US2346305A - Preset call transmitter - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1944.

PRESET CALL TRANSMITTER Filed May 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Shet l L L, I ,L

FIG? HM A 7'TORNE V c. N. HIcKMAN ETAL 2,346,305.

April 11,1944. c. N. HICKMAN TAL 2.346305 PRES ET CALL TRANSMITTER- .QM H/CKMAN INVENTOR-S'REMALLINA ATTORNEY April 11, 1944. c, H C M ET 2,346,305

PRESET cALL TRANSMITTER Filed may 21, 1941 sfsheets-sn t 4- FIG- 7 I oooo ATTORNEY April 11,1944. 'c. N. HICKMAN r AL PRESET CALL TRANSMITTER 5 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21 1941 FIG. 10'

' Patented Apr. 11, 1944 PRESET CALL TRANSMITTER Clarence N. Hickman, Jackson Heights, and Rudolph F. Mallina, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 21, 1941, Serial No. 394,463

13 Claims.

This invention relates to call transmitters of the key-operated preset type.

In accordance with this invention a call transmitter of the type above referred to is provided in which the successive operation of a set of numbered key members is effective to move a series of code discs in positions for determining the operation of vibrative elements which form parts of an alternating current generator in a plurality of combinations representing the digits of the keys depressed, the code discs cooperating with wheels having digits printed at their peripheries for indicating the successive opera ation of the keys and thereby the number of the telephone call designation it is desired to transmit. Means in the form of a supplemental key is provided whereby the code discs and the indicating wheels movable therewith may be returned to normal position following the setting of a wrong telephone call designation without transmitting signals and independently of a resetting mechanism actuated by the tension of a motor spring following each calltransmitting operation. 'Means in the form of a lead screw geared to the motor spring is provided forvmoving the alternating current generator and the vibrative elements carried thereby in engageable relation with the code discs set by the operation of the key members for transmitting signals corresponding to the operation of the keys. Means is provided for imparting movement to the current generator for placing the vibrative elements out of engageable relation from the code discs preliminary to the movement of the generator to normal starting position as effected by the lead screw simultaneously with the tension ing of the motor spring'by the operation of a handle lever extending outside of the casing housing the transmitter mechanism.

, ing parts with portions broken away;

Other novel features of theinvention and advantages will appear from the following description and by the claims appended'thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right-side elevation showing the motor spring tensioning handle lever, the digitportions as LI, L3, L5, L1 and L9 for individually Fig. 4 is a left side assembly view of the transmitter mechanism showing a number of operating parts in section and with portions broken away,

the casing housing the mechanism being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 5 is a rear assembly view showing the base and the casing in vertical section and with portions broken away, the generator being shown in normal non-operated position;

Fig. 6 is a right side view showing the motor spring tensioning mechanism; a number of parts being shown with portions broken away and the keys in normal non-operated position;

Fig. 7 is .a vertical sectional view taken on line "2-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 4; v

v Fig. 10 is avertical cross-sectional view taken on line ill-III of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a view of one of the code discs; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a setting of the code discs according to a given telephone call designation. I

The call transmitter of the invention consists of a set of manually operable key members KI, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K1, K8, K9 and KID in the form of tubings telescopically engaging studs SI, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S1, S8, S9 and SH) best seen in Figs. 4, 9 and 10 having one of their ends secured to a bridge piece II in turn secured to a base I2 as by a number of screws I3, while compression springs, such as I4 shown in Fig. 4, are provided for returning the keys to normal nonoperated position following the setting of code discs WI, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6 and W! in a manner which will be hereinafter described in detail. The studs SI, S2, S3, etc., are provided with laterally extending pins asPl, best seen in Fig. 9, engaging longitudinally disposed grooves GR in the tubing elements of' keys KI, K2, K3,

etc., so as to prevent'rotating movement of the keys relative to studs SI, S2, S3, etc., so as to permit reading of the groups .of digits and letters carried by these keys from the front of the casingas shown in Fig. 3.

