IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SWITCH APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND TELEPHONIC PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SWITCH APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHIC
AND TELEPHONIC PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Thomas
Augustus Watson, of Everett, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Electrician.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SWITCH
APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND TELEPHONIC PURPOSES." [A communication
from abroad by Thomas Augustus Watson, of Everett, Massachusetts, United States
of America, Electrician.]
The object of this Invention is to provide means for establishing at an office, at
will, with greater rapidity and more certainty than by the switch boards now in use,
an electrical connection between the several circuits of a telegraph or telephone
system entering said office, and for this purpose the said Invention comprises the
combination with two series of metallic strips, bars, or rods, arranged so that one
series is crossed by the other series, of a series of movable metallic connectors or
contacts, each of which is in connection respectively with a strip of one of the
series, is capable of being moved so as to make connection with any one of the
strips of the other series, and when released by the operator is automatically forced
against and maintained in contact with said strip; also connecting each strip of one
of the series to one of the circuits entering the office.
The said Invention also comprises providing the board with a series of con-
nections insulated from one another, but each in connection with a suitable
annunciator or other apparatus for receiving signals, and a manner of connecting
the switch board with a signalling apparatus, battery, and telephonic apparatus at
the office, whereby the said office is enabled to signal, or communicate by telephone
on any circuit connected to the board.
The said Invention further relates to the construction of the metallic connectors
or contacts, whereby perfect electrical contact is ensured, and also to means
whereby the operator is able to ascertain whether the metallic connector or contact
is in its proper position on the connecting strip or rod, or not.

page_text: In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ a frame of wood or other
suitable insulating material, and a series of metallic bars, rectangular in section,
inserted into the front of the frame parallel to one another. Each of these bars is
connected respectively with one of the circuits of a telegraph or telephone system.
Under the said bars and crossed by the same a series of metallic rods, preferably
cylindrical in form, are inserted in the frame, and are hereinafter termed cross rods,
which rods form the electrical connection between any two or more of the aforesaid
bars, when the metallic connector or contact on each of said bars is placed in
connection with one of the said rods.
The metallic connector or contact may be made in various forms, but I prefer to
employ a connector consisting of a short rod of metal provided with a triangular
notch in its lower extremity, and having in it a rectangular slot through which one
of the aforesaid rectangular bars passes. This slot is so much longer than the
depth of the bar as to permit the extremity of the connector to be fully withdrawn
from contact with the cross rods. A spiral spring encircles the connector rod below
the bar inserted in the frame, and bearing against the under surface of this bar acts
to force the connector into contact with the rod underneath it. Instead of a spiral
spring, a spring of any other form may be used, or there may be a cam on the rod
so that a slight rotation of the same will bring its extremity into contact with a
cross rod.
A bent piece of metal is fixed at its centre in each connector above the
bar on which the connector slides, and at each extremity comes into close proximity
with the upper surface of the bar on each side of the connector without touching
said bar. The object of this piece is to limit the rocking movement of the
connector. Attached to each connector is a handle of some suitable insulating
material, and also a pointer which by its coincidence with the medial line of a
cross rod indicates when the connector is correctly placed on said rod. The
triangular notch in the connector ensures its more perfect contact with the rod
underneath it, and also permits the connector to be oscillated on the said rod with-
out being disconnected from the same, thus enabling the contacts to be kept clean
by friction on one another.
The metallic connectors instead of being capable of sliding on the rectangular
bars may be fixed to the same, and the bars be capable of sliding in the frame so
that the connector can be placed upon any one of the cross rods.
I also provide a series of short metallic rods insulated from one another, and
upon which the metallic connectors rest when in their normal position. Each of
these rods is in connection with an annunciator or other apparatus for receiving
signals, and therefore when the connectors on the switch board are in their normal
position, each circuit is connected to an annunciator or other apparatus for
receiving signals.
The circuit wires entering the office may be connected to the aforesaid cross rods
instead of to the rectangular bars.
In some cases the short rods upon which the metallic connectors rest are
dispensed with, and a rod similar to the cross rods is used, which rod is connected
to the earth.
*
It will be obvious that by this switch-board any two circuits connected to the
same can be connected together by placing the metallic connectors on the bars,
connected with the respective circuits in contact with the same cross rod.
At the office may be placed a telephonic apparatus, and a battery and key, or
instead of a battery or key, a suitable dynamo or magneto-electric apparatus for
sending signals, and the telephonic apparatus may be connected to one cross rod,
and the signalling apparatus to another, or either apparatus may be connected at
will to the same cross rod by means of a switch. One of the said rectangular bars
is also connected to this switch, and thus the operator at the office is enabled to
signal or communicate by telephone on any circuit, simultaneously on two or
more circuits.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
July 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SWITCH
APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND TELEPHONIC PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Thomas Augustus Watson, of Everett, Massachusetts, United States
of America, Electrician.
