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To all whom it may concern: Be
it known that J, WILLIAM R. TWIGGS,
a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of
Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Insulator, of
which the following is a specification. This
invention relates to insulators. One
object of the invention is to improve the construction of such devices
by rendering them capable of holding the line-wire securely without the
use of tie-wires or similar fastening devices. Other
objects of the invention are to simplify and cheapen the construction of
insulators. With
these objects in view the invention resides in an insulator formed with
a central depression from which lead off in opposite directions a
plurality of downwardly inclined slots which taper toward their outer
ends and are adapted to receive the line-wire, said wire being held in
the slots by balls inserted through the central depression and engaging
said line-wire. The
invention will be more clearly described hereinafter, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein-- Figure
1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of the improved device.
Fig. 2 is a view in elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. The numeral 1 indicates the body of the improved insulator, which may be
made of glass or other suitable insulating material. Formed
in the upper end of the insulator 1 is a central depression 2.
Communicating with the central depression 2 are
oppositely-extending slots 3 4, each of which is tapered or contracted
toward its outer end. The
upper portion of each slot 3 4 is narrowed, as shown at 5 6, only
sufficient width being given to the slot to permit the insertion of the
line-wire 7. A groove 8 of
sufficient size to receive the tinder portion of the line-wire 7 is
formed along the bottom of each slot 3 4 and across the bottom of the
depression 2. Balls 9 10,
of suitable insulating material, are placed one in each of the slots 3
4, said balls being adapted to rest upon the wire and hold it securely
in the groove 8. It will be
observed from the drawings that the slots 3 4 in addition to being
tapered are inclined downwardly toward their outer ends.
By reason of this construction the balls 9 10 when they are
placed in the central depression 2 will roll
down the tapered slots 3 4 until they become jammed therein, the jamming
of the balls being further facilitated by any movement of the line-wire. The method of using the improved insulator will be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings. The wire 8 is inserted through the narrow upper end of the slots 3 4 and fitted into the groove 7. The balls 9 10 are then inserted into the slots 3 4, respectively, where they serve to hold the line-wire securely in place, preventing not only its withdrawal from the insulator, but also any longitudinal movement thereof. The balls 9 10 may be made in different sizes to permit the use of large and small wires. If desired, a large and a small ball may be used with each insulator. When it is desired to remove the wire from the insulator for any reason, the small ball may be easily taken out of its |
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tapered slot first and then the large ball afterward. By
reason of the fact that a longitudinal pull on the wire 8 causes the
ball on the side from which the pull is exerted to become jammed in its
tapered slot, and thus securely hold the wire, said wire may be
stretched properly when first applied to the insulator to prevent it
from having excessive slack between the supporting-poles, and the
improved insulator will prevent it from sagging after having been once
properly stretched. It
is preferred to construct the insulator and the balls from glass; but it
will be understood that any other suitable material may be used for this
purpose. Furthermore, the
insulator is adapted to be used upon any kind of electric wires or
systems. The
improved insulator, as before stated, is designed to hold the electric
wire without the use of binding or tie wires.
In this manner the time and labor of applying the tie-wires, to
say nothing of the expense of the tie-wires themselves, is saved and the
line-wire may be strung much cheaper and quicker than heretofore. Changes
in the precise details of construction illustrated and described may be
made within the scope of the following class without departing from the
spirit of the invention. Having
thus described the invention, what is claimed is-- 1. An insulator comprising a body portion having a depression formed in
the top thereof,
diametrically-disposed downwardly inclined slots radiating from said
depression and adapted to receive a line-wire, and removable locking
members disposed within said slots for engagement with said wire. 2.
An insulator comprising a body portion having a depression formed in the
top thereof, a plurality of diametrically-disposed downwardly-tapered
slots radiating from said depression, and removable locking members
disposed within said slots and adapted to engage said wire. 3.
An insulator comprising a body portion the top of which is provided with
a plurality of diametrically-disposed slots inclined downwardly from the
center thereof and adapted to receive a line-wire, and locking members
disposed within said slots and adapted to engage said wire. 4.
An insulator comprising a body portion the top of which is provided with
a plurality of diametrically-disposed slots inclined downwardly from the
center thereof and each having a groove in its lower wall adapted to
receive a line-wire, and removable locking members disposed in said
slots and adapted to engage said wire. 5.
An insulator comprising a body portion provided with a depression having
a plurality of diametrically-disposed slots radiating therefrom, a
seating-groove formed in the bottom wall of each slot for the reception
of a line-wire, and balls disposed in the slots and adapted to engage
said wire. In
testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my
signature in the presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM
R. TWIGGS. Witnesses: JOSH
B. DAVIS, JOSEPH EBNER. |