US746095A - Switching apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED DBC. 8, 1903.

W. KAISLING. SWITCHING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 7, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N0 MODEL.

Inv Enur llliam Kallmg [smeg PATENTED DEG. 8, 1903.

W. KAISLING.

SWITGHING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED nu 7, 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

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AUNITED STATES Patented :December s, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KAISLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STROMBERG- CARLSON TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCHING APPARATUS.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,095, dated December 8, 1903.

Application filed May 7, 1903. Serial No. 156,081. (No model.)

have heretofore been devised in which it has` been proposed to connect the telephone instruments at a number of substations with a single telephone-line. 'The signaling devices at these various substations connected with any one line have frequently been constructed in such a manner as to be responsive to signaling-currents of a certain peculiar character impressed upon the telephone-line and irresponsive to signaling-currents of other characters which may be impressed upon the line. It has heretofore been the practice to provide at the central station a series of keys each provided with au operating-lever, each of which keys serves when actuated to cause the connection of the terminals of a source of current of a given definite charact-er with the telephone-line. Thus the actuation of one key may serve to connect'the terminals of a source of pulsating direct current with the line, the actuation of a second key may serve to cause the connection of the terminals of a source of alternating current of one frequency with the line, and the manipulation of a third key mayserve to cause the connection of a source of alternating current of a different frequency with the line. These various keys as heretofore installed in a central-operators switchboard have occupied a large amount of space. Furthermore,the provision of a number of keys, any or all of which may be operated at one and the same time, has frequently given rise to confusion and difficulties due to the fact that two or more keys have been manipulated at the same time when it was the operators intention to ma- I Prominent objects of my invention are to' rprovide a so-called ringing and listening key for the use of a telephone-exchange operator which shall overcome the difficulties in keys of the priorart hereinbefore pointed out.

Means are provided by myinvention whereby but one of the keys associated with a given cord circuit may be operated at a time. Means are provided whereby there is a permanent indication at all times of the key which may have last been manipulated. Furthermore, my invention combines the necessary parts into a neat and compact structure occupying very little space on the operators keyboard.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be made clear by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. o is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. -t is a similar view showing certain parts in their alternate position. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of au operators cord-circuit to which my invention has been applied.

In the drawings I have illustrated a top or escutcheon plate 10, adapted to be fastened by screws passing through the holes ll ll to the key board of a telephone-operators switchboard-section. Projecting downwardlyfrom the top plate 10- and rigidly secured thereto are the cylindrical pillars l2 12, which support the center plate 13, to which the springcontacts may be secured. Insulated from the center plate 18 and rigidly secured thereto are the contact-springs 1414, which comprise an operator-s listening-key adapted for the purpose of connecting the operator-s telephone set l5 (diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 6) in bridge of the cord-strands\l6 and 17. The actuating-lever 18 is pivoted"`atl9 in the frame l and carries beneath the top plate a roller 20, of hard rubber, adapted upon a manipulation of the lever 1S to be forced between the main contact-springs of the listening-key to connect the operators telephone set in bridge of the cord-strands. In addition to the spring-contacts 14 of the operators listening-key there are secured to the center plate 13 four sets of contact-springs adapted when suitably operated to connect sources of signaling-currents of various characters in bridge of the cord-strands4 leading to the calling-plug of an operators cord-circuit.

