US19819A - Improvement in lightning-conductors - Google Patents

Description

0. WHITE.

. Lightning Rod.

No. 19,819. Patented March 30, 1858 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OREN WHITE, OF RAOINE, \NISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY U. JANES, OF

' SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN LlGHTNlNG-CONDUCTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,819, dated March 30, 1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OREN WHITE, of the city of Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Lightning-Rod or Conductor of Electricity; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The usual mode of constructing lightningrods is attended by many serious disadvantages. An iron rod, when made of the size requisite for a conductor, is necessarily very stiff, and cannot be readily adapted to various angles. Such conductors require numerous joints,atonceinconvenientandexpensive. The lengths, being straight and inflexible, are diflicult of transportation, and usually require to be cut and new joints made to adapt them to the varying heights of different buildings. Moreover, they are not so perfect conductors of electricity as a rod or wire having entire continuity throughout.

My invention is an improvement in the construction of ii ghtnin g-rods. It consists of making the rod of iron wires inclosed in a strip of sheet-copper, and also of a clutch or joint made of sheet metal for connecting a branch rod to the main or ground rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, A represents a coil of my rod, ready for transportation or use, with the ends erect to show the mode of adjusting the points. This rod is twisted, but in Fig. 2, B and G, the rod is not twisted. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the rod, D being the iron wire, while E repre sents the strip of copper wrapped around the wires in the form of a figure 8. Figs. 3 and 4 show the separate parts of my clutch or joint.

In constructing my rod, I employ machinery, so that the work is performed with great facility. For ordinary rods I use No. 8 iron wire and sheet-copper of the weight of 12 ounces to the square foot. A strip of this copper one and oneeighth inch in width is wrapped around the two iron wires, as seen at Fig. 5, which is a cross-section of the rod when finished. WVhen completed this rod has the external appearance of two copper wires twisted to gethcr, presenting an even, unbroken surface to the atmosphere. It is very flexible, and consequently may be coiled indefinitely and be easily transported to the place where it is to be used. Then it is rcadilyuncoilcd and may be erected withoutjointing the main rod. Being flexible, it is readily adapted to any angle or corner, yet it possesses great strength and durability, and it is a perfect conductor.

The ordinary points may be employed with my rod. They may be made large enough to slip upon the end of the rod, as seen at G, Fig. 1, or they may be smaller, so as to (it the iron wire, as shown at H H, Fig. 1, where the copper is cut away and the ends of the iron wires slightly separate, so as to receive the two points. In Fig. 2 is seen a different point, consisting in part of copper, I, while the tip j is of different metal.

My new clutch or joint is made of sheet metal, and consists of two parts, the clutch itself, L, Fig. 3, and the thimble K, Fig. 4. In the model sent to the Patent Office, the clutch is electroplated, but this is not necessary.

The common mode of applying the clutch is shown at Fig. 2, in which 0 represents the main or ground rod and B an additional point or upright. In the first place, the clutch L is wrapped around the main or ground wire 0, at the place where it is desired to attach an additional upright or point. Then the thimble K is slipped upon the rod B which being inserted into the clutch, as seen in dotted lines, the thimble is pushed home so as firmly to embrace the clutch and foot of the upright. In this way rod B is kept in contact with rod 0, while the clutch increases the quantity of metal about the joint, forming a perfect conductor. This clutch can be employed, not only for additional uprights, but for connecting additional points or branch rods wherever they are desired.

Although I have mentioned a particular size of wire and weight of copper as suitable for my rod as commonly used, I do not limit my self to the same, but propose to vary the size and weight according to circumstances. The clutch and thimble also may be somewhat .varied in form and application without departing from my improved joint, or the thinlble may be made to embrace the main rod an d the end of the branch, which in that case may be bent at right angles near the end, as seen in Fig. 2, f; but I prefer the form shown in Fig. 3.

This mode of constructing joints by the use of plate metal, in either form above described, and the use of my flexible rod, not only diminishes the labor of making rods, but greatly facilitates the erection of rods upon buildings and greatly lessens the cost of the entire rod.

By inclosing the iron in copper remarkable toughness is secured without great expense, so

I have been using this rod for some time, and I find it practically a great improvement. The judgment of scientific men confirms my own opinion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A lightning-conductor consisting of iron wires enwrapped by sheet-copper, for the purpose of increasing the strength and the conducting-power of the rod without materially lessening its flexibility or greatly increasing the expense of manufacture, as set forth.

.2. The sheet-metal joint or clutch for connecting additional rods or points to the main rod, as described. t

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OREN WHITE.

Witnesses ALBERT G. KNIGHT, L. JANES.

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