US755308A - Service-meter for telephone-lines. - Google Patents

Description

No. 755,308, PATENTED MAR.22,1904,

F. .R. MoBERTY.

SERVICE METER FOR TELEPHONE LINES APPLICATION FILED mum, 1900. N0 MODEL.

Patented March 22, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK R. MoBERTY, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SERVICE-METER FOR TELEPHONE-LINES.

SPEGIFICA TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 55,308, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed July 1 1900.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be a known that I, FRANK R. MOBERTY, a'.

- citizen of the United States, residing at'Evansa toll device, such as a service-meter and circuits therefor, associated with each line of a telephone system, whereby a charge may be made for each use of asubscribers telephoneline in which the subscriber is actually placed in communication with the party called for. I

A further object is to provide an automatically-operated signal at the substation of the telephone-line, whereby thesubscriber at that station may be informed when the connection called forhas been obtained and the called party has answered.

One feature of my invention consists of a magnet connected with a telephone-line at the substation thereof and blocking mechanism controlled by said magnet for rendering. inoperative the telephone apparatus at the substation, whereby the use of such telephone apparatus may be prevented, a source of current at the central office adapted to energize said magnet, whereby said blocking mechanism may be actuated, means made operative V in completing connection between sald telephone-line and another line for connecting said source of current with the line, a toll device at the substation adapted to be manually operated, and a releasing appliance actuated I. in the operation of said toll device for counxteracting said blocking mechanism, whereby thesubstation apparatus may be made opera tive. I preferably provide an electromagnetic switch atthecentral oflice for'controlling the 7 application of the aforesaid source of current to the calling-line, said electromagnetic switch being controlled by a device responsive to the flow of current in the called line, so that when the-called subscriber takes his telephone from itsswitch-hook to respond to the call the dered inoperative.

Serial No. 23,729. (No model.)

change in the electrical condition of the called linethus produced will cause the actuation of said electromagnetic switch at the central office, whereby the magnet at the calling-subscribers station is energized to actuate the blocking mechanism aforesaid, and the callingsubscribers telephone apparatus is thus ren- The calling subscriber is therefore compelled to actuate his toll device in order to restore the operative condition of his telephone apparatus.

. A further feature of my invention consists in the provision of an electromagnetic signalindicator at the substation of the-calling subscriber, with a source of current and a switch associated with the operators plug-circuit at the central office for controlling the applica-v tion of current to said signal-indicator, whereby a signal may be indicated at the substation by the operation of said switch. The switch at the central oflice may be operated electrically and controlled throughthe agency of the telephone-switch at the called station, whereby a signal may be displayed at the callingstation when the called subscriber responds notifying the calling subscriber that the desired connection has been obtained and that he must actuate his toll device in. order to use his telephone for conversation. The signalindicator at the calling-station may be a target moved by the armature of the magnet which controls the blocking mechanism.

I will describe my invention more particu larly by reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagram illustrating bymeans of conventional symbols two telephone-lines extending from substations to a central office, together with the central-ofl1ce apparatus for connecting said lines together, the system being providedwith the service-measuring apparatus of my invention and. the auxiliary signal device therefor.

