US3158687A

US3158687A - Recording traffic analyzer

Info

Publication number: US3158687A
Application number: US174166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Glen F Long
Original assignee: Universal Controls Corp
Current assignee: Universal Controls Corp
Priority date: 1962-02-19
Filing date: 1962-02-19
Publication date: 1964-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-24

Description

Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,153,687

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SEC SEC SCAN SCAN AUI'OMATIG STOP (nouns) INVENTOR GLEN f. LONG BY 1M1. f. 3

ATTORNEYS nov AC soc Nov. 24, 1964 e. F. LONG RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1962 558 831T Ah:

mu 3 2502.0 35.2: u 2.

Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,153,637

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 sheets-sheet 5 SCANNER UNIT T o L PRINTER "PAH Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,158,687

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m Na SEzou United States Patent C) 3,158,687 RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Glen F. Long, Dallas, Tern, assignor to Universal Controls Corporation, Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Texas Fiied Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 174,166 19 Claims. (@i. 179--8) This invention relates to a recording traffic analyzer and more particularly to such an analyzer for studying trafiic situations such as occur in electric communicating systems, i.e. in telephone equipment such as switches, trunk lines or the like.

Results are achieved by scanning the desired group or groups of equipment being studied, at selected recurrent time intervals, the information thus gathered being stored on suitable counters for and subject to periodic printout at predetermined and selected intervals whereby studies may be made over time periods of selected lengths greater than scan periods at all or various portions of 24 hour days for determination, for instance, of the degree of saturation of trunk lines or the like.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel and improved traflic counting means, count storage means, print-out means, etc. together with automatic timing mechanism for selecting various time intervals for making traffic studies, the intervals being automatically stopped and started and, subject to either manual or remote starting and manual or automatic stopping.

In the operation and maintenance of automatic communication systems and particularly in connection with automatic telephone systems, the necessity for a thorough knowledge of the volume of traific to which the trunks and other equipment are subjected is a necessity in order to operate the system most economically and to provide the least periods of interruption to traffic because of overloaded circuits. With increases in telephone exchange and network sizes, the addition of large customers, and changes in the various classes of traflic both from one period to another and from day to day as changes occur in business conditions, weather conditions and other situations causing unprecedented loads on the circuits and equipment it becomes necessary to add to, subtract from or rearrange existing switching and trunk equipment to meet these changing trafiic conditions. This necessitates periodic studies as a routine method in properly engineering the system for the desired quality of service demanded by the customers or desired by the operating company.

Many methods are known for making these traffic studies and equipment has been provided for the purpose. Some systems are mere extensions of the manual systems of providing a number of observers to periodically take counts of trafiic, for instance, on a group of trunks, but most of these are still largely dependent on personal observation and/ or recording even though some of the operations may be automatic.

it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a system which is wholly automatic in every respect so that after the equipment provided is connected to the trunks, for instance, the tral'lic of which it is desired to ascertain, studies may be made wholly automatically for any predetermined period of hours in each day and at any particular time of day, with provision for automatic shut-oft after a selected length of traffic study, and with provision for automatic starting by dialing the exchange where equipment is installed should it be an unmanned one.

The system makes provision for periodically scanning at selected intervals a plurality of groupsof trunks,

this word being used as exemplary of other apparatus whose trailic density is to be counted, adding the number of busy trunks in each group at the time of each scan,

3,158,687 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 accumulating the total number of engaged trunks in each group over a period selectable in quarter hour intervals and then substantially simultaneously printing-out the summation of busy trunks in each group since the previous printing-out period. After each print-out the printing paper is advanced, the inked printing ribbon is advanced, the accumulating counters are returned to zero and the whole system reset for further operation, which continues until such time within the 24-hour span, as the system is set to discontinue and then the whole system is automatically turned off after the final print-out.

Other than scanning the desired group or groups of equipment the apparatus is arranged for peg counts by the operation of a few switches which causes the automatic scanner switches to be by-passed and peg count information fed directly into the printing counters. Printout will take place at the selected print period. Since each printing counter acts independently and there are a plurality of each apparatus, scanning and peg counts may be taken simultaneously within the capacity of the printing counters.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved recording trafiic analyzer of the type set forth.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an automatic recording traflic analyzer adapted for connection to any multiple of apparatus whose condition, is. functioning or unoccupied is desired to be summed and periodically printed.

