US831364A - Selector or lock-out for party-lines. - Google Patents

Description

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PolyStation lines,

Lockout No. 831,364. PATENTED SEPT. 18,-1906.

A. MARGHAND.

SELECTOR 0R LOCK-OUT FOR PARTY LINES.

urmourox nun 832125, 1905.

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Polystation lines,

Lockout.

PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906;

A. MARGHAND.

SELECTOR 0R LOCK-OUT FOR PARTY LINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1905.

6 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

, M/VEIVTUR j /9,2: 2 s fire/Jana W1 ATTORNEYS Polystation lines,

Lockout.

No. 831.864. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906- A. MARCHAND.

SELECTOR OR LOCK-OUT FOR PARTY LINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5,1905. I

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ii i 1/3; Ll-Ll HVHU Syi'LemS, Po\ystati0n \inoa, Lockout.

831,364- PATENTED SEPT .18, 1906. A. MARCHAND.

SELECTOR 0R LOCK-OUT FOR PARTY. LINES. APPLIGATIQN FILED SEPT.5,1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

4 ,J rum/10R ATTORNEYS 4|y LdLluI| nu,

Lockout.

PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5,1905.

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E E E 3 h i E 3 ER ER Q Q -m nwh NEH Ai lm an R E ALEXIS MARCHAND, OF BUUKINGHAM, l/VASI-IINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JAMES B. VALENTINE, OF

BRIDGEPORT, W ASHIN GTON.

SELECTOR OR LOCK-OUT FOR PARTY-LINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed September 5,1905- Serial No. 277.017.

To all 1072,0112 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXIs MAROHAND, a citizen of the United States, and a'residenltof Buckingham, in the county of Douglas and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Selector or Lock-Out for Party-L1nes, of which the following is a full,

- clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to party-line telephone systems, my more particular object being to provide a system combining selectively with an ellicient lock-out and with an automatic busy signal.

My invention further relates to means for adjusting or'alining the selectors used at the different stations so as to maintain the same in a proper step by-steprelation.

My invention also provides an improved electric switch which operates automatically and is capable of fine adjustment.

My invention further relates to certain constructional details for use in mechanism employed for carrying out the general objects above enumerated.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a selector at one of the stations, the casing of the selector and certain other parts being broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the selector mechanism seen as from the right of Fig. 1, the easing being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the revoluble cylinder, the contact mechanism foropcrating the motor and the telephone-circuits, and the depressible keys used for calling other stations and for restoring the selector to its normal condition after a call has been made. F ig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the contact mechanism shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 3 and used for the purpose of controlling the relay and also the telephone-circuits. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the swinging stirrup 89 and its accompanying parts constituting the lock-out mechanism and also showing one of the minor contact-levers used for opening and closing the contacts shown at the left of Figs. .1 and 3, these minor contact-levers being mounted upon the cylinder 9. Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 5, showing one of the major contact-levers also used for opening and closing the contacts at the left, the cylinder 9 being in a different position. Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6, but showing the cylinder 9 in a different position, whereby the pin 15 is caused to actuate the contacts at the left in a manner somewhat similar to that of the major and minor contact-levers. Fig. 8 is a section upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the resser-foot 87 mounted upon the rod 78 and'lowered when the same is depressed for the purpose of engaging one of the major contact-levers. Fig. 9 is a general-diagram of the wiring for four of the stations. Figs. 1,0, 1 1, 12, and 13 are diagrams representing the several relative positions of the different cylinders at the respective stations.

At each station is a wooden casin 5, and mounted rigidly within the same are liangers 6, 7, and 8, supporting a revoluble cylinder 9, provided with white spots 10 and with red spots 10*, the red spots being further provided with ordinals 1, 2, 3, and 4, indicating the respective stations along the line. For convenience I only show a four-party line, the ordinals-of course corresponding to-the number of stations; but I do not limit myself to this arrangement, .for the reason that by making the cylinders larger and providing them with more ordinals the number of stations may be multiplied indefinitely. I do not limit myself to the use of a cylinder nor to the number of contacts shown. A peep-hole 11, having, preferably, the form of a funnel,;(see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) is provided u on the front of the casing to enable the s bscriber to ascertain the condition of the cylinder 9. When a white spot 10 is visible through the peep-hole, the line is not busy, and any subscriber can call any other. If a red spot 10 be exposed to view through a peep-hole, the line is busy. Whenever the line is busy, no key can be depressed except the release-key at the calling-Sta tion, as hereinafter described. A shaft 12 supports the cylinder 9.

