US1486900A - Measured-service party-line telephone system - Google Patents

Description

March 1 8, 1924.

- 1,486,909 E. JACOBSEN' MEASURED SERVICE PARTY LINE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed March 13. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l I'm/57:12:? ErmZ Jacobssn EMIL mconsnn, on NEW YORK,

Y.', ASSIGNOR T AUTOTIC ELECTRIC COMP A,

OF CHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEASURED-seamen [PARTY-LINE TELEPHONE Application med March 13, 1919. Serial No. 282;.

' To all whom it may concern:

' vented certain new vised which is accurate such as D which Be it known that I, Emu. JAoonsnN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have in- Improvements in Measured-Service Party-Line Telephone Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to an automatic telephone system and more specifically to an improved means for registering the calls in a system in which party lines are used and in which it is desired to register the calls made from each station on a party'line.

Although in the been accomplished by having a, meter for each station on the line operated by reverse battery or some other means, yet a scheme has not within my knowledge yet been deand in which it is not possible to at times operate the meter of some station falsely and thus charge when a call is not made. J

In order to overcome this ditliculty and also to provide central oflice meters'for each station 011 a line, I provide an auxiliary or meter selecting switch at the centraloffice associated with the line switch of each party line and arrange the calling device at each station so that at the time of initiating a'call from a certain station, the auxiliary'switch associated with that line is operated automatically to pick out the particular miter set apart for the station calling. In order to automatically operate the auxiliary switch in thismanner I so interconnect the receiver hook With the calling device that when a subscriber removes his receiver and his switch hook rises, the said hook permits the dial previously held in a partially operated position to rotate to normal to send either 1, 2, 3 or 4 impulses to the said auxiliary switch, which meter it is desired to select.

These and other features and aspects of my invention will be more specifically pointed'out by referring to the accompanymg drawings and describing the progress ofa call from a party-line subscriber to another linexand the means for charging therefor.

Fig, l of the drawings shows a station A on a party line having access through a line switch C to one of a plurality of selectors selectors D in turn have relay 2 of past this has sometimesv once to operate the depending upon access through any of a plurality of connector switches such as H Fig.2) to 3. called line; Fig. 2 shows a connector switch and :1 called line, and Fig. 3 shows means comprising a rack and nz-cting the switch hook and the calling device to give a preliminary set of impulses; It will of course be understood that this interconnection may be accomplished in any desired manner.

Assuming that thesubscribei A (Fig. 1) is the firstor number one party on a party line then when he removes his receiver to initiate a call a circuit is closed for tlie line the line switch C in series with the line c'ircuit.- Relay 2 energizes and closes a circuit for the slow relay the private normal conductor 4 and prepares a circuit for the o crating magnet 5 ofthe auxiliary meter se ectin switch whose wipers are shown at 6 an 7. Now as the receiver rises it releases the dial, which returns .to normal and opens the circuit of the relay 2 once. Relay 2 therefore deenergizes magnet 5 once over a circuit from ground through springs 8 and 9, springs lO springs 11 and 12, lower winding of slow relay '13, magnet 5, wWiper 7 in first position, and through springs 14 and 15 to battery. Relay 1'3 energizes and remains energized during impulses to short circuit the wiper 7 and its first contact and close a new circuit through springs 16 and 15 to battery for magnet 5. This operation causes wipers 6 and 7 to move to their second position, the wiper 7 opening the initial energizingcircuit of magnet 5 and the wiper 6 connecting'th: meter of the calling party to the meter 0 )erating conductor over which it is later to be operated. As soon as the meter selecting impulses cease, and relay 1. deenergizes,'the springs 14. and 15 again close contact and a circuit is closed from the battery through springs 15 and 14, wiper 7 and its second position contact, rotary switch magnet 17, interrupter springs 18, springs 19 and 20, springs 21 and 22, and private or test wiper of the rotary switch C. Another branch of this circuit extends through a comparatively high resistance switching relay 23. Now if the trunk upon which the wipers of the switch C are resting is busy at this time then a guarding ground Will be present upon the test contact thereof and will thus short circuit pinion for intercom 3 which grounds the relay 23 and cuit at springs impulses of this digit cease cause the ma wipers 24 to 2 inclusive onto the next trunk line, the magnet 17 interrupting its own cir- 18. This operation will continue until an idle trunk is reached which has no ground present on its test contact.- As soon as such idle trunk is reached, relay 23 will no longer be shorted but Wlll energize in series with the magnet 17, which ma et will however not energize in series wit the high resistance of relay 2 3. Relay 23 upon energizing, opens the springs 10 111 the circuit of the release magnet 28 and switches the private wiper 26 directly onto the relay 23 to hold it energized. The relay 2 is cut oii from the line circuit by relay 23 and the line circuit is cut through to the line wipers 24 and 25, also the springs 29 in the circuit of the meter are closed.

