US2598244A - Surtax registering and totalizing counter for telephony systems - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1952 AssE 2,598,244

SURTAX REGISTERING AND TOTALIZING COUNTER FOR TELEPHONY SYSTEMS Flled Feb 1, 1950 m A 29%)")? Ky Patented May 27, 1952 SURTAX REGISTERING AND TOTALIZING COUNTER FOR TELEPHONY SYSTEMS Rolf 'Fasser, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Sodeco Societe -des Compteurs de 'Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland, a firm of Switzerland Application February 1, 1950, .Serial No. 141,644 In Switzerland February 2,1949

Claims.

In most countries, the telephonic fee for the subscriber includes, in addition to the official fee, a so-called surtax.

The ofiicial telephonic fee 'is usually determined according to the duration of the call as well as to the taxation-area in which said call was established; it is then carried over the charge indicating device by means of a number of tax-impulses corresponding to the amount of the telephonic fee.

The surtax paid per telephonic call is usually graded with respect to the taxation-zone in which the call was brought about. In Switzerland, for instance, for the urban .andsuburban traflic, this surtax amount to- 1D centimes, "for trunk connections to'20 .centimes. Urban call is characterised by one tax-impulse, suburban call by two impulses and trunk call by at least three impulses.

By such graded surtaxes, for the total sum of the single surtaxes to be taken duringa certain period, there is obviously neither a direct relation to the sum of the impulses registered in that duration nor in respect of the number of telephone-calls achieved during the same period. Thus the subscriber of a telephone-station is not able to check the surtaxes 'taken by his staif during a given period.

In order to overcome this drawback of the lacking check, the following described charge indicating device for a telephonic plant including a plurality of graded surtaxes, is provided, according to .the' present invention with surtaxindicating means and a surtax-totalizing counter. The number of the counted tax'impulses for the calling-fee is used for determining the surtax to be taken, whereby the rotation angle of the first digits drum of the charges-totalizing counter during the beginning impulses of each call, the number of which determines the surtax to be paid, is directly or by intercalation of one or several carrying wheels, conveyed by means of a leading stud onto an indicating flap rotatably mounted on a fixed axis, and onto a selecting sector; said indicating flap directly showingthe ,surtax and said selecting sector bemgadapted to count the number of unities to be added in the surtaxes totalising counter.

With reference to the-appended drawing, the single figure represents an embodiment of the invention. The members which do not belong to the surtax device are'not shown to facilitate the understanding of their working.

The tam-impulses come into the winding 5 of the step-by-step controlling mechanism 2,

direction of the arrow 26.

which by means of ratchet 3, drives the ratchetwheel 4 in thedirection of arrow -5. The-ratchetwheel 4 is connected to the sun wheel of thecycloidal gear system .over the spindle 6. The cycloidal gear system (differential) and its nadjoining reverse and locking wheels are diagram matically shown. One sun gear of the differential mechanism is used to drive forwardly over the gear 8 the digits drum 9, in'th'e'direction of the arrow ID a given quantity 'perimpulse. The other sun gear ofthe 'difierential: is connected to the first digits drum ll of the charge totalizing counter [2. During conversationpi. e. on receiving the tax-impulses, said second sun gear and thus the whole charge totalizing counter 12 is locked.

The digits drum 9 is subjected to the action of a spring 13. which operates against the direction of the arrow'lfl. Said spring islthus wound up by the action of the impulses. The zeroposition of digits drum "9 is located by the stud l4 co-operating with thrust "I 5.

The thrustor'bolt l6 alsomoves :in unison with drum 9 in the direction of arrow T0. The surtax-indicating'flap .20 is stopped in the zero position by means of the arm I! and bolt i6. Besides, an arm 3-! is locked throughthepawl'tfl, which is rotatably mounted on the spindle 16]. At the first impulse, .the armature .52 of thestepby-step controllin mechanism ".2 acts on :the pawl in sucha way thatarme'l .becomes free. The arm I"! is then able to follow-the, movement of bolt l6 against which it is pressed by spring [8.

