US2666811A - Selector switch for telephonic or other commutation systems - Google Patents

Description

E. ALIZON Jan. 19, 1954 SELECTOR SWITCH FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER COMMUTATION SYSTEMS Filed April 3, 1950 u l 4 T 7 0 m 1 v I J. w M m m a F F e h s a 4 My 5 fwd L m7 ME Q m Fig.6

1' I/VE/WOR m w s 00mm U MM Amm n T E W Jan. 19, 1954 E. ALIZON 2,666,811

SELECTOR SWITCH FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER COMMUTATION SYSTEMS Filed April 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllll! W N 6. W 7. 6 w WWW w I a ,1 4 l" w m 7 m? ma w Z LLLLLL LLLLLL 21:11:: 57:51.- I.

HHIIIIIIIII lllllllllllll Jan. 19, 1954 E. ALIZON 2,666,811

SELECTOR SWITCH FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER COMMUTATION SYSTEMS Filed April 3, 1950 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ImvEmrm EfiEmn E Quinn) Jan. 19, 1954 ALIZON 2,666,811

SELECTOR SWITCH FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER CQMMUTATION SYSTEMS Filed April 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 RECORD/N6 MEANS M WV B 4- 1W Patented Jan. 19, 1954 SELECTOR SWITCH FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER COMMUTATI-ON SYSTEMS Etienne Alizon, La Celle Saint-Cloud, France a f Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,594 I V Claims priority, application France April 6, 1949 '1 Claims. (01. 179-2751) The present invention relates to rotary selector switches for use in automatic telephone exchanges and the like, and more particularly to selector switches for use in systems wherein line finding is accomplished by .capacitive testing, without the use of galvanic contact between elements of the selector incoming line and elements of the various outgoing lines of the selector.

Selectors are known in which, when the selector is free, the brushes connected to the incoming line are at rest with respect to the stationary contacts of the selector outgoing lines.

These brushes are mounted on a rotor and are set in motion when the selector operates to find a line. The brushes are then stopped against the contacts of the desired outgoing line in order to connect such desired outgoing line to the incoming line of the selector.

In some known selector systems (cf. French incoming line, galvanic contact being established only when the selection is made.

Even in these known systems however it is stillnecessary that at least one rotor brush have frictional contact with the stator contacts of its row,,and that at leastthe rotor incoming line contact connectedto that brush havevfric tional contact with its associated fixed incoming line contact.

For, if the desired outgoing line is identified by a particular electric state of the contact pins of one or]. morev rows of stator outgoing line contacts, this electric state must be transmitted to the device which governs motion of the selector by means of precisely such contact If instead accordingto' another known form of construction the selector operates step by step so that the desired outgoing line is identified by the number of steps executed by the brushes in starting from a zero position, it is still necessary that at least. one rotor brush possess galvanic contact with the outgoing line stator contacts of the stator row associated with that brush and that the incoming line rotor electrode connected to that brush possess galvanic contact with the incoming 'hnestator contact 'AasSociated therewith in order to ensure a systematic return of the rotor to its zero position when the selector is released.

These frictional contacts, even when thus restricted to a small number of the elements of the selector, consume energy and are a cause of wear. If the contact pressures are reduced to minimize these mechanical disadvantages, the resultant electrical contact is unsatisfactory.

The present invention provides a rotary selector with semicircular rows of outgoing line stator contacts arrayed one above another into a semicylindrical surface and in which the rotor scanning brushes which explore the panel of stator outgoing line contacts so formed are incorpor ated into a rotor which moves at uniform velocity with respect to the stator when the selector is free. The rotation is stopped when the selector makes selection of adesired outgoing line. During rotation the rotor scanning brushes travel past the outgoing line stator contacts without mechanical contact therewith. These scanning brushes are connected within the rotor to incoming line rotor electrodes, pref-- erably of approximately circular shape, which are capacitively associated and not mechanically connected during such rotation with stator electrodes connected to the wires of the selector incoming line. In the course of a selection, characteristic voltages applied to selected stator contacts of each outgoing'line are capacitively induced upon the rotor scanning brushes which move past them, and these potentials are then capacitively passed from the rotor incoming linerotor contacts; are; brought into galvanic contact with appropriate outgoing line contact pins in the stator. At the same time the rotor incoming line electrodes are brought by axial translation of the rotor into firm galvanic con-' tact with stator incoming line contacts so as to effect galvanic contact between the respective wires of the selector incoming line and those of the chosen outgoing line.

Upon the iden-I With the con-, struction of the invention, to" be described in further detail below,- the contactypressures obtained after selection are much higher than those available in rotary selectors of the prior art. Moreover, according to the invention certain contact auxiliary to the talking circuit to be established are made or broken without the help of relays or other auxiliary devices. For example advantage is taken of the axial motion of the selector rotor upon the making of a selection to provide directly a holding circuit for the stopping coil by means of which the rotor .is stopped and held in fixed position once the desired outgoing line has beenhfoun'd.

