Improvements in and relating to Telephone Switches and Switch- boards.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Telephone Switches and Switch-
boards.
I, GEORGE GILLMORE, of 10, Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows -
This invention relates to switches and switchboards for use in telephone ex-
changes for connecting the ringing key and operator's instrument with any pair
of cords and ring off signal, and its main object is to enable the separate keys
which are now employed for each pair of cords and plugs to be dispensed with,
and a single key to be substituted by means of which the necessary contacts may
be made or opened.
In one form of device a suitable arm is pivotted at one end so that it may
rotate around its pivot and at the same time be capable of moving in a plane at
right angles to the plane of rotation. This arm consists of two metallic con-
ducting strips insulated from each other and respectively connected permanently
to the ringing key and to the operator's telephone. Arranged concentrically
around the arm is a series of multiple contacts each consisting of four springs.
two of which are connected to a ring off signal, while the other two are connected
to a pair of cords and plugs. The springs are so formed that normally the ring-
off signal springs are in contact with the plug springs, but when the end of the
before described arm is inserted in a set of springs, the plug springs are forced
away out of contact with the ring-off signal springs and come into contact with
the two strips on the arm and are thus placed in communication with the ringing
key and operator's telephone.
In substitution for the moving arm or switch a similarly equipped slide, plug
or equivalent device may be inserted in the sets of springs.
In another form of device and in order to permit ringing to be independently
and properly effected on either cord, the arm, plug, slide or the like is formed or
provided with three strips or contacts which are permanently in contact with
the ringing key and the operator's instrument. Each multiple contact consists
of five springs three of which are in contact with the plug cords, while the other
two, as before are connected with the ringing-off signal. Similarly, when the
contacts are not in use with the switching device, two of the plug springs are in
contact with the two ringing-off springs. When the end of the arm or equiva-
lent device is inserted into the set of springs, the three contacts or strips upon
it come into communication with the three springs which are connected to the
plug cords and at the same time disconnect them from the ringing-off springs.
If desired, the arm, plug, slide or the like may be provided with a greater
number than three strips or contacts, and each multiple contact with which it
is adapted to engage may be formed with a correspondingly greater number of
springs.
Dated this 30th day of July AD 1899

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Telephone Switches and Switch-
boards.
I, GEORGE GILLMORE, of 10, Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, 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:-
This invention relates to switches and switchboards for use in telephone ex-
changes for connecting the ringing key and operator's instrument with any pair
of cords and its main object is to enable the separate keys which are now em-
ployed for each pair of cords and plugs to be dispensed with, and a single key
to be substituted by means of which the necessary contacts may be made or
opened.
In one form of device a suitable arm is pivotted at one end so that it may
rotate around its pivot and at the same time be capable of moving in a plane
at right angles to the plane of rotation. This arm is provided with two metallic
conducting strips insulated from each other and respectively connected perma-
nently to the ringing key and to the operator's telephone. Arranged concentri-
cally around the arm is a series of multiple contacts each consisting of four
springs, two of which are connected to a ring-off signal, while the other two are
connected to a pair of cords and a plug or plugs. The springs are so formed
and disposed that normally the ring-off signal springs are in contact with the
plug springs, but when the end of the before described arm with its two metallic
strips is inserted in a set of springs, the plug springs are forced away out of
contact with the ring-off signal springs and come into contact with the two strips
on the arm and are thus placed in communication with the ringing key and
operator's telephone.
In substitution for the moving arm a similarly equipped slide, plug or equiva-
lent device may be inserted in the sets of springs.
In another form of device and in order to permit ringing to be independently
and properly effected on either cord, the arm, plug, slide, or the like is formed or
provided with three strips or contacts which are permanently in contact with the
ringing key and the operator's instrument. Each multiple contact in this case
consists of five springs three of which are in contact with the plug cords, while
the other two, as before, are connected with the ringing-off signal. Similarly,
when the contacts are not engaged by the switching device, two of the plug
springs are in contact with the two ringing-off springs. When the end of the arm
or equivalent device is inserted into the set of springs, the three contacts or strips
upon it come into communication with the three springs which are connected to
the plug cords and at the same time disconnect them from the ringing off springs.
If desired, the arm, plug, slide or the like may be provided with a greater
number than three strips or contacts, and each multiple contact with which it
is adapted to engage may be provided with a corespondingly greater number of
springs.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have hereto
appended two sheets of drawings to which I will now refer.
Figure 1 shows in plan a switchboard provided with an arm A, which can be
rotated or partly rotated around the point B. and which is hinged at C so that
its outer end can be raised by means of the handle D. The arm is provided with
three metallic strips, a, b, and c, which are insulated from each other and are
connected by brushes, rubbing contacts or the like to the wires E which lead to

