US1815223A - Repeating-connecter switch - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1931. R. TILDEN ETAL REPEATING CONNECTER SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1928 Robbins Tilisn Thumas H.Tilcl WM Patented July 21, 1931 r STATES r nrnnrrne-soonnnornn swrron Application filed December 13, 1928.

This invention relates in general to impro ed sw tchi g re i es, but m r parti ly t sme l d conne r wit hes as u d in automatic telephone systems of the stephy-step type. As is well known, these connector switches are operable under control of a calling subscribers impulse sender to connect with a certain Wanted line. They are the final ones of a series of similar preceding switches, known as selectors, used in estal iishing the connectiOH, the number of these selectors corresponding to the size of the sys. tem. This connecter switch is responsive to the final and succeeding'digits of the number of the called line and is, among other function r ange o hold h l te i Q9- erated position, connect the calling and called lines together, ring the called line, guard the connection from other calls, and release the 29 whole connection when the last party hangs up. both lines.

COI nccter switches of the above type operate satisfactorily when used solely in establishing telephone connections, as pointed out, but conditions occasionally arise whereby it is desirable that these connecters be arranged to connect with certain line and then functiOn to repeat a series of impulses or a nume her, for recording the calling number or for other purposes. I

Connecter switches are known that have their bank contacts arranged so that on a certain level, trunk lines are accessible to itleading to another exchange, while the rebank contacts lead to subscribers lines, as usual. These connectors will repeat impulses when they seize one of the trunk lines, but not when a regular line is seized.

It is an object of this invention to design a connector circuit that will operate in an automatic telephone system wherein the subscrihers lines are equipped with call recorders of the type disclosed in the co-pcnding application of applicants, Serial'No. 116,590, filed June 17, 1926. This call recorder is inserted in the subscribers line, described in the above application, and is controlled by the calling party operating his calling device 111 accordance with his ,own number so that the T allzin batter is also furnished to z; l

Serial No. 325,723.

de c Pr n a r c of s num er and when the absent wanted subscriber returns he can call him back. i

A further ,ob ect of this invention is to modify a standard connector switch used in an automatic telephone system in such a. manner that a minimum amount of additional inexpensive equipment is added and very simple changes are employed without affecting the normal standard operation of the connecter switch in any way, when itis used with the call recorders.

A feature of this connector switch resides in the means whereby after it has been coir nected to the wanted line a second series of impulses from the calling line is repeated by the connector to the called line. In this her it functions as a repeater without affect,- ing the existing established connection and repeats the series of impulses comprising calling subscribers number into the call recorder which records the same. i '7 These and other objects and features not peciiically mentioned but which will be apparent later will be described in connection with the detailed description which together with the accompanying drawings constitutes. a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, comprising two sheets, Fig, 1 illustrates the connector C of the invention drawn in the conventional well.- known form, and which is accessible over the leads 1, 2, and ,3 from a calling subscribers line, line switch and seleftor, all notshow n but whose method of connecting with the connector are well-known in the art, and therefore not thought necessary to illustrate. L indicates in skeleton form the called sub scribers line switch leading to the lines 90 and 91. A key K is inserted inthis line for connecting it either to the telephone A or to the recording device B, illustrated by a square, reference being had to the previously mentioned application for the operation of the same. N

Figs. 2 and 3 show modifications of the connector G of Fig. 1, with only such parts of the connect-er shown so that the difference between them will be apparent and the necessary changes indicated. i

The methodl of operating the connecter will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings Fig. 1, and it will first be assumed that a regular telephone connection is to be established to the subscriber at the substation A, which station is equipped with a call recorder R. The key K normally connects the line through to the telephone, as illustrated.

The subscriber at the calling station, which is not shown but which is similar to substation A, removes his receiver and op rates his calling device or impulse sender in accord ance with the number of the substation A. The first and second digits, depending upon the size of the system, operate the selectors to seize the particular connecter accessible to the called'line. The final two digits of the number will operate the connector to corn plete the connection.

