US1205783A

US1205783A - Telephone pay-station.

Info

Publication number: US1205783A
Application number: US72766212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Pratt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1912-10-25
Filing date: 1912-10-25
Publication date: 1916-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1933-11-21

Description

C. E. PRATT.

TELEPHONE PAY STATION.

n APPLICATION FILED OCT 25,19l2. y 1,205,783. Patented Nov. 21,' 1916.

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C. E. PRATT TELEPHONE PAY STATION.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 25. |912.

1,205,783. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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\ SQ S k Q Q D Q IQ I C. E. PRATT. TELEPHONE PAY STATION.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.25, I`9I2.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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C. E; PRATT. TELEPHONE PAY STATION.

APPLICATION H'LED oc.25,1912.

Patented Nav. 21, 1916.

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C. E. PRATL TELEPHONE-*PAY STATION.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.25. 19I2.

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l C. E. PRATT.

TELEPHONE PAY STATION.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.25.1912.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

UNITED sTATEs rATEnT oEEioE.

CHARLES E. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE PAY-STATION.

Specification of Lettersvatent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Applcaticonkled October 25, 1912. Serial No. 727,662.

Toall whom .it .may concern Be Ait known Ithat I, .CHARLES E. PRATT,

a citizen of :the United States, ,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and AState of Illinois, .have invented .a new and useful Improvement in TelephoneI Pay-Stations, of which Athe following is aspeciiication.

.My 4invention .relates kto improvements in mechanism designed, 4more particularly, for

Vuse `as a .telephone pay-station, but possessing Afeatures rendering sit .usefulin vother connections, as `will Abe .manifest I.to .those skilled in the arts.

My more particular' objects, generally `sta-ted, are toprovide 1improvements in coin- `controlled .mechanism whereby ithe number .ofoperations `thereof will kbe automatically registered.; to provide -a novel, compact and comparatively simple construction of .mechanism 'for use fas a telephone pay-station, which shall operate to automatically restrict the .use f of jthe ,telephone in. connection with which it `.is installed, .to la predetermined vvperiod Iof time, ,upon v each insertion into the apparatus .of a coin .of (predetermined denomination, `or .y other suitable token; will ypermit'lof lits operation ,to return .the coin, for other vtoken, yto the kuser should the kdesi-red. connection; by ,the central `operator not befmade; will I.permittheiiser by depositing a secondcoin, orother stoken,

into thelaplnii'atus, 'before the first prede ytei'inined period of use has expirechlo maintain the connection without y interruption l for Y' succeeding -like .periodiofjtimm willopvcrate-to register all calls made over the telephone, i but only `when fthe. coins -ra re not re-4 turned 4to vthe user; will permit Ithe user,

after obtainiiigvone connection, and therevafter depositing anotheizcoin, `or other suitable .token into :the apparatus, to obtain another connection before the period 'of time during which he isentitled to use-fthe phone `whenthe first connection was made, has expired, .and .effect :operation of the mechanism .for y rfc-setting the .timing-device to time the useof thetelephone-whenfthe new connection is .-niade; will operate to sound ,an alarm for.apprisingtlie useiwof the nearness,,oftheiexpiration yof the period `during which he is entitledto use the-telephone, and` other objects, the production of which from'the following description will be manifestto.` those skilled i-iiftheart.

iReferi-ingto the accompanying, drawings,

,Figure f1 is fa perspective-viewfofniyimproved mechanism embodied in a telephone .pay-station. Fig. 2Vis a .view in front elevationcf thecon'struction shown in Fig. l., the

casing inclosing the operative parts of .fthe

mechanism being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a lplan View of theconstruction disclosed in Fig. l, the said casing being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a section taken lat the line i on Fig. 2 and viewed inthe direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken at the line y5 on Fig. 2 and viewed .in ,the direction of the arrow. Fig. (i is a section taken at the line 6 on fFig. 2 and viewed in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 7 is a section taken at the .line 7 on Fig. -2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a view like Fig.

medium of which the operation of the lat-` ter is controlled, all ofthe above referred toviews showingthe mechanism in normal position.

Fig. ll is a view like Fig. 10 showing theparts in the position they `assume during a certain stage in the operation of the mechanism. l2 is a broken section taken at Ythe line :12 onv Fig. 2 yand viewed in the direction of the arrow; the

parts therein yillustrated being shown in normal position. Fig. 13 is a view likeFig.

.12 showingthe positions'tlie parts therein illustrated assume 'during a. stage in the operation ofthe mechanism when the parts illustrated in Fig. 11 assume the positions `therein-shown. F ig. *.14 ris a. `view like Fig.

7 with certain parts broken away illustrating thev positions assumed by the kparts in Fig. 7 whenthe mechanism is operated to setit, this view,corresponding lto ,the positions assumed by the parts in 1.1. Fig.

l5 is abi-cken view in side elevationo'f the mechanism disclosed in vthe preceding jiigures, the casing therefor Ibeing Ashown in section, and the paits illustrated being repf resented ina position coirespondingto that disclosedl olii' the 'parts in l1. Fig. 1,6 is

an enlarged section taken at the line 16 on Fig. 4 and viewed inthe direction ofthe arrow; and Fig. 17 is a perspective View of the clock-mechanism controlled electric switch-device and a portion of the actuating means therefor.

