To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED M. LOCKE, of Victor, in the county of Ontario, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Insulators, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of insulators for high-voltage currents.

I have observed that in high-tension insulators the current uses all the foreign substances which collect on the surface of the insulator as a conductor, and the leakage is increased in proportion to the amount of such foreign substances which collect, provided they can be utilized to arc around the support.  I also find that by using an insulator having eaves-trough terminating in the spout I make a more efficient insulator for the reason that all of the water is conducted to one point and at some distance outwardly from the trough.        I also find that as the voltage increases the water upon the top of the insulator is given an impetus which throws or hurls it farther from the top through the spout rather than allowing it to drop in a perpendicular line near the cross-arm and that such action of the current upon the water also tends to agitate the foreign substances which have been collected and throws them, with the water, from the surface of the insulator and keeps it clean.  In other forms of insulators the water is forced inward onto the pin and arm and causes leakage at much lower voltage.

My further object is to construct an insulator with a high-resisting surface to provide against surface-leakage on account of the necessary small area and this in connection with a broad top or top in the form of a flattened cone which may have eaves-troughs conduct the water to a remote point from the support and the center piece, which is kept dry, or at least the major upper portion of it, by reason of the broad top, which increases the arcing distance between the lateral edge of the top and the lower end of the center piece.

My further object is to protect by a mechanical patent the construction shown in design patent issued to me May 28, 1900, No. 34,741.

In actual use I find that in insulators of such a construction as above set forth there is only a loss of five per cent in two hundred miles of transmission; and to that end, therefore, of producing such an insulator my invention consists in the several new and novel features of construction and operation, which

are hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims hereunto annexed.  It is constructed as follows, reference being had to

 the accompanying drawings, in which--

Figure 1 is an isometric elevation of my insulator complete.  Fig. 2 shows a section on line x x, Fig. 1.  Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

The complete insulator comprises a top a, somewhat in the form of a flattened cone, having the usual grooves a' in the top, and comprises the laterally-extending skirt b, which may be circular or any other form desired, and having a trough b' upon its outer edge formed by the flange c, which terminates in a spout C', which extends laterally and downwardly at some considerable distance from the flange and trough for the purpose of conducting the water as far from the support as possible and at the same time avoiding the construction of a spout which is liable to become easily broken off either when shipping the same or when in use.  The top a is also provided with a downwardly-extending petticoat d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the whole constructed of porcelain, glass, or similar material.  The other member of the insulator e comprises a sleeve, its upper end adapted to be secured into a recess formed by a petticoat d, where it may be fused provided the material of each part is made of material so as to admit of fusing, or it may be otherwise secured therein.  The lower member e s adapted to rest upon a pin e', and an insulating sleeve or pin may be interposed between the lower member e and the cross-arm, or it may be secured in any other manner desired.  It will thus be seen that by extending the center piece d down a suitable distance below the top I prevent the arcing of the current from the outer edge of the skirt forming the top of the support.  It will also be observed that by constructing a broad skirt b I am able to keep the major portion of the centerpiece d dry and thereby prevent arcing and creeping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--

1. An insulator having an upper surface in the form of a flattened cone and a substantially vertical flange about its edge forming a gutter for collecting and discharging the water from said surface.

2. An insulator having an upwardly projecting flange about its edge forming a gutter and means for discharging collected water said means extending a distance from said flange.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of January, 1902.

       FRED M. LOCKE.

Witnesses:

WM. C. DRYER,

M. W. BURKE.