US2003689A - Automatic signal lock and release for switchboards - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1935. H. imm- AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LOCK AND RELEASE FOR SWITCHBOARDS Filed Aug.

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AUTOMATIC SIG-NAL LOCK ND RELEASE FOR SWITCHBOARDS Filed Aug. ll, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www" www

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AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LOCK AND RELEASE FOR SWITCHBOARDS Filed Aug. ll, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W Y z f. n( -/57 NVENTOR MW 55 @www Patented `lune 4, 1935 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LOCK AND RELEASE FOR SWITCHBOARDS Henry Koch, Jamaica, N. Y., assigner to Dictograph Products Company Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1932, SerialNo. 628,291

6 Claims.

This invention relates to signal devices and the operating mechanism therefor of Y telephone switchboards and the like and, more particularly, to such devices of the visual type which will operate and remain in a signaling position when the switchboard is not in use.

A general object of the invention is the provision of such a device which efficiently operates to indicate an incoming call, such indication being maintained until an attempt is madeto answer the call, the structure being simple and vrugged and automatically operable.

A more specic object of the invention is the provision of an automatic lock for holding in a signaling position, a visual signal operated by an incoming signal, the lock being operable only when the switchboard is not in manual use.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a device of mechanism associated with the receiver support which allows an automatic lock for a magnetically operated visual signal to operate when the receiver is in position on its support and which releases said lock when the receiver is removed from its support.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exempiied in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of one form of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view of part of the operating mechanism of the present device showing a switch key in locked position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the switch device adapted to be operated by a switch key;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of portions of the visual signal and the automatic lock associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view with parts broken away of structure similar to that depicted in Fig.' 1 having a modified form yof receiver support associated therewith; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational View of the structure depicted in Fig. 8 with the automatic visual signal lock omitted.

In telephone switchboards and the like wherein a plurality of incoming circuits are provided it is desirable to have visible signaling means to indicate the particular circuit over which a party is calling. In oihce units where the party called mayfrequently be absent when a call arrives it is desirable to have a signaling device which will remain in an indicative condition until the party called has had an opportunity to noterthe signal. The device of the present invention efliciently performs these and other functions with the provision of an automatic lock fora magnetically operated visual signal and an automatic release operable upon removal of the receiver from its support. Y

' Referring to the drawings like numerals denote like parts throughout. A panel l0 of a telephone switchboard or the like is provided with the usual series of switch keys I I (only one of which is shown). The panel I9 is mounted between the end supports I2 and I3 respectively `which pivotally support a shaft I4. An arm I5 is secured to the shaft I4, the latter preferably being rectalgular in cross-sectionto prevent the arm I5 and other members mounted thereon from rotating with respect thereto. In the rst modification depicted in Figs. l to 7 inclusive, the

larm I5 is disposed adjacent the end support I2 and provided with anV extension carrying a receiver hook I6 extending throughV a slot in the end support I2. A stop member I'I on theend support I2 limits the upward movement of the receiver arm I5 caused by a stressed spring I8 fixed at one end by a pin I9 to the end support I2 and secured at the'other end to an arm 20 fixed to the receiver arm I5 and preferably made integral therewith. The downward movement of the receiver arm I5 under the weight of the receiver is limited by the stop 2l mounted on the end support I2.

A switch key locking bar 22 is provided with a locking skirt 23 andv downwardly extending arms 24 and 25 at the ends thereof, the arms 24 and 25 being pivoted to the end supports I2 and I3 respectively. An arm 26 secured to the locking bar 22 is disposed in the path of a member 21 secured to and preferably made integral with the receiver arm I5.

An arm 28 mounted on the shaft I4 carries a Cil 'ber 60 at 68.

stud adapted to operate the conventional type leaf spring switch 30 supported on the end support I3 which operates to perform well known functions including the connection of the receiver into a circuit when the receiver is removed from its support or the receiver hook I6.

A conventional type of switch key II is used in the switchboard associated with the well known leaf spring switch units BI and 32, each unit being provided with a pair of operating arms 33 and 34 suitably linked together, one having an extending fork 35 adapted to engage a' pair of rollers 39-35 mounted on the pivoted switch key lever which is additionally provided with a pair of locking notches 31-31 to cooperate with the locking skirt 23 of the looking bar 22.

