US1114174A - Controlling apparatus for telephone switching systems. - Google Patents

Description

E. 0. MAOLINA.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEMS APPLICATION FILED 00122, 1907.

1 1 1 4, 1 74. Patented 001;. 20, 1914.

3 SHBETSSHEET 1,

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

E. G. MOLINA CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.2,1907. 1, 1 14A 74.

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CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEMS.

APPLIGATION FILED 0012, 1907 1 Patented 0013. 2Q, 1914:.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. MOLINA, OF EAST. ORANGE, NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN TELE PHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1907f Serial No. 395,642.

T0 all-10710211. it may) concern:

Be it known that I, EDwAnn C. ,li1oLINA, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have 1nvented certain Improvements in Controlling Apparatus for Telephone Switching Systems, of which the followingds a specification. A

This invention concerns telephone systems in which both manually operable switches and mechanical switching apparatus are employed in the connection of calling and called lines, said mechanical or selecting apparatus being governed 111 its movement by controlling apparatus; this latter having key mechanism upon which the operator registers the number of the desired line, and transmitting mechanism, acting in accordance with such registration, and in synchronism with which the selcctilr apparatus moves. It takes considerably longer for such controlling apparatus to complete its operation than it does for the operator to perform all the acts attending each connection, consequently it provided with but a single controller her efficiency may be decreased by periods of enforced idleness. To remedy this it has been proposed that two complete controllers be assigned to each operator, with means for rendering either a vailablc for use when idle. Such anarrangcment, however, necessitates the putting of two keyboards before the operator, lessening the already limited space within which it is feasible to place the manual switches. It also has the effect of dividing the attention of the operator between alternative ieces of aiJaratus requiring consideration as to which shall be used and tending-to put a. drag upon the work.

The present invention improves these conditions by providing a single primary controlling apparatus having its registering devices or keys before the operator, and which is adapted to govern a plurality of secondary controllers whichv directly determine the movement of the selecting apparatus. That one primary controller may thus serve a plurality of secondary controllers 18 due chiefly to the fact that I arrange the controlling sections of the former to operate simultaneously, while those in the latter act successively. 5

My invention further consists in simplifying the controlling apparatus by causing a single switch or transmitting mechanism to serve a plurality of series of keys or registering means.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically one embodiment of my primary'controlling apparatus, with a portion of a secondary controller conventionally indicated; Fig, 2 illustrates diagrammatically andin detail a secondary controlling apparatus; and Fig. 3 shows a diagram of an operators cord circuit, together with a chain of selecting apparatus connected therewith; it also includes another portion of the secondary controller already referred to in connection with Fig. 1,

In telephone exchange systems of the class previously mentioned the lines Z, P, with their third conductors Z of substations of which two, a, a are illustrated, extend to answering jacks J located at a central station and furnishing one element of manually operable switching means. A suitable group of these jacks is situated at the position of each operator, who for the purpose of answering calls is provided with a number of connecting or cord circuits C, one, i only. of which appears in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The main or talking strands L L, of each cord and the third conductor, beginning with a portion L, are connected to the tip, ring and sleeve, respectively, of a plug 79 for cooperation with the 1acksJ and completing a portion of the man ual switching means. Y

Associated with the cord circuits, in the present instance being joined thereto by leads L and L extending from the strands L and L, is i'nechanical' switching apparatus serving to select the wanted line and unite it to the cord. and therefore to the calling line. This selecting apparatus preferably consists, in the main, of rotatable switches acting successively, the number of switches in the'series depending upon the character and magnitude of the symbols employed to designate the subscribers'. In the present case it is assumed that numbers are used and that these may include four digits, and for selection for a line thus designated three classes of switches are provided, represented at S S and S, the first or primary .selecto S picking out the thousands group, the second selector 8 the hundreds group, and the third selector or connector S the tens group and then the units terminals 1; ierein. Similar apparatus arranged in the same general manner is familiar to those skilled in the art and therefore need not be particularly described. It is only essential to this invention that there shall be some selective apparatus and a very simple organization has been shown, Of the details of this system it merely will be stated that the switches S, S and S have sets of three revoluble contact members or arms a, 8', s; a, s. 8 a, s, s, respectively, suitably mount ed upon supporting shafts and propelled step by step over fixed terminals 3, a, a by ratchet mechanism, operated by motor magnets M and M in the switches S S and by long and short stop motor magnets M and M, respectively, in the con nector S The arms are held in the positions to which they are advanced by retaining mechanism operated by magnets H H and H Leads L L, L and L, L, L unite the terminals of S and S to the next group of switching; apparatus of the series, while the substation lines are multipled to the terminals 8 of the connectors and to the answering jacks. as is shown in connection with substation a in Fig. 3.

At the position ot each. operator is means for controlling the movement ol the selecting apparatus to cause its arms to come to rest upon the proper terminals. lhis consists of primary and secondary apparatus, the former for manipulation by the operator, while the latter is governed by the primary apparatus, and in turn directly atfects the selectors. But one primary controller T is supplied for each position, while there is a plurality of secondary apparatus.

the number of these depending; upon the rate at which the operator works and the relative time of operation of the primary and secondary controllers. 'l vo secondary apparatus U, U have been shown. with means for automatically placing the primary apparatus upon the completion of its actionin operative relation with the secondary apparatus which is then idle.

