Improvements in Electric Cąpies.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Electric Cąpies.
We, JOSEPH ARTHUR LOVEL DEARLOVE, of 4 Great Winchester Street,
London, E.C., Engineer, and GEORGE HINDE NISBETT, of "Ashfield," Huyton,
near Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, do hoieby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to electric cables, but more particularly to
submarine telegraph, telephone, and like cables, an l-under certain conlitions of
The kind or type
use to insulated wires for aerial and subterranean lines, also
of such cables to which it especially relates, are those in which there is employed,
as an insulating wrapping or covering to the wie or wires, paper, fibrous, or
other similar material, which, if water under pressure finds an entrance from
outside to the interior of the cable, and reaches such material, will become
charged with such water.
It is known that telegraph and telephone cables having the conductor wire or wires
insulated with paper, or fibrous, or analogous suitable material, possess-especially
in lines of long distance-special advantages; namely, they have a high officiency
owing to the specific capacity of that kind of insulating material being relatively
low. On the other hand, such cables have the disadvantages, more particularly
when used as submarine cables where they are submerged to great depths, and
consequently subjected to great pressure, or under analogous substances, that
should they becoine punctured, or a fault exist in that portion or covering or
coverings which serve to render them impervious to water or waterproof, whether
such covering be lead, gutta-percha, india-rubber, or other suitable material, the
water upon reaching the paper or fibrous, or analogous material, will, according
to the pressure of the water, more or less rapidly pass into such material and
creep or pass aloug it for a greater or less distance from the point of entrance.
Thus, this paper, or fibrous, or like material, becomes charged with water, and for
very considerable distances in certain cases, thereby rendering the cable useless
when so damaged, for such distances or lengths; which lengths in the repaning
of the cable-which necessarily follows, have to be cut out and replaced by a
fresh cable.
Now, in a cable according to this invention, this defect is obviated, in so far as
the extent of possible damage due to a puncture or fault, such as referred to, is
diminished or limited. In our improved cable, at intervals along the cable, as for
instance at every 50, 100 or more fathoms, as may be deemed desirable, there are
short pieces or lengths (hereinafter called "plugs") of material which is impervious
to water, and, when used alone, an insulator. This material extends from the wire
ownes outwards, so as to completely block and break the continuity of the
paper, or fibrous material, and render this isolation of the length between any two
of the "plugs" thorough. By this, the cable, so far as the paper, or fibious,, or
similar insulating material covering is concerned, is divided up into a number of
lengths, to any of which the possible damage from a puncture or fault 18 limited,
us the distance of cable that can become affected by or saturated with water, is
only one of the sections between two of the isolating plugs.

page_text: In the case of cables in which the wires are stranded, the centre wire or wines
is or are coated, and the interstices between the inner wire or wires and the outer
wire filled, with suitable compound, as Chatterton's compound, in the usual way,
at the point where the isolating plugs come; or, if desired, through the whole
length of the cable. By this, the complete blocking of stranded wire cables into
isolated lengths, and limiting the flow or passage of water along them as described,
and their consequent damage, is effected.
Below are given some examples of cable according to this invention.
A cable of a simple kind, consisting of a solid conductor; a paper, or fibrous, or
analogous insulating covering of low specific capacity; plugs or isolating pieces of
non-hygroscopic or waterproof and insulating material, as gutta-percha, india-
rubber, or equivalent material at intervals; and an outside lead covering forming
the waterproof covering, and general protector to the cable.
In another form of cable, the porous insulating material covers the conductor;
and over this is a covering or serving of gutta-pei cha, indin-rubber, or other
suitable material impervious to water, and an insulator; while the isolating plugs
which are of a material at once an insulator and impervious to water, extend from
the conductor to the outer casing or the surface of the gutta-percha or similar.
CABING And outside of all these is a lead covering.
In another form of cable, the wires are stranded, and outside these, there is a
casing of gutta-percha, india-rubber, or like material, which is an insulator and
impervious to water, while outside this is the covering of paper, or fibrous, or
analogous material of low specific capacity. Then, outside this, is another layer
or covering of insulating and waterproofing material as gutta-percha, mdia-
rubber, or the like; and again outside these is the protective lead covering; while
the isolating plugs (of a material such as above specified) surround the conductor
aud fill the space between such conductor and the lead covering. The centre wire
or wires of the conductor in this cable, as well as any other having stranded wines,
will be conted with Chatterton compound or the like, and the interstices between
Buch wire of wires and the outer wires filled with such material, for the length
of, and at the parts where, the plugs come, or, if desired, for the whole length of
the cable.
