US966809A - Electric service-meter. - Google Patents

Description

0. G. DENNIS. ELEGTRIU SERVICE METER. APPLIUATION FILED JUNI-20, 1907.

Eaten/ted Aug. 9, 1910;-

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- X51/farm@ 0.0. DENNES. A ELECTRIC sEEvIoE METER,

4APPLICATION FILED JUNE Z0, 1907.

l vPatgentedfAug..9, 19110.

a SHEETS-SHEET z.

@toneel-Aug) :if-1910.

' llcordnwth-my 'tl'.lSUDPI'QLS Prb l.ddwiiiill'Ricans fQI Seldiigculint of diiferentlcliaracter 'or direction overf. the telephone line' in sfucli. an manner. --tlnit4 tliewoperetive connection bel deexect. des'lftiption ,-refe I tween'.tlie switch-.actnting button and the dto t e accompanying d reivf4 fregister will-be broken, or so modied'thet l the succeeding. .-.ectuetionof the `sup 1ementery. Switch. .will n.01: be wcompaniedgby 4actuun'ti o n'zojEthe register. 'The operation in tliis respcctcorresponds withthe idea of .giifing' the 'subs riber n lcredit for every call whnh his'meter butv which ghceniectioii. The 7c@ f 'llhefyerious 1perntion'fofthe.nppemtiisfis snch'thatthis' apparatus, tofxj credit. may A outby the 'next suc- .ve.c.reeteded-.. sedingballnandfltriis. only efterthe credit 1 .icerneter.' hes'becn eppliedjthat the continued zictinintionto provide'. 'tion of the'. register is resumed 75' hiel; e be located nt the'f .The .preferred embodiment of my invenf n gmdx; h eh willrovercome tion provide s .;nls o en .indicetor -to 'show ties' 'nid' objections inherent. te .when the sbsriber .has hemeledited 'with le: registered hjmy.;.invention I prof lishing ll 0f.b11.ese.re su lt s Wit-hout` ..s.li9 i. 11' 'uit;;Qf the-stiietly telephonie Qing simplicity Xin construction 'or-. i'cerf 1 truments-Lr-su pleinelltary switch. This .tainty of operatlon. s"=.`ner1ne ly open,v so that a calling t .Another advantage presented by the serv.-

vrib'er een' .signal the cent-ral olice only 4 ice meter of my invention resides in the fact B5 "-'i'vll ''.thegsnppl-ementery switch is closed. Vthat the register is positively andmechanic- 4'"'lltiis''-su'p1')lenie'ntary switch.' is inaccessible ally actuated by the subscriber himself. The t tl 1e subscriber-and' can be operated only central station o perator is concerned only by'ineans of :an actuating-,device such, for with the restoration Aof the mechanism. exax'nplez' asia button or lever. The nctuat` Another advantage which is peculiar to 90 ingtzdevlee'jdirectly controls lthe operation the preferred. embodiment of my invention of aiji'egister, so that it is impossible for the resides in the fact that the service meter f-Ls'ubscriber underiordinary conditions to closej .may be connected upon a party line circuit 4.0 the-supplementary 'switch without ctthe .in which certain other stationsnre equipped Q sanie'jtimeimechanically operating the regis with coin-collecting apparat-us of .a well- 95 v"j "ter to indicate a. call. The supplementary known type. The central station operator 2J switehliaving been actuated, the subscriberl Aanswering the calls which originate upon is enabied'- to signa-1 the operator, who, resuch e party line, is enabledto control the 45 spon'ding to the cell, endeavors to establish coin-col ecting apparatus with the same v im'interconnectionwith the subscriber wantswitclling mechanism and in the same mam. 4100 ed. Iftlie connection is'mlide:and answered, nell ns in controlling the service meter of the-operator restores the metering apparatus my invention. Thus, for example, if a cull toits normal condition. by sending suitable originatingon such :1 party line is answered, current over the line, thereby actuating an it will become the duty of the operator to reelectroniagnet controlling' the restoring or store 'the servicemeter to its norme] con- 105 releasing mechanism. lf,- on the other hand, dition, or to direct the coiuwhicll has been 'the connection 'is not made, or the called sub .deposited in the slot of n coin-collecting defscriberzfails-to unswer,-it-is usually the pracvice into the retaining'box, depending, of

einsame-extent; My'invention.previdsnqeenlf aceigso ffthe line, will activate either device,

i of the same;

