Appliance for Telephone Pay Stations.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Appliance for Telephone Pay Stations.
I, JOHN EDWARD KINGSBURY, of 79, Coleman Street, in the City of London,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Western Electric Company, of Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pay stations of telephone exchange systems, and
concerns the operations of initiating and receiving calls at the station, of deposit-
ing or refunding tolls for the use of the telephone, and of supervising in the
central office the various acts of the user. It consists in a combination of devices
and circuits permitting the association of the toll box or coin collecting appliance
of the pay station with the supervising and signalling mechanism of telephone
switchboards such as are commonly in use, in an operative organization capable
of attaining a high degree of efficiency and reliability in the use of the pay
station.
For these purposes there are provided:-A signalling circuit between the pay
station and the central station, a source of current at the central station applied
to the line, a relay in the circuit and a secondary signal controlled by the relay,
a local circuit of the relay also controlled thereby to maintain the continued
excitement of the relay when once magnetized, together with a device in the
coin chute for receiving the coin to close the signalling circuit when a coin is
deposited, and a telephone switch to open the circuit thus closed when the tele-
phone is brought into use; the combination with a metallic telephone line and
a ground return therefor, of a grounded circuit formed of a portion of the line
containing an individual or line signal at the central office and controlled by a
deposited coin at the pay station, a telephone switch for breaking the ground
circuit, and a metallic circuit containing a supervisory signal at the central office
controlled by the telephone switch, whereby a connection may be originated only
on the deposit of a coin, but the connection may be supervised without the aid
of the coin. The invention includes other details of secondary importance which
will be made clear in the following description:
The drawing attached hereto illustrates the system of the invention. It repre-
sents in simple form the apparatus of a telephone pay station, a line leading
therefrom to a central office, and signalling and supervising mechanism at the
central office.
The telephones a and a¹ at the sub-station are placed in a circuit of well known
arrangement for permitting the supply of current for exciting the transmitting
telephone from. the central office. The circuit is controlled by the usual tele-
phone switch a². When the telephone is in its position of use, a circuit 1 is
formed from the line wire 2 through the transmitting telephone a and one wind-
ing of an induction coil a to the line wire 3; and a shunt 4 is closed about the
transmitting telephone which includes the receiving telephone a¹, together with
a condenser a³, both circuits being closed by switch contacts in the telephone

page_text: switch. A polarized bell as of high impedance is connected in a conductor 5 in
such a way that the conductor 5 and a portion of wire 4 form a permanent bridge
including the bell a together with the condenser a³.
The coin collecting mechanism at the pay station consists of a coin chute b
leading to a cash box, a portion of the coin chute (which I term the deflector)
being made manually movable, by means of button b², and being adapted to deflect
the coin into a coin chute leading to the exterior of box; a stop projects into
the path of the coin in the fixed portion of the chute. The stop is controlled by
the armature of the polarized magnet, which is normally retained by a light
spring in position to thrust the stop into the coin chute. A light contact spring be
or equivalent device, projects into the path of the coin where the latter is brought
to rest upon the movable stop; the contact spring is associated with a contact
anvil 67, against which it is thrust when the spring is moved outward by a coin
in the chute..
The push button 62 which actuates the deflector actuates also a switch spring 18
to move it into contact with its anvil 69 when the deflector is in position to divert
the coin into the refunding chute.
The magnet and the normally separated switch springs b6 b7 are included
serially in the wire 6 leading from ground to the contact a of the telephone
switch, through the agency of which the wire is brought into connection with
line wire 2 when the telephone rests on its switch. The spring 68 and its contact 6º
control a break in a bridge 7 between the line conductors 2 and 3.
The line conductors 2 and 3 lead at the central office to the line contact pieces
of a spring-jacke in a telephone switchboard; a normal extension of the line
conductor 2 leads also through the magnet winding of a relay d and a battery e
to earth. The relay & controls a local circuit which includes a source of current
and a secondary line signal f associated with the spring-jack e in the switch-
board. The relay carries a special winding which is connected in multiple with
a signal lamp. The local circuit and the normal extension of the line are
controlled by the two pairs of switch contacts of a cut-off relay g, whose magnet
is in a portion 8 of a local circuit within the exchange which becomes closed in
the establishment of connection with the line. Thus the relay is adapted to
break the normal ground extension of the line conductor 2, and interrupt the
current through the signal lamp and the special winding of the relay when a
plug is inserted in the spring-jack of a line.
