Improvements in Apparatus for Prepaid Telephonic Messages.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Prepaid Telephonic Messages.
We, ROBERT HOWE GOULD of No. 5 Gitschiner Strasse, Berlin, S.W.
Germany, Civil Engineer, and THEODOR GOTTSCHALK, of 38 Neuenburger
Strasse, Berlin, S. W. aforesaid, Merchant, both trading under the style or firm
of Gould & Co., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus for use with a telephone or micro-
telephone with call bell, for preventing the use of the telephone until after the
insertion into the apparatus of a suitable coin or coins or of a token or tokens of
determined size, shape and weight (hereinafter included in the expression coin) at
a convenient part of the apparatus.
An arrangement of apparatus for this purpose comprises a fixed coin receiver
and conductor consisting of a sorting contrivance, a bent channel, and a curved flat
tube, the upper part of which is provided with a hinged bottom, whilst its lower
part terminates in two diverging branches or channels one for retaining the coin
and afterwards guiding it into a suitable receptacle, and the other for returning the
coin to the exterior of the apparatus. A contact lever is fixed to a rocking shaft
forming the hinge of the movable bottom. The bottom is pressed upwards by a
spring until a proper coin has been placed in the apparatus when it will be depressed
by the coin and make contact with a spring, after which a current from a local
battery can be sent to the telephone exchange by pressing the call button of the
telephone. Thus it will be understood that the call circuit will be interrupted
even though the call button be pressed, until closed by the action of the coin
inserted in the apparatus. One of the two lower diverging branches or channels
of the coin conductor is kept closed by a switch fixed on a second rocking shaft
with an oscillating lever, beam or frame carrying an electro-magnet actuated by a
second electro-magnet, whilst the other branch or channel is kept open by the same
means. According to the direction of a current sent from the telephone exchange,
or from a battery controlled by the person spoken with, and which simultaneously
actuates the relay (transmitter) and an electro-magnet below or beside the
oscillating electro-magnet, the latter, (which never changes its polarity) is either
repelled, and the cashing or receiving channel consequently opened by the
switch, or is attracted, in which case the said channel is closed by the switch and
the returning channel is opened, which only takes place when the desired line.is
engaged.
In conjunction with the two electro-magnets there is used a third electro-magnet,
which is excited by a local battery the circuit of which is closed by the aforesaid
relay. This third electro-magnet serves to actuate an iron lever in such a manner
as to liberate the coin, which is detained in the channel whilst the telephone is in
use, and simultaneously closes a local circuit which "rings off" in the customary
manner.
Dated this 20th day of January 1891
R. H. GOULD,
By L. W., per F. B.
T. GOTTSCHALK,
By L. W., per F. B.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Prepaid Telephonic Messages.
We, ROBERT HOWE GOULD of No. 5 Gitschiner Strasse, Berlin, S.W.
Germany, Civil Engineer, and THEODOR GOTTSCHALK of 38 Neuenburger
Strasse Berlin S.W. aforesaid, Merchant, both trading under the style or firm
of Gould & Co., 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 has reference to apparatus for use with a telephone or micro-
telephone with call bell button, or device for calling up the central exchange, or
giving a signal such as the falling of a shutter disclosing a number or the like, and
is designed to prevent the central office being called up preparatory to using the
telephone until after the insertion into the apparatus of a suitable coin or coins, or
of a token or tokens of determined size, shape and weight (hereinafter included in
the expression coin).
An arrangement of apparatus, for this purpose comprises a fixed coin receiver
and shoot, consisting of a sorting contrivance, a bent channel, and a curved flat
tube, the upper part of which is provided with a hinged or movable bottom or
part, whilst its lower part terminates in two diverging branches or channels, one
for guiding the coin into a suitable receptacle, and the other for returning the coin
to the exterior of the apparatus. A contact lever is fixed to a rock shaft con-
nected to the movable bottom or part which is pressed upwards by a spring until a
proper coin has been placed in the apparatus, when it will be depressed by the coin
and cause the contact lever to make contact with a spring, after which a current
from a local battery can be sent to the telephone exchange by pressing the call
button of the telephone. Thus it will be understood that the call circuit will be
interrupted even though the call button be pressed, until closed by the action of
the coin inserted in the apparatus. One of the two lower diverging branches or
channels of the coin conductor is normally kept closed by a switch fixed on a
second rock shaft with an oscillating lever, beam or frame carrying an electro
magnet adapted to be actuated under certain circumstances by a second electro
magnet; the other branch or channel is normally kept open by the switch.