The-subscribers apparatus at each of the substations A B is of the usual type with the exception of the toll-counting device and its associated mechanism for blocking or rendering inoperative the telephone apparatus. Each telephone-line consists of two limbs 1 2 terminating at the central office in line-springs a (62, respectively, of a spring-jack a. The usual line-signal is associated with each telephone-line at the central office for indicating calls. A cut-off relay 6 is also associated with each line, being connected in a grounded branch from the third contact or test-ring a of the spring-jack, said relay being adapted when energized to disconnect the line-signal apparatus from the line. An answering-plug cand a connecting-plug (Z are furnished at the central-ofiice switchboard G for connecting any two lines together, said plugs being adapted to be inserted in the spring-jacks of the lines and having a complete circuit for telephonecurrents between them, said circuit being formed by conductors 3 4 and 5 6, which lead in pairs to the poles of the battery 6 through the windings of a repeating-coil in the usual manner. The conductors 4 and 6 include the magnet-windings of supervisory relays f g, which control,respectively, supervisory signal-lamps f" 9. One pole of the battery 0 is grounded, and the supervisory signal-lamps f g'sare included in conductors 8 9, respectively, leading from the other pole of said battery e to sleeve-contacts 0 (Z of plugs 0 (Z, respectively. These sleeve-contacts of the plugs register with the grounded test-rings a of the spring-jacks. Shunt-circuits 1O 11 are provided about the signal-lamps f 9', said shuntcircuits being controlled by switch-contacts operated by the supervisory relays f 9, respectively, When either of said shunt-circuits is closed, its corresponding signal-lamp is thereby deprived of current. The conductors'5 6 of the plug-circuit terminate, respectively, in the tip and ring-contacts (/Z' (Z of the plug 0Z. Similarly the conductors 3 4 of the plug-circuit are normally connected. with the tip and ring contacts 0 c of the plug a. A double-pole switch it is provided, however, whereby the connections of the conductors 3 4 with the contacts of the plug 0 may be reversed, said switch being adapted to be operated by an electromagnet it. The magnet h is provided with two windings. One of said windings, if, of low resistance, is included in series in the conductor 11, which shunts the signal-lamp g and is controlled by the su' pervisory relay g. The other winding, lb of high resistance, is serially included in a conductor 12, which forms a second shunt around the signal-lamp g and is controlled by the relay-armatu re Zn of the magnet la itself. When the supervisory relay g is energized, the effect is first to close the shunt 11 around the supervisory signal-lamp, thereby causing the lamp to be deprived of current and the light extinguished. Since the shunt 11 thus closed includes the winding 7& of the magnet h, said magnet will be energized, attracting its armature It and also operating the double-pole switch It to reverse the connections between the battery 6 and contacts of the answeringplug 0. The armature it being drawn up closes the circuit 12, which includes the retaining-winding it of the magnet it, whereby said magnet is supplied with current and maintained energized independently of the circuit 11, controlled by relay 9.

Turning now to the apparatus at the substations of the system, I will describe in detail the apparatus at substation A. The apparatus at the other stations may be identical.

The toll device shown in the drawing is a connection-register or service-meter and consists of a train of counting-wheels 2', including a star-wheel, the teeth whereof are adapted to be engaged by the pallets of an oscillating escapement-lever 76. The counting-train may thus be moved step by step, a full beat or complete oscillation of the lever It' being necessary to advance the counting-train the full distance from one figure of the dial to the next. A spring 1; is fastened to the actuating-lever Zr, tending to rock said lever in a clockwise direction to cause the initial movement of the escapement-pallets carried by said actuatinglever. A subsequent movement of the lever Z: in a reverse direction will complete the registration. A manually-operated plunger or push-key Z is associated with the actuatinglever A, whereby said lever may be moved in a contra-clockwise direction. The plunger Z preferably is not mounted upon the actuating-lever, but is capable of movement independently thereof and is normally maintained in its outer position by means of a spring Z. The plunger Z preferably carries a movable switch-contact Z which normally rests against a stationary contact Z engagement between said contact parts Z Z being broken when said plunger Z is pushed in to move the actuatinglever A: of the toll-counter. The contacts Z Z are serially included in the telephone-circuit, whereby said circuit is broken momentarily when the subscriber pushes in on the plunger Z to operate his toll-counter, the plunger moving back again under the influence of spring Z to reestablish the circuit as soon as pressure is removed therefrom. The object of this arrangement is to prevent the subscriber from keeping the plunger Z permanently pushed in with the design of preventing the operation of his toll-counter.

