US251098A - Telephone and telegraph switch-board - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. P. DANFORTH.

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SWITCH BOARD. No. 251,098. Patented Dec. 20,1881.

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G. F. DANPORTH.

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SWITCH BOARD. No. 251,098. Patented Dec. 20,1881.

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C.F.DANFORTH. 4 TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SWITGH BOARD.

(No Model.)

Patented 'Dec. 20,1881.

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UNITE STATES PATENT O FrcE.

OHARLES F. DANFORTH, OF

CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS,

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SWITCH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,098, dated December 20, 1881,

' Application filed May 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANCIS DAN- FORTH, a citizen of the United States. residing at Chelsea, in the county of Sufi'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephonic Exchange Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a telephonic or telegraphic exchange system in which any one of the subscribers may be placed in communication with any other one.

The object of my invention is to connect any one of a large number of circuits with any other. This has heretofore been accomplished in avariety of ways, some such system being in practical use in many places in this country; but my improved system is whollyv new in one particular, and differs in many other minor respects from all others known to me.

The main novelty of my system resides in the use of a series of connecting-wires with each circuit-wire, as hereinafter more fully explained; and the minor features of my invention consist in the grouping together of a number of circuit-wires with a corresponding number of connecting-wires,'as more fully explained below; and in the means for connecting together any two of the connecting-wires, and thereby connecting together the two circuitwires which are connected with those connecting-wires.

In my improved s5 stem, as shown in the drawings and now to be explained, each circuit-wire terminates in an insulated metalbar, and sixteen otherinsulated metal, bars are arranged about the circuit wire bar, so that either one of the sixteen can be readily connected to the circuit-wire bar by a plug or other like eontrivan'ee, as will be well understood by all skilled in this art. Sixteen connecting-wires terminate each in one of these sixteen metal bars, the purpose being to make it easy to connect the circuit-wire to either one of these sixteen connecting-wires. (See the diagram Figure 7.) This series of connecting-wires so combiued with each circuitwire that the circuitwire can be connected with either one of the connectingwircs is not only the main novelty of my invention, but is the main feature upon which my system is based. With this multiplicity ofconnecting-wires for each circuit-wire, it becomes easy to so arrange insulatedcrossing strips of metal, each a continuation of one of the connecting-wires, that any two of these crossing strips may be readily connected, and as the circuit-wire may be readily connected with either one of the connecting-wires, it will be clear that all that is necessary to connect together any two circuit-wires will be to connect one of them with one of the connectingwires and the other with another connectingwire and then connect together these two connecting-wires by connecting the crossing strips which are continuations'of these connectingwires. On this simple basis any number of circuit-wires can be practically managed by means of a device which is'not over-complicated, not likely to get out of order, and easily understood and used by operatives of average skill.

I will now proceed to describe the preferred form of this device; but it will be obvious that it is susceptible of numerous modifications, although in all the underlying principle must be the use of a multiplicity of connecting-wires for each circuit-wire.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side View of one of the leaves, showing the arrangement of the subscribers wires A, connecting-wires B, drop-signals O, and ground and battery wires D. Fig. 2 is a front view of either end of a leaf, showing the metallic plates 1) and d d, in which the horizontal connecting-wires B and battery and ground wires D terminate, and the U-shaped metallic pieces E, in which subscriberswiresterminate,one wireto each piece. Fig. 3 is a section on line 00 x, Figs. 1 and 2, showing the positions of the different wires. Fig. 4 is a front view of one side of a set ofleaves, the opposite side being exactly the same. Fig. 5 is a section through one of the switch-board s. Fig. dis a plan of one of the switch-boards. Fig. 7 is a diagram for illustration. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of theleaves with the switch-boards. Fig.9is an end view of the upper portion of one leaf and the lower portion of another, showing the indicators, and section through two leaves, showing the manner of making electrical connectionsat top or bottom with circuit and connecting wires.

Each subscriber has a wire and a signaldrop, the drops being numbered and lettered as hereinafter stated. Each subscribers wire that is, each circuit-wire-inust be capable of ready connection with any one of a number of connecting-wires-for example, as illustrated in the diagram Fig. 7, where A represents a circuit-wire and B sixteen connecting-wires, the circuit-wire terminating in a metal bar,E,and each connecting-wire in a metal bar, I). A number of such wires and drops (in this instance sixteen of each) form a leaf, and a number of leaves (in this instance sixty-eight) form a set, so that a set of leaves contains one thousand and eighty-eight circuit-wiresland drops, arranged in sixteen rows, eight on each side and sixty-eight in 'each row. The rows are lettered from A to H on one side and from I to P on the other. The leaves are numbered from 1 to 68 on both ends, the same numbers being on the opposite ends of the same leaf, and the ends of the leaves form the sides of a set. A subscriber is thus known by his row and number, as 17A 57G, &c., on one side and 30K 19N, &c., on the other side. There willbe an operator on each side of a set of leaves. The leaves are all exactly alike, and a description of one will answer for all.

