US2099616A - Time and zone metering device - Google Patents

Time and zone metering device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2099616A
US2099616A US38466A US3846635A US2099616A US 2099616 A US2099616 A US 2099616A US 38466 A US38466 A US 38466A US 3846635 A US3846635 A US 3846635A US 2099616 A US2099616 A US 2099616A
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Prior art keywords
time
contact
relay
zone
disc
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US38466A
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English (en)
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Muck Otto
Ludwig F Muller
Zier Paul
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Individual
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/10—Metering calls from calling party, i.e. A-party charged for the communication
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/21—Elements
    • Y10T74/2133—Pawls and ratchets
    • Y10T74/2136—Pivoted pawls
    • Y10T74/2137—Single tooth

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations. These devices are provided for recording the charges to be made for calls, which charges are determined by the zone in which the called subscribers exchange is situated and by the duration of the 7 connection.
  • the known devicesof this type use a time switch arrangement which is constructed as a selector and which is provided withas many 3 switch arms as there are zone values. All these switch arms are stepped periodically during the conversation so that at the end of the converse-- tion a particular contact is'marke'd by the switch arm of the particular zone which was selected by a zone determining device constructed as a simultaneous movement mechanism and is then discovered by a meter stepping mechanism which leads to a simultaneous transmission of numerical current impulses.
  • the time switches of these 20 known devices are thus necessarily bulky and necessitate a considerable amount of wiring between their large number of contacts and the meter stepping mechanism. I
  • the object of the invention is to simplify considerably the known arrangements for time and zone metering.
  • the new meter stepping mechanism in accordance with the invention is energized for being stepped forward by a time switching device at the beginning or the end of a particular period of time and isprovided with devices which, at each energization, allow a stepping to take place,
  • the meter stepping mechanism can send out current impulses directly for influencing the meter at each stepping.
  • the individual steppings can be used, however, for storing the metering current impulses which/in that case, are sent out at the end of the connection sent out by the return movement of the meter stepping nechanism into the normal position.
  • the meter stepping mechanism is trol.
  • the energizations produced for the stepping can be produced by means of the periodically stepping time switch device by acting electrically or mechanically on the meter stepping mechanism. 5
  • a time and zone metering device can be obtained in, which there is no complicated wiring between the time switch device and the meter stepping mechanism. Also, the time switch device can itself be considerably simplified as it no longer has to be provided with a number of switch members corresponding to the number of zone values.
  • the invention allows the time switch device and also the meter stepping mechanism to be so constructed that on alteration of thetariff, that is'to say, both when an alteration is made to the length of time at the expiration of which a charge is incurred and also in the units which are used for charging for the individual periods of time and for the various zones, a corresponding adjustment of the time switch device and/or the meter stepping mechanism can easily be undertaken.
  • Figures 1 to 10 relate to a time-zone meter in which the meter steppingdevice is electrically influenced by a time switch device and by a zone determining device while Figures 11 to 16 relate to a. time-zone meter in which the stepping device is influenced mechanically.
  • FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic front view of the time switch device and the meter stepping device. a
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of th time switch device and the meter stepping device.
  • Figures 3 and 4 show-in side elevation and in section one. of the selectors of. the zone determining device.
  • Figures ,8 to 10 show the general front, rear and'side elevations respectively of arrangement of the time and meter stepping devices.
  • Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the time-zone meter of the second example or construction.
  • Figure 12 shows a section through the timezone meter.
  • Figure 13 shows the meter stepping mechanism.
  • Figure 14 shows a detail of construction of a mechanical zone determining device.
  • Figure 15 shows a contact arrangeme t of the I zone determining device
  • a stepping magnet DV the pawl of which can engage in teeth formed on the driving member it, is provided for stepping the driving member lt.
  • a similar electromagnet DR is provided for stepping the drivingmember it.
  • the two driving members lt and lil whichare inthe form oi ratchet wheels are arranged on the sleeve it which also'carries the disc ll. This sleeve also carries a cam 28 through which contacts drl, t and ll can be actuated.
  • the ratchet wheel lt is shown smaller than the ratchet wheel it.
  • the two wheels are preferably of the same diameter.
  • the 'two wheels it and it are provided with the same number of teeth.
  • the toothed wheel ltl serves ilor stepping the disc ll in the clockwise direction and the toothed wheel l3 ilor stepping in the counter-clockwise direction.
  • the tail of the pawl Sl carries a lever Zl pivotally mounted on the pin ZSl and connected at one end to a spring Fl Hill on a lever Hl forming an extension oi the ping the wheel is. pivotally mounted on .on energization of, the magnet DV.
