US1375230A - Telephone-exchange system - Google Patents

Description

J. N. REYNOLDS.

ELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB-29, 1917. y 1,375,230, Patented Apr. 19,1921.

1: 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

/n venor:

Joh/1 /VewbeH/y Reyna/ds J. N. REYNOLDS.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.29. 1911.

1,375,230, Patented Apr. 19; 1921.

2 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. N. REYNOLDS.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MMI. 29, 1917.

1,375,230. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

bym/gd J. N. REYNOLDS.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1917.

1,375,280. Patented Apr. 19, 1921,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N 000 fn I'HI I QUEI] IIJ V n S l l R l l I l MVM fw/' *Q y? /n Ven for: I Jahn /Ven/e/f//y FWIW/d5- tenance.

UNITEDL NSTATESy PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NEWBEEEY AREYNOLDS, or GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, AssmNoR To WESTERN' ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCOEPOEATEDfOE NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

'TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.l

Specification of LettersV Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

. 1' Application Mfiled March` 29, 1917. Serial No. 158,190.

To all @whom t may concern A Be it known that I, JOHN NEWB'ERRY REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.V l

This invention relates to automatic switching apparatus for telephone exchange systems, and -has for its object the provision of apparatus of this type which will be compact in structure, efcient in operation, and low in the cost of production and main- In accordance with the general Vobjects of this invention, means are provided whereby a large number of multiple contacts accessible to any one of a number of brushes may, without the use of bank or connecting wires, be grouped into -a space of such area .that any one of the brushes may be moved into engagement with any multiple contact within the bank in steps of a length possible to attain easily and within a period of time found to be desirable and practical in such systems. More specifically, the invention comprises a switching mechanism in'NX which a plurality of layers of multiple "cone tacts are mounted in superimposed relation to each other and brushes areprovided, each adapted to be selectively moved to the said layers and transversely to the contacts/ of a selected layerk A convenient form of unit layer, and one which is believed to be novel, may be composedl of a plurality of longitudinally eX- tending con-ductors insulated from ea-ch other, and divided into sets. More specifically, the multiple contact member may comprise a fabric consisting of bare wires forming the Warp and insulating strips forming the Woof, the spacing and weaving of wires and insulating strips being such as to divide said wires into sets of contacts. The web or fabric thus formed is secured to a metal mounting plate by insulating means which leaves the contact portions of the wires exposed vfor engagement by brushes. YThe metal mounting plate forms a strong and lconvenient means for mounting the strips and prevents cross-talk between conductors.

the features of this invention.

,Other features of this invention relate to the construction and mounting of the mul-v tiple contact members whereby they will be accessible to the maximum. numberof brushes; the construction of the apparatus for rendering the multiple contact mem-` bers adjustable and removable and readily `accessible for adjustment or removal; and

the method of4 mounting the multiple con-v tact members to prevent the accumulation of forelgn substances, such as dust or metal particles thereon.' The apparatus is made accessible to the maximum number of brushes by making the Contact portions of the multif,

ple contact members sufficiently wide so that theyy may be traversed simultaneously by two independently movable brush sets, and so mounting said contact members that they may be accessible ,to brush sets mounted upon either side thereof. The protection ofA the contacts is obtained by the construction and mounting of the multiple contact members in such a manner that the contacts are exposed only on the under side of said con-A tact member. n

A novel brush operating mechanism for moving a brush set in two directions in lines at right angles to each other, and in stepsv ditering'in length, is also included among Preferably a single operating mechanism is provided for moving the brush set in one direction insteps of one length, and in another direction in steps ofv a different length. De-

tails of the construction of the switch operating mechanism lfor making the change-over from one length" of step to `the other and for changing the direction of movement o-f the brush set are also believed to be new.

