Coin-controlled and Registering Telephone Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Coin-controlled and Registering Telephone Apparatus.
We, ROBERT DICKIE CRANSTON, Gentleman, of No. 502, Cole Street, and
SYLVESTER MARCELLUS WILLIAMS, Gentleman, of No. 816, Oak Street, both in
the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, U.S.A., do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for coin-controlled and registering telephone
apparatus, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to a coin-controlled registering apparatus employed in
conjunction with a telephone transmitting and receiving box.
It consists essentially in a novel means for communication between the local
box and the central station whereby the operator at the central station is enabled
to set the parts in their normal condition when the receiver has been removed,
or acidentally left off the suspending hook; a means for visibly indicating
when communication has been established with the central office; means whereby
the local user of the telephone again places it in condition for communication
after the boxes are connected up; means whereby the operation is permanently
registered so as to show the amount of coins that should be in the money-
receiving box, means for preventing the use of the telephone until a coin has
been introduced, or until it is properly set for use without the coin when thus
desired; means for removably securing the mechanism within the outer case;
means for removably securing the money-box; a means for sealing it so that it
cannot be removed without breaking the seal, and in details of construction
which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 is a front exterior view. Figure 2 is a view with front of box
removed. Figure 3 is a view showing the parts in the rear of the box. Figure 4
is a view of the electro-magnet push bar and connected mechanism situated
behind the coin disc. Figure 5 is a side view of the interior mechanism of the
whole box. Figure 6 is a detail view of the indicator locking mechanism.
Figure 7 is an interior view of the coin box looking towards the front. Figure 8
is a detached view of the pawl for locking the disc. Figures 3ª, 3b, 3°, show a
modified form of switch in its different positions. Figures 9, 10 and 11 shews
the pawls, wheel & guard in successive positions.
The object of our invention is to provide a more efficient operation of coin-
controlled apparatus of the class described.
A, Fig. 1, is the case in which the mechanism is contained; B, Fig. 3, is
the fulcrumed lever hook upon which the receiver of the telephone is normally
hung.
C is a lever within the box, having the contact points C1 C2 through which
electrical connection is made, this lever is here shewn fulcrumed upon the same
pin e with the hook lever B from which the receiver is suspended, and capable
of independent movement as will be hereafter described.
A slot D, Figs. 1 and 2, is made in the upper part of the box adapted to
coin

page_text: In line beneath this slot and journaled between front and rear plates e is a
disc E having peripheral segmental spaces E¹ cut out, these spaces being of
such diameter that a coin dropped into the opening at 1 will pass directly into
one of these pockets or spaces E¹.
Glazed openings a are made in the front of the box or case through which a
coin may be seen after it is introduced, see Figure 1.
The disc is then rotated by pressing downwardly upon a push bar F which
projects above the top of the box conveniently for 'the purpose. F rises again
by means of spring p.
This push bar carries spring-pressed pawls G G4 Fig. 2, one of which engages
the teeth of a ratchet wheel H above its centre, the number of teeth in which
correspond with the pockets of the disc E, and the other engages- the teeth
below the centre, so that when the push bar is forced down, the lowermost pawl
engages the teeth of the ratchet so as to turn it a part of a revolution.
The upper pawl acts to return the dise to a position where one of the pockets
is in line with the coin chute, if the push bar has not been pressed down to
entirely complete a movement of the parts.
The joint of the pawls G G¹ fits over a pin which projects into a recess ƒ in
the push bar, and reaching over the face of wheel H is a guide plate g. This
plate raises the pawl G from its engagement when F is pressed down, otherwise
the pawl would follow in the space between the same two teeth, and when the
bar F is released would bring the same teeth back again and with it the corre
sponding pocket with the same coin in it, but as plate y lifts the pawl clear out
of its engagement and lets it travel over its guide face while the succeeding
tooth is moved a full space underneath the pawl G, will, while returning, drop
behind plate into the next space, thus-bringing a new pocket into line with
slot D. The working of the pawls G G will be clearly seen on Figures 9, 10
-and-11.
