US1239587A - Measured-service telephone system. - Google Patents

Description

R. ,C. GIFFORD.

MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1906. RENEWED-JULY I0, 1916.

1 239,5 87w Patented Sept. 1 1, 191?.

. I I I WI I I .nnlrrn -;srarstrain orrrcn ROY GIZEIEORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC COMPANYQ A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEAsUEEn-sEEvIcE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROY C. GIFFonD, a

citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county,

Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Measured-Service Telephone Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to measured service telephone exchange systems in general. There are many ways in whichto measure service or levy toll in a telephone system. Coindevices or call-registeringmeans can be provided at the subscribers stations, or meters or call-registering devices can be employed at the exchange or centralstation. In any event, however, and broadlyconsidered, a measured-service system is one in which suitable toll-levyingmeans are provided for those subscribers who p ay a fixed price for each call. a i r Generally stated, and in its broader aspect, my invention contemplates an improved measuredservice telephone system; and more specifically considered it contemplates an automatic system in which meters or call-registering devices are allotted to the subscribers lines at the exchange or central station, and in whieh provision is made for enabling the called subscriber to exercise a control over said meters ordevices, wherebyno toll can be levied except and unless the "called subscriber answers.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter disclosed and claimed. r

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure .1 shows diagrammatically acalling substation i and a called substation connected througha central oflice equipped with my improvedcallregistering meter, and with other switches.

In the said ofiicethe calling substation #500 has allotted to it the first-selector A ofthe general type disclosed in United States Patent No. 815,321. It will be' noticecl that there is'also acentral battery 'B havingits positive terminal preferably grounded. 111 addition to the saldfirst-selector there 1s showna connector Cy a call-registering meter with its circuit connections at E, a. a non-grounded battery a-tBQ and the first- Specification of Letters Patent.

springs 6-and 8 in contact :11, 12, 13 and 14. When the receiver Patented Sept. 11, 191?.

i V Application filed-November 14, 1908, Serial No. 343,396. Renewed July 10, 1916. Serial No. 108,450.

selector D allotted to the called line. The said meter device comprised in my invention maybe considered as an attachment having suitable terminals which may be electrically connected with the central oflice switches.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the positions of the operating armature 2 and the pawl 3 with reference to the ratchet wheel 4:. The bushing 5 is shown in operative engagement with the spring 6, thereby breaking the contact be tween. springs 6 and 7 and closing the of the register,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the register showing the-meter.

The substations may be of any suitable or approved type. The substation shown at #500, forinstance, is provided with the receiver 9, switclrhook 10, the lat ter'having radiating from its body a number of cams is off the hook thecam arm 11 closes in contact the springs 15 and 16, thereby closing a local circuit including the primary winding 17 of the induction-coil 18, local battery 19 and transmitter 20. The cam 12 controls the cooperative ground springs 21 and 22 which, when the switclrhook 10 is up, engage and thus place the substation ground G in c0nnection with the ground post 23 and c0nspring which is normally in contact with the point 34; but whenthe button 32 is pressed the said spring comes into contact with the ground contactpoint 24. Means by whiclr the subscriber may operate the central oiiice switches consists of the pushlnittons and 36 which are secured to the springs 87 and 38, respectively. Said springs 37 and 38, when the buttons 35 and lea ' respectively.

-ment with the sprin 7 2.

3-6 are pressed,- leave the contactpoints 39 and 40, respectively, and come into engagement with the ground post 23, thereby? grounding the line conductors 30 and 31 The springs 41 and 42, when pressed into' contact by the camarm 14 on the downward course of the switch-hook 10, engage the spring 43, which latter is con nected to the substation ground G, thus grounding both lineconductors 30 and 31 simultaneously and releasing. the central of fice apparatus. The first-selector A is provided with the vertical and rotary line re lays 44 and 45 and vertical and rotary magnets 46 and 47, respectively, private magnet 48, release magnet 49, release relay 50 and the bridge-cutoff relay51; in fact the firstselector A is the same as the first-selector disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 815,321, granted March 13, 1906, -to Keith, Erickson and Erickson, with the addition of the normal springs 52 and 53. The springs 52 and 53 are provided for connecting the rotary line conductor 31 with the motor relay 56 of the meter apparatus. Said relay is in turn connected with the battery. 13