Mounted rigidly upon. the cylinder 9 and projecting radially therefrom are four bosses 13, spaced equidistant and all disposed within the same plane or zone, as will be understood from Fig. 1, Mounted rigidly upon the left end of the cylinder 9 are seven bosses 14, all exactly alike, and another boss 14 differs from the first seven bosses by the fact that it is a little longer and that its outer end is comparatively thick. This boss 14 is disposed a little to the left of the other seven bosses 14. The eight bosses are placed equidistant with reference to the circumference of the cylinder. -Also mounted upon the cylinder 9 is a pin 15, encircled by a frusto-concal member 16, of insulating material. Mounted upon the cylinder and spaced equidistant from each other relative to the circumference thereof are contact- levers 17, 18, and 19, which because of their length I designate as the major contact-levers. These three levers have the same circumferential relation to the pin 15 that they have to each other. Four comparatively short contact-levers are disposed upon the cylinder and spaced equidistant. The short levers 20 because of their size I designate as the minor contact-levers. They are pressed outward or held in normal position byv leaf-springs 21. The relative positions of the m'aj or and minor contact-levers may be seen in Fig. 2. The lever 22, held in normal position by a leafspring 23, is mounted upon the cylinder 9 at I a point adjacent to the major contact-lever 19 and is used for the purpose of supplying current to the line under conditions where it is desirable to have all of the selector-cylinders stop in the same relative positionthat is to say, it is used for supplying current to the line under proper conditions to enable the several cylinders to be brought into proper relative position in case one of them by its tendency to run faster than another should become displaced relatively to the others. This action is more particularly described below.

Keyed rigidly upon the shaft 12 is a gearwheel 25, one rotation of which represents one complete revolution of the cylinder 9. This gear-wheel meshes -with a pinion 26, mounted upon a shaft 27, the ,latter carrying a stop-wheel 28, provided with a stop-lug 29. The stop-wheel makes eight revolutions to one revolution of the gear-wheel and the cylinder 9. The stop-lug 29 is adapted to lodge against one end of a latch 30, which is pivotally mounted at 31 upon a standard 32 and normally occupies the position indicated in Fig. 2. An electromagnet 33 is provided with an iron core 34, which serves as a support therefor, this core being slidably mounted within brackets 35 37 and provided witha spline 36, engaging the bracket 35. The

- lower end of the core 34 is tubular and is pro latch being so apportioned as to maintain the latch in its normal position. (Indicated in Fig. 2.) -The screw 39 is provided with annular beads 40 41 and with a milled head 42. By turning the milled head by hand the magnet may be adjusted in the manner above stated. A' bracket 44 is provided with slots 45, through which pass adjusting-bolts 46 into a standard 47, the latter being mounted upon a block 43, which is supported by the framework. By loosening the bolts 46, moving the brackets 44 vertically within certain liniits, and tightening the bolts 46 the brackets 44 may be effectively adjusted as to height. Contact-springs are shown at 48, 49, and 50 and are provided, respectively, with binding- posts 51, 52, and 53 and separated from each other by spacing-blocks 54, of insulating material. The contact-spring 48 is provided with a downwardly-extending end 48. The spring 49 has a notch 49, which may be engaged by the boss 14 as indicated in Fig. 7.

