US2232181A - Telephone system - Google Patents

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US2232181A
US2232181A US181938A US18193837A US2232181A US 2232181 A US2232181 A US 2232181A US 181938 A US181938 A US 181938A US 18193837 A US18193837 A US 18193837A US 2232181 A US2232181 A US 2232181A
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relay
armature
circuit
operated
over
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US181938A
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Mcclew John William
Williams Austin Hugh
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Associated Telephone and Telegraph Co
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Associated Telephone and Telegraph Co
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/10Metering calls from calling party, i.e. A-party charged for the communication
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q1/00Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
    • H04Q1/18Electrical details
    • H04Q1/30Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents
    • H04Q1/32Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents using trains of dc pulses
    • H04Q1/36Pulse-correcting arrangements, e.g. for reducing effects due to interference

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  • the present invention relates to telephone systems and is more particularly concerned with systems employing impulse repeaters of the type adapted to receive a train of distorted impulses on a registering device and to retransmit them to a succeeding switch in corrected form as regards both ratio and speed.
  • the invention may be carried out with particular advantage by the use of a so-called mechani-' cal impulse repeater of the type disclosed in J. W. McClew and C. R. Riversides application No. 79,830, filed May 15, 1936, now Patent No. 2,188,461, dated Aug. 16, 1938.
  • registering equipment responsive to trains of incoming impulses is adapted to be operated after the desired connection is established to measure the duration of the conversation for charging purposes.
  • the equipment is set in operation to control a metering or like charging operation at predetermined intervals.
  • a further feature of the invention is that in a telephone system employing an impulse regenerator of the type wherein a stepping member is moved by incoming impulses away from a cooperating member which moves towards the first member to transmit corresponding regenerated impulses arrangements are provided whereby the first member is stepped at regular intervals away from the second member and after moving a predetermined distanceproduces circuit changes for controlling a metering or like charging operation.
  • Relay B thereupon energises relays IP and BR over armature b2, extends a guard earth at armature b3 on to the incoming P2 lead associated with incoming selectors, operates relay AL over armature b5 and at armature b6 extends a guard earth by way of the low resistance lower winding of relay TE on to the P conductor associated with regular and coin box selectors.
  • Relay BR upon operating, at armature br4 applies earth to the common time pulse generation set start lead ST in preparation for the subsequent timing of conversational periods, while armatures M2 and b4 together complete a loop comprising the windings of relays D and I and the impulse springs IMP across the outgoing junction in order to prepare the terminating equipment at the distant exchange for the reception of impulses.
  • Relay I now operates and polarises the shunt field relay D over its right-hand winding, the latter however being non-operative in this condition.
  • Relay AL at armature al3 operates relay BB by way of its lower winding; these relays however have no immediate function.
  • the storage device is indicated diagrammatically in the circuit by the discs R, P and S and it will be understood from reference to the details given in the prior specification that the receiving disc R is rotated step-by-step in response to the received impulses and carries with it a marking lever which is released at the end of each train of impulses to push a corresponding pin through the plate P into the path of the sending disc S. For each digit received, a corresponding pin is pushed through plate P and these serve to regulate the movement of the sending disc S which controls the generation of the outgoing impulses.
  • relay A On reception of the first train of impulses, relay A responds and at its armature aI repeats the impulses to the receiving magnet RM of the storage device in parallel with relay C, relays B and C remaining operated during the train due to their slugs.
  • Relay C upon operating, at armature cI energises the marking magnet MM of the storage device in order to tilt the marking lever carried by the disc R clear of the pins.
  • the impulses received by the magnet RM rotate the disc R step by step and on the first movement of this disc the ofi-normal springs are operated and at contacts NI various circuits are prepared and an earth is extended to the pin plate P.
  • relay A At the end of the train of pulses relay A remains steadily operated and on the release of relay C after its slow period the circuit for the marking magnet MM is opened and this magnet restores causing the lever carried by the disc R to release and push a corresponding pin into the path of the disc S.
  • the contacts mm controlled by the marking magnet close and complete a circuit for relay ON which thereupon operates and looks at armature onI for the remainder of the setting operation to the offnormal contacts NI.
  • Relay ON also completes an operating circuit for relay AP from earth, offnormal contacts NI, fixed plate P in contact with the pin left projecting after the previous call, the reset pin in the disc S which bears against this pin and thus restrains this disc from movement, armature on5, contacts sm, winding of relay AP to battery, while at armature ant and on! the windings of relays D and I are short-circuited, the storage device impulse springs IMP are connected directly in the outgoing loop and the condensers QA and QB are disconnected in order to improve the impulsing characteristics of the pulsing-out circuit.
  • relay IP On the operation of relay AP, relay IP is disconnected at armature apZ and an energising circuit for the sending magnet SM is prepared at armature apI.
  • the release time of relay IP is arranged to be of the order of 600 milli-seconds so that the pause between successive trains of impulses which is determined thereby is ample to allow the selectors in the train being set up to hunt for a free outlet.
  • the pulses of the first incoming train are sent out in regenerated form by way of the impulsing springs IMP controlled from the storage device and these impulses serve to set the distant switch.
  • Relay AP upon releasing also re-energises relay IP in preparation for timing the interdigital pause after the sending out of the train of pulses. During this time further trains of impulses may be received on the receiving disc, the two operations of reception and retransmission being enabled to go on simultaneously but independently of each other.
  • relay AP When the disc S comes up against the stop pin indicating the termination of the first train of pulses, relay AP is again operated and relay IP released and accordingly the sending magnet again receives a momentary energisation in order to release the disc S again to generate the second train of impulses in the manner described.
