Improvements in or relating to Telephone Systems.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Telephone Systems.
I, MOISE FREUDENBERG, of 44 Kouznetsnaya, Odessa, Russia, Journalist and
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to telephone systems and is an improvement on the inven-
tion for which Letters Patent has been applied for by myself and S. Berditschewsky
(called Apostoloff) No. 3954 of 1895.
By the apparatus described in the Specification accompanying the aforesaid
application, any two subscribers are able to communicate with each other at any
time irrespective of the communications proceeding at the same time between the
other subscribers. It is found however in practice that this facility of inter-
communication is quite unnecessary as a comparatively small proportion only of
the subscribers are ever desirous of communicating with each other at the
same time.
For example in a system of 10,000 subscribers not more than 1000 are likely to
be speaking at the same time. It is therefore sufficient for all practical purposes
to provide that any 500 pairs of subscribers shall be able to communicate with
each other at the same time instead of the whole 5000 pairs as was provided for
by the aforesaid apparatus.
According to my present invention I provide that this object can be attained and
I thereby enormously reduce the cost of the system.
In the apparatus above referred to a separate contact-plate and electrically
controlled contact-making carriage at the central station were appropriated to and
controlled by each individual subscriber, who was thereby enabled to make the
necessary contacts for communicating with the other subscribers.
According to my present invention instead of employing a contact plate for each
subscriber I provide fewer contact plates, and apparatus whereby said plates can
be used by any subscriber if they are not already engaged. This I accomplish by
providing at the central or other station an additional piece of apparatus which
will enable a subscriber to operate the contact making carriage at the central or
other station on some one of the plates which is not at that particular time in use
so as to place him in communication with another subscriber.
My improved apparatus comprises a suitable framework on which are provided
a number of transverse beams placed at a short distance apart and adapted to be
raised or lowered as hereinafter described. Longitudinally and across said beams
but out of contact therewith are arranged a series of suitable rails or guides along
which waggons or carriages are arranged to move, each carriage carrying a metallic
contact piece as hereinafter described. In connection with each of said beams one
or more electro-magnets or other mechanical devices are arranged which when
operated by the passage of a current or otherwise will pull down or depress the
beams, the said beams being arranged to move parallel to themselves.
When the
electro-magnet or other device ceases to pull on or depress the beams they will
return to their original position by the action of springs or other equivalent
device. The contact piece with which each of the waggons is provided is on the
under side of the waggon and is of the form of a hook or the like mounted on a
coiled spring or other device so as to be capable of being drawn downwards, and
resuming its position when the connection is released.
D

page_text: At every point where the rails cross the beams is provided on the upper side of
said beams a contact hook or similar device constructed so as to engage with the
above mentioned contact hooks for the purpose hereinafter described.
It is evident that other mechanism for making and breaking contact may, if
desired be employed.
As many waggons are provided and corresponding rails as there are subscribers
to the system. The number of beams is equal to the number of pairs of
subscribers, which it is found by experience require to be in communication at one
time. Each one of the beams is electrically connected to the contact-making
carriage on one of the contact plates at the central or other station. Therefore it
will be seen that only as many contact plates will be necessary as there are likely
to be subscribers who wish to communicate at one time. That is to say supposing
there were 10,000 subscribers to the system and in practice it was found that never
more than 20% of the total number of subscribers required to communicate with
one another at the same time, that is to say 1000 pairs of subscribers, then the
total number of waggons required, (without allowing for extra subscribers), would
be 10,000, the number of beams would be 1000 and therefore the number of
contact plates at the central or other station would be 1000 instead of 10,000 as
would be the case were all the subscribers able to communicate with each other at
the same time as in the former invention above referred to.
All the contacts on each beam are connected in series with one another and thus
with the contact plate corresponding to that particular beam.
The hooks on the beams are so arranged that when a beam is in its undepressed
or normal position they project up in such a manner that if a waggon then passes
over the beam, the hook on the underside of the waggon will engage with the hook
on the beam, thereby closing an electrical circuit, while at the same time the
forward motion of the waggon is stopped by mechanical or electrical means
or both.
The contact hooks on the waggons and beams are so arranged that contacts are
made by a waggon only when going forward and never when returning. For
instance the contact hooks may be made of insulating material on their outer
surface so as only to make contact when face to face; one or other set of contacts
may also be made so as to yield to pressure on the back so that on returning, the
upper contact may be raised or the lower contact depressed or both may be made
to yield mutually to each other, returning after the contacts have crossed or passed
each other to their original position. This operation may be effected by means of
springs or hinges.
The subscribers local instrument is connected directly to his waggon or carriage
at the central or other station. Each one of the beams is connected to the contact
making carriage on one of the contact plates at the central or other station.
When the waggons are at the starting end of their path they make contact
with a contact pillar which is itself connected to that contact point on the various
contact plates which corresponds to the particular subscriber whose connections we
are considering.
The waggons are moved forward against the action of a spring by electric or
other mechanical power. The operation is as follows, suppose a subscriber A
desires to communicate with another subscriber B when no other subscriber is
using the system. The waggons then are all making contact with their contact
pillars at the starting end of their paths. This means that each subscriber's local
instrument is in connection with his respective contact points on the contact plates
at the rentral or other station. Subscriber A now switches on the current and
thus causes a relay arrangement and electromagnet in the waggon circuit to cause
or allow the waggon to move forwards. As it is supposed by way of example that
no other subscriber is using the system therefore all the beams are up in the
normal or raised position' and therefore as the waggon moves forward the hook on
its underside engages with the hook on the first undepressed beam that it reaches.
The fact of this contact of the two hooks causes the electro-magnet or other

