US859775A - Telephone toll-station apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

'170. 859,775. TATENTTD JULYQ. T907. J. W. LATTTG E c. L; GooDRUM.

TELEPHONE TOLL STATION APPARATUS.

E wl l l il G Il EL 0 iM W@ l i t x Pl m/r fyi/UMS E J f WW No. 859,775. PATENTED JULY 9, 19.07.

J. W. LATTIG & G. L. GOODRUM. TELEPHONE TOLL STATION APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIDN FILED Nov.a,19o3.

' 4 s HBETsLs'HBgT 2.

No. 859.775. PATBNTED JULY 9, 1907.

y J. W. LATTIG an c. L. GooDRUM.

TELEPHONE TOLL STATION APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov.3,1s1o.

4 SHEBT'S-SHBET 3.

No. 859,775. v PATBNTED JULY 9, 1907.

J. W. LAT'IIG & C. L. GOODRUM. i TELEPHONE TOLL STATI'ONAPPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 3, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4..4

CEA/TML UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. IACOBN,LATTIQOF wYNeo'rn, AND oHARLES LANE GOODRUM, or PHILADELPHIA, PENN- v` SYLVANLA, ASSIGNORS, BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO'TIIF. DEAN-ELECTRIC COMPANY, oIfELYnIA, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO. I I

TELEPHONE TOLL-STATION APPARATUS.

' No. esarrs. V specification ef Leiters Patent. j Patented muy e, 19o?.

Appunti mea' November 3.1903'. serial No. 179,663.

neutral retaining device, the` special signal device,

e it known that we, JAco W. LA'r'rro and CHARLES and the magnetically controlled lock. l 55 LANE GooDnUM, citizens of the United States, residing Our. invention is fully illustrated in the accomresp'ectively in Wyncote, Montgomery county, Pennpanying drawings, wherein the same letters of reference Sylvania, and in Philadelphia,- 'Philadelphia county, piont out the same parts in all the ligures.

, '1 'o all whom it may concern.'

Pennsylvania, have" jointly invented a new and use- .In these drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view vlul Improvement in Telephone= Toll-Station Appaofa complete telephone instrument, having our inven- 60 ratus, of which theol'lowingis a-l specification. tion applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a face view of the lower Our invention relates to apparatus installed atasub-` part of said instrument, with the front o the easing station in a telephone system, in conjunction with removed to show the apparatus within. Fig. 3 is a suitable transmitting and receiving instruments, vertical section taken on the line -x of Fig. 2, and whereby a call may be extended to the central office looking in the direction` oi the arrow shown in said 65 for connection with some other station, anyy required ligure. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts shown in toll being paid and the operator at central advised Fig. 2, the lid Or desk of the casing being removed.

of .the payment thereof in advance of conversation, Fig. 5 is a diagram of the circuits.`

, and the amount returned `to the caller if the desired Referring -to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a complete connection cannot beobtained. i telephone wall set having our invention applied there- 70 ,The object of our invention is the production of a to. We have chosen this type of set for illustration compact form of mechanism tov perform the stated for convenience, but it will be understood that the functions with maximum eflcieney and certainty, invention is not limited thereto. All special parts are y and with the least pos-sible complication in working inclosed within a box or casing, which in a desk set.

parts. l would of course be separate from the desk standard, 75

.'We attain our objects by combining our special" in the same way that the magneto bell Outfit is now mechanism with the Aordinary switch of the telephone made separate. In this Wall set, B is the back-board,

in such manner that the following Operations are perupon which is mounted at the upper end a box'inclos- .formed-z the vreceiver is first ytaken down arid a call ing the ringer and bearing upon its iront the gongs, entended to central; the number wanted is stated and 'of usual pattern. v Upon this box are mounted the 80 the proper amount oi toll is deposited, either in coinsk line, mate and ground posts, while below it is seor suitable tokens; if the desired connection is obtaincured the transmitter arm carrying the transmitter, T.

