Improvements in Jointing Electric Conductors.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Jointing Electric Conductors.
WILLIAM GEIPEL, 49, Kidbrook Park Road, Blackheath, Kent, Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improved methods of jointing electric conductors
whereby the joints are more easily made or disconnected for repair, testing, or
otherwise, and whereby the insulation of the joint more easily effected.
The invention refers to joints which are contained in boxes made of metal, wood,
pot, or otherwise, the main use of the joint being for concentric conductors which
are generally speaking more difficult to joint than separate conductors. At the
same time I may use the box for separate conductors or partly for jointing
concentric and separate conductors together. In order to accomplish this I bring
the concentric conductors into the side of the box through glands or bushes.
The outer strands of the conductor being clamped to a metallic connector within the
box. The inner conductors are then slightly bent up and bared at the ends of the
inner strands or covers and are then clamped to the inner connector.
conductors may be thus jointed. After the joint is thus made the box may be filled
with a suitable insulating material, as for example oil, wax, bitumen or by a
combination of any of these according to the nature of the insulation used for the
conductor itself. For example, with a vulcanised or pure rubber insulated
conductor oil would be unsuitable as it dissolves rubber, therefore I should prefer
to use wax or other material. With paper or jute insulated conductors oil may
be used.
Two or more
I bend up the inner conductor sufficiently to raise the inner connector above the
level of the outer so that any of the inner conductors may be readily disconnected
without removing the insulation of the outer conductors. I place more importance
on being able to disconnect for testing or repair the inner conductor, as it is more
necessary to insulate this throughout than the outer conductor which generally
works at or about the potential of the earth, the inner generally being different in
potential to the earth.
In some cases I do not cover the inner connector merely covering the outer with
the insulating material in this event in order to prevent surface leakage across the
top of the insulating material I may place a guard of wood or pot or other suitable
substance which breaks the surface and increases the distance across which leakage
may occur.
The cover of the box may be of the usual type many of which are in use at
present. It may be either put on loosely, with or without an oil groove. Or the
cover may be bolted to the box with or without packing of jute, lead or other
material.
In the case of separate conductors I prefer to keep always those conductors
which are at the same potential connected to the upper or lower connector as the
case may be.
It is often advantageous to be able to joint conductors insulated with rubber to
others insulated with paper, jute, hemp, flax, cotton or other suitable insulating
material, the joints of which are best surrounded by oil.
In order to keep the rubber from the oil I bring the rubber-insulated conductors
in at the top of the box, the ends being bared where they enter the oil; and, where
it is necessary to support the rubber-insulated conductors, I arrange so that there

page_text: are preferably several inches between the surface of the oil & the support, in order
to improve the insulation of the joints.
Dated this 9th day of June 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Jointing Electric' Conductors.
..
"WILLIAM GEIPEL, 49, Kidbrook Park Road, Blackheath, Kent, 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 :-
་
My invention has reference to improved methods of jointing electric conductors
whereby the joints are more easily made or disconnected for repair, testing, or
otherwise, and whereby the insulation of the joint is more easily effected.
1.
My invention refers to joints which are contained in boxes made of metal, wood,
pot, or otherwise, the main use of the joint being for concentric conductors which
are generally speaking more difficult to joint than" separate conductors. At the
same time I may use the box for separate conductors or for jointing concentric and
separate conductors' together. In order to accomplish this I bring the concentric
conductors into the side of the box through glands or bushes. The outer strands
of the conductor being clamped to a metallic connector within the box. The inner
conductors are slightly bent up and bared at the ends of the inner strands or core
and are then clamped to the inner connector. Two or more conductors may be
tlius jointed. After the joint is thus made the box may be filled with a suitable
insulating material, 'as for example, oil, wax, bitumen, or by a combination of any
of these according to the nature of the insulation used for the conductor itself.
For example, with a vulcanised or pure rubber insulated conductor, oil would be
unsuitable as it dissolves rubber, therefore I should prefer to use wax or other
inaterial. With paper or jute insulated conductors oil may be used.
I bend up the inner conductor sufficiently to raise the inner conductor above the
level of the outer so that any of the inner conductors may be readily disconnected
without removing the insulation of the outer conductors. I place more importance
'on being able to disconnect for testing or repair the inner conductor, as it is more
necessary to insulate this throughout than the outer conductor which generally
works at or about the potential of the earth, the inner generally being different in
"potential to the earth.
"
In some cases I do not cover the inner conductor, merely covering the outer with
the insulating material, in this event in order to prevent surface leakage across the
top of the insulating material I may place a guard of wood or pot or other suitable
non-conducting substance which breaks the surface and increases the distance
across which leakage may occur.
The cover of the box may be of the usual type, many of which are in use at
present. It may be either put on loosely with or without an oil groove, or the
cover may be bolted to the box with or without packing of jute, lead. or other
inaterial.
Referring to the 'accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is' a 'plan and Figs. 2 and 3, are
sectional elevations of the joint.
...
a is the box which contains the joint,'b, b, are the 'glands or bushes in the sides
of the box through which the conductors" pass; c, are the clamps which connect
together the outer conductors' to the metallic connector d; e, e,' are the "inner
conductors which are bent up and whose bared ends are clamped to the raised inner
metallic connector f g is the insulating material which is filled in after the joint is
inade. In the drawing g is shewn not covering the 'inner connector, but merely
covering the outer connector c, d, together with the insulating material which

