US1804408A - Telephone exchange system - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1931. c, B, FOWLER 1,804,408

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb 12, 19:50

/NI/EN7'OP C. B. FOWLER ATTOANEY Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE B..FOWLER, QUEENS VILLAGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 BELL TELE PHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM Application. filed February 12, i930. Serial No. 427,676.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems and particularly to systems in which the service charge is based on the duration of conversation.

The object of the invention is to simplify the equipment used at the central oflice for controlling and operating the service charging devices and to otherwise improve systems of the above mentioned character.

It has been proposed in the past to charge a calling subscriber for the service rendered by means of a meter, located at his substation, which operates in response to reversals of currentin the calling line at successive intervals during theperiod the conversational connection is established between his line and the called line. versing device is provided at the central office and is rendered effective either when connection is completed to the calling line, as bythe insertion of the answering plug of a cord circuit, or when the called party answers. a a V c I In the event the call is one for which the calling subscriber should not be charged, it has been proposed to employ a key in the operators cordcircuit to cancel the charging operation. c

According to the present invention, an improvement is secured over prior systems by the provision of a cancellationkeywhich is commonto a number of connecting circuits, such as operators cords, and which in conjunction with the individual talking key prepares a circuit to render the registration operation ineffective. I

This invention has been shown in the accompanying drawing in which it has been incorporated in a cord circuit well known in the art. A calling subscribers line and a called subscribers line have also been shown equipped with service meters.

A description of a connection through this cord circuit from a calling subscriber to a called subscriber will now be made; first, in connection with a call to be charged for and second, in connection with a free call. ,When the, operator at cord A inserts plug 2 in jack 3 of a calling subscribers line 4, supervisory relay 5V is operated over a circuit from bat- To this end a current retery, right hand inner make-before-break contacts of relay 6, lower left hand winding of repeating coil 7 winding of relay 5, over the calling subscribefis loop back through plug 2 and jack 3 upper left hand winding of repeating coil 7 left hand make-beforebreak contacts of relay 6 to ground. An obvious circuit for lighting lamp lOis also completed by the insertion of plug 2 into jack lfhe operation of relay 5 closes an obvious shunt circuit to battery for supervisory lamp 10 through a common interrupter 11; This interrupter alternately closes and opens this shunt circuit and thereby causes lamp 10 to be intermittently lighted and extinguished for supervisory purposes as is well known in the art. The operator now actuates talking key 12 to connect her telephone set across the tip and ring conductors ofthe cord and to ascertain the number of the desired subscriber. The operation of key 12 also causes the operation of relay 13 over a circuit from battery through the no-charge key 145 which is common to a plurality of cords, over contacts at key 12, left hand winding of relay 13, left hand windingof relay 15 to ground. Relay 15 being marginal does not operate under these circumstances due to the low voltage of the battery at the common key 14. Relay 13 in operating provides a locking circuit for itself throughits right hand winding under control ,of relay 5, and disconnects the inter-L rupter 11 from the circuit for lamp 10 which is now extinguished due to the shunt path to battery established at the inner left hand armature and front contact of relay 13.

When the operator receives the number of the wanted subscriber she may complete the connection to this subscribers line 16 by inserting plug 17 into jack 18. The supervisory lamp 19 is thereby lighted through the sleeve circuit established through plug 17 and jack '18.' The desired subscriber may now be. rung in the usual manner through the operation of a ringing key (not shown). WVhen the subscriber answers the call, the supervisoryrelay 20 is operated through the subscribers loop in the usual manner. Relay 20 in; operating closes an obvious circuit for the jfoperation of relay 21 to prepare for the connection of the meter operating battery to the calling subscribers meter 22. This battery is also used as the talking battery for the calling subscribers line in place of the normal connected battery at relay 6. Relay 21 in operating establishes a connection from ground to one side of the relay 6, through the left hand armature and back contact of relay 15. Relay 6 will now operate as soon as the circuit for this relay is completed through its winding and outer right hand armature and back contact, by a common interrupter device 23 when this interrupter connects its live segment to battery. Relay 6 inoperating provides a locking circuit for itself independent of the interrupter 28 through its outer right hand make-beforesbreak contacts to battery. This relay also opensthe connections to the normal talking battery supplied for the tip and ring conductors of the cord.

and connects these conductors to the meter and left hand armatures and front contacts of relay 21 and the armatures ofrelay 3. They polarity of this battery is reversed at periodic intervals under control of interrupter 30 and relay 31 and will, asis well known in the art, cause the periodic operation of the m'eter'22 in the calling subscribers line. Relay 5 may release momentarily during the reversal of battery and in orderto prevent the signal 10 from being lighted during these periods relay 13 is-made slow to release to remain operated.