- The tubing portions of key members Kl, K3, K5, K1 and K9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9, are provided with similar laterally extending lug engaging a rib I 5 formed with a carriage l6 1 values of the key members KI, K2,

while the tubing portions of key members K2, K4, K6, K8 and KI8 are provided with similar laterally extending lug portions L2, L4, L6, L8 and LII! disposed in engageable relation with the laterally extending portions P2, P4, P8, P8 and PH] formed with rib I of carriage I5. The carriage I5 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on studs I1 and I8, best seen in Figs. '1 and 9, extending perpendicularly from the base I2 to which they are secured as by nuts I9 and I9X, these studs being held in spaced relation at their upper ends by a support 2| of substantially U-shaped cross section having one of its sides clamped securely between the base I2 and the bridge piece II, as shown. in Figs. 4, 9 and 10, with the upper disposed side of U-shaped member 2| serving as a common stop for limiting the upward movement of keys KI, K2, K3, etc., as effected by their retractile springs I4.

The lugs LI, L3, L5, L1 and L9 of keys KI, K3, K5, K1 and K9 are disposed at predetermined vertical distances from the common projection I5 formed with carriage I8, while'lugs L2, L4, L6, L8 and LID of keys K2, K4, K6, K8 and KI8 are disposed at predetermined vertical distances from lugs P2, P4, P6, P8 and PIU, respectively, laterally extending from the projection I5 so as to impart to this carriage downward sliding movements on studs I1 and I8 against the tension of two retractile springs 41 and 48, shown in Figs. 4, '1 and 9, corresponding to the numerical K3, etc., thus imparting corresponding angular movements to the code discs WI, W2, W3, etc., by a gearing mechanism which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In carriage I8 is slidably mounted a ratchet toothed rack 20 best seen in Figs. '1, 9 and 10 having laterally extending arms 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21 spaced relative to each other so as to successively engage with arms aI, a2, a3, a4, a8 and a1 formed with gear sectors 3|, 32, 33, 34, and 31, respectively, these gear sectors being pivoted on a common shaft YX supported by upright supports 59 and 60, secured to the base I2 by a numberof screws 6|.

. The longitudinal movement of rack 28 in carriage I6 is effected by the coaction of pawls 38 and 39, best seen in Figs. 5, 7 and 9. Pawl 38 is pivoted on a, shoulder screw 48 engaging a downwardly extending support 4| secured to the U-shaped member 2| as by screws 4IX, Figs. 4 and '1. This pawl is limited in its pivotal movement as effected under the tension of a spring 49 upon the downward movement of carriage I6 by a stop 42 engaged by 8. lug 43 formed with the pawl 38, the pivotal movement of pawl 38 being limited to an arc corresponding to the pitch or the distance between the ratchet teeth of rack 28.

. The retaining pawl 39 of the rack is pivoted on a. screw 44 engaging an upwardly extending lug formed with the carriage I6. This pawl, however, is moved out of engagement from the rack 20 when carriage I6 is in normal non-operated position, as shown in Figs. 4, '1 and 9, by a stop 45 formed with the U-shaped member 2| abutting against a projection 46 or pawl 39. ,The disengagement of pawl 39 which occurs at the time the carriage I6 reaches its normal non-operated position, and 48, permits the movement of rack 28 automatically due to the tension of spring 49 acquired during the return movement of the carriage I6 as effected by the retractil springs 41 to normal and the holding of rack 28 by pawl 39, such automatic movement being effected against the tension of a comparatively light retractile spring 50 having one of its ends hooked to the carriage I6 and its other end hooked to pin 58X laterally extending from the rack 28.

