US581044A - Annunciator-signal for telephone systems - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 1.

W.v P. SMITH. ANNUNUIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS..

No. 581,044. PgtentedApr. 20. 1897.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

y W. P. SMITH. ANNUNCIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

No. 581,044. PatentedApr. zo. 1897.

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I(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. I'. SMITH. ANNUNGIATOR SIGNAL P03 TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

10.581,044. f PatentedAp-r. 20,1897.

(No Modem W. F.- SMITH.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ANNUNGIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

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man mens WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ANNUNClATOR-SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,044, dated April 20, 1897'.

Application led August 4,1894. Renewed March S, 1897. Serial No. 626,547. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Subscribers Individual Calling and Clearing-Out Signals for Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in means for calling the operator at a central office or switching-station from a subscribers station on a telephone-line; 'and the improvements embrace certain means and mechanism of novel construction for signaling the operator and registering at the station-switchboard the number of the telephone with which the subscriber desires to connect his telephone for conversation; also, means and mechanism of novel construction operating electrically from the subscribcrs station two or more nulnber-bearin g or register-wheels at the station-switchboard to set the said wheels in different positions, and thereby register the character, by which the register mechanism l is actuated. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, on the line a: x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section, also enlarged, this section being taken on the line m y, Fig. 2. Figui:l is a top view ofa portion ofthe case with the top cover broken away to expose parts beneath it. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneA of the sliding buttons and its contactplate within the case. Figs. 5n and 5b are diagrams designed to illustrate the two positions of the circuit-closing rocker-plate of the signal-transmitting mechanism. Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the tilting contact- 25 number of another telephone in the system plate when pulsations of itspositive current with which connection is desired; also, means' from the battery at the subscribers station of novel construction operative from the subare being transmitted over the line; and Fig. scribers station to restore all the number- 5b illustrates the opposite position,into which 8o bearing wheels to their normal position, disthe same contact-plate is thrown when the 3o playing no numbers at the switchboard, as negative current is sent over the line. Fig. soon as the conversation has ceased and the 6 is a view of the register mechanism in side line is ready to be cleared. elevation with the inclosing case shown in The general object of these improvements section. Fig. 7 is a top view of the same. 85 is to provide at the station for every sub- Fig. 8 is a View of the front end of the regis- 3 5 scribers line an individual calling-register, ter as it appears when viewed from the front operative by pulsations of the electric current of the switchboard. Fig. 9 is a vertical crossfrom the subscribers telephone in such mansection at the line y y, Fig. 7. Figs. 10, 1l, ner that the subscriber calls the operator at and 12 represent some parts of the mechan- 9o the station bysetting the register to indicate ism in detail. Fig. 13 is a side view of the 4o and display at the switchboard the number relays and the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism of the telephone with which the subscriber operated by them. Fig. 14 is a side elevadesires connection, thereby dispensing with tion in detail of the number-bearing wheel all conversation between the subscriber and and the connected gears, showing the posithe operator over the line and substituting a tion of the mechanism when there is no sig- 45 visual signal and register in place of the oral nal displayed. Fig. 15 is a similar View of communication with the operator heretofore the same parts in the position they occupy required to make known at the station the when registering a telephone-number. Fig. num ber of the subscriber called for. 16 is a view of the revolving barrel in another 1o@ The following description explains the naposition from that shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17

5o ture of my said improvements and the manis a section through one of the register-wheels.

ner in which I proceed to construct and produce and apply and operate the same, refer- Fig. 18 is a top view of the hinged plate and its pawl that lock the register-wheels. Fig.

l0 is a perspective ofthe two pawls that operate and control the barrel. Figs. 20, 2l, and l are details of the star-wheel, its shaft, and

ta-ppets that lock the segment-gears in the'- barrel. Fig. 23 is a diagram representing the positive and negative circuits of the nal-sending device.

