US242698A - sawyee - Google Patents

Description

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W. 'Hy SAWYER. Telephore Switch. No. 242,698Y Patentedlune 7,1881.

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CIDDDD UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SAVYEP, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGEE F. PHILLIPS, OF SAME-PLAGE.

TELEPHONE-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,698, dated June 7, 1881.

' Application med February c, Issi. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknowu thatI, WILLIAM H.` SAWYER, a. citizen ofthe United States, residin gat Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Switches; and I do hereby decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompan ying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a switch-board or switching apparatus of the group and table plan,for use in the central office of atelephoneexchange system to connect the different subscribers circuits for the purpose of oral communication. Its objectis to provide simple and ready means for making the necessary connections for communication between the subscribers of the different circuits grouped or arranged on any one table with others of the same group, or with` those of any other group or table ofthe exchange system, and to eii'ect such connections without the use of the .ordinary removable exible cords, which have proven to be extremely inconvenient and embarrassing in the manipulation of the switch systems now in use.

In my switching apparatus I use any number of switch boards ortables, each comprising any convenient number of sections, each of which includes a circuit terminal annunciator and devices for signaling and connecting the circuit with the operators telephone and other points of the system. I preferably ar,- range fifty sections upon a single board or table, that having been found by experience to be a convenient number, and all the devices requirin gto be manipulated in connection with any particular line are arranged, in the same section and adjacent to each other, so that the hand of Ithe 'operator readily passes from one to another without the trouble of selecting them separately from Agroups or series of devices of a similar nature, as is the case, more or less, in theV telephone-switch systems heretofore invented.

connection with the accompanying drawings,v

in Which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switchboard constructedaccording to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single section. Fig. 3 is a view of the board behind said section. Fig. 4 is a section on line w or, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of a board with twelve sections. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the switch for connecting tables. Fig. 7 is a view, in front elevation, of -two tables, each having only ninesections, the tables being shown of this small capacity to avoid confusion in showing the various connections. Fig.Sillnstrates` a modified form of table-connecting,switch. Fig. 9 is a view of one of the plugs.

The letter A, referring now particularly to Fig. 2, indicates the supporting-board, and B the` amninciator-drop, which is shown in its upright position. This drop is thrown down to expose its opposite side, which is inscribed with the number of the line or circuit by the operation of the armature O of an electromagnet, C', arranged in an aperture in the board, and having its core behind the armature, as indicated in dotted lines. The linewireis normally connected to the. ground through the helix lof the magnet,as will presently be described. y

The letter D designates afstrip of metal secured to the face ofthe board, and upon each.

side of said strip, and separated therefrom and from each other, are ve smallfmc'tal plates, E E2 E3 E4 E5 and F F? F3 F4 F5. At the upper and lower ends of the strip are similarsrnall plates, (lettered Gand H, respectively,) and between eachsmall plate and the `strip D there is formed a socket, to permit the insertion of a wedge-like spring-plug, such as shown in Fig. 9, such plugs being used to connect the small plates and the strip D electrically, in the ordinary manner. e

To the front face of the plate G is pivoted one end of an elastic metallic arm, l, the other end of which extends behind the laterallyprojecting portion of a metallic bracket, K, which is secured to the board A, thearm being so arranged that its tip normally bears outward 10o against vsaid bracket, but by pressing upon a knob, i, may be forced inwardly in contact with Y a metal plate, L, secured to the board behind the latcrally-projectin g portion of the bracket. The arm I may be swung laterally on its pivot to bring its tip in front of either of two metal plates, M or N, both of which are secured to the board and respectively on opposite sides of the normal position of the arm.

The letter O designates a push-button, the shank of which, as shown in Fig. 4, extends loosely through a hole in the board and terminates on the rear side thereof in a button, o, of some nou-conducting substance, such as hard rubber. Against the rear surface of Vthis button o lie the separated tips of two ilat metal springs, P P', (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and full lines in Figs. 3 and 4,) the other ends of which are secured to the back of the board.

