Patent GB-149361-A (GB)
Title: New or improved coin collecting means for telephone services
Inventor: HALL FREDERICK WILLIAM
IPC: H04M17/02
Filed: 1918-03-12
Abstract: 149,361. Hall, F. W. March 12,1918. Hiring telephones. - In a coin-freed telephone apparatus, the inserted coins are guided to fall upon a balance and within a rocker, by rocking which in one direction or the other the caller may effect the delivery of the coins to the cash receptacle, or their return to him if a connexion cannot be made. The balance is moved by the weight of the coins to complete the calling and speaking circuit. The return of the rocker after delivery of the coins to the cash receptacle breaks the calling circuit, while the operation of returning the coins to the caller breaks the speaking- circuit. Coins of correct size pass to a shoot 10 and fall upon the end 11 of a balance arm 12 pivoted at 13 which makes the circuit through calling contacts 15, 16 and connects the speaking contact 44, 45. A quadrantal member 18 is pivoted to the outside of shoot 10, and carries pins 19, 20 which project through slots 27 in the shoot and between which the balance arm lies when depressed. The member 18 has a lever arm 21 which is operated by the caller through a handle 26, arm 25, rock-shaft 24 and arm 23 to swing the sector and thrust the coins by the contact of a pin 20 into the cash receptacle, where they fall on a sounder 28. To ensure complete movement of the quadrant 18 there are provided a spring 29, which is first engaged by an arm, and a spring friction catch 30, 31. The member 18 is moved in the reverse direction to return the coins by a push 32 engaging a spring pivoted lever 33, which presses against the lever 21. The member 18 is counterbalanced for movement in one direction by the lever 21, and the shoot 1 may be made to serve as counterbalance in the other direction, being provided for this purpose with a rock-shaft 34 carrying an arm 36 connected by a pin 37 and slot 38 to a link 39 connected to the lever arm 21. The slot 38 permits free movement of the arm 21 when the quadrant is moved to return coins to the caller. Supposing a call to have been made and the coins accordingly diverted into the cash receptacle, the balance arm 1 returns to normal position, and the contacts 15, 16 are separated, but the contacts 44, 45 remain closed in consequence of contact 44 being mounted on a pivoted arm without spring. If connexion cannot be made and the coins are returned, the contacts 44, 45 are separated by the operation of a lower extension of the lever 33 operated by the push 32. The push 32 is, however, locked, if a connexion is made by means of a stud operated by an electromagnet 46, 47. The breaking of the speaking circuit by hanging up the receiver unlocks the push 82 and lever 33. A time switch is inserted in the calling circuit to prevent operation till a predetermined interval has elapsed, after operation of the return-money lever, and comprises an arm 52 moved away by the push 32 from contacts 50, 51 to allow them to separate, and returned by a time train 53 having a fly 54. Diverting improper coins.-Coins are inserted in an angularly-disposed shoot 1 having a fixed rail 3 along the lower edge and a movable rail 4 along the upper edge, and part of the shoot is offset at 5, so as to produce a fulcrum 6 about which small coins unsupported by the rail 4 will tip and drop from the rail 3, and from the shoot into a chamber for return to the caller. The rail 4 is recessed as at 8 so that certain coins will run in this recess till they reach an abutment 9, when they will lift the rail, and being thus unsupported will fall as in the case of smaller coins. A projecting sweeper attached to the handle 26 locks the handle against movement if a coin attached to a wire &c. is inserted.