US1101853A - Automatic telephone system. - Google Patents

Description

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A. E. KEITH & J. &. c. J. BRICKSON.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE $YSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 18, 1905.

Patented June 30; 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

amgfi QZAi M A. H. KB1TH & J. & O. J. BRIGKSON. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLIGATION FILED-SEPT 18, 1905? 1,101,858 Patented June 30,191

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fiaf m UTOMATIC TELEPHOEE SYSTE APPLICATION FILED $33118, 1905.

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ALEXANDER E. KEITH, EDEN EBIGKQQH, A3373 CHARLES J. EHICKSON, OF CHICAGG', ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-S. BY MES'HE ETlSIZG-NTEENTS, [530 FIRST TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK TRUSTEE, OF

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, ilinnxisnnu E. KEITH, 5 JOHN ERIOKSON- and CHARLES J. Enicnsoini citizens of the United States of Amer-iced and residents of Chicago, loolt county, Illinois, have invented 11, certain new and useful 5 Improvenientin Automatic Telephone Sys-Z terns, of which the following is a specifics-g tion. 7

Our invention relates to calling devices! for use in automatic telephone systems and? more particularly in systems in which elec-l trically-propelled and step-by-step-aetuatedg switching machines are employed, as, for? example, the Well lnou'n individual-j switches, selectors and conneclx employed in automatic telephone syste for; enabling a calling subscriber to establish the desired connection with the called sutseribers line, withoutthe stance of e: switchboard operator. or for at least act-mnplishingz one or more of the connective oper 5 :itions usually performed liy switchboard operators. 7

Heretojore as is well known, the rotatable; dial or Wheel, employed many automaticsysteins, and constituting the calling deigice by which one subscriber calls the number of another subscriber, has .71 or" en chat actor that its forward rotation by the su't scriber produces no mulze-an l-htreuir notion in the line-circuits, and consequently pr? dunes no impulses during forward rots tion and the consequent Winding up of the spring by which it is returned. to its normal position; but when it is released by the culling subscri'oer and allowed to return tog its normal position, under the influence oi its spring, a certain number of impulses are; then transmitted over one side of the line. according to the character of the digit being called, and the degree of rotation given the dial or Wheel; and when there sue JSSiYG impulses have been transmitted (WGI the so called Vertical side of the subscribefs line: that is to say, that side of the line over which: the impulses are transmitted for'gii 'ing any switching machine a vertical step-hystep motion of its sWitch-shaft-e single impulse Specification o Letters intent.

oe'ioeeo, rumors.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHDEE $YSTEM.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Eerie} 1%. 278,901.

is then transmitted over the so-called rotaryline-conductor for the purpose of eflecting the automatic rotation of aselector-switch until it finds an idle trunk-line, or for the purpose of putting the mechanism of a connector-switch in such condition that the next group of impulses transmitted over the verticaldine-conductor will produce the desired step-by-step rotation of theFconnectorswitch-shaft until the particular line of? the called subscriber is found and connection made therewith. With this arengeiuent, it evident that the so-called individuel-switeh is operated by the first. impulse prorjlueed by the rotatable dial or wheel when it is released by the calling subscriber for the time and as soon it starts to return to its normal position, this initial impulse employed for giving the itch-shaft of the first-selector its initial or fir vertical step. in this Way, the calling subsc er does not cause the operation of any switching machine--either an indi vidual switeh or first-selector-'untilf he releases his callingdevice for the first time, and the return of the dial or apertured Wheel to its normal position is then accompanied by What is verv nearly a simultaneous operation of the individual-switch and the firsts-doctor alth0ugh it is evident that the first vertical step of the firstselector cannot take place until after the nlse being also the ordinary or regular "'individuahswitch has automatically estahlished connection With the idle trunk-line extending to such selector.

