IMPROVEMENT IN INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS, AND IN THE MATERIAL EMPLOYED FOR SUCH INSULATION, OR FOR WATER-PROOFING PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Thaddeus Woodward, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENT IN
INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS, AND IN THE MATERIAL EMPLOYED FOR
SUCH INSULATION, OR FOR WATER-PROOFING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Thaddeus Woodward
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1881.
ARTHUR THADDEUS WOODWARD, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENT IN INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS, AND
IN THE MATERIAL EMPLOYED FOR SUCH INSULATION, OR FOR WATERPROOFING
PURPOSES."
Telegraph conductors have been laid together in parallel lines with intervening
non-conducting materials, and test boxes have been provided at intervals, and
the conductors and insulating materials have been introduced into long tubes or
cases.
My Invention relates to the mode of rendering the whole of the conductors and
the test boxes entirely water and air proof, so that the insulation cannot be injured
by moisture, and access can be had to the wires when required for the purpose of
testing the same, and for taking off any lateral connections. In the Drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the insulated telegraph conductors at two of the
test or connection boxes; and Figure 2 is a cross section at the line x, x.
case or tube into which the electric conductors are laid is to be of any desired size
or shape according to the number of conductors it is to contain, and it is preferably
of wood, but may be of metal or earthenware. I have shown such case as square,
sectionally, with sides a, bottom b, and movable top c.
The
I introduce into the bottom of the case a, b, c, a layer of waterproof insulating
material, such as hereafter described, or any other suitable bituminous or water
proof compound may be employed.
"
At suitable distances apart there are testing or connection boxes e introduced
within the case a, b, c, and the wires or conductors f. f, pass through holes at the
ends of these boxes

page_text: The waterproof insulating material is introduced in a melted state into the case
a, b, around the electric conductors, and also entirely around the testing or con-
nection boxes e. In applying the waterproof insulating material it is preferable to
introduce a layer on the bottom of the case, then place thereon the lowest range of
parallel conductors, then another layer of waterproof insulating material and
another range of parallel wires, and so on.
The waterproof insulating material flows all around the testing or connection
boxes, and hermetically seals the same and renders the box perfectly water and air
tight.
Where there are lateral connections they will usually be made before the cover
of the box c is applied, but when these lateral connections have to be made to a
previously laid cable the cover of the external case is removed, and the water-
proofing material at the testing box is removed, the insulating material broken up,
and the cover of the testing box removed to give access to the electric conductors
for testing or making lateral connections, after which the box is closed and
hermetically sealed by the melted insulating material.
The waterproof and insulating material which I prefer and employ is prepared
as next described.
I make use of silica, such as glass or quartz, in the form of a very fine powder,
and vegetable or mineral resin or pitch. This latter substance should also be
ground fine and thoroughly mixed with the silica, and I add to the same wax,
such as paraffine, bees wax, or spermaceti, and also oil, such as boiled or raw
linseed oil.
The proportion of the substances will vary according to the circumstances under
which the compound is to be used. When it is liable to exposure to the warmth
of-the-sun-the-proportion of wax should be diminished, and when the compound is
used for insulating underground electrical lines the proportion of wax should be
increased.
I have found that the wax combines very intimately with the oil and resin or
pitch, and aids in the intimate union of the same with, the silica, and causes the
compound to set rapidly, and that the same enables me to employ but little oil,
and that the durability, tenacity, flexibility, and waterproof and insulating
character of the composition is promoted by the wax.
I prefer to use about sixty six parts by weight of silica to thirty four parts of
resin or pitch, and twenty six parts of wax, more or less, and about three parts
of oil.
These are all thoroughly combined in the presence of sufficient heat to liquify
the resin; the mass is to be carefully and thoroughly stirred to render it
homogeneous.
For insulating telegraph conductors the wire should be drawn through the
melted compound either with or without a braided covering on the wire. The
tubes of fixtures for electric lights may be insulated by an internal or external
coating of this material, or both, and conductors may be coated with this compound
and drawn into a tube of metal, or into channels in wooden troughs or other
holding devices.
Wood or metal may be coated with this material for its protection; ships and
other vessels may be coated for protecting then from marine fungus or barnacles,
and this plastic compound may be employed for other purposes in the arts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Arthur Thaddeus Woodward
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June 1882.
