Improvements in or relating to Lightning Conductors.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Lightning Conductors.
A communication from GUSTAN WALCH, of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,.
M.1. Mech. E., & Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
This improved lightning conductor is mainly characterized by the construction
of its intercepting rods, which are hollow and not unlike gas-pipes in shape, and
which may be readily fitted to the roof. The intercepting-rods are thereby madé
much lighter than they have hitherto been, while the structure formed by them,.
however high, is nevertheless very strong. Another novel feature is the shape and
arrangement of the point which is to receive the lightning, whereby a larger
contact-surface between that point and the conducting-wire is secured. And
lastly the peculiar arrangement of the connecting sleeves of the conducting wires
may be mentioned as part of this invention.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the frame in which the lightning intercepting or con-
ducting rod is arranged, the lower part of the latter being also shown in a side and
top view respectively.
Fig. 3 shows the connection between the frame and the said intercepting rod
and the junction of the conducting wires with that rod on a somewhat larger scale
than the first two figures.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the upper end of the intercepting or conducting
rod with its point.
Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the point of attachment of the point.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating various methods of joining wires, and
Fig. 7 is a sleeve adapted for double conducting wires.
As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, the lightning-receiving or conducting-rod A
consists of a number of tube-sections a, and it is found that ordinary gas-piping
will answer this purpose very well. These tubes a are joined together by means of
cross-sleeves which at the same time serve for securing the hollow rod to the
frame C. This frame is preferably constructed in the shape of a fork or yoke,
being formed of two parallel side rods or bars which may be connected with the
roof-girders either as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, or in other convenient
manner.
May
To connect the hollow rod with the frame it is proposed to utilize the horizontal
arms of the cross-sleeves b, which may be screw-threaded internally and into which
correspondingly threaded bolts or blocks d (Fig. 3) may be screwed or otherwise
fitted, terminating in pins e, which, by means of nuts screwed thereon ou either
side of the frame-bar C, complete the attachment. The vertical orifice of the
sleeves, of course, remains open, so that the conducting-wire may be drawn through
the succession of tubes without any difficulty. The cross-sleeves being obtainable
in the market ready for use, it will only be necessary to cut up suitable piping a
into sections of a given size, so as to suit the requirements of each case, and under
the circumstances it will be understood that the work to be performed on the roof,
which is the most difficult and dangerous part, is here considerably simplified, while
the structure and its attachment prove to possess none the less stability and
strength, one reason of this being that the rod is not weakened at any part by
nonfanation

page_text: Where
The junction-sleeve for the conducting wires is screwed direct into the down-
wardly projecting arm of each sleeve b It is made of copper and constitutes a
combination or series of arms, the number and position of which correspond to
those of the conducting-wires. In Figs. 1 to 3 a cross-sleeve fis represented,
through whose vertical arm the conducting-wire g is guided, while the horizontal
arms are adapted to hold the transverse wire h serving for the ridge-piece of the
roof. Other frequently employed forms of sleeves are shown in Fig. 6.
there is no special conductor for the ridge, for example, in the case of towers or
spires, the horizontal arms of the connecting-sleeves may of course, be dispensed
with. The connection of the wires with the sleeves is made by means of screws
and if required strengthened by solder. When the wire h of the ridge is situated
in the plane of the frame C it is conducted (as shown in Fig. 2) through small
perforations in the rods of C. The point i is retained upon A by means of a nut k.
To obtain as large a metallic contact surface between the conducting wire and
the point and to avoid oxidation at the point of contact, the connection is
established in the following manner: adjacent to the central perforation of the
point runs another perforation l. This perforation joins the former one, part
of the way, as illustrated in Fig. 5, but not to such an extent as to allow the
wire g which is inserted into the perforation as shown in Fig. 5 to slip out.
g
The attachment of the conducting-wire takes place as follows; it is passed
through the sleeve and through A, and then driven into 1. When the point or
lightning-receiver has been fitted in position, the wire is screwed in at f, but not
before. In fact if the wire be firmly secured in no screwing may be necessary
at all.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A lightning-conductor characterized by the construction of the lightning
intercepting or conducting rods such as A formed of sections of tubing joined
together and secured to a fork or yoke-shaped frame such as C by cross sleeves
such as the vertical arms of which receive the ends of the tube-sections while the
horizontal arms have pieces such as d screwed or otherwise fitted into them an
uninterrupted hollow passage being however provided in the vertical direction of
the sleeve for the insertion of the wire the wire connecting sleeves being located
in the lower vertical arm of the lower sleeve for the attachment of the conducting
wire and also of the wire which is to run along the ridge of the roof substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In the lightning conductor as characterized in the first claim the arrangement
of lightning intercepting points in which the conducting wire is located within
a perforation or passage adjacent and parallel to the central perforation of the
point the two passages or orifices joining part of the way whereby a greater contact
surface is secured substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of January 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.