Theprimary controller has series of contact devices, conveniently in the form of keys for actuation by the operator. there be ing in the present instance four series each of ten keys, corresponding to the thousands, hundreds, tens and units digits and designated by the characters 1 K, K and K, respectively. The keys may locked in their depressed position by bars .1 and released therefrom by'the attraction of magncts it. Each series of keys governs a switch mechanism by which the condition registered upon said keys is transu'iitted to a secondary controller. In the present onebodiment of the invention one snitch is made to serve two sets of keys, the thonsamls-hundreds starting switch S having its eleven fixed contacts a, over which the arm .9 sweeps multiplcd by conductors 1:23 and M8 to contacts in the keys K and li while the tens-units starting switch 5 has terminals 8 and an arm a similarly related to the keys K, K. Thus each section of starting clectromechanism corrcsponds to a plurality oi groups of symbols in a single line designation, that is, to a plurality of movements of the selecting; apparatus. In both switches S and S there are eleven contacts with but ten digit keys in each series, because the thousands key K and the tens key 0 K are required to produce a movement of the register switches, to be later described. from their initial position to their Zero contacts. ()n the other hand, the hundreds and units keys 0 K, 0 K efi'ect no movement, since the thousands and tens keys will have already caused the stopping of the register switches upon the contacts to which they correspond. Therefore, the first of the contacts sf", 3 are joined only to the Zero hundreds and units keys, respectively, upon which the arms 8 8" are normally resting and the Zero thousands and tens keys are nmltiplcd with the one hundreds and uuitshcys.respcrtively to the second contacts, and so on throughout the series. These starting switches S and S are of the same charaw ter as those of the selectors, having motor magnets M MI and retaining magnets H H functionatiug in the same manner.

()t the secondary controllers but one, ll. shown in detail in Fig. 2. U being" a duplicate of it is indicated by portions of rectangles in Figs. 1 and 3. These secondary apparatus are connected in multiple to the primary controller by leads L, l). L? L. L L Each of the secondary controllers has. instead oi the mam'lally on crablc registering means, electr nncchanical registers furnished by switches S and 9. the ?)airs of contact arms a, s and a 1.

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of which are ad anced simultaneously by long step motor magnets M M under the control of the starting switches S and 8 as determined by the depressed thousands and tens keys, and then simultaneously in short steps by motor magnets M and M. controlled by the same starting switches as determined by the hundreds and units keys. in either case retaining magnets ll and ll act to hold the arms at points to which they have been moved. The arms a a each cooperate with ten fixed tcrn'iinals a. a. each substamiially equaling in extent one tenth of the total movement of" the arms. illustrated. ten terminals separated by spaces equivalem: to the short steps produced by the magnets ill) and hi have been strapped mechanisms and elements will together to vfurnish these longer terminals. 'llicsc lined contacts a, s are successively connected by conductors 75 and 77 to ten terminals 8 and of sending switches and 8". The sets of fixed terminals 8" and a over which the arms 8 and 3 pass are each one hundred in number and are nmltipled in groups of ten, each group comprising one of the first ten terminals and every tenth terminal thereafter. multipled groups are joined in sequence by conductors 76 and 78 t0 the. ten terminals 8* and 8 of sending switches S and S The contact arms 8 8 8 and of the four sending switches are caused to travel over series of the ten active termi ads 201 211 221 231 mOtQr g t 200 7 3 9 M M M andxetained under the inliuence of magnets H H H and H These sending switches transmit to the se lcctors, by means of leads L, L and L connected in. multiple to all the cord circuits of an operator using this controlling apparatus, the condition switches S and S A main battery lead if, indicated in heavy dottedlines, is also multipled to'the cords from the secondary controller U only. It will be noted that there isa section otsending mechanism for each group of symbols in a single line designation or eachselective movement and, as will hereinafter appear, they \act' successively.

The mechanisms Which have been de scribed are the more important ones of the system, viewed in the light of the present invention. Certain minor or secondary now be men principal functions briefly registered by the tioncd and their stated,

Bridged across the strands L and L of the cords between the'sections of the usual repeating coils 0 is the common battery B with its positive pole grounded. This for c uireuioncc in illustration has been shown in various places and designated by differ out reference characters, as has the pulsator by which the batterv current is rendered intermittent. Each cord circuit includes a key K, which when thrown to the-right, seen in Fiw. 3, connects the opcratofis telephone set to the strands L, L and at the same time initiates the ,action of associating the cord with a secondary controller. A i signal or lamp 0 is situated in J uniity to each answering jack J, being controlled by the well known line and cutoii rclavs It, 11 The cords contain the usual sup: lays l and it. in addition to the super- 'isory rela each cord has relays 11 ,11 and ll. 'ihclirst, when the operator has plugged into a jack. establishes a: ground connection upon which depend the autoati t'pcrations of the cord alone and in The isory la-n'ips and. O with their re-' :mg switches S and itively, relays R R R, R and relays It, R R-",.R. After the pulses by the depressed thousands key have been transmitted, relay R (1) disconnects the motor magnet M of the switch S from the long step motor magnet M of register 1 thousands switch S conjunction with the various selectors. The second associates the calling end ofthe cord with an idle secondary controller and maintains said association until the controller has finished its operation. Relay Rf" determines which of the two secondzu'y controllers shall be associated with the cord by relay it.