The casing of the apparatus which houses the operating parts hereinafter described, is illustrated at 2O and is formed with a removable cover-plate 21 releasably locked in place, the rear wall 22 of the casing extending below the bottom 23 thereof, on which rear wall a coin-receptacle represented at 24 and communicating at its upper open end with a coin-slot 25 in an upwardly off-set section 26 of the casing-bottom 23, is hinged at its lower rear edge, as indicated at 27 (Fig. 4).

Secured to the sides of the section 26 of the casing-bottom 23 are spaced vertically-disposed

plates

23 and 29, which form journal-supports for alining stub-

shafts

30 and 31 carried by

disks

32 and 33, respectively, spaced apart but rigidly connected together by

pins

34, 35, and 36 to operate with said shafts as a unit, the disk 33 being provided peripherally with a coin-receiving pocket 37 which, in the normal position of the apparatus, is at the upper edge of the disk 33 and registers with a coin-slot 38 in the casing 2O (Fig. 10). The disk carries a pin 39 which, in the normal position of the parts described ,(Fig. 10) bears against a stop-pin 40 on the innerside of the plate 28, under the action of a coiled spring 41 which surrounds the shaft 30 and engages at one end with the pin 40, and at its opposite end with a pin 41:t on the disk 33, as indicated in Fig. 15. The shaft 31, beyond the plate 29 carries a disk 42 provided about its periphery with two sets of

teeth

43 and 44 and equipped with a laterally-extending striker-pin 45 having its up` per end partly cut away, as indicated at 46, this pin serving in the operation of the apparatus, after a coin, or other token, has been deposited in the pocket 37, to wind up and thereafter release circuit-controlling clock-mechanism for timing the period of use of the telephone,- as hereinafter described. In the operation of the apparatus, the user after depositing a coin of proper denomination, or other appropriate token, represented at 47, into said pocket, turns the shafts 30 and 31 and the disks 32, 33, and 42 to the left in Figs. 1 and 4, or in other words to the right in Fig. 10, to the position illustrated in Figs. 11, 14 and 15, by means of a handle 48 fixed on the shaft 30 exterior of the casing 20, through a iartial revolution against the resistance of the spring 41, and to a position in which a pin 49 on the disk 33 engages a stop-pin 50 extending laterally7 from the inner side of the plate 29, in which position, the teeth 44 are engaged by a pawl 51 provided as the horizontal arm of a bell-crank lever 52 fixed on i a rock-shaft 53 journaled atrits opposite ends in the plates 23 and 29, the pawl 51 bearing yieldingly downwardly7 at its free end against the periphery of the disk 42, by spring means hereinafter described, and serving to releasably hold the said disks and shafts connected therewith in the position to which they were moved by said opera tion, a spring-pawl 54 pivoted to the plate 29, as indicated at 55, serving, by engaging with the teeth 43 on the disk 42, in the movement of the latter, as hereinbefore described, to prevent retroactive movement thereof during the movement of the disk 42, to the position in which it is engaged at its teeth 44 by the pawl 51, as hereinbefore stated.

In the operation of the apparatus as described, the coin-pocket 37 is inverted and carried into registration with the coin-slot 25 in the bottom of the casing 2O (Fig. 11), the coin 47, however, being temporarily retained in said pocket, by engaging with the end of a horizontally-disposed lever 56 fulcrumed on the deflected section 26 of the casing, as represented at 57. The lever 56, with which coperates a spring 58 tending to swing it at its free end across the slot 25 is, in the normal position ofthe apparatus, releasably held in a. position in opposition to the spring 58, in which its free end does not extend across the slot 25 (Fig. 9), but before the pocket 37 has been inverted into registration with the slot 25, the means, hereinafter described, holding said lever 56 in such position, has been operated to permit the spring 58 to act and move the lever 56 to coin-arresting position.

The timing mechanism hereinbefore referred to and actuated by the pin 45 on the disk 42, consists, generally stated, of clockmechanism adapted to be wound up by rotating the

shafts

30 and 31, and

disks

32, 33, and 42, as hereinbefore described, and thereafter automatically released, and a circuit-controlling device operated through the medium of said clock-mechanism and serving as a means of apprising the telephone operator of the expiration of the period of time during which the user of the telephone is entitled to its use. Any suitable clockmechanism may be provided for this p urpose. In the clock-mechanism illustrated the winding shaft is represented at 61 and supports a sleeve-equipped driving-gear 59, loose on said shaft. The shaft 61 adjacent to the gear 59 carries a depending arm 61a provided with upwardly-extending springpressed pawls 61b so arranged that when one of the pawls 61b engages a cog of the gear 59 the other will be out of engagement therewith. A coiled spring 60 surrounds the shaft 61 and engages at its opposite ends, respectively, with pins 62 and 63 on the casing 64 of the clock-mechanism and the arm 61, the spring 60 tending to swing the arm 61L1 to the right in Fig. 8. The shaft 61 is also equipped with an arm 65 rigid there- CII be turned to the right in Figs. 4, 6, and 8 against the resistance of the spring 60 when the lever 67 is swung to the right in said figures, the above described connection between the lever 67 and the arm 65 permit-' ting said lever to yield to the left in `said figures without actuating the shaft 61.