Mounted, respectively, above and below the top of the casing 5 are metallic plates 55 56, and connected w1th the plate 56 IS a thinner. late 57 also of metal. A yoke 58 de en s from the plate 57 and is providedfiwith earings 59, which su port a rocking s fiaft 60. This rocking sha t is provided with radially-projecting pins 61 whereby it is actuated. Connected with the rocking shaft is a portion 62, and extending downwardly from this portion is a comparatively long portion 63, the portions 62 and 63 constituting virtually a continuation of the rocking shaft. A brake-shoe 64, having, preferably, the form of a concave leaf-spring, is mounted upon the portion 63 and depends therefrom, being adapted to engage the cylinder 9, as may be understood from Fig. 2. Whenever the rocking shaft 60 is turned slightly by means of any one ofthe radially-projecting pins 61, the brake-shoe 64 is pressed into gentle engagement with the cylinder 9 and serves to retard the motion thereof. Contact-springs are shown at 65 66 and are provided, respectively, with binding-posts 67 68. The contact-springs are insulated from each other and from the framework by means of spacing-blocks 69 and, together with these spacing-blocks, are supported by a bracket 70. Each contact-spring 65 carries a block 71, of insulating material, which is disposed immediately below the portion 62. When the rocking shaft 60 is turned, as above described, so as to bring the brakeshoe 64 into engagement with the cylinder 9, the portion 62 by bearing upon the block 71, of insulating material, causes the contactspring 65 to engage the contact-spring 66. A number of keys 72, 73, 74, and 75 are provided, respectively, with and supported by slidably-mounted vertical stems 76, 77, 78, and 79. One of these keys say'72is a re lease-key, and the other three are calling- ICC keys. The release-key is preferably made white, the others being black in order that the release-key may be readily distinguished from the calling-keys. The calling-keys are provided with ordinals or graphic, symbols indicating the different stations to be called, as will be understood from Fig. 3. Each of the vertical stems 76, 77, 78, and 79 is provided with a laterally-projecting pin 80,

which crosses one of the pins 61, carried by the rocking lever 60. When, therefore, the key is depressed, its laterally-projecting pin 80 causes the lever to rock, and thus places the contact member in communication with the contact member 66 and also applies the brake -shoe 64 gently against the cylinder 9, so as to slightly retard any motion which it may have, as above described. Each of the stems 7 7 78, and 79 is provided with a notch 81, (see Fig. 3,) and disposed adjacent to each of these stems is a pawl 82 for engaging said notch. The stem 76 of the releasekey 72 is not provided with such a notch or pawl. Encircling each of the respective stems 76-, 77, 78, and 79 are spiral sprlngs 83,

which normally maintain the stems in their uppermost positions. The lower ends of these springs are supported by the yoke 58, and their u per ends bear against stopins 84, carried y the stems. The lower en s of the respective stems terminate -in presserfeet 85, 86, 87, and 88, and swinging loosely below these presser-feet is a stirrup 89, pivotally mounted u on the yoke 58. A small spring-controlled atch is pivotally mounted upon the stirrup 89 and is partially disposed within the path of the osses 13, so that when the latch 90 is in its normal position (indicated in Fig. 1) it is engaged by some one of the bosses 13 so as to hold the stirrup 89 a little to one side of the center, as will be understood from Fig. 2. This 'figure shows the normal position of the selector when at rest. The stem of the key used as a releasekey for instance, the stem 76 (shown in Figs. 1' and 3)is provided with a rigid arm 90*, extending laterally from the stem and disposed above the pawls 82. By this arrangement whenever the release-key is depressed any pawl 82, which may engage its respective stem 77, 78, or 79, is released, being forced away from its stem by the action of the arm 90*. (See Fig. 3.) A plate 91, of resilient sheet metal, is mounted upon the stirrup S9 and normally occupies the position indicated in Fig. 8. When tire stirrup 89 oc cupies the position indicated in this figure, if any one of the keys be depressed. the springplate 91 tilts the spring-latch 90, so as to withdraw the same from the path of thebosses 13. The purpose of this arrangementis explained below.