  • the pawl St is constructed'in the same way relatively to the wheel ld as is clear iromFlgure 6 -on the left hand side of which will be iound references corresponding to those on the right hand side; I I
  • a driving pawl Al pivotally mounted on the pin armature otthe magnet DV is provided for stem
  • the armature lever Hl is the pin ml and is moved normally" holds the lever Hi in the illustrated position in which the pawl Al bears on a-pin Tl and is thus out of engagement with theteeth of the wheel it.
  • the stepping mechanism tor the wheelit consisting of the armature lever H2 and the driving pawl At is constructed in the same manner as that for the wheel l2 as-can clearly be seen from an inspection of the right hand side of Figure 6 where the parts have been given references corresponding to those on; the leit hand side. I I I It" is clear that the driving pawl Al.
  • the pawls Al and S2 are actuated by the magnet DV in the same way as are the pawls A2 and Si by the magnet DR. Whenever, the disc Ii is stepped by one of always removed out of engagement with the latter.
  • the disc ll of the tariff member (Fig. 1) has the wheels l2 and i3, the check pawl associated with the other wheel is" teeth it formed in its periphery through which a contact to can be actuated.
  • a number of series of earns it are arranged on the two faces of the disc ll. These cams are arranged so that one or the other of a corresets of contacts 203, zo5,.z0.'l and got, and, cot, 208 arranged on the front and on the rear sides of the disc can be actuated by them according to the angular disposition of the disc.
  • the cams [6 are arranged on the front side of the disc H in seven concentric rows, the cams in each of which can actuate one,oi seven'diflerent sets of contacts cot to and, which correspond to zone values 2 ⁇ to t.
  • Cams and contacts are arranged in simi- '7 la r rows on the rear side of the disc ill (see Figure 2) but circles is different on the lront andon the rear sides of the disc ll.
  • the angular distance between two cams on one circle corresponds to the meter units which are to be registered at the beginning of a particular 1 period of time, for a call to] the zone correspondingto that circle. More units have to be registered on the meter-fora call 01' a certain duration to a particularzone during the'daytime than during the night. (For example, only two thirds the angular distance between the of the-day charge may be made at night.)
  • the m cams on one side or the disc H can thus correspond to the side of.v the disc correspond'to the night tariff, th relationship between thehhgtilardistances' on etwo sides being the-same as that between day tariff and the cams on the other .
  • This time disc I! also carries several series of cams ls arranged in concentric circles which can actuate contacts.
  • FIG. 1 four sets of contacts dz3, dzl, dz5 and trz are illustrated which are controlled by four circles of cams l9. Further sets of contacts such, for example, as the set dzl, 2 can be directly controlled by a cam disc 20 fixed to the disc I1.
  • the cams l9 and the cam 20 serve for controlling the various contacts with special settings of the time disc I! for carrying out the necessary switching operations.
  • the stepping switch mechanism illustrated in Figures 3 and-4 forms part of the zone determining device.
  • This switch mechanism comprises a contact panel 2
  • the selector 23 is provided with two stepping wheels 25 and 26.
  • stepping wheel 25 has 11 teeth in which the driving pawl of a magnet DB can engage.
  • the switch arm is moved over 10 contacts of the panel 21.
  • the second stepping wheel 26 has 110 teeth in which the driving pawl of a magnet DC can engage.
  • A-number of cam discs 21 are also connected to theselector 23 with which sets of contacts wb and we are in contact. These contacts are thus controlled by the cams 21 on rotation of the selector 23. When such a rotation is effected by the intermittent energization of one of the magnets DB or DC, the switch arms 24 move freely past the contacts on the panel 2!.
  • the selector 23 is axially displaced by the armature of a magnet EM so that the switch arms are pressed on to the-contacts.
  • the armature of the magnet EM is mechanically locked in its attracted position and is only released againon energization of a magnet AM.
  • a usual 10-point step-by-step switch is used which is constructed in the ordinary way of well-known preselectors and is set by current impulses.
  • the circuit illustrated in Figure 5 shows the path of the current for the various stepping magnets and the necessary controlling relays of a time-zone meterwhich, for example, is connected in the connecting line connected to the contact bank of a first group selector leading to a second group selector. It is assumed that three series of current impulses are necessary for determining the zone which at the same time effect the setting of a second, a third and a fourth group selector. The emission of these current impulses simultaneously eifects the settingof the selector of the zone determining device and indeed, the first series of current impulses controls the switch arm da of a 10-point stepping switch mechanism which is driven by the switching magnet DA,
  • the contacts are mechanically controlled by one of the above-mentioned stepping switch mechanisms.
