US584414A - Charles e - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

0. E. SGRIBNER. APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SWITGHBOARDS. No. 584,414.

Patented June 15,1897.

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IN VENTUR CA/6 71653. Sari/6 O WITNESSES NITE STATES PATENT Trier.

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE-SWITCHBOARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,414, dated June 15, 1897. Application filed April 26, 1893. Serial No. 471,977. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: of the rotating vane to retain it; but when Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SORIBNER, under the control of the other magnet (the a citizen of the United States, residing at Chirestoring-magnet) it is thrown into its altercago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinate position it Will engage with only a par- 55 nois, have invented a certain new and useful ticular edge of the vane, holding the latter Improvement in Apparatus for Telephone in position to conceal the indicator-signal. Switchboards, (Case No. 327,) of which the fol- The operating-magnet is included in the sig lowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact denaling-circuit of a telephone-line. The re scription, reference beinghad to the accompastoring-magnet is in a local circuit which is 60 1o nying drawings,formingapart of this specificlosed only during the existence of a concation. nection with the line, after the manner of My invention relates to apparatus for authe automatically-restoring annunciators in tomatically exhibiting and resetting the incommon use. The vane may have a suitable dicators of signal-receiving annunciators of number or other indication painted upon it, 65 I 5 telephone-switchboards. Its object is to prothe normal position of the vane being that vide a mechanically-actuated device conin which the indication is concealed, the trolled by means of electromagnets for exother face of the vane only being visible to hibiting or withdrawing the indicator of the the attendant. WVhen the operating-magannunciator. net is traversed by signaling-current, it at- 7o IIeretofore annunciators have been protracts the armature controlling the retainvided with shutters adapted to be actuated ing-catch and releases the vane. The latter by gravity when released by means of a conbeing thus freed rotates slowly, carried by trolling electromagnet, and in some instances its friction upon the shaft, until it has exeauXiliary electromagnets have been provided outed a half-revolution, when it is again en- 7 5 to reset or restore the indicators to their norgaged by the catch, the latter having remal positions through the medium of suitable turned to its normal position by the disconlevers or other devices. tinuance of the signaling-current. The vane In my invention I have aimed to provide is thus brought into and retained in position an annunciator having an indicator adapted to disclose the indication upon it. It re- 80 to be actuated and restored by mechanical mains in this position until the operator of power, the operation thereof being controlled fects the desired connection with the line. by electromagnets. By this arrangement When this is done, the normally open local the necessity for light and delicately-balcircuit is closed, energizing the restoring anced moving parts as heretofore employed magnet of the annunciator, and the latter 85 3 5 is avoided and reliability of action is insured, attracts the armature and again releases the since a sufficient power to move a considervane, permitting it to execute a further halfable weight of mechanism may readily be revolution, after which it is again engaged controlled by comparatively small and feeble by the catch and retained in position to conelectromagnets. ceal the indication. o In one form of my improved annunciator My invention is illustrated in the accom- I employ a continuously-rotating shaft carpanying drawings and may be more fully rying a vane movable upon the shaft with described in connection therewith. considerable friction, in combination with In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective e'lectromagnets and a catch controlled there- View of two of my improved annunciators 95 5 by normally engaging with the vane and remounted upon a common supporting-plate taining it immovable. The catch is of such and connected withacommon revolving shaft. form in relation to the portions of the vane Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view with which it is adapted to engage that when of a single annunciator. Fig. 3 is a diagram in one of its positions, as influenced by one showing my improved annunciator in combi- [00 of the magnets, which I shall term the opernation with the circuits and switching mechating-mag11et,itwill engage with either edge anism of a telephone-exchange system.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the annunciator shown therein comprises two tubnlarelectromagnets a and 1), arranged in axial alinement with their poles facing each other. Between the opposed poles is suspended an armature c, pivoted upon trunnions c 0 carried by a bracket d, secured to the shells of the two tubular magnets, which also serves as the means of attachment between the two magnets. A light spring (1 is fixed at one end to the shell of magnet b and acts upon an arm carried by armature c to maintain the armature normally in a position intermediate between the two poles. The magnet 11 is fixed at its closed end to a plate 6, which serves as the common supportingplate of several annunciators. Upon the face of the plate 6 are provided bearings ff f, in which is journaled a shaft g, carrying a pulley g at one extremity, by which power may be transmitted to it. Upon the shaft 9 is placed, in front of each annunciator, a vane h, within the bearing of which the shaft is permitted to rotate with considerable friction. In one edge of the vane h a rectangular notch h is out. In the other edge a notch h of peculiar shape is formed, having lugs or extensions 7L3. The armature c carries an arm 0 which extends forward and terminates in a catch 0 This catch is provided with a downward extension 0 which engages with the bottom of the notch h when the armature is in its normal position, unattracted by either magnet. It has also two lateral extensions o which are adjusted to engage with the lugs h upon the vane 72 when the armature is attracted by the magnet band the catch is in its uppermost position. The shaft g is maintained in continuous slow rotation and tends to rotate with it the vanes h of the different ann unciators. WVhen the magnet Z) is energized, itattracts the armature c and lifts the extension 0 of the catch 0 out of engagement with the vane, releasing the latter and permitting it to revolve with the shaft g. The vane continues to revolve until it has executed a complete half-revolution. Before the expiration of the time required in reaching this position the signalingcurrent will have ceased and the magnet 11 will be no longer energized. The catch 0 will thus have returned to its normal position and the lugs 7L3 will come into engagement with the lateral extensions 0 of the catch 0 whereby the further rotation of the shutter will be prevented. The distinctive number of the annunciator is thus exposed upon the face of the vane, as shown in the annunciator at the right. NVhen now the magnet a is energized, the armature c is drawn in the opposite direction, lowering the catch 0 until the lateral extensions 0 thereof are disengaged from the lugs 71 permitting the vane h to continue its revolution. When it has rotated through another half-revolution, the bottom of the notch h again comes against the extension 0 of the catch, the latter being now drawn to its lowest position by the attraction of magnet a. The vane is thus again prevented from further rotation, and although the magnetization of magnet to ceases and the armature is no longer attracted the catch 0 rises only to a distance insufficient to become disengaged from the vane, whereby the latter is held until the magnet Z2 is again energized. The indicator or vane of the annunciator is thus both actuated and restored by mechanical power, as distinguished from the electromagnetic force hitherto employed, the application of the power being determined and controlled by the electromagnets.

