US2193428A - Wired news disseminating system - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1940.

H. F. MAY 2,193,428

WIRED NEWS DISSEMINATING SYSTEM Filed June 3, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY March 12, 1940. H. F. MAY

WIRED maws DISSEMINA'I'ING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 3, 1938 muiom k0 MOEDOW O.

III;

INVENTOR n-g F MAY h z A TOR EY Patented Mar. 12, 1940 I 2,

UNITED ST T-Es PATENT OFFICE. T

Harold FsMay, Valley Stream, N. Y., assignor to The Teleregister Corporation, New York, N. Y a corporation of Delaware" Application June 3, 1938,"Serial No. 211,535

9 Claims. (Cl. 179-1).

This invention relates to a wired'news dis' tem of the character herein described it is imseminating system, and more particularly to a portant that a suitable switching device at the system for disseminating info1'mation, such' as outlying station be operated by-the central sta-j stock averages and other market news; and for tionattendant-immediately preceding or coinci- 5 interspersing additional information, such as dent with the transmission of the more important 5 news flashes, for transmission to a plurality of news items, for which the transmission of the less subscribers stations. I 1 important quotation information would. of

The principal object of t is invention is to procourse. be interrupted. Such a method of call. videa system of the character described; wheresignaling insures that'a' special news item will be in messages originating at a main station are to received and reproduced at each outlying station 10 be audibly received simultaneously and selectiveirrespective of thesetting of the manual device 1y at a plurality of outlying stations connected atthe station even 'though the device is set in a t v by means of line conductors radiating from the position to cause the'quotation information sigmain station, the arrangement of the equipment nals to be preventedfrom normally operating the according to this invention being especially apsound reproducing element in the outlying sta-l5 plicable to the distribution of stock quotations, tion. news items or other matter in connection with In carrying out the present invention .a premarket averages and information relating to an ferred arrangement isbased'on the employment investment service. i 1 Y f of equipment to permit simultaneous telephone In general this system provides 'a method services over each of several circuits which may 20 whereby signaling and communication operations radiate from a main station to an outlying or may be carried on between the main station and substation. "The" quotation information signals the outlying stations in a manner to render the arecarried on over a metallic loop or pair of consubscribers equipment responsive to line signals ductor's, whereas the signals controlling the opfor broadcasting of special items and selectively eration of the switching device in the outlying 25 responsive under control of a device at each sub? station" for the transmission for news flashes is scribers station for suppressing the reception of worked phantom over such line pairs. other broadcast signals by the subscribers equip- A further object of the invention is the proviment.v sion of an audio amplifying system having a comflb This system also provides that the main station bination of two or more sets of audio circuits, may signal or'communicate with any of the outunits and transformers, a plurality of receiving lying stations selectively under control of a manequipments each comprising "a loud speaking reua-lly settable device at each of the outlying staceiver or other voicereproducing element adapttions, all in a manner toefiectively reproduce all ed to be operatively connected to an audio ampliof the communication signals received at certain fying unit within the receiving -apparatus either 5 of the outlying stations and to preventcertain of by means controlled by the attendant at each the communication information from being reoutlying station or by a device controlled by'the produced at others of the outlying stations,'deannouncer at the'central station. k pending upon the setting of the manually con- Another object of the invention resides in the .10 trolled device. g provision of means operable at will for adjusting 40 In order that the advantages of the present the impedance of the system in accordance with system may be more readily understood, the more the number of outlying stations v connected important service features desirable in a system thereto. H v I of this character will first be briefly considered. This inventionis illustrated. diagrammatically In connection with the regular transmission of in the accompanying drawings in which only so 45 H information relating to stock transactions, as for much of the telephonic and flash signal equipexample, the price of the transactions or the ment is shown as will be necessary to a clear amount of the sale, stock averages and the like, understanding of the system. it frequently transpires that important news Referring to the drawings; 1, illustrates an items are received at the main station from which arrangement at the main station in which the point such items should be immediately transtelephone working and flash signal operation may mitted to the outlying stations in precedent of be carried out inaccordance'with one embodiless important quotation information; In the ment of the invention." In Figs. 2'and 3 is shown handling of press traffic such important 'items the signal repeating and amplifying circuits con-' are-commonly,referred'jto as flashes: In a systrolled by the arrangementof Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 is 55 shown a plurality of subscribers equipment in diagrammatic form including one such equipment in circuit detail.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown thereon a microphone I connected by a cord 2 to a plug 3 adapted to be inserted into a jack 4 connected to the input circuit 'of a microphone amplifier MA and to the contacts of a tone control key TK. The output of the microphone amplifier is connected to contacts of the relay S in such a manner that when the relay S is unoperated an artificial load is placed across the output of the microphone amplifier and when the relay S is operated the artificial load is removed and the output of the microphone amplifier is connected through an attenuator to the input of a'buifer amplifier BA and to the input of a repeater amplifier RAE, Fig. 2, preferably locatedat the ma n station.