The clock mechanism described is represented in normal position in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8, in which position the upper end of the lever 67 extends into the path of movement of the pin 45 on the disk 42, when the latter is actuated, as hereinbefore described, to the position illustrated in Fig. 14, and thus when the disk 42 is thus actuated, the lever 67 is swung to the right in Fig. 6, and by turning the shaft 61 swings the arm 61a to the left in Fig. 8 against the resistance of the spring 60, the pawls G1b passing idly over the teeth of the gear 59. In the final movement of the pin 45, the latter wipes past the upper end of the lever 67 thereby freeing the latter, whereupon one of the pawls 61b immediately engages with a tooth of the gear 59 thus clutching the 'latter to the arm 61ay and causing it to turn in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 during the return movement of the arm 61a under the action of the spring 60, for driving thetrain of gears.

Pivot/ed on the casing 64, as indicated at 69, is a bell-crank lever 70, one arm 71 of which carries a pointer 72 coperating with a scale 73 provided with markings, represented at 74, to designate minutes, and eX- posed to view through an opening 75 in the casing 20, the other arm 76 of the bell-crank being beveled at its upper end at opposite edges thereof, as represented at 77. The bell-crank 70 is pivotally connected at its arm 76, as indicated at 78, with a togglelever 7 9, which is rigidly connected at its lower end with the shaft 61, the connection 79, between the shaft 61 and the bell-crank 7 0, serving to produce actuation of said bellcrank when the clock-mechanism is running under the action of the spring 60, after being wound up and released, as hereinbefore described, the parts just described being so arranged and proportioned as to cause the pointer 72 to have movement corresponding to the minute graduations on the scale 73. The arm 76 of the bell-crank 70 coperates with a circuit-controlling switch 81, which, in practice, would preferably be interposed in the main circuit of the telephone system and in series with the contacts controlled by the receiver-hook of the telephone, the switch 81 in the construction illustrated be- 'ing formed of a contact 82 secured to `a block of insulating material 83, and connected with a binding-post 84, and a springcontact 85 fixed at one end at a binding-post 86 to the block 83 and equipped with an upwardly-extending lug 87 provided with a laterally-extending pin 88, the contact 85 being so constructed that it is normally in engagement with the contact 82, but is adapted to be ldisengaged therefrom through the mediumof the arm 76, which latter, at the expiration of vthe period of time during which the user of the telephone is entitled to use it, is moved by the action of the clockwork to a position in which it wipes across the pin 88, raising the latter and with it the contact 85 (Fig. 17), and thus, by breaking the circuit at this point, apprises the central operator of such fact, whereupon the central operator disconnects the telephone, the arm 76 in continuing its movement to the right in Figs. 5 and 17 disengaging from thepin 88, whereupon the contact 85 springs linto engagement with the contact 82 to cause these contacts to assume normal closed position (Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7).

My improved mechanism is adapted tobe actuated to release the coin V47 from the coin-pocket 37 and permit it to drop into the receptacle 24 `by swinging the lever 56, against theaction of its spring 58, to a position in which its free end is withdrawn from across the slot 25, and disengage the pawl 51 from the teeth 44 to permit the spring 41 to return the

disks

32, 33, and 42,

and shafts carried thereby, to normal position, either automatically during the period which the user of the telephone is entitled to use it, or manually, as for example when the user wishes to secure another connection before said period has expired, the following being a description of the mechanisms provided for these purposes: Pivoted between its ends near its upper end, to the plate 29, as indicated at 89, isa lever 90, provided at its upper end with a laterallyextending pin 91 adapted to beheld, by the tendencyof the lever 90 to swing to vertical position, in engagement with the de pending arm 92-of the bell-crank 52,*and to rock said bell-crank at its lower end to the right from the position illustrated yin Fig. 14 for disengaging the pawl 51fro1n theteeth 44 when the lever 90 is rockedto the left at its lower end from the position illustrated in Fig. 14, as hereinafter eX- plained, this lever beingalso provided at its lower end with pins 93 and 94,the pin 93 engaging with a pin 95 on the coin-arresting lever 56, arranged eccentric of the pivot 57 of the latter, and serving when the lever 90 is in normal position (Figs. 7 and 9) to hold the lever 56 in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, and when swung at its lower end 'to the'lefty in Fig. 14, as hereinafter de- 1 y in thecasing by means of a headed pin 98 secured to the plate 29, and extending into a` lcngitudinally-extending slot 99 in said plunger.

As hereinbefore stated, the bell-crank 52 f cooperates with spring means tending to swing it to the left in Fig. 14, and hold its pawl 51 under tension in engagement with one of the teeth 44 when said disks and shafts connected therewith have been rotated to the left in Fig. 4 to the position indicated ,in Fig. 14, as liereinbefore described, and the lever is preferably so fulcrumed, and the

pins

93 and 94 so disposed as to cause the lever 56 to be operated for withdrawing it from engagement with the coin 47 before the lever 90 swings its pin 91 sufficiently far to disengage the pawl 51 from the teeth 44. Thus in the normal operation of theJ apparatus the coin 47 will be released and dropped into the receptacle 24 before said shafts and disks are returned, under the action of the spring 41, to normal Condition.