through the springs 6 and 7 and the resistance-coil 59. The connector G,:which is a modification of the connector disclosed in United States Patent. No. 815,176, granted March 13, 1906, to Keith, Erickson and Erickson, is provided with the vertical and rotary relays 60 and 61, vertical and rotary magnets 62 and 63, respectively, private magnet 64, release magnet 65 and ringer relay 66. In addition the connector C is providedwith the relay 67 having the two windings 68 and 69. This relay becomes energized when the called subscriber removes his receiver from the switch-hook, thus completing an energizing circuit through both windings of the relay. The energization of the said relay causes its armature to operate and shift the spring 7 0 from contact with the spring 71 to engage During this shifting there is a short interval .in which the spring 70v is in contact with the springs 71 The momentary C with the positive terminal of the battery B. This will be more fully described hereinafter. If the subscriber #500 wishes to call the subscriber at substation #220 he first removes the receiver 9 from the switchhooklO, thereby placing the ground post 23in connection with the substation ground G. He then operates the vertical push-but- '-ton 35 twice and the rotary push-button 36 once; again the firstpuslrbutton is pressed twice and the second button once, and for the last time the button 35 is pressed ten times and the button 36 once. By pressinagnet 48, thence to ing the. button 35 twice 7 the number desired, the shaft and shaft wipers of the first-selector TA are raised two steps to the second level-of the line and privatebanks.

Each time the vertlcal relay 44 is energized tor the firstdigit of 65 the springs 76. and 77 are carried'into 'engagement, thereby closing an energizingcircuit through the vertical magnet. 46. This energizing'circuit extends from ground G thioughthe springs 77 and 7 6 to the private magnet springs 78 and 79, vertical magnet 46 to the battery lead 7 5,-an d thence through battery B to. ground G. I The vertical magnet being operated twice the first selector switch shaft wipers 79, 80 and'81Iare car riedi to aleveli' with the contact. points that constitute the terminalsof thejtrunk lines 7 leading to the connector C. .Fmthermore, upon thefirst vertical impulsethenormal springs 52.. and 53 engage, likewise the springs .89 and .90. Then presses the rotary impulse spring 38 onto the ground post 23.;the rotarypline relay 45 of the first-selector Ais in turn energized; Thls energizmg ClI'CUliDBXtBIlClS from ground G through the springs 22 and 21, ground. post 23, spring 38 to the rotary line conductor 31, side switch wiper 82, contact point 83 to the rotary line relay 45,bridgecut-off springs 92, 54 and, 55 to the battery lead 7 5, and through battery 13 :to ground G; The said relay operates to close an ener- "gizing circuit through the. private magnet 48. This circuit extends from ground G through the springs 77 and 84 to the private the battery lead 7 5, and through battery B to ground Gr. vThe private magnet 48 upon energizing operates to shift the side: switch wipers from first to second position, whereby an energizing circuit is .closed through the rotary, magnet 47 when the side switch wiper 85; engages the contact .point 86. The said energiz ng circuit extends from ground G contact point. 86, side switch wiper 85,;interrupter to the'battery lead 7 5, thencethrough'battery B to-grouncl G; The rotarymagnet is energized, rotating theshaft one step, and theishaftwipers' 79i,80 and. 81 are carthe subscriber springs: 93,-through the, rotary. -.magnet 47 v ried intov engagement with the bank .con-

. tacts that constitutethe terminal of atrunk leading to the connector switch G. Assumretaining the side switch ing that the trunk leading to the said connector leads oil? from the first set of contacts of the second level, then if the first trunk line is busy an energizing circuit is established through the private magnet 48, when the private wiper 81 strikes the grounded private contact, thereby maintaining the energizing circuit through the private magnet 48, which in turn remains energized; in second position, and maintaining the energizing circuit through the rotary magnet 47. This energizing circuit through the private magnet 48 extends from the grounded contact point to the private wiper 81, to the release relay 50, side switch wiper 87, contact point 88, through the private magnet winding 48 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery B and to ground G. The rotary magnet by intermittent magnetization thus causes the shaft to rotate step-by-step, carrying the wipers past the last busy trunk line. However, as soon as the private wiper 81 leaves the last busy contact the private magnet 48 becomes deenergized, the side switch is tripped to third position, and the energizing circuit through the rotary magnet 47 is broken. The side switch wipers 73, 82, 85 and 87 engage their respective contact points 94, 95, 91 and 93. This operation results in disconnecting the line conductors 30 and 31 from the vertical and rotary relays 44 and 45 and extending the said conductors to the switch-shaft wipers 79 and '80, respectively. But if there are no busy contacts to be passed over, as assumed in the first instance, the shaft wipers 79, 80 and 81 come to rest upon the first contact of the second level, as stated. A guarding potential is established at the private wiper contact 81 extending from ground G side switch wiper 87, contact point 93, through the. release relay to the private wiper 81. This guarding potential protects the connector 0 from being seized by any other first-selector. Furthermore, the potential for protecting the calling line extends from ground G through the springs 89 and 90, thence to the private normal conductor 89, which leads to the connector bank. The second digit is called after the subscriber has established connection with the connector '0 by way of the trunk conductors 96 and 97. For the second digit the vertical button 35 is pressed twice, thus grounding the vertical line conductor 30 twice and energizing the vertical line relay of the connector C twice. The energizing current flows from substation ground G through the ground post 23 and spring 37, line conductor 30,