As soon as relay 23 energizes a circuit is completed for the line relay 30 of a standard selector switch D in series with the calling line circuit. Belay 30 energizes over this circuit to close the circuit of slow release relay 31 which grounds the release trunk back to switch C and prepares a circuit for the vertical magnet of the switch D. The subscriber at A now operates his calling device for the first digit of the called number, the rack attached to the switchhook being now disengaged from the pinion, thereby causing the line circuit tobe interrupted and relay 30 to close the circuit of vertical magnet 32 a corresponding number of times in series with slow relay 33. .Relay 33 energizes and maintains its armature attracted during this series 'ofimpulses, closing the circuit of relay 39, which pulls up and locks itself to prepare the rotary magnet circuit in the well known manner. Magnet 32 operates to step the wipers of the switch D to the desired level, and as soon as the relay 33 falls back. A circuit is then closed from ground through springs 34, springs 35 and 36, s rings 37 and rotary magnet 38 to battery. elay 39 was energized when relays 31 and 33 energized and closed its springs 37. Magnet 38 operatcs to give the wipers their first rotary step into engagement with the first set of bank contacts in the selected level, and break the holding circuit of relay 39. If the trunk connected to this first set of contacts is busy a ground is'present on the test contact thereof which completes a new circuit for relay 39, from the private wiper and contact through springs 40 and 41, springs 42, springs 43, and relay 39 to battery. Relay 39 thereforeenergizes again, and again operates magnet 38 to step the wipers to the second set of contacts, magnet 38 opening the circuit of relay 39 each time it energizes. This alternate operation of relay 39 and magnet 38 continues until an idle trunk line "is reached at which time there is no et 17 ,to operate to step the ground on the test wiper and a circuit becomes efi'ective from battery through relay 39, springs 43, springs 42, relay 44, and springs 34 to ground. Relay 44 is of high resistance and operates alone in this circuit to disconnect the relays of the switch D from the extended line circuit'and connects the line circuit to the line wipers 45 and 46 and thence to the line relay or the connector H (Fig. 2). Relay 44 also opens a point 47 in the circuit of the release magnet, and closes another point 48 in the circuit extended from the meter M.

Line relay 50 of the connector H energizes in series with the extended line circuit to "close a circuit for slow relay 51 which in turn energlzes to ground the holding circuit back'to the switches C and D and to prepare the circuit of the vertical magnet 52 of the switch H. The calling device is now oper-. ated for the next digit of the called number to control relay 50. Relay 5O closes the circuit of vertical magnet 52 in series with the slow series relay 53. Magnet 52 operates to step -.the wipers of the switch H to some level of its bank. Relay 53 operates'to close a new 52 and said relay 53 after the ofl' normal springs are. operated. After the impulses of this digit case, relay 53 falls back after an instant and prepares a. circuit for the rotary magnet 54 and slow relay 55in multiple. Now when the calling. device is operated for the next or last digit of the called number, relay 50 in response thereto operates to close the circuit of magnet 54 and relay 55 a corresponding number of times. Magnet 54 operates to step the wipers into engagement with the contacts in the bank of the switch to which the called line is connected, and relay 55 remains energized for an interval to hold the busy relay 56 in connection with the private wiper 57. Now, if the called line is busy and a ground is present on the guarding contact thereof, relay 56 will energize over a circuit including the front contact of relay 55 in series with a back contact of relay 58 and wiper 57. Relay 56 upon energizing, connects a busy signal to the calling subscriber and opens the circuit of the rotary magnet after which the connection will be released.