A power supply unit PS supplies current to the heater filaments of the amplifying tubes of the microphone and buffer amplifiers and rectified current to the plates of these tubes.

the repeater amplifier tubes and rectified current for the plates of these tubes.

The subscribers equipment shown in detail of Fig. 4 on the drawings comprises a flash relay SFL and a subscriber amplifying unit SA having the input thereof connected to the conductors comprising the subscribers loop. The output of the subscribers amplifying unit is connected to a loud speaking receiver, the circuit being closed by the control key CK or by the operation of the fiash relay SFL, as the case may be. The subscribers amplifying unit comprises two tubes in push-pull arrangement preferably for operating the loud speaking receiver. their filament heating current from the subscribers power supply unit SPS which also supplies the plate current necessary for the operation of the tubes. The subscribers power supply unit may be connected to a source of either alternating or direct current, thereby rendering the subscribers equipment suitable for operation in areas regardless of the type of current available.

The operation of the system will now be described: The key SK is operated thereby applying ground to one end of the windingof the relay S and causing it to operate. The operation of relay S at its armature 5 applies battery to the lamp SL causing the lamp to light as an indication that the microphone amplifier is connected to the buffer amplifier BA, Fig. 1 and repeater amplifier RAZ, Fig. 2. The key TK is moved to the off position and the microphone is plugged into the microphone amplifier by the insertion of the plug 3 into the jack 4 before the key SK is operated. Voice currents from the microphone I pass through transformer 6 into the amplifying tube 7 and thence through transformer 8, amplifying tube 9 and transformer ll through the conductors l2 and i3 to the decibel meter DB, the circuit being closed from conductor 13 through the decibel meter DB, contacts M of the key TK These tubes receive.

to conductor l2. Conductor I3 is also connected to armature 15 of relay S from whence the circuit is continued through the make contact thereof, one winding of the transformer l6, conductor l'l, armature l8 and make contact of relay S to conductor l2. The voice currents from the transformer pass through the amplifying tubes l9 and 2! and thence to the transformer 22 of the buffer amplifier. Transformer 22 is provided with two secondary windings connected by way of conductors 23 and 24 to the contacts of a switch 25 located at the repeater station RS whereby the repeater station receives signals over the conductors 23 or 24 in accordance with the position of the switch 25.

The circuit to the switch 25 is continued by way of conductors 26 to a transformer 21 and thence through the repeater amplifier tubes 28 and 29 to the transformer 3|. The circuit is continued through the transformer 3i, taps 32, slip connections 33 and conductors 34 to the windings of transformer 35 comprising the various line coupling units. The circuit is continued through transformer 35 by way of taps 36, slip connections 3?, balance resistances 38, conductor 39, condenser M, potentiometer 42 and transformer 43 from whence the circuit is continued through the subscribers amplifying tubes 44 and 45 to the transformer 46, the secondary winding of which is connected by way of conductor 4'! to the voice coil of the loud speaking receiver 48 and thence by way of conductor 49 to a contact of the key CK and armature 5| of the relay SFL. With the relay SFL or the key CK operated, the

circuit is continued by way of conductor 52 to the other end of the secondary winding of the transformer 46.

