US1185331A - Telephony. - Google Patents

Description

M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I913. 1,185,331. Patented May-30;1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I I W ITNEE SES @32 5 7/0022. MORTON. L JOHNSON.

ATTORNEY M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I913.

Patented, May 30, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES F IG. 2 NVENTQR MORTON L. JOHNSon ATTORNEY @Q/KWM M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONY. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24. 19,3- 1 ,1 85,33 1 Patented May 30, 1916.

5 SHE ETS-SHEET 3.

FIG. 3

ITNESSES INVENT 0R Mqa'ron L JOHNSON.

' ATTORNEY M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

1 ,1 85,33 1 I V I Patented May 30, 1916.

FIGA

VVITNESSES INVENTOR l IoRTonLJohnson e V ATTORNEY M. L. JOHNSON.

TELEPHONY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

m w w wt w mm mm 4 W W. 5 A w m m n w m M 1 S/L 00 SJ. 5 E x 8 N .I. T 1 fi m ATTORNEY s'rA'rs AT MORTON L. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRANK COOK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTON L. JOHNSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephony, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to telephone systems and contemplates means whereby the designations of lines with which calling subscribers desire connection may be automatically recorded by the calling subscribers and means for imparting this recorded information to operators who are to establish connections between calling and desired lines.

.\I invention has for a specific purpose the provision of a telephone exchange system having the features above outlined and which includes means whereby receiving, or A operators, may enable the switching, or B operators, to receive the recorded information, the A operators thereby being reliered of the duty of conveying-this information to the B operators.

By means of my invention the speed of traflic of telephone exchange systems may be increased since the receiving or A operators need not wait to hear the number of the lines desired by calling subscribers, it being sufficient by means of my invention, to have the A operators informed of the prefixes only of the numbers so that the A operators will at once extend the calling lines into connection with the B operators that have access to the desired lines, the B operators receiving their information automatically and independently of the A'operators and which inforuultion, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, may be in the process of being recorded during the time the A operators are extending the calling lines to the B operators positions.

By means of my invention the delay hitherto involved in establishing telephonic communication between the A and B operators and the delay consequent upon imparting the complete information to the A operators by the calling subscribers and the rei'mparting of this information to the B operators by the A operators are avoided.

In a connection which is being established the speech recording and reproducing apparatus is coupled with the link that is belng handled by the second or connecting operator so that when this operator hears the record that informs her of the number of the desired line she will employ the link coupled with the talking device and effect its connection with the desired line so that she need not be informed by the first or re ceiving operator either of the number of the calling line or the number of the link to be employed.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 diagrammatically indicates the telephone exchange system arranged in accordance with the invention, circuit details being omitted to make this diagramclear; and Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, taken collectively in their numerical order with the conductors at the right and left hand sides of the sheets in alinement, illustrate the telephone exchange system equipped in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