The object of this Invention is to provide means for establishing at an office,
at will, and with greater rapidity and more certainty than by the switch-boards
now in use, an electrical connection between the several circuits of a telegraph
or telephone system entering the said office. The said Invention comprises the
combination with two series of metallic strips, bars, or rods, so arranged that one
series is crossed by the other series, of a series of movable metallic connectors or
contacts, each of which is in connection respectively with a strip of one of the
series, and is capable of being moved so as to make connection with any one of
the strips of the other series, and when released by the operator is automatically
forced against and maintained in contact with the said strip. It also comprises
the connecting of each strip of one of the series to one of the circuits entering
the office.
The said Invention also comprises the providing of the board with a series of
connections insulated from one another, but each in connection with a suitable
annunciator or other apparatus for receiving signals, and also a manner of con-
necting the switch board with a signalling apparatus, battery, and telephonic
apparatus at the office, whereby the said office is enabled to signal or communicate
by telephone on any circuit connected to the board.
The said Invention further comprises the construction of the metallic connectors
or contacts whereby perfect electrical contact is ensured, and also means whereby
the operator is able to ascertain whether the metallic connector or contact is or
is not in its proper position on the connecting strip or rod.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch-board constructed according to the
said Invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a part of the same on the line y, y, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the metallic connections or contacts, and
Figure 5 is a diagram shewing the electrical connections with the annunciators,
battery, signalling apparatus, and telephone at the office.
Figure 6 shews a switch with its annunciators for twenty five circuits.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is a frame of wood or other suitable insulating material, and B, B, are a
series of metallic bars, rectangular in section, inserted into the front of the frame
parallel to one another. Each of these bars is connected respectively with one
of the circuits of a telegraph or telephone system.
Under the bars B, B, and crossed by the same I insert in the frame A a series of
metallic rods C, preferably cylindrical, which rods form the electrical connection
between any two or more of the bars B, B, when the metallic connector or contact
on each of the said bars is placed in connection with the said rod, as shewn in
Figure 1.
· The metallic connector or contact may be made in various forms, but that shewn
in the Drawing has been found to accomplish its purpose efficiently. It consists of
a short rod of metal D provided with a triangular notch E on its lower extremity,
and having in it a rectangular slot F through which the bar B passes. The length

page_text: of this slot is so much greater than the depth of the bar, as to permit the
extremity of the connector to be fully withdrawn from contact with the rods C.
A spiral spring G encircles the rod D below the bar B, and bearing against the
under surface of this bar acts to force the connector into contact with the rod
underneath it. Instead of a spiral spring, a spring of any other form may be used,
or there may be a cam on the rod so that a slight rotation of the same will bring
its extremity into contact with the rod C; H is a bent piece of metal which is fixed
at its centre in each connector above the bar whereon the connector slides, and at
each extremity comes into close proximity to the upper surface of the bar on each
side of the connector; the object of this piece is to limit the rocking movement of
the connector. Attached to each connector is a handle I of some suitable insulating
material, and also a pointer K which by its coincidence with the medial line of the
rod C indicates when the connector is correctly placed on the said rod. The notch
E in the connector ensures its more perfect contact with the rod underneath it, and
also permits the connector to be oscillated on the said rod without being dis-
connected from the same, thus enabling the contacts to be kept clean by friction on
one another.
The metallic connectors instead of being capable of sliding on the bars B may be
fixed to the same, and the bars may be capable of sliding in the frame, so that the
connector can be placed upon any one of the cross-rods C.
L, L, are short metallic rods which are insulated from each other, and upon which
the metallic connectors rest when in their normal position. Each of these rods is
in connection with an annunciator S or other apparatus for receiving signals, and
therefore when the connectors on the switch-board are in their normal position,
each circuit is connected to an annunciator or other apparatus for receiving
signals.
The circuit wires entering the office may be connected to the cross-rods C instead
of to the bars B.
In some cases the short rods L are dispensed with, and a rod similar to the
rods C is used and is connected to the earth.
It will be obvious that by this switch-board any two circuits connected to the
same can be connected by placing the metallic connectors on the bars connected
with the respective circuits in contact with the same cross-rod, as shewn in
Figure 1, in which Figure the circuits 2 and 4 are shewn connected.
At the office may be placed a telephonic apparatus, and a battery and key; or
instead of a battery or key there may be a suitable dynamo or magneto electric
apparatus for sending signals, and the telephonic apparatus may be connected to
one cross rod, and the signalling apparatus to another, as shown in the diagram,
Figure 5; either apparatus may be connected at will to the same cross rod by means
of a switch. One of the bars B is also connected to this switch, and thus the
operator at the office is enabled to signal or communicate by telephone on any
circuit or simultaneously on two or more circuits.
In the apparatus or slide-switch, shewn in Figure 6, A*, A*, are brass rods for
connecting any two lines together fastened to a wood frame, and in front of but not
touching them are the upright rods B*, B*. The line-circuits are connected to a
series of binding screws on the back of the switch just below the annunciators.
