US1181399A - Lightning-rod-connecting clamp. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. McCULLOUGH. LIGHTNING ROD CONNECTING CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- I. 1915- Patented May 2,1916.

WILLIAM H. MCCULLOUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 3'. W. IIIOOREHEAD, TRADING AS RAYBURN HUNTER & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTNING-ROD-CONNECTING CLAMP.

Patented May a, mic,

Application filed March 1, 1915. Serial No. 11,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILL AM H. MGCUL- LOUGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-RodConnecting Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in lightning conductors, and more specifically to a form of joint or clamp employed in the assembling of any of the well known forms of lightning rods, or in the securing of such a rod to its support; in the first instance, securing the maximum of efficiency consistent with the material of which the rod is made, and in the second instance, forming an easily installed and effective clamp for securing the rod to its support.

I accomplished the above objects by means of the clamp illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a piece of rod with the usual form of coupling pressed upon each end thereof, and with my clamp shown in place intermediate the couplings; and Fig. 2 is a central horizontal section through my assembled clamp as shown in Fig. 1, the rod having'been omitted for the purpose of clearly disclosing the arrangement of the divers elements going to make up my clamp.

Similar reference characters refer respectively to similar parts throughout the two views.

The rod proper to which my device is more adapted to be applied, consists preferably, as I have shown, of four longitudinally disposed, spirally inclined webs, 3, being respectively star shaped in cross section, the webs radiating from a common center.

My improved clamp consists primarily of two substantially symmetrical sections i and 5, adapted to surround the rod, 3, and to be drawn together by suitable means, such as screws, 6, one being located on each side of said clamp, as clearly shown. The walls of the clamp (Fig. 2) are each respectively provided with a wedge shaped projection, t 5 lying diametrically opposite one another, and being cast integral with their respective sections, each being adapted to enter between two of the webs of the rod, 3, and to substantially conform to their peripheral contour It will now be seen that by clamping the two sections 4 and 5 together about a form of rod as described, with the radiating webs, 3, as shown, the wedges 4 and 5 will enter intermediate the flanges, 3, and being wedged in will contact their surfaces, thus adhering and becoming firmly secured thereto. However, to facilitate the locking power of my clamp and in order to assemble the divers sections of rod together securing the maximum of efficiency consistent with the material of which the rod and coupling are made, I introduce two wedge shaped members, 7 and 8, substantially of the same shape as the before mentioned projections 43* and 5 only being separate and apart from the clamp proper, and adapted to enter the two diametrically opposite openings formed by the webs of the rod, 3, and lying adjacent those already filled by the projections 45 and 5 Protruding at right angles to the plane ofthe rod and being cast integral with one section of my clamp, (preferably 5 as shown) is a threaded stud, 9, which is adapted to receive the usual form of tapped coupling A, as I have shown, swaged to the upper end of rod, 3, in Fig. 1. It is also capable of receiving any conventional form of socket, which in turn is secured to the support to which the rodv itself is adapted to be secured.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description and drawing, that in assembling the rod, or in securing the rod to its support, the section 5, will be secured first, either to a coupling A, or to a bracket that has already been attached to the rods support, then the rod is inserted into that half of the clamp so that the projection 5 may register between two of the flanges, 3; the two wedges 7 and 8 are then inserted as shown, and the remaining half, &, of my device is assembled and clamped to 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1-- 1. A clamp for a lightning-rod comprising two sections adapted to surround said rod and to be secured together, and integral projections provided upon each respective section for engaging said rod.

2. A coupling for a lightning-rod comprising two sections adapted to surround said rod and to be clamped together, means coplel of this patent may be obtained 101'. five cents eaemby addressing the to he held in engagement therewith by said sections, and means integral with one of said sections adapted to receive a cooperating member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MOCULLOUGH.

Witnesses:

D. A. PRICE, A. E. MGMAHON.

Gommissioner or ratentl,

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