US1309569A - gnifke - Google Patents

Description

P. GNIFKE.

CALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 16.1911.

1,309,569. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M6 72%" 7 1w (half/("e P. GNIFKE.

Patented J uly 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. GNIFKE.

CALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 16, Ian.

1,309,569. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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WW W 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL G-NIFKE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CALL-BOX.

Application filed July 16. 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL GNIFKE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Call-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to signaling systems and more particularly to call boxes used in step by step signaling systems. My invention is more particularly of use in connection with substation selectors such as shown in general in the patent to Lademan, No. 1,120,207, dated December 8, 1914, and such as shown more particularly and in a modified form in my co-pending application Serial No. 180708, filed July 16, 1917. The structure shown in the patent to Lademan above cited represents an alternating current esc-apement type substation selector in which the step by step element is arranged to haveresting positions corresponding to each alternation of alternating current.

My invention concerns itself in providing a call box to selectively call a modified sclector of the type shown in the Lademan patent, this modified form being, set forth in my said c0-pending application. My improved modified selector has provision whereby all of the other stations on the party line may be locked out so that the party called may use the line exclusively for telephonic or similar purposes.

My invention herein concerns itself with the provision of a call box adapted to opcrate such a modified selector through the agency of which all stations on the line with the exception of the predetermined station are locked out. In order to carry out my invention I arranged the substation selectors in such a way that more than one impulse (or cycle if desired) of the alternati ng current intervenes between each succeeding station. Thus it it requires two alternations or one cycle to call the station No. 1, then the system will be so arranged that it would require two additional alternations to call station No. 2. There is thus an intermediate position of the step by step element, namely that due to the sending of one additional impulse or alternation which can Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 180.707.

be used to advantage, and this is utilized tor lock out purposes. Thus, if it is desired to call station No. 4, for instance, and lock out all of the remaining stations, then in accordance with the above discussion four cycles of alternating current are transmitted to the line whereby the signal at station No. L is operated. If one additional alternatlon (not cycle) of alternating current is transmitted to the line, this additional impulse will not be suflicient to have the selector at station No. 5 respond as it requires one complete cycle to bring the selector at the next following station into operative position, as before stated. Thus this additional impulse or alternation sets the selector at the called station into such a condition that that particular station has its telephone or other substation equipment connected to the line, whereas the intermediate positions occupied by the selectors at the remaining stations prevent connection oi their substation equipments to the line. If, on the contrary, it is desired to have all of the substation equipments connected to the line, then the calling device after having been operated to transmit a call for a predetermined station is continued in its operations so that the step by step elements at the selectors complete their cycle of movement to their starting position, at which time all of the substation talking or similar equipments are connected to the line. it being remembered however that the predetermimxd station only has its signaling device actuated.

In the particular form of my invention herein I have assumed that two cycles shall intervene between succeeding stations, thus that it requires two cycles of alternating current to send a call for station No. 1, four cycles for station No. 2, and so on. I then use for the locking out impulses one complete cycle of alternating current, which under these circumstances is not suilicient to step up the selector at the station succeeding the one which has been called. This one cycle of alternating current can thus be used for the lock out purposes, as previously explained.

My invention herein concerns itself particularly with the provision of a calling de vice or call box so arranged that a control element thereof may be selectively set so that the calling device may transmit the required impulses to select a predetermined station. The calling device then has my improved facilities whereby it may be actuated to transmit automatically the required additional cycle for lock out purposes.

I will explain this particular form which my invention may take more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a call box construoted in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the call box control element in an intermediate position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the cover plate of the call box on which all of the operating equipment is mounted;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the impulse sender;

Fig, 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View in elevation of the cooperating elements which restrain the control element of the call box in the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the cover plate of the call box with the equipment mounted thereon; a

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the calling device in its neutral zero position, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of some of the elements shown in Fig. 6.

My improved calling device has its equipmentmounted upon a cover plate 10 which is mounted upon the box 11 so that when the cover is closed the greater proportion of the equipment is accommodated interiorly of the box for reasons well understood.