page_text: device in connection with that beam to be thrown into action, and the beam is
therefore depressed. The hook under the waggon being mounted as before
described on a spring will allow the beam to be depressed without breaking the
contact between the two books. Another effect of the engagement of the books
on the beam and on the waggon is that the circuit is thereby completed between
the instrument of subscriber A and one of the contact plates at the central or
other station carrying contacts corresponding to all of the subscribers in the system.
So that by now manipulating his local apparatus he can move the carriage over
that contact plate, to which the first beam is connected, till he makes the necessary
contacts with the subscriber B.
It should be observed that as soon as the waggon begins to move from its
starting position it breaks the circuit between the subscriber A's local instrument
and his contact on the contact plates at the central station and therefore any other
person than B cannot then speak with A till A's waggon is returned to its starting
point and the circuit is again completed.
Now suppose that at the same time another subscriber C wished to speak, he
would set his waggon in motion and it would pass over the first beam, as that is in
use and therefore depressed, and would engage with the contact hook on the first
undepressed beam which in this case would be the second one. The fact of a beam
when in use becoming depressed prevents the possibility of more than one
subscriber manipulating the contacts on any one contact plate at the central station
at the same time.
In the event of the waggons of two or more subscribers simultaneously making
contacts with the same beam I provide an arrangement by which a signal is given
to such subscribers so that they may, by switching off cause their waggons to
return; in this case the subscribers themselves would restart the communication as
before. Or I provide an automatic arrangement by which any two or more
waggons making contacts simultaneously on any one beam shall close an electric
current and operate suitable electromagnets which shall effect the return of such
waggons to the starting point in a manner analogous to that described in the
beforementioned Specification; further arrangement being made to provide that
the waggons shall restart automatically, but not at the same instant, as for instance
by regulating the position of the stops or contact pillars at the starting end so
that no two of them are on the same transverse line.
It is of course clear from the foregoing description that each beam corresponds
to two subscribers in communication with one another. When a subscriber has
done communicating he breaks the local circuit which causes the waggon to return
under the action of its spring to its starting point in a manner similar to that
described in the former Specification referred to. If a subscriber attempts to
speak when all the contact plates at the central or other station are in use and
therefore all the beams depressed the only effect on switching on the current to his
waggon will be that the waggon will travel forward till it reaches the extreme end
of its path at which part by a suitable device it will be immediately returned to
its starting point and the subscriber will know that he must wait, but only till any
one of the contact plates is out of use and therefore one of the beams is again in
its raised or undepressed position it follows that there would be no fear of
subscribers having to wait before being able to communicate. It is evident that
the whole series of beams and waggons need not all be spread over one large
surface but may, so as to economise space be arranged in tiers one above the other,
the corresponding parts being connected by suitable mechanical and electrical
couplings; or the subscribers may be divided into groups with separate mechanism
of the nature of that described above allotted to each group. For example the
subscribers may be divided into groups of 100 and the wires of each member of
this group connected to one of 100 waggons capable of traversing a system of
30 beams so that any 30 waggons can be accommodated at one time. The 30 beams
may further be connected to 30 waggons on a smaller system traversing 10 beams
each of which is directly connected to the mechanism of a contact plate at the

page_text: central or other station. In this manner 10 out of the 100 subscribers forming
one group may communicate simultaneously each with any given subscriber who is
not already engaged.
It is further evident that all the mechanisms here referred to need not be situated
at one central station but may be distributed at different stations or according to
the division by groups before referred to, the object in view being in each case
to reduce the number of contact plates.
In the event of the total number of subscribers being increased or for any other
cause there would always be provided a larger number of waggons and beams than
would be usually necessary.
31
C
1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Telephone Systems.
I, MOISE FREUDENBERG, of 44 Kouznetsnaya, Odessa, Russia, Journalist and
Electrician, 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 improvements in telephone systems.
As is well known the telephonic communications between the subscribers of a
telephone-system are at present obtained by the medium of special officials or
attendants posted at the central or district stations and whose duty it is to
establish the communications according to the instructions given to them by the
subscribers.
In the Specification of a prior application No. 3954 of 1895, is described a
telephonic self-communicating system which allows any subscriber to place himself
automatically in communication with any other subscriber without necessitating
the intervention of special attendants and irrespective of how large the number of
subscribers of the system may be.
The present invention relates to certain improvements which I have applied to
this automatic telephone system with the object of simplifying the function of the
apparatus and of diminishing for one and the same number of subscribers the
number of plates arranged at the central station.
According to the invention described in the said prior Specification for each
subscriber at the central station one plate is provided upon which as many metallic
contacts are arranged as the system has subscribers; it follows therefrom that a
system of say 8000 subscribers is provided with 8000 plates at the central station.
In my new system this number of plates is considerably reduced and is only
equal to what we may term the maximum "regime" of the system, by which we
mean a number equal to the maximum number of conversations taking place
at the same time. Let us take an example in order to render this definition
clearer.
Suppose a system of 8000 subscribers; suppose that it has been found that
in no case more than 600 conversations take place simultaneously in the system,
then the maximum "regime" of the system will be equal to 600. This "regime
evidently varies according to the countries, towns and districts in which the system
is located.
Taking this as granted, and before entering into the thorough study of my
new system, I shall first of all explain the principle upon which the same is based.
Each subscriber has at his place an instrument otherwise called a subscriber's

page_text: instrument, very nearly similar to that described in the said prior "automatic
telephone" Specification and the wire which passes from each subscribers local
instrument ends at the central station in a carriage or wagon which is capable of
being displaced above a certain number of beams or levers. Each of these beams
or levers is connected by a wire to a contact plate which is identical to that of
my automatic telephone system and which is consequently provided with a number
of contacts equal to that of the subscribers; the contacts of subscribers in all the
plates are united by a wire to the movable carriage or wagon which corresponds
to the said subscriber so as to be connected to the line which passes from the
subscribers instrument to the carriage or wagon.
Any subscriber desirous of entering into conversation with any other subscriber
of the system causes the carriage or wagon in which his conducting wire of the
line terininates to be displaced by the passage of a current, until this carriage or
wagon is thrown in contact with a beam or lever, the result of which is to allow
the subsequent currents sent by the subscriber, to arrive at that plate which is
connected to the beam or lever. On then operating as described in the aforesaid
Specification the subscriber can pass the pin of the plate upon that contact which
corresponds to the subscriber with whom he wishes to be placed in connection and
thus the communication between the two subscribers is established.
As will be seen, the economy of my new system consists in having a limited
number of plates each of which corresponds to a beam instead of corresponding to
a subscriber as in the prior Specification. To sum up what I have stated: In my
new application there are as many movable carriages as there are subscribers and
a number of beams and plates equal to what I have termed hereinbefore the
maximum "regime" of the system.
Having thus explained the principle upon which my new telephone apparatus is
based, will proceed to describe in detail all the airangements which I have
contrived for putting this apparatus into practice, without however again describing
those arrangements which are already employed in the automatic telephone system
described in the hereinbefore mentioned prior Specification.
In order to render these following explanations as clear as possible, I have
represented my new automatic telephone system, as an example in the accompanying
drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of a waggon or carriage and the rails or track
on which it moves, for each subscriber there is provided at the central station a
carriage or wagon and a track, identical to those represented in this figure.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, and
Figure 3 a transverse section on the line 3-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction
of the arrow.
Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the beams or levers with which the carriages
can be brought into contact.
Figure 5 represents in detail the front of a carriage or waggon showing the same
in contact with a beam or lever.
Figure 6 is a detail view of the mechanisms which constitute the carriage when
this latter is at rest at the terminus of its track. In this figure certain parts of
the carriage are omitted in order to show more clearly the electromagnet and the
movable plate which are arranged on the carriage.
Figure 7 is a plan view of a special switching device which is inserted in the
circuit of the line wire of each subscriber, and which is arranged at the place
where the line wire enters the central station.
Figure 7s is a diagrammatical plan view of the switching device or commutator
which is placed at the side of each carriage or wagon and controls the motor or
dynamo, which produces the displacements of the carriage or waggon as I shall
explain hereinafter.
Figures 8 and 9 are a plan and sectional view respectively, representing the
constructional details of this switching device or commutator.
Figures 10 and 11 are a plan and a sectional view respectively of the commutator