When the selector has seized the contacts to which the conductors 1, 2, and 3 of the connecter C are connected, a circuit is com pleted as follows: battery, upper winning of line relay 10, alternate closed contacts on armature spring 6, conductor 1, over the preceding switches and through the calling substation, back over conductor closed iontacts on armature spring and to the lower winding of relay 10 to ground. l'lelay 1O energizes over this circuit, and at the front contact of armature spring 11 completes an obvious circuit for slow acting relay 15. At armature spring 12 a point in the circuit of relay is prepared. Relay 15 upon operating places ground from its armature spring 16 upon the release trunk conductor 3, thereby holding the preceding switches in operated position and guarding this switch from being seized by other calls. The calling subscriber now dials the number preceding the final one, and a series of impulses is sent over the pre viously traced loop circuit including conductors 1 and 2 to the line relay which energizes and deenergizes with each impulse. Relay 15, due to its slow releasing feature, remains energized during this series of impulses. After the first impulse when r-nay 1O deenergizes, a circuit is completed for the series'relay 20 and the vertical stepping magnet 50, from ground on armature spring 11 and its back contact, armature spring 17 and its front contact, oif-normal contact 72, winding of relay 20, to the winning of vertical magnet 50 to battery. The vertical magnet 50 elevates the wipers 76, 77, and 78 of the connecter one step and this operates the offnormal contacts 71, 72. and '73. Relay 20 energizes and operates its armature spring 21 and prepares another circuit for the vertical magnet. The remaining impulses operate the vertical magnet 50 to raise the wipers opposite the desired level of bank contacts, over a circuit extend ing from ground on armature spring 11 and its back contact, armature spring 17 and its front contact, closed offnorinal contact 7 3, armature spring 21 and its front contact, winding of relay 20, which remains energized during the series of impulses, to the winding of vertical magnet 50 and battery. After this series of impulses ceases, relays 10 and remain energized, but the series relay after a short interval deenergizes due to its circuit being open at the bank contact of armature 11.

The subscriber now dials the last and final digit of the called number and transmits another series of impulses over the loop circuit to line relay 10. This relay again follows the impulses, while relay 15 remains energized throughout their duration as before. A circuit for the rotary magnet 60 is now completed from the ground on armature spring 11 and its back contact, back contact and armature spring 32, armature spring 45 and its back contact through the winding of rotary magnet 60 to battery. The rotary magnet 60 operates step-by-step to rotate the wipers 7 6, T7 and 78 onto the set of bank contacts '79, 80 and 81 leading to the called substation A. A branch of the rotary magnet circuit extends in parallel through the winding of relay to battery. This relay upon energizing operates its armature spring 36 which opens a point in the circuit of relay 40 so that it will not operate and open the rotary magnet circuit at armature spring when test wiper T8 is passing over idle lines. At its front contact armature spring 36 prepares the cir-' cuit of relay 30 to the test wiper 78. At the front contact and armature soring 3'? the springs 32 are shortcircuited so that the impulsing circuit to the rotary magnet will not be opened at armature spring 32 should relay 3O operate from the test wiper 78 as it passes over busy lines. Relay 35 due to the copper slug on its heel end remains energized during the implusing, but falls back when they cease.

In case the called subscribers line should be busy, ground will have been placed on bank contact 81 and busy relay 30 will energize over wiper 78, armature spring 36 and its front contact. back contact and armature spring 43, winding of relay 30 to battery. Relay 30, upon energizing, at back contact and armature spring 32 opens the impulse circuit to the rotary magnet ,(30 so that if further impulses are dialed they will have no effect. Relay 35 falls back slowly when the impulses cease and at front contact and armature 37 opens a further point in the impulse circuit. At front conta t of armature spring 36 the circuit of relay 30 is transferred to the alternate back contact and this relay is now locked up from ground at armature spring 16 on the release trunk conductor 3, armature 31 and its front contact, alternate closed contacts of armature 36, back contact pea and armature 43 to the Winding of relay 30 to battery. At its back contact armature spring 31 opens a point in the circuit of relay at) so this relay will not operate if the busy line becomes free, when the back contact of armature 36 is closed after a short interval due to tie slow feature of relay 35. Relay 30 now being locked up also closed the busy tone circuit to the called subscriber at front contact of armature which extends over the conductor 2 and informs the subscriber of the busy condition of the called line, whereupon he hangs up his receiver and releases the connection will be later on described.

