US1251475A - Telephone-exchange system. - Google Patents

Description

H. P. CLAUSEN.

. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED,DEC.13. 191s.

1,25 1 A75 Patented Jan. 1, 191&

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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H.P.CLAUSEN. I TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTENL,

APPLI CATION FILED DEC. 13, 191B.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

3. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. P. CLAUSEN. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1916- Patented Jan. 1, i918.

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HENRY P. CLAUSEN', 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Patented Jan. '1, 1918.

Application'filed December 13, 1916. Serial No. 136,626.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LHENRY P. CLAUsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems, and particularly to methods of and apparatus for making peg counts in an automatic exchange.

An object of the invention is to provide for the accurate and as nearly instantaneous as possible count of the number of calls being handled by a telephone exchange system at any one time, whereby certain data may be gathered with the'least amount of effort.

Briefly stated this object is accomplished by automatically and successively'bringing a recording device intoassociation with the apparatus of a system and making it responsive to the busy condition of such apparatus. V

A. further object of this'invention is to provide means for automatically counting the number of calls handled over agiven length of time and making a record on a single chart or a number of charts which by a later scrutinization will reveal the conditions of traffic.

Previously made peg counts have revealed certain conditions which have been recognized and heeded in the design and construction of new systems; for instance, one fact well established by such methods is that ten line finder switches and ten connector switches are suflicient to handle the traflic initiated by or directed to a group of one hundred lines in an automatic telephone exchange.

Hence, by counting the number of line finders busy and the number of connector switches busy, only onetenth the amount of work would need be done should the total number of lines he examined with a view to counting those busy.

A feature of the invention is the method description how a count may be made of the total number of calls initiated within the exchange at any one time, the total number of calls being answered by the subscribers within an exchange at any one time or over any given period of time, the total number of trunks between selectors busy at any one time or over any given period of time, the total number of lines within the exchange busy at any one time or over any given period of time, the total number of-incoming trunks from other exchanges busy at any one time or over any given period of time, and the total number of outgoing trunks to other exchanges busy at any one time or over any given period of time.

This invention is not limited to use in an automatic exchange system, but -maybe applied to a manually operated system. The following description will therefore also show how a count may be made of the total number of cord circuits busy at anyone time, the total number of cord circuits busy within any stated period and the total number of completed connections at any time orover any given period of time.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the recording device and the means whereby it is brought into association with the apparatus of'which'it isintended to make a record of that part which is busy; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical representation of the organization of the automatic switches within one exchange and the manner in which the recording devices shown in Fig. 1 are associated therewith;

Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically the man ner in which the recording device of- Fig. 1 is'associated with the cord circuits of a manually operated exchange; and Fig. 4 shows a modification of the recording device useful in making a peg count of the total number of cord circuits busy within a given period of time. I i

In Fig. 1, 1 represents a terminal board minals 2, 3 and 4. A magnet SM is provided for stepping the. brushes from one setof terminals to another when-thet-est on the first set is completed, the action of this magnet being described in detail somewhat later.

Each brush such as B or B is connected to a recording magnet RM or RM which is responsive to the characteristic electrical condition denoting a busy condition of the apparatus under test. The recording magnetsRN etc, are arranged to control armatures such as A which, in turn, actuate number-wheels such as Number wheel 5 is provided with raised figures in such a manner that when the chart C is pressed firmly against the periphery of the wheel: 5, an impression will beleft thereon. The magnet 6 is provided with an armature 7 so fashioned that in its actuated movement it .presses the chart C, through the agency of rod 8, against the periphery of number wheels, such as 5. The armature 7 is also provided with a pawl which engages the teeth secured to the roller 15 whereby the chart C is moved forward one step each time the magnet 6 becomes deenergized.

' The operationof the recording device may be described as follows: The hand switch H is first closed and a circuit thereupon established between ground, battery, hand switch H, magnet 9, normal contact and armature of relay 10 to ground. Magnet 9 attracts its armatures ll, 12, 13 and 14, and thereby establishes connection between the brushes B B etc., and the windingsv of recording magnets RM RM etc. Should the brush B for instance, rest upon the terminal 2, which. is connected with a busy piece of apparatus, then the recording magnet BM? in responding would move the number wheel 5 forward oneposition'.

As soon as a constantly moving interrupter I. of any well-known type, such asare usedv in telephone systems, moves around to such a position that a circuit is closed therethrough extending from ground, battery, hand. switch H, winding of relay 10, the interrupter I, and thence to ground, the relay 10 is energized. The energization of relay 10 results in the movement of its armature, and the opening of theheretofore described circuit. through magnet 9. Magnet 9 thereupon retracts its armatures.