In particular it is an object of the invention to simultaneously scan a piurality of groups of apparatus whose condition is to be ascertained at selectable and shortly recurring intervals to accumulate the sum of the active measured units in each group and to periodically print automatically on advancing paper the counted sums, plus the time of print-out, restoring the printing counters to a zero position and continuing the count if desired.

Another specific object of the invention comprises the arrangement of means incorporated in the mechanism permitting the selection of any desired length of traffic count, within a twenty-four hour period, in multiples of one hour with automatic shut-off.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for manual or automatic start of the count period, the latter being accomplished at points remote from the person initiating the count. by sequentially dialing two ditferent unused telephone numbers associated with the exchange where the count is to be made.

An important feature of the invention resides in the facility with which the apparatus may be adapted for multiple unit scanning or peg count or combinations of the two with printed results for each at selected time intervals.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding that such changes and modifications may be made therein as fall Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

FIGURES 1A and 1B jointly disclose the circuits of the recording traffic analyzer including the manual and remote start circuits, the scanning mechanism, the timing mechanism for the scanner, the print-out mechanism and the study length control circuits;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the control circuits for the printer as energized from the scanner; and i FIGURE '3 illustrates the circuits of the printer in-, cluding the printing counters, paper and ribbon advance, and counter reset circuitry. 4

The apparatus of the present invention, as previously intimated, will be described in connection with the makink of traffic density counts on groups of telephone trunk lines, but it may be used also for counting many other conditions or operations and is primarily con structed so that it scans periodically a whole group of devices whose condition is to be ascertained. In telephone traffic counting for to determine whether or not a trunk is occupied, appropriate connections are made to a terminal in some part of the trunk circuit which indicates by the presence or absence of a potential or ground the difference between an occupied and unoccuied trunk. As shown in the drawings the printing counters are supplied with a negative potential, therefore a ground or positive potential on the trunk is an indication of its active use.

The apparatus, illustrated in the drawings, is intended to count and record the condition of five banks of trunks (FIGURE 1B) designated A to E, inclusive, each including 25 trunk lines. Only two banks are shown in the drawing with letters designating the similar intervening ones, all of the same general arrangement and connections. Also shown are lines, one for each printing counter, indicating circuits for peg counts and they are so marked. From each of the trunk banks A to E, inclusive, a conductor 6 extends from a terminal of each line therein to one of the twenty-five contacts of the correspondingly lettered scan switch banks A to E of the rotary type. Each such scan switch is provided with a double ended contact wiper 10 and all of the wipers are mechanically connected together and arranged to be driven, as indicated by a dotted line, in step from a well known type stepping switch mechanism, shown as comprising two

magnets

11 and 12 which are advanced when alternately energized in a manner later to be described, to step the wipers one contact at a time in conventional manner to thus successively connect the wipers l3 and their conductors 14 to the respective switch contacts. These conductors 14 lead to the scan contacts of the multiple, double throw switches 15 having separate manually adjustable arms 16 connectible either to the scan contacts or to the contacts marked PC which are directly connected to the peg count conductors 17, whereby upon operation of the arms 16 manually, either a scan count or a peg count may be taken, and the conductors assocated with the respective devices to be counted are connected, through the contacts of relay 2%), to conductors 21 which lead to the printing counter control circuits which will be later described.

Since the whole apparatus is dependent on time cycles, particularly for scanning, printing and length of operation, a suitable motor 23 (FIGURE 1A) of the synchronous A.C. type is used for timing purposes and is connected, as indicated by dotted lines 24, tofive cams 25 to 29, inclusive, and respectively arranged and geared for actuating their switch arms between normally closed and normally open contacts at respectively 6, 10 and 100 second and one minute and five minute intervals, the purposes of which will be later described, but it may be stated that the arbitrary periods of 6, 10 and 100 seconds permit a choice of these intervals between scan operations, the choice being made by closing the proper switch shown just to the left of each cam.

The apparatus is designed either for manual and thus continuous operation until shut-off, or, automatic operation where the start may be manual or is initiated by dialing two ditierent telephone numbers of the exchange where the apparatus is located. Under the latter circumstances automatic timing mechanism, which will be further described, provides for terminating the operation at the end of a selected interval. The double-pole, double-throw switch 39 when set to the position marked continuous provides for manual start and stop and when set to the position marked automatic engages the remote start and stop circuits;

Throughout the drawings relays and other circuit components are shown connected to a circle marked minus and this potential is assumed to be delivered to those terminals from the terminal board marked TB at the extreme left of FIGURE 1A, indicating a source of power of 48 volts negative for the purpose. A manual switch 31 provides for turning the 48 volt power on and ed.

