A Certain System of Laying, Supporting, and Repairing Electric Conducting Wires and Cables, and other Electric Conductors.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st July, 1887.
A Certain System of Laying, Supporting, and Repairing Electric
Conducting Wires and Cables, and other Electric Conductors.
I, HENRY FLAD of the City of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, one of the
United States of North America, Civil 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, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification :-
The system consists in supporting the electric wires and cables, at short distances
apart, on cross-beams, frames and brackets, which are fastened to two or more
suspension cables of sufficient strength to carry the load arising from the cross-beams,
cables, brackets, wires and other fixtures, and also of the car, which is used in laying,
repairing and removing the supported cables and wires. Such suspension cables are
to be attached to towers, which are preferably of such height that the lowest parts of
the cables are above the highest windows of the houses along the line, and so located
in a plane passing through the centre of the street, as to prevent them from being
interferred with by occupants of the houses and to secure them from injury by fires.
The towers are preferably erected at the intersections of streets, or at such other points
as are best adapted for the efficiency of arc-lights, in case such lights are to be used
for lighting the streets.
The whole system of towers and suspension cables should be divised with a view
to the ultimate requirements of the city for electric appliances of all kinds, yet so
arranged that its capacity can be gradually increased, without throwing away any
portion of the plant originally erected, and extended to new districts without loss of
the plant of wires and cables now owned by the companies.
Cars or trucks to carry workmen engaged in laying or repairing, run upon the
suspension cables between the towers.
Figure 1 is a view, in elevation, illustrating the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan
of the same.
.
Figure 3 is a detail elevation and

page_text: Figure 1s a diagram illustrating the position of the supporting towers.
Figure 6 is a view in elevation showing a tram-car in electric connection with
the device and
Figure 7 is a plan of the same.
Figure 8 is an elevation of one of the supporting towers.
Figure 9 is a detail elevation showing a means for anchoring the lower ends of
the iron columns of the towers.
Figure 10 is a detail top view of a tower.
Figure 11 is an enlarged section at XI-XI, Figure 10.
Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of one of the brace-brackets of the tower.
Figure 13 is a detail, showing means of attaching to the tower, the suspended
wires used in driving the trucks.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 are detail views in isometric perspective, showing supporting
cables and conducting wires and connections.
Figure 17 is a perspective detail showing a fork by which the conducting cables
are supported on the cross ties.
Figure 18 is a perspective view, of one of the insulators, by which the conducting
wires are supported on the cross-ties..
Figure 19 is a side view. of one of the insulating brackets for the support of
conducting wires.
Figure 20 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the
manner of connecting the conducting rails used in connection with tram-cars to their
supporting rods and Figure 21 is a view showing the manner of connecting such
rails to each other and to a supporting rod at the intersection of two tracks.
Figure 22 is a section at XXII-XXII, figure XXIII.
Figure 23 is a side elevation of the car, through which the electric current passes
to the tram-car.
Figure 24 is a side elevation of the car used in the laying and repairing of the
conducting wires and cables.
Figure 25 is a front elevation of the car.
Figure 26 is an enlarged section at XXVI-XXVI, figure 24.
Figure 27 is an enlarged detail section at XXVII-XXVII Figure 24.
The towers 1 are usually placed at street intersections, see Figures, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8 and consist of four iron columns 2 fixed, at their lower ends, in a foundation of
masonary or concrete 3 located at the corners of the curbs 4. The bases of the
columns are shown connected by stay-bars 5, to an anchor 6 beneath the anchor-
block 3 of concrete, see figure 9. The columns 1 slope towards the centre of the
intersection of the two streets and at top, terminate in a square frame, of about eight
or ten feet wide, more or less, see figure 10. The height of the towers is determined
by the condition, that the suspension cables stretched between the towers, shall, at their
lowest points be above the upper windows of the houses, already built, or probably to be
built, along the streets, over which the cables pass. Their height may vary from fifty
feet in the suburbs to one hundred and twenty, or over, in the business part of the
city. The towers are placed at such distance apart as may be most economical,
either one, two, three or four blocks, or say from three hundred to fifteen hundred feet.