A polarized electromagnet p is associated with the toll-counting mechanism, the windings of said magnet being connected in the branch of the-line which leads through the subscribers telephone talk'ing'apparatus. The winding of the'magnet is preferably shunted by a comparatively high non-ind uctiveresistance to diminish its impedance to telephonecurrents. This polarized magnet]? has a centrally-pivoted tilting armature m, which car ries a latch or detent m, adapted to engage and hold the end of the actuating-lever Zr; when the same has been pushed in by the plunger Z. The armature 712 also carries a'm'ovable target 11), adapted 'to be displayed in an opening in a 'with when the polarized armature m of the; -magnet is moved in'a clockwise direction. When the actuating-lever k is pushed in by means of the plunger Z, the end of said lever is adapted to engage the latch m and separate the same from the stationary contact m Further movement of the lever causes the same ment of the centrally-pivoted armature m in a contra-clockwise direction serves to raise the catch m from the end of the actuatinglever is, the lever as soon as it'is released from said catch being moved out from under the catch by the spring It; A centralizing spring 0 serves to yieldingly maintain the armature m in acentralposition. To recapitulate, when the armature m is tilted in a contra-clockwise direction the catch m is lifted off the end of thelever is, so that said lever is drawn over by the spring 76 until it strikes the end of the plunger Z.

This movement of the lever effects a half-registration of the counting-train 7 The armature m is now free to move in a clockwise direction and will make such a movement under the influence of suitably-d1- rected current flowing through the coils of the polarized magnet 19. Contact will then be established between the catch on and the conwhen closed to short-circuit the telephone apparatus at the substation, whereby such telephone apparatus may be rendered inoperative.

The use of the telephone apparatus at any substation to carry onconversation over the telephone-line may be elfectually prevented or blocked by the mechanism which is operated by the polarized magnet p, said magnet being adapted to be energized by current which may be applied at the central oflice. In the particular system illustrated current to operate the blocking mechanism at the substation is applied through the agency of the electromagnetic switch h at the central office,

' which switch is controlled by apparatus at the called station.

The operation of the system is as-follows:

Assuming that the subscriber at substation A desires to communicate with the subscriber at substation B,'he takes his receiving-telephone from its switch-hook and permits the telephone-switch to close the circuit of the.

' line in the usual manner,-providing a path for current in the line from the central source, 1

' which excites the-line-relay and causes the illumination of'the line-signal lamp. On seeing the-call-signal thus displayed the operator inserts the answering-plug cof a pair of plugs into the answering-jack a of the calling line. This act of the operator closes a local circuit through the cut-off relay to remove the line-signal apparatus from the circuit. At the same time the battery 6 of the plugcircuit is connected in a bridge between the limbs 1 2 of the telephone-line by way of the cord -strands 3 4: of the plug-circuit. Since the'circuit of the telephone-line is closed at the substation by the telephone-switch, the circuit from battery 6 over the line is completed. This circuit includes the winding of the supervisory relay f, which is included in said relay is energized and closes the shuntcircuit 10 about the supervisory signal-lamp f, the signal-lamp remaining dark. The polarized magnet'p being included in the linecircuit at the substation A receives current from battery 6, the circulation of current in the circuit being in the a proper direction to tip the armature m of said magnet in a contraclockwise direction, whereby the actuatingleased, as before explained, and is drawn over by spring Z2, efiecting a half-registration. The central-oflice operator now communicates with subscriber A by telephone in the usual manner and inquires the number of the station with which connection is desired. Upon receiving this information she inserts the other or connecting plug (1 of the pair into the spring-jack of the line wanted and signals the called station in the usual way. Upon connection of the plug d with the spring-jack of the called line circuit iscompleted from the grounded battery 6, through the conductor 9 and supervisory signal-lamp g',to the sleevecontact d of the plug d, and thence to ground by way of the called subscribers cut-off relay. When the subscriber at the called station takes his telephone from its switch-hook to answer the call,thetelephone switch closes the circuit of the called line, whereby the supervisory relay'g-in the conductor :6 of the plug-circuit receives current and :draws up its armature. The shunt-conductor 11, including the winding k of the magneth, is thus closed, energizing-said magnet. The resistance of this shunt-conductor 11 is so low that the lamp g is deprived of current and is extinguished. The magnet h being excited draws up its armature it, thereby closingthe ing k whereby said magnet is continuously supplied with current as long as the plug 41 remains in the spring-jack of the called line. The excitation of the magnet h, which is thus consequent upon the removal of the telephone at the called station from its hook in response to the call, operates the double-pole switch h, reversing the connection of battery 6 with the calling-line, and the reversal of the current through the polarized magnet 10 at the the cord strand 4 of the plug-circuit, whereby lever is of the toll-counting mechanism is recircuit'12, which includes the retaining-wind- ITO substation A of the calling-line causes the armature m of said relay to tip in a clockwise direction. This movement of the armature m accomplishes two results: First, it closes the short circuit 13 about the telephone apparat'us, rendering said apparatus inoperative and blocking communication between the stations A and B, and, second, it moves the target a before the opening in the shield 11?. The display of the target it indicates to the calling subscriber that the called party has answered and that he must push in on the plungerl to operate his toll-counter in order that he may use his telephone. When the plunger Z is pushed in, it completes the registration previously initiated when the central-office operator plugged into the line in answering the call and also releases the catch m from its contact of, thus breaking the short circuit 13 and permitting the use of the telephone.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a calling and a called line and switching apparatus for uniting them, of a toll device at the substation of the calling-line adapted for manual operation, a blocking device, a telephone-switch at the substation of the called line, means controlled by said telephone-switch for setting the blocking device, and a releasing appliance actuated in the operation of the toll device for counteracting or restoring the blocking device, substantially as set forth.

