IMPROVED MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR THE LAYING DOWN AND INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICITY
Year: 1884

page_text: We, CHARLES EDMUND WEBBER C.B. Colonel in the Royal Engineers and
FRANCIS BOLTON, Knight, Colonel in the Army both of No 4 The Sanctuary
Westminster in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR THE LAYING DOWN
AND INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING
ELECTRICITY," to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to provide ready, simple and economical means
for laying down and insulating electrical conductors for distributing electricity,
whereby these are readily accessible for inspection or repair.
For these purposes, we provide metal troughs, constructed as will be presently
described, and closed by covers, such troughs being laid in or under the streets,
roads or other localities. The troughs are constructed in convenient lengths,
jointed together in any suitable manner, such as by flanges and screw bolts, or by
sockets, and at convenient intervals between the lengths are introduced junction
and service boxes, with the interior of which the troughs are made to communicate.
In the troughs, between the junction boxes, are laid the naked copper conductors,
in one or more horizontal rows, which conductors are supported in position at the
requisite distances apart and from the sides of the trough by means of distance
pieces or spacers made of insulite or other suitable known insulating material,
preferably impregnated with paraffin, such spacers being arranged at suitable
distances apart, varying according to the nature and strength of the conductors, but
usually at distances of from one to two feet. The conductors having been placed
in position, and stretched, as will be presently described, the trough is filled with
melted paraffin, run in at such a temperature as to insure that all the conductors
shall be perfectly surrounded therewith and thus be effectually insulated from each
other. The trough is filled with paraffin to such an extent that, after the paraffin
has solidified, and the cover has been pressed down the paraffin will squeeze
out between the edges, thus indicating that the trough is full, and the joint
watertight, and this is by preference further insured by forming grooves in
the meeting surfaces of the cover and trough, into which a portion of the paraffin
will be squeezed. The covers, which are made to break joint with the lengths
of trough, and which are jointed together like the troughs, are secured by clips and
wedges, or bolts of any suitable arrangement that will allow of their being readily
removed and fixed; or slotted lugs may be formed on the troughs over which
notches in the cover fit, being then secured by holding down wedges.
The troughs and covers are by preference made with longitudinal and cross
flanges, or webs, so as to combine sufficient strength with lightness. For running
the paraffin into the troughs as above described, it is preferred to effect this at

page_text: a temperature at which the paraffin will just liquify, and no more, and in this case
in order to insure a perfect coating to the conductors, and of the sides of the
trough with the paraffin, a certain quantity is first injected for this purpose in
a highly liquified state and at a high temperature, so as to raise the whole of the
metal to such a heat as will insure the driving off of all moisture, and as will
insure, on the contraction again of the copper, a complete separation of its surface
from that of the paraffin surrounding it. While still hot, the larger quantity of
paraffin at a lower temperature is run in between spacer and spacer, and, as it cools,
solidifies and shrinks, more paraffin is run in and well pressed down; the cover 'is
then closed down when the paraffin is solid, but while it is still warm, and pressure
is maintained on it until the paraffin has cooled, when it is finally secured.
The conductors, previous to the troughs being filled with paraffin, as described,
are stretched so as to be as perfectly straight as possible, and so as not to touch any
other surrounding substance except the spacers, such stretching being effected by
any suitable means, such as by straining blocks or by screw rods temporarily
attached thereto, and nuts taking a bearing upon lugs on the ends of the troughs
or on the junction boxes, which stretchers are removed preparatory to the paraffin
being run into the troughs. The conductors are introduced in lengths corresponding
.to the distances between the junction or distributing boxes, and the ends thereof
are either bent up or down within the latter, and they are electrically connected at
their ends to separate conductors, secured in a suitably insulated manner within
the boxes, to which access is gained by means of a removeable cover made to close
as air tight as possible, and having its joints made good with paraffin if necessary.
The conductors are arranged to pass from the trough into the box through
a spacer of insulating material of such form as to keep them effectually separated,
when bent up or down, and they may be insulated in the box by injecting paraffin
around them, leaving the ends bare for connection, either with the corresponding
conductors of the next section, or with branch conductors.
When the lengths of conductors between the junction boxes are considerable, one
or more intermediate smaller junction boxes may be provided, containing a free
bend or loop of the conductor to allow for expansion and contraction. In order to
allow of expansion and contraction in the iron troughs and covers, lead beadings
are let in at intervals between the meeting faces of the separate lengths.
The junction boxes already alluded to are of such a form, and have connections
at two or more levels, so as to permit of their being connected with the troughs at
any angle of direction, and of a size and form to permit effective electrical
connections being made in them between the ends of the conductors, and also
between them and the main conductors leading from the junction boxes to the
service boxes, and to permit of these connections being insulated one from the
other.
The service boxes are in the form, in plan, of an irregular octagon, or suitable
figure, with connecting openings at two or more levels and adjustable so as to
permit of the troughs containing the main conductors being connected with them
at any angle of direction. These boxes contain separate connectors duly insulated,
and placed so as to give ready access to the main and service conductors and their
connections in parallel. In addition to the openings above mentioned connecting
the boxes with the troughs, there will be other openings, also if necessary on
separate levels, for the adjustment of direction, with which to connect the pipes
leading from the service boxes to the dwellings of consumers, into which the
conductors employed for service will be drawn in the usual way.
.
133 1
2004