@sli/ernannten Jlnection fotcurrnhot a gwen character with ireiit-opmtorifwll return th' coin to the' depositen .1nr one case, or"establ1sh thel cred1t vcondihon inthe' service meter, m. that case.

matter whether thecall originates from a pitgwiiuii the autres :originated meter station :Qrfrom' a colneeollelr L l.. v U l y.1 uventlonprovides ineens `whereby a correspondmg with the conwhichin loriginatu'if e may-llave been used 4the :callQ So, also,'a single other and;

for the central line, Her operations will be-the same no paystat-ion or from a metered station,` both of which may be located upon a single party line..

These and other advantages, will more fully appearfrom the detailed description of 'the apparatus of my invention, whic I shall describe by 11a-nylug reference to the accom drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete service meter; F ig. 2 is a side elevation Fig; 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism, from which the casing has been-removed; 4 is a view, partly in in crosssection, teken elevation and part on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a front clevation of certain details of construction; Fi 6, 7 and 8 are detail views, largely in si e elevation., showing various steps in the o eration of the apparatus; Fig. 9 is a iront eevation of certain of the operating mechanism, certain parts having been removed in order to more clearly illustrate the parts shown; Figs. 10 and 11 are details showing the operation of the latch mechanism; Fig. 12 illustrates somewhat in detail and Fig. 13 diagrammatically and generally the circuit connections of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring {irst to Fig. 13, those skilled in the art will understand that the diagram shows a twoipai'ty telephone line entendi c by its limbs a and b from a central oce to the subscribers stations 10 and 11. The telephone line limbs are connected, respectively, with the tip spring 12 and the sleeve spring 13 of the sp1ingjack The line limb c is normally connected with the vbattery 14 by way of the back contact of the relay 15, this connection lcadinc also through the winding of the line relay 16. The negative pole of the battery 14 is connected to ground so that the grounding of the line limb a will actuate the line relay to display the signal 1T. When the operator inserts the plug p of her cord circuit, she closes circuit from the positive pole of the battery 18 (which may be the same as the battery 14), through thesupervisory lamp s 'sleeve side of his line.

4contact springs 19 and 20.

l wenn@ und the-winding v'of' the cut-oif relay 15. When thus emngzedv the armature ot the -u'teoif `relay is attracted to break the circuit through the line relay, whereupon the line signa is restored in the usual manner. At the substutifm 11, at which is located the service meter ofV my invention, meansI are provided n'order that the subscriber may close a low resistance path to ground the This low resistance path from the sleeve side of the line to ground will not be closed, however, by removing the receiver r from the hook switch h since such path'V is normally open at the This ground branch may be connected to the tip side b of the line by means of a supplementary switch comprising the switch springs 19 and 20. This circuit to ground passes also by way of the windings 21 of an electromagnet whose function I shall more fully describe. It is the apparatus connected in the branch from the tip side of the line to ground and the means for operating this mechanism with which m invention is more particularly Vconcerne The operation o f a system constructed in accordance with my invention depends upon the fact that the branch to ound is normali open at the switch springs 19 and 20, an that it is essentie-Ito close this switch before a subscriber can signal the central office. A subscriber cannot close the supplementary switch 22, however, without properly actuating the regis ter, which comprises a art of the service meter of my invention. nary explanation of the method of connes tion in the circuit, I shall nowrefer to the construction and manner of operating the service meter per se.

This device is mounted upon a suitable base plate 30. The splrings 19 and 20 of the supp ement-ary switc 22 are mechanically mounted upon but insulated from a suitable standard 31 which is carried by the base plate. The plunger or button which operates these springs is shown at 32. This but ton forms the exposed end of a sliding plunger 33. The plunger in turn carries an actuating stud 34 of suitable insulating material. It is this stud which directly engages the switch springs 1S) and 9.0. The standard 31 carries also a spring latch Fig. 11 shows what is the normal position ol the hook 36 of the latch spring with respect to the contact springs 1S) and E20. Vhcn the plunger 33 is depressed, the stud 34, engaging the ends of both of the switch springs, depresses them until the hook of the hitch snaps over the switch spring 20 to retain 1t in its alternative posit-ion. The switch but thc removal of thc button will perl'mt the trical connection, pressure from the Vith this prelimihe. lire 'of the v andjiu #return .movement lof tne;p 1 unger, t h`e spring '19` will follow up .the actuating-Stud 3ft .iu its .return toward thenormal position. The spring will be retained,-