  • the contacts wal, 2, and 3 represent contacts which are controlled by the shaft of the 10-point stepping switch mechanism which is stepped by the magnet DA. They are closed on the return of this selectorto the normal position.
  • the contacts wbl and wb2 represent contacts which are thrown by the shaft of the 110-point selector on its leaving the normal position.
  • the contacts we! and wc2 are only actuated'by the shaft of this selector when a stepping is effected by the magnet DC. In the positions of rest into which the switch arms of this selector are stepped at various times by the magnet DB, the contacts wc remain in the normal position.
  • the contacts dZl-S represent contacts which are actuated by the various cams 19 of the time disc ll.
  • the figures appended to the reference dz indicate the positions in which these contacts I group selector arranged in advance of it, the hold-.
  • ing relay C in the time-zone meter is energized in a circuit which runs from the first group se lector (not illustrated), through the line 0, the
  • the relay C thus responds and, through its contact c2, closes the following circuit for the magnet DZ of the timeswitch member:
  • the contact 04 closes a holding circuit for the relay 0 so that the latter remains energized independently of the voltage in the line 0" in the second groupselector.
  • the contact disconnects the line 0' from the line 0" through which, for example, the outgoing connecting line can be seized by the distant exchange.
  • the -second switch SS closes the circuit for the magnet DZ every 10 seconds sothat the time disc is stepped through one step every 10 seconds. This stepping is alsoused in order to prevent the time-zone meter being held engaged for an unnecessarily long time. As, in general, no charge is made for the time which elapses between the seizing of the time-zone meter and the instant at which the called subscriber removes his receiver, a subscriber can, as a rule, hold a valuable trunk line for an unrestricted period by means of an incomplete dialling operation. If this waste of engaged time is to be restricted to a maximum cut-off relay S is closed:-
  • the second group selector becomes mission of current impulses. seizable by means of the distant exchange over At the end of the second series of current imthe lines a, b, 0' through the contact s3.
  • the relay V again drops, circuit is closedfor the relay E: interrupts the holding circuit for the relay R contacts std, cf, 34, winding III of with its contact all and, at the same time, through 1.
  • relay E I its contact cl, closes the following energizing cirwhile the contact 35 closes the following circuit cult for the relay U:- for the buzzer Sui contacts.
  • S 4 cl, zl, vi. hi, winding I of contacts std, cl, winding HI of relay B, relay U, contacts wa2, e3,wc2,magnet DA,---
  • the relay E holds up during the closing of its he magnet DC. contact at through its windings I, II, opens the When, during the third series of current imimpulse circuit for the setting of the zone de-' pulses, the relay V again responds, the holding termini'ng device by means of its contact at and, circuit for the relay. H is interrupted by the conthrough its contact e4, brings the time disc to tact of, while, on the other hand, the following 8 rest.
  • the relay J During each emission of EM,-- current impulses, the relay J will be intermittently This circuit is closed during the time during which 3
  • the magnet EM presses the switch arms a-wire, relay J, windings I and If, contact db/c of the zone selector (which is free to move di7 during the stepping) on to the contacts of By means of the contact ii, the current impulses the contact bank, The armature of the magnet are transmitted to the o.”-wire and the selector EM is mechanically locked so that the contact vof the Zone determining v ee is al o For remains made also when the'magnet is'no longer this purpose, the contact it is formed as a double energized.
  • tion circuit of the magnet EM is, similarly to the cts 01 $flpwire 0i" contact wct, reversed in single steps during the 4
  • coptacts winding 1 of following short circuit for the winding I of the relay Bantams magnet rela S is now closed through the normal position Relay R respondsand, by means of its contact w I 1 rt, switches the stepping circuit over from the of thls con 0 magnet DA to themagnet DB.
  • the time disc is stepped every 10 seconds. determining device, the meter device given when the called subscriber answers is not received within three minutes after the seizing of the time-zone meter, then, as has already been explained above, the time switch, at the eighteenth step, will actuate the contact ire by means of a cam so that the short circuit for the winding I of the relay S is interrupted and so that the relay S responds and cuts off the connection.
  • the meter can be prevented from being brought into operation if the calling subscriber dials N l in quick succession. This possibility is prevented by the special arrangement of the relay provided for bringing the meter into operation. Through a contact v2 of the relay V which is energized during an emission of current impulses by the calling subscriber, a second winding of the relay B is switched in in opposition to the winding II of this relay connected to the b"- wire. The result of this is that with a small alteration of the potential at the common switching point of the two windings, the relay B is made to respond with certainty.
  • the relay B is thus energized as a result of the indication that the meter is to be brought into operation and, by means of its contact bl, closes the following energizing circuit for the relay Z:-
  • relay Z by the opening of the contact 23, opens the circuit for the relay B and also, by means of its contact 'zl, closes a holding circuit for itself.
