USRE15048E - Telephone-exchange - Google Patents

Description

F. A. LUNDQUIST. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 13, 1915.

ln venlor Frank 4. Luna/440197 Wifhesses: 090 .Me.

F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1915,

Reissued Feb. 22, 1921. 15,048.

13 SHEETSSHEET 3- W/fnesses: 'lm/enfor:

QW. flank/4. Luna/741131;

F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOVn1-3, 1915,

Reissugd Feb. 22, 1921. 15,048.

I3 SHEET SSHEET 4- W/Tfleases: M (QM-ME- Frank A Lundqu/sfi I f /wy F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13, 1915.

Reissued Feb. 22, 1921. 15,048.

13 SHEETSSHEET 6.

W/Iness es /m e/7 far: I 9 -M I E am? A L unaqu/s If F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. I915,

Reissugd Feb. 22, 1921.

| I I I l I I I I I I I I I I l I l I I l I l I I I l W177? ass as F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1915,

Beissued Feb.22, 1921. 15,04L8.

13' SHEETS-SHEET a.

W/f'n e .55 e s Myer/for.-

069,444 QQMA Frank ,4. L uriaqu/s f.

F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV" 13, 1915.

11615311611 Feb. 22, 1921. 15,048.

13 SHEETSS HEET H.

No. 4.- Na. 6.

W/fn e55 ea /nvenfok: M E Frank ,4. Z qndqw'sf 4 77mm y F. A. LUNDQUIST.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1915.

15,048. 83 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

Reissued Feb. 22, 1921.

Wfinesses: 00 7?? we QC M FRANK A. LUNDQUIST, OP PORTLAND,

' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

OREGON, ASSIQNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

:mLnrnoNa-nxcnmen Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued F b 22 1921.

Drig-inal No. 1,135,121, dated April 13, 1915, Serial No. 158,443, illed Kay 28, 1903. Application for relssue flied November 13, 1915. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that FRANK. A. LUNDQUIST, a citizen of the United States of America, anda resident of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Telephone-Exchanges, of WhlCll the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic exchanges in which the calling subscribervselects the telephone called, and has for its object improvements in the construction and arrangements shown in my Patent Number 606,764, issued July 5, 1898, and in my Patent No. 747,197, issued December 15, 1903. The main switches and telephone boxes are similar to those shown in the first-named patent, but differ in some details. The plan of making electrical connections through an auxiliary switch, as described in the secondnained patent, is continued in this, but the construction of the auxiliary switches is different and a different system is employed in making such connnections.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan of one of the main switches; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same partially diagrammatic; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the auxiliary switches; Fig. 7 is a partial vertical. section corresponding to Fig. 6 Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, the magnets at the right being in plan; Fig. 9 is a sention on line 99 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the parts at the extreme left of Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the upper telephone box; Fig.12 is an interior view of the two telephone boxes showing part of the electric circuits; Figs. 13 and 14: taken together are a diagram showing the complete circuits for one telephone, one main switch and one auxiliary switch; Figs. 15 and 16 taken together are an abridged diagram showing six telephones (marked respectively, No. 1, No. 2, etc.) with their corresponding main switches, and two auxiliary switches; Fig. 17 is a front elevation with the dial and connected mechanism removed from its supporting plate; and Fig. 18 1s a plan of the same the supporting cover bemgshown in section; Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic new to illustrate in a more simple manner than Figs. 13 and 14, of Figs. 15 and 16, the circuits and electromagnets usedin establishing a talking circuit between two subscribers.