however,l in its actuated position,

whereupon electrical connection' .will be madebetWeenL-thc'two sprln s, vthis connecv" tion being. .maintained-#by t l1e.v latch spring 3 5-.which has *become hooked 'over .the dev pressed `switchspring A.20. It is the estab' lishment ofthe electrical:connection be- .tween these two springswhich permits the subscriber by removing his receiver from the'switchhook'h Jreestablish a connection between the line limb a and ground over a circuit through vthe primary winding of the subscribers induction coil'i, the electromagnet windings 21, the switch springs 20 vand 19, and the Wire-.38. 'It is the closure of this circuit which actuates the line signal. and attracts the operators attention. When such a circuitv to ground is estab1ish'ed,-

Athe closure 4of this switch to ground must necessarily cause the proper actuation Aof the register.l In the preferred embodiment of my invention this register is in the form of a small 'Veeder' cyclometer t0 provided in the usual manner with a ratchet to preventit from running in the reverse direction. The actuating shaft 41 extends from this cyclorneter to the stamping 42 which forms the guide for theplunger 33 as well as a bearlng for the end of the shaft 41 upon which the small ratchet wheel 13 is mounted. Upon the plunger 33 there is pivoted at 44 an irregularly shaped pawl 45. This pawl has a lip at 46 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 43. The depression of the plunger in order to establish connection between the springs 19 and 20 necessarily causes, therefore, a partial revolution ot the ratchetwheel 43, the movement of the plunger being such that one number will be turned up in the register.

My invention provides for the certain actuation of the register in the fact that the exact posit-ion of the hook of the latch spring 35 can be adjusted throu h the play of the hole through which the lstening screw -l is passed. The position of the hook of the latch spring is so adjusted thatv the plunger must be pushed just far enough to turn up one number and permit. the actuation ot' the ratchet of the rc ister before the hook snaps over the top of t e spring 20. In order that a subscriber cannot make electrical connection in the supplementary switch 22 until the register has actually. been operated, I pro erffv "to its normal vide for thesimultancous depression of the Sprlllgs 19 Tand 20 as previously described, bly means of the stud 34. It is not until utter t 1c latch huscngaged the spring` 2U and the Subsequent return of the plunger to its no1'- mnl position, that contact. is made by the sprinfr 19, and the apparatus is so ad pislzed that t e engagement of the spriu A 20 by the latchspring 35 means necessariiy that the register has'beenproperly operated, as previously, 'described.

It will be apparent that the springs 19 and 20 will remain in their operated condition, due :to the engagement of the spring 20 bythe latch spring 35, until the switch has in some manner been restored to its original condition. The restoration of this Sup lementa-ry switch is under the control of t e operator at the central oce. If after the subscriber asks for a connection and the operator calls the required subscriber and he in turn answers his call, then under the usual method of operating, the central oiiice operator will' actuate a switch, as., for example, that Shown diagramniatically in Fig. 13 at 50, to connect the posit-ive terminal of a source of current of 11G-volts S with the tip side ofthe line. The other side of this source of current will become grounded, so

