US2261822A - Telephone switchboard - Google Patents

Description

M. J. ARNDT Nov. 4, 1941.

TELEPHONE .SWITCHBOARD Filed March 13, 1940 INVENTOR. MELVIN a MPNDT %yvu ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 Melvin J. Arndt, Penfield, N. Y., assignor to The Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,756

3 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone switchboards and the like.

In former telephone switchboards it has been the practice to hingedly mount the rear edge of the key shelf thereof to swing about an axis parallel to the front of the switchboard so that it could be swung toward the jack panel of the switchboard for adjustment and repairs. The mounting of the key shelf in this manner has several disadvantages, since the conductor cable leading to the various apparatus on this shelf is bent at right angles each time the shelf is raised, which has resulted in wear and breakage of the several wires of the cable at the point of bending. It was also necessary to remove the switchboard from service whenever the key shelf was raised since this shelf covered the jack panel of the switchboard, thereby preventing the insertion of the plugs of the several cord circuits into the various jacks.

It is a purpose of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide an improved switchboard having its key shelf hingedly mounted at one end thereof to a side of the switchboard cabinet so that the key shelf,

when raised does not obstruct the jack panel of the switchboard and further affords ready access to both sides of the apparatus mounted on the key shelf.

It is accordingly a feature of this invention to provide an improved switchboard having one end of its key shelf hingedly mounted to swing about an axis at right angles to the plane of the switchboard jack panel.

It is another feature of the invention to provide an improved switchboard having its key shelf hingedly mounted in such a way that the cable is subjected to less wear and strain than in former arrangements.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a telephone switchboard in which the present invention has been incorporated, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of the switchboard shown in Fig. 1, with the switch key shelf thereof in its raised or open position.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character 5 generally indicates a telephone switchboard having the usual jack panel 6, the plug shelf 1 and the key shelf 8. Any desired number of jacks 9 and cooperating plugs H] for the cord circuits (not shown) may be provided as may be required. The key shelf 8 which carries the switch keys II, is mounted to swing on one side 12 of the switchboard cabinet by means of a hinge 13 so this shelf can be swung about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the jack panel. The switch keys I I mounted in the key shelf are connected by suitable conductors [4 which fanout from the cable I5. This cable extends into the cabinet where the various conductors thereof are connected to telephone apparatus housed therein in the usual manner.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, this cable extends along the side I2 of the switchboard cabinet to which the key shelf 8 is hinged, and thence along the front edge I6 of this key shelf. With this construction, it will be seen, that the key shelf can be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 for the addition, replacement or repair of parts pertaining to the front of the switchboard. Thus in cases of emergency the switchboard can remain in service during repairs since the jack panel 6 is not obstructed by the key shelf, when raised. It will be noted also that the cable will be subjected to a torsional action, thus insuring a longer life and less frequent repairs to the cable than in former arrangements. Also, in the present arrangement, the key shelf, since it is mounted at one end, is accessible from both sides thereof so that apparatus mounted thereon can be worked on from both sides whereas in former arrangements this apparatus could be reached from only one side.

What I claim:

1. A telephone switchboard cabinet or the like having apparatus mounted therein, comprising a substantially vertical jack panel, a substantially horizontal plug shelf, a substantially horizontal key shelf mounted at one end thereof on a side of said cabinet to swing with respect to said jack panel and said plug shelf about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, keys mounted on said key shelf, and a conductor cable having its conductors connected to said apparatus and to said keys, said cable being supported on said side of said cabinet along said axis.

2. A telephone switchboard cabinet or the like having apparatus mounted therein, comprising a substantially vertical jack panel, a substantially horizontal plug shelf, a substantially horizontal key shelf provided with keys, a hinge by which one end of said key shelf is connected to a side of said cabinet whereby said shelf can swing relative to said plug shelf about an axis perpendicu'lar to said jack panel, and a conductor cable having its conductors connected to said apparatus and to said keys, said cable being supported on said side of said cabinet and along said hinge, said cable also extending along a side margin of said key shelf.

3. A telephone switchboard cabinet or the like having apparatus mounted therein, comprising a substantially vertical jack panel, a fixed plug shelf, a substantially horizontal key shelf provided with keys, a hinge by which one end of said key shelf is connected to a side of said cabi- 10

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