US781225A - Rent-collecting means for telephone service. - Google Patents

Description

No. 78 1,225. I 5 PATENIED JAN. 31, 1905.

J.L.PEAVEY,I Y v RENT COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.15. 1904.

I 9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

A WORN/5Y8 N.o.781,225. PATENTEDJAN.31,1905. J. L. PEAVEY.

RENT COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE. APPLICATION FILED .TAN,15, 1904.

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J. L. 'PEAVEY. v

RENT GOL'LIEOTING MEANS FOR TELBPHONBSERVIUE.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN-15. 1904.

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JEkv/CE LINE A rfomvrs No.'78 1,22 5. v PATENTED, JAN. 31, 1905. I J.- PBAVEY.

RENT COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE.

' APPLICATION PILED JAN 15. 1904.

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' AWORNEYS No. 781,225; PATENTED- JAN. 3 1, 1905. J. L. 'PEAVEY.

RENT COLLECTING MEANS'IOR TELEPHONE SERVICE. l APPLICATION FILED JAN.'15, 1904.. I

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' 4 INVENTOR e]5sep7z'L.Feave y ATTORNEYS P-ATENTBD JAN. 31', 1905. J. L; PEAVEX. 1 v RENT COLLECTING MEANS PORN-TELEPHONE SERVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.-15, 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

.No. 781,225. v

I J. L. PEAV EYl RENT COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONHSERVICB.

Inrmonmn nun IA1L15, 1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ATTORNEYS I PAIENTED JAN. 31, 1905;

' I No. 781,225. v

' 'J.L.PBAVBY.

RENT COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE:

Arrm'nuxon nun nu. 15.1904.

9 SHEETS- SHEET 8.

WITNESSES:

A TTOHNEYS No. 781,225. PATENTEDJAN. 31, 1905. J. L. PEAVEY; RENT-COLLECTING MEANS FOR TELEPHONEISBRVIGE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN.15. 1904.

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' 2477094; rs J Patented January 31, 1905.

UNITED v STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOSE PH LANEPEAVEY, OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.

RENT- COLLECTING MEANS FOR,TELEPHONE SERVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,225, dated January 31, 1905. i l Application filed January 15, 1904. Serial No. 189,124.

To all whom it may concern: H

Be it known that I, J OSEPH LANE PEAVEY, residing at Meridian, in the county of Land erdale and State of Mississippi, have invented a new-and Im proved Rent-Collecting Means for Telephone Service, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an improved means especially'designed for collecting the regular monthly, quarterly, or annual-tolls from a subscriber for telephone service, of a simple and inexpensive character, that can be readily coupled up with the ordinary telephone-signal-bell housing, and which can be adjusted for use without disorganizing the usual arrangement of the telephone service.

Primarily my invention seeks to provide a telephone-rent-collecting means so operable that the ofiice force usually necessary to post unpaid service bills, as Well as the service of rent collectors, can be dispensed with and the rent or toll readily obtained by the regular monthly inspector.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and easily-operated means for compelling the subscriber to deposit the amount of his rental at the proper predetermined-times and which means is so controlled from the main or central oflice, whereby the subscribers telephone can be cutout of service and so held until theproper amount of rental for the next stated period has been deposited by-the said subscriber for the use of the telephone company.

With the above objects in view and other objects to be hereinafter explained, my invention in its generic nature comprehends a means electrically operable from the central or main ofiice for cutting out the telephone from the main or service line and a coin-controlled means preferably located adjacent the telephone and adapted when actuated to again place the telephone into circuit with the main or service line. 1

In its more complete make-up my invention embodies a switch mechanism in the feeder or service circuit to the telephone that is suitably housed adjacent the telephone, adapted to be initially set to its service-circuit closed position and then shifted to a position to break the said circuit to cutout the telephone by electromagnet-actuated devices that are controlled from the main oflice and adapted to be energized when the circuit to the said magnet is closed at the main or central station, whereby to set in operation the electromagnet-controlled devices to move the switch mechanism to an open or circuit-break ing position, and a coin-controlled mechanism also located within the switch-housing that is cooperatively joined with the switch mechanism and is adapted under the insertion of the proper coin, orcoins amounting to the-agreed service rental, to be actuated by a suitable hand-lever disposed externally of the housing, whereby to throw the switch mechanism back to close in the service-circuit to the telephone.