page_text: We, CHARLES EDMUND WEBBER C.B. Colonel in the Royal Engineers and
FRANCIS BOLTON, Knight Colonel in the army both of No 4, The Sanctuary
Westminster in the county of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of our
Baid invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR THE LAYING DOWN AND
INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING
ELECTRICITY" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Oor invention has for its object to provide ready, simple and economical means
for laying down and insulating electrical conductors for distributing electricity
whereby these are readily accessible for inspection or repair.
For these purposes we provide metal troughs, constructed as will be presently
described, and closed by covers, such troughs being laid in or under the streets,
roads or other localities. The troughs are constructed in convenient lengths,
jointed together in any suitable manner, such as by flanges and screw bolts, or by
sockets, and at convenient intervals between the lengths are introduced junction
and service boxes, with the interior of which the troughs are made to communicate.
In the troughs, between the junction boxes are laid the naked copper conductors,
in one or more horizontal rows, which conductors are supported in position at the
requisite distances apart and from the sides of the trough by means of distance
pieces, or spacers made of insulite or other suitable known insulating material,
preferably impregnated with paraffin, such spacers being arranged at suitable
distances apart, varying according to the nature and strength of the conductors
but usually at distances off from one to two feet.
The conductors having been placed in position and stretched as will be presently
described, the trough is filled with melted paraffin, run in at such a temperature
as to ensure that all the conductors shall be perfectly surrounded there with and
thus be effectually insulated from each other. The trough is filled with paraffin
to such an extent that, after the paraffin has solidified and the cover has been
pressed down, the paraffin will squeeze out between the edges, thus indicating that
the trough is full, and the joint watertight, and this is by preference further
insured by forming grooves in the meeting surfaces of the cover and trough, into
which a portion of the paraffin will be squeezed. The covers which are made to
break joint with the lengths of the trough, and which are jointed together like
the troughs, are secured by clips and wedges or bolts of any suitable arrangement
that will allow of their being readily removed and fixed or slotted lugs may be
formed on the troughs over which notches in the cover fit, being then secured by
holding down wedges.
The troughs and covers are by preference made with longitudinal and cross
flanges or webs, so as to combine sufficient strength with lightness. For running
the paraffin into the troughs as above described it is preferred to effect this at a
temperature at which the paraffin will just liquify, and no more, and in this case,
in order to ensure a perfect coating to the conductors, and of the sides of the trough
with the paraffin, a certain quantity is first injected for this purpose in a highly
liquified state and at a high temperature, so as to raise the whole of the metal to
such a heat as will insure the driving off of all moisture, and as insure on the
contraction again of the copper, a complete separation of its surface from that of
the paraffin surrounding it. While still hot, the larger quantity of paraffin at a
lower temperature is run in between spacer and spacer, and as it cools; solidifles

