US1538141A - Telephone system - Google Patents

Description

May. 19, 1925.

A. E. STEVENS TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed May 28, 1921 w mg M Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALTON STEVENS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; MAUDE L. STEVENS ADMIN- PATENT OFFICE.

ISTRATRIX OF SAID ALTON E. STEVENS, DECEASED.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed May 28, 1921.

lie it known that I, Arron E. S'rnvENs, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, at "which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates more particularly to a combination oi an automatic telephone system and a signalling system for use in private installations, and has for its object the provision of a means for quickly signalling a person, say, in an unknown part of an institution, and of means for conveniently establishing telephonic communication with him.

In the diagrammatic drawings illustrating the principle of my invention. and the best method now known to me of en'ibodying the same in operative structure,

Fig. 1 shows apparatus of a telephone station embraced in an automatic telephone system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a similar station embraced in said systen'i.

Fi 8 shows central station apparatus for the two stations exhibited in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. a is a modification showing another method of connecting an auxiliary calling circuit and an auxiliary answering circuit.

it is to be understood that the impulse sending means, shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, may

be any suitable so-called automatic impulse sendii'ig device, or impulse transmitter; and also that the system may embrace any reasonable nul'nber of telephone stations like those of Figs. 1 and 2.

Each telephonestation, see Fig. 1, compriscs an impulse sending key 1, a ringing key a direct current ringer 8, a transmittcr 1:. a receiver 5, a receiver hook t3, and an induction coil having a primary 7, and a secondary 8.

The telephone station, Fig. 1, is connected to the central station apparatus, Fig. 8, by three wires. 9, 10 and 11.. Atthe central station is an individual selector for each tele phone station,- comjiirising a radial bank or contact points 12, the said contacts all being in the same plane; a shaft 18, carrying a wiper 14-. designed to successively engage the said contacts when the shaft 13 is rotated; a ratchet wheel 15, which is driven. by a pawl Serial No. 473,469.

16, on armature 17, of stepping magnet 18, one step for each time the said magnet is energized; a connecting magnet 19, having an armature 20, designed to engage and hold ratchet wheel 15 in each successive step, and an armature 21 which operates certain con tact springs; and a lockout relay magnet 22, which, when energized, operates certain contact springs for the purpose of preventing its selector from connecting to a line in use. 23 is a busy tone buzzer used in common by all stations.

A party at station Fig. 1, wishing to call a party at station Fig. 2, lifts the receiver 5 from hook 6 which contacts point 28, thereby completing a holding circuit by permitting current to flow from the positive side 29, of battery 30, through wire 9, hook 6, contact 28, primary 7, transmitter 4:, Wire 11, around magnet 19, wire 31 to negative side 82, of battery 30. The magnet 19 is thereby energized and attracts armature 20 which causes spring detcnt 33'to engage ratchet wheel 15, and hold it in any position to which it may be moved.

The impulse key 1 is now depressed four times, into contact with point 34;, each time completing a stepping circuit from 29, tln'ough 9, 1, 34k, 10, 18, 35, to 32; thereby causing magnet 18 to be energized four times, and to attract its armature 17, and cause pawl 16 to engage ratchet 15 andstep it ahead four steps, with the result that wiper 14 is brought into contact with point 36.

It is well known that a relay armature may be so adjusted that a weak current through the magnet will not cause its attraction, but when a stronger current causes its attraction and then the current is reduced to its former weakness, it is still sufiieient to hold the armature. Now the adjustments of armatures 20 and 21 of magnet 19, are such that current over the abovev holding circuit, through the resistance of 7' and 4t, will cause armature 20 to operate, but 21, being more stifiiy adjusted will not operate until ringing key 2 is pressed and contacts point 36 which short circuits resistances 7 and 4, thereby permitting enough additional cur rent to flow over the holding circuit to cause 21 to be attracted and cause spring 37 to contact spring 38 and push it out of contact with point 39. The strong current which flows from 29 through station Fig. 1 when ringing key 2 is depressed, splitsat point 40; on account of the high resistance of 19, the greater part of the current flowing through wire 11, spring 12, point 13, wire 14, springs 37 and 38, wires and 4:6, to wiper 14: which has contacted point 36; the current continuing over wire 100, multiple wire 101, home wire 457, wires 18, and 49, ringer 50, Fig. 2, contacts 51, 52, wire 53, stepping magnet 5%, Fig. 8, wire 55 to negative side 32 of battery the ringer thus signalling the party at station Fig. 2. The current passing through magnet 54 does not cause its operation, as it is of comparatively low resistance. The party at station Fig. 2, by removing receiver 56 from hook 57, which now contacts point 58, can converse with the calling party at station, Fig. 1.