Because of the indeterminate values Ofthe wiring capacities involved, the voltages transmitted from a selector according to the invention to the input terminals of an identification means as described above will not in general be a constant fraction of the characteristic identification volt ages applied to the selector outgoing line stator contacts. Within the identification means therefore the line-characteristic identification volt.- agescan therefore beidentified dependably only by their polarity, in the case of'D. C. voltages, or by their frequency in the case of A. C. voltages. Since D. C.'voltages thus possess only three characteristic values: positive, zero and negative, they would'permit selection of only a restricted number of lines or line groups.

If more than two or three lines or line groups are to be identified, it is therefore necessary to employ A. C. identification voltages. This will usually be the case for selectors employed as either group selectors or final selectors. In an exchange therefore, for which the selectors of the invention are designed, each outgoing line or line group is identified by a particular frequency or frequencies of the identification voltages which are applied to one or more of the stator contacts of that line as it appears as an outgoing line of a selector according to the invention. To set up a desired circuit the selector rotor is stopped to effect galvanic connection between the wires of the selector incoming line and the wires of a free outgoing line the characteristic frequency or frequencies of which have been determined to be identical to a predetermined reference frequency or frequencies, chosen by a recorder or sender storing the signals generated by a calling subscribers dial, for example. In

my copending application Serial No. 208,794, filed January 31', 1951, I have described frequency identification means ha-ving two input terminals to which are applied A. C. voltages of varying frequency and having an output across which there is developed a D. C. voltage signal when and only when the input voltages are of the same frequency.

In'order for'such identification means to be able dependably to identify the frequencies of the voltages scanned from the outgoing line stator electrodes, it is necessary that the period of the lowestidentification. frequency employed be short compared to .the time'required for the passage of the rotor scanningbrush past one of the stator electrodes held to. such an identification voltage. For this reason and further to. prevent disturbance of the actualcommunication channels by such identification-voltages,tthe. latter are all selected above the 'audio range, and preferably above 10 kilocycles.

The use of. such high frequencies for the identification voltages requires that precautions be taken to minimize their mixing by capacitive induction among the wires of the various outgoin lines which carry these voltages to the stator contacts of thesele tors, of .theinvention. .In

particular, the multiplying together of a plurality of selectors by means of flat fan-shaped groups of wires radiating in each selector from the contacts of a single semicircular row cannot be employed since it does not permit the use of proper electrostatic shielding to prevent such induction. For, even with electrostatic shields between the adjacent fan-shaped hundleatlie wires of each bundle constitute wires of a single function drawn from a large number of outgoing lines, and certain bundles would precisely combine together ,thewires ;o'fsa:; plurality of outgoing lines held to the differentidentification voltage frequencies of those lines. According to the invention there- 'fore multiplying 'wires are grouped not according tov function-hut according to azimuth, bringing together all the wires of one outgoing line or of the *srnallnumber of outgoing lines whose contacts occupy a single azimuthal position or vertical row in the selector stator. The bundles are therefore made up parallel to the selector axis rather thanperpendicular thereto.

The invention will now be further described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1. ista view insideelevation'of the outgoing line stator elements'ota single azimuth of a plurality of selectors according to the invention, multipliedtogether;

Fig. 2 .is a plan view from above of the lower stator fiange or frame member of a'selector according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in side-elevation of the flange of Fig. 2 as seen from theleft in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view from below of the upper stator flange or frame member of a selector according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the flange of Fig. 4 seen from th'e'right in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view inside elevation of the outgoing line stator elements'of a single azimuth of a selector accordingto the invention prior to their envelopment in an insulating plastic material;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 showing the assembly of the outgoing line stator elements for a single azimuth of a selector after their envelopment in a plastic coating Fig. 8 is an endelevat'ional view of the assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a --viewinside 'elevation'of a wedge employed to space and fasten into a selector two adjacent azimuth assemblies according to Figs. 6, 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view 'of the wedge of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of th outgoing line statorbanks of a plurality of selectors according to the invention multiplied to.- gether and combine'd'linto "a column seen from the concave side;

Fig. 12 is. a view ini'side'elevation of one of the banks of'Fig. 11, seen-fromthe left in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13' is a sectional view taken on the line l3-|3 of Fig.'11;

Fig. 14 Ba viewinsideelevation of a single selector according to the invention, this view being similar to that oiFig. .1.11(for one selector) except that me selectorro'tor'and fixed incoming line'elementsrareishown; H

Fig. 15 is a sectional view'taken on the line b-b of Fig..14, seen from below;

Fig. 16 is :a sectional viewtalien on the line.

c c-of Fig. 15, showing the. removable elements of the selector including the rotor, the rotor stopping means, and the fixedincoming line elements;

Fig. 17 1s .a perspective view sof .therotoristopping means and of the selector incoming line electrodes and contacts, viewed in the direction of the arrow d in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view of part of the rotor outgoing line brush carrying structure of the rotor shown in Fig. 16, taken in the direction of the arrow 9 and between the planes indicated at e and fin Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a schematic view of the rotor elements of a selector according to the invention With the stator elements for a single azimuth, shown in connectionwith certain other elements of a switching system with which the selector of the invention is adapted to cooperate, and

Fig. 20 is a partial sectional view in plan of a selector according to the invention showing the outgoing line stator contacts and electrodes of two horizontal rows in the stator bank and the rotor brushes and contacts which cooperate therewith.

