US1896937A - Insulator - Google Patents

Description

P. G, BRINEY Feb. 7, 1933.

INSULATOR Filed April 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Perry rize P. G, BRINEY Feb. 7, 1933.

INSULATOR Filed April 23, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented F eb. 7, 1933 PATENT oFI-lcE PERRY G. BRINEY, 0F TORRANCE, CALIFORN'IA INSULATOB Application filed April 23,

This invention relates to anl improvement in insulators and insulating supports for charged electrical conductors, such as wires or cables, and has as its primary object the provision of an insulator' which will prevent leakage or grounding of current or closing of a circuit by dampness when such insulator and its support are wet as'from rain, mist, fog, dew, or snow.

Another object is to provide such an insulator which is so formed that an insulating dry strip will at all times be maintained between the two sides of such insulator.

Another object is to provide means for i' preventing particles of water from splashing off of any exposed areas of the insulator or conductor or attachments onto the insulating dry strip, when rain drops strike any such surface.

It is also an object of the invention to prevent tlie dripping or flowing of water from the outer surface of such insulator onto any electrically conductive element to which such insulator may be attached, which ldripping or flowing might, if allowed, act as a conductor to carry the electrical charge from a charged electrical conductor past the insulator to any electrically conductive element or ground desired to be insulated from such charged conductor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide interlinking bores for accommodating, and insulating from each other, interconnecting links of suitable material; said links constituting means for attaching such insulator to its supporting element on one side, and to a charged conductor on the other side of such insulator; and said bores being so constructed that when the insulator is in its normal position water cannot drain into such bores and infiltrate through porcelain in case any portion of the internal surface of such bores should be unglazed porcelain.

lVith the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illus- 1931. Serial No. 532,236.

trated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the insulator in longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the 55 insulator shown in Figure 1;'

Figure 3. is a view in elevation lookin the direction of thek arrow, shown in ure l;

Figure 4' is a view in longitudinal section 60 the direction of the arrow, shown in Figure 4. 65

Referring to the drawings and more specifically to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A indicatesy an electrically non-conductive insulator which is formed yof any suitable electrically nonconductive material, as for example, porcelain, or rubber, but the material may be of any character adapted to serve the purpose for which the insulator is intended.

The insulator is here shown as having a body portion B of arcuate cross section, and with two spaced and approximately parallel downwardly depending lips 7 and 8 projecting from the-lower edge of such body portion, with the lower margins of both such lips 1n approximately the same horizontal plane, said lips 7 and 8 being'spaced from each other by a channel 9.

l Formed in continuation of the lip 8 is a lip 10 projecting outward approximatel horizontally from the body portion B and ex;S 85

tending upwardly in an arc to form with the lip 8 one continuous inner lip.

Formed in continuation of the lip 7 is a lip 1l spaced from the lip l0 by an internal chan- 90 nel 12, said lip 11 being turned inwardly to partially enclose the internal channel 12, said lips 7 and 11 forming one continuous outer lip; and said channel 12 being a continuation of the channel 9 and together with such chang5 nel 9 forming one continuous channel. y

The upper inner peripheral portion of the arch formed by the inwardly projecting margin of the lip 11 is here shown as formed to lead from the line medially of the arch into 100 the depending side portions thereof to form a =shallow groove 13 extending inwardly from the outer face of the arch.

Extending over the outer end portion of the groove 13 is an overhanging ledge 14. The ledge forms a valley 15 which serves to deflect or direct streams or drops of water impinging thereon to either or both sides of the arch in such manner as to prevent the Acollection of drops of water onthe upper portion of the outer face of the arch formed by the lip 11.

The body portion B is formed with two circular bores 16 and 17 extending in a general U-shaped course into the mid portion of such body portion B; the bore 16 being disposed on, or approximately on, a perpendicular plane at right angles to the plane of the outer face of the arch formed by the outer lip 11, and being formed with the ends of such bore inclined downwardly to prevent water from i'iowing into such bore the bore 17 being disposed on a plane at, or approximately at, right angles to the plane in which the bore V16 is disposed, and at a slight incline from the horizontalto prevent water from flowing into said bore; said two bores being interlinked with relation to each other but not interconnecting; said bores being of suitalble dimensions to accommodate links of metalcable 18 and 19 or other suitable materialfor attaching said insulator to its support onone side and to a charged conductor on the other side of said insulator.

