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To all whom it may concern: Be
it known that I, JOHN L. FAY,
a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri,
have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulators and
Wire-Clamps, of which the following is a specification containing a
full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. My
invention relates to an insulator and wire clamp, and the object of my
invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive insulator which is adapted
to be positioned on the cross arms usually employed for supporting
electric wires, and which insulator is provided with means whereby the
wire supported by the insulator is effectually held against longitudinal
movement and rotation. A
further object of my invention is to construct an insulator which may be
readily attached or detached from the cross arm, and which insulator is
so constructed as that the electric wire is easily and quickly clamped
therein or removed therefrom; and the general construction of the
insulator being such that the loss or leakage of any current where the
wire is supported is reduced to a minimum. To
the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more
fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure
1 is an elevation of the insulator in position upon a cross arm; Fig.2
is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan
view of the central portion of the insulator with the yoke removed. Referring
by numerals to the accompanying drawings:-- 1 designates the cross arm,
in which is detachably positioned the usual insulator supporting pin 2,
the upper end of which projects a short distance above the cross arm;
and there being a horizontally arranged aperture 3 formed through the
upper end of said pin. The
main body 4 of the insulator is cylindrical in form and constructed of
porcelain, glass or analogous material; and formed in the end of the
insulator body is a vertically disposed recess 5, which receives the
upper end of the pin 2 when the insulator is in position for use; and
passing horizontally through the lower portion of the insulator body,
and through the aperture 3, is a pin or bolt
6, which locks the insulator body to the pin. Formed
in the bottom of the insulator body, and communicating with the opening
5, is a series of radially arranged grooves or openings 7, which perform
the function of air ducts and permit air to pass between the lower end
of the insulator body and the cross arm 1, thus assisting in drying any
moisture which may accumulate beneath the insulator body around the pin
2, the accumulation of which moisture tends to rot the wood on which the
insulator is supported. Formed
integral with the body of the insulator, at a point adjacent the center
thereof, is an outwardly projecting flange or apron 8, which prevents
the water from flowing down the exterior surface of the insulator and
entering between the lower end of said insulator and the cross arm; and
the water flowing over this flange or apron is necessarily reduced to a
very thin film, thereby reducing its conductivity to any waste or
escaping current from the wire carried by the insulator. Formed
in the top of the insulator body 4 is a transversely disposed slot or
recess, and at the bottom thereof, are the upwardly projecting lugs 10,
on which bears the wire carried by the insulator The
side walls of the slot or recess 9 are enlarged or recessed, as
designated by 11, at the center of the insulator, thus forming an
enlarged opening which is occupied by the clamping screw 12 of the
insulator. This screw is
constructed of porcelain, glass or analogous insulating material, and is
screw seated in the upper end of an inverted U-shaped yoke 13, which is
arranged on the upper end of the body of the insulator, and which yoke
is connected to said insulator by a pin or bolt 14, which passes
transversely through the lower ends of the arms of the yoke, and through
the body of the insulator immediately above the apron 8. When the device is positioned for use, the insulator body is positioned in the upper end of the pin 2, and locked thereto by means of a pin or bolt 6, after which the electric wire A, which is to be supported or clamped, is positioned in the slot or recess 9; and when so arranged, rests on the lugs 10. The yoke 13 is now arranged over the upper end of |
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the insulator body, and secured in such position by means of the pin or
bolt 14, after which the clamping screw 12 is screwed
through the upper end of the yoke 13, and the body portion of said screw
passes downward through the chamber formed by the recesses 11 on the
sides of the slot 9, and the lower end of said screw bears upon that
portion of the wire between the lugs 10 and forces the wire downward and
clamps the same against the central portion of the body of the insulator
between said lugs. When so
positioned, the wire is firmly held against rotation and against
longitudinal movement between the body of the insulator and the clamping
screw, which are constructed of suitable insulating material and the
body of the insulator is rigidly held in position on the pin carried by
the cross arm. The
leakage or escape of current from the wire at the point of suspension is
induced to a minimum and the wire to be subjected to sufficient
longitudinal strain to break the clamping screw below the yoke 13, said
screw will still maintain its position owing to the fact that its
diameter is greater than the width of the ends of the slot or recess 9;
and therefore, the broken portion of the screw cannot be drawn
lengthwise through said slot or recess. Insulators
of my improved construction are particularly adapted for supporting all
manner of heavy electric light and power wires. Heretofore
in nearly all insulators of the type herein described, a metal clamp,
set screw, or tie wire has come into direct contact with the insulation
of the wire being supported, which an arrangement results in corrosion
at the point of contact, and also wear and breakage of the insulation
due to swaying of the wire which is suspended. I
claim:-- 1.
An insulator comprising a body of insulating material in the upper end
of which is formed a slot a yoke arranged on the upper end of the body
and passing across the slot therein, and a clamping member of insulating
material passing through the yoke and projecting into the slot. 2. An insulator, comprising a body of insulating material in the upper
portion of which is formed a transverse slot, there being recesses
formed in the side walls of said slot at the center thereof, a yoke
detachably positioned on the body and passing transversely across the
recessed portion of the slot,
and a clamping member carried by the yoke and projecting into the
recessed portion of the slot. 3.
An insulator, comprising a body of insulating material in the upper end
of which is formed a slot, lugs formed integral with the insulator body
in the bottom of the slot, a yoke arranged on the upper end of the body
and passing across the slot therein, and a clamping member of insulating
material passing through the yoke and projecting into the slot. 4.
An insulator, comprising a body of insulating material in the upper end
of which is formed a slot, lugs formed integral with the body of the
insulator and transversely disposed on the bottom and at the ends of the
slot, a yoke arranged on the upper end of the body and passing across
the slot therein, and a clamping member of insulating material passing
through the yoke and projecting into the slot. 5.
An insulator, comprising a body of insulating material in the upper
portion of which is formed a transverse slot, there being oppositely
disposed recesses formed in the side walls of the slot, a yoke
detachably secured to the body of the insulator and passing across the
top of the slot therein, and clamping means carried by said yoke and
operating in the recessed portion of the slot. 6.
An insulator, comprising a body of insulating material in the upper
portion of which is formed a slot, the ends of which are narrower in
width than is the central portion, and the ends of the bottom of the
slot being higher than the center thereof, a clamp passing transversely
across the top of the insulator, and adjustable clamping means carried
by the yoke and extending downward into the central portion of the slot. 7.
The combination with a slotted insulator, of a yoke detachably arranged
on the insulator body and passing transversely across the slot therein,
and adjustable clamping means carried by the yoke and extending into the
slot. In
testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in
presence of two subscribing witnesses.
JOHN L. FAY. Witnesses: M.
P. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE. |