.that acircuit may be traced over the tip side of the line, through the windings 21 of the electromagnet and the closed contacts of the supplementary switch 22 to ground. The electroniagnet windings are provided with the same letters of reference in the apparatus drawings as in the diagrammatic drawing of Fig. 13. These windings, it will be seen, are mounted upon the cores of an electromagnet which is polarized by the permanent magnet 51. The armature 52 of this electromagnet is pivoted at 53 and provided with adjustable retracting springs 54 and 55. These retracting springs hold the armature in a. neutral or intermediate position. Itis because of the polarization of this electromagnet that a positive current iin mise fiowing through the electrolnagnet wim ings from the line to ground, will energize the cores in such a. direction that the armature will be actuated in the direction of the. small arrow head 56. The retracting springs 5:4 and 55 are so adjusted that the current due to the 24 or 40 volt line battery 14 or 1S is insufficient to actuate the armature. As best. shown, perha s, in Fig. 5, the latch spring 35 is provide with a. cam surface at 57, this cam surface being' engaged by the lever 58 which projects from' the armature 52. lt will be apparent that the slight rotation of the armature in the direction of the arrow 56 due to the. How of the heavy current from the 110 volt source, will cause the lever, cooperating' with the cam surface 5T. to disengagc the latch spring 35 from the contact spring 20, whereupon the supplementary u. l l "fact thet'the subscriber mustl positively 'and mcChdIllly-vabull. the register in nntlat-'j g'"'e""ci11l.i Tf-Jflh, positive .actuation of the rgis'teris `not dependent 4upon some'act to4 be V performedby the-operator at the central L station or by the subscriber at l some .subsequentustage-ofthe 4 estabhslnnent 'ot 2a' con I neetion. The-advantages inhavmg'the subscriber actuate the register in g'initlating a ycall and even before the operator .establishes connection with the line, will be apparent to those skilled in the-art, particular y since the operator is enabled to restore the service meter and telephone set to lts normal con dition at any time 4during the connection with the called subscriber, or, 1n fact,l after theconversation has been completed.

Manifestly a different mode of operation and result are required in. orderthat the subscriber shall notbe charged for' those calls which do not result in answers from the called subscriber.4 My 4invention provides mea-ns whereby theoperator in such cases may. throw the mechanism of the service meter into anV abnormal, condition such that the succeeding call may be made without actuating the register. The means for accomplishing this result comprises 1n part a hook-like extension 60 upon the pawl, which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 43. When a negative current impulse of sufficient strength is passed through the windings 21 of the electromagnet, the armature is thrown in a direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrow 56, and on account of the engagement of the lever 58 with the hook 60, the pawl 45 will be raised so that the lip will be withdrawn from a position in which it may engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, this alternate position being shown in Fig. 8. The opening between the hook G0 and the main part of the pawl 45 is of such width that the customary movement of the armature 52 in the direction of the arrow 56 is not interfered with. A small spring catch 61 engages a projection G2 at the end of the paw] 45, so that after the How of the negative current impulse through the coils of the electromagnet the pawl will be retained in its alternate position. The length of the face of the extension 62 is such that when the plunger is again depressed in the initiation of another call, the pawl 45 will be carried upon the ond of the spring catch 61 until after the tooth of the ratchet wheel has been passed. When, however, the plunger has been depressed enou Vh to cause the spring 20 to be hitched by t ne hook of the spring latch 35, the pawl will be released from the spring catch 6l and thus restored to a condition A.in which its normal operation will take place las previously described. With this preliminar)I description of the mechanism the operation of the system will be clear.

If for any reason the called subscriber fails toI answer, or ii" the called line is busy, the central oliice operator, instead of actin atingV the key 50 to send a positive impulse over the tip side of the line, will actnate the alternate key 63, thus coruiecting the negative pole of the grounded source of 110 volt current with the tip side of the line, andthis current traversing the electromagnet windings 21 will throw the armature v5&3'. in e direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrow 56, thus throwing the pawl 4:5 into its alternate position where it will be caught by the light spring catch 61. The lever 58 will at the` same time engage the cam surface 64 of the spring latch 35, thus causing it to disengage the spring 20 and permitting this spring to return-to its normal position, thus openin thesupplementary switch 22. The

iiow o this negative current impulse, therefore, puts the mechanism of the service meter into such condition that the next succeeding actuation of the button will not cause an actuation of the register. The operation of the device corresponds with the theory that when a subscriber actuates his button and therefore the register in initiating a call which is not answered, he will be credited with one call, so that the next sucneeding call may be initiated without charge upon his register. In order to indicate to the subscriber the fact that the operator has properly credited him, I provide upon the pawl 45 a target 65, the face of this target being divided into two sections, as best indicated in Fig. 3, the lower section bearing the word Credit and the upper section being blackened. Under norma-l conditions, as best indicated in Fig. 4, theY black section of the target rests below the window 66. Then the operator sends out a negative current impulse to give the subscriber a credit for the next succeeding call, the pawl 4:5 is thrown into its alternate position where it is held by the spring catch 61, and in this position the lower section of the target l'iearing the word Credit is brought into register with the window 6G, as shown in Fig. 1. The subscriber seeing this credit sign will known from experience that he may initiate another call without actuating the register and chargingr himself accordinglv. The cover GT surrounds the mecl1anism nt is provided with an opening through which the button 32 projects in order to be accessible to the subscriber. The cover is preferably provided, also, with a window at GS, so that the subscriber may keep track of the registration. The cover may he looked in position in any desired manner. 'lo pro- .of-,its.operatiomgiind .thecertainty of itsbeperly {actuated-upon, the. initiation of Y l -imluewhen -us'ed conjunction with a. wellknown -formfof coini. 'collecting 'apparatus for v .use at telephonestations, Fig'. 13 indicates yv -diagrammaticallyat' substation 10ft-he circuit of this coin collecting a paratus. The de posit of at'coin, indicate 4at 80, is required to close the switch-81, and the subscriber' is v unable to signal the central otlice until this .switch is closed. The operator by throwing 20 a heavy positive current impulse between the tip. side of the line and ground act-notes the mechanism associated with the electromagnet 82 to guide the cointo the closed receptacle, which, is accessible only to the agents 25' of theoperating compa-ny. If for any reason thecall' is-not answered or completed, the