Again, my invention embodies a peculiar cooperative arrangement of a service-controlling switch and a coin-actuated meansthat coacts therewith, so. combined whereby the coin-controlled mechanism is held inoperative with respect to actuating the switch after it has initially acted upon the said switch mechanism to shift it to its closed position until the said switch mechanism and the actuating means therefor, together with the devices controlled by the electromagnet for shifting the switch to its open position,'have been reset by the inspector after he has collected the rentals deposited within the housing in which the several mechanisms referred to are located.

Another and important feature of my invention lies in the provision of a special cooperative arrangement of the switch for cutting out the telephone, which is magnetically operated from the main ofiice, a coin-controlled means for adjusting the switch to again out in the telephone, and a special construction of adjustable switch actuated devices whereby said actuated devices can be conven-v iently and positively set to meet changes in the In its more subordinate features my inven-" 3 is a diagram which illustrates the switch member shifted by the action of the coin-controlled lever device to close in the main or service line to the telephone. Fig. I is a detail horizontal section taken practically on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 2 and illustrates a number of coin-actuated levers and their cooperative relation with the radial projections adjustably connected to the rock member of the switch mechanism that controls the service-line to the telephone. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 4, taken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the usual telephone bell-housing provided with a supplemental compartment in which is located a preferred arrangement of my switch-controlling mechanism, the parts being in their manually or initially set position. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrow, also indicated on line 7 7 on Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is areverse or rear view of Fig. 5. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are diagrammatic views. Figs. 13 and 14 are views illustrating details.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of mechanism which embodies the generic arrangement of my invention, and I desire it understood that the said mechanism may be modified or varied according to the particular. arrangement of the telephone service to which my invention is to be applied without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

In the ordinary application of my inventionsay to a bracket or wall telephonethe operating mechanism is placed in a housing that covers the bell, and when bells are used the housing in which the said mechanism is located is so arranged as to cover all the hinding-posts on top of the bell, so that a cross connection cannot be made by the subscriber through the telephone.

In its essential features my invention comprises a switch for continuing or interrupting the circuit from the main or service line to the telephone, and the said switch mechanism, designated S, is located in the, housing H, one side of which, preferably the left, is

hinged at h to form a door whereby access can be readily had to the operating parts, and in practice the said door is provided with a lock the key of which is held by the telephone inspector, and to also provide for easily making repairs the top l1. of the housing from the front edge up to the coin-slots, presently again referred to, is hinged and is held closed by the hook-catch it on the side of the housing, as shown.

The switch mechanism S, the construction of which is fully shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises an insulating-block .v, on the lower end of which is mounted a longitudinallyadjustable contact-piece s, with which connects one of the separated ends, w, of the service or main line conductor-wire W to the telephone, the other end, on, of which connects with the hinged contact member (I, that is actuated by the spring or equivalent device a to normally close against one end of the contact s, and thereby continue the main or service line circuit through the switch S to the telephone.

The contact member C is electrically coupled through the crossover-wire s with the contact member C, adapted to engage with the other end of the contact-piece a after the engagement between the member s and the contact member 0 is broken.

The contacting member C projects radially from the horizontally-disposed head-block l), of wood or other non-conducting material, which is rockably mounted in brackets (.Z, pendent over the ends of the block 8, and at one end the rocking block D has a knob-handle (Z for turning it in the direction against the tension of the spring d, that normally rocks the head D to the position shown in Fig. 3.

J designates a train of clock-gears, and j designates a pulley upon one of the shafts j of the said gearing, to which connects one end of the short chain or cable E, the other end of which joins to an insulated member X on the contact-maker C, and the said chain E is of such length that it normally hangs a little slack, the reason for which will hereinafter appear. The clockgearing also includes a power-spring f and a lever g, the latter being secured to the shafty', upon which the powerspring is mounted, and which also carries the chain-receiving pulley 1', above referred to. The lever g is provided for conveniently setting the parts to their initial posit-ion when the rent-collecting mechanism is first set up and after each collection of the rent is made by the telephone inspector.