In the said drawings M is a switch carrying frame or base in which is mounted an insulating diskO rovided with a series of contact points L. S M is a vertical spindle M end of which is an arm M and'a disk M whlle upon the lower end of said spindle is secured an arm having the end N in electrical connection therewith and the end N insulated therefrom. The ends N and N come into contact with the contact points L. Loosely mounted about the spindle M and supported on the frame M, is a ratchet wheel M provided with both spur and crown teeth. A magnet A, with its armature lever A and pawl A serves to turn the Wheel M b engagement with the spur teeth thereo The arm M is normally in engagement with the crown teeth so that the turning of the wheel M serves to also turn the s indle M and consequently the arms N and Supported at a suitable place on the frame or upon the upper base M is a magnet B whose armature leverI B has-a flexible end B that normally rests nextto the beveled edge of the disk M as shown in Fig. 3. At one spindle M and the parts connected thereto, have a normal position which is determined by contact between the arm M and a stop M on the base M. When in norma'l position, the notch 13" comes in line with the lever B After the spindle M and its connected parts have been moved by the action of the magnet A, they may be returned to normal poplace in the 1pc riphery of the disk M is cut a notch B he upported in the frame The spring M 1 then returns the spindle M to normal position, when the notch B being in line with B, the parts settle down with M again 1n contact with the teeth of the wheel M. The action of the magnet A is, therefore, to move the arms N and N by successive steps into contact with the oints L, and the action of B is to release t ese arms and permit them to be returned to normal position.

When the magnet B draws down the lever B it makes an electrical contact between B and (see Fig. 13.) It also tilts a lever B which carries an insulated contact point B adapted to slide under, and be caught and held by, the hook C on the armature lever C. When the magnet C attracts C it releases C from B and permits the lever B to fall back against the contact point 39. A fourth magnet D serves to make electrical contact between D and 62. Secured to, but insulated from, the lever A is a bent lever 24, to one end of which is connected a spring 23 that retracts the armature from the magnet A, and to the other end of which is fastened an insulating piece 24. Adjacent to 24" are four insulated strips 20, 27, 28, and 29. These are normally separated from each other, but the tilting of the lever 24 closes the contact between 26 and 27, and also between 28 and 29. Contact is revented between 27 and 28 by a piece oFinsulation carried by one of them and located between the two. The tilting of the lever 24 also makes a contact between it and an adjacent strip 69.

The auxiliary switch is shown in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive. The upper part of this switch is practically the same as that of the main switch just described and does not need additional description beyond the statement that the magnet F turns the pointer P over the contact points Q, and magnet H releases the pointer so as to permit it to be returned to normal position. In the lower part of the frame S are supported a series of insulated contact points R from which run the wires 98. The points R are arranged in rectangular form and the total number is equal to, or greater than, the total number of telephones in the exchange. There are preferably nine or ten contact points R in each transverse row, and there are as many rows as necessary to make the full number for the required exchange. Supported over the contacts It is a ratchet rack T parallel with the greater length of the auxiliary switch. The rack T is moved step/by ste to theleft by magnet G, armature lever G and pawl G. A spring V and cord V serve to draw the rack T to the extreme right, which is its normal position. A set screw T adapted to come into contact with part of the frame S, serves to determine the extreme movement to the right. A pawl G, supported in the frame S, serves to hold the rack T from being retracted by V and V, until the said pawl G is released. This release is effected by an arm G which is connected to the main spindle of the switch, so that when the ma et H raises this spindle to permit the pointer P to return to its normal position, it also releases G and permits the rack 1 to also be returned to its normal position. Secured to the rack T is a cross-head, or carrier, which carries a series or group of insulated strips, or contact devices, K, adapted to make simultane )us contact with all of the contact points R in any one of the transverse rows. The opera- 7 tion of these parts is that the magnet G moves the strips K forward (to the left) by successive steps into contact with the rows of contact points R, and the magnet H releases the holding devices so as to permit V and V to return the strips K to the extreme (normal )position to the right. The operation of the magnet E at the left end of the auxiliary switch is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10. Adjacent to the armature lever E are four insulated metal strips 43, 44, 45 and 46. The strips 45 and 46 are normally in contact with each other, while the strips 43 and 44 are normally separated; but when magnet E is energized, insulated'stud E? on armature E separates 45 and 46, and E, 44 and 43 are brought into electrical connection with each other.

