US145641A - Improvement in couplings for tubular lightning-rods - Google Patents

Description

w. FRnscH. Couplings for Tubular Lightning-Rods. No. 145,641.

Patented Dec.16,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. FRITSOH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT lN COUPLINGS FOR TUBULAR LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,64l, dated December 16, 1573; application filed November 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, J OSEPH W. Fnrrson, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings for Tubular Lightnil'ig-ltods, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of couplin gs for which Letters Patent were issued to James H. \Veston, June 10, 1873; and my improvement consists in constructing said couplings in such a manner as to expedite and economize their manufacture, and also to permit the various sections of the rod to be united together in a few moments, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the contiguous ends of two sections of a lightning- .rod in the first stage of their manufacture. Fig. 2 is a similar view of said sections after the slots and tongue have been cut in them. Fig. 8 is a perspective view, showing the two sections brought together, and the tongue of one section passed through the slot of the other section; and Fig. 4 is a similar view after the protruding end of the tongue has been bent back or clinched, so as to couple the two sections securely together.

My rod consists of a number of tubes, A B, of any suitablediameter and length, and composed of copper or other metal, that is a good conductor of electricity. Of these tubes or sections, the one A is employed as the ground connection for the rod, and the upper portion of said section is reduced in diameter at G, in order that it may the more readily enter the contiguous section, and also to allow the formation of a locking-tongue, as herein after explained. This reduction of the rod A is accomplished by subjecting it to the action of a rotating die, that spins down the metal to the required diameter without cutting it or otherwise impairing its strength. The spinning-die is so arranged as to produce a gradual or inclined shoulder, D, where the diminished portion 0 joins the tube A. The lower end of tube B is spun out with a reamer,

so as to form a flaring or trumpet mouth, E, which is adapted to receive the reduced portion 0 of the other section.

Having thus reduced one end of all the sections and enlarged or expanded the other end of all of them, I then proceed to construct the locking devices in the following manner: Two parallel and longitudinal incisions or slits, F F, are made in the reduced portion 0 with a pair of shears or snips, and said slits are prolonged far enough to produce a tongue, G, of suitable length, after which the. free end H of said tongue is turned or bent outwardly with a pair of pliers. This is all the labor that is necessary to bestow upon one end of the sections, and the other ends of the sections have a circumferential slot, I, filed in them. This slot is made at a suitable distance from the flaring mouth E, and is of such dimensions as to at low the tongue G H to pass readily through it when the sections of the rod are being coupled together. The sections of the rodare then temporarily united, care being taken to have the tongue pass through the slot, and are then drawn apart. This insertion and removal operate to impart to the tongues their final shape, as shown in Fig. 2.

The above-described simple, economical, and expeditious manipulations are all that are necessary to complete the manufacture of the rod, which is then applied to a building in the following manner: The reduced portion 0 of one section is inserted in the flaring mouth E of the adjacent section, care being taken to have the tongue G in line with the slot I. The sec tion A is then shoved up toward the one B, and as soon as the free end H of the tongue G reaches the slot I it protrudes through the same, and the continued advance of the tube A causes said tongue to project gradually, and assume the curved shape shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the shoulder D comes in contact with the interior of mouth E farther progress of the tube A is prevented, and the tongue G is bent down or clinched, as shown in Fig. 4. This act completes the coupling of one sec tion to another, and it is repeated until a sufficient number of tubes have been locked to gether so as to make a practically continuous rod of the desired length. The sections being coupled by a persistently inward thrust, without retrograde action, the mouth E completely incloses the upper end of section A, and there is no opportunity for dust and moisture to accumulate at the joints and enter the interior of the rod, neither are there any objectionable enlirgements or flanges at saidjoints to impede the flow of electricity down into the earth.

It will be seen that the Weight of the rod is supported by resting one section upon the inclined shoulder 1) of the adjacent section, and consequently no strain Whatever is brought to bear upon the locking-tongue G.

Another advantage peculiar to my rod is found in the fact that the spinning down of one end of all the sections compresses or condenses the metal, and thereby increases its strength, and effectually overcomes the continued opening of the seams, which is a great objection to most all the tubular lightningrods now in use.

It at anytime it should be desired to take the rod down, it can be accomplished in a few minutes by simply bending the tongue back to its original position, and then pulling one section directly out from the other, the elastic nature of said tongue allowing it to be clinched and straightened as often as maybe neces sary. v

In case the tongue should be accidentally broken oft, a new one can be cut alongside it Without in the least impairing the strength or eiiiciency of the rod.

The tongue being at the extreme edge of the section is quickly and cheaply made by the snips, which form part of the kit of every operator.

I claim as my invention- A lightning-rod composed of tubular sheetmetal sections, having one end flared and slotted, as at I, and the other end reduced in diameter, as at U, with a sloping shoulder, 1), and a tongue, II, formed by the slits 1* F extending from the end of each section inwardly, the sections being joined by the insertion of the reduced end of one into the flared end of another, the tongue H passing through slot I, and being bent back for securing the two sec tions together.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH A. Fl'iljTStll.

Attest:

GEO. II. KNIGHT, Jinnis II. LAYMAN.

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