When the called line A connected to the bank contacts 76, 77, and 78 is idle, relay 35 upon restoring responsive to the cessationof impulses, closes its armature to the back contact, thereby completing a circuit for relay 10 from ground on front contact and armature 16 to the release conductor 3, armature spring 31 and itsback contact, upper winding of relay 40, back contact of armature 36, test wiper 78 and bank contact 89 to the bridge-cu't-olf relay of the line switch L to battery. his is well known, this relay per-' ates its wipers part way to disconnect this switch from the line. Relay. l0 energizes and at its front contact and armature 4 1- completes a locking circuit for itself extending from battery through its lower Winding to front con'act and armature 19 of relay 15 to ground. At front contact and armature 42 direct ground is placed on test wiper 78 111- stead of ground from armature 16 through the upper winding of relay 40. This ground makes the called line busy to other calls. At armature spring 43 and its back contact relay lO opens a part of the incomplete circuit of relay 30, and at back contact and armature spring a5 opens a further point in the circuit of the rotary magnet 60. At the front contacts of armature springs 11 and 5'7 the circuit for ringing the bell of the called line is completed from grounded interrupted generator at the back contact armature spring 29, armature spring l7 and its front contact, wiper T7 and bank contact 80 upon which it resting, conductor 91, key K, through the ringer and condenser at substation A, back over conductor 90, bank contact 79, wiper '76, front contact and armature spring 41, armature spring 26 and its back contact, and through the upper winding of ringin relay 25 to battery. The bell at substation A rings intermittently. Relay 25 does not operate with this ringing current due to a copper sleeve and a slug on the armature end ofits core. The ringing current through the upper winding, however, induces a similar current into its lower winding which completes a circuit from battery through this low-e winding through the lower winding of relay 5, front contact and armature spring 12, conceding switches to release.

denser 7 5 and conductor 2, and over the calls ing subscribers loopand receiver. The calling subscriber is thereby apprised of the fact that the called partys bell is being run hen the'subscriber at substation A re sponds to the ringing of his hell by removing his receiver, a direct current circuit for relay 25 is completed over the previously traced ringing circuit, but instead of going through the ringer and condenser the circuit is sw' ched over by the s *itch-hook. Relay 25 energi s and its front contact and armature ring 2? completes a locking circuit for itsel to ground or armature spring 19. At the back contacts of armature springs 26 and 29 the ringing generator current is removed from the line while at the front contacts the circuit of relay 5 is completed, from battery through its upper winding thence over the called partys loop circuit, as has been traced, to the lower winding of relay 5, front contact and armature spring 2H0 ground on ar mature spring 19. Upon the energization of relay 5 the armature springs -6 and 7 are operated and the battery and ground connections from relay 1() to the calling partys line are reversed. The purpose of'this is to effect superyision or operate a meter, or coin collector if such service is used.

will now be noted that relay 5 supplies talking current to the called partys line from its windings, while relay 1O furnishes.

similar current to the calling subscribers line. Condensers 74 and 75 in the talking conductors 1 and 2 are inserted to separate the two lines for the purpose of separating the battery feed and effecting the release of the connection by the last subscriber to hang up his receiver, as will be pointed out later. Conversation now proceeds between the two subscribers in the usual manner.

When the conversation has terminated, and if the calling subscriber replaces his receiver first, the circuit for the line relay 10 is opened and it falls back. At the front contact of armature spring 11 the circuit of relay 15 is opened and it falls back slow enoughto. complete a circuit for relay 35, from ground on armature spring 11 and itsback contact, armature spring 17 and its front contact, orl' normal contacts 7 3, armature springQl and its back contact, back contact and armature spring 32, to the winding of relay to battery. Relay 35 upon energizing at armature" spring 36 and its back contact removes ground over armature spring 42 and its front contact from the release trunk conductor 3. Relay 15 when it deenergized alsoremoved ground from release trunk conductor 3 at armature spring 16. This allows all the pre- After relay 15 has fully restored, the circuit for relay 35 is opened at the front contact of armature 17. Relay 35, upon deenergizing, again closes the circuit to the release trunk conductor3 from g'round on armature spring 42 through armature spring 36 and its back contact, to maintain the connecter busy to other calls. At armature 19 the original locking circuit for relays 25 and 40 is opened, but these relays are maintained energized from ground on front contact and armature spring 46, front contact and armature spring 28, armature spring 9 and its front contact to the relays 25 and 40 through their locking armatures 27 and 44. At back contact and armature spring 18, relay 15 maintained the circuit of relay 5 closed when it was opened at armature spring 12. The connecter remains in this condition until the subscriber at substation A replaces his receiver, the relays 5, 25., and 40 remaining energized until the called subscriber A hangs up.