According to the direction of a current sent from the telephone exchange, or from
a battery controlled by the person spoken with (hereinafter included in the
expression "telephone exchange") and which current simultaneously actuates a
relay and the second electro-magnet below or beside the oscillating electro-magnet,
the latter (which never changes its polarity) is either repelled, and the cashing or
receiving channel consequently opened, or kept open by the switch; or is attracted,
in which case the cashing or receiving channel is closed by the switch, and the
returning channel is opened, which only takes place, when the desired line is
engaged or is not for the time being, available.
In conjunction with the two electro-magnets, there is used a third electro-magnet,
which is excited by a local battery, the circuit of which is closed by the aforesaid
relay. This third electro-magnet serves to actuate an iron lever or detent in such
a manner as to liberate the coin, which is detained in the channel whilst the
telephone is in use, and to simultaneously close a local circuit which "rings off" in
the customary manner.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in vertical transverse section, and partly in elevation,
apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view partly in section of the apparatus with various electrical
connections.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the casing of the apparatus with certain electro-
magnets therein, shown in elevation.

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating modifications.
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the various electrical connections
between the said apparatus and the telephonic instruments and the telephone
exchange.
The coin shoot (Figs. 1 and 2) consists of a sorting device or chamber 1, a bent
channel 2 and a curved flat tube 3. The sorting device or chamber 1 has formed
in its lower side two slots, one for the passage of coin of less than the proper
value into a return shoot 4, and the other for the passage of coin of the proper
value, into the bent channel 2 which near its lower end is also formed with a slot
for the passage of the coin into the tube 3. The upper bent end of the tube 3 is,
when the apparatus is designed to admit of the central exchange being called by
the insertion therein of one coin only, provided with a movable bottom 5. The
lower part of the tube 3 terminates in two branches or channeis 6 and 7. 8 is a
contact lever fixed to a rock shaft 9 to which the bottom 5 is also fixed. 10 is a
spring that normally presses the bottom 5 upwards into the position shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 1, until a proper coin A has been placed in the apparatus,
when the bottom will be depressed by the coin and cause the contact lever 8 to
make contact with a spring contact 11, after which a current can be sent from a
local battery 12 to the telephone exchange 13 by pressing the ordinary call
button 14 (Fig. 6). The coin is for the time being retained in the position shown
in Fig. 1 by the end of a coin retaining device 15 that projects into the tube 3,
and constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet, hereinafter referred to, under
the control of the telephone exchange. When the apparatus is to be rendered
available for use only by the insertion therein of two coins, the upper curved end
of the tube 3 is constructed as shown in Fig. 4. In this case the bottom 5 is fixed,
and into the tube projects one end of a lever 5 fixed to the rock shaft 9.
With this arrangement the first coin say A, inserted in the apparatus will fall on
to the fixed bottom without operating the lever 5*, 5, and will for the time being
be held in the position shown, by the coin retaining device 15. When a second
coin say B is inserted it will roll over the first one A and depress the end 5* of
the lever 5 and thus partly rotate the rock shaft 9 and cause the contact lever 8
to make contact with the spring contact 11, and render the call button 14 (Fig. 6)
available to call up the exchange, or the person with whom it is desired to speak.
It will be readily seen that in this case the first coin cannot cause 8 and 11 to
make contact, so that the call or push button 14 cannot be used until the second
coin has been inserted in the apparatus.
When more than two coins, say three, are to be used at a time, the bottom 5
should be suitably recessed to receive say two of them, the first and lowermost
one A being held laterally by the coin retaining device 15, the second one by a
fixed stop 16, and the last and uppermost one C alone operating the lever 5" 5" as
before. But in any case no contact is made until the last coin has been inserted.
Fig. 5 shows such a construction.