  • the sending disc S When all the digits received have been retransmitted, the sending disc S will catch up with the receiving disc R whereupon the oiT-normal contacts NI open and prevent further operation of relay AP and relay ON is released thus re-inserting relays D and I in the outgoing loop.
  • relay DA On transmission of the next S pulse, relay DA is operated and at armature daI prepares a. circuit for relay DB which is operated after the appropriate time interval from the Z pulse in series with the middle winding of relay DA.
  • Relay DA remains locked over its left-hand winding until relay DB operates from the Z pulse when both the initial energising circuit and the locking circuit for relay DA are opened, but it remains held over its middle winding in series with the left-hand winding of relay DB for the duration of the Z pulse.
  • relay J is connected by way of armatures (i115 and dbZ to the meter pulse lead MP and will be operated thereover one or more times in accordance with the length of the outgoing junction.
  • relay J connects booster battery over common lead II] to the incoming P conductor so as to actuate the subscribers meter the appropriate number of times.
  • relay DA restores to prevent further operation of the metering relay J and relay DB remains operated in series with resistance YA to earth over armatures b193, dbl and brI.
  • Relay DB also at armature db5 connects the receiving magnet RM of the storage device to the common lead I2 to which an earth pulse of short duration is connected from the time pulse generation set every four and a half seconds.
  • the magnet RM On reception of the next pulse the magnet RM will be energised in parallel with relay whereupon at armature cl the marking magnet MM will also be energised.
  • the magnet RM At the conclusion of this pulse the magnet RM will be de-energised and since it is of the reverse drive type, the receiving disc R will now be rotated one step.
  • the regenerator off-normal springs will now be operated and at contacts NI complete a circuit for relay ON by way of armature d1'3 since the marking magnet interrupter contacts mm will still be open.
  • the energising circuit for the marking magnet On release of relay 0 after its slow release period the energising circuit for the marking magnet will be opened but it remains energised by the reduced current flowing over armatures drd and t3 and resistance YB. On the next and subsequent pulses the magnet RM only will respond since the energising circuit of relay C is now disconnected at armatures 0M and M2. The disc R of the regenerator will thus be rotated step by step in order to measure the predetermined conversational period allowable for the first meter fee.
  • Relay T at armature t2 disconnects the irnpulsing circuit to the receiving magnet RM and at armature t3 opens the holding circuit for the marking magnet whereupon the lever carried by the receiving disc R is allowed to tilt back towards the plate P and thus moves the pin opposite which it is positioned into the path of the sending disc S. This serves to provide a homing position to which the sending disc S will be subsequently rotated on restoration of the device to normal, either in preparation for timing a further periodor for dealing with a further call.
  • Relay T also at armature tl connects the right-hand winding of relay CD to the common lead M from the time pulse generation equipment to which an earth pulse is connected every 12 seconds.
  • relay CD On reception of the next pulse, relay CD is energised over its right-hand winding which is only efficient enough to close the make-first armature cdl. At the end of the pulse the earth shunt is removed. from the left-hand efficient winding of relay CD and it now operates fully by way of its two windings in series over armatures ed! and dbfi. Lead [4 is now extended over armature cd2 to relay CO which is also of the two-step type and the sending magnet SM is now energised over armatures ipl, apl and cd3 and opens the holding circuit of relay AP at contacts sm.
  • Relay AP upon releasing disconnects the sending magnet energising circuit whereupon the sending disc is freed in the normal manner and rotates until it catches up with the receiving disc as marked by the pin displaced on operation of relay T.
  • the impulse springs IMP finding a circuit from the earthed transformer connected to common lead ll, through condenser QC to earth via the middle winding of relay A. Thence it is transmitted by induction to the outer windings of this relay and is thus extended on to the incoming negative and positive conductors in a balanced circuit.
  • the calling party must now decide during the following grace. period whether he will conclude the conversation or be metered for a further period.
  • relay CO is operated from lead M in a similar manner to relay CD and on operation of this relay the pip-pip tone circuit is disconnected at armature 003. Arrangements are provided whereby repeat metering may at once take place or the grace period may be extended for a further 12 seconds. If terminals l5 and I! are strapped, on the operation of relay CO earth will be extended by way of armature 004 to short-circuit and release relay DB which has hitherto been holding over its right-hand winding in series with resistance YA while if terminals l5 and G8 are strapped, relay DB will not be released until the reception of the next earth pulse over lead I4.
  • relay DB If, on release of relay DB, the calling party has not already hung up, metering again takes place on the next Z pulse and the timing of the second conversational period is commenced.
  • the release of relay DB releases relays CD and CO and when relay DB re-operates pulses from lead l2 are again connected to the receivingmagnet RM.
  • relay 3 commences to release and during its release time.
  • relay C is operated whilst relays AL, BB, BR, DD, AP, ON, DB, D and I and also the marking magnet MM are already operated.
  • relay B the forward loop is opened to release the switches in the distant exchange, whereupon relays D, I and DD release so that the pulsing circuit to the magnet RM is opened at armature ddfi whilst relays BR and C which are slow in releasing due to their slugs now commence to release.
  • the guard earth is removed from the incoming P and P2 leads thereby enabling the preceding train of switches to be released for further use with a minimum of delay and on release of this relay the guard earth is replaced until relay BB is released when the storage device is subsequently restored to normal.
  • the holding circuit for relay DR is opened and on release of the latter after its slow period the sending magnet SM receives a momentary energisation by interaction with relay AP. Thereupon the sending disc S is freed and at the same time the marking magnet is de-energised and depresses a pin to provide a home position to which'the sending disc will rotate.
  • relay AP The release of relay AP by the operation of the sending magnet SM releases relays DB and AL, but relay BB remains held from the operated armature 0113.
  • relay ON restores due to the opening of the off-normal contacts NI and opens the latter the relay set is completely restored and is available for further use.