V] hen the subscriber at substation A replaces his receiver, his line circuit extending over conductors 90 and 91 is opened, thereby allowing relay 5 to deenergize. Armature springs 6 and 7 restore the battery and ground connections of relay 10 to the line conductors 1 and 2 to their original state. At armature spring 8 the circuit for the release magnet 7 O is closed, extending from grounded armature 11 and its back contact, armature spring 17 and its back contact, armature spring 8 and its back contact, olfnormal contacts 71, through the winding of release magnet to battery. The release magnet 70 operates, and allows the switch I shaft carrying the wipers 76, 77 and 78 to restore to normal position. The shaft restores the off-normal springs which open the circuit of the release magnet at contact 71. At front contact and armature spring 9 the locking circuits of relays 25 and 40, extending from ground on armature spring 46, are opened and these relays deenergize. At armature springs 26 and 29 relay 25 opens a point in the talking circuit. Relay 40,

upon restoring, opens a further point in the talking circuit at armature s irings 41 and 47. At armature spring 42 ground is removed from the release trunk conductor 3 to make this connecter free. The connecter C and the whole connections has now been restored to normal and the switches are now ready to receive another call.

In case the subscriber at substation A replaces his receiver before the calling subscriber, the release of the connection is slightly different. Relay 5 is deenergized by opening the line circuit at substation A. At armature spring 8 the circuit for the release magnet 70 is prepared but relay 10 is held energized over the calling subscribers loop and relay 15 held up by relay 10 and at armature spring 19 the locking circuits of relays 25 and 40 are also maintainer. so that the connectenremains operated. lVhcn the calling subscriber hangs up, relay 1O deener gizes, and at armature spring 11 allows relay 15 to fall back. At armature spring 19 relay 15 opens the locking circuits of relays 25 and 40 which restore their armature springs to open the circuit to the calling line. At armature spring 17 and its back contact, the circuit of the release magnet 70 is closed over armature spring 8, and off-normal contact 71. The operation of the release magnet 70 restores the switch shaft and also the offnormal contacts. At armature spring 16, relay 15 removed ground from the release conductor 3 to allow the preceding switches to release. The whole connection has now been restored to normal.

The foregoing described and ordinary telephone connection extending to the substation A and utilizing the connecter C in its usual capacity. A description will now be given of the operation. of this connecter when it is used as a repeater in connection with the recording device R- located at the substation A. This device may be of the type disclosed in the previously mentioned application, or may be some similar device. The only additional equipment in the connecter when used with the call recording device and which does not affect a regular telephone connection as has been noted, is armature springs 12 and 18 inserted in the lower winding circuit of relay 5, and armature spring 4 and the resistance 7 3 in the circuitof the upper winding of relay 5.

It will now be assumed that the subscriber at substation A is to leave his telephone for atime and that he is desirous of knowing the number of calls he received and the telephone number of each party who had called him, during his absence. He operates his push key K, th reby switching his line conductors and 91 to the recording device R instead of his telephone.

Any call now made will follow the same se quence of operation up to the actual seizure of the called line by the connecter O, as has been outlined before in connection with a regular telephone call, and no detailed explanation will be given except where thought necessary. From this point on the procedure is different. Vhen the wipers 76, 77, and 78 have been engaged by the bank contacts 79, 80, and 81 the usual ringing circuit is completed extending from the back contact and armature spring 29, operated armature spring 47, wiper 77 and bank contact 80, line conductor 91, operated contacts of key K, through a starting magnet 5 conductor 16, condenser 7, contacts 17 and 18, coil 20. back over the operated contacts of key K, line conductor 90, bank contact 79, wiper 76, operated armature spring 41, armature 26 and its back contact, through the winding of ringing relay 25 to battery. Relay 25 does not operate in this circuit, but the starting magnet armature 10 of the device R is operated and releases the associated spring-operated gear train. A pair of contacts, 9 and 14:, are also operated by the magnet to short circuit the condenser in its circuit and close a direetcurrent bridge extending over the previously traced circuit to relay 25. This action, it will be noted, produces the same result as the act of the subscriber at substation A removing his receiver. Relay 25 upon operating removes the ringing generator atits armature springs 26 and 29 and locks itself up from ground on armature spring 19. The energizing circuit for relay is now completed at armature springs 26 and 29 extending over the loop circuit of the called line, from battery through its upper winding, to ground through its lower winding, at armature spring 19. Relays 5, 10, 15, 25, and are all held in operated position as before at this oint in the establishment of the connection.