side switch Wiper 73, contact point 94 to the shaft vertical line wiper 79, trunk conductor 96 to the relay 60, thence to the battery lead 75, and through battery 13 to ground G. Each time the vertical relay 60 is energized the relay springs 98 and 99 are pressed into contact, thereby closing an energizing circuit through the vertical magnet 62 over the following path: from ground G to the springs 98 and 99, private magnet springs 100 and 101, side switch wiper 102, contact point 103, vertical magnet 62 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery 13 and to ground G. Each time that the vertical magnet is energized conductor 81, through the side switch wiper.

82, contact'point 95. to the. rotary shait wiper 80, trunk conductor '97, rotary relay .61 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery 13 and to ground G. The energization of therotary line relay ('31 causes the energization of the private magnet ('34 over a circuit extcndingi rom ground (i through the springs 98 and 104, private magnet 04 tothe battery lead 75, thence through battery B and to ground G, and the release oi the side switch from first tosecond position. thus placing the wipers 105, 106, 107 and 102 in connection with their. respective contact points in the second position. The last digit being naught the subscriber presses the vertical button 35 ten times, grounding the vertical line conductor 30 ten times and the rotary line conductor 31 once. The vertical and rotary line relays 60 and 61 are operated over previously traced circuits. However, when the line relay springs 98 and 99 engage, a circuitis closed through the rotary magnet 63 instead of through the verti cal magnet 62. The energizing circuit extends from ground GE through the springs 98 and 99, private magnet springs 1.00 and 101, side switch wiper 102, Contact point 108, rotary magnet 63 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery B and to ground G. Each time that the rotary magnet is energized it rotates the shaft and shaft wipers 109, 110 and 111 one step at a time until the said wipers are carried into engagement with. the normalconductors 112, 113 and 114, rcspectively, thatlcad to the lineswitch D of the desired subscriber. The encrgization of the rotary line relay 61, as previously stated, completes an energizing circuit through the private magnet 64, which now operates with one of two results, namely the release of the side switch from second to third position, or'the so-called busy-release of the connector, as will be explained. Suppose the former'result to occur and the side switch to pass to third position, thus placing the side switch wipers 105, 106, 107 and 102 in contact with their respective contacts in the which engages the private contact of the called line. The said guarding potential also closes an energizing circuit through the bridge-cutoff relay 116 of the first-selector D, thus removing the bridge formed by the vertical and rotary line relays of the firstselcctor D. To signal the called subscriber the calling subscriber presses the signaling button 32, thus placing the spring 33 in contact with the substation ground and thereby energizing the vertical relay 60 of the connector C. The path of the energizing current extends from the substation ground Gr through the springs 22 and 21 to the contact point 2 1, spring 33, springs 27 and 28, contact point 39, spring 37, vertical line conductor 30, through the side switch wiper 7 3, contact point 9 1, first-selector shaft wiper 79, trunk conductor 96, vertical relay 60 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery B and to ground G. It will be remembered that the connector side switch has passed from second to third position and that the side switch wiper 102 is in engagement with the contact point 117, thereby placing the ringer relay 66 under the control of the line relay 60. Therefore, when the vertical line relay 60 presses the springs 98 and 99 into contact the ringer relay '66 is energized bv a flow of current from ground G through the springs 98 and 99, private magnet springs 100 and 101, side switch wiper 102, contact point 117, ringer relay 66 to the battery lead 7 5, thence through battery 13 to ground G. The ringer relay upon energiz- 'ng shifts the springs 118 and 119 from in contact with the springs 120 and 121 to engagement with the springs 122 and 123, re spectively. This results in bridging across the called subscribers line the terminals of the ringer generator H. A signaling current is, therefore, sent from the generator H to the ringer relay springs 122 and 118, to the side switch wiper 105,- contact'point 124i, connectorshaft wiper 109, normal conductor112, line conductor 125 to the switchhook' 126, cam 127 to the spring 128, thence through the ringer 129 to therotary line conductor 130, normal conductor113, connector shaft wiper1110, contact point 131, side switch wiper 106, ringer relay springs 119 and 123 and back to the ringer generator- H. As soon as the calling subscriber ceases to press the signaling button 32 the ringer relay 66 becomes deenergized and the 118 ands119 resume theirnormal po- The subscriber ,at' substation #220, the signal, removes the rethe switch-hook. 126;, which springs sition; in response to ceiver 132 from allows the springs 133 and 134:, toengage and,