As is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 11 the selectors of the invention are adapted to be combined into columns of selectors which are multipled together according to well-known principles. Figs. 1 and 11 show elements of four selectors only. A large number of selectors may of course be provided in the column.

The stator of each selector includes flange or frame members 2 and 3 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 supporting a plurality of outgoing line stator contact assemblies lil of the type illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.- Each selector further includes stationary elements associated with the selector. incoming line and a rotor adapted to effect contact between the wires of the selector incoming line and the wires of any one of the outgoing lines which is brought to the selector via one of the assemblies Ill. The rotor, rotor drive and rotor stopping mechanism (Fig. 16), and the stationary incoming line elements (Fig. 17) are removably associable with the frame members 2 and 3 in which the bank of stator outgoing line contacts are fastened. The assemblies l are disposed in a semicircular array, each assembly defining an azimuth for the selector stator. In the embodiment illustrated each assembly [0 includes contacts and identification frequency electrodes for two outgoing lines.

Referring now to Fig. 6, each assembly I 0 is I composed of a parallel array of multipling wires 4, an insulating plate 5 and a plurality of transverse bars some of which terminate in galvanic contact pins 8 and the remainder of which terminate in scanning electrodes 1 perpendicular to the length of the wires 4, the aggregate number of the bars being equal to the number of multipling wires 4. In the example illustrated there are provided eight pin-shaped terminals 8 and six electrodes 1, having the form and function of condenser plates. The insulating plates 5 are perforated so as to give one access to each of the multipling wires 4 and each of the bars makes electrical contact with one of the wires 4 through such a perforation. The junctions are suitably soldered or welded to ensure good electrical contact. The bars are preferably made of a material such as Phosphor bronze havinggood mechanical as well as electrically conducting properties. Away from their ends I and 8 they may be scored as shown to improve their adhesion in the enveloping plastic. The combination of the wires 4, plate 5 and transverse bars is then suitably laminated or embedded in an insulating material such as polymethacrylate to form an assembly!!! of rectangular section as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. customarily for economy of construction the wires '4 are made of a length suitable to the number of; selectors to be built into the column desired sof that a series 1 of assemblies ID are formed integrally together, the number of assemblies in inthe series being equal to the number of selectorsfto be provided in the column.

Referring to Figs. 2 tot, the flanges 2 and 3, which may for example be die cast of an aluminum alloy, are provided with a plurality of radial slots l2 between fingers M, the number of slots being equal to the number of assemblies H] to be provided in the selector. In the embodiment shown, fifty slots areiarranged over a semicircular arc, each slot accommodating an assembly [0 which gives access toitwo outgoing lines.

A column of selectors is. assembled by fastening a double plurality of the flanges 2 and 3 in suitable order to frame members such as angle irons l8 (Fig. 13). The series 1 of assemblies If] as fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 1 are then inserted into the slots l2. The plastic coating in which the assemblies l9" are embedded may be provided with grooves H adapted to fit over the upper and lower flanges of each selector to provide suitable mechanical rigidity.

To prevent crosstalk electrostatic shielding is provided between adjacent assemblies [0 by means of thin metallic foils 48 (Fig. 13) applied to one face of each of the entire series of assemblies [0 before insertion into the flanges. Precautions are then taken to ensure good electrical contact between the foils 48 and the fingers I4 in the flanges to provide multiple ground points for the foils. Wedges l3 may be inserted with the assemblies 10 in the slots l2. These are particularly helpful where the assemblies are made of rectangular section, as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The aspect of the resulting column of selector outgoing line elements isillustrated in Figs. 11 through 13 in which for simplicity only a small number of the contacts, foils and multipling wires have been shown.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a complete selector according to the invention. This includes not only the bank of outgoing line stator elements hitherto described but also the incoming line stator elements, the rotor by means of which selection and contact between the incoming line and a chosen outgoing line is made, and the rotor driving and stopping means. The multipling wires 4 have been omitted from Fig. 15.

In addition to the outgoing line stator ele ments, formed into banks-as shown in Fig. 11, the selector of the invention comprises an incoming line stator contact assembly 30, a rotor 20, a driving mechanism 2! and-a rotor stopping mechanism l9, all illustrated in Fig. 16. The stopping mechanism l9 comprises a plate 22, a cup 23, and a male cone 24 all concentric with each other and forming together a magnetic circuit adapted to be energized by a rotor stopping coil winding 35. The cup 23 is secured to the plate 22 by means of screws 25 and the cone 24 is secured" thereto by means of screws 26. The plate and cup may be split as at 36 in Fig. 17 to reduce eddy currents. Over one half of its circumference the plate 22 has the same radius as the cup 23 but over the remainder of its circumference its radius is slightly greater, providing a supporting flange 21 terminating at abutments 28 located on opposite ends of a diameter of the plate .22. The.

