US814386A - Telephone-exchange. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

. W. M. MAREAN, TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 6,1904.

bering machine digitcndicators the numbers on which when,

v a a. r'r'w nq ri n instills a lLLlrihi blriRVib lLlA'tEAbL OF BELYHDERE ELI lNOiS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Juno 6,1994- Serial Ho. 211,263;

ticular numberof the connection such subscriber Wishes; and the invention has for its primary objectato provide improved means for imparting such information/to the central operator visually instead of orally, and thereby eliminate the necessity of a telephone at the central station and the -probability of the operator misunderstanding the number.

With these ends in view the invention con- ,sists in certain features of novelty in the con:

struction, comb nation, and arrangement of by which the said object and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the claims. f

The said drawing is a conventional or die:

grainmatie illustration of a telephone-ex chan e embed ins an exam le or" m inven-f o 0 Y c .tion.

In illustrating the invention all details of construction of the telephone- Xchange Well familiar with this art and not necessary for an understanding of this invention have been omitted for the sa r of simplicity in illustration and brevity of def scripticn.

fit the central exchange is located a numcomprising a plurality of read with reference to their respective indexes indicate the number of the switch or connection which the subscriber wishes to obtain, and these digit-indicators are capable of actuation independently by the subscriber through the aid of an apparatus which of course-for convenience is automatic in its operation, excepting in so far as to require ;he subscriber to' impart to it the initial or starting action; The number of these digitmdicators employed will or" course be depend ent upon the number of subscribers in the telephone-exchange; but a simple illustration I have shown three of the lliiLllClllGlS,

. dreds.

their pivots their digits spectivoly.

[ thus making this example of the apparatus in an exchange Whose subnumbers do not exceed the hunlt will of course be understood, however, that to increase the number of the indicaters above any plurality of them will require mere duplication of parts. In the conventional form of these indicators shown capable of use scribers in the drawing they are represented as segmerits A B C, which stand, respectively, for umts,-tens, and hundreds, and each of whrch cars a cipher and the nine digits. Thus by moving these indicators A B U with relation to an index or the index with relation to the indicators the desired number may be made manifest In the conventional form the index, which in practice might more conveniently be constituted by an opening in the casing lnclosing said indicators, is here represented as a pointer D. In this exemplifies tion of the invention the indicators A B C are pivoted on suitable pivots E and are capable of gravitating until their ciphers come opposite the points D, so that if rotated upwardly on will successivel come opposite said points, respectively, for indicating the number desired, and if subsequently released by the lifting means they will gravitate and resume their normal position with the ciphers opposite the pointers, as now shown in the drawing. To the end that they may be thus lifted step by step they are provided with segnientqacks a b 0, respectively, and engaging with these racks, respectively, are pawls or other suitable means F GE, mounted upon pivoted armature-lcvers f 9 7L, which springs f g )t for moving the pawls into engagement With the segmentaa'cks, and thus actuating the segmentsA B C, the pawls being moved in the opposite direction by electroresponsive devices or magnets l J K, re-

the positions in which they are thus placed by stop dogs or pawls L M N, all of Which are suitably connected together, so that whenone is released all Will be released, and the releasing of these will also effect the release of the pawls F G H Any suitable means may be employed for doing this. As

I a simple illustration of the idea the pawls L N are shown on the ends of bell-cranks Zmm,respectively, and so situated that when the cranks are rocked the pawls L BIN will stri :e p'awls G H. The other arms of are connected to The segments A B C are held to r it willbe understood the bell-cranks are connected to springs O, which hold the pawls L M N in engagemen with their respective segments a b c, and are also connected to a single operating rod or handle P, having loose connections p therewith, so that the pawls may be sinmltaneously released, but may independently opcrate. The handle P is accessible to the operator at the central exchange, so that alter the desired number has been indicated and the connection obtained the central operator may restore all of the segments A B C to the former or initial position.

