US1682049A - Alarm circuit - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,049

- J. F. MEYERS ALARM CIRCUIT Filed Oct. 13, 1924 ZZZ/5277.47"?- Patented Aug. 28, 1928 UNITED STATES 1,682,049 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MEYERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINGIS.

ALARM CIRCUIT.

Application filed October 13. 1824.

My invention relates to ringing interrupt ers, such as are commonly used in connection with ringing and signaling means in telephone exchange systems. In telephone systoms of the class in which so-called automatic or machine ringing is employed, duplicate ringing interrupters are employed, one which may be termed the primary ringing interrupter, which is motor-driven. The current for operating the motor is usually supplied from a 110 volt circuit received from an outside source, such as the town or city electric power plant. The other ringinginterrupter is also motor-driven and the current for operating the motor is supplied by current received from an exchange storage battery. In many instances the source of current operating the motor for rotating the interrupter mechanism of the primary interrupter is shut off, which makes it necessary to employ the emer gency ringing interrupter, and in order to connect the storage battery with the motor for rotating the emergency interrupter mech anism, the operator presses a button which is located on the switchboard and under her control, or a switch, which is located on the power board.

In many cases the operator is unaware of the stopping of the interrupter mechanism, and my invention is a means of giving an immediate alarm when either the primary interrupter or the emergency interrupter fails to function properly, stopping on either an open or a closed contact, or when any of the interrupter leads become grounded for any reason whatsoever.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of my invention is shown at A.

It consists of eight slow-acting relays, namely, relays 1 to 8, inclusive, and two quickaeting relays, namely, relays 9 and 10, and a suitable alarm device 11.

At B is shown the primary ringing interrupter consisting of a shaft a revolving at a predetermined speed. To the rotatable shaft of the primary ringing interrupter are secured disks, 7), c, d and 0, each of which is provided with a cam surface f, the purpose of which is to close contacts for completing interrupter circuits. l

. At G is the emergency ringing interrupter composed of a rotating shaft (1 to which are secured disks Z), c, d and 6. each disk having acam 7, the purpose of which is to close contacts for completing interrupter circuits.

Serial No. 743,237.

To further illustrate my invention I have shown a portion of a cord circuit D, for connecting the ringing current controlled by the ringing interrupters B and C with a sub scribers station E. The cord circuit D is designed for automatic ringing, and I have shown the ringing interrupters B and C in position to be operated therewith. The cord circuit consists of a calling plug P, a calling ,supervisory relay US, a supervisory lamp SS and the apparatus necessary for automatic ringing. This consists of a party-line ringing key BK, four ringing generators G, G, G and G a ringing control relay BCR, an interrupter relay IR, and a switch relay SW. The subscribers station E terminates in a line circuit L, which consists of a line relay LR, a cut-off relay G0, a line signal S, and multiple jacks J. l I

The motor driven ringing interrupters are connected by means of double- throw knife switches 23, 23, 23" and 23, to the interrupter leads I, I, I and I which are distributed to the different cord circuits in the diifcrent operators positions in the exchange.

The following is a description of the action of my invention in connection with the ringing interrupters B and C. The action is the same inboth cases. that is, if the primary ringing interrupter B is connected to the interrupter leads by means of the double-throw knife switches, the action of A and D will be the same as it would be if the emergency ringing interrupter C was connected to the interrupter leads by means of the doublethrow knife switches, V

F or purposes of illustration, we will assume that theprimary ringing interrupter B is in operation. I will describe the action of disk Z), the action of disks 0, (Z and e being'similar to that of disk I). I When the cam f engages with spring contact 12, it presses contact 12 into engagement with contact 13 which energizes the ringing interrupter relay in the cord circuit D, in the usual. manner, and also energizes relay 10 in A by current flow ing from battery through the lower winding of relay 10, conductor 22, interrupter lead through switch 23, spring contact 12 contact 13 and conductor 24 to ground. This circuit will remain closed as long as cam f on disk 7) is riding over and pressing spring contact 12 into engagement with contact 13, or it will remain closed when cam f on disk 0 is riding over and pressing spring contact 12' into engagement with contact 13. herefore, relay 10 is energized whenever cams f on disks 7) or are pressing spring contacts 12 01 12' into engagement with contacts 13 or 13, and relay 9 is energized. whenever cams f on disks d or e are pressing spring contacts 12 or 12 into engagement with contacts 13 or 13 Relay 9 has the same effect as relay 10 on the slow-acting relays, namely relays 1 to 8, inclusive, all of which may be readily understood by one skilled in the art.