operator sends 'out a nega-tive current.' impuise lwhich throws the mechanism assol direction, whichcauses the return of the deposited'coiu to the telephone subscriber.

It'will be apparent, therefore, that the .service meter of my invention may be associated withalsubstatio'nwhich is connected 13 5- upon a part-y line, the other stations of l which may be equipped with service meters of my invention or'witli coin collecting devices of the type indicated. My invention thus provides the advantage to an operating company of being Aable to provide a subscriber upon a party line either with a service meter or a. coin collector, as he may prefer, and this without; regard to the type of apparat-us with which the other subscribers upon the same line are provided. A given party line may thus have either type of apparatus or both, and the central oiiice equipment required for answering the calls from these lines is no more complicated nor different than is required for answering the calls of the well-known coin collector stations of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a. telephone line leading from la. substation to an exchange, of a suppiementary switch at the substation for closing the line circuit, a. register, means for actuating said register upon the closure of said supplementary switch. u nd means in a separate circuit. from the talking circuit controlled from the central otlice. to permit the closure of said switch without actuating said register.

2.111 a telephone metering system, a teletbscribels. station where he may keep track 5 ca ll, .1= my .invention "is -of particular.

ciatedwith the elect-romagnet 82-in areverse fph @insulting apparatus associata with h n 'fa-. regxster connected to the line,

,fnll'nuizLj-nleans*for operating the register, Y andan electrical circuit. independent of the talking apparatus for disconnecting the 70 manual operating means of the register.

.3. ln a telephone service meter, the comhlnatlon with :L -circuit t'or signalin the oentru'l cnice, cfa-normally. open supp ementaryr switch-111 said circuit comprising two switch 75 springs, a register,- a plunger and associated mechanlsm for actuatlng. said register, means fordepressing both of said switch springs substantially to a corresponding degree upon the depression of the plunger, a latch for gg catching and retaining one of the switch springs upon the actuation of the register whereby the restoration of the plunger. permits the other switch spring to make contact with the one retained by said latch.

4. In o. service meter for tele hone lines, a normally open switch at the su station for signaling the central oice, a latch for maintaining the closure of said switch when actuated, a register operated by said switch to record the number of actuations thereof, an electromagnet. at the substation in a circuit controlledby the central oice operator, and mechanism actuated upon the energization of said electromagnet to release said latch and to break the operative association between said switch and said. register.

5. In a service meter for te ephone lines, a normally open switch at the substation for signaling the central ottice, a register operatively associated with said switch to record the number of closures thereof, an electro magnet at the substation in a circuit separate from the talking circuit and controlled .by the central oilice operator, mechanism actuated upon the energization of said electro magnet to break the o erative association between said switch an said register, and mechanism for restoring the operative relationship between said re 'ster and said switch upon the unrecorde closure of said switch.

6. In a service meter for tele hone lines, a normally open switch at the su station f or signaling the central oiiice, aiatch for Inam- 115 taining the closure 'ofsaid switch when actuated, a register operated by said switch to record the number of actuations thereof, an electromagnet at the substation in a circuit including said switch and controlled by the 120 central otiice operator, and mechanism actuated upon the encrgization ot' said elec tromagnet to release said latch.