In a like manner the ground terminal on terminal board TB is intended to be connected to all of the grounds shown in the various portions of the circuit.

Also shown on the terminal board is terminal T which is to be connected to the tip side of an unused or vacant line terminal in the exchange and the terminal R which is to be connected to the ring side of the same line terminal. Terminal DT shall be connected to a source of dial tone.

Manual Start With the trafiic study switch 30 set to the continuous position the closing of the power switch 31 starts the operation by putting ground on relay 32, which through its contact 2 places ground on relay 33 which will start the scan operation as will be more fully described in connection with the automatic start.

Automatic Start The above is accomplished by closing the trafiic study switch 30 to the downward position marked automatic and closing power switch 31. At the desired start time and from any remote point a call is placed to the line connected to the terminal T which operates relay 34 which locks up through its contact 1 and grounded line 35 through the one minute switch actuated by earn 23. A second call is placed to the line connected to to terminal R on the terminal board energizing relay 36. Relays 34 and 36 through their series connected contacts 3 place the dial tone on the circuit connected to contact R, indicating to the calling party that the recording trailic analyzer has received the starting signal. Through series connected contacts 2 of relays 34 and 36 ground is extended through conductor 37 and through the traffic study switch 3% to relay 32 and, hence, to 33 as previously mentioned to start the tratfic study as with the manual operation. Holding ground for relays 34 and 36 is provided directly through their own contacts 1 for use after the calling line is released, and is derived from the ground associated with the one minute cam 28 which releases this ground every 58 seconds to prevent accidental false calls from starting the scanner unit.

11 a nual S tarz-A utomatic S top To achieve manual start with automatic stop the tratfic study switch is closed to continuous then immediately moved to automatic. The first setting places ground on relay 33 to effect start as explained above while the the second acts to permit the five-minute cam 29 to ap ply ground to conductor 41 to operate slow release relay 44, then as cam 29 moves, ground is applied to relay 42 through the break contact of cam 29 and the make contact of 44. This starts the scanning mechanism as noted below, and it will continue to run for the number of hours determined by the setting of the automatic stop switches to be later described.

Operation: (Manual or Automatic) When the starting signal occurs, ground is extended to operate relay 3?; which operates relay 33. They lock to ground through their own contacts (2, l, 5). Relay 33 through its contact 2 and conductor 37 extends ground to relay Ztl which then connects either the scanner arms ltl or the peg count lines 17, as selected by switches 16, to the printing counters through lines 21, and removes the ground from line 38 through its contact 5. This line with the switch 39 manually closed has actuated relay 4%} for the purpose of returning the time switch mechanism, to be later described, to its home position at the last shut-oh? of the apparatus. Relay 33 also through its contact 3 connects ground to the lever of five minute time switch 29. When this live minute switch operates, ground is extended through conductor 41, normally closed contacts 1 of relay 42 and the conductor 43 to actuate relay 44 of the extra slow release type as indicated. Simultaneously the contact of relay 44 extends ground from the lever of five minute cam switch 29 to actuate relay 42, which then locks to relay 33 through the latters ground contact 3 and completes an operating path through conductor 45 to ground for energizing relay 47.

Relay 47 is as shown a two coil relay intended to alternately position its movable contact 3 between two stationary contacts thus alternately energizing stepping

magnets

11 and 12, previously mentioned, which step all the scan switch wipers simultaneously. The armature of relay 47 also moves contact 1 of pulsator switch 48 so that ground is extended alternately to the two coils of relay 47. Thus, as relay 47 pulses, a grounded condenser 49 is charged and discharged through the coils of the

relays

12 and 11, stepping the wipers it) across the points of the scan switches. The wipers 10 of the scan switches are connected to the printing counters through the contacts of relay 20, previously mentioned, and through the contacts of scan-stop relay 50 thus furnishing grounds from the circuits under study to advance the counters for the accumulating and printing mechanism to be later described. The outputs of the contacts of relays 5t) and are fed through conductors 21 to the terminal board at 52 as previously mentioned.

In addition to the scan switch banks A to E stepped by the

coils

11 and 12, two additional banks with

wipers

53 and 54, respectively, are also advanced and when the th and only connected point is engaged by wiper 53, ground from the selected 6, 10 or 100 second switches, numbered 25, 26 and 27, respectively, is extended to operate relay 56 which at contact 1 opens the operating circuit of relay 47 terminating the actual scanning operation. This switch is then returned to home position by the ground on wiper 54 extended from grounded contact 2 of relay 33 through the inter-connected bank contacts of wiper 54 thus providing a quick return, which terminates when the wiper clears the first contact. This arrangement also provides for homing the wipers on the re-establishment of current should it he accidentally shut oif during the scan cycle.