The details of the construction of the multiple contact-member for providing simple,

" rigid and convenientterminals for the conductors are also' features'of this invention. In the drawings illustrating this invenf tion Figure 1 is a view in side elevation lofa brush operating mechanism embodying features of this invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View taken upon line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon line 3`3 of Fig. l;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of parts of the brush operating mechanism;

loo

i is the Same as illustrated an rcontact strips andthe relation ofthe brushes Y Fig. 6 is a viewin` perspective-of a brush' carria e and brushes;

Figis a view inside elevation, withfparts brokenaway, of a multple contact bankembodying features' of this invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view 'of the bank showing the face of one of the multiple thereto; y, l

Fig. 9 is a view of a portion of the end of one ofthe multiple'contact strips;

'Fig. 10 is a transverse sectionalV view of one of the multiple -contact strips;

Fig. 1-1V is a erspective view showing details bf the multiple contact strip; and

Fig. 12 is a View showingthe manner in which the apparatus embodying the features lof this invention maybe wired in. a system. v' h In the following detailed description of this invention reference will first be made to the contact bank construction and the details thereof as illustrated in ,Figs 7 8. 9, 1Q and 11. v

Referring first to Figs. 7 and 8, the reference numerals 5, 5 designate a plurality.

of multiple. contact'strips supported between side frame members 6, 6, .6, 6, which side framemembers are secured 'at their ends to y separate strands to displace portions 20,

' their displaced thereof into a brush contacting position, as more clearly shown in Fig. 11. The weaving and arrangement of the insulating strips l12, 13, 14, 15, etc., is such that'the adjal, cent wires 8, 9 and 10 of each set will have ortins 2,0, 20 longitudinally separated rom each other, while the corresponding wires of each set will be displaced in the same line transverse of the stri .v Thus the conductors 8, 8, 8 of the sev- -era sets will pass over the strip 12, under the strips 13, 14, and over the strip 15, etc. The conductors 9, 9,` 9 will pass under the strip 12, over the strip 13 and under the strips 14 andl, and over the next strip bei yond 15 ^in the contact strip. The wires 10,-

10, 10 will pass under the strips 12 and 13, over the strip 14, and under strip 15 and Ythe/next strip beyond to appear again on the surfacel at the third strip beyond the strip 14. The insulating strips 12, 13, 14, 15, etc., 65

.are each'providedat their edges with a plurality of notches 21, 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 11, thesev notches serving to seat the conductors or wires and maintain them separated. These notches 21, 21' are provided in the insulating strips only at the portions where the conductors pass over them; that is, the stripf. 12 will be notched only at the conductors 9, 9 pass over it and the strip 14 at the portions where the conductors 10, 10 pass over it.

The web or fabric thus formed by the bare wires and insulating strips is -secured to a mounting plate 23; preferably of thin sheet metal, by means of heatliardenable insulating material and in such a manner as to leave the displaced portions of the wires bare. The plate 23 is provided at one end with an enlarged portion 24 in which are formed notches 25, 25 vadapted to engage screw threaded posts 2626 carried by the frame members 7 and to be secured thereto by clamping and spacing nuts-27, 27. Secured to the plate 23 at the eXtreme end of the portion" 24 is a fanning strip 29 under which one end of each of the conducting y"wires-8, 8, 9, 9 and 10, 10 is passed and looped back in a loop 30 which is offset' toy stiffen it in all directions, whereby a' convenient and rewirable terminal is provided for connection with other-conductors of a system. The offset or stiffening is obtained by passing the ends of the wires under the. fanning strip, yloo ing them in a direction` perpendicular to t e plane of the wires and brought back under the fanning strip in.-

the same plane as the plane of the wires;

Secured to each ofthe supporting plates 23 are a plurality of stiilened supportinglugs 32, 32, each 4provided at its ends with internally screw threaded projections 33, 33 adapted to be engaged by screws y34, 34 extending through openings 35, 35 through the side frame members 6, 6. The openings 35, 35 through the side frame members 6, 6

