US1254254A - Indicating system. - Google Patents

Description

W. H." MATTHIES.- INDICATING SYSTEM. APPLlcATloN man ozc.29.1s1s. 1,254,254. Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. H. MATTHIES.

lNDlCATING SYSTEM.

APPucATloN FILED DEc.29. 191s.

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w. H. MATTHIES. INDICATNG SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED Dc.29. |916. 1,254,254.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

W. H. MATTHIES.

INDICATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.29I 1916. 1,254,254. Y Patented .15.11.22, 1918. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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g WILLIAM'H. MATTHIES, OF HACKENSA-CK,4 NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR- T0 WESTERN l .ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIQN 0F Vals NEW Yoan.

INDICATING SYSTEM.

Patented Jan. 22, 1916.

Application led December 29, 1 916. Serial No. 139,521.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM- H. MAT- THIEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hackensack, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Systems, of which the following is a full,'clear, concise, and exact description. This invention relates to telephone exchange systems in which automatic switches are used to establish connections, either wholly or in part, and ismorepartiularly related to systems in which such switches are controlled b means of a sender located at a central o ce.`

The object of this. invention is to provide an improved arrangement for testing such senders. In senders of the reverseimpulse type, that is, senders which are operated in response to the movements of a switch or switches controlled by them, the arrangevment has been such that after a switch has been positioned in accordance with a setting of the sender, circuit changes will take place both at the switch and at the sender such that the switch may be controlled in another of its movements. Similarly, a succeeding switch or switches may be brought under the control of the sender, whose associated controlling device moves from position to position, upon the termination of the send.- ing of each set of impulses.

In previously proposed arrangements, a'

testing circuit arrangement has been provided which will actuate a sender in a manner similar to that in which it would be actuated in response to the movements of the switches normally controlled by it.

In testing systemsof this type, some `form of counting ,device is'utilized which is advanced in`re`sponse'to 4the operation ofthe sender, and upon the completion of the sending of a set of impulses, it is returned to its normal position ready` for reoperation in response to the next' set of impulses.V Inaccuracies have in this way been'introduced into thev test, since in actual operation the sender transmits sets of impulses in rapid succession in certain stages of its operation; while, when under test, it is. allowed a time interval between the sending of each set of impulses to allow the counting device of the testing arrangement to restore to normal.

Thus a sender might operate correctly when tested, but fail under actual operating conditions. f

such an arrangement, since a counting de@ vice of this character might be usedto ad vantage in a variety of systems.

The sendertesting device as disclosed in the present description is designed to operate in connection with senders of the type, used in power driven systems of the semiautomatic type, such as disclosed in Patent No. 1,168,319.

The testing device includes broadly a key set, a series of matching lamps, a series of progress lamps, 'a progress-controlling sequence 'switch and an impulse sending sequence switch. These devices are mounted in a suitable carriage of any convenient form, the present invention being concerned only with the circuit arrangement of the testing device. l v

The general operation of the arrangement is as follows: The jacks associated with the test box and indicated at 50 and 51 of Fig. 2 of the drawings, are arranged to be connected by`double plug- ended links 52 and 53 to jacks 54 and 55, in which terminate lines running from the contact set of a cord finder. The cord finder will automatically hunt for calling terminals in a manner simllar to that ,in which it seeks out a cord circuit in the regular operation ofasemi-automatic system.. The sender keys will be depressed in accordance with any desired lighting of matching lamps associated A the various keys in a definite order, and` controls also a series of progress lamps which indicate the stage of operation and inform the operator which series of impulses is being sent at any time.

A feature of the present invention is the control of indicating signals by means of a lnumber of positions through which the 'ment embodying the present invention.

counting device whichmoves through a desired number of positions and Athen causes the display of a signal indicative of the counting device 'was moved, regardless of which position said counting device was 1n when started.

