US978733A - Answer-back signal. - Google Patents

Description

ErR. GILL.

ANSWER BACK SIGNAL. APPLIGATION 11.21) JULY'27, 19o'z..

Patentd Dec. 13,1910.

5 sums-sum 1.

E. R. GILL.

' ANSWER BACK SIGNAL. nrmoumx rmm JULY 27, 1001.

Patented Dec. 13,1910.

5 BHEETB-BHEET 2.

E. R GILL. ANSWER BACK SIGNAL. nrmonxon FILED JULY 27, 1901.

Patented Dc.13,1910.

' a sums-sum a.

W A. 4J4 51 mm Mao-z or} 3151: 6111011411 R. GILL. I

ANSWER BACK. SIGNAL.

APPLXOATIOI rILnn JULY 21, 1901.

" Patnted 1m 13,1910.

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' 5 vwe do-z E. R. GILL.

ANSWER BACK SIGNAL.

AYBLIOATION FILED JULY 27. 1907.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEETS.

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i f vent-ion that the pcrsoncalled will know, on

city of Yonkers, county of West-chestcr, and

ring the selective call may know whether or tionin the rheantime.-

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN pr onKERs. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR fro-UNITED STATES ELECTRIC ooMPANY. A CORPORATION or WEST VIRGINIA.

ANSWER-BACK. SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1907. Serial No; 385,844 Y To all azliom can mam;

Be it known that l, EDWIN R:. GILL, a citizen of the United States, reslding in'the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Answer- Back: Signals, of which the following is a specificaiicn. y

Many devices have been invented for the purpose of operating selectively ata distance any one of a number of signals for calling stations on a common main line cir- (mil; in such a manner that only the one stai n Wanted shall receive a call. Where instruments of this kind are employed, it often becomes im ortant to be able to ascer tain positively w ether or not the call has been successful and whether the'right station instrument has responded to the mainline impulses.

The present invention has relation generally to means for the purpose above named, and. in its preferred form'this invention is so organlzed that an intelligible signal is returnedwhereby the person sendnot the .call hell or equivalent. device is. actually in working order;

One feature of mypreferred inventionis intended to insure preservation of the main line circuit in case'of accidents happening to'any one of the answer back devices, so that an a'ccident to one instrument may not cripple any other.

Another advantage of my preferred invention is that, in case the operator calledshould be a.bsent, the call signal will continue its operation indefinitely fund such operation will not be interfered with by arriyal of additional calls at the same sta- It is also a feature of this form of my inhis return, how many; calls have come in during his absence, by mere inspection of his instrument. My apparatus may be used inconnection with telegraph or telephone lines, and in the preferred form herein described, wherein are combinedall of the advanta es above i named, I have shown-the use of 0th tele gra hand telephone instruments.

his invention also has "relation. to ceraselector herein,

tain details of improvement hereinafter described and particularly referred to in my claims.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

A preferred form of, my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, where1n- Figure 1 is a plan view of the combined answer back and local signal operator, .Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a vertical section thereof. on the plane wm in Fig. 1,-the armature springabutment be 111g shown in mid-section, Fig. 4 is a detail of the release for the operating train, Fig. 5 is a side elevation on-the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a diagram of circuits.

It is to be understood that my present invention is intended for and adapted to use in connection with any desired form or style of selective signaling device, and may indeed be used in combination with any meansv for operating it from a distance, whether Fig. 3 is such means includes a selector or not. I have therefore omitted all description of the and in Fig. 6 have indicated as'an example merely, the type of selective call described and claimed in my Patent Number 906,523, dated While certain forms of my invention may be advantageously employed in connection with anyappropriate motive power, it is most usefully employed on telegraphic and tele honic lines, and I have therefore shown herein a preferred embodiment of the in- December 15th, 1908.