Telephone lines extend from substations to the A and B operators positions at the exchange or exchanges, each telephone line desirably having multiple jacks in the presence of both operators when the telephone lines extend to the same exchange building. I have indicated substations 200, 201, .300, 301 extending to the exchange, these telephone lines having jacks 3 at the A operators positions and jacks 4 at the B operators positions, the jacks 3 at the A operators positions enabling the A operators to establish connection with desired lines whose jacks appear before the A operators positions if such method of connection should be desired at any time. The jacks 4 are employed by the B operators in the usual manner where the A and B operators cooperate by calling subscribers automatically to extend calling lines into connection with the link connectors E. The selector switches C are shown as being individual to the lines but the system is not to be limited to such individuality, Speech recording and reproducing devices F are adapted for automatic association with selected link connectors E, the. selector switches C setting selector switches G into operation to connect idle devices F with selected links E. When a call is initiated a switch C is set into operation to select an idle link connector E and an idle switch G is set into operation to associate an idle speech recording and reproducing device F with the selected link connector E and thereby with the calling line. It is apparent that other means may be employed for extending the calling lines into connection with link connectors E than the-selector switches C. The selected A operators telephone set H is preferably in stantly included in circuit with the calling line and the A operator inquires of the calling subscriber the number of the desired line. The calling subscriber will speak the number of the desired line into his telephone transmitter and the speech will be recorded in the device F that has been brought into telephonic relation with the calling line. The A operator, will care only to hear, at her telephone H, the prefix of the number of the desired line and will proceed to connect the selected link connector E with a B operator located at the exchange or position to which the desired line extends. The link connectors E are illustrated as being provided with connecting plugs 5, and trunk lines I intervening between the A and B operators positions are illustrated as being provided with trunk jacks 6 for receiving the plugs 5. The trunk lines or link connector sections I are provided with selector switches K whose wipers are individual to the trunk lines and which wipers are provided with waiting contacts individual to link connectors L extending to different B operators positions before which jacks of. the desired lines appear. As soon as the A operator has heard the prefix of the desired line she will insert the plug 5 of the selected link connector into the jack 6 pertaining to the operators position or set of operators positions to which have been assigned a group of telephone lines that includes the desired line (the telephone lines being divided into groups assigned to different switching operators positions or sets of such positions) and will thereby cause the switch K to seek an idle link connector L. B When the switch K has found an idle link connector L the B operator thus automatically selected may, when responding to the signal conveyed to her (if such signal be provided, though manually operated listening keys in the operators telephone equipments may be dispensed with), set the talking device F into operation and will listen to the designation of the wanted line. as furnished by the talking device and will thereafter test the desired line and complete the connection if the desired line is idle. The B operators are provided with connecting plugs 7 and when these connecting plugs are inserted in the jacks of desired lines the selected talking device F is cut out of circuit and restored to its normal idle condition. If the desired line is busy the selected B operator will insert the plug 7 in abusy back ack 8 similarly to restore the previously employed talking device F to normal, the busy back jack 8 also conveying a busy signal to the calling subscriber who will restore his telephone receiver upon its switch hook, thereby to convey a disconnect signal to the A operator who will take down the connection at her position and restore the selected switch equipment C of the calling line to normal.

By means of the telephone exchange system above generally described the calling subscriber is enabled to hear the record he has made while the switching or connecting operator at the selected B position is listen- Thus neither operator ing to such record. need repeat the number of the desired line to the calling subscriber. The link connector which the A operator connects with the B operators position to which is assigned the group of lines having the desired line is preferably employed for conveying the reproduced speech and while the speech record is preferably made by the calling subscriber the invention is not to b l mited to this characteristie.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, taken collectively and in numerical order, I have there illustrated a telephone exchange system equipped in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. The substations of which stations 200 and 201 are diagrammatically illustrated, are provided with the usual substation equipment including a telephone switch hook 9, a telephone receiver 10, av telephone transmitter 11, a call bell 12 and a condenser 13, the switch hook having a normal contact .for establishing the bridge across the telephone line that includes the bell and con- .denser and an alternate contact for establishin a bridge across the telephone line that includes the telephone receiver and transmitter. When a subscriber initiates a call a circuit is established traceablefrom the grounded battery 14, the upper winding of relay 15, the uppermost armature switch of relay 16 and its normal contact, the upper armature switch of relay 17 and its normal contact, both sides of the calling line, the lower armature switch of relay 17 and its normal contact, the intermediate armature switch of relay 16 and its normal contact, the lower winding of relay 15, to ground. One circuit thereupon established is traceable from the grounded lower armature switch of relay 15, the contact of this switch, the motor magnet 18, the sluggishly operating interrupter relay 19, the side switch wiper 20 in its first position, to the grounded battery 14. The rotary magnet 18 thereupon sets the wipers 21, 22, 23, and 24 into operation until the wiper 22 engages an ungrounded waiting contact whereupon the circuit of the private magnet 25, which circuit was established upon the initial energization of the motor magnet 18, is opened to bring the side switch wipers 20, 26 and 27 into their second and final positions, the wiper 20 in its second position opening the circuit of the motor magnet 18 thereby to bring the wipers 20, 22, 23 and 24 to rest.

The side switch wiper 20 in its second position closes a circuit traceable from the grounded battery 14, said side switch wiper 20 in its second position, the relay 16, the uppermost armature switch of the energized sluggishly operating relay 28, to ground.

