US1568297A - Telephone switch for radio sets - Google Patents

Description

Jan. s 1926K. ,1,568,297k

E. A. SMALENBERGER TELEPHONE SWITCH FOR RADIO SETS Filed sept. 24, 1924 A TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5,

N uNiTED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD ANTHONY SMALENBERGER, OF BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR FRANKLIN'L-DUERK. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE SWITCH Fon RADIO s E'rs.

i Application led September 24, 1924. Serial No. 739,521.

To all w71 om. t may concer-n."

'Be it known that I, IJDwARD- ANTHONY SMALnxn'Enuicn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn. in the county of Kings and. State of New York, have invented cei'tain new and useful Improvements lin Telephone Switches for Radio Sets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates lto switch ,devices for connecting a plurality of circuits in various relations to a common circuit. Such a -switch device, for example, has consid- Aerable utilityfor the telephone circuits of radio sets.

In the customary operationo'f *radio sets, the tuning isusually accomlplished` withhead telephones, and after a desired station has been lproperly timed in, connection is made to a loud speaking receiver. In view of the difference in -impedaiice between head sets and loud speakquently desirable to connect auxiliary circuits in vai'ious relations to acommon circuit sucli as for balancin the same and se-` lectively incapacitating either auxiliary circuit and it is 4,to such vciriiits 4that (this invention particularly relates.

An object of this invention is to -provide an improved switching device which will satisfactorilyl solve the diihculties `above mentioned and with which itheauxiliary circuits may be connected in series lwith one another and to a common-circuit in such a 1mannerthat either auxiliary circuit may be telephones and loud speaker maybe used simultaneously while receiving eitherwealr or strong signals without discomfort or annoyance tothe operator; and with which .either the telephones or loud speaker may be opeiated singly and selectively by simple manipulations.v

A. further object is to provide an 'improved switch for connecting either the telephones, or loud speaker, or both, to the radio l receiving set selectively, which may be incorporated in a teleph'one plug. v

A further object is to provide animproved switch for accomplishing each or all of the above objects .which will be relatively simple, compact, durable and relatively inexpensive. Other objects and ad-l vantages' will be apparent from'the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be articularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention comprises 'various features' to which attention will bedirected in connection with the following description of the application of the invention to telephone switches of radiosets.

In .the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a switch constructedin accordancewith the invention, with the closurev wall removed;`

llig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the switch;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same, with thesection taken substantially along the line 3-8 of Fig. 1;

'F ig. 4 is atransverse sectional elevation of a slightly modified construction, with .the section taken along a line corresponding to that for Fig. 3; and

Fig. `5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical connections, illustrating the use of the invention. i v

Referring especially to the particular embodiment of the invention which is. illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5,' a base member 1 of suitable insulating material, such as fibre, -hard rubberor phenol condensation products, isA provided with an `aperture 2, extending fromv face toface, in which a spindle 3 is rotatably mounted. This spindle .may conveniently comprise a screw, having ahead 4, and an operating button 5 threaded upon the other end, the button 5 having a closed cavity into which the screw is threaded so that when the screw strikes the bottom of the cavity, the button will be locked to the'sciew in auch a. manner that 11o -connections therewith at all times.

when the button is manipulated, the 'screw will be rotated.

A closure wall or plate 6 is secured face to face against the base member 1 so as to cover the head 4 of the screw 3, and the wall 6 may have a cavity 7 upon its inner face providing clearance for the head of `the screw. The face of the base memberA 1, which is covered by the wall 6, is provided with channels or grooves S and 9 along opposite sides and intersecting at one end, in which grooves resilient, conducting met- al strips 10 and 11 may be disposed. A plug extension 12 is disposed at one end of the base member between said member and the wall 6, and this extension has the sleeve 13 and tip 14, as usual in telephone plugs, the strips 10 and 11 being connected at the end adjacent the plug extension to the sleeve and tip respectively so as to make electrrilclal 1e '.: strips 10 and 11 also assist in anchoring the plug extension 12 to the base member.