The lever 90 is adapted to be actuated for releasing the coin 47 and pawl 51 as described, not only manually by pressing in the plunger 96, but automatically by the action of the clock-mechanism, and to this end I so position the pin 66 on the arm 65 that, during the swinging of said arm to the right from the position shown in Fig. 6 in the unwinding operation of the clock-mechanism, it engages the forward edge of the lower end of the lever 90, as shown in the last referred to figure, and Swings it at its lower end to the left from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9 to release the coin 47 and pawl 51, as hereinbefore stated, the pin 66 being preferably so disposed that it will swing the lever 90 sufficiently far to effect the release of the coin 47 and thereafter the pawl 51, a relatively short time before the circuit is broken at the contacts S2 and S5 by the lifting-action of the arm 76 on the pin SS.

In my improved apparatus, as preferably constructed, provision is made for apprising the central operator of the ldepositing of the coin 47 in the apparatus, and for returning the coin to the user in case the desired connection is not obtained, the following being a description of the mechanism provided for these purposes: Secured to the bottom of the casing 20 is a pair of

contacts

100 and 101 adapted to be connected with the terminals of an electric circuit, not shown, which would contain a signaling device located at the central station, as commonly provided in connection with apparatus of this general type, the contact being stationarily mounted on a block 102 of insulating material, and the other contact 101 being movable into and out of engagement with the Contact 100, as by forming it of spring metal. The contact 101 is normally out of engagement with the contact 100 and is adapted to be moved into engagement therewith by means of an arm 108, pivoted, as indicated at 104, to one side of its center of gravity, on the plate 28, and formed of a section 105 of insulating material bearing against the upper surface of the contact 101, and an upwardlyextending section 106 recessed along its forward edge, as indicated at 107, and formed with a forwardlyprojecting extension 108 having a pin-engaging surface 109. The arm 103 tends to swing to the right from the position represented in Fig. 4, but its weight is insutlicient to force the contact 101 against the contact 100, and thus the circuit at this point is normally broken.

Pivoted on the pin 35 and extending adjacent to a face of the disk 33, is a lever 110 provided with a laterally-extending pin 111 which projects through an elongated slot 112 in the disk 32, a coiled spring 113 tending to swing this lever to the left from the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the engagement of the pin 111 with the upper end of the slot 112 (Fig. 4) serving as a stop for this lever in the normal position of the apparatus. The lever 110 is provided with a pin 114 which extends into an opening 115 in the adjacent wall of the coin-pocket 37, and is so positioned that when a coin, or other token, 47 is introduced into the pocket 37, the coin, in resting upon the pin 114, will be elevated above the periphery of the disk 33 (Fig. 10), and thusrwhen the shafts and disks are rotated to the left in Fig. 4, as hereinbefore described, the coin, in traveling against a cam-finger 116 secured to the casing-bottom 26, and extending close to the periphery of the disk 33, will be forced into the pocket toward the center of said disk, thus forcing the pin 114 forwardly,

with the result of rocking the lever 110 against the action of the spring 113 to the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 13, or, in other words, to the left in the position illustrated in Fig. 12, the pin 111 moving inwardly in the slot 112. When the coin 47, in the actuation of the shafts and disks from normal position as described, passes beyond the base of the cam-finger 116, it engages the stop lever 56 and is thereby temporarily arrested, this lever being so positioned that the coin will be retained in the pocket in about the saine position as when the coin is engaging the cam-finger 116, and thus so long as the coin is held in the pocket, the lever is held, by the coin, in substantially the same position to which it was shifted, relatively to the disk carrying it, byl the engagement of the coin with thecam-inger. The extension 108 on the arm 106 is so disposed as to cause it to extend at its surface 109 into the path of movement of the pin 111, and be rocked thereby to the right from the position represented in Fig. 41 to the position represented in Fig. 15, for forcing the contact 101 into engagementwith the contact 100, when a coin is inserted into the pocket 37 and the shafts and disks are rotated as hereinbefore described to wind up and then release the clock-mechanism, the pin 111 remaining in the shifted position stated and in engagement with the arm 106, and the contacts 100 `and 101 thus held together, until the lever 56 is withdrawn from under the coin 417, as .hereinbefore explained, whereupon the lever 110, under the action of its spring 113, resumes normal position relative Lto the diskr 32, its pin 111 being thus projected to the position represented by dotted lines in Fig. 15, wherein it extends into therecess 107 in the arm- 106, which frees this arm and thus permits the contact 101 tospring out of engagementy with. the contact 100, thereby breaking the circuit controlled by these contacts.v y

contacts 100 and 101k is an electro-magnet 117, the armature 118 kof which is connected withA an arm 119 on `the rock-shaftb,carryu ing the bell-crank 52, and cooperating with this arm is a spring 120 which tends to rock the shaft 53 to the right in Fig. 11, andfcon-` stitutes the hereinbefore described spring- Ineans for said bell-crank. y By energizing the electro-magnet 117 sufficiently to cause the armature 118 to be depressedY against the resistance of the spring .120,y which latterv should be of such tension as to require for the depressing of ythe armature a greater current through the circuit controlled by the

contacts

100 and 101 than is required for operating the signaling device therein at the central oflice, and `which energization, when the circuit is closed at the

contacts

100 and 101, may be accomplished by the central operator in accordance with well-knownpractice, as byk switching onto said circuit a greater current than that normally supplied thereto for operating the signaling device, the shaft 53 is rocked tothe'left in Fig. 121, thus withdrawing the, pawl 51' from engagement with'the teeth 41, whereupon the disks and shafts connected therewith return, under the action of the spring 41, to normal position, the coin 17, returning therewith and being discharged from thepocket 37 through theslot 38by the action of the spring 113, as soon as the pocket carried into registration with lsald, slot,