  • a relay interrupter formed by the relays R and U is also switched in by means of the contact zl in the following circuit:
  • the contact 4123 is opened by a cam and the relay interrupter is thus disconnected.
  • the time disc is now stepped every ten seconds through the 10-second switch SS.
  • the contact dzi is reversed and thus, the stepping circuit controlled by the contact u3 of the relay interrupter is transferred from the magnet DZ to the magnet DV which effects the forward connection of the tariff member.
  • the contact 1123 is again closed and the relay interrupter is thus again brought into operation.
  • a rapid stepping of the magnet DV and, therefore, of the tariff member is now effected by the contact a3 and, indeed, until the zone contact 203 mechanically selected by a cam is reversed.
  • the following circuit for the magnet DZ is closed:
  • the extent to which it is thus stepped is, for example, that corresponding to a conversation of a duration of up to three minutes.
  • the tariff member must, therefore, be further stepped.
  • the contact 1123 through which the relay interrupter consisting of the relays R and U is switched is again closed, in the position 39, by the time switch which, during this period, has been stepped every 10 seconds by the switch SS.
  • the contact u3 then again causes an intermittent energization of the magnet DV of the tariff member which is stepped until one of its cams reverses the selected zone contact 203.
  • the following stepping circuit for the magnet DZ of the time disc is then again set up:--
  • the time switch causes the tariff member to be stepped in the positions 46, 53, 60, 61,14, 8
  • the time disc arrives in the position me. In this position, the contact trz is fully reversed by a cam of the time disc so that the double make contact is actuated. In this way, the following energizing circuit is closed for the disconnecting relay S:
  • the relay J short circuits its winding II by meanspf its contact l5 and thus strengthens the current flowing through the a-wire whereby the calling subscriber, in known fashion, is prevented from breaking the connection with the first group selector.
  • the contact it prepares the meter repeater circuit while the relay V is energized through the contact it if the time disc is not exactly in a position in which the tariff member can he stepped. The following circuit is thus established:-
  • the contact ct prepares the energization of the relay B andat the same time causes the relay F and the release magnet AM to be energized in the following circuit:
  • the relay B closes the following meter circuit through its contact b3: v meter ZS, contacts i3, b3, b-wire
  • the disc of the tariff switch mechanism has to be moved back through the same angular amount as it was stepped forward during the conversation.
  • the number of times the contact tg is closed thus corresponds to the number of the units of charge chargeable in accordance with the duration of the conversation and the selected zone.
  • the relay E closes a holding circuit with its contact ei through its windings I and II and, with its contact, e4, interrupts the stepping circuit for the time disc DZ. If then, the meter is subsequently. brought into operation by energization of the relays B and Z, as. already described, the magnet DV is energized once through the contact w until release of the reay B, so that the tariff disc is moved one step out of the normal position. When the connection is broken, the tariff disc must, therefore, be switchedback through one step into the normal position so that only one unit of charge is made through the contact tg.
  • zone 2 There may be regulations to the effect that for calls between the various exchanges situated in a particular zone, the zone 2 for example,
  • the tariff disc when stepped fails to test any zone contact at all, it is stepped into its zero position by the magnet DV. In this zero position, the fault relay St is energized in the following circuit:--
  • a meter ZD which indicates the time during which the time-zone meter remains seized.
  • Ameter ZGD can also be connected to this circuit through the contact .24 of the relay Z energized after the meter is brought into operation and which records the duration of the conversation.
  • the meter ZGB lies in the energization circuit of the relay Z and, at each energization of the relay Z, is energized and therefore marks up the number of times the meter is eiiectively brought into operation.
  • the meter switch ZS lies in the meter impulse circuit through which the meter impulses are transmitted to the b-wire and marks up the number of transmitted current impulses.
  • a stationary shaft W is mounted in two bearings Li and L2 on a base plate G.
  • the time disc I"! is movably mounted on the shaft W in the neighbourhood of the bearing Li and can be stepped by means of an electromagnet DZ.
  • cams iii are ar ranged which control the sets of contact springs These sets of contact springs are also fixed on the base plate G.
  • the tariff disc H is arranged on the shaft V! in the neighbourhood of the bearing L2 and has on both side faces cams it which control the sets of contact springs 20. .
  • the tariff disc H has teeth i 5 on its periphery for actuating the sets of contact springs tg.
  • the two stepping ratchet wheels l2 and I3 are connected to the tariiT disc H through the sleeve M and are provided with oppositely disposed teeth.
  • the wheel 12 is stepped by the magnet DV and the wheel l3 by the magnet DR.