flange (21 is employed tosupport the: stopping mechanism I9, incoming line contact assembly 30, rotor 20: and driving mechanism 2| from the frame 3, where. it fits into a semicircular groove I2 in which it is held by a semicircular ring I3 (Figs. 4 and 14). .The elements 22, 23 and 24 are made of soft iron. The stopping mechanism I9 supports the incoming line stator contact as.-

sembly 30 comprising a block 430 of insulatingmaterialon which are'supported-the incoming line stator contacts of the selector (Figs. 16 and 17). These contacts (shown schematically in Fig. 19) take the form of a plurality of semicircular rings 3|, I3I, 23I and 33I concentric with each other and with the axis 403 of the selector. The rings 3I, I3I, 23I and 33I are axially separatedand 'furtherinclude or have respectively connected thereto, radially extending contact blades 32, I32, 232 and 332 for the making of galvanic contact with the rotor incoming line contacts as willbe subsequently described. In addition, auxiliarycontact blades-233 and 333 on block 430 form intermittent contacts with the blades 232 and. 332. Thus 232 and 233 form a pair of normally closed contacts, i. e. closed during rotation of the selector. The elements 332 and 333 form a pair of normally open contacts which are closed only upon the axial translation of the selector rotor which occurs when selection ismade. The semicircular rings 3 I, I3I, 23I and 33I and the blades 233 and '333 are provided with extensions 34' (Fig. 17) to permit theattachment of conductors in any usual andsuitable manner.

Referring now to Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 19 the selector rotor20 comprises a molded plastic mem ber.83 of rotationally symmetric shape. like cylindrical portion 39 fits with clearance at bore 439 over the selectordrive shaft 63' and supports a soft iron female cone 4!) which completes the magnetic circuitwith the cup 23 and the male cone '24. The stem 39 further supports rotor incoming line contacts in the form of circular rings 4I, I4I, 24I and MI for capacitive and galvanic association with the incoming line stator rings and contact blades previously described. A conical surface 42 is formed on the end of the stem 39 opposite the cone 4G. The stem is extended into a mushroom-like plate 43. At opposite ends of a diameter of the plate 43 there are formed axially extending supports 45 and 45' whose cross section is illustrated in Fig; 18. The-support 45 provides support to the rotor scanning brushes 50, I50, 250 andcontacts I5I, 25I intended for association with one of the outgoing lines brought to each vertical row of stator contacts. The support 45' carries the rotor brushes and contacts adapted for association with the other outgoing line of each outgoing stator azimuth. Thus the support 45 has embedded therein or otherwise afiixed thereto scanning brushes 5!], I 50 and 250 and contactmembers 5I, I5I, 25I and 35I. The contacts 5|,

80 (Fig. 18) adapted to bring up against the stator electrodes I in moving past them. This isschematically illustrated in "Fig.i19, in which the outgoing line stator elements having reference characterswhose last digit is "8 are in position to be engaged by lipped or. curled rotor brushes and in' which. the scanning :brushes 50. etc.,; are. adjacent: to'platesshaped: members the A sternclutch plates 68.

last digit of whose reference characters is "I. The second support 45" similarly carries scanning brushes 50, I50 and 250' and galvanic contact electrodes 5I', I5I', Iand I'.- Connection is provided between the rotor incoming line electrodes 4|, I4I, 24I and 34I on the one hand and the pairs of brushes and contacts 50, 5|; 5|, etc., by means of wires embedded in the supports 45 and 45' andpassing through the cylindrical plate 43.

The driving mechanism for the rotor of the selector of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 16. A shaft 63 of steel or the like carries two sets of ball bearings 64 and 65.. The bearing 64 journals the shaft in the cone 24 and hence via the plate 22 the shaft is supported in the selector frame. Similarly the bearing 65 supports the shaft in the lower stator flange 2, as indicated in Fig. 15. A cone 66 is drawn up tight against a shoulder 463 on the shaft by means of a ring 61. The cone 66 therefore turns with the shaft. The ends of the shaft 53 are rectangular or hexagonal as indicated at II and engage with clutch plates 68. Coil springs 69 are provided to expand the clutch plates outwardly from the selector for engagement with the corresponding clutch plates of the adjacent selectors in a column.

When the removable assembly shown in Fig.

' 16 is fastened together with its bank of stator lower flange 2 where it is retained by means of the bearing cap 11, fastened to the flange by means of screws I8 (Figs; 2 and 15).

Fi 14 illustrates the engagement between adjacent selectors in a column by means of the The plates 68 may have roughened surfaces II! to ensure the transmission of rotation from the one shaft 63 to the next and so on throughout the entire column. At one end of the column a prime mover such as an electric motor transmits uniform rotation to the first selector in the column.