'It will be assumed that the subscriber has closed his key OK and the switch 53, thereby connecting power to the subscribers power supply unit and thus preparing his equipment for the reception of broadcast signals.

With the subscribers control key CK in the closed position, a connection is established between the subscribers amplifying unit and the loud speaking receiver whereby the receiver is responsive to all messages originating at the main station. In the event that the subscriber does not care to receive all messages on his loud speaking receiver, the key CK is opened and his receiver is thereby placed in condition to respond to only those messages which comprise news flashes. The operation of the system to transmit a news flash will now be described.

Whenthe announcer at the main station desires to transmit a news flash, he depresses the flash key FL, Fig. 1, thereby connecting ground to conductor 54 and causing the news flash relay NF, Fig. 2, to operate and at its armature 55 apply battery to conductor 56 and cause the news flash lamp NFL to be lighted as an indication to the announcer that the system is in condition to transmit a news flash. When armature 51 of relay NF engages its make contact, battery is applied to conductor 58, resistors 59, secondary windings of the transformer 22 and thence to the line conductors 23 and 24 from whence the circuit is continued by way of the switch 25 in circuit with the conductors 23 or 24 as the case may be, and thence to the windings of the repeater flash relay RFL, Fig. 3, the other end of the relay windings being connected to ground. The relay RFL at the repeater station operates over the circuit just described and at its armature 6! applies battery to conductor 62. resistance 63 and slip connections .64 of each ofthefline cou; pling units. 'The circuit iscontinued froinis'lip connections 64 through the secondary windings of transformer 35 of the line coupling unit,- balance resistances 38 and by way of line conduotors 39 to the windings of the subscribers flash relay SFL and thence to ground, thereby causing relay SFL to operate and at its armature 5| connect the voice coil of the loud speaking receiver 48 to the secondary winding of the transformer 46 of the subscribers amplifying unit of each of those installations where the control key CK is unoperated. The loud speaking receiver 48 is thus placed in operative relationship with the subscribers amplifying unit whereby the flash announcement is audibly received ,byfthe sub: sc'ribers equipment. When the news flash announcen'ient has been made, the announcerie' stores the flash key FL at the main station causing the subscribers flash relays to be re: leased and disconnect the loud speakers 'froni'the subscriber amplifying units. I

Wh'en it is desired to disconnect power from. the subscribers equipment at theoutlying sta'-. tions, as for example, at the conclusion of the broadcast service, the system functions topic-I complish this result in the followingjmanner: The tone control key TK at the main station is moved to the on position and at its contact65 applies ground to conductor 54 to cause the subscribers flash relays SFL to operate and at their armatures 5| connect the loud speakers 43 to their respective transformers 46 thus insuring that all outlying stations will audibly reproduce the disconnect signal which is about to be trans; mitted. As the switch TK was moved tothe on{ position, the circuit to the meter DB was opened at contact 14 of the key to prevent damage tothe meter from the signal tone which is preferably of greater strength than the microphone signals employed with the system. The operation of relay TK at its contact 66 applies ground to the winding of the relay S causing the relay to operate'and at its armature l5 disconnect the arti ficial load 6'! from the output of the microphone amplifier and establish a connection between the output of the .microphone amplifier and the buffer and repeater amplifiers BAandRAL respectively. With the key 'I'K moved to the on position, ground is applied by way of contact 6%! of the key TK to conductor 59 extending to winding 1 of relay A from which point the circuit is continued through the winding of relay A, resistance 5 l, conductor 12 and thence to bat tery, thereby causing relay A to operate. As armature 13 of relay A engages its make contact; the winding I thereof is short circuited'causing the relay to release and immediately reo-perateas soon as armature i3 is disengaged from'its make contact. The resistance"?! is employed to protect the circuit from an excess of current when winding l of relay A is short circuited. Relay A continues to operate and release in rapid succession and produce a tone signal through its winding 2 for transmissionto the outlying stations in a manner which will be apparent as the description proceeds. A circuit is also closed from ground on conductor 69 through the winding of relay B and resistance M in parallel, resistance 1'5 to battery on conductor 12 thereby causing relay B to operate and atits armature l6 apply ground to conductor ll from'whence the circuit is traced through the winding of relay C, resistance 78 to battery on conductor l2.' Relay 0 operates over the circuit -just described its armature 19 completes the airman-om the input transformer 6. of the mi.- crophone amplifier by way of conductor 81, operated contacts 82 of the key TK, conductor 83,