The objects of our invention are to pro vide an impaired arrangement andconstrnetion of the calling devices by which the subscribers produce the electrical inipulses or rapid make-and-break efi'ects corresponding to the several digits of any culled subscribers number; to provide an in'iprovcd construction and arrangement whereby the forward rotation of the dial or subscribers calling device produces a single long impulse or closure of a grounded cir cuit including one side of the subscribers line, which single iiniulse produced by the the calling suhscribers receiver; and to prforward rotation of the subscribers dial is capable of producing the desired automatic selection of an idle or non-busy trunloline, through the medium. of a individuah switch, and also the. first vertical. step of the firshselector or other switcl'iing inachine with which the individualswitch has connected the. calling subscribers line; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the for'vi' ard rotation of a subscribefs dial or calling device produces the first vertical step of selector or other switching machine, and whereby the release of such dial, and its consequent return. to its normal position, produces series of impulses of a character suitable for operating automatic selector and connector switches; to provide an improved construction and arrangement for governing the re turn movement of the dial or subscribe s calling device., so as to insure against u too rapid hElCli rotation or return movement of the same, and so as to insure a proper trans mission of the electrical impulses; to pro vide an improved construction and arrange rncnt for governing the depression or return. of the subscribefis hook-switch to its normal position, when the subscriber replaces his receiver upon the said hook, and for thus insuring a proper transmission oil. the electrical impulse or impulses by which the switching machinery at the central station is released or restored automatically so to speak by the hanging up of vide certain details of constructirm and va rious other features of improvcinei'it tendingto increase the general cl'liciency, serviee ability and certainty of operation of an au- 'igoniatic telephone svstcm.

inc; drawings, Figure 1 view of the ubstation a Front elem .l r .4 "itch and callin j 'inciples of our invention, upertured Wheel being 3 is a side elevauu shown in. hi 2, cera brolren away lor conlf'i g 4!- is an. en-

the inner poition oi I3 is a detail 2: local nor for controlling the reof the switch-hook and dial. 1 view of the .'-'id governing Ikilll portion-s i loved. Fig; and. view showing the pivr the s itch-hook, Fig. 8 Inn of die nu han'ei'n shmvn a \'i(\\'ll'l'1llfil' (0 Fig su'il -lrlioolr in its (lepre rather than in the ra v in S 9 ill ed la is shown in li ies. 2 to S. ...:til new or ccrtain parts i shown in Figs. 8 and 9, showing said parts in the positions given them by the initial rotation of the dial after the removal of the receiver from the switch-hook. Fig. 11 is a perspective of the three integrally formed svvitch-o ierating fingers which are mounted upon and operated by the switchhoolr. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional View showing the construction of the ground-circuit-controlliog-ar1n which is secured to the shaft or axis of the dial, Fig. 1 1 is a section on line l3l3 in .llie 3. Fig. l lis a iragnientzn'y perspective view of portion of the electrical iinpulsc-transmitling mechanism. l ig'. la is a perspective of the two impulse-springs. Figs. 16 to 21 inclusive, show the said impulse-springs of the sub serihers calling; mechanism, and illustrate toothed Wheel and the grounded contact.

Fig. 1 shmvs diagran'nnatically the ch.

cuits and apparatus at the substation con nected to the line conductors c and c, which are assumed to extend to a central station. and there terminate in a suitable individual switch, These circuits and apparatus "will be more readily understood when considered in connection with the remaining drawings, which show the apparatus in. detail.

The construction of the subscribers bookswitches and. calling devices to whi h our invention relates, is as follows: Referring to to 21, inclusive, it will be seen that the framework comprises a. front plate 1 and a back plate 8, the two being" rigidly connected together by the three rods 2. Upon this framework all of the cpeative parts of the calling and switch-hook niech animus are mounted in a suitable manner. lhe shaft 7 extends centrally through the said plates l. and 8, and is arranged to rotate freely in its bearings thereon, it dial or apertured wheel 3 is rigidly secured to the front end 01' this shaft, shown in dotted lines in. Fig. 2 and in full lines in liig'. I}. it will be understood that the said dial can be secured to the end olf the shaft in any suitable or desired manner. Near the pcriphery of the dial there are, as will be observed. a series of openine's ten in n nth.- l.)er-sai(l openings being nuniberrxl consm-utivcly in any suitable or 'lesirml manner. Directly behind the said, dial 2"), as shown in the drawings, there is a clo lomring l. This spril're. is secured at one end to a projection on the front plate at the point l, and is held circunillarenlially by the projecting arms at. The inner end of lhis spring is fastened to the shaft 7 in such mauniu that itstensioin when it, i \ymmd7 from the positions in which they are shown in Fig". f? example. Mounted upon this I 0 v shalt. 4 time is also a geei unzel 1 :8 er

cle1. p 1 The mun z cured to said A pivo'tecl at the poinl- 49.