The transmitter 1, at station Fig. 1 receives its energizing current over its holding circuit hereinbefore described, the magnet 19 being of high impedance, as is also magnet 59; while the transmitter (50 of station Fig. 2 receives its energizing current over its own holding circuit, as follows 1- from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63, 57, 58, 61, 60, 418, 59, 62, to opposite side of battery 30. The circuit followed by the voice produced currents is as follows from positive side 29, of battery 30 through 9, 6, 2s, 7, 4, 11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 37, 3s, 45, 4c, 14, 100, 101, 47', 4s, 60, c1, 58, 57, 63, back to 29. The fluctuations in the primary windings 7 and 61 of the induction coils at each station, inductively affect the secondary windings, which in turn affect the receivers in a well-known manner, and conversation can be carried on between the two stations.

Now if station Fig. 2 is in use when station Fig. .1 is called, the latter will be pre vented from connectingthereto and will receive a busy hum in his receiver for the following reasons I Receiver 56, Fig. 2, would be off of hook 57, which would be in contact with 58 and,

therefore, a guarding or lockout potential would be found on point 36 Fig. 3, by brush 11, causing the lockout relay 22 to operate and prevent a connection to the .busy station; the lockout potentialcircuit being as follows :from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63, Fig. 2, 57, 58, 61, 60, 48, home wire 41-7, 101, 100, to contact 36, thence over the lockout circuit of the calling sta tion Fig. 1, from contact 36, over 1 1, 16, 38, 39, around lockout magnet 22, to nega- 13118 side 32.01 battery 30.

The lockout relay 22 is energized, and attracts armature (35, causing spring 66 to contact 67, and push 12 away from point 43 and into contact with point 68, firstcompleting a local locking-circuit from the live point 36, through 1 1, 46, 69, 67, 66, 22 to 32, causing 22 to remain energized as long as the called station remains busy, or until receiver 5 is replaced. A busy tone circuit notifying the calling party at station Fig. 1, that the station Fig. 2 is busy, is completed by the energization of 22, as follows :from negative side 32 of battery 30, through wire (39, busy-tone buzzer 23, contacts 70, 71, through 72, 68, 12, 4:1, 11, 41, 7, 28, 6, 9, to positive side 29 of battery 30; the magnet 23 attracting armature 70 away from 71, and causing a buzz in a well-known manner which is repeated into secondary 8 and receiver 5; and the party at station Fig. 1 is aware that station Fig. 2 is busy.

Replacing the receiver 5 of the calling station, causes magnet 19 to be de-energized, which releases armature 20, causing detent '38 to disengage ratchet 15 which is restored to normal position by spring 73, shown in dotted lines.

Having described briefly the general construction and operation of an automatic telephone system, I will now describe the principal features of my invention, and their adaptation to, and con'ibination with, such automatic telephone system, whereby 1st, a person in air-unknown part of an institution, may be called by a calling station for the purpose of telephonic communication; 2nd, said called party may place himself in telephonic communication with the calling party; and 3rd, telephonic communication may be had without the possibility of a connection to the line by a third station, that is, the attainment ofprivate communica tion between only two stations, nan e y, the calling and the called stations.

A general call circuit, 24:, 25, Fig. 3, is run throughout an institution with signal bells or horns as 25, installed at various locations, not necessarily adjacent to telephone stations, the signals being so placed that when the circuit is rendered active by,

battery current being supplied to the circuit, one or more of the signals may be heard in any part of the institution. A code of signals is arranged, and each individual having a code call, and who may be in various parts of the institution, may be signalled, and may reply, from any telephone.

