US1544437A - Telephone register - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1925.

D. S. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jin /yaw a L5" 5/;-

' June 30, 1925.

D, S. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ea; m

June 30, 1925.

D. S. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24, 1 2 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Jgne 30, 1925.

D. s. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 30, 1925.

D. S. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 30, 1925.

- 1,544,437 D. S. ELLIS TELEPHQNE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24-. 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 June .30, 1925.

p. s. ELLIS TELEPHONE REGISTER Filed Feb. 24: 1923 7 Shets-Shee t 7 Ere/7Z2" counted.

Patented June 30, 1925.

DAVID SOLOMON ELLIS, or. 'nnwrown nnwsonriz WALES, AUSTRALIA.

- TELEPHONE nnersrns.

Application filed February 24, 1923. Serial No. 621,031.

To all whom it may concern: y

' Be it known that I, DAVID SOLOMON .ELLIS, subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 32, Wellington Street, N ewtown, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Telephone Registers, of which the following is a specification. I.

The invention has been designed for the purpose of automatically registering, deregistering, or counting each'effective call made from telephones and has further been designed to form an addition to and to work in conjunction with the usual .type of common battery, manual and automatic substation (i. e. subscribers) apparatus. The underlying object is twofold, viz :-(1) to provide a means whereby the telephone department or company will be paid in advance by users and; (2) that users can-only be charged foretfective calls or in other words cannot make an effective call without such call is registered, tie-registered or It consists of a combination key and meter or mechanical counter, that operates a switch control connecting (l) thecalling circuit (2) the receivercircuit and the transmitter circuit. The' special construction of the key and counterand associated apparatus is such that the transmitter and the receiver circuits can only be established immediately after the registration, de-regis tration or counting of the call upon the meter or counter.

The counter will be made of suitable metal and may be in the shape of a circular box, having a lid capable of being securely fastened tothe same) Projecting from the outside wall of the box at a suitable point is a specially shaped boss, which constitutes the key, having suitably shaped wards cut thereon.

The method of connecting'the switch control'to the telephone lines will vary,-according to the class of telephone and to the particular class of service desired and to the particular system adopted in the exchange to which it is to be applied, but in' all cases will be such that the connection between the calling party and the called party is assured before he registers, de-registers, or

service.

records that call upon the meter or counter and immediately after establishes conversational conditions.

The switch under the control of the key enables circuit functions to be performer]. which ensure that each effectivecall is positively de-registered on a crown-toothed wheel until the number of effective calls represented by the capacity of the wheel in question have been made, and also guards against thecaller obtaining calls to which.

he is not entitled, and further under proper conditions enables a caller. to obtain free later, if a caller is in any doubt as to :whetheror not he has called the right num- In addition as will be made clear The key-meter is constructed in such a manner that it may be set to register any number of effective calls, from 2,5 to 3,000 or more and when the' predetermined number of calls have been made the internal mechanism is locked so that while it is still possible to insert the key into an associated switch it' is impossible to converse with the called subscriber. In order to prevent the use of a fraudulent key-meter an electricthermostat is introduced into the electrical circuit that is completed. within the key meter to establish conversational conditions between the calling and the called parties immediately after the call has been registered, de-registered'or counted upon the meter. The thermostat under normal operating conditions is only required to carry current.

for a fractionJof a second and does not operate lts contact,'but any sustained current will set up heat in the winding of the thermostat'thereby actuating the thermostat so as to break the electrical circuit.

Means are provided for the purpose of indicating to the user that the calling capacity of the meter is nearly exhausted and when it is totally exhausted.

In order that the invention may be thoroughly understood amore detailed de scription will now be given and reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which': i V

Fig. 1. is a front elevation of one type of automatic telephone with its associated dialgcther.

ling device mounted upon a box in which the switch associated with the key-meter and some of its electrical connections are suitably secured, the face ofthe switch being secured upon the outer face of the box. M

Fig. 2. is a plan view of one side of the key-meter, partly in section the sideof the case having been removed in order to show the interior mechanism on that side all parts being 7 in their normal position. figure the inner crown toothed wheel has been rotated to aposition where a tooth of special shape and size has reached a point lying immediately behind the operating,

lever which is thereby enabled to lie in a position such that when it is moved by the plunger its extremity will engage both the crown tooth wheels and advance them to- Fig. 2. is a detail plan of portion of the crown toothed wheels and their operating lever, the tooth of special shapeand size having passed the lever so that when the latter is again operated. by the plunger? its extremity will engage with the inner crown toothed wheel only.

7 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the upper end of the key shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3. is a central sectional elevation of Fig. 2. the plunger being in the normal position. 1

Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 3 but a portion only is shown and certain parts have been removed in order to illustrate the position occupied by the plunger when it is depressed and the electrical contacts operated thereby.

j Fig. 5. is aplan of the reverse side of the key-meter, partly in section, portion of the key being broken away and part only of that side of the case being cut away inorder to show that certain parts are secured'to the cover. This figure illustrates the means adopted for regulating the meter so that it will de-register a predetermined number of calls.