In the primary controller T relay R as soon as a secondary controller has locked itself to the primary controller, as will ap' pear hereinafter, opens the initial circuit by which it would be possible for another secondary controller to become associated with i the primary and closes momentarily the circult of the key release magnets h. The startgoverned switch S removes ground from the keys thereby releasing the hold- 111g magnet H in order that the switch S may return to its normal position before ope-rating 1n conjunction with the hundreds key; and (3) prepares the circuit by which rela Y R will be encr ized. llcla R and R together associate the switch S with the hundreds keys and the motor magnet M with the short step motor magnet M of p v Relay It, after pulses correspending to the lumdrcds digit of the called number have been transmitted, opens the circuit of motor magnets M and M Relays R, R R and It act similarly with re spect to the keys K and K the starting switch S and the register switch S Furthermore, relays R and It unlock the sccondary controller from the primary coztroller after thc'- latter has completed its operation. I

Each of the secondary controllers includes relays R, It and it, and in these coin trollers the sending switches have relays R201K Benz Rein R212; R221 P222; d R231.

In addition each of the retaining magnets of these switches serves to close a contact device. Relay R establishes the connection of the battery with the lead L upon which all the operations of the secoodz-zry con 'troller depend, and closes one link in the circuit which associates a sec-oi'idary controller with. the primary controller. Relays it and R lock the secondary controller to the primary controller and connect the motor magnets of the register switches S and S to the corresponding motor magnets oi the primary controller starting switches C S. The contact de vice of each retaining; magnet closes the circuit of the motor magnet o'lt'its switch lielays R R R and 111 open said circuits when desired number of current impulses have passed. Relays R R R initiate the operation of the succeeding sending switch.

As to the primary and secondary selecting switches f a and S in the former, after motor magnet M?" has received through its inning the series of impulses for the thousands digit of the desired number, a relay h- (1,) locks itself in series with the retaining magnet of switch S, thereby applying the retention pawl of this switch; cuts out of the circuit. the motor magnet M and (8) closes one link of the desired connection by extending the leads L and L to the leads L and L. A relay R in connection with the selecting switch S effects results which are exactly analogous to those accomplished by the relay R.

In the connector 5*, after the motor mag not M has received theactuating pulses or the tens digit of the desired number, the energizing of a relay R, which in turn energizes relay R, causes the substitution bf the short step motor magnet M for the long step motor magnet hi and prepares the circuits'for the operation of a relay It. The last named relay after the motor magnet M has received the units pulses, upon attracting: its armatures (1) looks itself in series with the cut-oil relay oi the selected line; (2) cuts motor magnet M out of the circuit; and (3) closes the last link of the desired connection by extending the leads L and L to the links of the wanted line.

Besides the contacts of the relays which perform the operation just mentioned, there are throughout the system other contacts forming a part of the various switches, some termed normal contact devices which ar closed when the switch arms are in their initial position and open immediately upon movement, and other oil' normal devices closing when the travel of the arms begins. There are additional contacts associated with the retaining magnets. None of these need here be described, since when their operation is of any importance with relation to the present invention it will be made clear in tracing the circuits of the system.

The operation of the improved system will now be described, stating in detailthe conductors and contacts making up the circuits involved.

The subscriber at substation or, upon removing the receiver from its hook, energizes the line relay R, thereby closing a circuit from battery B to ground through conductor 9 and the line lamp O. In response to this signal the operator inserts the plug 72 of one of the cords G into the jack J of the calling subscribers line. lhis act on the part oi: the operator results in the energizing of the cut-off relay R cord. relfiy R and supervisory relay R by the simultaneous closing of two circuits, one from battery B to ground through conductor 10, winding of relay R third conductor 1 of the calling; subscribcrs liner, thinible of jack (l and *vc of the plug),' P, third. conducti'ir L of the cord, springs .13 and 14- of the listening liey if, conductor ll) and the winding of relay ll; and the other from the free pole Oil battery B through winding 16 of the repeating; coil a, strand L of the cord, windingoi? supervisory relay lt ring of the plug and cooperating spring of the jack, limb Z of the line, the substation set at (z, the other limb l of the line, spring of the inch: and tin of the plug, lead ll and winding 17 of the repeat iug coil to battery. The cucrgization of relay R disconnects relay It from the line, therefore extinguishing the lamp l, while relay lit opens the circuit 0' sul'ii'n'visory lamp to prevent it from lighting. Relay 1' completes two circuits, the first from ground through its armature 20, conductor 21, armature 22 and its-back contact in su pervisory relay R andlamp O to battery B lighting said lamp; while "L second circuit is from ground. through spring 23 of relay ll", conductor 20 and winding of the retaining magnet H of the thousands scloctiug switch 3 to battery ll thereby energizing the magnet.