vention as adapted to'be operated by elecv tricity. v I

In the .form shown, the combined answer back and local signal is mounted upon a I base 1 and supported by framework 2 at or near one end of which is placed the operating magnet 3, pvhose vertical swinging armature 4 is preferably supported by a thin spring 5. n'e extremity bowed strapspring 6 is fixed to the lower end of the armature 4 and the opposite end of this spring is fixed to a movable clamp 7 adapted to be moved back" and forth for adjustment-under tho influencejof the screw 8 passing through the abutment 9. i

The spring 6 is intended to directly operate and release the retainingdevice for the answer back actuating train, which, in the form shown, preferably comprises a subof a normally.

stantially upright rod fixed to a revoluble shaftill to which is also fixed a bent arm 12 whose, outer'extremity lies across the middle portion of the spring 6.

hen-the magnet 3 is energized, by op;

eration of the-selective call or otherwise, the armature is attracted and the spring 6 1s straightened, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '3. .This lifts the arm 12 and releases particular instrument corresponding to said [shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

code signal has'been successfully called. In the preferred form shown this consists of a make and break wheel for an appropriate circuit. ()ne suitable form of such a wheel is shown at 13 in Figs. 1, 2 and (3. said wheel carrying teeth 14 set around its circumference at suitable intervals. 'lhese teeth have inclined backs, so that when the wheel is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the tip of the contact spring 15 shall be lifted to the summit of each tooth in succession.

The contact .s'pring 15 is carried upon a fixed insulating support 16, secured at 17, so that, when the wheel 13 turns, the tip of the spring 15 dips by its own resilience into each space between two teeth l-t in succession, but not far enough to make contact with the bottom of said spaces. This is The contact thus successively made and broken between the spring 15 and the wheel 1?) is utilized to make and break the answer back circuit as described hereinafter in connection with Fig. 6.

In the form shown the wheel 13 is moved by 'a gear f'train as follows. One end of a coiled driving spring 18 is" secured to a cross bar 19 fixed to the frame 2, while the other end of said spring is fixed to a'main slow moving shaft 20, which is reset (winding the spring 18) by means of the handle 21, after operation of the answer back. The normal position of the handle illwvith the spring 18 fully wound is shown in Fig. 2.

The main shaft 20 carries the ratchet wheel 22 which engages with a spring pressed pawl 23 pivoted on one face of the driving gear 24 in a well known manner, said gear being loose on the shaft 20. The driving gear 9A drives the shaft 25 through the pinion 26, and the answer back wheel 13 is carried on said shaft 25. For obvious reasons it is advisable to apply a retarding device to the train so far described and I prefer for this purpose, to employ a toothed wheel 27 and weighted swinging escapement 28 driven by a gear wheel 29' on the shaft 25, in the manner shown in F1g. 3.

Movement of this spring driven gear train is normally prevented by a peg.30 on the face of the wheel 29 which rests upon a lat eral bend at the end of the rod 10 (see Figs. 3 and 4). It will thus be seen that, when the rod 10 assumes the dotted line position (shown in Fig. 3) under the influence of the magnet 3, the train is liberated.

For the purpose of use in connection with selective calls on telegraph lines I prefer to arrange the train release so that it requires a double or forth and back movement of the retaining device to permit the train to move. For this purpose a second peg 31 is fixed on the check wheel 20. a little nearer the center and normally above the peg 30, As thus arranged. the magnet 3' acts to tilt the rod 10 as shown in dotted lines. when the train will move -until the peg 31 touches the tip of the rod 10. This position is showzn in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Then. as the magnet releases its arnwture. the rod moves back to the full line position and the train is free to move until a complete revolution of shaft 25 and wheel 13 is produced, when the peg 30 once more strikes the rod 10 and themovement is arrested. I

\Vhere. as in the form shown. the local call signal which is set in operation by the selective calling device is combined mechanically and electrically with the answer back mechanism, I prefer to mount a local circuit closing sector on one end of the main driving shaft. 20, as by means of the hub 33 and setscrew 34. A stationary spring 35 is mounted upon an insulating support 36 in such a position that. as the sector 32 revolves (in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5) it will make electric contact with said spring 35 to close the call circuit as described in connection with Fig. 6. 'Byplacing the long sector 32 on the slow moving main shaft, the shaft'QF) and answer back wheel 13 may be given three or four revolutions without causing the sector to lea e the spring- 35. Thus,- ifthe operator should be absent when a call is given and a second call comes while the signal is still in operation. such second and even third or fourth calls will not interrupt the signal. .At the same time. when the operator returns. the position of the handle 21 will make clear how many calls have arrived during his absence. The spring 18 is accordingly made long enough to produce. three or four (or any reasonable number of) revolutions of the wheel 13.

