Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 189C-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
ALFRED WHALLEY of Helsby (near Warrington) in the County of Cheshire
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My object is to provide an improved system of switch board and accessories, and
subscriber's ringing apparatus for metallic circuit systems in order that greater
simplicity of parts may be had; rapidity of connection be available; and that any
two subscribers connected through the board may be able to ring each other up
without troubling the Exchange. Some of the improvements are applicable to
single circuit boards.
Fig. 1 shows a set of subscriber's apparatus on a non-multiple metallic circuit
board. The two wires of the metallic circuit, called throughout A, B, are first
connected to an ordinary multiple jack J, consisting of a metallic body to which
line A is joined; an insulated flat top-spring to which line B is joined and which
lies above, is in contact with the end of and projects beyond an insulated plate or
stud. When a plug is inserted in the body of the jack the plug stem makes con-
tact with the insulated top-spring and lifts it off the insulated plate or stud. The
wires A, B, are continued from the plug-A from the body and B from the insulated
plate or stud to the, annunciator whose circuits are shown at I. Each wire is
wound round the two cores of the electro-magnet of the annunciator, but in
opposite directions, so that when a current is sent along both wires in the same
direction the two circuits of the electro-magnet neutralize each other, and if a
current flows in opposite direction in the two wires the circuits assist each
other. This arrangement of winding the electro-magnet is used instead of placing
the annunciator in shunt or bridge across the two wires-in the latter case the
annunciator has to be wound of very high resistance whereas in the new way
the resistance can be relatively low. The wires A, B, after passing through the
annunciator are joined to two terminals to which are connected the two wires of a
switch cord C, which passes through a pulley weight and then through a metal
socket S and terminates in a double circuit plug P. The body and the stem of the
plug b, b, are of metal and are joined through the switch cord to the wire B.
Passing through the stem, b, is a connection from the wire A through the switch cord
to the stem a. The stems a, b, are insulated from each other. When the plug P
is resting in the socket S, the two wires A, B, must be connected together, but the
act of lifting the plug out of the socket must sever this connection. This is secured
by joining the socket S by a wire to that terminal to which the wire A in the
switch cord is joined. The body, b, of the plug is of metal; two small springs
project from the socket S and make a good rubbing contact against the plug
body b. This arrangement avoids the use of a split socket or a split body b.
The operator in connecting two subscribers lifts the plug of the caller out of its
socket and places it in the jack of the wanted subscriber. The stem a of the
caller's plug makes contact then with the insulated spring of the "wanted's" jack,
and lifts it off its insulated plate or stud, thus cutting off the circuit the wanted
subscriber's annunciator and plug. By this means the line A of the calling
subscriber is connected to the line B of the wanted subscriber. At the same time
the stem of the caller's plug makes contact with the body of the "wanted's " jack
so that the caller's line B is joined to the "wanted's " line A. In disconnecting two
subscribers the operator has therefore only to pull out one plug.

page_text: When it is desired that each subscriber shall have on the board a. separate
ringing & speaking key I make use of the combined ringing & speaking key
described in my Patent No. 241, 1890.
Where the subscriber's wires are led into the Exchange I use the usual test and
lightning arrester board but combine with it a fusible cut out for every wire and
aiso provide for one wire of each pair an adjustable inductionless resistance coil so
la the two wires of every subscriber may be adjusted to have exactly the same
resistance.
Fig. 2 shews the method of joining several jacks in series for a multiple metallic
circuit board; a subscriber's two wires A, B, being connected first to the left hand
jack and after being connected to as many jacks as there are sections of the multiple
board, passing to the subscriber's annunciator and plug.
The apparatus at the subscriber's end of the lines besides the usual speaking
instruments, consists of a switch lever, a ringing battery, a trembler bell, and two
keys S, and X, Fig. 3. The subscriber's line A is joined to the switch-lever axis:
when the telephone is hung upon the switch lever, the lever makes contact with two
springs. One spring is connected to the trembler bell, the other terminal of the
bell being connected to the top-contact of the key S, which is itself joined to earth.