The o 'ierator throws the lrcy K. into the listening, position, conneciiue; lHL' telephone set 7) with the talking: leads if and if oi the cord at the contacts 557 J, and closing a circuit from battery B through one winding of relay R, conductor 27, springs 29 and 29 of key K. conductor 30, normal contact device 31 of switch S conductor 26 and spring of relay R to ground. This l,l]0I'- sizes the relay R the arnuitures 3i and ill of which disconnect leads I) and l? from the strands L and L of: the cord at the springs 3a and join the leads to condui tors 36 and 37. Armature of relay lt contacting with its spring 3K completes a circuit -from ground through armature 38 (ll relay R conductors 39 and 410, second winding of relay n conductor ll, ari'naturc l8- and its back contact in relay ll. lead L of the secondary controller U, winding of relay R back contact and armature 9A9 of relay R to battery B This circuit energizes relay R and makes relay R independent of the circuit established by the springs 99 and 28 of the key K. Armatuye 50 of relay It connects battery B to the main battery load If m the sccondzuy controller U. From this lead Current then flows to ground through the Winding of the retaining mac nets H and H? of the register switches SW and 8 Assuming that the primary controller T is not at this time coi'ipcrating with the secondary controller U in the cstablishmentof some other connection, cur rent will also flow from the main battery lead to ground through armature 51 of relay R conductor 52, normal contact device 53 of the switch S conductor 54, normal contact device 55 of the switch S conductor 56, one winding or relay R, lead L of the primary controller, armature 101 and its back contact in relay R conductor 102, normal contact device 103 of the starting switch S", conductor 104- and normal contact device 105 of the starting switch S This circuit operates relay R, which separates its armature 58 from its back contact and closes the front contact of its :rmature 59. A circuit which locks relays R R and R is completed at the front contact of armature 5!) from battery 13"" through the winding, of relay R, second winding' of relay ll, lead Ti winding of relay R conductor 106, and then to ground in two directions--throngh the back contact and armature 10 of relay R and through the back contact and armature 1.08 of relay R 'Ihcreupon relay it closes the front contacts of its springs and armature (31, i2, (33 and (il, connecting the secondary controller U with the primary controller T, while relay 1T" opens the back contact of its armature 101, closes the contact between armature 109 and spring 110 and opens the resting 'contact of said sprinf As the ari'naturc 101 of relay it constituted a part of the inztialcircmt by means of which relay R of the secondary controller l was enabled to associate said srcondary crntrollcr with the prn'nary controller,

it is evident. that the correeponiling,- relay ol. the scccnnlary ct'introllcr U cannotbc cnergizcd until the series of operations which the primary controller has to execute in conhnclihn with controllcr U has run out and .v 7

the contact of armature 101 is again closed by the release ot' relay H The inclusion of the front contact of armature 5] ol relay R in this initial circuit provides for the association of the secondary controller with the cord circuit before. the primary contrcllc! is joined to it, while the normal contart dcviccr; of both starring switches and" bolh reg-isle." mvdchcs insnrcs that the pre-' \ii usly united primary and secondary contrcllers shall both have completed their operation actor-e the new :issocialion occurs. iVhcn arliiature 1.0!) of relay R makes contact with spring current will momentarily flow from the batteries B to ground through the windings of the key release magnets i. and conductor 11,1. hose piilscs of current rceult in the release of any digit key which may have bccn accidentally depressed since the previous \lll registered by the operator.

l Vhilc thc asso iation of the controlling a rs-item with the cord. is not a part oi my invcntion, it will be briefly stated what occurs when thc (('()ll!llll controller ll still in :so at the time the operator places the plug 7) iii the jack J. In this case there will be a circuit from ground through armature 38 and its front contact in relay R conductor 539, spring 35 and its resting contact in relay R conductor 39 and one winding of relay It to the main battery lead L of the secondary controller U, to which battery B is still joined by relay B. This energizes relay R, disconnecting by its armatures 42, 4-3'and spring 44 the conductors 41, 37 and 36 from the leads IL, L and U of the secndary controller U and unitingthem with the corresponding leads of the secondary controller U Then when relay It operates as a result of the movement of listeningkey 0 K, relay R is kept energized by a circuit from ground to. battery through conductor 35/, spring 35 and armature 35 of relay R conductor 40, second winding of relay R conductor 41, armature 42 and its trontcontact in relay R, second winding of said relay, lead L to secondary controller U and winding of relay R of said controller. This secondary controller then proceeds to pick up the primary controller as has been described in connection with controllcrll.

The controlling system being thus associated with the cord circuit,-it is ready for the registration by the operator upon the keys of the/primary controller of the number of the desired line. Assume now that 1 ,12. is the mnnlar-called for by the Anson at Substation 11; thereupon the 0pcrator depresses-the thousand key ,l K, the hundreds 9 K the tens key 2 IQ and the units key 1 K of the primary controller T. The doprcssion of the thousands key closes a path from battery 13" through the winding of. retaining magnet ll*"" of thestarting switch ti conductor 112, spring 113 and its back contact in relay it, conductor 114, springs 115 and 116 of the key 1 K fl condnctor 117, spring 115 and its resting contact in relay it conductor 11!) and spring I .110 and arnmture 109 of relay it" to 110 Qe'round. This circuit energizes the retain- 11H) ma 'nct ll which in turn not onl Y applies the pawl lo the switch mechanism, :but by closing; contact device 120 establishes a circuit From pulsator 1" to ground :through the winding oi motor magnet h of the tho:isands-hundreds start-mg switch,

conductor I21, armature 122 and its back contact in rclay 5 lead li", spring 63 and .its front contact. in

relay it, conductor 71 120 and the winding of motor nnrtrnct lv of the thousa:uls-liumlrcds rcgistei' switch.

