Nikola Tesla U.S. Patent 1,119,732 - Apparatus for Transmitting Electrical Energy Patent Wrapper Page 34

730 A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which d' represents a terminal in the form of a cylinder, which is mounted on an insulating support b' and connected to the circuit through a heavily insulated wire c'. A conducting shell or hood a' in contact with the terminal d' is placed so as to surround the upper end of the support b', where it is secured to the terminal and in this way serves as the hood a in Fig. 1 for preventing the leakage of the electricity to the ground. So also in such cases as that shown in Fig. 3, when it is necessary to use ropes k k as guys to support a standard or mast 2 used as a terminal, the tendency of the high tension currents to escape and leak to the ground along the ropes may be prevented by placing a conducting shell or hood a² over the collar 1, to which the ropes are fastened. Still another valuable application of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which b² epresents a post such as used for supporting wires or cables, and a shell with rounded contours and a smooth conducting outer which is secured to the post in any convenient manner. As stated with reference to Fig. 1, the shell may not be wholly of metal, but may be of any kind of material with a consurface, ducting coating on the outside. The high tension wire ² of a power transmission plant is fastened to the shell a3 as to an ordinary insulator, care being taken, however, to establish a good electrical contact between the wire and shell, as otherwise sparks may pass between them, which may cause heating and damage. This minner of supporting high tension lines is both cheap and reliable. Obviously, in all cases the supports of the terminals, hoods or shells should be carefully protected from water., -4-34 371