the cam 127and spring 128todisengage,

thereby removing the ringer 129fromracross the. line and bridging instead the secondary winding 135 in series vwith the receiver 132, Furthermore, when the springs 133 and 13a engage an energizing circuit is established through the. .relay windings 68 and-69 of the connector C. This energizing circuit extends from ground 1G through the windr ing 69, of the relay 67, thence to theringer relay springs 121-and 119, side switchwiper 106, contact point 131, shaftwwiper 110, normal conductor 113, rotary lineconductor 130, receiver 126, secondary winding 135, through the signaling device to the springs 133 and 13 1, to the vertical line conductor 125, normal conductor 112,, shaft wiper-109, contact point 12 1, side switch 105, ringerre-, lay springs 118 and .120, through the wind- 68 of therelay 67 to the battery lead 75,

ing

thence through battery Bto ground G. The

relay 67 upon energization operates toshift the spring7 0 from in contact with the spring 71 into engagement withthe spring 72. As previously explained, there is an instant in which the spring 70 vis. in contact with both springs 71 and 72 simultaneously, and dur; ing this instant in which all three springs arein contact a circuit is established through the motor relay '56. This circuit may be traced from thespring 701to the spring 71, rotary trunk conductor 97, firstrselector shaft wiper 80, through; the contact point 95 and side switch wiper 82, conductor 136, normal springs 53 and 52, throu'ghthe wi1iding of the motor relay 56, springs 6 and 7, resistance-coil 59, thence through battery B to the springs 72 and 70. Themotor relay 56 upon energization attracts itsarmature 137, which in turnadyances the wheel 138 one step, thus carrying thebushing 5 (Fig. 2) into contact with the spring v6. The said spring 6 now disengages from the spring 7 and comes into contact :with the spring 8. The disengagement of the springs 6and 7 removes the battery B, from the motor relay tends from the substationjground G to the rotary "line conductor 31, conductor 136,nor V lnal springs and through the winding of the motor relay 56 to the springs 6 and 8,1 to bl16 battery,,lead 75, thence, through battery 3 to ground G. The motor relay 56, This second energizing circuit ex 56 again attracts its armature137 and advances the wheel 138 another step. The bushing 5 is accordinglv carried from be yond the spring 6, and the said spring 6 again comes to its normal position in contact with spring .7; thus the motor relay becomes energized twice, once by the called subscriber when the receiver 132 is removed. from the switch-hook, and again bythe calling subscriber when the receiver 9 is restored to the switclrhook. The motor magnet having been energized twice causes its armature 137 to advance the wheel 138 two steps, which is sufiicient for advancingthe meter register 139 one unit.