'lhe motor nm 'ncts M and M"" will now operate simultancoiisly to advance the switch arms a a, a each tune the pulsa- 125 tor transi-nils current,through the circuit just lraccd. When two impulses have been sent a ircuit. will he clos a'idat the arm of switch ti and its third contact from battery [3 through one winding of relay i conductor 123, conductor 125, springs 126, 115 and 116 of key 1 1 and thence to ground through conductor 117, spring. 118 of relay R conductor 119 and spring 110 and armature 109 of relay R This results in the energizing pf relay R, which opens the back contact of its armature 122 and separates the spring 118 from its resting contact, and also closes the front contact of armature'lQZ and that between armature 128 and spring 118. Opening the back contact of armature 122 breaks the circuit through motor magnets M and 11", stopping the arm 8 of the register switch S at the beginning of the second active contact .9", or that corresponding to the thousands group, while the arm :9 is upon the eleventh active contact 8 The contact of the armature 128 with its spring allows relay R to lock itself by a. path from battery B to ground through its sec ond winding, conductor 119 and spring and aran'iture 109 of relay R Since the resting contact of the spring 118 formed part of the circuit by which retaining mag net H was operated, this magnet will now be dciinergized so that contact device will be opened and the holding pawl of the switch S removed, allowing the arm 5 to return to its initial position.

As soon as the thousands-hundreds starting switch is on its first contact a circuit is closed from battery B", through resistance 129, normal contact device 130, conductor 131, Winding of relay R conductor 1353,

rmature 128 and spring 118 of relay it and thence to ground through conductor 119 and spring 110 and armature 109 of relay R On operating the relay R opens the back contact of its spring 113 and closes its front contact and that of armature 18%. The path from the winding of relay R to battery 13 through conductor 131 and resista'ncc'12.) is now shunted by a path.

through armature 134 of relay R conductor 135 and winding of relay R to battery 13". This shunt serves the double purpose of energizing relay R and preventing the doenergization of relay R by the opening of contact device 13O upon the. second operation of switch S, which will innnediately take place, now in connection with the hundreds keys. Relay R closes the front contacts of its armatures 136 and 137 and of spring 138. Current will thereupon flow from battery B through the winding of the retaining magnet 11"", conductor 112,

spring 113, and its front contact in relay it, conductor 139, springs 1 10 and 111 01" the depressed hundreds key 9 K conductor 142 and front contact and armature 136 of relay It to ground. As before, on operating, the retaining magnet 11" applies its pawl to the switch S and closes the contact device 121), the latter completing a circuit from the pulsator P to ground through the misuse vinding of motor magnet M, conductor 121, armature 192 and its front contact in relay l1, conductor 1 13, the spring 138 and its front contact in relay R, conductor 14-4, back contact and armature 145 of relay R, lead L armature (i4- and its front contact in relay it conductor 72 and the winding of motor magnet M Motor magnets M and It will now be operated in synchronism from the pulsator P over the circuit just traced. Editor the passing ofninc current impulses, a circuit will be closed by the arm of the starting switch S and its tenth contact, from battery 13 through the winding of relay R, conductor 1416, front contact and armature 137 of relay R conductors 117, 123, and 1 18, springs 150, 140 and 111 of the depressed hundreds key 91i conductor 14-). and the front contact and armature 136 of relay R to ground. Relay R immediately operates and breaks the circuit or. motor magnets M and M by opening the back contact of its armature 115. Relay R also opens the back contact 01 its armature 108, but this has no effect until the relay P of the starting switch S operates.

Considering the register switch S, as previously pointed out two pulses of current were transmitted through the winding of the long step motor magnet M and now nine puh' s have passed through the windi re short step magit M thus the arm to rest upon contact munb-Lu'cd if) and the arm upon a similar it position in its contacts by two series at steps-two long steps to the eleventh contact numbered ten and nine short steps -from said contact to the contact numbered nineteen.

The arm 3 is now at the end of its second contact. Sincehoth of the register arms are connected to ground it is clear that by means of conductors T5 and 76, ground has been established on the contacts of the thousand seuding switch S and hundreds scndiug switch S at points that correspond to the thousands digit one and the hundreds digit 5) ol the desired number 1921."

it will be obvious without detailed. on plaimtion, that analogous to those in which the depressed thousands and humlreds keys successively coo erated i the starting switch S in drivii g the arms the register switch it to positions corresponding to the conditions represented by said depressed keys, so the tons hey is? and the units key 1 1C, simultaneously with the thousands-1mndrcds registration, will have cooperated with the starting switch S in driving the arm x of the register switch S to t 3 twentysccoml contact s munbercd \cnty-onc. hilc the arm e rests at the beginning of its third contact. That is, motor magnet M will have first operated three times in by a series of operations the desired number and the order in whichthe operator depresses the keys.

As hereinbet'ore described, relay R energized when the switch S has finished its series of operations, likewise relayl't is energized when the switch S has pcr-' tori-nod its functions. Therefore, when both switches have operated, the two paths to ground fIOIHCOIIdUClJOI 106 are'opencd at the armatures 108 and 107 of relays R and R, respectively. This results in thendecm ergization of relays R and It and also of relay R, since the initial circuit for the last named relay depends upon thf'c now open normal contact devices of the registering and starting switches. The release of relays It and R disconnects the secondary .controller ii t'roiii tlTe primary controller.