7. ln a service meter for telephone lines, a normally open switch at the subst-ation for 125 signaling the central oice, a latch for maiuta-nng the closure of said switch when actuated, a register operated by said switch to record the number of actuations thereof. an clectromaguet at the substation in a circuit 130 nt ,y ,pon-theencrgiaaton ofvjsald electro niega to*rclcascsaldjlatchand to break the operativoussociution between sind switch fand said-'re ister.

:8. In a evice of the class described, the

`coinbination with a telephone line leading from a: 'substation to an, archange, of a Inerf lniallyopen switcli 1n the signaling circuit at 4'the substation ,"f manually operatedV mechanism or closin saldswltch, a register nor i mallyo crate u on the actuation-of said 1 switch the closure o-sald sw1th,.an.elcctromagn et fat'the-'suhstation in a c1rcu1t including sald 'osin mec anism to record'the number osuch-c osures, a latch for maintaining switch and Vcontrolled by the central4 olice operator an armature serving upon energization oi said elcctromagnet to release said latch and to operatively disconnect said register from the switch closing mechanism, and means -for automatically restablishing said connection between the switch closing mech# anism and said register upon the unrecorded actuation of the switch closing mechanism.

9.'In a service meter for telephone lines, a normally open switch at the Vsu station for signaling the central oitice, a latch for maintamingthe closure of'said switch when operated, 'a register operatively associated with said switch to record the number of closures thereof, an electromagnet at the substation in a circuit controlled by the central oiiice operator, mechanism actuated upon the energization of said electromagnet to release` said latch and to break the operative relation between said switch and said register, mechanism for restoring the operative association between said switch and said register upon the unrecorded closure of said switch, and means for releasing said latch without aectin the operative association between said switch and said register.

10. In a service meter for telephone lines, a normally open switch at the substation for signaling the cent-ral oiiice, a latch for maintaining the closure of said switch when operated, a register operatively associated with said switc to record the number of closures thereof, an electroma net at the substation in a circuit controlle by the central oiiice operator, mechanism actuated upon the energization of said electromagnet to release sald latch and to break the operative relation between said switch and said register, and means for releasing said latch without affecting the operative association between said switch and said register.

11. In combination, a party telephone liuc leading from a plurality of subst-ations to an exchange, a normally open switch in the signaling circuit at each substation, a register at each substation, mechanism at cach substation for closing the associated switch and lig? SadfSSiYiiell-'iindcontrolled l bythe i l-fbtice koperetr, and `mechanism, aca

'ing means automatically ly conjointlyftherowith, causing the actuation of "the associated register, an electl'omugnct at nach .substation in circuit with the assoelated,v switch, a latch nt cach substation for maintaining the closure of the usara-,interi switch, mechanism for releasing each latch upon the cnergization of the associated clectroma-gnet in either direction, and mechanism at each substation actuated upon the energization of the associated electromagnct in one direction only to remove the reglster from the control of the switch closing n1cchanism.

12. In combination, a party telephone line leadin from a plurality of substations to an exc ange, a normally open switch in the signaling circuit at each substation, a register at each substation, mechanism at cach substation. for closing the associated switch and conjointly therewith, causing the actuar tion of the associated register, an electromagnet at each substation in circuit with the associated switch, a latch at each substation for maintaining the closure of the associated switch, mechanism for releasing each latch upon the energization of the assocatcd electromagnet in `either direction, mechanism at each substation actuated upon the energization of the associated electromagnet vin one direction only to remore the register from the control of the switch closing mechanism, and means for restoring the control of the register'by the switch actuatvirtue of an unrecorded actuation of sai switch actuating means,

13. A line circuit leading from a substation to a central office, means whereby the central oiiice may be signaled from the substation, register mechanism mechanically connected with said means and recording the initiation of such calls, and mechanism controlled from the central office for rendering said register mechanism inoperative by a circuit independent of the circuit through the substation talking apparatus.

14. In combination, a telephone party line extending from a plurality of substations to an exchange, of a switch at each substation for signaling the central otiice, mechanism located at each substation for recording the actuations of the associated switch, means located at cach substation serving normally to prevent the closure of the associated switch without actuating the associated rogistering mechanism, normally inoperative electromagnetic mechanism at cach suhstntion controlled `from the central station to render temporarily inoperative the associated registering mechanism, and means for placing in operative condition the associated electromagnetic mechanism upon the closure of the signaling switch at any substation.