are sufliciently` large to allow some clearance between vthe screws 34, 34 andr the surrounding metal, and lock nuts 36, 36 are provided for the screws. By means of the screws 34, 34 the strips 5, 5 may be adjusted to any desired lateral position while the clearance between the` openings 35, 35 and the screws- 34, 34 permits the adjustment of the strips 5, 5 both longitudinally and horizontally.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there are indicated two brush sets 37 and 38 and it will be noted by reference to these drawings that the relative widths of the brushes and contact surfaces 20, 20 is such that two brushes may operate .simultaneously from opposite directions over Jthe same contact surfaces without interference between the brush s. By reason of this construction a large number of brush oper-I the portions where the conductors 8, 8 pass Y over it, the strip 13 at the portions where etl ating mechanismsl may be utilized in a 13o ed to be engaged by a stepping pawl57 carsmaller space than-'would otherwise ne possible. The strips 5, 5are preferably'mounted withI the contact surfaces on the under yside thereof so that dust and metalparticles will not accumulate between the conductors,

` thereby reducing to a the liability of trouble from suchia source.

The brush operating mechanism, which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusiye, is designed to mo've the brushes step by step to the several levels of mltiple contact strips 5,5 and transversely thereof to sel ected contacts of a strip. As shown in the drawings,

50, 50 designate brushes mounted upon a carriage 51 whichl is'V secured toi a shaft 52 The shaft 52 is slidable in guide members' 53 and 54 on a frame. plate 55. Located adjacent to the shaft 52'is a toothed bar 56 adaptried by an armature 58 of a stepping magnet 59. The toothed barf56 is supported by collars 60 and 61 which are slidable'upon the vshaft 52, but there is secured tothe shaft 52 a spring-'pressed locking member 62'adapted, in the normal position of the shaft 52 and theftoothed bar 56, to (engage a notch'63 in saidftoothed bar 56 to" lock it tosaidshaft 52. "In the first movement of the apparatus in response to impulses through the'stepping magnet 59 the pawl 57 will engage the toothed bar 56 to move said-bar\56 and the rshaft 52 upwardly'in steps equal in length to lthe distance between two successive teethA on the bar 56. Eachfof these4 steps rWill be equal to the vertical distance between adjacent multiple contact layers and 'will ebntinueuntil the brushes `50, 50'have beenf moved into a position fipposite a desired layer;

At the cessation of the first series 7of impulses through the stepping magnet 59 a sideswitch magnet 65 will becaused to operate.`

This magnet by its armature 66 and a ,pawl

and ratchet connection 67 68 controls/the` operation of a cam disk 69. This lcam disk l 69 hasl three sets ofsurfaces, each set adapted tocontrol aF switch movement through a complete cycle o f operations in onev complete rotation of the said disk 69. Normally an antifriction roller 70 secured to a pivotal lever 71 restsin lan opening 72 betweenadjacent sets of surfaces.,v At.the first operation of the magnet' 65 a sloping cam surface 7 8-will be moved under the roller 70 to push.

the lever 71 outwardly; at ,the second step of the magnet 65 a straight surface 74 willv be moved under vvthe roller 70 to' hold said lever`71 in its outward position; 'at'the third step a sloping surface 7 5 will be-moved under the-roller 70 to swing Said lever 71` in-x wardly again and bring the roller into an opening 76 between -cam surfaces of the same set; the fourth step of the magnet 65 will bring a camI surface 77 over the roller) 7 0 to -swing said lever 71 inwardly from a normal position and the next and last movement in.

in the armature 58 of the magnet 59. `the'lever 71 lis moved forward the bracket t a cycle of the cam disk 69 willbring another opening 72 between adjacent setsnf cam sur' faces. A projecting lug 80 on the cam disk 69 isadapted as said disk is rotated toengage aforked pivotall arm 81A to operate sideswitch contacts 82, 82 over contacts 83, 84;, 85, se and 87. I