\Vhen the relay 16 is energized the circuit of o the relay 15 is opened at the normal contacts of the two upper armature switches of relay 16 whereby the circuit of the sluggishly operating relay 28 is opened at the upper armature switch of relay 15, the relay 28 then releasing its armature to remove ground from the relay 16, this ground being at this time replaced at another portion of the equipment. When the relay 16 is energized the wipers 21 and 24 are connected with the sides of the calling line by way of the alternate contacts of the two upper armature switches of relay 16. The relay 29 is now placed in bridge of the calling line by way of the armature switches of relay 30 and their normal contacts, the intermediate armature switches of the relay 31 and their contacts and the contacts engaged by the wipers 21 and 24, the relay 29 thus being energized. \Vhen the upper armature switch of this relay 29 is operated upon the energization of the relay, the contacts 32 are momentarily engaged, being again in separated relation when the armature switch is fully attracted by the energized relay. It should be stated, in passing, that when this armature switch is released it does not cause the engagement of the contacts 32 so that these contacts 32 are engaged momentarily only once during a complete cycle of movement of the upper armature switch of relay 29. The circuit momentarily established at the contacts 32 1s traceable from the grounded upper armature switch of relay 29, the momentarily engaged contacts 32, the lower intermediate armature switch of the relay 33 and its normal contact, the uppermost armature switch of sluggishly operating relay 34 and its normal contact, the winding of the relay 34, an off normal switch 35, the armature switch 0t relay 36 and its engaged contact, to the grounded common battery 14. The relay 34,

eing now energized, establishes a locking circuit for itself traceable from the lowermost grounded armature switch of relay 33, the right hand contact of this armature switch, the upper intermediate armature switch of relay 34 and the contact then engaged thereby, the Winding of the relay, the of! normal switch 35, the armature swltch ofrelay 36 and its contact, to the grounded battery 14. The lower intermediate armature switch of the relay 34 establishes a driving circuit traceable from this armature switch, which is grounded, the motor magnet 37, the sluggishly operating relay 38, the armature switch of relay 38 and its contact, the

side switch wiper 39 in its first position, to i the grounded common battery 14. The motor magnet 37 now sets the wipers 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44 into movement until the wiper 43 engages an ungrounded waiting contact whereupon the private magnet 45, whose circuit was closed upon the initial energization of the motor magnet 37, has its circuit opened, the private magnet 45 thereupon causing the side switch wipers 39, 46, 47 and 48 to move to their second positions, the side switch wiper 39 in moving into its second position opening the circuit of the motor magnet 37 to allow the wipers 40 to 44 inclusive to remain at rest.

The wipers 40 to 44, inclusive, form part of the selecting mechanism that is employed to associate a' speech recording and reproducing mechanism with calling lines and these wipers are arrested in association with calling lines by the removal of ground from the waiting contacts pertaining to the wiper 43, this removal of ground being consequent upon the energization .of relay 29 whose lower armature switch normally grounds waiting contacts of wipers 43 and ungrounds these contacts for the purpose specified. Each link connector has a relay 29 individual thereto and the lower armature switch of each relay 29 is individual to one contact for each wiper 43 of a plurality of switches G, the similarly positioned waiting contacts of the wipers of the switches G being in multiple connection. When all the switches G are idle the uppermost switch G is employed to the exclusion of the re maining switches and if this switch is busy the next succeeding switch G is enabled to seek a calling line by the transfer of the connection from the contacts 32 to the lower intermediate armature switch of the relay 33 of such succeeding switch G, this transfor being effected either by way of the alternate contact of the lower intermediate armature switch of the busy switch G or conjointly by way of the normal contact of this lower intermediate armature switch of such relay 33 and the alternate contact of the upperlnost armature switch of relay 34. When the side switch wiper 48-is in its second position circuit is closed through the relay 30 by way of the wiper 42 and its then engaged contact. \Vhen relay 30 is energized circuit of relay 29 is opened to releaseits armature switches, the lowermost armature switch of this relay 29 being released to ground the associate waiting contacts of the Wipers 43 of the selector switches G to prevent other seeking switches G from selecting the link connector E that has been se looted by a switch G. When the relay 30 is energized its armature switches engage their alternate contacts to connect the wipers and 41 with the sides ofthe calling line and-'- these sides are extended into connection with the uppermost switches of the relay by way of the two upper armature switches of relay 33 and their then engaged contacts, the relay 33 (referring of course to the employed selector switch G) being now energized owing to the location of the side switch wiper 39 in its second position.- W'hen the relay 33 is energized it opens the locking circuit for the relay 34 and the ground established by the lower intermediate armature switch of relay 34 for relay 33 is replaced at the attracted left hand armature switch of relay 51 that is now in bridge of the calling line. The attracted right hand armature switch of relay 51 establishes a circuit traceable from this switch, which is grounded, the contact of the switch, the armature switch of relay 52, the normal contact of this armature switch, the motor 53, to the grounded battery 14. The motor 53 is thereupon set into operation to drive the wire or fiat band 54 of steel that enters into the formation of a well known speech recording and reproducing mechanism, this band serving to record speech and operating to reproduce speech as will appear. The band 54, which is now set into motion, travels between the poles of a recording magnet 55 that is in a closed local circuit with a secondary winding 56 and a battery 57. The primary 58 to the coil 56 is in bridge of the calling line by way of the two upper armature switches of the relay 50 and their normal contacts. Any previous record impressed upon the tape 54 is removed by the efi'acing magnet 59 between whose poles the tape 54 moves, the tape traveling in a clockwise direction indicated by the arrow, the circuit for the erasing magnet 59 being closed by the lowermost armature switch of the relay 50.