With the selector so assembled, the rotor 20 of any one selector can turn with its shaft 63, or it may be held fast with respect to its stator. The shaft 63 turns at all times at constant speed under the control of a motor, notshown, which may beofconvent onal tyne. When a plurality of selectors according to the invention are assembled into a column, the motor is located at one end of the column and is connected by clutch means to the shaft of the selector nearest it. Referring to Fig. 16, while the selector is free, and during the process of 'line finding. the coil 35 is de-energized, and the rotor 2n restsrof its own weight on theconeifi by which it is centeredto carry its scanning brushes 5n, 5M I50, I 5Il etc., uniformly past the plate-sha ed identification voltage electrodes of the outgo ng line stator bank. 'Whenselection is ma e, the coil 35 is-energized. and rotor 2n islifted by the action'of the resultant magnetic field on the cone 40 of ma netic material. The cones 40 and 24 a ain assureproner centeringof, the rotor. .A slightly greaterclearance,between the cones 24 and 'lothan -tnatbetween the pin-shaped outgoing line stator contacts such as 38, 38', etc.,

(Fig. 19) and the rotor contact brushes I, SI,

. Fig. 19 illustrates the outgoing line contacts for one azimuth zor vertical'row in the stator bank and shows two output lines each including seven contacts of which three are of fiat plate form tocooperate with the scanning brushes of the rotor and of which four may be conventional round'pins for galvanic contact upon the stopping of the rotor. The contacts of fiat plate form are Nos. 31, I31 and 231 for the first outgoing line and 31', I31 and 231' for the second outgoing line. The pin contacts are Nos. 38, I38, 238 and Y338 for the first outgoing line and 38", I38,'238' and 338' for the second outgoing line. v

The wires of the first outgoing line comprise wire 0, the busy condition test wire connected U, which is connected to contact 31, is held by the source 86 at an alternating voltage of frequency ft characteristic of the units digit of the first line of the azimuth shown.

- The corresponding wires of the second outtionally be called the rest position, the rotor brushes sweep past the fixed contacts of the stator without galvanic contact with them. In Fig. 19, the stator contacts designated with primed reference characters are axially displaced with respect to those with unprimed reference characters and similarly the primed and unprimed rotor members are axially displaced with respect to each other. With this construction each revolution of the rotor permits scanning of a number of output lines equal to twice the number of azimuth intervals provided on the stator.

In the description of operation of the selector of the invention now to be given it will be assumed that the desired output line is the first output line shown in Fig. 19, its conductors being designated A, B, T, O, and D and U. The alternating voltage sources 85, 85 and 86,86 of the azimuth shown, as well as those of other azimuths, are connected to a recording means I03 or sender as well as to the plate-shaped test elecgoing line are designated by the same capital letter reference characters with primes to distinguish them from the wires of the first outgoing line. Theyconnect respectively with stator outgoingline contacts of the same numbered reference characters, again primed. Thus the source 85' generates and applies to the contact I3'I'- an alternating voltage of a frequency ,fd characteristic of the tens digit of the second outgoingline of the azimuth shown, and the source 88' generates and applies to the contact 31' an alternating voltage of frequency is characteristic of the units digit of the second outgoing line for the azimuth shown. The incoming line includes four wires. Wire 0 is the busy wire, grounded through the battery I04. Wire t is the duplicate selection test wire and a and b are the talking conductors. The wire 0 is connected to the stator incoming l-i-ne half-ring 33I and to its connected contact blade 332. Wire t is connected to half-ring 23l and to contact blade 232, wire b to halt-ring I3I and to contact I32, and wire a lastly is connected to half-ring 3| and to contact blade 32. The rotor comprises ring 4| connected to two diametrically opposite pairs of brushes 50, 5I and 5I'. It also includes the ring I4I connected to two diametrically opposite pairs of brushes I 50, I5I and I50. I5I; the ring 2 connected to two diametrically opposite pairs of brushes 250, 25I and 250', 25!; and the ring 3 connected to two diametrically to opposite brushes 35I and 35I'.

As indicated in Fig. 19, where the rotor'is shown inthe axial position which it occupies during continuous rotation, "which position may func trodes of their respective lines in the selector type described in my copending application Serial No. 208,794 and the details of which form no necessary element of the present invention. For the description of the present invention it will suffice to state that in consequence of the dialing by calling subscriber the sender I03 chooses among the plurality of frequencies applied to it the frequencies is and fu. It then applies the frequency fd to the wire IN, and the frequency f to the wire I02.

An identification means 81, which may be'of the type described in my copending application above referred to, includes two input terminals 88 and 92 and an output terminal 96. The input 88 is connected to the armature blade 89 of the relay I00 whose associated fixed contacts 90 and SI are respectively connected to the talking conductors a and b of the selector incoming line. The input terminal 92 is connectedto the armature contact 98 of relay I00 whose corresponding fixed contacts 94 and 95 are respectively connected to the conductors IOI and I02. The output terminal 98 is connected to the armature contact 91 of relay I00 whose corresponding fixed contacts 98 and 99 are respectively connected to the coil of relay I00 and to the wire 12 of the incoming line.