  • a grease cap-FB serves for lubrication of the various hearings on the shaft W.
  • base plate G is formed with cut out portions through which the stepping wheels, the tariff disc, the driving magnets and the sets of contact springs project.
  • the stepping of the zone value is effected by means of a mechanical zone determining device.
  • the zone determining device must be arranged so as to have 1000 different settings;
  • a device which will be referred to as the criterion carrier which consists of a number of discs 2I3- Figures ll and 12) mounted on a sleeve H5.
  • the discs are separated by distance pieces 2M and are'firmly pressed against a stop on the sleeve by means of a nut 2l6.
  • the sleeve H5 is connected to a toothed wheel 2ll from which projects a pin 2
  • the toothed wheel 2lll is also connected by means of pins M9 to a disc 220.
  • a clock spring is arranged between the toothed wheel 2i'll and the disc 220 .and has one end fixed to the disc 220 while the other end is hooked on to a pin 22i which is arranged on the base plate 2M.
  • the plate 220 carries a further sleeve 222 on which a toothed wheel 223 is fixed.
  • This toothed wheel 223 has 11 teeth while the toothed Wheel 2H has 121 teeth.
  • the toothed wheel 223 can be stepped by the pawl 224 of a magnet not illustrated in the drawings, whilethe toothed wheel 2!? can be stepped by another magnet not shown in the drawings.
  • the assembly constituted by the toothed wheels 223 and 2H- and the discs 2 i3 is freely movable on a fixed shaft 2i2 mount-' ed in the base plate 2H and, in the normal position, is held by means of the clock spring 230.
  • the normal position is determined by a projection 225 which abuts against a projection 22E pivotally mounted on the base plate.
  • a pointer 228 is also preferably connected to the fixed shaft by means of the screw 221 so that the degree of displacement of the criterion carrier can be read off a scale arranged on the disc 229.
  • Each disc 2i3 has 121 teeth 3i.
  • the teeth can be of diiierent lengths and eight different lengths are provided, each length corresponding to oneof the eight different zone values.
  • the teeth are milled over the whole circumference of the disc while the lengths are'determined by stamping of concentric circles in the upper surface of the discs ( Figure 14). 1
  • of the disc 2i3 can be cut to the required length by means of a pair of nippers or other similar tool.
  • This disc can then be used as atemplate for all the other devices which are milled in a simple manner as a bunch. In this way, an exact matching of the discs of all devices isobtained so that the testing need only extend to a single device.
  • contacts are controlled by the criterion carrier.
  • the criterion carrier leaves its position of rest when the large switching steps are effected by the toothed wheel 223, the movable stop 226 is released and rotates through a small angle so that the contact ow is closed.
  • ! and the casing of the clock spring are so arranged that in each position of rest which occurs between twor large steps of the criterion carrier, they may actuate a contact which is not illustrated in the drawings.
  • a check pawl' may be provided which is v in engagement with the teeth of the toothed wheel 2i'i.
  • a feeler member 32 For determining the tooth length corresponding to the selected setting, a feeler member 32 is provided. This feeler can carry out two movements. By the first movement, a disc 2i3 of the criterion carrier is selected, that is to say, a selection takes place from 10 groups each of 100 possible settings.) The second movement, which takes place in a direction radial to the disc 2i3,
  • ' serves for establishing the length of the tooth corresponding to a particular setting, selected from the selected group of 100.
  • Aspecial guide is provided for making possible this two-fold movement of the feeler member 32.
  • a vertical and is slotted at 53 for the'passage of the feeler 32.
  • the feeler 32 is formed with a bearing 4
  • feeler 32 can thus move longitudinally relatively to the carrier 31 with the carrier in a direction at right angles to that longitudinal direction.
  • a rack 43 is provided on which there is a pin 44 which lies in the forked end 45 of the feeler 32.
  • the stepping pawl of an electromagnet which is not illustrated can engage with the rack 43.
  • the rack 43 is provided at its right hand end with a projection 49 forming a stop which, in the normal position of the rack, holds a contact nw open. when the rack makes its first step under the action of the unillustrated electromagnet, this contact nw is closed.
  • the stop 49 also has resilient switch arms 58 fixed to it which, on movement of the rack, wipe over the contacts of a stationary contact bank fixed'in a suitable manner to the base plate 2. In this way, a special circuit can be closed at each step made by the rack 43. This arrangement for closing various circuits plays no part in the operation oi. the device for estimating the value of a particular setting of the criterion carrier.
  • the compression spring 42 is energized and the magnetis energized, the carrier 31 and the feeler 32 are pressed downwards so that the lower end of the feeler moves downwards towards the criterion carrier. This downward movement con- Wtinues until the feeler encounters a resistance,
  • the carrier 31 projects through a slot 56 in the base plate 2
  • is fixed to the projection 51.