Fig. 5. is a detail plan of a portion of the V key and meter case showing a colour sight- .ing orifice therein whereby when nearly the full capacity of'calls have been de-registered acoloured section within the case will be exhibited as an indicationof the fact to the user. p

- Figs. 6-, 7, 7. and 8 are perspective views of the key in engagement with portion of the switch, the face and ward plates of the latter having been removed in order to show the means adopted for rotating the barrel of the switch, the key being shown in the position it occupies, when first inserted, when turned to position A (Fig. 1), when turned to dialling position 13 and when turned to registering and conversing position C respectively. At Figure 8 the key is partly in sectionv in order toshow the plunger and its In thisthey assume when the key hasbeen turned to theposition illustrated. V

Fig. 9 is. perspective view, partly in section of one side of portion of the switch, the

face and ward plates as wellfas'some of the electrical appliances having been removed for the purpose of more clearly'illustrating the remainder. V v

Fig. 10 is a perspective view partly in section of the reverse side of the switch showing the means by which the switch locked and rendered 'imper ativennder'cen tain "circumstances while a difierential relay that. carries a .set of associated contacts is shown in position. I I

Fig. 10. is a side elevation of the differential relay referred to in the foregoing para- I i graph showing. the associated contacts in their normal position.

' Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of the switch stripped of all its electrical connections. Fig. 11 is .axsimilar view of the switch face plate, shown idetach-ed from the switch in order to minimize the risk of confusing the parts underlying it. Fig. 1-2 is a front elevation ofthe switch with the face and ward plates removed and a part thereof being shown in section to illustrate the means adopted to prevent the kebeing turned in the wrongdirection. Fig. 12 is aside elevation of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12* is a detail "side elevationpar'tly in section of the cylinder that carri'esia shaft that engages in the key when thelatter is turned to the. conversational position and showing the plunger contacts that project beyond the forward end of the cylinder in order to complete and "operate electric circuits within the key. I

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the trigger mechanism that locks the switch under certain circumstances and prevents further operation, the parts being shown in the set position.

Fig. 13 is a similar view to 13 but i the trigger has been moved soas to release the plate spring and-enable it to descend and lock the switch.

, Fig. 14: is a detailed plan view of portions of the rear of the switch, showing the looking plate spring the P set of electric contacts and the manner in which they are mechanically operated.

Fig. 14 isa plan view of the P set-of electric spring contacts as they arrange themselves when they are released by the insertion of the key in the switch. a

Figsfllo, 16 and17 show the camsf8'8, 89. and respectively: in elevation together with the electric spring contacts set A. B. 0. associated with and operable by each with the electric spring contact sets associated with each cam the cams and the sets of contacts being shown in the positions they will occupy when the key 21 has been turned to the respective positions shown at A. B. C. (Fig. 1) in succession when calling a number.

Fig. 18 is a schematic circuit showing the arrangement of the various circuit conditions when the invention is applied to a telephone, which is to work on a Strowger (AutomatioElectric Company, Chicago,) full automatic system.

The key-meter or counter consists of a shallow circular shaped metal box 20 in which the recording mechanism is housed. The box is provided with a boss 21 that con stitutes the key and which is provided with an orifice 22 cut longitudinally therein and also through the wall of the box to enable a specially shaped plunger 23 to normally slide back and forth therein. Axially within and upon the base of the box 20 is a circular shaped shouldered boss 24. Mounted upon the boss 24 is a specially shaped locking arm 25 that acts as a distance piece and for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Rotatably mounted upon the boss 24 above the locking arm 25 are two discs or wheels .26 and 27 provided respectively with crown teeth 28 and 29. 4 The wheel 26 is of a larger diameter than the wheel 27 and the teeth 28 are deeper than the teeth 29 to enable the latter to lie concentrically within and adjacent to the teeth 28, each set of teeth being capable of rotation with their respective wheel independently of each other. The plunger 23 is undercut at 23 the inner end being bent downwardly at 23" and the extremity forked so as to enable the forked end of the plunger 23 to slide radially upon the inner face of the wheel 27, the tines of the fork sliding upon diametrically opposite sides of the boss 24. In order to return the plunger 23 to its normal position a hole 30 is bored transversely through the plunger; through this hole, a bow spring 31 is passed, the ends of such bow spring normally lying in a recess 32 cut in the inner face of the side wall of the box 20.

The inner end of the boss 24 is drilled and tapped to receive a screw 33 the func tion of which is partly to retain certain parts in position and partly to provide a means for carrying other parts. A fiat plate spring 34 passes diametrically across and within the box 20 above the fork, the radii of such spring being of different lengths so that one end rests upon one or more of the crown teeth 28 upon the outer wheel 26 while the other end rests upon the teeth 29 upon the inner wheel 27 in order to frictionally retain the wheels in position after each movement. Secured to the un derside of the plunger'23 by the screws 35 is a bent lever arm 36 to which is articulated, by means of knuckle joint 37, a lever 38 that is adapted to engage with one of the teeth 29 and move it and the wheel 27 to their next successive position every time the plunger 23 is moved radially inward.

Each tooth 29 on the wheel 27 except 29 is slightly in advance of the adjacent tooth 28 of the wheel 26, and this tooth 29 is smaller than the others in order to allow the articulated lever 38 an extended movement once in every revolution of the wheel 27 so that it will engage both wheels 26 and 27 and move them together onward one tooth. mally in engagement with the teeth 29 on the wheel 27 a slot 39 is cut in the bent lever arm 36 and another in the lever 38, the ends of a bent plate spring 40, being sprung into these slots so as to force the lever outwardly. A small metal plate 41 is rigidly secured to the bent lever arm 36 by screws 42 one end of such plate projecting across the knuckle joint 37 lies upon the lever 38 In order to keep the lever 38 norso as to prevent the latter from becoming disengaged from the bent lever arm 36.