17 (Figs. 1 and 2) is a switch arranged at the junction of the two branches 6
and 7, so as to open the one and close the other according to the position of a
frame 18, provided with trunnions or knife edges to one of which the switch is
fixed. 19 is an electro magnet carried by the frame 18. 20 is a second electro-
magnet fixed at one side of the first one 19, with its axis normally out of line
therewith. 21 is a relay of ordinary construction and in circuit with the electro
magnet 20. This electro magnet 20 is so wound and arranged in relation to the
electro magnet 19, that when a current is sent round it in one direction from the
telephone exchange and through the relay (the action of the relay being independent
of the direction of the current), it will repel 19 and hold it in the position shown
in full lines in Fig. 2, so as to cause the switch 17 to keep channel 6 open and
close channel 7, and when a current is sent through it in the reverse direction,
also from the exchange, it will attract 19 into the position shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 2, and cause switch 17 to close channel 6 and open channel 7.
The function of the relay 21 is to close the circuit of the local battery 12, the

page_text: P
current from which flows always in the same direction around the electro-magnet 19,
and also around a third electro-magnet 22. The armature of this electro-magnet 22
is the coin-retaining device 15, the free end of which enters the tube 3 and
normally prevents the coin or coins descending this tube until attracted by the
electro-magnet, when its end will be moved out of the path of the coin or coins
which will then be free to slide down through one or other of the branches 6 or 7
according to the position of the switch 17.
23 is a spring that causes the frame 18 to normally bear against a fixed pin 18
and hold the switch 17 in a position to keep open the branch 6 and close the
branch 7. This spring also serves for the final delicate adjustment of the
necessary resistance to be opposed to the attraction of the fixed electro-magnet 20.
When the armature 15 is attracted by the closing of the circuit of the local
battery 12 by the relay, another local battery circuit is, or may be, closed by the
contact of a spring 24, carried by the armature 15, with a screw 25 so as to actuate
a bell for the purpose of "ringing off." This bell can, when the apparatus is
used by a subscriber, be used for ringing up the subscriber from the telephone
exchange when necessary. When the apparatus is intended for use in a public
call room, this bell and its local circuit can be used only for ringing off, or can be
dispensed with.
Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the various electrical connections and also the
line and local circuits. 26, 26; 27, 27; 28, 28%; and 29 are terminals.
26 and 26 are connected with the ends of the conductor 26 passing around the
electromagnets 19 and 22 the continuity of which is controlled by the relay; they
are also connected by conductors 26 with the poles of the local battery 12.
26 is also connected with earth E by a conductor 26°. 27 and 27 are connected
to the ends of the conductor 27 passing around the relay 21 and the electro
magnet 20, and also with the line wires 31 and 31ª shown by dotted lines.
The
28 and 28 are connected respectively to the contact lever 8 and contact
spring 11 by wires 28 and 28°; and also with the wires 28ª, 28 (shewn by chain
lines). One of these wires viz. 28, passes to the push 14 where it is normally
interrupted, and thence to the indicator 32 and earth E' at the telephone exchange.
The other wire uz. 28 passes to one pole say + of the battery 12.
terminals 28 and 29 are connected by wires 33 and 34 to the screw 25 and
spring 24 respectively, and to the local circuit 35 in which are placed a second
local battery 36 and bell 37. 38 is the receiving telephone arranged adjacent to
the coin-receiving apparatus, and carried by a hook lever 39, controlling a circuit
changer 40, of the ordinary construction. 41 is the microphone transmitter. 42 is
a battery; 43 a current reverser; and 44 a push, all at the telephone exchange,
the push serving to send a current from battery 42 through the line wire 31 and
around the relay 21 and electro-magnet 20, and the current reverser serving when
necessary, to reverse the direction in which this current is sent.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When a proper coin or coins is, or are, introduced into the coin shoot, it or the
last one if more than one be used, will cause the contact lever 8 to make
contact with the contact spring 11 as hereinbefore described, so that this part of
the call circuit will be no longer interrupted, and on pressing the push or call
button 14 (Fig. 6) the exchange can be "called up," a current being then sent
from the battery 12 to the telephone exchange in the direction indicated by arrows
in full lines in Fig. 6, the telephone transmitter and receiver being at this time
only, cut out of circuit by the push or call button in the ordinary manner.
