Improved Methods of and Appliances for Conducting and Distributing Electric Currents.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods of and Appliances for Conducting and Distributing
Electric Currents.
We, EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT of 31 Golden. Square London Civil Engineer,
FRANCIS WILLIAM ENGELBACH of 11 Howley Place London, gentleman, and JOHN
BRAILSFORD BRIGHT of 31 Golden Square London, Barrister-at-law do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilise gas or water mains or pipes or sewers or
other suitable conduits by introducing into them electrical conductors suitably
insulated and protected when necessary.
The processes we employ are:
1st. When rigid conductors are employed instead of flexible strands, they are
linked successively and pushed between distant openings through the mains.conduits
pipes or sewers. To facilitate the passing of the rigid conductors or rods for con-
siderable distances we attach to them balls or runners at suitable points of porcelain
or other suitable material, which also serve the purpose of insulating the conductors
from one another and from the surrounding mains or conduits. This process is
specially applicable to gas or pneumatic mains.
2nd. When flexible conductors such as stranded wires or multiple cables are used;
we first push 'rods successively linked between openings made in the mains, conduits,
pipes, or sewers, and on the communication being thus established between one
opening and the next, the electrical flexible conductor or conductors are then attached
to the rods and drawn through, and so on successively through further sections as
required. To facilitate the passage of the rods in this case we also attach suitable
balls or runners (but not 'for the purpose of insulation) and one.set: of rods serves
for the successive sections.
3rd. We also employ pneumatic or steam power or other suitable motive power
either by pressure or suction in connexion with a suitable carrier to draw a cord
attached to it, by means of which the electrical conductor or conductors are drawn
through the section of mains conduits pipes or sewers between the points at which
openings have been made. For this purpose we find it convenient to use moveable
air water or steam power.
When convenient we also utilise the existing pneumatic,
gas, or water pressure in the mains conduits or pipes for pushing or drawing the
carrier through, as above.
One of the special objects of this patent is to avoid laying special mains or conduits
and opening the roads or streets throughout for the electrical conductors; by utilising
existing mains' conduits pipes or sewers by passing the electrical conductors between
openings at considerable distances.
E. B: BRIGHT.
F. W. ENGELBACH.
J. B. BRIGHT.
COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION..
Improved Methods of and Appliances for Conducting and Distributing.
Electric Currents::
We, EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT, of 31, Golden Square, Civil Engineer, FRANCIS
WILLIAM ENGELBACH, of 11,' Howley Place, Gentleman, and JOHN BRAILSFORD
BRIGHT, of 31, Golden Square; Barrister-at-Law; all in the County of London, do
Pins7

page_text: 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:
The object of this invention is to utilise gas, water or pneumatic mains or pipes, or
sewers or other suitable conduits, by introducing into them electrical conductors
suitably insulated and protected where necessary, in the manner hereinafter more
particularly described.
The methods we employ are:-
1st. When rigid electric conductors (say rods or bars of metal, preferably copper,)
are employed, instead of flexible strands of metal, the rigid conductors are attached
successively in convenient lengths and pushed on between distant openings through
the mains, conduits, pipes or sewers.
To facilitate the passing of the rigid conductors or rods of metal for considerable
distances, wo attach to them balls or runners of porcelain or other suitable material
(such for instance as glass or ebonite), which also serve the purpose of insulating the
conductors from one another and also from the surrounding mains or conduits.
method is specially applicable to gas or pneumatic mains.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a cross section, and
This
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of a gas or pneumatic conduit or main A through
which rigid metal rods or conductors B, B have been or are being passed. Around
the electrical conducting rods, and attached to them at intervals suitable to protect
them from contact with the main or conduit, or each other, are placed insulating
pieces (of spherical or other form adapted to be conveniently pushed along the pipe
or conduit) of porcelain, glass, vulcanite, or other suitable material with collars or
sockets d, d. In Figures 1 and 2, two conductors are shown, but the number may
be varied according to requirements.