The gear sectors 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31 which are mounted for pivotal movement on shaft YX engage with pinions 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 51, respectively. These pinions are mounted for free rotation on a shaft 58 journaled at both ends in the upright supports 59 and 68 and on the hubs of pinions 5|, 52, etc., are mounted for rotation as units the code discs WI, W2, W3, W4, W5, W8 and W1 combined with the indicating wheels 8|, 62, 63, 64, 85, 56 and 81, respectively. On the indicating wheels III, 82, 63, etc., are printed the digits 1 to 9 plus 0, while on the two indicating wheels, such as GI and 62, representing the first and second digits of any given telephone call designations, the numerals are combined with groups of letters as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, '1 and 8 corresponding to that of keys KI, K2, K3, etc., appearing as shown in Fig. 2 upon the setting of a call in registry with glass-covered openings in a casing CA housing the transmitter mechanism. The code discs WI, W2, W3, W4, etc., which are similar to each other are provided as shown in Fig. 11 with ten sets of teeth ab-d corresponding to key KI -b-d corresponding to key K2 -bccorresponding to key K3 a--'d corresponding to key K4 -bcd corresponding to key K5 abccorresponding to key K6 a-ccorresponding to key K1 a-cd corresponding to key K8 ab-- corresponding to key K9 --cd corresponding to key KID These groups of teeth are provided for operating difierent tuned vibrative elements ay, by, dy and cy of a reed generator in such combinations as determined by the setting of the code discs WI, W2,.S3, S4, etc., under the control of the key members KI, K2, K3, etc., as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12, in a manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

Spring-pressed pawls as 1|, 12, 13, 14, 15,16 and 11, best seen in Figs. 3, 4, '1 and 8, are pivoted on downwardly extending brackets as I8I, I82, I83, I84, I85, I86 and I81 secured to a bar I88.

These pawls serve to hold the gear sectors 3|, 32,

33, etc., and the combined code discs and indicating wheels carried thereby in each digit indicating position through their engagement with the ratchet teeth TI formed with these gear sectors, the bar I88 being secured at both ends to the upright supporting members 59 and 89 as by a number of screws I89. I

The gear sectors 3|, 32, 33, etc., and thereby the combined code discs and indicating wheels 6|, 82, 63, etc., actuated thereby may be released from operated position so as to permit their return movement to normal as for canceling a call by the manual operation of a release key member 88 formed with an inverted U-shaped bar 89 piv. oted on shaft 58. The movement of this key and that of bar 89 is effective. to impart a pivotal movement to pawls 1|, 12, 13, etc., collectively for disengaging them from the gear sectors 3|, 32, 33, etc., these gear sectors being returned to normal position under the tension of their retractile springs 8|, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 81 shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10.

aaaaaos 'LSG oi rails aI-I and (1H2.

The operation of the release key 88 in addition to causing the release of gear sectors 3!, 32, 33, etc., by the operation of pawls ll, 12, 13, etc., is effective to impart a small angular movement to a shaft 90 best seen in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9, through the engagement of an arm I38 formed with that key with an arm I31, keyed to the shaft 90, the rotation of this shaft being effective to disengage the pawl 38 from rack 20 through the engagement of arm 9|, keyed to the other end of shaft 90 with a lug 92 laterally extending from pawl 38 so as to permit the return movement of rack 28 to normal position under the tension of its retractile spring 50 timed to occurfollowing the return of the combined code and indicating wheels to normal unoperated position,

A current generator consisting of a two-part permanent magnet 93, the vibrative elements ay, by, cy and dy clamped therebetween and a coil 94 are connected to the telephone line. This generator is moved transverse of the direction of rotation of the code discs WI, W2, W3, etc., and indicating wheels 6!, 62, 63, etc., by a lead screw 95 best seen in Figs. 5, 8, 9 and 10, journaled in the upright supports 55 and 60 and operatively connected to a gear sector 95, this gear sector being pivoted on a shoulder screw iii engaging the support 59. Gear sector 96 is movable from tion where it engages a stop TP for rotating a pinion 91 mounted on a spindle SP for rotation as a unit with a gear 98 in turn engaging a pinion 91X, keyed to one end of a counter shaft 99 journaled at both ends of the supports59 and 56 and to the opposite ends of this shaft is keyed a gear I (see Figs. 3, 4 and 9) meshing with a pinion I01, keyed to the end of lead screw 95, the operation of lead screw 95 being under control of a speed governor mechanism CG best seen in Fig. 3 operatively connected to gear me by a pinion IBUX, while a one-way clutch prevents the operation of the governor during the manual operation of a handle lever M9 for winding the motor spring 120, handle lever H9 being formed with the gear sector 96.