During rotation of the selector the brush I50, which is positioned two azimuth intervals ahead of the other root brushes as shown in Fig. 20, scans the voltages of the various plate-shaped contacts of the row represented by the contact I31. The potentials so scanned are applied via the wire b and contacts SI and 89 to the input terminal 88 of the identification means. When the potential experienced by the brush I50 is of the same frequency as that applied to the input terminal 92 of the identification means from the sender I03 via wire IN and contacts 94 and 93 of relay I00, a D. C. voltage appears at the output terminal 96. This voltage, applied through contacts 91 and 98 energizes relay I00 and connects 5 the input terminal 88 to the wire a and input 92 to wire I02.

As the selector continues to rotate the brus 50, disposed one azimuth interval in advance of the other rotor brushes, scans the voltages of the various outgoing line stator contacts in the row occupied by the contact 31. The potentials so scanned are applied via wire a and contacts 89 and of relay I00 to the input terminal 88 of the identification means 81. When the voltage experienced by the brush 50 is of the same fre- 11 que i s; a tha aprliedt t e input term nal- 92 from the sender ill i via wire lllzyandcontacts 95 and ,3, a D. C. voltage appears) at the output terminal 95. This; I). C. voltageis applied via contacts 91 and 99, of relay Hlfi to the wire t of the selcotorincoming line.

By virtue of, the contact existing between stator contacts 2,132 and" 233 this voltage-is applied; across the, coil 35 and eifects axial'translationjoi the rotor in the sensepof the arrow 8|. Thus; the selector rotor is lifted offfthe cone -66'into engagement-with the cone 24., (Fig. '16). In the coursexofithisgtranslation contactis made between 332 and3'3-33; to DliQvicle a holding circuit hythe coil 3.5:3Via-theincon ing line Wire 0, battery i 2, and eponomizer resistance, I05. The cones 24 ndim nsase and o nt r h ot r in a busrii positionin whichit is atrest. In theflousy positiOn, tlig'lippedybrushes 51, ll, 2.5+ and, 351 are respectively applied to the pinrshaped contacts 5.. I38 23.8 am 338, or he iesired,out-goins line, The,lips;8ll;(1l?ig. l5) oithe brushestL 5,1 a d. 15 p event otati n of; t rotor past ihh esireda imuth. The incomin l ne a, at, o

sflm eq snfiy. sel anically extended to? the u going line A,-B, Qyia the contact, established hetwesnilhandtat; I51 and 1' 3 251 n' 1Z38ad 351 and, 3,38.

Apointer 82 (Figs. 1e; and 15) afilxeclto the cap 1 1 indicates the azimuthal position of the rotor while atresthy, reference for example to a -scale applied to the exterior cylindricalisurface 43 of the rotor.

What I claim is:

1 Aselector con prising a frame, a bank of ontgoing'linestator contacts arranged in vertical and horizontal, rows in a substantially semicylindrical inwardl facing array H fixed in the frame, all stator contacts of each outgoing line being located in one vertical-rovrand eachof a plurality of outgoing lines connected to the se leotor having in one horizontal row of. the bank a. oiuisnss la e-shap d Contact, each, of. a d lines, having in each of two "other horizontal rowsa ninr he e s e w a uateinco i s line stator contacts supported coasially vith said array, two stator contactblades connected one o cash Mea en om in a r o ac annular electrorn g at supportedcoaxially with he a ra aera or rivin Shaft iqu na i n 1 @3 1 QQXEUY wi h said a re e l lm er ms meanson saidshait, arotor including an arma,- tui'ea dapted tocooperate with saigi magnet, said q i e y. en a ed id S el aid rotor being sh'apeglto rest on saiclrotor supporting means with clearance fromsaid magnet, two. ring-shaped incoming line rotor contacts mount ed coaxially with the rotor in position to rotate adjacent the arcuate inooming line stator contactsr/hensaicl rotor rests on said supporting means, a scanning brush connected to one of said incomingline-rotor contacts and supportecl on the rotorin position toinov e pastthe condenser plate-shaped contacts of the bank when said rotor restson said rotor supporting means, and an outgoing line rotor contact brush ccnneoteq toeach of said incomingline rotor, contacts, said outgoing line rotor contact brushes being ina single azimuth of the rotor displaoe clfroin tho azimuth of said oanning brushby the interval) separating two or more vertical rows, in the bank, each of said outgoing line rotor contact brushes being adapted upon energization of said,

magn t en a sa v ai al shepi contactof one of said other horizontal rowsin nemiesommie dr szmesns oea e he;

12 the bank, and; cache of. said incoming: line {rotor contacts-being adapted;-uponenergization ofsaid magnet to engage'galvanically oneof; said con tact'blades. M

