IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES OR CONDUCTORS FOR TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC, OR SIMILAR PURPOSES, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING OR COATING WIRE WITH INSULATING MATERIAL
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES OR CONDUCTORS FOR TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC,
OR SIMILAR PURPOSES, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING OR COATING WIRE WITH INSULATING
MATERIAL." A communication from abroad by David Brooks, junior, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES OR CONDUCTORS
FOR TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC, OR SIMILAR PURPOSES, WHICH INVENTION
COMPRISES AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING OR COATING
WIRE WITH INSULATING MATERIAL." [A communication from abroad by David
Brooks, junior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
According to this Invention I provide uninsulated metallic wrapped wires and
an inclosing metallic pipe, the wrappings being in contact with each other and
with the enclosing pipe forming an electrical communication between all of the
metallic wrappings inside of the pipe and the pipe itself, whereby, the induced
currents are carried off to the exterior pipe, and the inductive effects upon the
other wires are prevented or lessened.
I also provide a metallic wrapping, binding together a bunch of the said unin-
sulated metallic wrapped wires, and serving to form a direct electrical communi-
cation at all points between all of the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe and
the pipe itself, whereby the induced currents are carried off to the exterior pipe
and the inductive effects upon the other wires prevented or lessened.
I also insulate wires by forcing into the pipe or conduit containing them the
insulating material, by pressure created by volatilizing a portion of said material
in an air-tight receiver or vessel, provided with a pipe which dips into the material,
whereby the insulation is readily and reliably accomplished.

page_text: '
I also provide means for leaving the metallic wrappings partly open or separated,
whereby the tissue, or fibrous covering of the electric conducting wires may be
readily saturated with insulating material..
In carrying the said Invention into practice I cover each wire with fibrous
material or tissue, which is wrapped with an uninsulated wire or metallic strap in
spiral form, or is covered by a metallic ribbon longitudinally enclosing the covered
wire. When this ribbon is employed it may be bent around the wire by means of
dies or other suitable devices. A number of wires thus wrapped are placed
together forming a cable, which is covered with or inserted into a lead pipe or case,
and insulating material is run into the pipe, thus saturating the tissue or fibrous
covering of the several wires.
The metallic wrappings are in contact with each other and with the outside
metallic pipe, forming a complete electrical communication between all of the
uninsulated parts inside of the pipe and the pipe itself, the purpose of which is to
carry off the induced currents directly to the exterior metallic pipe, and thereby
prevent or lessen the inductive effect upon the other wires.
In order to securely bind together the wires of the cable, and rener the latter
convenient for insertion into or being covered with the lead pipe or case, the cable
is wound or served with a metallic wire or strap spirally wrapped on the cable,
said strap also forming a direct electrical communication at all points between all
of the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe with the pipe itself, whereby the
induced currents are carried off to the exterior pipe and the inductive effects upon
the other wires prevented or lessened.
For covering the wires with insulating material I provide an air-tight vessel for
heating the insulating material; also a heating chamber for receiving the pipe or
conduit containing the wires to be insulated, the heating of the vessel and chamber
being accomplished by a furnace or other suitable means.
The pipe or conduit coiled or wound on a reel is placed in the chamber, and one
end passed through openings in the wall of said chamber and top of the air-tight
vessel, and it reaches to near the bottom of the latter, so as to dip well into the
material. In practice I prefer to use a pipe which is a fixture of the vessel, the
same having couplings for attaching to it the pipe that is placed in the heating
chamber. The other end of the pipe to be heated is passed out through a wall
of the chamber, and directed to a tank, tub, or the like for collecting material after
it leaves the pipe.
The air-tight vessel made of strong material has a cap, which is first opened to
admit the insulating-material-and-afterwards-securely-closed so that the vessel is
'air-tight.
The insulating material has applied to it a suitable quantity of light oil, which
may however be a component part of said material, the oil to be or being of such
nature that it volatilizes at from 230 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the vessel is heated the oil of the insulating material volatilizes and creates
a pressure, which is exerted on the surface of the heated and fluid insulating
material, the material being thus forced from the vessel into and through the pipe,
whose end projects into or is connected to the vessel as has been stated. When
the insulation is effected the pipe is detached and removed from the chamber, and
both of its ends are duly capped or closed, the pipe with its insulated wire or cable
then being in condition to be laid.
In order that the insulating material may readily reach and saturate the tissue
or fibrous covering of the electric conducting wire, the strap or wire herein before
mentioned may be in open spiral form, or the metallic ribbon may have a slight
longitudinal space formed by employing suitable sheet metal of less width than
the circumference of the wire, so that when the metal is bent over the wire the
ends are not closed and leave the space as stated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry. Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th January 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLES OR CONDUCTORS
FOR TELEGRAPHIC, TELEPHONIC, OR SIMILAR PURPOSES, WHICH INVENTION
COMPRISES AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING OR COATING
WIRE WITH INSULATING MATERIAL." A communication. from abroad by David
Brooks, junior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in cables or conductors for telegraphic,
telephonic, or similar purposes, and comprises an improved method of and apparatus
for covering or coating wire with insulating material.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide uninsulated metallic
wrapped wires and an enclosing metallic pipe, the wrappings being in contact with
each other and with the enclosing pipe, forming an electrical communication
between all of the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe and the pipe itself,
whereby the induced currents are carried off to the exterior pipe and the inductive
effects upon the other wires are prévented or lessened.
I also provide a metallic wrapping, which binds together a bunch of the said
uninsulated metallic wrapped wires, and serves to form a direct electrical commu-
nication at all points between all of the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe
and the pipe itself, whereby the induced currents are carried off to the
exterior pipe and the inductive effects upon the other wires prevented or
lessened.
I also insulate wires by forcing into the pipe or conduit containing them the
insulating material by pressure created by volatilizing a portion of the said
material in an air-tight receiver or vessel provided with a pipe which dips into
such material, whereby the insulation is readily and reliably accomplished.
I also provide means for leaving the metallic wrappings partly open or separated,
whereby the tissue or fibrous covering of the electric conducting wires may be
readily saturated with insulating material.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figures 1 and 2 are exterior views of pieces of the wire embodying my
Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of a series of the wires placed together
and enclosed in a metallic sheath or pipe.
Figure 5 is partly a side elevation and partly an interior view of apparatus for
insulating electric wires.
A represents a wire covered with a fibrous material or tissue and wrapped with
an uninsulated wire or metallic strap B in spiral form, as shewn at a, Figure 1, or
by a metallic ribbon B, Figure 3, longitudinally enclosing the covered wire. When
this ribbon is employed it may be bent around the wire by means of dies or other
suitable devices. A number of wires thus wrapped are placed together so as to
form a cable, which is covered with or inserted in a lead pipe or case c, into which
insulating material is run, thus saturating the tissue or fibrous covering of the
several wires.
It will be seen that the wrappings B are in metallic contact with each
other and with the outside metallic pipe, forming a complete electrical commu-
nication between all of the uninsulated parts inside of the pipe and the pipe
tself, so as to carry off the induced currents directly to the exterior metallic
pipe and thereby prevent or lessen the inductive effect upon the other wires.