The base member 1 and wall 6, at the end opposite the plug extension 12, may be provided with a plurality of spaced cooperating channels, each formed partially in both abutting faces of thel member andwall, forming passages 15 through which the metal tips of the telephone cords may be,

inserted' when establishing electrical connections between them and the interior of j the switch. The strips- 1() and 11, at the vend adjacent the passages 15, terminate in end adjacent the passages 15 carries a double 45 U-shaped-cohtact element 19, with the stripextending between and secured to two adjacent arms of the double U-shaped member? The free arms 20 of the double U-shaped member-are disposed in approximate alignment with the two-inner passages 15, so that when the metal tips of telephone .cords are inserted in these two inner passages, they will make electrical contact with the free arms of the double U-shaped contact element pand be frictionally held in the passages l5 thereby. j l A The other end of the'strip 18 is twisted through approximately 90 degrees to form a leaf spring end'portion 21, and the extreme end of this end portion 21 is provided with a slot 22l which embraces the spindle 3 and bears upon the shoulder between the headl 4: and vthe shank of said spindle. This springl cnil 2131s preferably normally flexed,

4so/that it constantly urges the spindle 3 in a direction to hold the button 5 `against the outer face'ofl the base member, thus creating sufficient friction to hold the button in various angular positions,into which it may be adjusted. A pointer or indicator 23 may be secured to the button 5, for rotation therewith in any suitable manner, such as by 4a pin 24. The pointer 23 will thus indicate upon a suitable scale (not shown) provided upon the outer face of the base member 1. the various angular adjusted positions of the button 5.

An arcuate channel or groovel 25 is provided upon the inner face of the base meinber 1, connecting the channcls'or grooves 8 and 9. In this channel an arcuate elcment 26 may be disposed, which elenientcxtends substantially-the whole length of the groove 25. The strips 10 and 11. are provided with ears 27 and 28 respectively, which extend toward one another and overlie the ends of the element 26 and confn( it within the groove 25, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. The element 26 is formed preferably of insulating material, and ladjacent one end, such as the end adjoining the ear 27, is provided on its outer face willi a notch or cut away portion 29 for a purpose to appear presently. The outer surface or face of the. element 2G between the notch 29 and the other ear, such as 28, is provided with a conducting coating or surface :O having a high resistance, this surface or coatingextending beneath the ear 28 so that it will always be electrically connected to the springistrip 11. This conducting surface of high resistance does not extend across the notch 29 for reasons which will appear presently. I

A contact arm 3l is coupled to the head 4: of the spindle 3 in any suitable manner solas to rotate with the spindle. This contactfarm is preferably a resilient spring member, which at its outer or free end bears resilietly upon the arcuate element 26. By an angular rotation of the spindle 3, the contact arm 31 may be. placed over and in contact with either car 27 or 23, or in any position upon the conducting' high resistance coating or surface 30, which is in electrical connection with the ear lfhen this contact arm is over the notch 29, it will not be in electrical contact with either of the ears 27 or 2S and not in contact. with the conducting surface 30. lVith this construction, it will be observed that the double U-shaped contact element 19, which isconnected to the vcontact arm, may, by a rotation of the button 5, be electrically connected selectively to either ofthe contact cars 27 and 28, or to any point of the resistance surface 30, or tov none ofthein when the contact-arm 31 is i the telephone cords 34 and 35, leading to a head set 36, are inserted lin two adjacent passages 15, onel of which leads to the contact strip V11, in which position, the telephone cord tips will 'bein' electrical contact'.l

with the. spring strip 11 and the contact g element 19. Let it be kassumed that the metal tips 37 arid 38 of telephone cords 39 and 40 4leading from a loud speaker 41, are inserted in the other two passagesl, so' as to be in electrical '.contact-with the spring strip 11 and the contact strip 19. With the parts connected in this manner, when the button 5 is rotated to carry the contact arm 31 into a position over the notch 29,'the head set 36 andthe loud speaker 41 will be connected in series with one another and to the sleeve 13 andtip '14. When the plug extension 12 is placed in jack, the sleeve 13 and tip 14 thereof will be electrically connected to the telephone circuit' of a radio set, and since the strips 10 and 11 are connected to the sleeve and tip they' also will be connected to the telephonel circuit of the set.; Qne terminal of the head set will be connected to the strip 11 and a terminal of the loud speaker'will be connected to the other strip v10. The' other terminalsv of the headset and the loudspeaker will be connected together' through the spring contact element 19, and together will be connected to' the strip 18 and the contact arm 31. When the contact arm 31 is over the notch 29, the head set vand loud speaker will be connected directly 'in series with one another and in. .series with' the telephone circuit from the radio set. J

Then the button 5 is rotated to carry the contact .arm into engagement with the ear 28 for example, the headset 36 will be short circuited bythe contact arm 31 and will therefore be ineffective. so that all of the current from 'the telephone circuit in the .radio set will pass directly through the loud speaker. When the button 5 is rotated to carry the contact larm 31 into contact with the" ear 27` onthe other strip, th'e loud speaker will be 'short circuited rand the televao v phones will be connected directly across the telephone circuit, fromthe radiof'set. Thus by rotating the button' 5 into contact with eitherof the ears 27M and 28, either the telephones or the head set'will be rendered .effective and the otherfineifective.

