Improvements in and relating to Insulating Conduits for Electric Conductors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHANN JUNGBLUTH, of Cologne, in the Empire
of Germany, Architect.]
Improvements in and relating to Insulating Conduits for Electric
Conductors.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, 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:
The present invention relates to the process of constructing insulating blocks of
asphalt ready for laying presenting a special form of the said insulating blocks
which are arranged in a closed circle with a channel and are water-tight.
The manufacture is effected by a compression mould for the asphalt. Figures 1-6
illustrate the said mould, and Figures 7-9 shew the construction the rendering
water-tight and the placing of the insulating block. The insulating block A pro-
vided with a corresponding number of holes a for the passage and the placing of the
conducting wires proceeds from the mould C ready for laying. For this purpose
the insulating blocks are placed joint to joint, and the projecting rim N of one of
the joints of each of the insulating blocks passes into the corresponding groove M
of the other block, as is shewn in plan with partial horizontal section in Figure 7
and in elevation in Figure 9. After the said joints are engaged one in the other,
each of them is treated with liquid asphalt in such a manner that a perfect water-
tight joint is produced.
The insulating blocks A are placed at their ends in a closing ring H, and slid
into the same up to the half of its width. The containing ring is provided with a
circular cut out portion P forming a hollow annular channel at the junction of the
two joints of the insulating blocks A and intended to be filled with liquid asphalt;
the closing ring H may be made of asphalt or of cement. In this manner there is
obtained on the one hand a certain junction of the different insulating blocks A in
such a manner that the joints cannot shew any projecting part in the holes thereof,
whereas this drawback in the blocks at present in use causes great inconvenience
in the insertion of the conducting wires; moreover by this method of jointing
there is obtained towards the outside an absolute watertightness against moisture
and atmospheric influence which is of a very great importance both for the
durability and the insulation of the electric wires.
In the industrial manufacture of these blocks it is preferable to proceed as
follows:-
The mould is composed essentially of a cylinder C divided in two parts length-
ways; these parts are united by the aid of bolts f passing through the projections d
and secured by aid of the parts as shewn in transverse section Figure 3. This

page_text: arrangement of the present mould facilitates the removal of the insulating block
after the compression. In the cylinder C is placed a bottom piece G and upon it a
movable and removable plate F which can be taken away and which possesses the
form of the groove of the corresponding joint. At the top there is also a lid D
which is movable and forms the plate of the press. Below this is another movable
plate E which has the shape of the corresponding joint. For the forming of the
hollows a a a corresponding to the hollows for the insertion of the conducting wires
in the insulating block A, there is used a group of tubes B each of which is attached
to the upper lid D or to the plate of the press, and passes freely through the
plates EF as well as through the lower piece G.
Figure 1 represents the plate of the press D with the tubes thereon. The mould
is filled with powdered asphalt at the required temperature; then the plate is
caused to descend to the required height (see Fig. 2), the tubes pass out below
through G; when the compression has been effected the plate is raised with the
tubes (see Fig. 5). At the same time the upper plate E remains in the position
occupied at the last moment, in which position it is held by a suitable catch ḥ,
(Fig. 6), whereas the plate D can slide along owing to the arrangement of a suitable
hollow l.
In order that the tubes may not cause any sharp edged joints in the asphalt
there are provided the annular rings 6 in the plates EF (Fig. 6) which enable a
rounded shape to be formed in the asphalt at the position of each hole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. Process for the manufacture of insulating blocks of asphalt ready for laying
subterranean electric wires characterised by the arrangement that the mass of
heated asphalt receives simultaneously upon the descent of a pressing plate, and in
consequence of the compression both a high degree of impermeability and the
requisite apertures for holding the conducting wires as well as the necessary shape
for forming insulating blocks fitted exactly together and ready for laying.
2. In the carrying out of the process set forth in Claim 1, the mould in two
pieces characterised by having the bottom of the press formed of a fixed iron
plate G and of a removable plate F said bottom possessing openings for the passage
of the group of tubes B attached to the pressing plate D and passing through
the movable plate E, provided with suitable apertures, which movable plate is held
when the plate is withdrawn after the moulding by means of the catch h at the
required height for the insulating block and has at the openings for the passage
of the tubes annular pieces b which assure the exact fitting of the insulating blocks
ready for laying direct from the mould as shewn in Figures 1-6 of the accompany-
ing drawing.
3. For the water-tight laying of the insulating blocks constructed according to
the process set forth in Claim 1, the provision of a closing ring H surrounding the
joints, which ring is provided with a aperture or circular channel P which is
designed to be filled with asphalt, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: the fuel. These and other matters are careruny provided for m the construction
illustrated in the drawings, and which will now be described.
A indicates a fire box or combustion chamber, here represented as that of a boiler
furnace; B the bridge wall; C a boiler or steam generator; and D a furnace front, to
which are applied the fuel-feeding devices.
The boiler may be present or not, as found expedient in any given case, but will
be carried into this description for better explanation of the complete scheme of
operation.