An additional feature is the use of a set of locking relays, certain ones of which are energized in accordance with the position of the counting device at the beginning of its o eration. These relays also control a starting circuit which cannot be completed unless the proper combination of relays has been actuated, this circuit thus acting as a check on the operation of the relays.

A further feature of the invention is the use of a dilerentially wound relay to govern the advance of a controlling switch to prevent undesired advance of such switch in case other apparatus is not in a desired condition.

It is thoughtthat the invention -will be best understood from the-following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In thedrawings, Figure. 1 shows a calling anda called substation, together with an automatic switch, whose circuits are partially shown, and additional switches which are schematically indicated. In Fig. `2 are shown the circuits of a cord finder used to associate an operators sender and key set with a desired cord. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 disclose operatingcircuits of a testing arralge- 1g. 6 shows portions of an operators sender and key set clrcuits.

The operators key-set as shown in Fig. 6 is not of the type commonly used, since in operation as ordinarily practised, the number of'impulses to be sent during the first two selections are determined by the depression` of'a single key, and the number of impulses sent during the remaining five selec-v tions are determined by the depression of four keys in accordance with the numerical designation of the wanted line. Since, however, the keys associated with the testing arrangement are arranged to be depressed in accordance with the number of impulses actually sent, it has been assumed that, 1n

.wanted subscriber is 3416, and that his substation is served through an oilice whose trunks terminate in the thirdA subgroup of the fifth main group of terminals served` by the switch shown 1n Fig. 1, the operation will be as follows:

The operator will depress district brush key 2 and district group key 4. Since the number of the wanted line-is 3416, a final switch must be 'seized which terminates in the second main group and second sub-group of the contacts of an incoming switch at the oilice selected, and, therefore, incoming brush key 1. and incoming .group key vl'will have to be depressed. At the final switch the terminals of the wanted line will b el found in a group served bythe fourth brush, and therefore final brush key 3 will have to be depressed. Since the desired hundredsI group has now been located, the depression of the No. 1 key in the tens column and the No. 6 key in the units colunm will serve to control the last two selections in obtaining the desired line.

The subscriber at substation 1, .when desiring a connection, removes h1s receiver from the hook, whereupon line relay 2 is energized to cause the'display of a line signal 3 in the well-known manner. An operator, one of whose cords is indicated at 0, upon observing the lighting of signal 3 inserts a plug 4 into a jack 5 associated with signal 3. A circuit is then completed from'V grounded battery, cut-ofi relay 6, sleeve con- '.tacts of jack 5, and plug 4, cord relay 7 to ground. Relays 6 and 7 are energized in this circuit, cut-off relay 6 operating to re.- move the control of linerelay 2 from the calling, subscriber, and relay `"I completing acircuit from grounded battery, power magn et of sequence switch 100, contact 102, front contact and armature of relay 7, to ground, for moving sequence switch 100 out of position 1 and into posit-ion 2, under thecontrol vof its normal spring 101. By depressing a listening key 8, the operator completes a talking circuit to the calling subscriber :and may ask the number of the wanted line. Upon learning that'the desired subscribers number is 3416 in. anoiice, the, trunks to which terminate in the third sub-group ofthe fifth mam she w1ll depress keys'in the key set shown in Fig. 3 as previouslydescribed.

oup of trunks of the district selector,

When vthe sequence switch 100 arrives 1n position 2, a circuit is completed from aangaat ground, contact 103, contacts 202, 203, wind- -ing/of relay 9,to grounded battery.