Interposed in the circuit controlledr by the In connection with the spring-controlled arm 110, I provide means for preventing the actuation of the shafts and disks, as hereinbefore described, until a coin has been deposited in the slot 38, these means comprising a lever 121 fulcrumed on the pin 36 and provided at one end with a recess 122 into which a pin 123, provided on the lever 110' eccentric of its pivot, extends, the lever 121 being so arranged relative to a pin 121a on the plate 28 that the free end of this lever will engage the pin 121'fL in the initial rotation of the shafts and disks when turned to the left in Fig. 1, if no coin has been placed in slot 38, and thus will prevent the rotation of said disks and shafts sufliciently far to actuate the clock movement, but when a coin has` been placed in said slot, the hereinbefore described movement of the lever 110. will operate to swing they lever 121 to a position in which it will clear the pin 121a and permit the shafts and disks to be operated as stated. y

In order that the number` of calls made over the telephone shall be automatically registered, I provide means for this purpose, of which the following is a description: Mounted on the bottom plate 23 of the casing is a register 124, which may be of any suitable construction and which, inl the apparatus illustrated, is of well-known form comprising, generally stated, a plurality of gear-equipped

disks

125, 126, 127, and 128,

representing units, tens, hundreds and thousands, respectively, rotatably mounted on a shaft 129, gear mechanism 130 cooperating with the gears on said registering disks for producing the proper actuation of said respective disks for registration purposes, the unit-disk being equipped with a ratchet 13:1, and a spring-pawl 132 pivoted as indicated at 133 on an arm 134 journaled on the shaft 129, and adapted to rotate the unitdisk 125 one-tenth of a revolution each time the arm 13-1 is swung to the leftfrom the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 15. A spring 135,. surrounding the shaft 129 operates to normally holdl the arm 134 in the position represented in Figs. 4 and 15, this arm being so disposed that when in normal position its free end will be engaged by the pin 111, and the arm rocked to vactuate the register-disks when the disks and shafts connected with the handle 418 turn from the position illustrated in Fig. 15 to normal condition, provided the coin 47 has, in the meantime, dropped from the pocket 37 into the receptacle 24:, but so disposed that if the disks and shafts operated bv the handle 18 turn back to normal position before the coin has dropped from the pocket,fthe free n operates the electro-magnet 117, as hereinbefore stated, to return the said shafts and` .not shown, controlled by the receiver-hook,

and the

contacts

100 and 101 and the electro-magnet 117 will be arranged in series in the circuit, not shown, the closing'of which is controlled by the depositing of a coin into the apparatus, and the actuation of the handle-operated disks and shafts` as hereinbefore stated.

The normal positionsof the parts of thc apparatus are those illustrated in Figs. 1, e, 3, i, 5, c, 7. s, e, 1o, 12, and 16, the circuit at the contacts SQ and 85 being closed and at the

contacts

100 and 101 being open, and the lever 56 being out of coin-arresting position due to the engagement of the pin G6 with the lever 90. To use the telephone the user lifts the receiver, not shown, from the hook, which breaks the circuit controlled by the latter, and in which the

contacts

82 and 85 are interposed, thus signaling the central operator. After the operator makes the desired connection with the other telephone, the user drops a coin 47 into the slot 88, and then turns the handle 48 upwardly and to the left in Fig. 1, until the pin 49 engages the pin 50. Thus actuating, the handle 48 causes the pin 45 on the disk 88 to engage with the upper end of' the lever G7, and move the latter to the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 6, and thus wind up the spring 60 and move the pointer 72 opposite to the Zero mark77 on the scale 78, the pin 45 in the final movement of the handle-operated disks and shafts, as stated, moving out of engagement with the lever 67, whereupon the spring 60 starts to drive the clock-mechanism. In the movement of the lever G7 as described the arm swings to the left from the position illustrated in Fig. 6, thereby withdrawing the pin 6G from engagement with the lever 90, whereupon the latter under the action of the springs 58 and 1520 swings to the right at its lower end from the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 to the position illustrated in Fig. 14, which permits the spring 58 to project the free end of the lever 5G across the slot 25 into coin-arresting position before the pocket 37 is brought into registration with said slot, and the shaft 58 to turn to the right in Fig. 7 to lower the pawl 51 into a position to engage with the end tooth 44 of the series thereof in the final position of the hereinbefore described movement of the disks and shafts connected therewith for releasably holding said disks and shafts in the position to which they were moved by such movement, and cause the armature 118 to be raised (Fig. 14).