Lead screw 95, as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 10 engages a nut I02 of rectangular cross section having a key-way formed longitudinally therein for engaging a guiding ridge 12 formed with a plate I09 for preventing the turning movement of this nut uporithe rotation of lead screw as, while the sides of this-nut are provided with guide-ways as 1M, best seen in Figs. 5 and 8 forming guiding elements between which the current generator may slide as for moving the vibrative elements ay, by, cy and dy carried thereby in engaged and disengaged relation from the code discs W1, W2, W3, etc., upon the upward and downward movement of a supporting frame, in the form of guiding rails aH and aH2 engaging registering notches in the two-part permanent magnet 93, these rails being held at their ends in spaced parallel relation to each by spacer members sm and sml, best seen in Fig. 9, while the guiding rail members aI-I and aH2 are each provided with two downwardly extending lug portions I05 having pins as I06 laterally extending therefrom for engaging vertically disposed slots in the upright extending lugs I08, best seen in Figs. 5 and 10, formed with the plate 59 with which the guiding rib I03 of nut i0: is formed. In the upright supporting flanges 59 and 69 are journaled the shafts H2 and I is each provided with a pair of cams H4 and H5, respectively, on which rest the downwardlybent portions LS and The shafts M2 and H3 and the cams I and H5 carried therebl are rotated so as to impart upward and downward movements to the generator frame, thus formed, upon the rotation of a gear H6 engaging with pinions I l1 and H8 keyed on shafts H2, H3, respectively.

Therotation of gear H6 is efiected automatically by the operation of a toggle mechanism, itself actuated by the movement of gear sector 96 as eifected in one direction by the manual operation of handle lever H9 secured to gear sector as and in theopposite direction by a spiral motor spring I20 tensioned by the .operation of the handle lever l l9, this motor spring having its inher disposed convolution hooked to a spindle I2! supporting the handle 9 and the gear sector 96 while the outer disposed convolution of this spring is hooked to the gear sector 96, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7. The gear H6 which forms part of the toggle mechanism is keyed to the hub of an arm i22 pivoted on a shoulder screw I28 and having projections as We and I24 cooperating with the base 62 for limiting the angular movement of gear 8 l6 and thereby that of pinions Hi and its and their supporting shafts H2 and M3 to which the cams H 3 and H5 are keyed, the movement of the gear H6 being efiected by the tension of toggle spring L25 upon the movement of arm I22 when engaged by the pins 112$ and I2? carried by he gear sector 95.

On the upright support 60, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 10, is pivoted as on shoulder screw 529 an angular-shaped lever G30, the downwardly extending arm of which is provided with 9. lug l3! extendingperpendicularly therefrom through an opening OP in the upright support 60 in engageable relation with the vertical edge of gear sector 96, Fig. 6, tov serve as a stop for the latter while holding the angle lever I30 and a pawl H3 in engaged relation with a ratchet wheel It l against the tension of a retractile spring H32, provided for imparting a small angular movement to this lever following the manual operation of handle its and the gear sector 95 actuated thereby to move the pawl I33 in position for successively engaging the teeth, as TH of ratchet wheel its, for rotating this wheel and a multiple cam E35 keyed thereon one position for each return movement of gear sector 96.