lVhen the starting magnet of the recording device R operated, it will be remembered, a gear train was released. A toothed wheel 34: of this gear train operates a set of interrupter springs 22 and 23 to produce a distinctive tone over the line connection which is audible to the calling subscriber, who is thereby informed that there is no one at the called telephone, but that the recording device B is in position to receive the number of his (the calling partys) telephone. The recording device R is so arranged that the calling sul scriber must dial the digits of his number before the aforesaid tone ceases to be fed over the line. After the digits are dialed, which must be done in the definite time interval, he waits until the tone stops responsive to the resetting of the device whereupon he replaces his receiver.

lVhen the calling subscriber hears the tone on the line he promptly proceeds to dial the digits comprising the number of his telephone. These impulses are forwarded over the line conductors 1 and 2 through operated armature springs 6 and '2', through the upper and lower windings of line relay 10 to battery and ground, respectively. Relay 1O follows the impulses and opens and closes its front contact and armature spring 12 accordingly. Relay 15 being slow-acting, it remains energized during each series of these impulses and maintains armature spring 18 and its back cont-act open so armature spring 12 will not be short-circuited. Relay 10 at armature spring 12, it will be seen, repeats the incoming impulses over the called loop circuit which extends from battery through the upper winding of relay 5, over the upper line conductor through the recording device lower line conductor, armature spring 12 and its front contact, lower windingof relay 5, front contact and armature 27, to ground at the front contact and armature 19. Ordinarily, relay 5 would deenergize each time its circuit was opened at armature 12 at armature 18 of relay 15 during each series and also 7 of impulses. This is prevented by providing an auxiliary holding circuit for it, each time, that relay 1O falls back during impulses, which extends from battery through the upper winding of relay 5, front contact and armature spring 26, armature spring 41 and its front contact, resistance 73, armature spring 1 and its front contact, front contact and armature spring 17, to ground at back contact and armature spring 11. Relay 5 is therefore held operated over this circuit after relay 1O falls back at each impulse, while when relay 10 is energized after each impulse, relay 5 is held up over the called loop circuit to both of its windings and over armature spring 18. The resistance 73 is included in the upper winding and auxiliary circuit of relay 5 so that when it is energized over the auxiliary circuit it has the same effect on the relay as if it were energized over the loop circuit, and the surges of current to the relay over both circuits would not interfere with the impulses sent over the loop circuit at armature spring 12 to the recording device. A branch of the auxiliary circuit of relay 5 extends to off-normal contacts 73, armature spring 21 and its back contact, back contact and armature spring 32, through the winding of slow relay to battery. Relay operates its armature springs, but they have no effect at this time upon the operation of either the rotary magnet 60 or relay 30, their cir cuits are opened by relay at armature springs 13 and 4 5. After impulsing has ceased relay 35 would remain in the line circuit over he above circuit and auxiliary circuit through resistance 73. This would not interfere with the battery feed or talking circuit due to the high resistance of the cir cuit.

The impulses are repeated from armature spring 12 to the called line and operate the armature 26 of the recording device relay 5 in accordance therewith to print a permanent record so that when the absent subsc 'iber at substation Arcturus, he has a record of the telephone .numbers of parties he should call back.

After the time interval has elapsed during which the tone is on the line and the digits have been dialed the cam 35 on wheel 31 unlatches the armature 10 allowing it to open its contacts and stop the movement of the gear train, in this manner, the recording device resets itself and returns the condenser in the circuit of the called line. This opens the called line and consequently has the same effect as if the subscriber had replaced his receiver on the hook.

' The resetting of the recording device R to release the connection or the hanging up of the receiver by the calling subscriber, in either case would effect the release of the connecter C and the whole connection in the same manner as has been previously de scribed.