page_text: and shrinks, more paraffin is run in and well pressed down; the cover is then
closed down when the paraffin is solid, but while it is still warm and pressure is
maintained on it until the paraffin has cooled, when it is finally secured.
The conductors, previous to the troughs being filled with paraffin, as described,
are stretched so as to be as perfectly straight as possible, and so as not to touch
any other surrounding substance except the spacers, such stretching being effected
by any suitable means, such as by straining blocks or by screw rods temporarily
attached thereto, and nuts taking a bearing upon lugs on the ends of the troughs
or on the junction boxes, which stretchers are removed preparatory to the paraffin
being run into the troughs. The conductors are introduced in lengths corresponding
to the distances between the junction or distributing boxes, and the ends thereof
are either bent up or down within the latter, and they are electrically connected at
their ends to separate conductors, secured in a suitably insulated manner within
the boxes, to which access is gained by means of a removeable cover made to
close as air tight as possible, and having its joints made good with paraffin if
necessary.
The conductors are arranged to pass from the trough into the box through a
spacer of insulating material of such form as to keep them effectually separated
when bent up or down, and they may be insulated in the box by injecting parastin
around them, leaving the ends bare for connection, either with the corresponding
conductors of the next section, or with branch conductors.
When the lengths of conductors between the junction boxes are considerable,
one or more intermediate smaller junction boxes may be provided, containing_a
free bend or loop of the conductor to allow for expansion and contraction. In
order to allow for expansion and contraction in the iron troughs and covers, lead
beadings are let in at intervals between the meeting faces of the separate lengths.
The junction boxes already alluded to are of such a form and have connections
at two or more levels, so as to permit of their being connected with the troughs at
any angle of direction and of a size and form to permit effective electrical connec-
tions being made in them between the ends of the conductors, and also between
them and the main conductors leading from the junction boxes to the service boxes,
and to permit of these connections being insulated one from the other.
The service boxes are in the form, in plan, of an irregular octagon or suitable
figure, with connecting openings at two or more levels and adjustable so as to
permit of the troughs containing the main conductors being connected with them
at any angle of direction. These boxes contain separate connectors duly insulated,
and placed so as to give ready access to the main and service conductors and their
connections in parallel..
In addition to the openings above mentioned connecting the boxes with the
troughs, there will be other openings, also if necessary on separate levels for the
adjustment of direction, with which to connect the pipes leading from the service
boxes to the dwellings of consumers, into which the conductors required for service
will be drawn in the usual way.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a cross section a fig. 2 a part side
view of one arrangement of the before described conductors with their trough
cover and spacers or distance pieces. The conductors A. A consisting of copper
bands, are stretched, as herein before described, in the trough B in which they
are held in position by the notched spacers or distance-pieces C of insulating
material.
The trough being filled with paraffin as described after the conductors are fixed
in position the cover D is put on and secured by clamps E.
The cover is formed with inclines at D¹, so that when the clamps are driven on,
the cover is firmly secured by a wedge action.
The flanges of the trough have small grooves running along them, into which fit
projecting beads on the meeting faces of the cover, so that when the paraffin with
which the trough is filled is squeezed into the grooves by the downward pressure
of the cover, a perfectly watertight joint is ensured.

page_text: Figs. 3 and 4 shew respectively a cross section and part side view of a modified
arrangement in which the trough B is constructed with projecting lugs B¹ passing
through holes or notches in the cover D, which is secured by keys B' driven
through slots in the lugs.
Fig. 5 shews a sectional plan and fig. 6 a longitudinal section of two lengths of
trough G G connected by a junction box F the arrangement being such that the
two troughs can be made to assume any desired angle with each other within
certain limits, to suit the locality where they are laid. For this purpose the
junction box consists of two separate cylindrical parts F F of which F1 fits
within F and is secured by bolts to the trough G, being formed with an
opening leading into the same, while F is secured in a similar manner to the
trough G. Each part of the box is also formed with an opening on the side
opposite to its connection with the trough as shewn, thus allowing the other
part with its trough to assume an angular position as indicated by the dotted
lines. The junction box is here shewn not to extend beyond the level of the
pavement, where it is closed, firstly, by a cover H screwed to lugs on the inner
surface of the box F, and secondly by a cover H¹ fitting over a flange on the outer
part F. Where a large number of conductors are laid in the troughs, or where
many services have to be taken off, these junction-boxes may be made of increased
height, extending above the pavement and serving as curb-stones; in this case only
the outer part F of the box would be extended upwards.
The bandshaped conductors A A are bent up in the box and are secured by
binding screws to boards II in the same. The conductors are maintained in a
strained condition in the troughs by means of insulated straining bars K placed
at the bend of the conductors.
Fig. 7 shews a sectional plan of another construction of junction box L which
is here shewn of elongated form to give more room, and is made with rounded ends,
the troughs G G being formed with correspondingly rounded flanges so that they
may be arranged in angular positions relatively thereto as shewn.
It is to be understood that the various arrangements above described only serve
to expain the mode of carrying our invention into practice and that we in no way
limit ourselves to these arrangements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1, The method substantially as herein described of laying naked electrical
conductors in a stretched condition inside troughs in which they are supported
by spacers of insulating material and are also imbedded in paraffin with which
the troughs are filled after the conductors have been fixed in position.
2, The use for laying electrical conductors as set forth in the preceding claim of
troughs provided with spacers of insulating material for supporting the conductors
and with covers secured by clips bolts or keys, such troughs being connected
to junction boxes so arranged that the lengths of trough on each side of the
junction box may be placed at varying angles to each other, substantially as herein
described.