By reason of the fact that the coin 47 is in the pocket during the operation of the handle, as described, the pin 111 on the arm 110, in the final movement of the handle 48, strikes the arm 10G moving it to the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to the position illustrated in Fig. 15, thus forcing the contact 101 into engagement with the contact 100, which closes the circuit controlled thereby, and operates a signal, not shown, at the central oflice, thus apprising the central operator of the depositing of the coin into the apparatus, and the starting of the hereinbefore described timing mechanism. As the clock movement continues its operation the arm 65 is swung to the right in Fig. 6, and b v engaging with the lever 90 swings the latter at its lower end to the left in Fig. 14, with the result of swinging the lever 5G out of coin-arresting position, thus permitting the coin 47 to fall into the receptacle 24, which may by prearrangement of the parts, be effected at any time desired during the period of operation of the clock-mechanism, and which, in the construction illustrated, which is timed for five minute periods, is effected after the expiration of about two and a half minutes. The dropping of the coin from the pocket 37 permits the lever 110 to move, under the action of its spring, to a position in which its pin 111 disengages from the extension 108 and extends into the recessed portion 107 of the arm 106 as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 4, thus freeing the arm 108 and permitting the con-Y tact 101 to spring out of engagement with the Contact 100 and breaking the circuit.l

The continued movement of the arm 65, in the direction stated, under the continuing action of the clock-mechanism, swings the lever 90 still farther to the left at its lower end in Fig. 14, and at a predetermined time, the pawl 51 is raised, thus permitting the handle-operated disks and shafts to return to normal position under the action of the spring 41, during which action the pin 111 actuates the arm 134 for operating the register, as hereinbefore described. The release of the pawl 51 may be timed as described, but it is preferred that it take place about half a minute before the five-minute period has expired, in order that the user may have his attention called to the nearness of the expiration of the period, and may deposit another coin for continuing the connection, without interruption, as hereinafter described.

c As hereinbefore described, the arm 76 into engagement with the pin 88: on the contact 85, for lifting'the latter out of engagement with the contact 82 upon the expiration of the predetermined period of use of the telephone, namely, in the arrangement illustrated, five minutes, thus breaking the main circuit in which the telephone and said apparatus is interposed, and automatically notifying' the centraloperator of the expiration of the' period duringwhich the user was entitled tol use the telephone, whereupon the operator disconnects the latter'. Further movement of the clock-mechanism, under the action of its driving spring 60, causes the arm TG'to pass beyond and out ci' engagement with the pin 88', whereupon the contact S again springs against the contact 82 and closes the circuit atA this point, the clockinechanism continuing to run until automatically stopped, as by the engagement of the pointer 72 with a stop 136 provided on the scale. l

If, after the coin 47 is deposited in the slot 38, the user fails to get the desired connection, the coin may be returned to him and the handle-operated disks and shafts be returned to normal positionk withoutr 'actuating the register 19A, as hereinbefowre` described, by the central operator energizing the magnet 117. wish to continue thefconnection longer than the predetermined period to which he was entitled upon k,the depositing of the yfirst coin into the apparatus,y he deposits anotherL similar coin into the pocket 37k after the handle-operateddisks and shaftsfhave been automatically returned to the normal position shortly before thek five-minute period has expired', as hereinbeforedescribed, and thereupon again turnsy the handle 48 upwardly and to the left in Fig. 1, whichresets the clock-mechanism and pointer 72, moving the latter to the Zerov marken thescale without affecting the circuit at the

contacts

82 and 85, the. mechanism after being reset n and beginning lts automatic operation, as

hereinbefore described, operating in the same manner as it does when initially operated, as hereinbefore stated, it being manifest that the user may continue the connection for as long a time as desired, upon depositing the'proper coins successively into the apparatus, thel registering mechanism properly registering each insertion of a coin into the apparatus provided the latter is operated, as hereinbefore described, to permit the coins to drop into the receptacle 2li. Should the user of the tele )hone wish to obtain another connection be ore the predetermined period, at the end of which the circuit is broken at the

contacts

82 and 83, has eX- pired, this may accomplished by pushing Should the'user ofthe telephone arm 56 from the coin-arresting position and disengaging the pawl 51 from the teeth 44, whereupon the handle-actuated disks and shafts return to normal position, and in doing so operates' the register. The user then signals the central operator by operating the hook of the telephone and upon the desiredv connection being made deposits another coin into the pocket 37, and thereupon swings the handle 48 to the left and upwardly in Fig. l., with the, result of closing the circuit at the

contacts

100 and 101, thus apprising the central operator of the depositing of' the coin and the actuating of the mechanism, and resetting the clock-mechanism to cause its pointer 72`to register with the zero mark on the scale, and the arm 'T6 to be correspondingly moved regardless of the position to which these last referred to parts had been moved under the action of the clock-mechanism, following the depositing of the preceding coin into the apparatus.