In the modification of the connecter U shown in Figs. 2 and 3, only as much of the connecter has been illustrated as is necessary for a full understanding of the same, several of the relays and springs of Fig. 1 having been-left out in order to make the drawing clearer or as they are not concerned with the invention.

In Fig. 2 a slow release relay 5 has been added in addition to the usual back bridge relay 5, and this controls all of the contacts previousl controlled by relay 5. Relay 5 now has only one armature spring 13 which controls relay 5. The object of this modi fication is to prevent the deenergization of relay 5 at the time when the impulses are repeated by the connecter C to the recording device B. This same function is taken care of in Fig. 1 by the holding circuit of relay 5 which extends over armature spring l and resistance 7 3.

When the connecter switch has connected wit-h the called line and the recording device has cut off the ringing circuit by placing a direct current bridge across the called line, the back bridge relay 5 is energized as in Fig. 1 over the line loop circuit including the armature spring 12 of operated relay l0. Relay 1O responsive to the incoming impulses repeats them at armature 12 to the recording device. Relay 15 remains energized between impulses because it is slow acting, and between series of impulses because relay 10 is held up over the calling line at this time. At armature spring 18 the energizing circuit of relay 5 is opened by relay 15 so that relay 5 follows the impulses from armature spring 12. l/Vhen relay 5 first energized it closed a circuit at its armature spring 13 to the slow-acting relay 5. This relay upon energizing operates its armatures, which in Fig. 1 are on relay 5. Each time that relay 1O falls back during impulsing it completed a circuit from ground on armature spring 11 and its back contact, armature spring 17 and its front contact, through other contacts as shown in Fig. 1, back contacts and armature spring 32, to the winding of relay 35 to battery. Relay 35 remains held up during each series of impulses due to its being slow acting, but falls away after each series because relay 10 is held up over the calling loop. Upon the energization of relay 35 is closed an auxiliary circuit for relay 5 which extends over front contact and armature 38 to ground on the front contact of armature spring 4. Ordinarily at this time, shortly after the impulsing ceased and the calling subscriber hung up his receiver, relay 10 would fall back and restore its armature springs 11 and 12. Armature spring 12 would open the circuit of relay 5 and this in turn of relay 5, before relay 15 fell back when its circuit was opened at the front contact of armature spring 11, and before this relay would close its armature spring 18 to maintain the circuit of relay 5 and 5. This would allow relay 5 to deenergize and then immediately energize when armature spring 18 closed, resulting in false metering or other operation caused by the operation of armature springs 6 and 7 in the calling line. This is, however, guarded against by taking advantage of the slow acting qualities of relays 5, 15 and 35 and maintaining relay 5 energized over the auxiliary circuit for this relay which extends over its armature 4: and through armature spring 38 of relay 35. Relay 35 falls back shortly after relay 15 opens its circuit at armature spring 19 and after it has permanently closed the circuit of relay 5 at armature spring 18. hen relay 5 releases responsive to the release of the recording device the circuit for the release magnet of the switch is closed by this relay and also by relay 10 which is deenergized by the release of the calling party. In this modification as in Fig. l the back bridge relay 5 is never operated except upon the response of the calling subscriber or the operation of the recording device.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the same general arrangement of Fig. 2 is shown, but relay 5 has an additional set of contacts 14 in multiple with the contacts 12 and 18; and no contacts are provided on relay 35. In this case relay 5 is held energized over the called loop circuit including armature spring 12 and this relay holds up relay 5. Now when the calling subscriber hangs up his receiver relay 10 falls back opening armature spring 12 to allow relay 5 to deenergize. Relay 5 opens the circuit of relay 5 at armature spring 13. Relay 5, however, is slow acting and before it can fall. back relay 15, whose circuit is opened by relay 10 at armature 11, falls back and at armature spring 18 closes the circuit of relay 5 at armature spring 13 before this relay has restored. Armature spring 14 on relay 5' is provided in case relay 5 should completely deenergize before relay 15 had fallen back. If this should hap pen armature spring 14 would again complete the circuit for relay 5 and this in turn of relay 5, to open armature spring 14. By this time relay 15 would have fallen back to close its armature spring 18. This condition can only arise when there is a faulty operation or adjustment of the relays and springs, and the armature spring 14 therefore prevents relay 5 from being decnergized before or at the same time as relay 15, at which time a circuit would be completed for the release magnet of the connecter to release the same.

