US111052A

US111052A - Improvement in lightning-rods

Info

Publication number: US111052A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1871-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1888-01-17

Description

J. R..FRICKE.

Lightning Rod.

No. 111,052. Patented Jan. 17, 1871.

tflnitdi state JOSEPH R. FRIOKE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 111,052, dated January 17, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-RODS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

I, JOSEPH R. FRICKE, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Lightning- Rods, of which the following is a specification.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

The first part of my invention relates to a mode of stiffening copper-wire cable lightning-rods, so that they will be sustained in upright projection'above their highest point of attachment to the building to which they may be applied, and consists in inserting a suitable spiral-flanged coppencore or rod in that portion of the cable that is to be stilfened.

The second part of my invention relates to themode of attaching or coupling the usual points, to the core or rod, and consists in making the coupling-screw with a dovetail recess in its lower part, into which recess the end of the spiral-flanged rod or core is inserted, and locked by bending the said s 'iiral-fiangcd rod into the dovetailed recesses on the coupling.

Description of the Accompanying DNHIiH-f].

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a short piece ot'a wire cable rod mounted on a stitiening core, and embodying the other part of my invention in the mode of attaching the point.

Figure 2 represents the coupling-screw, separate from all other attachments.

Figure 3 represents an oblique perspective view of the same, more clearly showing the dovetail.

Figure 4 represents a short piece of a flanged spiral rod or core to which the coupling-screw has been attached.

Figure 5 is a section of the end of the core, showing by the full lines its original shape, and by the dotted lines x the'position of the spiral flanges, when bentdown, as at a :10, after being inserted in the couplingpiece. 7

Like letters refer to the same parts in the draw ing.

0 represents the cable without any stii'lening;

y represents a spirally-grooved or flanged rod, which forms the stiffening core;

.7 is the dovetail on the coupling-piece; and

a represents the recess, into which the flanges are bent so as toform a counter-dovetail, and thus lock the coupling-piece, figs. 2 and 3, to. the core-rod, as shown at a a, figs l and 4.

In using the first part of my invention I take al'ourstranded copper-wire cable of suitable dimcnsionsaml.

conducting power, and a four-flanged spiral copperrod ot' suliicient length to reach a foot or two below the highest attachment, and to extend the required height above the building; and I connect this stillening rod to the cable by inserting it in the center of the cable, that is, by winding the separate strands of the cable in the grooves of the rod and for the entire length of the rod. I secure the ends of the strands of the cable to the core byasuitablc copper-wire bimlingaround all. v

My improved rod is attached to the bindings by any convenient form of insulator.

By my improvement, whatever of superiority is in the cable conductor over a solid rod in sections is socurcd throughout its entire length.

I am aware that other means of extending and stiffening the points of cable conductors above the buildings have been employed. It has been the custom to insert the cable in iron tubes; and also to terminate it below the top of the building and couple it with a solid rod, that would project above the attachments; but those plans are objectionable as being thought to injuriously affect the conducting power of the cable as a whole.

The advantage of my improved mode of attaching the coupling-screw to the spiral-flanged rod is in the facilit-y with which a secure connection can thus be made.

Claims.

Having fully described my improvcmcnt;

1 claim as my inventiou 1. The combination, with a copper-wire cable lighthing-rod of a spirally-flanged core orstill'cner, the whole arranged and constructed substantially as herein set forth.

2. The dovetail connection between the end of the spiral rod and the coupling-screw, when constructed as herein described and shown.

'Witnesses: JOSEPH It. FRIGKE.

A. PATTERSON, L. KLnn.