The rotation of ratchet wheel [13% and the cam H35 secured thereto as imparted by the movement of angle lever I30 is effective to impart a small angular movement to the bar 89 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 4, 6 and 10 through the engagement of arm WX formed with this bar in engagement with the cam I35 for moving the pawls H, l2, 73, etc., collectively out of engagement from the ratchet teeth Ti of sectors 3!, 32, 33, etc., for permitting the return of these sectors to normal position under the tension of their retractile springs 8|, 82, 83,. etc., the operation of bar 89 through the engagement of its downwardly projecting arm 936 (see Fig. 4) with a lever I31 keyed on shaft 90 being effective to rotate this shaft and move the arm 9| keyed to the opposite end of this shaft in position to engage the lug 92 carried by pawl 38 'for disengaging it from ratchet rack 26?, thus The rail aH, Figs. 8, 9 and lOjof the frame on which the current generator is slidably mounted is provided with downwardly extending lug portions Ml, M2, M3, hid, M5, M5 and Ml corresponding in number to the code discs Wi, W2, W3, etc. These lug portions are successively engaged by the lower end of a two-armed lever MB pivoted as at point M9 to the magnet 93 (see Fig. 8) while the other arm of lever i lfi extends through a similarly sized opening in a plate the having secured thereon a pad of felt 555 or other fibrous material provided for collectively engaging the vibrative elements ay, by, cy, dy so as to damp their operations as effected by their engagement with the code discs Wl, W2, W3, etc, a retractile spring i522 being provided to impart a pivotal movement to lever Hi8 for disengaging the .damping pad ital from the vibrating elements prior to the operation of such elements by the code discs Wt, W2, W3 so as to permit their vibrations following their engagement by the successive code discs.

In a typical example of operation of the call transmitter mechanism of the invention above described, supposing that it is desired to transmit signals corresponding, for example, to the telephone call designation HEB- 392i, the operation of key Kil having the combination Gl-li i, the first digit of the call designation above mentioned is efiective to impart a downward movement to the carriage 16 equal to four-tenths of the total movement of the latter, due to the clearance between the projection L l carried by key K6 and the projection P l formed with the rib l5 of carriage 56. The downward movement of carriage i6 is effective through the engagement of projection 2! (see Fig. 9) carried by rack 20 now in engageable relation with the arm at of gear sector ill to impart a pivotal movement to this gear sector against the tension of its retractile spring 85 for rotating the code disc W8 and its indicating wheel 6i an angular distance of four-tenths of a turn, thereby indicating the number of the depressed key, that is, keys GHH! and moving the code disc W! in position wherein the teeth a and d of this disc will cause the operation of vibrative elements ay and dy upon the operation of the generator, the gear sector 3! being held in the operated position against the tension of its retractile spring 8! by the spring-pressed pawl ii.

The downward movement of carriage 96 causes the downward movement of pawl 38 under the normal tension of spring 69 within the limits defined by the abutment 52 of lug LL in engage ment with the lug 33 of pawl 38 and causes the engagement of spring-pressed pawl 39 with the rack 29 when the arm 56 of this pawl disengages the abutment 45. As above described, it is to be noted that the are generated by the down ward movement of pawl 38 within the limits above mentioned causes this pawl to fall suc cessively between the teeth as TX so as to cause a longitudinal movement to this pawl during the 1 now in itslowered position.

aetasos length of slot SLl in the pawl 38; that is, equal to a distance corresponding to the pitch of the teeth in rack 20, the tension of spring 89 overcoming the tension of the retractile springs 56.

The operation or longitudinal movement of rack 20 by the tension of spring 69 is effective to position the projection 2i (see Fig. 9) of this rack out of engageable relationfrom the arm a! of gear section 3i and position the projection 22 of rack 28 in engageable relation with the arm 02 of gear section 32. Similarly, the operation of key Kl having the digit designation PR8? is eiiective to impart a second downward movement to carriage l8, adistance seven-tenths of the total movement of the latter for imparting a corresponding angular movement to gear sector EZ-and thereby moving the indicating wheel 62 in position for indicating the second digit of the call designation while rotating the code disc W2 in position to cause the operation of vibrative elements a and c, the code disc W2 and the indicating wheel 82 being held in the operated position by pawl l2 engaging the ratchet teeth Tl of gear sector 32.