That part of the apparatus which is located at the subscriber-s station comprises a number of circuit making and breaking buttons or slides connected into the subscribers circuit between the local battery and the line, or otherwise interposed in the circuit in such manner that electric pulsations of both positive and negative character are produced and transmitted over the line to a main ofiice or switching-station by the movements of the slides, the polarity of the pulsations produced by any one of the slides being determined by the direct-ion in which the slide is moved. lly such pulsations of the electric current the receiving or registering mechanism located at. the switching-station is operated from the subscribers station. This last-mentioned part. ot' the complete apparatus is composed, essentially, of several register wheels arranged for independent rotation on a common center behind a sight-opening in the switchboard and mechanism constructed to set the wheels in position for displaying at the sight-opening any given number by the action of a current of one polarity and to restore the parts to their tirst position again ready for another signal by the action of a reverse current. Through this mechanism situated at the switchboard the subscriber registers and makes known to the operator by a visual signal the number of the subscribers line with which connection for conversation is desired, and in like manner by the act of throwing oft this signal or restoring the register-wheels to their first position the signal for disconnecting the two lines is given to the operator when the conversation is ended and the line is ready to be cleared. This part of the whole apparatus, which I have termed the register meehz'tnism, performs the two-fold function of a visual signal to notify the operator of a connection to be made and givingthe number of the telephone with which connection is desired and a elearing-out or disconnecting signal to inform the operator when the line is out of use. The construction of this register mechanism will be described first with reference to the drawings, Figs. t5 tio 22, inclusive, and afterward in connection with the mechanism lo ated at the subscribers station by which the register is operated.

A indicates a case or box inelosing all the parts of the mechanism, having binding-posts (LX DX for the electric wires X Y, the former being the subscribers line and the latter the switchboard-line. A is a sight-opening in the frontend of the case, and B l l B are wheels or circular disks with broad rims, each wheel bearing on the surface thereof the ten nu merals from O to .l, inclusive, and a blank space between the iirst and last numerals, the same being equally spaced around the eircum'ferenee of the wheel.

The register-wheels are centered on a common fixed shaft or spindle l to rotate easily and independently and in such close relation to the aforesaid sight-opening that the numerals exposed to view can be read clearly from the front of the case, but the size ol the opening is so regulated that only one numeral on each wheel is exposed to view. By proper rotation of one or more of them the fou r wheels are set to show at the opening A any telephone-number consisting of from one to four numerals, or they are set to expose only the portions of their rims that bear no numerals, which last-mentioned position is the normal one for all the wheels when the mechanism is set for operation. ln the present illustration of these wheels the spaces bearing no numerals are marked with an asterisk, and these are set into position at the sight-opening when the mechanism is ont of action and the line is not in use.

Each wheel l is moved on the shaft l in one direction, step by step, to bring a given nnmeral to view through the agency of a pawland-ratchet mechanism operated by the vibration ot' an armature connecting a set of gears. Each wheel being moved in one direction by these parts is brought back to its normal position after the required exposure of the numeral by the reaction of a coil-spring i), contained within the wheel, attached to the fixed shaft l and to the wheel that it is put in a state ot' tension by the previous rotation of the wheel.

C is a spring-drum or skeleton barrel set to rotate freely on a stationary shaft il behind the shaft l. and composed mainly of two circular heads t 5, united by a hollow axle 0, a 1'atchet-wlieel 7 on the outer face of one head et, and a coil-spring` S within the same head, properly connected to the fixed shat't and to the head to be put in tension by the rotation of the barrel in one direct-ion and by its reaction to bring the same back to its first position.

l) l) are segment-gears loose on the hollow axle of the barrel, and L E are intermediate spur-gears or idlers connecting the beforementioned gears with lantern-pinions t) on the register-wheels.