Directlyin rear of the free tips ofthe springs PP', and separated a little distance therefrom, stand the free ends of two other iiat metal springs, Q and Q', the opposite ends of which are secured to the board, and intermediate portions of which rest upon vmetal plates 1t R', which are connected by a wire, r.

The electric circuit, in the normal condition of the apparatus, is established from the linewire (numbered 10) to spring Q, over said spring, plate R, wire i', plate It', spring Q', a wire, 15, (indicated by dotted line,) plate H, a plug, S, strip D, a plug, S', plate G, arm I, bracket, a wire, 20, (shown by a dotted line as leading from the said bracket to the magnethelix,) over said helix and a wire, 25, to the ground. A

The springs P and P' are respectively connected, by wires'p and p', with metal strips t and t', secured to the board, and respectively connected with the opposite connecting-posts of' a receiving-telephonmT, and also with the opposite connecting-posts of a transmitter arranged behind the board, and havingits mouthpiece T' projecting in front. Ihe springs P and P' may be connected with the receiving and transmitting telephones-in 'any other convenient manner.

The plate L is connected, bya wire, 30, with a magneto-electric generator, and the plates M and N may be connected respectively with theV opposite poles of a battery, the middle of which is connected with the ground in the usual manner of alternating batteries.

I have not described the annunciator in dctail, as any convenient form may be used. 'Ihe sections, of which, as before stated, I prefer to arrange fifty on one board, are precisely alike, the small plates E' are connected by suitable wires to the corresponding plates E' of all the other sections, the plates E2 to thev plates E2 of all other sections, and so on for the plates on both sides of the strip D, but not those at the ends.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows: When a subscriber at a station connected with the line desires to communicate with another, he closes his battery-circuit or operates a magneto-electric call apparatus, as the case may be, and sends a current over the line,which causes the annunciator-drop to fall; observing which,the operator immediately presses upon the knob i and brings the tip of lever I in contact with plate L, thus-switching the circuit to the magnetoelectric generator, which is in the lneautime operated by the operator by means of a treadle, as usual. A current is thus sent over the line to rin g the subscribers bell and notify him that his call has been received. The operator then re-' moves his finger from the knob z' and places it upon the push-button o,forcing said button inward, and causing the button o to press the springs P and P' into contact with the springs Q and Q' and the latter out of' contact with the plates It and It', thusloopinginto the circuit the wires p p' and the receiver T, which the operator then places tohis ear and hears the subscribers directions as to whom he desires to talk to. Suppose this to be the subscriber on line No. 50. The operator now removes the plug S' from between strip D and plate G and places it between said strip and plate E',thus connecting the lille No. l with said plate E'. He now calls the subscriber ou line 50 by pressing upon button i of section 50, connecting the line with the magneto-electric generator, and sending over it a current which rings the bell of the subscriber wantedl Subscriber 50 answers by sending a current which operates his annunciator, when the drop of which falls, the operator removes the plug S' of section 50, places it between the small plate E' and strap D of that section. As the plates E' of' all the sections are connected, this connects line 50 with line 1, and the connections are as follows, viz: from line-wire of' No. 1 over spring Q, plate R, wire r, plate It', spring Q', wire 15,

vplate H, plug S, strip D, plug S', (which is now between strip D and plate E',) plate E', over thewires which connect all the plates E' to plate E' of section 50, then at said section over the plug S' between said plateaud adjacent strip D, over said strip, plug S, plate H, wire 15, spring Q, plate It', wire r, plate It, spring Q, to line-wire of No. 50.` Being thus connected, the subscribers are left to converse, and by cutting in his transmitter and receiver, as before explained, the operator may either listen to or speak to them to ascertain when they have finished. A signal-bell may, however, be connected with each line, by means of which the subscribers may signify their discontinuance of conversation; or the annunciators might be placed in circuit between springs Q and plates H, and used to notify the operator both of a desire to communicate and of finishing. In Fig. 5, sections Nos. 1 and 12 are connected as described above for sections 1 and 50.