Returning now to the central screw 33, a short strip of metal 43 having a perforation through which the screw 33 passes projects outwardly from the centre in an opposite direction to the plunger 23; to this metal plate 43 a T-shaped piece of electrical insulation material 44 is secured in any suitable manner to form a base upon which to mount an electro thermostat 45. Mounted upon the screw above the plate 43 are two spring contact pieces 46- and 47 suitablyinsulated from one another and from other parts by the insulating discs 48, 49 and 50, and insulating material 50 and 50 the fiat head 33 of the screw pressing firmly upon the insulating disc 50 in order to hold the various parts rigidly in position when the screw 33 is screwed home.

The spring contact pieces 46 and 47 have tail pieces 51 and 52 respectively, a lead 53 being connected to the piece 51 and another lead 54 being connected to the piece 52. The lead 53 is connected to one end of an insulated resistance coil 55 wound upon the electro thermostat, the other end of the resistance being connected to a terminal screw 56 that is normally in electrical contact with the bar of the thermostat upon which the coil 55 is wound. Another insulated lead 57 passes through a passage 58 cut in the key 21 and is electrically connected to a face contact 59 lying flush with theend of the key and be ing electrically insulated from the key by any suitable material 60. The lead 54 passes through a passage 61 and is electrically connected to a face contact 62 that is insulated from the key by the insulating material 63.

lVhen the-plunger 23'is depressed as shown at Figure 4 its inclined face forces'the contact spring 46 upward and in doing so brings it into electrical contact with the contact spring 47. Upon the underside of the wheel 26 a' helical groove 64 is cut and pivotally secured at 65 upon the inner face'of the box 20 is a fiat-metal arm 66 provided with a stud pin 67 adapted-to engagewith the helical groove 64. One side of the swinging arm 25 is maintained in frictional contact'with the free end of the fiat metal arm 66-by a spring 25 the engaging edges being cut or shaped to form an arc-described by the radius of the arm 66. The outer end of the arm 25 is stopped upon the side that is'in frictional contact with the arm 66 so that as the engaging end of the latter is forced outwardly from the centre ofthe box 20, by the helical groove being revolved with the wheel 26, and the locking arm 25 forced towards the arm 66 by the spring 25 the free end of the arm 66 will first engage with the step. 68 andlater'with the step 69. The ob- V ject in providing for this movement of the locking arm '25 isrto allow a coloured section placed upon the rear face of the locking .arm 25 to be exhibited through an orifice 7 0 cut in the base of the box 20 when registering means have reached a predetermined number from the full capacity of calls. This colour remains exhibited-until the arm 66 engages with the step 569 when another colourwill be exhibited to indicate that the key meter has been used to its full capacity. 'A portion of the end of the locking arm 25 is turned up to form a flat bolt 71 that projects upwardly between the peripheral face of the wheel 26 and the inner face of the cir-' cular wall of the box 20 adjacent to the plunger 23. Cut in the side of the plunger at a point registering with the bolt 71 is a slot 72 into which the bolt 71 will slide simultaneously with the engagement of the free end of the arm 66 with the step 69. This action takes place as the key is withdrawn from the switch after the last call to complete the full capacity of the meter has been made. The engagement of the bolt 71 in the slot 72 prevents the plunger from being depressed again thus making the key useless for conversation until it has been properly reset. In order to maintain the stud pin 67 in engagement with the helicalgroove 64 a U-shaped spring 7 3 is interposed between the inner face of the base of the box 20 and the underside of the arm 66 and to compensate for any rocking movement that such pin may impart to the wheels 26 and 27 .a thickness piece 74 is rigidly secured to the switch are secured by means of screws-in-. serted from the rear of the brackets and'eni gaging in screw hole 81' inv the bosses :82iat the rear of the vface plate 77 (see Figs. 11

and 11?). The metal annulus 83 liesupon the. brackets and is provided with an annular recess 84 tozreceive the collar 1850f a barrel 86. the rear end of which isthreaded to receive a clamping nut 87 by means of'wh'ich three cams 88, 89 and 90. ateTig-idlyclamped b tween it and the-shoulder 191;v Transversely. within the yoke or frame isxa div-i sional plate 92 integral with which is a cylinder 93 that projects forwardly through the barrel 86 andupon which the latter vis free to rotate. "Rotatably 1monnted within the cylinder 93 andpassing through the divisionalpla-te- 92-and the rear of the yoke 79 is a shaft 94, to which is'keyeda collar 95 located between the divisional wall 92'aind frame at- 97 andto the collar vat 98. .The

rear. end of the shaft 94 is provided with "a flange 100 and secured thereon by 'meansof thecentral screw 99 is an insulating-disc 101 the function ofi which is=to make and break will be hereinafter explained. on the periphery of the collar '95 is a stud pin 102 which normally lies in the angle of" a'bayonet or L-shaped slot 103 out in a T-shaped certain electrical contacts ina 'manner that platel04 secured upOnthetOpofthedic visionalplate 92 by thescrew105 at one end and a bolt. 106 at the other end. The bo lt 106 is provided-with a sleeve 107 and pivotally mounted upon thecbolt 106 above the sleeve is afspecially shaped lever 108,:the I I sleeve .andJthe lever being secured in. position by the. washer 109 and nut- 110. [The lever 108 is provided with a trigger or catch 111; (see :Fig. 13) upon its underside forthe purpose of normally holding .-a plate spring 112 in a raised position the opposite :endof 7 such plate spring being secured by :the screw 105. The plate springv112is specially shaped to partly surround and project beyond the sleeve 107 the projecting portion normally resting upon the trigger 111 as shown at Fig. 13. It is also provided with a side extension 113 (Fig. .14) having a hole 114 in which the pin 102 will lie when the plate spring 112 is released by the trigger 111 and is thereby allowed to occupy the position shown at Fig. 13 When the pin 102 is in engagement with the hole 114 the switch is locked and inoperative. The lever 108 is actuated by a relay 115 the operation of which will be hereafter more particularly described.