' Relay 9 is energized and at its right-hand armature and front contact completes a c1rcuit from grounded battery, power magnety of sequenceswitch 200, contact 204, arma ture and front contact of relay 9 to ground,

. which moves sequence switch 200 from posi;

with the various cord circuits. Relay 9,

upon energization,.locks itself over a path from grounded battery, winding of relay 9, its left-hand armature and front Contact,

contacts 206 and 220, armature and back contact of test relay-\22, to'ground. When the cord finder brushes engage the terminals of the proper cord, relay 22 is energized over a circuit from grounded battery, windin of relay 22, contact 207, brush 12, termina 17, contact 104, to ground, and immediately locks up over a. path from groundedbattery, winding of relay 22, contact 208, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 22, brush 13, lterminal 18, contact 105, to ground. The energization of relay 22 opens one branch of the locking circuit of relay 9, but this rela is maintained 'energized over a branch path from grounded battery, winding of rela 9, left-hand armature and front contact o relay 9, centering commutator 23, brush 24, to ground, until brush 24 engages an insulating segment of commutator 23, lat which time the brush will be accurately centered on the terminals of the desired cord. Rela 9 then denergizes, opening at its rig t-hand armature and front contact the circuit of .up-drive magnet 10 and completing at its right-hand armature and back contact a circuit from` grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 209, right armature and back contact of relay 9 to ground, which moves this sequence switch from position 2 to position 3.

In vposition 3 of sequence switch 200, a circuit is completed from grounded battery, power magnet of. sequence switch 300, contact 302, contact 210, to ground, for movin sequence switch 300 out of position 1 and into position 3, `under the control of its normal spring 301.

The operator having learned the number ofthe wanted line and having depressed' the proper keys, now. depresses a start key 25, which completes a circuit from .grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 300,-` contact 303, contacts of -key 25, to

ground, which moves this sequence switch from position 3 to position 4.

A circuit is now completed for the district line relay 26 over the fundamental circuit, from grounded battery, winding of re lay 26, contact 106, conductorl 27, terminal 20, finder brush 15, outer armature and back contact of the upper O counting relay, windings of stepping relay 28, contact 304, finder brush 14, terminal 19, conductor 29, contact 107, to ground. Relay 26 locks itself to conductor 27 through its left-hand armature and front contact and contact 108, and also completes a circuit from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 100,

conductor 30, contact 109, right-hand arma-y ture and front contact of relay 26 to ground, for moving sequence switch 100 out of'position 2 and into position 3.

In position 3 of sequence switch 100, a circuit is Vcompleted from grounded battery, powerimagnet 31, contact 110, right-hand armature and front contact ofrelay 26, to ground. Brush rod 32 is mo'ved upward under the control of power magnet 31 and advances the brush sets carried by it to a position wherein oneof them may be tripped.

Upon the first. closure of the fundamental circuit, stepping 'relay 28 was energized.

whereupon a circuit was completed for the No. 4 counting relay, from groundedbattery, winding of No. 4 counting relay, armature and back contact of No. 4 counting relay, contacts of depressed key 4 in the district brush column, contact 305, armature and front contact of stepping relay 28,

to ground. Relay 4 is energlzed and prepares a path for the No. 4 counting relay4 in the well-known manner.

As the brush rod 32 moves upward, the circuit of stepping relay 28 is intermittently shunted by a ,branch of the locking circuit of relay 26, which extends through contacts 108 and 111, conductor 33, commutator 34, brush 35, to ground. The action of relay 28 resultsl in the successive actuation of the counting relays in the well-known manner. When the upper O counting relayy is energized, Vthe branch of the fundamental circuit through stepping relay 28 is perma-l nently broken, and when, an instant later, centering brush 35 engages an insulating segment of commutator34,relay 26 is denl ergized, opening at its right-handarmature the circuit of up-drive magnet 31 and maintaining brush rod 32 in a position wherein the fifthsetof brushes may be tripped. A circuit is also completed from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 100, conductor 30', contact 112, armature and back contact of relay 26. to ground, for moving this-sequence switch from position 3 to position 4. A circuit is nowcompleted from grounded battery, winding of trip magnet 49, contact 118 to ground, to operate the trip rod to release the positioned set of brushes. ,The energization of the upper O counting relay completes a circuit from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 300, inner armature and front contact of the upper O counting relay, contact 306 to ground, which moves this sequence switch from position 4 to position 6. When sequence switch 300 leaves position 4, the locking circuit of the counting relays is broken at contact 307 and they are de- 31, contact 110, armature and front contact n of relay 26 to ground, again 'causing upward motion of the brush rod 32.