.Vhen the ringing interrupter B is in operation, the alarm signal 11, will not be operated because of the l ollowing action: When rotating shaft a revolves, cam f on disk 7) presses spring contact 12into engagement with contact 13, this action energizes relay 10, setting up a circuit as before described. hen relay 10 is energized, it attracts armature 25 which energizes relay 5 by means of current flowing from battery through conductor h, relay 5, conductor 9, alternate contact 25 of relay to ground. The actuation of relay 9 has the same effecton relay 5, as has the actuation of relay 10, because when relay 9 is actuated it establishes a circuit for the energization of relay 5 by current flowing from battery through conductor h, relay 5, conductors g and If to ground at alternate contact 36 of relay 9. The actuation of rela 5 energizes rela 6 b r the establishment of a circuit in this manner, current flowing from battery, through conductor h. relay 6, conductor is. alternate contact 26, which was attracted when relay 5 was energized and conductor j to ground. By this action relay 7 is actuated by current flowing from battery' through conductor h, relay 7, conductor Z, al.- ternate contact 27, and conductor 7' to ground. Relay 8 is actuated and attracts its armature, by current flowing from battery throngh conductor k, relay 8, conductor m, alternate contact 28, and conductor j to ground.

When relay 8 attracts its armature 29, ground is removed from the circuit of the alarm device, shown in the accompanying drawing in the form of a bell 11. This prevents the bell from ringing, provided relay 4 is-actuated and its armature 34 is attracted. Cam f, on disk 5, presses spring contact 12 into engagement with contact 13 for one second and releases it for four seconds.

When camf on disk B passes spring contact 12, the circuit for the energization of relay 1O 1s broken and relay 10 1s ole-energized, thus -=its armature 31 is attracted. and a circuit is closed throiwh relay" 2 by current flowing from battery through conductor h, relay 2,

conductor p, alternate contact 31 and conductor 7' to ground. 7 Relay 2 is thus energized and closes a circuit for relay 3, current flowrelay 4, are in their alternate positions, and

the groundfor the completion of a circuit through the alarm device must'come through -either armature 29 when itis inits normal position, or through armature 34 when it is in its normal position.

VVheu relay 10 was (lo-energized armature returned to its normal position, thus breaking the circuit for the energization of relay by removing ground. Relay 5, being a slowacting relay, does not release its armature immediately, but hesitates fora traction of a second. When it does release, its armature 26, the armature returns to its normal position, thus breaking the circuit for the energization of relay 6. Relay 6, when de-energized, releases its armature 27 which breaks the circuit for the eneiigization of relay 7. When relay 7 releases its armature 28, the circuit for the energization of relay 8 is broken. Before it can release its armature, due to the delay caused by the slow-action oi" relays 5, 6 and 7, a new circuit for the energization of the relays has been set up by the next diskon the rotating shaft of the ringing interrupter pressing spring contact 12 into engagement-with contact 13. Each succeeding disk on the rotatable shaft o'f'the ringing interrupter sets up a circuit in the relays and thus the relays i and 8 are constantly energized and their armatures attracted as long as the ringing interrupter is working.

It will be noted that the energizing circuits for the lower group of slow-acting relays eluding relays 5, 6, 7 "an d 8 are controlled by the make contacts 25 and 36 of relays 10 and 9 8 respectively, while theenergizationcircuit of the upper group of relays including relays 1, 2, 3 and 4 are controlled by the back contacts and 30 of relays 10 and 9 respectively. Belay 10 is energized each time'disks Z) and 0 close their contacts while relay 9 is energized each time disks (Z and 6 close their assoc'ated contacts. it will'thus be seen that relays9 and 10 follow the grounding of the interrupter leads l, I; I and The slowacting relays are so timed that when the interrupter machines are operating at their normal speed the last relays of the series, 4 and 8 do not de-energize to close the alarm circuit before they again have their circuits closed by the preceding slow-acting relays of the series.