  • relay CD will be operated in addition to the relays previously mentioned and the sending disc will already be released and will be rotating to catch up with the receiving disc.
  • the circuit operation on release of relay B will however follow a similar course to that just described.
  • relay C is energised in parallel with the receiving magnet RM and hence the marking magnet MM is also energised.
  • the magnet RM is de-energised and the disc R is thereupon rotated one step due to the reverse drive principle of the magnet armature Whilst on the subsequent release of relay C the marking magnet is released to displace a corresponding pin in the disc P.
  • Relay ON is operated on the closure of the off-normal contacts NI and operates relay AP; the release thereupon takes place in the normal manner.
  • Relay TG will now be operated over its lower winding in series with the earthed tone transformer by way of armatures c124, odd and co3 and looks over its upper winding by way of armatures cb'3, tel and 1591, relay TE having been released by the operation of relay DA at the beginning of the timing cycle.
  • Relay TG at armature 02 makes the holding circuit for relay A dependent on the earth supplied by armatures (H94 and bb l and hence it will be appreciated that relay TG must be restored to normal before relay DB is released at the end of the grace period, otherwise relay A will be released and the conversation in progress will be broken down. If the calling coin box subscriber inserts the necessary fee during this time, a momentary battery pulse is again supplied over the incoming P lead from the coin box selector whereupon relay TE will be operated and will lock up as before, while on the operation of relay CO relay TG will be released to maintain the earth feed to relay A. Conversation may now proceed for a further predetermined period without further payment.
  • terminal I! is strapped to terminal 16 rather than to terminal l5
  • the effect would be that a regular subscriber could have a call of unlimited length for the initial fee while a coin box subscriber would have to make an additional payment at the end of each predetermined period.
  • a convenient arrangement in practice would be to strap terminals I5 and I1 and IE and I8 and connect armature 04 to earth over a normally closed armature of relay CB. This would mean that both classes of subscribers would be charged on a time basis but the coin box subscriber would be allowed an extra 12 seconds grace period which would give him an opportunity to find and insert further coins.
  • relay LD On seizure of the relay set, relay LD will be operated over its left-hand winding in series with relay A which also operates and on operation of relay BB in the normal manner relay LD looks over its right-hand winding to earth via armatures Zdl, c2 and b174, while its left-hand winding is short-circuited at armature 12125 to prevent the inductance of this winding from interfering with the impulsing circuit to relay A.
  • Relay LD upon operating connects earth at armature 1:22 and M3 to the outgoing negative and positive junction conductors in order to bring about the operation of a differential relay in the distant incoming selector, which relay thereupon locks and causes the switching over to the second set of wipers.
  • the magnet RM On reception of the first set of dialled impulses, the magnet RM responds in the normal manner and relay C at armature c2 opens the holding circuit of relay LD which thereupon releases and the circuit operation thereafter proceeds in the normal manner.
  • the supervision is arranged to cover the operating circuits for the receiving, marking and sending magnets, the off-normal contacts and the operating path for relay AP and in case the device cannot be stepped off-normal or be restored to normal after a setting operation due to either a disconnection in any of these circuits or to a mechanical fault, alarm conditions will be brought about.
  • relay BB will be maintained from armature on3 and will guard the relay set against seizure by further outgoing calls, whilst earth will be extended over armatures brl and 0118 to light the supervisory lamp LP in series with delayed alarm equipment connected to common lead l3.
  • relay AL will hold operated and will maintain relay BB for guarding purposes and the delayed alarm will be brought into operation by way of armature 1112.
  • test terminals marked TJ giving access to various controlling points of the circuit are provided for the convenience of the exchange maintenance staff.
  • the high resistances connected across conductors QA and QB in the transmission circuit serve to eliminate microphonic noise whilst the condensers and associated resistances connected in parallel with the various impulsing circuits prevent destructive arcing at the contacts.
  • a step-by-step device operated by impulses from a calling station and effective to directively control said switches to extend a call in accordance with said impulses, and means for operating said device at spaced intervals during the talking period of said call.
  • a step-by-step device operated by impulses from a calling station and effective to directively control said switches to extend a call, means effective after the call has been extended for transmitting an impulse to said device at spaced intervals, and means controlled by said device and rendered effective periodically throughout the conversation for transmitting an audible tone to the conversing subscribers.
  • impulse operated means for directively controlling said switches to extend a connection
  • means controlled by said first means and operated periodically to impress an audible tone upon the connection after the connection is completed means operated an interval of time after each operation of said last means, and means for varying said interval of time.
  • a telephone system as claimed in claim 3 having subscribers lines of different classes, wherein said last means varies said interval of time automatically in dependence upon the class of the calling line.
  • a device for timing conversations comprising, a member rotatable in but one direction and having no normal position, means for arbitrarily marking any position occupied by said member as an index position, and impulse responsive means operated periodically during a conversation thereby to rotate said member in steps from said index position, and means controlled by said device for causing the conversation to be interrupted responsive to rotation of said member a predetermined number of steps from said index position.
  • a timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a member rotatable in but one direction and having no normal position, means for arbitrarily marking any position occupied by said member as an index position, impulse responsive means operated periodically to rotate said member in steps from said index position, and means operated responsive to rotation of said member a predetermined number of steps from said index position.
  • a timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a pair of movable members normally occupying adjacent positions, impulse responsive means operated periodically for moving one of said members in steps away from the other member, means operated responsive to the separation of said two members by a predetermined number of steps, and means controlled by said last means for moving said other member to a position adjacent the position then occupied by said first member.
  • a timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a movable member, means for marking the position occupied by said member, means for effacing the marking of a position previously occupied by said member, impulse responsive means operated periodically to step said member in a particular direction, and means effective responsive to said member being moved a predetermined number of steps from the last marked position occupied by said member for controlling said first means and said second means to cause the position then occupied by said member to be marked and to cause the marking of said last marked position to be efiaced.