page_text: or switching device which is placed upon each plate, at the central station. This
commutator or switching device already existed in the apparatus described in the
aforesaid Specification but I have modified certain parts of the same as will appear
from the following description.
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of a telephonic installation according to
my improved system comprising four subscribers, two beams and two plates,
the maximum "regime" for this system of four subscribers is thus supposed to
be equal to 2.
I will divide the study of my apparatus in the following manner :-
(1.) The description of the apparatus arranged at the subscriber's place, of
the carriage and of its track, of the beams and of the auxiliary mechanisms.
(2.) The description of the modifications applied to the plates of the telephonic
apparatus described in the aforesaid prior Specification 3954 of 1895.
(3.) The operation of the apparatus when taking as an example the system of
fou subscribers, as diagrammatically represented in Figure 12 of the drawing.
In the apparatus arranged at each subscribers office the same mechanisms are
provided as described in the said prior Specification and we find therein also the
four buttons or knobs indicated in the said Specification by the letters V₁, Vy, V³, V.,
the effects of which we will repeat herein.
Pressure upon the button or knob V₁ causes a series of positive currents to be
-sent over the line.
Pressure upon the button or knob V, causes a series of negative currents to be
sent over the line.
In the previous apparatus these positive and negative currents produced the
displacement of the carriage over the plate following the line of the abscissæ and
that of the ordinates.
They have the same effect in the present apparatus as I am going to explain
hereinafter when describing the function of the apparatus.
3
The buttons or knobs V, and V, which, in my previous apparatus were employed
to produce a series of positive and negative currents, cause simply two positive
currents to be passed one of them produced by the button or knob V3 and the other
by the button or knob V
As indicated in Figure 12, the buttons or knobs V3 and V₁ are arranged in the
following manner :-
The button or knob V3 actuates a rod n₁ which can turn on a pivot; at the
extremity of the rod n₁ three fingers or projections n, n, and n¸ are arranged which,
when the knob or button is acted upon, can be respectively placed into contact with
the three metallic plates n7, n and
ng.
The plate "
is connected by the wire 60 to the positive pole of the battery and
the finger or projection n, is connected to the line wire 1 through the wire 61.
Consequently a positive current passes from the subscribers apparatus, arrives at
the central station, where it produces the effects which I am going to examine
.hereinafter and passes back through the earth, the wire 62, the finger n3, the
plates n, and returns through the wire 63 to the negative pole of the battery.
The contact of the finger n, and of the plate n. is utilized, as on my previous
apparatus for completing the circuit of the electromagnet E, which is actuated
by the controlling current automatically sent through the plate of the central
station to the subscriber's apparatus.
The arrangements for the button V. are absolutely identical and apart from the
modifications which I have just mentioned, the apparatus or post of the subscriber
is the same as that fully described in the aforesaid Specification, and in this
description I shall not again describe all the constructional details of this
instrument.
The wire of the line 1 which starts from the subscriber's instrument arrives at
the central station at the terminals b₁ and b, of the switch A (Figure 7).
This switch is composed of a rod a terminating at each of its extremities in two
spring blades a¹, a¹¹, a₁ ag

page_text: The rod a is movable around the pivot B and the length of this rod is so.
calculated that the same is enabled to occupy the two following positions:
(1.) The position represented in Figure 7, in which the blades a¹ and a, are
respectively in contact with the plates and b..
This is the position which the switch occupies when the instrument of the
subscriber in question does not operate or when this subscriber enters into
communication with another subscriber.
(2.) The position in which the blades al and a₁ are respectively in contact
with the plates and b₁, this being the position, which the switch takes up.
when any subscriber enters into communication with that subscriber to whom the
switch belongs.
The rod a of the switch is connected by a connecting rod C to a plate D
which latter is pivotted at one of its extremities d₁ while its other extremity is
adapted to move between two electro-magnets d and d¹. These electro-magnets
are of the sort known as polarized electro-magnets, d being actuated by positive.
currents by negative currents.
When a current traverses the electro magnet d, the plate D will be attracted
and the rod a of the switch will take the position which it occupies in Figure 7;
if, ou the contrary, a current traverses the electromagnet d', the plate D will be
attracted by this latter electromagnet and the rod a of the switch will take the
second position which I have defined hereinbefore.
In no case, as I shall explain hereinafter when describing the communications,
can the two electromagnets be traversed by a current at the same time.
As I have said hereinbefore the plates b₁ and b, of the switch are connected by
the conducting wire 1 to the instrument of the subscriber; the plates 6 and 6" are
connected by the wire 2 to the metal band or strip which is placed beneath the
plates X Y and which in each of these plates has a contact at the point in which
each subscriber's abscissa and ordinate meets.
The blade a (Figure 7) of the switch A is insulated from the rod a and is.
connected by the wire 3, to the electromagnet d.
The blade a (Figure 7) of the switch A is insulated from the rod a and is-
connected by the wire 7 to the blade a₁ of the same switch; the blade a1 is likewise
insulated from the rod a and is moreover connected by the wire 4 to the electro-
magnet d.
The blade a₂ of the switch A is insulated from the rod a and is connected by
the wire 5 to the band F parallel with the track for the carriage or waggou
upon which the electromagnet E (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is mounted.
The carriage or wagon (Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6) is composed of a platform e,.
which is mounted upon friction rollers e and which supports the electromagnet E..
The friction rollers roll upon two parallel rails e₁ (Figures 1 2 and 3) placed at the
required distance apart and maintained by supports eg.
The carriage or wagon carries at its lower part and between the rails an internally
screw threaded socket G (Figures and 3) in which the screw g (Figure 2) engages..
This screw can be actuated by a rotary movement upon itself by the motor or
dynamo gi placed at the extremity of the track e₁.
As will be easily understood, the effect of the rotary movement of the screw is
to produce the displacement of the carriage or wagon upon the track e₁, and the
direction of the displacement of the carriage evidently depends upon the direction.
in which the screw is rotated.
The electromagnet E is of course insulated upon the carriage and the wire which
is wound upon this electromagnet is connected at one end to earth and on the other
hand to the spring-blade f (Figures 2 and 3), which rubs upon the widened part fi
of the band or strip F; the widened part fi. as is seen in Figure 2, only exists upon
a very slight length of the band or strip F at one extremity thereof. As soon as
the carriage is set in motion, the blade f leaves the part f₁ of the band or strip F
and does not come again into contact until the carriage has returned to its starting
point. When the electromagnet E is traversed by a current, it attracts the plate

