US2686226A - Multiswitch apparatus controlled by crossbars - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1954 A. J. MONTCHAUSSE MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY CROSSBARS Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l I nventor ANDRE J. M9NTC'HAU55E A ttom e y Aug. 10, 1954 A. J. MONTCHAUSSE MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY CROSSBARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10. 1950 7 In venior ANDPE J. MONTH-M0535 A Item e y Aug. 10, 1954 A. J. MONTCHAUSSE MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY CROSSBARS Filed Oct. 10. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor ANDRE J. MaNTCHAl/SSE A llo rne y Aug. 10, 1954 A. J. MONTCHAUSSE 2,586,226

MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY CROSSBARS Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 c F/G,5.

Inventor ANDRE J- MONTCHAZ/SSE A Home y 1954 A. J. MONTCHAUSSE 2,686,226

MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY CROSSBARS Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ANDRE J. MONTCHAIMSE By z I Atfome;

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 TNT MULTISWITCH APPARATUS CONTRGLLED BY CRDSSBARS Application October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,310

Claims priority, application France October 13, 1949 2 Claims.

In certain multi-switch apparatus controlled by crossbars, the outgoing lines are connected to contact wires multipled in front of the assembly of the switches. The movable contacts actuated by the control bars come into contact with the multiple wires corresponding with the selected outgoing line. A multi-switch, operating in accordance with this principle has been described in the copending application Serial No. 146,211 filed February 25, 1950.

In order to fulfil certain operating requirements from the arrangements in which the multi-switch is incorporated, one may be led to provide on all, or part of the lines connected to the contact wires multipled in front of the switches, shunt circuits in which the elements necessary for the said operating requirements are inserted. But it is sometimes necessary, in order to proceed with certain operations, either to eliminate the shunt circuits, or to eliminate them and replace them by other shunt circuits.

One of the characteristics of the invention resides in a multi-switch apparatus controlled by crossbars with multipling of the lines constituted by wires or contact pieces located in front of the switches, comprising one or more special switches constituted in such a manner that the operation of the said special switch or switches permits the elimination of all or part of the elements or electrical circuits derived from a pre-determined line, or the elimination of all or part of the said elements or electrical circuits and the replacement of them by other elements or electrical circuits so as to modify the electrical conditions of the pre-determined line without the intervention of the well-known line or cut-off relays.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that each commutating mechanism of a special switch, part of a multi-switch, comprises a movable part which, placed under the control of the operating bar of the switch during the operation of the clutch control bar, comes to act, either directly or indirectly, upon contact springs, during the actuation of the said operating bar of the switch, to open and/or to close the contacts between the springs and the movable wires or contact pieces, the contact springs being fixed independently of the commutating mechanism.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that the movable part, resiliently mounted, able to be displaced along the direction of displacement of the operating bar of the switch, in two opposite senses, opens and/or closes only the contact between the springs and the multiple wires or contact pieces corresponding to the sense of displacement of the said movable part, the

contact between the springs and the multiple wires or contact pieces corresponding to the other sense of displacement, remaining in the condition which they occupied in the rest position of the commutating mechanism.

I Another characteristic of the invention resides in means for driving the contact springs constituted by rigid pushers integral with the movable part and located with respect to the contact springs in such a manner that only the contact springs dependent upon the multiple wires or contact pieces corresponding to the sense of displacement of the operating bar of the switch, are actuated.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in an arrangement of contact springs with respect to the pushers which actuate the said springs in a first direction, the said contact springs bearing resiliently upon the pushers, in such a way that the displacement of the said pushers in a second direction, frees the said contact springs which, under the action of their own tension, come into contact with the multiple wire or contact piece.

Other characteristics of the invention will be' come apparent from the following description relating to multi-switches according to the invention. This description given as a non-limitative example, will be made in relation to the appended figures which represent:

Fig. 1, a partial side view of a multi-switch comprising a special switch according to the invention;

Fig. 2, a cut-out view of Fig. 1 along A-A', only one commutating mechanism being fully represented;

Fig. 3, a cut-out end view of Fig. 1 along BB, restricted to the front part;

Fig. 4, a perspective view of a contact spring assembly of a commutating mechanism for the special switch;

Fig. 5, a partial side-view of a multi-switch comprising two special switches;

Fig. 6, a cut-out end view of Fig. 5 along CC, restricted to the front part;

Fig. '7, a schematic representation of a telephone subscribers line showing an example of the use of a multi-switch according to the invention;

Figs. 8 and 9, two partial plan views showing embodiments of contact springs and their driving means.