The operation of relay 56 also extends ground through its contact 1, closed now, to operate relay 5i and relay 56 is held over its own contacts 3 which are connected to the break contacts of the selected 6, 10 or 100 second cam switches, whereby the scan cycle is controlled by the desired time interval of 6, 10 or 100 seconds as selected. The operation of relay 5% disconnects the printing counter leads 21 from the scan switch wiper and prepares the circuit for relay 57 in preparation for printout. However, unless means is provided to stop the scanning and accumulating operations, or the time for printing cycle has arrived, the scanning operation is repeated as just described at each 6, 10 or 100 second cycle since the scan cycle initiating relays have remained closed.

During these scan cycles each time that scan switch wiper 10 engages a contact connected to a busy trunk, a ground pulse advances the printing counter connected to that wiper, one digit per busy trunk, and this is repeated for each scan cycle until the timing mechanism calls for print-out, at which time the accumulated total count of busy trunks detected in all of the 25' step cycles since the last printing is printed. For purposes of convenience and simplicity, only a single counter wheel has been indicated to be operated by each counter magnet, but actually there are as many as five counter wheels with only the units digit wheel initially and originally advanced by the appropriate actuating magnet, but when this wheel makes ten steps it automatically moves the next higher wheel one step, in the customary manner and so on as is conventional.

At any rate, the scan cycles are repeated at the intervals determined by the selection of one of the cams 25, 26 or 27 by the manual closing of its associated switch. This selected cam then starts the next cycle after the lapse of the elected time.

After the desired period of scanning and printing has terminated the apparatus may be shut down by manually opening switch 31 or the stop may be automatic under the control of a stop switch mechanism which has previously been set to determine the number of hours of operation which will take place after the start.

Automatic Stop Switch The manual setting portion of the automatic stop switch 60, shown in FIGURE 1A with the contacts arranged in a straight line is actually a two-bank rotary switch with the two contact arms 71 and 72 mounted on the same shaft. This together with a plurality of multi-contact switches, of the type previously described, contacted by the wipers 61 to 70, inclusive, may be termed a time switch. Certain contacts of the multi-contact switches, as shown, are connected to the contacts of switches 60, the wipers of which are simultaneously adjustable to set the number of hours from 1 to 24 which it is desired that the apparatus run. The purpose of the automatic stop switch is to provide that at the hour at which switch 60 has been set, ground is extended through the same to shunt down relay 33 which releases relay 32 stopping the scanner and, hence, the printer and associated apparatus.

Automatic Stop Switch: (1 to 12 Hours) Relay 4th is fitted with an armature and ratchet mechanism of known type for stepping the shaft which carries all of the wipers 61 through previously mentioned. This stepping relay together with the wipers and their contacts constitutes a complete time switch which provides circuits for automatic stop of the whole apparatus at any multiple up to 24 of one hour intervals. It also times the 15, 30 or 60 minute print-out signals which are selectable by manipulating one of the three switches at 77 in accordance with their designation. These switches are seen to select one of the

wipers

67, 68 or 69 for timing the printer. The shaft carrying all of the wipers just described is stepped at five minute intervals by energization of stepping relay 40 under the control of the five minute cam 29 through conductor 76, engaged contacts 1 of relay 42, conductor 41, and the arm of the five minute switch thus extending ground every five minutes through contacts 3 of relay 33 to step the time switch shaft one point. I

Assuming One Hour Stop Time:

A one hour period advances the time switch shaft to its 12th position so that wiper 61 reaches its 12th contact, which as shown is connected to the one hour contact on 60. The 10 second cam 26, through conductor 78 and the upper contacts successively of

relays

79, 80, 81, 82 and 83 extends ground to wiper 61 which through contacts 71, conductor 85, contacts 1 of relay through the traflic study switch 30, extends ground to conductor 86, contacts 2 of relay 56 and conductor 87 to shunt down relay 33 which releasesrelay 32 and severs ground from the scan relay 47 to terminate the scanning operation. 7

Two or More Hours Stop: (Assume 4 Hour Stop) As the time switch reaches the 24th point at the end of two hours, ground is extended from wiper 61 to relay 83 which locks up over its contacts 3? and transfers ground from wiper 61 towiper 62. This causes wiper 70 which is grounded through 10 second cam 26 to extend ground to the time switch stepping relay 40' via conductor 88, contact "5 of energized relay 33, and conductor 38 through closed switch 39. The stepping relay 46 for the time switch, which also returns it to home position is of the self-interrupting type by virtue of its grease? interrupter contacts 1 which are only effective when the relay is energized through conductor 38, as distinguished from its 5 minute stepping which is eifected through conductor 76. It advances the switches shaft one step each time released under the action of this interrupter. Homing is effected by the multiple connected contacts on switch by a ground on conductor 88 as just explained.