2. In atelephone-exchange system, the combination with a calling and a called line extending from substations to a central oflice,

of link conductors at the central ofiice for uniting said lines, a polarized magnet connected with the calling-line and a signal-indicator operated thereby, a source of current, a reversing-switch at the central ofiice controlling the flow of current in the calling-line, a circuit for operating said reversing-switch established in making connection with the called line, and a switch at the called station controlling said circuit; whereby the response of the called subscriber is indicated by the display of said signal at the calling-station.

3. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination with a telephone-line extending from a substation to a central ofiice, of an operators answering-plug at the central oiiice for making connection with said line in response to a call, a connecting-plug and a cord-circuit uniting the same with the answering-plug, said connecting-plug being adapted to make connection with another telephone-line, a magnet at the calling-station connectedwith the telephone-line thereof, a signal-indicator operated by said magnet, a source of current, an electromagnetic switch at the central ofiice for controlling the flow of current through said magnet, and a circuit for controlling said electromagnetic switch, established by connection of the connecting-plug with the called line, substantially as set forth.

4. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination with two telephone-lines extending from substations to a central-olfice switchboard, of means at the central ofiice for connecting the lines together, a signal-indicator at the substation of one of the lines, means controlled by a switch at the central ofiice for actuating said signal-indicator, electromagnetic mechanism controlled by the flow of current in the other line for operating said switch, and means at the substation of said last-mentioned line for determining the flow of current therein, substantially as set forth.

5. In atelephone-exchange system, the combination with two telephone-lines extending from substations to a central-office switchboard, of an operators plug-circuit for connecting the lines together in response to a call from substation of one of said lines, a magnet and means controlled by said magnet for interfering with the transmission of telephonic voice-currents between the telephones at the respective stations, whereby telephonic communication between said stations is prevented, a source of current adapted to energize said magnet, an electromagnetic switch controlling the flow of current through said magnet, and a circuit controlling said electromagnetic switch, established by the connection of the plug-circuit with the called line, substantially as set forth.

6. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination with two telephone-lines extending from substations to a central-oflice switchboard, of means at the central ofiice for connecting the lines together in response to a call from the substation of one of said lines, a magnet and blocking mechanism controlled by said magnet for interfering with the transmission of telephonic voice-currents between the telephones at the respective stations, whereby telephonic communication between said stations may be prevented, an electric circuit including said magnet with a source of current, a toll-counter at the substation of the callingline adapted to be manually operated, a device actuated in the operation of said toll-counter for controlling said blocking mechanism, whereby the operative condition of the system may be restored upon the operation of said toll-counter, and means controlled through the agency of a switch at the called station for changing the electrical condition of the circuit including said magnet, substantially as set forth. I