able the caller acting in vconjunction with the central To the left of this arm are the binding-posts, t, for the office operatorvdeposits the coins in their finalprecepreceiver, which is not shown, as it forms no part of our tacle and the operator is automatically signaled. i The invention, and its omission simplifiesthe drawing. 85 conversation then proceeds as usual. If the desired Upon the lower part of the back-board is mounted connection cannot be obtained the caller is so inthe toll-box, Bfcorresponding to the battery-box of V formed, and upon hanging up his receiver the toll is magneto phones. In the present instance, however,

f automatically returned to him wit-hout requiring any we have illustrated4 an instrument without any magfuither special act eitheron his part or on that of the neto attachment, current for calling as well as for talk- 90 'operator. I, l 1 ing being derived from the central oflceover the The essential parts of our apparatus include a retainline-wires. The box, B, has the usual-desk top, b, 40 in'g device to receive the Vcoins or tokens when irst and is itted with a paneled front, b, secured in place inserted, Jthis device normally holding them in a neuas shown, having below it the coin drawer or receptral` position for final disposition, and being connected tacle proper, B3, and above it a transverse bar, b2, to 95 Iwith the switch-hook so that if the receiver is hung which reference will be made later.' A switch-hook, up without further change, the coins Will be thrown H', protrudes from the .left-hand side of the box, B,

. out thro'ugh a suitable duct to a point within reach of the upper or open end of its escutcheon being closed' the caller. The coins -being in neutral position, aI by theA desk lid, b. The latter, aswell as the till oispecial'signal device is operable by the callerto remove coin receptacle, B3, is secured by a suitable lock 100 the coins into their final receptacle, and at the same shown in the .drawing asan ordinary telephone lock, time to signal central of the deposit; but this special but in practice of proper design to resist tampering.

device is normally locked, and can be unlocked only In the desk lid is'fitted an escutcheon, d, having by an electro-magnet suitably energized from the cen- 'coin slots, d, openingv into coin chutes, lto which reftml oflice. The complete toll mechanism may thereerence will be made later. An escutcheon is also fore be divided into three principal portions, via.,l the fitted to the iront bar b2, 'and through it vroimt n j of plungers, Pnand P, provided with push-button heads p and p. The front panel, b is pierced at its 'lower end, the opening being provided 4with a lip or of tollis known it may be deposited at once in the proper opening d, but if not the operator names the amount upon receiving the number wanted. 1f the desired connection is obtainable, the operatorA then instructs the user to'push his button or buttons, as

. the case may require. He does so, with the result that a gong or gongs within the box, B will produce a loud and resonant vibration, which being communicated through the back-board andtransmitter-arm to`- the transmitter, may be heard by the operator at central. Thus apprised of the deposit ofthe correct amount of toll, the operator permits the connection to proceed in the usual manner. If the desired connection cannotl be obtained, the operator so announces, and the user performs no further act beyond hanging up the receiver, his disappointment being mitigated thereupon by the prompt reappearance of his coins in the pan d2".

Referring'now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, E'is a crossbar supported between the side B of the outer casing, and an intermediate partition B10, offset Vfrornthe outer side of the casing B4. The pocket thus formed between the members B10 and B'4 is utilized for the reception of the condenser C- ordinarily usedvin common battery telephone sets. This condenser is inserted from the top, as shown in Fig. 4, and has its terminals c and c exposed when thedesk lid b is taken off. The removal of the desk lid, it will be observed, gives access also to all the working parts of the apparatus. l

Mounted upon the upper side of the cross-bar E is a standard upon which is pivoted the long lever h of the receiver-hook H. In proximity to this standard are.

mounted the contactV springs .h3, adapted whenthe hook is up to be forced against the fixed contact strip h2, to close the talking circuit. These parts may be of any usual or desired construction, asthey form no part of our invention, but are merelyancillary thereto. The switch-hook has a constant upward tendency due to the strong leaf spring h Secured at the rear side of the cross-bar E is the coin ejection chute D2.- As best shown in Figs." 2 and 3, this chute is supported by Vwings D3 and D, fastened tothe side members B and B10, respectively. This chute has a large body portion Iwith its extended upper end d4 opening below the coin chutes D, D the body D*l being lvertically in line therewith. The lower partof this chute D' is reduced in size and is inclined forwardly to meetthe opening in the panel b. Its side walls are inclined to form a contracted spout d3, which is fitted to the opening in the front panel and lies in position to deliver` coins upon the pan d-.

At the upper end of the chute D2 is pivoted the pan or coin-receiver and 'holder D5, having an extended pin d8 at one side which' is connected by a link d' to the post d upon the switch-hook lever h. When the switchhook is up, therefore, this coin-holder is maintained in a horizontal position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but when the hook is down, owing to tlie'receiver being hung thereon, the coin-holder is turned downwardly about its pivots to opens passageway from the'upper chutes D, D straight through intol the lower chute D1. As long as the telephone receiver is on the hook, therefore, any coins that are deposited will pass directly through and out into the pan di".