The closure of the fundamental circuit again causes the energization of stepping relay 28. A circuit is then completed from grounded battery, winding of the No. 2 counting relay, contacts of key No. 2 in the district group column, contact 308, armature and front contact of stepping relay 28,

to ground. Counting relay No. 2 is energized and prepares a circuitl for the'No. 2

.counting relay in the well-known manner.

During the upward motion of the brush rod, stepping relay 28 is again intermittently shunted by a branch of the locking circuit of relay 26, through contacts 108, 113, conductor 36, accurate 'centering segment 37, brush 38, to ground. The action of stepping relay 28 results in the successive energization of the counting relays. When the O counting relay is-en'ergized, it opens at its outer armature the lower branch of the locking circuit of relay 26. When brush 38 engages an insulat'ing portion of commutator 37, relay 26 is denergized, opening at its right-hand armature the circuit up-drive magnet 31, and stoppinlg the brush shaft with the th set of brushes at the bottom of the third sub-group of trunks, the trunks therein leading to the desired office. The O counting relay at its inner armature and front contact .completes a circuit for moving sequence switch 300 from position ,4 to position 6. Relay 26, upon denergization, also completed a circuit' from oundedbattery, power magnet of sequence switch 100, conductor 30,' contact 112, rightof the hand armature and back contact of relay 26, to ground, for moving this sequence switch out of position 5 and into position 11.

It isto be understood that the brush rod 32 is again advanced to hunt for an idle trunk in the selected group, in some sequence switch position between 5 and 11, andv upon the seizure of such trunk, is advanced to position 11, but it has not been considered necessary to disclose this well-known operation.

The incoming switch, indicated by brushes and terminals at-39, is operated in accordance with the setting of the ykeys in the incoming brush and incoming group columns in ositions 8 and 10 of the sending sequence switch 300. Hunting then takes place at the incoming switch, and when an idle nal switch has-been seized, it is set in accordance with the designation of the final brush, tens and units keys, impositions 12, 14 and 16 of the` sender sequence switch. The final switch is indicated b brushes and terminals at 40 in Fig 1. W en the sender sequence switch is moved out of osition 16 upon the finall tact 114, power magnet of sequence switch,

100, to grounded battery, which moves sequence switch 100 from positionll to position 16.

After the sender sequence switch 300 has returned to normal position, a circuit is completed from grounded battery, down-drive magnet 42, contact 310, contact 212, to ground. Brush rod 11 is returned to normal position under the control of magnet 42, and

when it reaches normal position, a circuit is completed from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 200, contact 213, commutator segment 43, brush 44, to ground, which moves sequence switch 200 from position 8 toposition 1, and breaks thecircuit of down-drive magnet 42.

Sequence switch 100 is now in position 16, which is the talking position, and it has been assumed thatthe switches 39 and 40 have moved into their talking positions after the called subscriber has been successfully signaled. The connection is now complete and the parties may converse.

vAt the conclusion of conversation, both parties replace their receivers and the operator at O is informed by the lighting of su- 'pervisory signals (not shown), controlled by supervisory relays 45 `'and 46, that con'- v .nection is no longer desired. She thereupon removes plug 4 from jack 5, causing theV now' completed from grounded battery,

down-drive magnet 47, ground. Y

The brush rod 32 is restored to its normal position, and on-reaching normal position -a circuit is closed from grounded battery,

contact 116, to

power magnet of se uence switch 100, conductor 30, contact ll commutator segment 48, brush 38 to ground, which moves this sequence switch from position 18 into position 1, thereby opening the circuit of magnet 47. The restoration of a districtswitch causes the restoration of switches 39fand`40 in the .Well-known manner. All parts of the apparatus have now been restored to their normal positions and are ready for re-use.