If while subscribersV on line-s Nos. l and 50 are conversing subscribers on any other two lines desire to communicate, the operation of IOO IIO

connectinglwill be the same as described forl and 50, except that,vas\the plates E andtheir connecting-wires are alreadyin use, theplugs between ten different subscribers at the samel time.` This number of simultaneous connections has generally been fund sufficient; but` n is obvious um the plates t" `r2 Fare F5 might be used for the same, though intended i for another purpose, to be presently explained;

or the strips I) might be extended and more small plates placed in therows; or parallel stripsp electrically connected, and additional l actnate either bell.

rows ofA small plates `might be used.

In case there are two subscribers on the same line, one may beisupplied by a bell-call op-y erated `by aI current otl a given polarity, and the otherwith a bell operated by a current of oppositepolarity.

Ihe plates M and N being connected to opposite poles of a battery, the middle of which is connected to the ground, the arm I may be placed in contact with either of said plates to cause a proper current to iiow over the line to It more than two subscribers are on the same line, different numbers ot' impulses maybe sent to ring different bells. Both magnetolines7 and battery-lines, as they are technically termed, may be grouped together on my switch-board.

I will now proceed to describe the devices by means of which sections o f one group or board maybe connected with others of another group or board.

All the small plates F of the several sections are connected together by suitable wires, and the plate F of the last section is connected,

bv a wire, seeFiO. 5 with a metal stud upon which is pivoted a metal arm, U', (see,-V also, Fig. 6,) on the board below thesections,

said arm beingarrangeil to swing round a circle and secured toits pivot with sufcienti'ric- The i'rce end of the lever is bent outward and has in it a transverse slot, through which plays a sliding metal plate, u, to the inner end of which is connected a rod, `a', which plays through a holeina lug, a2, projecting from alan U. Surrounding. this rod is a spiral spring, which bears against the lug u2 and the inner end of plate u, forcing its outer end or tip normally outward beyond the end of the arm U. A suitable knob is secured `to plate u, `for convenience in sliding said plate inward when desired. In thepath described by the projected tip otl the plate uuwhen it is swung around on its pivot, there are secured' to the board tive (in the present instance) `smallinetal plates, (marked, respectively, 1 2 3 4 5,) and the tip Yot' the plate u may be brought in contact with any one of said plates; or, by sliding the plate inward, the armmay swing around and theslid-` ing plate avoid contact with all. There are ve such arms,U,U2,U3,U4,and U5, mounted upon the board, and provided with sliding` plates arranged to ycome in contact with small stationary plates, as just described. Each arm audits sliding plate and contact-.points constitutea table-connecting switch, and these switches are, for convenience, designated as switch No. 1, switch No. 2, and so on.

The plates F2 ot' the sections are connected to arm` U2 by a wire, f2, plates F3 to arm U3 by a wire, f3, and so the other sets ot similarly-lettered plates are connected to the other switch-arms.

Theplates F F2 F3 F4 F5, I term the table connecting plates,77 for a reason which will presently appear, and a set consists of those which are connected.

Now, let us suppose there are five switch boards or tables in an exchange central office, and all alike, except that the sections ot' board No. l are numbered from l to 50, those of board No. 2 from 51 to y100, and so on by fifties. rIhe switch contactpoints or plates l of switches No. l ot' all the tables are connected by suitable wires, and so the other similarlynumbered plates of similarly-numbered switches are connected. vThe tables are numbered from l to 5. Should a subscriber on line No.1, which'is connected with the tableNo. l, desire to communicate with a subscriber on line No. 5], which is connected with table No. 2, he so notities the central office, and the operator at table No. l proceeds precisely as described for "connecting two lines at the same table up to switch No. 1, so that the sliding plate of said arm will comcin contact with contact-plate 1 of that switch. He then notiiies the operator at table No. 2 to connect his line No. 51 with t,