  • moves over a scale 62 on the base plate 2 so that the determined value can be read off directly.
  • a contact arm and as many fixed contacts as there are units of value couldbe provided. In that case, a-circuit would at any time be closed corresponding to the ascertained value through which a tariff device can be electrically controlled. 1
  • the tariff device- is directly and mechanically controlled by means of the zone determining device.
  • two pins 63 and 64 are provided on the projection 51 of the carrier 31 which are under the influence of springs -65.
  • Each of these pins 63 and 64 has a disc 66 or '61 fixed to move with it.
  • the armature 66 of an unillustrated electromagnet moves in front of these discs and in each of its positions holds one.of the discs 66, 61 back against the action of a spring 65 so that at any time only one pin 63 or 64 can project.
  • the armature 68 lies in front of the disc 61 and, consequently, holds back the pin 64.
  • the pin 63 on the other hand, is free and bears against a meter stepping device 69 which is constructed as a storing wheel,
  • the wheel 69 is freely mounted on the shaft 2l2 which traverses the base plate 2". It is provided with a spring housing 16 which is fixed on the shaft H2. The spring in this housing tends to rotate the storing wheel 69 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 13 but such rotation is prevented by the check pawl 12 which is resiliently pressed into engagement with the teeth 1! formed in the periphery of the storing wheel.
  • a pin 13 is also provided on the storing wheel 69 which, in the normal position, bears against a movable stop 14 mounted on' the base plate and holds thisst'op against the action of a spring 15.
  • the projection 14 acts on a contact 90 which is reversed when the storing wheel 61 reaches its normal position.
  • An electromagnet TM is also provided which, by means of the stepping pawl 16 which engages in the teeth 1
  • angular distance between two neighbouring holes in a row corresponds to a particular unit of value.
  • 14 difi'erent rows of holes are provided.
  • the first seven of these rows of holes correspond to the seven tariffs for the different zones.
  • the second seven rows of holes are for the purpose of enabling a switching over to a differentitheri? to be effected at particular times, for example, so that at night calls are charged at a cheaper rate.
  • the first seven rows of holes are selected-by the pin 63 while the second seven rows of holes are selected by the pin 64.
  • the series of holes in the storing wheel 68 are fixed once and for all whenthemadel is fixed.
  • these rows of holes are preferably stamped out of a disc of sheet steel fixed to the storing wheel 69 and which is changed when the tariff is altered
  • a time disc 19 having a spring housing 89' is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2 I2.
  • the spring in this housing 89 urges the time disc 19 into its normal position in which a pin 8! ( Figure 12) on this disc bears against a projection H9 connected to the stationary shaft.
  • 19 has teeth round its circumference in which a check pawl 82 can engage.
  • An electromagnet ZM is also provided, the stepping pawl 89 of which allows the disc 19 to be stepped against the action of the spring in the housing 88.
  • a check pawl 93 which is visible in Figures 13 and 16, is released by a projection '92 ( Figure 16) of the member 99 and engages in the teeth ll of the storing wheel 69.
  • This check pawl 93' is'so arranged that its edge is dlsplaced relatively to the forward edge of the slot ll by half a pitch of the teeth ll.
  • the time disc I meter The time disc I meter.
  • the time disc I9 is stepped at equal intervals of time, 5 seconds for example, by means of the electromagnet ZM.
  • the arrangement of the cam on the periphery of the wheel l9 thus determines the instant at which a storing of the charge that is to be made according to the existingthel is to be effected by means of a rotation of the storing wheel. This occurs, for example, after the first 15 seconds after the setting into operation of the wheel 19, again after the expiration of the first three minutes and then again after the expiration of every subsequent minute up to a maximum of 12 minutes.
  • cams 94 are provided on the time disc 19 at the same intervals as the earns 85 which can actuate contacts through which, for example, the circuit for a buzzing signal is closed. These cams 94 are set at a small angular distance in advance of the cams 85 so' that on the periodical stepping of the time disc 19 by means of the electromagnet ZM, a cam 94 actuates a stationary contact about 10 seconds earlier than the next cam 85 comes into engagement withthe cam 86 on the member 89 for the purpose of releasing the storing wheel 69.
  • a further cam 95 is provided on the time disc #9 which has a somewhat greater length than the cam 94. After. a complete rotation of the time disc '39 which takes 12 minutes, this cam actuates a special contact not illustrated in the drawings through which, for example, the connection can be positively broken.