A circuit is now established fromfground,

the armature and alternate contact of relay 10 to a point where the circuit divides and may be traced thence in one direction through the winding of magnet SM to bat-- tery and ground, and in the other direction through the Winding of relay 6 to battery rality of fixed terminals.

'As soonas the interrupter 1' moves to the .point Where the circuit therethrough is broken, the armature of relay 10 will return to its normal position, thereby causing the de'e'nergization of magnets 6 and SM,

and the reenergization of magnet 9. Suppose at this time that brush B rests upon the terminal 3 leading toa mechanism which isiidle. The recording magnet RM being nonresponsive to an idle condition, will;

leave the number. wheel 5 in the position heretofore assumed, and upon the next impression being made, the same number will appcar on the chart.

If each number wheel, such as 5', is originally setin; such. position asto record zero on the first impression, then at the end of the test the last rowof figures appearing will bean indication. of the number of busy mechanisms encountered'by each brush respectively. The sum of these figures will be thetotal Of the busy mechanisms. Moreover, a. close. scrutiny of the chart which may; have been previously ruled and designated; tocorrespond with the terminals over which the brushes are to travel, will show by thegpositions where, the number wheel 5 7 was moved, just which mechanism was busy, 1f such. information is wanted.

Referring now especially'to Fig. 2, the

figures. designated LF LFF, LF and LF represent groups of line finder switches. The figures deslgnated F8 etc., 38, etc, G etc., represent first selectors, second selectors and connector switches, respec-- tively. The figures designated R, R R R and; R represent recording mechanisms substantially the same as that described in Fig. l. The recording mechathenumber; of line findersbusy in the groups LF and LF The recording mechanism R is intended and; arranged to detect and record the number of connector switches nism- R is intended and arranged to record busy in groups C and and the recording If, now

mechanism R isintendedand arranged to record the number of-busy trunks between first selectors FS and FS and second selectors SS and'SS A call initiated in the group of lines served by the line finders LF will be switched to the group of first selectors F8 from which the connection will be extended to a second selector, such as SS or SS1 from which it will, in turn, be extended to any one of the connector switches indicated.

the records maybe examinedsubsequently and will reveal the traffic conditions atthe time of the test in the fOllOWing. manner:

A sum of the line finders busy as taken by the recording mechanisms R and R will indicate the number of calls initiated within the exchange at that time; the sum of the connector switches found busy as recorded by the recording mechanisms R and R will indicate the number. of calls'being answered and R and either one would represent the total number of lines in the exchange busy.

Should it be assumed that Fig. 2 represents an exchange within a system including a plurality of exchanges, then an additional record must be made of the busy incoming trunks from other'ofiices and the busy outgoing trunks to other offices. In this case the sum of the records made byRfl'Bfi, R and R minus the sumof incoming andoutgoing foreign office trunks would represent the number of lines Within the exchange which are busy. At the same time arecord would be had of the traflic conditions within the foreign oifice trunks themselves. Other combinations useful in thejtrafiic department of'a telephone company may be made in a manner substantially the same asthatdescribed.

In Fig. 3 the brushes B and B are arranged to travel over and make contactwith the terminals 32, '33, 34, etc., and form part of a recording device RD which is similar to that shown in Fig. l.

The terminals32 and 33 lead to the sleeve conductors 30- and 31 respectively of the answering plug AC and the calling plug CG respectively, of a manual telephone exchange cord circuit. The terminals34 and 35 lead in a similar mannerto plugs AC and CO 1" The recordingdevice RD is made-respon' a peg countis taken at any time,-

sive toythe. well-known busy condition-of such cord circuits whereby a record ismade of such cordsas are found in use.

'At the'end of the test similar to that clemade by'the device RD.may be scrutinized and a determination made of the number of cords in "use, and the. number of completed connections at the time the .test' was made.

represents a modification of the recording device shown in: Fig. 1, and has for itsob- .ject the counting. of theznumber of cords busy over a certaininterval of time. The

brushes B andB are driven over the- terminals 40, 41,42, 43,'etc.,- by .the stepping magnet SM in a manner similar to that heretofore. described. The resistance 44 which shunts the supervisory lamp SL when the cord AC is busy, is connected to the terminals140 and 41 in the following manner: One terminal of resistance 44 is connected to the winding'of a relay 46, and from thence through the normal contacts scribed inconnection with F ig. 1 the record Referring now especially to Fig.4, this 1..

of its armature to the terminal 40. The

other terminal of resistance 44 is connected to terminal 41 and to the armature of relay 46 in parallel. 1 e

W'hen now the brushes l3 and B are driveninto association with the terminals 40 and 41, the drop of potential across the resistance 44. allows a current to flow over the path leading from resistance 44', terminal 41, the brush B, the relay 45, the

brush B the terminal 40,'the normal 'contacts of relay46, the winding of relay 46 to the resistance 44. Current flowing over this circuit energizes relays 45 and 46. Re-

lay 46, inv attracting its armature, however,

completes a locking circuit for itself through its armature and alternate contact and opens the connection between the resistance and the terminal 40. The relay 45 is thereby deenergized.