  • an impulse repeater having two stepping members normally occupying adjacent positions wherein the first member moves away from the second member responsive to received impulses and the second member moves toward the first member to transmit corresponding impulses during the extension of a call, a metering circuit, and means for rendering said circuit effective after said call after the call is extended thereby to step said first member away from said second member, and means operated responsive to the separation of said members by a predetermined number of steps.
  • an impulse repeater having one member moved responsive to impulses from a calling station and a second member moved over the same path as said first member for controlling the transmission of corresponding impulses to said switches to extend a call, means for moving said first member during the talking period of said call, and means for transmitting metering impulses in accordance with the movement of said first member during said talking period.
  • a timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a series of elements each havinga normal position, a movable member operatively associated with one of said elements, means for displacing said one element, means for moving said member step-by-step to operatively associate said member with others of said elements in sequence, and means operated responsive to said member being moved a predetermined number of steps from said one element for causing said first means to displace that element with which said member is then operatively associated.

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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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Description

Feb. 18, 1941. w, McCLEW r 2,232,181
TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Dec. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pg LP flmin, g mzzm m iZ @6722 744244515 Feb. 18, 1941. w, McCLEW ET-Al, 2,232,181
TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Dec. 'r, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 $300 M5 I 2' g).
T0 INCOMING SELECIUR- 3 CZAQWT (GI/a169 djgneyl Patented Feb. 18, 1941 TELEPHONE SYSTEM John William McClew and Austin Hugh Williams, Liverpool, England, assignors to Associated Telephone & Telegraph Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,938 In Great Britain January 6, 1937 11 Claims.
The present invention relates to telephone systems and is more particularly concerned with systems employing impulse repeaters of the type adapted to receive a train of distorted impulses on a registering device and to retransmit them to a succeeding switch in corrected form as regards both ratio and speed.
Arrangements have already been suggested for use in conjunction with such impulse repeaters whereby the calling party is charged in accordance with the duration of conversation. This time-metering feature has however usually necessitated the provision of a rotary step-by-step switch individual to each repeater, which on the reply of the wanted party is advanced under the control of common time pulse equipment in order to measure the predetermined conversational period allowedfor each fee payable by or charged to the calling party. The chief object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby the impulse regenerating and conversation timing functions may be performed by the same piece of equipment so that an important economy-in the use of apparatus is realised.
The invention may be carried out with particular advantage by the use of a so-called mechani-' cal impulse repeater of the type disclosed in J. W. McClew and C. R. Woodlands application No. 79,830, filed May 15, 1936, now Patent No. 2,188,461, dated Aug. 16, 1938.
According to one feature of the invention in a telephone system employing register senders in association with outgoing trunk lines registering equipment responsive to trains of incoming impulses is adapted to be operated after the desired connection is established to measure the duration of the conversation for charging purposes.
According to another feature of the invention in a telephone system employing a mechanical impulse repeater for the regeneration of impulses to be transmitted over an outgoing trunk line after the setting impulses have been transmitted in regenerated form, the equipment is set in operation to control a metering or like charging operation at predetermined intervals.
A further feature of the invention is that in a telephone system employing an impulse regenerator of the type wherein a stepping member is moved by incoming impulses away from a cooperating member which moves towards the first member to transmit corresponding regenerated impulses arrangements are provided whereby the first member is stepped at regular intervals away from the second member and after moving a predetermined distanceproduces circuit changes for controlling a metering or like charging operation.
The invention will be better understood from the following description of one method of carrying it into effect, reference being had to the accompanying drawings comprising Figs. 1 and 2 which should be arranged side by side to form a complete circuit diagram. These figures show the trunk line equipment, or relay set, which terminates one end of a two-way junction line and which is taken into use for the extension of outgoing calls over the junction line.
In the circuit shown, arrangements are provided for discriminating between outgoing calls originated by regularsubscribers and by coin box subscribers so that at the conclusion of each timed period during a conversation, repeat metering takes place in the former case but in the latter case the conversation is broken down if a further fee is not paid. Furthermore if the-relay set is seized from a distant exchange, the timing equipment is .not brought into operation since it is clearly not required as metering is efiected at the originating exchange.
In order that the storage device may perform its dual function, a slight modification is made to the apparatus described in J. W. McClew and C. R. Woodlands application No. 79,830, filed May 15, 1936, now Patent No. 2,188,461, dated Aug. 16, 1938, whereby the oif-normal contacts in addition to being opened in the normal position, are again opened when the receiving disc has been rotated from 37 to steps away from the position of the sending disc.
Considering now the circuit operation, for the purpose of the description a straightforward outgoing call from a regular subscriber will first be dealt with, in which case the relay set will be seized over conductors and P. When this occurs the loop extended over c nductors and operates relay A over its outer windings in series whereupon relay B is operated over armature al. Relay B thereupon energises relays IP and BR over armature b2, extends a guard earth at armature b3 on to the incoming P2 lead associated with incoming selectors, operates relay AL over armature b5 and at armature b6 extends a guard earth by way of the low resistance lower winding of relay TE on to the P conductor associated with regular and coin box selectors. Relay BR upon operating, at armature br4 applies earth to the common time pulse generation set start lead ST in preparation for the subsequent timing of conversational periods, while armatures M2 and b4 together complete a loop comprising the windings of relays D and I and the impulse springs IMP across the outgoing junction in order to prepare the terminating equipment at the distant exchange for the reception of impulses. Relay I now operates and polarises the shunt field relay D over its right-hand winding, the latter however being non-operative in this condition. Relay AL at armature al3 operates relay BB by way of its lower winding; these relays however have no immediate function.