This cover plate pivotally carries a shaft 12 extending through said cover plate, and this shaft carries forwardly of the cover plate a selecting disk 13,]which disk is fixedly mounted to said shaft. Rotatably mounted on said shaft is the spoke l-it provided with the finger piece 15, which finger piece has the projecting stem 16 adapted for insertion into the holes 17 of the disk 13. The spoke 14; also carries a tail piece 18 fixedly secured thereto, which tail piece cooperates with a contact lever 19 under certain conditions, and which tail piece likewise has a cutaway portion 20 for purposes which will presently appear. The disk 13 also carries a lug 2 1, which, when the disk is in the particular position shown in Fig. v1, cooperates with the contact control element 19 as will presently appear. The holes are numbered as shown, and when it is desired to initiate a call for a predetermined station, say station N0. 14, for instance, then. the finger 16 by manipulation of the finger piece 15 is pulled outwardly and the spoke l4 rotated so that the finger piece 15 is over the hole No. 14, whereupon it is inserted in that hole. The disk 13 together with the then attached spoke 14, finger piece 15 and tail piece 18 are then rotated clockwise (Fig. 1) into a given limiting position (which limiting position is fixed by having a pin 22 extending downwardly of the disk 13,- against the stop 23 projecting upwardly from the cover plate 10). It will be seen that this requires practically a rotation of the disk 13 throughout a movement of substantially 360 degrees so that the hole marked No. 2 is again to the left of the circuit control element 19. After the setting device has been rotated into that position preparatory to sending a call the oper ator releases his hold upon the finger piece 15 and automatic mechanism provided rearwardly of the plate restores the shaft 12 carrying the disk 13 contra-clockwise. This contra-clockwise movement is continued until the knurled finger piece 16 engages a toothed stop 24. This stop 24: is pivotally mounted upon a stem 25 and retracted by a spring 26. There is a further similarly mounted toothed stop 27 retracted by a. spring 28, this stop 27 being also pivotally mounted on a similar stem. Both ,of these stops are in the path of the knurled finger 16. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the tail piece 18 when it engages the contact control element 19 moves it outwardly so that it occupies the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this position the springs 29, 30, 31 and 32 which are controlled by this element 19 are in a non-circuit closing condition. These springs are all insulatingly mounted and are actuated by the element 19 in the customary manner. These springs 29, 30, 31 and 32 control the connection of the pivotally mounted pole changing device 33 with the line circuitover which the impulses are to be transmitted. The connecting wires leading from this pole changing device have their continuity controlled by the springs under the control of the element 19. It will thus be understood that after the disk 13 has been moved by the operator clockwise into the position it initially occupies preparatory to the transmitting of a signal, the said disk is rotated contra-clockwise automatically by mechanism presently to be explained. This automatic movement rotates the disk and dur ing this rotation impulses are being transmitted to the line circuit by reasouof the operation of the pole changing device 33 and by reason of the fact that neither the elements 18 nor 21 are engaging the element 19. The impulses are sent during the course of this backward rotation of the element 13 until the tail piece 18 engages the element 19. During the continuance of the rotational movement of thedisk 13 no further impulses are being sent to the line by reason of the disconnection of the line circuit from the springs under the control of the element 19.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be found that the knurled finger piece 16 has engaged the stop 24 before the tail piece 18 has had,

time to complete its passage past the control element 19. The selectors with which this call box cooperates and which are set out fully in the said Lademan patentare of such a nature that after the sending of imstation signal at, the station No. 14. is thus operating during the time that the tail piece 18 is engaging the element 19. If, now, it is desired to lock out all of the substations on the line excepting the substation 14, then it is necessary to transmit an additional cycle of alternating current, but no more, and this is accomplished by the operator rotating the finger piece 15, whereupon the knurled finger piece 16 engages the teeth of the element 2 1 with which it is in engagement, thus rotating this pivotally mounted element to a position where it is possible for the finger piece 16 to continue past this stop. The disk 13 together with the elements attached to it then continues to rotate contra clockwise until the finger piece engages a stop 27.. In the meantime the connection to the line: of the pole changing element 33 has been restored due to the cut away portion 20 of the tail piece 18 which has permitted the control element 19 to reestablish contact between the springs under its control, but only during a period long enough to permit of the transmittin of one complete cycle.