  • An indicator 911 is also fixed on the shaft M2 by means of a screw 96 and a scale is arranged on the time disc E9 in suitable fashion so that the duration of the call can be read directly at any time by the degree of displacement of the time disc 19.
  • Thisisementialinorderthatvarlouscharges may be rounded oil. For example, if the night charge is only twofthirds of the day charge, then the angular distance betweentheholu oi the innermost seven rows of holes wiped over by the pin 84 must be exactly two-think of the outer seven rows oi holes wiped over by the pin 63. In this way, it can be obtained that although from instant to instant a further rotation of the storing wheel I takes place, no raising of the charge takes place. If the number oi'pins is a multiple oi the number of teeth II, then the storing wheel can he stepped through one or more teeth without causing a new pin .8 to one under the contact 17.,
  • the electromagnet TM the check pawl 16 of which engages the teeth II
  • the electromagnet TM is, as already mentioned, provided for returning the storing wheel 6!.
  • the pin '8 or N which has been operativeuntilthenhastobelittedoutoithe selected series of holes.
  • an electromagnet AM Figure 16 is energised, the" armature of which has a projection Ill by means of which in a particular normal position.
  • a pin III isfixed on the switch cam I and lies between two pins I06 oi the armature Ill so that on energiration of the electromagnet All, the shaft III is rotated against the action of the spring ill.
  • a check pawl I is first all released by a projection "l1 0! the cam I and engages in the storing wheel teeth II.
  • This check pawl III is so arranged that its-position of cut registers with the holes in the rows of holes, and thus is not displaced through half a tooth pitch relatively to the running edge of these holes as was the above mentioned check pawl II.
  • a cam Ill removes the check pawl 41 out of the rack I It so that the ieeler 32 returns into the normal position under the action of the spring 42 in which poflticn the contact m0 is actuated by the projection 48.
  • the lower end of a pin H2 fixed to the rack 46 engages under the check pawl on the criterion carrier which has already been mentioned and which is not shown in the drawings and which is in' engagement with the toothed wheel 2".
  • the check pawl is thus displaced and the criterion carrier is consequently released and rotates under the influence of the clock spring fixed to the plate 120 until its projection 225 abuts against normal position is reached. In this position the contacts w and ow are again reversed.
  • the energization oi. the electromagnet AM also has the result that 'thewhole of the hitherto displaced parts are returned with the storing wheel 69 into their normal positions. It is only this storing wheel which is held in the displaced position by the check pawl I08 and the check pawl 12.
  • the electromagnet AM remains energized for the whole duration of the return movement.
  • current impulses are sent out until the projection ll of the storing wheel abuts against the movable stop 14 whereby the-contact go is opened which causes the energization circuit of the electromagnets AM and TM to be broken.
  • the value of the call is determined by means 01' a downward movement of the carrier 31. tiple metering should take place in the first evalution so that on the determination of only a small value, the storing wheel 89' and the time wheel I! remain in their normal position.
  • contacts emfl, eml, em2 ( Figure 12) are closed by the member ill which is connected to the carrier member 31. The contact emll is closed when the carrier member is lowered through one step, the contact emi when the carrier member is lowered through two stepsfwhile the contact em! is only closed when the carrier member is lowered through at least three steps.
  • the circuit for the stepping magnet ZM oi the time disc 19 is first of all closed by this contact emZ so that thus a multiple metering can only take place in dependence upon the time and the established value when the product is at least 3.
  • the contact eml can, for example, effect a metering by one step which is appropriate for local calls while other switching func- It may, however, be necessary that no mul- 1 the movable stop 226, that is to say, until the ence upon the rotation of the discs of the criterion carrier through large and small steps, then fixed contacts lid are arranged on the circumference' of the criterion carrier ( Figure 15) which can be actuated by cams of the criterion carrier.
  • these cams are formed by stampings out of a sheet H5 which is inserted in one of the slits in the 'discs M3 and is connected in suitable fashion, by bending for example, to the last of these discs. In this way, it is possible to close circuits in particular OSltlliS of the criterion carrier.
  • the arrangement of the whole of the moving parts of the described time-zone meter on one side of a stationary base plate 2! has the admagnets and mechanically controlled contacts is effected through a contact strip H6 (figure 12) which is arranged at the base in of the base plate 2H.
  • the contacts MB of this strip H8 are made, in lmown fashion, as pins so that it the arrangement l H is fixed to a. frame, an electrical connection can be made without diiiiculty with the contact springs of a corresponding opposite strip. In this way, easy interchangeability of the described device is obtained.
  • a device for time and zone metering in tele-i phone systems comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device and a movable meter stepping device, said time switch device being adapted at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of con-- versation to starta movement.