From what has been described above it. is clear that if the two terminal binding posts 37 of the magnet 3 be connect ed respectively to the two sides of an electric circuit. and said circuit be alternately closed and opened. the actuating gear train will be released and both the answer back and the cell signal circuit will be operated. "lhese results may be secured by .controlling the magnet circuit a I y from a'distance either directly or indirectly without departing from my lnventlon; but I prefer to accomplish this through a selective i circuit closing apparatus in connection with a local battery. One way in which this may be ,done is shown in, Fig. .6. This figure shows apref erre d arrangement of apparatus for use on a telegraph linewhereina number of stationsafeconnected to asingle main line' wire 38, ,ea'ch of which may be called from any other by means of an appropriate selective instrument, indicated in diagram at 39. v

' At 40 and 41 are shown respectively a telegraph key and a telephone receiver which j I are supposed to be located atthe callingstation. It is to be understood, of course, that the calling station is equipped in the same I manner asthe station called. Duplication of the total apparatus has been omitted for convenience and clearness,

At the station'calle'd the relay 42 is pro- .vided with this usual armature 43,v playing between a forward contact making stop 44 and an electficallyflistinct' insulated, rear contact piece 45. fOne side of'a local battery 46 is connected by the wire 47 to the armature 43, while the wire 48 connects 'the other pole of the battery 46 tonne terminal 49 01 the actuatingma'gnet (not shown) of the selective instrument 39. The opposite terminal 50 of, this actuating magnet is conv nected by wire 51 to theinsulated rear con-' tact piece 45. o I

The forward relay contact piece 44 is co'nnected by thevwire -52 to the usual sounder -53,-thefotherisi e of whichconnects with the battery 46. wire 54.

The termina ls 55, 56 on the selector 39 are those-thrcugh which this instrument I closes circuit through the'local battery in a wellzknown manner, ordinarily for the purpose of directlyringing' the call bell; and

I theseterminalsmay also be utilized for said 1 6 without'departing from this invention, so

purpose in addition to that shown in Fig;

faras relates toth'e answer backalone. I prefer, however, to I operate the answer back and call signal circuit together as hereconnected to'terniinals 49 and v, sponds to gopen-circuit on the main line, or"

in described, and for this purpose the main operating magnet 3 isgconnected on one side to thef'terminal 55 and on the other to the local battery 46,while the other terminal 56 is connected to tery. p

'From the above description 't will be seen that each operation of the selector magnet the opposite pole saidhat pauses between depressions of the key 40,,

which pauses topermit-the relay armature to touch the contact piece 45/ Thus long and "short pauses between depressions of the key produce long and'short action of the inagnet utilized in any in the'selector, which are left and under the party callin "cessfully op 50 correv well known manner to c cra e e e e and close the local circu t through 55 and 56. Thus final closure of the m n l cuit at the end of an op ration d n giz s 'the selector magnet and releases the mechanism so as to break the circuit previously closed through 55, 56; a fact ad'verted to hereinafter. All these operationsare well known and are producible by various highly complicated devices a descripti n f wh h would not add to the elucidation of this invention and would merely increase the complexity of this description and of the drawings.

