IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER PARTS OF THE POSTS OR UPRIGHTS EMPLOYED IN CONSTRUCTING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hamilton, junior, of Liverpool, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER PARTS OF THE
POSTS OR UPRIGHTS EMPLOYED IN CONSTRUCTING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS."
Sealed the 15th January 1861, and dated the 7th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hamilton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th September 1860.
I, JOHN HAMILTON, junior, of Liverpool, do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER PARTS
OF THE POSTS OR UPRIGHTS EMPLOYED IN CONSTRUCTING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in sockets for receiving the
lower parts of the posts or uprights employed in constructing electric telegraphs.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, dated the 16th January
1856 (No. 117) was described the constructing electric telegraph posts of tubes
of wrought iron, the lower parts of such tubes were fitted into cast-iron sockets,
which were imbedded in the earth, and feet were fitted to the lower parts of
these sockets, the feet passing through holes in the sockets and projecting
out radially from them. Now, I have found that in soft soils these feet are
not always sufficient to prevent the posts from sinking in the ground, and

page_text: according to my present Invention I attach around such sockets, near their
upper ends, a disc, by preference, of cast iron. The discs I connect to the
sockets by forming the sockets with snugs or projections on their exterior; and
around the hole in the centre of the discs recesses are formed corresponding
to the projections, so that the discs may be slipped over the sockets and past
the projections, and by then turning the discs partly round they may be
prevented from rising; the discs are, by preference, strengthened by having
around their outer edge a flange projecting downwards, and by having around
the hole in the centre of the disc also a flange projecting downwards and con-
necting the two flanges together by radial ribs. Two or more discs may, if
preferred, be connected at distances apart to the sockets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HAMILTON, junior, of Liverpool, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Hamilton, Her special licence that I, the said John Hamilton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Hamilton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SOCKETS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER PARTS OF THE POSTS OR UPRIGHTS EMPLOYED
IN CONSTRUCTING ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Hamilton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Hamilton, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-.
This Invention has for its object improvements in sockets for receiving the
lower parts of the posts or uprights employed in constructing electric telegraphs.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, dated the 16th
January 1856 (No. 117) was described the contructing electric telegraph
posts of tubes of wrought iron, the lower parts of such tubes were fitted into
cast-iron sockets, which were imbedded in the earth, and feet were fitted to
the lower parts of these sockets, the feet passing through holes in the sockets
and projecting out radially from them. Now, I have found that in soft soils
these feet are not always sufficient to prevent the posts from sinking in the
ground, and according to my present Invention I attach around such sockets
near their upper ends a disc, by preference, of cast iron. The discs I connect
to the sockets by forming the sockets with snugs or projections on their exterior,
and around the hole in the centre of the discs recesses are formed corre-
sponding to the projections, so that the discs may be slipped over the sockets
and past the projections, and by then turning the discs partly round they may
be prevented from rising, the discs are, by preference, strengthened by having
around their outer edge a flange projecting downwards, and by having
around the hole in the centre of the discs also a flange projecting downwards
and connecting the two flanges together by radial ribs.
Two or more
discs may, if preferred, be connected at distances apart to the sockets.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the Drawings a is the lower part of a wrought-iron telegraph post fitted
over a cast-iron socket furnished with feet b, b, at its lower end, as described
in the Specification of the Patent above referred to; c, c, are snugs projecting
from the upper part of the socket; d is a disc having a hole through its centre
corresponding to the exterior diameter of the socket, and around the hole
there are recesses e, e, corresponding to the snugs on the exterior of the

page_text: downwards, and also by a flange projecting downwards around the edge of the
hole through the centre of the disc, and by radial ribs connecting the two
flanges together; the flanges may, if preferred, be made to project upwards
or the disc may be otherwise strengthened. Two or more discs may, if pre-
ferred, be connected at distances apart to the socket.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JOHN HAMILTON, JR. (L.S.)