The telephone boxes are similar in their general arrangement to those shown. in my previously mentioned patents. On the front cover of the upper box is a crank 199 for turning the spindle 200 and gear 201 which meshes into a larger gear 202 on the spindle 203. Connected to, and turning with, the gear 202 is a ten-pointed star wheel 204 which engages an insulated piece on the lever J. Normally the lever J is in the position shown in the drawings, with its shorter end in contact with the contact point J ,,but the rotation of the star wheel 204 vibrates the lever J so that the said shorter end makes alternate contacts between 5 and J. A pin 205 on the wheel 204 comes into contact with the striker 206 of the bell 207 once during each rotation ofsaid wheel, consequently the bell 207 rings once for each ten times that the lever J connects to the contact 5. From. the contact 5 a wire 14 runs to another contact 15 against which a spring 17 may be pushed by a push button 170 located on the front cover. The receiver 210 is supported on the ordinary hook 211, which, in its lowest position, is in contact with the point 212 and in its upper position with the points 7 and 213. The hook or lever 211 is so arrangedthat .during its descending motion it will move a secondary lever 208, so {as to cause electrical contact between 71, 72, and 9 (see Fig. 14.) and will release this contact before it reaches its lowest position. Durin use,

transmitter 219. There are also certain oints, the purbinding posts and contact rom the drawpose of which is evident lngs. connected together by electrlcal connections in the manner illustrated in the drawings, and which will be readily understood by following through the electrical clrcults hereinafter described.

In carrying this system of telephone exchange into operation I place a large number of main switches (one for each telephone) in a central exchange, anclwith them a lesser number of auxiliary switches. In my Patent No. 747,197 I supplied one auxiliary for each group of nine or ten main switches, thus making it necessary for a subscriber to first select the proper auxiliary switch and later to select the proper main switch of those connected'to the auxiliary switch. In the present application I connect all of the main switches to each auxiliary switch and then provide means for automatically making connections through the first unemployed auxiliary switch. By this means not only avoid the necessity of selectin theproper auxiliary switch but I am ab e to furnlsh better service with a less number of auxiliary switches. For example, in my Patent No. 747,197 while the first auxiliary switch is no other person can talk to any of the subscribers who are reached through that auxiliary switch, and consequently it may happen that there will be frequent delays by different subscribers waiting for a particular auxiliary switch whenthere are several idle ones. In my present arrangement, a delay can occur only when all of the auxiliary switches are in use, and connections can be made as soon as any one is at liberty without any respect to which one it is. To accomplish this I run a wire 98 from the normal contact point for the pointer N of the first main switch, and from this wire I run branches to the first contact point in the first transverse row of contact points in each auxiliary switch. From the normal .contact point for N of the second main swltch I run a similar wire with branches to the second contact of each auxiliary switch. From the third main switch are similar connections to the third contact of each auxiliary switch, and so on. It will therefore be apparent that the 17th main switch would be connected to the seventeenth the eighth contact in the thirt The various parts mentioned are wire running to the until the bell 207 contact point in the rectangular 'arran ement of each auxiliar switch, which ar convenience sake would be the seventh contact in the second row of contacts. Or, stated in the other way, telephone number seventeen may be reached at its" normal for N through the seventeenth contact of any auxiliary switch. In the same wa telephone No. 328 would be reached -t rough third row of any auxiliary switch. In eac the contact point for N next normal has a wire 55 that runs to the magnet F of the first auxiliary switch. From the third contact a wire 55 runs to the magnet F of the second auxiliary switch, and so on.

Or stated in the other way, from the magnet F of the first auxiliary switch, runs a wire with branches to the second contact point for N of each main switch. From F of the second auxiliary switch a wire with branches connects to the third contact for N of each main switch, and so on. In Fig. 13 of the drawings these connections are shown as made between the 46th main switch and the second auxiliary switch, the other connections being left unshown but would be made in the same manner between any main switch and any auxiliary switch. The pointer N being on the same spindle with pointer N moves with it and both are on their normal contact points at the same time. The normal contact point for but from the second point a wire runs to the pointer P of the first auxiliary switch, from the third point to P of the second auxiliary switch, and so on. From the normal contact point for P of each auxiliary switch a wire runs to the magnet E for that switch and thence to a line running through the battery Y. The second contact point for P N is a blank,

is a blank. The third contact point has a magnet G and thence to a l1ne running through the battery Z. The succeeding contact points in regular order run tothe first, second, third, etc., strips or contact devices K.