Mounted rigidly upon the yoke 58 is a depending plate 92, and pivetally mounted upon the same is a bell-crank lever 93, provided with a latch 94. This latch 94 is disposed in the path of a boss 95; carried upon the cylinder 9, and when the latch 94 is in its lowermost position the boss 95 is unable to pass, and thus temporarily locks the cylinder. The plate 92 terminates at its upper end in an car 96, which serves as a guide for a latch 97, the latter being pivoted at 98 upon a rigid plate 99, carried by the yoke 58. When the armature-lever 30 is tilted by the action of the electromagnet 33, it causes the latch 97 to engage the bell-crank lever 93, thereby holding the hook 94 in the path of the boss 95, though of course the boss 95 does not stop against the hook 94 unless the current is passing through the magnet 33 at the precise moment when the boss 95 tends to pass the hook. I

Mounted upon the bracket- 100 in the lower right-hand portion of the casing (see Fig. 1) is a limitin -stop 101. The bracket 100 is provided wit plates 102 and 103 parallel with each other. Passing through the plate 103 and slidably mountedtherein is a core 104 encircled by a winding 105, these parts constituting an electromagnet. By means of a screw 106 the magnet may be raised or lowered so as to adjust it vertically.

The screw 106 is provided with a 'rcvoluble I 'vided with a contact-plate 110, which is adapted to engage and to establish electrical communication between two other contactplates 111 and 112, disposed therebelow. An armature 113 is mounted upon the armature-lever 108 and is adapted to actuate the same when attracted by the magnet. Mounted upon the casing 5 are binding- posts 114, 115, and 116, and connected with the same are wires 117, 11.8, and 119. From the wire. 118 a wire 120 leads tothe binding-post 52. Batteries are shown at 121. and 122 and are preferably disposed within the casing 5. The batteries are connected by a wire 123, and joining this wire is another wire 124, which leads to the magnet 33. A wire 125 connects the contact-plate 112 with the wire 11.9. Connected also with this wire 119 is a wire 126, which leads to the winding 105. From the contact-plate 111 a wire 127 leads to the magnet The binding-post 67 is connected by a wire 128 with the battery 122. The binding-post 68 is connected by a wire 129 with the binding-post 51. The line-wires are shown at 130 and 131. It. should be understood, however, that instead of the wire 131 1 may use a metallic return. This feature being old in the art needs no description. At each station. wires 132 and 133 are connected with the respective line- wires 131 and 130 and are also connected with the respective binding- posts 115 and 116 of the selector. Each binding-post 114 is connected by a wire 134 with the bindin -post 135 of the telephone. The other bin ing-post 136 of the telephone is connected by a wire 133 with the main-line Wire 130.

The telephone binding- posts 135 and 136 are connected with the usual telephonic mechanism, which may be arranged as follows: From the binding-post 135 a wire 137 leads to a normal or ringing contact 138, and above this contact is the abnormal or talking contact 139. Connected with the latter is the secondary winding 140, and from this a wire 141 leads to a continuous-ring bell 142. From the latter a wire 143 leads to the normal contact 138. The switch-hook is shown at 144 and is adapted to open and close the normal and abnormal contacts in the usual manner. Another abnormal contact 145 is connected with the primary winding 146, this primary winding, together with the secondary winding 140, being comprised in the ordinary induction-coil. From the primary winding 146 a wire 147 leads to a battery 148, this battery being in communication with a transmitter 149. From this transmitter a wire 150 leads to the abnormal contact 145. From the wire 141 and the binding-post 136 wires 151 152 lead to the receiver 153. When the receiver is in its normal position, the contact 138 is closed in order that the bell 142 may be rung. When the receiver 153 is re- 1noved,the normal contact 138 is opened and the abnormal contact 139 is closed in order that the talking-circuit may be used.

The selectors at the several stations are substantially alike, the only difference being that the pins 15 of the respective selectors are disposed in different relative positions upon the cylinders 9.