I will neX describe how an alarm will be given if the-ringing interrupter stops working when on an open circuit. If the ringing interrupter stops on an open circuit none of the cams f, on the disks 7), 0, (Z and 6, will be pressing spring contacts 12, 12, 12 and 12 and consequently there will not be a ground connection on any of the interrupter leads I, I, I and I If the interrupter leads I, I, I and I have no ground connection, relays 9 and 10 cannot be energized,'and if relays 9 and 10 cannot be energized, relays 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be de-energized, thus allowing armature 29 of relay 8 to resume its normal position which will set up a circuit in the alarm device 11, by current flowing from battery through conductor 7;, bell11, conductor a, and alternate contact 29 to ground. When the bell 11 is operated, an alarm is given informing the operator that the ringing interrupter in use has stopped working.

I will next give a description of the action when the ringing interrupter stops on a closed contact. I will say for an illustration that the ringing interrupter stops when cam f on disk I) is pressing spring contact 12 into engagement with contact 13, thus energizing relay 10 by establishing acircuit as follows: battery through relay 10, conductor 22, interrupter lead I, switch 23, spring contact 12,

contact 13 and conductor 24 to ground. hen relay 10 is energized, it attracts the armature 35 which breaks the circuit for energizing re lay 1 by taking ground off it. hen relay 1 is deenergized, it releases the armature 31 which breaks the circuit for energization of .-relay 2, which in turn breaks the circuit for the energization of relay 3, and the d e-energization of relay 3 breaks the circuit for the actuation of relay 4, which returns its armature 34 to its normal position which will cause the bell 11 to operate togive an alarm, current flowing from battery through conductor 72/, bell 11, conductor 8, normal contact 34 and conductor to ground, all of which will be understood by one skilled'in the art.

If one of the interrupter leads should become permanently grounded either relay 9 or 10 will remain steadily energized in which event one of the series of slow-acting relays will become ole-energized and close a circuit for alarm device 11. I

It will likewise be noted that if one or more of the interrupter contacts should fail to connect ground to an interrupter lead that the alarm device will be operated. This may occur due to dirty contacts or due to the springs failing to properly contact.

I will next describe the action of the ringing interrupters B and C 1n con]unction wlth the cord circuit D, assuming that D is one of the cord circuits to which interrupter lead I is common. Assuming that the operator desires to signal the subscriber at E, she inserts plug P into jack J, closing an energizing circuit for the cut-01f relay CO, and switching relay SIV, in series, current flowing from battery through the winding of relay SIV, sleeve contacts of plug P and 'ack J, the winding of relay CO to ground. 'lhe relay SW closes its alternate contact 40, closing a circuit for the supervisory signal SS which remains lighted until the called subscriber answers. The operator now fully depresses the proper ringing key plunger P, P P or P, of the partyline ringing key RK, and assuming it is the plunger P which is depressed, the end springs 15 and 16 momentarily assume their alternate positions, the spring 16 closing an energizing circuit for the ringing control relay RCR, traced from battery through relay RCR, conductor 14, alternate contact 16, conductor 37, normal contact 38, conductor 39 and alternate contact 40 of relay SIV to ground. Although the circuit oi relay RCR is interrupted at contact 16, when the operator removes pressure from the actuated plunger, the relay RGR closes a locking circuit for itself, traced from battery through relay RCR, alternate contact 41, conductor 42, normal contact 38, conductor 39 and alternate contact 40 of relay SW to ground.