page_text: •
pivoted at h₁ (Figures 1 and 6) upon the platform; normally that is to say when
the carriage or wagon is not moving the plate h rests against the support H under
the action of the spring h₂ (Figures 1 and 6).
Above the electromagnet E a frame is arranged, composed of two parallel rods h¹
(Figure 6), a hinge or pivot, " and a rod h₁, the section of which has the form of
à hook (Figures 3 and 6).
The axis of rotation of the frame is supported by the two standards h₁ ha
(Figure 3) which rest upon the platform e; the rod h, carries at each side a
prolongation i, and when the carriage is at rest at the extremity of its path, the
two prolongations i, i rest upon the two fixed inclined planes II (Figures 3 and 6)
and in this position the frame is kept horizontal, as indicated in Figure 6.
As soon as the carriage is displaced, the prolongations i, i slide along the inclined
planes II and the hook 3 is lowered and will keep the plate h against the electro-
magnet E, which plate, as we will see hereinafter had been attracted by the
electromagnet at the moment when the carriage or wagon was set in movement.
Upon one of the lateral surfaces of the plate h is fixed a horizontal rod; from
which a spring blade1 (Figures 1 and 3) is suspended. The lower extremity of
this spring blade rubs against a contact when the plate is attracted by the
electromagnet E. The rod j and the spring blade are insulated from the plate h
and are connected by the wire 9 with a blade K which is secured to but insulated
from a frame M (Figures 1 and 3) placed at the front part of and below the
carriage or wagon. We will describe hereinafter the arrangements of this
frame.
The blade K serves, as I am going to explain in detail, to enter at certain
moments during the displacement of the carriage, into contact with the metal
plates L, supported by the posts 7.
The wire 9 which connects the blade K to the rod j and to the spring j¹
(Figure 3) is likewise attached to a blade m, fixed to but insulated from the
platform e. During the displacements of the carriage the blade m rubs upon
the band or strip N supported by the standards m₁, parallel to the rails e
and ej.
The frame M of which we have spoken hereinbefore and upon which the blade K
is fixed, is arranged in the following manner: The same is composed of two parallel
rods ma, ms (Figure 3) united in front by a metallic cross rail m3. The frame M
can turn around the axis m', around which is wound a spring m" which constantly
tends to lift the frame M and to bring the same against the abutment () fixed to the
front of the carriage. In this position the frame is inclined with regard to the
carriage, as indicated in Figure 1. The cross rail m, is electrically connected by
the bars m, to the platform e of the carriage or waggon upon which is fixed,
without interposition of insulating material, the spring blade P (Figure 2) which
during the displacements of the carriage remains constantly in contact with the
band or strip F, connected by the wire 5 to the blade a₂ of the switch A
.(Figure 7).
Below the rails and at distances apart, beams RR¹
are arranged; in the
example of the drawing we have only supposed that there are two, but this number
depends, as I have shown in the beginning of this description, upon the maximum
"regime
of the system. These beams are arranged horizontally and perpen-
dicular to the direction of the rails e₁. The beams extend below all the tracks
which comprise the system or rather the group of a system under consideration;
for in order not to give these beams too great a length, all the carriages or waggons
may be connected with one and the same system in several groups which may be
placed either at the central station, or in stations which would correspond to what
is at present usually called district stations.
Each of these beams can be composed as indicated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, of an
upper bar hollowed upon that side of the bar which is turned toward the starting
point of the carriage. The said beam is provided with supports r at distances
apart (Figure 4) which supports are connected with guides r₁, supported by a fixed

page_text: beam r, serving as a frame. Springs 7, constantly tend to press the beam proper
away from the frame r, and this upper beam remains constantly parallel with the
Frame r, owing to the rods which, while engaging with the guides r₁, prevent any
inclination of the beam. The upper hollowed-out part of each beam is made of
or coated with metal and is provided at one of the extremities of the beam with a
terminal (Figure 2), to which a wire is connected, which ends in that plate of
the central station which corresponds to the beam. If we consider Figure 12, it
will be seen that the beam R is connected to the plate X by the wire 10, and the
beam R is connected by the wire 11 to the plate Y. If we compare this new
arrangement with the apparatus which forms the object of the said prior application,
one may say that the wires 10 and 11 play here the part of the for ner line wires
of the subscribers and terminate in the plates X Y at the same point.
If we suppose for a moment, that anyone of the parallel carriages, which can be
displaced above the beams (one carriage corresponds to one subscriber) is set in
motion, it will arrive near the beam R, and the frame or speaking more exactly the
cross rail m, of the frame will rest in the hollow of the beam R. As the carriage
cannot rise above its rails (owing to the use of any appropriate system of upper or
guard rails which, for the sake of clearness are not shown in the drawings) the
beam will descend in proportion as the carriage continues to advance.
When the beam has thus been lowered, the carriage as I shall explain hereinafter,
stops by itself and if another subscriber causes the displacement of his carriage by
sending a current, he will not be able to place the same in contact with the already
occupied beam since this latter is lowered.
We will see hereinafter the usefulness of this arrangement, but I may here
remark that the arrangements of the beam, for the purpose of causing the same
to be lowered by the contact of a carriage, may greatly vary, and that the one
which I have described herein, is merely given as an example.
The displacement of each carriage is obtained, as I have explained, by a motor
or dynamo (each carriage having a separate motor) and I will now describe the
arrangement which I have adopted for producing the movements of the motor, in
either direction.
For facilitating the understanding of the description I have supposed that the
electro motor which, in the example is a small dynamo, would act with one single
wire, that is to say that the return flow of the current to the battery would
take place through the earth. In practice this arrangement cannot be realized
because there are no such electromotors yet in existence which act satisfactorily
under these conditions but this defect may be remedied by modifying the commutator
which actuates each dynamo and which I am going to describe, in such a manner
as to insert the motor in a closed circuit.
The source of electricity is at S; the same is put into communication with the
earth and its two poles are connected by the wires 13 and 14 (Figures 12 and 7)
with a special switching device which is arranged in the following manner: The
same is composed of a vertical shaft U (Figures 8 and 9) capable of turning in a
socket u. The vertical position of this shaft will be secured by any suitable upper
support which I have not indicated. The shaft U passes loosely through an orifice
made in the centre of an ebonite or vulcanite bed plate u, the periphery of which
carries a series of metallic contacts 15, connected to one another and also connected
to the positive pole of the battery S by the wire 14, and a series of metallic
contacts 16 connected to each other and also to the negative pole of the battery S
by the wire 13 (Figure 7). These metallic contacts are arranged alternately and
are separated by ebonite or vulcanite parts of the same width, that is to say that on
following the periphery of the bed-plate, we find contacts in the following order:
A portion or section of ebonite or vulcanite, a contact 16; a section of ebonite or
vulcanite, a contact 15, and so forth; the number of contacts 15 is consequently
equal to the number of contacts 16 and to one half of the number of the insulating
portions.
The shaft U then passes into openings of a larger diameter than its own; these
D