The second spring is connected to key X whose top-contact is joined to the
subscriber's line B. Line B is also joined to one pole of the ringing battery, and
the other pole of the battery is connected to the lower contact of both keys S and X.
Thus normally when the telephone is hung on the switch-lever the lines A and B
are connected and the trembler bell is a shunt to earth. To call the exchange the
subscriber presses the key X; this introduces the ringing battery in series between
lines A and B and affects the subscriber's annunciator in the Exchange switch
board. At the same time that the key X is depressed, a piece of projecting ebonite
attached to key X depresses slightly the key S, sufficiently to move it off its
top-contact but not against its bottom contact; thus the subscriber's bell has its
earth connection cut at the time the battery is in the line. The key S can also be
depressed without affecting the key X, and it is used when desiring to ring up an
already connected subscriber without affecting the Exchange. Fig. 4 shows a
subscriber's apparatus when magnetos are used for calling. The magneto takes the
place in the system of the trembler bell. The key S of Fig. 3 is replaced by a flat
spring bearing against a top-contact only and controlled by the projecting piece of
ebonite attached to key X. When calling the exchange the subscriber presses
key X-thus introducing the magneto in series between the lines A. and B ; and
turns the magneto handle. To call another already-connected subscriber the
magneto handle is simply turned.
The connections of the switch lever when the telephone is off the switch lever are
omitted from Figures 3 and 4 because they are of the ordinary style.
The act of taking the telephone off the switch lever takes the earth connection
off the subscriber's wires.
On account of this fact when a multiple metallic circuit board is used any
operator can ascertain without any extra test-wire if a subscriber is free or engaged
by simply touching the metal body of the subscriber's jack on her own section with
her operator's plug. The subscriber's line A is always connected to the metal body
of the jack-see Fig. 2. If there is an earth connection on the subscriber's lines,
denoting that his telephone is upon his switch lever and that he is free, the operator's
telephone attached to the operator's plug &c. will click-if there is no click the
subscriber is engaged. Sometimes when the click is heard the subscriber may be
already connected to another subscriber, but he is not then actually speaking and
the operator can safely ring him up.
In fixing the jacks on switch boards they are usually fixed from the back of the
board, where also the wires are connected. It is a difficult matter to get at a faulty
jack, and I prefer to make the jack itself in the form of a tube having three
contacts in the rear: this fits into a socket having also three contacts. The sockets
are all fixed at the back of the board and the wires connected to them; and

page_text: the jacks can be placed in the sockets from the front of the board. Any faulty jack
can be taken out at the front of the board without disturbing others.
Dated this 28th day of February 1890.
:
ALFRED WHALLEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
ALFRED WHALLEY, of Helsby (near Warrington), in the County of Cheshire,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
My object is to provide an improved system of switch board and accessories, and
subscriber's ringing apparatus for metallic circuit systems in order that greater
simplicity of parts may be had; rapidity of connection be available; and that any
two subscribers connected through the board may be able to ring each other up
without troubling the exchange. Some of the improvements are applicable to
single circuit boards. Referring to the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification
Fig. 1. shows a set of subscriber's apparatus on a non-multiple metallic circuit
switch board.
The two wires of a subscriber, called throughout A, B, are first connected to a
jack J consisting of a metallic body to which line A is joined; an insulated flat
top spring to which line B is joined and which lies above, is in contact with the
end of and projects beyond an insulated plate or stud. When a plug is inserted in
the body of the jack the plug stem makes contact with the insulated top spring
and lifts it off the insulated plate or stud. The wires A, B, are continued from the
jack-A from the body and B from the insulated plate or stud-to the annunciator
whose circuits are shown at I in one of the arrangements adopted. Each wire is
wound round the two cores of the electro-magnet of the annunciator but in opposite
directions so that when a current is sent along both wires in the same direction the
two circuits of the electro-magnet neutralize each other; and if a current flows in
The two
opposite directions in the two wires the circuits assist each other.