During the next two hour period the time switch is again advanced to point 24 through the operation of stepping relay 40 and the wiper 62, now grounded, extends that condition through point 24 on its set of contacts to the automatic stop switch contact 71, now set at the fourth contact down from the top, and again shunts down relay 33 which releases relay 32 stopping the scanner. It should be remembered that each advance of wiper 62 through 180 occupies 2 hours time. Longer operating periods follow the above procedure with successive wipers 63 to 66 brought to the grounded condition to determine the period length.

Thirteen to 24 Hours Stop:

The first twelve hours are absorbed by

relays

83, 82, 81, S0, 79 and 76 whose lower contacts are tandem connected. Each absorbs two hours under the control of its own wiper. At the end of the twelfth hour relay '76 operates removing the holding ground from relay which releases. The relay 40 continues to step the switches around starting a second twelfth hour cycle which operates as follows:

At each succeeding five minute interval the five minute cam delivers a ground pulse to the coil of relay 4% which advances the wipers 61 through 79. After twenty-four five minute periods have elapsed wiper 61 is connected to the coil of relay 33 so that when the ten second cam 26 applies ground to its break contact it is extended through contacts 1 of relays '79 through 83 to wiper 61, thence to the coil of relay 83, operating it to lock over its 3 contact to ground through contact 1 of operated relay 32 via 3 contacts of relays 79 to 83 and 1 contact of relay 76.

As the ten second cam 26 applies ground to its make contact, and thence to wiper 70, through its 24 con tact, through operated relay 33 and conductor 38 and switch 39 relay 40 returns the timing switch wipers to the starting point. At the end of the next two hour period wiper 62 engages its twenty-fourth contact to which the coil of relay 82 is connected and the same procedure is repeated. Thus, as the clock system advances only one of the relays 76', 79 through 83 is operated at any one instant. At the end of twelve hours relay 76' operates but finds no holding ground and therefore operates only momentarily, and thus the clock is reset to its original starting point ready for another twelve hours. Points 1 through 24 of the automatic stop switch 60 are connected into the banks of rotary time switch contacts at points 12 and 24 thereof; therefore the ground which is being fed the wipers is also available to the switch 611 and should contactor 71 be set at any particular hour after twelve upon appearance of this ground relay 33 is shunted down through the trafiic study switch during the silent interval of the scan cycle which is indicated by relay 56 being operated to close its contacts 2.

Counting and Time Printing Circuit:

FIGURE 3 illustrates the counting mechanism and its controls along with some of the printing mechanisms. The circuit terminals shown at 52 in FIGURE 1B and designated C1 to C5, inclusive, are connected to similarly marked terminals at and conductors from these terminals lead respectively to counter magnets 96 to 1011, inclusive, each of which includes mechanism for advancing a ten digit counter wheel, such as 101, one digit step for each operation of the magnet. Counter wheel 1191 and each of its unnumbered counterparts actually represents a connected succession of 3 to 5 counter wheels so arranged that when the units wheel has made one full revolution it advances the tens wheel one step and so on as is quite common and well known. Thus successive pulses to each counter magnet properly advance its wheels to sum up the total number of impulses received between print-out operations, thus indicating the sum of all of the scanned, energized, or in use, trunks in each group of 25 which are alloted to one counter magnet.

In addition to the counter magnets 96 to 1110 there is a time magnet 102 one of whose conductors is designated 103 and appears also on FIGURE 1B connected to the one minute cam switch 28 whereby the time disc 104 and its coupled companions are properly moved at one minute intervals.

Wide paper tape 1115 is fed beneath the disc 191 and 104 as shown and the armatures of print solenoids 106 through 1111, respectively, when energized move to press the paper against an inked ribbon 1115 of the typewritten style which passes between the paper and the raised numerals on the counter wheels whereby to effect printout. Magnet 111 eficcts printing for the time wheel.