page_text: openings being provided in the centres of the ratchet wheels u "3. The ratchet
wheel u, is provided with teeth, twice as many in number as the ratchet wheel us
possesses. Each ratchet wheel is at its centre provided with a hole for the passage
of the shaft U and upon the interior periphery of each of these openings three
pawls vare fixed, placed at 120 degrees apart from one another; these pawls are,
by means of appropriate springs, kept constantly in contact with the teeth or
grooves vl, formed upon that part of the surface of the axis U, opposite to the two
ratchet-wheels 1/2 and U3. It follows therefrom that if the ratchet wheel ", is caused
to turn around one tooth, the axis U will, under the action of the pawls r, turn
upon itself to the extent of an arc equal to the thickness of one of the teeth or
grooves thereon since there are as many teeth or grooves arranged upon the axis U
as there are teeth upon the ratchet wheel u₂; this rotary movement will be without
effect upon the ratchet wheel us. On the other hand, if the ratchet wheel us is
caused to turn one tooth, the axis U will be turned to the extent of an arc equal to
the thickness of two teeth or grooves v', since the ratchet wheel u, carries half as
many teeth as there are teeth or grooves upon the axis U; in this rotary movement
the ratchet wheel u, remains unmoved. It is thus evident that according to this
arrangement it is possible to cause the axis U to be turned either by the ratchet
wheel, or by the ratchet wheel u3, while the wheel which does not cause the
movement remains unmoved during the rotation of the shaft U. Upon the
exterior periphery of the ratchet wheels u u, the pawls u', u', are placed which
are kept constantly in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheels by means of
appropriate springs. The pawl u', is fixed to the extremity of a rod 18 connected
to the plate 18 pivotted at 1811; one of the extremities of this plate lies in front
of an electromagnet 19 (Figure 7 bis).
The pawl u is likewise fixed to the extremity of a rod 17 connected to the
plate 17 which turns on a pivot 17"; one of the extremities of this plate lies in
front of an electromagnet 20. When the current is sent into the electromagnet 19,
the plate 18', being attracted, will turn on its axis of oscillation 18" (Figure 7 bls)
and consequently exert a pull upon the rod 18 and the pawl u', fixed to the
extremity of the rod 18 will cause the ratchet wheel u, to turn to the extent of
one tooth, the axis U as I have explained herein before, will itself turn under the
action of the pawls through an arc equal to the thickness of one of the teeth or
grooves vand, during this movement the wheel 3 will remain unmoved. If, on
the contrary, the electromagnet 20 is traversed by a current, then the plate 17' will
be attracted and will turn about its axis of oscillation 17" thus exerting a pulling
action upon the rod 17; the pawl u' fixed to the extremity of this rod 17 will
cause the wheel us to turn to the extent of an are equal, to the thickness of one tooth
and as I have explained herein before the axis U will itself turn under the action
of the pawls through an arc equal to the thickness of two teeth, the wheel u
remaining stationary during this movement. It is thus evident that it is possible
to impart to the axis U displacements which are equal either to the thickness of
one tooth or groove vor to the thickness of two teeth or grooves v. Upon the
axis U a spring am V is fixed, (Figure 9 and 7) which is adapted to rub upon
the metallic contacts 15 and 16 and upon the insulating parts which separate these
metallic contacts. The number of metallic contacts 15 and 16 and of insulating
parts which separate these contacts, is exactly equal to the number of teeth or
grooves of the axis U, and likewise to the number of teeth arranged upon the
outer periphery of the ratchet wheel ". It is thus evident that-if we suppose for
a moment the arm V to be placed upon one of the contacts 15 as indicated
in Figure 7 and if we send a curent into the electromagnet 20,-the axis U will,
under the action of the ratchet wheel u, turn through an arc which is equal to the
thickness of two teeth or grooves v³ and the arm V, which was pressing upon the
contact 15 will now press upon the following contact 16 after springing over
the insulating part which separates these two consecutive contacts. If on the
contrary, we send a current into the electromagnet 19, while the arm V is upon the
contact 15 as indicated in Figure 7 bis the axis U will, under the action of

page_text: the ratchet wheel u, turn through an arc equal to the thickness of a tooth or
groove and, consequently the arm V will become placed upon the insulating part
which separates the contact 15, upon which it was resting, from the contact 16
which immediately follows it. The arm V which is insulated from the whole
switching device is connected by the wire 21 to the electromotor g₁; if thus the
arm V rests upon one of the insulating parts which separate the metallic
If on the coutrary
contacts 15 and 16, no current will arrive at the electro motor.
this metallic arm V rests upon a contact 15, a positive current coming from the
battery S will pass through the wire 14 to the contact 15 upon which the arm
rests, the current will then pass through the arm V and the wire 21 into the
electromotor which latter will revolve for instance from the left to the right.
If, instead of lying upon one of the contacts 15 the arm V rests upon the
contact 16, a negative current will pass from the battery through the wire 13 into
the contact 16, upon which the arm rests and thence through the arm V and the
wire 21 to the electromotor g₁; this latter will thus revolve in the opposite
direction, that is to say from the right toward the left. The operation of the
motor switch is thus simply obtained by sending currents either into the electro-
magnet 19 or into the electromagnet 20. This sending of currents is effected
automatically at the desired moment, as hereinafter described, by the movement of
the carriage.
The electromagnet 19 is connected on the one hand to the local battery 22
and on the other hand to the contacts L and j₁ (Figure 2) through the wire 30.
The
The electromagnet 20 is connected on the one hand to the local battery 22 and
on the other hand to the contact L' (Figures 2 and 7b) by the wire 23.
battery 22 is itself connected by the wire 27 (Figure 2) to the band or strip N
parallel with the rails e₁
Such is the complete description of the mechanisms which constitute eacli
carriage corresponding to the apparatus of a subscriber, all carriages being
arranged either at a district station or at the central station.
As herein before stated, there passes from the switch A the wire 2 which
terminates at the central station in the metallic baud or strip which passes beneath
the plates X and Y and which has, in each of these plates, a metallic contact
having the abscissa and the ordinate corresponding to those connected to the
subscriber's apparatus in question; on the other hand, as has been likewise stated,
the beam R is connected to the plate X by the wire 10 and the beam R is
connected to the plate Y by the wire 11.
Before describing the complete function of the apparatus, there remains to be
mentioned the new arrangement which I have applied to the plates X and Y
which were already provided in the apparatus described in the aforesaid Specifica-
tion. There is nothing altered in these plates X and Y except the arrangement
of the special switching device 28. That is to say the plates are always provided
with a double carriage E₁ E, capable of being displaced in two perpendicular
directions, and which are caused to follow the line of the abscisse by the passage
of the positive currents and to follow the line of the ordinates by the passage of
the negative currents. The different contacts on the plate X, for producing these
displacements in the two directions and for stopping at the desired moment the
electromagnets of the carriage, remain the same and these different mechanisms
are always connected in the same manner to the line wires 10 and 11 which instead
of terminating, as in my former apparatus, at the subscriber's instruments,
terminate actually at the bearis RR. As regards the switching device 28 the
same is arranged in the following manner: It is composed of an electromagnet E3
(Figure 12) which, when traversed by a current, causes a plate 31 (Figures 10
and 11) to be attracted which plate carries an arm 32, at the extremity of which
a pawl 33 is fixed, which can act upon the ratchet wheel 34 keyed upon the
axis 35.
.
When the attraction of the plate 31 takes place, the arm 32 while descending,
causes the pawl 33 to turn the wheel 34 in the direction in which the hands of a