' The mode of operation of'the apparatus thus .far described is as follows.The sending key 46 being grounded at G and one side of the,

main line battery 57 being likewisegrounded at ,G, the party calling first opens the -main line as usual by throwing theswitch lever 58' to the right and into the position shown inFig. 6. Groups of circuit closures spaced in accordance with the combination corresponding to the station called are then produced by appropriately depressing the key 40, and the current being transmitted on vthe main line at the key 40 in the usual manher by throwing the switch lever 58 to the plate 60. As heretofore described, this closure of'the mainline circuit breaks circuit at 55, 56, and the magnet 3 thereupon liberates itsarmautre. 'Thereis thus produced that forward and back movement of the upright rod 10 (see Fig. 3) whereby the driving train is released, and at once the wheel 13 revolves under the spring 15. causing'successive make and break of the main line from wire 38 to Wheel 13, spring 15, wire 61,- relay 42, main line 59. relay 62 at'calling station, 'key 40. and

through ground to main line battery 57.

Each contact at 15 causes relay 62 to close the. circuit of the sounder 63 through local battery 64 at the calling station, and, the proper combination of clicks being thus au-' produced in the sounder 63, the Z ma-de aware that he hassuctomatically ted theselective instrumeng 39 at the proper station. I Atithe same time that the answer backkthus oper ating the sector 32 is turning more slowly unt i'l con "tact" is finally inade with the spring. 35;

thus closing circuit through the local battery 46 and the coils 65 which energize the ma net 66 of the calling signal.

In orderto provide means whereby the Darty calling may be assured that the callcession of long and short buzzes is produceding signal 66 is in working order and is actually in operation, I prefer to add to the organization of apparatus thus far described a telephonic instrument 41 at the calling station, connected by wires 67, 68, with a supplemental coil 69 wound on the magnet 66, or otherwise in operative inductive relation thereto. Since operation of the call bell is of course accompanied by rapid magnetic changes in the magnet 66, there will be produced corresponding electric undulations on the wires 67, 68, causing a buzzing noise in the telephone 41.

It is desirable to produce interruptions in the buzzing so caused having durations and a particular sequence corresponding to thecode combination of the particular station where the signal bell is ringing. By this means the party calling can identify the station at which he has rung the bell. For this purpose, I prefer to provide a short circuit by wires 70, 71, connected to the extremities of the supplemental coil 69. and to the springs 15 and 72. This short circuit is closed whenever the spring 15 is raised by a tooth on the wheel 13 and at such times, the induced current being diverted by the short circuit. the telephone .41 is silent. \Vhenever the spring 15 descends between the teeth 14. however. the short circuit is broken and the induced current reaches the telephone and causes a buzzing. Thus a sucat 41 which identifies the bell which is ringing.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the benefit of the intermittent or pulsating current through the signaling device 6 may be made available substantially as herein described without actually winding the coil intended to reeeiveinduced c urrent therefrom upon the nuignet (i6 itself, and my invention covers any combination or arrangement of parts whereby an instrument sensitive to induce alternating currents (such for instance as a telephone receiver 41) at the calling station is made t6 receive an answer back signal f"om':a coil or wind ing placed in inductive relation to the circuitthrough the signaling instrument. will also be understood that the word circuit when employed in this.specificat.ion or in the claims is used in abroad sense and may include a complete circuit from battery back to battery, or only such portion of a circuit as may include the coils of one or more. oftbe various devices forming a portion of the system disclosed herein.

The apparatus thus far described is suflicient. by itself to accomplish all the objects had in view. assuming that. the operation of the mechanism liberated by the magnet 3 is never interrupted. Iiut inasmuch as the answer back wheel 1?, and spring 15 are necessarily included in and operate directly upon the main line circuit, it becomes important to uard against a possible interruption of said circuit by accidental arrest of the wheel at a wrong time. It is clear that,

'if by any accident (as by breakage of the dering the entire main line wire useless from one end to the other. I therefore prefer to employ supplemental means for preventing such a catastrophe. in combination with the apparatus hitherto described. Broadly considered, the particular means herein shown for the above purpose, comprises a circuit closer for closing the main line circuitaround the spring 15 and wheel 13, restraining means therefor, a -device for releasing the circuit closer and means operated by the answer back device for controlling operation of said device.