The outer face of the collar 85 lies flush with the outer face of the metal annulus 83 but two oppositely situated segmental sec tions project slightly beyond these faces to form barrel projections 116 the cut away portions between those projections being adapted to receive key levers 117 of the keymeter. Clamped between the inner face of the wall of the box and the metal annulus 83 is an annular ward plate 118 (interior) having an annular recess 119 upon its rear face to receive the barrel projections 116 and permit them to be freely rotated therein by the key levers 117. Diametrically opposite recesses 120 are cut in the ward plate so as to coincide with the cut away sections between the barrel projections 116 these recesses 120 permitting the key to pass through for the purpose of engaging the barrel projections 116. The formation of the recesses leave two oppositely positioned and inwardly projecting fixed wards 121 that engage with slots 112 in key 21.

The shaft 94 is capable of a limited longitudinal movement, the spring 96 also permitting a limited rotational movement; the forward end projects beyond the end of the cylinder 93 the projecting portion 123 being rectangular in order that it may enter the orifice 22 in the key when the latter has been turned so as to bring the projection 123 into register with the orifice 22, the spring 96 being stronger than the spring 31 in the key the plunger 23 will be forced in by the projection 123 causing the plunger to function in a manner already described.

The cylinder 93 is provided with two longitudinal passages 124 (see Fig. 12*), a radial passage 125 being cut so as to communicate with each of such passages. The passages 124 and 125 are provided with electric insulating liners 126. The rear ends of the passages 124 are threaded to receive screw plugs 127. WVithin the liners 126 are spring actuated contact plungers 128 the forward ends of which project a short distance beyond the end of the cylinder 93 while the rear ends are electrically connected to flexible leads 129 and 130 respectively, a compression spring 131 being interposed between each of the screw plugs 127 and the rear ends of their respective plunger contacts 128. The projecting ends of the plunger contacts 128 are adapted to make electrical contact with the face contacts 59 and 62 when the key is inserted in the switch.

In Figs. 6, 7, 7, and 8 the key is shown in engagement with the switch in various positions. When the key is inserted in the switch and turned counter clock wise the shaft 94 is depressed and the key levers .117 engage and rotate the barrel projections 116, which carry with them the barrel 86 and cams 88, 89 and 90. During themovement of the key through an arc of-135 ole-- grees, the shaft 94 remains depressed and stationary; at that point the projection 123 is caused to enter the orifice 22 in the key and when the key is again moved through a further arc of 45 degrees it also turns the projection123 and shaft 93 and winds the spring 96; on the completionof the movement of the key through an arc of 180 degrees after the conversation is completed the key may be removed and immediately the projection 123 is free from the orifice 22 the spring 96 unwinds andreturns the shaft 94 to its normal position.

In order to assist the operator to be sure that the key is given the requisite amount of rotational movement the barrel 86 is provided with shallow circular recesses or indentations 132 in the same plane and upon the outer surface of the barrel immediately behind the annulus 83. Passing transversely over these indentations 132 is a plate spring 133 the ends of which are suitably secured by the screws 134 to the respective sidesof the frame 79. Secured to or formed upon the underside of the spring 133 is a small projection 135 that registers with each of the indentations 132 as they come round thereby causing an audible click.

Upon the peripheral surface of the collar 85 is a notched stop 136 adapted to engage with the toe of a bolt 137 that passes through a radial passage 138 in the annulus 83, the outer end of the bolt being rigidly secured by any suitable means to one end of a curved plate spring 139 the other end of which is rigidly secured upon the peripheral surface of the annulus 83 by means of the screw 140.

There are two. of these notched stops 136 situated diametrically opposite one another at a point such that when the switchis in its normal position the toe and the bolt 137 will be engaged with one of the notched stops. The shape of the. notch and the toe of the bolt is such as to permit the collar to be rotated by the key 21 through an arc of 180 degrees in each operation in one direction only to ensure that the user cannot turn the key in the wrong direction.

The bayonet slot 103 gives freedom of movement to pin 102 as it makes normal backward direction either mistakenly or fraudulently because it is in engagement withrone 'sideof the longitudinal portion of the bayonet slot 103; the completion of the movement through the arc of 180 degrees must therefore be made once the C position has been reached by the key suchmovement being possible owing to the direction of travel of the pin 102 taking it along the transverse portion of the bayonet slot 103. The rotation of the shaft 94 through that portion lying between 135 degrees and 180 degrees exerts a winding action upon the spring 96 so that when the key is withdrawn from the switch, thus freeingthe projecting end 123, the shaft is free to be returned to its normal position by the tendency of thespring 96 to unwind.