The magnets I J K have their individual circuits 'i 7c, respectively, one side of each of which is connected to a battery or suitable source of electricity R, which is shown as grounded at '2", while the other sides of these circuits '11 k are connected to individual contacts i 7" respectively, arranged in a series which is preferably circular and central with respect to a revolving switch S, adapted to sweep over such contacts in succession, so that it \"ill move from the first over the intermediate ones to the last and then-tron the last immediately back again to thefirst. This i witch S is thus revolved by means under the control of the subscriber, and as an example of such a means a ratchet-wheel s is shown and is provided with as many teeth as there are contacts i 9' 7c, three of such teeth being shown in this conventional illustration, although in practice it might not be feasible to operate a ratchet-wheel with only threeiteeth for this purpose, and it may be necessary, therefore, to duplicate the contacts t j i'c' successively in a circular series in order. that the teeth of the ratchet may be duplicated and made shorter; but as this is a simple ex- )edient obvious from the present disclosure without further description and illustration. Suflice it to say that when the contacts are thus duplicated all of those which are intended to actuate the magnet I, for example, will be connected to gether, and those for the magnet J will be connected together, and so on. The ratchetwhecl s is electrically connected with one end of a main signal-circi'iit 'l in any suitable way, and the other end of said circuit "1 is electrically connected with a movable termi nal in the form of a revolving, arm 'l", having a hub 'l, engaged by a brush '1 at the end of wire l and this arm or terminal "l" SWOCPS successively over a plurality oi series of contacts T T which correspond, rcspeclively, with the units, tons, and hundreds indicators A ll (3, and which contacts in each series are numbered from i to .3, corresponding with the numbers on the indicators A B (l for the sake of convenience in reading the drawing. 'lhesc series oli' contacts are connected, respectively, with three series of contacts 'l 'l 'l", each equal in number to the number of contacts in said first seriei'gundara Mas l i l l contacts i y on at that time.

ranged to ground any one or all of these contacts T T T" are movable contacts of any suitable construction, (shown in the form segments U U UK) which have ground con- I nections U U ll, respectively. Thus it will be seen that if one ol the contacts U U U2 ries of contacts T T the movable terminal T be then caused to sweep over the series of contacts T T T impulse will pass into-the main signal-circuit T every time said terminal or arm T en ages one of the contacts that connected wit 1 the earth through one or more of the segments U U U and consequently a corresponding number of vibrations will result in one of the armaturesfg 7L-, according to which one of the 7c the switch S happens to rest Therefore if the segment U which corresponds to the units segment A. be placed in a position to overlap the two upper contacts of the series I, for example, and the arm T is then set in motion around its circular course the device, save for the movement of said arm T, will remain inactive until the arm reaches contacts number 1 and 2 oi the series T whereupon the circuit will be closed first through the contact 1 from battery it along a wire it, which is a part of the main signal-circuit and is connected to one side of all of the'circuits-i ic from said wire R through the coil of magnet l and over circuit 'i to contact i, assuming switch S to be in the position shown in the drawings, thence along switch S and circuit T to brush T and over arm T and contact 1 of the series T to the uppermost one of the contacts T and from this to the ground U over segmcnt U, thus moving; the segment A the distance of one notch for raising the number 1 opposite pointer l). l Vhen arm T reaches contact number 2 of the series T, the circuit will take the same course, excepting that in stead of passing from arm T into contact 1 ol series T it will pass into centactnumber 2 of series T, and instead of passin uppermost one cl contacts T it wil pass from the next lower one of contacts T into segment U, and thereby impart a second impulse to the magnet l and lift segment A- a sccondnotch, bringing the number 2 thereon opposite the point '1). Thus it will be seen tnat the number-oi impulses reaching the magnet l with the switch S in the position shown and the arm T traversing contacts T will'depend absolutely upon the number of contacts T that are overlapped or engaged by the segment U. F or convenience in determining the number of the contacts T T T that are overlapped by their respective segments U U U" suitable actuating means with indexes may be provided merits, rmmectively. in the exemplilication shown these segments ll ll U have segmentruclis l ll ll, which are engaged by pinions be moved to connect one or more of its se- T with the ground and 5 from the.

for these seg;

and when broken the pawl erases esired to actuate the segments B C will now be described. 4

The ratchet .9 may be given ste ).-by-step rotation for bringing the switch S from one of the contacts to another by any suitable means, as a pawl S, connected to an armature 3, arranged within the magnetic held of an electrcresponsive device or magnet S which is included in a switch-circuit S which connects at one end with battery B over wire it", so that when said circuit S is closed the pawl S will be drawn back by a magnet S o y any suitable means, as a spring 8, for imparting partial rotation to switch S for movingit irom the contact i to y", for example. The other end of switch-circuit S has a movable terminal in the form of a revolving arm 5, which is connected to move in concert with but insulated from arm T in any suitable way, and this movable arm S sweeps over aseries oi grounded switch-contacts I l 1 which are arranged in a circle but situated between the series of contacts T T T" in such a manner that when the arm T leaves one of said latter series the arm 5 will engage one of said switch-contacts before arm T reaches the next one of said latter series, and consequently before the arm T begins to send imp es over the main signal-circuit T by successively engaging its circular series of con tests the arm S" will have already engaged one of the contacts I l l and shifted the switch S to the corresponding one of the contacts i j is, and thereby place the proper one of the electroresponsive devices I J K in circuit with the main signal-circuit T before such impulses are produced over the signalcircuit T. Thus assuming the parts to be in the position shown in the rawing with the signal-circuit closed through. the units electroresponsive device I as a result of the arm S" having "passed over the contact I the next movement of the arm T will efle'ct the closing of the main signal circuit T intermittently as it trave see the series of contacts T, as already described, and by the time arm T passes from the last one of these contacts T the arm S will engage contact I and send an. impulse through switch-magnet 8*, thereby shifting the switch S onto the cont-act be fore the arm T reaches the first one of the, units series of contacts T and as the arm T witch Sto the other contacts j it when it is will be advanced e phone-j acli passes over these contacts T a numberof impulses will be sent over the signal-circuit T to the magnet J equal to the number of the contacts T that are overlapped by segment U, and by the time the arm T passes from the last one of contacts T the arm S will engage contact i and thus close the switch-circuit .8 and shift the switch S onto the contact 76,