page_text: the ringing key and to the operator's telephone. Arranged concentrically
around the arm is a series of multple spring contacts F, each of which consists
of five springs, the outer and centre ones of which are connected to the wires G
and H leading to the plugs. The shorter inner springs or contacts are connected
to the wires J leading to the ringing-off signal. The different circuits are shown
in the middle multiple contact with which the arm is engaged. In each of the
multiple contacts with which the arm is not in engagement the plug contacts
close and make connection with the ringing-off signal contacts as shown and
the centre plug contact connects with one of the outer ones. When the arm
is engaged with a multiple contact the plug contacts are engaged by and con-
nected to the strips a, b, and c, and are forced away from the ringing-off signal
contacts. The arm may be moved around its pivot B until it is over the desired
multiple contact and then be lowered to make contact as illustrated in respect
of the centre multiple contact. When the arm is to be removed the outer end
is raised by the handle D and the arm is then rotated to the desired point.
A indicates a plug which may be used in substitution for the arm A. The
plug is provided with three metallic strips a, b, and c which are connected by
flexible cords to the wires E. The plug may be inserted in any desired multiple
contact. D is a handle by means of which it may be moved.
Another form of the improved switching device is illustrated in Figure 2. In
this case the ringing key and the operator's telephone wires E are connected to
rods e upon which the metallic thimbles or ferrules K are capable of sliding. The
metallic strips, b and c can slide, in contact, within the ferrules and are thus
maintained in contact with the wires E, one with each. The plug A carrying
the metallic strips may thus be withdrawn from any one multiple contact and be
moved to and inserted within any other, effecting the same connections and dis-
connections as previously explained with reference to Figure 1. Similar parts
are indicated by similar letters of reference in this and the other figures.
Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a switch board in which the metallic
strips a, b, and c, are carried by a plug A similar to the one A¹ shown in Figure 1,
and connected by flexible wires to the wires E. This plug may be placed in
contact with any one of the contacts F and may be securely held in place by a
pin on the under side of the plug A engaging with one or other of a series of
holes L formed in the switch board. Similar holes may be employed in con-
nection with the devices shown in Figure 2 and the handle D may pass right
through the plug and be formed on its under side with a suitable pin or peg.
In this case the pin would have to be withdrawn before the plug could be dis-
engaged from any of contacts, but this could be effected by forming the handle
so that it could be moved to a slight extent vertically.
In Figure 4 is represented a vertical section of a board in which the metallic
strips upon the arm A are arranged in a plane at right angles to the plane of
rotation of the arm. As before, F indicates one of a series of multiple contacts
arranged concentrically around the pivot B. By simply turning the handle 1)
the strips upon the arm may be placed in contact with any of the contacts F.
Figure 5 similarly illustrates a like form of arm which is, however, provided
with four metallic strips a, b, c and d maintained in contact with the wires E
by brushes or the like. In this modification the contacts F are provided with
six members which are connected to the plugs by the wires G and H, and to the
ringing-off signal by the wires J. In this six element contact the plug contacts
close upon the ringing-off contacts when the arm A is withdrawn, as shown in
Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 6 shows in plan part of the board represented in Figure 5.
The devices illustrated in Figure 7 are similar to those shown in Figure 1,
with the exception that the arm has four strips and the multiple contacts have
each six members.
A sliding arm or plug is shown in Figure 8, also with four contacts or metallic
strips. In this case the arm is hinged in the middle at C, so that sliding in one

page_text: direction only is needed, and this form of construction may be adopted with the
three contact arm or plug already described with reference to Figure 2.
Figures 9 and 10 represent respectively in plan and cross section a switching
device in which each of the multiple contacts F has six members, and in which
the four metallic strips a, b, c and d are secured to the handle 1) and are arranged
to slide along in contact with the rods e. These rods are connected to the wires E.
Figure 11 shows diagrammatically the simplest form of switching device which
may be employed. In this case the arm or the like only carries two metallic
strips a and b and the multiple contact is composed of four members, the two
outer ones of which are connected to the wires G leading to the plug, while the
two inner ones are connected by the wires J to the ringing-off signal. When
the arm is removed the plug contacts close upon the ringing-off signal contacts.
The illustrations only represent types of switches which may have their. form
and the number of contacts and the like varied to meet any desired case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A telephone switching device consisting essentially of an arm, slide or the
like provided with two or more metallic strips connected to the ringing key and
the operator's telephone, and of a multiple spring contact having four or a corre-
spondingly greater number of elements connected to the plug cords and to the
ringing-off key, all constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore de-
scribed and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. A telephone switching device consisting of an arm or the like furnished with
three metallic strips, and of a multiple spring contact having five elements,
constructed arranged and connected substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. A telephone switching device consisting of an arm or the like furnished
with four metallic strips, and of a multiple spring contact having six elements,
constructed arranged and connected substantially as hereinbefere described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A telephone switching device consisting of an arm or the like furnished
with metallic strips connected to the ringing key and to the operator's telephone
and of a series of multiple spring contacts the elements of which are connected
to the plug cords and to the ringing-off key, all constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. A telephone switchboard constructed arranged and equipped substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
6. Telephone switching devices constructed and arranged substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of December AD 1800
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.