When a subscriber wishes to call another he removes his receiver, turns the crank 199 ringsonce and pushes the button 170 once. If it' is telephone number forty-six he wants, he turns crank 199 till the figure four shows on the dial in front, (which .dial is the marked front face of the gear 202'or a disk secured thereto), and then pushes button 17 0 six times. He then turns the generator crank to call and waits for reply. When through talking he hangs up the receiver. This explains the operations as far as the calling subscriber is concerned. The called subscriber simply takes' down and hangs up his receiver.

Turning now to the automatic operations permits abeing magnet A by way removal of receiver 210 from the hook 211 the said hook to rise in the ordinary manner and come into contact with 7 and 213. The turning of crank 199 until the bell 207 rings once vibrates the lever J ten times and makes ten contacts with 5. Upon making a contact at 5 the current flows from battery Z-100-45-J6 7211- 73 20 21 -A-22-B --C (B normally under and in contact with C)2599Z. Each time the current is thus sent through A it actuates magnet A and moves the pointers N and N over their respective contact points until the pointer N reaches a contact whose wire 32 is connected to an auxiliary switch which is not in use and consequently has its pointer P on its normal contact point. When such a contact point is reached the contact between 26 and 27 (which is closed each time magnet A attracts its armature) permits a current to flow from battery Y-34--26-27-30- C-31 32-P-33E38-Y. Sending a current through C releases the hook on C from B" and permits B to all back against 39. This breaks the connection so that the current can no longer flow through of C As this occurs, however, when A- is attracted, there is con tact between 28 and 29 and the current continues to flow through A by way of 3529-- 28-3699-Z, till the contact is broken in the telephone box at 5. The contact be tween 28 and 29 therefore acts as a safet to prevent the circuit being broken throng A before the other operations can be completed which are incident to the pointer N reaching the connection to an unemployed auxiliary switch. When the contact between J and 5 is broken by the rotation of the star wheel 204 under these circumstances, it permits the breaking of the circuit between 28 and 29. This leaves the circuit beyond A open in both directions, consequently further rotation of the crank 199 and star wheel 204 will have no effect whatever. It should be noted that magnet A normally is included in a bridge or branch from the subscribers line 20 to battery Z. As soon as an idle link circuit or trunk extending to an idle auxiliary switch is found by pointer or wiper N this bridge is interrupted at contact C, B by the energization of test relay C, and line 20 is connected directly with wiper N through 37, B, 39 and 40.

v Returning again to the circuit described as running through C and IE, it will be seen that attracting E closes the contact through E 43 and 44 at the same time B comes into contact with 39. \Vhen this occurs the current flows from Z-10045J-(this current being simultaneous with the one made between J and 5 and flowing through 28 and 29)6-7-211-73'-2037B3940 N 32P-3341E 44-434748 .F99--Z. The current through F moves the pointer P to a blank contact and consequently breaks its own circuit at this point, and also the original energizing circuit for E. As, however, this break occurs while 43 and 44 are in contact the current flows from 32 to 48 by wayof 49, 44, 43, and 47. Also current continues to flow through E from battery Y by way of 49, 44 E and 41 until contacts 26 and 27 of A are Separated. The breaking of the circuit in the telephone box between J and 5 leaves the line through F open in both directions, consequently further rotation of the star wheel 204 will not afi'ect F.

It will be seen that the general result of removing the receiver and turning the crank 199 is to move the pointers N and N of the main switch connected to that particular telephone, step by step over their respective contact points until they reach (me that is connected to an unemployed auxiliary switch. That when such a oint is reached other circuits are complete that move the pointer of the unemployed auxiliary switch to a blank contact point and break all circuits so that a further rotation of the crank 199 is without effect. And also that moving 3 the pointer of the auxiliary switch removes it from the unemployed class so that no other main switch can reach it until its pointer has been returned to normal position, because it is through that point that the connecting circuits are made. Secured to the spindle 203 of the star wheel 204 is a, dial having numbers from 0 to 9 on its face, one of which shows through the opening shown in Fig. 11. The lower position of the crank 199 is its normal position, and when in this position either 0 or 5 shows at this opening because it takes two rotations of said crank to make one of the star wheel 204, which in turn makes ten contacts between J and 5 and rings the bell 207 at the completion of the tenth contact, which is when 0 shows at the opening. The reason for turning the crank till the bell rings once after moving the receiver, is to leave it at its normal position, and because there will seldom be as many as ten auxiliary switches in use at the same time. however, be turned any number of times, but no effect will be produced after the first unemployed auxiliary switch is reached.