page_text: surrounds the inner conductor e. h is the guard of non-conducting substance which
reduces leakage across the surface of the insulating material g; should there be
any tendency for leakage to take place between the inner connector and the box, as
might be the case if dampness etc. existed. i is the cover of the box.
The illustrations shew a joint arranged for 3 concentric conductors but I may
use it for jointing 2 or 4, or more by multiplying the glands and clamps.
:
In the case of separate conductors I prefer to keep always those conductors.
which are at the same potential connected to the upper connector for lower
connector d as the case may be, throughout the system. With separate conductors
I arrange of course double the number of glands required for concentrics.
It is often advantageous to be able to joint conductors insulated with rubber to
others insulated with paper, jute, hemp, flax, cotton or other suitable insulating
material, the joints of which are best surrounded by oil.
Fig. 4 shews such an arrangement in plan, while Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional
elevations of the same.
In order to keep the rubber from the oil I bring the rubber insulated conductors
in at the top of the box, the ends being bared when they enter the oil; and, where
it is necessary to support the rubber insulated conductors, I arrange so that there
are preferably several inches between the surface of the oil and the supports, in
order to improve the insulation of the joints.
Referring to Figs. 4, 5 & 6, k are the rubber insulated conductors, being the
bared ends which enter the oil; these ends may be either the ends of the
conductors or they may be separate ends soldered or otherwise attached to the said
conductors. In any case the ends are preferably smooth and bright so as to reduce
creeping of the oil (if used) by capillary attraction. m is the support for the
rubber covered conductors and in this case it is shewn combined with the cover of
the box, the conductors being taken in through glands n so as to exclude
moisture.
In the case of lead covered conductors I may attach the lead to the gland by
means of a plumber's wiped joint, the gland being made oil tight with packing in
the usual way. For india rubber covered concentric conductors, the glands may be
made of wood or other suitable material.
In any of the above joints I may use a drying agent, such as calcium chloride to
absorb any moisture which might be admitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
In electric joint boxes for concentric conductors, in which an insulating material,
such as oil, wax, ozokerite etc. is used for protecting and insulating the joints, the
improved arrangement whereby the conductors are brought in at the sides of the box
in an approximately horizontal direction while the ends of the inner conductor are
bent up so that the inner joints are made at a higher level than the outer joints,
which consequently facilitates getting at the inner joints for repair, testing or
otherwise, substantially as above described and set forth.
In electric joint boxes for separate conductors in which an insulating material
such as oil, wax, ozokerite etc. is used for protecting and insulating the joints, the
improved arrangements above described & set forth whereby the conductors are
brought in at the sides of the box in an approximately horizontal direction, while
the ends of one of the conductors, which is preferably always of the same polarity
throughout the system, are bent up so that the joints on the said conductors are
made at a higher level than those on the conductors of opposite polarity, which
consequently facilitates getting at the said conductors for repair or otherwise as set
forth.
In electric joint boxes for jointing india rubber covered conductors to conductors
insulated with other materials than rubber in which an insulating material such as
oil is used for protecting and insulating the joints, the improved arrangements

page_text: above described and set forth whereby the conductors with rubber covering may
be brought in at the top of the box while the other aforesaid conductors may be
brought in at the sides of the box in an approximately horizontal direction, the
arrangement being such that the oil, while being used to improve the insulation of
the conductors not insulated with rubber, is prevented from attacking and damaging
the insulation of the rubber covered conductors.
Dated thin 5th day of November 1894