page_text: In order to securely bind together the wires of the cable and render the latter
convenient for insertion into or being covered with the lead pipe or case C, the
cable is wound or served with a metallic wire or strap D spirally wrapped on the
cable, the said strap also forming a direct electrical communication at all points
between all of the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe and the pipe itself,
whereby the induced currents are carried off to the exterior pipe and the inductive
effects upon the other wires prevented or lessened in a similar manner to that
above described.
Referring to Figure 5, A¹ represents an air-tight vessel for heating the insulating
material, and B¹ represents a heating chamber for receiving the pipe or conduit.
containing the wires to be insulated, the heating of the vessel and chamber being
accomplished by a furnace a", or other suitable means.
The pipe or conduit coiled or wound on a reel is placed in the chamber B', and
has one of its ends passed through an opening in the wall of the said chamber
and the top of the vessel A¹ reaching near to the bottom of the latter, so as to dip
well into the material. In practice I prefer to use a pipe a*, which is a fixture
of the vessel A¹, the said pipe having couplings for attaching to it the pipe that is
placed in the heating chamber. The other end of the pipe to be heated is passed
out through one of the walls of the chamber and directed to a tank, tub, or the
like, for collecting the material after it leaves the pipe.
The vessel A¹, made of strong material, has a cap, which is first opened to admit
the insulating material and afterwards securely closed, so that the said vessel is
air-tight.
The insulating material has applied to it.a suitable quantity of light oil, which
may however be a component part of the said material, the oil to be or being
of such nature that it volatilizes at from 230 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the vessel A¹ is heated the oil of the insulating material volatilizes and
creates a pressure, which is exerted on the surface of the heated and fluid
insulating material, the latter being thus forced from the vessel into and through
the pipe, whose end projects into or is connected to the vessel, as above stated.
When the insulation is effected the pipe is detached and removed from the
chamber B, and both of its ends are duly capped or closed, the pipe with its
insulated wire or cable being then in a condition to be laid.
In order that the insulating material may readily reach and saturate the tissuc
or fibrous covering of the electrical conducting wire the strap or wire B may be in
open spiral form, as at a, or the metallic ribbon may have a slight longitudinal
space a formed-by-employing suitable sheet metal of less width than the
circumference of the tissue or fibrous covered wire, so that when-the-metallis
bent over the said wire its edges are not closed, but have the space a¹ between
them.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A series of tissue or fibrous covered wires, each having an uninsulated
metallic wrapping in combination with an exterior metallic pipe, the several
wrappings being in contact, forming an electrical communication between all of
the metallic wrappings inside of the pipe and the pipe itself, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Second. A series of uninsulated metallic covered wires, a metallic binding wire
or strap, and an exterior metallic pipe combined, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Third. A tissue or fibrous covered wire, having an uninsulated metallic
wrapping, which is partly open, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The method of insulating electric wires, consisting in forcing the
insulating material into the pipe or conduit containing the said wires by the
pressure created by the volatilization of the said material.
Fifth. An air-tight vessel adapted to contain and heat insulating material, and

page_text: provided with a pipe whose inner end reaches nearly to the bottom of the said
vessel and whose outer end is in communication with the pipe or conduit
containing the wire, whereby when the material is heated the pressure created
within the vessel by the volatilization of a portion of the said material will force
the fluid material into the conduit, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof; I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)