- After the cessationof the first set of impulses through the.` magnet 59 by means of which the biushes 50, 5.0 were raised to the s desired level, magnet 654will be actuated to cause the cam1diskl69 to be advanced one step by the ratchet and pawl mechanism 67 and 68. This first step of the cam disk 69 brings the surfacel73 under the roller 7 0 and swings the lever 71 outwardly. This movement of' the lever 71 causes an ,extension 88 thereon 4to act upon a roller 89 carriedby an extension 9() of the locking member 62 to move a projection 91 thereon out'of engagement with the notch 63 on the toothed bar 56- and ment with a notch 93 of a notched locking 'a second projection 92 thereon into engagebar 94. This releases the shaft 52 from the i toothed bar 56 and locks said shaft against further movement so that subsequent operations of the stepping magnet 59 will advance only the toothed bar 56. rThe lever 71 is pivotally mounted upon a rod 95, upon which isalso pivotally supported a bracket membei' 96 having a projecting lug 97 thef'eon normally projecting through an openin 98 .hen

member 96 is placed Kundera turning tension by a spring 99 (see Fig. 1) and is only prevented fromturning by reason of the engagement by the lug 97 thereon with the its lowermos't position due to the denergi-l,

`opening 98 in the armature 58 which is in zation of the magnet 59 prior'to the opera-f tion of the magnet 65.` NQw/"the first one of the succeeeding impulses vthrough the stepping magnet will cause the bar to be M raised a distance equal to the "distance between two successive teeth but immediately after it is raised the bracket member 96 will be turned through a suficientangle to bring the projecting lug 97'thereon intr). a position where it willbe engaged by the lower sur-;v l

face of thearmature 58, thereby limiting the (brushes .50, 50 into engagement with contacts in tliefirSt row oftthe selected-strip 5.

` The succeeding steps of the bar 56, however,

in response to impulses through the magnet 59 will, due to the interposition of the lug 97J below rthe armature 58, be /only half lals vlong as the steps resulting from the impulses v v the shaft 52 will be unlocked fro'mthe bar of the first series and the first .impulse of the second series so that'the subsequent movement of the brushes 50,L 50 will be only the 'distance between successive sets of contact surfaces. A suicient number of current impulses o'f the second series will be sent to move the/brushes 50, 50 int engagement ward movement when the projection 91 on the locking member 62 can enter the notch 63 94 and locked to the toothed bar 56.so that both will Ydrop together to normal position. 70

The backward movement of the leverA 71 .moves the bracket member 96 around its' pivot to bring the projecting lugr 97 thereon into the openin 98 through the armature" with a selectedset of terminals in the stri 58. lWhen thes aft 52 and the toothed ba-r 75 selected by the firt series of impulseg4 56 reach the limit of their downward move- Upon the cessation of the second series of ment the magnet 65 will be again energized impulses the magnet 65 will be again enerto move the cam disk 69 another step. This f Igized to cause the movement of the cam disk last step of the cam disk brings the opening one step farther.` Thisstep will bring the 72 opposite the roller 7Q0 where it is in posi-J 80 straight surface 74funder the roller 7 0I and tion to st art on anotlfe cycle and also moves will move the side-switch wiper -82 from the" lug 80 out of 'e gagemeni-l with the c ntacts 84 where it was previously set. forked member 81ywhich, by reason of a he positioning of the camsurface 74 under spring 108, has its forked end swung 2upthe rollerl 70`has no further effect upon the f wardly into .position to engage the succeed- 85. positionsP of the brush-operating parts, but ing lug 80 on the cam disk.4 This also/swings the movement of the wipers 82 von to the the wipers 82 back to contacts 83 in position contacts 85 may place, the switch in ringing for a subsequent operation of the swltch.

` position. At the end of the ringing a third In Fig. 12 the switch mechanism of this l venergization of the magnet 65 may take invention is shown connectedin acircuitnto 90 place to move the wipers 82 into engagement, function as a selecton, although it is obvious with the contacts`86 and the cam surface 75 that the device is'- not limited to this specic under theQroller 7 0; The engagement of the use. y t r p cam surface 75 with the roller 70 has jno Referring to this Fig. 12,Amay represent eff'ectupon the operated parts of the brush a callingrjsubscribes station, the line for 95 mechanism except to permitwth lever 71 to which is connected with line switch termimove back .to normal position ready t0 pass - nals 111, 111 adapted to beengaged by mov! through the opening 76 into engagement .able contacts`112, A112. Assuming that the with the cam surface 77, The vparts will resubscriber atl station A desires connection f 35 main in the position with the wipersl 82 in with a subscriber, say ata substation B. 10( engagement witht'he contacts 86 during the The operation will be aS OHWS! The Subconversational period, at the end of whichl scriber A, upon removal of -his receiver from time the operation of making a disconnecjthe switchhook, will automatically have his tion will 'cause anotherenergization of the4 line connected with the movable contactsf112,