While this connecter switch has been described as used in connection with a number recording device to repeat impulses, it is to be understood that it is capable of any number of other uses by those skilled in the art, and it is not desired to be limited by the ear act embodiment illustrated, but only to the extent of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic telephone system, a connecter switch, calling telephone lines having access to said switch, called lines accessible to said connecter switch, number recording devices on said lines, means controlled over a callin line for operating said switch to set up a talking path to the station of a called line, and means in said connecter controlled over said calling line to' operate the number recording device of the called line over said talking path.

2. In an automatic telephone system, a connecter switch, calling subscribers lines accessible to said connecter, called lines accessible to said connecter, number recording devices associated with said lines, a line relay in said connecter operated responsive to impulses received from a calling line for operating said connecter to connect with a called line, a back-bridge relay in said connecter operated upon response or" the called subscriber, means on said line relay for repeating additional impulses received from said calling line to operate said number recording device, and means for preventing the de energization of said back-bridge relay during the transmission of said additional impulses.

3. In an automatic telephone system, a'connecter switch, calling subscribers lines havin access to said connecter, called subscribers lines accessible to said connecter, number recording devices associated with said lines, a line relay in said connecter operated responsive to impulses received from a calling line to operate said connecter to connect with a called line, a back-bridge relay in the loop circuit of said called line operated upon the response of the called subscriber, contacts on said line relay in said called line loop circuit, means res aonsive to additional impulses from said calling line for operating said line relay to repeat said impulses at said contacts over said called loop circuit to operate said number recording device, and means for bolding said back-bridge relay in operatedcondition during the transmission or" said impulses.

4. In an automatic telephone system, a connecter switch controlledover calling subscribers lines to connect withcalled subscribers lines, number recording devices at said subscribers lines, a line relay in said connects controlled by impulses received over a calling 9 line to operate said connecter to connect with a called subscribers line, a back-bridge relay in said connecter connected in the loop circuit of said called line and operated upon the response of the called subscriber, contacts on said line relay in said called loop circuit and in the circuit of said back-bridge relay,

means responsive to other impulses from said calling line for operating said line relay to repeat said impulses over said contacts to said called line to operate said number recording device, and a holding circuit for said bachbridgerelay to maintain it energized independent of said called loop circuit during the repeating of said other nipulses at said line relay contacts.

5. In an automatic telephone system, a con necter switch, impulsing means for controlling said connecter switch from a calling subscribers line to connect with a called line, number recording devices on said lines, a line relay in said connecter responsive to said impulses for operating said connecter, a backbridge relay energized upon the response of the called subscriber over a circuit including the called line loop and contacts on said line relay, means for transmitting other impulses from said calling line to control said line relay so that it repeats said impulses at said contacts and over said called line loop to operate said number recording device, and a circuit for said back-bridge relay exclusive of said called line loop and said contacts. and comprising only a portion of said called line through said connecter to maintain said relay energized during the transmission of said other impulses.

6. In an automatic telephone system, a connecter switch, calling subscribers lines having access to said connecter, called subscribers lines accessible to said connecter, number recording devices associated with said lines, a line relay and a back-bridge r'elay in said connecter, means for transmitting impulses from a calling line in accordance with the number of a called line for operating said line relay to connect said connecter with said called line, means responsive to the connection of said number recording device or the response of the called subscriber, for operating said back-bridge relay, means for transmitting additional impulses from said calling line in accordance with the number of the calling line for operating said line relay to repeat said additional impulses to operate the number recording device, and means cont-rolled by said line relay for holding said back-bridge relay energized during the transmission of said additional impulses.

7. In an automatic telephone system, subscribers lines equipped with recording devices, a connecter switch, subscriber controlled means foroperating said switch to connect a pair of said lines, means in said connecter for supplying talking battery to the called line, and subscriber controlled means for momentarily interrupting said supply a plurality of times to cause the registration of a number on the recording device of the called line. i i

8. In an automatic telephone system, calling and called lines equipped with recording devices, a connecter switch accessible to and controllable over a calling line to establish a connection with a called line, means in said connecter for transmitting ringing current out over the called line upon connection there with, a ring-cut-oil relay in said connecter, means in the recording device of the line called responsive to said ringing current to complete an operating circuit for said ringcut-oif relay, and subscriber controlled means for subsequently actuating said means to register the number of the calling station at the called station.