The party at station Fig. 1, upon calling station, as Fig. 2, and finding the individual he wants is at an unknown point on the premises, releases the connection, or if the calling party knows that the party desired is not at his usual substation, then in either case, the calling party operates key 1, once, thereby stepping his wiper 1 1 to 74:, then presses key 2 a number of times correspond ing to the code ring of the'wanted party; each press of key completes an auxiliary signal'or' relay circuit from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 9, 6, 28, 36, 2, 11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 37, 3s, 45, 4c, 14, 74, 75, 76, around relay 102 through wire 77, to

negative side 32 of battery 30. The armature 78 is stiftly adjusted, as is armature 21, both of which operate when key 2 is pressed. Armature 21, however, is adjusted so that it holds up after key 2 is released, while armature 78 is so adjusted as to return to normal when key 2 is released. The armature 78 upon being attracted by magnet 102, contacts point 79 and bridges battery 82 across general call circuit 24, 25, over wires 80, 81, and the signal devices 26 are operated a number of times corresponding to the code number of the party wanted, who, upon hearing his signal, steps to any telephone of the system, as Fig. 2 for instance, removes his receiver, as 50, and operates his key 83 into contact with 84, twice, and the stepping magnet 54, causes the wiper 85 to contact the point 86 which is connected to multiple wire 87 of an auxiliary answering or relay circuit. Key 88 is now pressed into contact with point 89, thereby completing said auxiliary answering or relay circuit from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 63, 57, 89, as, 48, 94, 95, 9c, 47, 9s, 99, 93, e5,

86, 87, 103 to negative side 32 of battery 30; thereby operating the relay 103 in the same manner as the key 2 operated 102; armature 90 contacts point 91, and closes the general call circuit between wires ,80, 81, 24, 25, thereby causing signals 26 to operate once, and notify the calling party who has connected to multiple wire 75, of auxiliary signal circuit, that the wanted party has answered, and is connected to multiple wire 87 of the auxiliary answering circuit. The two can now converse by reason of condenser 92 which permits voice produced currents to pass between the two multiple wires.

If a party at another station now attempts to connect to either the calling or answering point on the signalling circuit, he will find a guarding or lockout potential on each multiple of either point throughout the system. This guarding circuit would extend from positive side 29 of battery 30, through 9, 6, 28, 7, 4,11, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 37, 38, 45, 46, 14, to point 74 and multiple wire 75, and thence to all points connected to this wire, as would also be the case with point 86 and multiple wire 87.

Each party upon the completion of his connnunication, or for any other reason, may cause his apparatus to be restored to normal jmsition, in the manner already described, namely: Replacing the receiver 5, as of the calling station Fig. 1, upon its receiver hook 6, causes the magnet 19 to be de-energized, which releases armature 20, causing detent 33, to disengage ratchet 15, which is restored to normal by spring 73, shown in dotted lines.

The modification shown in Fig. 4, comprises a single signalling relay having parallel windings 111 and 112 from the aux.-

iliary signal multiple wire 75, and auxiliary answering multiple wire 87, leading to the Stevens, administratrix, to intervene and prosecute this pending application, filed by AL'roN' E. STEVENS, deceased, and to receive Letters Patent that may be granted thereon, reference is hereby made to liber 1V 122,

page 510, of Transfer of Patents, wherein .is recorded a certified copy of letters testamentary, appointing the said Maude L. Stevens, administratrix of the estate of the said ALTON E. STEVENS, deceased.

Having described my invention and its features and their operations, and desiring to protect in thebroadest manner legally possible, the combinations, and the sub-combinations of elements embracing said invention and said features,

What I claim is 1. In a telephone system, a plurality of substations; means whereby any substation may become connected with any other substation for the purpose ,of communication; an auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; and means of telephonic communication between said signalling and answering auxiliary circuits.

2. In a telephone system, a plurality of substations; means whereby any substation may become connected with any other substation for the purpose of communication; an auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit and means for uniting the auxiliary signalling and answering circuits for the purpose of telephonic communication.

In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; an auxiliary signalling circuit, an auxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby one substation may become connected to, and operate the signalling circuit; signalling means coir trolled by said signalling circuit; and automatic means whereby a second substation may become connected to and operate the auxiliary answering circuit, said signalling means being controlled by said answering circuit.

4. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; an auxiliary signalling circuit, an auxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby one substation may become connected to, and operate the signalling circuit; signalling means controlled by said signalling cicuit; automatic means whereby a second substation may become connected to, and operate the auxiliary answering circuit, said signalling means being controlled by said answering circuit; and means connecting said signalling circuit and said answering circuit, for the purpose of communication; and means whereby the said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answering signal circuit are inaccessiblc to the remaining substations.