If it is desired to test the accuracy of operation of the sender, this may be done by connecting jacks 54 and 55 `with jacks 50 and 51 by means of link connectors 52 and 53. Assuming that thesame number of impulses are tobe sent as in the previous setting of the connecting switches, the same keys willbe set in the operators key set shown in Fig. 6, that is, key No. 4 in the district brusi column, key No. 2 in the district group olumn, key No. 1 in the incoming brush column, key No. 1 in the incoming group column, key No. 3 in the final brush column, key N o. 1 in the tens column and key No. 6 in the units column. Corresponding keys will be depressed on' the test box key set'shown in Fig. 5.

The testing operator now depresses start key 56, whereupon a `circuit is completed from grounded battery, power magnet of l 28, contact 304, brush 14, terminal 19, ring progress-controlling sequence switch 400, contact 402, contacts of start key 56, to ground, which causes sequence switch 400 to move out of position 1 and into position 2 under the control of its normal spring 401.l

A circuit is now completed from grounded "battery, Winding of relay V9, contacts 203,

202, jack 55, sleeve conductor of link 53, sleeve contact of jack 51, contact 403, to ground.- Relay `9 is energized and completes a circuit from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 200,4c0ntact 204, right armature and front contact of relay 9 to ground` which moves the sequence switch out of" position 1 and into position 2. Relay 9 locksup over a circult from grounded battery, Winding of relay 9,

its left-hand armature and front contact, contacts 206 and 220,1eft-hand armature and back contact of relay 22, to ground.

In position 2 of sequence switch 200, a

circuit is completed from grounded battery, 11p-drive magnet 10, contact 205, right-hand armature and front contact of ,relay 9 to. ground, which causes the cord finder brush shaft 11 to be moved upwardly, advancing the brushes 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 over terminals 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively. When the cord finder brushes engage the terminals towhich the test jacks 54 and 55 are connected, relay 22is energized over a circuit trom grounded battery, winding of relay 22, contact`207, brush 12, terminal 17, ring contact of jack 55, ring .conductor of link 53,- ring contact of jack 51, contact 404, to ground, and immediately locks up over a path from 4grounded battery, winding of relay 22, contact 208, right-hand armature and front Contact of relay 22, brush 13, terminal 18, tip contact of jack 55, tip conductor of ,link 53tip contact of jack 51, contact 405 to ground.v The energization of relay 22 opens one branch of -the locking circuit of .relay 9, but this relay is maintained energized overa branch path as previously described Vuntil the brush setis accurately centered on the desired terminal set. Relay 9 then denergizes, opening at its right-hand armature and front contact the circuit of np-drive magnet 10, and completing atits right-hand armature and back contact a circuit to move sequence switch 200 from position 2 to position 3 as previously described.

From this point the operation is the same as previously described until sequence switch 300 arrives in position 4, at which time sequence switch 200 is also in position 4. Relay 57 is now energized over the fundamental` circuit extending from grounded battery, left-hand armature and back contact of relay 58, conductor 59, contactr406, tip contact of jack v50, tip conductor of link 52, tip

contact of jack 54, terminal 20, brush 15, outer armature and back contact of the O counting relay, winding of stepping relay through the closed contacts of key No. 4 in the district brush column, scribed. I

The impulsesequenc'e switch 500 may be a sequence switch of the usual type of construction and li'sarranged to continue rota- .as previously detion after being started as long as relay 57 is energized,`and operates to shunt out the stepping relay 'circuit by the intermittent closure of its contact 504, as Will presently be described. This sequence switch does notre turn to normal position, but is advanced a desired number of steps from the position in which it was last brought to rest. It will be assumed that sequence switch 500 is resting in position 5 at the beginning of the present operation.