The release of the central office switching apparatus is brought about when the calling subscriber restores the receiver 9 and grounds both line conductors 30. and 31, simultaneously, thereby energizing the vertical and rotary relays 60 and 61 simultaneously, which operate and place the trunkrelease springs 140 and 141 in contact. The engagement of the said springs closes an energizing circuit through the release relay 50 of the first-selector A in series with the release magnet of the connector 0. This circuit extends from ground G at the selector A, contact point 93, side switch wiper 87, release relay 50, private wiper 81 to the trunk-release springs 140 and 141, release magnet 65 to the battery lead 75, thence through battery B and to ground G. The release magnet 65 upon energization attracts its armature and releases the connector in the well-known manner. The release relay 50 upon energization operates to place the springs 142 and 143 in contact, which closes an energizing circuit through the release magnet, 49 extending from ground Gr", release relay springs 142Iand 143, through the winding of the release magnet 49 to'the battery lead. 75, thence through battery B and to ground G. The release magnet 49 in turn operates in the well-known manner to restore the shaftand shaft wipers of the first-selector A tonormal position, when the release springs 41, 42 and 43 separate. When the first-selector A is fully restored to normal position the normal arm 144 separates the springs 89 and 90 and springs 53 and 52, and places the springs 90 and 86in contact, thereby connecting the private .normal 89 and bridge-cut-ofl' relay 51. i

The meter or call-registering device comprises a motor relay 56 and an armature 137 at one end'of which is suitablyrsecured the pawl 3. The spring 145 is providedfor returning the pawl to its .normal position after the said pawl has engaged the ratchet wheel 4. The relay 56 upon energizing attracts its armature 137 and causes the pawl 3 to engage a tooth of the wheel 4 and thus advance the wheel one step, or until the pawl 3 comes into contact with the stop, 146. The said pawl when in its advanced position serves as a lock to prevent the momentum of the rotating parts from carrying the disk or wheel 138 more than one step. Upon the disk or wheel are suitably mounted. a number of insulating bushings 5. The bushings engage with and carry the spring 6 from in contact with the spring 7 to engagement with the spring 8, at the first step of the disk or wheel 138, which occurs when the called subscriber removes his receiver from the switch-hook, as previously explained. At the next step of the disk 138, when the calling subscriber hangs up his receiver,.the bushing 5 slides 0E from the round end 147 of the spring 8, thus permitting the spring 6 to again close in contact with the spring 7. The disk. 138 and toothed wheel 4 are secured to the meter shaft 148 by means of the set-screw 149. Therocker-arm 150 is provided for main- .taining the ratchet wheel 4 in its advanced position. Said arm is suitably mounted upon the meter by the screw 151. The spring 152 provides the means for maintaining the arm. 150 in contact with the teeth of the wheel 4.

It is obviousfrom the foregoing that the meter only operates the first step if the called subscriber answersthat is, if a call has been completed; and then when the switching apparatus of the central station has been restored the last step is completed-that is, the motor relay 56 cannot tential at the private bank contact; then when the last rotaryimpulse is sent in for completing the final connection the private a magnet 64 is operated as usual, carrymg the springs 153 and 154 into contact, while the side switch is in second position, and after the private wiper 111 has been carried onto 'the grounded contact. As a result an energizing circuit is setup through the release magnet 65 from the grounded guarded contact point through the private wiper 111, thence through the side switch wiper 107,

contact point 155, private magnet springs 154 and 153 to the release magnet 65, and

through said magnet to thebattery lead 75,

thence through battery 13 and to ground G. Of course, the connector switch shaft and side switch. arerestored, which incidentally destroys the energizing circuit for the releasemagnet. It will be evident, then, that 'if'the called subscriber does not answer because his line is busy or because he is not at home, the meter cannot register.- lVhenever a connection is established with the called line, it has been explained, the cut-off relay 116 of the selector of said line is energized; but, of course, that energizing circuit is destroyed whenever the connector switch is released.

- The relay 56 may be wound to any suitable resistance, but with a central battery of fifty volts good results have; been ob tained when the said, relay is woundto a resistance of five hundred ohms. The resistance-coil 59 may be wound to a resistance "of one-half ohm.

Itwill be seen that I provide a toll-levying device which is under the control of the called subscriber, so that no toll can be levied if the call is not successful. The me- .ter or call-registering device 1s, of course,

individual to the calling subscribers line,

'and one is provided for each subscriber using measured service.

The connectors-can be employed on a percentage basis, and are, therefore, preferably less in number than the subscribers. The first-selectors can also be reduced to'a'percentage basis in any suitable or known manner, and intermediate selectors can be employed if necessary. Thus provision is made for automatic trunking between lines in a system by which the service is metered or measured at the exchange or central Q station.