In Fig. 6 I have diagrammatically illustrated an operators cord-circuit in which the strands 16 and 17 connect the tip-sleeve contacts of the answering-plug 21 with those of the calling-plug 22. The spring-contacts of the listening-keys are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6 and are provided with reference characters corresponding with the reterence characters on Figs. 1, 3, and 4. ln Fig. 6 I have illustrated an alternating-current generator 23, one of whose terminals is connected with the ground G and the other terminal of which is connected with the contact 24. The main contact- springs 25 and 26 normally make contact with the contacts 27 and 28, thereby providing for the continuity ofthe cord-circuit between the answering and calling plugs. When the springs 25 and 26 are wedged apart, spring 25 makes connection with the contact 24, While spring 26 makes connection with the contact 29,thereby connecting one terminal of the generator 23 with the tip-strand leading to the callingplug 22, while the sleeve-strand of the cordcircuit is connected to ground through the contact 29. A second alternating-current generator 30 is provided, having one terminal connected with the ground G, as shown, and the other terminal connected with a contact 31 of a second ringing-key. This ringing-key comprises in addition to the contact 31 the main contact- springs 32 and 33, which normally make connection with contacts 34 and 35 and which when manipulated make connection with the contacts 31 and 36, thereby serving to connect the tip-strand leading tothe tip of the calling-plug with the ground G and to connect the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug with one terminal of the alternating-current generator 30. At 37 is diagrammatically represented a generator or other source of pulsating or intermittent direct currents of one polarity. The negative terminal of this generator is desirably connected with the contact 39, the other terminal being connected with the ground G. The main contact- springs 40 and 41 normally make electrical connection with the contacts 42 and 43, but when wedged apart make electrical connection with the contacts 39 and 44, thus serving to connect the negative terminal of the generator 37 with the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug and to connect the tip-strand leading to the calling-plug with the ground G. At 45 is illustrated a second pulsating directcurrent generator, whose positive pole is connected with the contact 46 and whose negative pole is connected with the ground G. The main contact- springs 47 and 43 normally make connection with the contacts 49 and 50 and when spread apart. serve to connect the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug 22 with the positive pole of the pulsating-current generator 45 and the tip-strand leading to the calling-plug, through the contact 51, with the ground G. The sets of springs, each comprising a ringing-key, are designated as a whole by the reference characters A, B, C, and D. As mounted upon the center plate 13, each pair of main contactsprings ot the ringingkeys is provided with a hard-rubber wedge 52, carried upon a stud 53, projecting through a suitable opening in the top plate 10. The elasticity of the main contact-springs serves to retain the wedge 52 and its stud 53 within the opening in ihe top plate 10. There is secured to the top plate 10 a dovetailed track or slide 54, upon which is fitted for sliding engagement a slider 55. This slider carries a push- button 56,10 which is secured an actuating-stein 57. A retaining-cap 58 incloses a spring 59, which retains the push-button 56 in its upper normal position, the head of the stem 57 engaging the shoulder 60 to prevent the push-button from being forced from the retaining-cap 53. lt will be seen that by moving the slider upon the track 54 the stem 57 may be brought into register with the stud 53, whereuponfa depression of the button 56 forces the wedge 52 between the main contact-springs of a ringing-key to wedge the same apart, thereby connecting the terminal of a source ot' signaling-current with a strand of the cord-circuit, as best illustrated in the diagrammatic Fig. 6. By moving the slider on the track 54 it will be seen that the push-button may be broughtinto position to actuate any one ofthe tour ringing-keys shown. The top screws 60 and 61 in addition to retaining the track 54 in position upon the top plate 10alsoserve tolimitihelongitudinalmovementof the slider-55. In order that the stem 57 may be quickly and accurately brought into register with any desired stud 53, there are provided a series of depressions 62 in the track 54. Secured to the upper side of the slider 55 there is a flat spring 63, exerting a downward pressure upon the detent-pins 64, accommodated in suitable holes in the slider 55. The lower ends ot' these detent-pins are rounded, as shown, whereupon the deient-pins serve to engage the depressions 62 to lightly but surely stop the motion of the slider 55 in such a position as to bring the stem 67 directly above a stud 53. A slight pressure exerted upon the slider or the cap 58 carried thereby serves to disengage the pins from the depressions, whereupon the slider may be moved so as to permit the actuation of any desired ringing-key.

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A more or less ornamental casing is provided to inclose and protect the slider' and the detent mechanism mounted thereupon.

The operation of the device will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art. The central operator having inserted her callingplug 22 within the line-jack of a line to which four substations are connected, a movement of the slider to its proper position and the depression of the push-button to manipulate any one of the ringing-keys serves to connect the terminal of the corresponding source of signaling-current with one of the telephoneline limbs. It is a frequent practice to designate a number of substations connected with a single telephone-line each by a diii'erent' color, as black, red, blue, and green. l have found it desirable, therefore, to provide upon the top plate lO of the operators ringing and listening key suitable patches of color to correspond with the color by which is noted a substation whose signaling apparatus is actuated bythe corresponding ringing-key. Thus the ringing-key A may be marked by the black patches U6, the ringing-key B may be marked by the red patches 07, the ringingkey C may be marked by the blue patches 68, and the ringing-key D may be marked by the green patches 69. A central operator, therefore, desiring to signal a subscriber whose substation is designated blue,7 may bring the push-button 56 into the position shown iu the drawings, between the blue patches 68. A depression of the button will then cause the connection through the instru mentality of the ringing-key C of a source of current through the telephone-line, such as to act-nate only the signaling apparatus located at the substation blue. The slider and push-button carried thereby remain in the position in which last utilized until removed therefrom by an operator, whereby an indicating-key is provided to indicate at all times which of a series of substations connected with a single line has last been signaled from the central station.