The arrangement of the lever 108 and its associated parts are illustrated at Figs. 10,

13 and 1. The-lever is actuated bythe V movement of the armature 141 of the relay 115 which is secured to an adjustable bracket 142' fixed to the side of the, frame 79'by screws. The bracket 142 also carries a suitably insulated set of spring contacts one end of one of which14s3 extends beyond the others and lies atlright angles to the armature 141. Upon the side of contact. 1143 adjacent to the end of the armature 141-is secured inany suitable manner a block or distance piece 144 adapted to normally ho'ld the contact 143' awayfrom the end of the armature 14L Secured to the other side of the contact1243 by means of the'screw145 is a sheave like member 146' in'the annular groove of' which the'outer end of the lever ]?08 will lie. In its "set position the relay 11'5wil-1 bede-energized and the contact 143 sprung outwardly so that the end of thearmature rests upon the'side 'of the block 144 adjacent toit as shown at Fig' 10 at v the same time the free end of the plate spring 112 will be raised and placed uponthe trigger 111 so that the perforation I14 lies above and is quite free from the pin 102-. When certain electrical circuits are elosedso as toenergize the relay 115 the armature will drop below the block 144 when the contact 143 willspring in towards the endof the armature 141' and in doing so will move the lever 108 upon its pivot 106 causing the trigger 111 to move sufficiently to disengage it from the end of plate spring 112 which will drop to the position shown at Fig. '13 when the pin 102 will engage in the perforation 114 thus preventing any further movement of the shaft' eith'er longitudinally or rotationally; The action immediately hereinbefore-" described takes place when a fraudulent. key is inserted in the switch and is turned to-posn tion G where the extension 123engages with a'passage corresponding with the "orifice 22 so that the fraudulent key is effectually 7 locked in the switch;and cannot-be freed until the plate spring 112 is raised again in pin 102' from 'the per order to release the foration 114. a I r v 7 It will be seen that the'sets of spring contacts' are in pairs there beingone pair in' conjunction with and operated by the 02111188 (F igr 15) four pairs'in' conjunction with and operated by the cam 89 (Fig; 16) and five pairs in conjunction with and operated 1 by the cam 90 (Fig.'17). a

Ineach case one end of the to maintain them at a "fixed distance apart;

= Allthecont-act springs are provided with two holes throughwhich bolts 151 pass and" are electricallyinsulated from each other by bottom contact of the lowest pair of contactsis -ex-- contacts is insulatingmaterial 152 the three sets being a mounted upon the bracket 153 adjustably securedito' the-frame79 of the switch by means of the screws 154, the bolts 151pass ing through the bracket 153' insulating washer-155,"check plate 156, contact springs and insulation pieces'fia metal washer 157 being placed" on the uppern'lo'st lnsulati onz' piece 152iand the whole clamped together by means ofthe nuts '158a 'lh'e checkipl ate 156 underlies the bent lever each set of spring contacts actingas aj supportn; 1 7: a

' All the spring contacts are provided at" one end withcont act points 159 arranged to contact in pairs, the other ends of all contacts in each set being adapted. for wiring. Aset' of springjcontacts P.. (Fig; '14.)" similar in 'construction'to those shown at Figs. 15, 16 and-17 is mounted upon the bracket 160 which is adjustably 'secnred to the frame 7 9 means of thescrews 161. and are operated by the VHIOVGIDBHE of the insulating disc 101 with the shaft-94y the: set being shown'in the normal-position. a I

The position of the same set oficontacts is shown at Fig. 14; after'the key 21 has been inserted in the switch v as shown atiFi'g'nfi, the face 'of'the'insulatirig disc 101 having been forced into the position shown by dotted lines at Fig. 14.

Aset of spring contacts DR; 10%) similar in construction to those shown at Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are operated vby the:

lead 250.

movement of the armature 1 11, as previously explained, the contacts being shown in their normal position. It will be seen that the contact DR has a contacting point on each 5 face. I

0 electrical units associatectwith telephone practice and will be housed in a'separate box when used in conjunction with a table set, or contained within the cabinetbf a wall set.

)Vhen it is desired to use the telephone the calling party will insert the key 21 into the switch as shown at Fig. 6 thus depressing the projecting member 123 of the shaft 9% against the action of the spring 96.

The key will now be turned anticlock wise, the key levers 117 engaging the barrel projection 116 thus turning the barrel 86.

and with it the cams 88, 89 and 90 through an arc of 15 degrees to the position shown at F1g. 7; this willbring the peak 162 of the cam 88 to the position shown at Fig. 15

raising the lever 14'? thereby closing the pair of contacts A The calling party now removes the receiver from the telephone switch.v hook SH (Fig. 18) allowing the switoh hook to make contact through the switch hook springs SH -and 8H the same movement breaking the bell circuit'in which is the ringer BB and condenser S According to present practice for example in the Strowger automatic system, as soon as the spring contacts of a switch hook make, the circuit of the line'relay of the primary line switch, (not shown on the drawings) associated with the line, is closed over the This operates the primary line switch (not shown on the drawings) which inturn operates the secondary line switch (not shown on the drawings) and finally the first selector or equivalent switch in the exchange.

In this invention theprimary line switch just mentioned, mustbe wired so as not to operate until'the receiver has been removed and the key inserted in the switch and turned to close the contacts A as its operation is dependent upon .a' temporary earth being connected to the lead 250, so that if the receiver were removed without the key being inserted and turned to close the contacts A the. primary line switch would not operate.