40 magnetv65 to advance the cam 6 another 112 in a welf-knownway through theopera- 105 step. This wlast vstep 0f thecam 11a move tion of the'line switch. Following.,the clox the cam surface 77 over the roller 70 *and sure of the'line switch contacts,\.a relay 115 V the wipers' 82 onto ythe contacts 87 The will be energized over the line circuit Vmovement of the cam surface 77 on to the througli positlon Tone of side-switch .wipers rollery 70 swings the lever 715 backwardly 116 and 117, controlled bya selectpr switch 110 untila linger llOnthereon engages a finger 120, embodying the features of this inven- -105 on a bracket/member 106 plvoted upon tion.` lTlie energization of relay 115,. will the rod, and which carries a holding pawl cause it to open its back Contact 121; vand l 107,.normally adapted to engage the teethA close its front contact 122to ground, thereby of thetoothed bai1 56 toretain it in itsr'elecompleting a parallel circuit, one limb in- 115 vated position. The backward movement of/ ,cludingA a 'slow /release relay 123, the other -r thel lever 71 carries with 'it ,thempivotal limbY includin a test relay'124, thelatter v bracket member 106 to release the holding iruit including a 'side-switch wiper 125`in pawl 107 from the bar 5,6. This will cause lts first position. Upon energizatiokn, the 5 5 the bar 56 to drop by gravity and causethe test relay becomes locked up over a circuit' brushV carriage. 51 to movev outwardly, as includingI its own contact, side-switch wiper sisted'by aspring 103, to draw the brushes 126 in its first and second positions, anda 50, 50 clear ofthe contact strips 5, 5. As horizontal off-normal contact 127 of the sethe bar 56 moves' downwardly the `shaft 52 lector 120.A The slowsrelease relay '123, upon p 60 remains locked by reason of the fact that the bnergization, opens back contact 128 andi projection 91 on the member 62v engages one, closes front contacts129 and 130. y face ofthe bar 56 toretain said shaft locked After removing his 1receiver, fro lthe through the engagement of the 'projection p kgnthe subscriber A will`operate his dial 92 with the bar 94.1 fAs soon, however, as the n [th usual manner to 'Send th@ reqlliS' l 65 bar 56 has reached a' positionV in rits down- Y. `unifier of impulses to move the brushes, l50, 130

the impulses resulting 'from the opening ciated with the subscriber B'Jnay be connected. In the particular instance, we will assume thatr contacts in theffourth level of the contact strip 5, 54 are sought, in which case four impulses will .be sent from station A. These impulses open the circuit of the relay 115'to cause it to intermittently close its back contact 121-which completes a circuit for alsloW-release magnet 131 in series with the stepping magnet 59 ofthe selector switch 120,I which circuit includes Sideswitch wiper 132 in its first position.. Relay 131, in pulling up, closes its contact 133 to complete a circuit Afrom ground through side-switch wiper 134 and the side-switch magnet 65. The relays 123 and 131,' both being of the slow-release type, will hold up during the sending of impulses. The stepping magnet 59, however, will' respond to and closing of the contact 121 to step the toothed bar 56 and with it the shaft 52 and brushes 50, 50 upwardly in steps of a length equal to the vertical separation of the layers 5, 5. At the end of the fourth step or impulse vfrom the station A, the relay 115 will remainA energized and open the circuit of the relay 131 at contact 121, causing it to drop back and open the circuit of the slde-switchmagnet -65 at the contact 133. The 'armature .66ct

^ .dition such 'that the projection 97 will be from its rst to its second, position, a circuit-` moved under the stepping armature 58.' As soon as'the side-switch wiper-132 jis moved will be` completed for the stepping magnet 59 which may be traced from ground through a front contact 136 of test relay 124, armature y 58 of stepping magnet 59, a contact 147 in said armature, side-switch wiper 132 in its second position, and through the magnet 59 to battery. This circuit will exist so long as the 'relay 124 is retained energized. Upon the-first horizontal step of the brushes 50, 50, howeve'r, the .horizontal off-normal contact 127 will be opened totransfenthe holding circuit of relay 124 to the shortest brush f 50 of the set which constitutes the test brush.