In detail as shown the circuit closer comprises a lever 73 loosely pivoted at 74 and carrying a contact/pin 75 which falls against the stationary contact spring 76,- when the lever 73 is released. The lever'73 being in electric connection with the main frame 2 is connected electrically to the Wheel 13 as indicated by the wire 77 in Fig. 6. The spring 7 6 is mounted upon insulation 78 and is connected by the wire 79 with the spring 15. It will thus be seen that when the lever 73 falls,

on the lever 73, whereby said lever is sup ported and prevented from falling, thus preventing contact of the pin 75 with the spring 76. Also fixed to the pivot 81, but; at the opposite side of the apparatus, a depending too the contact pin 75 touching the spring 7 6 will close'a branch aroundreleasing lever 83 is provided, the lower end of which is bent laterally so as to normally touch the stop plate 84, adjustably fixed to the frame 2 at 85 (see Fig. 2). These elements serve to adjust the extent ofnormal engagement between-the hook 80' and the. lip 82, and the lever 83 also provides means whereby the book 80 may be moved out of engagementwith said lip 82. The preterred mechanism for this purpose is construt-ted as ,follows: Outside of the frame 2 a stout wire or rod 86 forms an adjustable inclined track upon the top of which rolls the axis 87 of the two inertia wheels 88.

. turn are the frame. I

As shown in Fig. 1, the lateral extension extremity 'of the lever 90, pivoted at 91 to of the releasing lever 83 projects into the path in Figs. 2 and 'from the lip i by which as thereupon-' begin toroll slowly down the the spring 15 is depressed are of the inner arm 89, so that, as the inertia wheels 88 slowly roll down the track 86, said arm will push against said extension and, by moving it and the hook 80 to the right 3, will disengage the hook 80 "be made by the pin 75. Normally this ac t-ion is prevented by the depending arm 92, whose lateral extension 93 projects across both wheels 88 and pushes them. to the left in Fig. 2, so as to bring the arm 89 against the stop 94. The upper end of the arm 92 is rigidly fixed on the lever 95 pivoted at 96, and this lever is normall supported by a light curved finger 97 l ixed to an insulating lever 98 pivoted at 99 and whose ,outer end bears'upon the u per side of the spring 15 (see Fig. 2). s the Wheel 13 revolves, and each time that the contactspring 15 dips downward between two teeth 14, the outer end of the lever 98 follows this downward movement, causing the extremity of the finger 97 to descend a disr tance as many times greater than that traversed by the spring 15 as the length ofthe finger 97 exceeds the length of the lever 98 it is carried. This permits the lever 95 to move downward by causes the arm 92 to move'to t Fig.2, freeing the inertia wheels e right in 88, which track 86.

When the answer back is operating nor-j uring which mally the intervals of time so short that the {finger 97 restores .the lever 95 and arm lever 83. Thus the arm 92 prevented. This normal 92 to the position illustratedbefore the slowly moving wheels 88 have time to bring the arm 89 into contact with the releasing pushes the arms 89 back to the position illustrated without and so closure of the'main line at the spring 76 is normally return movement of the retarding mechanism is accomplished by sliding the axis 87 back along the track 9 18 6 without rotation of the inertia wheels 88, and this occurs instantly and without appreciable' retardatio N If any accident the wheel 13 either fails t6 turn or is arrested during its operation, one'of-two conditions produced. lfithe spring 15 is nidingon a" tooth 14 at sucha time, the niain line circuit is main,-

tained intact by contact between said spring 3 and tooth. If, on the other hand, the wheel 13stops while the spring 15' is depressed between two teeth, leaving the main line 82, thus allowing contact to' telephonic or avity and open at that point, the finger 97 will also be depressed and the arm 92 will leave the wheels 88 free to roll far enough so that the arm 89 strikes the lever 83, causing the hook 80 to release the lever 78 and permit the pin 7 5 to close themain line circuit at '76. Thus accidental failure of operation of the answer-back can at no time interrupt the main line circuit.