It will be seen that the condensers of the connector C serve to exclude the battery current from the calling line during conversation. At the same time, however, current is maintained on the line of the called subscriber.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a telephone exchange system, the

combination of means for automatically trunking one line into connection with another, responsive to the callin subscriber, and call-registering devices comprising ratchet mechanism controlled first by the called subscribers and then by the'calling subscribers. V

Quin a telephone exchange combination of means for automatically trunking one line into connection with another, responsive to the calling subscriber,

and call reglsterlng devlces comprislng ratchet mechanism located at the exchange or central station, controlled by the called subscribers. c

3. A call registering device, means by which the called subscriber partially actuates said device in answering, and means by which the calling subscriber then completes the operation thereof when hehangs up his telephone.

system, i the Y 'ing one line into connection with another.

6. A call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber partiallyjiactuates said device in answering, means by which the calling subscriberthen completes the operation thereof, and subscriber-controlled automatic meansfor connecting one line w1th another.

7. A call-registering device, means by which the called subscr ber partially actuates said device in-answering, means by which the calling subscriber then completes telephone, and subscriber controlled automatic means for connecting one line with another.

S. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of automatic means for connecting one line with another, responsive to a call, 'and service meter conjointly controlled first by the calledand then by the calling subscribers to register the successful calls.

9. The. combination, of telephone lines, automatic switches less in number than said lines, but in which said lines have multiple terminals, automatic means by which a calling subscriber trunks to an idle switch, a, call-registering device, means by which the called. subscriber operates the call-registeringdevice one step when he answers, and

means by which the calling subscriber op'-' crates the said device another step when'he releases the switch and trunkingmeans,

10. In an automatic telephone exchange system, the combinatlon ofmea'nsfor automatically trunking one line into connection with another, a common battery, means for admitting the battery current to "the called line during conversation, means for excluding the battery current from the calling line during conversation, and a .callregistering dei 'ice'respo'nsive to the flow of current in the called line.

11. A telephone connector having pro-- vision for retaining both sides of the calling line in connection with one pole of a battery during conversation, and for bridging said battery across the called line, and a callthe, operation thereof when he hangs up his registering device responsive to thefl ow of current in the called lme. V 12. A service meter having a local 'magnet tion of the talking circuit.

in the called line.

circuit, a selector or" individual switch having off-normal springs for closing said circuit at one'point, anda switchfor enabling the called subscriber to' close said circuit at another point, said circuit including a por- 13. A service meter, a battery for ope ating the meter one step when the calledsubscriber answers, and another battery for operating the meter another step when the calling subscriber hangs up his telephone.

14. A telephone system comprising acalling subscribers telephone line, a'called subscribers telephone line, a centralized source of current, means for excluding the current from'the calling line during conversation, means for maintainingthe current" on the called line during conversation, and register means responsive to the flow of current 15. In a telephone system, a service meter,

a magnet for operating said meter, a circuit for energizing said magnet,a selector and a connector switch, off normal springs in'said selector controlling said' circuit at one point, and a relay in said connector controlling the circuit at a second point. l6. Ina telephone system, a service meter, almagnet for operating said meter,-a circuit for energizing said magnet, a selector and a connector switch, off normal springs in'said selector controllingsaid circuit atone point, and a relay in said connector in bridge of the talking circuit to control said circuit at a second point.

17. In a telephone system, a service meter, a magnet for operating said meter,a circuit for energizing said magnet, a selector-and a connector switch, ofl' normal springs in said selector controlling said circuit at one point, and a relay in said connectorin bridge of the talking circuit to'control said circuit at a second point, said relay being energized upon the response of the called subscriber.

18. In a telephone system, a service meter, a magnet for operatingsaid meter, a circuit for energizing said magnet, a relay underthe control'of the called subscriber adapted to close saidcircuit to energize said meter magnet to part1ally operate sa1d meter, and

"contactscontrolled by such energization to then place'sald meter magnet under the con trol ofthe calling subscriber, whereby said meter may becompletely operated.

19. In a telephone system, a service meter,

a magnet'for operating said meter, a circuit for energizing said magnet, arelay controlling said circuit to energize said meter ma net, means for energizing said relay upon the response of the called subscriber, contac ts controlled by the energization of said meter magnet to then place said magnet under the control of the calling subscriber,

and means'to then energize said magnet when the calling subscriberhangs up.