The rst horizontal step of the brushes 50,

50 will be a long one,as hereinbefore de# scribed, and will bring said brushes into engagement with the firstset of contacts 8, 9 and 10 of the layer. If any of the contacts of this set have been. taken for use by another switch, there will' be a ground on the contacts 10, which will hold the relay 124 enerbar 56 and locks it to the bar 94.y

gized until the stepping magnet 59 has made another step. This stepping operation will be continued until the brushesV 50, 50 land on a set of contacts,the contact 10 of which is not' grounded.` When this occurs, the circuit for the test 'magnet 124 will be opened, whichv will cause it to open the stepping magnet circuit. At the time that the sideswitch wipers moved from their first to their second position, the wiper 134 completed an energizing circuit for the side-switch magnet 65 from a contact 137 on the relay 124, which caused it to draw up its armature'66. As soon as relay 124 becomes denergized, by reason of the brushes 50, 50 landing on idle contacts, this last` traced circuit will be opened and the armature' 66 will release to move the cam 69 froml its second to its third position and all of the side-switch wipers from 'their second to their third position. In their third positions, the wipers 116, 117 connect the circuit of stationv A with conductors 140, 141 leading to thelongest and middle brushes 50, 50. This connection includes contacts 142," 142 of a relay 143 which is energized over a circuit including the fronty contact 129 of the relay 123. The relay 115 is retained inbridge of the` line of station A and sol remains until the coInpletion of the conversation and the subscriber A hangs up his receiver to break the circuit of his line. Whenthis occurs, relay 115 releases, opening the circuit of relay 123 at contact 122,caus1ng'said relay 123 to release to close its-back contact 128. The closure of contact 128 completes an energizing circuit for the side-switch magnet 65 which includes a side-switch wiper 145 in its third position, and an interrupting contact 149 on the armature 66 of the side-switch magnet 65. This causes the side-switch magnet 65 to pull up and release its armature to move the cam disk 69 another step to bring it and the side-switch wipers into their fourth pcsition: In the fourth position of the sideswitch wipel1 145,-it closes a circuit for the side-switch magnet 65 which includes a vertical off-normal contact 150, which is closed upon' the.'v first vertical step of the shaft 52; This circuit remains closed and the sideswitch magnet 65 is energized until the shaft 52 drops into normal position and opens the .V. O. N. switch 150 when the armature 66 causes the cam 69 to take another step to move the side-switch wipers into their fifth positions.r In this fifth position,'the sideswitch wiper 145 closes' al circuit through theside-switch Amagnet 65 which includes an interrupting contact 149 on thearmature 66 thereof. This causes the energization and denergization of the side-switch magnet 65 to move the cam disk 69 from its ifthinto a first position and permit the side-switch wipers to move from their fifth intotheir vfirst position.

What is claimed'is: i

l. In alswitching mechanism, a bank comprisinga plurality of superimposed flat mul- 'tiple contact units, eachlof said units comprising a plurality of sets of conductors, Contact surfaces on said conductors .situated in rowsY transversely of said units, contact brushes adapted to be directively moved in one direction intojuxtaposition with said units individually and further moved in a second direction transversely of said units to hunt over said conductors and engage any of the said sets of conductors in a selected unit individually.

2. In an automatic switch, a ,contact member adapted for separate movements of" different length/steps indifferent directions anda single step-by-step mechanism adapted to transmit the separate movements to said. contact member.` a y 3. In an automatic switch, ar contact mem-` ber adapted to be moved in a straight line in steps of one Ilength and in, a direction at right' angles to the rst mentioned movement in steps of a different length,`and a single step-by-step mechanism for transmitting the two movements to said contact member.

fl. .In an automatic switch, a carriage, a contact member adapted to be moved in one direction b'y the movement of said carriage and in a different direction independently of said carriage,'an operating ,mechanism for moving said carriage, and means for disengaging said yoperating mechanism from said carriage member 'independently of said7carriage.

