Untitled record

Application filed September 27,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, William J. Philips | and George L. Kitson, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, iu the county 5 of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Cables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, io wherein—

Figure 1 is a broken perspective, partly sectional, of a single-wire cable embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a cable having more 15 than one wire; and Fig. 4 is a perspective illustrating the manner of applying the casing of lead to the cable.

Our invention has for its object to provide an insulated conductor or cable for transmit20 ting electric currents, which is especially adapted for underground service, and which may be easily, rapidly, and inexpensively manufactured.

Our invention accordingly consists of a ca25 ble the wire or wires of which are first coated with Burgundy pitch roughened on its surface, then wrapped with a covering of asbestos, over which a layer of rosin is placed, and the whole incased in a covering of lead.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a section of a cable; A', the wire or conductor; B, the coating of Burgundy pitch; 0, the wrapping of asbestus; D, the coating of rosin, and E the casing of lead.

Said cable may be made in any suitable or desired manner; but we prefer to construct it in substantially the following manner: The wire A' is run or caused to be passed through a bath of Burgundy pitch to form a coating thereon. When the pitch dries or hardens it is whipped or otherwise suitably manipulated to break its gloss or smooth surface, so that when the asbestus covering is applied thereto it will adhere to the pitch, 45 and securely hold the wire therein and prevent it being easily withdrawn therefrom, as would otherwise be the case if the gloss or surface of the pitch were allowed to remain smooth or unbroken. Such roughened sur50 face for the pitch is represented at &, and the asbestus covering therefor may be applied thereto in any suitable or desired manner, either in a fibrous or plastic condition. The wire A', with its coating of pitch and wrapping of asbestus, is then covered with rosin and 55 inclosed in the casing of lead. The latter may be a tube, or it may consist of a strip of sheetlead folded around the cable, as plainly shown in Fig. 4. When so folded, solder is applied to the joint e, or the latter may be lead-burned. 60 The edges e' e' of strip B are beveled, as shown, so that as the lead stretches in the process of folding it, said edges will come flush with each other to make a perfect joint.

The cable so constructed may be placed in 65 the ground without using a conduit, as the casing of lead answers for that purpose.