The toothed portion of each gear D is always in mesh with its intermediate gear E, and the latter gear is always connected into the pinion 0, but the movement of the barrel C on its center produces no movement of the said gears .D until they are locked in the barrel, because the said gears set normallyloose on the hollow axle. \Vhen one is locked, however, so that it cannet turn on the hollow axle, it will rotate the gear E and turn its register-wheel whenever the barrel C is rotated, and the extent of such rotation is determined by the amount of rotative movement of the barrel. by the vibrations of the armature GX of a polarized relay G in the rear end of the case acting on a spring-controlled vibrating pawl 10, which in turn operatesV on the ratchetwheel on the barrel C, and according to the number of vibrations of the armature the barrel is rotated a greater or less distance.

The segment-gears are locked in the barrel by the mechanism, consisting of a shaft H with reduced journal portions h on the ends, set loosely in bearings 12 in the heads of the barrel, and a number of dogs 0r tappets I I, one for each segment-gear, iixed on the shaft and set in line with the gears D. Thev four tappets are set on the shaft H at points around the circle at intervals apart corresponding to the intervals between the teeth or points of a star-wheel K on the outer end of the shaft; but the number of points of this wheel is greater by one than the tappets before mentioned, so that While three of the tappets on the shaft set at equal distance apart there is a gap or double interval in the circle between the first tappet I and the last tappet. This arrangement of the tappets and the teeth of the starwheel will be understood from Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, Sheet 2, and Figs. 20, 21, and 22, Sheet 3. The point of each tappet when turned toward the axle of the gears will clear the smooth portion of the gear, but will contact with the iirst tooth as the barrel C is turned on its axis in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 12, and thus it will carry around the gear as the barrel is rotated; but as the shaft H can assume no position in which more than one tappet at a time will engage a segment-gear in each rotation of the barrel it will be seen that the three remaining gears are always loose and will give no movement to theregister-wheels when one gear is locked in the barrel.

The first Yposition and starting-point of the barrel C is determined by a stop 13 on the rim of the head 5 and a iiXed stop 14 on the bottom of the case. From this point the barrel moves in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 5, '7, and 8, as the pawl 10 is vibrated. In every case, however, at the time of starting from' the position of rest the first tappet l nearestv the left-hand end of the shaft H, sets in working position to engage the gear D beneath it, while the remaining tappets standing at different angles around the shaft clear the teeth of the remaining gears in the barrel, so that only the first gear D is moved and only the first register-wheel is turned. Preparatory to the neXt gear of the set D being locked in the barrel to set the second register-wheel, the barrel is thrown back to its starting-point, in which reverse movement This movement is producedregister-wheels are set in position to make up the required number at the sight-opening. The star-wheel K is turned the distance of one toothv at such reverse movement of the barrel by means of the stop 16, hinged at the top of the case over the barrel by a joint that allows it to swing freely in one direction, but to set rigidly in the opposite direction with its end standing in the path of the star-wheel, the leading point of which strikes the stop as the barrel is turned, and thus moves the shaft H the distance of one point of the star-wheel; but in the opposite movement of the barrel the stop 16 presents no resistance and the star-wheel passes it without being moved.

A clutch 17 on the head 5 of the barrel locks the star-wheel and prevents it from turning under the resistance offered to the tappets by the gears on the aXle when the barrel is rotating. This clutch is composed of a flat spring set in a recess in the head 5 behind the star-Wheel and secured at one end to the head, but detached at the opposite end, on which is a wedge-shaped plate or incline 18. On the body of this spring, below the incline, a stop 19, projecting in the path of the points on the star-wheel, prevents that wheel from turning as long as the spring stands out from the recess. When the springis pressed back, however, its before-mentioned stop will clear the star-wheel and allow it to be turned by this swinging stop 16, and this movement of the spring is effected by the contact of the in* cline 1S with the swing-stop 16 as the barrel turns back, at which time the incline, being in advance of the star-wheel, meets the swinging stop and is by it pressed back before the point of the star-wheel reaches it. The position of these parts at the time of such operation is shown in Fig. 16.