Solenoids 112 and 113 effect paper advance after each print-out operation and solenoid 114 advances the ribbon at the same time to present fresh surfaces.

At 116 is shown a switch between the contacts of which the paper passes in order to hold them separated. When the paper is exhausted the contacts close and operate an alarm through conductor 117.

All of the counter printing wheels are arranged to be brought back to zero at the finish of each print-out operation by the reset motor 120 which makes a single revolution for the purpose, carrying with it shaft 120 appropriately carrying known components for bringing the wheels back to zero positions. The conductor 121 provides a negative potential to the motor and positive or ground is supplied by conductor 122 from the printer control circuit which will be later described. The reset motor is of the single revolution type under the control of a relay, whose movable spring 123 is actuated by a radial extension 124 from the shaft 121, and which controls the motor stop switch 125 to effectively insure full single rotation operation upon receipt of each impulse. Such motors are well known.

Printer Control Circuits FIGURE 2 illustrates the print control circuits which provide a means for controlling the printer, counter reset, paper and ribbon advance and so on.

Upon command from one of the

time switch wipers

67, 68 or 69 (FIGURE 13) ground is received over lead 90 by the operation of and through contacts 2 of print re lay 57, which through the contacts of a number of relays 133, 13.5, 134 and 132 energizes relay of the slow release type. Contacts 1 of relay 5? return ground from lead 131 to lead 91 to shunt down relay 20 to disconnect the trunk-use counting leads C1 to C5 from the printing counters. Relay 1311 when operated extends ground to relay 132 and through its own contacts 2 to printer lead 133 operating printing relays 1116, 107 and 108. Relay 132 operates and relay 130 releases, whereby ground is extended to relay 134. Relay 134 extends ground to and operates relay 135. Relay 134 releases and relay 135 operates relay 137 and relay 135 releases. Relay 138 operates. Ground from lever "5 of 138 is extended to lever "1 of relay 135 through lever l of relay 137 which is operated, to conductor 122 to actuate the reset motor in the printer.

Printer control sequences, relay 1311 applies ground to lead 133 which operates printing relays 106, 107 and 108. Then ground is applied to lead 136 operating printing magnets 109, 111i and 111. Ground is applied to lead 122 which actuates the reset motor to set the counters to zero. Then ground is applied to lead 141) which operates the paper advance magnets 112, 113 the first time. Then 9 ground is applied to lead 141 to advance the ribbon. Then ground is applied to lead 142 which is strapped to 140 to advance the paper another step.

Relay 135 releases and relay 138 releases when ground is removed from lead 99 when print relay 57 opens. This is under control of the time switch which holds closed for approximately five minutes after each automatic print out. This last operation returns the whole system to the condition which existed before print-out except for the reset counter wheels.

Print-Out Arrangements are made so that printing may be eifected every 15, 30 or 60 minutes in accordance with the setting of one of the switches 77. These select contacts engageable by either wiper, 67, 68 or 69 on the time switch. Assuming that the 60 minute arm of the print-out switch 77 is closed, it will be noted, that when wiper 69 reaches point 12 and/or 24, ground is extended through the 60 minute switch, through the contacts of operated relay 50, through contact 3 of relay 57 to energize the latter and this through its contact 2 extends ground to conductor 90 which is connected to the printer control circuit and the printer returns ground over lead 91 to hold relay 57 operated during print-out. It also provides a shunt ground to release relay 20 through contacts 1 of relay 57. This isolates the counter wheel advance magnets from the scanners. Ground on conductor 91 is removed when the printer has completed the printout cycle and therefore relay 20 operates closing the leads from the scan switches A to E to the counter leads C1 to C5, inclusive which lead to the printing counters.

Adjacent relay 57 is manual switch 92 permitting manual print-out at any time intermediate the times selected by the print-out switches 77 Print-Out at Automatic Stop As pointed out above in connection with the operation of the time switch, for say the one-hour period, it will be noted that when wiper 61 reaches the twelfth position, the ten second cam 26 extends ground to that wiper which in turn extends it to shunt down relay 33 which releases relay 32 stopping the scanners. This ground is also extended over

conductors

86 and 86 to operate relay 57 which functions as described in connection with the 60 minute print-out above.

