CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF INSU- LATING THE WIRES OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kilner, of Thornhill Lees, near Dews-
bury, in the County of York, Glass. Bottle Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF INSU-
LATING THE WIRES OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS."
Sealed the 14th January 1853, and dated the 23rd November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kilner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd November 1852.
I, JOHN KILNER, of Thornhill Lees, near Dewsbury, in the County
of York, Glass Bottle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF
INSULATING THE WIRES OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS" to be as follows: -
Instead of the present glazed earthenware insulators, I propose to
use glass ones, by which means I shall obviate an evil now existing
in the present mode of insulating electric telegraph wires, viz., the
escape of the electric fluid from the wires, glass being a more

page_text: perfect non-conductor than the material now used, but although a
non-conductor of itself, will, when wet, conduct the electric fluid
over or along it; I therefore propose making the insulator and cap
or bell both of glass to effect my object. My improvements also
consist in forming the insulator with the cap and bolt complete,
instead of the inovable cap as at present; and the insulator will
have a groove on each side, or a hole through it, so that to use
either for conducting the wires will be optional. The method of
moulding the insulator with the bolt, but without the cap, is as
follows: I have a press with a sliding plate, to which is attached
the bottom part of the mould, which forms the under half of the
insulator; while in an horizontal position, the bolt laying in this
under half mould to be surrounded by the glass from the mould
which fixes on the top, and which forms the top half of the insulator,
and lifts off, bringing the insulator with the bolt complete, and the
cap is afterwards fitted on, and rests on the top of the insulator. A
box into which the glass is put while in a state of fusion is placed
over the mould, and the top part of the mould having a hole
through it, the glass is thus pressed into the mould. This box is
fastened by a hinge to the bottom part of the mould on one side and
a catch on the other, and the top part of the mould is held fast by
the bottom part and the box. The method of moulding the insu-
lator with the cap and bolt complete is similar to the first method,
but is cast or formed in a vertical position, the press and the
sliding plate to which the bottom part of the mould is attached
being also used in this case, and the bottom half of the mould
forms the insulator, with the groove or hole and the inside of the
cap, the outside being formed by the top half, and the bolt is
fixed in the top perpendicularly. The box which contains the
glass is placed over the top of the mould, it having four holes, so
that the glass may be pressed through.
-

page_text: wires, and is composed entirely of glass, the metal bolt being fitted
in with it as described, by which means a great advantage is
attained, that of securing the bolt firmly with the aid of the glass.
only. Fig. 2, is an elevation of a glass insulator cast or moulded
with the bolt, but without the cap; the groove for insulating the
wires is shewn on each side; the cap is afterwards fitted on, and
merely rests on the top of the insulator. Fig. 3, represents also an
elevation of a glass insulator, but instead of the groove on each side
it has a hole through for conducting the wires. Fig. 4, is an eleva-
tion of a cap, also of glass, to be fitted on to either of these insu-
lators in the way before described. Fig. 5, shews another method
of insulating the wires; that is, by having a groove on the top of
the cap, instead of the hole or groove in the insulator, although
both of which might be used, as well as the groove in the cap; in
this case the insulator rests upon and over the arm of the post,
instead of being suspended from it.
First, I claim the moulding or casting insulators of glass for insu-
lating the wires of electric telegraphs with the cap and bolt com-
plete; also the moulding the insulator of glass, with or without the
cap or bolt, or moulding the cap of glass separately; also the pecu-
liar methods of moulding or casting these insulators, either way;
and lastly, moulding these glass insulators either with a hole
through, or a groove on each side, or a groove on the top of the cap,
for conducting the wires of electric telegraphs, as shewn in the
accompanying Drawing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Kilner in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KILNER, of Thornhill Lees, near Dewsbury, in the County of York,
Glass Bottle Manufacturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty third day of November, in
.the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty two, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Kilner, Her
special licence that I, the said John Kilner, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Kilner, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agrec
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might nake,
use, exercise, and vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF INSULATING THE WIRES OF ELEC-
TRIC TELEGRAPHS," пpon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Kilner, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Kilner, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
bc performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists in a new mode of constructing insulators
of glass, or of glass and metal combined, by the use and application
for such purpose of moulds or tools of new and peculiar con-
struction; and I would remark that I am aware of various attempts
having been made by other persons to construct insulators of glass,
all of which attempts, I believe, have been unsuccessful, or not
sufficiently successful to justify their adoption. My Invention does
not therefore consist altogether in constructing insulators of glass,
but applies more particularly to the use and application of certain
moulds or tools of new and peculiar construction, not hitherto used,
and which I have found to answer extreinely well in the manufac-