For convenience, the storage device is indicated diagrammatically in the circuit by the discs R, P and S and it will be understood from reference to the details given in the prior specification that the receiving disc R is rotated step-by-step in response to the received impulses and carries with it a marking lever which is released at the end of each train of impulses to push a corresponding pin through the plate P into the path of the sending disc S. For each digit received, a corresponding pin is pushed through plate P and these serve to regulate the movement of the sending disc S which controls the generation of the outgoing impulses.
On reception of the first train of impulses, relay A responds and at its armature aI repeats the impulses to the receiving magnet RM of the storage device in parallel with relay C, relays B and C remaining operated during the train due to their slugs. Relay C upon operating, at armature cI energises the marking magnet MM of the storage device in order to tilt the marking lever carried by the disc R clear of the pins. The impulses received by the magnet RM rotate the disc R step by step and on the first movement of this disc the ofi-normal springs are operated and at contacts NI various circuits are prepared and an earth is extended to the pin plate P.
At the end of the train of pulses relay A remains steadily operated and on the release of relay C after its slow period the circuit for the marking magnet MM is opened and this magnet restores causing the lever carried by the disc R to release and push a corresponding pin into the path of the disc S. At the same time the contacts mm controlled by the marking magnet close and complete a circuit for relay ON which thereupon operates and looks at armature onI for the remainder of the setting operation to the offnormal contacts NI. Relay ON also completes an operating circuit for relay AP from earth, offnormal contacts NI, fixed plate P in contact with the pin left projecting after the previous call, the reset pin in the disc S which bears against this pin and thus restrains this disc from movement, armature on5, contacts sm, winding of relay AP to battery, while at armature ant and on! the windings of relays D and I are short-circuited, the storage device impulse springs IMP are connected directly in the outgoing loop and the condensers QA and QB are disconnected in order to improve the impulsing characteristics of the pulsing-out circuit. On the operation of relay AP, relay IP is disconnected at armature apZ and an energising circuit for the sending magnet SM is prepared at armature apI. The release time of relay IP is arranged to be of the order of 600 milli-seconds so that the pause between successive trains of impulses which is determined thereby is ample to allow the selectors in the train being set up to hunt for a free outlet.
When relay IP releases, at armature z'pI the magnet SM is energised, whereupon the pin displaced at the end of the previous call is pushed out of the path of the disc S but owing to the stepped head of the reset pin this disc is not immediately released and remains held until after the de-energisation of the magnet SM. Magnet SM at contacts sm disconnects relay AP which thereupon opens the magnet energising circuit and as fully described in the prior specification the sending disc S is now released and rotates until it comes up against the stop pin indicating the termination of the first train of impulses. During the rotation of the disc S the pulses of the first incoming train are sent out in regenerated form by way of the impulsing springs IMP controlled from the storage device and these impulses serve to set the distant switch. Relay AP upon releasing also re-energises relay IP in preparation for timing the interdigital pause after the sending out of the train of pulses. During this time further trains of impulses may be received on the receiving disc, the two operations of reception and retransmission being enabled to go on simultaneously but independently of each other. When the disc S comes up against the stop pin indicating the termination of the first train of pulses, relay AP is again operated and relay IP released and accordingly the sending magnet again receives a momentary energisation in order to release the disc S again to generate the second train of impulses in the manner described.
When all the digits received have been retransmitted, the sending disc S will catch up with the receiving disc R whereupon the oiT-normal contacts NI open and prevent further operation of relay AP and relay ON is released thus re-inserting relays D and I in the outgoing loop.
When the called party replies, the battery is reversed in the well-known manner on the called side of the circuit and this brings about the operation of the shunt field relay D which at armature dI operates relay DD. This relay thereupon at armature ddI operates relay DR, at armatures dd2 and (M3 reverses the current flow over the incoming conductors for supervision purposes, and at armature dd4 connects earth by way of the right-hand winding of relay DA to the S pulse lead extending to the meter pulse machine, which, it will be understood, is arranged to supply battery pulses to the S and Z leads with a definite time relation.
On transmission of the next S pulse, relay DA is operated and at armature daI prepares a. circuit for relay DB which is operated after the appropriate time interval from the Z pulse in series with the middle winding of relay DA. Relay DA remains locked over its left-hand winding until relay DB operates from the Z pulse when both the initial energising circuit and the locking circuit for relay DA are opened, but it remains held over its middle winding in series with the left-hand winding of relay DB for the duration of the Z pulse. During the application of this latter pulse relay J is connected by way of armatures (i115 and dbZ to the meter pulse lead MP and will be operated thereover one or more times in accordance with the length of the outgoing junction. At armature :i I relay J connects booster battery over common lead II] to the incoming P conductor so as to actuate the subscribers meter the appropriate number of times. At the end of the Z pulse, relay DA restores to prevent further operation of the metering relay J and relay DB remains operated in series with resistance YA to earth over armatures b193, dbl and brI.
Relay DB also at armature db5 connects the receiving magnet RM of the storage device to the common lead I2 to which an earth pulse of short duration is connected from the time pulse generation set every four and a half seconds. On reception of the next pulse the magnet RM will be energised in parallel with relay whereupon at armature cl the marking magnet MM will also be energised. At the conclusion of this pulse the magnet RM will be de-energised and since it is of the reverse drive type, the receiving disc R will now be rotated one step. The regenerator off-normal springs will now be operated and at contacts NI complete a circuit for relay ON by way of armature d1'3 since the marking magnet interrupter contacts mm will still be open. On release of relay 0 after its slow release period the energising circuit for the marking magnet will be opened but it remains energised by the reduced current flowing over armatures drd and t3 and resistance YB. On the next and subsequent pulses the magnet RM only will respond since the energising circuit of relay C is now disconnected at armatures 0M and M2. The disc R of the regenerator will thus be rotated step by step in order to measure the predetermined conversational period allowable for the first meter fee.