When sequence switch 400 arriv'es in position 2 with seque-nce switch 500 in position 5, a circuit will be completed from ground, contact 408, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 58, contact 501, lefthand winding of relay 60 to grounded battery. Relay 60 is energized and locks up over a path from grounded battery, inner armature and back contact of relay 61, contact 409, conductor 62, right-hand winding of relay 60, righthand armature and front contact of relay 60 to ground.

Relays 60 and 57 being energized, a circuit is completed from grounded battery, left-hand armature and back contact of relay 63, contact 502, left-hand armature and back contact vof relay 64, contact 503, left hand armature and'back contact of relay) 65, contact-505, left-hand armature and ack contact. of relay 66, contact 506, left-hand armature and back contact of relay 67, contact 507, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 60, contact 508,1eft-handwinding of'relay 58left-hand armature and back contact of relay 68, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 57 to ground. Relay 58 is energized in this circuit and completes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, outer armature and back contact of rela-y 61, winding of rela 68, right-hand winding of relay 58, rightand armature and front contact of relay 58, contact 408, to ground.

Relay 68 is energized in this circuit and completes a circuit from grounded battery,- power magnet of sequence switch 500, lefthand armature and front contact of relay 68, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 57 to ground, which causes the impulsev sequence switch 500 to be moved out of posit1on' 5 and into aposition determined by the operation of the sender shownin Fig.. 6.'

Y i `When sequence switch 500 reaches position 5%, stepping relay 28 is denergized to permit the energization of the No. 4" counting relay, since stepping relay 28 is shunted by a path from grounded battery, winding of relay 57, left-hand armature. and front con- `circuits are completed through both its windtact of relay 57, contact 504, to ground. W'hen sequence switch 500 leaves position 5%, the stepping relay is again energized and in turn energizes the No. 3 counting relay. In position 64: of sequence switch 500, stepping relay 28 is again shunted and allows the No. 3 counting relay to energize.` When sequence switch 500 leaves position 64, the No. 2'cou'nting relay is energized, this process continuing until the O counting relay is energized, which will take lace when se'- quence switch 500 arrives 1n position 9%.

The energization of the O counting relay results in the permanent opening of the lower branch path'of relay 57, and when sequence switch 500 leaves position 9%, the upper branch path of relay 57 is broken,

whereupon it denergizes and sequencev vswitch 500 will move into position l0 under the control of its normal spring 509 and stop in this position. p

With sequence switch 400 in position 2, lamp 69 is lighted over ay circuit from lgrounded battery, lamp 69, contact 410 to lighting ot' these two lamps informs the test ing operator that the district brush selecting impulses are being sent at this stage of operation and that the No. 4 key has been depressed.

In position 10 of sequenceswitch 500, with relay energized and with relays 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 denergized, relay 57 also being `denergized, a circult is completed from grounded battery, conductor 72,i lamp 73,- inner left-hand armature and Iback contact of relay 74, outer left-hand armature and back contact of relay '7 5, conductor 76, contact 510, conductor 77, outer right-hand armature and vfront contact of relay 60, outer armatures and back contacts of relays 67, 66 and respectively, outer right-hand armatuie and front contact of relay l68, rightvhand armature and back contact of relay 57 to ground. The lighting of lamp 73 adjacent to lamp y informs the testing operator that the desired number of impulses have been correctly sent.

A circuit is also completed at this time for relay 78, from grounded battery, winding of relay 7 8, contact 411, conductor 79, closed contacts of key No. 4 in the district brush column, conductor 80, to ground at the righthand armature and back contact of relay 57 over the path ust traced for lighting lamp 73.