make contact and armature P9 of relay C, conductor 84, winding 2 of relay A, conductor 85, contacts 86 of the key 'I'K, conductor 81 and thence to the input of transformer 6. The tone induced in winding 2 of relay A is thus amplified by the amplifier circuit MA and transmitted to the outlying stations during the time that relay C is operated. When relay C moved its armature 88 into engagement with the make contact thereoffa short circuit was placed across the winding of relay B, causing relay B to release and atits contact 89 short circuit the winding of relay (3, thereby releasing relay C and interrupting the tone circuit at its armature '19. The release'of relay C at its armature S8 removed the short circuit from relay B which immediately reoperates and the cycle of operationsjust described is repeated at' intervals causing an interrupted tone signal to be received by the loud speakers at the outlying stations. Since the release of relays B and C is caused by'short circuiting their respective windings, these relays release slowly and a slow rate of interruption of the tone signal isthereby obtained, the resistance 14 in parallellwith the winding of relay Bas'sisting in slowing the action of this relay.

When the disconnect signal is received at the outlying station, the subscriber or attendant opens the switch 53 thereby disconnecting power from the subscribers power supply and amplifier units. When the tone signal has been transmitted for a suflicient length of time, the key TK is moved to the ,ofiWposition, thereby releasing the fla'sh'relays in the main and repeating stations and in the outlying stations. The restoration of the key TK to the 01f position also releases relay S and causes the interrupted tone generator at the main station to ceaseoperating.

Whenever relay S operated to connect the input of thebuifer amplifier BA to the microphone amplifier, it also established a connection byway of conductors 9! between themicrophone amplifier and the repeater amplifier RAZ, located preferably in or relatively near the main station, for amplifying the received signals and passing them along to one or moreline coupling units LC for distribution to outlying stations over the outgoing conductors 92, two such outlying stations being shown on the drawings connected to each pair of outgoing conductors 92, although it willbe understood that the number of outlying stations connected to each pair of conductors may vary within wide limits without impairing the efficiency of the system. Furthermore all the outlying stations may be located near the line coupling units LC or remote therefrom or some may be located near the line coupling units and others remote therefrom on the line circuit comprising a pairof conductors 92. In order that each station may receive the same strength of signals irrespective of its location with respect to the line coupling unit or other outlying stations on the same subscribers loop, the slip connections 31 arebrought into engagement with different ones of the taps $6 of the transformer 35 of the line coupling unit and the balancing resistances 38 are adjusted until a uniform strength of signal is received.

' Whenever a 'news flash is to be transmitted.

the relay NF, Fig. 2, is operated and at its armature93 applies battery'to conductor 94 extending to each of the line coupling units of Fig. 2, thereby to control the operation of. the subscribers flash relays SFL of the outlying stations connected thereto.

The repeater amplifier RAE is similar in all respects to the repeater amplifier RAI shown on Fig. 3 of the drawin s and receives the filament and plate current necessary for the operation of the amplifier tubes from a power supply unit PS, the circuit details of this power supply unit being shown diagrammatically on Fig. l. The repeater amplifier unit at the repeater station RSI receives power for operation from the power supply unit PS4, Fig. 3, in a manner similar to the repeater amplifier unit HA2. The filaments of the amplifying tubes of the microphone and buffer amplifiers are shown connected by the conductors 95 to terminals I and 4 of the transformer S5 of the power supply unit, the other side of the transformer being connected to a source of current. The heater filament of the tubes of the repeater amplifiers RA! and RAZ are connected to terminals 2 and 3 of the power supply unit since it may be desirable under certain conditions to employ tubes in these amplifiers having different characteristics from those used with the microphone and buffer amplifiers.

