US740053A - Telephone registration system. - Google Patents

Description

Y NO- '140,053. EATBLNTBD SEPT. 29, 1903.

' [l A.. mjsmimom. TELE2/mm1 REGISTRATION s-YMEM.

MEMO-Anon PILED APR. 29, 19oa.

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ino. 740,0531.

UNITED STATES Ilaten'ted September 29, 1903;.

PATENT OFFICE.

TELEPHONE REGISTRATION SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,053, dated September 29, 1903. Application filed April 29, 1903l 'Serial No. 154,741. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be itknown thatIgALBERT J. SPEINGBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga andA State of Ohio,`have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephone Registration Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephone systems, and has more particular reference to the means employed for registering the calls made by parties yto which some other party responds and also for registering the number of calls to which the wrong party responds, so that the exact number of successful calls can be readily ascertained.

The invention also comprises certain locking-out features and other details of construction, as will hereinafter be fullyv described.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a' diagrammatic view of the connections for two telephones, said telephones having my invention applied thereto and being connected through the central station. Fig.A 2 is a diagrammatic view, on a larger scalo, of the various connections and parts at one of the telephones, the talking and signaling circuits being omitted. one of the registers. view of one'of the plugs for the connectingcables at central, and Fig. 5 isa similar View of a special plug.

The inequality in the charges actually made by telephone companies for their unlimited service-by which it costs a party making ten calls per day, for example, as much as it costs another party who uses his telephone almost constantly-and the trouble and annoyance to users of party-line or limited-service telephones occasioned by lbeing called upon by central to state their numbers whenever they make a call and in their having to rely entirely upon the honesty of the operator girl to check up and charge them with r only the successful calls made give rise to considerable phone-users. The telephone companies are also deprived of considerable business, for the Fig. 3 is a perspective view of' Fig.4 is a sectional` dissatisfaction amongv telereason'that many people will not put up with the annoyances of a limited service and their needs not warranting the expense of an unlimited service they dispense with telephones altogether. Furthermore, the companies lose extensively because of the failure of the operators to register the calls made by thesubscribers to the limited service.

For the above reasons a good, simple, and reliable system by which the calls from each telephone will be automatically registered at such telephone has been vin demand, and it is for the purpose of satisfying this demand that I have invented the system shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- 1 represents the hooks of the telephones A and B; 2 represents the receivers; 3, the transmitters, and 4 the call-bells. 1 As these telephones have the usual talking and signaling circuits, it is not deemed necessary to describe them further except to state that they are connected through the wires 5 and 6 with the main lines 7 and 8.

The central station is indicated at C, and

vfor purposes of simplicity of description and illustra-tion is divided into a left and right switchboard a and b. This switchboard is of the multiple type, the jacks 9 and 10 being in multiple or parallel across the main lines 7 and 8. The jacks comprise the sleeves 11 and the springs 12.

13 and 14 represent the wires comprising a cable at the centralgstation, said wires being connected to the tube and tip conductors, respectively, of the plugs 15. `One of these plugs is shown in section in Fig. 4., in which the said tube and tip conductors are indicated at 16 and 17, respectively. Projecting Avfrom the forward end of the tip is a pointed spur 18 of insulating material, said material being secured 'to t-he tip in any suitable man- 4earth at c through the wire 20, battery 21, and

Wire 22.

The sleeves and springs of the jacks 10 are connected with the main wires 7and 8 through IOOV the wires 23 and 24. Of course these main wires may have as many jacks on the switchboard as may be necessary, there being as many jacks as there are sections in the multiple board.

At the rear ot those jacks that are connected with the same set of main lines is'a sectional wire 25, said wire being separable at points just to the rear of the jacks, although the sections are normally connected through the spring-terminals 26. When either of the plugs l5 or 19 is inserted in a jack, however, the pointed spur 1S on said plug separates the terminals and breaks the circuit through said wire. As shown at d, the wires 25 are connected to the earth.