wires A, B, after passing through the annunciator are joined to two terminals to
which are connected the two wires of a switchboard cord C which passes through a
pulley weight and then, in one of the arrangements adopted, through a metal
socket S and terminates in a double-circuit plug P. The body and the stem of the
plug b, b, are of metal and joined through the switch cord to the wire B. Passing
through the stem 'b' is a connection from the wire A through the switch cord to
the stem a. The stems a, b, are insulated from each other. When the plug P is
resting in the socket S, the two wires A, B, must be connected together but the act
of lifting the plug out of the socket must sever this connection; this is secured by
joining the socket S to that terminal connected with the switch cord to which the
wire A is joined. The body 'b' of the plug makes good contact with the socket S
by rubbing against two springs connected to the socket. This arrangement avoids
the use of a split socket or a split body 'b.'
In a second arrangement of a set of subscriber's apparatus in a non-multiple
metallic circuit switch board all the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is provided except
the metal socket S and the wire connecting it to line wire A; but the annunciator
is wound of high resistance, of a single circuit and connected across the wires A; B,
at position I.
The operator when connecting two subscribers lifts the plug connected to the
caller's wires out of its socket or normal resting place and fixes it in the jack
connected to the wanted subscriber's wires. The stem 'a' of the caller's plug then
makes contact with the insulated top spring of the" wanted " jack, lifting it off the

page_text: .
insulated stud or plate thus cutting off the complete speaking circuit the wanted
subscriber's annunciator and plug. By this means the line A of the calling
subscriber is connected to the line B of the wanted subscriber; and at the same
time the stem 'b' of the caller's plug makes contact with the body of the "wanted"
jack so that the caller's line B is joined to the line A of the "wanted" subscriber.
The annunciator connected to the caller's wires is the only one left so joined to the
circuit completed for conversation as to be responsive to signalling currents. In.
disconnecting the two subscribers the operator has therefore only to pull one plug
out of a jack instead of two as in metallic circuit boards as usually made.
Where the subscriber's two wires are led into the Exchange I use the usual test
board & lightning arrestors but combine with them a fusible cut out for every wire
and provide for one wire of each pair an adjustable inductionless resistance coil by
which the two wires of a subscriber may be adjusted to have exactly the same
resistance.
Fig. 2. shows the method of joining several jacks in series for a metallic circuit
multiple switch board. A subscriber's two wires A, B, are connected first to the
left hand jack and after being connected in the manner shown to as many jacks as
there are sections of the multiple board passing to the subscriber's annunciator
and plug which are connected in one of the two ways described for a non-multiple
board.
The apparatus at the subscriber's end of the wires besides the usual speaking
instruments consists of a switch lever, a ringing battery, a trembler bell, and two
keys S and X-in Fig. 3, which shows the arrangement adopted when batteries are
used for signalling. The subscriber's line A is joined to the switch lever axis.
When the telephone is hung upon the switch lever the latter makes contact with
two springs. One spring is connected to the trembler bell, the other terminal of
the bell being connected to the top contact of the key S which is itself joined to
earth. The second spring is connected to key X when top contact is joined to the
subscriber's line B. Line B is also joined to one pole of the ringing battery and
the other pole of the battery is connected to the lower contact of both keys S
and X. These keys both normally rest against their top contacts. Thus when the
telephone is hung upon the switch lever the lines A and B are connected together
and the trembler bell is connected to the two lines but as a shunt or branch to
earth. In order to call the Exchange the subscriber presses the key X; this
introduces the ringing battery in series between lines A and B and actuates the
subscriber's annunciator on the Exchange switch board. When key X is depressed
a piece of projecting ebonite attached to the same also depresses key S but only
sufficient to move it off its top-contact and not against its bottom contact; thus the
subscriber's bell has its earth connection cut at the time the ringing battery is
introduced in series between lines A and B. The key S can be depressed without
affecting key X ; and when pressed against its bottom contact the ringing battery
is connected to the two line wires as a shunt to earth and at the same time the
connection of the trembler bell to earth is cut. This key S is only used when
desiring to ring up an already connected subscriber without actuating the
annunciator at the Exchange ; the current from the earthed ringing battery
passes in the same direction along the two line wires through the Exchange and
along the second subscriber's two wires to his trembler bell which is connected to
earth when his telephone is hung upon its switch lever.