Secured transversely upon` the cross-bar E arevtwo v plates I"2 and P3, having rear end extensions between which the pan or coin-holder D5, is pivoted, and having upturned flanges p"'-ps and pin-p9, respectively. The coin chutes D and D are mounted upon the rear ends of'these plates; as well as the pan D5, and all the other operating parts are either mounted thereon or carried by the cross-bar E. This answers a double purpose, first, grouping .the` parts on a; common support for ad justment, and second, making them all removable as a unit bythe removal of the cross-bar E. The spindle P passes through the flanges'p and p8 on the plate P2, being provided with an insulating collar s, a retracting spring p2 between the collar and the rear flange ps, and a head p4 lying outside of'isaid flangefagainst which it is maintained by the tension spring. I Similarly, the spindle P passes through the lflanges p7 and pg has ari insulating collar s, a spring p3, and ahead p5.

Secured upon the respective'flanges p7 and p, and extending rearwardly to points beyond the upper coin chutes, are four stiff leaf springs, having their .ends bent toward each other in pairs to form cams g-g" and g3-g5. The springs are lettered gse-g8, land v1T-99. Upon spring g'I is secured an extended clapper-rod g, and upon the spring gs is secured an extended clapperrod g. 'ivhe terminal clapper on the first of these rods lies in position to strike a gong G, when the spring g7 is snapped, while'the terminal clapper on the second rod lies in a position to engage the periphery of gong G :when the spring g is snapped.

All these parts are so adjusted that when either oi' g the plungers is pushed in, its head p* or p5 will pass freely under the correspond-ing coin-chute D or D over the coin-holder and between its pair of cams gifgf' or g?-g, without producing any effect. The coin-receiver or holder D5, with its connect-ions to the switchhook, constitutes the first of the three elements hereinbefore referred to. The plungers, acting in conjunction with the cams and clappe feds, when coins have been inserted, form the second element of the invention; and the third element is the magnetically controlled locking devicenwhich we will now proceed to describe. i

Mounted upon the lower face of the cross-bar E is a yoke-base M3, carrying the electro-magnet M and the intermediate adjustable pillar M2.y lpon the lower end of this pillar is carried the armature-yoke of. in which is pivoted the armature m.. The cores and armature of the electro-magnet are permanently polarized by the bent steel magnet M. wardly from the armature is the bent rod m', which first passes up in front o1' the yoke M3. then back over thil same to the rear side of the 'cross-bur ll. then up a little in front of ih'c coin-chutes D`l), iin-.illy ter- Extending upnormal bias tothe position shown in the drawing, andy ger-heads p4 and p5.

in the upper edge of a slide-plate U, having end slots engaging headed pins on the front faces of the coinchute tubes D and D, upon which it is adapted to Vreciprocate back. and forth. The rod 'm is normally held to the lleft by a spring m2 adjustably secured to a post m3 on the cross-bar E.- Thisgives the armature 'm a maintains the slide-plate U in the position shown in Fig. 2, two projectionsru and u, on the plate being thus brought directly in the path of travel of the plun- (See Figs. 3 and 4). The slide-plate U constitutes a vlocking device for the plungers', and it is controlled by the magnet M, but this magnet is normally disconnected from thev telephone circuit in order to avoid possible troubles. It is adapted to be connected thereto in the initial movement of either plunger, however, by the following means: Between the plates P2 and P3 is secured a block of insuwgmaterial S Upon one end of this block is. secured a U-shaped contact spring with its body transverse to the block and its two arms `s2 and s3 extending forwardlyalong and above the plungers, beingislightly bent down in a position to be engaged and raised by the collars s when the plungers are pushed in. At the forward end of the block S is secured a transverse contact s whose opposite ends overlie the spring arms s2 and s3, engaging the latter when they are raised by the plungers. As shown in the diagram, in Fig; 5, the contact s is connected 'to the magnet M, and the latter to one of the Contact springs h3. The spring S on the other hand is connected. yto the ground post. The

Vbent frame h2, which constitutes the back contact for the springs h3, is connected to one side of line. Thus when the switch-hook H is up and either plunger P or P is pushed in, the magnet M is temporarily connected from the line to ground and may be affected by current sent from central.