Pushing the button 170 once sends a current from battery Z-100415-1718- 5051-52-D (there being no current .in line 20, D has no efi'ect)--53-A N-55'- 48F-99Z. This moves the pointer P to contact with wire 56, when, by again turning the crank 199 and making contacts between J and 5, the current flows from' battery Z1OO-4-5-J67211-7 2O-37-B -394O-N 32-P56G 99Z. This moves the strips or contact The crank may, I

devices K into contact with the first row of contact points R, and it four contacts are made at J--5, the strips K will be moved to the fourth row of contacts R. This would be when the figure 4 showed on the face of the dial. Then if the button 170 be .again pushed, the circuit will be made in the same manner as before and the ointer P will be moved into contact with t e line 60 that reaches the first contact strip K. If it is the sixth strip Kthat is wanted, then the button 170 is pushed six times: and if the strips K are on (or have been moved to) the fourth row of contacts R, then the pointer P is in electrical connection with the normal contact point forN of the forty sixth main switch.

It will be observed that after the pointer has been moved into contact with the line running through G, each contact made 11y turning the crank 199 moves the strips over ten contact points R, and as the ringing of the bell 20 indicates ten contacts at it also indicates one hundred contact points R. It will therefore be apparent that the number of hundreds is indicated b the number of the strokes of the bell 207 that the number of tens is indicated by the dial figure and that the number of units is indicated by the number of times the button 170 is pushed. Thus if telephone No. 263 is wanted, the crank 199 is turned till the bell 207 rings twice and the figure 6 shows on the dial, then the button 170 is pushed three times.

assing for the moment the ringing circuit, it will be assumed that the person called has removed his receiver, then the primary circuit will be as follows: W89 211 213 889121990VV. Starting at the secondary of the calling telephone, the talking circuit will be as follows: secondary 86 210 858l-80-81-82- J -J672117320 to the main switch belonging to the calling telephone 37-B -39-40N 32 to the auxiliary switch which was selected P selected 60 to K on R in the selected row of contact points 98 to the normal of the main switch belonging to the telephone called -NA -53D52515O- to the telephone called -1817-167587- secondary 86 210 85 -84-8081 82-J J67211732O- back to the main switch of the telephone called -21-A-'22BC (the subscriber called did not send a circuit through the magnet C of his switch) 25-line 99 return ing on the branch which leads to F of the auxiliary switch selected 48-55 to the main switch belonging to the calling telephone NA 53 the calling telephone 18-171675 87-secondary-which is the place of starting. When ringing to call, the subscriber and 9. The current then flows from bateleotromagnets D and F in series.

Closing the contacts between D and 62 by the action of D, and between contacts 9 and 72 by the hanging up of the receiver closes a second circuit from Z100-729-73- 20 -61 62 l) 61-B6599Z. I Simultaneousl. with this a third circuit goes from Z to lowing the same course, but branching from 20 to 37B39-40N 32 -'PF 66-674546-68-H-99 Z. Contact between F and 66 was made when electromagne't F was energized in series with electromagnet D over the first release circuit traced above. Closing the second circuit through B breaks the third circuit between B and 39, but the first circuit furnishes a branch (closed by the same action of B) from A -NB -7O40-N etc., as given for the third circuit. Making and breaking the circuit through B returns the pointers N and N to their normal position and engages B with the hook of C The circuit through and permits them to return to their normal position. It should be observed that the release circuit just traced for release magnet H, of the auxiliary switch or final connector, includes the test contact, engaged by test wiper or pointer N of the main switch individual to the calling line, by means of which said main switch determines the idle condition of said auxiliary switch and selects said switch and its connecting link or trunk circuit for use in establishing the talking circuit.