The cables 7, extending from tower to tower are made of steel wire. They are
never less than two in number, and, where only two are used are fastened to the tops
of adjoining towers, in such a manner that they can be lengthened or shortened, at
will, within certain limits. This is proper, in order that the two cables of every span
may be adjusted to the needed elevation and curve. When so adjusted, the two cables
are parallel and have the same elevation throughout the whole length of the span.
The ends of the cables are fixed in anchor-blocks 8 in the usual manner, namely by
running them through a socket 9 flaring towards the rear, then opening the strands
of the cable and filling the interstices with molten metal. The anchor-block has a
loop 10, which may be used in drawing the cable inward, by the use of any suitable
appliance. The anchor block 8 bears against a movable block or plate 11 which has
an open slot 12 in its upper part of a size to just receive the cable and to prevent the

page_text: passage or the anchor-block. The slotted blocks 11 bear against fixed abutements 13
of the top frame of the tower. When it is desired to draw in the end of the cable,
for the purpose of drawing up the span between the towers, a suitable device for this
purpose is attached to the loop 10, and, after the end of the cable has been drawn
inward, additional blocks 11 are inserted to hold it. Other suitable ways may be used
to hold the end of the cables in the desired position.
The horizontal distance between the two cables would be generally say eight to ten
feet, and, in such position and a vertical plane passing through the centre-line of the
street will pass through a line midway between the two suspension cables.
At distances of, say, twenty-five feet apart, (more or less) measured horizontally,
the two suspension cables are connected by a stiff bar or pipe 14, which will hold them
the
proper distance asunder, for the wheels of the truck to pass over, even when the
wind or other outside force, tends to produce oscillation of the cables.
On these cross bars or tubes are carried electric cables 15 and wires 16, which
rest respectively on supports 17 and 18. It is supposed that the conducting cables
are covered with insulating material, so that a metal support 17 would answer a good
purpose. The support 18 is shown as an insulator to enable the use of uncovered
wires, see figures 14 and 18.
At the centre of each cross-bar or tube, on all lines having but two suspension
cables, (see figure 14.), a vertical strut 19 is attached to the underside of the cross-
bar, and a tension rod 20 passes from end to end of the cross-bar and beneath the
cross-bar. The lower ends of the struts 19 may be connected, by a small wire, to keep
them in vertical position, under the effect of high winds.
When the number of electric wires and cables is small, lines with only two suspension
cables are used. These may be designated auxiliary wires.
On lines, which have to accommodate a greater number of wires, a third steel wire
suspension cable 21 is added, which is stretched parallel to, and about eight or ten
feet below the main suspension cables, (see Figure 15). The additional suspension
cable is in a vertical plane, passing through the centre line between the two main
suspension cables. To the ends of the crossbars 14, iron frames 22 are fixed, and
instead of the short strut 19 used in the auxiliary lines, a long strut 19 is used,
extending from the centre of the cross-beam to the lowest point of the frame and
there made fast to the frame. At the lowest point of the cross frame is fixed a
fork 23, in which the third suspension cable 21 can move freely up and down while
it is held by the fork against lateral motion. The frames carry, at short distances
apart, insulators 24, to which single wires can be attached, (see Figures 15 and 19).
The frames are made with holes 25 for the attachment of as many insulators as may
be needed. When one of the wires is to be carried from one of these insulators to a
house it is led from its insulator first to the third cable, (21) to which it is attached
and from thence to the house in order that it may not be in the way of the travelling truck.
When the capacity of the line is to be still further increased-which will be
necessary in but a few cases-two more suspension cables 26 are fastened to the
towers at points below the points of attachment of the cables 7 and stretched parallel
to and directly under the cables 7. The cables 26 are about on a level with the lower
ends of the frames 22. These two suspension cables (26) are connected together by
cross-bars or ties 27, in a way substantially similar to the upper cables 7. The cross-
bars 27 may be made somewhat flexible, as seen in Figure 16 and attached at their
middles to the lower ends of the frames 22. Thus some vertical movement will be
permitted between the cables 26 and the frames 22, but no transverse movement.