As already mentioned, the register-wheels are turned and set by the operation of the before-described barrel and its gears and are brought back to position after each operation by the recoil of the inclosed spring in each wheel, at which time the registenwheels are held at rest by the stops 36 37. This manner of operating the wheels therefore requires locking means to hold each wheel after it is set and also a releasing means when the wheels are to be restored to their first position. For this purpose a number of pawls 2O are pivoted on the top edge of a hinged plate L in front of the wheels in line with the rims of the wheels, one pawl in front of each wheel `and in the path of the notches formed in the rim between the number-bearing faces. The lower end of the plate L is hinged at 21 to the front of the case, and on this point it drops backward and throws the whole set of pawls against the rims of the wheels whenever itis released from its position against the front plate of the case. In the last-mentioned position it is retained bya hinged latch 22, piv- ICO` IIO

oted at the forward end in lugs 23 on the case,

and on that point movable in a vertical arc at the free outer end, so that by throwing up that end of the latch the plate L is released and allowed to drop. On the bottom o1' the latch a shoulder 2t engages and holds that plate, and on the outer end of the latch a finger 25, loosely pivoted and arranged to swing in one direction, but to stand rigid and originally in the opposite direction, depends in the path of a stop-pin 2G on the side of t-he first or left-hand wheel of the set B. That pin projecting in line with the end of the finger Q5 is brought against it at the first movement of that wheel, and b vlifting the latch it throws down the plate L and all the pawls into action upon the wheels, thereby holding such wheels against reverse movement while they are beingset.

The subsequent operation to release and restore the wheels is effected by apawl 27, attached by one end to the left-hand side of the plate L, and from that point extending backward to and over the rim of the lef t-ha-n d head of the barrel C, at which end it is bent at a right angle to stand across the rim and in the path of the stop 13 on the rim. The rod is of such length and its free outer end is so placed with relation to the before-mentioned stop that bya fifth or additional rotation given to the barrel after the four register-wheels have been set the stop 13 will be brought around beyond the bent end ot the rod, and in the return movement of the barrel the stop, striking the end of the rod, pushes back the hinged plate L to upright position, where it is caught and held by the latch 22.

It should be noticed that the four preceding rotations ofthe barrel @,by which is meant the four successive forward and return rotative movements that set the four wheels B, are shorter in length than the fifth rotation, and in no one of the four movements of the barrel is the stop 13 brought beyond the end of the rod; but only by the fifth rotative movement is the head 5 carried around to that point where in the return ot' the barrel by the reaction of its coil-spring the stop 13 engages and pushes back the rod. The position of the parts in that return movement is shown in Fig. 15.

The relays G i', each actuating an individual armature GX G2, are connected with the two poles of a local battery at the switchboard in such manner that the relay G is operative by impulses of a positive current, and the relay G' is operative in like manner by impulses of a negative character from a local battery at the switchboard, the connection being made by the wires N N P P, as indicated in the diagram Fig. 2S. In these two circuits, in which are included the relays G G', there is interposed two polarized circuit-closers Z Z', the one, Z, responding to pulsations of a positive character and the other, Z', to pulsations of opposite polarity as the same are transmitted over the line X from the subscribers station. Said polarized circuit-closers are connected by the wire Y into the line X to the subscribers telephone, and at that station by the special mechanism which I shall now proceed to describe, the electric pulsations are transmitted over the line to the polarized eircuit-closers in the local circuit at the switchboard in the central station. By pulsations of a positive character the relays actuate the lever l0 and the detent 28, as before described, and by negative pulsations the armatures GX G2 reset those parts and release the barrel for the following operation. By these means the register-wheels are set one after the other in regular order to form the signal. The first one GX ot these relays operates the pawl 10, that turns the ratchetwheel 7 on the barrel, and the second one G2 operates the det-ent 28,' that in one position locks the barrel and in another position releases the barrel and allows it to return against the fixed stop'lt. The pawl and the detent are centered on the same shaft, but they rock on it independently of each other. The armature G-X of the first relay sets under the arm on the hub of the lever that carries the pawl 10, and by the pulsations of the current the armature is attached at one end to one pole of the magnet, while the opposite end throws up the arm of the lever and depresses the opposite pawl-carrying end, thereby moving the ratchet-wheel 7 the distance of one tooth. The return movement of the lever when the current is broken is produced by the spring l5.