The method of adjusting the output level of the microphone amplifier is as follows: With the key TK moved to the off position and the plug 3 inserted into the jack 4, an. artificial load 61 is connected across the output of the microphone amplifier and the meter DB is connected in parallel with this load, thereby placing the circuit in condition for adjustment of the microphone amplifier. The microphone is actuated by the human voice or other sound producing means and the output level of the microphone amplifier is indicated by the decibel meter DB. during which time the variable resistance 91 across the input of transformer 6 is adjusted until a suitable output level from the amplifier MA is obtained. During the foregoing operation relay S was unoperated and at its armature l8 connected a shunt across the input winding of the transformer l6 of the buffer amplifier BA and repeater amplifier RAZ to prevent any extraneous signals from being transmitted to the outlying stations. After the foregoing adjusting operation has been completed, key SK is operated causing relay S to operate and remove the artificial load 61 from the microphone ampliher and substitute therefor the buffer amplifier BA and repeater amplifier RAZ, thereby operatively connecting the microphone to the outlying stations.

The input side of transformer l6 supplying the buffer amplifier is connected to an attenuator which, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, may comprise the variable resistance units 98. This attenuator is adjusted to obtain the proper output level on the conductors 23 and 24 extending to the repeater station R8. The input to the repeater amplifiers RA! and RAZ is connected to an attenuator 99 to control the output level of these amplifiers in accordance with the number of line coupling units connected thereto. The output transformer 3i of these repeater amplifiers, as heretofore stated, is provided with a series of taps 32 and slip connections 33 adapted to be connected thereto for matching the impedance of the line coupling units to the impedance of the repeater amplifiers. The impedance of each subscribers loop is matched to the impedance of the associated line coupling unit LG by the slip connections 31 and taps 36 of the transformer 35 and by adjusting the resistances 38 so that the line coupling unit presents the same impedance to the amplifier thus providing an arrangement whereby a uniform distribution of signals to the several subscribers loops is obtained. In the event that no subscribers stations are in connection with a particular line coupling unit, the wires 39 are connected together and an artificial load comprising the resistances 38 is thus connected to the line coupling unit whereby the impedance of the line coupling unit may be brought into matched relationship with the repeater amplifier.

Referring now to the subscribers amplifier circuit, Fig. 4, the input side of the input transformer 43 thereof is connected to a potentiometer 42 for controlling the volume level of the loud speaker 38. The subscribers amplifier is adapted to be operated from either alternating or direct source of current, the arrangement shown employing the tubes 44 and 45 in pushpull combination for actuating the loud speaker. When connected to a source of direct current, the subscribers power supply unit should be so connected that conductor IE0 is in circuit with the source of positive potential. The buffer amplifier BA is: employed to increase the output level of the microphone amplifier in order that the signals received at the repeater station RS, which may be located at a considerable distance from the main station, will be comparable in order of magnitude with the signals received by the repeater station RAZ. The specific circuit arrangement including the pairs of conductors 23 and 24 is such that a circuit failure of either of these pairs of conductors, resulting for example from a storm or physical injury to the conductors, does not permanently disable the system, as the repeating station RS may receive signals over the other pair of conductors by the operation of the switch 25. Whereas in the event that that portion of the system controlled by the conductors 23 and 24 should become inoperative for any reason, the repeater amplifier RAZ would continue to operate and the service furnished the subscribers served thereby would be uninterrupted.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain preferred example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a system of the character described including a transmitting station and a plurality of receiving station amplifiers, a communication channel interconnecting said transmitting station and said station amplifiers, said transmitting station having means for transmitting over said channel signals comprising a composite program of different items of information and having means for causing special selecting signals to accompany the signals comprising certain of said items of the composite program transmitted, loud speaking receivers associated with said amplifiers, said loud speaking receivers being normally disconnected from said amplifiers, and means at each receiving station responsive to said special signals for operatively connecting the loud speaking receiver with the amplifier to cause said loud speaking receiver to respond to the signals comprising said certain items of information. i

. prising a composite program of difierent items of information and having means for causing special selecting signals to accompany the signals comprising certain of said items of the compositeprov circuits connecting said main station with the gram transmitted, and means in said receiving station controlled by said special signals transmitted over the communication channel for oper atively connecting the loud speaking receiver to the amplifier to selectively reproduce said certain items of information.