Peg Count Since each counter acts independently, as appears above, it can be used either for scan counts, as described above, or for a peg count. For this purpose one or more of the peg conductors 17 is selected by moving its switch 16 to its PC contact whereby the printing counter is disconnected from the scan lead and connected to the peg count terminal so that all information fed to this terminal is extended directly to the printer counter. The counters may be used for peg counts and scanning simultaneously, i.e. a group of equipment may be studied for both usage and number of calls during this same traflic study. This does not mean simultaneous operation by the scanner and the peg count circuit for any one counter, but the transfer of certain of the counters to peg counting and others to the scanning, by proper manipulation of switches 16. When a study is being made that does not require any scanning the scanner switches may be stopped by manually opening switch 93 which terminates the operation of relay 47 and the stepping coils 11 and 12.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A traific analyzer for telephone systems comprising in combination abanic of multi-point scan switches having rotary contact wipers, means for connecting each switch point to a telephone line having a voltage available thereon only when in use, means responsive to the ciosing of a circuit to simultaneously rotate said wipers step by step so that each contacts all points of its switch once and then stops, a set of accumulator wheels for each switch, means actuated by telephone line voltage, when detected by each switch wiper to advance by one digit its set of accumulator wheels, raised numerals on the faces of said wheels, means to repeat the switch Wiper rotation at intervals, timing mechanism adapted to close said circuit at different multi-second intervals, manually settable means to select the length of said intervals, a paper roll, means to advance said paper beneath said accumulator wheels, means to feed an inked ribbon between said paper and said numerals, said timing means also being adapted to close a different circuit at fractional hour intervals, means to manually select a desired number of said intervals, and means actuated by said last mentioned circuit when closed to impress said paper against said ribbon and numbers to print-out the sum of detected telephone line voltages for each of said rotary Wiper arms.

2. The traffic analyzer of claim 1 in which a circuit connects each switch arm to its accumulator wheel-set advance means, and relay means to open said circuits during the printing operation.

3. The trafiic analyzer of claim 2 in which a manual switch is provided to initiate print-out when desired, means to bar the print-out voltage derived from said manual switch from the said circuit opening relay, and means associated with said print-out mechanism to supply a voltage to open said last-mentioned relay.

4. The traific analyzer of claim 1 in which means is provided to reset all of said accumulator wheels to zero simultaneously, and circuit means including a relay to energize said reset means, and means to actuate said lastmentioned relay after the paper and ribbon have been pressed against the accumulator wheel numerals.

5. The urafiic analyzer as defined in claim 1 capable of also making a single peg count in lieu of counting the output of each said scan switch, and including a group of two-point manual switches each having an arm electrically connected to the means actuated by telephone line voltage to advance one set of said accumulator wheels, each scan switch output being connected to one of said points and each peg being connected to the other point of a two-point switch, said two-point switches being individually adjustable whereby scan counts and peg counts may be recorded simultaneously to the total number of accumulator wheel sets.

6. A tratfic analyzer for multi-conductor systems comprising in combination a scan switch having a contact connected to each conductor in at least a portion of said system, a rotary wiper arm adapted to sucessively engage said contacts to detect the presence of a voltage thereon, means to rotate said wiper arm step by step to engage each said contacts once, accumulator mechanism including printer Wheels having digits in relief on their peripheries, means to advance said digits a unit at a time immediately on detection of a voltage on any contact, means to repeat said wiper arm stepping at repetitions of a selected interval, means to print a record from said printer wheel digits at selected intervals, and means actuated subsequent to each said printing operation to reset said wheels to zero.

7. The trafiic analyzer of claim 6 in which there is a continuously running synchronous time motor, contacts under the control of said motor, operable at various intervals to energize drive means for said switch rotary wiper arm for one circuit travel and manual means to select any one of said intervals as the controlling one for said rotary wiper arm.

8. The trailic analyzer of claim 7 in which there is a time switch advanced at intervals by a contact controlled stepper, said last mentioned contact being driven by said time motor, and manually selectable electric contact means connected to adjust said time switch to close a circuit at any of several print-out intervals, said time switch being connected to actuate the said printing means to produce a record from the printing wheel digits.

areacsv 9. The trafiic analyzer of claim 7 in which there is a set of time designating digits arranged on the edges of printer discs, means to advance said discs under control of a contact driven by said time motor and means to print on said record the time of each printing from the scanswitch-actuated accumulator wheels.

10. A tr-atlic recorder for use in recording the busy conditions of lines, for instance, in a telephone system comprising in combination, accumulating counter wheels, means for automatically scanning said lines successively and periodically at accurate intervals, means for using the individual potentials of the busy lines of a selected group of such lines when scanned for directly advancing said accumulating counter wheels one digit per potential impulse, type faces on said counted wheels, and means for periodically printing a record directly from said type at intervals substantially greater than the scan intervals.