The operator is provided with the usual pairs of plugs h and ¹ which form
the terminals of a plug circuit 9, 10. The sleeve contacts of the plugs, which are
adapted to bring the line conductors 2 into union, are inductively united by wire 9
through the agency of two mutually inductive windings of repeating coil. The
tip contacts of the plug are likewise united through the conductor 10 which
includes other inductively related windings of the repeating coil. A bridge of
the plug circuit is formed which includes a battery; the terminal of the battery
adjacent to the conductor 10 of the plug circuit is grounded.
Conductor 10 of the plug circuit traverses the magnet windings of two relays m
and m', one at each side of the repeating coil. These relays control supervisory
signals and n¹, which are associated with the plugs h and h, respectively, in
the switchboard, through the agency of shunt circuits about the lamps, which
are themselves in conductors 11 and 12 which terminate in contact pieces of
plugs and, respectively, which register with the ring contacts of the spring-
jacks. Thus the insertion of any plug in a jack closes a local circuit which
includes both the cut-off relay of the corresponding line and the supervisory
signal associated with the plug.
The portion of conductor 9 leading from the plug h traverses the normally
closed switch contacts of a key o which is adapted when depressed to break the
circuit to battery and to close it through a battery p of opposite polarity.
The plug circuits are furnished with calling keys q for applying calling current
to the calling plugs, and with listening keys for connecting the operator's tele-

page_text: phone with the plug circuit. The latter have been omitted from the drawing to
avoid unnecessary complication thereof.
When a call originates with another line for the pay station, connection is
completed with the line to the pay station by means of plug h of a pair in the
usual way; calling current applied by key q finds circuit through line con-
ductor 2, the bridge 4, 5, of the line and line conductor 3, ringing the polarized
bella, the condenser in the circuit forming no obstacle to the alternating call-
ing current. The insertion of the calling plug in the spring-jack of the line
called for closes the local circuit 8, 12, whereby the line relay is disconnected
from the line conductor, and current is produced for exciting the supervisory
lamp n. The lamp remains lighted as long as the relay m¹ is inert; but when
the user of the telephone, responding to the call, takes the telephone for use, the
switch a closes a bridge of the line including the transmitting telephone and
one winding of the induction coil, whereby a current permitted to flow from
battery through the circuit thus completed, the supervisory relay m being in
the path of the current. The relay closes a shunt about the supervisory lamp
and thus indicates to the operator the taking of the telephone at the sub-station.
It will be noted that under this condition the telephone apparatus becomes fully
operative, without the aid of any deposited coin.
When, on the other hand, a call is to be originated at the pay station, a coin
must be placed in the coin chute b as a preliminary to making the call. The
coin falls upon the stop and presses the spring outward, whereby a circuit
is completed from the battery through line conductor 2 and the ground branch 6
at the sub-station which excites the relay d; the relay; attracting its armature,
closes the local circuit of the secondary signal, and thus both lights the signal
and produces a current in the special winding of the relay which maintains the
excitement of the relay without further dependence on the condition of the line
circuit. The operator, answering the call, inserts plug into the spring-jack c,
thus applying the battery to line conductor 2, bringing the supervisory relay m
into association with line conductor 3, and closing the local circuit 8, 11. The
cut-off relay f breaks the local circuit of the secondary line signal, and severs
the connection of the relay d with the line conductor 2.
The polarity of magnet is such with reference to the currents from batteries c
and that the magnet cannot be operated through the action of those batteries..
The user of the telephone may at any time after the deposit of the toll remove
his telephone; and after the reply of the operator he may give his order for the
required connection. The removal of the telephone from its switch disconnects
the temporary ground branch 6 at the sub-station, and closes a bridge of the
line which permits the excitement of the supervisory relay m and brings about
the extinction of the supervisory signal n.
If the required connection is obtained, the operator awaits the termination of
conversation, which is indicated to her by the lighting of the hitherto shunted
signal lamps and consequent on the breaking of the bridges at the sub-
stations. The operator then presses the key o, thereby applying a current of
reverse polarity to the normal current through the ground branch 6, whereby
the magnet is excited and caused to withdraw the stop 6 from the path of
the coin in the coin chute and permit the coin to drop into the cash box.
If, on the other hand, the required connection cannot be made, the operator,
on determining this fact, instructs the user of the telephone to replace the tele-
phone on its switch and then to press the button b², in order that she may return
the deposited coin. The replacement of the telephone on its switch is indicated
by the supervisory signal which becomes lighted through the breaking of the
bridge at the sub-station. The pressure of the button to actuate the deflector.b
is indicated by the disappearance of the supervisory signal, inasmuch as the
movement of the deflector incidentally closes a bridge 7 of the line circuit which
permits current to flow from the battery throughout the metallic circuit to
again excite the supervisory relay m.