Fig. 4 shows a subscriber's apparatus when magneto generators and magneto
bells are used for signalling. A combined generator and magneto-bell takes the
place of the ringing battery and trembler bell of Fig. 3. The key S of Fig. 3 is
replaced by a flat spring "s bearing against a top contact only and controlled by
a projecting piece of ebonite attached to key X. Line A of the subscriber's two.
"
wires is joined to the axis of the switch lever, and the switch lever when the
telephone is hung upon it makes contact with two springs. One spring is connected
to the combined magneto generator and magneto bell whose second terminal is

page_text: S
joined to the top contact of the flat spring "s" and to the bottom contact of key X.
The second spring is connected to the top contact of key X. Line B is connected
to the key X and the flat spring is connected to earth. When calling the
Exchange the subscriber presses key X, thus introducing the magneto in series
between lines A and B, and turns the generator handle. When calling an already
connected subscriber without affecting the annunciator at the Exchange the handle
of the magneto
simply turned; the magneto & bell being normally connected to
lines A and B as a shunt or branch to earth as shown. The connections of the
switch lever when the telephone is not hung upon it are omitted from Figures 3 and 4
because they are of the ordinary style.
The act of taking the telephone off the switch lever and the consequent break of
connection between the lever and the two springs (Fig. 3 and 4) removes the earth
connection from a subscriber's metallic circuit. On account of this fact when a
metallic circuit multiple switch board is used with subscriber's lines having an earth
connection controlled by the switch lever, any operator can ascertain if any subscriber
is free by simply touching the metal body of the subscriber's jack fixed in the
section of the board under her control with a plug connected to a telephone and
through it to earth. If there is an earth connection on the subscriber's wire,
due to the line not being in use and the subscriber's telephone hanging upon the
switch lever, the testing plug of the operator when placed against any of the
subscriber's jacks will cause a click to sound in the testing telephone. To secure
this result the subscriber's line A always remains connected to the metal body of
each of the subscriber's jacks (Fig. 2); and no special test wire is needed.
The jacks used in telephone switch boards for connecting subscriber's lines are
usually fixed from the back of the board where also the necessary circuit wires are
connected to the jacks. In very compact switch boards it is a difficult matter to get
at a faulty jack without disturbing circuit wires and connections; I prefer to make
the jack itself with contacts in its rear, fitting into a socket fitted internally with
contacts which pass through the bottom of the socket where the connecting wires
are fixed. The sockets are fixed at the back of the board and the circuit wires
connected to them, while the jacks are inserted into the sockets from the front of
the board and can be removed at any time without disturbing the circuit wires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In metallic circuit systems for telephone exchanges in which cach pair of
wires is provided with one switch jack one annunciator and one double circuit plug
the construction of the circuits and mechanism thereof in such manner that when
the plug of any line is placed in the jack of any line the two lines are connected and
only one annunciater is left so connected to the two lines as to be responsive to
signalling currents.
2. The combination with a pair of metallic circuit wires brought into a telephone
exchange of a switch jack having three insulated parts, an annunciator, a flexible
cord containing two wires and a double-circuit plug connected as described.
3. In metallic-circuit multiple switch boards in which each pair of wires is pro-
vided with a jack in each section of the board and also with an annunciator and a
double circuit plug the construction of the circuits and mechanism thereof in such
manner that when the plug of any line is placed in a jack of any line, the two lines
are connected for conversation and only one annunciator is left so connected to the
two lines as to be responsive to signalling currents.
