US1791015A - Method of and apparatus fob collecting telegeaph messages - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1931. 1 s ow 1,791,015 METHOD O'F AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING "TELEGRAPH MESSAGES Filed 001:. 2, 1929 INVENTOR BY JOHN F. SKIRROW ATTORNEY if Patented Feb. 3, 1931 rmsigma PAT ENT: OFFICE JOHN SKIR-ROW, on so T-n ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, Assxenoa T POSTAL TELEA GRAPH-CABLE COMPANY, EN W YORK, N. Y.,.A CORPORATION on NEW YORK M'ETH'on or AND APrAnArns Foe connnoa'me TELEGRAPH MESSA ES application fi1ed' 0ctober2; 1929. Serial No. 396,710.

This invention relatesto a method of and apparatus for collecting telegraph messages. All existing methods of filing telegrams with a telegraph company have some disadvantages.

senger, time is lost while the messenger is on his way for the message and returning with it to the telegraph oii'ice. f the message is telephoned to the telegraph office, it takes 3 thetime of the customer or an employee at each end of the line until the message is completed, and there is alwaysla possibility of error in copying the message; i If a printing telegraphis used-by the sender of a message, there is the expense of maintaining the machine and thesalary of an operator to be considered and also danger of errors due to the machine'or the operator. 1

One object of this invention-is to overcome these diiiiculties in so far as large buildings are concerned. I

Another object is a rapid and accurate system for forwarding telegrams from a sender to a central office or branch office with a minimum of expense.

Another object is a remotely controlled electrically operating locking mechanism for a mailing chute.

In order to do so, a chute of suitable dimen- 30 alone is installed in a building extending from the upper part of the building and tenniuating at an oilice in the basement which will be in charge of an attendant. 1 '-This olfice will be provided with transmitting and receiving pneumatic tubes connecting with a central or branch telegraph office. Openings in the chutes with hinge covers are provided on each floor. The chute lids may be provided with locks, and keys may be furnished to customers, but the preferred methodwould be to control the locking of the chute lids by an electric circuit from the basement, and in this way there would be no danger of messages.

being deposited in the tube when the oflice is closed. Means are provided for operating a signal circuit when any lid is opened in order to notify the attendant that a message has been deposited in the tube and to indicate the particular lid which was opened. message reaches the'oflice in the basement the If the customer calls for a mes- When the attendant can operate a signal associated with the particular box opened to assure the customer that the message has been received.

In the drawings comprising but a single sheet of five figures, numbered Fig. 1 to5 inclusive one embodiment of the invention isillustrated. i

Fig. 1 is a detailed view of a sectionof the building chute.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the system from subscriber. to centralofiice'. I r

Sis a schematic circuit diagram of an electrically controlled chute lid locking device.- 7 I.

Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit'diagram of the. visible signal circuit.

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of'the' building chuteat the basement oflicetogether with its associatedvisible and audible signa-l'circuitsw Like reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout the several figures.

7 Referring to Figs'l 9 is the telegram chute, 11 is abox arrange ment built around an opening in 9. There will be oneof these openings on each floor. A cover 10 is hinged at 13, and when opened, permits access to the interior of the" chute-- A lamp cap 12 is inserted in the side of the box 11.' Printed directions for operating thechute'gor the. address and telephone number of the nearest telegraphoflice in case-the flute is locked, may be indicated on. the plate Referring to Figs. 1, 2'and 4, when a-sub- .scriber desires to forward the typewritten" and 2 of thedrawings, I

nunciator 40 indicates one of a series of addi tional annunciatorsassociated with various floors in the ofiice building; operatedin the same manner. When the do posited message 57 reaches the lower end of;

which may be the chute 9, it will trip a tilting table 54, pivoted at; 55, permitting contacts 58 and 59 to be closed by spring 52. This will complete sage has passed down the chute, and the annunciators 38 and 40 serve to indicate which particular lid (or lids) 10 has been opened. l/Vhen the message is actually received at the basement office the attendant presses the button connected with the floor where the mes- :sage was deposited to close a circuit through an indicating lamp 2'? to notify the customer that the message has been received in the basement telegraph office.

Referring to Fig. 2, an incoming and out-' going pneumatic tube system 18 and 19 connects the basement ofiice with a convenient branch telegraph or cable, central oiiice 76. Tubes may be provided to several different offices if preferred dependent upon tran'ic conditions, that is whether the basementoihce has direct access to a cable ofiice as distinguished from a land telegraph oiiice. The received messages are passed over the operators desk 7 4 having .a telegraph line leading therefrom to a distant point not shown.

In Fig. 3 a circuit arrangement is shown by which lids 10 may be locked or unlocked by the attendant. Battery 45 is connected with the centre of a pole changing switch 44. A polar relay 25 is associated with each chute opening. The armature of this relay is adapted to rest in either of two positions depending on the direction of the current flowing through its coil 25 which iscontrolled by switch 44. The armature 24 is pivoted at '26 and carries an L shaped projection which in one position will engage anotched projection 77, attached to lid 10and lock the lid down. .When the current is reversed V in the coil of the relay, the L shaped projection 24 will clear the notched projection 77 and the lid 10 of the box 11 may then be opened: Relay 25' is connected with the pole. changing switch through conductors 43' and'46 I What is claimed is v 1. In a telegraph message collection system and in combination a 'subscribers mail};

.ing receptacle a forwarding oili'ce, a mail chute connecting the mailing receptacle with the forwarding ofiice for conductingand d eliveringmessages deposited in the mailing receptacle to the forwarding oifice, a polarizedv relay associated with said mailing receptacle operable to lock the same against use, and

means at the forwarding' station for operating said polarized relay.

2. In a mailing chute receptacle and in combination a door" operable to permit access to the mailing chute,; and means including a polarized relay operable to lock and unlock said door.

3. In a mailing-chute receptacle and in combination a door operable to permit access to the mailing chute, a polarized relay controlling means for locking said door and remotely controlled circuit means for operatingsaid relay.

'4. In a telegraph message collection system, a chute for transmitting messages said chute having a plurality of subscribers mailing receptacles and forwarding station to which said chute extends, signals at said forwarding station and said subscribers stations for selectively signalling the deposit and'receipt respectively of a message, a pneumatic tube system at said forwarding station for retransmitting the received message to a telegraph oflice, a polarized relay associated with each subscribers receptacle operable to lock the same against use and means at said forwarding station for operating said relay.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of September, 1929.

JOHN F. SKIRRO'W.

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