As the connections for all the telephones are identical, I will describe the same for one telephone, it being understood that the def scription applies to all the telephones alike..

segment 30 is connected by the wire 32 to the wire 6, and the segment 3l is connected to a wire 33, that leads through a solenoid 34 to the negative side of a battery 35. This battery is connected, through the conductor 36, to the ground at e. 37 and 38 are other segments that are arranged below the segments 30 and 3l and in such a position that when the conductor-plate 29 moves from the latter segment it will bridge the lower segments. The segment 37 is connected with the wire 6 through the wire 39, and the segment 38 is connected to a wire 40, that leads to electromagnets 4l and 42 and thence to a wire 43. The electromagnets are connected through a soft-iron yoke 440, so as to have their free poles facing each other, the magnets being so wound as to give a north and a south pole. One end of the wire 43 terminates in one ot' a set of contact-pieces 44 and 45, the contact 45 being connected with the grounded wire 36 through the wire 46. The other end of the wire 43 terminates in a contact-piece 47.

The contact-pieces 44 and 45 are normally connected by a yielding contact-strip 48, that is carried by a lever 4U, said lever being pivotedintermediate its length and being pulled in a direction to separate the contact-pieces by a spring 50. While the telephone-hook is down, the lever 49 is held with the strip 48 bridging the contacts by a pin 5l on the hook extension 28, and the lever is retained in this position by a hook 52, that engages with its upper end, said hook being normally pulled into engaging position by a spring 53.

54 is a lever that is pivoted intermediate its ends and that is held against the contactpoint 47 by a spring 5,5. On the OPPOSite side of its pivot it bears against another contact-piece 56, said piece being connected, through the wires 57 and 58, solenoid 59, and wire 60, with the main wire 7. 6l and 62 are other contact-points, the former being connected, through wire 63, with the wire 33 and the other being connected directly to the wire 5S. These contact-points are normally separated, but are adapted to be bridged at times by the lever 54.

The telephone-hook preferably terminates in a finger 64, that projects so as to be intercepted at times by the plunger 65 of the solenoid 34, said plunger being normally pushed into intercepting position by a spring 66, coiled thereabout. When the solenoid is en ergized, the plunger will be retracted to permit the hook to fly up or the finger 64 to descend, and when the said'tinger moves upwardly again the plunger is cammed back, so that the finger can pass it.

67 is a plunger for the solenoid 59, said plunger being connected with the hook 52, heretofore described. When the solenoid is energized, the plunger will be retracted to permit the hook to disengage the lever 49, so that the spring 50 can act to break the circuit at the contacts 44 and 45.

68 is a lever that is pivoted intermediate its length, with its lower end extending between the poles of the magnet 4l 42, said lever being held with this end midway between the poles by springs 69 and 70. The lever is magnetized, so that the lower end N is either a north or a south pole. When the' lower end is drawn to the left, Fig. 2, the upper end of the lever trips the lever 54, and thus breaks contact with the points 47 and 56 and connects the contacts 61 and 62.

7l and 72 are registers thatare connected with the upper end of the lever 68 by means of slotted Ilinks 73 and 74 and the cranks 75 and 76. While any suitable form of register or indicating mechanism may be employed, I prefer to use the form shown in Fig. 3, in which the rocking movement of the crank 75 back and forth adds the number of such successive movements on the addingwheels,

-said number appearing through a slot, as

shown. When the upper end of the lever 68 is moved to the right, the register 7l will be operated, the pin-and-slot connection with the link 74 permitting such movement without operating the register 72. When, however, the lever is moved in the opposite direction, the register 72 will be operated, and the register 7l will remain stationary.

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Having thus described the various parts l and their connections, I will now describe the operation, assuming that party B desires to talk with party A. As B takes up his receiver the rear end of his hook swings down.