Just prior to the end of this period which is of the order of three minutes duration, it is arranged that an audible. signal is transmitted to the calling party to inform him that he must conclude his conversation or otherwise he will be charged for a further period. For this purpose it is arranged that after the receiving disc R has been rotated 37.steps away from the sending disc (which is still restrained by the pin displaced at the end of the last dialled'digit) the oil-normal springs are again opened thus removing the short-circuit from relay T. This relay noW operates in series with relays ON and AP in parallel over a circuit including armatures dbl-i and 0M, relays ON and AP holding operated in this condition. Relay T at armature t2 disconnects the irnpulsing circuit to the receiving magnet RM and at armature t3 opens the holding circuit for the marking magnet whereupon the lever carried by the receiving disc R is allowed to tilt back towards the plate P and thus moves the pin opposite which it is positioned into the path of the sending disc S. This serves to provide a homing position to which the sending disc S will be subsequently rotated on restoration of the device to normal, either in preparation for timing a further periodor for dealing with a further call. Relay T also at armature tl connects the right-hand winding of relay CD to the common lead M from the time pulse generation equipment to which an earth pulse is connected every 12 seconds. On reception of the next pulse, relay CD is energised over its right-hand winding which is only efficient enough to close the make-first armature cdl. At the end of the pulse the earth shunt is removed. from the left-hand efficient winding of relay CD and it now operates fully by way of its two windings in series over armatures ed! and dbfi. Lead [4 is now extended over armature cd2 to relay CO which is also of the two-step type and the sending magnet SM is now energised over armatures ipl, apl and cd3 and opens the holding circuit of relay AP at contacts sm. Relay AP upon releasing disconnects the sending magnet energising circuit whereupon the sending disc is freed in the normal manner and rotates until it catches up with the receiving disc as marked by the pin displaced on operation of relay T. During this rotation of the disc S the impulse springs IMP finding a circuit from the earthed transformer connected to common lead ll, through condenser QC to earth via the middle winding of relay A. Thence it is transmitted by induction to the outer windings of this relay and is thus extended on to the incoming negative and positive conductors in a balanced circuit. The calling party must now decide during the following grace. period whether he will conclude the conversation or be metered for a further period.
At the end of a further 12 seconds interval relay CO is operated from lead M in a similar manner to relay CD and on operation of this relay the pip-pip tone circuit is disconnected at armature 003. Arrangements are provided whereby repeat metering may at once take place or the grace period may be extended for a further 12 seconds. If terminals l5 and I! are strapped, on the operation of relay CO earth will be extended by way of armature 004 to short-circuit and release relay DB which has hitherto been holding over its right-hand winding in series with resistance YA while if terminals l5 and G8 are strapped, relay DB will not be released until the reception of the next earth pulse over lead I4. If, on release of relay DB, the calling party has not already hung up, metering again takes place on the next Z pulse and the timing of the second conversational period is commenced. The release of relay DB releases relays CD and CO and when relay DB re-operates pulses from lead l2 are again connected to the receivingmagnet RM.
At the end of the conversation when the calling party restores his receiver, it will first be assumed that the timing device is part way through the measurement of a period. On release of relay A, relay 3 commences to release and during its release time. relay C is operated whilst relays AL, BB, BR, DD, AP, ON, DB, D and I and also the marking magnet MM are already operated. On release of relay B, the forward loop is opened to release the switches in the distant exchange, whereupon relays D, I and DD release so that the pulsing circuit to the magnet RM is opened at armature ddfi whilst relays BR and C which are slow in releasing due to their slugs now commence to release. During the releasing time of relay BR, the guard earth is removed from the incoming P and P2 leads thereby enabling the preceding train of switches to be released for further use with a minimum of delay and on release of this relay the guard earth is replaced until relay BB is released when the storage device is subsequently restored to normal. On release of relayC the holding circuit for relay DR is opened and on release of the latter after its slow period the sending magnet SM receives a momentary energisation by interaction with relay AP. Thereupon the sending disc S is freed and at the same time the marking magnet is de-energised and depresses a pin to provide a home position to which'the sending disc will rotate. The release of relay AP by the operation of the sending magnet SM releases relays DB and AL, but relay BB remains held from the operated armature 0113. When the sending disc S catches up to the receiving disc R, relay ON restores due to the opening of the off-normal contacts NI and opens the latter the relay set is completely restored and is available for further use.
Should the calling party hang up during the grace period after receipt of the warning tone, relay CD will be operated in addition to the relays previously mentioned and the sending disc will already be released and will be rotating to catch up with the receiving disc. The circuit operation on release of relay B will however follow a similar course to that just described.
In case the calling party should hang up just before the commencement of measurement of a further period, in which case relays ON, AP and DB will be normal, the releasing and guarding operations take place in the following manner. During the release time of relay B, relay C is energised in parallel with the receiving magnet RM and hence the marking magnet MM is also energised. On release of relay B, the magnet RM is de-energised and the disc R is thereupon rotated one step due to the reverse drive principle of the magnet armature Whilst on the subsequent release of relay C the marking magnet is released to displace a corresponding pin in the disc P. Relay ON is operated on the closure of the off-normal contacts NI and operates relay AP; the release thereupon takes place in the normal manner.
In case the subscriber should release the connection prematurely, that is, by hanging up his receiver during dialling, any digits stored in the storage device are sent out into an open circuit, while it will be noticed that since relay IP cannot be operated on each release of relay AP during the homing since relay B is normal, there will be no unnecessary pause between the transmission of each digit. The relay set will be thus freed for further use with a minimum of delay.