rlhe armature G2, actuated by the second relay, is set over and rests upon the arm of the detent 2S, so that when attracted to one pole of the relay the armature presses down that end of the detent and raises the opposite hooked end out of the teeth of the ratchetwheel. rlhe contrarymovement of the same armature allows the hooked end to drop into the wheel and lock the barrel. Each relay, beingr polarized, is responsive to currents of both polarities. In the case of the first relay G the pulsations of a positive current transmitted on the line will cause that relay to attract the outer end of the armature GX and work the lever 10, while in the second relay the same pulsations, acting on the outer end ot the second armature G2, will litt its inner end from the arm of' the detent and drop the hook 2S into the ratchet-wheel. On the other hand, a negative current, by attaching the inner ends of the two armatures to their respective relays, will set the lever l0 and the detent 2S clear of the ratchet-wheel,and st-anding in that position when the current ceases that armature will allow the barrel to make the return movement against the fixed stop 14.

Referring to Figs. G, S, and 14C of the drawings, a hinged drop-plate A2 will be noticed on the front of the case A directly over the sight-opening. The object ot' this plate is to call the attention of the operator by the change in the position of the plate at the first movement of the mechanism to the signal being registered. It is hinged at a3 and is moved by a curved toe 3S on the hinged plate IOO IIO

L, acting against a similarly-shaped toe 39 on the end of the plate. 39, projecting inside the case behind the lines of the pivots, are so arranged that when the plate L is released from the latch 22 and drops down to lock the register-wheels it raises or tilts the plate A2 to stand at a greater angle above the horizontal, so that the number on the front is presented more plainly7 to View, but in the opposite movement of the plate L the drop-plate returns toward the horizontal again. By these two different positions the drop-plate indicates to the operator when a register is in action and when it is not in use. The number on the front of the drop-plate is the telephone-number of the subscribers line to which the register is connected.

The calling device located at the subscribers telephone is composed principally of a number of sliding buttons m, each electrically and separately connected into the subscribers line by a conducting-strip T and a conducting-wire TX, a corresponding number ot' circuit-closing rocker-plates 29, and a local battery having wires or conductors @c y leading from its poles to the rockerplate. Each rocker-plate is pivoted at the ends in the inclosing case W, directly beneath the slot w in the coverin which the sliding button works, and the top surface of the rocker-plate is insulated from the bottom surface, so that one side or surface forms a separate conductor from the other side. On the top side and along one side of the line-pivots a number of standing projections 31, fixed at intervals apart, form points of contact between that side of the plate 29 and the slide M to which each button m is fixed, while on the opposite side of the pivot, but on the same top side of the plate, a single long projection 32 forms the point of contact between the slide and that side of the plate.

The slide M is always in electrical contact with the fixed conducting-strip T, but is not electrically connected with the rocker-plate except by moving its button m in its slot, at which time one or the other of the pivoted dogs 34 35 strikes the contact-points on the top of the plate and causes it to tilt and rock on its pivots. Such dogs are so attached to the ends of the slide M that they are loose and free to swing on their pivots in one direction, but are rigid and stand perpendicularly down from the slide when pressure is brought against them from the opposite direction, and one is thus set to work the reverse to the other, so that when the slide is moved downward in its slot in the case the dog 34 is rigid, and by striking against the projections 3l it tilts the rocker-plate 29, but the opposite dog 35, swinging loosely on its pivot, will not act on the projection 32 beneath it. In the upward or return movement of the slide, however, the dog 35 becomes the rigid and active one, while the other dog 34 swingsloosely. The back of each dog is faced These two parts 38v pole of the battery into the conducting-stripY T and grounds7 the opposite pole.