The operation of my device is as follows: The several selectors being in their respective normal positions any subscriber by depressing an appropriate key can call any other subscriber. Ne will assume that Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, illustrate the mechanism at station 'No. 1, this station being illustrated diagrammatically in the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 9. The mechanism being in its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 2, we will suppose that the subscriber at the station in question wishes to 'call the subscriber at station No. 3. (Indicated in the lower left corner of Fig. 9.) The calling subscriber depresses the key 74, which bears the ordinal 3 of the station to be called. The stirrup 89 does not now prevent the depression of this or any other key, for the reason that this stirrup is held a little to the rear of the casing by means of one of the bosses 13, as will be understood from Fig. 2. In other words, the selector beingin its normal position there is nothing to prevent the downward movement of any one of the presser- feet 85, 86, 87, and 88. The key 74 having been depressed, its stem 78 is held down by the action of one of the pawls 82, as will be understood from Fig. 3. The pin 80, carried by the stem 78, engages the in 61 immediately below it and causes the shaft to turn slightly as above described. The portion 62, constituting virtually an extension of this shaft, moves angularly and bears upon the plate 71, of insulating material, thus depressing the contact-spring and holding the same firmly in engagement with the spring-contact 66. This engagement of course continues until the key 74 is released, which is done by depressing the key 72. When the selector is in its normal position and also when any one of the callingkeys is depressed, as above described, the contact-spring 48 is in engagement with the contact-spring 49. When therefore the contact-spring 65 makes engagement with the contact-spring 66, as just described, the following circuit is completed: battery 121,

wire 123, battery 122, wire 128, binding-post 67, contact-spring 65 66, binding-post 68, wire 129, binding-post 51, contact-springs 48 49, binding-post 52, wire 120, wire 118, winding 105 of relay-magnet, wire 126, back to battery 121.- This energizes the relaymagnet and lifts the armature 113, so that the contact-plate 110 engages the contactplates 111 and 112, therebycompleting the following circuit: battery 121, wire 124, magnet 33, wire 127, contact- plates 111, 110, and 112, wire 125, back to battery 121. This energizes the magnet 33, so that the armature-lever 30 is momentarily rocked, thus being cleared of the stop-lug 29 of the stopwheel 28. The latter being driven by mechanical motor power, as above described, begins to rotate. At the instant when the cylinder 9 reaches its normal position of rest one of the bosses 14 is holding up the contactspring 49. A moment afterward, however, the boss in question passes from beneath the contact-spring 49,- whereupon this spring, because of its resiliency, drops out of engagement with the contact-spring 48, but does not engage the lower contact-spring 50. Each succeeding boss 14 momentarily lifts the contact-spring 49, so as to make contact between it and the contact-spring 49. Each time this contact is made an impulse is sent over the main line, the circuit being as follows: battery 121, wire 123, battery 122, wire 128, spring-contacts 65 66, wire 129, spring-contacts 48 49, wire 120, bindingpost 116,.wire 132, main-line wire 131, to station No. 3, (indicated at the lower left-hand corner of Fig. 9,) wi "2 at said station, binding-post 116, L18, relay 105, wire 126, wire 119, bino. q-post 115, main-line wire 130, back to station 1, (indicated in the upper left-hand corner of Fig, 9,) wire 133 at that station, binding-post 115, wire 119, back to battery 121. At station No. 1 a shunt-circuit is also completed as follows: battery 121, wire 123, battery 122, wire 128,