1

page_text: Observing the disappearance of the supervisory signal, the operator depresses
key o and releases the coin at the pay station, which falls through the coin
chute, and is diverted by the deflector into the channel through which it is
returned to the user of the instrument.
-
It will be understood by those skilled in telephony that a coin collecting
appliance is to be considered the equivalent of various other appliances for
insuring payment for the use of the telephone; such as devices requiring the
deposit of a purchased blank or token, or for operating registering mechanism,
the count from which is made the basis of a charge for the use of the telephone.
This invention of course applies to any such form of apparatus for insuring pay-
ment for the use of the telephones, the requirement for combining the invention
with such apparatus being merely that a pair of switch springs 66 67 shall be
associated with a part moved by the user of the telephone as a preliminary to
its use.
Аррианс0 104 1огорцово
I, JOHN EDWARD KINGSBURY, of 79, Coleman Street, in the City of London,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Western Electric Company, of Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America,) and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to pay stations of telephone exchange systems, and
concerns the operations of initiating and receiving calls at the station, of deposit-
ing or refunding tolls for the use of the telephone, and of supervising in the
central office the various acts of the user. It consists in a combination of devices
and circuits permitting the association of the toll box or coin collecting appliance
of the pay station with the supervising and signalling mechanism of telephone
switchboards such as are commonly in use, in an operative organization capable
of attaining a high degree of efficiency and reliability in the use of the pay
station.
For these purposes there are provided:-A signalling circuit between the pay
station and the central station, à source of current at the central station applied
to the line, a relay in the circuit and a secondary signal controlled by the relay,
a local circuit of the relay also controlled thereby to maintain the continued
excitement of the relay when once magnetized, together with a device in the
coin chute for receiving the coin to close the signalling circuit when a coin is
depositied, and a telephone switch to open the circuit thus closed when the tele-
phone is brought into use; the combination with a metallic telephone line and
a ground return therefor, of a grounded circuit formed of a portion of the line
containing an individual or line signal at the central office and controlled by a
deposited coin at the pay station, a telephone switch for breaking the ground
circuit, and a metallic circuit containing a supervisory signal at the central office
controlled by the telephone switch, whereby a connection may be originated only
on the deposit of a coin, but the connection may be supervised without the aid
of the coin. The invention includes other details of secondary importance which
will be made clear in the following description:
The drawing left with the Provisional Specification illustrates the system of

page_text: the invention. It represents in simple form the apparatus of a telephone pay
station, a line leading therefrom to a central office, and signalling and super-
vising mechanism at the central office.
The telephones a and a' at the sub-station are placed in a circuit of well known
arrangement for permitting the supply of current for exciting the transmitting
telephone from the central office. The circuit is controlled by the usual tele-
phone switch a². When the telephone is in its position of use, a circuit 1 is
formed from the line wire 2 through the transmitting telephone a and one wind-
ing of an induction coil a to the line wire 3, and a shunt 4 is closed about the
transmitting telephone which includes the receiving telephone a', together with
a condenser a³, both circuits being closed by switch contacts in the telephone
switch. A polarized bell as of high impedance is connected in a conductor 5 in
such a way that the conductor 5 and a portion of wire 4 form a permanent bridge
including the bell a together with the condenser a³.
The coin collecting mechanism at the pay station consists of a coin chute b
leading to a cash box, a portion 6' of the coin chute (which I term. the deflector)
being made manually movable, by means of button-62, and being adapted to deflect
the coin into a coin chute leading to the exterior of box; a stop projects into
the path of the coin in the fixed portion of the chute. The stop is controlled by
the armature of the polarized magnet be, which is normally retained by a light
spring in position to thrust the stop into the coin chute. A light contact spring b
or equivalent device, projects into the path of the coin where the latter is brought
to rest upon the movable stop; the contact spring is associated with a contact
anvil 67, against which it is thrust when the spring is moved outward by a coin
in the chute.
The push button 62 which actuates the deflector actuates also a switch spring 68
to move it into contact with its anvil 69 when the deflector is in position to divert
the coin into the refunding chute.
The magnet b and the normally separated switch springs 66 67 are included
serially in the wire 6 leading from ground to the contact a of the telephone
switch, through the agency of which the wire is brought into connection with
line wire 2 when the telephone rests on its switch. The spring 68 and its contact 6°
control a break in a bridge 7 between the line conductors 2 and 3.