Whenthe button 5 is rotated to carry the contact arm 31 over' the conducting surface 3-0v of high resistance, the head set will not be directly short circuited but will be shunted by the resistance of the coating or surface 30 'between the ear 28 and the contact arm 31. This resist ance-will vary, of course,\as the contact arm moves across the conducting surface 30. Thus by rotatf` ing the button 5, the resistance shunted across-the head set .may be varied,a"nd by reason of this shunt `more lorjless ofthe i current fromy the telephone circuit of the 'radio 'set will'be v diverted directly tothe loud speaker instead of passingthrough the 'head set. t

-In order that the variation in resistance' .of the surface 30 may be as rapid as pos-v the rapidity of change in resistance may be n varied. This feature may also be used in connection with the tapering of the surface if "a still varied degree of change in resistance is desired.

In Fig. 4.I haveillustrated a .modified`U construction of the element 26, the modified element comprisingtwo sections 42 and 43, the section 43 being of insulating material. The section 42, which is a conducting section, tapers 'from the endconnected tothe ear 28 to the notch 29fand is'secured upon the oppositely tapered part of the insulating `section 43. This modifiedv element 26 is secured in the groove 25 as inthe prec'ed- .ing embodimentV and,` as the Contact arm moves over theJ section 42, theresistance w1ll vary progressively according'to the distance of the contact ar'm from 'the ear 28 and also by reason of the rapidity of change in resistance due ato the tapering'of the conduct-ingsection.

In-both` embodiments of the invention, .the element 26 is confined 'in the grodve 25 by reason of the overlying ears 27 and 28 of the strips-10 and 11,and the strips 10, 11`

- and 18 are held in their grooves by the wall 6.- The wall 6 is secured to the base mem-` ber- 1 in any suitable manner such as by screws 44 which pass between them. The 'Spring end 21 of the strip 18 creates'sui cient friction upon the spindle 3 to holdit in various'adjusted positions and the friction of thejcontact arm 31 when in contact with the `conducting surface yor with the ears. also assists in holding the button 1n l adi usted positions.

' When-.operating this device .iduringfthe reception of relatively strong signals, such as from local stations/ the station may bey vtuned `in by the head set, andlinorder that the sounds emitted from the head set will not be too great. therefor or too great to be comfortable to the `ears of the operator, the

Vbutton may be turned to carry the contact arm 31 over the conducting surface 30 and vary the current which will be shuntedacross the headset. i In thsinanner the volume of' sound in the head set may be varied until it in a simple manner. f' When relatively weaky signals are being received, the contact arm 31 :nay be shifted to increase the proportion of current passing through the head set, so that thelatter will produce the signals with the desired volume. If at any time it is desired to cut out either the head set or the loud speaker, it may be done by rotation of the contact arm into engagement with the ears 2S or 27 respectively.

If it is desired to operate-both head set and loud speaker in series with one another, t is merely necessary to shift the contact arm 31 into the notch 29,'in which position it will not have electrical contact with eitherv strip 10 and 11 and the head set and loud speaker will bev directly in series' with one another. If the' conducting surface 30 becomesworn, brokenl or deteriorates, a new element 26 with a new conducting surface oi coating may be readily inserted in the groove 25, since ali the parts are held in their -grooves by the wall 6. The ends of the notch 29 are preferably beveled so that the Contact arm willA readily ride up either end-of thel same as it is being shifted in either direction.- A

While the invention has been described in connection with a` lug for connecting various types of telep one receivers to a telephone circuit, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and that the invention has many applications to other electrical arts. It will also be obvious that various changes in the details and arrange ents of parts,

'which have been herein describedl and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may be made. by those skilled in the art within the principle .and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

1 claim:

l. A telephone switch forradio sets, comprising a pair ofconductors for connection in the telephone circuit of a set, a support for the conductors, a switch member carried -by the support for; movement in a definite path "thereon, spaced contact elements, one connected to each ofthe two conductors and another to the switch member, whereby a telephone receiver ma .be electrically connected bctweenonefo the conductors and the velement l thatis' connected to the switch member, and another receiver between the other of the said conductors and the switch member, and switch elements connected to the two conductors and disposed in spaced relation to one another within the path of the'switch member, whereby either receiver may be temporarily short circuited by moving the switch member into engagement with that switch element which is connected to the same conductor that that receiver is directly connected to, and both receivers rendered active and placed in series byqnoving the switch member out of engagement with both switch elements.