There is also a binding screw at the back of the switch-board that must be
connected to the ground. These binding screws are not shewn in the Drawing, but
are fixed on the switch-boards before they leave the factory.
Each of the upright rods has a spring-slide D*, which when pulled outward can
be moved freely on the rod, and which on being released springs into firm contact
with any one of the horizontal rods with which it may be desired to connect it.
These slides are normally kept on the small plates of brass E*, which are all
connected to each other, and to the ground if the magneto or open circuit system is
used; but if the closed circuit battery system is used, these plates E* are not
connected to each other, but can be connected to the batteries by means of screws
and washers at the back of the switch.

page_text: During the day when an operator is in constant attendance, the sound of the
drop falling is sufficient to call his attention, but at night it is advisable to use an
alarm bell F*, as shewn,
This alarm bell is an ordinary electric vibrating bell; G* is the battery; when
the drop falls it rests firmly on a copper wire stretched in front of the annunciators,
and thereby closes the circuit of the battery through the alarm bell. The bell can
be disconnected by removing one of the wires from the binding screws H* on the
side of the switch board.
When crank magneto bells are used at subscribers' stations, a spring plug is
connected by a flexible cord to the arm of a switch, one button of which is
connected through the magneto generator to ground, and the other through the
telephone and transmitter to ground.
When the system is one using both crank and push button magneto bells, I use
a spring plug, a button switch, and a reversing key for throwing either positive
or negative impulses of the calling battery into the lines. There is also an electric
bell which taps when a subscriber is being called with this key, and shews whether
the line is in good order or not.
The mode of operation with this apparatus is as follows:-When a call comes
in on any circuit, the slide belonging to that circuit is pushed down off its brass
plate, and the spring plug is snapped on the same vertical rod. Then by moving
the said button switch to the different buttons either magneto bell, telephone, or
battery can be connected to that circuit. A subscriber may be called in a pre-
cisely similar manner, and when he responds, his slide and the slide of the person
who wishes to speak to him are placed on one of the horizontal strips A*, and
with a plug on either of the two vertical rods the two are told to talk. The
plug is then withdrawn. When they have finished if either of them operates his
call bell, he will drop the annunciators on both circuits, thereby giving a signal
that he has finished, or the operator in order to ascertain if they have ended their
conversation can touch the spring plug on one of the vertical strips and listen,
first putting the switch on the button that connects to the telephone.
When this switch is used for closed battery circuit systems, the button of the
switch which is now connected to the magneto bell is connected to a battery with
a key and tap bell.
When used for systems having both battery and magneto circuits the switch
must have three buttons, one connected to a magneto call, one to a battery key
and tap bell, and the other to the telephone and transmitter.
The said apparatus or switches may be made in sections for fifty circuits.
A number of these switches can be placed side by side, and an operator can work
each section. It is then necessary to connect about one-half of the rods A*, so that
they will be continuous through all the sections.
Then if a subscriber connected with one section of the switch wants to converse
with a subscriber connected to another section, the operator in charge of the latter
puts the desired slide on one of his connection rods. The first operator can now
call the second subscriber from his own section of the switch.
It is not necessary to use an operator's table with this switch, but it may be
used if desired. When used the two lines that are connected are put on two
separate rods which are connected to the operator's table and are there connected.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. A switch-board for telegraphic or telephonic purposes having a series of
conducting strips, each of which is connected to one of the circuits of the system, a
series of conducting strips crossing or crossed by the strips which are connected to
the circuits, and a series of metallic connectors or contacts, each of which is
connected to one of the strips of one series, and is capable of being moved into
contact with the strips of the other series, and when released by the operator is

page_text: automatically forced against and maintained in contact with the said strips,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In a switch-board for telegraphic or telephonic purposes, the combination
of a series of conducting strips, each of which is connected to a circuit, a series of
insulated metallic rods or plates one for each strip, each connected to an annunciator
or other device for receiving signals, and a series of movable metallic contacts,
each connected respectively to a strip connected to a circuit, and capable of being
connected to the corresponding rod or plate, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Third. The combination with a switch-board having a series of conducting strips
crossed by another series of conducting strips, and having a series of movable
metallic connectors for connecting the strips of one series to the strips of the other
series of a telephonic apparatus and signalling apparatus, either of which may be
connected at will to one or more of the strips of one series, and to one or more of
the strips of the other series by means of the movable metallic connectors,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the metallic parallel bars B each connected to a
circuit, the parallel rods C arranged under the rods B at right angles to the same,
and the metallic connectors D each sliding on one of the rods B, and capable of
being forced against and maintained in contact with the rods C when released by
the operator, for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination with the bar B of the slotted rod D or similar device,
and the spiral spring G or its equivalent on the said rods, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the cylindrical rod C of a rod D, or similar device
provided with a notch in the lower end of the same, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the rod C of the sliding rod D and pointer in
the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the rod B of the rod D and the bent piece
inserted in the rod D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TRU
ARE