Assuming now that an outgoing call is originated by a coin box subscriber, it will be routed to the relay set by way of a special coin box selector having access to the same, +and P conductors as were used in the connection just described. On the operation of relay B the incoming P conductor will be guarded over armature b6, low resistance lower Winding of relay TE and armature 03:15 as before. In this case however, a momentary battery pulse is' now applied to the P lead from the coin box selector whereupon relay TE is operated and at armature te2 operates relay CB which locks at armature chi and completes a locking circuit for relay TE over its upper winding. The circuit operation now proceeds in the normal manner up to the point where the pip-pip warning tone is extended to the calling party, who 'has now to decide whether to conclude his conversation or to pay another fee. Relay TG will now be operated over its lower winding in series with the earthed tone transformer by way of armatures c124, odd and co3 and looks over its upper winding by way of armatures cb'3, tel and 1591, relay TE having been released by the operation of relay DA at the beginning of the timing cycle. Relay TG at armature 02 makes the holding circuit for relay A dependent on the earth supplied by armatures (H94 and bb l and hence it will be appreciated that relay TG must be restored to normal before relay DB is released at the end of the grace period, otherwise relay A will be released and the conversation in progress will be broken down. If the calling coin box subscriber inserts the necessary fee during this time, a momentary battery pulse is again supplied over the incoming P lead from the coin box selector whereupon relay TE will be operated and will lock up as before, while on the operation of relay CO relay TG will be released to maintain the earth feed to relay A. Conversation may now proceed for a further predetermined period without further payment.
It will be seen that if terminal I! is strapped to terminal 16 rather than to terminal l5, the effect would be that a regular subscriber could have a call of unlimited length for the initial fee while a coin box subscriber would have to make an additional payment at the end of each predetermined period. A convenient arrangement in practice would be to strap terminals I5 and I1 and IE and I8 and connect armature 04 to earth over a normally closed armature of relay CB. This would mean that both classes of subscribers would be charged on a time basis but the coin box subscriber would be allowed an extra 12 seconds grace period which Would give him an opportunity to find and insert further coins.
Should the relay set be seized from an incoming selector terminating a junction from a distant exchange, seizure will take place over the incoming-, +and P2 leads. On operation of the incoming selector switching relay, the guard earth normally extended forward during the release time of the B relay therein operates relay J over its left-hand winding while relays A and B in the relay set are operated in the usual manner. On the operation of relay B a guard earth is supplied from armature 113 to the P2 conductor, this earth holding relay J by way of armatures da3 and 7'4. At armature 73 the initial energising circuit for relay DA is disconnected and thus when the called party replies and relays D and DD are operated in the normal manher, there will be no circuit to operate relay DA and start up the timing cycle. This arrangement is provided since the bringing into operation of the timing mechanism is not required and would involve unnecessary wear and tear, whilst the connection of the pip-pip tone to the line would interfere with the conversation.
In order to'efiect junction economy it is arranged in the circuit shown that if the relay set is seized over the conductors and +l, the incoming switch in the distant exchange will be caused to switch over to a second set of Wipers and thus in response to the same received digits will route the call to a different destination. On seizure of the relay set, relay LD will be operated over its left-hand winding in series with relay A which also operates and on operation of relay BB in the normal manner relay LD looks over its right-hand winding to earth via armatures Zdl, c2 and b174, while its left-hand winding is short-circuited at armature 12125 to prevent the inductance of this winding from interfering with the impulsing circuit to relay A. Relay LD upon operating connects earth at armature 1:22 and M3 to the outgoing negative and positive junction conductors in order to bring about the operation of a differential relay in the distant incoming selector, which relay thereupon locks and causes the switching over to the second set of wipers. On reception of the first set of dialled impulses, the magnet RM responds in the normal manner and relay C at armature c2 opens the holding circuit of relay LD which thereupon releases and the circuit operation thereafter proceeds in the normal manner.
In case the storage device fails to function correctly in either of its two capacities, a delayed alarm will be brought into operation andthe relay set will be busied out. The supervision is arranged to cover the operating circuits for the receiving, marking and sending magnets, the off-normal contacts and the operating path for relay AP and in case the device cannot be stepped off-normal or be restored to normal after a setting operation due to either a disconnection in any of these circuits or to a mechanical fault, alarm conditions will be brought about.
For example, if the mechanism fails to send out its stored pulses, relays ON and AP remain operated. On release of relay B when the calling party subsequently hangs up in order to re-dial, relay BB will be maintained from armature on3 and will guard the relay set against seizure by further outgoing calls, whilst earth will be extended over armatures brl and 0118 to light the supervisory lamp LP in series with delayed alarm equipment connected to common lead l3. Should the mechanism fail to home from any of the positions 37! to 4i], on release of relay B since relay ON is already normal due to the open condition of the off-normal contacts NI, relay AL will hold operated and will maintain relay BB for guarding purposes and the delayed alarm will be brought into operation by way of armature 1112. A similar result would occur if the receiving disc R. could not be rotated due to some mechanical or electrical fault,
Considering now an incoming call over the bothway junction, on seizure of the incoming selector the guard earth connected to the P lead operates relay BB over its upper winding and this relay thereupon guards the relay set and hence the junction from seizure by an outgoing call.
The test terminals marked TJ giving access to various controlling points of the circuit are provided for the convenience of the exchange maintenance staff.
The high resistances connected across conductors QA and QB in the transmission circuit serve to eliminate microphonic noise whilst the condensers and associated resistances connected in parallel with the various impulsing circuits prevent destructive arcing at the contacts.
From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that in exchange areas where time metering is required on junction calls, the application of the invention enables the advantages of impulse regeneration to be had without further cost whilst in areas where both time metering and impulse regeneration are required the invention provides an efficient and economical solution.