The downward and upward movements of carriage it as effected by the operation of key memberKl and the carriage retractile springs ll and $8 is efiective through the coaction oi pawls 38 and 3%) as above described to impart a second step to the rack 28 for positioning its projection 25-3 in engageable relation with the arrn'a3 of gear sector 33 while moving the projection 22 out of operable relation with the arm a2 of gear sector 32 and this cycle of operation is repeated for each successive key in the telephone call designation HPiilflil, the indicating wheels itfi, 53, etc., being now in the position shown in Fig. 2 indicating the seven-digit telephone call designation HHS- 392i while the code discs are positioned as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12 to cause the operation of vibrative elements (ay-dy), lay-0y), (bycy), (aydy), (cg-Jay), (bydy) and (ay-bydy) upon the transverse movement of the current generator.

The operation of handle lever H9 from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 to the positime where the gear sector 96 actuated thereby engages the under-side of stop TP (Figs. 6 and 7), is effective to tension the motor spring I20 and to rotate the lead screw 95 for moving the generator and the vibrating elements ay, by, cy and dy mounted thereon ineffectively transverse of the discs Wi, W2, W3, etc., to the opposite end of the frame formed by rails aH, aI-I2 The rotation of lead screw 9'5 is effected by the rotation of pinion 9i engaging with gear sector 96, the gear 98 mounted for rotation as. a unit with pinion 91, the engagement oi gear 98 with pinion Bl keyed on shaft 99 and the gear I98 keyed to the opposite end of shaft 99 for engagement with pinion tension of spring 49 a distance limited by the "it till, keyed to the end of lead screw 95.

The manual operation of gear sector 96, as above mentioned, is effective to operate the toggle lever 922 when it is a small distance from its full operated position; that is, upon the engagement of. this lever by the pin 8255 to cause the spring 925 to continue the operation of the toggle lever to the position as determined by the abutment of arm 624 of this lever with the base 42. The angular movement of lever I22 and the gear H6 keyed thereto is effective to impart a rotary movement to the pinions H! and 1 88 for rotating the shafts H2 and H3 and thereby the cams I and H5, thus raising therall frame and the generator mounted thereon in position to cause the vibrative elements ay, by, 03 and rig to enage the group of teeth of the code discs W8,

W2, W3, etc., which have been moved in the path of the vibrating elements by the operation of the keys K4, K1, K3, K4, K9, K2 and Ki in the order named for transmitting signals representing the call designation HP3-492i, the movement of the lead screw 95 and thereby the movement of the generator as effected by the operation of motor-spring I20 being under control of the speed governor GG operativeiy connected to gear Hill by pinion MEX.

Upon the retur of gear sector 96 a small distance from its'normal position, the pin i2? is efiective to return the arm i255 to normal for rotating the gear 6 and thereby the shafts H2 and H8 and the cams lid and H keyed to these shafts so as to lower the generator frame to position the vibrative elements clear of the teeth of the code discs Wi, W2, W3, etc., preparatory to a successive operation of the handle lever ii 8 subsequent to a call setting operation.

The return of gear sector 96 from operated to normal is efiective to impart a small angular movement to the angularly-shaped lever E36, Figs. 6 and 10, through the engagement of the gear sector with lug 'iSl of lever ltd to cause the operation of ratchet wheel H36 one tooth and therefore the operation of earn it?) so as to im part an angular movement to the bar 89 in the direction indicated by the arrow against the tension of its retractile spring rs for moving the pawls iii, 32, it, etc. (Fig. 4), out or engagement from the ratchet teeth of gear sectors st, 32, 33, etc., which are then returned to normal unoperated position by their retractile springs at, 82, 33, etc., thus returning the indicating wheels and the code discs to normal unopezated position. The operation of bar 189 as effected by cam i135 imparts a small angular movement to shaft sit through the engagement of arm its oi key 88 with arm 03?? keyed to that shaft, the operation oi the latter moving the arm 9% in position for engaging the lug 92 of pawl 38 and thereby disengaging this pawl from rack 28 so as to permit the return or this rack to normal unoperated position under the tension of its retractile spring 5911 and the transmitter is now ready for asubsequent call setting and transmitting operation.