page_text: clock travel upon the dial (Figure 11), a stop pawl 33' forming a brake, regulates
the rotary motion of the wheel 34 in such a manner that the same will turn
through a distance equal to one tooth at each attraction of the plate 31.
Upon the axis 35 set in movement by the ratchet wheel 34, are fixed:
(1) A metal wheel 36 (Figure 10) insulated from the axis 35 and provided with
four projections ₁ 1, 1, 1 arranged at the extremities of two diameters at right
angles to one another.
(2) An ebonite or vulcanite wheel 37 which carries four metallic rods & Sq Pg 54
forming two groups of two parallel rods, each group being perpendicular to the
other.
The extremities of these rods, which are bent down, can be displaced upon
a series of contacts which are hereinafter described. The same is the case on the
other hand with the projections ₁₂ 13 1, firmly secured to the wheel 36, it being
well understood that the extremities of the metal rods of the wheel 37 cannot
touch the contacts upon which the projections 1, 1, 1, 1 are displaced and that
vice versa the projections ₁ 1, 1, 1 cannot touch the contacts, upon which the
extremities of the said metal rods are displaced.
(3) The ratchet wheel 34, of which I have spoken hereinbefore: This wheel is
fixed directly upon the axis 35 without the interposition of insulating material, the
same is provided with 8 teeth.
Finally right above the ratchet wheel 34 but not in contact therewith, a disc 38
is arranged, the periphery of which is divided into 16 parts, of which 8 are
metallic and 8 of insulating material; the metallic parts alternating with the parts
of insulating material. Upon the periphery of this wheel at the extremities of one
and the same diameter two fixed brushes 39 and 40, make contact, one of which
namely the brush 39 is connected to the line wire which sets the relay electro-
magnet 29 (Figure 12) into communication with the corresponding beam and the
other of which 40 is connected by the wire 41¹ to the negative pole of the local
battery.
When the ratchet wheel 34 is at rest, the two brushes 39 and 40 press upon
insulating parts of the disc 38, but when the ratchet wheel turns the distance of
one tooth, thereby carrying with it the disc 38, the brushes then press during this
rotary motion upon metal parts of the disc in order to arrive subsequently again
upon insulating parts.
Having thus described the different mechanisms which constitute my new
telephone system, I will now proceed to describe the operation whilst giving
likewise the details of all connections established between the different mechanisms
of which my system is composed.
In order to facilitate this description I will refer to Figure 12, in which I have
represented the posts or apparatus of four subscribers w x y z. Each of these
subscribers has bis separate carriage or waggon, and these four carriages or
waggons can be displaced above the two beams R R¹, one of which acts upon the
plate X and the other upon the plate Y.
"
"
In describing the operation of the apparatus in order to distinguish the
mechanisms which belong to the subscriber x, from those belonging to other
subscribers, I shall add to each reference letter the letter "x" whenever I speak
of a part or mechanism belonging to the apparatus of the subscriber x, and
analogous I shall add the letter "y to each reference letter, designating a piece
or a mechanism appertaining to the apparatus of the subscriber y and so on.
But, as for the sake of facilitating the explanation I shall be likewise compelled,
when describing the operation of the apparatus to refer to the detail figures which
I have previously used for explaining the arrangements adopted in my apparatus,
which figures are not marked by the additional indications: x y or z or w, it is
necessary to make it understood once and for all that the signs x, y, or 2 or w will
exclusively serve for the description, the drawing having of course the same letters
but without the signs x, y, or 2, w.
Let us suppose that the subscriber z wishes to enter into conversation with the

page_text: subscriber; the subscriber will press upon the knob V, in his plate which knob
was already provided in the apparatus described in the aforesaid Specification, and
while pressing upon this knob, the subscriber sends, as we have seen a positive
current which passes through the line wire and thus to the plates b₁, and by, of the
switch A, which latter is in the resting position that is to say in the position
shown in Figure 7,-the positive current arriving in b₁x will have no action at all
because this plate is insulated, but the current also arrives in the plate bar, passes
into the blade a and through the wire b and arrives in the metal band or
strip F, parallel to the rails for the carriage upon which the electromagnet E, is
mounted. From this band or strip the current can take two directions: it can
either pass through the platform e, through the blade P. or it can traverse the
electromagnet E, and through the blade fx, since the two blades f, and P, are
in contact with the metallic band or strip F. The current which enters the
platform ex has obviously no action whatever, since at this moment the only
mechanism which is electrically connected to the platform, namely the frame M.,
is not in contact with any of the beams. But as the electromagnet E, is connected
to the earth, the current entering this electromagnet through the blade fx will be
enabled to pass through the earth to the subscriber's apparatus, thus the circuit of
the electromagnet Ex is completed and this electromagnet attracts the plate h..
While turning around its axis of oscillation h₁, the plate h, from which the
blade is suspended, will force this blade to rub against the contact jux
(Figure 3).
Ι
Let us now see what is the effect of the contact established between the metal
piece and the blade ; this blade is, as is herein before described, and as is
indicated in Figure 3, connected through the wine 9, to the blade m, which rubs
upon the metallic band or strip N. (Figure 2) which latter is connected by the
wire 27 to the battery 22 (Figure 12). On the other haud the metal piece j₁x is
connected by the wire 30, to the electromagnet 19, which latter is on its part
connected to the battery 22, by the wire 31. At the moment that the blade j'.
and the metal piece j₁, make contact with one another the circuit of the electro-
magnet 19, is closed. This electromagnet thus traversed by a current, and the
ratchet wheel Изх
is turned to the extent of one tooth under the action of the
pawl u The arm V, which was previously resting upon an insulating portion
of the wheel 1, is placed in contact with the metallic part 15,, which follows
immediately after the insulating part upon which the arm was previously resting
and as we have seen herein before, this arm then completes the circuit of the
which is traversed by a positive current which arrives from the
battery S., and passes through the arm V₁, the wire 21, and the motor; this
latter consequently revolves from the left to the right and causes the screw 9, to
turn, the effect of which, as we have herein before explained, is, to produce the
displacement of the carriage in a forward direction as indicated by the arrow
in Figure 12.
motor ix
As soon as the carriage has been displaced to an amount equal to the length of
the inclined planes I, upon which the prolongations is of the hook h, were resting,
the said hook falls and holds the plate h, applied against the electromagnet E,
this taking place before the blade f, has left the widening of the plate F., through
which the electromagnet receives the current. The carriage therefore continues
its displacing movement under the action of the motor screw g., and a moment will
be arrived at, when the cross rail m₁ of the frame M. comes in contact with the
beam R. As the carriage cannot become lifted upon its rails and as the same is
compelled to advance under the action of the motor screw 9x, it is the beam R
which becomes lowered, while the frame M, turns around its axis of oscillation m¹.
In this rotary movement of the frame around its hinge m¹, the blade K, fixed
upon this frame rubs upon the metallic part L. Let us now examine the effect
caused by the contact of the blade K, with the metallic piece L., which is
connected to the wire 30, of the circuit of the electiomagnet 19, and on the other