Thereby, the spindle l9 and, innnison with it, the .surtax-indicating flap .20 revolves in the This flap is then moved, for instance, up to 10 vcentimes, for one impulse (urban call), also up to 10 centimesfor two impulses (suburban call) and to .ZOcentimes for three and more impulses (trunk connections).

The thrust 2| prevents the .surtax-indicating flap 2.0 from beingfurther carried along after the third impulse, so that on each further impulse, the spindle IQ remains still and bolt .16 moves'away from arm IT.

The driving of this surtax-indicating device is characterisedby the feature that it does not moreover loadthe controlling magnetl; but on the contrary, it facilitates the action thereof during the three 'first'impulses, whereby spring I8 acts upon the digits drum 9, against the spring l3, over the arm IT.

The return to 'zero-and'the totalizing oi, the surtax is achievedthrough the releasing-pushbutton 22 in co-operation with a snap device. By actuation of the releasing push-button 22 in the direction of arrow 35, the lever 23 is displaced whereby the springs 24 and 28 are tensioned, because the reciprocating lever 25 is temporarily held back through the latching lever 22. The reciprocable control lever 29 also remains motionless for its lug 39 is pressed against the nose 3|.

On pushing the releasing button 22 until the edge 32 runs against the bars 33, the latching lever 21 is rotated about the axis 94 and thus releases the lever 25. This latter is then pushed in the direction of the arrow 35 through the previously compressed spring 24 and the lateral extension 36 thereof brings the arm 37 back again, whereby the surtax-indicating flap 29 is returned to zero. In that position, the arm 3'! is locked through pawl 90, so that the spindle i9 is stopped and cannot hinder the return to zero of the digits drum 9, by the arm 11.

Owing to the movement of the lever 25 in the direction of the arrow 35, the lug 30 is also released, whereby the lever 29 is shifted in the same direction and its end 38 engages itself at once into a notch 44 or 49 of the selecting sector 39, before the same is moved and can return to zero in unison with the spindle I9.

When the reciprocable lever 29 is shifted in the direction of the arrow 35, its finger i9 is pressed against the stud 4i and thus rotates the lever 42 around the axis 43. If the end portion 38 has engaged itself into one of the notches M, then the ratchet 45 moves backwards one tooth (local and suburban traffic) but if said end portion 38 has engaged itself into the notch 49 (trunk connections), then the ratchet 45 moves backwards two teeth.

During its movement in the direction of the arrow 35, the lever 25, on acting over a locking gear of the differential mechanism 7 (not shown), releases the charge-totalizing counter I2, so that the spring 13 brings the digits drum 9 back to zero, in a direction opposite to the arrow l0, whereby the stud 14 runs against the thrust l5. The gearing ratios of the differential mechanism are selected in such a way that, on the returning movement of the digits drum 9, the charge totalizing counter l2 forwardly revolves by the same amount. As soon as the stud I4 is stopped through said thrust l5, the charge totalizing counter i2 is locked again, through known means which are not described in the present specification, until next return to zero of the digits drum 9.

When the operator releases knob 22, reciprocating levers 23, 25 and 29 are drawn back again through spring 41 and the latching lever 2'; looks lever 25 so that the snap device takes its starting position again.

By the backward motion of lever 29, the finger 40 thereof released the lever 42, which latter, being henceforth drawn through the spring (32, turns the ratchet wheel 49 one or two teeth forward in the direction of arrow 59. Through this action, spindle #23 together with digits drum of the surtax-totalizing counter 52 are given a further rotary motion by one or two figures.

After end part 39, on its back movement, has moved away from the corresponding notch l or 45, the selecting sector 39 is released, on its turn,

and is returned back into the zero position against the pin 54, through the action of spring 53.

The abrupt movement of lever in the direction of arrow 95, after depression of the releasing knob 22, is required in order that all operations, which are prepared or released through said lever 25, should be almost simultaneously and automatically performed. It thus becomes impossible by inadvertently handling the knob 22, to only partially reset the mechanism. Under these conditions, possible falsification such as a double or more addings of the surtax into the totalizing counter, are left out.

The hereinbefore described apparatus is only a possible embodiment of the invention. By suitably forming the indicating flap 29, by a displacement of thrust 2| as well as by a corresponding realization of the selecting sector 39, the amount of the surtax to be paid can be modified at will.