The line conductors 2 and 3 lead at the central office to the line contact pieces
of a spring jack c in a telephone switchboard; a normal extension of the line
conductor 2 leads also through the magnet winding of a relay d and a battery e
to earth. The relay d controls a local circuit which includes a source of current
and a secondary line signal f associated with the spring-jack c on the switch-
board. The relay carries a special winding which is connected in multiple with
a signal lamp. The local circuit and the normal extension of the line are
controlled by the two pairs of switch contacts of a cut-off relay g, whose magnet
is in a portion 8 of a local circuit within the exchange which becomes closed on
the establishment of connection with the line. Thus the relay 9 is adapted to
break the normal ground extension of the line conductor 2, and interrupt the
current through the signal lamp and the special winding of the relay d when a
plug is inserted in the spring-jack of a line.
The
The operator is provided with the usual pairs of plugs h and h¹ which form
he terminals of a plug circuit 9, 10. The sleeve contacts of the plugs, which are
adapted to bring the line conductors 2 into union, are inductively united by wire 9
hrough the agency of two mutually inductive windings of repeating coil i.
ip contacts of the plug are likewise united through the conductor 10 which
ncludes other inductively related windings of the repeating coil.
he plug circuit is formed which includes a battery 1; the terminal of the battery.
A bridge of
djacent to the conductor 10 of the plug circuit is grounded.
Conductor 10 of the plug circuit traverses the magnet windings of two relays m
nd m', one at each side of the repeating coil. These relays control supervisory

page_text: signals n and n which are associated with the plugs h and h¹ respectively, in
the switchboard, through the agency of shunt circuits about the lamps, which
are themselves in conductors 11 and 12 which terminate in contact pieces of
plugs and h, respectively, which register with the ring contacts of the spring
jacks. Thus the insertion of any plug in a jack closes a local circuit which
includes both the cut-off relay of the corresponding line and the supervisory
signal associated with the plug.
The portion of conductor 9 leading from the plug traverses the normally
closed switch contacts of a key o which is adapted when depressed to break the
circuit to battery and to close it through a battery p of opposite polarity.
The plug circuits are furnished with calling keys q for applying calling current
to the calling plugs, and with listening keys for connecting the operator's tele-
phone with the plug circuit. The latter have been omitted from the drawing to
avoid unnecessary complication thereof.
When a call originates with another line for the pay station, connection is
completed with the line to the pay station by means of plug ¹ of a pair in the
usual way; calling current applied by key q finds circuit. through line con-
ductor 2, the bridge 4, 5, of the line and line conductor 3, ringing the polarized
bella, the condenser in the circuit forming no obstacle to the alternating call-
ing current. The insertion of the calling plug in the spring jack of the line
called for closes the local circuit 8, 12, whereby the line relay is disconnected
from the line conductor, and current is produced for exciting the supervisory
lamp. The lamp remains lighted as long as the relay m¹ is inert; but when
the user of the telephone, responding to the call, takes the telephone for use, the
switch a² closes a bridge of the line including the transmitting telephone and
one winding of the induction coil, whereby a current is permitted to flow from
battery through the circuit thus completed, the supervisory relay m¹ being in
the path of the current. The relay closes a shunt about the supervisory lamp
and thus indicates to the operator the taking of the telephone at the sub-station.
It will be noted that under this condition the telephone apparatus becomes fully
operative, without the aid of any deposited coin.
When on the other hand, a call is to be originated at the pay station, à coin
must be placed in the coin chute 6 as a preliminary to making the call. The
coin falls upon the stop 64 and presses the spring outward, whereby a circuit
is completed from the battery c through line conductor 2 and the ground branch 6
at the sub-station which excites the relay d; the relay, attracting its armature,
closes the local circuit of the secondary signal, and thus both lights the signal
and produces a current in the special winding of the relay which maintains the
excitement of the relay without further dependence on the condition of the line
circuit. The operator, answering the call, inserts plug into the spring-jack c,
thus applying the battery to line conductor 2, bringing the supervisory relay m
into association with line conductor 3, and closing the local circuit 8, 11. The
cut-off relay y breaks the local circuit of the secondary line signal, and severs
the connection of the relay d with the line conductor 2.
The polarity of magnet is such with reference to the currents from batteries e
and that the magnet cannot be operated through the action of those batteries.