`5.f`In an automatic switch, aelongitudinally movable'rod, a contact member carried.

by said lrod and movable independently thereof, a toothed member normally connected with said rod, an operating connection betwaen said toothed memberand saidcontact member, and means for discon-S necting said rod from said toothed member whereby the continued operationf `said toothed member will operate only said con- 7tact member. s s

6. In an automatic switch, a longitudinally movable nod, a toothed rack slidable upon said rod but normally. locked thereto, a contact carriage mounted upon said ,rod and movable therewith, a Vvcontact on said carriage movable independently of said rod, a connecting link between said toothed rack and said Contact, and means fordisconnecting said .rack from -said rod whereby a fui'- ther" movement of said rack will move said contact member independently of said rod. 7 In an automatic switch, ,a longitudinally movable rod,a contact carriage carried( by said rod, a 'contact memberon said carriage movable independentlyof said" rod, a common operating means for said rod and said cqntactmember, and means for renderto perniit it to move said contact l, i u mg sald operating` means effective wlth respect to said contact member and inenective.

with respect to said rod. 8. In an automatic `switching system, a vplurality of contact members each comprising a plurality oflngitudinally extending conductors arranged inthe same plane, each conductor being/,provided with a plurality of contact surfaces spaced longitudinally thereof, and a^ plurality of independently ovable switches loca/ted upon" opposite sides of saidgcontact member each adapted to be nfoved at-right angles 'to-the planes -of said members and lparallel thereto toI makecontact with any set" of conductorsin any of said contact members. q i

9. In an automatic switching system,

. contact bank comprisingy aI plurality of fabricated multiple contact members mounted in superimposed relation equal distances apart, each .of said contact members having` sets of contact transverse of said members, and spaced apart a distance less than'the spacing of adjacent multiple contact members, and brush sets adapte the planes of said contact members in steps equal in length to the distance between terminal members and in a direction transverse to ,said members in steps equal to the trans- "versedistance'between contacts of adjacent cntact surfaces. y

l0. In an automatic switch, stationaryl contact members, a movable contact member ada ted to be moved in two distinctly septhe change-over surfaces extending in lines d to be moved perpendicular tofrom one character of move'- ment to the other and for controlling ther release of said movable contact member after operation, a circuit controlling switch operated by said mechanical means, and an electromagnet for controlling cal means. 4

1l. In an automatic switch, stationary contact members, a'movable contact member adapted to be moved in seriesifof steps of different lengths into Vengagement with stationary contact members, a single step-bystep mechanism'f for transmitting to the ymovable contact member the series`ofsteps of-diiferent lengths, a mechanical means for determining the -change-over from steps of cu'it controlling switch'voperated by sai me- .chanical means, and an electromagnet foi' controlling said mechanical means.

said mechani- Aone 'length to steps of the other length, a-cir- 12. In anautomatic switch, stationary contact members, a moyable contact member adapted to be'moved in two directions and in steps of diiferent lengths into engagement with stationary contacts, a single ,step-by-y 100 ara'e movements into engagementy with star step mechanism for transmitting to the movable contact member the separate series of steps, mechanical means for determining the change-over from steps of one series to steps of the other series, a circuit controlling switch operated by said mechanical means, and an electromagnet for controlling said mechanical means.

13. In a switching mechanism, a Contact bank comprising a plurality of superimposed flat multiple contact strips, a plurality of sets of conductors extending longitudinally of said strips, Contact surfaces on said conductors disposed on the under sides of said strips and situated in rows transversely thereof, contact brushes adapted to be directively moved in one direction into juxtaposition with said strips individually and further moved in a second direction transversely of 'said strips to hunt over said conductors and engage any of said sets of conductors in a selected unit individually.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe Amy name this 27th day of March, A. D.

J OHN NEWBERRY REYNOLDS.

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