What I claim is:

1.1n a telephonic fee indicating device for telephonic plants subject to a plurality of surtaxes, including a charges totalizing counter (l l-l2) provided with digit drums and adapted to be forwardly driven, step by step, by a controlling mechanism provided with an electromagnet receiving a number of current impulses corresponding to the various areas of traffic (local, suburban or trunk connections), whereby the number of current impulses for each calling selectively determine the amount of the various surtaxes for said traffic areas, in combination: a charge indicating digit drum (9) connected to the controlling mechanism so as to be rotated by the same only in the direction of the increasing charges, a spindle (29) carrying a surtaxindicating flap (29) and a coupling arm (ii), a stationary stop in the path of said flap, means for exerting an eccentric thrust on the charge indicating drum, said coupling arm being biased against the eccentric thrust in the same direction of rotation as that imparted thereto through the action of the controlling mechanism, a driving member (54) and a reset arm (3?) on said spindle, a surtax selecting member (59) adapted to be positively rotated by said driving member (56) in one direction, a spring (53) for urging said selecting member in a reverse direction of rotation, said selecting member having a plurality of stepped abutment surfaces 3l i9), each representing the amounts of the successive surtaxes to be registered, a spring urged releasing knob (22), a snap acting mechanism adapted to be put in operation by said knob and comprising reciprocable means (2939), having motion limiting means cooperating with said abutment surfaces, 2. surtax totalizing counter (52); unidirectional variable stroke actuating means for said totalizer (42, 45, 48, 69) inserted between the reciprocable means and the surtax totalizing counter, said reciprocable means being adapted to cooperate with said abutment surfaces by one of the strokes of said releasing knob and also to have the surtax amount added in the surtax totalizing counter, by the other strokes of said knob, said snap acting mechanism including a resetting member (35) adapted to drive said reset arm (3'?) for returning the surtax indicating flap to zero by a snap released operation.

2. A telephonic fee indicating device as defined in claim 1, said surtax selecting member comprising a notched sector loosely mounted on said spindle, said driving member being fixed to said spindle and said spring constantly urging said sector against the driving member on said spindle. in order to reset the notched sector to zero, when the cooperation between the said reciprocable means (ZS-33) and the notches of said sector has ceased.

3. In a telephone feed indicating device for telephonic plantssubjecttoa plurality of surtaxes, including a charges totalizing counter [lg-4 2 provided with digit drums and adapted tohe forw ardly driven, step by step, by a controlling 'mechanism provided with an electromagnet receiving a number of current impulses corresponding to the various areas of traffic -local, suburban or trunk connections), whereby the number of, current impulses foii'each calling selectively determine the'amount of the various surtaxes for said trafiic areas, in combination: a charge indicating digit drum (9) having a winding spring l3, a differential mechanism (l-8) having a locking gear therein connected to said charge indicating drum and to said charges totalizing counter, so that the charge indicating digit drum can be driven by the differential mechanism only in the direction of the increasing charges against the action of said winding spring, a spindle (l9) carrying a surtax-indicating flap and a coupling arm IT), a stationary stop in the path of said flap, means for exerting an eccentric thrust on the charge indicating drum, said coupling arm being biased, a Weight against the eccentric thrust in the same direction of rotation as that imparted thereto through the action of the differential mechanism, a reset arm (31) on said spindle, a backward spring urged releasing knob (22-47); a reciprocable cam (32) adapted to be operated by said releasing knob, a snap releasing lever (27) having a part (33) normally located in the path of said cam, a snap controlling spring (24) adapted to be tightened by the depression of the releasing knob, a resetting device (25-36), a part of which is normally inserted between one edge of said releasing lever and said snap controlling spring, whereby a member (36) of said resetting device is adapted to rotate said reset arm (31) together with said surtax indicating flap to the zero position by the action of said snap controlling spring (24), caused by the cam (32) raising said snap releasing lever (2'1), said resetting device including means for removing said locking gear to disconnect said charge indicating digit drum from charge-totalizing counter, so that said winding spring (13) brings the charge indicating drum to zero.