If the desired line be free or disengaged, the coin A or the second coin Bas
the case may be, will be retained in position by the inwardly projecting end of the
armature 15 until the conversation is términated, when an official at the exchange
will send a current from the battery 42 through the line wire and through the
relay 21 and electro magnet 20, say in the direction indicated by arrows in dotted
lines. This current in ordinary telephonic apparatus is the same current as would
otherwise, actuate the call bell in the telephone. The electro magnet 20 will then

page_text: repel the electro-magnet 19, and this magnet and the switch 17 will remain in
their normal positions. The relay 21 being also excited, will simultaneously close
the local battery circuit, and cause a current to be sent through the electro-
magnets 19 and 22, and the latter magnet 22 will consequently attract the
armature 15, liberating the coin or coins, and also causing the spring 24 and the
screw 2 to come in contact with each other, the result being that the coin or
coins will fall through branch 7 into the money receptacle 22, and the bell 37 will
"ring off."
If the desired line of communication should be engaged, the exchange official
reverses the direction of the current by means of the current reverser 43 (Fig. 6)
the result of which is that as the direction of the current through the electro-
magnet 19 never changes the electro-magnet 20 will now attract 19 thus moving
over the switch 17 to the right, closing the branch 6 and opening the branch 7, so
that in this case the coin or coins liberated by the current from the local battery 12
will pass through the branch 7, to a shoot 45, and thence to a receptacle at the
exterior of the apparatus, from which it can be taken by the person using the
same.
With apparatus constructed in the manner described it will be seen that the
telephone exchange cannot be called until after the necessary coin or coins has or
have been placed in the apparatus, and that whilst on the one hand, the money can
be returned at the will of an official at the exchange, to the person who paid it,
such person cannot himself recover possession of the money. It will also be
seen that by operating the coin-releasing device by a current from a local battery
the circuit of which is controlled by a relay in the main line, the operation of the
said device will at all times be ensured notwithstanding defective insulation of the
line wire, owing to bad weather or other cause, or that the battery at the exchange
has become partly exhausted, as the relay can be operated to close the local
battery circuit by a current that would be far too weak to directly actuate the
coin-releasing device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
do not claim broadly the use of apparatus constructed so that a coin or coins
placed in it will enable a call to be given to a central office or exchange or the use
of apparatus constructed to enable a person to recover the coin or coins he has
placed in the apparatus, but what we claim is
1. In apparatus for prepaid telephonic messages, the combination of a coin shoot,
a contact-making device, a coin retaining device, an electro-magnet adapted to be
placed in a local circuit and when energized to operate said coin-retaining device
and release the coin or coins held thereby, and a relay in the main line circuit,
the arrangement being such that when a coin or coins is or are introduced into the
coin shoot, the coin, or the last one if more than one be used, will actuate the
contact-making device and hold it in its closed position so that the central
exchange can be called up and an operator at the exchange can cause the relay
to close the local circuit through the electro-magnet and release the coin or coins
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for prepaid telephonic messages, a coin shoot provided with two
branches; one for discharging coin into a receptacle or chamber within the apparatus,
the other for conducting coin to the exterior of the apparatus, a switch or tongue
so arranged in relation to the said two branches that it can be caused to guide coin
at will, into either of them, and means under the control of the central office or
exchange for operating the switch so as to cause it to guide the coin or coins (when
released) into the desired branch, substantially as hereinbefore described for the
purpose specified.
3. In apparatus for prepaid telephonic messages, a coin shoot having two
branches controlled by a switch, an electro-magnet and a relay both arranged to be
placed in the main line circuit, and an electro-magnet adapted to be placed by the

page_text: relay in a local circuit, one of the electromagnets being movable and connected to
the switch and the arrangement being such that when a current is sent from the
central exchange in one direction through the relay and one of the electro-magnets,
the switch will open, or will keep open, one of the branches, and when a current is
sent in the opposite direction the switch will close the one branch and open the
other branch substantially as herein before described for the purpose specified.
4. Apparatus for prepaid telephonic messages substantially as described and
shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or mcdified according to Fig. 4, or to Fig. 5, and whether
with or without the means described for closing a local bell circuit for calling or
for ringing off when a current is sent from the exchange through the relay and one
of the electro-magnets.
Dated this 30th day of October 1891
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.