The furnace front, D, consisting essentially of a cast iron plate, is formed with a
hopper E, extending from the middle toward each side of the front, and of a width
approximately half that of said front, ordinarily, though its dimensions may vary
as found best.
The hopper E is designed to receive and hold a considerable supply of fuel, which,
falling to the bottom of the hopper rests upon a flat or horizontal bed a, from which
it is forced through an opening, b, in the furnace front, D, by a reciprocating
slide or pusher, F, Figures 1 and 3.
Just within the back of the front plate D is a hollow casting, G, bolted to the
furnace front and serving as a girder or bracket to support and carry the masonry of
the front immediately below the front end of the boiler, C. This casting G is formed
with a throat c, the mouth or lower and outer opening of which registers with opening
b of the front plate D.
The throat c has an upward inclination from the opening b, rearward, and also
widens or increases in vertical measurement, rearwardly, with a view to preventing
the fuel from being clogged or retarded in its passage therethrough.
It has been the general practice heretofore either to make the floor or lower side
of the feeding throat or passage horizontal, or to give it a downward inclination from
the furnace front inward toward the fire-box; but this has been found undesirable,
for the reason that the fuel is thereby caused to fall away from the feed opening and
to leave an insufficient quantity at the head of the grate to ensure the best working
conditions. As mentioned the throat or passage is given an upward inclination,
making this sufficient to cause the fuel to form a fairly compact mass. This not
only enables one to judge accurately and at all times the quantity of fuel that will
be introduced in a given time; but it precludes any considerable ingress of air through
the throat or feed opening; and thus prevents the undue deadening of the fire on
the one hand, or the premature ignition and combustion of the fuel on the other
hand.
This feature of construction is found of very considerable importance, materially
improving the action of the apparatus, and enhancing the economy of its use.
The pusher or feeding slide F is merely a metallic block or casting, of a length
equal to that of the interior of the hopper and of throat c; and of a height at its
inner edge or face somewhat less than that of opening b, at its front or outer edge it is
formed with ears d, which are connected by bolts to arms, e, projecting radially from
a sleeve H, encircling a shaft I, which shaft receives an oscillating motion from a
motor J, through the medium of an arm f, secured upon shaft I, and a pitman g,
connected with the piston of the motor.
Sleeve H is loose upon shaft I, but may be connected therewith through the medium
of devices shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, which will now be explained.
K indicates a rocking head or casting loosely encircling the shaft I, and projecting
above and below the same, in the form shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. The lower
extension of this head or rocker is in the form of two separated but parallel arms g
between which is hung a block h, carrying a sleeve i to receive a pitman or connecting
rod L, through which motion is transmitted to the grate bars as hereinafter
explained.
The upper portion of the head or rocker K has at its rear side a laterally projecting
and shouldered rib j, adapted to engage one of the arms e, of sleeve H, and to carry
said arm and sleeve forward with it when head or rocker K is rocked in that direction.
Projecting forward from the upper portion of the head or rocker K, is an extension k,

page_text: A communication by JAMES C. KEOUGH, of Holyoke, in the County of Hampden,
State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention pertains to mechanical stokers for furnaces, and consists in various
novel features, combinations and details hereinafter set forth.
The invention is susceptible of application to furnaces generally, but is peculiarly
suited to boiler furnaces, since in its preferred embodiment it comprises as a part of
the complete structure or combination, a water motor, taking its supply from the
boiler and under the pressure therein. This, however, is not an essential feature,
though deemed a very desirable and advantageous plan.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a furnace front with the improved stoking
apparatus applied;
Figure 2 a perspective view of the fuel and ash grates the furnace front and motor
looking from the inner or rear side of the front plate;
Figure 3 a longitudinal vertical section of the stoking apparatus, grates and fire
chamber, showing the bridge wall and lower front portion of the boiler;
Figure 4 a vertical transverse section on the line x-x of Figure 3.
Figure 5 a sectional view of the clutch for connecting and disconnecting the
stoking devices with and from the motor.
The purpose of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient apparatus for
stoking or charging furnaces generally, whereby most of the labor incident to manual
stoking shall be rendered unnecessary, and the uniformity of the stoking and firing
so increased as greatly to economize fuel.
The term stoking is here employed in its more comprehensive sense, implying not
merely the feeding or introduction of fuel, but also the proper distribution. thereof,
and the removal of ashes, etcetera, or in other words, the "trimming" of the fire.
It is, of course, desirable that the apparatus shall be capable of manual actuation,
in order that the fire may be properly started and maintained prior to develop-
ment of pressure sufficient to actuate the motor; or, in the event of use where
fluid pressure is not available. So, too, it is advisable to provide for the feeding
of fuel without shaking the grate or agitating the fire; or to vary the relation
of these two operations as to degree. A forced draft is sometimes advantageous,
and, if provided, it should be subject to perfect regulation and control, not only
as to strength, but also as to the point or points of application to or passage through