The way in which a multi-switch can be realized according to the invention will first of all be described with reference to Figs. 1-4. As an example, it has been assumed that the multiswitch is of the type described in my copending application bearing Serial No. 140,735 filed J anuary 26, 1950. It will be understood of course, that in certain of its aspects the invention is not limited to any particular construction of crossbar switches. As is well known in the art such switches comprise generally a series of horizontally slidable bars each controlled by a respective selecting element such as an electromagnet for each bar. The direction of sliding movement of each horizontal bar can be controlled by any suitable member such for example as a clutch control bar which is common to all the horizontal bars. Each horizontal bar cooperates with a series of individual vertical bars which likewise can be selectively operated. Since such constructions are well known in the art, detail description thereof is not necessary in the present specification. For a general description of this type of switch reference may be had to Electrical Engineers Handbook Fourth Edition, by Fender and Mcllwain, pages 1'726, published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. The present inventionis concerned'with the provision of an additional horizontal bar which can be readily adapted to any suitable crossbar switch. This additional bar controls special contact sets to perform special circuit functions such for example as the switching in and the switching out of test resistors and the like.

The multi-switch assembly partially shown on Fig. 1, is constituted by a certain number of superposed switches such as I and l. The switch 2 has been realized according to the invention.

The contact springs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of a commutating mechanism for the switch '2, respectively associated with multiple wires 9, 10, l l and 12 are fixed on the frame 8 which supports the multiple wires and the clutch control bars such as 24. In the rest position, the contact springs 3-'6 are in contact with the multiple wires 9-l2 as represented on Figs. 1 and 2.

The contact springs 36 are built as shown on Fig. 4, each spring being cut and bent in such a way that its contacts are visible from the front part'of the multi-switch (Fig. 1). In addition, it comprises an'element cut in the shape of a bayonet such as 13, to which is made the necessary electrical connections. The springs are piled'up and separated from one another by insulating strips 14 and firmly held between two metallic strips 15 and 15 by means of screws 16 which go through thesaid strips and are screwed in the frame 8 (Figs. 1 and 3). The spring blocks such as that of Fig. 4 could constitute a detachable assembly; the springs and the strips being for example fixed by means of bushings, the fixing screws 16 going through the said bushings.

Pushers 20, 2|, 22, 23 (Fig. 2) constituted by rigid metallic or insulated strips, are fitted in the movable part 1, or moulded in or fixed by any appropriate means. The said pushers are arranged in such a manner that they are placed laterally with respect to the extreme parts of the contact springs 36 but separated from the said springs as can be seen on Figs. 2 and 3.

The movable part 1 is supported by the fixed part [1 by means of two resilient blades-l8 and 19 (shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2), allowing the displacement of the said part 1 on each side of its fixed position, either in the sense of the arrow f1, or in the sense of the arrow f2. The resilient blades 18 and 19 can be fixed to the movable part 1 and on the fixed part 11, either by fixing them in grooves provided in the said parts,

4 or by moulding, or by any other appropriate means.

It willnow be assumed: that the clutch control bar 24, (Figs'l and 2) having been actuated in accordance with the teachings of my copending application Serial No. 140,735, filed January 26, 1950, all the superposed mechanisms are placed in the clutch position by means of the clutch levers such as 25, 25, and the control levers such as 26, as described in the patent application mentioned above.

It will be assumed that the actuating bar 21 of the switch 2 is actuated in the sense of the arrow f1 (Fig.2).

The movable part 1 is driven in the sense of the arrow f1 by means of the clutch lever 25 placed under the control of the bar 21. The pushers 2| and 23 come into contact with the ends of the springs 5 and 6 and, driving them in their displacement, separate the contactsxof the said springs from the multiple wires H and 12. The pushers 20 and-22 are separated from the springs 3 and 4 which remain in contact with the multiple wires 9 and 10.

Whenthe actuating bar21 returns to its rest position, the movable part also returned to-its rest position by means or the clutch lever 25, and thesprings 5 and 6, under their own resiliency, return into contact with their respective multiple wires H and l2.= 1 a 1 If the actuating bar-21 is displaced in the sense of the'arrow ft, the pushers 20 and 22 drive the contact springs 3 and 4 which are separatedfrom the multiple wires 9 and 10 thus opening their contacts. As the pushers-2| and 23 do not act upon the springs 5-and 6, these remain in contact with the multiple wires II and [2.-

When the bar 21 returnsto the rest position, the springs 3 and 4 respectively return into contact with the multiple wires 9 and 10 in the same manner as-forthe contact springs 5 and 6.

