Improved Electric Insulators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improved Electric Insulators.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SAX, of 2 Woburn Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to electric insulators used, generally for carrying
and insulating overhead telegraph and telephone wires, such insulators being
made more generally of porcelain or earthenware. The invention has for its
object primarily to provide an insulator of a self-gripping kind, that is to say,
an insulator which will grip and hold the wire due to the weight of the wire
itself; and according to this invention, this end is effected by providing at a
smitable part of the insulator, as at the top, a tapered gap tapering or diminishing
in size downwards gradually, the width at the bottom being less than the diameter
of the wire to be carried by it. By this means, the wire itself on the insulator,
when placed in the groove or gap, causes it to bind upon the sides of the gap
and to so become held by the insulator. In some cases, I carry the tapered gap
down at each side of the insulator, below the level of it in the centre thereof, by
which means when a wire breaks or hangs down the side of the insulator, the
weight of the wire will cause the part within the insulator to be gripped both
in the centre and at the side at which it is hanging.
In some cases the gap or groove is carried straight downwards as a simple
tapered or diminishing gap or groove; while in another case the gap or groove is
carried downwards, then laterally, and then down again, in the latter portion of
which the self gripping takes place. By this construction, when the wire is placed
in position it cannot, unless guided, be removed from the insulator.
In a modification of this construction, the lateral parts may be in the form of
sectors of a circle, the spaces of which meet in the centre. In this case, the
entrance of the groove into the insulator, and the lower' part, cross each other in
the horizontal plaue; or, in lieu of this, the entrance may be made of irregular
form so that when being placed in position the wire will be bent slightly, and
then afterwards when within the insulator and straight, it cannot of itself come
out.
In another form, as a means of preventing the wires coming out or for holding
them in position, I may use in connection with the groove or gap a cross-pin,
bolt, or analogous means; or, again, as a means of holding it in position, to
increase the height between the wire and the sides of the gap, and also to provide
a supplemental holding, a screwed plug may be introduced at the top, 'and screwed
down, into the insulator so as to press upon the wire, and also in some cases bend
it, the lower end of such pin being made of suitable form to effect this end.
In another form, as a means of providing additional means for holding the wire,
I provide on the wire, at the part it passes through the insulator a collar boss, or
the like, suitably fastened or soldered to the wire, while 'in the insulator I provide
a second recess or gap extending say at right angles to the 'self-gripping gap, in

page_text: which said supplementary holding device or means lies, and by which the wire
is held.
By the above description it will be seen that my improvements may be carried
out in a variety of ways, or in combination with supplemental holding means
or retaining devices of different kinds, and therefore it is not restricted to the
particular constructions or forms abovo specified.
1000
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 and 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
Improved Electri
Insulators.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SAX, of 2 Woburn Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex, 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:-
This invention has reference to electric insulators used, generally, for carrying
and insulating overhead telegraph and telephone wires, such insulators being
made more generally of porcelain or earthenware. The Invention has for its
object primarily to provide an insulator which will grip and hold the wire due
to the weight of the wire itself: and according to this Invention, this end is
effected by providing at a suitable part of the insulator, as at the top, a tapered
gap tapering or diminishing in size downwards gradually, the width of the bottom
being less than the diameter of the wire to be carried by it. By this means the
wire itself on the insulator, when placed in the groove or gap, causes it to bind
upon the sides of the gap and to so become held by the insulator. In some cases,
I carry the tapered gap down at each side of the insulator, below the level of it
in the centre thereof, by which means when a wire breaks or hangs down the side
of the insulator, the weight of the wire will cause the part within the insulator to
he gripped both in the centre and at the side at which it is hanging.
In some cases, the gap or groove is ca.ried straight downwards as a simple
tapered or diminishing gap or groove; while in another case the groove or gap
is carried downwards, then laterally, and then down again, in the latter portion
of which the self gripping takes pla. By this construction, when the wire is
placed in position it cannot, unless guided, be removed from the insulator.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect, reference may be made to s accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved insulator; Figure 2 showing a
modification of the tapered gap or groove, in which the gap is first carried down
vertically, then laterally, and then down again, the lower portion being tapered
towards the bottom.
In the drawing a is the insulator and 6 the tapered gap or groove for gripping
the wire which is forced by its own weight towards the bottom of said gap and
jambed or wedged against the sides thereof, being thus firmly held in the insulator.
As a modification of the form of gap or groove shewn in Figure 2, the lateral
parts may be in the form of sectors of a circle, the spaces of which meet in the
centre. In this case, the entrance of the groove into the insulator, and the lower
part, cross each other in the horizontal plane; or, in lieu of this, the entrance
may be made of irregular form so that when being placed in position the wire

page_text: will be bent slightly, and then afterwards when within the insulator and straight,
it cannot of itself come out.
In another form, as a means of preventing the wires coming out or for holding
them in position, I may use in connection with the tapered groove or gap a
cross-pin, bolt or analogous means; or, again, as a means of holding it in position,
to increase the height between the wire and the sides of the gap, and also to
provide a supplemental holding, a screwed plug may be introduced at the top,
and screwed down, into the insulator so as to press upon the wire, and also in
some cases bend it, the lower end of such pin being made of suitable form to
effect this end.
In another form, as a means of providing additional means for holding the
wire, I provide on the wire, at the part it passes through the insulator, a collar-
boss, or the like, suitably fastened or soldered to the wire, while in the insulator
I provide a second recess or gap extending say at right angles to the self gripping
gap, in which said supplementary holding device or means lies, and by which the
wire is held.
By the above description it will be seen that my improvements may be carried
out in a variety of forms, or in combination with supplemental holding means
or retaining devices of different kinds, and therefore it is not restricted to the
particular constructions or forms above specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
An insulator having a tapering or V-shaped gap or groove wherein the wire
is wedged and held owing to its own weight, substantially as herein set forth,
for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in the drawing annexed.
91.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 and 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
Dated this
day
August
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, l'el. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 and 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.