so that when the arm T begins its excursion over the contacts T the magnet is. will be in circuit 'ith the main signal-circuit T, and as many impulses willbe imparted to the magnet K while arm T is traveling over contacts T there are contacts T in circuit with the ground It is course understood that the arms T S are so arran ed that the letter i D will contact with the contacts in circle only outer circle only, and when the arm T is in engagement with any one of the contacts T T T the arm S is not in contact with any of the contacts I l l. The arms T S travel continuously in the same direction, and when they come to rest they serve to automatically close the telephonecircuit Z by resting upon contacts Z Z, respectively, so that the telephone-circuit is always in readiness for the inner use when the motion of the arms T S ceases.

in order that the signal circuit T and switchplug (shown at Z") is inserted in the usual tel- (indicated at Z the circuit S is divided at the jack and one division runs to contact S and the other spring-contacts oi the jack, and the wire or circuit T is also divided at the jack with one of its divisions connected to contact T and the other to the other outer contact-spring of the jack, so that when the plug is withdrawn circuit 8 will be closed through the jack and S and circuit T through the jack and T and when the plug is-inserted both oi these circuits will be broken at S and T respectively. In illustrating a telephone -circuit and the telephones l have omitted all the usual details of switches and connections that go to make up the telephone apparatus, but which are well understood in tlns art. It is apparent also that, if desired, the act of inserting the plug Z may cause the pawls L M N to release the racks a b c by a suitable connectionsuch, for example, as magnet having an armature-lever g connected to rod l, a battery (1, and switch (1, arranged to be closed by the outward movement of one of the outer springs of the jack Z The arms T S are thus revolved by any suitable motor mechanism, which I have conventionally illustrated by the Weight W, shown as suspended by a cord W from a drunrW and which drum is capable of being wound up in any suitable way, so that when released the rotative ower thereof, will beiinparted to the arms S which when not thus impelled remain at rest'on the contacts Z Z by virtue and the former with those in the;

circuit S may be opened when the telephone- 9 to one olthe outer IOO of their frictional engagementtherewith or in Winding up the Weight, and until a tooth or projection VJ thcrcon cngages one side of a stop Y, when released the jwcight will cause it and the arms T S to revolve toward the lcl t until. the projection "W" engages the other side of stop Y, thc arms having in tho meanwhile made a complete rcwolution and returned to their respective contacts Z/ W.

Where they remain while the, weight is being againwound up an (1 until thc lat ter rclcascd, whereupon they again start on their excussion around the serics of contacts in lln. same direction as before and finally again arrive at the starting-point, as illustrated in the draw ing Hence when the suhsrri bcr wishes to call a certain number such subscriber sets tho indexes or thumbuvhecls V Y Y to producc the number thereon with the ligurcs thereof opposite the pointers X with the units, tons, and hundreds of such number arranged in the order of the arrangemci'it ol' such members V' V" V, thus grmmding as many ol the contacts 'l T 'l in cach scrios as the number opposite the pointer X on the members V V? V respectivcly. Tho weight W is thcn wound up and rcleascd, and the result will be the rcyu'oduction of such number at thc central exchange on tho numboring-machine comprising the segments A B t" by the operation. ol" the parts and tho current passing over the circuits and connections, as before described.

Having thus described myinvenlion, vhat I claim as new therein, and desire to sccurc by Letters Patent, is-- 'l in a tclcphonewxchango, the combination of a numbering nnichine com n'ising a plurality of characl cr-bearing mova lilo mcmhers located at the ccnlral cxcuangc, independent electroresponsive devccs and circuits For: 'tuating said incmbcrs respectively, a main sigmihswilch for connecting the main signahcircuit with an one of the first said circuits, :1 switch-circuit, means for closing said switch-circuit, moans acting simultnns ously with said nit-ans for numhcr oil, impulses over said signal-circuit it 'J "i and moans undcr tho control or too sub- . scribcr i'or varying llie number ofsoid i111 pulses at will.