ARTHUR THADDEUS WOODWARD, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENT IN INSULATING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS, AND
IN THE MATERIAL EMPLOYED FOR SUCH INSULATION, OR FOR WATER-PROOFING
PURPOSES."
Telegraph conductors have been laid together in parallel lines with intervening
non-conducting material, and test boxes have been provided at intervals, and
the conductors and insulating materials have been introduced into long tubes or
cases.
My Invention relates to the mode of rendering the whole of the conductors and
the test boxes entirely water and air proof, so that the insulation cannot be injured
by moisture, and access can be had to the wires when required for the purpose of
testing the same and for taking off any lateral connections. In the Drawing,--
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the insulated telegraph conductors at two of the
test or connection boxes, and
Fig. 2 is a cross section at the line x, x.
The case or tube into which the electric conductors are laid is to be of any
desired size or shape according to the number of conductors it is to contain, and it
is preferably of wood, but may be of metal or earthenware. I have shown such
box as square sectionally, with sides a, bottom b, and movable top c. I introduce
into the bottom of the case a, b, c, a layer of waterproof insulating material, such
as hereafter described, or any other suitable bituminous or water-proof compound
may be employed. At suitable distances apart there are testing or connection
boxes e introduced within the case a, b, c, and the wires or conductors f. f. pass
through holes at the ends of these boxes.
The water-proof insulating material is introduced in a melted state into the case
a, b, around the electric conductors, and also entirely around the testing or connection
boxes e. In applying the water proof insulating material it is preferable to
introduce a layer on the bottom of the case, then place thereon the lowest range
of parallel conductors, then another layer of waterproof insulating material, and
another range of parallel wires, and so on.
The water proof insulating material flows all around the testing or connection
boxes, and hermetically seals the same and renders the box perfectly water and
air tight.
Where there are lateral connections they will usually be made before the cover
of the box e is applied, but when these lateral connections have to be made to a
previously laid cable the cover of the external case is removed, and the water-
proofing material at the testing box is removed, the insulating material broken up,
and the cover of the testing box removed to give access to the electric conductors
for testing or making lateral connections, after which the box is closed and
hermetically sealed by the melted insulating material.
The water proof and insulating material which I prefer and employ is prepared
as next described.
I make use of silica, such as glass or quartz in the form of a very fine powder,
and vegetable or mineral resin or pitch. This latter substance should also be
ground fine and thoroughly mixed with the silica, and I add to the same wax,
such as paraffine, beeswax, or spermaceti, and also oil, such as boiled or raw linseed
oil.

page_text: The proportion of the substances will vary according to the circumstances under
which the compound is to be used. When it is liable to exposure to the warmth
of the sun, the proportion of wax should be diminished, and when the compound
is used for insulating underground electric lines the proportion of wax should be
increased.
I have found that the wax combines very intimately with the oil, and resin, or
pitch, and aids in the intimate union of the same with the silica, and causes the
compound to set rapidly, and that the same enables me to employ but little oil,
and that the durability,, tenacity, flexibility, and water-proof and insulating
character of the composition is promoted by the wax.
I prefer to use about sixty six parts by weight of silica to thirty four parts of
resin or pitch, and twenty six parts of wax, more or less, and about three parts
of oil.
These are all thoroughly combined in the presence of sufficient heat to liquify
the resin; the mass is to be carefully and thoroughly stirred to render it
homogeneous.
For insulating telegraph conductors the wire should be drawn through the
melted compound either with or without a braided covering on the wire. The
tubes or fixtures for electric lights may be insulated by an internal or external
coating of this material, or both, and conductors may be coated with this
compound and drawn into a tube of metal, or into channels in wooden troughs
or other holding devices.
Wood or metal may be coated with this material for its protection; ships and
other vessels may be coated for protecting them from marine fungus or barnacles;
1
First. The combination with the electric conductors imbedded in the insulating
material of the test or connection boxes, and the bituminous or other water proof
insulating material that surrounds and hermetically seals such test or connection
boxes, as set forth.
Second. The water-proof insulating compound composed of the materials, and
prepared substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Thaddeus Woodward, have hereunto
set iny signature and seal, this Tenth day of April, A.D. 1882.
Witnesses,
ATOTTTATIT
GEO. T. PINCKNEY, 140, Nassau St., New York, N.Y.
CHAS. H. SMITH,
"
"
35