During the sending of impulses, relay 81, which has two windings in differential relationto one another, is not energized, since ings, the circuit through its right-hand Winding extending from grounded battery, righthand armature and back Contact of relay 81,

the right-hand winding of relay 81, contacts 412 and 4 13, to ground; the circuit. through its left-hand winding extending from grounded battery, left-hand winding of relay 81, conductor '82, to ground at the linner right-hand armature and front contact of relay 68. The energization of relay 78 therefore completes a circuit from contact of relay 81,V armature and front contact of relay 78 to ground, for moving se-v winding of relay 61 to ground, which atgrounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch 400, left-hand armature and back quence switch 400 out of position 2 and into position 3. l Y

The presence of relay 81 prevents' se- Aquence switch 400 from passing through more than one position at a time, which might occur if relay 68 was slow to release, and a set of impulses, equal in number to the set previously sent, is again to be'sent in the position to which sequence switch 400 has just moved. In this event the-energizing circuit for relay 78 would again be completed, since the sequence switch 500 would beset in a position lcorresponding to that assumed upon the completion of the sending of the desired set ofimpulses, and sequence vswitch 500 would thereforenot be allowed time to operate. i

When sequence.` switch 400 leaves position 2, the circuit lthrough'the right-hand-winding of relay-81 is broken at contacts 412 and 413, and relay 81 energizes over a circuit from grounded battery, left-hand wind.- ing of relay81, conductor 82, to ground at the inner right-hand armature and front contact of relay 68. ,The energized condition of relay 81 will prevent sequence switch 400 from moving out of position 3 in case the above described condition should take place. The energization of relay 81 also completes a circuit from grounded battery, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 81,

tracts 4its armatures and opens the locking circuit of relay at its inner armature, and at its outer armature introduces a second break in the .circuit of relays 68 and 58, which circuit was previously broken at contact 408 when sequence switch 400 left position 2. This second break in the circuit of relay 68 insures against the possibility of relay 68 being again energized when sequence switch 400 arrives in position 3.

The energization of the O counting relay completed a, circuit from grounded battery, power magnet of sequence switch300; inner armature and front contact of the O `counting relay, contact 306 to ground, which tery, lamp 84, closed contacts of district group key No. 2, conductor 85, contact 414" to ground. The lighting of progress lamp 83 lnforms the testing operator that the district group impulses are to be next sent, and the lighting of lamp 84 shows which lamp grounded battery, left-hand back contact of relay 58,-'contact 408 to ground. At the same time a circuit is completed from grounded battery, left-hand vwinding of relay 64, contact 512, 'right-hand `armature and back contact of relay 58, contact 408 to ground. Relays64 and 67 lock up through their rightfhand windings to conductor 62. The energization of relayA64 completes a circuit from grounded battery, outer right-hand armature and front contact of relay 64, conductor 86, windings of relays 87, 88, 74, 89` and 90 in parallel to ground.

Relay 58 is energized over a circuit from grounded battery, left-hand armature and back contact of relay 63, Contact 502, lefthand armature and Jfront contact of relay 64, contact 513, left-hand armature and back contact lof relay 65, contact 505, left-hand armature and back Contact ofjrelay 66, contact 506, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 67 contact 514, left-hand armature and back contact of relay 60, contact 515, left-hand winding of relay 58,-lefthand armature and back contact of relay 68, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 57 to ground. Relay 58 is energized and locks up through its right-hand.

winding in series with relay 68, as previ ously described. The energization of relay 6 8 at its left-liand armature and front contact, completes a circuit for moving sequence switch 500 out of position 410 and intd a position determined by the operation of the sender shown\in Fig. 3.

It is to be observed that thecircuits extending through the left-hand armatures of relays 60, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 and certain sequence switch. contacts associated with them, serve as a check upon the operation of the relays,since if the pro er relays have not been operated in accor ance with the position from which sequence switch 500 is starting, the progress of the test will be stopped, since "relay 58 cannot be energized.

As before, the circuit of stepping relay 28 is intermittently shunted by the action of contact 504, and when the O counting relay is energized, which occurs when sequence switch 500 leaves position 12%, relay outer right-hand armature and back contact of relay 92, vconductor 93, contact 516, conductor 94, outer right-hand armature and front contact of relay 67, outer right-hand armatures and back contacts of relays 66 and 65, outer right-hand armaturetand front contact of relay 68, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 57, to ground. The lighting of lamps 84 and 91 again indicates to the testing operator that the correct number of impulses have been sent. Relay 7 8 is energized as before and sequence switch 400 is advanced from position 3 to position 4.

