To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURNLEY TAYLOR, of Hanover C. H., in the county of Hanover and State of Virginia, Have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Insulators for Telegraph Wires, of which the following is a specification. The object of my invention is to provide an insulator for telegraph-lines of cheap and simple construction to which the wire may be readily attached or removed in constructing, repairing, and changing the location of the line by unskilled persons, and in which the “tie-wire” may be entirely dispensed with, without adding to the cost of the appliance.

The invention consists in making the insulator-peg screw-threaded upon its outer surface and provided with a diametrical slot, through which the wire is passed, and a key of non-conducting material fitting the slot and clamping the wire and a metallic cap screw-threaded to fit the thread of the insulator-plug, which serves to hold the key in place and clamp it securely upon the wire, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved insulator; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the center of the key and slot of the same; and Fig. 3, a perspective view of the plug, wedge, and cap detached.

The peg A is formed of glass or other suitable non-conducting material, which has a screw-thread, a, formed upon its outer surface, a diametrical groove or slot, a’, extending downward a suitable distance, and having bottom of the slot rounded, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, into which the wire is placed and over which it is slightly bent to form a secure binding-surface.

The key B is formed of glass or other suitable non-conducting material, rounded or concaved at its lower edge to conform to the shape of the bottom of the groove a’, and having in this instance projecting ears or lugs b b extending outside the insulator-peg a short distance.

The cap C is spun up of sheet metal and is screw-threaded to fit the thread upon the outer Surface of the insulator-cap, and bears at its lower edge upon the

projecting ears or lugs b b’ of the wedge B, and serves to hold the key in place upon the insulating-plug and clamp it firmly upon the wire, by which means the wire is securely held, even should the connection be broken upon one side of the insulator.

Instead of the projecting ears b b’, the key may project slightly above the top of the insulator-peg, so that the Cap may bear upon it, Which will answer a good purpose.

The metal cap and glass key are very cheap and simple devices, which will cost but little more than the ordinary tie-wire, and will much more effectually serve the purpose of holding the wire, while they may be quickly applied by the most unskilled persons.  The key being made to conform to the shape of the bottom of the groove, and both being rounded, the wire will be firmly clamped by a sufficient extent of binding-surface, while the crimp on the wire formed by the rounded portion of the groove and key will serve as an additional means of preventing the wire from slipping away from its connection should it be broken upon one side only of the pole or support.

The wire maybe easily put up or taken down, and will be of great convenience in running temporary lines or in making repairs, where expedition is of the utmost importance.

The cap C may be cheaply spun up of sheet metal by well-known machinery, and the glass key to fit the groove is of nominal cost, while both together are cheaper and much more effectual than the screw-threaded glass Cap.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent--

An insulator for telegraph-wires consisting of a slotted glass peg having a screw-thread formed upon its outer surface, a non-conducting key to fit the groove of the peg, and a metallic cap to screw upon the peg and clamp the key upon the wire, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

BURNLEY TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

WM. H. ROWE,

C. C. MITCHELL.