If, however, the called line is idle and no ground is present at the test contact thereof then relay 56 will not energize and as soon as relay 55 deenergizes a circuit will be closed for the cut-on relay 58 extending from ground'through springs of relay 51, back contact of relay 56, upper" winding of relay 58, back contact of relay 55, private wiper 57, and c-ut-oii relay and magnet of the called nians line switch C to battery. Belay 58 now energizes to ground the wiper 57 direct, lock itself energized through its lower winding, disconnect the rotary operatcircuit for the magnet lla') s rings p sting a circuit from the ringing machine ntense e I g i magnet 54, and cut the line circuit of the ca ed i no to the ringing circuit including R and one winding of. the rm -cut off relay 59 to battery. As soon as t e the si nal, the 'relay 59 will energize to cut 0 the ringing circuit and connect the called line .to the windings of the back bridge relay 60. Relay 60 will now ener- .11 in series with the called hue and supply attery current thereto so that conversation may proceed. When the relay 59 energize to cut off the ringing c1rcu1t the 61 were also closed, thereby comsprin 61, wiper 62 and its contact, 48 o relay 44, wiper 27 and Rs contact, springs 29 of relay 23, wiper 6 and itssecond position contact, and through the meter magnet to battery. The meter M istherefore operated and held in operated position until the call is released, as relay 59 looks energized during conversation. Now when conversation ceases and the subscribers hang up their receivers the relay 51 of connector H closes the release circuit of the connector and also opens the holding circuit back to the switch D which in turn releases in the usual manner. Referring to the switch 0, however, when the holding circuit over wiper 26 is broken relay 23 deenergizes and closes a circuit from ground through springs S and 9, springs 10, spring 11 and its back contact, and the release magnet 28 of the auxiliary switch to battery. Magnet 28 therefore, releases the auxiliary meter selecting wipers 6 and 7 from their advanced position and the circuit of the release magnet 28 is opened when the wipers reach normal by the ofi normal springs 63. The hanging up of the receiver at the station A rotates the dial to the position shown in Fig. 3, and thus places the calling device in readiness to send another preliminary impulse the next time the receiver is removed. 1 It will be seen therefore that I have provided a very eficient means for charging the calls in a part line telephone system in which the meters correspondmg to the various stations on a line are located at the central oiiice and are so associated with the individual switch of the line that each subscriber when calling automatically picks out his own meter, or theone set apart for his use, and when the call is completed, this meter will be operated to assess the charge.

Having fullydescribed and ascertained the features and aspects of my invention I will point out in the ap ended claims what- I consider to be new an tccted by Letters Patent.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of stations on said line, a calling device desire to have profor each station,

" the calling device called subscriber responds to connect the meter initiates a call, a

ground through said springs andmeans for operating nections are extended from a meter for each station, a meter operatin conductor common to said stations, means or automatically operating ofa calling station to of that station to the meter operating conductor when that station switch responsive to the automatic operation of said calling device and constituting the means by which the proper meter-is selected, and other switches then responsiveto the manual operation of the cal ing device at the calling station to extend said line to the called line.

2. In a telephone system, a party line, a meter individual to each station on said line, an automatic switch for extending a connection from said line, a calling device for controlling said switch, a step by step auxiliary switch associated with said automatic switch for selecting any one of said meters, said calling device automatically to cause said auxiliary switch to select one of said meters each time said automatic switch is o erated to extend a connection from the sai line.

3. In a telephonesystem, a party line, a meter individual to each station on said line, a calling device at one of the stations on said line, means for automatically operating said calling device each time a connection is set up from said line by the subscriber at the station, where said calling device is located, a step by step switch responsive to the automatic operation of said calling device to select the particular one of said meters which corresponds to the calling station, and means for operating the selected meter to charge the call to the calling station.

4. In a tele hone system, a party line, a meter and. a ca ling device individual to each station on said line, an automatic switch for extending a connection from said line, a step by step auxiliary switch associated with said automatic switch for selecting any one of said meters, means for operating one of said calling devices automatically to cause said auxiliary switch to be automatically operated to select a meter each time said automatic switch is operated to extend a connection from the line, and means for operating said selected meter to charge the call to the callin station.

5. In a te ephone system, a party line, a meter individual to each station on said line for charging calls to its station when consaid line, a calling device for each station on said line,

means for operating one of said calling devices automatically prior to the extension of a call from-the line for transmitting a series of code impulses over the line, means responsive to said impulses for associating the meter of the calling station with said line and means for operating said associated not i meter to charge the call to the calling station.

6. In a telephone system, a party line, a meter individual to each station on said line, anautomati'c switch for extending a connection from said line, an auxiliary switch associated with said automatic switch for selecting any one of said meters, a calling device for each station on said line, means for operating the calling device at the, calling station automatically to transmit a series of code impulses to cause said auxiliary switch to'select'a meter each time said automatic switch is operated to extend a connection from theline, and means controlled by the response of the called subscriber for operating the selected meter to assess a charge.