When the called party disconnects relay 20 is released, causing the release of relay 21 and therebydisconnects the meter operating and talking battery from the cord circuit.- Relay 21 in releasing also causes the release of relay 6 to reconnect the normal talking battery'to the calling subscriber s line and when the calling subscriber hangs up his re ceiver relays 5 and 13 are released, thus removing the shunt forlamp 10 which is now lighted steadily through the sleeve circuit. In case-the calling party should recall. by

operating his switch hook, relay 5 will be reoperated and cause lamp 10 to be alternately lighted and extinguished. The operator would then answer this call by the operation of the talking key 12 and cause relay 13 to operate to again shunt-lamp 10 as hereinbefore described.

In case the connection to the desired subscriber is one for which no charge .is to be made, the operator will actuatethe common no-charge key 1 1 to cause relay 15 to operate in series with relay 13 when the talking key 12 has been operated. Relay 15 in operating opens at its left hand armature and back contact the circuit for relay 6 and thus prevent its operation when relay 21 is operated at the time the called subscriber answers. As relay 6 does not operate the normal talking battery can not change to the meter opcrating and talking battery and no charge can be made on meter 22 during this connection. Relay 15 in operating provides a looking circuit for itself through its right hand winding under control of the sleeve circuit.

The resistance of this windirrg'replacesthe resistance 30 in the sleeve circuit.

called lines for'conver'sation, meters for'tlre calling lines, a device for operating said me; ters during conversation, and means" commentosaidconnect-ing"circuits-for rendering said meter operating deviceinefiective mop: erate the meter of anyone ofsaid calling lines.

2. In a telephone system, calling lines, alled lin'esya: plurality 'ofconn'e'cting' circuits for connecting calling lines with called lines, meters for'said calling'lines, means for operating the calling sub'scrib'ers meter during conversation, and a key' common to ap'lu rality'of connecting circuits for controlling the operation or'non-operation' of'a'ny of said meters; I V

'3. In" a telephone'system, calling-"lines, called lines, a plurality ofconnecting cir cuits for "interconnecting calling lines with called lines, a marginal relay in'eaclrcon'nect ing circuit, metersfdr saidcalling lines, means for operating the callmg subscribers' meter during conversation, andakey common'to a plurality of connecting circuits for actuating the marginal relay of anyconnectingcir'cuit torender-the meter of the connected calling. subscribers line ineffective.

4-. In' atelepho'nesystem, calling lines, called lines, a plurality ofconnectingcircuits for connecting calling lines with called lines, a key in each connectingcircuit, meters'for said calling lines, means for operating" calling line meters while a connection is established, a 'key'com'mon to aplural'ity of connecting circuits, and meansresponsive to the operation of the individual key and the common key for disabling said meter operating means.

5. In; a. telephone system, calling. lines, called lines, a plurality of. connecting circuits for connecting calling lineswithcalled lines, a key in each connecting circuit, metersfor said calling lines,-.means for operating calling line'meterswhile-a connection is established, a marginal relay in each: connecting circuit, a key common to a plurality ofconnecting circuits, and means responsive to the operation ofthe individual key andthe common key for actuating said marginal relay to disable said meter operating means.

6. In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines, a plurality of connecting circuits for connecting calling lines With called lines, a key in each connecting circuit, meters for said calling lines, means for operating the meter of the calling line While a connection is established, a key common to a plurality of connecting circuits, and means responsive to the momentary operation of said keys for disabling said meter operating means While a connection is established.

7 In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines, a plurality of connecting circuits for interconnecting calling lines and called lines, meters for the calling lines, a device for operatlng said meters, and means common to said connecting circuits for rendering said meter operating device ineffective to operate the meter of any one of said calling lines.

8. In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines, a plurality of connecting circuits for connecting calling lines to called lines, meters for said calling lines, means for operating the calling subscribers meter and a key common to a plurality of connecting circuits for controlling the operation or nonoperation of any of said meters.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of February, 1930.

CLARENCE 'B. FOWLER.

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