page_text: hand the blade K, is connected by the wire 9, to the blade m, which rubs upon the
band N..
At the moment of the contact of the blade Kx with the piece L., the circuit of
the electromagnet 19, is closed, and as previously, the arm V, of the switch will
be actuated and will place itself upon that insulating part which follows after the
contact 15, upon which it previously rested. By this movement of the arm V, the
circuit of the dynamo 9x is opened, it stops and consequently the carriage or
waggon E, likewise stops while maintaining the beam R depressed by the metallic
frame M. The subscriber after pressing upon the button V3 will now press upon
the button V1 which as I have fully described in the former Specification herein-
before referred to will have the effect of sending a series of positive currents
through the wire 1.
These positive currents are now enabled to pass through the band or strip F., the
blade P, the platform e,, the frame M, into the metallic part of the beam R and
thence, through the wire 10 into the plate X and this positive current will not be
able to follow any other course. If at the moment of the passage of the carriage
over the beam R, this latter were occupied, that is to say lowered by the carriage
of the subscriber w for instance, the carriage E, would have continued its course,
since the blade K, would not have been enabled to rub upon the contact Lx. In
continuing its course the carriage would have arrived above the beam R¹, with
which it would have been thrown in contact if this beam R' were free, and what we
have said herein before from the point of view of the communications as regards the
beam R, evidently also applies to the beam R¹, only the subscriber a, instead of
utilizing the plate X for obtaining the communication with the subscriber z would
have utilized the plate Y since this latter is connected to the beam R. If at the
moment of the passage of the carriage E. over the beam R₁, this latter is in the
-depressed position that is to say occupied by another subscriber, the carriage E.
continues its course until the blade K, rubs upon the metallic contact L' placed at
the extremity of the rails or path of the carriage E..
Let us examine the effect produced by the contact of the blade K, with the
plate L this plate is connected by the wire 23, to the electromagnet 20, which
latter is itself connected by the wire 31, to the battery 22, which terminates
through the wire 27, in the band or strip N, upon which the blade m, rubs which
latter is itself connected to the blade K, as we have already seen. The circuit of
the electromagnet 20, is thus completed by the contact of the blade Ky with the
plate L¹.
This electromagnet attracts the pawl u', and the arm V, which was resting
upon a metallic contact 15, will place itself upon the following metallic contact 16,
after having passed, without stoppage, the insulating part which separates the two
contacts 15, and 16..
This
The rotary direction of the motor is thus abruptly changed and the screw 9.
revolving in the contrary sense, forces the carriage to return. When arriving near
the starting point of the carriage the prolongations ix (Figure 3) of the hook 3,
which latter maintained the plate h, against the electromagnet Ex, rise upon the
'inclined planes I, and the hook 3, rises, thus leaving the plate h, to itself.
plate, under the action of the spring h₂ (Figures 3 and 6), is brought back against
the support H,, while turning around its pivot h₁x. During this movement of the
plate the blade j', which is fixed to the plate by the rod j₁, rubs against the
metallic contact j₁, the effect of which, as before described, is to complete
the circuit of the electromagnet 19, which latter is thus traversed by a current and
actuates the ratchet wheel u2x. The arm V, of the commutator or switch which
was previously in contact with a metallic contact 16, will place itself upon the
insulating part which follows this contact, the motor will thus be stopped as
well as the carriage or waggon which will thus have arrived at its starting
point.
As is evident from the preceding, there are three effects possible when the

page_text: subscriber sends a positive current through the line wire for displacing the-
carriage E..
1st. The carriage E, is hooked on to the beam R and stopped ;
2nd. The carriage E, is hooked on to the beam R¹ and is stopped.
3rd. The carriage E. is not hooked on to any beam and returns rearwardly to
its starting point where it stops.
Let us suppose in the continuation of the description of the operation of our-
apparatus that this is the first effect that has taken place namely that the carriage
or waggon E, has become hooked on to the beam R.
In the plate X the positive currents will have the effect-as I have explained
with regard to the apparatus described in the aforesaid Specification-to displace
the double carriage according to the line of the abscissæ which displacement by
sending to the subscribers apparatus negative controlling currents will cause figures
to appear in the opening provided above the knob V₁ When the figure which
will appear to the eyes of the subscriber is equal to that which corresponds to the
abscissa of the subscriber with whom he wishes to be set in communication and
which, in the example shown, has the abscissa 3, he will stop pressing the
button Vix, and by acting upon the button V, he will send a series of negative
currents the effect of which will be to displace the carriage E,, along the line of
the ordinates, and the effect of this displacement will be to send to the subscriber's
apparatus positive controlling currents which will cause figures to appear in the
opening provided above the knob V₁x. When the figure appearing to the eyes of
the subscriber is that which corresponds to the ordinate of that subscriber with
whom he wishes to enter into communication he will stop pressing the button V,
and will then press upon the button V. The effect of pressure on this knob V3
in the present apparatus is entirely different from that which took place in the
apparatus described in the aforesaid Specification, and I will now. proceed to
describe it in detail.
3х
2x
The pressure exerted by the finger of the subscriber upon the knob V2, has for
its object to send, as hereinbefore stated one single positive current into the plate X.
This positive current cannot-for the same reason which is indicated in the said
prior Specification-act upon the electromagnets of the carriages E, E,, but it can
act upon the electromagnet E3 which controls the commutator 28. Under the
action of this positive current which traverses the electromagnet E3 the ratchet-
wheel 34 turns through the distance of one tooth thereby causing to turn with it
the axis 35 (Figures 10 and 11), and consequently the wheel 36 as well as the
wheel 37 which carries the switches 31, 32, 33, 34 arranged in perpendicular pairs will
likewise turn at the same time as the shaft 35.
Let us now consider the effect of this rotation corresponding to one eighth of a
revolution since the ratchet wheel has only eight teeth. The projecting parts
and 3 of the wheel 36 which were at first in contact with the terminals 30 and 41
respectively, come into contact with the terminals 42 and 43, the effect of which, as.
in the apparatus described in the said prior Specification, is to disconnect the
electromagnet of the carriage E,. On the other hand the terminal 42 is connected
to the style S₁ which is displaceable upon the contacts of the plate, and the
terminal 43 is connected to the line 10. Moreover the rods of the wheel 37, during
this former displacement, will press on the one hand, upon the contacts 71 and 70
and on the other hand upon the metallic contacts 74 and 75. Tue contacts. 71
and 70 are connected to the solenoid which surrounds the style S₁, whereas the
contacts 74 and 75 are connected, one, namely the metal contact 74 (Figures 10
and 11) to the positive pole of the battery and the other, namely the contact 75,
to the negative pole of the battery. A current thus traverses the solenoid which
surrounds the style S₁ and the action of this current causes the style S₁ to be
applied against the contact above which the said style lies and which, in the
example shown in the drawings is the contact of the subscriber =. The
winding of the solenoid is such that when the same is traversed by a current.
coming from the battery, the soft iron which constitutes the core of the