The speech recording and reproducing mechanism is now in condition to receive the record of the number desired by the calling subscriber and continuesv in operation gizing circuit momentarily established at.

the contact 60. It should be stated in passing that the motor 53 has a given range of operation to cause the band 54 to travel through one complete cycle, this given range of operation being determined by the contact finger 63 constituting a terminal of a circuit for the motor 53 and which is included in this circuit during the rotation of the disk 62, this circuit also including the grounded brush 64 in contact with the disk 62. When the disk 62 has reached its normal position a portion of insulation carried thereby engages the contact finger 63 so as to open the circuit of the motor 53 whereby the band 54 is brought to rest after this band has passed through one cycle. Simultaneously with the association of the speech recording magnet 55 with the calling subscribers telephone equipment the selected A operators telephone equipment H is also associated with the calling subscriber by way of the normal contacts of the interme diate armature switch of relay 65. The reselection of selected A operators squipment H is prevented by the relay 66 in bridge of the calling line whose lower armature switch establishes circuit for the relay 67. Each A operators position has a relay 67 and this relay has as many armature switches as there are link connectors E pertaining to the position to which the relay 67 is individual, the contact of each armature switch being individual to such a link connector. The relay 67 is energized each time the relay 66 (which is also common to the link connectors to which the relay 67 is common) is energized, the lowermost armature switch of the relay 31 of a selected link connector having its contact in connection with'the contact of the armature switch of relay-67 individual to the selected link connector whereby the relay 67, when energized, is adapted to place ground upon the contact of the lowermost armature switch of relay 31 to prevent the selection of any unemployed links E in the group having the recalling subscriber of the number of the desired line may be delayed until the A operator requests such announcement.