L designates an eleetromagnet which is suitably mounted within the housing H, the

armature L of which acts as a brake for the to shift member C is overcome. V

In practice I find it suflicientto energizeing of any'ordinary type of switch. When, I

however, the break in the magnet-circuit is closed by proper application of the switch Y at the main or central station, the armature L is drawn over and the clock mechanism is therefore released, which mechanism 'then through the rotation of the shaft winds up the chain connected to the contact-maker C, and therefore swings the said member C away from the contact-piece s, which breaks the circuit in the service-line and in consequence cuts out the telephone from further use until the service or main line circuit is restored,

which operation is effected in a manner presently to be described. be stated, the slack in the chain E is provided At this point, it should in order that lightning or other atmospheric disturbances will not release the contact member C, such arrangement of the chain effecting the results stated, as it requires but a little slack in the chain to take up all lightning discharges usual in a month, and it thereby follows that danger of the magnetic circuit being accidentally energized for a suflicient the magnet for a period of about ten seconds to allow for the desired action of the clockgearing mechanism.

To put the telephone back in service. after being cutout from the mainoflice, as explained in my appliance,'it is necessary for the telephonesubscriber to deposit his next months rental within the housing H before he can manually shift the switch mechanism to properly connect the telephone with the main or shown. The plungers 2 and 3 each have a yoke service line.

In the drawings I have illustrated but three coin-receiving slots and chutes and a plunger mechanism for each coinslot .and'chute; but it is obvious that a greater or less number of said coin-controlled plungers may be employed as the rental rates may make necessary.

In the drawings one of the plungers, (designated 1,) that engages with the pivoted lever P, that coacts-with the rotary head D of the switch S, is arranged'to be actuated only on the insertion of a dollar coin. The next plunger 2 acts upon the lever P on the insertionof a half-dollar coin, and the plunger 3 is arranged to operate its corresponding lever P on the lnsertlon of a quarter-dollar coin.

The plungers 2 and 3 operate in the hollow posts designated 20 and 30, (see Figs. 7 4, 8,) and each plunger is normally thrust upward in the post in which it moves by a stout coilspring a, which springs are located under the outer ends of the levers-P and P that pro ject into the said hollow posts through slots 39 and p to engage with the plungers, as

20 and 30*, provided with a coin-receiving crotch a and a which under normal conditions register w1th and are close under the d18- charge end of the coinchutes--that coact there period and when depressed four times (after the in-.

yoke members.

with. The plun ger l is also provided witha coin-actuating yoke 10; but the said plunger does not act directly on its corresponding lever P, but indirectly thereon through a ratchet- -wheel Q for the following reasons.

The ratchet-wheel Q in the construction shown in the drawings is designed to provide for collecting from one dollar up to sixteen dollars rental, and for such purpose it has a number of equally-spaced concentric apertures q, into any one of which is adapted to fit a pin R, that projects laterally from the wheel Q over the adjacent end of the lever P.

Assuming the rental to be four dollars, the

.pin would be set back four holes from the end of the vtripping-point of the lever P.

By referring now more particularly to Fig. 6 it will be noticed that the peripheral edge of the ratchet-wheel Q travels within a slot in the post 10,and the plunger in the said post has a pawl t, that engages the notched edge of the wheel Q, whereby on each depression of the plunger within the post 10 the wheel Q is turned the distance of one notch,

sertion of four coin dollars) the pin R engages the lever P and lifts it up past the projection with which it engages on the rocking head D,

and thereby permits the spring acting upon the said head D to'turn said head. in the dilevers P and P the same as he did lever 1 by first insertingthe proper coin in the fifty and twenty-five .cent chutes and depressing the plungers that cooperate therewith, and after each of the three levers RP, and P have been thus shifted the head D will automatically turn under its spring action and close 7 the member C against the part .9.