Relay It on release closes the contact of armature 101 and the resting contact of the spring 110 and opens the contact between the spring and armature 109. Since the retainiug magnets and relays associated with the starting switches S and S all depend upon the path to ground through conductor 1 l9 lrnd the contact of the spring and a rmatare}, said magnets and relays are dciinergized and the arms 8 and e return to their normal position. While the spring 110 mo mentaril touches both its rcstin contact and: the armature 109 current lows through the: key release magnets 71. freeing the dcprcssed digit keys. The primary controller is now ready for cooperation with the oudary controller U the operation of the control-her U, alter its register SWlCC'llPS have been properly set, going on independently, as will now be described.

The rcl-ca:-1c of relay R of the secondary controller l closed a path from ground through the oli' normal contact device 80 of register switch S conductor 81, back contact and armature :38 of relay it, conductor H2 and winding of retaining magnet iiiol the thousands sending switch 8 to the main battery lead I). lviagnct 11 being energized, applies the rctcution pawl of the switch. S and also closes the contact device 202, giving a path from piiilsator P to ground through the winding o'l'" motor magnct M conductor 20l, bacl contact and armature 303 oi i'cl.i. v .li'-', lcad L, back contact and armature 13 of relay R,

conductor 37, armature 34 and spring 31 of relay R lea-d L spring 45 and its back contact in relay R and the winding-o1? motor magnet M of the thousands selector. Until this circuit is opened motor magnets M and M will operate in synclu'onisin on each pulse of current transmitted by the pulsator. When two pulses have passed the arm 8? of the switch S arri es at the ground established through conductor by the arm 880 of switclrs Two circuits from this ground are then closed, one through the arm 8 conductor 205 and the winding of relay R to the battery lead L, and one through said arm, olt' normal contaci rile rice .ZQQ} of switch S armature 207 and its back contact in relay R lead L back contact and spring 14- of relay R, conductor 36, armature 33 and spring 33 of relay R lead L conductor -16, resting contact. and spring $6 of relay R conductor ii, winding of relay It, arm .9 of switch. S lead L and the winding of retaining magnet H oi? the hundreds switch S to battery B -Relay R energized by the first circuit, opens the back contact of its armature 203 and closes the front contact of armature 209, thus breaking the circuit containing the motor magnets M? and if and energizing-relay 202 by current from the main battery lead. The opening of the motor magnet circuit stops the travel of the arms of switches S and S, the latter with its arms upon the set of terminals 8 connccted to an idle hundreds switch 5 in the second thousands group. The relay R is designed to operate sluggishly in'orderthat it will not open the back contact of its armature 207 before the relay R functionates. Relay R now energized by the second circuit from ground at the register arm, closes the front contacts of spring 45 and armature 49, opens the hack contact of the former and connects conductor 47; directly to ground tl'i'rough spring 46 and armati'lre 113". This renders the winding of relay R independ ent of the ground at the registerswitch picked up by the arm of the sendii'ig switch 8 The retaining mechanism of the hun-, dred's selector is operated by the same circuit.

W hen the armatiirc 207 of sluggish relay R has closed its front contact, a path is obtained from groundby lead U through oii normal contact device 2206 of the switch S conductor 211, and the winding of retaining magnet H of hundreds switch S In precisely the same manner as has just been explained, the hundreds selector S governed by the sending switch 8 picks out an idle connector S at which 'tcrminatcs the line of the desired substation. v

After the sluggish relay R?" of the hun drcds sending switch, acting as did therearm 8 to battery lay R of the thousands sending switch, has opened the back and closed the front contact of its armature 218, magnet H of the tens sending switch applies its retention pawl and closes contact 224, establishing a circuit from pulsator P to ground through winding of motor magnet M hack contact and armature 225 of relay R conductor 2%, lead L back contact and armature l3 of relay R conductor 87, armature 3i and spring 34?. of relay R leacl L spring 45 and its front contact in relay R arm 8' of the thousands selecting switch S lead L spring 300 and its front contact in relay R, arm 8 of the hundreds selecting switch S lead L sprii g 100 and its back contact relay P, conductor 101, armature 402 and. its back Contact in relay R, conductor i023 and the winding of the tens or long step motor ma gnct M Said motor magnet with that of the sending switch S will be operated synchronously from pulsator P Vhen three pulses have been transmitted the arm 8 991 switch S closes two circuits from the. ground established through the conductor 77 by the arm 5 of the register switch fil -one through the winding of rehiy l and conductor 22? to battery lead if and the other through the'otl normal contact tlcVlCG 228, armature 22S) and its back contact in relay it conductor 230, lcacl. If, hack contact and spring i l of relay l't conductor 3t], armature 33 and spring 323 of relay 11?, lead If", armature 49 and its front contact in relay P arm of switch S lead L armature 30 i and its front contact in rcluy R arm 3 of the switch 91, lead ll, armature 405 and its hack contact in relay it, conductor 4-06 and the winding oil relay It to battery B. Relay li energizes by the first circuit, opens at its armature the circuit containing motor magnets M aml M stopping the arms of the connector at the be ginning ot' the tens sections sought. Atits armature 233. this relay operates sluggish rclay R Relay It, included in the second circuit, closes the front contact of its airmature 40'? and. thus locks itself to ground through the winding of relay R conductor 408 and off normal contact device too of I switch S. This path through the Winding and closes their :tront contacts.