While I have illustrated and described my improved mechanism as applied to a paystation, for which use it was more particularly devised, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it to the particular mechanism illustrated, or to use as a telephone pay-station, or to a use wherein all the elements thereof' are employed in the combination illustrated, as certain features thereof have utility, as will be manifest to those skilled in the arts when applied to uses other than as a telephone pay-station, it. being my intention to claim not only all the uses to which my improved mechanism, as illustrated, may be put, but also any and all variations therein which are within the actual invention made by me, when considered in the light of the prior art, and all of the novel combinations and subcombinations, regardless of the particular use or uses to which they are put.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The vcombination of coin-controlled spring-returnable mechanism including a men'iber having a shoulder. a rock device adapted to cooperate with said shoulder i'or releasably holding said coin-controlled mechanism aga-inst return movement under the action of its spring, a rock member operating, when actuated, to engage with said rock device to actuate the latter for releasing said coin-controlled mechanism, and means actuated alfter the expiration of a predetermined length of time for actuating said rock member, for the purpose set forth.

2. -The combination of a spring-returnable ing a member' having a shoulder for actuating said spring-returnable member, means engaging with said shoulder when said coincontrolled mechanism is operated, for releasably holding the latter against return movement, and means extending into the path of movement of said spring-returnable member during the return movement of the latter tor operating said first-named means to release said second-named member, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a spring-retmnable member, coin-controlled mechanism including a member having a shoulder for actuating said spring-returnable member, means engaging' with said shoulder When said coincontrolled mechanism is operated, :tor releasably holding the latter against return movement, means extending into the path of movement of said spring-returnable member during the return movement of the latter for operating said iirst-named means to release said second-named member, and electrically operated means i'or actuating said firstnamed means.

at. The combination of a rotatable member containing a coin-receiving pocket and movable to a position in Which the coin will discharge therefrom by gravity, a bell-crank lever arranged to normally engage at one end with the coin and hold it in said pocket When the pocket is inverted, and means operating after the expiration of a predetermined length of time to engage with the other arm of said lever for moving the latter to coinreleasing position.

5. The combination of a movable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, means for releasably holding said member against return movement, means for releasably holding the coin in said pocket, and means operating to release said coin from the pocket and thereafter release said rst-n amed means to permit said coin-controlled member to return to normal position.

6. The combination of a movable springreturned member containing a. coin-receiving pocket, means for releasably holding said member against return movement after the latter has been operated, means for releasably holding the coin in said pocket, and means operating to release said coin from the pocket and thereafter release said firstnamed means to permit said member to return to normal position under the action of its spring.

7. The combination of a spring-retracted movable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, means for releasably holding said member against return movement after actuation of said member, and means for releasably holding the coin in said pocket after said member has been actuated, a rock member provided with means operating,

when said rock member is actuated, to actuate said coin-retaining means, to release said i coin after the expiration of a predetermined length of time and thereafter to engage said First-named means to release said member aiter the expiration of a. predetermined length of time, and means for actuating said roel: member.

S. lThe combination of a movable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, releasable coin-arresting means for holding the coin in said pocket after said member has been actuated, means operating after the expiration of a predetermined length vof time for moving said coin-arresting means out of coin-arresting position, and electric-currentactuated means controlling the return of said member with the coin therein to'normal position.

9. The combination of a movable springreturnable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, means for releasably locking said member against return movement a iter actuation oi the latter. releasable coin-arresting means for holding the coin in said pocket atter actuation of said member, means operable for releasing said locking means to permit said member to return to normal position, and automatically operating means for moving said coin-arresting means out of coin-arrestmg position and releasing said locking means, for the purpose set forth.

l0. In coin controlled mechanism, the combination-of a movable member, means normally locking said member against actuation and releasable upon the depositing of a coin into said mechanism, registering means, and means for actuating said registering means controlled by said coin and operating upon return movement of said member, after the coin has discharged from the mechanism, to actuate said registering means.

ll. In coincontrolled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, means for releasably locking said member against actuation and adapted to be released by the depositing of a coin into said mechanism, registering means, and coin controlled means, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to be out of position for actuating said registering means when said member is returning to normal position While the coin is in the mechanism, but be in position for actuating said registering means When said member is returning to normal position, after the coin has been discharged from the mechanism.

12. In coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, means for releasably locking said member against actuation and adapted to be released by the depositing of a coin into the mechanism, registering means, and coin-controlled means movable with said member and having movement independently of the latter, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to be out of position for actuating said registering means when said member is returning to normal position while the coin is in the mechanism, but be in position for actuating said registering means when said member is returning to normal position, after the coin has been discharged from the mechanism.

13. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, means for releasably locking said member against actuation and adapted to be released by the depositing of a coin into said mechanism, registering means, a shiftable element, and means tending to hold said element normally in position for actuating said registering means upon the return movement of said member, and movable out of actuating position upon depositing a coin into the mechanism and maintainable in said lastnamed position until the coin has discharged from the 'mechanism prior to the return movement ofcsaid member.

14. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination 4oi' a movable member, means for releasably locking said member against actuation and adapted to be released by the depositing of a coin into said mechanism,

registering means, a shiftable element car-` combination of a movable member, releas-A able means for releasably holding the coin in the mechanism after the actuation of said member, registering means, means for actuating said releasable means and means c0nstructed and arranged to actuate said registering means upon the return movement of said member after the coin has been released from the mechanism.