With regard to the forms of cables more particularly specified, although in each
the outer covering of the cable is of lead, this may be dispensed with wherever
the conditions of the uso of the cable render it possible or advisable so to do:
and in some cases, an non or steel wire sheuthing may be applied as in ordinary
submarine cables.
"
"
In a further application of this invention, it is used in connection with a cable
of the "air space
or "dry core type. In this case, at intervals along its length,
plugs or short pieces of material impervious to moisture and an insulator, such as
gutta-percha, india-rubber, or equivalent material, sui rounding the conductors and
completely separating and isolating one part of the cable, at least that part
forming the an space portion, from another; thus blocking the air spaces of one
section of cable, and cutting off all connection of them and then enclosing walls,
from another section, and thereby limiting tho How and access of water along the
air spaces to the distance of one of the so called sections, and the possible damage
to the cable from this cause correspondingly.
As regards the mode of manufacturing cables according to this invention, they
may be made in the usual or any known suitable manner; and after manufacture,
but before the outer lead covering is provided (when such a covering is provided),
the conductor will be bated by removing the materials then covering it, at the
points where the plugs have to come, and the material forming the plugs is intro-
duced into position by running it into moulds of suitable shape or form; or 'by
pressing it on by dies, or in any other suitable convenient way. Or, in case of a-
gutta-percha o like water proofing material being used, as in some of the cases
herein referred to, the plugs may be introduced at the same time as such other
cover and by the usual process.

page_text: It will be seen that the invention may be applied to cables having two or more
conductors as well as those having a single oue.
Dated this 5th day of October 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
Improvements in Electric Cables.
We, JOSEPH ARTHUR LOVEL DEAR LOVE, of 4 Great Winchester Street,
London, E.C., Engineer, and GEORGE HINDE NISBETT, of "Ashfield," Huyton,
near Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical 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 cables, but more particularly to submarine
telegraph, telephone, and like cables, and-under certain conditions of use-to
insulated wires for aerial and subterranean lines, also. The kind on type of such
cables to which it especially relates, are those in which there is employed, as an
insulating wapping or covering to the wire or wires, paper, fibrous, or other similar
material, which, if water under pressure finds an entrance from outside to the
interior of the cable, and reaches such material, will become charged with such
water.
It is known that telegraph and telephone cables having the conductor wire or
wires insulated with paper, or fibrous, or analogous suitable material, possess
especially in lines of long distance-special advantages, namely, they have a high
efficiency owing to the specific capacity of that kind of insulating material being
relatively low. On the other hand, such cables have the disadvantages, more
particularly when used as submarine cables where they are submerged to giant
depths, and consequently subjected to great pressure, or under analogous circum-
stances, that should they become punctured, or a fault exist in that portion or
covering of covetings which serve to render them impervious to water or water-
proof, whether such covering be lead, gutta-percha, india-tubber, or other suitable
material, the water upon reaching the paper or fibious, or analogous material, will,
according to the pressure of the water, more or less rapidly pass into such material
and creep or pass along it for a greater or less distance from the point of entrance.
Thus, this paper, or fibious, or like material, becomes charged with water, and for
very considerable distances in certain cases, thereby rendering the cable useless
when so damaged, for such distances or lengths; which lengths in the repaning of
the cable-which necessarily follows, have to be cut out and replaced by
cable.
n fiesh
Now, in a cable according to this invention, this defect is obviated, in so far as
the extent of possible damage due to a puncture or fault, such as referred to, is
diminished or limited. In our improved cable, at intervals along the cable, as for
instance at every 50, 100 or more fathoms, as may be deemed desirable, there are
short pieces or lengths (hereinafter called "plugs") of material which is impervious
to water, and, when used alone, an insulator. This material extends from the wire
or wires outwards, so as to completely block and break the continuity of the paper,
oi fibrous material, and render this isolation of the length betwecu auy two of the
"plugs" thorough. By this, the cabic, so far as the paper, or fibrous, or similar
Insulating material covering 18 concerned, is divided up into a number of lengths,
to any of which the possible damage from a puncture or fault is limited, as the
distance of cable that can become affected by or saturated with water, is only one
of the sections between two of the isolating plugs.
In the case of cables in which the wires are stranded, the centre wire or wires is

page_text: or are coated, and the interstices between the inner wire or wines and the outer
wires, filled with a suitable compound, as Chatterton's compound, in the usual way,
at the point where the isolating plugs come; or, if desired, through the whole
length of the cable By this, the complete blocking of stranded wiio cables into
izolated lengths, and limiting the flow or passage of water along them, as described,
and their consequent damage, is effected.