7 The combination with a telephone-line extending from a substation to a central ofiice and a pair of plugs and a plug-circuit for connecting said line with another line, a polarized electromagnet at the substation of the firstmentioned line and blocking mechanism controlled by said magnet for rendering the telephone at said station inoperative, said magnet being adapted to actuate said blocking 1 mechanism only when traversed by current of connection of said battery with the calling-1 line, whereby said blocking mechanism is operated and the calling subscriber compelled to operate his toll-counter in order to use his telephone, substantially as set forth.:

8. The combination with a telephone-line and a service-meter therefor, of a blocking device adapted to prevent the use of the telephone-line and a manually-operated appliance controlling said meter and said blocking device to render the blocking device ineffective, a signal at the substation of the line and actuating-circuits therefor associated with the line, an electromagnetic switch controlling said actuating-circuits, and circuit connections of the magnet of said switch made operative .in establishing connection with the called line; substantially as described.

V 9. The combination with a telephone-line and a service-meter therefor, of a manuallyoperated part at the substation adapted to actuate the service-meter, a blocking device for preventing the use of the telephone and a controlling-magnet for said blocking device, said blocking device being also controlled by said manuallyactuated part to render the blocking device inoperative in the movement .of the service-meter, an electrically-controlled signal at the substation and an electric circuit controlling said magnet of the blocking device and said signal, and a switch made op- .erative in establishing connection with a line called for for closing said circuit; whereby the establishment of connection with the called station is signaled tothe calling-station and the telephone at the latter station is blocked 10. The combination with a calling and a called line extending from a substation to a central oflice and link conductors for uniting said lines, of a visible signal at the calling-.

station, an electromagnetic switch at the cen tral oflice and a'source of current controlled .thereby for operating said visible signal, a

switch at the called station, and means controlled by said last-mentioned switch for operating said electromagnetic switch, as set forth.

11. In combination two telephone-lines and link conductors for uniting them, a visible signal at the calling-station and a circuit therefor, an electrically-actuated switch controlling said circuit, said switch being itself controlled by the telephone-switch at the called station, and an electric locking device on said switch actuated in the initial response of the switch adapted to prevent its further operation, the circuit of said locking device beingcompleted in registering contacts of the link conductor andthe called line; whereby the signal at the calling-station is operated in the use of the telephone at the called station, but is thereafter placed out of control of the called station duringthe continuance of'the connection, as described.

12. In combination two telephone-lines and link conductors uniting them, a service-meter of the calling-line and a blocking mechanism controlling the use of the telephone at the calling-station, a manually-operated part for actuating said service-meter and said blocking device to render the blocking device inoperative, an electromagnet actuating the blocking device to prevent the use of the telephone, and a circuit of said electromagnet, an'electrically-actuated switch controlling the circuit of said electromagnet, said" switch being itself controlled by the telephone-switch of the called station, and a locking-circuit of said switch closed when the switch is actuated, said locking-circuit being completed in registering contacts associated with the link conduc tor and the called line; whereby the blocking mechanism of the calling-line is controlled from the called station at the initial movement of the telephone-switch at the latter station, but is free from such control thereafter during the existence of the connection, as described.

13. In an automatic connection-registering system for telephone-exchanges, the combination with the central-ofiice apparatus, of means for automatically altering the flow of current in the calling-subscribers line controlled from the called-.subscribers station, and at the calling-subscribers station, registering 'appara tus comprising a relay connected to line, the armature of which is designed to be operatively actuated by current of predetermined character, a controlling-circuit extending to the instrument controlled, adapted to be opened and closed by said relay, whereby said instrument may be rendered temporarily inoperative, a meter device and means for actuating the meter and for restoring the controlled instrument to service, substantially as set forth. a

14:. In a telephone system, the combination with the calling-subscribers instrument, of a polarized relay device adapted, when energi'zed bycurrent of one polarity, to render the instrument temporarily inoperative, a registering appliance, means for jointly restoring the instrument to service and for actuating the registering appliance, central-office apparatus for effecting the desired connections, and in addition thereto, automaticallyactuated circuit-controlling apparatus governed by the called subscriber, adapted to supply current of the requisite polarity to the said relay device, substantially as set forth.