7. In a telephone system, a party line, a meter individual to each station on the line, a non-numerical switch for extending a connection from said line when anystation calls, a calling device for each station on the said line, a step by step auxiliary switch for associating the meter of the calling station with the line when a station initiates a call, said auxiliary switch operated by the automatic operation of the calling device at the calling station, and means for thereafter operating said non-numerical switch.

8. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of stations on said line, an automatic switch, a plurality of meters, one for each station on said line, a calling device at each station for operating said switch to extend a connection from said line, a step by step auxiliary switch, and means for automatically operating the calling device at a calling station to cause said auxiliary switch to select the particular one of said meters which corresponds to the calling station before the said automatic switch is operated to extend a connection from said line.

9. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of stations on said line, a meter and'a calling device for each of said stations, a meter operating conductor common to said stations, means controlled by the initiation of a call from any of said stations and prior to the extension of a connectionfrom the line for automaticall operating the calling device at the cal ing station to send a code of impulses over the line, and. a switch responsive to said im ulses for connecting the meter of the calling station with said meter operating conductor in readiness to be operated.

10. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of stations on said line, a meter individual to each station, a non-numerical switch individual to said line, a calling device for each of said stations, a step by step switch for associating the meter of any station with said line, and means for automatically operating anyone of said devices to send a series of. numerical impluses to operate said step by step switch and for causing said non-numerical switch to extend the connection.

11.' Ina telephone system, a party line, a meter for each station on the lineJ-a switch for associating any one of said meters with said line, a second switch for extendin a connection from said line, an impluse sen er for one of said stations, means controlled by the switch hook of said station when the re eiver is IQlllOV Gd for operating said sender to send a. series of code impulses over the line to control said first switch, said second switah controlled by impulses from the same sender.

12. In a telephone system, a party line, a meter for each station on the line, a switch for associating any one of said meters with said line, a second switch for extendin a connection from iaid line; an impluse sen er for one of said stations, by a single upward movement of the switchhook of said station when the receiver is removed for operating said sender to send a seriesof impulses over the line to control said first switch, said second switch controlled by impulses from the same sender, and means for operating said associated meter to charge the call to the calling station.

13. In a telephonesystem, a party line, a meter for each station on said, line, an automatic switch for extending a connecmeans controlled tion from said line, a. step by step auxiliary switch associated with said automatic switch for selecting any one of said meters, an impulse sender for one of said stations, means controlled by the switchhook of said station when the receiver is removed for operating said sender to control said auxiliary switch, said first switch controlled by impulses from the same sender, and'means' controlled by the response of the called subscriber for operating the selected meter to assess a charge.

14. In a telephone system, a party line, a meter,for each station on the line, a nonnumerical switch for extending-a connection from said line when any station calls, an auxiliary switch for associating the meter of the calling station with the line when that station initiates a call, an impulse sender for one of said stations, means controlled by a single upward movement'of the switch hook of said station when the receiver is removed to initiate a call for operating said sender to generate a code of impulses to controlsaid auxiliary switch, and means controlled by said auxiliary switch for thereafter opera-ting said non-numerical the operation of said sender for one of said stations, means controlled by a single movement of the switchhook of said station when the receiver is I removed for operating said sender to generate a series of like impulses to control said auxiliary switch, means for thereafter operating said nomnumericalswitch, and other switches in the exchange controlled by the same sender in the extension of a call.

16. In a. telephone system, a line, a plurality of stations on the said line, an automatic switch for said line, a plurality of meters associated with the same switch, one for each station on the line, an impulse sender for one of said stations, means controlled by a. single movement of the switchhook of said station when the receiver is removed for operating sender control automatic switch in selecting a predetermined one of the said meters, means thereafter operable to extend the connection from said line to an idle one of the next roup of switches, said last mentioned switc controlled by impulses from the same sender controlled by means independent of said switch hook.

17. The combination with a telephone set of means for automatically sending preiminary impulses, said means comprising a switchhook, contact springs, an impulse wheel arranged in close proximity to said contact springs, and means controlled solely by said switchhook for causing the rotation of said impulse wheel, and in consequence thereof, the actuation of said contact springs.

18. The combination with a telephone set of an interrupter mechanism arranged in conjunction with the switchhook for automatically sending preliminary impulses said interruptermechanism comprising contact springs, an impulse wheel mounted in close proximity to said contact springs, and means controlled entirely by the switchhook for causing the rotation of said impulse wheel, and in consequence thereof the actua tion of said contact springs.

Signed by me at New York, county of New York, State ofNew York, this 7th day of March, 1919.

, I EllflL JACOB SEN.

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