Now, should it be desired to maintain this relation of having all of the substations locked out except station No. l lthen no.

further actuation of the disk 13 takes place. The moment the conversation is completed, however, the finger piece 15 is again rotated to swing the stop 27 out of its path, whereupon the disk 13 continues its automatic rotation contra-clockwise back to its starting position with the projection 22 on the left hand side (Fig. 1) of the stop 23 and with the lock 21 in position against the control element 19, thus breaking the connection of the pole changer 33 with the line circuit. It will benoted that during this movement of the disk 13 back to its starting position, and up until the time that the lock 21 engages the control element 19, the connection between the pole changer and the line circuit is restored so that impulses are being transmitted over the line circuit to carry all of the substation step by step elementsaround their complete cycle to their initial or starting position.

My invention concerns itself here particularly withthe provision whereby the calling device is enabled acmu'atcly to send such an impulseor impulses carefully timed to bring the substation selectors into their locked out position and to bring the sub-- station apparatus of the desired station into its active conditon. o

By referring more particularly to Fig. 3 it will he noted that the shaft 12 carries the gear wheel 50 fixedly secured thereto which throughthe intermodiation of the gear wheel 36 and additional gears is associated with the shaft 37. This shaft carries a cam 38, which cam by engaging the arms 39 and -10 of the pole changer 33 causes the oscillation of this pole changer, this pole changer being pivotally mounted upon the stud 41. A governor -l2 controls the speed of operation of the device in answer to the pull of the main spring 13. The shaft 12 carries the linger ll. which cooperating with the lever 15 accurately positions the zero position of the pole changer. This is done through the agency of the toe -16 forming part of the lever 415 which isthrust into the path of the finger 17 which is carried by the shaft 37. When the shaft 1.2 comes back to its zero position the projection l l engages a toe -18, thereby swinging the element +15 clockwise (Fig. 3) into the path of the finger 4-7. The

-tail piece 18 is continued beyond the cut away portion 20, as shown, so that the tail :section 4L9 thereof engages the element 1!) during the time that the finger 16 is against the stop 27.

It will be understood that as the shaft 12 is originally rotated during the setting operation of the disk 13 that the spring 13 is wound up and that it thereupon unwlnds to drive the shaft 12 back into its starting position, the speed of which rotation is controlled by the governor 42. It will also be understood that during the setting move ment of the element 13 none of the impulses from the pole changer 33 are transmitted to the line as the pawl 19 rides over the wheel 50 during that operation and by reason of the fact that the wheel 36 which carries this pawl 19 is loose upon the shaft 12. lole changer arms 39 and -10 which at the same time are the contact carrying elements of the pole changer are mounted upon the insulating block 51 which in turn is pivotally supported upon the stud or shaft 41. This structure consisting of the elements 39, 4-0, and 51 is then oscillated by the cam 38 as said cam is rotated due to its fixed mounting upon the shaft 37.

From what has been thus described the nature of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Having however thus described one form which my invention may take, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combination with an impulse transmitting element, means adapted'to be selectively set in accordance with the call for any predetermined station and movable to control the actuations of said impulsetrans- -mitting element, astop interposed in the path of movement of said setting means to arrest. themovement of said setting means at a given position inits movement, a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means a second time, and means to release said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the second stop.

2. In a callingdevice for selective signaling systems the combinationwitli animpulse transmitting element, means including a finger piece adapted to be selectively set in accordance withtlie call for any predeter mined. station and movable to control the actuations of said: impulse transmitting-element, a stop interposed in the path of: movement of said setting.- means to. arrestthe actuations of said. impulse transmittingele ment, a stop interposed; in thepath of movement of said setting means to arrest the movement of said setting means at a, given, position in its, movement, a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means a secondtime, and means; controlled by saidfinger piece to release said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to. the second stop.

4. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combination with, an impulse transmitting element, means including a finger piece adapted to be selectively set in accordance with the call for any predtermined. station and movable to control the actuations of saidiimpulse transmitting element, a stop interposed in the path of movement of said setting means to arrest the movement of said setting meansat a given position in its movement, a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means asecond time, and means controlled, by said finger piece, to release said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to. the second stop, said last aforesaid means includ ing interlocking elements between said finger piece and said first aforesaid stop.

5.,In a calling device for selective signaling systems, the combination with an impulse transmitting element, means adapted to .be selectively set in accordance with the call for any predetermined station and mov-l' to arrest the movement of said setting means at a given'positionin its movement, a second stop adapted to arrest said settinglmeans a second time, means to release said setting means-from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the second stop, and

additional means movable with said finger piece whereby'thenuinberof effective im.- pulses transm tted "by" said impulse transthe first stop to the, second are controlled.

6. In a calling device for selective signal ing-system's the combination with an impulse transin'i tting -element, means including a finmi tting-element during the movei'nent from gel piece adaptedto be selectively set in accordan'ce with the call for any predetermined station and movable to control 1 the actuation-s; of said "mi-pulse transmitting element,

a stop i-iite'r 'a'osed in the path-of movement of I said setting mea ns to arrest the' movement of sa d sett nig means at a' given position in its movement, a second stop adapted to arrest" said settingmeans a=second time, neans to release said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the secondstop, and additional means movable ivitl i saidfi-iiger piece whereby th'eniin1ber of effective impulses transmitted by said im piilseztransmitting element during the movement fronrtlie first stop to the 'second'are controlled. I

7. In a-ncalling device for selective sigi'i'al ing systems the combination 'vvithan impulse t. "ansmitting element, means including "a -finger-piece adapted to be-selectively setin accordance 5 With the call for" any predetermined station and movable-to control the actuations of said impulse' transmitting element, a-stop. interposed'iir the path of move ment ofsaid setting: -means' to arrest the movement of said setting meansgata given" -position. in its movement," a secondI stop adapted to arrest: said' setting means a sec- OIlCl.t1l11G-,;II1BELIIS controlled by said finger picce'to release said setting means from saidfirst; aforesaid?v stop aiid permit it to travel tothegsecond stop,.and'aadditional means movable with said finger piece whereby the num ber of efl'ective impulsestransmitted loy'said impulse transmittingelement during the movement from the first stop to the: second are controlled;

calling 1 device for- :selective 1 signal-:

ing systems the'combination with an im"-- pulse. transmitting element, means includ ing-a finger piece-adapted to be selectively l25 set inaccordance Witl thecall foriany' predetermined. station and. movable tow controlthe actuations of said impulsektransmitting element, a stop interposed: in the path of movement. of said setting: means to arrest the movement of said setting means at a given position in its movement, a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means a second time, means controlled by said finger piece to release said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the second stop, said last aforesaid means including inter-locking elements between said finger piece and said first aforesaid stop, and additional means movable with said finger piece whereby the number of efliective impulses transmitted by said impulse transmitting element during the movement from the first stop to the second are controlled.

9. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combination with an im pulse transmitting element, means including a movable finger piece adapted to be selectively set in accordance with the call for any predetermined station, and movable to control the actuations of said impulse transmitting element, and means controlled by said finger piece for arresting the movement of said first aforesaid means at two positions during its signal impulse transmitting movement.

10. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combination with an impulse transmitting element, means adapted to be selectively set in accordance with a call for any predetermined station and movable to control the actuations of said impulse transmitting element, said means having a plurality of control positions spaced to represent two or more impulses respectively of said impulse transmitting element, each control position representing a call for a given substation, and means whereby said impulse transmitting element is actuated to send a less number of impulses than those represented by the spacings between saidcontrol positions.

11. A calling device for selective signaling systems having an impulse transmitting element, means adapted to be selectively set in accordance with a call for any predetermined station to control the actuations of said impulse transmitting element, said means having a plurality of control positions spaced to represent two or more impulses respectively of said impulse transmitting element, each control position representing a call for a given station, and means for t 'ansmitting a different number of impulses than those represented by the spacings between. said control positions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of June, A. D. 1917.

PAUL GNIFKE.

Witnesses:

CARL F. VnEoK, I-IUco J. VON Rom.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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