The plunger depression is effected by a crank-shaft V, journaled within the housing H and provided with three crank members '0, v,

and 0 which are adapted (when the shaft V is rocked by the geared shaft m, that projects through'the right side of the housing andhas a pull-handle) to sweep through the slots provided in the coin-chutes to engage the coin held in the crotches in the several plunger- While I have'not illustrated the same, it is obvious that-a larger number of coin-chute plunger and lever devices such as described may be used to provide for collecting such fractional charges as fivecents, ten cents, &c.

To prevent placing coins in coin-chutes not in use, a cut-off slide for each coin-slot is arranged on the under side of the housingtop, (see Fig. 13,) which can be shifted to close the coin-slots when so desired. To provide for such changes in the rates, as sometimes occur in telephone-service, a separate lug d on the head D for each lever P, P, and l is provided, and each of the said lugs (Z works within the longitudinal slot (1 in the head D, and each is firmly held to itsadjusted position by the clamp-nut d Supposing now, for example, the rent rate to be changed from four dollars seventy-five cents to three dollars and a half, the pin R on the wheel Q is first properly shifted, and the mechanism that controls the lever P (the twenty-fivecent lever) is thrown out of action by properly shifting the lug d, that coacts with the said lever, and thereby provide for an automatic shifting of the head D and the contact C after the levers P P have been acted upon after the insertion of three dollars and fifty cents into the housing through the proper coin slots and chutes.

Each coin-chute has a suitable member for deflecting the coins after the plungers have been sufficiently depressed to properly engage with their coacting levers, and a colleeting-trough 61 is provided for each chute that carries the coin into a box 62 at the door side of the housing.

After the telephone is put in service again by the subscriber in the manner above stated the inspector robs the receipts in the housing and resets the switch-contactsC and C to their normal or initial position. The number of ohms used in the relay-magnet is governed by the system operated on and with which the switch mechanism and coin-operated devices are combined.

On special single grounded line service (see Fig. 10) twenty to one hundred and fifty ohms relay would be necessary. On metallicline service with bridging-bells one thousand ohms relay would be necessary and bridged on the several lines, as shown in Fig. 11.

The one-hundred-and-fifty-ohms relay may be used at a time by placing the same in series with the service-line. (See Fig. 12.)

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed the complete operation and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent.

Briefly stated, however, the operation of my invention is as follows: Under normal conditions the current from the main line passes from the line end w through the switch-head into the contacting member C (see Fig. 3) and from thence to the telephone. When the electromagnet-controlled gearing is set in operation from the central station, the chain E is wound up and the member 0 is swung up, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) which cuts out the telephone. The member C is normally held out of contact with the switch S (see Fig. 3) by reason of the lugs (Z engaging with the levers P. By depressing the several levers l they turn the head D further against the tension of the spring (Z until the ends of the said levers P slip past the said lugs (Z. The head D when thus controlled is turned back by the action of the spring (i which brings the member G into contact with the switch. The current is then through the switch-head, the contact member 0, across from the said member C, through the connection .9" to the contact (.7, and from thence to the telephone. Thus the parts remain until the telephone-man collects the rent and resets the said parts to the position shown in Fig. 2.

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

1. Ameans for cutting outa telephone service-line operable from the main or central office, and which comprises a switch in the said service-line located at the subscribers station and normally held to its circuit-closing position, an electromagnet-controlled means for shifting said switch to an open position, the said switch including a supplemental contactmaker for closing in the service-line, and manually-operated devices at the subscribers station for actuating the said supplemental contact-maker to move it to a circuit-closing position.

2. A telephone-service-controlling means, which consists of a switch in the service-line at the subscribers station, an automaticallyaetuating mechanism for opening the said switch, and electromagnet controlling devices for normally maintaining the said normally actuating means in operation, an electrocircuit controlled from the central or main station for energizing the magnet whereby to set the said automatically-operating means into action to open the switch to cut out the telephone line-service, a mechanism for restoring the switch to its normal or liue-service-closing position, and a manually-operated lever device for actuating the last-named mechanism, as set forth.