page_text: ture of glass insulators. And an important feature in my said
Invention consists in pressing the glass, whilst in a state of fusion,
into the moulds for forming such said insulators.
My Invention further consists in forming glass insulators with
the cap, stem, and bolt complete, instead of forming such parts
separate, and afterwards connecting them together as hitherto prac-
tised in the manufacture of insulators; and I propose forming the
stem of the insulator with grooves opposite to each other, or a hole
through the stem, either of which may be used for the purpose of
connecting the wires thereto. I do not, however, intend to limit or
confine myself to making the cops and stems of insulators in one and
the same piece of glass, but I propose in some instances to form such
parts separately (that is to say): I mould or form the insulator with
tlic stem, but without the cap, in the following inanner, and by the
following means: -I employ a press with a sliding plate, to which
is attached the bottom part of the mould exhibited at Figures 6, 7,
8, 9, which forms the under half of the insulator, the iron bolt laying
in the under half of said mould, so that when the upper half of
the mould is affixed to the under half, the iron bolt will be sur-
rounded by the fused glass as it is poured into said mould, and
thereby becomes securely connected thereto. And I form the cap
of the insulator in the following manner :-I take a box, into which
the glass is to be poured whilst in a state of fusion, and I place this
box immediately over the mould, exhibited at Figures 10, 11, 12,
said mould having a hole formed therein, through which the glass is
pressed whilst in a state of fusion; and attach and fasten said
box to the bottom part of the mould, at one part thereof by a hinge
joint, and by a catch to another part, the top part of said mould
being held fast by the bottom part thereof and the above mentioned
box. When it is required to form the stem and cap of the insu-
lator combined, or of one and the same piece of glass, I proceed in a
similar manner to that above mentioned, excepting that instead of
casting the insulator in a horizontal position I cast it vertically, and
I also employ in this instance the press and sliding plate before
mentioned, to which the bottom part of the mould is attached.

page_text: The bottom half of this mould forms the inside of the cap, as also
the stem of the insulator, with the grooves or a hole therein for
connecting the electric wire thereto, the outside of the cap being
formed by the top half of the mould, into which an iron bolt is
placed perpendicularly. The box which contains the glass in a state
of fusion is placed inmediately over the top of the mould, which
has four holes formed therein, through which the fused glass is
pressed into the mould, and thereby surrounds the iron bolt so as to
securely connect it thereto, and in this manner and by these means I
form the stem and cap o of the insulator. But in order to explain my
said Invention as completely as possible, I will proceed to describe
the means by which I carry the same into practical effect, reference
being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
numeral figures and letters of reference marked thercon respectively
as follows: -
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits an elevation of an insulator, in which the cap
and stem thereof are formed of one and the same piece of glass,
shewing the groove on each side of the stem for connecting the
electric wires thereto for insulating. the same. Figure 2, is an eleva-
tion of the stem of an insulator, also formed of glass, but without
the cap before mentioned. Figure 3, is an elevation of another
stem, in which there is a hole formed for carrying the electric wires,
instead of grooves, as exhibited at Figure 2. Figure 4, is an
elevation of a glass cap to be fitted on to either of the stems exhi-
bited at Figures 2, and 3. Figure 5, exhibits an insulator in
which the cap and stem thereof are formed of one and the same
piece of glass; but instead of attaching the wires to the stem of
the insulator, I propose to form a groove at the top of the cap.
.
At each of these Figures I employ the same letters of reference to
denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be
seen at each of the figures respectively.
A, marks the stem of the insulator; B, the cap; C, an iron bolt,
having a screw formed thereon, upon which passes a nut D, for the

page_text: purpose of connecting the insulator to the arm or top of a post; E, E,
grooves for attaching the electric wires to the insulator.
-
And as regards the moulds or tools exhibited at Figures 6, to 16,
inclusive, and which I employ in the manufacture of the insulators
herein-before described, the construction and arrangement thereof is
ás follows: - Figure 6, exhibits a perspective view of the mould
which I employ for casting the insulator exhibited at Figure 2.
Figure 7, is a top plan view of the lower half of the mould with
three insulators therein; and as they would appear when cast, and
the upper half of the mould removed therefrom. Figure 8, is a
transverse and vertical section taken through the line A, B, at Figs.
6, and 7. Figure 9, is a section through the line C, D, at Figures 6,
and 7. A, marks the lower half of the mould, and B, is the upper
half thereof, which are both formed of cast-iron, and with three re-
cesses *
*, therein, of the external shape which the insulator is
required to be when cast; the two halves A, and B, of the mould
are connected together by pins 1, 1, 1, fixed in the lower half of the
mould, which fit into corresponding shaped holes formed in the
upper half of said mould, which part is also fitted with pins 2, 2,
which take into holes in the lower half of the mould so as to ensure
,
the recessed parts *, *,*, thereof always coming opposite to each
other for producing as near as inay be a perfect figure in the two
halves of the mould. C, C, C, mark iron pins, which, when the parts
A and B are together, are inserted therein, and serve as cores for
making a hole in the end of each insulator for the reception of a
bolt for attaching the insulator when in use to a post. D, marks
a skeleton box or frame hinged to a piece of metal attached to the
bottom half of the mould, so that when such frame is turned down
from the position exhibited at Figure 6, the surface of the upper
half of the mould forms the bottom of the box into which the metal
or glass is poured whilst in a state of fusion, and is pressed into
the mould through holes 3, 3, 3, which communicate with the re-
cessed positions *, of the mould as exhibited at Figure 9. E, is
a handle upon which a catch 4, is formed, which takes over the pin
fixed to or formed upon the box D, by which the edges of said:

page_text: box are brought into close contact with the surface of the mould so
as to form a tight joint at such part, the surfaces of the mould
being planed and made true, so as to ensure close contact of the
parts. I would observe, that in using this mould after the metal
has been run therein, and before the mass becomes set or solidified,
the operator withdraws the pins C, C, C, from the mould, and in-
serts therein a piece of round iron with which he operates, so as to
make the hole taper, or widest near the bottom thereof, after which,
and when the mass is solidified, the operator raises the upper half of
the mould, bringing with it the insulators thus cast; the surplus
metal and runners are then knocked off, and the insulators annealed
in the manner usually practised, after which they are ready to re-
ceive the caps, which I cast in a mould of the construction exhibited
at Figures 10, 11, 12, as follows:-Figure 10, is a perspective view
of the several parts of the mould as they would appear when to-
gether and ready for use. Figure 11, is a vertical section thereof
taken through the line A, B, at Figure 10. Figure 12, is a plan of
the body part of the mould. A, marks the bottom part of the
mould; B, the body part thereof; C, the top through which the
metal is poured; D, the plunger which forms the inside of the cap;
a, is a pin fixed to or formed upon said plunger, and employed to
make a hole through the top of the cap for the iron bolt marked C,
at Figures 2, and 3, to pass through for connecting the cap to the
stem of the insulator, and to the post from which it is suspended
when in use; b, b, are screws for attaching the plunger D, to a press.
The top and bottom parts of the mould are connected together by
a piece of metal c, to which the top of the mould is hinged, and by
the handle and pin E, and 5. The parts A, B, C, D, of this mould
are formed of cast iron, and these parts are turned and fitted truc
in a lathe, and the caps thus formed arc annealed as before men-
tioned. And to form insulators in which the stem and cap are re-
quired to be in one and the same piece, I employ for such purpose
a mould of the construction exhibited at Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, as
follows: Figure 13, is a perspective view of the mould as it would
appear when ready for use. Figure 14, is a vertical section through

page_text: Figure 15, is a section through
Figure 16, is a top plan view
A, marks the bottom part of
the line A, B, at Figures 13, and 16.
the line C, D, at Figures 13, and 16.
of the lower portion of the mould.
the mould; B, the body part thereof; C, the box in which the metal
or glass is poured; D, D, are flat plates which are inserted into
holes formed in the bottom part of the mould, and employed for
making the grooves marked E, at Figures 1, 2, 5. E, E, are
handles for lifting the body part of the mould from the bottom
part thereof; c, is a projecting piece formed upon the body part B,
of the mould, for holding the bolt marked C, at Figures 1, 2, 3,
steady whilst the metal is being run round it; f, f, f, are holes
through which the metal is poured and pressed in the following
manner, that is to say: to the plunger or pressing rod of a press
of any description suitable for the purpose, I attach a plate of
inetal corresponding as near as may be in size and shape with the
skeleton frames marked C, and D, at Figures 6, and 13, so that
when the parts. B, C, and B, D, are in contact, and the metal is
poured into the box, the workman then forces the said plate of
metal upon the surface of the glass whilst in a state of fusion, and
thereby forces it through the holes into the mould.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be and may be performed, I desire it
to be distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use
of glass in and for the manufacture of insulators, except when the
same is employed in combination with metal for the purpose of my
said Invention, which I hereby declare to consist in, and I claim as
of my Invention of, certain improvements in the means of insula-
ting the wires of electric telegraphs,―
Firstly, the peculiar construction and arrangement of the moulds
or tools exhibited at the several Figures of the Drawing, and the
use and application thereof in and for the manufacture of insu-
lators as herein-before particularly described, set forth, and re-
presented.
Secondly, the mode set forth of casting insulators by exerting
pressure upon the glass whilst in a state of fusion, so as to force it

page_text: into the mould, and thereby to produce a perfect cast therefrom
as herein-before particularly described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Kilner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN KILNER. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN PURSER,
Thornhill Lees,
near Dewsbury, Yorkshire.