We claim:
1. In a telephone system in which calls are extended by automatic switches, a step-by-step device operated by impulses from a calling station and effective to directively control said switches to extend a call in accordance with said impulses, and means for operating said device at spaced intervals during the talking period of said call.
2. In a telephone system wherein calls are extended over automatic switches, a step-by-step device operated by impulses from a calling station and effective to directively control said switches to extend a call, means effective after the call has been extended for transmitting an impulse to said device at spaced intervals, and means controlled by said device and rendered effective periodically throughout the conversation for transmitting an audible tone to the conversing subscribers.
3. In a telephone system wherein calls are extended over automatic switches, impulse operated means for directively controlling said switches to extend a connection, means effective after the connection is completed for again operating said first means by impulses, means controlled by said first means and operated periodically to impress an audible tone upon the connection after the connection is completed, means operated an interval of time after each operation of said last means, and means for varying said interval of time.
4. A telephone system as claimed in claim 3 having subscribers lines of different classes, wherein said last means varies said interval of time automatically in dependence upon the class of the calling line.
5. In a telephone system, a device for timing conversations comprising, a member rotatable in but one direction and having no normal position, means for arbitrarily marking any position occupied by said member as an index position, and impulse responsive means operated periodically during a conversation thereby to rotate said member in steps from said index position, and means controlled by said device for causing the conversation to be interrupted responsive to rotation of said member a predetermined number of steps from said index position.
6. A timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a member rotatable in but one direction and having no normal position, means for arbitrarily marking any position occupied by said member as an index position, impulse responsive means operated periodically to rotate said member in steps from said index position, and means operated responsive to rotation of said member a predetermined number of steps from said index position.
'7. A timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a pair of movable members normally occupying adjacent positions, impulse responsive means operated periodically for moving one of said members in steps away from the other member, means operated responsive to the separation of said two members by a predetermined number of steps, and means controlled by said last means for moving said other member to a position adjacent the position then occupied by said first member. I
8. A timing device for use in telephone systems comprising, a movable member, means for marking the position occupied by said member, means for effacing the marking of a position previously occupied by said member, impulse responsive means operated periodically to step said member in a particular direction, and means effective responsive to said member being moved a predetermined number of steps from the last marked position occupied by said member for controlling said first means and said second means to cause the position then occupied by said member to be marked and to cause the marking of said last marked position to be efiaced.
9. In a measured service telephone system, an impulse repeater having two stepping members normally occupying adjacent positions wherein the first member moves away from the second member responsive to received impulses and the second member moves toward the first member to transmit corresponding impulses during the extension of a call, a metering circuit, and means for rendering said circuit effective after said call after the call is extended thereby to step said first member away from said second member, and means operated responsive to the separation of said members by a predetermined number of steps.
10. In a measured service telephone system wherein calls are extended over automatic switches, an impulse repeater having one member moved responsive to impulses from a calling station and a second member moved over the same path as said first member for controlling the transmission of corresponding impulses to said switches to extend a call, means for moving said first member during the talking period of said call, and means for transmitting metering impulses in accordance with the movement of said first member during said talking period.
11. A timing device for use in telephone systems, comprising, a series of elements each havinga normal position, a movable member operatively associated with one of said elements, means for displacing said one element, means for moving said member step-by-step to operatively associate said member with others of said elements in sequence, and means operated responsive to said member being moved a predetermined number of steps from said one element for causing said first means to displace that element with which said member is then operatively associated.
JOHN WILLIAM McCLEW. AUSTIN HUGH WILLIAMS.
US181938A 1937-01-06 1937-12-27 Telephone system Expired - Lifetime US2232181A (en)

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2488797A (en) * 1945-06-13 1949-11-22 Automatic Elect Lab Electrically operated timing arrangement
US2543022A (en) * 1945-08-03 1951-02-27 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Metering circuit control for automatic telephone systems
US2546605A (en) * 1947-02-12 1951-03-27 Automatic Elect Lab Measured service telephone system
US2570239A (en) * 1948-12-15 1951-10-09 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Time zone telephone metering system
US2595062A (en) * 1949-12-12 1952-04-29 Stromberg Carlson Co Telephone conversation timing means
US2602119A (en) * 1947-10-15 1952-07-01 Automatic Elect Lab Pay station time signal
US2724741A (en) * 1950-06-21 1955-11-22 Automatic Elect Lab Local and remote exchange timed metering
US2747016A (en) * 1952-11-14 1956-05-22 Gen Dynamics Corp Conversation timing circuit
US3723663A (en) * 1971-09-24 1973-03-27 J Ewen Battery feed and ring trip relay circuit

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2488797A (en) * 1945-06-13 1949-11-22 Automatic Elect Lab Electrically operated timing arrangement
US2543022A (en) * 1945-08-03 1951-02-27 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Metering circuit control for automatic telephone systems
US2546605A (en) * 1947-02-12 1951-03-27 Automatic Elect Lab Measured service telephone system
US2602119A (en) * 1947-10-15 1952-07-01 Automatic Elect Lab Pay station time signal
US2570239A (en) * 1948-12-15 1951-10-09 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Time zone telephone metering system
US2595062A (en) * 1949-12-12 1952-04-29 Stromberg Carlson Co Telephone conversation timing means
US2724741A (en) * 1950-06-21 1955-11-22 Automatic Elect Lab Local and remote exchange timed metering
US2747016A (en) * 1952-11-14 1956-05-22 Gen Dynamics Corp Conversation timing circuit
US3723663A (en) * 1971-09-24 1973-03-27 J Ewen Battery feed and ring trip relay circuit

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Publication number Publication date
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