To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to insulators for electric conductors and more especially to the type known as train insulators which are designed to mechanically connect two conducting parts and at the same time electrically insulate them from each other.

The efficiency of an insulator depends upon its resistance to puncture by the electric current and upon its resistance to the flow or creepage of the current over its surface from one to the other of the conductors connected thereto.  The matter of preventing puncture in an insulator ordinarily depends upon the thickness and character of the material of which it is made, but the matter of preventing creepage of current over its surface is one of much difficulty especially in insulators for out door use, for the reason that during rain storms a sufficient film of water may collect on the surface of the insulator to provide a more or less perfect conductor between the parts intended to be insulated thereby.  If the insulator is clean; and of sufficient size, this is usually not serious, but it is otherwise when the insulator is covered with soot or other matter collected from the air, particularly salt, which usually collects on insulators which are used near the sea-coast.  Such deposits not only serve to hold a greater quantity of water on the insulator, but often greatly increase the conductivity of whatever water may be there, since impure water is generally much more conductive than pure rain water.

The object of my invention is to provide an insulator which may be subjected to great strain without injury and in which the difficulties heretofore experienced in other types of insulators from the creepage of the current over the surface are overcome or minimized.

In carrying out my invention I make the insulator with an imperforate central portion having provisions on opposite sides thereof for attachment of the conductor parts to be insulated, and a disk-shaped extension from the central portion with provisions thereon for diverting the drops of rain so that they will not form a film of water on both sides of the insulator at one and the same time, while both sides are left exposed so as to be washed by the rain at different times, according to the direction in which it is driven against the insulator, whereby the soot and other particles which have gathered on the surface are removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are axial sections; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an insulator embodying one form of my insulator Figs. 4, 5 end 6 are similar views showing a modified form of the same, and Fig. 7 shows, in perspective a system of line suspension in which my insulators are used. 

The form of insulator shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has a central section 1 with circular holes 2, 3 from opposite sides arranged in planes at right angles to each other and interlinked as shown in Figs.1 and 2, with a substantial wall 4 of insulating material between them.  The holes 2 and. 3 are made sufficiently large to permit the tie wires 5 to be easily threaded therethrough to form loops or bites.  Surrounding the central section 1 is a disk section 6 having an outwardly flaring flange 7 extending from one side thereof and forming therewith a peripheral groove or trough 8 by which the rain water striking on the upper edge of the insulator is conducted around to the lower edge without coming in contact with the side of the central section 1 opposite to that against which the rain may be driven for the time being.

In the form of insulator shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the central section 1' is substantially like the preceding. The disk section 6' has at its periphery two oppositely flaring flanges 7' which form a peripheral groove or trough 8', and extending-outwardly from the disk section about half way between the central section 1 and the peripheral flanges 7' are crown ribs 9 which serve to increase the area of the creepage surface of the insulator.

The insulators are designed to be positioned in vertical planes, as shown in Fig. 7, which represents three high potential conductors 10 supported at the top of an iron tower 11.  A plurality of insulators are connected together in series and to attaching devices by tie wires 5 with their ends held by clamps 12.  The inner attaching device of each series of insulators is in the form of a hook 13 engaging an eye 14 carried by the cross bar 15 of the tower, and the outer attaching device is in the form of a clamp adapted to grip the conductor wire 10 and transmit the strain thereon through the insulators to the tower while the portion of the conductor between a pair of clamps 16 is allowed to hang loosely in a jumper loop 17 below the insulators and cross bar 15 whereby the continuity of the line is uninterrupted  although  securely  anchored against longitudinal

movement to the tower so that if one span of the conductor should break, the unbroken spans will not become displaced.

When rain falls upon an insulator constructed as above described, the windward side will be thoroughly washed, while the lee side thereof will remain dry and creepage of electricity thereover accordingly will not take place, and when the rain is driven from a contrary direction against the insulator, the first side will remain dry while the second is effectually washed.

I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular forms or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, since it is apparent that they may be changed and modified without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. An insulator having means for connecting conductors to opposite sides thereof and means far diverting rain from either side thereof while the other side is exposed to the washing action of the rain.

2. An insulator having a certral portion provided with means on opposite sides for connecting thereto metallic parts subject to difference of electrical potential, and a rain deflector surrounding said central portion and adapted to maintain a dry region in all paths of possible leakage from one metallic part to the other.

3. An insulator having a central portion provided on opposite sides with means for connecting thereto metallic parts subject to difference of electrical potential, a disk portion surrounding said central portion, and a flange projecting from one side of said disk portion and adapted to maintain a dry region in all paths of possible leakage from one metal part to the other.

4. An insulator having a central portion provided with means for connecting conductors of different potentials to opposite sides thereof, a disk portion, and oppositely flaring peripheral flanges on said disk portion.

5. An insulator having a central portion provided with means for connecting conductors of different potentials to opposite sides thereof, an integral disk portion, oppositely flaring flanges at the periphery of said disk, and circular ribs between said flanges and the central portion.

6. An insulator having a central portion provided with two circular passages extending therein from opposite sides thereof and interlinking with each other, and an integral disk portion surrounding said central portion.

7. An insulator having a central portion provided with two circular passages extending therein from opposite sides thereof and interlinking with each other without intersecting, and an integral rain deflecting portion surrounding said central portion.

8. An insulator having two circular passages extending therein from opposite sides thereof in planes at right angles and interlinking with each other on opposite sides of a wall of insulation, and a disk portion surrounding the central part of said insulator.

9. An insulator provided with a peripheral trough and having two circular passages extending into the body from opposite sides thereof and interlinked with each other with insulation separating them.

10. A strain insulator having connecting bands entering opposite sides, said bands interlocking within the insulator, and an integral rain-shed overhanging the opposite faces of the insulator to insure a dry surface in every possible path of leakage.

11.      A strain insulator for high potentials comprising a series of interlocked units, each consisting of a vitrified insulator having interiorly interlinking orifices opening on opposite lateral faces, interlinked strain pieces or bands in each orifice, and integral rain-sheds adapted to maintain a dry region in all paths of possible leakage.

12. A disk strain insulator, comprising suspension members, a mass of insulating material partially enveloping the same, said mass being provided centrally with a disk integral therewith and lying substantially in the general equatorial plane of said mass, and further provided with flanges extending in opposite directions from said equatorial plane.

13. A disk strain insulator, comprising suspension members, a mass of insulating material partially enveloping the same and having a disk portion, said disk portion being provided with annular collars extending in opposite directions and in the general direction of said suspension members.

14. A disk strain insulator, comprising strain members, a body of insulating material partially enveloping the same and having a comparatively large disk, said disk being provided with collars integral therewith and extending in opposite directions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of April, 1907.

    EDWARD M. HEWLETT.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN ORFORD.