AN IMPROVED TELEGRAPHIC CABLE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th August 1866.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED TELEGRAPHIC CABLE," a communication, to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in combining a number or series
of separate tubular or cylindrical conductors, one within the other, to form one
cable, so that a number of different despatches or "telegrams" equal to tho
number of tubes or cylinders, may be sent at one time through one cable..
Second, in the spiral construction of the said tubular or cylindrical con-
ductors, whereby an elasticity is secured that will effectually prevent the
breaking of the interior conducting mediums.

page_text: Third, in providing an outer cylinder or tubular metal covering, which
forms a neutralizing conductor, to guard or protect all the interior conductors
and allow them to retain at all times their full galvanic power of transmission
by neutralizing the influence of all earth currents.
The core or interior of the cable is formed of one or more iron, copper, or
other metallic wires. Around this wire a strip or band of copper or other
metal, is wound closely in a spiral manner; over the joints of this spiral
covering another metal strip is wound in a similar manner: The whole is
then thinly but compactly covered with india-rubber or gutta percha, 'or other
insulating material; over this insulating material two more metal strips are
wound in the manner above described. This process is continued according to
the required number of conducting cylinders, or the desired size and strength
of the cable; the whole is then covered with jute or otherwise protected in
the usual manner. A cable is thus formed which does not differ materially
in size and weight from ordinary cables, while its capacity for transmitting
messages is multiplied in proportion to the number of tubes or cylinders of
which it is composed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Patent Seal Office on
the 8th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
'send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED TELEGRAPHIC CABLE," upon the condition (amongst others)

page_text: that I, the said William. Robert Lake, my executors, or administrators,; by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
.should particularly describe and ascertain, the nature of; the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause, the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do, hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet, of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:
The nature of the said Invention consists, first, in combining a number
or series of separate tubular or cylindrical conductors, one within the other, to
form one cable; through which a number of different despatches or telegrams
(equal to the number of tubes or cylinders) may be sent at the same time.
Second, in the spiral construction of the said tubular or cylindrical
conductors, whereby an elasticity is obtained which will effectually prevent
the breaking of the interior conductors.
Third, in. providing an outer cylinder or tubular metal covering, which
forms a neutralizing conductor, to guard or protect one, or more of the
interior conductors and allow them to retain at all times their full galvanic
power of transmission by neutralizing the influence of all inductive and earth
currents.
The core or interior of the cable is formed of one or more iron, copper; or
other metallic wires. Around these wires a strip or band of copper or other
metal is wound closely in a spiral manner; over the joints of this spiral
covering another metallic strip is similarly wound. The whole is then thinly
but compactly covered with india-rubber, gutta percha; or other insulating
material; over this insulating material two more metal strips are wound in
the manner above described. This process is continued according to the
required number of conducting cylinders or the desired size and strength of the
cable. The whole is then covered with jute or otherwise protected in the
usual manner.

page_text: transverse section of a cable with seven conductors. Like letters indicate the
same parts in each of the Figures.
A is the core or interior which is formed of iron, copper, or other wire,
and is covered with the strip or band of copper or other metal B; this strip is
wound spirally upon the said core, as shewn in Figure 1. C is another metallic
strip which is wound over the joints of the strip B, and is covered with a
thin coating of india-rubber or other insulating material D; E, E', are other
metal strips which, as shewn in Figure 2, are wound closely and spirally over
the insulating material D, and are covered with jute or other protecting
material F. A cable is thus formed which does not differ materially in size
and weight from ordinary cables, while its capacity for transmitting messages
is multiplied in proportion to the number of tubes or conductors of which it
is composed..
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim a telegraphic cable composed of
a number of spirally formed insulated tubes or cylindrical conductors
arranged one within the other, in combination with suitable insulating sub-
stances, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (LS.)
Witness,
GEORGE HASELTINE,
Civil Engineer,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.