9. In an automatic telephone system, cal ing and called lines equipped with recording devices, a connecter switch accessible to and controllable over a calling line to establish a connection with a called line, a source of current in said connect-er for ener 'ing the transmitter of the called station, and subscribcr controlled means for util ng said current to actuate the recording dev: c of the called line.

10. In an automatic telephone system, a connecter switch, subscribers e equipped with recording devices and hav access to said connecter switch, said lines accessible to said connectors, means controlled over a calling line for operating said switch to con nect with a called line, a battery supply circuit for furnishing talking battery to the called line, and means including contacts in said circuit controlled over said calling line for causing the recording device at the called line to register the number of the calling line.

11. In an automatic telephone system, calling and called lines, connectors switches accessible to said lines, means responsive to impulses transmitted from a calling line to opcrate a connecter into connection with 21 called line, means in the connecter for then transmitting signalling current onto the called line, a number recording device on the called line having means actuated by the signalling current to cause the transmission of signalling current thereto to cease, said means subsequently responsive to impulses transmitted from the calling line to make a record in accordance with the impulses transmitted.

12. In a telephone system, subscribers lines equipped with recording devices, a connecter switch for use in establishing connections between said lines, a line relay in said connecter switch operated responsive to impulses transmitted over a calling one of said lines to operate said connector to connect with a called one of said lines, means for closing a direct current loop including the called line and its recording device, and con tacts on said line relay operative responsive to impulses subsequently transmitted over the calling line to actuate said recording de \vice by intermittently opening said loop.

13. In an automatic telephone system, subscribers lines, a connector switch available to calling lines for extending connections to called lines, a source or" direct current at the connecter, a line relay in said connector controlled over the calling line to connect the calling line in talking relation with the called line and said source of current to the conductors of the called line, selectively operable apparatus connected to the called line, and auxiliary contacts on said line relay controlled by impulses subsequently transmitted over the calling line for interrupting the supply of current teed out over the called line to control said apparatus.

14. In a automatic telephone system, subscribers lines equipped with recording devices, a connector switch for use in establishing a connection between a pair of said lines, a line relay controlled over the calling line and having contacts operative to control a 'd connector switch to extend the calling line in to connection with the called line, and additional contacts on said relay operative after called line has been connected with to control said recording device.

in I an automatic telephone system, a

no. in connecter switch, calling subscribers lines accessible to said connecter, called lines accessible to said connecter, number recording devices associated with said lines, a line relay in said connecter operated responsive to impulses received from a calling line for operating said connecter to connect with acalled line, a baclebridge relay in said connecter operated upon response of the called subscrib er to reverse the connection to said line relay, means on said line relay for repeating additional impulses received from said calling line to operate said number recording device, and means for preventing the deenergization of said back-bridge relay during the transmission of said additional impulses from causing further reversals of the connections to said line relay.

16. In an automatic telephone system a connecter SWILCI}. included in a connection between a calling line and a called line equipped with a recording device, a relay in said connecter operable consequent to the closure of a direct current bridge across the called line, a second relay operative consequent to the operation of said first relay to reverse the connection between the calling line and the connecter, a third relay in said connecter operative under control of a calling subscriber to periodically open the called line circuit to selectively control the recording apparatus at the called station, a release magnet for said connecter, subscriber controlled means for closing a circuit for said release magnet to cause the same to break down the connection, and means for holding said second relay operated during the transmission of impulses to said recording device and until after the energization of said release magnet.

17. 111 an automatic telephone system a connecter switch included in a connection between a calling line and a called line equipped with a recording device, a relay in said connecter operable consequent to the closure of a direct current bridge across the called line, a second relay operative consequent to the operation of said first relay to reverse the connection between the calling line and the connecter, a third relay in said connecter operative under control of a calling subscriber to periodically open the calledline circuit to selectively control the recording apparatus at the called station, a release magnet for said connecter, subscriber controlled means for closing a circuit for said release magnet to cause the same to break down the connection, and means for holding the circuit of said release magnet open until after the deenergization of said second relay.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this sixth day of December, A. D.

ROBBINS TILDEN. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this sixth day of December, A. D.

THOMAS A. TILDEN.

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