In case the receiver should be hung up without connection having been made to any auxiliary switch, then no current would have been sent through C and consequently B would be in contact with the hook of C Then the current would be Z100729 73 2O 21 A-22 B C 25 99 Z. The current through A closes the contact between 24 and 69 when a current would flow: Z-1OO7271195O-5l2324l69 64B65-99-Z, which would return the pointers N and N to normal.

It will be apparent that the simple act of hanging up the receiver returns all parts to their original position ready for the next call without the necessity of ringing ofl or H releases P and K requiring the interposition of an operator at central.

In Fig. 19 the talking circuit above described 1s indicated by the heavy lines extending from the calling subscribers station at the right of the figure to the called subscribers station at the left; it passes through wipers N, N, of the calling subscribersindividual non-numerical trunk hunting switch, marked main switch, and the automatically selected first idle trunk leading to the idle auxiliary switch by which connection finally is made with the desired called line as follows :--One limb 32' of the trunk extension of the calling line is extended through wipers P and K of the auxiliary switch and through normally closed contacts and electromagnet D of the called subscribers main switch, to the called subscribers station. The other limb 48, of the trunk extension of the calling line, connects with the called line over a portion of the common battery lead 99 and through normally closed contacts C B and electromagnet A of the called subscribers individual main switch.

This Fig. 19 also serves to show, more clearly than any of the other figures, the relation to the talking circuit of the several bridged control magnets at the main and auxiliary switches.

To simplify Fig. 19 as much as possible, only so much of the apparatus has been diagrammaticall indicated as is necessary to understand t e circuits, and many of the parts are shown out of their actual mechanical relation indicated in other figures of the drawings. b running the circuits back and forth as in igs. 13 and\14, the contacts of relays B, C and D have been placed away from the relays, but in each instance the reference character of the relay, which either opens or closes a particular set of contacts has been placed in a circle adjacent said contacts.

What I claim is:

1. A series of contact points arranged in rows, a series of separate strips adapted to come into electrical contact with the contact points of successive rows by successive steps, a dial, electrical connections from the several strips to a corresponding series of other contact points on the dial, a pointer and devices for moving it into successive contact with the contact points on the dial, a switch, connections from said pointer to the switch and from the switch to a telephone station, and means for operating the devices for moving the pointer through the connections between said pointer and said station.

2. A series of contact points arranged in rows, a series of separate contact devices adapted to be moved into contact with suc cesslve rows of contact points, a dial pro- To avoid the complication caused vided with a series of other contact points, a separate connection from each contact device to a separate contact point on the dial, a pointer adapted to be movedover the contact points on the dial, separate propelling mechanisms for moving the contact devices and the pointer, a switch and a telephone station, connections from said pointer to said switch and from the switch to said station, and means for operating said propelling mechanisms from said station so as to place the station in electrical connection with any one of the first mentioned contact points.

3. In an automatic telephone exchange, a series of main switches each consisting of series of contact points, a contact maker and a magnet for moving the contact maker step by step over said contact points, said main switches being greater in number than the number of contact points on any one of them, a series of auxiliary switches equal in number to the number of contact points on one main switch and each auxiliary switch having as many contact points as there are main switches, connections from corresponding contact points on the main switches to corresponding auxiliary switches, and return connections from the contact points of the auxiliary switches to normal contact points on all of the main switches.

4. A series of contact points arranged in rows, a series of switches each one of which has a normal contact point, a separate connection from each contact point to the normal contact point of a different switch, a series of contact devices and means for moving them into successive contact with the rows of contact points, a dial, a series of other contact points located in said dial, a pointer and devices for moving it over the contact points on the dial, separate connections from the contact devices to corresponding contact points on the dial, other contact 'points on'each switch adjacent to the said normal contact point thereon, a connection from each of the other contact points on any one of said switches to the said pointer and other similar pointers, a telephone station for each switch, connections between each station and its corresponding switch, and means for operating the said devices from any station so as to make electrical connections therefrom to any other station.