The suspension cables are stretched to a catenary having a very short versed sine,
and, therefore, are under great strain, which however they are fully able to stand,
being composed of the very best steel wire, but to which no other metal could be
subjected especially, would this be the case with copper. The suspension cables, in
consequence of this small versed sine, are not much exposed to lateral oscillation from
the effect of wind. But, for additional security, the lines, wherever practicable, are
so arranged that the auxiliarly lines pass through the middle of the span of the main
lines. When the lines pass each other at the lowest point of their catenaries, the

page_text: suspension cables of the ancillary line are so stretched that their lowest position is a
little below the lowest point of the short strut attached to the cross-bar 14, when the
main line consists of but two suspension cables and a little below the lower end of the
frame 22, on lines composed of three or five suspension cables. The two lines crossing
each other are connected in such a manner that they can have independent vertical
motion, but steady each other against lateral oscillation. On very long spans, and
when no auxiliarly line crosses at the centre of the span, it might sometimes be
necessary to steady the suspension cables against high wind by attaching wires to the
lowest point of each suspension cable and fastening the other ends of the wires to
vertical way posts erected for that purpose or to other fixed objects.
The whole system of towers and cables may be so arranged that any line can
gradually be transformed into one of greater capacity, without interfering with the
electric service, while the change is progressing. In this way, the first cost of the
roads may be kept low, the lines being constructed for the requirements of the present,
or the near future, and gradually brought to their ultimate capacity, by reducing the
spans by the erection of intermediate towers, and by increasing the number of
suspension cables from two to three, four or five.
The advantages derived from the facility of gradually extending the capacity of
the system, without changing the plant already in place, without interrupting the
electric service, and without interfering with the street traffic, will readily be
conceived.
I will now describe the construction and operation of the trucks, which are used in
the laying and repair of the line of the cables and wires. The truck has a light
rectangular frame or platform whose length about equals that of the crossbars or
ties 14, so that any of the electric wires or cables may be reached by a person upon
the car.
The trucks have four wheels 29 which are placed upon the two upper
suspension cables 7, which virtually act as rails on which the truck runs, as on a
railroad track. The wheels are broad and have very wide flanges 30 to prevent the
truck from running off the track. The wheels are provided with rubber tires 31 to
prevent injury to the suspension cables. (See Figures 24, 25 and 27.) One truck of
this kind is to be provided for each span, and, in some cases, two. The cars, when not
in use, are attached to the towers. They may be moved by the workmen to any part
of the span, either in the ordinary way, by the use of an endless rope attached to
the car, and passing around pulleys at the ends of the span, or in a manner which
will now be described in connection with Figures 8, 13, 24, 25 and 26. A wire 32
(preferably of steel), say three-eights of an inch in diameter, is stretched from tower
to tower, parallel with the suspension cables 7 and over the centre line between them.
The end of the wire may be secured to a screw rod 33 which passes through a
standard 34 fixed or attached to the tower and braced by guys 35 (see Figures 8
and 13). The truck has at each end (see figures 24, 25 and 26) standard frames 36
with rollers 37 and 38 having bearing therein. The roller 37 turns in fixed bearings,
and its upper side is at the same level with the wire 32. The upper roller 38 turns
in bearing-boxes 39 which slide in vertical slots of the frame 36. The boxes 39 are
connected, by a bearing-plate 40, on which is a spiral spring 41 whose upper end
bears against the underside of a plate 42 working in vertical guide slots. Upon the
plate 42 bears the end of a screw 43 with a hand wheel 44, by which it may be
turned to increase or diminish the pressure upon the wire 32 which passes between
the rollers. The roller 37 is turned by a hand crank 45. When the roller 37 is
turned, the truck is drawn along. These rollers may carry cog wheels 46 which
engage together and thus the movement of both rollers will be positive and in opposite
directions. When the truck is moving towards the lowest point of the catenary it will
be moved by gravity and at such times its speed of movement may be limited by
means of the hand crank or by turning the screw 43 so as to increase the friction of
the rollers in their bearings. A brake may be added to hear on one of the rollers.