If the bar has not been pushed down its full travel, the-same-tooth-space=
will present itself again to pawl G and allow it to drop into its former place
after having left guide plate g as shewn in Fig. 2.
As the ratchet wheel H is fixed upon the shaft of the disc E it will be seen
that the disc will be partly turned each time when the push bar is pressed down
to the full extent.
A spring-pressed retaining pawl I is so fulcrumed in a recess as to prevent.the
return of the disc after it has once been moved forward and its rotation is thus
continued in one direction.
Jis another spring-pressed pawl so fulcrumed with relation to the disc that
when pressed down it will prevent the turning of the disc.
The pawl J has a pin projecting to one side of it upon which its spring
presses. Secured on the inside of the box is a small lock so arranged that, when
by means of a key and through a key-hole a¹ on the face of the box its bolt, k
is pushed out, it will suspend the pawl J and not allow it to drop into the pockets
on the disc E. In this position the device can be operated without a coin, but
when the bolt is withdrawn the spring will act upon the pawl, and if no coin
has been dropped into the succeeding pocket to hold the pawl up, the latter
will drop into the next pocket, and lock the disc E as shown in dotted lines
Fig. 2. This locking of the disc will then prevent the bar F being pushed down
far enough to register, and compel any one, in order to operate, to first drop a
coin through the slot D into one of the pockets E¹. As the disc revolves the
coins will gradually travel round until they reach the outlet L and drop through
a short coin passage into the receiving box, Fig. 5.
This box is adapted to slip into the lower part of the outer box or case "A
whenever the front has been removed, and when it is thus pushed in, the rear
edge is engaged by a spring M which prevents the box from being again with-
drawn until this spring is pushed out of engagement with the box.
The front of the box has a hole N made through it, and a plate O having a

page_text: similar hole made coincident with the hole N, is fitted against the inside of the
front face of the box.
}
This plate is normally held locked against the front of the box by a button O¹.
The object of these plates is to allow a thin destructible-sheet n, such as.a
sheet of paper, to be clamped between the two plates, and thus close the hole or
opening N.
A
It is only possible to disengage the spring M which locks the box. in place,
by breaking or tearing this destructible sheet, and this is done when the
inspector comes round to periodically collect the coins from the box.
D
He then simply breaks the sheet, pushing his finger in through the opening
and pressing the holding spring M upward so that the box. can be removed.
Another sheet is placed over the opening N before the box is again returned,
and this sheet'is of such a character that it could not be readily imitated, there-
fore, any tampering with the box would be easily detected.
...
The lower end of the push bar F carries a punch point f which is adapted
to perforate a travelling strip of paper P which is carried beneath the line of
travel of the punch, by the pawl and ratchet. mechanism Q operated by 'a rod Q¹,
which is directly connected with the bar F so that when the latter is pushed
down, the punch will pass through the paper making a hole and indicating that
the machine has been used.
The pawl is at the same time carried along so as to engage a new tooth in the
ratchet, and when the push bar is relieved and allowed to again rise by the action
of the spring p, see Figure 4, the pawl will rotate the ratchet wheel and with it
a drum upon which the paper is coiled so as to continually advance the paper
with each movement of the ratchet.
R is an indicator which is adapted to be thrown upwardly in a closed glazed
space R above the box, by having its stem R2 connected with an angle lever R³.
This lever is pushed down in unison with the downward movement of the
push bar E by means of an arm F projecting from the push, bar and engaging
this lever R³ so that when the push bar is pressed down until the punch has
perforated the paper, the arm F will have pushed the lever R downward thus
retracting the indicator plate R into the box.
The lever R³ is essentially a bell crank lever, fulcrumed at ³, and the lower
end r is held by a spring catch X against which it abuts after it has been pushed
down as previously described, and thus remains in this condition with the indi-
cator retracted until it is released from the catch by an operation to be hereafter
described when a spring R4, see Figs. 4 and 5, pressing upon the underside of
the lever R³ will return it to its first position and throw the indicator up into
view again.