4. in a tclcphiinc-exchange, the combinavlion ol" a numboring-inachine comprising a,

plurality ol digit-indicators located at the central cxcl-nngc, clecirorcsponsivc dcviccs and circuits for said indicators respcctively, a switch for closing said circuits respectively, contacts 'lor said circuits respectively ar- 'ranged in a series with the first ncxt the last in the linc of movcmcnt of said switch, said switch being movable continuously succc sivcly ovcr said 1 acts "from the lirst to tho last to the first, s n i sending a various circuit having a movable terminal,

in. signali circuit to any one of said indicators, compriscircuit and means underthc control of the subscriber lor actuating said switch and scnding impulscs over said signahcircuit.

In a. t'clephonc-excl'iange, the combination of anumbering nmchine corn rising a 7'9 plurality of digit-indicators locatec at central exchange, a corresponding number oi clectroresponsive devices and circuits for ac tuating said indicators respectively, a main signal circuit having a movable terminal, 1110:1118 for switching said signal-circuit to any one of the first said circuits comprisin a. switch-circuit having a movable termina a plurality of series or contacts corresponding to said imli'cators respectively and arranged in the line of movement of the first said movable terminal, and means under the control of the operator for gYOlUKllH any number oi said contacts in each series thereof.

4. In atlephonc-exeharige, the combination of av inimbering-machine com rising a plurality of digit-indicators locate at com tral exchange, a corresponding number-oi. elcet'roresponsive devices and circuits for actuating said indicators respectively, a main 9o signal-circuit having a movable tcrminsl, means for switching said signal-circuit to any one of the first said circuits, comprising switch-cirmlit having a IXIOVFLblGtQ'fHLlHSVl, a plurality of series of contacts corresponding to said indicators rcspcctively and arranged in the lino of movement of the first said movable terminal, grounded contacts for said switch-circuit alternating with said series of contacts and means for moving said movablc tcrminals in concert successively over their vrcspcctivc contacts.

5. in a telanimus-exchange, the combina lion of a numbcring-msehine comprising a plurality of indiciitors located at central exelningc, a corresponding number of elect-r0 responsive devices and circuits for actuating.

said indicators respectively, a main signal moans ror switching said signahcircuit to any one of the "i lirst said circuits, a plurality of series of contacts corresponding to said indicators respectively and arranged in the line of movement of said movable terminal, a plurality of grounded independently movable contacts lor connecting elcctrically with one or more of the contacts of the said plurality of series of contacts respectively, and movable index nicmbers under the control of the oocrator, for said movable contacts respectively hearin numbers corresponding to the numbcr on said digit-imliralors rcspcctivcly.

(5. iii a tele )hiinc-exchange, the combination of a lcl'cplionc-circuit,a main signal-circuit leading to the ccnlral cxchange, a flSUZll indicator dcvice localcd at ccntral exchange comprising a plurality of movable indicators, and means under t w ronlrol of the subscriber for sending impulscs over said signcl- 1 means for subsequently and automatical y closing the telephone-circuit.

In a telephone-exchange, thecombination of a numbering-machine comprising a i p change, a corresponding number of electr responsive devices and circuits for actuating said indicators respectively, a main signalcircuit, a plurality of series of indicator-con tacts corresponding to said indicators respectively, means under the control of the subseriber for grounding one dieator contacts, v grounded switch-contacts corresponding to said indicators respectively, a switch for connecting said signal-circuit with any one of said first cirable terminals for said signal-circuit and switch-circuit respectively adapted to swee over said indicator-contacts and swatch-cow.

in the same direction, power-storing mechanl ism under the control of the subscriber and means for moving said terminals bythe power thus stored.

tacts respec vely and movable continuously tively, a main signal-circu1t, means for switching said signal-circuit to any one of the first said circuits comprising a switch-circuit, a plurality of series of contacts corresponding to said indicators respectively, means for successively connecting said contacts with said main signal-circuit, and means acting in concert with the last said means for closing to e switch-circuit at periods between the time that the last one of said contacts of each series and the first one of the'next succeeding series is connected with thesignahcircuit, and means under the control of the operator for grounding one or more of said contacts of any one or more of said SQllCS. VVILLLU'I MARVIN iilAliFL-XN. Witnesses:

M. (l. MAREAN, M. B; ALLsrAn'r.

Images