This is accomplished by the closing of the pair of contacts A (Fig. 15) thus closing the temporary earth contacts A (Fig. 18). The subsequent switches -i. e. switches brought into circuit after the primary line switch has been operated are operated'via the leads 249 and 250 through the telephone. The calling party then further rotates the key 21 towards the position shown at Fig.

7 carryingthe-peak162 of the cam 88 past the bent lever 147 allowing it to return to the normal position Fig. 15 thus breaking the contacts A (Fig. 18) and thereby removing the temporary earth from the lead 250. When the key 21 has reached the position shown at Fig. 7 the peak 162 of the cam 89 will have raised the lever 148 soas. to operate the set of B contacts closing the pairs of contacts B B B and opening the pair of contactsB (Fig. 16); the circuit is now closed through the'lead 250, lead201, contacts DR and DR", lead'226, SH, and SH, lead 225, F and G, lead 202, transmitter T, receiver R, lead 203, PR, lead 20 1, left winding of DR, leads 205, 206, P 209 in parallel with 208, C 210 then lead 211 and lead 2 19.

The direction of current is suchthat PR (Fig. 18) does not operate but the one coil of DB becomes energized and attracts its armature thereby opening contacts DR (Fig 18). The cnergization of the coil of RF is due to the current traversing only one winding thereof thus throwing it out of electrical balance. i

The opening of contacts B removes the short circuit from the dialling switch F, G;- it is to be noted that the dialling switch F, (his only incircuit. when the key 21 is in the position shown at Fig. 7 thus preventing'the irregular use of the dialling switch which would be possible without this precaution.

The closing of contracts B (Fig. 16*) enables the receiver-and the transmitter to be short circuited when the dialling switch is, operated, the current which normally passes through T and B being divided through the contacts B and leads 225, 211 and 2 19.

The reason for this is to enable the switches in the exchange to operate under the most favorable conditions permitted by circumstances and also to prevent the caller from getting disagreeable clicks in the ear.

The closing of contacts B and B prevent fraudulent use and will be referred to hereafter. The calling party now dials the number required and upon the called party removing his receiver, and announcing himself the calling party is at liberty to turn the key to position shown at Fig. 8 or to the position shown at Fig. 6 in which latter case the key will be withdrawn, no de-registration will have taken place within the key-meter and all the contacts and circuits will resume their normal position 18). The effect of the called party removing his receiver will be to reverse the direction of current in the calling telephone. This re versal energizes PR (Fig. 18) thereby closing the three contacts PR PR and PR (Fig. 18). This results in T (F ig. 18) being shunted out of the circuit and' at the same time a non-inductive shunt resistfind's'he has been connectedtothe required .ing party is now in the position that'he can hear but cannot speak in reply. As the ordinary receiver can be used as a transmitter, although the efficiency ismnch lower, the shunt resistance is used toprevent conversation being carried on without deregistering the call. If the calling party numberthe key 21 will be rotated to the position shown at Fig. .8 and in the course of such movement the peak 162 of the cam- 89 will move from and allowthe lever 148 and the B set of contacts to resume their normal position.

Upon the key reaching the position shown at Fig. 8 the peak 162 of the cam 90 will raise the bent lever 149 thus arranging the V I now closed. If these: contacts Cdid not contacts C C C C and C as shown at Fig. 17. The projection 123 of the shaft 94 is now in sectional alignment with the plunger 23 in the key 21 the compressed spring 96 is free to and will force the pro je-ction 123 to enter the orifice 22 of the key 21 thereby forcing the plunger 23 into the key thus preventing the key from be ng turned back, at the same time de-registermg the call in the key-meter, as previously ex- .plain ed.

plunger 23- causes the contacts 46 and 4? within the key to be closed and simultaneously (as near asadj ustment will allow) the contacts P and P (Fig. 14) are closed.

The contactsC and O (Figs. 17 and 18) are now closed this being necessary in order that the establishment of current through DR and DR (Fig. 18) will be correctly coordinated with other operations. 7

The contacts G (Figs. 17 and 18) are closed for the purpose mentioned in the next paragraph. v

Up to this moment DR 18-) has been energized whilst DR has remained deenergized; The operation just described however alters the direction of current allowing it to flow from 249 to lead 212 through the compensating resistance CR, lead 213, left winding of DR, lead 205. and left winding of DB lead 204 to DB, whilst in the other branch we have current flowing through leads 214, right'winding of DR,

lead 216,, C lead 217, P lead 218, switch contacts 128, key contact; 62, contact TC,

resistance TR and contacts KC, in the key, contact. 59 on the key face and contact 128, lead219, P lead 220, C lead 219 and right winding of DB leads 222, 223, contaets DR and DB leads 224 and 204, the

Thev inward movement of the If thec-ireuit is correctly balanced electrically, the windings oneach: differential relay will neutralize each other, therefore DRis not operated and DB is de-energized and consequently releasesv its armature.

When DH is 'd'e-ener izedilits armature in dropping back closes t Y-rou h'DR a circuitoth differential; V relays and associated key contacts. PR ,releases its armature allowing the contacts PR PR and'PR to open (Fig- 18-) therewhich short circuits PR,

by freeing the transmitter T andtheclose it would be possible-to break down a connection and establish another by mani-p ulating, the switchhook' without the key fromthepositionshown at Fig. 8 p

The contacts P (Figs. 14 and? 18) will be opened when the projection123 of the shaft 94; enters the key orifice, causing, the com tacts P (Fig. 18) to open. These contacts P in conjunction with contacts C normally short circuit the urpperwinding of DR and the compensating resistance GR. Golltaetsopened when the key 21 (l (Fig. 17) are is in the position shown at Fig; 8.

