IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION. OF PILLARS OR STANDARDS FOR SUPPORTING TELEGRAPH WIRES
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Johnson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th November
1862. A communication from abroad by Hugh Ross McKenzie, of Port
Elizabeth, in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in-the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby. declare the nature of the
said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION.
OF PILLARS OR STANDARDS FOR SUPPORTING TELEGRAPH WIRES," the same being a
communication to me from abroad by Hugh Ross McKenzie, of Port
Elizabeth, in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, to be as follows, that is
to say:
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of the pillars
used for supporting the wires of electric telegraphs.
Under one modification the standard consists of a cast or wrought iron
pillar and socket, the lower part of which is formed with three radially pro-
jecting feathers extending from the bottom up to the part which projects
above the ground. The base is formed in this manner in order that the
pillar may be firmly held in the ground, when the earth is properly rammed
in between the flanges. That portion of the pillar which fits into the socket
and extends above the earth may be either of a cylindrical, cruciform, angular,
or polygonal figure in its cross section. At the upper extremity of the pillar
is fitted a cross head, having two or other number of radially projecting arms,

page_text: in which are carried the insulators for insulating the telegraph wires; one of
these insulators is also, if required, fitted in the centre of the crosshead. On
the under side of the crosshead, lugs are cast, each lug is perforated to admit
of connecting thereto a wire or rod, which is carried down to a corresponding
lug in the socket at the foot of the pillar immediately above the earth. These
stays or guy rods serve to stiffen the pillar and give it the necessary strength
to resist lateral pressure.
Another arrangement of the socket consists of a foot plate made with radial
arms, from which extend in an upward diameter stays supporting a disc
arranged a little above the surface of the earth. The telegraph pillar is
passed down through a suitable aperture in the disc, and stepped into the foot
plate, and the stays or guy rods are fastened to hooks projecting out from the
periphery of the disc.
Under another arrangement the main portion of the pillar is cast of a
hollow cylindrical figure, with equidistant longitudinal ribs on the exterior.
The lower part of the pillar is cast of a suitable form to fit the socket, and
with a laterally projecting feather to prevent its turning round in the socket.
At that part of the pillar immediately above the surface of the earth it is of a
triangular or three-armed shape in its cross section; these projecting parts
This form
sweep upwards and from the longitudinal ribs, before referred to.
of pillar possesses great strength, and is well adapted for resisting extreme
lateral pressure. A pointed disc is fitted on to each pillar in situations where
such a precaution is required to prevent cattle from rubbing themselves
against the standards.