have a limited up anuflow novement when the rsceiver is removed and replaced. will be i Z'tiilSlO'fl rigid secure to it anal to which is nwo'ted a on v cog the poms T. dog 34 1s, it will be seen, engaged by W31 :51 nominalv contact with flee i8. Funnier-moss, this (log is so arranged chat the hook wiil, when T116 receiver removed therefrom, move freely over teeth the gennwhsel 48 Wit-lieu; engug ing these teeth but when she receiver is hung); upon the hook, fine dog is Contact with rile teeth of the gear-wheei 4:8, and as the hook moves clown to its normal or depressed positio ill-e Q'QHYJVllEQl is iiierebj; cuuseri recon-s with it; but when the hook has csn cl its downward motion, the said g8fi1=wli85l may then conlinue to is, to the mom (in; has

"iiwn been given it, es the pos; ion of spring SJ holds it in -IJ will-allow the (log is move freely OVEX the teeth of ihe gear-wheel as it continues its i'oiiii'ion. The noel; and she clog shown detail in a i, and 106. of

I v x '1 pivoting toe nook nee-ween me plsie and S s11 own in pa le-i eo v big-'10. and ,cssnilileil on frame The release gull} to the uh o. 1 we point 521. it its upper extremity, the mini 21 is proviaed with a insulaiion Fleur its central poiwioi'u it is also provided with arm having a lateral projeciicn 91 and at its lower it is provirlccl with another arm having the projection 21. i hen Zl'ifi telephone receiver rests upon the lzooiz, lat-fey clown, as shown in Fig. 9, the arm 21 than rests upon llic ac-called Yingingcircuit-spring 28, causing the conczici's of ilie springs 26, 28 mini 29 to be brought in the positions shown in 9. "when. the recs 1" is removed F this ilim i1" is then (liscui ringcrspi'in-g 28, allowing t 26 28 and 29 to he ii File Min 46 '1, hook at 46 llS ex- (1 by the spring 1L i-igmiy seciuei'l to the ouror in'ipulse-whcelalien drawn into norsl on iion The tension of shis spring tends always to keep the receiver-hook in an elevated position-411st is,' when the receiver noi; i i place upon the book. As the hook moves in an up'vunl ifiirection, the arm 21 passes by the from; no of a projection allotted to reissue-springs 23, 24: and 95 ins pnfec 'on being at the end of the us 12's this time keeping the ont-irel'yseparated; but as this n. 1: es back to its normal or depressed position "one linger 21 then rcngages this j ."iOH o liS beck sicle, thereby forcing n ngs 23, and momentarily (og einei' and thus producing the release 0p- "Hiiion of the calling device As the hook moves to its raised pcsition, the arm with the insulation 21- engziges the projecting ling of the locking-arm 20, thereby remlving it around a point 20*, the latteri the hook rises, the insulation 21 ens the noiiion 20, already started, and ere-by raises the arm 90 'r of locking posi tion. Also, as the puruon 21 moves out of contact with the ground-spring 19, this spring is thereby ulhiwecl to rest against the insulation 20. This, it will be seen, is the position of the spring 19 until the first pariial rotation of the. iilfll 0ccurs'thut is to sayftlie first partial rotation made by the calling subscriber in oi-iier to send impulses cort'esponiiiiu so the digit of tl e called sub; ibers number, it being necessary to partially rotate the dial and then release it and allow it to i'ClZlli'll to its normal position in order in accomplish the desired make-and-breel: action in the grounded lineciicuit, resulting in the transmission of eleci' cal impulses corresponding to the first digit of the called number; and when this is clone, i'ilfi pin &3 of tile arm strikes against the lower edge of the lockingmm 20, thus raising it sufficiently to allow ilie elbow in the encl of the spring 19 to slip under the bushing 20. This, of course, allows the spring 19 to make 'oniact with the arm. 18% saicl spring 15 being ordinarily known as a ground-spring, and the finger 18 as a ground-post. As the hook moves to its depressed position, the bushing 21 again lifts the spring 19 out of Contact With the Also, when ilic spring 19 is iii-tell out of engagement with ills bushing 7 of some suitable insulating material.