When conversation is completed thebe with rawnfrom the switch.

v The contacts B and B are forthe pur pose of preventing the use of a'key in which, the key plunger has been forced. in. and'fixed in that position with theobject of fraudw' len-tly obtaining unlimited. service. Under these conditions. the key contacts 46 and 47 (Figs. 2 vand 4) would be closed and as soon as the key had reached the position shown at Fig. 7 a circuit would. be closed through the key which should not normally be the case until the key has been turned to the position shownv at Fig. 8, this will bridge the leads 249 and 250 thereby shunting the telephone and the current to flow through the thermostat winding- 55 thusgenerating heat and causing the thermostat to function and. rendering the key temporarily useless.

, The result of thisfraudulent inte'rfer-once with the key on the lines indicated would be, that whilst the telephone was inoperaand when the thermostat functioned the tele phone would remain unharmed but the key would be entirety useless and would necessitate an expert to re-adjust the various 7 parts thrown out of adjustment.

re; ceiver is*restored and the key turned for Cposition shown 'at Fig. 6 and may t'rve the thermostat 45 would'be-functioning r V respective armatures, consequently If through any cause, a fraudulent key'the circuit for the differential relays is not properly balanced when the plunger is released, the magnets of the relays will become energized and attract their PR (Fig. 18) will keep the transmitter T shorted and the receiver R shunted. The energization of DR (Fig. 18) releases the'lever 108 (Fig. 10) thereby locking the shaft 94 as previously explained and preventing any further movement of the key. At the same time contacts DR and DB will be opened entirely cutting the telephone out of circuit, whilst contacts DB and DR are broken thus cutting the key out of circuit prevent tampering or experimenting with different resistance values if such were possible with the key usec. It will be noted that immediately the lever 108 is operated by the energization of DR the switch is locked mechanically as previously explained.

Should a subscriber for any reason, such as a faulty service, wish to call an oiiicial, it will only be necessary for the key to'be turned to the position shown at Fig. 7 a when conversation can be established, the exchange circuits being such that battery is not re versed to the calling lineand therefore PR is not operated; When the conversation is completed the subscriber turns the key back to position shown at Fig. 6 when the key may be withdrawn and no de-registration will have take-n place within the key-meter these calls are commonly known as free calls.

All incoming calls are free. The bell rings intermittently as in When the receiver is removed the bell is disconnected and conversation takes place. The operation or movement of the switch hook when the receiver is lifted causes disconnection of the ringing current and passage for direct current is established from the lead 249 on the line, contact-s C and 1 in parallel'winding of DR winding of PR, R, T, through F. G. contacts SE and SE of switch hook, contacts 5 and 4 of relayDR to lead 250 of the line. The speech currents pass fromthe lead 249 of the line through the condenser S. R. T. through F. G. etc, to the lead 25G of the line. The condenser by-path is necessary on account of the impedance which would otherwise be offered by the windings of PR and DR I claim:'-'- I V 1. An apparatus for registering or counting each effective call made uponteleph'ones including a telephone,various electrical circuits connected with the telephone, an electro-m'echanical switch for controlling said circuits, and aremovable combined key and counter, said key being adapted to engage with the switch and to be'moved therein in order to efiect various sequentialchanges in the electrical circuits in such manner that this will the usual case.

such as the use of the operator may make the call and having received a reply, the receiver and transmitter of the telephone are automatically cut out of circuit until the key has been moved to a pre-determined position, cooperating means on the switch andcounter for registering the call when theswitch has reached this position, and means associated with the switch for completing certain of the electric circuits when the key has been moved beyond said-predetermined position, in order to instantly establish conversational conditions, Y

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the electro-mechanical' switch is mounted upon a suitable frame andincludes movable means adapted to sequentially open and close said electric circuits, a springcontrolled shaft capable of limited axial andturning movement and provided with operating means, a set of electrical spring contacts actuated by said operating means, means for locking the spring-controlled shaft, a relay in one of said electric" circuits adapted when energized to'actuate the last mentioned means to lock the spring-com trolled shaft, contacts on the face of the switch,-cooperating contacts on the face 'of' the key positioned to complete and main'-' tain acircuit face .of the switch asthe key is rotated, an electro-thermostat and switch interposedbethrough the contacts on the N and means within the key adapted to co-act with the switch for counting the number of p times the key is applied .to the switch.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a second'telephone adapted, when its receiver'is lifted, to automatically reverse the line current in {one circuit, apola rized relay'energized by the reversal of said line current for short circuiting or shunting out the circuit of the transmitter of the second telephone in order to prevent conversation, a shunt circuit across the receiver of the first telephone arranged to be completed when said line current is reversed, so that the calling party can hear the called 'party faintly until the key has been movedbeyond said predetermined position, and a differential relay. controlled by the movement of the key beyond said pre-determined position for thepurpose of immediately establishing conversational conditions.