2. A telephone switch for radio sets, comprising a'pair of conductors for connection in-the telephonecircuitof a set, a support for the conductors, a switch member carried bythe support for movement in a deiinite path thereon, spaced contact elements, one connected to each of the two conductors and another to the switch member, whereby a telephone receiver may be electrically connected between one of the conductors andl the element that is connected to the switch member, and another receiver between the other of the said conductors and theA switch member, switch elements connected to the two conductors and disposed in spaced relation to one another within the pathof the switch member,y whereby either receiver may be temporarily short circuited by moving the switch member into engagement with that switch element which isconnected to the as ,I

same conductor that that receiver is directly I connected to, and both receivers rendered active and placed in series by moving the switch member out of engagement with both switch elements, and a. resistance element` within the path of the switch member and electrically connected to-one of the switch elements whereby as the switch member moves over the resistance element a vari-` able resistancc will be connected across one of the receivers while they are in series whereby the relative currents through said receivers may-be balanced .or given various desired relative values.

3. The telephone switch for -radio sets,

substantially as set forth in claim 2, in f which the resistance -of the resistance element variesthroughout its length.

4. The telephone switch for radio sets,

.substantially as set forth in claim 1 in which -the support carries a jack plug tothe tip and sleeve of which' the conductors a-re connected respectively.

5. The telephone switch for radio sets, `substantially as set' forth in claim -1 in which the spaced contact elements have clips for detachably clamping the usual telephone cord tips of receivers. I 'I 6. The1 telephone` switch for radio sets, substantially as set forth in claim 1, in which the support carries ajack plug to the tip and' sleeve ofwhich the conductors are iso said common circuit are connected, said aux' 1l1ary clrcuits being connected 1n series and' to said contacts, .means including a contact 'arm connected to the series connection between the auxiliary circuits and movable selectively into engagementV with either of the spaced contacts for selectively shunting.

e either o f the auxiliary circuits.

- 8. A switch for connecting a plurality of auxiliary circuits to a common circuit in various relations comprising a pair of spaced contacts, to which the conductors of said common circuit are connected, said auxiliary circuits being connected in series and* to said contacts, means including a contact arm connected to the serls connection between the auxiliary circuitsv and movable selectively into engagement with either of the spaced contacts for selectively shunting either of the-auxiliary circuits, and a re-A sistance element disposed in the path of the ycontact arm and connectedto one of said spaced contacts so' that the resistance of the shunt across one of` the auxiliary circuits may be selectively varied.

9. A switch for connecting a plurality of auxiliary circuits to a common circuit vin various relations com rising a pair vof spaced contacts to` whic the .conductors of said common circuit are'connected, said auxd iliary cilcuits being connected in series and to said contacts, means including a contact arm connected tothe serles connection bespaced .contacts for selectively shunting either of the auxiliary circuits', and means including a contact arm connected to the series connection between the auxiliary cirtween the auxiliarycircuits and movable selectively into engagement with either of the cuits and movable in a path in4 which' itY will engage said spaced contacts successively so vas to shunt either of the auxiliary circuits, andX a resistance element disposed "between said spaced contacts within` the path. ,of said arm and electrically -connected to one of said spaced contacts whereby the relsistance of the shunt across vone of said 10. A switch for connecting a plurality of' auxiliary circuits to )a common circuit` 1n various relations comprising a pair of .spaced contacts to which the conductors of said common circuit are connected, the auxiliary circuits being connected in series with one another 'and to said contacts and a noninductive variable resistance device `interposed between one of said contacts Aand/the series connection between the auxiliary circuits whereby one'of said auxiliary circuits may be shunted by a variable non-inductive resistance, said lresistance devicebeing movable intoka4 condition in which the shunt is ineffective and also into a condition which directly shunts the other of said auxiliary circuits.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

EDWARD ANTHONY SMALENBERGER.

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