20, the arm 20 then moves back to its norinal position, inasmuch as it is then actu ated by its spring; 4L0. fitter this, the arm 20 once more per torms the function of lockinc; the dial against movement when the river is on the hook. The detail construction of this locking device is shown fully in Fig. The projecting finger 4?)" of the arm rot when the dial is in its normal pos' m, against the spring of the tillh'lli thus holding it so that when the receiv is removed from the hook, the spring 2.) will immediately make contact with such spring; hut when the dial is moved forward, the portion -13 is then disengaged from the spring 30, thus'pcrnntting the latter to hreal: contact with the spring; 25). Secured to the lHIDHlFUWl'ICQl 12 of the calling device, there is a dog" which is held normally in contact with the teeth of the gear-wheel 18, and which operates in a manner similar to the (lo- 5- attached to the receiver-hookthat is I say, as the dial rotates in a forward direction, this dog passes freely ov r the teeth of the gearrrneel it but as the dial begins to rotate in a lmelnvard direction, in order to recover its normal }')osi'tion, and to control the hack- Ward speedt-t the dial, under the tension of the spring, this dog then engages the gearwheel causing the latter to revolve in unison. This, ot course. actuates the cenirriiugral governor, which latter, however, will he descril'icd farther on in. connection with other matters. The said gear-wheel is, will be observed, caused to revolve or rotate when the hook is moved downward, or when the dial is moved by the tension of the cloth-spring. The teeth of this gearvvheei engagzjes with the teeth of a pinion 9, this lining: shown in Figs. 2, t3, 8 and 9, and the pinion heing sl'ioivn in cross-section in 5, and in end elevation in Fig. t. It "may he stated at this juncture that this pinion i: a part of the so-called governor or you z-niz r device-that the device which vontr the peer: of the dial" when it rotates in a haw! ti direction, and the speed of clrhool'; when the latter is returned to it: no mal position. Upon the end. of the pinion are pivoted the two parts 32 and 32 wh ch, lrllit!) t-z ther, term a circle, the part 3:2 r. no pivot at the point. 2-32, and the part 32 being pivoted at the point 32 lhe;-:e are held normally together, the circle living completed by means of the springs 32". 'these two part are formed as shown in err in if. g. 5, andare adapted to lit loosely upon the cup-shaped ring 3%, which lat ter is rigidly fastened to the frame of the calling: device. New, this pinion 9 revolves quite rapidly, when actuated by the geanwheel -18, the ends of the parts 32 desired number on the face of the'dial.

and 32 farthest away from the respective pivots 32 and 32 fly out or away 1 m the axis of rotation, and thus to a certain extent revolve about their respective pivots 32 and 32. This, of course, will cause a binding of these parts against the StfitlOflflTy e shaped ring 32 producing sufilcient iction to reduce the speed of the ,g ttT-Wl'lfffil 4.8, in case the rotation becomes too fast' The impulse-wheel 12, which is rigidl cured to the shaft 7, carries the arm llfthaving" a single projecting tootl'n 'hlo'unted upon the frame of the calling device, and rigidly fastened to it, there is a vertical impulse-spring 15 and also a rotary iinpulse-spring 17, the same being so placed or disposed that they will come in contact With the teeth of the impulseheel. These springs are shown more cl arly in 1, 1(3 and 21, the shape of these springs being shown more clearly in Fi s. l4 and 15. The so-called vertical, ll llplllfl ,pring 15 is COD1 posed of the two parts hr and 15' the part 15 being so arranged that, as it moves away from the spring 15, the said spriz Y 1 5 will tend to follow it, While iii moved in the op posite direction, against the spring 15, it will then cause the latter to move with it.

Obviously, as the dial is moved :t'mwa hy the calling subscriber, the positions then ccupied by the vertical teeth are shown in spring; 1:") in (contact with the arm 18 and givmo it the one long vertical nnpu; This impulse, produced by a temporary ound in at the vertical side of the calling si=h- ,ihers line, lasts the full length of t1 required to move the dial tori ard to again make a momentary contact with the ground-arm 18; and then, as the dial eontinues to rotate, the spring 15 will again be forced out of contact with the poriior i by the teeth 12*, and so on by the oil teeth in succession, giving the required no 1:

menses ber of impulses in rapid succession. Immediately after the last vertical impulse is made, the spring 17 then moves into con tact with a single tooth on the arm 13, thus forcing it against thegroun'd-arm l8, and thus giving the single impulse over the rotary-line-conductor-that is, the single impulse which always follows a group of impulses transmitted over. the vertical-lineconductor for the purpose of performing an operation corresponding to one digit of the called number. The position of the so called vertical spring at this juncture is shown in Fig. 21. Fig. 17 shows the posi- 'tion 'of the so-called rotary spring at the .time the dial is again to rotate in a for- Ward direction under the manual force ex- ;erted by the calling subscriber. Fig. 13 is a" cross-section taken on a line just at the leftof the impulse-wheel 12 shown in Fig. 3.

