US1136347A - Telephone-exchange switchboard. - Google Patents

Description

` c. o'D. LEE, JR. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SWITCHBOARD.

APPucAnoN man 1MM, 1914.

` m Patented A101220, 1915.

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W MII YHE NOHRIS PETERS C0.. PNO'I'DJJIHO.. WASHINGTUN. D. C.

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n rien COLUMBUS ODONNELL LEE, JR., OF BALTIMORE, `MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBUS ODONNELL LEE, SR., 0F BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SWITGI-IBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2U, MM5.

Application filed January 7, 191,4. Serial No. 810.708.

To all 'who-m t may concern Be it known that I, COLUMBUS ODONNELL LEE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Exchange Switchboards, of which the following is a specication.

The primary object of this invention 1s to effect a reduction in the number of operators required to operate a central energy multiple telephone switchboard during inactive hours, or when the full quota of operators is not necessary.

For the purpose of illustration, we will take the case of a modern Bell telephone exchange, having a switchboard in which terminates several thousand subscribers lines. Such switchboards are divided into sections, and each section contains line jacks for the total number of subscribers. These sections are duplicated along the board, and the line jacks of the several sections are connected in multiple. Each switchboard section is made up of a plurality or' panels, and each of these panels contains a number of blocks of said jacks, there being one hundred jacks in each block.

Beneath the line jacks are the answering jacks. These answering jacks, however, are not concentrated in sections connected in multiple, as are the line jacks, but are distributed throughout the length of the switchboard, and for each of these answering jacks there is an answering signal lamp located directly below its respective answering jack. During the hours of heavy traiic the usual quota of operators is employed, and there may be several operators to each section of the switchboard, but during hours of light load, as at night, for example, the number of operators is decreased, which greatly increases the area of the switchboard to be covered by each operator, and as the answering signals are scattered considerably, it still requires quite a number of operators to take care of the board.

lThe object of my invention is to reduce the number of operators required to operate the board during inactive hours, and I accomplish this by concentrating, in effect, the answering signals into a comparatively small area. More specifically, this is accomplished by providing an auxiliary signaling board, having a signal lamp for each subscriber of the exchange, and connecting these several lamps in multiple with the regular line answering signal lamps of the main switchboard so that an attendant at this auxiliary signal board may readily see any subscribers line signal which lights up. This attendant makes known the signal either by telephone, or otherwise, to one of the switchboard operators who then plugs in, answers the call, and makes the connection. This invention, therefore, contemplates the concentration in a relatively small board, of answering signals corresponding to all of the line jacks of a single switchboard section, which in turn corresponds to the total number of subscribers lines.

In order to more fully describe my invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing which represents in diagram a portion of a central energy multiple telephone switchboard equipped with my invention.

ln the accompanying drawing A, B, C; A, B, C represents panels of the main board, the panels A, B, C constituting one section, and the panels A', B', C another section of the board, it being understood that these panels are repeated along the switchboard the required number of times, according to the well known practice.

The blocks of circles l, on the main board, indicate the subscribers line jacks, there being in practice usually one hundred of these jacks in each block. ln the drawing all of these blocks are not filled out, as this would require unnecessary drawing. The switchboard section A, B, C, in the case shown, contains eighteen hundred such jacks, representing the full capacity of the board, and the other sections contain duplicates of these jacks, connected in multiple therewith, as is well understood by those familiar with this art.

The answer signal lamps 2 are indicated by blocks or large circles in the panels below the line jacks, and the answer jacks by the smaller circles 2 above their corresponding signal lamps.

In a relatively small auxiliary board 8, l locate auxiliary signal lamps 4, and connect each main answer signal lamp 2 in multiple with a separate one of lamps 4. These lamps 4L, therefore, correspond in number to the total number of line jacks l in any section of the main switchboard, so that there is an auxiliary signal lamp for each subscribers line. Lamps 4 are arranged in blocks of one hundred-to the block in the same order as the line jacks 1, and the auxiliary board is preferably divided into panels corresponding in number to those of a section of the main board. In the case shown, there are three panels to the section -in the main board, which is not a large exchange, but my invention is not in any way limited to any special, size of switchboard. It will, however, find its greatest usefulness in eonnection with large switchboards. The lamps l on the auxiliary board are preferably 20- per strip or 99 gage lamps, which are very small and therefore permit of concentration of all the answer signal into a comparatively small space. The operator of the auxiliary board may be provided with a telephone set 5, and. one or moreorder wires 6, by which she may communicate with the operators at the main switchboard through the receivers 7 or the operator at the auxiliary board may communicate the signal to the operators at the main board in any other desired way. A single operator at the auxiliary board can readily 0bserve any signal lamp on her board, as they are allconcentrated into a relatively small area. On observing a given signal, she communicates the number of the calling subscriber to an operator at the main board who answers the call and makes the connection. Y By such an arrangement the same service may be gotten with considerably fewer operators at the main board, since they do not'have to look out for the answer lamps on the main board at all.

In the 'case of a very large exchange, the auxiliary board may be divided for two or more attendants who could read the calls Copies of this patent may be obtained for as they come in and give them to the line operators. The practical advantages of this arrangement will be readily appreciated by any one familiar with the practical operation of large central switchboards.

Without limiting my invention to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown and described, what I claim is:

The combination with a multiple telephone switchboard having answer signals which extend along the board without duplication over the horizontal length of a plurality of switchboard sections, of an auxiliary board for answer' signals alone, one for each subscribers line terminating in the multiple board, and operative connection between each subscribers line and a corresponding answer signal on the auxiliary board, said signals on the auxiliary board corresponding in number and. grouped in the same arrangement as the line jacks of a single section of the multiple board, the said auxiliary signals being thus so concentrated that a single operator at the auxiliary board may observe without change of position aknumber of answer signals requiring of an operator at the multiple board movement over a considerable distance and so grouped that an operator at the auxiliary board may note the number of the line jack required by observing the position of the auxiliary answer signal operated, in the same manner as an operator at the multiple board notes the number of a line j ack.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

COLUMBUS ODONNELL LEE, JR.

Witnesses:

FELIX R. SULLIVAN, NORMAN J. CLAGK.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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