The arm 25 of the locking bar 22 is provided with a rigid arm 38 to form therewith a bell crank pivoted to a thrust rod 39 provided with an elongated slot 48 adapted to receive a guide pin 4I mounted upon the end support I3. The end of the thrust rod 39 engages an arm 42 secured to a release bar 43 pivotally mounted between the end supports I2 and I3. A spring 44 anchored at one end to the end support I2Vby a pin 45 is'fastened at the other end to an arm 46 secured to the release bar 43 to hold the arm 42 in contact with the end of the thrust rod 39. f

A magnetically operated visual signal unit 41 consists of a magnetic coil 48 having a core 49 and a pivoted armaturell provided with a switch arm 5I. The switch arm 5I is adapted to operate a switch 52 electrically connected to the lower unit of the switch 30 held in a closed position when the receiver arm I5 is held down by the weight of the receiver and for reasons well known to those skilled in the art.

The armature 59 is provided with an ear 53 adapted to engage the end 54 of a visual signal arm or bell crank 55 pivoted at 56 to the frame of the magnetic coil 48. The visual signal arm 55 carries adjacent the panel I9 a target 51 adapted to be displayed opposite an aperture 58 in the panel III when the magnetic coil 48 is energized.

The signal arm 55 is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 59 to cooperate with an automatic locking member SII to hold the target 51 in a display position behind the aperture 58. The sides of the member 59 preferably lie upon the circumference of circles described about the pivot axis 55 sothat its clearance from a portion of the locking member 6D will be substantially constant to allow the use of a minimum space between the projection 59 and the locking member 6U and a resultant minimum movement of the llocking member 60 to lock the visual signal arm 55.

rIhe locking memberr!! has the general shape of a gooseneck or hook with the shank 6I thereof extending substantialy horizontal and the hook portion 62 thereof lying in a substantially vertical plane. The hook portion 62 is provided with alaterally extending projection 63 adapted to engagethe end of the projection 59 on the signal arm 55. The shank portion 6I is provided with a `laterally extending finger 64 adapted to be engaged by an arm 65 fixed to the release bar 43 (see Fig. 7). The end of the shank portion 6I is provided with a laterally extending member 65 Aadapted to be disposed between a pair of stops 66 and 61 mounted upon the frame of the magnetic coil 48 to which is pivoted the locking mem- The stops 66 and 61 limit the pivoting movement of the locking member 60.

' In Fig. 8 is depicted a modified form'of the switchboard unit which is fitted with a so-called French phone unit consisting of a transmitter 69, a receiver and a bar 1I bridged between the transmitter 69 and the receiver 19. The bridging bar 1I is supported by the well known bracket 12 provided with a centrally disposed thrust pin 13 adapted to engage the arm 14 mounted on the rotatable shaft I4. In this modification the thrust pin 13 extends above the bracket 1I when the phone unit is removed therefrom so that when the latter is positioned upon the supportr12, the bridging bar 1I will force the thrust pin 13 downwardly to engage and retract the arm 14 to rotate the shaft I4. The arm I5 with the member 21 operates in a manner similar to that of a portion of arm I5 with the member 21 of the first modification. In Fig. 9 is depicted an executive unit with the automatic lock 60 omitted therefrom, the visual target 51 being raised to a display position only during the periodof energizing the magnetic coil 48. v

In operation a receiver is supported on the hook I6, as shown in the iirst modification, or a phone unit is supported on the support 12, as in the second modification, when the unit is idle. The weight of the receiver unit depresses the arm I5 of the first 'described unit or the arm 14 of the second modification, resulting in a partial rotation of the shaft I4 and a stressing of the spring I8. The member 21 engages and depresses the arm 25 on the locking bar 22 thus holding the locking skirt 23 in a position so that the notches 31 in the keys I I will not be engaged thereby. Such a position of the locking bar 22 depresses the thrust rod 39 partially rotating the release bar 43 against the action of the spring 44 to depress the arm 65 to allow the locking member 59 freedom of movement.

When the magnetic coil 48 is energized by the incoming signal the armature 50 is pulled over adjacent the core 49 with the ear 53 in contact with portion 54 of the bell crank or signal arm 55 which` moves upwardly carrying with it the target 51 to a position opposite the hole 58 in the panel IO, until the signal arm projection 59 passes beyond the projection 53 of the locking member 60. The shank SI of the locking member 69 being heavier than the hook-shaped portion 62, gravity causes the shank 6I to fall down until the member 65 engages the stop 66 in which position the locking member projection 63 engages under the end of the signal arm projection 59 to hold the target 51 carried by the signal arm 55 in a display position as depicted in Fig. 4 and, more particularly, in Fig. 7.