With regard to the forms of cables more particularly specified, although in each
the outer covering of the cable 18 of lead, this may be dispensed with wherever the
conditions of the use of the cable tender it possible or advisable so to do: and 10
some cases, an iron or steel wire sheathing may be applied as in ordinary submarine
cables.
""
In a further application of this invention, it is used in connection with a cable of
the "air space
or "diy core type. In this case, at intervals along its length,
plugs or short pieces of material impervious to moisture and an insulator, such as
gutta-peichn, india-rubber, or equivalent material, surrounding the conductors and
completely separating and isolating oue part of the cable, at least that part forming
the an space portion, from another; thus blocking the air spaces of one section of
cable, and cutting off all connection of them and their enclosing walls, from another
section, and thereby luniting the flow and access of water along the air spaces to
the distance of one of the so called sections, and the possible damage to the cable
from this cause, correspondingly.
As regards the mode of manufacturing cables according to this invention, they
may be made in the usual or any known suitable mannci; and after manufacture,
but before the outer lead covering is provided (when such a covering is provided),
the conductor will be baied by removing the materials then covering it, at the points
where the plugs have to come, and the material forming the plugs is introduced into
position by running it into moulds of suitable shape or form; or by pressing it on
by dies, or in any other suitable convenient way. Or, in the case of a gutta-percha
or like water proofing material being used, as in some of the cases her eiu referred to,
the plugs may be introduced at the same time as such cover and by the usual
process.
It will be seen that the invention may be applied to cables having two or more
conductors, as well as those having a single one.
Figure 1 shews a cable of a simple kind under this invention. In this case, the
conductor a, in the manufacture of the cable, is first covered with paper, or fibrous,
or analogous insulating covering, e, of low speethe capacity; and then at intervals
along this covered conductor, as for instance at every 50, 100, or more fathoms, as
may be deemed desirable, the non-conducting coveting is removed, and the
conductor bared for short lengths, and the space so made is filled in with a material
which is impervious to watci, and an insulator, as gutta-percha, india-rubber, or the
like. These short lengths constitute the "plugs" b. Outside this covering c, and
the plugs b, we next apply a covering of lead, d, by which the cable is tendered
waterproof externally throughout its length, the plugs extending from the outside
of the conductor to the side of the lead covering. This cable is suitable for use
for underground work, or under analogous conditions, where water c moisture bas
access to it, as for stauce when laid in wet or damp earth When however a
cable of this simple kind is to be used as a submarine cable (or under conditions
where it may be deemed expedient instead of the lead covering d, outside the
Insulating hygroscopic covering c, and the non-hygroscopic plugs b, a covering of
waterproof material e, of gutta-percha, india-rubber, or equivalent material, shewn
in Figure 2, is preferably used, in most cases, in such a cable, it would be covered
externally with metal coils, and jute or like coverings, in the usual well known way.
In these cables, it will be seen, should the waterproof covering d or e, become
damaged from a puncture, or a lault exist in it, the amount of cable that cau
become affected by or satuated with water, by reason thereof, is limited to a lengt'
of cable between two of the isolating plugs b.
Referring now to the cable ehewn in Figure 3, the paper, or fibious, or analogous

page_text: insulating covering c has a covering of gutta-percha, india-rubber, or analogous
waterproof material, as in the cable shown in Figure 2; and outside this covering e,
there is applied an outer lead protective covering d. The plugs b extend from the
Burface of the conductor to the outor water proof covering e, and the interior surface
of the outer lead covering d.
In the case of the conductors a, in the cables shewn in Figures 1 and 2, or in
auy cable constructed according to this invention, being formed of stranded wires,
or a plurality of wires, the interstices between the wires at the parts where the
plugs b come, or throughout the length of the conductor, are filled in with 'a
water proof or non-hygroscopic material, as Chatterton's compound; and then the
plugs are applied round the conductor as described, so that no way or passage
for water exists from one length of cable on one side of a plug, to that on the
other, either within the strands or wires of the conductor, or outside, thereby
providing absolute isolation and water-tightness between one length and another
The cable having a stranded conductor just referred to is shown in Figure 4.
The coverings c, e, and d, shewn round the conductor, being the same as those
described with reference to Figure 3
In the cable shewn in Figure 5, the conductor a is stranded (it may however be
a solid one), and it is covered on the outside with a thin coating of waterproof
and insulating material f; and then outside this is a covering e, of paper, or
fibrous, or analogous material. And again outside this is another covering e, of
waterproof material as gutta-percha, india-rubber or the like. Outside those is a
lead covering d.
