IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CABLES OR COLLECTIONS OF METALLIC CONDUCTORS FOR TELEPHONIC AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Norcross Culbertson M.D. of Antwerp in the
Kingdom of Belgium and James Wallace Brown of Upper Kennington Lanc
in the County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CABLES OR COLLECTIONS OF METALLIC CONDUCTORS FOR
TELEPHONIC AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Norcross Culbertson
and James Wallace Brown at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 22nd December 1881.
JOHN NORCROSS CULBERTSON M.D. of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium
and JAMES WALLACE BROWN of Upper Kennington Lane in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CABLES OR COLLECTIONS
OF METALLIC CONDUCTORS FOR TELEPHONIC AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of cables or
collections of metallic conductors for telephonic and telegraphic communication.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to us No. 1679 of the present
year a method of mounting telegraphic and telephonic conductors is described in
which a number of parallel metallic conductors are kept at a short distance apart
from one another by being passed through holes in discs or pieces of porcelain or
insulating material placed at intervals apart.
According to our present Invention we employ pipes made in convenient lengths
and with perforated insulating discs at each end. The wires in similar lengths are
threaded through these discs and such other intermediate insulating discs as it may
be convenient to employ and are strained tight.
At the time when the line is laid the conductors in the several lengths of pipe
employed are coupled together and the joints between the pipes are then made and
closed.

page_text: In coupling the conductors in the different lengths of pipe spiral springs may be
employed which will extend sufficiently to admit of good electrical connections
being conveniently made.
In some cases we arrange to maintain a vacuum within the pipes to obtain a
better insulation of the conductors and more complete isolation of the one from
the other.
Where the conductors are to be suspended above ground our arrangements are
similar except that in place of complete tubes we employ troughs open on the
underside. The insulating discs are fixed in these troughs and the troughs are
suspended from strained carrying wires or in other convenient way. The
troughs form roofs over the wires and prevent the insulation being impaired by
moisture,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Norcross Culbertson and James Wallace Brown in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June 1882.
JOHN NORCROSS CULBERTSON M.D. of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium
and JAMES WALLACE BROWN of Upper Kennington Lane in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CABLES OR COLLECTIONS
OF METALLIC CONDUCTORS FOR TELEPHONIC AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of cables or
collections of metallic conductors for telephonic and telegraphic communication.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to us No. 1679 of the present
year a method of mounting telegraphic and telephonic conductors is described in
which a number of parallel metallic conductors are kept at a short distance apart
from one another by being passed through holes in discs or pieces of porcelain or
insulating material placed at intervals apart.
According to our present Invention we employ pipes made in convenient lengths
and with perforated insulating discs at each end. The wires in intermediate
similar lengths are threaded through these discs and such other insulating discs as
it may be convenient to employ and are strained tight.
At the time when the line is laid the conductors in the several lengths of pipe
employed are coupled together and the joints between the pipes are then made and
closed.
In coupling the conductors in the different lengths of pipe spiral springs may be
employed which will extend sufficiently to admit of good electrical connections
being conveniently made.
In some cases we arrange to maintain a vacuum within the pipes to obtain a
better insulation of the conductors and more complete isolation of the one from the
other.
When the conductors are to be suspended above ground our arrangements are
similar except that in place of complete tubes we employ troughs open on the
under side. The insulating discs are fixed in these troughs and the troughs are
suspended from strained carrying wires or in other convenient way. The
troughs form roofs over the wires and prevent the insulation being impaired by
moisture.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 an end view of an iron pipe.
containing telegraph or telephone wires. a, is the pipe of any convenient length
and diameter suited to the number of wires which it is intended to lay. The
metal pipe is flanged at the ends or other suitable arrangements are made for
connecting the pipes end to end. b. b. b. are the wires, usually of copper c and c¹
are perforated discs of earthenware through which the wires are threaded these
discs are fixed into the metal pipe one at either end.
The disc c, has cavities in it in which are lodged spirals 6' of the wire. These
spirals serve as heads to prevent the wires drawing through. The other disc c¹,
has small hollows or cups formed in its outer face to aid in securing the wires,
and this is done by applying a drop of solder to each wire, after drawing it tight,
to form a head which is contained in the cup or hollow of the insulating disc. The

page_text: pipe with the wires thus prepared is ready for laying. When laying the pipes the
connections between the wires are made by stretching the spring or spiral end of
the wire in one pipe to meet the extremity of the wire in the next pipe then
placing the ends side by side and soldering them by a touch of the soldering
iron.
We prepare bends in a similar way, for use where the line in which the wires
are to be laid is not straight. Figures 3 and 4 represent a right angle bend,
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section and Figure 4 is an end view, in this case it is
necessary to employ intermediate insulating discs c.
We employ a similar arrangement for suspended wires except that we substitute
troughs open at the bottom for pipes; and we provide attachments for suspending
wires. The arrangement is represented in Figure 5 which is a perspective view.
a, a, are light inetal troughs, and a¹ a¹ the flanges or' attachments by which
the troughs are connected together. b. b. are the conducting wires and c is one of
the insulating discs. d, d, are strained wires from which the troughs are suspended
by means of lugs a*, *, on the outside.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we would have it understood that we claim :—
First. Our improvements in the construction of cables or collections of
conductors, consisting in preparing them in sections ready for laying, by-passing-
conducting wires through insulating discs secured within pipes; and in laying
such section to form a continuous cable or collection of conductors by connecting
the wires end to end and joining the pipes substantially as described.
Second. The construction in like manner of suspended cables or collection of
conductors, the conducting wires being arranged in sections in troughs or tubes,
which are then coupled, connected and suspended substantially as described.
Third. Our method of connecting the conducting wires in the several sections,
by means of a spiral at one end of the wire in one section which is drawn out
and soldered to the extremity of the wire in the next section substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said James Wallace Brown have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.