Figure 3 represents a cross section, and
Figure 4 a longitudinal section of a gas-main A shewing runners D, D made of
porcelain, vulcanite, or other suitable insulating material, connected by their axles
to a carrier C of insulating material, through which the rigid electrical conductors
or rods B, B are passed. These runners are fastened to the electrical conductors at
such distances apart as will prevent the conductors from coming into contact with
the main.
'
The lengths of rods may be readily attached together by having male and female
screw threads at their alternate ends; or they may be soldered together or attached
by other suitable means by which the electrical metallic 'continuity may be maintained.
The axles of the runners may be made of hard wood or metal or other suitable
material so as to embrace or hold fast the carrier of insulating material in which
the rods are held.
A rack or ratchet with cog-wheels or other multiplying gearing, driving a rod
with a collar to fit over the rigid electrical conductors, may be advantageously used
at the temporary openings in the mains or conduits to increase the propelling power
when the conducting rods are being pushed through the mains.
2nd. When flexible conductors, such as insulated stranded wires or cables, are
used, we first push rods successively attached together through distant openings
made in the mains, conduits, pipes or sewers, and on the communication being
thus established between one opening and the next, the electrical flexible conductor
or conductors is or are then attached to the rods and drawn through, and so on
successively through further sections as required. To facilitate the passage of the
rods in this case, we also attach suitable balls or runners (but not for the purpose
of insulation) and one set of rods serves for the successive sections.
3rd. We also employ pneumatic, or hydraulic, or steam, or other suitable motive
power, either by pressure or by suction, in connection with a suitable carrier, to
draw or to unwind from a reel a light cord or metallic strand. This arrangement
is shown in Figure 5, in which A represents the main, conduit or pipe, and C a

page_text: carrier with pistons b, b attached, which may be of a size to fit (or nearly so) the
main, conduit or pipe so that the carrier may be urged forward either by pressure
on one side or by exhaustion on the other. E is a reel attached to the carrier,
from which is unwound the cord or light strand G, by means of which the electrical
conductor or conductors is or are subsequently drawn through the sections of
mains, conduits, pipes, or sewers, between the points at which the temporary
openings have been made for this purpose. With this view we find it convenient
to use independent air, water or steam motors. In cases, when practicable, we also
utilise the existing gas, pneumatic or water pressure in the mains, conduits or pipes
for pushing or drawing the carrier through, as above; or the carrier may be
driven forward by a barrel spring attached to clockwork gearing on the barrel itself,
the clockwork being wound up as required. In this case the reel carrying the
aforesaid light cord or flexible metallic strand is also attached to the carrier, the
cord or strand unwinding as the carrier progresses, until the connection between
the two temporary openings in the mains or conduits is established, whereby the
electrical conductor or conductors is or are hauled through. At or near the opening
at the end of each section, a temporary buffer may be placed, to arrest, when
necessary, the further progress of the carrier.
The last named mechanical arrangement attached to the carrier is shown in
Figure 6, where A is a view of the main, conduit or pipe, and F a train of wheels
mounted on a carrier C and geared to its runners D, D. This train of wheels is
actuated by a strong spring c and thus drives the runners which may be similar in
form to those shown at D in Figures 3 and 4. E is a reel attached, which unwinds
the cord or light metallic strand G.
It will be obvious that in place of a spring motor we may employ any other
motive power such as air or gas compressed in a suitable vessel attached to the
carrier; or an electric motor may be used for propelling the carrier.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
-
1. The methods and appliances exemplified in and described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing for passing rigid electric
or other suitable
conductors through gas, water or pneumatic mains, or sewers
conduits, or any modifications of such methods and appliances, substantially as
described.
2. The methods and appliances exemplified in and described with reference to
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawing for drawing electric cables or other
flexible electric conductors through mains, pipes or conduits, substantially as
described.
Dated the 12th day of July 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.