IIO

contact-springs 65 66, Wire 129, contactsprings 48 49, wire 120, wire 118, relay 105, wire 126, back to battery 121. It follows that at both stations 1 and 3 the relay-windings 105 are energized, so that the armaturelevers 108 are actuated." Up to this point the circuits at the remaining stations are energized in like .manner as the circuit of stasion No. 3 just described. The continued successive momentary impulses given to the relays at the respective stations cause the several armature-levers 108 to make and break contact between the contact-plates 110 and the contact-plates 112. (See Fig. 1.) The result is that at each station the magnet 33 gives a series of pulls upon the armature-lever 30, so as to repeatedly disengage the latter from the stop-lug 29. Each stop-wheel 28 is therefore intermittently started and stopped, so that the several cylinders at the respective stations move step by step. After each step the circuit is broken at each station. Owing to this fact, it might hap en that at one of the stations, on account of the differences in the mechanical speeds of the respective cylinders, one cylinder might tend to outstrip another. This is avoided by the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. The depression of the calling-key causes the brake-shoe 64 at the calling station to slightly retard the rotation of the cylinder 9 atthat station, as above described, and as theimpulses are sent over the line in accordance with the movements of this cylinder it follows that the latter acts as a sort of master cylinder and in a sense sets the pace for the other cylindersthat is to say, the mastercylinder 9 at the calling station is, by virtue of the pressure of the brake-shoe 64, slowed down to such an extent that every other cyl inder upon the line is more rapid in its movement, and at the end of each step or impulse all of the cylinders stop until another impulse is given by the master-cylinder at the oallingstation. From this arrangement it follows that all of the cylinders in starting up must start at the same time. The cylinders at all of the stations turn step by step in the manner described until they reach such position that they all disclose through the peephole 1 1 a red spot bearing the ordinal 3 or other graphic symbol to designate the particular station which has been called. When the respective cylinders are in their proper positions to do this, the major contact-lever 18 at the calling station -moves under the presser-foot 87, and when the latter is down the contact-lever 18 is tilted so as to raise the contact-spring 50 into engagement with the contact-spring 49, the contact-spring 48 being thus released from engagement with the contact-spring 49, because the end 48" of the spring 48 is elevated by the plate 71 of insulating material. If station No. 4 be called instead of station No. 3, the major contactlever 1 7 engages thepressure-foot 88, the lever 17 is tilted, and the contact-spring 50 brought into engagement with the contact-spring 49, the latter being released from engagement with the contact-spring 48. (See Fig. 6.) 7o VV'th the contacts in this position no more impulses can be sent out upon the line by the calling station, and the result is that all of the cylinders Wheresoever situated are stopped.

Y'Vhen the several pins 15 are disposed in dif- 7 5 ferent relative positions upon the respective cylinders at the several stations, it so happens that only one of these pins is in proper position to engage the spring-contact 50 at any station, and the in in question is the Scone at the station cal ed, which we suppose in the present instance to be station No. 3. (See Fig. 7.) It necessarily follows that at the station of the calling subscriber and at the station of the called subscriber the con- 8 5 tact-springs 49 50 are in engagement, but that similar contact-sprin s at other stations are not in engagement. Tn other words, the condition of the calling-station is shown in Fig. 6 and the condition of the called station is indicated in Fig. 7. The telephones are now in communication with each other over the following circuit: battery 142 at station No. 1, wire 143, normal contact 138, Wire 137, telephone binding-post 135, wire 134, bind- 5 ing-post 114, wire 117, contact- springs 50, 49, Wire 120, binding-post 116, wire 132, linewire 131, (orgrounch) to station 1 0. 3,wire 132 at that station, binding-post 116, wire 120, contact- springs 49, 50, binding-post 114, xoo,

wire 134, telephone binding-post 135 at station No. 3, wire 137, normal contact 138, wire 143, battery 142, continuous-ring bcll 142, wire 141, wire 151, telephone-reccivcr 153, wire 152, telephone binding-post 136,

wire 133 line-Wire 130, back to station No. 1, wire 133 at station No. 1, binding-post 136, wire 1.52, telephone-receiver 153, wire 151, continuous-ring bell 142, back to battery 142. The two batteries 142 at stamo tions No. 1 and No. 3 are thus thrown into action, and thus cause the two respective bells 142 at these two stations to ring continuously. When the receivers 153 are removed from the switch-hooks 144 at these two stations, the following talking-circuits are completed: primary circuit-battery 148, transmitter 149, wire 150, abnormal contact 145, primary winding 146, back to battery 148. This circuitcauscstheprimarywinding 146 to energize the secondary winding 147. The secondary talking-circuit is as follows: secondary winding 140 at station No. 1, wire 141, wire 151, receiver 153, wire 152,

telephone binding-post 136, line-wire 25 to station No. 3, wire 133 at that station, telephone binding-post 136, wire 152, telephone-receiver 153, wire 151, wire 141, secondary winding 140, abnormal contact 139, wire 137, binding-post 135, wire 134, 130