Upon the energization of relay RCR, its altern-ate contact 17 is closed, which connects interrupter lead I of the ringing interrupter with the interrupter relay IR of the cord circuit D. Assuming that the cam 7 on disk I) of the ringing interrupter is pressing spring contact 12 into engagement with contact 13, an energizing circuit for the interrupter relay IR is established, traced from battery through winding of relay IR, conductor 44, normal contact 15, conductor 43, alternate contact 17, conductor 18, and interrupter lead I, switch 23, spring contact 12, contact 13 and conductor 24 to ground. Upon the energization of relay IR it closes its alternate contact 45 which connects ringing current to the called line from the ungrounded pole of the generator G, alternate contact 2 2, conductor 52, alternate contact 45, conductor 51, alternate contact 53, conductor 50, tip contacts of the plug P and jack J, alternate contact 54 of relay ()0, conductor 49, through the subscribers set at E, conductor 48, alternate contact 55, sleeve contacts of jack J and plug P, conductor47, alternate contact 46, of relay IR to battery and ground. The interrupter relay IR is energized each time the interrupter lead I is connected to ground through action of disk 6 on contacts 12 and 13 of the ringing interrupter, thus connecting ringing current to the wanted line for about one second of time, and allowing a silent interval of about four seconds which are the intervals of the cam f on the disk I), engaging and disengaging with spring contact 12 of the ringing interrupter.

-lVhen the called subscriber answers an v energizing circuit l-or relay Cb 1s set up,

traced from ground through relay CS, nor- 'mal contact 45, which was released when ground was taken oil interrupter lead l, as was explained previously, through conductor 51, alternate contact 53 of relay SW, conductor 50, tip contacts of plug P and jack J, alternate contact 54 of relay ()0, conductor 49, subscribers set E, conduct-or l8, alternate contact 55 of relay GO, sleeve cont-act of jack J and plug P, and winding of relay Sl V, to battery. When the relay CS is energized its normal contact 38 is opened, this breaks the locking circuit for relay EUR, which de-energiz s and opens the circuit of relay IR at its alternate contact 17. The opening of the alternate contact '17 disconnects the lead I which prevents the relay IR from again operating. The opening or alternate contact 38 of relay CS efiaces the lamp signal SS. Nhen conversation has been completed, the subscriber again places his receiver on the hook switch and relay CS is de=energized, thus lighting signal SS, whereupon the operator withdraws the plug P from the jack J, restoring'the cord and line circuits.

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with a mechanical interrupter and with a cord circuit, I do not wish thereby to be limited to this particular application of my invention, as it may be used for a number of purposes.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An alarm system for ringing interrupters comprising in combination, an alarm, an alarm circuit, means for maintaining the alarm circuit open during the normal operation of the interrupter comprising a train of quick-pick-up-slow-releasc relays, means whereby the first relay of the train is energized periodically by the interrupter, means whereby the energization of each of the remaining relays is controlled by its preceding relay independently of the interrupter and means whereby the deenergization of the last relay in the train closes the alarm circuit, the number of relays and their period of release being such that the last relay of the train will not be deenergized between successive closures of the circuit of the first relay by the interrupter.

2. An alarm system for ringing inter rupters comprising in combination, an alarm and an alarm circuit therefor, means for maintaining the alarm circuit open duringnormal operation of the interrupter comprising quick acting and a train of slow release relays, means whereby the quick acting relays are actuated by the interrupter, means whereby the quick acting relays control the cnergization of the train of slow release relays, and means whereby the deenergization ot the last relay in the said train of relays closes the said alarm circuit.

3. An alarm system {or ringing interruptcrs coi'nprising in combination, an alarm and an alarm circuit therefor, means for controlling the alarm circuit including a series of relays, means whereby the first or the series oi. relays is controlled periodically by the interrupter, means whereby the energization of each of the remaining relays is controlled by its preceding relay independently of the interrupter,means whereby the normal operation of the relays by the interrupter maintain the said alarm circuit open, and means whereby it the interrupter fails to operate the relays of said train of relays the said alarm circuit is closed and the said alarm lays of said series 01 relays operated said alarm circuit will be closed.

5. An alarm system for ringing interrupters comprising in combination, an alarm, an alarm circuit, means for maintaining the alarm circuit open during the normal operation of the interrupter comprising quick and a series of slow actingrelays, means whereby the quick acting relays are energized periodically by the interrupter.

means whereby the energization of the firs slow acting relays is controlled by the said quick acting relays and the energization of each of the remaining relays is controlled by ts preceding relay independently of the interrupter, and means whereby anoperation of one of the relays of said series closes the alarmcircnit, the number of relays of said series of relays and their period of operation being such that the said relay will close the said alarm circuit for an incorrect operation or said interrupter.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 10th day of October, 1924.

Jonur. MEYERS.

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