When the calling subscriber announces the number of the line desired such announcement is recorded upon the tape 54 by means of the recording magnet 55 that is now in telephonic connection with the calling subscriberls telephone equipment. The selected A operators telephone equipment H is at the same time in telephonic connection with the calling subscribers telephone equipment and the selected A operator is enabled to hear the designation of the desired line at the same time this designation is being recorded upon the tape 54. The selected A operator has no occasion to listen to anything more than the prefix to the number of the desired line. For example, if the calling subscriber desires Franklin 3436, the calling subscriber will speak this designation which will 'be completely recorded upon the tape 54 but the receiving operator A need pay no attention to the numerical portion of this designation since it will be the duty of the operator merely to connect the calling line with the B operator at the exchange to which the called or desired line extends, the B operator listening to the numerical portion of the designation of the desired line as reproduced by the selected-speech recording and reproducing device F. The A operator will insert the plug 5 of the selected link connector E into the trunk jack 6 in order to ex tend the calling line to the exchange to which the desired line also extends. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown the jacks 6 are provided with tip and sleeve springs that are engaged by the tip and sleeve contacts of the employed plug 5 and the thimble that is engaged by the heel of the employed plug The tip and sleeve springs of each jack are connected with the two upper armature switches of a relay 68 and the winding of this relay is connected with the thimble of the corresponding jack. \Vhen the plug is inserted the circuit of relay 68 is established from the grounded terminal of the relay 68, the thimble of the employed jack 6. the heel of the employed plug 5, the relay 69, the relay to the grounded battery 14, whereupon the relay 65 is energized. The intermediate armature switches of the relay 65 thereupon open the circuit of the relay 66 to release the relay 67 and place the previously selected responsive device 'H in condition to be selected by another calling subscriber. It should be stated, in passing, that the signals 70 are individual to'the links E and enable the A operators to determine which plug 5 has been selected. The ground removed upon the denergization of the relay 67 is now replaced at the lowermost armature switch of relay 65 to jack 6 the lowermost armature switch of relay 68 establishes circuit for the sluggishly operating relay 72 and the motor magnet 73 by way of the side switch wiper 74 in its first position whereby the motor magnet 73 movesthe wipers 75, 76, and 77 until the wiper 77 engages an ungrounded waitingcontact whereupon the private magnet 78, whose circuit was established upon the initial energization of the motor magnet 73, has its circuit opened to bring the side switch wipers 74 and 79 to their second positions, the wiper 74 opening the circuit of the motor magnet 73 to bring the wipers 75, 76 and 77 to rest. The side switch wiper 74 in its second position closes a circuit through the relay 80, which circuit is apparent. The armature switches of relay 80 are thereupon attracted to extend the calling line into connection with the wipers 75 and 76 and the Wipers 75 and 76 are connected with a connecting plug 7 by way of the contacts then engaged by said wipers. The relays 68 and 80, the wipers 75, 76, and 77, and associate equipment may, if desired, be located at the A exchange while the conductors leading from the waiting contacts of the wipers 75, 76 and 77 extend to the B exchange, certain jacks 6 being assigned to one B exchange, others to another B exchange, etc., according to the number of exchanges to which the calling subscribers are to have access by way of A and B operators in the manner set forth. Thus each exchange having B operators positions is provided with a group of jacks 6 and a group of switches K, each switch K having a jack 6 individual thereto. Similarly positioned waiting contacts of the wipers 75, 76 and 77 of each such group of switches K are in multiple connection, such multiple connection being also desirably efi'ected at the A exchange.

The switch K pertaining to the exchange to which the desired line extends having been arbitrarily selected by the selected A operator and set into operation until the wiper 77 engages an ungrounded contact, as described, extends the calling line into connection with a connecting plug 7 which is located at some B operators position free to complete the desired connection, the conductors extending from the waiting contacts of the wipers 75, 76 and 77 being distributed among the B operators of a given exchange. The relay 81, each link L having such a relay, is now placed in bridge of the talking sides of its associate link connector L that has been connected with the calling line, by