A guide rod r is connected with lever R³ at 2, the receiver hook B resting on
top of it. Parallel with this lever is located the electro magnet T having its
wires conducted to the contact plates t and these are again contacted with arms t¹
Fig: 3. A spring arm t2 extends from underneath the arms and has its outer
portion bent upwardly (Fig. 3) carrying on its top an insulated block 3 having
its upper face bevelled.
Attached to the receiver lever-hook B on the inside of the box is a crescent-
shaped piece of metal b, its lower horn pressing the block down and outwardly
and consequently the spring arm out of contact with the arm
One circuit wire is connected with one of the arms t¹ and the other with spring
arm, so by this pressure the circuit is opened on this side, while at the central
station the other connection is made to close this circuit. It will be seen that by
this arrangement the receiver will have to be first taken off the hook to release
the block 3 which will then connect the spring arm with one of the arms t
and close the circuit at this end.
This device is only used for the usual bell in order to cut the magnet circuit T
out, but when the bell is used this construction will be omitted, as the magnet
circuit has to be kept closed all the time to ring the bell vs.

page_text: U, Figure 4, is a bar suitably guided to slide up and down, being actuated
by a spring u pressing on a stud 2 which has a tendency to press it down,
but is stopped by a shoulder u on its inner side pressing against a vertical flat
spring u. On the upper end of this bar U is a lug or pin u and this lug u
engages the forked end of lever C which forms the switch for the circuit of the
instrument Fig. 3.
Now by taking off the receiver, the lever hook B will rise and give the alarm
at the central in the usual manner, but the switch C will be left unmoved being
held down by stud u. The vertical spring u has been previously disengaged by
a pin projecting from the side of lever R3 when the latter has been forced
down and locked by a former operation. This release allowed the spring u
to act and force bar U down until its stud u² strikes the connection, thus
limiting its downward movement, and this is its normal position.
The armature V of magnet T which is pivoted centrally, see Figs. 4 and 5,
has connected with it a rod v carrying on its outer end a hammer v₁ from which
extends another rod 22 across and through the side of box A having a clapper v
on its outer end, the latter swinging in a bell 3, Figure 1, the ends of the said
armature being alternately attracted and hence vibrated by means of currents
passing through the coil T.
A plate W, Figs. 5 and 6, hinged to the frame at its corner w extends inwardly
to within reach of a spring stop X, the latter being pivoted at x which engages
with and holds the end r of lever R³ down against pressure of its spring R¹ tend-
ing to swing it upwardly and outwardly. Another lower spring arm Y has its
-outer-end in contact with plate W, the latter arm being placed at right angles
to the spring X. This spring arm Y is for the purpose of preventing the retrac-
tion and locking of the indicator without fully registering as the spring Y
normally stands up in front-of-the-end-of-lever-R-thus preventing that endr
from passing below the bottom of the spring X and being thereby locked. The
depression of the spring arm Y is effected by the pin f¹ as is more fully explained
hereafter.
Now after the receiver has been removed and the alarm given at the central
station, and the necessary information given as to the desired connection, the
operator at the central will close the magnet circuit at that end causing the
armature V to be attracted and the hammer will come down on the back edge
of the plate W and will at the same time ring the bell. The plate W will
be forced down on to the spring arm X pushing it down and away from the lower
end and releasing lever R³ to permit it to be pushed upward by its spring R
and thus allow the indicator to be thrown up within notice of the caller. Con-
nection will also force bar Ü upward by its stud u² and with it the switch C
to signal that the connection has been made.
As before stated, the pawl J Figs. 2 and 8, may be in a locked or raised con-
dition whereby no coin is needed, or if not, a coin can be dropped in and the
push rod F pressed down until the indicator has disappeared, which fact insures
the correct registration.
By pushing the bar F down, its extension F has carried the lever R³ down
again, and f has pressed the spring Y down and out of the way of lever end r,
the latter being now locked again by the spring X; at the same time the stud +
has depressed the spring u and so allowed bar to pass down again to its normal
position.