Another embodiment of a multiple switch according to the invention will-now be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. This multiple switch is similar to the multi-switch in the above described example but comprises two special switches instead of one. 2

For each commutating mechanism, the upper switch 2 only comprises the two contact springs 5 and 6 which, in the rest position, are in contact with the wires 1 I and 12 of afirst group of -multiple wires. ."For each mechanism;-the' following switch 2" comprises the two other contact springs '3' and 4 which, inthe-rest position, are in contact with the wires 9 and 10 of the second group of multiple'wires." l

The contact springs are identical with the contact springs of the preceding-example but-=are grouped'in twos. They arefixed in the same manner'on the frame 8 for the piling up of the springs of the =switch2-and on a cross piece-8 of the said frame for the piling up of the springs ofswitchii" l e This arrangement provides a-multi-$witch which is'more reduced in the direction of -its length, it"beingpossible"to bring the multiple wires nearer to one'anothen'a single-contact spring instead of two being placed between the saidwir'e'sJ The operation of these two switches 2 'and-2 is identical with the operation of the switch 2 inFigs.l-3. g

For the switch-2 of Fig. 5, the displacement of the actuating bar 21 inthe sense of the arrow f1 drives the movable part 1 (the commutating mechanism considered being, of course, placed in the clutch position) in the same sense and the pushers 2| (Fig. 6) and 23 (hidden by the pusher 2i coming into contact with the springs 5 and 6, separate the latter from the multiple wires H and I2, thereby opening their contacts.

If the bar 21 were to be displaced in the sense of the arrow f2, the pushers 2| and 23 would be separated from the contact springs 5 and 6, which would not produce any opening of the contacts.

If the actuating bar 21 of switch 2' were to be displaced in the sense of the arrow f2 (the commutating mechanism considered being, of course, assumed to be in the clutch position), the pushers 2o (Fig. 6) and 22 (hidden by the pusher 20) would separate the contact springs 3 and 4 from the movable wires 9 and It) in the same manner as in the preceding example.

In similarity with the switch 2, the operation of the actuating bar 21 in the sense of the arrow f1 does not produce any action upon the springs 3 and 4 which remain in contact with the multiple wires 9 and I 0.

The return of the actuating bars 27 and 21' to their rest position causes the contact springs to be freed, which under their own resiliency, return into contact with the respective multiple wires.

An application of the multi-switches which have just been described is illustrated schematically in Fig. 7 which represents a telephone subscribers line.

The resistances R1, R2 and R3 which are 01 the non-inductive type and of relatively low resistance and forming the potentiometer device marking the calling line, are connected to the line conductors A and B.

In order to be able to recognize this subscribers line, one must be able to automatically disconnect the resistances R1, R2 and R3. To this effect, these resistances are permanently connected through a break contact (a break contact for the resistance R1 connected to the conductor A and a break contact for the resistances R2 and R2 connected to the conductor B). The prior art taught either the disconnection of the resistors by a separate cut-01f relay in wellknown manner or used either high value resistances or inductive resistances which remained permanently connected to the line. Ideal line conditions dictate the desirability of removing all possible connections between the line wires and ground to eliminate therefrom interference with dialling and/or speech. Thus, to meet the ideal conditions it has been recognized that the resistors should be completely disconnected from the line wires and this invention enables such a disconnection without the necessity of the prior art line or cut-off relays and represents the first new combination in a cross-bar switch to achieve this ideal result.

These break contacts for disconnecting the resistors can be constituted, for example, by the contact springs 5 and 6 of a mechanism of switch 2 of the multi-switch in Fig. 5. These springs 5 and 6, as previously explained, are normally in contact with the multiple wires I I and I2 which respectively correspond to the conductors A and B of the subscriber's line in Fig. 7.

When it is desired to search for a calling subscribers line from a line finder circuit that has access to a number of lines, on the one hand, the connection of the line to the line finder circuit is effected, for example, by means of a normal switch in the manner described in the patent applications mentioned above, eventually through a chain of selectors and, on the other hand, the resistances R1, R2 and R3 are eliminated by causing (eventually through a chain of selectors) the opening of the contacts between the springs 5 and 6 and the wires H and i2 (conductors A and B) in the manner described in the preceding example. The line conductors A and B brought in by the two above-mentioned switches, are represented by the same multiple wires H and I2 of the line.

When the search is completed, the two switches (switch 2 and normal switch) which have been used, are freed as well as those selectors which might have been used; all the elements of these parts return to their rest position, freeing the calling line and re-establishing the connections between this line and the resistances R1, R2 and R3.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the location of the resistors R1, R2 and R2 on the switch 2 and the connections of these resistors with the contact springs 5 and 6 on the bayonets iii of the said springs on the one hand, and with the battery terminals by means of the connectin terminals 28 and 29 on the other hand, have been shown. The multiple wire 35 in Fig. 5 corresponds to conductor 0 in Fig. 7.

The mechanisms of switch 2 in Fig. 5, placed under the control of the same clutch control bar 24 with the upper mechanism of the switch 2, is similarly equipped with resistors R1, R2 and R's for the conductors A and B of another subscribers line. The terminals 28 and 29 are common for the two groups of resistors R1, R2, R3 and R'i, R'2, R'z. The conductors A and B of this other subscriber's line respectively correspond to the multiple wires 9 and i0 and the conductor C corresponds to the multiple wire 3| (Fig. 5).