In the application and operation of the form of theinvention just described, the end of the cable 18 is threaded through the bore 16 and the end made fast to that portion of I the cable still remaining outside the bore so as to form a link surrounding a portion ofthe insulator and surrounding the other cable 19 which has meanwhile been threaded through the other bore 17, and made fast upon itself forming a link similar to the link just de scribed as being formed with the cable 18, such links being thus interlinked and yet'insulated from each other by a portion of the electrically non-conductive material of which the insulator is constructed. By means of such pieces of cable the insulator may be attached, in a manner well known in the art, toy a supporting member such as a pole or cross-arm on one side of such insulator and to an electrically charged conductor on the other side of such insulator.

By constructing the ends of the bores 16 and 17 ywith a downward inclination water will drain out of such bores, and cannot flow into same, so that in event the glazed porcelain lining of such bores be cracked no waterl will collect in such bores and drain into such cracks. j A

However, it is not absolutely necessary that bore 16 shall have both ends inclined downwardly as such bore is disposed on 'a perpendicular plane and water will quickly drain out of such bore with therefore slight opportunity for such water to permeate the bodyof Sie porcelain even though the glazing be bro- Water collecting on the outside of the insulator will drain downward and fall from the edge ofthe lip 7; the water falling on the top of the insulator above the ledge 14 will drain to such ledge and by such ledge be deflected and will follow the valley 15 to one end or the other of such ledge and will flow on at the ends of such ledge onto the outer face of the lip 11 and thence downward and drain from the lower edge of the lip 7. j

The arch formed by the inward curving of the margin of the outer lip 11 is constructed with an inverted V-shaped top so that if any drops of water collect on the outer face of the arch formed by such lip 11 and below the top of the ledge 14, and flow under suoli ledge and under such arch they will follow one of the hanging walls of such arch downwardly and pass therefrom at apont below the metal link 18 instead of dripping from the top of such arch onto such metal link 18. Such dripping onto such metal is not desirable because the elongation of the drops during such dripping materially lessens the distance which the electric current is required to jump or arc across from the electrically conductive element 18 to the we t outer face of the insulator.

rEhe film of water on such wet surface will conduct electricity over the top and the back or sides of such insulator and tothe metal link 19 and thence along a wet cross-arm to another charged Lconductor which might be improperly insulated, or through a wet power line pole to the ground, so that it is H" lip 11. Such drops of water each become for l the moment a prolongation of the electrically conductive iilm of water on the outer surface of such insulator, and if such dripping water should be sufficient in volume that the drops do not separate but form a stream, such stream would form a complete circuit, making unnecessary any arcing of the current through the atmosphere 1n closing such circuit.

vWhile the principal feature of the invenl" tion so far as it relates to the lip 11, consists in so forming such lip 11 that water falling on the insulator will not come in contact with the channel 12 under such lip 11, and while this can be accomplished without turning inwardly the margin of such lip 11, and while suchform of the lip 11 without such inwardly turned margin provides a practical and useful insulator in light rains, and under all conditions of fog and mist, yet I prefer to turn inwardly the margin of said lip 11 whereby water striking the cable 18 as, for example, during a very heavy rainfall, and being deflected under the arch formed by the lip 11 will be prevented from passing into the channel 12 and thence possibly reaching the channel 9. The channels 9 and 12 must be maintained dry at all times, or at least a portion of their width throughout their entire continuous length must be so maintained, in

order to prevent the meeting of the films of water on the opposite sides of such insulator.

The margins of the lips 7 and 11 are spaced such distance from the margins of the lips 8 and 10 respectively, and the margins of the lip 11 are spaced such distance from the cable 15 that, at the voltage being used in the charged conductor, the electric current cannot arc across such spaces.

Particles of water passing under the arch formed by the lip 11 and striking the surface of the body portion b of the insulator will drain downwardly and drip from the lip 8 leaving the channels 9 and 12 always dry, to insulate from each other the two opposite wet sides of such insulator as just mentioned, and also insulate from each other in wet weather the charged conductor at one side of the insulator from the supporting member at the other side thereof.

Referring more specifically to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is here shown a modified form of the invention in which there is provided only one arched lip instead of two, such arched lip being so shaped as to form by itself alone the internal channel extending upward in an arc over one of the supporting members. In all other respects the form here shown is substantially the same as Figures 1,

' 2 and 3.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6, C indicates generally a non-conductive insulator of any suitable non-conductive material. The insulator is here shown as having a body portion D of arcuate cross section, and with two spaced downwardly depending lips 2O and 21 proj ecting from the lower edge of such body portion, said lips being spaced from each other by a channel 22.

Formed in continuation of the lip 2O is a lip 23 extending upwardly in an are to form with the lip one continuous outer lip, said lip 23 being curved to form a channel 24 on the inner side of said lip, said channel 24 being a continuation of the channel 22, and together with such channel 22, forming one endless channel.

