Patent GB-190425950-A (GB)
Title: Coin Collecting Device and System for Telephone Exchanges.
Inventor: STROUD HAROLD DUDLEY
Filed: 1904-11-29
Granted: 1905-06-15
Abstract: 25,950. Stroud, H. D. Nov. 29. Telephone s y stems; telephone calls. - Relates to telephone systems in which each call is paid for by a coin inserted in a slot. The improvements are applied both to the " request system, in which the coin is inserted at the exchange operator's request and gives a signal audible to her, and to the "advance pay- " ment " system, in which the exchange cannot be called until the coin is inserted. Provision is made for returning the coin if the call is unsuccessful. Fig. 1 shows the apparatus at the subscriber's station in front elevation with the cover removed. The lower part of the box 1 is separated by a partition 10 from the upper part, and constitutes a receptacle for the coins received. The front plate 15 of this receptacle bears lugs 5 which pass through openings in the bottom of the case, and has a recessed lug 16 for engagement with the spring lock 18. The front cover of the whole apparatus engages over the projecting lugs 5, and carries a lock, the bolt of which engages with a catch at the top of the case. It is consequently impossible to secure the outer cover in place unless the cash receptacle has first been properly secured. The cash collector, who carries two keys, is thus prevented from inadvertently giving access to the cash receptacle to the repairing workman, who carries one key only. A coin passing down the shoot 20 first moves aside a pivoted dog 49, the lateral pressure so produced being sufficient to throw out through the opening 48 any coin smaller than that for which the apparatus is designed. It next pushes aside a hanging dog 51, the purpose of which is to prevent the withdrawal of a coin by means of a string &c. after use. The coin then pushes towards the right an arm 32, thereby lifting a latch 30 and releasing a lever 28 situated behind the shoot and pivoted at 29. The lever 28 bears three projections 35, 36, 37, of which 35 and 37 normally lie in the path of the coin. The lever having been released, the coin first moves the projection 35 and lever 28 towards the left, thereby closing an electric contact at 55, 56 by means of an arm 52, and also moving the projection 37 aside and allowing the coin last used to fall into the coin receptacle. This coin had previously been exposed before a small window in the front cover. The coin then returns the lever 28 to the normal position by its action on the projection 36, and is finally arrested by the projection 37. In the edge of the shoot is an opening 45, through which the coin is prevented from passing by the bent portion 44 of a spring-tensioned pivoted arm 42 which bears the armature 40 of an electromagnet 39. If this electromagnet is energized, the coin drops down the channel 46 and is. returned to the subscriber. The device 57 is an electric buzzer, which is also indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7. The last-named Figure shows the arrangement adopted when the " request " system is employed. The subscriber, on lifting his receiver from the hook, energizes the line relay 70 and lights the calling-lamp 72. When the answering-plug 77 is inserted in the jack 64, the cut-off relay 66 is energized and the calling-lamp extinguished. Having received the number of the subscriber wanted, the operator requests the calling subscriber to deposit a coin. While the coin is passing down the shoot, it momentarily closes the contact at 55, 56 and sets the buzzer 57 in action, the sound being heard by the exchange operator. If the wanted subscriber cannot be connected, the exchange operator makes contact at 78, 80, thereby putting the 90-volt battery 81 in series with the 20-volt battery 71 and increasing the line-current to a sufficient extent to attract the armature of the electromagnet 39 and return the coin deposited. When the ''advance payment" system is adopted, the momentary contact at 55, 56 is caused to earth the line 61, which in the disengaged state of the line is in parallel with the line 60 in order to diminish resistance and also to cause automatic notification at the exchange of an accidental earth. The earthing of the lines energizes the line relay, and its energization is maintained by closing the lamp circuit round it. The cut-off relay breaks the lamp circuit, and also breaks the exchange connection which normally maintains the lines 60, 61 in parallel. A buzzer is arranged in series with the battery 81 so as to give an audible " engaged " signal tu the subscriber when the coin is returned.