Patent GB-316642-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved apparatus for use with telephone systems
IPC: H04M1/65
Filed: 1928-05-02
Abstract: 316,642. King, L., and King, L. C. May 2, 1928. Automatic and manual .exchange systems; impulse transmitters for automatic exchange systems.-In systems in which a subscriber is provided with phonographic reproducing and recording apparatus for answering and recording messages in his absence, the apparatus is controlled by clockwork mechanism of the alarm clock type, the alarm gearing being released by a magnet operated by calling current so that the gearing raises a rack and stand to lift the receiver off its hook. A pick-up drops on to a record for sending a suitable answer, and any message from the calling subscriber is also recorded. The apparatus is also adapted automatically to send suitable messages to exchange operators in case of burglary or fire. In the case of an automatic exchange system, the subscriber's impulse transmitter is automatically operated to connect his line to an operator in case of burglary or fire. The clock records the times of the calls. The clockwork comprises the usual driving and alarm springs 2, 3, Fig. 1, and a pinion 4 adapted to be rotated by the spring 3 engages a rack 5 which is held against the pinion by a spring controlled guide 6 and carries a stand 17 located beneath the subscriber's receiver.. When subscriber's bell 80, Fig. 3, is rung, relay 84 operates and holds in series with magnet 10 which removes a pin 14, mounted on its armature 13, from the alarm gearing so that rack 5 and stand 17 are raised to lift the receiver and complete circuits over contacts 16, 59 and 77a, 77b, Fig. 3. The magnet 10 may be directly operated by calling current. The rack 5 also carries an arm 55 which releases a cam 21 mounted on pivots 21<a> and normally engaging tail pieces 28, 33, 24 of arms' 26<a>, 31<a>, 22<a> which carry pick-ups 26, 31, 22 and are pivotally and slidably mounted on a rod 40<a>. The pick-ups 31, 22 are for burglar and fire alarm messages and are normally held in the inoperative position independently of the cam 21 by means to be described later. The release of the tail piece 28 allows the pick-up 26 to drop on to the record 37 and a half-nut 26<c> carried by the tail piece engages a screwed rod 27. The mounting oi the pick-up is similar to mounting of pick-up 31 shown in Fig. 4. A motor 62 energized in a circuit including battery 95, contacts 16, 59, and contacts 29, 75 closed by the arm of the pick-up, drives the record 37 and threaded rod 27, and the resulting speech currents are fed through transformer 52 to an amplifying valve 51 the output of which is passed through an electromagnetic unit 41 placed against the mouthpiece of subscriber's set. A suitable reply may thus be sent to the calling scriber. At the end of the reply, contact 75 moves off 29 and engages 30 so that the current of motor 62 is opened and a motor 92 for driving a recording cylinder 47 is started up. Any message from the calling party passes from the receiver on the stand 17, through a tube 64 to a microphone 18 coupled by a transformer to the valve 53 which has an electromagnetic unit 43 in its output circuit. The unit 43 operates a cutter box 42 carried by an arm 49 slidably and pivotally mounted on the half-nut engaged by a threaded rod 50<a> rotated by the motor 92. The message is recorded, and when contact 42a on the cutter box engages contact 45, relay 84<a>, and magnet 56 energize in series. Relay 84<a> releases relay 84 and magnet 10, while magnet 56 releases the guide 6 which is connected to its armature, so that the rack 5 and stand 17 move downwardly and replace the receiver. The arm 55 also restores cam 21 to its normal position so that pick-up 26 is raised and the spring 26d moves it back along the rod 40<a> to its original position. The next call operates the apparatus in a similar manner, but the cutter box, which did not return to normal proceeds until its contact 42a reaches contact 45<a> so that a number of messages are taken down on the same record. The time of arrival of each call is recorded on a paper strip 7<a> which is pressed against inked wheels 8, 9 driven by the hour and minute wheels of the clock and having hour and minute figures on their peripheries. Fire and burglar alarms. A mercury thermometer 31<a>, with contacts closed by the mercury column at the required temperature, is connected in series with magnets 68, 11 and battery 95. When this circuit is completed, magnet 11 operates armature 13 to release the clockwork as before. Magnet 68 operates its armature 70, Fig. 1, to release. the pick-up 31 and lock the pickup 26 so that pick-up 31 now operates to send out a fire-alarm message to an operator who is called up, in the case of a manual exchange, by the lifting of the receiver. In the case of an automatic exchange, the subscriber's impulse transmitter is operated as described later. The circuit for motor 62 is completed over contacts 76, 34 and when 76 engages 73, the circuit of release magnet 56 is completed so that the stand 17 and pick-up 31 are restored to normal as described in connection with a normal call. As however, the starting circuit over thermometer 31<a> is still complete, the above series of operations is repeated until the alarm spring 3 of the clockwork runs down. In the case of burglary, contacts are closed to operate magnets 69, 12 to initiate the sending out of a suitable message by pick-up 22. Impulse transmitters. In the case of automatic exchange system, magnet 86<a>, Fig. 5, is connected up in the fire and burglar alarm circuits and releases a stop 85 in the path of member 87<b> mounted on the dial and having a depending lug 87e in engagement with a compressed spring 87 arranged in the transmitter. The member 87<b> is pivoted at 87<c> to move upwardly away from the dial and when the spring has rotated the dial through an angle corresponding to digit O, a cam (not shown) on 87b rides up the finger stop 87<a> and releases the spring 87 so that the dial returns to normal under the usual spring control.