The upper inner peripheral portion of the arch formed by the inwardly projecting inargin of the lip 23 serves to form a shallow groove 25 in manner heretofore described respecting the groove 13 of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Extending over the outer end portion of the groove 25 is an over-hanging ledge 26. Such ledge forms a valley 27 on its upper side.

The body portion is formed with two circular bores 28 and 29 constructed in the same form and shape as the bores 16 and 17 respectively of Figures 1 and 2.

In the application and operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and just described, cables 30 and 31 are threaded through the bores 28 and 29 respectively in the manner described hereinbefore for threading cables 18 and 19 through the bores 16 and 17 respectively of the form of the insulator shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and being made fast in the same manner, serve the same purposes and perform the same functions in this form as said cables 18 and 19; and the said bores 28 and 29 serve the same purpose and perform the same functions as the bores 1G and 17 of said previously described form.

The lips 20, 21 and 23 bear the same relation to each other and perform the same functions in this form as the lips 7, 8 and 11 respectively in said previously described form, and channels 22 and 24 serve the' same purposes and perform the same functions here as channels 9 and 12 respectively in such previously described form; and the functions of the ledge 26 and the valley 27 here are the same as the functions of the ledge 14 and valley 15 of such previously described form. The inverted V-shaped groove 25 here performs the same functions as the groove 13 of such previously described form.

Water striking any part of the insulator in this form will be disposed of in similar manner to that described for such previously described form.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shown, but may employ such changes and modifications as occasion may require, coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical insulator adapted to be so used that the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; means for attaching a charged electrical conductor to one side of such insulator; means for attaching a supporting member to another side of such insulator; downwardly depending lipson the under side of such insulator in spaced relation to each other, and extending transversely to the direction of the line of strain above mentioned; in continuation of said lips other lips in spaced relation to each other flared outwardly and upwardly over the said line of strain, one of said lips partially surrounding another of said lips.

2. An electrical insulator adapted to be so used that the line of the strain exerted thereon If by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; means for attaching a charged electrical conductor to one side of such insulator; means for attaching a supporting member to another side of such insulator; a-pair of downwardly depending spaced lips extending across the lower side of such insulator, a pair of spaced lips arcuate in cross section 4at one end of such insulator formed in continuation ot' said irst named pair of lips, the outermost of said end lips being turned inwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the inner side of the innermost of said end lips.

3. An electrical insulator adapted to be so usedthat the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; means for attaching a charged electrical conductor to one side of such insulator; means for attaching a supporting member to another side of such insulator; a pair of downwardly depending spaced lips extending across the lower side of such insulator, a pair of spaced lips arcuate in cross section at one end of such insulator formed in continuation of said first named pair ot lips, the outermost of said end lips being turned inwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the under side of the innermost of said end lips; a ledge on the outer face of such inwardly turned lip.

4. An electrical insulator adapted to be so used that the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; means for attaching a charged electrical conductor to Vone side of such insulator; means for attaching a` supporting member to another side of such insulator; a pair of downwardly depending spaced lips extending across the lower side of such insulator, a pair of spaced lips arcuate in cross section at one end of such insulator formed in continuation of said iirst named pair of lips, the outermost of said end lips being turned inwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the under side of the innermost of said end lips; the arch formed by the inwardly turned edge of such outer lip having an inverted V-shaped groove at its apex.

, 5. An electrical insulator adapted to be so used that the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electricalV conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; a pair of spaced lips at one end ot such insulator, such lips being ared outwardly and upwardly and extendingV over such line of strain; a ledge on the outer face of the outer lip of said pair of lips, such ledge forming a Valleybetween the top of such ledge and such outer face.

6. An electrical insulator adapt-ed to be so 'used that the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendicular; downwardly depending lips on the under side of such insulator, in spaced relation to each other, and extending transversely to the direction of the line of said strain; in continuation or one of said lips a lip iiared outwardly and upwardly in an arch over the said line ot strain, said lip forming a channel on its under side, said channel being a continuation of the channel formed between two or" the downwardly depending lips on the under side or" said insulator. Y

7. An electrical insulator adapted to be so used that the line of the strain exerted thereon by the electrical conductor supported thereby will be at an angle from the perpendic'ular; downwardly depending lips on theunder side of such. insulator, in spaced relation to each other and ext-ending ransyersely to the direction ot the line o said strain; in continuation ot one ot' said lips a lip flared outwardly and upwardly in an arch over the said line ot strain, said lip forming a channel on its under side, said channel being a continuation of the channel formed between two of the downwardly depending lips on the under side of said insulator, a ledge on the outer tace of the arch ormed by said flared lip, such ledge forming a valley between the top of suoli ledge and the said outer face ot said arch.

PERRY eBarNnY.

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