The character of the currents supplied by the signaling-generators is immaterial and forms no part ot' my present-invention, it being snicient that t heconuections established by a manipulation of each of the ringing-keys cause the proper signaling of but one of a series of substations connected with a single party-line.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is particularly designed and well adapted for use in conjunction with such a party-line telephone system as is disclosed in an application, Serial No. 151,249, led April 6, 1903, by William M. Davis.

While l have herein shown and described one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit thereof. I do not', therefore, wish to limit myself to the precise disclosure herein set forth; but,

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groups of contact-springs each group comprising a ringingkey adapted upon actuation to connect the terminals of a source of signaling-current with a telephone-line, a wedge of insulating material for each of said ringing-keys each carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, and a pushbutton carried in said slider adapted upon depression to engage one of said studs to cause an actuation of the correspondingkey.

2. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groups of contact-springs each group comprising a key, a wedge of insulating material for each of said keys, each carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, and a push-button carried in said sliderad a pted upon depression to engage one ot'said studs to cause an actuation of the corresponding key.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate lO, ot' a plurality of groups of contact-springs, each group comprising a ringingkey adapted upon actuation to connect the terminals of a source of signaling-current with a telephone-line, a wedge ot insulating` material For each of said ringing-keys, each carried upon astud projecting through asuitable opening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, a pushbutton carried in said slider adapted upon depression to engage one of said studs to cause an actuation of the corresponding key, and detent mechanism forstoppiug the movement of said slider to bring said push-button into register with any desired stud.

4t. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate, of a plurality oi' groups of contactsprings each group comprising a ringing-key adapted upon actuation to connect the terminals of a source of signalingcurrent with a telephone line, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider, means whereby a movement of said slider may serve to bring said push-bu tton into register with any one of said ringingkeys, means whereby a depression of said push-button may cause an actuation of the ringing-key in register therewith, and detent mechanism forstoppingthe movementot' said slider to bring said push-button into register with any one ol said ringing-keys.

5. In a device ol the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including atop plate l0, oi' a plurality ot' groups of contact-springs each group comprising a ringingkey, a Wedge of insulating material for each IOS of said keys, each carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said plaie, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upon depression to engage one of said studs to cause an actuation of the corresponding key, detent mechanism for stopping the movement ot said slider to bring said push-button into register with any one of said studs, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in register.

6, In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groups of contact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upon depression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, detent mechanism for stopping the movement of said slider to bring said push-button into register with any one of said keys, stops for positively limiting the movement of said slider, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in register.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including atop plate l0, of a plurality of groups of contact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upon depression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, detent mechanism for stopping the movement of said slider to bring said push-button into register with any one of said keys, and stops for positively limiting the movement of said slider.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate 10, of a plurality of groups ol contact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upon depression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, and detent mechanism for stopping the movement of said slider to bring said push-button into register with any one of said keys.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate IO, of a center plate 13 secu red to said top plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanism for operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ri nging-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button Will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanism for operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement With said track, a push-button carried in said slider, a downwardlyprojecting stem on said push-button,detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringingkey, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in position for actuation.

ll. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate l0, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said center plate, level' mechanism foroperating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate each adapted to connect the terminals of a source of current with a telephone-line, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in position for actuation.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate IO, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanism for operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key.

13. In a device of the class described, the

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combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanism for operating said listeningkey carried by said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, a downWardly-projecting stem on said push-button,detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key` and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in position for actuation. 14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight. line ou said center plate, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting` through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringingkeys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a pushbutton carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key- 15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting` through a suitable opening in said top plate for each 0f said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button Will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in position for actuation. 16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate each adapted to connect the terminals of a source of current with a telephone-line, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having engagement With said track, a

push-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression ot' said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and meanstor indicating the ke;T with which said push-button is in position for actuation.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate IO, of a center plate 13 securedto said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate foreach ot' said ringingkeys, a track on said top-plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, a push button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate 10, ot a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a plurality ot ringing-keys, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement With said track, a push button carried in said slider, a downWardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of said push-button Will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button is in position for actuation.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable frame including a top plate 10, of a plurality of ringing-keys acceptably mounted on said trame, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a movable push-button mounted on said frame, a downWardly-projecting stem on said pushbutton, means for moving said push-button into position to register with any one ot' said studs whereby a depression of said push-button ma)7 cause an actuation of the corresponding key,and detent mechanism adaptedv to stop the movement of said push-button in register with any desired ringing-key.

In vvitn ess whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of May, A. D. 1903.

W'ILLIAM KAISLIN G.

INitnesses:

LYNN A. WILLIAMS, HARVEY L. HANsoN.

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