It should be mentioned that the bottom side of the contact-plate 29, which is insulated from the top side, is permanently connected to a ground V.

The wire fr from the positive pole of the local battery is arranged over the top of the rocker-plate along the side opposite to the projections 34, and the wire y from the negative pole is arranged in similar manner over the side of the plate opposite to the long projection 35. From the wire @c a leg or branch is carried underneath the rocker-plate on the same side of the pivot, and from the wire y a similar leg y is carried beneath the plate on the other side, the result of which arrangement is that when one wire is in contact with the top surface of the rocker-plate the wire from the opposite pole of the battery is then in contact with the bottom surface" of the rocker-plate, through which it is connected to a ground by the ground-wire from the pivot of the rocker-plate, because, as before described, the top side of the rockerplate is insulated from the bottom side. This operation will be understood by referring to Fig. 5 and the diagram Figs. 5ad and 5b, in which it will be seen that when the slide M is drawn down over the plate 29 the dog 34c is caused to strike the projections 3l and as it passes over each projection to depress that side of the plate and throw up the opposite side. Such movements therefore, as each projection is struck, throw the top surface of the elevated side of the rockerplate in contact with the positive wire a; and also the bottom surface of the depressed side in contact with the wire y from the negative side of the battery, and in this manner pulsations of a positive character are transmitted over the line X through the connections T TX, corresponding in number to the number of projections which are struck by the moving slide M, and the circuit from the battery at the switchboard is thrown upon the relays through the polarized circuitclosers Z Z in corresponding number of vibrations. Fig. 5b illustrates the position of the rocker-plate at such time of action. The return movement of the button back to the sliding-point tilts the rocker-plate into the opposite direction, as illustrated in Fig. 5u, thereby causing the upper side of the plate to make contact with the negative wire y from IOO the battery and grounding the wire n: from the positive side through the under side of the rocker-plate and the ground Y, and iu such manner reversing the polarity of the current from the local battery over the line. From this last-mentioned movement et the button in its slot the dog 35 acts against the long projection 232 on the rocker-plate, and by pressing down that side it elevat es the opposite side, holding it up against the wire y and pressing down the lower tace ot the rocker-plate against the leg fc of the wire ai.

Each sliding button when moved in its slot in one direction produces, by contact with the projections 3l on the rocker-plate beneath, as many electric pulsations of one polarity as there are projections in the row on that side of the rocker-plate. Then moved back to position ot rest at the end of the slot, the same button produces one single long pulsation of opposite polarity corresponding to the length ofthe projection on the rocker-plate. By the currents thus transmitted to the polarized relays Z Z, before described, with which the signal mechanism at the switchboard is in circuit, the lever 1t) and detent 2S are actuated tirst by the current of one polarity to set the register-wheel and afterward bythe eurrent ot the opposite polarity to reset the parts` of the mechanism ready .tor the next setting` movement. Thus the barrel C is rotated and then reversed and set in position again tor the next movement by the simple sliding movement of the button along its slot from one end to the other and back again to the starting-point, as already described. In this operation the two currents ot dit'tferent polarities thrown upon the polarized relays by each button turn and set the register-wheels according to the order in which the buttons are selected and moved by the person sending in the signal, and the number ot figures composing the signal to be shown at the sightaperture of the station-switchboard determines the number ot buttons to be moved and the order in which they can be operated.