20; In a telephone system, a service meter, a magnet for operating said meter, a circuit for energizing said magnet, a double-wound relay bridged across the talking circuit for controlling said energizing circuit, and contacts controlled by such energization to then place said meter magnet under the control ofthe calling subscriber. Q

21. In a telephone system, a service meter, a magnet for operatingsaid meter, a circuit for energizing said magnet, a double-wound relay bridged across the talking circuit for controlling said energizing circuit, means for energizing said relay upon the response of the called subscriber, contacts controlled bythe energization of said meter magnet to then place said magnet under the control of the calling subscriber, and means to then energize said magnet when the calling subscriber hangs up.

22. In a telephone system divided into groups, the combination of means for automatically trunking one line into connection with another, and call-registering devices for measuring the service, located at the exchange or central Oflic, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

23.'In a telephone system divided into groups, the combination of means for automatically trunking one line into connection with another, and call-registering devices located at the exchange or central station, controlled by the called subscribers, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

which the called subscriber partially actuates sald device in answering, and means by which the calling subscriber then completes theoperation thereof when he hangs up his telephone, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

N 26. In a telephone system divided into groups, a call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber partially actu- Cir ates said device in answering, means by which the calling subscriber then completes the operation thereof, and automatic means for trunking-one line into connection with another, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

27. In a telephone system divided into groups, a call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber partially actuates said device in answering, means by which the calling subscriber then completes the operation thereof when he hangs up his telephone, and automatic means for trunking one line into connection with another, said system being operative by vertical mo- .t1on of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group. I

28. I11 a telephone system divided into groups, a call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber partially actuat'es said device in answering, means by which the calling subscriber then completes the operation thereof, and subscriber-controlled automatic means for connecting one line with another, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements 7 thereof to select groupsand by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

29. In a telephone system divided into groups, a call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber partially actu ates said device in answering, means by which the calling subscriber then completes the operation thereof when he hangs up his telephone, and subscribercontrolled automatic means for connecting one line with another,'said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and'by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

30. Ina telephone system divided into 'groups, the combination of telephone lines,

automatic switches less in number than said lines, but in which said lines have multiple -termlnals, automatic means by whlch a calling subscriber trunks to an idle switch, a

' call-registering device, means by which-the .55

ing device one step when he answers, and means by which the calllng subscrlber operates the said device another step when he releases the switch and trunkln-g means, sa1d called subscriber operates the call-registersystem being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group. i

31. In a telephone system divided into groups, a service meter having a magnet circuit, a selector or individual switch having off-normal springs for closing said circuit at one point, and a switch for enabling the calling subscriber to automatically close said circuit at another point, said system being operative by vertical motion of certain elements thereof to select groups and by rotary motion of the same elements to connect with the called line in any selected group.

32. In atelephone system divided into groups, a service meter, a battery for operating the meter one step when the called subscriber answers, and another battery'for operating the meter, another step whenthe calling subscriber hangs up his telephone,

said system being operative by. vertical motion of certain elements thereof to i select groups and by rotary motion of the same which the called subscriber in answering prepares an operating circuit for said device, ancl means by which the calling subscriber then closes the said circuit to operate the sa1d device.

34. A call registering device, means by i which the called subscriber in answering prepares an operating circuit for said-device, means by which the calling subscriber then closes thersaid circuit to operate the said device, and stibscriber controlled automatic means for connecting one line .to another. p 1 i r 35. A call-registering device, 'means by which the called subscriber in answering prepares the said device to be operated, means by which the calling subscriber then automatically operates the said device,and subscriber-controlled automatic imeans for connecting one line to another. V

36. A call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber in answering prepares an operating circuit for said device, and means bywhich the calling subscriber then closesfthe said circuit to oper ate the said device when he hangs up {his telephone. I i l 37. A call-registering device, means by which the called subscriber in answering preparesthe said device to be operated, and

means by whichthe calling subscriber then automaticallyoperates the said device when he hangs up his telephone, 7

38. In a telephone exchange system, a

response of the called subscriber and actuated by the calling subscriber to register the call. 7 V r 39. In a telephone system, the combination with a plurality of calling and called lines, of selector and connector, switches.

adapted to automatically interconnect said lines, conversation recorders, preparatory circuits extending through said switches for controlling the preliminary action of said recorders, said preparatory circuits being controlled by said'called lines, and supplementary circuits for controlling the final action of said recorders to effect registration, said supplementary circuits being controlled by said calling lines.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook count Illinois, this 9th day of November, 1906. ROY C. GIFFORD. Witnesses:

EDWARD D. FALES, ARTHUR B. SPERRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. G.

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