IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC CABLES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC CABLES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to electric cables of nearly all classes whether the same are
designed to be submerged in water, buried in the ground or suspended in the air,
and it consists essentially in covering the aggregation of insulated wires composing
the body of the cable with a ribbon or strip of sheet metal, either plain or corru-
gated, the strip being applied spirally and having the edges of its coils soldered
or brazed together to form water tight joints, by which a cheaper, more durable
and otherwise desirable article of this character is produced than is now in
ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood from
the following explanation, its extreme simplicity rendering an elaborate description
unnecessary.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view of the improved cable.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same; and
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing a modification of the
invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of
the drawing.
A represents the wires forming the body of the cable, and B the outer covering.
The wires A are composed of copper or any other suitable conductor of electricity,
and insulated by being covered by, or embedded in, India rubber or some other
good non-conductor of electricity, in the usual manner.
The ribbon or strip of sheet metal B is preferably composed of brass or copper,
galvanized or tinned to prevent oxidation, and is closely wrapped around the cable
in a spiral direction, as best seen in Figure 1, its edges being over-lapped as shown
at x, in Figures 2 and 3, and soldered or brazed together to form water-tight joints
between the coils.

page_text: I sometimes corrugate the strip longitudinally, as shown in Figure 3, the
corrugations tending to strengthen the strip and also render the cable more
flexible.
I do not confine myself to overlapping the edges of the strip of which the
covering is composed, as they may be abutted, or arranged on the same plane, and
soldered or brazed together in that position if desired. An additional covering of
any suitable material may also be applied to the cable outside of the sheet metal
covering, if desired.
It will be obvious that a sheet metal covering composed of a ribbon or strip
arranged as described may be applied to the cable rapidly, cheaply, and more
effectively than a sheet metal covering of nearly any other form. It will also be
obvious that when the edges of the strip are over-lapped as shown, a shoulder or
rebate will be formed which will aid greatly in catching and holding the solder,
in soldering the edges together as described, thereby forming a better joint and
greatly strengthening the covering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. An electric cable having its body covered with a ribbon or strip of sheet
metal applied spirally around the same, the edges of said strip being soldered or
brazed together, substantially as described.
Second. An electric cable having its body covered with a ribbon or strip of sheet
metal applied spirally around the same, the edges of said strip being overlapped
and soldered or brazed together, substantially as set forth.
Third. An electric cable having its body covered with a ribbon or strip of sheet
metal applied spirally around the same, said strip being corrugated longitudinally
and having its edges soldered or brazed together, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an electric cable, the combination of the body A and covering B,
constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of November 1884.