct the sockets of a vertical tube of square, circular, or other
section, to correspond with the section of the end of the post to be´
inserted therein, and I prefer to make it of wedge shape or tapering
internally to its lower end; and to form the end of the post of corre-
sponding wedge or taper form, I make one side or portion of the upper
part of the socket removable, and I secure this portion when in place by
means of a collar, clamps, bolts, and screws, or otherwise. On the inner

page_text: face of this removable portion I form one or more projections or fillets to
take into corresponding recesses in the post, and on the lower edge of
the said removable portion I form a tongue which fits between the fixed
part of the socket and the post.
The mode of fixing a post in the socket is as follows :-I take off the
removable portion, then insert the end of the post into the socket as far
as it will go; I next replace the removable portion, the projections on
which will take into recesses in the post, and I finally secure the whole
firmly together by the collar, clamps, bolts, and nuts, or equivalent
devices. Some felt or other suitable material should be inserted between
the removable and fixed portions to keep out wet, and for a like purpose
a shield may be fitted round the post immediately above the socket.
The socket should be provided with a foot or enlarged base to hold it
well in the ground when sunk therein, or with side pieces or flanges in
cases where it has to be fixed against a wall. For lowering the posts
into the sockets or for withdrawing them therefrom when required, I
employ a tripod or three legged shears, the upper ends of the legs being
connected to a collar which fits loosely around the post. The legs are
capable of being elongated by hydraulic means in a similar manner to a
hydraulic jack, as is well understood. Above the loose collar I fix
around the post a clamp or ring.
By elongating the shear legs the collar is forced against the under
side of the clamp or ring, and is thus caused to lift the post a certain
distance. By now bringing the lower end of the post into the top of or
immediately over the socket, and then allowing the legs to shorten or
resume their normal position the post descends of its own weight into
the socket. To lift a post from its socket when required the same
apparatus is employed in combination, if found necessary, with an
ordinary jack made to act against a clamp or ring fixed around the
· post a short distance above the socket.