3. In a telephone cut-out mechanism of the character described, a switch in the serviceline, a clock mechanism for moving the said switch to its open or circuit-breaking position, electromagnet controlling devices adapted when deenergized to lock the clock mechanism from operation, a supplemental electrical circuit adapted to be rendered inactive at the central or main station for energizing the magnet to release the clock mechanism, and coin-controlled devices at the subscribers station for shifting the switch to again close the line service, as set forth.

4. A telephone-service-controlling means, which comprises a switch in the service-line located at the subscribers station, the said ITO switch having a pair of alternately-operating circuit-closers, a mechanism for automatically moving one of the said circuit-closers to its open position, said mechanism including anelectromagnet in line with the central or main station adapted when energized from the main station to set in operation the mechanism that automatically opens one of the circuit-closers to cut out the service-line to the telephone,-

and a manually-operated means for moving the circuit-closers into position to close in the circuit-line to the telephone, as set forth.

5. A telephone service linecontrolling means, which comprises a circuit-controller at the subscribers station, electromechanical means arrangedto be energized from the main or central station to actuate the said circuitcontroller and cut out the telephone serviceline, and a manually-operated means at the.

subscribers station that cooperates with the circuit-controller and is arranged, when actuated, to close the break in the service-line and to restore the communicatiorfbetween the subscribers and central station.

6. In a telephone-service-controllingmeans of the character described, a switch in the service-line, a clock mechanism for moving the switch to an open position, an electromagnet-cOntrolled detent for holding the said clock from acting-on the switch and adapted when energized to become disengaged from one of which is automaticallyheld to its circuitclosing position and the other to its open position, electromechanical devices for actuating the switch to shift its automatically-closed contact-maker to a circuit-breaking position, and a means operable from the outside of the housing in which is contained the switch for actuating the switch to bring its normally open contact-maker in position to close in the service-line circuit to the telephone,-as set forth.

8. In a telephone-service-controlling means of the character described, the combination with the service-line to the telephone, of the 8, said contact-makers C and C being connected in multiple, and a plurality of inde pendently-actuated manually-operated levers for rocking the block D to move the contactmaker G into engagement with the piece 8', as set forth.

9. In a telephone-controlling means of the character described, in combination with a switch mechanism located at the subscribers station and in the service-line circuit to the telephone, said switch mechanism including a pivoted contact-maker normally held to the circuit-closing position; of a motor coupled with said pivoted contact when set in motion to move the pivoted contact to the circuitbreaking position, and an 'electromagnet-controlled detent for holding the aforesaid motor inert, means for energizing the magnet from themain or central station, and a manuallyoperated means at the subscribers station for restoring the motor and the pivoted contactmaker to their normal positions.

10. A telephon-e-service-controlling means which comprises electromechanical devices at the subscribers station, operable from the main or central station .to cutout the serviceline to the telephone, the said devices consisting of a contact-maker automatically moved to its circuit-closing position, a clock mechanism normally held from operation by the magnet device when it is deenergized and adapted to be set in operation when the said magnet device is energized; and a connection between the clock mechanism and the pivoted contact-maker arranged to allow for a limited movement of the clock mechanism before moving the said contact-maker to its circuit-brealc ing position, for the purposes set forth.

11. In a telephone-service-controlling apparatus of the character described, a switch in the service-line to the telephone, automatically closable but normally held open, a rocking head to which the switch is attached, a

. pivoted lever-detent for holding the said rocking head from movement in one direction, a

plunger, a ratchet-wheel intermittently operable by the plunger, and a member adjustably mounted on the said ratchet-wheel for engaging the pivoted lever-detent at predetermined intervals, asset forth.

12. In atelephone-service-controlling means of the character described, a switch within the service-line to the telephone which is automatically movable to its circuit-closing position, a series of detent-levers for holding the said switch normally open, each of the said detent-levers being independently operable, a plunger for each of the said detent-levers, and a'means for shifting the connections between one or more of the said detent-levers and the switch, for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH LANE PEAVEY.

Witnesses:

. THOMAS WINDSOR MALONE,

EDWIN RUBY DYER.

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