4. In a telephonic fee indicating device of the class referred to, comprising a charge totalizing counter adapted to be driven step by step, by an electromagnet controlling mechanism, according to a number of current impulses corresponding to the difierent trafiic areas, whereby the number of current impulses for each calling selectively determine the amount of the various surtaxes for said traflic areas, in combination: a charge indicating digit drum provided with a winding spring adapted toreturn said drum to zero, said charge indicating drum being adapted to be positively rotated from the charges totalizing counter, a spindle carrying a first arm provided with a surtax indicating flap, and a coupling arm, a set of all the figures used for the various surtaxes on said flap, a stationary stop in the path of said 6 3 sewe 99 5. 1? m gted 9n, i Win a d rmed, wit as main; Pe i. haze notches, as he i fes n sa d urtax fi c t ne flap. he d pths f i no ch qq r ndins h (3 .19% 9 am q i t ts r er s adri ne m mber: n si S indl for s i e y tati said surtax sector, in the direction of the increasing surtaxes, a spring (53) adapted to urge the surtax sector in a reverse direction of rotation to reset the same to zero position; a spring urged releasing knob a snap acting mechanism operated by said knob and comprising reciprocable control means, a surtax totalizing counter, unidirectional variable stroke actuating means for said totalizer inserted between said reciprocable control means and said surtax totalizing counter, said control means engaging with said notches by the depression stroke of the releasing knob, and to have the surtax amount added in said surtax totalizing counter through said unidirectional variable stroke actuating means in the back stroke of said knob, means (36) inserted between the snap-acting mechanism and the flap carrying spindle for returning the indicating flap to zero by a snap released operation.

5. In a telephonic fee indicating device for telephonic plants subject to a plurality of surtaxes, including a charges totalizing counter (ll-I2) provided with digit drums and adapted to be forwardly driven, step by step, by a controlling mechanism provided with an electromagnet receiving a number of current impulses corresponding to the various areas of traflic (local, suburban or trunk connections), whereby the number of current impulses for each calling selectively determine the amount of the various surtaxes for said traffic areas, in combination: a charge indicating digit drum connected to said controlling mechanism to be rotated by the latter only in the direction of the increasing charges, a spindle carrying a surtax indicating flap and a coupling arm, a set of figures on said flap corresponding to the whole succession of the surtaxes, a stationary stop in the path of said flap, spaced from the zero position thereof at an angle equal to the angle taken by the entire set of figures on said surtax indicating flap, means for stopping said charges indicating drum in its zero position; means for exerting an eccentric thrust on the charge indicating drum, said coupling arm biased against said eccentric thrust in the direction of rotation imparted thereto through the controlling mechanism, a driving member (54) and a reset arm on said spindle, a surtax selecting sector adapted to be positively rotated by said driving member in one direction, a spring for urging said surtax selecting sector in a reverse direction of rotation, said surtax selecting sector having a number of peripheral notches equal to the total number of surtaxes, the depths of said notches corresponding to the various or same amounts of the surtaxes to be registered, a spring urged slidable releasing knob, a snap acting mechanism disposed on the sliding path of said releasing knob and comprising a resetting member (36) to drive said reset arm (3'!) by a snap released operation, a surtax totalizing counter (5|52) connected to a ratchet wheel (49), a pawl (45) and a control spring (48) adapted to drive said pawl and said ratchet wheel, reciprocable surtax transferring means comprising a strip (33) adapted to engage itself by snap action into a notch of said surtax selecting sector on the depression of said releasing knob, and a finger to withdraw said pawl with respect to said ratchet wheel M 2,598,244 7 8 a. distance corresponding to the depth of the UNITED STATES PATENTS notch actually reached by said strip, whereby, on Number Name Date the back stroke of said releasing knob, said con- 1 094 054 Bricken 21 1914 trol spring (48) drives said ratchet wheel and Dietrich et a1 Mar. 21, 1939 surtax totalizing counter so that the latter regis- 5 2 240 797 Pasinski May 6 1941 ters the surtax selected by said selecting sector.

ROLF FASSER. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 491,281 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1938 The following references are of record in the 10 134,131 swltzerland 1936 file of this patent:

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