point 1 ot' his switch No. 1. The operator at table No.2 then notities subscriber on line 51,

and proceeds to make the desired connection in the same manner as pursued b y operator at table No. 1. As the points l ot' all the switches No. 1 are connected as before stated, thetwo lilies are now in communication, and the circuit is as follows, referring vto Fig. 7, and regarding section 13 of table No. 2 in lieu ot' section 51, the table in this gure being made with a small number of sections to avoidcou fusion in the representation of the connections, and only such plate connecting wires are shown as are in use: from line-wire No. l, by the same route as heretofore described, to plug S', thence over plates F and their con necting-wires, and over wire j" to the pivot ot switch-lever U', over said lever,`its sliding plate, contactplate l, and wire t to plate 1.

ot switch No. l ot' table No. 2, and from this IOO ISO

In notifying operators to-make connections between tables the card system is preferable. In the present case operator No. 1 would send by the oflice-boy to operator No. 2 a card marked .5l-1 1, signifying connect section 51 with point 1 ot' switch l. If while the two subscribers are conversing another on a line connected with table No. 1 desires to communicate with a subscriber whose line connects with some other table, the connections are made in precisely the same way, except that the operator now uses the point No. l of another switch, (any one will answer,) and directs the operator at the other board to connect with point No. 1 of a correspondinglynumbered switch. The sliding plates u are to permit the switch-arms to be shortened while being moved, so as to avoid possible interference with connections by making contactvwith any except the desired plate. The plates or points l are solely for making connection from table No. 1, and are to be used only by the operator at that table and those whom he may direct to use them for making connection with his table. So all the points are for connections with correspondin gl y-numbered tables.

l tis obvious that each table may be supplied with as many switches as desired, the number corresponding, of course, with the number of sets of table-connecting plates. When additional tables are added to the exchange additional points may be added to the switches. It there should be fifty tables, each with five switches, then each might be arranged to connect with five lines of every or any other or with tive lines of any iive ofthe fty.

Each switchmight have two or more switcharms, it desired, their pivoted ends being electrically connected to a common support, and

then either could be used for a given number of points comprised in a given arc of its movement. Thus the extent of movement required could be reduced.

It has been found that ve connections with other tables are all that are necessary in practice. This would require five switches. However, as each switch could, if desired, contain one hundred points or plates, these five connections could be made with any iive of one hundred tables or with any particular table of the one hundred 5 or an extension or wing, either at the side or lower edge, could be added to the table, and an additional series of iive switches, each of one hundred points, arranged upon said extension or wing, each additional switch having its arm' connected electrically with one of the first series, thus forming in eft'ect'a double switch of two hundred points, so that five connections could be made with two hundred tables. It is obvious that in the same manner the' switches might be trebled or extended in capacity, as desired, without other change in-the tables than adding one or more boards to afford room when necessary.

The object of plate H at the foot of strip D and plug S is this lf the operator at a table (say No. 1) desire to make connection with a subscribers line at another table, (say No. 2,) and the operator at the latter table is busy or absent, then (providinghe has left, as he should have done, his switch-lever at switch 1 in contact with point 1, lever at switch 2 on point 2, and so on)operator at tableNo. 1can,by removing plug S and placing it between strip D and plate E', throw oft' line No. 1 and connect line 51 with lever I at section N o. 1 of table No. 1, and he can then himself, by pressing this lever on plate L, send a current from the magnetoelectric generator to call up subscriber on line No. 51.

ln Fig. 8 I have illustrated-a modified form of table-connecting switch which may be substituted t'or that before described.