In Fig. 3 I have shown two of my improved annunciators connected in different line-circuits and located upon multiple switchboards, in combination with local circuits, for effecting the resetting of the annunciators. The usual switching appliances for establishing connection between the different lines are shown in position of looping the two lines to gether for communication.

The substations 1 and 2 of the exchange system are equippedwith the usual telephonic and signaling appliances. The substations are connected by lin e-circuits z'and 2', respectively, with spring-jacks 7t upon two different sectionsZ and Z of a multiple switchboard, each line being connected with one spring-jack upon each section. Each line-circuit also includes the operating-coil Z) of annunciatorm, the annunciators being located upon different switchboards, so as to be under the care of different attendant operators.

Connection is established between the different lines by means of loop-plugs n and 17., whose corresponding contact-pieees are united through conductors 0 and 0. Included in these conductors are callingkeys p and 1), each adapted to loop a calling-generator q into circuit with the corresponding plug. A telephone set 0 is provided for the operator and a key 3, whereby the telephone may be connected with or disconnected from the plugcircuit 0 o.

In addition to the line-contacts of the sprin gjacks local contact-sprin gs 7c and are provided upon each jack. The springs 7t and 70 of the spring-jacks of one line constitute the normallyseparated terminals of a local circuit which includes a source i of current and the restoring-magnet a of the individualannunciator of the same line. The plugs are provided with contact-rings 11 which cross together the local springs 70 and k of the spring-jacks into which they are inserted, thus completing the local circuits and cansing the restoring-magnets of the corresponding annunciators to be energized.

In the operation of the system a subscriber for example, subscriber at station 1-desiring connection with another line rotates his signaling-generator, thus sending a signaling-current over his line-circuit to the central office, where it finds circuit through the operating-magnet of the annunciator, permitting the indication of the annunciator to be dis- ITS played. The operator under whose care the annunciator is placed inserts one connectingplug of a pair into the spring-jack of the line whose annnnciator indicates the signal and receives the order for the desired connection through the medium of her telephone set. She then completes the connection between the calling-line and the line called for by 111- serting the remaining plug of the pair into the spring-jack of the latter line. By the act of inserting the connecting'plug into the spring jack ofthe calling-line the local circuit of that line was closed, as described, whereby the indicator-vane of the annunciator was permitted to return to its normal position, concealing the indication. WVhen upon the completion of the conversation the plugs are removed from the spring-jacks and the lines are thereby disconnected from each other, the annnnciator remains in this position until another signaling-current traverses it.

Obviously many other forms of signal-receiving annunciator might be constructed embodying the principle of my invention without departing from the essential features of it. Hence I do not limit myself to the form shown; but

I claim, broadly, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination, in an electric annunciator, an indicator frictionally connected with a source of mechanical power, a retainingcatch normally engaging with said indicator, controlled by an electromagnet, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a continually-rotating shaft, of a vane having a frictional bearing thereon, a catch controlled by an electromagnet, normally engaging the vane but adapted to release the vane when the magnet is energized, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a constantly-rotating shaft, of a vane having a frictional bearing u pon the shaft, an electromagn et, and a catch con trolled by the electromagnet adapted to engage with either edge of the vane to retain it in a fixed position when the magnet is not energized, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a constantly-revolving shaft, of a vane revolving with friction thereon, two electromagnets, a common armature therefor adapted to be moved in one direction by one of the magnets and in the other direction by the other magnet, a catch controlled by the said armature adapted to engage with one edge of the vane to retain it immovable when in one of its extreme positions and to engage with the other edge of the vane when in its other extreme position, whereby the successive magnetization of the two magnets permits the vane to execute a complete revolution, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the magnets on and b, of the common armature c therefor, a catch 0 controlled thereby, the revolving shaft g, the vane h carried thereon, the catch 0 being adapted to engage with one edge of the vane when in one of its extreme positions and with the other edge of the vane when in the other of its extreme positions, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a continually-moving body, of an indicator capable of assuming two different positions, mechanism adapted to cause or permit the indicator to be carried with the moving body from either position to the other position, two electromagnets controlling the said mechanism, one of the magnets being included in a telephone signalingcircuit and the other being included in a local circuit adapted to be closed by the act of establishing connection with the line, one of the magnets being adapted to actuate the mechanism to cause the'indicator to be moved from its normal to its alternate position, the other magnet controlling the mechanism to return the indicator to its normal position, substantially as described.

7. In combination a continually-operative source of mechanical power, an indicator capable of assuming two positions, mechanism adapted to connect said indicator with said source of power to move it into one of said positions, and other mechanism adapted to cause its return to the other of said positions, said mechanism being controlled by an electromagnet, substantially as described.

8. In combination a continuously-operative source of mechanical power, an indicator having a normal position of concealment and a position of display,said indicator being adapted to assume said positions successively under the action of said source of power, and electromagnetically-actuated mechanism controlling the action of said source of power upon the indicator to determine the position assumed by the indicator, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 22d day of March, A. D. 1893.

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER.

Witnesses ELLA EDLER, LUoILE RUSSELL.

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