US243853A - William m - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

4 W. M. CONWAY. MEANS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRIC WIRES. No. 243,853.

Patented July 5, 1881.

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UNITED STATES W'ILLIAM M. CONWAY, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MEANS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,853, dated July 5, 1881.

Application filed May 9, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I WILLIAM M. CONWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Oonductin g Electric Wires; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to means for conducting telegraph, telephone, and other electric .wires underground in a manner which shall admit of placing a large number of wires within a small area and allow the ready removal of any separate wire for purposes of examination and repair.

In carrying out my invention I employ a system of boxes, constructed of iron or other metal, or of glass, terra-cotta, or other material, which boxes are laid or arranged at the outer edge or curb of the sidewalk, or in the middle of the street, or in any other convenient location. The cap-plates forming the closed tops of the boxes are placed on a level with the pavement or street, and constructed in such a manner and of such strength as to adapt them to the traffic or usage to which they may be subjected. Each end of each box is arranged to unite or interlock with an end of the adjacent box in a manner constituting a water-tight joint. Arranged within each box are one or more partitions, formed of glass, india-rnbber, or other insulating medium, which are provided with one or more slots, leading from the top edge down to near the bottom, and having branch slot-s, which latter are at their ends formed into curved recesses to receive and support the various wires. The capplate of each box is laid upon the upper edges of the box sides, and secured thereto in any appropriate manner which will effect a watertight joint.

A modification of the invention consists in the employment of wires in sections instead of continuous wires. In the use of the sectional wires certain changes in the sustaining partt (No model.)

tions are necessary, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the further description of my invention which follows, Figure I is a longitudinal section of the invention. Fig. II is a plan view with the cap-plate removed. Fig. III is a transverse section. Fig. IV is a transverse section, showing amoditication of the invention. Fig. V is an under-side view of the cap-platc. Fig. VI shows a modification of the invention in the use of sectional wires.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

A A represent the box-sections, which may be constructed of metal, glass, earthenware, or other material. The sides and bottom at each end of each box-section are formed with devices for effecting a water-tightjoint between it and the adjacent section. As shown by a and b, the mode of effecting the joint here employed is by a tongue and groove, although I do not restrict myself to this particular ar rangement.

13 indicates the partition-plate, of which one or more may be used with each box-section, the number being determined by the length of the section or other consideration. The partition is loosely inserted in the box, resting in a groove, 0, formed by lugs cast or secured on the inner side of the box, as shown. Thepartition B is provided with one or more slots or leaders, dfeach commencing or starting from the upper edge of the partition, and descending preferably in a perpendicular line to near its lower part, the slot or leader being of sufficient width to receive the wire. Branchin gin any desired directions from the main slot or leader are similar slots d, terminating each in a circular recess, (1 which recesses form the beds or supports for the wires, as shown particularly in Figs. III and IV. As exhibited in Fig. IV, two leaders with branch slots are used in the partition. As represented in Fig. III, only one is shown; but it is intended to be indicated by this figure that any suitable number may be employed.

0 is the cap-plate, which may be formed of metal, eathenware, or glass, and, as shown, is provided with a roughened upper surface, in order that it may form apart of thepavement or road. I prefer that the cap-plates, which may be fastened to the box in a suitable way, shall break joints with the box-sections, as shown particularly in Fig. I at e, the uniting ends of the cap-plates resting upon the cross bar or strip f; but this arrangement and mode of supportin g the cap-plate, notbein g essential to my invention, may be departed from. The under side of the cap-plate is grooved, as shown in FigV, andthetop edges of theboxtongued, as shown more particularlyin Figs. III and IV, in order that with the aid of rubber, if necessary, a tight joint may be effected between the cap-plate and box.

As represented in Fi VI, I employ, instead of the continuous wires shown in Figs. I and II, wires formed in sections of, say, five feet in length, provided at each end with a metal button, g. In this construction it is necessary .to employ a pair of partitions placed a short distant apart, in order that the buttons oftwo connecting wires may be received between the partitions, so as to connect the wires, and thus properly conduct the electric current. This modification of my invention admits of the convenient removal of the wires for repairs or other purposes, and avoids the necessity'ot' uniting the wires by coiling or twisting, as is the ordinary practice.

My invention, whether used with the continuous or sectional wires, admits of the following advantages: It is seen that a large number of wires can be inserted in a very small area, and that any of the wires can be safely liited or removed without interfering with the rest of the series. Further, the partitions being removable, the entire series or .nest of wires can be lifted out for examination cating the box, or to the mode of effecting the water-tight joint between the sections or between the box and cap-plate. It is, however, necessary to my invention that the partitions be provided with leaders whose open ends shall be exposed on the removal of the lid, and that such leaders shall be provided with branch slots serving as rests for the wires.

The advantage of my arrangement of leaders and branch slots is that it admits of the distribution of the wires to any point of the area of the partition, as it is seen that any point may be readily reached by carrying thereto a branch slot. Furthermore, the separate rests for the wires are so distinctly isolated that there is no possibility of one wire becoming detached from its rest and caught in the rest designed for another wire. Further, in the act of removing the wires there is no possibility of accidental displacement of a wire not designed to be moved.

I disclaim partitions which are provided with simple notches for the reception of the wires, as also hooks and other similar devices serving as rests for the wires; but,

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A series of sectional boxes each provided with aremovable partition or partitions having entrance slots or leaders and branch slots serving as rests for the wires, the open ends of the leaders extending to the top of the box, and the branch slots being carried from said leaders to different points of the area of the partitions, serving to appropriately distribute the wires throughout said area, substantially as set forth.

2. A series of underground boxes for electrical wires, said boxes being formed with \va tor-tight joints, combined with cap-plates and removable partitions having entrance slots or leaders whose open ends extend to the top of the box, said leaders being provided with branch slots reaching to difi'erent points within the area of the partition, and serving to distribute and act as rests for the wires at different points in said area, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with a series of box-sections provided with slotl ed partitions arranged in pairs, a series of sectional wires whose ends are provided with engaging buttons adapted to rest between the partitions, and thus unite the wires and complete the circuit, substan tiall y as specified.

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

WILLIAM M. CONWAY.

Witnesses:

Mosns Nonnrs, WM. H. MASSON.

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