While I have shown my apparatus organized so as totransmit a code signal from the station called to the calling station both telegraphically and telephonically, either the I telegraphic communication may be used alone without departing from my invention. It is also to be understood that the particular arrangement and combination of instruments above described are merely illustrative and that many changes, modifications and additions canbe made in the same without departing from my invention, which is not limited in its scope to these details. I have used reference numerals in certain of the following claims, the better to identify the elements referred to, but the use of'such numerals is not intended to limit the scope of such claims to the precise form of such element as illustrated herein. What I claim is- 1 In apparatus of the class described, in-

combination, an electrically operated an swer back signaling means, a local signal, a second answer. back signaling means located in inductive relation to the local signal, selecting means for controlling the operation of both of saidaiiswer back signaling means and said local signal.

' 2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, electrically operated answer back signaling means, a local signal, a sec- 0nd answer back signalin means located in inductive relation to sai local signal, se-

lecting means for controlling the operation of said answer back signaling means, and means for producing a number of operations of one of said answer back signalin means while continuing the operation of t e' local signal.

3. Ailevice of the class'describedcoinprising an actuating gear train, a check wheel driven thereby, two egs thereon on diflerent radii and at di ercnt distances from the center of the wheel, a tilting rod adapted to engage successively with said pegs, an operating arm for said rod, a normally bowed spring in operative relation to said arm and an electro-magnet and armature arranged to straighten said spring for operation of said arm, substantially as de scribed.

4. A device of the class described comprising an electrically operated local signal, an electrically actuated answer back, acircuit, for the latter a section of which isplaced in inductive relation to said signal circuit, a short circuit across the ends of said inductively placed circuit-section and automatic means for opening and closin said short circuit, substantially as describe signal, common operating mechanism for both, a telephonic answer back, means for supplying current to the latter controlled by said local signal, and means for producing prearranged modifications in said current controlled by said telegraphic answer baclg substantially. as described.

7. A device of the class described comprising an electromagnetic si nal, an operating magnet therefor, an inductively operated answer backsignal, a circuit therefor comprising a coil upon said operating magnet, a short circuit around said 0011, and means for making and breaking said short circuit, substantially as described.

8. In apparatus of the class described in combination, a circuit for transmitting s gnaling impulses from a calling station,- a local signal, a circuit for said local signal, selecting means for controlling the. operation of said local signal, answer back means in inductive relation with the circuit of said local signal, and an answer back receiving device in the calling station.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a circuit for transmitting signaling impulses from a calling station, a local signal, a circuit for said local signal,

selecting means for controlling the operation of said local signal, answer back meansin inductive relation with the circuit of said local signal, an answer back receiving device in the calling station, 'a branch circuit about said answer back means, and means for momentarily opening and closing said branch circuit.

10. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a circuit for transmitting signaling impulses from a calling station, a local signal, a circuit for said local signal, selecting means for controlling the operation of said local signal, answer back means in inductive relation with the circuit of said local signal, an answer back receiving de- I vice in the calling station, and meansfon stance rendering the action of said answer back means intermittent. I 11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a circuit for transmission of signals, an answer back signaling device in said circuit, a circuit closer in a branch around said answer back, means for operating said circuit closer including reciprocating retarding means operative in'one direction only and mechanism operated by movements of said answer'back device for alternately releasing and pushing back said retarding means, substantially as described.

12. In combination an answer back signaling device, a circuit closer in a branch circuit around said device, a device forclosing circuit through said circuit closer, means for applying operative pressure to said device, a retarding device for said last named ineans,'and mechanism operated by movements of said answer back device for controlling the action of said retarded pressure applying means, substantially as described.

13. In combination an answer back sig nailing device. a circuit closer in a branch circuit around the same, a device for closing circuitthrough said circuit closer,a reciprocating means for applying operative pressure to said device, a retarding device for said last named means operative in one direction only, and mechanism operated by movements of said answer back device for alternately pushing said reciprocating means in its unretarded direction and releasing it to permit rctarded movement thereof, substantially as described.