During the brief energization of this last I tracts another of its armatures and completes a circuit from "grounded battery, armature and contact of magnet RM, normal con- -tacts of the right-hand inner armature of relay 47, the winding of relay47, the contact and armature of magnet SM to ground. Relay 47 attracts its armatures and completes a locking circuit for itself through ground, the armature and contact oflmagnet SM, the winding of relay 47, thealterits nate contact andiinnermost right-handiarmature of relay-47, the winding. of InagnetSM to battery and thence to ground. Magnet SM attracts its armature and opensthe circuit just described, at the same time causing the brushes B and B tomove into association with the terminals 42 and 43.

If weassume that the cord AC were not busy, then neither relay 45 nor 46 would have responded, in. which case none. ofthe other actions would have-resultedas described. However, a circuit is provided from ground, through the interrupter I, the outermost right-hand armature: and con tact of relay 47, the winding of stepping magnet SM to battery and thence to ground, through which current for energizing the stepping magnet SM would have flowed. In this manner the brushes B and B would have been directed into association with the terminals 42 and 43.

Such a recording device as this is intended to be operated over a bank of terminals successively at intervals during a stated period of time. If, on the first movement a busy cord circuit is encountered, relay 46 would attract its armatures as described, and close a locking circuit for itself which would not be broken until the cord AC were restored to an idle condition. If, before this happens, the brushes l3 and B again passed over the terminals 40 and 41, the relay 46 will be found still in an energized condition and no second record will be made of the condition of cord AC If, however, during the movement the cord AC has become idle and has again been taken for-use, the circuit will be found in the original condition and a new record made of its new use.

In such a manner then can the total number of cords in an exchange usedv over a stated interval of time be counted.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recording device, a bank of. termi- 'nals, a plurality of brushes arranged; to travel over and make contact with said terminals, a plurality of recording magnets associated with said brushes, each arranged to be responsive to a characteristic electrical condition which may exist on said terminals, a chart for receiving a record under control of said recording magnets, and means for successively and automatically moving said brushes into association with said terminals.- V

2.v In a telephone exchange, line switches, means for making a peg count of triafiic conditions therein, comprising a plurality of recording devices responsive to the busy condition of saidlineswitches, and means for successively and automatically moving said recording devices into. association with saidswitches.

3. In a telephone exchange system, line switches, connector 'switches, and foreign oflice trunks, means'for making a peg count of trafiic conditions. therein comprising a plurality of recording devices, said recording devices being responsive to the busy condition of such pieces of apparatus, and means for successively and. automatically bringingsaid recordingidevices into association with saidpieces of apparatus,

4. In a telephone; exchanges stem, means said exchange and responsive to the busy condition 0t sald organisms, andv means for successively and automatically: bringing said recording devices into electrical connection with the, part-iculargroups of: or-

ganisms over wliich'each of said recording devices has supervision. I

6. In a telephone-exchange system, means formaking apegcount of traffic conditions within such system over a giveni periodof time comprising'aplurality of recording tion of the apparatus under count, means for preventing more than a single count-of aparticular piece of busy apparatus, and means for successively, repeatedly and; automatically bringing said: recording devices into electrical association. with such appa iratus.

7. In a recording device, a bank of terminals, aplurality of brushes arranged to devices each responsive to the busy. condi- 2 travel over and make, contact with, said terminals, a plurality of; recording magnets associated with said brushes and; each arranged to be responsive to a characteristic electrical condition which may exist von said terminals, a chart for receiving a record under control of said recording magnets, means for successively advancing said chart, and means for successively'andautomatically moving said brushes intoassociation with said; terminals.

8. In a telephone exchange, connecting circuits, means for making a peg count of trafiic conditions therein comprising a plu rality of recording devices, said recording devices being responsive tothe busy condition of said circuits, and means, for sue.- cessively' and automatically moving said recording devices from association with one group of connectingycircuits into association with another group of connecting circuits.

9. In a telephone exchange, telephone lines and means for interconnecting said telephone lines, means for making a peg count of traflic conditions within such system comprising a recording device responsive to the busy condition of said interconnecting means, and means for successively and automatically bringing said recording device into association with the units of said interconnecting means.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of December, A. D.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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