UNITED   STATES   PATENT   OFFICE


JOHN L. FAY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INSULATOR AND WIRE-CLAMP.


No. 894,616                     Specification  of Letters Patent.          Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed September 19, 1907.  Serial No. 393,786.


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

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.