its soon. as the armature 229 of relay R cooperates with its frontcontnct path is obtained from the ground at the arm 8 to battery lead L through oil normal contact device 228 of the switch S conductor 223 and the winding of the retaining magnet H oi the units sending switch 3. Magnet hi thereupon applies its pawl and closes contact device 235, givin a circuit from pulsator P to ground tirough the winding of motor magnet M hack contact and armature 236 of relay R conductor 237, lead L back contact and armature 43 of relay R. conductor 37, armature 34 and spring 34; of relay R lead L spring -5 and its front contact in relay R arm 8 of switch S lead L spring 300 and its front contact in relay 1 arm 8 of the switch S lead L, spring 400 andits back contact in relay R,'con luctor elOl, armature 402 and its front contact in relay R conductor 112 and the winding of the units or short step motor magnet of the connecting switch S Until this circuit is opened the motor magnets M and M will operate simultaneously on each pulse of current. from P When two impulses have been transmitted the arm 8 of the units sending switch reaches the ground established through conductor 7 8 by the arm 3 of the register switch C'. This energizes relay 3, which opens the back contact ofits armature 236 and prevents any further actuation of the switches S and 8. Relay R also opens the hack contact of its armature Q42, thereby cle'enen gizing relay R of the secondary controller U anol the cord relay R the initial circuit for the latter relay having seen opened pre-.

viously hy the separation of the normal contact springs 31 of switch S The release of reluy R disconnects the lmttery B from the lead L thus dccnergiziny' the retaining magnets of all the switches oi the secondary controller, permitting their arms to return to zero and releasin relays R R and R and also re ays R R and R' but before the hack contact of armature M2 of relay It has been closed armature 35 0i. relay R has fallen off and clisconneelcijl cone (lllClLUl 40 from conductor 39, so that relays lt aml R will not he again associated. The ri-lcuso of :irmutures $3 and ill of relay il disconnects conductors 3G and 37 from the leads L and L and reconnccts the lot- (or to the leads L and L. A circuit now exists from the battery B of the cord through winding llI-l of repeating coil 0, winding of the supervisory rcloy It, leads L, and IF, urn'iuture 4- and its front contact in relay li arm a of switch S load L, armature nects conductor 415 from ground, and with the armature 4,15" closes a locking circuit from ground through conductor 418, second winding of relay ll and the arm 8 of the switch S, to battery through the winding of the cut-oil relay of the line selected by the switch s Remembering that the anus of the thousands selecting switch have taken two steps, the hundreds selecting switch ten steps and the connecting switch first three long steps then two short steps, it will be seen that the calling subscriber connected with the line 1921" for which he asked.

The testing of the line secured, the ring.

iii-g over it and the release of the selecting apparatus will not be described, not being essential to the present invention.

* I claim:

1. In a telephone exchange system, line solecting apparatus having a plurality of selective movements, primary controlling apparatus therefor having sections of mechanism, with a section corresponding to a plurality of dillerent selective movements, and secondary controlling apparatus provided with a section of mechanism for each selective movement.

2. The coinbii'iation with a central station and telephone" lines extending thereto, of operators cord circuits and mechanical switching apparatus for joining the lines, a plurality of controlling apparatus for the mechanical switching apparatus, means for uniting a cord circuit with an idle controlling apparatus, said means being operable when the cord circuit is employed to origi nate a connection, means adapted. to be set by the operator to govern the action of any one of the controlling apparatus, and means for associating the governing means with a controlling apparatus upon-the appropriation of said controlling apparatus by a cord circuit, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A controlling apparatus for electrical line selecting apparatus comprising manually operable registering'devices, secondary mechanism temporarily associated with the manually operable devices for registering the conditions produced there'at, and trans mitting means governed by the secondary mechanism and operable while the manually operable devices are disssociated from saidsecondary mechanism.

4. lhe combination with a starting switch, of key mechanism for determining the movement of the starting switch, a reg ister switch provided with a plurality of motor mechanisms any one of which may be connected with the starting switch, and asending switch governed by the register switch. I

5. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with switching means compris- 111g operators connecting circuits and 'mechanical switching apparatus having a plurality of selective movements, of a primary controlling apparatus provided with a set of keys corresponding to each selective movement and also having a less number of transmitting mechanisms than there are sets of keys, and a secondary controlling apparatus provided with register mechanisms governed by the primary transmitting mechanisms and with a secondary transinitregister mechanisms governed by the primary transmitting mechanisms and with a secondary transmitting mechanism for each selective movement, and means for operatively associating any one of the seconm ry controlling apparatus with the primary controlling apparatus, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

7. In a telephone line switching system, the lines'of the system being designated each by a plurality of symbols belonging to different groups of symbols, line selecting apparatus, and selection controlling apparatus having a plurality of electromechanisms each corresponding to a plurality of symbols in a single line designation.