F is the frame, made of wood or other suitable material; A, the subscribers wires, which may enter from top'or bottom, sixteen in number, arranged on each side, near the signaldrops 0, in groups of eight, four on each end, only being fully shown in Fig. l, but all of them in Fig 3. The connecting-\\'ires B are also sixteen in number, each one extending from top to bottom and from side to side of the leaf, or consisting of vertical and horizontal wires in metallic contact at their points of crossing b. The connecting-wires terminate in metallic plates-b let into the frame F, and have their connections at the top and bottom of the frame F, as will be described farther on.

- The ground and battery wires D at each side are connected to metallic plates (1 (1, similar to those of the connecting-wires B.

E is a metallic U-shaped strip of metal let intothe frame F, out of contactwith the metallic plates 1), d, and d and wires B, but which can be connected with either of the metallic plates 1) dd by a suitable plug.

When not in use each subscribers wire is connected to the ground-wire through the drop 0, strip E, and plug to plate d. It 1A desires to communicate, he completes the circuit, by any well known contrivance at his (ffiOE, through his drop 0, strip E, and plug, to plate 01, which plate is connected with ground by ground-wire D. This causes his signal to drop and notify the operator, who removes the plug from d and plugs plated to strip E of 1A, thus connecting the battery which is connected to plate 01 by wire D with the circuit-wire of 1A. The operator then, after having signaled 1A, removes the plug from plate d. He then connects strip E of 1A with his telephone and notifies 1A, who replies Connect with 11?. The

operator then removes his telephone-plug and plugs lAs wire to any disengaged connectingwire by plugging plate I) to strip E of 1A and notifies the operator on the other side of the section, who rings up 1P, and on receiving an answer removes the plug from d of lPs strip E and plugs lPs strip. E to the plate I) corresponding to the plate I) to which the wire of 1A is plugged, and completes the connection. The connection of a subscriber in one leaf with a subscriber in another leafis effected by means of the connecting-wires and switchboards, as I will now describe.

in the other, separated from each other, but

capable of being connected at their points of crossing by plugs. The board is divided into eight parts, each part containing one hundred and thirty-six strips-sixty-eight upper, c, and sixty-eight lower, a. The strips are numbered from 1 to 68in each part, so that there are an upper and lower strip in each part with the same number. For convenience in locating, I make each part a separate board and number the boards from 1 to 8, and place four on each side of the set of leaves, in reach of the operators. The strips are designated by number, position, and number of board'as No. 1 upper str-ip in No. 1 board, No. 2 lower strip in No. 4 board, &c. The sixteen connectingwires in each leaf are carried to the eight boards in the following manner, (see Fig. 8, in which the wires from leaves 1, 2, and 68 are shown connected to their corresponding strips in each of the eight boards 2) The two wires connected to the two upper metallic plates 1) in each subscribers part in No. 1 leaf are carried to the upper and lower No. l strip in No. 1 board. The two connected with the next lower metallic plates 1) in each subscribers part in No. 1 leaf are carried to the upper and lower No. 1 strips in No.2 board, from third pair of metallic plates 1) to No. 3 board, and so on for the eight pairs of metallic plates 2) in No. 1 leaf. The wires that connect with the right-hand metallic plates 1) are carried to the upper strips, 6, and those that connect with the lefthand metallic plates b to thelower strips, 0, in the switch-boards, reference being bad always to the same end of the leaf. From No. 2 leaf they are carried in the same manner to the upper and lower- No.2 strips in each of the eight boards, and so on for the sixty-eight leaves, so that each one of the sixteen connecting-wires from each of the sixty-eight -connections of the strips in the boards with connecting-wires from the different leaves or groups must be made by plugs, so as to leave the strips free to be connected with connectingwires from other similar sets when required; and any two wires from different leavesone from each leafmay be brought 'iuto electrical communication byjoining their corresponding strips at any one of their points of crossing in any one of the boards by a suitable plu v Various devices may be used for indicating at a glance what plates are disconnected, and consequently what strips in the switchboards should be plugged together. A simple device is shown in Fig. 9, in which the upper end of the eighth leaf and the lower end of the second leaf are shown with indicators for this purpose. All leaves have the same at top and bottom, eight in each place. The top ones refer to the upper strips, e, and the bottom ones to the lower strips, 0, in the switch-boards, and the numbers show the number of the board. Wooden rods f extend through the leaf and project slightly at each end, and carry suitable pins,f, the pins on each rod being in the same plane. Near each rod are numbers from 1 to 8, the same number being near each end of the same rod, so that when the pin f on one end of a rod is made to cover a number the pin on the other end covers a similar number. When the operator on either side ofa set connects a plate, b, he immediately covers a corresponding number with a pin,f, thus cov ering a similar number and notifying the operator on the other side that such a plate with its connecting wire and strip in the switchboard is in use, for upper plates 1) covering 1, for next lower 2, for next 3, and so onon upper end for right side and on lower end for left side. The uncovered numbers show the number of aboard in which a strip corresponding in number to number of leaf on which the uncovered number is is not in use.