15. In combination, a telephone set includf 17.- In a telephone metering system, a telemay-control the operation of the ''electroniafggiietA 'at any substation at call jhasbeen initiated, and a target at each substation sertjing.- automatically p ing'from' a. substation lter such operation to close sue .ep Sslon Qffsslid. lec'trinst mehr', lectroxnagnet j-.when 'cationto release said ism actuated 'by 'said -jelectrom gusti whenactuated 'in one" A'direc- 'ti on nly=-'to tlirowsaid vma'lgand'-vinoperative -p not bey engaged *by'fsaifl 4rate-lust -wli'eel upon pawl into an :almor-v osition @where 1t'- will depressionoftlle plunger, "acpi-ingP catch for retaining'saidpawl in saidabncrmal position, meanswhereb'y the :depression of the' plunger discngages 'the fpawl' from said spring 'catch- When detained thereby,2al1 lo* cated: at each of L several .snbstations, 'a lline' circuitleading from' saidsubstat-ions, ai cen-v tral cities, a l-inefsgnal 'attire central oiiice,

` lil'iesignal being efclos'ure -of the lioolc substation, a circuit containing a source of curl-entf controlled from' and jincluding anyv of' 'tlre electromagnets l,Whose associatedsupplement-ary switch is the* Acentral oflice c1osedv,' whereby the central "oiiice operator polarized which a to indica-te the'condition of the associated pawl.

' ^-16. '?In-combi`na tion, a telephone line leadto an exchange, a supplementaryswitch at the substation for closmg the line circuit, a register, means for actuating said register upon the closure of said supplementary switch, and inea-ns in a circuit "to round' from' one line limb and controlled ironrthe central otlice to permit the closnre'lo'f -sa-idswitch Without actuating said register.

phone line, -talking apparatus associated with the line, a. register connected to the line, manual meansy for operating the register, and an electrical circuit from the line to ground for disconnect-ing'the manual operating 'means of the register without includ ing the talking apparatus in such circuit.

18. In a telephoneservice meter. a register, manual means for operating the register, switch contacts adapted to close an electrical connection between the terminals of the meter, actuation of the manual means adapted to first operate the re rister and af- 1 switch con- 'currents' but to release such contacts.

tacts and means electrically operated for] mi operating means l? 'I g teil-,fand an electromagnet ln such connection, actuation of the manual means adapted lto.first'.merate-the register-aud after such operation tol close 'such 4switch contacts, such electromagnet adaptedrto be inert tor small responsive to increased currents 20. In a telephone service meter, a register,manual means for operating the register, switch contacts adapted to close an electrical connection between the terminals of the mcter,and an electromagnet in such connection, actuation of the manual means adapted to first operate the register and after such operation to 'close such switch contacts, such electromagnet adapted to be inert for small currents but responsive to increased currents to interrupt the mechanical connection between the. manual means and the register.

21. In a telephone service meter, aregister, .manual means for opera-ting the register, switch-'contacts adapted to close an electrical connection between the terminals of the meter, ancla polarized elect-romagnet in such connection, actuation of the manual means adapted to first operate the register and after such operation to close suc switch contacts, such eiectromagnet adapted to be inert for small currents but responsive to larger currents n1 one sign to release such contacts and also responsive tc correspondingly large currents of opposite sign to interrupt the mechanical connection between the manual means and the register.

In a telephone system, a. telephone line extending by its limbs from a. substation to an exchange, a. line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a. service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of act-uations thereof, manual operating means connected with the meter to operate the register and line signal. and means in such signaling circuit controlled from the exchange for interrupting the operating of the register Without affecting the operating of the line signal.

23. In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a lille. signal at the exchange adapted to be opera-ted over one of the line limbs :from the substation, a. service meter at the substation, a register associate-il with the meter for indicatingr the number of actuations thereof, manual operatingl means connected with the meter, actuation of such manual means adapted tu first operalcthe register and after such operation lo operate 's1gx-ialingcircuit .in 'from sans. emballe! fran the 'uxfor..rchausng suclifloclong means,

l 1 5 224, =In ya telephone system, a telephone line the substation@register:associated with the ,ineterfor indicating the numberof actua .tions thereof, manual operating means coin fnected withfthe' 'meter-to operate the register fandthe linesignahmeans formechancally ,lo'ckingthe signaling circuit in closed condi tion, and means inthe signaling circuit controlled from the exchange Vfor releasing such locking means.