Two embodiments of contact springs which may be used in switches constituted by commutating mechanisms in which, according to the invention, the movable parts comprise pushers actuating the said contact springs, have been shown on Figs. 8 and 9.

In Fig. 8, the contact springs 32, 33 can each be displaced in two opposite senses by means of two pushers such as 34 and 35 integral with the movable part 36 of a partially shown commutating mechanism. Each spring such as 32 comprises two contacts (or two groups of contacts) 31 and 38, one on each side.

If, for example, the movable part 35 is displaced in the sense of the arrow is, the contact springs such as 32 are brought into contact with the wires such as 40 of a group of multiple wires, by means of pushers such as 34 located to the left of the springs.

If the movable part 36 is displaced in the sense of the arrow f4, the contact springs are then brought into contact with the wires such as 39 of the other group of multiple wires by means of pushers such as 35 located to the right of the springs.

The return of the movable part 36 to the rest position frees the contact springs from the action of the pushers and the said springs regain their rest position under their own resiliency.

In Fig. 9 the contact springs such as 4! and 42 are pre-tensioned in such a way that in the rest position they rest, by their ends, against the pushers such as 43, 44 of the movable part 45.

When, for example, the movable part 45 is displaced in the sense of the arrow ft, the contact springs such as 42, due to their inherent pretensioning, follow the displacement of the pushers such as 44 until they come into contact with the wires such as 46 of a group of multiple wires. At this moment, the pushers such as 44 are separated from the springs such as 42 while the springs such as 4| are driven by the pushers such as 43.

For the displacement of the movable part 45 in the sense of the arrow is, the operation of the contact springs is similar: the springs such, as 4| come into contact with the wires such as 47 under their own resiliency and at the end of the course of the movable part 45, they are separated from their pushers such as 45, while the springs such as 42 are driven away and held apart from the wires such as 46 by their pushers such as 44.

When the movable part 115 is returned to the rest position, the movable springs are returned to their rest position and held apart from the multiple wires by their respective pushers.

It is obvious that one could arrange any possible combination of contacts between the contact springs and the multiple wires in order to obtain, simultaneously or separately, the opening and/or the closure of electrical circuits.

The various embodiments of multi-switches which have just been described as non-limitative examples, involved the use of one or more special switches for each multi-switch which, when operated, caused the opening of electrical circuits; more particularly, in the above described. embodiment which is related to telephony, to efiect the test of a predetermined line, one caused the opening of contacts to eliminate the resistances connected to the line to be tested.

Without leaving the scope of the present invention, one can use for other applications, e, g. in telecontrol systems, telesignalling or similar systems, multi-switches, with multipling of the lines in front of the switches, comprising one or more switches realized according to the invention, and permitting to disconnect the elements or electrical circuits connected to a predetermined line, and eventually to replace these said elements or electrical circuits by other elements or electrical circuits according to the requirements of the field of use. Each mechanism of the special switches performing these operations then comprises combinations of contact springs permitting to cause;

the necessary'contact openings and closures.

It will also be noted that if, for a group of multiple wires, one had two of the wires each associated with a contact spring, one might have had all or part of the multiple wires each associated with a contact spring.

I claim:

1. In a telephone system, a cross-bar switch for extending a subscriber line when a call is initiated thereover, a relay-less line circuit for said subscriber comprising a pair of resistors conneoted between the conductors of said line and the two poles of a battery respectively, and contacts directly controlled by said switch for dis-. connecting said resistors from said line when said line has been extended.

2. In a telephone system, a cross-bar switch for extending a subscriber line when a call is initiated thereover, a relay-less line circuit for said subscriber line comprising a pair of resistors connected between the conductors of said line and the two poles of a battery respectively, said switch including means for directly disconmeeting said resistors from said line when said line has been extended, said means comprising a shiftaole actuating bar adapted to operate in a first plane upon actuation of said switch, a plurality of movable parts, clutch means movable in a second plane normal to said first plane, said clutch means adapted to selectively couple said movable parts to said bar for movement therewith, and means coupled to said movable parts for controlling the disconnection of said resistors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,563,658 Richard Dec. 1, 1925 1,663,360 Trachsel Mar. 20, 1928 2,021,329 Reynolds Nov. 19, 1935 2,326,551 Mohr Aug. 10, 1943 2,362,551 Harrison 1. Nov. 14, 1944 2,447,010 Harrison Aug. 17, 1948 2,576,789 Wiberg July 19, 1949 2,495,164 Erickson Jan. 17, 1950 2,517,022 Peek, Jr. Aug. 1, 1950 2,535,769 Wicks Dec. 26, 1 950 2,543,534 Powell Feb. 27, 1951 2,612,564 Oberman Sept. 30, 1952

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