Havingthus described the three elements of our invention, it remains to explain in detail the operation of the parts. ln all the figures the parts are shown in normal position, about to call. receiver and permits the switch-hook H to rise. `Sup- ,pose the required amount of toll to be ten cents-he drops a dime in the right-hand slot d, whence it passes into the chute D and down therethrough until it strikes the receiving pan or holder D, which being up retains the coin on edge.' It cannot fall forwardly by reason of the lower edge of the chute', and it cannot fall rearwardly by reason of the cam faces. The coin is thus held in a neutral position, from which it may `either be deposited or recovered. Supposing the con- I nection can be obtained, the operator tells the user to .push his button, whereupon he pushes in the righthand plunger P. The first effect of this is that the collars raises the spring arm s, (see Fig, 4.) into contact with the part s, which connects the magnet M to line. The operator at central, as indicated in the diagram, is enabled to reverse the direction of current-flow on the line at will, and for a successful call she reverses it from normal. The magnet thereupon throws over its armature, moves the rod m to the right, and thereby carries the slide-plate U with its projections out of the path of the plungers. All this happens while the The user takes down the plunger P is moving in. The slide-,plate beingl out of the way, it continues to move in until the'head b5 engages `the coin that is standing on edge, Vandforces it back between the cams g2 and g, which are thereby forced apart, the spring g in particular yielding to permit' the passage ofthe coin. This carries back the clapper-rod g, and when finally the coin snaps out and the clapper on the rod g is brought sharply into engagement with the gong G. Each of the gongs has a distinctive tone, and when the operator hears the sound of gong G she knows that a dime has been defrom between the cams, the spring g recovers suddenly, V

posited. The coin after snapping out from between the cams is' pushed over the edge of the holder D5 and drops into the receptacle Bi in the bottom of the casing. If desired, a third guide-way or chute may receive the coins thus deposited, and its lower end may be inserted through an opening in the closed lid for/the till or coin receptacle B3, thus preventing access to the coins by repair men and others. i

The above Ioperation enables the user to proceed with his conversation if the connection can be obtained. 1f it cannot be obtained, however, the plunger-head pf goes against the slide-plate projection u, and goes no farther, supposing the button to be pressed through mistake. As a matter of fact; when the operator says line busy" the user of the telephone need perform no further act except to hang up his receiver. As soon as 'the coins previously deposited to fall into' the open mouth d4 of the chute D2, whence they pass out to the 'user at d2, as previously described.

We have thus carefully and specifically set forth a complete embodiment of the three elements of our invention, viz., the coin-receiving and holding" device D5, the special signaling and depositing device comprising the plungers, the cams andthe gongs, andthe locking device, comprising the switch, the magnet and the slide plate.

combination of the three elements described. I We wish it understood, therefore, that all such changes and We are ullyaware, however, that n many changes might be made in this apparatus without departing from the spirit ofour invention or from the departures are contemplated by us, and We consider Athem within the scope and purview of the claims,

whose language is intended to cover our invention broadly.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a telephone tol1station apparatus, the comhl'nntion of the following instrumentalltles: a coin receiver or holder normally in a neutral position, means controlled by the subscriber to deposit a coin thereon and thereafter to pass the coin from the holder into a receptacle und thereby to transmit a special indicating signal, locking means controlled over the line from the central oilice to automatically control. such passage and signal transmission, together with means controlled by the subscriber in such case to recover his coin, substantially as described.

2. In s. telephone toli-station apparatus, the combination of the following instrumentailties u switch hook and contacts controlled; thereby, a coin chute, n coin receiver or holder in proximity to the coin chute, a plunger misprefl to reciprocate across the receiver to remove a coin therefrom, a signal lever moved by the coin in its travel, a

locking siidegnormally in the path of said plunger, an electro-magnet automatically controlling the position of said locking slide, and a connection from the switch-hook lever to the coin receiver, together with circuit connections, whereby said magnet may be controlled from the central oiiice or other distant point. substantially as described.

Ii. In a telephone toll-station apparatus the .combination of the following instrumentalites: a coin chute, a coin receiver or holder beneath the chute, a closed receptacle and an opening therefor to one sideA of the coin receiver, a coin discharge opening, a chute beneath the coin receiver. a ,reciprocating plunger adapted to be moved across the face of the coin receiver to detach a coin from the same and project it into the receptacle, a switch-hook lever and a connection therefrom to the coin receiver or holder, a lock for the reciprocating lever, an electro-magnel automatically controlling said lock, circuit connections for said magnet and a switch operated in the movement of the plunger to close said circuit connections, substantially as described.