8. In a telephone line switching system, the lines of the system being designated each by a plurality of symbols belonging to different groups of symbols, line selecting apparatus, a selection controlling apparatus having a plurality of electromechanisms each corresponding to a plurality of groups of symbols, and secondary electromechanisms under the influence of the primary electro- Inechanisms and each corresponding to a single group of symbols.

9. The combination with a central station and telephone lines extending thereto, of connecting circuits and mechanical switching apparatus for joining the lines, a plurality of automatic controlling apparatus for the mechanical switching apparatus,

means for uniting ,a connecting circuit with an idle controlling apparatus, means adapted to be set to govern the action of anyone of the controlling apparatus, and means for associating the governing means with the controlling apparatus when said controlling apparatus is united with the connecting circuit. 1

10. The combination with a central stalion. and telephone lines extending thereto, olf connecting circuits and mechanical switching apparatus for joining the lines, a plurality 0t tllltJHlfltlC coi'itrolling apparatus for the mechanical switching apparatus, means for uniting a connecting circuit with an idle controlling apparatus, a set of keys, and means for associating the keys with the contr lling apparatus when said controlling apparatus is united with the connecting circuit.

11. The combination with line electing apparatus, of a controlling apparatus havkeys, automatic registering means, means for temporarily associating said registering means with the keys, and means governed by the registering means for controlling line selection while said re istering means and keys a re dissociated.

12. The combination with line selecting, apparatus, of a controlling apparatus having keys, an automatic register switch, means tor temporarily associating said register with the keys, and an automatic switch governed by the register switch for controllin line selection when said re istcr switch and keys are dissociated.

3. Controlling apparatus for line selecting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of manually operable contact devices, and a plurality of automatic transmitting means, each. transmitting means being governed by a plurality of the sets of contact devices.

14. Controlling apparatus :tor line selecting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of manually operable contact devices, automatic transmitting means governed by a plurality of the sets of manually operated contact devices, and means controlled by said transmitting means for changing its connection from one set of contact devices to another.

C(mtrolling' apparatus for line selccting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of keys, and an automatic transmitting switch governed in its initial movement by one set of keys, said transmitting switch thereafter upon assuming its normal'position thereby causing its connection to be changed to another set of keys.

16. in a controlling apparatus for telephone line selectors including a plurality of keys, a plurality of controlling switch mechanisms, electromagnetic means for operating each switch mechanisn'i, and means for bringing said electromagnetic means successively under the inllueucc of the keys.

1?. Controlling; apparatus for line selecting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of keys, and an automatic transmitting switch governed by its initial movement by one it of keys, said transmitting switch thereafter upoir'assuining its normal position UP-(iltltllig under the influenceof another set of keys.

18. in a controlling apparatus for telephone line selectors, a plurality of keys, controlling switch mechanism, electromagnetic means for operating said switch mechanism, means for bringing said electromagnetic means successively under the influence of the keys, and means whereby the switch mechanism must travel to its normal position before it can be operated under the intiucnce of another key.

19. A controlling apparatus for automatic switching ap Jaratus comprising a. plurality of controlling switches, and a plu rality of sets of governing keys for the con trolling switches, one of said controlling switches being adapted to operate in response to the depression of the keys of two of said sets.

20. In a telephone exchange system, the Combination with automatic switching apparatus, of an operators controlling apparatus comprising a plurality of controlling switches, and a plurality of sets of keys governing their operation, the operation of keys in a plurality of the sets causing the operation of one of said controlling switches to govern a plurality of selections by said automatic switching mechanism.

21. In a teleohone exchange system, the. combination with automatic switching apparatus, of operators controlling apparatus comprising a plurality of automatic controlling switches, and a plurality of sets ofdesignation keys adapted when operated in establishment of a connection to cause the repeated action of one of said controlling switches.

22. An electrical controlling apparatus comprising a plurality of keys, and automatic controlling switches simultaneously governed by different. keys. 7

23. A controlling apparatus for electrical line selecting apparatus comprising a plurality of keys, and automatic controlling switches simultaneously goyerned by ditl'erent keys, a controlling switch being also successively governed by ditl'erent keys in a. single line selecting operation. 2a. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with telephone lines, of automatic switching mechanism therefor, a controlling mechanism comprising keys corresponding to the digits of line designations, and plural transmitting means adapted to be; governed simultaneously by keys corresponding to dill'erent digits. I

25. In a controlling apparatus for electrical line selecting systems, the combination with. line designating devices, of a plurality of registers r *sponsive to said devices, selection controllers governed by said rc fistors, and means for switching said devices into. operative relation to any register.

26. In a controlling apparatus for electrical line selecting systems, the combination with a set of line designating keys, of a plurality of registers responsive to said keys, selection controllers governed by said registers, and automatic means for associating the set of keys with an idle register.

27. In a controlling apparatus for electrical line selecting systems, the combination with a set of line designating keys, of a plurality of registers responsive to said keys, selection controllers one for each register adapted to operate in accordance with the line designation produced at the registers, one of said registers and the controller El. Ill,

associated therewith being normally in op; erative relation to said keys, and automatic means for associating another register and controller with the keys When the first men tioned register and controller are in use.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this twenty-third day of September 1907.

EDWARD C. MOLINA.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. BLAUVELT, Rosnnr S. SUrLIrrE.

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