The visual signal or target 51 remains in the display position until the receiver unit is removed from its support which allows the stressed spring I8 to move the arm I5 or I5 upwardly thereby freeing the locking bar 22 which due to the excess weight of the overhanging locking skirt 23 and the action of the stressed spring 44 through the release bar 43 and the thrust rod 39 partially rotates the locking bar 22 to a position so that vthe locking skirt 23 will be allowed to snap into one of the notches 31 ofthe switch key I I when the latter is swung up or down to complete the talking circuit signaled. This action is accompanied by a lifting of the thrust rod 39 allowing the release bar 43 to rotate through an angle carrying with it the arm 65 cooperating with the finger 64 on the locking member 6I! to move the projection 63 out of the path of the projection 59 on the locking arm 55. This action allows the target 51 to drop out of the display position, the

magnetic coil 48 having been energized only during the period of depression of the ringing key by the person sending forth the incoming signal to the switchboard under discussion.

It will thus be seen that the device of the present invention eiciently attains the objects set forth above particularly since automatic locking means have been provided for a visual signal to maintain the signal in a display position until an attempt has been made to answer an incoming call, the automatic lock being released by the removal of the receiver from its support which function, however, obviously may be performed by a separate manually operated member. The operating mechanism for this automatic lock preferably has been associated with the locking device for the switch keys of the unit and the receiver support so that the usual action followed in attempting to answer an incoming call will result in the operation of the mechanism of the present invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a telephone device, the combination with an incoming circuit having a magneticcoil connected therein when the receiver is in position on the receiver support, and a magnetic coil armature, of a visual signal adapted to be moved to a display position by said armature when said magnetic coil is energized, a biased fastening device to maintain said signal in a display position operable only when the receiver is in position on the receiver support, and means to return said fastening device to and hold it in an inoperable position when the receiver is removed from its support.

2. In a telephone device, the combination with a magnetically operated visual signal, a support for the receiver, and a member associated with said support adapted to be retracted by the weight of the receiver when in position on said support, of an automatic lock for said visual signal operable when the receiver maintains said member in a retracted position, and means associated with said member to release said lock and to hold it in an inoperable position when the receiver is removed from said support.

3. In a telephone device, the combination with a receiver support, a spring pressed arm associated with said support to be retracted when the receiver is in position on said support, a shaft adapted to be partially rotated by the retraction of said arm, a switch-arm locking bar adapted to be held in an inoperable position when said receiver is in position on said support, a magnetic coil in an incoming circuit and an armature, of a visual signal adapted to be moved to a display position by said armature when said magnetic coil is energized, an automatic lock for said visual signal, spring means to hold said lock in an inoperable position, and means associated with said shaft to hold said spring means in a position to allow said automatic lock to operate when the receiver is in position on said support.

4. In a telephone device, the combination comprising a magnetically operated visual signal movable to a display position by a magnetic force, a pivoted locking member operated by gravity to lock said signal in the display position and means associated with a receiver support to be retracted thereby when the latter is retracted by the weight of the receiver, said means including mechanism urged by a spring when the receiver is removed from the support to move said locking member to an inoperable position.

5. In a telephone device, the combination comprising a magnetically operated signal arm having a locking projection, a laterally extending pivoted locking member having a portion on one side of the pivot axis adapted to engage said locking projection to lock said signal arm in a signaling position and a heavier release bar engaging portion on the other side of said pivot axis, a release bar, a spring to normally urge said bar to engage said locking member and move it to a position whereby said locking projection and said locking member are disengaged, a shaft partially rotated by an arm retracted by the receiver when the latter is positioned on the receiver support, and means associated with said shaft to move said release bar to a position whereby said locking member is disengaged from said release bar to allow said locking member to: operate automatically.

6. In a telephone device, the combination comprising a pivoted signal arm, a locking projection on said arm, a hooked shaped locking member having an elongated shank portion, a projection on the end of the hooked shaped portion of said locking member to engage the end ofv said locking member when the relatively heavier shank portion of said locking member is allowed to drop under the action of gravity, a finger mounted on said shank portion, a release bar, an arm on said release bar to engage said finger, a spring to normally urge the engagement between said nger and said arm, and mechanism associated with a receiver arm to hold said release bar in a disengaged position with respect to said finger when the receiver is in position on its support.

HENRY KOCH.

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