When the receiver is hung up again, block 3 will be depressed and the magnet
circuit again opened at this end when the usual bell 13-14 is used. If the pawl J
is unlocked and no coin put in, the pawl will stop the rotation of the dies E,
and consequently prevent push rod F from registering or depressing spring Y
enough out of the way to allow the lever R³ to be again locked by the spring X
and this will prevent the release of bar U to signal at the central that registering
has taken place.

page_text: The line wires are plainly shown in the drawings and the directions of the
currents are also shown by the arrow heads marked upon the wires.
In Fig. 3, the two wires on the top of the arm C connect with the instrument
and the induction coil respectively as in any ordinary telephone. The wire 10
connects with the line wire 20, and thence with the screw fastening upon the lever
arm B, thence along said lever as shown in dotted lines, thence through the
wire 12 and the ordinary bells 13 and 14 as illustrated, and thence to the ground.
The wire 21 also connects with the wire 20, thence with the screw which holds
spring. The latter when released from contact of the curved segment forms
contact with the plate, thence to the magnet T, thence through a plate con-
necting with the wire 22, thence to the ground. Figure 3 shows the normal
position when the receiver is hung upon the arm B, and the push bar U pressed
down. Figure 3b shows the arm B raised as it is when the receiver is removed
from its outer end, the bar U being still pressed down. Figure 3° shows the
arm B raised when the receiver off, and the bar U also raised. In first posi-
tion contacts are completed between the diagonally opposite points C³, through
cross-head of B. In second position contacts are similarly made with the
diagonally opposite points C₁ and in the third position again between the
points C².
The operation will be as follows:--
If the telephone user desires to communicate, he removes the receiver from
the suspending lever arm B, Fig. 1, and this allows the latter to rise by the
action of a spring in the usual manner. The lever C, Fig. 3, is not moved up
with B and a contact is thus made through the points C which connects the
local box with the central, the contact at being simultaneously broken.
The operator at central station gives the desired information and at the same
time produces a current through the electro magnet T within the local box A.
This operates a pivoted vibrating armature V, Figs. 4 and 5, which carries
the hammer v¹. This hammer acts upon a lever W, and this lever arm disengages
the spring catch X by which the bell crank lever 13 was previously held, thus
allowing the lever arm to be thrown up and with it the indicator.
At the same time the vertically slidable bar U actuated by the upwardly
moving parts, moves the lever C, makes a contact at C2, and places the box in
its normal condition, that is, with the signal bell 13-14 in circuit and the other
parts cut out.
The person using the telephone now presses down upon the push bar F, which
owing to the coin having been previously inserted, can be done, and when it has
been pushed far enough to register, and the spring latch X to be engaged, the
arm U will be retracted, moving the lever C with it. This restores the contact
at C and breaks that at C. The push bar F can be sufficiently depressed,
since a coin has been inserted in the exposed pocket E¹ and since such coin will
prevent pawl J entering the pocket in its stead as would otherwise be the case,
see dotted lines, Figure 2.
The indicator is thrown down out of sight by the movements of the push bar.
The coin having been previously placed in the opening D will pass into the
coincident pocket of the disc and will be carried around, and by its diameter it
contacts with the pawl J and pushes the latter upward so as to allow the disc E
to be rotated.
If no coin has been placed in the slot, this pawl J prevents the rotation of
the disc E and thus prevents the operation of the machine, unless the arm J
is held up out of engagement, by the movement of the lock bolt when the key is
turned.
An important feature of the construction here shown is the ability of the
operator at the central station to place the parts of the telephone in their normal
condition so that the current can be transmitted independent of the instrument

page_text: in case the receiver should have been carelessly left off the hook, as by means
of the mechanism previously described this action can be effected.
In some cases it is desirable to place the telephone in condition for use by
the, proprieter so that it can be operated without the coin.
In this case it is only necessary to introduce and turn the key within the key
hole a to hold up the pawl J out of contact with the disc E. The parts are then
in operative condition without the use of the coin.
