Patent GB-816194-A (GB)
Title: A telephone fee pulse counter
IPC: H04M15/28
Filed: 1957-09-03
Abstract: 816,194. Zeroizing-mechanism. SODECO, SOC. DES COMPTEURS DE GENEVE. Sept. 3, 1957 [Sept. 11, 1956], No. 27737/57. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XXXIX] A telephone fee pulse counter for counting telephone fee pulses at the subscriber's set comprises a partial totalizer including zeroizing mechanism having a hair-pin shaped spring so that in zeroizing the spring is first compressed and then expands to return the wheels to zero rapidly and also includes a switch the closing of which, automatically by the first fee pulse, or manually, short-circuits the call dial. Pulses to be counted are fed to the coil 11 of an electromagnet whose pivoted armature 13 rocks to drive the units wheel 18 of a partial totalizer through a pawl-and-ratchet 15, 17 and gearing 20-23. Tens transfer is by pinions such as 26, Fig. 9, having alternate long and short teeth and co-operating with a single tenon 25a rigid with the lower order wheel and the gear-wheel 24a rigid with the higher order wheel. Zeroizing.-To zeroize the counter, the button 29 is depressed causing a rocker 27 to rock about a spindle 28 from the position where the stop 30 engages the flank 31b to the position where the stop 30 engages the flank 31a. During the first stage of this movement the hair-pin spring 32 is tensioned against the action of the returnspring 41, the rod 34 being unable to move since the plate 42 is held fast. The tensioning of the spring 32 reaches its maximum when its ends lie in the plane oc, Fig. 3, passing through the pivotal axis 28. During the second stage of movement of the rocker 27, the spring 32 expands and the numeral wheels of the counter are returned to zero. As soon as the end 32a is shifted past its position of non-stable equilibrium, the end 32b moves in an anticlockwise direction. Initially the plate edge 42 moves along the flank 35e of the notch 35c allowing the spring 40 to release the transfer pinions from engagement with the numeral wheel gearwheels. Further expansion of the spring 32 then forces the suifaces 35d against the corresponding heart-shaped cams 37 which return the numeral wheels to zero. When the button 29 is released, the spring 41 returns the different parts of mechanism to their original positions. The pinion 22 is held fast during zeroizing by an elastic blade 56, Fig. 7, secured at one end and having an incurved section 56a engaging teeth flanks. In a modification (Figs. 5, 6, not shown), the pinion 22 has alternate normal and mutilated teeth, the latter being cut so as to provide between two successive normal teeth whose flanks engage the incurved section of the blade 56, a notch to engage the apex of the incurved section. In a further modification (Fig. 8, not shown), the pinion 22 carries two series of teeth of different module and pitch so that in the case of an imperfect engagement between the pinion 22 and the wheel 23, the gear 21a meshing with teeth of the pinion 22 may continue to operate, thereby continuing driving the general totalizer (not shown). Preventing improper use.-A further rocker 43 pivotable on the spindle 28 on depression of a button 44 against the action of a return-spring 45 is adapted to rock a lever 48 which moves a nose 48b from the notch 49a in a further lever 49 to the notch 49d. The lever 49 moves together with a spindle 50, indicator 55 and cam 16 controlling the switch 54 which closes to shortcircuit the telephone call dial, thereby preventing its operation. If the switch 54 has not been closed by depression of the button 44, it is automatically closed by the passage of the first fee pulse since when the arm 15a moves back it engages a pin 52 on the lever 48, thereby releasing the nose 48b from the notch 49a, and the nose 48b slides into the notch 49d after passage of the pulse. When a telephone call is to be made, the subscriber depresses the button 29, thereby opening the switch 54 by action of the projection 27a on the cam 16. When the desired connection is made, the first fee pulse closes the switch, and when the connection is ended, the subscriber depresses the button 29 to zeroize the counter followed by the button 44 to close the switch 54. If the connection is not obtained, the button 44 is depressed to render the set inoperative. The described arrangement prevents a connection being established before the counter has been returned to zero.