Every sliding button produces electric pulsations ot' one polarity in number corresponding to the number of projections 3l on its rocker-plate when moved in one direction, and a single long pnlsation ot opposite polarity when moved back to its tirst position, and by the currents thus transn'litted tothe polarized relays Z Z, with which the signal mechanism at the switchboard is in circuit, the lever l0 and detent 28 are actuated, as before described, to rotate the barrel C and then to reverse and reset it, such two ditterent currents being produced by each individual button, and according` to the order in which the same are moved the barrel moves and sets tbe register-wheels to show the desired signalnnmber at the sight-aperture.

All the positive wires n; are connected to the common binding-post X2 and all the negative wires yy to the post Y2. To these posts are connected the conductors X: Ys from the battery Z, Fig. 23.

The strips 'l 'll are connected to a com mon binding-post T' on the case, and the wire TX, Fig. l, from the line X is connected to that post. In like manner all the groiuid-wires are brought to a common binding-post V', to which is connected the ground Y.

The eleventh slide-button in the case which I have termed the disconnecting-button,7 sends over the line the required nu mber of pulsations to turn the barrel C such farther distance on its axis that it throws ott the hinged plate li. and thereby releases all the register-wheels. 'lhus after the conversation over the line is ended and the subscriber desires to be disconnected he moves the disconnecting-slide M X to the end of the slot and allows its spring to throw it back again, the effect of which is to release all the register-wheels composing the signal and restore them to position again 'tor subsequent operation.

As thus constructed, arranged, and connected the whole apparatus operates as follows to transmit from a-subscribe1"s telephone to the operator a visual signal showing the number of the telephone with which connection is desired and also at the end ot' lthe conversation to signal the operator for disconnection: ]Sy that one ot the slides first moved in the case \V the subscriber sends over the line positive pulsations, which, aeting on the polarized circuit-closets Z Z, throw the positive side of the battery at the switchboard upon the relays and causing their armatures to iirst throw down the detent 28 and then work the pawl l0 to turn the barrel as many teeth ot the ratchet-wheel as there are vibrations of the armature given. 'lhe Irst segment-gear D being locked in the barrel by the tappet I, which sets in line with it', the iirst register-wheel is turned and set in position by the movement ot the gear D. At the return movement et' the slide produced by the spring when released by the subscriber the current is reversed and a single pulsation from the opposite pole of the battery is produced, thc effect of which Yis to tilt the armatures of the relays into their trst position and thereby throw out both the pawl and the detent from the ratchet and release the barrel. The spiral spring in the barrel then brings it back to position against the tixed stop l-t, ready 'for the next operation. In this return movement the incline lS on the clutch 17 strikes the hinged stop 1G, by which the star-wheel K is released, and its leading point, engaging the same stop, turns that wheel the distance of one point and bysueh movement sets the second tappet on the shaft ll in line and working position with the second segment-gear on the barrel. In the same mauner the next slide M when drawn down operates the barrel and sets the second registerwheel, and when. moved back in its slot it resets the parts for the next operation. All

IOO

IIO

the four register-wheels are thus operated on and set in position to form the required signal-number.

It should here be mentioned that in every case of setting a signal of less than four numerals it is necessary to move all the register-wheels, because the first wheel to the left is always connected into the barrel when the ,mechanism is set for service and also because the fourth or last wheelmust be operated before the long rotation of the barrel can be given to release and throw back all the wheels for the disconnecting-signal. On this account a signal-number composed of two numerals will be formed of two ciphers, followed by the required numerals, and in producing the same the first and second registerwheels will be set to show 0 and then the remaining third and fourth wheels to display the proper numbers to form the signal.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

sl. A register mechanism for telephonelines, comprising register-wheels arranged behind a sight-opening at a switchboard; a rotating barrel carrying loose gears, one to each register-wheel, and connected to it by intermediate gearing, means for locking said loose gears separately and in successive order at the beginning of each rotative movement of the barrel and means for releasing each locked gear at the end of each rotative movement before the next one of said gears is locked; means actuated by pulsations of an electric current to rotate said barrel step by step a predetermined distance to set the registerwheels; and means for releasing said barrel at the end of each setting movement, and a spring arranged to rest-ore the barrel to its rst position, combined for operation substantially as set forth.