binding-post 114, contact-springs 5O 49, wire 120, l in lingpost 116, wire 132, line-wire 131 back to station No. 1, wire 132, bindingpost 116, wire 120, contact-springs 49 50, wire 117, binding-post 114:, wire 134, telephone. binding-post 135, wire 137, abnormal contact 139, back to secondary winding 140. The conversation being finished and the receivers being replaced upon the switch-hooks the hell or calling circuit is restored, because the snitch-hooks close the normal contacts 138 at the two stations. The bells can now ring, and the calling operator is thus warned that the connection still exists between the two stations. He thereupon depresses the release-key 72. This causes the arm 90 to descend, and this arm disengages the stem 7 8 from the pawl 82, holding it so that the key 7 4. springs back into its normal position. The relaxation of pressure of the presser-foot 87 upon the contact-lever, which it has been holding down, causes the spring-contact 50 to be lowered, so that contact is broken between the spring 49 and 50, and contact is closed between the contact- springs 48 and 49. This momentarily closes the several circuits, actuating the relays as above described, the cylinders all moving a slight distance (one-eighth of a revolution) or until the stopwheel 28 makes one complete revolution, whereupon the stop-lug 29 is arrested by the armature-lever 30. This slight movement of the cylinder causes each and every station to expose a white spot at the peep-hole, which indicates that the line is no longer busy. This slight movement of the cylinder also causes one of the bosses 13 to move the stirrup S9 to a slight extent, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, or, in other words, place the stirrup in its normal position. The purpose of this arrangement of the stirrup is to enable any of the keys to be depressed. When two sub-' scribers are talking, the stirrups 89 at all of the stations except those of the calling subscriber are hanging vertically, and are therefore disposed directly below the presser-feet, so that no key can be depressed. All other subscribers except those eiwaged in conversation are therefore cut off and are unable to use the line until the calling subscriber has released the same. The system thus affords a very effective form of lock-out. Vhen a subscriber desires to use the line, he merely glances through one notices whether or not the cylinder displays a red spot or a white spot. If he should see a red spot, he knows the line is busy, and if he should see a white spot he knows the line is clear. In order to keep the several cylinders at the respective stations in proper position relatively to each other, it 15 necessary to provide some means for starting all of the cylinders at the same exact instant, or, rather,

for insuring that when a particular part of one cylinder is in a certain definite position of the peep-holes and the corresponding parts of the other cylinders are in the same relative position. I ac complish this purpose by means of the key 7 3 and certain parts coactin g therewith-that is to say, this key serves for calling the operator at station No. 2 and, togetl'ier with other parts, also serves the purpose of evening up or alining the several cylinders relatively to each other. As it is not necessary to true up the cylinder very often, it makes no difference if station N0. 2 occasionally receives a false alarm. Upon depressing the key 73, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to call the operator at station No. 2, and then pressing the release-key it will be noted that the cylinder will turn only a slight distance, and yet the contact-spring 48 remains in engagement with the contact-spring 49. This is because the boss 14 enters the notch 14* of the contact-spring 49. It follows, therefore, that all of the armature-levers 30 at the respective stations are actuated and that they tilt the respective latches 97 at the several stations into the position indicated in Fig. 3 that is to say, the end of the'latch 97 engages the upper end of the bell-crank 93, causing the hook 94 to occupy its lowermost position. This hook being directly in the path of the boss 95 serves as a limiting-stop therefor and mechanically holds the cylinder 9. By this means the motor-circuit extending throughout the entire system remains unbroken, and yet each cylinder is unable to turn. It follows, therefore, that if any cylinder at any station has a tendency to lag behind the others or become displaced in its relative position as compared therewith this defect is corrected, because all of the cylinders are trued up or alined so as to start off from the same relative position. In other words, when all of the hooks 94 are disengaged simultaneously from the bosses 95 the cylinders are bound to be in the same relative positions. Once in a while the subscribers or one of them can true up the cylinders at the respective stations in order to insure that proper connections may be made. After the cylinders are thus trued the release-key is depressed, the latches all drop, and the cylinders move in unison to the next stoppingplace. The line is then again ready for use. It will be understood that when the several cylinders are trued up or rounded, as above described, the bosses 15 at the different stations occupy difierent angular positions, as indicated in the lower portions of Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13.

While I show and describe the apparatus as applied to a telephone-line, I do not limit myself to this use of it, for the reason that many features can be used in other relations. The relay and its connections, and also the several adjustments shown and described, assume the general use in connection with telegraphic kindred arts.