The user of the telephone may at any time after the deposit of the toll remove
his telephone; and after the reply of the operator he may give his order for the
required connection. The removal of the telephone from its switch disconnects
the temporary ground branch 6 at the sub-station, and closes a bridge of the
line which permits the excitement of the supervisory relay m and brings about
the extinction of the supervisory signal n.
If the required connection is obtained, the operator awaits the termination of
conversation which is indicated to her by the lighting of the hitherto shunted
signal lamps and n¹ consequent on the breaking of the bridges at the sub-
stations: The operator then presses the key o, thereby applying a current of

page_text: reverse polarity to the normal current through the ground branch b, whereby
the magnet bis excited and caused to withdraw the stop 6 from the path of
the coin in the coin chute and permit the coin to drop into the cash box.
If, on the other hand, the required connection cannot be made, the operator,
on determining this fact, instructs the user of the telephone to replace the tele-
phone on its switch and then to press the button 2, in order that she may return
the deposited coin. The replacement of the telephone on its switch is indicated
by the supervisory signal which becomes lighted through the breaking of the
bridge at the sub-station. The pressure of the button 63 to actuate the deflector b
is indicated by the disappearance of the supervisory signal, inasmuch as the
movement of the deflector incidentally closes a bridge 7 of the line circuit which
permits current to flow from the battery throughout the metallic circuit to
again excite the supervisory relay m.
Observing the disappearance of the supervisory signal, the operator depresses
key o and releases the coin at the pay station, which falls through the coin
chute, and is diverted by the deflector into the channel through which it is
returned to the user of the instrument.
It will be understood by those skilled in telephony that a coin collecting
appliance is to be considered the equivalent of various other appliances for
insuring payment for the use of the telephone, such as devices requiring the
deposit of a purchased blank or token, or for operating registering mechanism,
the count from which is made the basis of a charge for the use of the telephone.
This invention of course applies to any such form of apparatus for insuring pay-
ment for the use of the telephones, the requirement for combining the invention
with such, apparatus being merely that a pair of switch springs 66 67 shall be
associated with a part moved by the user of the telephone as a preliminary to
its use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with a telephone line to a telephone pay station, of a call
originating signal circuit, a coin chute at the sub station and a switch therein
actuated by a coin adapted to complete the said signal circuit, a telephone switch
at the sub station and contacts thereof adapted to break the signal circuit when
the telephone is in use, a magnet at the central office and a secondary signal
controlled thereby, and a winding of the magnet in a circuit controlled by switch
contacts thereof; whereby the deposit of a coin displays a signal which the use
of the telephone does not efface, as described.
2. The combination with a metallic circuit telephone line to a pay station, of
a coin receiving device at the pay station and switch therein closed by a coin
in the said device, a grounded signalling circuit including one of the line con-
ductors controlled by the switch in said coin receiving device and by switch
contacts of the telephone switch closed when the telephone is not in use, a relay
in the grounded signalling circuit at the central office and a secondary signal
controlled thereby, and a local battery circuit including a winding of the relay
also controlled thereby, as described.
3. The combination with a telephone line and a normally open return circuit
associated therewith, of a relay together with a source of current in a circuit
closed at the central office between said line and return circuit, a secondary signal
and a local circuit controlled by the relay, and a magnet winding of the relay
connected with said local circuit. and means for breaking the circuit of the relay
in making connection with the line, a coin collecting device at the sub station
and a switch therein actuated by a deposited coin adapted to make connection
between said line and said return circuit, and a telephone switch adapted to break
the connection thus formed, as described.
4. The combination of a metallic circuit telephone line and a ground return

page_text: therefor, of a line signal in a circuit formed of a portion of the line and the
ground return together with a source of current, and a coin collecting device
actuated by a deposited coin to close the said circuit, a telephone switch at the
sub station controlling a bridge of the metallic circuit, link conductors for making
connection with the line, and a supervisory signal together with a source of
current in the link conductor adapted for association with the other line con-
ductor of the metallic circuit, as described.
5. The combination with a metallic circuit telephone line and a ground return
therefor, a source of current in a circuit between the line and the ground return,
and a line signal in the circuit, a coin collecting appliance at the sub station
adapted to complete a circuit of the line signal and the source of current when
the coin is deposited; link. conductors for making connection with the line, a
ground on the link conductor adapted for connection with that line conductor
which is normally not grounded, and a supervisory signal in the same link
conductor, whereby the initial call is dependent on the deposit of a coin, but the
supervision of the line is independent of the coin, as described.
J. E. KINGSBURY.