The truck may be held in position at any point of the span by stopping the motion
of the crank.
The truck-platform, being only a few inches above the devices for attaching the

page_text: electric cables and wires to the cross-beams or ties 14 a workman sitting or lying on
the platform can inspect or repair them or make attachment from the houses with the
greatest ease and speed.
In laying electric cables or wires they may be carried on a reel on the truck and
the work may proceed almost automatically. When the truck reaches a tower the
reel is carried across the tower on a platform or floor and placed upon the car of the
next span. Two or more electric cables and wires may be thus laid simultaneously.
The saving in cost of laying the cables and wires will pay a good portion of the cost
of the whole plant.
The cars or trucks as above described will be used on lines having only the two
suspension cables 7. For auxiliary lines, serving mainly to steady the main lines
against oscillation and perhaps carry a few wires two trucks must be provided for each
span as a truck cannot in this case pass across the main line; but these trucks may
be made very light. When the line has three or five suspension cables, the truck is
provided with-a platform 46 on each side. These platforms are properly suspended
from extensions of the truck axles outside the wheels by frames 47 connected to said
extensions (see Figures 14 and 15). The platforms are slightly above the level of
three lower suspension cables, (see figure 25). Workmen on these platforms can
handle wires supported on the frame 22 or on the ties or cross-bars 27 connecting the
lower side cables 26. When it is suspected that a line of two-suspension cables will,
in time, be changed into a line of three or five suspension cables, the trucks are
constructed with a view of admitting the addition of the hanging platforms 46.
In Figures 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, and 23 are shown devices, by which the before described
plant can be made available in connection with tram-cars, actuated by electric
motors. 48 are suspension rods connected at the upper ends to the suspension cables
or crossbars in any suitable manner and connected at the lower ends to rails 49 of
I-formed section. I prefer to insulate these rails which are electric conductors, from
he suspending rods 48.
50 is a carriage having a frame which extends up each side of the rails 49 and
gives bearing to three wheels 51 upon each side which travel upon the lower flanges 52
of the rails. The carriage is in electric contact with the rail by brushes 53 at the ends
of the frame.
54 is a chain or metal cable extending from the carriage to the train-car 55, to
supply electricity to a motor on said car. The rail carries a metal or other roof or
canopy 56, to keep the rail and carriage dry, 57 is an oil reservoir supplying oil to the
wheel axles through pipes 58.
It will be seen that, at points of intersection of the tracks, the rails must be dis-
continued for a space sufficient to allow the passage of the carriage of the crossing-
track. This open space is shown at 59 Figure 21 where the rails are supported upon a
spider 60 and the suspension rod 48.
It will be seen that the three wheels 51 enable the carriage to pass through the gap
or space 59, as two of the three wheels are always upon the flanges on each side, and that
one of the two brushes 53 is always in contact with the rail, so that the electric
current between the rail and the motor on the car is never broken.