11. The traflic recorder system of claim 10 connected for use in a telephone system and located in an exchange unmanned at times, a group of relays connected for sequential operation to start said system in operation, means connecting one of said relays for energization from the tip side of an incoming telephone line, means connecting another of said relays for energization from the ning side of said incoming telephone line, and said specified relays being arranged to lock-up through their own contacts and start the system in operation only it energized in the sequence named.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 in which said specified relays are fitted with contacts, a dial tone source is so connected through said contacts that when they are properly locked up the dial tone is placed on the telephone circuit having its ring side connected to the second relay thereby indicating to the caller that the system has been started.

13. The system as defined in claim 12 including a time switch means for opening said switch at one minute intervals to remove ground from said relays for the said lockup to prevent false calls starting the system.

14. The recorder as defined in claim 10 including switch and relay means to start operation of the scanning, accumulating and printing means, timing mechanism for stopping said operation at the end of any hour up to twenty-four after said start, said timing mechanism in cluding a plurality of rotary wiper multi-point switches, timing means to advance said switches by steps at successive fixed intervals, a manually settable switch having twenty-four points for selecting the desired running time, certain of said twenty-four points being connected to points on said multi-point switches, relays having contacts and coils connected with the points and rotary wipers of said switches and with each other to extend ground, when the manually selected time has expired, to shunt down one of said first-mentioned relays which is connected to and stop the scanning and dependent mechanisms.

15. The recorder as defined in claim 14 including relay means connected to automatically effect print-out of the then accumulated scan impulses dependent upon operation of said relay shunt down.

ill

16. The recorder as defined in claim 14 in which the said means to advance said multi-point switches includes self-actuated interrupting means actuated by supplying ground thereto to rapidly home the switches, and circuit means for supplying such ground automatically upon expiration of the manually selected time period.

17. A traific recorder for use in recording the busy conditions of groups of telephone lines, in combination, accumulating counter wheels, means for automatically and periodically scanning the lines in each group successively once per selected time interval, said means operating simultaneously in all groups, means for using the individual potentials of the busy lines in each group when scanned for directly advancing said accumulating counter wheels alloted to said group one digit per impulse, digit type faces on t e peripheries of said counter wheels, means for temporarily disconnecting the output of said scanning means from the advancing means for said Wheels, means for immediately printing direct from said typc faces onto a paper tape, means to imn'iediately restore all said counter wheels to zero, and means for then reestablishing control of said counter wheels to said scanning means.

18. An accumulating and periodic printing mechanism for a telephone traffic counter comprising for each group of lines whose trafiic is to be counted, a set of counter and accumulating wheels, each set including a unit, a tens, a hundreds, etc. wheel having ten digits spaced about its periphery in raised type, means to advance each set of wheels one digit per impulse immediately on its receipt from any line in its group, timing means arranged to disassociate said means from said lines at the end of any preselected time interval, an ink ribbon adjacent said wheel digits, a paper adjacent said ribbon, means controlled by said timing means to press said paper against said ribbon and the latter against the wheel peripheries to print the accumulated digit total on the paper, means to release the paper, means to then restore the wheels to zero, means to advance the paper and the ribbon and means to restore said wheel advancing means to the control of said lines for the next cycle of accumulation.

19. The mechanism as defined in claim 18 in which an additional set 01 digit wheels is positioned to print on the same line with those recited, and clock mechanism for driving said additional set of digit wheels whereby the actual time of each print-out is recorded therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT H ROSE, Primary Examiner. WALTER L. LYNDE, Examiner.

Claims

10. A TRAFFIC RECORDER FOR USE IN RECORDING THE BUSY CONDITIONS OF LINES, FOR INSTANCE, IN A TELEPHONE SYSTEM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, ACCUMULATING COUNTER WHEELS, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SCANNING SAID LINES SUCCESSIVELY AND PERIODICALLY AT ACCURATE INTERVALS, MEANS FOR USING THE INDIVIDUAL POTENTIALS OF THE BUSY LINES OF A SELECTED GROUP OF SUCH LINES WHEN SCANNED FOR DIRECTLY ADVANCING SAID ACCUMULATING COUNTER WHEELS ONE DIGIT PER POTENTIAL IMPULSE, TYPE FACES ON SAID COUNTED WHEELS, AND MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY PRINTING A RECORD DIRECTLY FROM SAID TYPE AT INTERVALS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE SCAN INTERVALS.