Improved System of Electrical Inter-communication for Telephonic Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved System of Electrical Inter-communication for Telephonic
Purposes.
A communication from abroad by ARTHUR WELLESLEY BERNE and BROWNLEE
WICKLIFFE TAYLOR, of 124, Royal Street, and 127, Common Street, of the City
of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, United States of America,
Electrician and Shoe Merchant respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 :-
This invention relates to a system of electric circuits for telephonic purposes in
conjunction with switches, connections and cut-outs, and the objects of the invention
are to permit six persons to converse with each other, without interference, upon three
wires, or to enable one person to converse with another at any telephone, and whereby
perfect metallic returns may be had at any time by the use of the switches as shown
in the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatical plan view of the improved
system complete, the flexible connections for each of the main stations being shown
detached.
1, 2 and 3 represent three sub-stations which are connected with the station A and
station B respectively by means of the wires N, O, P, Q, and R, S. N is fastened
to brass piece G on switch K', and O is fastened to brass piece H on same switch,
thus taking circuit from brass piece G to telephone 1, and thence back to brass
piece H; wires P, Q and R, S, performing the same functions for telephones 2 and 3
by connecting with brass pieces 1, J and K, L on switch K¹.
X is a ground wire. M, M, M are three plugs of brass attached to three flexible
branches of X.
A, B and C are plugs fastened to flexible wires 4, 5 and 6. D, E and F are
similar plugs.
On switch J-1, 2 and 3 designate pieces of brass which receive the main lines
from station B, at which station is placed a duplicate arrangement of wires, brasses,
plugs, telephones and switches.
It will now be seen that, if plugs A, B and C are placed in connection respec-
tively with brasses 1, 2 and 31 on switch J¹, and plugs D, E and F be placed in
connection respectively with G, I and K, on switch K', and plugs M M M are
connected with brass pieces H J and L, and a duplicate arrangement of connection
be made at station B, the telephones 1, 2 and 3 will be in perfect connection with
their duplicates at station B.
If it is desired to establish a metallic circuit between a telephone at one sub-station
with either of the telephones at the other sub-station, as for instance between the
telephones of the stations 1, and I, one of the flexible wires 6 is connected with the
brass piece of plate G on the switch K' and with the piece or plate 1 on the switch J¹
and the flexible piece 5 is connected with the plates H and 2. In this manner the
circuit is completed in one direction through the wire N, flexible piece 3 of one
station, the main line 11 to the flexible piece 6 and wire N of the other station to
the telephone. The return is made through the line 0, flexible piece 5 of the second
station, main line 2", to the flexible piece 5 and wire O of the second station to the
place of beginning, or the telephone at that station.
If either of the main lines should be in use or inoperative from any cause, the

page_text: circuit could he established by connecting the ends of either of the flexible
connections 5 or 6 with the remaining main line which it is desired to include in
the circuit.
But if two of the main lines are in use or inoperative and it is desired to establish
a circuit through the remaining line, as through the line 311, the flexible piece 4, at
each station, is connected with the end of said line and with one of the plates as K,
which communicates with the telephone which it is desired to use, as the telephone 3,
and then one of the plugs M, of the ground wire is connected with the other plates
as L, and the opposite end connected with the ground. The circuit will then be from
the ground through the wire X, wire S, telephone at sub-station 3, wire R, flexible
piece 4, wire R, telephone at sub-station 3, wire S, and ground wire to earth.
Of course either of the telephones could be used by connecting it with the
desired main line by the flexible pieces 4, 5, or 6. In this way each telephone
will be in, or form a portion of a loop at each end when the circuit is completed,
the ends of which loop consist of the wires leading from it to the switch board.
It is evident that a metallic or ground circuit can be had at the will of the operator
and that two persons, one at each end, can be using either of the main lines at the
same time, and that any one at one station can be placed in communication with any
one of the persons at the other station.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A system for electric intercommunication consisting of a series of main lines,
which are connected with a switch board at each end, an instrument for each end of
each line, a second switch board having two plates for each instrument, two wires
from each telephone connected with the plates on the second switch board and flexible
pieces at each station for establishing communication with the plates of the second
switch board of one station with the plates of the second switch board of the other
station, substantially as specified.
2. A system for electrical intercommunication consisting of a series of main lines
and two switch boards for each end of the lines, one of which has a switch plate for
each line and the other one has a pair of plates for each line, an instrument connected
with each of the pair of plates on the second switch and means for connecting either
of the plates on the first mentioned switch at either end with either of the plates on
the second mentioned switch at that end, substantially as specified.
3. A system for electrical intercommunication consisting of a series of main lines
having a switch at each end and a plato on each of said switches for each line,
insulated from each other but in electrical contact with its line, a switch at each end
electrically disconnected from the first mentioned switch, having as many instruments
connected therewith as there are main lines, each of said second switches having a
'pair of plates fer each instrument, detachable lines for establishing connections
between the switches at each end and a ground wire having branches for connecting
with the instrument switch board, substantially as specified.
11
CA
1 1400
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.