15. In combination with a telephone-exchange system, a reversing-relay provided in the answering side of the cord-circuit, said relay being automatically controlled by the called subscriber, and at the calling-subscribers instrument, a polarized relay adapted to respond to current from the relay and temporarily render the instrument inoperative, a call-registering appliance and means for acuating the latter and for restoring the subscribers instrument to service, substantially as set forth.

16. In combination with a telephone system, a reversing-relay provided in the answering side of the operators cord-circuit, said relay being automatically controlled by the called subscriber, under normal conditions, a nullifying-key connected with said relay, and at the calling-subscribers station, a polarized connection-registering appliance adapted to be actuated by the reversing-relay, substantially as set forth.

17. In combination with a telephoneexchange system, a reversing-relay in the answering side of the cord-circuit, means for autdmatically energizing the same when the called subscriber answers, and at the callingsubscribers station, a telephone instrument, a polarized electromagnet, an armature, a controlling-circuit governed thereby, adapted to shunt the subscribers transmitter, a countingtrain and manually controlled means for jointly actuating the counting-train and for breaking the shunt-circuit, substantially as set forth. I

18. In a telephone-exchange system, the combination with a su bscribers instrument, of a relay device adapted to shunt the transmittercircuit thereof, a counting-train, manuallycontrolled means for jointly actuating the counting-train and opening the shunt-circuit, central-ofiice apparatus and in the answering side of the cord-circuit, means controllable from the called-subscribers station for actuating said relay device to close the shunt-circuit of the transmitter, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a calling and a called line and apparatus at a central office for uniting them, of a toll device for the callingline, an automatic blocking device adapted when actuated to render the system inoperative for telephonic communication between the calling and the called stations, apparatus controlled at the called station for setting said blocking device, and means actuated in the operation of said toll device for restoring to their normal condition the parts affected by said blocking device, whereby the operative condition of the system is reestablished. I

20. The combination with a calling and a called line and means at the central office for uniting them, of a toll device at the substation of the calling-line adapted for manual operation by the subscriber, a blocking device adapted when actuated to prevent telephonic communication between the calling and the called stations, means controlled through the agency of the telephone-switch at the called station for operating said blocking device, and means controlled in the operation of the toll device for counteracting or making inoperative said blocking device.

21. The combination with a calling and a called line and apparatus at a central switchboard for uniting them, of a toll device at the substation of the calling-line, an electromagnetic switch at the central oflice adapted to change the electrical condition of the callingline, an electromagnet at the calling-substation responsive to the change produced by said electromagnetic switch, mechanism controlled by said electromagnet for rendering the apparatus at the calling-station inoperative for telephonic purposes, means controlled at the substation of the called line for setting said electromagnetic switch, and means controlled in the actuation of said toll device for restoring said switch;

22. The combination with a telephone tollline extending from a substation to a central oflice, of a toll device at the substation adapted for manual operation by the subscriber, a polarized electromagnet associated with the toll device and connected with the telephone-line, an armature for said electromagnet controlling the operation of the toll device, said armature also controlling a switch for rendering the telephone apparatus inoperative, a plug-circuit at the central office adapted to connect the toll-line with another line in response to a call initiated from "the toll-line, a source of current in the plug-circuit, a blocking-switch controlling the application of current to the toll-line and adapted when actuated to direct current over the toll -line to energize said polarized electromagnet, whereby the armature of said magnet is moved to release the toll device and simultaneously to render the telephone apparatus at the callingsubstation inoperative, a switch at the called station, a supervisory relay for the called line at the central oflice, controlled by said switch at the called station, a circuit for the blocking-switch controlled through the agency of said supervisory relay, and means, controlled in the operation of the toll device at the calling-substation, for reversing the operation of the armature of the electromagnet, to reestablish the operative condition of the telephone apparatus, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of July, 1900.

FRANK R. MCBERTY.

Witnesses:

P. B. CLENDTBNING, D. E. WILLETT.

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