The testing operation continues in a manner similar to that described until all the sets of impulses have been sent, the last set of impulses being sent in position 8 of sequence switch 400. When sequence switch 400 is moved out of position 8, it returns to its first or normal position under the lcontrol of its normal contact 401, and the testing apparatus is in condition for re-usei What is claimed is:

1. In an indicating system, a plurality of signals, a multi-'position counting device, means to move said counting device, means to display a desired signal in accordance with the extent of movement of said counting device, regardless of the position of said counting device at the beginning of its movement. y

2. In an indicating system, a plurality of indicating signals, a multi-position counting device, means to advance said counting ydevice through a desired number of positions, and means to display a signal indicative of the number of positions. through which said counting device was moved, regardless of which position said counting device was in when started.

3. In an indicating system, a plurality of signals, a multi-position counting device, contacts controlled thereby, a combination of locking relays, means. to yenergize certain ones of said relays in accordance with the position of said countingdevice before its operation, device through a desired number of positions, and circuits controlled jointly at contacts of said relays and at contacts controlled by said counting device to cause the display of a signal indicative of the number of positions through which said counting deviceis moved, regardless of which position said counting` device was in when started.

4. In an indicating system, a plurality of signals, a multi-position counting device, a combination of locking relays, means to energize certain ones of said relays in accordance with the position of said counting device beforeits operation, a starting circuit for said counting device controlled at means to advance. said countingl contacts of said locking relays, and means to complete said starting circuit only when desired ones of said relays have been energized.

5. In an indicating system, a plurality of signals, a multi-position counting device, contacts controlled thereby, a combination of locking relays, means to energize certain ones of 'said relays in accordance with the position of'said counting. device before its operation, a starting circuit for said counting device controlled at contacts of said locking relays, means to complete said starting circuit only when desired ones of said relays have been energized, means to advance said counting device through a desired number of positions, and circuits controlled jointly at contacts of said relays and at contacts controlled by said counting device to cause the display of a signal indicative of the number of vpositions through which said counting device is moved, regardless of the position of said counting device at the beginning of its movement.

6. In a switch-controlling system, a multiposition switch, an operating circuit therefor, a differentially wound relay, said operating circuit being controlled at a back contact of said relay, automatic apparatus to be used in conjunction with said multiposition switch, a circuit through one winding of said differentially wound relay controlled at contacts of said multi-position switch, a circuit through the other winding of said differentially wound relay controlled by said associated apparatus, and means to energize one winding only of said relay to prevent movement ofsaid switch at times when said switch and said associated apparatus are not inV corresponding stages of operation. I f v 7. In a testing system, a sending device arranged to senda plurality of sets of impulses, a counting device, a control switch therefor, means to position said counting device in response to a set of impulses. means operated in accordance with the extentl of movement of said counting device to indicate whether or not the successive sets of impulses have been correctly sent, regardless of the position of said counting device at the beginning of its movement, and means to advance said control switch to a position wherein said counting device may be operated in response to the next set ot impulses.

8. In a testing system, a sending device arranged to transmit a plurality of sets ot' impulses, a control switch therefor, means to successively operatelsaid sending device, a testing opcrators key set. a testing device including a'counting device and a controlling switch therefor, a series of lamps, means to light a desired one of said lamps 4in accordance with the setting ot said key set, a

secondseries of lamps, means to position said counting device in accordance with the operation of said sender, means to light a lamp in said second series of lamps in accordance with the extent of movement of said counting device, regardless of the position of said counting device at the begin, ning of its movement, said two series of lamps being placed in such relation that adjacent lamps will be lighted when a set 12 of impulses is correctly sent.

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

WILLIAM H. MATTI-HES.

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