2. A selector comprising an outgoing line stator 'contactxbank conforming to a'substanti'ally semicylindrical. surface in which all electrodes belonging to, any one outgoing. line arejarrahge'fl along a line parallel to the axis of thexsaiclisuriface, the electrodesofrsaidbank belonging toone outgoing line includingiin additiomto contacts for the talkingconductors or-the lineatqleast' one electrode of flat plate shape disposed::substan:- tiallyjperpendicular to) the axlsgoft the sai'dysur: face; and, adapted: to form one :of, the plates. offs condenser, a :pluralityrof selector incoming, line contacts ofsemicircular, ring; shape; supported coaxially of the said surface, a. rotor mounted coaxially oil-the; saidhsurface for rotation relative toijsaid. bankand for translation between first .an'd secondpositions axiallyiof said banlza plurality of. ring-shaped electrodes amazed-t0 the. rotor in position to move in planes adjacent,thef planes or the selectorsincominsjline contactsiibut without contact thcrezwiflsh upon rotation ofothe.

rotorwhenvin its first axial position, a cann ns; brushof flat-plate, shape adapted toiormyoneoj. the plates of; a. condenser, said brush, being sup? ported, on, the rotor in; position, to :sweep; past thefl flat plate electrodeszof, the; bank; but without .QQn? tact withQsaid flatiplateelectrodes uponrotation of the rotor Whfitkin itSQfiISjLfiKbJ-lDQSitiQll; said. scanning brush being, connected, to; one; of v ring-shaped, rotorelectrod s; iii-p urality, f sale vanic contact brushes. 5111 11 1liedv one theirotor in pos ti to e f t; sal ranie ontact wi h; ont cts: of; the bank upon axiaitranslationoi thepriotot from its first to its second axialapositiorr, said, contact brushes being; each connectedto: oneof sa d, i se-s aped; le tr des; drivin means; n: easi g he: rotorttin; i sfirst: axi osition-1 eams tater thet same, andamean itatrans atei hermal: axially fr maitsfirst, t its-secondyax ali position; A, sel c or. omm sinswa ank: of..- out o n ne tato c tact disnos iqve a. nortionaot a1 i cular li drical; urface, v ca rows a all a dl e hor ontal r ws per end cul i= he. a of a la u ace. the. cQntaQ s'QfV-e eh out o n line bei sxarranseda a ins avert al w, ar zonta a fapl t han gl le trodes int aid bank; t acont-acts-or, p 1 l t 0 ot er, o i ntalrow e resn t, 'Qnnec esiw to; t talking o ducto soi .lu li roioutsqixia, n s a p u a ty ,o nz ming1ine tamr contac at least; two 0f: WhiC fil of ,arcuatashapedis? p sedtcoa i aidi rf qe Mot mqu iesi:

oaxiauyoi saidisu ace for, rotatiq relat elw s idrbank a ia fom an lat qn Home, fi st ma c nd a ial osi on e a v o aid ban a; p u li of. comi a ine o q i QQn ia 1- iz c ular ring shape supported on the rotorcoaxially, of said surface, a; rotorgscanning, 'bILUSh COQI-i net ed-i0 o e, o a d. n qm nse' ier oio o r t a lu a i o out n n t Ame-ta b us e onn cted s li e onei i dr iicqminsr oiq wh n nd e, r t ocat on. and a s, lation means; a ,apteclr o;move;th e rotor-axially,

and t ns' st i iem, a aqriviasi aean r he;

roto a t on acts n sh s po d:

therein: being so' 'elii'riensionecl, that when s without, galvaniq cont ct, withan s tact;sai ,rororjscmngh hislihe t A plays the stator bank and said incoming linerotor contacts rotating respectively adjacent saidarcuate incomingiline stator contacts..

stator contacts arranged in vertical and horizon-,

tal rows in a substantially semicylindrical inwardly facing array, each vertical row including all the outgoing line stator contacts for two outgoing lines and including two contacts of plate shape, one for each of said lines, and further including four pin-shaped contacts, two. for each of said lines, two'incoming line stator electrodes of semicircular ring shape supported coaxially with said array, two contact blades connected one to each of said incoming line stator electrodes, a rotor mounted for rotation coaxially with the array and for translation with respect thereto between first and second axial positions, two incoming line rotor electrodes of circular ring shape mounted in the rotor coaxially therewith and positioned to rotate adjacent the incoming line stator electrodes when the rotor is in its first axial position, two diametrically opposite rotor scanning brushes connected to each other and to one of the incoming line rotor electrodes and axially displaced from each other in position to rotate with the rotor each past one of the horizontal rows of plate-shaped contacts in the array when the rotor is in its first axial position, a first pair of outgoing line rotor contact brushes axially spaced apart by the separation of at least two horizontal rows of pin-shaped contacts in the array and connected each to one of the incoming line rotor electrodes, a second pair of outgoing line rotor contact brushes diametrically opposite the first, the contact brushes of said second pair being axially separated by the spacing of the other two horizontal rows of pinshaped contacts in the array and connected each to one of the incoming line rotor electrodes, driving means to rotate the rotor, and means to lift the rotor from its first to its second axial position and to disengage it from the driving means, whereby when said rotor lifting means is not actuated the rotor turns with the driving means without galvanic contact between any electrical stator element and any electrical rotor element, and whereby upon actuation of said rotor lifting means said incoming line rotor electrodes are stressed against said contact blades and said outgoing line rotor contact brushes are stressed against pin-shaped contacts of the array.