The spider. 60 forms a conductor of electricity over the space 59.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I déclare that what I claim is.—
1. The combination, with the suspension cables, of the cross bars or ties
supported thereby, and the devices for the support of the electrical conductors,
substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with the suspension cables, of the rigid cross bars or ties sup-
ported thereby and having the devices for the support of the electrical conductor
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with the supporting towers and two parallel suspension cables,
of the rigid cross bars or ties secured at short intervals to said cables, and the insulators
secured to said cross bars or ties, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. In a system of supporting and repairing electrical conductors, the combination
of a number of towers placed at suitable distances apart, a pair of parallel suspension
cables supported by said towers, and a truck having wheels running on said cables,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a system of supporting and repairing electrical conductors, the combination
of a number of towers erected at suitable distances apart, a pair of parallel suspension
cables supported by said towers, and a number of trucks running upon said suspension
cables, one of said trucks being provided between each two adjacent towers,
substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with the towers and the parallel suspension cables, of rigid
bars connecting said cables and holding them at the proper distance asunder, and a
truck having wheels running upon said suspension cables and rigid connection
between the wheels upon the opposite sides of the truck for holding them at the proper
distances asunder, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the parallel suspension cables, a truck having wheels running
upon said cables and rigid connection between the wheels upon the opposite sides of
the truck for holding them at a distance apart, equal to the distance between the
cables, rigid bars connected to said cables and holding them at the proper distances
asunder a cable or rope attached to said truck for drawing it, and rollers journalled
upon said rigid cross bars for supporting said traction cable, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with the suspension cables and cross bars connecting them, of
a truck having wheels running upon said suspension cables, and a superposed platform,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with the suspension cables, and frames projecting downwardly
therefrom to which the electrical conductors are secured; of a truck running upon
said suspension cables, and having a depending platform, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with the suspension cables 7, the cross bars or ties 14 con-
necting them, and the downwardly projecting strut 19 and frame 22, of the rigid
truck frame, the wheels journalled thereon and running upon said cables, the super-
posed platform, and the depending platform, all constructed and arranged substantially
as set forth.
11. The combination, with the suspension cables, the cross bars or ties for holding
them apart, and means for supporting the electrical conductors in a plane below said
suspension cables of the rigid truck frame having four supporting wheels resting upon
said cables, a pair of frames depending from each side of the truck, and a platform
supported by each pair of hanger frames, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination of two suspension cables connected by cross bars, to which
the conducting wires or cables are connected, and struts depending from said cross
bars, to which the house wires are connected between the cross bars and the house.
13. The combination of two suspension cables, cross bars connecting these cables,
a third suspension cable at a lower level and depending frame connecting the cross
bar to the third cable by a fork allowing vertical movement in the cable, but restraining
transverse movement therein.
14. The combination of two suspension cables parallel and at equal elevation,
cross-bars connecting these cables, depending frame connecting the cross-bars, with a
suspension cable beneath the insulators attached to the said frame for the support of
conducting wires.
15. The combination of elevated towers, suspension cables supported on the towers,
cross-bars connecting the cables, depending-frame connecting the cross-bars with a
suspension-cable at a lower level, the said lower suspension cable and a pendant strut
or bracket for the attachment of the house wires substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
16. The combination of two suspension cables at the same level and parallel with
each other, cross-bars connecting these cables, a central suspension cable at a lower
level connected to the cross beams by a frame, and two suspension cables of about the
same level as the centre cable connected together by cross bars having yokes or
forks embracing said central cable substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 17. The combination with intersecting lines of electrical conductors, of a suspension
cable for each, said suspension cables being connected for affording mutual support
against transverse motion, substantially as set forth.
18. The combination, with intersecting lines of electrical conductors, of suspension
cables and a clip secured to one and having an elongated fork or eye for embracing
the other of said suspension cables substantially as set forth.
19. The combination of a plurality of suspension cables and cross-bars for holding
said cables at the proper distances asunder and supporting the conductors, substantially
as set forth.
20. The combination of suspension cables supported one above the other, connec-
tions 22 between said cables and cross bars 27 secured to said connections for the
attachment of electric conductors, substantially as set forth.
21. The combination of a suspension cable, hanger rods, a rail suspended on the
rods, and charged with electricity and having side-flanges at the bottom, a carriage
having wheels running on the flanges and having electric connection with the rail
and a metal cable extending from the carriage to a train-car motor.
22. The combination of the two lines of suspended rails 49, with side flanges, a
carriage with wheels running on the flanges, and having two points of electric con-
nection with the rail and openings at the intersections of the track spanned by a
spider forming a conductor for the electricity and an element of the rail support,
substantially as set forth.
23. The combination, with the suspended rail 49, and carriage running on the flanges
of the rail, for the purpose set forth; of roof or canopy shielding the rail and carriage
from the rain.
Dated this 12th day of April 1887.
HENRY FLAD.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.