16. In coin-controlled mechanism, the

vcombination of a movable member, means vfor releasably arresting the com after actuation of said member, electric-circuit controlled means, including a. switch operating to control the position of said coin-arresting means, and means controllable by the position of the coin for actuating said switch.

17. In coincontrolled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, means for releasably arresting the coin after actua.- tion of said member, electric-circuit controlled means including a switch operating to control the position of said coin-arresting means, and means operating upon the actuation of said member after a coin has been deposited into the mechanism, to actuate said switch and maintain it in the position to which it is actuated during the retention of the coin in the mechanism.

18. In coincontrolled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, means for releasably lookin@f said member against actuation, means for releasably holding the coin in the mechanism after the actuation of said member, indicating means, electric-circuit controlled means, including a switch for controlling' the position of said vcoin-arresting means, and means operating upon the depositing of a coin into the mechanism to actuate said irst-named means for unlocking said member and to actuate said switch when r said member is operated and hold said switch in the position to which it is actuated during the retention of the coin in the mechanism and fctuate said indicating means upon return movement of said member after the coin has been released from the mechanism.

19. The combination of a circuit-controlling` device, means operating at a predetermined time after actuation of said means, to actuate said device, spring-returnable mechanism for actuating said Erst-named means, means for releasably holding said coin-controlled means against return movement, and means, operatingbefore said device is actuated by said first-named means, for releasing` said second-named means to permit said coincontrolled mechanism to return to normal position.

20. The combination of a circuit-controlling device, means operating at a predetermined time after actuation of said means, to actuate said device, coin-controlled springreturnable mechanism for actuating said first-named means, means for releasably holding said coin-controlled means against return movement, and means operated by said iirst-named means before said device is actuated by said first-named means for releasing said second-named means to permit said coin-controlled mechanism to return to normal position.

21. The combination of a circuit-controlling device, means operating' at a predetermined time after actuation of said means, to actuate said device, coin-controlled springreturnable mechanism for actuating said first-named means, means for releasably holding said coin-controlled means against return movement, coin-arresting means for releasably holding the coin in said coin-controlled means, and means operating before the actuation of said circuit-controlling device by said irst-named means for releasing coin-controlled said coin-arresting means and said coin-controlling means to permit the coin to discharge from said means and said coin-controlled mechanism to return to normal position.

22. The combination of a plurality of electric circuit-controlling devices, means operating at a predetermined time after the operation thereof to actuate one of said devices, a movable spring-returnable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, means ior releasably locking said member against actuation, n eans actuated by said member for actuating the other of said electric circuit-controlling devices, means actuated by said member for actuating said first-named means, coin-arresting means for releasably holding` the coin in said pocket, means carried by said member and having movement relative to the latter, operating upon the depositing of a coin into said pocket to release said member-locking means and upon actuation of said member to actuate said last-referred to circuit-controlling device and hold the latter in the position to which it was actuated While the coin is in said pocket, means operable ivhile said last-referred to electric circuit-controlling device is in actuated position for actuating said coin-arresting means to release the coin from said pocket and actuate said member-holding means to permit said member to return to normal position, and automatically operating means actuated by said first-named means the expiration of a predetermined length of time i'or releasing said coin-arresting means and said member-holding means.

r'he combination of a movable member containing a coin-receiving pocket, means for releasably holding said member against return movement after actuation of said means, coin-arrest-ing means for releasably holding the coin in said pocket, and means for actuating said coin-arresting means and said iirst-named means to permit the coin to discharge from said pocket and said member to return to normal position.

Q-i. The combi-nation ot' a coin-controlled movable member, an electric-circuit-controlling switch, a power-device hav-ing a driving element and the operation of which is controlled by said movable member, and means actuated by said power-device for actuating said sivitch after a predetermined movement of said power-device.

The combination of a plurality of electric circuit-controlling devices, a coincontrolled movable member, means operated by said member for actuating one oi said devices, and means operated by said member and operating at a predetermined time after said last-named means have been actuated for actuating the other oi' said electric circuit-controlling devices.

26. The combination of a plurality oi electric circuit-controlling devices, a coincontrolled movable member, means operated by said member for actuatingT one of said devices, means operated by said member and operating at a predetermined time after said last-named means have been actuated for actuating the other of said electric circuitcontrolling devices, means for releasably holding said member against return movement, and means actuated by said last-named means for releasing said member-holding means, for the purpose set iorth.

27. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, registering means, and coin-controlled means, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to be out oi' position for actuating said registering means When said member is returning to normal position While the coin is in the mechanism, but to be in position for actuating said registering means when said member is returning to normal position, after the coin has been discharged trom the mechanism.

QS. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of a movable member, a movable element adapted to normally locl; said member against actuation, registering means, a second element movable with said member and having movement independently of the latter, said elements being connected together for simultaneous operation, means operated by the depositing of a coin into the machine for actuating said elements to Withdraw said first-named element from locking position and move said secondnamed element to a position in vvhich it will not actuate said registering means when said last-named element is returning to normal position While the coin is in the machine` said last-named element being constructed and arranged to be in position for actuating said registering means when said member is returning to normal position after the coin has been discharged from the mechamsm.

CHARLES E. PRATT.

Witnesses J. LoNDnsMaN, E. D. STEELE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.