The code discs W6, W2, W3, etc, the indicating wheels ti, 62, 63, etc., and the rack 26 may be returned to normal position for canceling a call but without the operation of the signaling mechanism by the simple operation of key member 88, such operation being effective to rotate the bar 89 for disengaging the pawlsli, l2, it, etc., from the ratchet teeth- oi gear sectors 35, 32, 33, etc., while causing the rotation of shaft St as above described for disengaging the pawl 38 from rack 28 so as to permit the return of this rack to normal.

It is to be understood that minor changes may be made in the call transmitter of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a call transmitter, a set of independently operable numbered key members, independently operable code discs, a'plurality of gear sectors operatively connected to said discs, and a mechanism for operatively connecting said key memhers to said gear sectors successively for moving said independently operable code discs in position for setting a call according to the operation of said key members. 5 2. In a call transmitter, a set of independently operable numbered key members, a carriage actuated by the operation of said key members, a plurality of independently operable gear sectors, a ratchet mechanism actuated by the movement of said carriage'for successively operating said gear sectors by the movement of said key members, a plurality of code elements actuated by said gear sectors for setting a call and means number of such call.

3. In a call transmitter, a set of'independently operable numbered key members, a plurality of independently operable gear sectors one for each of said key members but normally disconnected therefrom, I code discs geared to said sectors,

means operable by the manual movement of each of saidkey members for successively operatively interconnecting said key members to said gear sectors for moving said code discs in positions 26 corresponding to the values or said key members for setting a call, means movable with said code discs for indicating the sequence of operation and the number of said key members, a signal transmitting device having vibrative elements 30 movable for engaging the latter with said code discs and a plurality of means operable under the tension of said motor spring for returning said code discs and said device to normal starting position following the operation of said vi- 3E5 brative elements, one of said means moving said device in position wherein the code discs are ineffective relative to said vibrative elements during the return movement of said device to nor mal starting position.

4. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, code discs, a gearing mechanism operatively connected to each of said code discs, a carriage variably operated by the operation of said key members for actuating said gearing mechanisms, a ratchet toothed rack mounted for longitudinal movement in said carriage, said rack having an arm projecting therefrom, a pair of pawls actuated by the movement of said carriage for moving said rack for successively placsc) ing said projection in operative relation with said gearing mechanisms for setting a call according to the operating order of said key members, and means positioned by the operation of said code discs for indicating such call.

5. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, code discs, a carriage, a ratchet mechanism, operable by the operation of said key members for successively moving said carriage in direction transverse of said key members in position to cause theoperation of said discs by said key members for setting a, call, a generator hav-' normally ineflective thereto, a transfer mecha-,'

nism having means actuated by said key members in position to render the operation ofrsaid key members effective for moving said code discs positioned by said gear sectors for indicating the to said code discs during such return movement, said detent mechanism operating in another direction for returning said generator in position for engaging said vibrative elements with said code discs following the return movement of said generator tonormal starting position.

7. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, code discs, means operatively connected with each of said code discs, a carriage actuated by the operation of said key members, a. ratchet toothed rack mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of said carriage, a plurality of pawls actuated'by the movement of said carriage for moving said rack in position for successively operatively associating said rack with each of said means for setting a call, a generator having a plurality of vibrative elements, a motor, and a lead screw actuated by said motor for moving said generator in direction transverse of said code discs for engaging said vibrative elements with said code discs for transmitting Signals corresponding to the setting of the call.

8. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, rotatable code discs, a carriage actuated by the operation of said key members, a toothed rack mounted for sliding movement longitudinally in said carriage, a plurality of pawls actuated by the movement of said carriage for moving said rack in positionfor successively actuating said code discs upon the operation of said key members for setting a call, a support, a

generator slidably mounted on said support,-said generator having a plurality of vibrative ele- -ments, a manually operable mechanism for moving said generator on said support in one direction transverse of said discs but inefiective thereto, a motor spring for moving said generator in another direction transverse of said discs, and means actuated by said mechanism during its movement in the first-mentioned direction for imparting movement to said support to render the movement of said generator eflective relative to said code discs for transmitting the call 9. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, rotatable code discs, a mechanism operatively' associated with said key members and said discs for actuating the latter successively by the operation of said key members for setting a call, a support, a generator mounted for sliding movement on said support, said generator having a plurality of vibrative elements, a manually operable gearing mechanism, a lead screw actuated by said gearing mechanism for moving said generator transverse of said discs but ineffective thereto, a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said gearing mechanism for returning said generator to normal and a camming mechanism operable under control of said manually operable gearing mechanism for'irnparting normal for transmitting the call, and damping means for said elements actuated by the movement of said support upon the successive operation of elements by said discs.

10. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, a plurality of gear sectors, retractile springs for said sectors tensioned by the movement thereof, code discs, means operatively interconnecting said key members to said gear sectors for moving said code discs individually in position for setting a call by the successive operation of said key members, means movable with said code discs for indicating the number of said call, means for holding said gear sectors individually in the operated position against the tension of said retractile springs and means manually operable for actuating said holding means to cause the return movement of said code discs and said-indicating means collectively to normal by the tension of said-retractile springs for canceling the call.

11. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, a plurality of gear sectors, code discs geared to said sectors, a mechanismv for individually associating said key members to said gear sectors for moving said discs by the operation of said key members in position for setting a call, a retractile spring for returning each of said sectors to normal positions, means operable for holding said sectors in the operated position following their operation by said key members, a generator having vibrative elements. a handle lever, a gearing mechanism operable one way by I ting of the call for operating said holding means to cause the return movement of said gear sectors and said code discs to normal by the tension of said retractile springs.

12. In a call transmitter, a set of numbered key members, a plurality oi rotatable code discs.

gear sectdrs operatively associated with said code discs, a mechanism operable upon the operation of said key "members for successively actuating said sectors for moving said code discs in position for setting a call, each of said gear sectors having ratchet teeth, spring pressed pawls for retaining said gear sectors in each operated position, a handle lever, agenerator having vibrative elements, 2, gearing mechanism actuated by said handle lever for moving said generator trans- .verse'of the direction of rotation of said code discs'in one direction ineflectively relative to said code discs, a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said handle lever for moving said generator in another direction for engaging said vibrative elements with said discs for transmitting the call, a ratchet mechanism actuated by the operation of said handle lever, a cam rotated by the operation of said ratchet mechanism, a

pivoted bar disposed in engageable relation with said pawls, and, operable upon the movement of said cam for disengaging said pawls from the movement to said mounting to cause the enga'geratchetteeth of said gear sectors collectively, re tractile springs for effecting the return movement of said gear sectors, and a manually operable key member for operating said bar for operating said pawls for releasing said gear sectors mae:

pendently of said cam for canceling the call.

13. A set of key members, a'plurality of rotatable code discs, gear sectors geared to said code discs, retractile springs for said sectors tensioned by the movement thereof, a carriage actuated by said key members, a ratchet mechanism operable upon the movement of said carriage to cause the successive operation of said gear sectors by the operation of said key members for rotating said discs in position for setting a call, retractile means for said ratchet mechanism, means rotatable with said discs for indicating the position of said disc; a signaling device having vibrative elements, manually operable means for moving said device from normal to starting position,-a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said manually operable means for returning said device to normal to cause the operation of said vibrative elements for transmitting signals corresponding to the setting'of said code discs by said key members, a plurality of means actuated under control of said manually operable means to cause the return movement of said code disc, and said rotatable indicating means by the tension of said retractile springs and said ratchet mechanism under control of said retractile means to normal following the transmitting of said signals.

CLARENCE N. HICKMAN. RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

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