25. In a telephone system, a telephonelme extending by its limbs from asnbstatlon to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange ada ted to 'be operated over one of the line lim s from thesubst-ation, al service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actua tions thereof, manual operating means connected with the meter, act-nation of such manual means adapted to first operate the register and after such operation to operate such line signal, means controlled trom the exchange for 'interrupting the opcratmg of the register without aii'ecting the operating of the line signal, means for mechanically locking the signaling circuit in closed condition, and means controlled from the exchange for releasing such locking means.

26. In a telephone system, a telephone line extendingby its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actuations thereof, manual operating means connected with the meter to operate the register and the line signal, means in such signaling circuit controlled from the exchange for interrupting the operating of the register without affecting the operating of the line signal, means for mechanically locking thc signaling circuit in closed condition, and means in the signaling circuit controlled from the cxchange for releasing such lookin(T means.

27. In a" telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actuations thereof, manual operating means con nected with the meter, actuation of such manual means adapted to first operate the register and after such operation to operate such line signal, means for mechanically sign ns1., means 'Y for; mccliaaieally llockingthc signaling circuit in closed condtionfantl common meanscontrolled from the exchange .for linterrupting the operating of the rcgisterwithout, affecting the operating of the line signal and for releasing such loclcing moans.

In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actuations thereof, manual operating means connccted with the meter to operate the ren'ister and the line signal, means for mechanically locking the signaling circuit in closed condition, and common means in the signaling cir cuit controlled from the exchange for interrupting the operating of the reglster Without affecting the operating of the line signal and for releasing such operating means.

29. In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted-to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating'the number of actuat-ions thereogmanual operating means connected with the meter, actuation of such manual means-adapted to first operate the register and after such operation to close contacts adapted to operate such line signal, means for holding such contacts closed after the operation of such manual means, and means operated from the echange for releasing such holding means and thereby opening such contacts,

30. In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actua-tions thereof, manual opera-ting means connected with the meter, the depression of such operating means serving to operate the register amf the return of such operating means to normal position serving to close contacts adapted to operate such line signal, means for holding such contacts closed after the operation of such manual means, and means operated from the exchange for releasing such holding means and thereby opening such contacts.

3l. In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by its limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line signal at the exchange adapted to be operated over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actuntions thereof, manual operating means con- 'nectcd with the meter, contacts adapted when closed to close such si fueling circuit, means for engaging and loc ring such con- [acts by the operation ot' such manual means, und means for closing such contacts in locked position when such manual means is returned to normal position.

32. In a telephone system, a telephone line extending by lts limbs from a substation to an exchange, a line si nal at the exchange adapted to be operate over one of the line limbs from the substation, a service meter at the substation, a register associated with the meter for indicating the number of actuations thereof, manual operating means connected with the meter, actuation of such manual means adapted to operate the register, contacts adapted when closed to close such signaling circuit, means for engaging and locking such contacts by the operation of such manual means, means for closing such contacts in locked position when such manual means is released and returned to norma-l position, and common means controlled from the exchange for releasing such locking means or releasing such locking means and interrupting the mechanical connection between the manual operating means and such register as desired.

In a device for vending service, a lneter adapted to be actuated by the patron in obtaining service to render a charge for service, means under the control of the vender to re-set the meter to receive n. second actuation by the patron, and means under the control ot' the vendor to cause said meter not. to register u charge for service when actuated by the patron when next obtaining,l service.

34. In a device of the class described, the combination of a. circuit leading from a central office to a subscribers station, a switch at the subscrihers station, it being necessary for the subscriber to close the said switch in initiating,r a call, a mechanical dctent for u'niintaining the closure of Said switch, u register mechanism for advancing said iegister upon the closure of said switch, and electro-magnetic means controlled by the central otiice operator to release the detent or operatively to disconnect the register from the switch actuating mechanism.

35. In a telephone service meter, the combination with n call sending switch, of a call register, the operation of which is adapted to operate said call switch, and an electromagnet under the control of the central oiiice operator adapted to restore said switch to normal. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my uan-1e this 13th day of June A. D., 1907.

OLIVER C. DENNIS.

li/itnesses LYSN A. XVILLIAMS, s GEORGE E. HIGHAM.

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