2. In a register mechanism for telephonelines the combination, in a suitable case behind a sight-opening of the register-wheels B; spring-barrel C; gears D each connected into its individual register-wheel; the shaft II, star-wheel K, tappet I, hinged stop I6, clutch 17 and stops 13 14; the ratchet-wheel 7, pawl IO, detent 28 and spring l5; and means for operating said pawl and detent by pulsations of electric currents of different polarities, substantially as set forth.

3. In a register mechanism the spring-barrel C, loose gears I), shaft H, tappets I, starwheel K, hinged stop 16; and the stops I3, 14; the ratchet-wheel 7, pawl IO and detent 28; and means for operating said pawl and detent consisting of the polarized relays G G and armatures G G2 combined for operation substantially as set forth.

4. In a register mechanism the combination, of the spring-barrel C, loose gears I), shaft II, tappets I, star-wheel K and hinged stop 16; means for rotating said barrel step by step in one direction and afterward releasing it and allowing it to return to its starting-point by the reaction of its spring; and the stops 18 14 controlling such startingpoint, substantially as set forth.

5. In a register mechanism the combination, of register-wheels B, coil-sprin gs 2, locking-plate L, dogs 20, latch 22 and push-rod 27; the rotating barrel C and gears connecting the register-wheels separately and independently with said barrel means for lookin g said gears separately and in successive order in said barrel; stops 13 I4 controlling the starting-point of the barrel and also operating the push-rod; and means for rotating said barrel step by step and for releasing it to its starting-point, substantially as set forth.

6. A switchboard register for telephone systems, comprising register-wheels arranged behind a sight-opening; pawl-and-ratchet mechanism actuating said register wheels separately and in successive order; a locking mechanism holding said wheels in position and coil-springs adapted by their recoil to restore said wheels to normal position when released; polarized relays actuating through electric pulsations of one polarity the pawland ratchet mechanism, and operating through pulsations of the opposite polarity on the said locking mechanism to release the register-wheels; in combination with a local circuit including a battery and a current-reversing circuit-closer at the snbscribers station connected with or into the polarized relays of the switchboard mechanism through the subscribers line and transmitting electric pulsations to said mechanism, constructed for operation substantially as set forth.

7. In a subscribers register for telephonelines the combination, with register-wheels having coil-springs which are adapted to reset the wheels to the starting-point after each setting movement, of the stops 36 37, hinged plate L, pawls 20, latch 22, stop 26, push-rod 27, stop 14 and the hinged drop A2 arranged for operation at a sight-opening as set forth.

8. The combination, with an electricallyactuated register mechanism at a switchboard, of the circuit making and breaking and current-reversing mechanism located at the subscribers station comprising the slotted case W, the separately-operating slides M one for each of the ten digits and each slide having an increased length of stroke over the next 011e in ascending order, individual contact-plates 29 each movable under the contact with it of the corresponding slide and normally connected to a ground; the conductors x y arranged on opposite sides of said plate, and one of which by the movement of said plate is brought in contact with that piece under the stroke of its slide M downward, and the other one of which is brought into contact with said plate under the upward movement of the slide, thereby reversing the polarity of the current; the conductor rI connected with t-he subscribers line and electrically connected with all the slides; and the disconnecting-slide M having a length of IIO IZO

stroke greater than the last.` slide, constructed and arranged for operation substantially als set forth.

f). The Combination willi a visual signal at the switeliboard-s'ation Composed of nuinberbearing Wheels, mechanism operative under electric pulsations of both polarities to oper' ate said wheels, a loeal eirouit and battery including polarized eiieuit-Closers in the eireuit between the subseribers telephone and lille switehboard-stalion and operative under pulsations transmitted over the subseribers line, of circuit-Closing deviees at ilie subscribers telephone, a local circuit including Osnonx,

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