14. In combination an answer back signaling device, a circuit closer in a branch circuit around the same, a device for closing circuit through said circuit closer, means operated by gravity in one direction topro-" its upper position after each movement in an operative direction, substantially 'as-described.

15. In combination an answer back sig naling device. a circuit closer in a branch circuit around the same, a device for closing circuit through said circuit closer, a reciprocating means for applying operative pressure to said iast named device and mechanism operatively connected with said answer back device for normally arresting movement of said reciprocating means before it reaches the circuit closing device and so arranged as to be inoperative when the answer babk device stops 'on open circuit, substan tiiQlly as described.-

- 16. An answer back signaling device-coniprising a toothed wheel and a movable 0011-- {act device adapted to alternately rise upon. thewheel teeth and sink between them; in

" i hai'iswer back receivin averse combination with a circuitcloser in a branch I around said answer back and mechanism op I erated by the rise and fall of said contactdevice for mntrolling operation of said cir- 6cuit closer, substantially asdescribed. 17. In combination an answer back signaling device, a circuit closer in a branch cirfcuit around the same and comprising a gravity lever and cooperating contact piece, a N 10 pivoted hook "for supporting said lever and an arm for tripping said hook; in combination with an inclined/track, a Substantially horizontal pivoted lever (as 90) an upright [lever (as .89) pivoted 'tos'aid horizontal le- 7 rev so as toswing against said tripping arm, a retarding wheel pivoted .to said upright level-and rolling on said track, and means f oiierated by said answer back device for con- 7 j f" trolling the movements of said wheel and its attached levers. substantially i s described.

" n 18. An answer back; signaling device comprif-ii'ng a \vheelhaving teeth, and a mo ma "jing contact piece adapted to alternately ride 1 upon and dip between said teeth, a pivoted 26 lever (as 98) bearing upon said contact aro'i'ind said answer back, a restraining de- 1 vice therefor, retardingtripping means for said device, a substantially horizontal piv- 'BQoted lever (as 95), an arm fixed theretoand f qnnplngmg upon said .retarded tripping means for its operatiomand a finger fixed to I .saidlever 98 and bearing against said lever I '95 for operatingthe latter,substantially as desc1'ibed. I

19 Atlevice theclass described comprising in' combination an answer-back wheel capable of short initial ,movement :Hwithout operation of'tlio answer-back, a 40 starting device capable of successive forward and backward movement,means connected with saidwhee-l andc'otiperating with said starting device for producingshort initial movement of said device 'a-ndcomplete liber- 46 'ation of the a wheel on the: next backward movement of saidv device-an. electro-magnet governing said starting device, and selec-- tively operatedmechanism forsuccessively making f and breaking the circuit of said to magnet,substantially as described. 1 20. In" combination; a -calling station, a-

main line connected therewith, anumber of Y sub-stationsconnected with said main line, a

. selective signal operator and local signal cir- '55 cuitlat each sub-station, asignal operated thereby at each station arranged produce rapid potential changes-when, operated, an devicea't the calling station and a circuit connected to said j ,answeraback receiving device and' arranged ini-nductive relation to the signal circuits in said substations, substantiallyas described. 91. in combination, a calling station, a "main line connected therewith, a numberof piece,- a circuit closer in a branch circuit.

answer-back receiving device at the calling station,-a circuit connected to said answer-F back receiving device, a local inductive circuit at each sub-station in inductive relation to said local signal circuit, means controlled by-said selective signal operator for producing identifying changes in the condition of each of said local inductive circuits.

22. In a signaling system in combination,

.a signaling circuit, a local signal, answer back means combined with said local signal and located in inductive relation with said signaling circuit. means for impressing impulses upon said signaling'circuit, and selecting mechanism for controlling said last named'means.

'23. In a signaling system in combination, a signaling circuit, a. local signal, acircuit for said localsignal, automatically 0 eratedv answer back means combined with said local .signal and located in inductive relation with said signaling circuit. means for impressing impulses upon said signaling circuit, and selecting mechanism for controlling said last named means. n

24. In a signaling system, in combination, an instrument for impressing signaling impulses upon the line, a local signahanswer back means located in inductive relation with the local signal, an answer back receiving instruinent,,and selectingmeans operated by the signalingimpulses impressed upon the line from the signaling station for I controlling the operation of the local signal.