In a telephone system, a plurality of substations; automatic means whereby any substation may become connected to any other substation for the purpose of communication; and means whereby said connection may be restored to normal position; an auxiliary signalling circuit; anauxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby any substation may become connected to the said auxiliary signalling circuit; automatic means whereby any remaining station may become'connected to the said auxiliary answering circuit; and means for uniting the. said auxiliary signalling and auxiliary answering circuits for the purpose of tele phonic communication.

6. In a telephone system havinga plurality of substations; the combination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to any other substation for the purpose of communication; and an auxiliary signalling circuit and an auxiliary answering circuit, providing an alternate means for telephonic communication.

7. In a telephone systenihaving a plurality of substations; the combination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to any other substation, with an auxiliary signalling circuit: an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby the two said auxiliary circuits are permanently united for conversational purposes; a general call circuit having signal devices therein; and manual means at each substation tor controlling through said auxiliary circuits the signal devices in said general call circuit.

8. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of automatic means whereby any substation may connect to any other substation, with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby the two said auxil iary circuits are inductively united for con versational purposes; a general call circuit having signal devices therein; and manual means at each substation for controlling through said auxiliary circuits the signal devices in said general call circuit.

9. In a telephone system having a plurality of sub stations; the combination of automatic means whereby any substation may call and converse with any other substation, with a general call circuit having signal devices therein; an auxiliary signalling circuit and a separate auxiliary answering circuit; automatic means whereby any station may connect to the said signalling circuit, and an automatic means whereby any remaining substaition may connect to the said auxiliary answering circuit, to control the general call circuit having signal devices therein; means for uniting the said signalling and the answering circuits, for the purposes of conversation; and means whereby the said signalling and answering circuits are inaccessible to the remaining substations.

10. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station, means for signalling the called station; means to restore the system to-normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to said auxiliary signaling circuit; manually operated means for successively closing an opening said signalling circuit, in accordance with a predetermined code of signals;

an auxiliary answering circuit; and means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit.

11. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination oi. means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called stat-ion; and means to restore the sys tem to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to, and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit, and control said signal devices; and means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit, for the purposes of communication, between the calling and the called station.

12. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station, means for signalling the called station; and means to restore the system to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled 1Z0 thereby; means whereby any station may connect 'to and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit and control said signalling devices; means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication between the calling and the called stations; and means whereby said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answering circuit are rendered 111- accessible to the remaining substations.

13. In a telephone system having a plu-.

rality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called station; means whereby the calling station may converse with the called station; and means to restore the system to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to said auxiliary signalling circuit; manually operated means -for successively closing and opening said signalling circuit in accordance with a predctern'iined code of signals; an auxiliary answering circuit; and means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit.

14. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the -al.led station; means whereby the calling station may converse with the called stat-ion; and means to restore the system to normal position; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to, and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit and control said signal devices; and means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication between the calling and called stations.

15. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called station; means whereby the calling station may converse with the called station; and means to restore the system to normal ;-osilion; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit and con-' trol said signalling devices; means for connecting said auxiliary signalling circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication between the calling and the called stations; and means whereby said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answering circuit are rendered inaccessible to the remaining substations.

16. In a telephone system having a plu rality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called station; means whereby the calling.

station may converse with the called station; means to restore the system to normal position; means for rendering any busy station inaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to said auxiliary signalling circuit; manually operated means for successively closing and opening said signalling circuit in accordance with a predetermined code of signals; an auxiliary answering circuit; and means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answer mg circuit.

17. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called station; means whereby the calling station may converse with the called station; means to restore the system to normal position; means for rendering any busy station inaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices controlled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to and operate said auxiliary signalling circuit; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit and control said signal devices; and means for connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication between the calling and called stations.

18. In a telephone system having a plurality of substations; the combination of means whereby any station may connect to any other station; means for signalling the called station; means whereby the calling station may converse with the called station; means to restore the system to normal position; means for rendering any busy station inaccessible to other stations; with an auxiliary signalling circuit; signal devices cont-rolled thereby; means whereby any station may connect to said auxiliary signalling circuit; manually operated means for successively closing and opening said signalling circuit in accordance with a predetermined code oi signals; an auxiliary answering circuit; means whereby any remaining station may connect to said auxiliary answering circuit; meansfor connecting said auxiliary signal circuit and said auxiliary answering circuit for the purposes of communication between the calling and the called stations; and means whereby said auxiliary signalling circuit and auxiliary answering circuit are rendered inaccessible to the remaining substations.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'fiix my signature.

ALTON 1 STEVENS.

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