4. in a telephone toil-station apparatus, a closed box or casing. a coin opening in the top thereof and a coin retaining receptacle within the lower part thereof, together with an intermediate mechanism contained within the box and comprising the following instrumentalities: a pivoted coin receiver or holder beneath the coin opening, a switch- 'hook lever and a connection'therefrom to the coin receiver to move the latter when the switch-hook is moved, a coin discharge chute having its upper endbeneath said coin receiver and its lower end opening without the box or casing, a normally retracted plunger having its outer end provided with a push-button on the outside of the box, and its inner end in proximity to the coin receiver, a signal lever and an abutment having an opening between them greater than the diameter of the plunger, but less than the diameter of a coin, and lying in the path of the plunger, a slide normally in the path of the plunger and at such a distance therefrom as t6-permit its limited move ment but to prevent its reaching 'the coin or effecting a signal, an armature and leverconnected with said slide and adapted when moved.to remove the slide from the path of the plunger, an electromagnet controlling said armature and means to permanently poiarize the same, line connections for said magnet, and a normally open switch therein adapted to be closed in the first movement of the plunger, substantially as described.

5. In a telephone tollsta'tion apparatus, a coin chute', a coin receiver or holder, a manually operable plunger adapted to be moved across the coin receiver and to detach a coin therefrom, n -stop to limit the movement of said plunger, an electro-magnet to' automatically control said stop and a circuit for said magnet closed in the initial movement of the plunger, substantially as described.

G. In a telephone toll-station apparatus, a special signal 4device having a movable operating part, a lock for said movable part, an electro-magnet automatically controlling said lock,and circuit connections for said magnet closed in the initial movement of the movable part, whereby the signal may be retained or exhibited according to the condition of said circuit, substantially as described.

7. In a telephone toll-station apparatus, a coin receiver and a coin depositor or projector, a magnetic detent for said depositor automatically controlling the deposit thereby, and a circuit therefor closed in the initial movement of the depositor. substantially as described.

S. In u telephone toll-station apparatus, a coin chute, a pivoterl coin receiver or holder beneath the same, a switchhook leverand a connection therefrom to maintain the coin receiver raised when the instrument is in use, an inner coin receptacle adapted to receive coins projected from the side of the coin receiver, and an ejection opening beneath the coin receiver, together with manually operable means to project the coin from the receiver into the recep` tacle, substantially as described.

9. In a telephone toll-station apparatus, an inlet opening or chute, a pivoted coin receiver or holder beneath said chute, a switch-hook cbnnected to move said coin receiver in its operation, a gong and a striker therefor having a cam face, a reciprocating plunger, a detent therefor and a magnet automatically controlling the same, together with means whereby said plunger will close the circuit of the magnet in its initial movement, thereafter if not detained will engage a coin on the coin receiver, and will finally with the coin engage the cani .to strike the gong, depositing the coin thereby, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a telephone toll-station apparatus, a coinreceiver or holder, a signal sounding or transmitting device, an operating lever therefor extending across the coin receiver .and provided with a cam face, a spring abutment also extending' across the coin receiver and having a cam face symmetrically and oppositely arranged to the iirst, a plunger constructed and arranged so that when no coin has been deposited it will pass between the cam faces without engaging the same, or if a coin has been deposited it will engage the coin, force the same int'o engagement with'the opposite cam faces, thereby moving the operating lever, and sound or transmit a signal, together with a locking devicefor said plunger controlled from' the central office substantially as described.

11. In a telephone'toll-station apparatus, a coin chute, a receiver or holder, and twoopenings forthe passage of coins therefrom, a plunger manually operable to move across said coin receiver and project acoin into one opening, together with meansautomatically controlled bythe switch-hook lever of .the telephone-set to move the coin receiver and project the ci thereby into the other opening, substantially as described.

receiver or holder, and two openings for thepassage of "coins", therefrom, a plunger manually operable vto move across said c'oinl receiver andproject a coin into one opening, and means automatically controlled by the switchhook lever of the telephone-set to move the coin receiver and project the coin thereby into the other opening, to-

gether with a detent in the path of said plunger, a magnet automatically Vcontrolling the same, and a circuit therefor closednby the plunger in its initial movement, substantially as described.

ln witness whereof, we have hereunto signed' our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: R. V.. Prion, Jr.,

M. S. Lnwis

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