Improvement in Electric Conductor Wire Connectors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Electric Conductor Wire Connectors.
I, ISAAC SHULTES, residing at Martin, in the County of Allegan, and State of
Michigan, Gentleman, 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 relates to a connector for electric wires, and the object of the
invention is to provide a device of this character which will, should one of the wires
break, allow the section of wire to disengage from the connector and fall dead to
the ground so as to be perfectly harmless, and not endanger life.
With this object in view, the invention consists of certain features of construc-
tion and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of a track, illustrating the applica-
tion of my invention to an overhead electric railway system, showing in dotted
lines one whole section of the conductor wire supported by the connection, and in
full lines the said section when broken, in the act of falling from the connection;
Figure 2 is a side view of the connector, with one of the side plates removed,
showing one form of device for fastening the ends of the conductor wire to the
connector;
Figure 3 is a similar view, showing another form of fastening device;
Figure 4 is a similar view, showing still another form of fastening device; and
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view.
While it is evident that this connector may be used for connecting the wires of many
different kinds of electric systems, I will describe it in connection with an over-
head railway system, but do not wish to be confined to its use in that connection.
In the drawings, 1 denotes a line of track, 2 the trolley poles, 3 the spans, and 4
the conductor connector. The connector consists of two side plates, 5, between which
is secured the wire supporting block 6, the lower edges of which are formed with
inclined wedging grooves 7 adapted to receive the intermediate ends of two sections
of conductor wires 8.
In the construction shown in Fig. 2, I secure the ends of the wires in the grooves
of the block by passing them through holes 9 formed in wedge pieces 10 and up-
setting the ends, and when said wires are drawn taut the wedge pieces will be
drawn tightly against the inner ends of the grooves 7 and the wires will be securely
held in position; but should they break, they will drop to the ground and be
entirely out of electrical connection with the remaining wires.
In Fig. 3 I have shown another means for fastening the wires to the connector,
and this means. consists of a wedge piece 12 having a rounded shoulder 13 adapted
o fit in a corresponding socket or recess 14 formed in the inner edge of the block,
and provided with two transverse holes 15, through one of which the end of the
wire is passed, said wire being bent back upon itself and its extremity passed
hrough the other hole. Should the wire break, the recoil of the same would be
ufficient to throw the shoulder of the wedge piece out of engagement with the
ocket or recess and allow the broken wire to fall to the ground.

page_text: 1
In Fig. 4 I have formed the side plates of the connector at its ends with two
upwardly and oppositely curved slots 16, which are adapted to receive cross-wedging
pieces 17, to which the ends of the conductor wire are attached. It is evident that
when the wires break, the wedging pieces will freely slide out of the grooves and
allow the wires to drop to the ground.
In each of these forms of device I provide a conductor plate or strip 17', which
spans the space between the meeting ends of each conductor wire section and
establishes electrical contact between said ends.
If desired, I may equip one or more of the connectors with a feed wire binding
screw 19.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing, the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be
readily understood without requiring further explanation.
By the employment of the device the expense in hanging wires is materially
lessened, the danger to life and property on account of the breaking of a wire is
entirely overcome, and the facility for repairing greatly increased, for when one
wire has become broken, all that is necessary is to replace it with another section
of the same length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described wire connector comprising the side pieces 5-5, the
block 6, having an eye at its upper end for connection to a rod or span, and the
wedging grooves in its under face, in combination with wedge pieces to which
the ends of the wires are connected, said wedge pieces held within the grooves in
the block by the strain or pull on the wires, and permitted to drop out of the
'grooves when the wire breaks, substantially as described.
2. A wire connector consisting of the side pieces 5-5, the block 6 provided with
the grooves in its under face, the plate 17' spanning the space between the grooves,
the wedge pieces in the grooves and the wires connected thereto, substantially as
described.
Dated thin 10th dore of Antahan 1007
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.