way of the normal contacts of the armature switches of relay 82, the relay 81 being thus included in serial relation with the called subscribers supervisory relay 83 and the difierential relay 84 as will be apparent from an inspection of the diagrams. Relays 83 and 84 are now included in circuit, but the relay 84 is not energized as it has two windings that are equal and opposed. The intermediate armature switches of the energized relay 81 include the selected B operators telephone equipment 85 in telephonic relation with the talking sides of the corresponding link connector L, there being equipment 86 performing functions similar to the equipment 67 to prevent any other switch K from selecting the telephone equipment 85 while this telephone equipment is in selected condition. When relay 83 is operated its lower grounded armature switch establishes a circuit which includes the lowermost armature switch of relay 87 and its contact, the wiper 44 and its contact, the side switch wiper 47 in its second position and the second position contact of this wiper, the relay 59 and the battery 14. When relay 50 is energized-its two upper armature switches open the circuit of the primary or inducing winding 58 over which the calling subscriber previously talked and which serve to reimpress the calling subscribers voice currents upon the secondary 56 to secure the designation of the desired line upon the tape 54 so that no further record can, for the time being, he. made upon said tape. The alternate contacts of these two upper armature switches place the secondary coil 88 in bridge of the telephone line extending from the calling station to the selected B operators position. The lower armature switch of relay 50 opens the circuit of the eifacing magnet 59. The lower intermediate armature switch of the relay 5O closes the circuit for the motor 53 to cause it to drive the tape 54 whereupon voice currents are induced in the reproducing magnet 89 by the recording magnetic fields in the tape 54. The reproducing magnet 89 is in circuit with the telephone receiver 90 which is thus caused to have its diaphragm vibrated to produce sound waves in conformity with the magnetic record upon the tape 54, the receiver 90 thus operating to speak or repeat the designation of the desired line recorded on the tape 54 by the calling subscriber through the aid of the primary or impressing coil 58, the secondary or induced coil 56, and the recording magnet 55. The receiver 90 speaks into a telephone transmitter 91 included in a primary circuit having an inducing coil 92 that is in inducing relation with the secondary coil 88. As the coil 88 is now in bridge of the telephone line extending between the calling station and the selected B operator, the designation of the desired line which is being reproduced will be heard both by the calling subscriber and the selected B operator whereby the calling subscriber has a check upon the number being repeated to the B operator and whereby the B operator secures her instructions without any aid from the A operator or repetition by the calling subscriber. The motor 53 is continued in operation until the selected B operator has heard the designation of the desired line to her satisfaction whereafter such Bv operator inserts the selected plug 7 into the jack of the desired line, the heel of this plug and the thimble of this jack closing a circuit for the relay 93 and the relay 82. When relay 82 is energized its armature switches are attracted to open the circuit of relay 81. The circuit of the sluggishly operating relay 94 which was previously closed at the topmost switch of relay 81 is now deenergized but this armature switch remains in its attracted position a certain length of time to establish a circuit for the topmost and grounded armature switch of relay 81, the normal contact of this switch, the armature switch of relay 94 and its contact, the upper side of the selected link connector L, thence by obvious connections to the upper windings of relays 83 and 84 whereupon the coils of the relay 84 are unbalanced momentarily to bring the grounded armature switch of relay 84 into connection with its contact to operate and establish a locking circuit for the relay 87, this locking circuit being apparent. When relay 87 is energized it obviously establishes a circuit for the relay 31. When the relay 31 is energized its intermediate armature switches open the circuit of the relay 51 that was previously in bridge of the calling line. The left hand armature switch of relay 51 thereupon opens the circuit of the associate relay 33. The lowermost armature switch of relay 33, which switch is ground-- ed, establishes a circuit, by way of its left hand contact, through the release magnet 36 and the previously closed off normal switch 95 to restore the previously employed selector switch G to normal, it being mentioned in passing, that the ofi' normal switch 35 is only opened when'the wipers 41, 42, 43 and pass beyond their normal range of operation to cause the relay 34 to be released and thus establish circuit for the release magnet 36 to restore the switch to normal. The switch 35 is provided only to take care of an emergency that'might occasion the improper operation of a switch G, such an emergency being extremely rare. Gircuit for the relay 50 is now opened at the side switch wiper 47 when restored to its first position thereby opening the circuit for the motor 53 at the lower intermediate armature switch of the relay 50, the motor continuing in operation until the contact 63 engages the insulation upon the disk 62. The equipment of the previously employed selector switch G and the previously selected talking device F are now restored to normal.

The selected B operator may test the called line by means of any desirable equipment before inserting the plug 7 in the jack of a called line and if the desired line is tested idle the signal bell at the desired station may be operated in any suitable way as by means of a ringing key 96. The called subscriber governs the supervisory relay 97 whose lower armature switch controls the left and low resistance winding of the relay 98, the right hand winding of the relay 98 being of high resistance to prevent relay 83 from operating through it whereby the A operator is given complete control of the connection between the calling and called lines, the B operator not taking down her portion of the connection until the A operator withdraws her plug 5, the withdrawal of this plug 5 occasioning the operation of the supervisory signal 99 at the B operators position, the circuit of the right hand winding 98 being dependent upon the plug 5 and the jack 6 holding the same. That is the relay 98 is denergized by the removal of such plug 5 to occasion the operation of the signal 99 and the B operator takes down her portion of the connection in response to the signal displayed by the signal device 99.