3. In a system of the character described, the combination of a main transmitting station including a signal generating device for transmit ting a composite program of different items and manipulative means for causing special selecting signals to accompany the signals comprising certain of said items, a plurality of repeater stations connected to said main transmitting station for repeating the signals generated by the signal generating device including signal means responsive to the special signals under control of said receivers with the amplifiers in accordance with{ the operation of said manipulative means at the main transmitting station. g

4. In a news disseminating system for stocks and the like, the combination of a main trans-- mitting station includinga signal generating de I vice and manipulative means, an amplifier connected to said signal generating device, a plurality of pairs of outgoing conductors, a repeater station including means for connecting any pair of outgoing conductors to the repeating station and a signal device at said repeating station controlled 1 by said manipulative means over the outgoing,

conductors, a plurality of line coupling units connected to said repeating station each having a plurality of outlying stations connected thereto and including means controlled by said signal device at the repeating station for signaling the outlying stations, an amplifier and loud. speaking receiver at each outlying station, and a switching device for operatively connecting said loud speaking receiver to the amplifier under control of the signal received from said line coupling unit in accordance with the operation of said manipulative means.

5. In a system of the character described in cluding a main station and a plurality of outlying stations, a transmitter and manipulative means included in the main station, an amplifier operatively associated with said transmitter and said manipulative means, a repeater station intermediate said main station and said outlying stations,

including a signal device, a transmission circuit 7 comprising a plurality of outgoing conductors interconnecting said amplifier and the repeater station, means including a phantom circuit for actuating said signal device at the repeating station under controljof said manipulative means, and means in each of the outlying stations actuated by said signal means for rendering the outlying stations selectively responsive to audibly reproduce signals received'from said transmitter atthe main station. I

6. In a system for simultaneously receiving in- I formation comprising quotation signals andnews flashes at a plurality of outlying stations from a source of signals at a main station, the combination of transmitting means including a manipulative device at the transmitting station operable in accordance with the news flashes to be transmitted for causing special selecting signals to accompany said news flashes, a plurality of line outlying stations, an amplifier including a device for audibly reproducing signals received from the each outlying station controlledby the manipulative device and said special signals for establishmain station over the line circuits, and means at 1 regarding stock and news items, the combination special selecting signals to accompany said news items,- a plurality of outlying stations each comprising an amplifier and a loud speaking receiver normally disconnected from said amplifier, a plurality of transmission channels interconnecting saidtransmitting station and the outlying stations, a first means settable at will for bringing the loud speaking receiver into operative relationship with the amplifier whereby all of the signals received from the main station are reproduced by the loud speaking receiver and a second means efiective when the said first means is not operated to bring the loud speaking receiver into operative relationship with the amplifier selectively under control of said manipulative device and said special signals. Q 8. In a system .of the character described including a main station and a plurality of outlying stations, means including an amplifier at the main station for transmitting signals representative of stocks or other items and manipulative means, means in each of the outlying stations for selectively and audibly reproducing signals from the main station under control of said amplifier and manipulative means, a generating device at themain station for automatically transmitting atperiodic intervals a special disconnect warning signal, and means for connecting said device tothe amplifier at the main station to cause said special signal to be audibly reproduced at each of the outlying stations.

9. A wired news disseminating system comprising means for transmitting signals comprising a program of news items, a receiving stationcomprising an amplifier and a loud speaking receiver,

a communication channel interconnecting said transmittingmeans and said receiving station, means for sending special selecting signals over the channel to accompany certain items of said program, and means at thereceiving station responsive to said special signal for operatively connecting the loud speakingreceiver to the amplifier.

' I HAROLD F. MAY.

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