In a signaling system, thecombination with a line connecting a calling and. a

called station, ofan instrument at the'calle mg station'for lmpressing signaling impulses on the line, a selector at the called station selectively o erated by definite, predetermined .sign'aing impulses, an electro magnetically operated signal includin a vibrating member at the called station, tieelectromagnet. of said signal directly operating said vibrating member and having a normally open local circult controlled by said selector,

and an electrically actuated answer back receivin instrument-at the calling station arranget 1n circuit to'rece1ve a flow of current member of said local signal.

' 26. In a signaling system, the combination with a'line connectlnga calling and a called station, of an instrument at the calling station for impressing signaling. impulses on the line, alselector at the called station selectively operated by definite. predetermined signaling impulses, impressed on the line by said instrument, an electro-magnetically opvaried by the operation of the vibrating circuit of said local signal, whereby the conthe line, a selector at the called. station seerated local signal at the called station hav- I ing its circuit controlled by said selec or, and an electrically actuated answer back receiving instrument at the calling station ar ranged in circuit to receive induced currents resulting from the operation of said electromagnetically operated local signal.

27. In a signaling system, the combination with a line connecting a calling and a called station, of an instrument at the calling station for impressing si%1aling impulses on the line, a selector at t e called station selectively operated by definite, predetermined signaling impulses, an electro-magnetically operated local signal at the-called station having its circuit controlled by said selector, and an electrically actuated answer back receiving instrument at the calling station, responsive to a current flow of varying potential, said answer back receiving instrument having its circuit operatively related to the tinned and rapid interruption of the current flow of the circuit of the local signal resulting from the operation of said local signal produces a current flow of varying potential through said answer back receiving instrument. i

28. In a signaling system, the combination with a line. connecting a calling and a called station, of an instrument at the calling station for impressing signaling impulses on let-tively operated by said definite, predetermined signaling impulses, an electro-magnetically operated local signal at the called station having its circuit controlled by said selector, and an electrically actuated answer back receiving instrument at the calling station, the coils of the electro-magnet of said local signal being operatively related to the circuit of said answer back receiving instrument to produce therein a variable current flow. M 29. In a signaling system, the combinatipn with an instrument at the calling station for impressing electrical signaling impulses and a selector at a called station i'espons'weto definite, predetermined signaling ini'pnlsesl a i J ment, of an electro-magnetically operateu signal including a vibrating member at the called station, the electro-magnet of said signal directly operating said vibrating member and having a normally open circuit arranged to be closed by the operation of said selector, an electrically actuated answer back receiving instrument at the calling station.

responsive to currents of variable potential produced by the operation of the vibrating member of said signal, and a system of circuits electrically connecting said instrument for impressing electrical impulses on the line and said selector, and for also electrically con meeting said electro-magnetically operated signal and said answer back receiving instrument.

30. The combination with a system of circuits. of an instrument for impressing electrical signal impulses and a selector Operatively responsive only to definite, redetermined signaling impulses connecte in said system of circuits at a calling andcalled station, respectively, an electro-magnetically actuated signal at the called station having its circuit controlled by said selector, and an answer back receiving instrument at the called station electrically connected by means of said system of circuits with the coils of the electro'magnet of said signal. 31. In a signaling system, the combination with a main line connecting a calling and a called station, of a local signaling circuit at the called station,,means for selectively controlling said signaling circuit, a signal in said signaling circuit arranged to produce rapid potential changes when operated, and an electrically actuated answer back receiving device at the calling station having its circuit operatively related to the circuit of said local signal, whereby rapid'potential changes in the signaling circuit produce corresponding potential changes in the circuit of said answer back receiving device.

.. EDWIN a. GILL. Witnesses:

H. S. MACKAYE, .TA Mns S. LAING.

produced by the operation of said instru- F

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