'
When by turning the key in the opposite direction the pawl is again released
to lock the disc it prevents any sufficient movement of the disc and connected
parts to allow the lever arm R³ to engage with the latching catch, and it also
prevents the punch from passing through the paper or the ratchet wheel from
being revolved, the whole apparatus in this condition being inoperative. When
thus unlocked the parts are in condition to be used with a coin.
The strip or tape P upon which the punch registers, is made in suitable lengths
rolled upon centres which are adapted to fit the delivery roller, and the free
end of the tape is then connected with the receiving drum or roller which is
actuated by the ratchet mechanism to gradually transfer the tape as the punches
are made. In order to save time in counting the punch marks at the end of the
month or other term, and to ensure accuracy, we mark the tape transversely at
each ten punch marks, and also number them so that it is only necessary to
inspect the last number upon the tape. A space is also left for the signature of
the subscriber and the tape is returned to the office as a voucher. As the tape
moves over a greater space, by the continued increase in the size of the roll
upon the receiving-drum; -it-is-found necessary_to_place_the space marks a
gradually increasing distance apart so as to compensate for this gradual increase
and the corresponding increase of distance between the punch marks, and this
ensures the accurate register of the punch marks with the subdividing lines.
The spring Y prevents the instrument being connected up by the suspending
lever so that communication could be established by that means. It does this
by acting as a stop to prevent the arm R³ from being tilted sufficiently to be
engaged and held by the spring X, by the act of hanging the receiver upon
its hook. The spring Y can only be moved out of the way, either by pushing
down the bar F until it registers when the conditions are right for communica-
tion, or if the indicator be left up, by energizing the electro magnet of the instru-
ment after the receiver has been hung up. Referring to Figures 9, 10 and 11,
when F is pushed down G will ride over g which is to one side of H, because the
width of G reaches over both H and g. In returning g will guide G over tooth 3
and then drop down on the other side, while G₁ simply clicks over tooth 2 and
also drops down behind it. The claw-spring keeps the pawls together so as to
follow one another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. A coin controlled telephone apparatus including a normally locked
mechanism, means whereby it is released by a current from a central station to
open a circuit, and coin controlled means whereby a line circuit broken by
central is restored by the user to place the telephone in condition for use with a
subscriber.
2nd. In a coin-controlled telephone apparatus the combination with a box
or case, a normally locked rotatable disc having chambers for the reception of
coins, a pawl lying in the path of movement of the disc and normally locking
the latter against movement said disc being tripped to release the disc by the
contact of a coin carried by the latter, a push bar and means whereby it operates
the disc, an indicator and lever mechanism connected with and operated by
the push bar, means whereby said mechanism is locked and the parts held

page_text: depressed, and means whereby said mechanism is released and rendered opera-
tive by a current from a central station.
3rd. A coin-controlled telephone apparatus including a receiver suspending
arm, a lever fulcrumed thereon and contacts controlled by said lever one of
which is maintained when the receiver is removed from said arm to enable the
user to communicate with the central station, a normally locked mechanism
and means whereby it is released by a current from central, said contact lever
being in the path of and actuated by the released mechanism to break the first
named contact and establish a second one, and coin controlled means for re-
storing the circuit broken from the central station.
4th. A coin controlled telephone apparatus including a containing case, a
lever mechanism and means whereby it is held in a locked condition, means
whereby a release of the locked mechanism is effected from a central station,
coin controlled means for restoring a circuit broken from the central station, a
registering mechanism, and a coin box and means whereby it is locked within
the containing case.
5th. A coin controlled telephone apparatus comprising a revoluble coin
receiver and carrier, mechanism by which the telephone is placed in communi-
cation first with the central office and afterwards with the subscriber, a incans
for actuating the telephone dependent upon the deposit of the coin, a locked
and sealed receiving box into which the coin is delivered a travelling indicator
and mechanism by which it is actuated and a punch actuated in unison with
the depression of the push bar of the telephone, whereby the deposit of a coin
is permanently registered upon a travelling strip.
1 1.
m
E Waha 1900
For the Applicants,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.