wardly, causing the plate29 to bridge the segments 30 3l, thus establishing a circuit from Bs battery 35 through the following circuit: wire 36 to earth at e, through the earth to d at the central station, wires 25, 8, 6, and 32, segments 30 31, wire 33, and solenoid 34 to the battery again. When the solenoid 34 is energized, the plunger is retracted, so that the hook may continue its movement, which continues until the segments 37 38 are connected. As these segments are not connected with Bs battery, there is no current therefrom at this time. The ascent of Bs hook 1 closes his talking-circuit in the usual way and signals the operator at central, who plugs into Bs jack to ascertain who is wanted. As she does this the spur 18 on the plug separates the contacts 26 and breaks the connection with the earth at d. Having learned that B is wanting to talk with A, the operator plugs into As jack and calls him inthe usual manner. Responding to his call, Ak takes up his receiver and permits the contact-plate 29 to bridge his segments 30 3l, thus establishing a circuit from his battery 35 through the following connections: wire 36, earth from e to e, it being remembered that wires are broken by the plugs at central, wire 36 in Bs telephone, wire 46, contact-plate 48, wires 43 and 40, through the electromagnets 4l and 42, segments 37 38, wires 39, 6, and 8 to the .central station, strand 14 of the cable, wires 24,

. 8, 6, and 32 to the segments 30 3l, and wire 33 and solenoid 34 to As battery again. In passing through the electromagnets 41 42 the polarized lever 68 is drawn in one directionsay toward the magnet 4l'-which will result in adding one call to the register 71. It will thus be seen that no call is registered unless Aftakes'up his receiverto answer. The current `from As battery also draws back his plunger 65, so that his hook can continue its movement until it bridges the segments 37 38, when As talking-circuit is established.

In order to prevent any possibility of in-` terfercnce from earth-currents through parts of the talking-circuit and also to prevent the interruption and false registration due to other parties in party-line systems who could take down their receivers and cause registrations to take place on those telephones in the talking-circuit, I provide means for' breaking the circuit leading to the ground at each telephone as soon as registration at Bs telephone has taken place. f y When Bs lever 68 was swung to operate his register, as above described, its upper end turned the lever 54 and closed the contacts 61 62, thus sendinga current from Bs bat` tery 35 through the followingcircuit: wire 36, earth from e to e Vat As telephone, wires 36 and 46, contact-plate 48, wire 43,'lever 54, wire 57, solenoid 59, Wires 60,7, andv23 to the jack' and plug, strand 13 of the cable to theother plug and jack, wires 7 and 60,solenoid 59,Wire 58, lever 54, and wire 63 to the battery again. the solenoids 59 the hooks 52 are lifted torelease the levers 49, which swing so as to sepaf rate the contacts 44 45, and thus break the As the current passes through The solenoids 34, `with their locking-plun-- gers, are employed to prevent the possible cheating of the device by the party calling,

who could depress his hook slightly to disconf nect his segments 37 38 as soon as he had told the central operator whom he wanted and then wait with his hookin this position until the other'party had probably taken down his r`eceiver. It being remembered that Bs segments 37 38 must be bridged at the same time that As segments 30 3l are connected, it will be seen that such an operation would prevent registration. With the solenoids and plungers, however, it will be impossible for A to unlock his hook to talk until Bs hook connects his segments 37 38.

When the wrong party answers to the call, it is necessary to make some record of such fact, so that the exact number of successful calls can be ascertained.- When such an answer is received, it is only necessary-for B or the party calling to hang up his receiver, which will cause the pin 51 on his hook to restore his circuit, and then call central and.

oft" the hook: Wire 20, tip 17, wires 8, 6, and

39, segments 37 38, `wire 40, magnets 41 42, wires 4,3, 46, and 36, ground c to c, and wire 22 to battery again.

larizedlever 68 will be swung' in the opposite wrong answers on the register 72. By using a register that will subtract when moved backwardly it is evident that I can cause the same to show thenumber of' successful,

calls; but as the registers 72indicate more' or less accurately the mistakes-made by the operators at central I registers7l and 72, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what As this current passes through the magnets in a direction oppositeV to that for adding on the register 7l, the pot 'no direction, which will 'add the number" of ICO prefer to use thetwo I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters l.l In a telephone'system,a plurality'of telephones having hooks for their receivers, an electric circuit that'is controlled by the hooks ot anyv two of said telephones,and means for preventing the' movementl of the vhook of one of the two telephones to talking positionun'- less the hook of the other is fully raised.

2. In a telephone system a plurality of tele'- phones having hooks, an electric circuit that iscontrolled by the hooks of any two of said telephones, and a solenoid having a plunger for engaging the hook of one of the two telephones, said solenoid being in the said electlic circuit, and said plunger engaging and locking the said hook so that it cannot move to talking position unless the hook of the other one of the two telephones is fully raised.