The letters W W2 W3 W4 W5 indicate metallic strips xed to the board to take the places ot' the levers, and X X2 X3 X4 X5 are contactplates arranged alongside of but separated from the strips, and are to be connected respectively with corresponding plates on the other tables. Plugs like that shown in Fig. 9 are used to connect the strips and contact-plates. The strips are to be respectively connected with the different sets ot' table-connecting plates of the sections, as are the levers before described, and in practice the plates should be numbered as are the plates in the other form ot' switch.

In using this switch, instead of swinging a lever, a plug is simply inserted to connect the strip and desired plate.

I do not confine myself to any particular number ot' sets ot' section connecting plates, table connecting plates, or tableconnecting switches, as it is obvious that the numbers may be varied without invention 5 nor doI limit myself to any particular manner or devices for connecting the receiver and transmitter with the subscribers lines, as any of the known modes may be used. I may also use any known a-nd suitable form-of annunciator.

1 do not claim as my invention the division and arrangement ot' subscribers lines upon separate desks orswitch-boards, each provided with complete apparatus for connecting the lines and serving subscribers whose lines may be grouped together, combined with open connecting-wires to be used in case it should become necessary to connect lines terminating at different switch-boards, as such a system has been used by others prior to my improvement.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, in a switch board or table, of a series of sections, substantially as described, each section consisting ot an annunciator connected in a subscriber-s circuit having a ground-connection, a series ot' metal contact-plates arranged adjacent to and for plugconnection with a common conductor included in said circuit, each contact-plate of each section being permanently in electrical connection with a serially-corresponding plate in every other section, and means for placing a tele- IOO IIO

phonic receiver in the circuit, and for disconnecting the circuit from its ground-connection, whereby a call may be received, the subscribers wants ascertained, and any two circuits disconnected from ground and connected together by means of simple plugs, and without the. use of detachable portable connecting devices.

2. In a telephonie-exchange switch system, the combination of two or more switch boards or tables, each provided with a series of sections, substantially as` described, each section consisting of an annunciator connected in a subscribers circuit having a groundconnec tion, a series otl metal contact-plates arranged adjacent to and for plug-connection with a common conductor included in said circuit, each contact-plate ot' each section being permanently in electrical connection with a serially-corresponding plate of every other section, and with a switch arranged to connect a set ,of such connected lplates with a similar switch and set of contact-platesnpon another board or table, or any one of several other boards or tables, and means for breaking the circuit ground-connections, whereby any subscribers circuit terminating at any table may be readily disconnected from the ground and connected with any circuit terminating at any other switch board or table in the exchange.

3. In a telephone switch-board, a series ot' terminal sections, each comprising an annunciator connected with a subscribers line and cut the telephone into the line-circuit, a switch arranged to disconnect the linefrom the ground and connect it `with an electrical generator, and

. a series of contact-plates arranged adjacent to and for plug-connection with a common conductor included in the line-circuit, each of said plates being permanently in electrical connection with a seriallyfcorrespondin g plate in every other section, whereby are arranged in compact form for convenient and rapid manipulation all the devices essential to receiving calls, ascertaining subscribers7 wants, disconnecting line-circuits from the ground and connecting them together.

4. Ihe combination, with each of a series of switch boards or tables, each provided with line terminal sections and permanently-connected sets ofcontact-plates, substantially as described, of a series of switches respectively connected with said sets of contact-plates and having contact-points, each of which is connected with a corresponding contact-point of a corresponding switch upon one or more other switch boards or tables.

5. The switch composed of a pivoted metallic switch-arm, provided with a contractile eX- tension plate or piece, and a series of metal contact-points arranged in the path traversed by said extension plate or piece, when the same is extended only, substantially as described, whereby said switch-arm may be readily moved to any contact-point without touching others in intermediate parts of its movement.

6. The switch composed of the pivoted metallic arm, the guided sliding metallic plate forced outward by a spring, and the metal contact-pointsarranged in the path of said plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofl I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SAWYER.

Witnesses:

GILMAN E. JoPP, THos. A. MILLETT.

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