4. Apparatus as claimed in 'cla'im 1 in which the key comprises a shaped closable box, two concentric crown tooth wheels rotatably mounted in said box, the teeth upon one wheel lying radially within the teeth upon the other wheel, 'a plunger radially and slidably secured within the box, a boss forming a key and provided with an orifice within which the'plunger slides,"a lever articulated tothe plunger and adapted to engage a tooth upon the inner crown toothed wheelpand advance said wheel one-tooth when the plunger is moved radially V inward, ineans'wherebythe articulated lever will engage a tooth upon each ofthe crown wheels oncelnevery revolution of the inner 7 wheel, to'm'oveflboth wheels synchronously one tooth forward, a helical groove in one sideof the outer 'crown tooth wheel, an arm, one end of which is plvotally secured eccentrically to the-inner face of the box and t provided witha stud slidable inthe helical.

' groove, a spring actuated locking arm pivotally secured centrally within the box, such] locking'arm beingshaped sodas to enable its movement toebe controlledby the eccen tricallyppivoted arm, stepsnear the end of mit it to move-toward the eccentrically. piv-v oted arm as V bythezengagement of its stud with the helithe engaging side of the lockingarm to perthe latter is carried outwardly cal groove, a bolt carried by the locking arm and adaptedto lie outside of the periphery of the, outerficrown toothed'wheel, and a notch in the-plunger adapted to be engaged,

by said bolt, synchronously with theengagementof the endof the eccentrically pivoted '1 arm.

arm withtheoutermost step inthe locking 5. Apparatusas claimedin claim'1includ ing means wherebythefuseof an unauthor:

1 izedkey will cause thekeyto become locked I .moved in the 1 p 4-57 dered inoperative.

in the switch and the; telephone to-be ren-,

i 6.- Apparatusas claimed ind lin which the combined key and counter isprovided with a slidable plunger,a pair of facev contact-son the key adapted to close a cir-j cui-t through the electro-mechanical switch,

anelectro the'rmostat and switch interposed between'the pair. of face contacts'on the key, and coacting means whereby the unauthorized depressionofthe plunger causes the thermostat to'function when the key-His switch, for the purpose herein set forth. i

7.jAppar atus ,as claimedjn, claim 1 comprising means whereby the irregular de, pression and retention of the operating member' of the combined key and counter brings 7 into operation means whereby the telephone is rendered inoperative as the key is movedin the switch associated therewith and thereby renders the'key temporarily useless.- 8.;Apparatus as claimed in claim '1 in-,

[eluding a second telephone operativ ely connected to said circuits, and means enabling switch, under such circumstances,

' party will reply,

thekey to be moved to such a position that the sendermay ascertain whether the called 7 the key being adapted to be moved backwardly and removed from the, without efi'ecting counti'ng, and leaving all parts in such switch and counter in their normal positions-g1;

9.]APpfifiatus claimedlin claim [the key after the latter is rotated I tain'po'sition in the switch for the purpose 7 a plurality of cams cludin g means for preventing the key from' moving in one direction when the keyjis first inserted in the switch,

I '10; Apparatus asJIclaimedL in V which the switch includes cams rotatable under the influence'of'the'key, and sets of spring contacts connectedto certain of said circuitsandadapted to' besequentiallyop, erated once ineach-semi-rotation of the key.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claimwl in whichthe switch includes apair of contacts,

a temporary earth circuit adapted to. be:

closed by said pair of contacts,fia can1 for claim "1 in actuating said pair, of contacts when the' key is first partially rotated to close the tern-1 porary earth circuit pending theoperation of the line relay of the primary line-switch, v

the next movement of the key in the same direction'causing the cam to releaseisaidpair their normal position.

of contacts-and permiti'the sameto resume -12. Apparatus as claimed in claim '1 in which the switch comprises a frame, a spring operated shaft carriedbythe frame and, capable of limited movement axiallyand ro- 'tatably, the forward? end of said shaft projecting beyond the ;face of the switch'and being provided with "means to engage ,with

to a cerof; efi'ecting'registra-tion of a' call upon'the counter, means connected. with the shaft to,

permit thelatte'r to make a limited axial movement, operating members-on the shaft, r

a. set of spring contactsadaptejd to be actuated by said operating members, circuitmak-v ingand breaking means engageable by the key and adapted to be rotatedbythe latter independently f t Spring-Operated shaft 5 to a point where the shaft engages with the key and'thereafter to rotateinwunison vthe key has been turned a pre-determined distance,- the key being adapted to. bewith- P t flhe switching readiness fo th nextoperation.

. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim in A with the shaftii'n one direction only until iao wn a thi's position for leavingthe vari;

V i r 14, Apparatusias claimed in" claim 1 in- 7' cludingmeans whereby incoming callsmay- V V be received withoutithe iuseof the combined key ndrcou tera 15:. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means whereby when registration is unnecessary, conversational conditlons may be established with certam pre-arranged numbers in a telephone system, when the key is turned to a position short of the point when registration of the call is effected, the key thereafter being adapted to be reversely turned to the point of entry and removed so as to leave all parts in their normal positions.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including indicating means associated with the key and counter and comprising elements to exhibit a sign when a pre-deter- 15 mined number of calls have been registered.

17 In a telephone system, a first telephone and a second telephone, each having the usual transmitter and receiver, electric circuits operatively connecting said telephones, an electro-mechanical switch associated with each telephone and adapted to control the circuits of the telephone, and a combined key and counter adapted to actuate one of said switches and including elements for registering effective calls only from the telephone having that switch. Y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

DAVID SOLOMON ELLIS.

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