4. The combination with each pair of wires of a metallic circuit multiple switch-
board of a switch jack in each section of the board, each switch jack having three
insulated parts, and an annunciator, a flexible cord containing two wires and a double-
circuit plug connected as described.
5. In metallic circuit systems for a telephone exchange, in which each pair of

page_text: wires is provided with an annunciator and a double circuit plug the construction of
the circuits and mechanism in such manner that only when the plug rests in a
metallic socket is the circuit completed through the annunciator when a subscriber's
line is not in use.
6. The combination with each pair of wires of a metallic circuit system of a
double circuit flexible cord and an annunciator having two circuits connected to the
pair of wires and to the flexible cord, and a double-circuit plug connected to the
flexible cord, and a metal socket connected to one of the wires of the flexible cord
and connected to the other wire of the flexible cord when the plug base rests in the
socket as described.
7. In connection with a metallic circuit multiple switch board in which the jacks
used to connect lines for conversation act also as a switch so that only one
annunciator can be responsive to signalling currents sent over the connected lines,
the construction of the circuits and mechanism of the jacks and of the apparatus
provided at a subscriber's station in such manner that when a line is not in use there
is a connection of the line to earth at the subscriber's station which any operator at
the Exchange can detect by touching the front of that jack on her section of the
board which is connected to the particular line with any apparatus suitable for
indicating or detecting an earth connection; and in such manner that when a line
is engaged there is no connection to earth at the subscriber's station.
8. The combination in a complete metallic system of a telephone exchange
provided with a multiple switch board of a switch jack for every line (pair of wires)
in each section of the board and a switch lever at the subscriber's station which
places the line when not in use in connection with earth and removes the earth
connection when the line is in use; the front part of each jack being always in
connection with the subscriber's line as described.
9. In any complete metallic system having a multiple switch board at the
Exchange in which the jacks used to connect lines for conversation act also as
switches so that only one annunciator can be responsive to signalling currents sent
over two connected lines and having two ringing keys with a battery and bell or one
ringing key with a magneto generator and magneto bell or their equivalent at each
subscriber's station where also is a switch lever, the construction of the circuits and
mechanism in such manner that the subscriber can send a signalling current in
opposite directions along his two wires to actuate the annunciator at the Exchange
and can also send a signalling current in the same direction along the two wires
through the Exchange without affecting the annunciator to another subscriber's bell
connected to earth.
10. The combination in a metallic system having a multiple switch board at the
Exchange of a jack on each section of the board and an annunciator for each pair
of wires each jack being available for the connection of another line and acting as
a switch so that only one annunciator can be responsive to signalling currents s'nt
over two connected lines-with two keys and a bell and ringing battery and switch
lever or with one key and a magneto generator and magneto-bell and switch lever
at the subscriber's station connected as described.
11. In any metallic system the combination with the test jacks provided with each
pair of wires where the wires enter the exchange of lightning arrestors. a fusible
cut-out for each wire and an adjustable inductionless resistance coil by means of
which the resistance of the two wires between the Exchange and the subscriber's
station can be made equal by placing the resistance coil in circuit with the wir;
having the lower resistance and adjusting the resistance coil.
12. The construction of the jack of a telephone switch board provided with t
socket for each jack in such manner that the jack can be removed from the front of
the board without disturbing the connecting wires at the rear of the board.
13. The combination with a jack of a telephone switch board, having projecting
contacts at the rear, and with its circuit wires of a socket or tube of insulating
mater.al fitted internally with suitable contacts which project through the bottom

page_text: of the socket and to which the circuit wires are connected from the back of the
board; the jack being adapted to fit into the socket from the front of the board, its
rear contacts making connection with the contacts inside the socket.
Dated this 29th day of November 1890.
ALFRED WHALLEY.