Asiillustrated, a fiber portion 50 is fastoned to the frame for convenience in carry-- ing the Wires or flexible conductors so, with the construction set forth, a clip i1 is fastened to the frame, thereby permitting electrical connection to be made bet seen the wiring and the frame of the calling device. It will thus be seen that We have devised a very efiioient form of calling device which is normally locked against rotation and in which the initial or forward operation of the dial produces a prolonged impulse over one side of the line and the return movement of the dial produces a plurality of impulses over one side of the line followed by a single impulse over the opposite side of the line. I

While We have illustrated and described. one specific embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that We do not wish to limit ourselves to this exactconstruction, as various changes and modificatime will be readily suggested to those skilled iii-the art.

What, We claim as our invention is:

1. A telephone system comprising subscribers calling device or electrical impulsetransmitting mechanism including a rotatable dial and a normally-open groundswitch, said dial beingadapted by its :tor-

' ward rotation to temporarily close the said ground-switch, and adapted by its return rotation to again close the said groundswitch.

2. A. telephone systemcomprising subscribers calling device including a rotatable dial and anormally-open switch, said dial being adapted by its forward "rotation to temporarily close the switch, and adapted by itsv return rotation to again close the switch.

A telephone system comprising a subscrihers' combined hook-switch and callinu mechanism. said mechanisn'i comprising a rotatable dial adapted by its forward rot-ation to transmit an electrical impulse, and by its return rotation to transmit one or more additional impulses, centrifugal governing mechanism for controlling the return movements of both the dial and the switchhook. i. A combined hook-switch and calling mechanism comprising a rotatable dial and normally-open switch, said dial being adapted by its forward rotation to temporarily close said switch, and by its return rotation to again close the switch, and centrifugal governing mechanism for controlling the return movements of both the dial and the hoolcswitch.

A subscribers mechanism for calling the number of any other subscriber,"comprising a rotatable member and means whereby such member is adapted by its forward rotation to transmit an electrical impulse substantiall} equal in duration to the forward rotation given the member and. adapted by its return rotation to transmit either none or one or more relatively short electrical impulses, according to the degree of rotation given the dial.

'6. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitter including a calling dial adapted to be operated forward a variable dis tance then returned to normal position, and a pair of normally separated contacts adapted to be closed during the forward movement of said dial and then momentarily closed a plurality of times, depending upon the extent of movement of said dial, during the'return of said dial to normal position.

7. in a telephone system,- an impulse transmitting device including a ground connection, a pair of normally open spring contacts for controlling said ground connection, a switch hook for normally locking said transmitter against operation, means controlled by the upward movement of said switch hook ,ifor unlocking said transmitter. means controlled by the initial operation of said transmitter. for closing said contact springs and ground connection, and means controlled by the subsequent operation of said transmitter for intermittently operating said contact springs.

8. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitting device including a rotary calling dial, a ground connection, a pair ofnor mally open contacts controlling said connection, a switch hook normally locking Said calling dial against rotation, means operated by the upward movement of said switch hook for i'lnlockiug said dial, means controlled by the forward movement of said dial for closing said contact springs and said around COIIIIGGlfIOIl, and means controlled by the subsequent operation of said transmitter for intermittently operating saicl Contact springs.

9. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitter including a calling dial adapted to be operated in a fofward direction a Variable distance and then returned to normal. position, and a pair of normally separated contacts adapted to be closed for a comparatively long period during the forward movement of said dial and then momentarily memos closed a plurality of times, depending upon the extent of movement of said dial, during the return of said dial to normal position.

Signed by us at Chicago, Cook county, t Illinois, this 6th day of September, 1905.

ALEXANDER E. KEKTH. JC HN ERICKSON. CHARLES J. ERICKSUNQ Witnesses:

EDW. D. lfiALrae, J. Noam.

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