3. In a system for indicating the numberof calls made from telephones,a plurality of telephones having receiver-hooks, indicating devices at each of the telephones, contact-pieces at the telephone that is calling, said pieces being electrically connected when the receiver-hook is fully raised, contact-pieces at the telephone that is called, said latter pieces being electrically connected when the hook of that telephone is only partially raised, an electric circuit including all of said contactpieces, a ,source of electric power and an electro'magnet in said circuit, and means whereby said electromagnet operates the indicating device at the telephone that is calling.

4. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, a device at each of the telephones for indicating the number of answered calls made from the respective telephones, means whereby said devices are operated from the telephones that are called, a second device at each of the telephones for indicating the number of wrongly-answered calls made from the respective telephones, an electromagnet, means for sending a current through said magnet in one direction to operate the first-mentioned indicating device, and means for sending a current through the said magnet in the opposite direction for operating the other indicating device.

5. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, the plurality of telephones, a device at each ofthe telephones for indicating the number of answered calls made from the respective telephones, means whereby the said devices are operated from the telephones that are called, a second device at each of the telephones for indicating the number of wrongly-answered calls made from the respective telephones, an electromagnet having its north and south poles facing each other, a magnetized lever having one of its poles normally midway between the `said magnet-poles, means for sending a current through the said magnet in one direction to move the lever in one direction to operate one of the indicating devices, and means for sending a current through the magnet in the other direction to reverse the movementof the lever and thus operate the other indicating device.

6. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, a device at each telephone for indicating the number of answered calls made therefrom, a source of electric power at the telephone that is called, a grounded wire connected with said source of power, a grounded wire at the telephone that is calling, connections for sending a current through said grounded wires to operate the said indicating device at the telephone that is calling, and means for breaking the circuit leading to the ground at one of the telephones when the said indicating device is operated.

7. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, a plurality of telephones, a device at each telephone for indicating the number of answered calls made therefrom, a source of electric power at the telephone that is called, a grounded wire connected with said source of power, a grounded wire at the telephone that is calling, connections for sending a current through said grounded wires to operate the said indicating device at the telephone that is calling, and means for breaking the circuit leading to the ground at both of the telephones when the said indicating device is operated.

8. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, aplurality of telephones, a register at each telephone for showing the number of answered calls made therefrom, an electromagnet, a lever moved by said magnet to cause the register to operate, a source of electric power at the telephone that is called, a grounded wire connected with said source of power, a grounded wire at the telephone that is calling, connections for sending a current through said grounded wires to move the said lever and thus operate the said register at the telephone that is calling, and a circuit-closer operated by the said registeroperatinglever for closing a circuit and means in said circuit that causes the circuit leading to the ground to be broken, for the purpose specified.

9. In a system for indicating the number of calls made from telephones, a plurality of telephones, a device at the telephone that is calling for indicating the number of answered calls made therefrom, a grounded wire at said telephone, a grounded wire at the telephone that is called, a source of electric power at the latter telephone for sending aeurrent through the said grounded wires for operating the said indicating device, a source of power at the telephone that is calling, and a circuit-closer for closing the circuit from the latter source of power when the said indicating device is operated and means in said circuit for breaking the circuit leading to the ground.

l0. In a system forindicating the number of unsuccessful calls from a telephone, a set of main lines, a telephone on said lines, a eentral station, a multiple switchboard at said central station, a jack in each section of the switchboard, said jacks being connected with the said main lines, a sectional wire extending past said jacks and connecting with the ground, a device at the telephone for indicating the number of unsuccessful calls made therefrom, means operated at the telephone IDO for closing a circuit that includes the said the saidvindicating device, forthe purpose sectional Wire for signaling the central-staspecified. Io tion operator, a second grounded wire at the In testimony whereof I aix my signature central station, a source of electric power couin the presence of two witnesses.

nected with said Wire, and a plug for the jacks ALBERT J. SPRINGBORN. on said Wire, said plug having means for sep- Witnesses: arating the sectional Wire and for closing a S'. E. FOUTS,

circuit from thesource of power that leads to WALTER J. LISTER.

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