  • said meter stepping device, and said 'ineteEstepping device being provided with means adapted to limit the movement thereof to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and bytlie time interdevice being constructed as arotary disc, said disc being provided with means arranged in several concentric rows corresponding to the number of zone values and adapted to limit the rotation of said disc to an angle determined by the ascertained zone value.
  • a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time 7 switch device and a movable meter stepping device, said time switch device being, provided with means for at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of conversation starting a movemerit of said meter stepping device and said meter stepping device being provided with means for limiting its such movement to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the time interval at that moment; the last named means'being arranged in" several groups, each group corresponding to a zone value and the means within each of said groups corresponding to a different interval of time.
  • a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device constructed as a rotary disc and a meter stepping device, the disc of said time switch device being provided with cams arranged at particular angular distances for the production of energizations'for stepping the meter steppingmechanism at intervals of time and said meter stepping mechanism being provided with several groups of means, each group corresponding to a zone value and each means within one of said groups corresponding to a different inter- Y val of time, said means being adapted to limit the stepping of said meter stepping device to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the actual interval of time.
  • a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations with calling and called subscribers comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a time switch device, a movable meter stepping device, means associated with said time switch device for closing energizing circuits for starting amovement of said meter stepping device at intervals of time corresponding to the unit periods of conversation, means associated with said time switch device for signalling the calling subscriber, said meter stepping device being provided with means adapted to limit the movement thereof to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value andby the time interval at that moment; the last named .means being arranged in several groups, each group corresponding to a zone value and the means within each of said groups corresponding to a difierent interval of time.
  • a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection, a
  • time switch device a movable meter stepping device, means associated with said time switch device for starting a movement of said meter stepping device and means associated with said time switch device for signaling the calling subscriber and means for limiting the movement of said meter stepping device to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value, said signaling means being arranged so as to be actuated beforeactuation of said means for starting a movement of said meter stepping device.
  • a device for time and zone metering in telephone installations with calling and called subscribers comprising means for ascertaining the zone value of a connection between a calling and a called subscriber, a movable'meter stepping device and a time switch device, said time switch device being provided with means for starting a movement of said meter stepping device, with means for signaling the calling subscriber and with means for cutting off the connection at the expirationof a particular period of time when the called subscriber fails to reply, and said meter stepping device being provided with means for limiting its movement to an extent determined by the ascertained zone value and by the actual interval of time.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
  • Motor And Converter Starters (AREA)
  • Meter Arrangements (AREA)
US38466A 1931-04-28 1935-08-29 Time and zone metering device Expired - Lifetime US2099616A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2099616X 1931-04-28

Publications (1)

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US2099616A true US2099616A (en) 1937-11-16

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ID=31995374

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US38466A Expired - Lifetime US2099616A (en) 1931-04-28 1935-08-29 Time and zone metering device

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US (1) US2099616A (is")
CH (1) CH193481A (is")
FR (1) FR793792A (is")
GB (1) GB459375A (is")
NL (1) NL48951C (is")

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2486722A (en) * 1938-06-21 1949-11-01 Automatic Elect Lab Automatic toll-ticketing telephone system
US2532627A (en) * 1946-10-02 1950-12-05 Chicago Coin Machine Co Multiple switch
US2566330A (en) * 1945-06-23 1951-09-04 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Metering arrangement for telephone systems
US2588685A (en) * 1939-07-26 1952-03-11 Automatic Elect Lab Register-sender for automatic telephony
US2764464A (en) * 1952-07-02 1956-09-25 North American Aviation Inc Digital graph follower plotter
US2920151A (en) * 1957-01-24 1960-01-05 Julius J Lawick Door operating electric switch
US3406541A (en) * 1966-05-31 1968-10-22 Singer Co Yarn feed indexing apparatus

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2486722A (en) * 1938-06-21 1949-11-01 Automatic Elect Lab Automatic toll-ticketing telephone system
US2588685A (en) * 1939-07-26 1952-03-11 Automatic Elect Lab Register-sender for automatic telephony
US2566330A (en) * 1945-06-23 1951-09-04 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Metering arrangement for telephone systems
US2532627A (en) * 1946-10-02 1950-12-05 Chicago Coin Machine Co Multiple switch
US2764464A (en) * 1952-07-02 1956-09-25 North American Aviation Inc Digital graph follower plotter
US2920151A (en) * 1957-01-24 1960-01-05 Julius J Lawick Door operating electric switch
US3406541A (en) * 1966-05-31 1968-10-22 Singer Co Yarn feed indexing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH193481A (de) 1937-10-15
GB459375A (en) 1937-01-07
NL48951C (is") 1940-08-15
FR793792A (fr) 1936-01-30

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