The plugs b, in this case extend between the conductor and the outer waterproof
covering e and the interior of the lead cover d. In the case, however, of the
cables being used for submarine work, or in any case where desired, the lead
covering may be dispensed with and the cable enclosed in strengthening coils
and coverings usual in cables for such or like purposes.
In a cable of this corstinction, if the waterproof covering be thin, say just
sufficiently thick to cover the outside of the conductor stands o Wiles (the
interstices between which, either throughout its length, or at the points where the
plugs b, come, being filled with non-hygroscopic material such as of the kind
ieferred to), and the paper, or fibrous, or analogous material, covering c, be of the
usual thickness, the capacity of the cable will be still, in this case, nearly as low as
that of those where the covering c comes next the conductor, as the amount of the
higher capacity material is small, while at the same time, the covering, will
prevent the cable from being incapacitated o endered wholly useless, should
water obtain access to the covering c, of any of the lengths of cable between any
two of the plugs b.
Another modification of the cable wherein a plurality of conductors a are used,
is shewn in Figure 6. In such a case, according to this construction, each conductor
is coated on covered with a thin covering of waterproof material f, such as gutta-
percha, india-rubber, or the like; and outside this a covering o', of paper, 01
fibrous, or analogous material, 18 applied.
The conductors thus covered are laid up together, and the bundle is enclosed in
a covering of paper, or fibrous, or analogous material And then outside this,
another covering of waterproof material as gutta-peicha, india-rubber, or the like,
19 applied.
At the points of the cable whero plugs 6 come, the conductors are bared, and
waterproof or non-hygroscopic material filled in around and between them,
extending from such couductors to the outside waterproof covering e, and isolating
the cable into lengths. This cable as in other cases described, may be covered or
enclosed with lead or strengthening, and other coverings, of any of the known
kinds to suit the purposes for which it is intended. In this cable, should one
conductor become punctured, or have a fault in it, or water,fiom any cause each
it in any length between any of the plugs b, and faile of this conductor result,
the others will remain intact and operative.

page_text: The application of the invention to air space cables is shown in Figure 7. In
the cable shewn, a single conductor a, is shewn, but one or more conductors of
solid or stranded kind, arranged in any of the known ways of air space cables, may
be employed.
In the cable shewn, the conductor a is laid within the air space h, being
supported centrally therein, from the paper, or equivalent insulating tube c.
Outside this tube c, a waterproof covering e, of gutta-perchn, india-rubber, or
the like is applied; and tho plugs extend between the conductor a, and the
waterproof covering e. In some cases the cable so far described will be covered
with a lead covering, or with armouring or strengthening covering, according to
the conditions under which the cable is to be used or to the purpose for which it is
intended.
The plugs b, it will be seen, isolate the air spaces of this cable, and the tube C, of
one length or distance between two of the plugs, from another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
clam 18:
1. The improvement in electric cables herein described, namely, an electric cable
having its conductor or conductors insulated or surrounded with paper, or fibrous, or
other hygroscopic material, or by an air space, and plugs of non-hygroscopic
material at intervals along the same, applied substantially as described, by which
the lengths of cable between such plugs, nic isolated one from another: for the
purposes specified.
2. An electric cable having its conductor or conductors directly smrounded with
an insulating covering c of the kind referred to, a covering outside same of water-
proof material; and isolating plugs b; substantially as set forth with reference to
Figure 1, and Figure 2, of the drawings.
3. An electric cablo having a conductor or conductors of a plurality of wies:
a covering, c, of insulating material of the kind herein referred to; isolating
plugs b; and a filling of non-hygroscopic material in the interstices between said
wires, at the parts where the plaga b come, or throughout the length
conductor or conductors; substantially as set forth.
the
4. An electric cable having a conductor, covered with a thin covering of non-
hygroscopic material; a covering of insulating material of the kind referred to,
over same; a waterproof covering outside same; and isolating plugs; substantially
as described.
T
5. An electric cable having a plurality of conductors, each having coverings of
waterproof or non-hygroscopic material, and insulating matorials of the kind
herein referred to; a waterproof covering, or an insulating covering such as
referred to and a waterproof covering, round said covered conductors; and
1solating plugs; substantially as set forth.
6. An electric cable wherein the conductor or conductors is or are surrounded
by an air space or spaces, enclosed within and by a covering or coverings or tubes
of materials as herein referred to; a waterproof covering about same, and isolating
plugs; substantially as set forth.
7. The electric cablos having isolating plugs, and coverings, arranged and
constructed as set forth with reference to and as shewn in the different figures of the
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of Jul♥ 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.