The A operator takes down her portion of the connection in response to the signal displayed to her by the supervisory signals 100 and 101, signal 100 being controlled by the calling subscriber and signal 101 being controlled by the called subscriber. When plug 5 is removed from the jack by the A operator the relay 65 is deenergized, the lowermost and grounded armature switch of this relay then opening the circuit of the relay 16 to restore the calling line equipment to normal, the lowermost and grounded armature switch of relay 16 establishing circuit through the release magnet 102 and the previously closed off normal switch 103 to cause the side switch wipers 20, 26 and 27, the wipers 21, 22, 23 and 24 to restore to normal. When the plug 5 was removed from its jack 6 the circuit of relay 68 was opened, the lowermost and grounded armature switch of this relay 68 establishing a circuit for the release magnet 104 and the previously closed off normal switch 105 whereby the wipers 74, 75, 76, 77 and 79 are restored to normal. lVhen the B operator has taken down her portion of the connection the heel of the connecting plug 7 is removed from the circuit which it previously established through the relays 93 and 82 to deenergize these relays and cause the final restoration of the equlipment of the selected B operator to norma While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not Wish to be limlted to the precise details of construction and circuit arrangement shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for re cording their speech; switching mechanism whereby a speech-recording portion is connected with a calling line; and switching means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the, speech reproducing portion of said apparatus interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions, said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions containing wanted mes.

2'. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receivmg and switching or connecting operators positions and divlded into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for record ing their speech; switching mechanism whereby a speech-recording portion is connected with a calling line; link connectors for extending calllng lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connectlng operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positlons having access to wanted lines.

3. A telephone exchange system includng telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; speech recording and record reproducing devices operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; switching mechanism whereby a speech-recording portion is connected with a calling line; link connectors for extending calling lines and'interchangeably associated with the switching or connectlng operators positions by a receiving operator and serving'to convey the 1 speech recording and record reproducing record reproductions to the selected switching 0 erator; selector switches for connecting t e reproducing portions of speech re cording and record reproducing devices with said link connectors; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions having access to wanted lines.

4. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for ac cessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines;

devices operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; link connectors for extending calling lines and interchangeably associated with the switching or connecting operators positions by a receiving operator and serving to convey the record reproductions to the selected switching operator; selector switches for connecting the reproducing portions of speech recording and record reproducing devices with said link connectors; and selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions having access to wanted lines and for connecting the speech recording portions of said devices with calling lines.

5. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extendingto call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators, there being a plurality of switching operators positions for each group of telephone lines; speech recording and record reproducing devices operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; means governed by a receiving operator for bringing the speech reproducing portion of said devices interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions, said means including selector switches for selecting an idle operator in the group of positions containing wanted lines; and selector switches for connecting the speech recording positions of the s eech recording irnd record reproducing devlces with calling mes.

6. A. telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; link connectors employed by a receiving operator for extending calling lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; automatically operating calling subscriber-controlled selecting switching mechanism for coupling the speech recording portion of said apparatus with a calling line and for coupling the speech reproducing portion with a link connector; and switching mechanism governed by a receiving operator for bringing an employed'link connector and the speech reproducing portion coupled therewith interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting opby calling subscribers for recording their speech; automatically operating selecting switching mechanism for coupling the speech recording portion of said apparatus with a calling line and for coupling the speech reproducing portion with a link connector; and switching mechanism governed by a receiving operator for bringing an employed link connector and the speech reproducing portion coupled therewith interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

8. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; link connectors employed by a receiving operator for extending calling lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; switching mechanism for connecting the speech recording portion of said apparatus with a calling line; automatically operating calling subscriber controlled selecting switching mechanism for coupling the speech reproducing portion of said apparatus with an employed link connector; and switching mechanism governed by a receiving operator for bringing an employed link connector and the speech reproducing portion coupled therewith interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

9. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; link connectors employed by a receiving operator for extending calling lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; switching mechanism for connecting the speech recording portion of said apparatus with a calling line; automatically operating selecting switching mechanism for coupling the speech reproducing portion of said apparatus with an employed link connector; and switching mechanism governed by a receiving operator for bringing an employed link connector and the speech reproducing portion coupled therewith interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

10. A telephone exchange system including telephone lines extending to call receiving and switching or connecting operators positions and divided into groups for accessibility by the latter operators; link connectors employed by a receiving operator for extending calling lines; speech recording and record reproducing apparatus operable by calling subscribers for recording their speech; switching mechanism for connecting the speech recording portion of said apparatus with a calling line; switching mechanism for interchangeably connecting the speech reproducing portion of said apparatus with the link connectors; and switching mechanism governed by a receiving operator for bringing an employed link connector and the speech reproducing portion coupled therewith interchangeably into connection with the switching or connecting operators positions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of February, A. D.

MORTON L. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

G. L. CRAGG, ETTA L. WHITE.

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