5. A selector comprising a plurality of outgoing line stator contact panels of plastic material each including a plurality of contacts connected to multipling wires, said contacts including at least one salient electrode of fiat plate shape and at least two salient contact pins, upper and lower slotted frame members adapted to support the panels in a substantially semicircular array with said contacts on the inner surface of the semicylinder, conducting metallic foils interposed between adjacent panels, an annular electromagnet fastened to the upper of said frame members, a drive shaft journaled in the magnet and in the lower of said frame members coaxially with said array, a cone affixed to said shaft below the magnet, a rotor loosely fitting about said shaft between said magnet and said cone, a collar of magnetic material affixed to said rotor adjacent said magnet, a plurality of incoming line stator electrodes of semicircular ring shape supported from said magnet coaxially with regard to said shaft, a plurality of ringshaped incoming: line. rotor"el'e'ctrodes, a rotor -scanning brush connected toon'e of said incom- -:=ing' line rotor'electrodes', and two rotor contact brushes, said rotor scanning and contact brushes being so'dimensioned that when said magnet is not energized the incoming line rotor electrodes rotate respectively adjacent the incoming line statorelectrodes with the scanning brush sweeping. past the plate-shaped outgoing line stator electrodes, all without galvanic contact between elements of the rotor and stator, whereas upon energization of said magnet the rotor is lifted from the cone and stopped with the contact brushes in contact'with outgoing line stator con tact pins and with the incoming line rotor electrodes in contact with incoming line stator electrodes.

6. A selector comprising a'frame, a bank of outgoing line stator contacts arranged in at least three horizontal rows and in a plurality of vertical rows in a substantially cylindrical inwardly facing array fixed in the frame, one of said horizontal rows including contacts of substantially flat plate shape adapted to act as condenser plates, two arcuate incoming line stator contacts supported coaxially of said array, an electromagnet supported from the frame, a rotor driving shaft journaled in the frame coaxially of the array, rotor supporting means arranged on the shaft, a rotor including an armature adapted to cooperate with the magnet, the rotor being freely engaged on said shaft and being shaped to rest on said supporting means with clearance between said armature and magnet, two ringshaped incoming line rotor contacts mounted coaxially of the rotor, a scanning'brush in the rotor connected to one of said incoming line rotor contacts, and two outgoing line rotor contacts in the rotor connected each to one of said rotor incoming line contacts, said brush, rotor outgoing line contacts and rotor incoming line contacts being so positioned in the rotor that when said rotor rests on said supporting means said brush rotates with clearance past the contacts of said one horizontal row to form condensers therewith successively, said rotor outgoing line contacts rotate past the contacts of said other two horizontal rows without galvanic contact therewith, and said rotor incoming line contacts rotate past said stator incoming line contacts to form condensers therewith continuously, and when said magnet is energized said rotor and stator incoming line contacts are brought into galvanic contact and said rotor outgoing line contacts are brought into galvanic contact with contacts of said other two horizontal rows.

'7. A selector comprising a bank of outgoing line stator contacts arranged in a plurality of vertical and in a plurality of horizontal rows in a substantially cylindrical inwardly facing array, one of said horizontal rows including contacts of fiat plate shape oriented parallel to right sections of the array, said contacts being adapted to form condenser plates, a plurality of arcuate incoming line stator contacts supported coaxially of said array, an electromagnet supported in fixed position relative to said array, a rotor driving shaft journaled coaxially of the array, rotor supporting means on said shaft, a rotor including an armature adapted to cooperate with said magnet, said rotor being freely engaged on said shaft and shaped to rest on said supporting means with clearance between said armature and magnet, a plurality of pairs of rotor contacts arranged in the rotor, each such pair including Emma vmotorv outgoing, l ine; contact of; substantiallflflat plate. sh p'el ozieuted perpendicularly tomheflax is of, the roton, said; rotonvoutgoingglipet 1 flat plate, shape; being adapted to, form-I condonsers; with said; flat-Mata; 'shaped11 atanon out;

going line. oontaots; suoooasivelwflaim rotors: con,- tacts being-so positionedq'ingsaids mimithat: when said-l rotor 1'6 StS,0n-.Said: SDQYfi-g meansq said rotor rotates with said z drivetshaitt without; vanicl contact betwflentmy *smton incoming-ling contaot and any; motor; cqntaptxand; withouttgal' vanic contact botweeniamoriotorx contact; angiz'any stator outgoing. 1in.-.,contact buttwith the platoshaped contacts of the rotor movingwnasti the platershapod contaotst ofythgtstatort closelm ad; a.- Qent herfito wher as; upon: onenzizattiorg of; said magnotlat leasttwo :notor lncomingwline contaots engagggalvanicallytwozstattor incoming li-nmontacts and they. rotorsoutgoingi line; contacts tcom nectedpto said, twoqmtol: .incomingnli-net contacts engagegalvanically stator outgoingline contacts of; diiferent horizontal rows.

Re on np s it n ho filo o his-pate t

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