My purpose in making the standard 44 adj ustable is to maintain a proper working relation between the spring- contacts 48, 49, and and the members of various kinds which actuated these springs from beneath, as will be understood from Fig; 3.

Having thus described my invention, I vlaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A system of the character described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, means for rotating said cylinders, a brake disposed adj acent to each of said cylinders for retarding the same in order to allow other cylinders to make greater speed than the same, means for stopping all of said cylinders in predetermined relative positions, contact mechanism controllable by movements of said cylinders, and line-wires connected with said contact mechanism in such manner as to permit communication from one station to another.

2. In a system of the character described, the combination of contact-springs adapted to be opened and closed, a rocking shaft for actuating said contact-springs a depressible key for controlling said rocking shaft, means for holding said key in a fixed position, and mechanism for releasing said key from said position.

3. In a system of the character described, the combination of a plurality of revoluble member's located at different stations and each adapted to move in a step-by-step relation, a brake-shoe for retarding the motion of one of said revoluble members, contact mechanism connected with said brake-shoe and adapted to open and close in accordance with movements of said shoe, a ke for pressing said brake-shoe against said revoluble member and for closing said contact, mechanism coacting with said contact for energizing a line, and means for holding said key in its depressed position.

4. In a system of the character described, the combination of a relay, a contact for controlling the same, a revoluble member provided with means for opening and closing said contact, a local circuit connected with said relay and controllable thereby, a magnetic member connected with said local circuit and energized by the same, release mechanism operated by said magnet for the purpose of allowing said revoluble member to start, and means controllable at will by means of said revoluble member for connecting the station of the party called with a line.

5. In a system of the character described, the combination of a plurality of depressible keys, a stirrup provided with a portion adapted to occupy the path of said keys, a revoluble member disposed adjacent to said stirrup and provided with means for moving the same out of the path of said keys, centact mechanism connected with said revoluble member andadapte'd to energize a circuit, and mechanism controllable by the action of said keys for preventing movements of said revoluble member affecting the position of said stirrup. I

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of revoluble cylinders, means for actuating the same step by step, contact mechanism coacting with said cylinders for opening and closing communication between a station and a line, and means controllable at will from a distance for checking the relative speed of one of said cylinders for the purpose of truing up said cylinders when displaced relatively to each other.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality of revoluble members located res ectively at different stations, a line exten ing from one of said stations to another, contact mechanism to be opened and closed by said revoluble member, keys for releasing said revoluble members so as to connect a plurality of said stations, and means for retarding one of said cylinders for the purpose of bringin the same into a predetermined position re atively to others.

8. In a system of the character described, the combination of a lurality of revoluble members located at different stations and adapted to move step by step, telephones connected with said revoluble members and controllable by movements thereof, and means controllable from one of the stations for retarding the relative position of one of said revoluble members located at another station for'the purpose of truing up the relativepositions of'said revoluble members.

9. In a system of the character described, the combination of a plurality of revoluble members located at diflerent stations, contact mechanism controllable by movements of said revoluble members for the purpose of making and breaking electrical communication between said stations, wires connecting one of said stations with another, telephones connected with said wires, and brake mechanism controllable from one of said stations for retarding one of said revoluble members relatively to another so as to true up said revoluble members.

10. In a system of the character described, the combination of a plurality of revoluble members located at different stations and provided with pins, the relative position of the pin at one station being different from that of the pin at another station, contacts located at the different stations and adapted to be closed by the respective pins, the arrangement being such that the contact at one station closes at a different moment from the contact at another station, line-wires connecting said stations together and. communicating with said contacts, means controllable at will for stopping one of said rev- In testimony whereof I have signed my oluble members in a predetermined relative name to this specification in the presence of 10 position, andflneans cgntrollfilble at {Mill from two subscribing Witnesses.

one station or retar in t e revo ution of a r said revoluble member 2%; one station with- ALEXIS MAIN/HAND out retarding those at other stations so as to WVitnesses:

true up said revoluble members at different P. H. BURK,

stations. 1 g E. C. HIGGIN.

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