In Fig. 9 the upper part of No. 8 leat'shows 2, 3, and 5 uncovered, thusindicating that No. 8upper strips in Nos. 2, 3, and 5 boards are not in use. The lower part ofNo. 2 leaf shows 5, 6, and 8 uncovered, showing that No. 2 lower strips in Nos. 5, 6, and S boards are not in use;

and thusit is known that No. Sleaf and No. 2

leaf can be connected in No.5 board. For instance, to connect 8A with 2G, find in any one of the eight boards where a No. 8 strip, upper or lower, not in use crosses aNo. 2 strip, upper or lower, not in use, insert a plug at their point of crossing, anti connect the corresponding metallic plate 1/ in SAs part to his wire and in 2Gs part to his wire. For instance, it the point of crossing should be in N0. 5 board, 8A upper and 2G lower, the" right-hand metallic plate I) in fifth pair from the top in SAspart should be connected with his wire and the left-hand metallic plate I), fifth pair from the top in 2Gs part, connected with his wire. Then the connection between SA and 2G will be established, through their circuit-wires, plates E, plugs, to metallic plates b, connecting-wires, and strips in theboard, and the line ready for use. If the p tint of crossing should be in No. 8 board, 8A lower and 2G upper, the left hand lower or eighth row metallic plate I) in SAs part would be connected to his wire, and the right-hand lower or eighth row metallic plate I) in 2 s part would be connected to his wire, and the connection completed as above, and so on for any other board. Leaves and corresponding strips can be added to a set to any desired extent; but I prefer to make a separate set ofleaves and switch boards for, say, every ten hundred and eighty-eight wires.

Separate sets of leaves maybe connected by extending the connecting-wires from one to the others and making the requisite contacts by plugs; but I prefer to connect the opposite ends of the stripsin the boards by wires from .one set to another,and plugs so that any board may be used by any one of a number of sets of sixty-eight leaves. The top and bottom of each leaf are notched, as shownin Figs. 2 and 4. These notches fit into corresponding grooves in the supporting-frame, so .that each leaf can be inserted or withdrawn, the electrical contact being made, when the leaf is inits place, by metallic plates securedto the ends of each wire in the leaf and to the ends of the corresponding wires above or below, as shown in Fig. 9,"in which metallic plates 1 are shown attached to the wires in the leafand embedded in'the top and bottom pieces of the leafframe responding wires.

1 do not claim as my invention the method herein described for connecting the subscribers wires in one group by means of the metallic plates 1), arranged adjacent to and for plugging connection with the metal bar E, as this may be accomplished in other ways, the object of my invention being to provide a device for connecting the wires of one group with those of any'other, so that any subscriber in any one of the groups may be put in communication with any disengaged SllbSCIlbt'li at any time, so that it may be possible for one half of the subscribers to communicate with the other halt at. the same time.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a telegraphic or telephonic exchange system in which the subscribers wires are arranged in groups of equal number, the device above described for connecting the wires of any one group with the wires of any other group, consisting of a switch board divided into half as many divisions or separate boards as there are subscribers wires in one group,

each of these divisions or boards containing twice as many metallic strips as there are groups, these strips being divided into twobination of a number of groups of subscribers wires, annunciators, ground and battery connections, and telephones with a switch board containing as many metallic strips as there are subscribers wires in all the groups, each subscribers wire having plug-connection with two strips crossing each other in different parts of the board half as many times as there are subscribers wires in one group, these strips arranged to be electrically connected at any of 20 their crossing points, substautiall y as described, and for the purposes set forth.

CHARLES FRANCIS DANFORTH. Witnesses:

OYRUs '1. CLARK, HENRY P. HALL.

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