Improvements in Poles for Supporting Overhead Wires in Electric Tramways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Poles for Supporting Overhead Wires in Electric
Tramways.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
The object of this invention is to so construct the poles supporting the over-
head wires of electric tramways that they shall be more artistic than those
usually employed and still be structurally strong and able to resist the strains
that usually come upon them when in use.
For this purpose I construct the pole of a strong basement preferably of cast
iron partially embedded in the earth and through this passes centrally a hollow
column preferably of wrought iron or steel extending several feet into the earth
and having a plate or cross bar at its base for more firmly securing it in position
when the earth or concrete has been firmly rammed around it. This centre tube
extends upwards, the top part being preferably taper and ending in an orna-
mental finial.
This central tube is surrounded by other tubes preferably four, secured to
suitable lugs or pockets in the base and passing through suitable collars or
bands placed at intervals up the length of the pole. In some cases these sur-
rounding or strengthening tubes terminate in an ornamental collar near the top
of the centre pole and rods or bolts pass down their centre and are tightened by
nuts in this disposition. The tubes act as strut withstanding compression and
the rods or bolts as stays withstanding tension. Above the surrounding tubes
cross arms are arranged passing through an ornamental casting embrassing the
centre tube and forming parts of the top collar for the surrounding tubes. The
cross arms are further supported by ornamental struts and the ends are provided
with suitable fixtures for holding the insulated clamps that support the trolley
wires.
The top of the centre pole may terminate in an ornamental finial as previously
stated or carry a lamp containing an electric lamp or lamps.
In a modification of this design the surrounding tubes instead of terminating
in a collar or band as previously described continue upwards and curve out-
wardly two of them forming the cross arms supporting the trolley wires. The
other two tubes also curve outwards but are preferably shorter and of quicker
curves and support electric lamps, the curved arms are braced by strong wires
or tie rods to the central pole and to each other, the ornamentation on the curved
arms is preferably of a foliated character and the collars at intervals in the
length of the cluster of tubes is also foliated, the curved arms and foliated
ornaments giving a picturesque appearance to the pole.
OLL 1
T
1000
F. W. GOLBY,
86, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Poles for Supporting Overhead Wires in Electric
Tramways.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, Consulting Engineer, do 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 so construct the poles supporting the over-
head wires of electric tramways that they shall be more artistic than those
usually employed and still be structurally strong and able to resist the strains
that usually come upon them when in use.
That the invention may be better understood reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings in which like figures represent like parts.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is an elevation of a pole.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 show the details of construction on a large scale.
Figs. 8, 9 show designs of terminals and cross arms.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of a crosshead.
Fig. 11, Sheet 2 is an elevation of a pole showing how this construction lends
itself to ornamental treatment.
Poles constructed according to this invention consist of a strong basement A,
preferably of cast iron, partially embedded in the ground, and through this base
passes centrally a hollow column B, preferably of wrought iron or steel extending
several feet into the earth and having a plate C at it's base, for more firmly
securing it in position; earth or concrete being rammed or run round it in the
customary manner. This centre column or tube, the top part being preferably
taper and terminating in a cast metal finial of a form substantially similar to
that shown at D Fig. 1 which is provided with a cross pipe E for holding the
screws that act as strainers for the span wires that cross the street from pole to
pole on the side walk.
The central tube B is surrounded by other tubes b, preferably four in number,
secured to suitable lugs F in the base and passing through holes in collars or
bands placed at intervals up the length of the pole and through lugs forming
part of the cast metal terminal at the top.
These surrounding tubes may be arranged and secured in different ways, for
example as shown at G Fig. 2, when the tube is a piece of piping screwed a dis-
tance up it's length and having a collar g' and a cap screwed on securing the
pipe firmly in and to the lug. The top end of the piping is tapped internally,
and into it the bottom end of the second length of pipe is screwed; after passing
through the lug H on. the collar I, the second collar holding the second pipe
in position, and so on, the final pipe b, being screwed at the top by a cap, in the
same manner as the first pipe at the base.
Another method is shown at K Fig. 2, by reference to this and the corre
sponding lugs in Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the surrounding pipes. c are
plain and have a short length of smaller pipe d, driven into the ends, the pro-
jecting portion of the smaller pipes entering the holes in the lugs and keeping
the pipes in position.
A long bolt M passes down from the cap to the basement and is provided with
a head at one end and a nut at the other for tightening the whole together.
In this arrangement the stiffening of the whole column is augmented by the
surrounding pipes acting as studs, and the bolts acting as ties.

page_text: The collars surmounting the columns may also be employed for strengthening
the junction of two pieces of pipe forming the central or main column, when it
is too long to be conveniently made or transported in one piece.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are plan views respectively of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
When poles are employed for double lines of tramways and can be placed in
the centre of the road in the inter space between the two lines of track, then the
cross arm can be arranged in any desirable, manner, examples are given in
Figs. 8 and 9 and a plan is shown in Fig. 10 showing a method of strengthening
the cross arms by struts and ties.
The cross arms are supported by ornamental struts and the ends are provided
with suitable fixtures for holding the insulators that support the trolley wires.
When it is desired to make these poles more artistic, the design may be modified
by causing the surrounding tubes instead of terminating in a collar or band, to
continue upwards and curve outwardly, two of them forming the cross arms
supporting the trolley wires; the other two tubes also curving upwards but
preferably shorter and of a quicker curve and could be used to support electric
lamps.
The curved arms being braced by strong wires or ties to the central pole and
to each other.
Ornamentation may be added to the curved arms preferably of stamped metai
of a foliated design.
An example of this treatment is given in Fig. 11, Sheet 2.
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:
1
1. In the construction of poles for electric tramways a central column sur-
rounded by other tubes secured to a metal base, collars, and cap substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
2. Poles for electric tramways consisting of a central column with surrounding
tubes continued and extended to form cross arms.
3. In poles for electric tramways the combination of a central column sur-
rounding tubes and ornamental additions substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of March 1900.
M. HOLROYD SMITH.