5. A switch having a frame, a pointer having one end in electrical connection with said frame and the other end insulated therefrom, a dial having a series of insulated contact points pointer, means for moving said pointer from normal position to successive contact points, an auxiliary switch having a pointer adapt ed to sweep over one set of contact points and a series of contact devices adapted to be moved over a second series of contact points,

for each end of said devices for moving the pointer and contact devices on the auxiliary switch, a telephone station and connections to said switches, and means for controlling the moving devices from the station so as to establish an electrical connection from said station through both pointers and one contact deviceto any required contact point in the said second series.

6. A main switch consisting of a pointer, a series of insulated contact points and a magnet for moving said pointer to an contact point, a series of auxiliary switches, connections from each contact point on the main switches to a different auxiliary switch, a pointer and a plurality of contact points on each auxiliary switch, a row of contact devices and a plurality of rows of contact points therefor also on said auxiliary switch, connections from each of said contact devices to a different one of the first mentioned plurality of contact points on said auxiliary switch, other connections from each contact point in said rows to a different main switch each of which is similarly connected to said auxiliary switches, wires from said magnet to a telephone station, and devices located at the station for completing an electric circuit through said magnet.

7. In a telephone exchange, the combination with a series of main switches each of which is individual for a connected telephone station and each of which consists of a series of electrical connections less in number than the number of switches, a contact maker and a magnet for moving the contact maker step-by-step into successive connection with the electrical connections, of a series of auxiliary switches equal in number to the number of connections on one main switch and connected to all of the main switches, each auxiliary switch being provided with a separate connection for each main switch, means for automatically selecting an unemployed auxiliary switch by the movement of the contact maker of a main switch, means for isolating the select-ed auxiliary switch by a movement produced therein as the result of an electrical impulse sent over the conductor to it, and means whereby an operation of one main switch and one auxiliary switch so selected will serve to establish telephonic connections between the moved main switch and any other main switch in the exchange.

8. A main switch and a series of auxiliary switches, a pointer on the main switch movable into electrical connection with any one of the auxiliary switches, a pointer on each auxiliary switch adapted to shift such elec trical connection to any one of several contact devices also on such auxiliary switch, a row of such devices adapted to be moved to successive rows of contact points, a mag magnet for moving the contact devices, a

telephone station connected to the main switch, and means for operating said magnets from said station.

9. A series of rows of insulated contact points, a row of contact devices and a magnet for moving them into electrical connection with successive rows of points, a pointer and a magnet for moving it into electrical connection with any of said contact devices, a series of such pointers each one of which of contact devices and rows of contact points, a main switch and a magnet for moving it into electrical connections with any one of said pointers, a telephone station and connections to said main switch, and means for operating said tion.

10. In a telephone exchange, a switching is connected to a similar group magnets from said stafirst, a switch movable to electrical connections with any one of a series of pointers; second, a series of such pointers, each one of which is movable to any one of a group of contact devices; third, a group of such contact devices for each pointer, each group of which is movable to successive rows of contact points; and fourth, -magnets for moving the switches and the pointers.

11. In a telephone exchange, a switch movable to electrical connection with any one of a series of pointers, aseries of such pointers each one of which is movable to electrical connection with any one of a group of contact devices, a group of such contact devices for each pointer each group of which is movable to successive rows of contact points, magnets for moving the switches and the pointers, other magnets for releasing the switches and their propelling magnets, and means for returning said devices to their normal positions when so released.

12. A telephone station, a switchconnected to said station and movable to electrical connection with any one of a series of pointers, a series of such pointers each one of which is movable to electrical connection with any one of a group of contact devices, a group of such contact devices for each pointer each group of which is movable to successive rows of contact points, magnets for moving the switches and pointers, other magnets for releasing the switches and pointers from their propelling magnets, springs for returning them to their normal positions when so released, and devices located at said station for operating the Ser -"12g trical connection with any one of a series of pointers, a series of such pointers each one the pointers from a

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