page_text: It follows therefrom
that the first rotation of the commutator 28 has this effect:-To discounect
the electromagnet of the carriage E,, to put the style in communication
with the beam, which communication has been lost by the latter since the first
displacement of the double carriage along the line of the abscissæ, and to strongly
apply the style against the contact which is in connection with the instrument
of the subscriber z.
solenoid is forced against the blocks of the plate.
6x'
This rotation has moreover the effect of sending a negative controlling current
to the instrument of the subscriber through the wheel 38 and the brushes 40
and 39. This controlling current arrives at the subscribers instrument and as was
explained in the said former Specification causes a current to traverse the electro-
and
magnet E the circuit of which is completed by the contact of the finger "*x
of the plate nox, thereby the disc or wheel J, which is actuated by the electromagnet
turns one fourth of a revolution. The said disc or wheel carries near its periphery
the words "Repos" (rest) "Sonmez" (ring) which repeat twice in the same
succession. At the beginning, before a pressure upon the button Vs, is exerted,
it is the word "Repos (rest) which became visible to the eyes of the subscriber
through the opening in his apparatus opposite the disc or wheel J..
:
"
3x
But as soon
as this disc or wheel has turned one fourth of a revolution under the action of the
electromagnet Ex, owing to the negative controlling current produced by the
rotation of the disc 38, the word "Sonnez" (ring) appears to the eyes of
the subscriber who is thus automatically informed about the position of the
mechanisms of the plate X.
I
He follows the indication and presses upon the ringing knob which sends a series
of negative currents. These negative currents foilowing the way which we have
indicated, arrive at the beam R and pass through the wire 10, the terminal 43, the
projection, the projection 3, the terminal 42, and arrive at the style S₁; these
currents thence pass into the contact of the subscriber, upon which the style rests
and through the wire 2, arrive at the terminals b', and 6 of the switch A. This
negative current cannot pass through b", which is insulated, but passes through b',
into the electromagnet d', which is connected to the earth; the current thus
returns through the earth to the subscriber's instrument and the circuit of the
electromagnet d' is completed; this electromagnet is thus traversed by a current,
and attracts the plate D, while turning the rod a, of the switch so as to bring the
blades all, and a₁, respectively into contact with the terminals and b₁. The
negative currents constantly sent by the subscriber x now pass to the switch A,, no
longer through the terminal b¹, which has been insulated by the rotation of the
rod a, but through the terminal 6, upon which the blade a", actually rests, the
negative currents passing through the blade a", pass through the wire 7, into
the blade a, and through the terminal b₁, upon which the blade a₁, rests the
negative currents arrive at the instrument of the subscriber z, where they cause
the bell to ring and the figures on the left-hand dial to be changed. This
movement of the figures causes no inconvenience and need therefore not be
considered. The subscriber z thus informed by the bell that he is called to the
instrument, applies the telephone to his ears and can instantly enter into
communication with the subscriber z who has called him.
TC
When the conversation is finished, the two subscribers and z, who were engaged
in conversation both press the knob V4 of their respective apparatus.
It is evident that the subscribers instrument might be so combined that the
action upon the knob V, would take place automatically when the telephone is
re-hooked on to the instrument.
Let us now consider the effect produced upon the mechanisms of the apparatus
by the action of the knob V of the apparatus of the subscriber z. The positive
current which as we have seen is produced by pressing this knob, since the
mechanisms of the knob V, are identical to those of the knob V₁, passes through the
wire 1, and arrives into the terminal b₁, and, through the blade a₁ in contact with
the terminal b₁, the current then arrives in the electromagnet d., the circuit of

page_text: which is completed through the earth. This electromagnet attracts the plate D.,
the effect of which is to return the rod a, into its initial position, thus returning all
the mechanisms of the instrument of the subscriber into the position which they
have to occupy at the commencement of each communication, that is to say
returning all these mechanisms to what we might tern their zero or normal
positions.
1
We are now going to examine the effect produced by the positive current sent
by the subscriber, when pressing the knob V of his instrument. This current
arrives in the plate X as previously, through the band or strip Fr, the blade P.,
the frame or support e, the beam R and the wire 10. This current traverses
the electromagnet relay 29 which then completes the circuit of the electromagnet E3.
This latter is traversed by a positive current, which causes the attraction of the.
plate 31, and the pawl 33 causes the ratchet wheel 34 to turn through the distance
of one tooth (Figures 10 and 11). The wheels 36 and 37 follow this movement
and, consequently, effect a second rotary motion to the extent of one eighth of a
revolution, the effect of which we will now consider:
(1) The rotary movement of one eighth of a revolution of the wheel 36 brings
the projections 1 and 2 (Figures 11 and 12) respectively in contact with the
blocks 30 and 41, and consequently as the projections 14 and 1, are symmetrical to
the projections l₁₁, the wheel 36 takes up the position which it occupied at the
commencement of the communication, the same is thus returned to its zero
position.
(2) The rotary movement of one eighth of a revolution of the wheel 27 forces
the two metallic rods a,, s, to first rub upon the two blocks or contacts 72, 73 by
one of their extremities and upon the contacts 75 and 76 by the other extremity.
Now the blocks 72 and 73 are connected to the solenoid which surrounds the
style S₁, and the metallic contact 75 is connected to the negative pole of the battery
(Figure 11), whereas the contact 76 is connected to the positive pole. It follows
therefore that at the moment of the passage of the rods 1, 3, over the blocks or
contacts 72, 73 and over the contacts 75 and 76, the solenoid which surrounds the
style S, is traversed by a current in contrary direction with regard to that which
had traversed it for applying the style against the contact of the subscriber z. The
style is thus lifted and takes up its place at that height which it normally occupies
when it is to be displaced above the contacts of the plate X.
When continuing their rotary motion the rods 51, s, rub on the one hand upon
the blocks or contacts 77 and 78 and on the other hand upon the contact 76. The
blocks or contacts 77 and 78 are connected to the electromagnets 79 and 80
(Figure 12) serving for the return of the carriages E, E,, and the contact 76 is
connected to the positive pole, and as the electromagnets 79 and 80 are connected
to the negative pole of the battery, a current is established which traverses the
electromagnets 79 and 80 and the carriages E, and E, are returned to their starting
point, the rails which keep the hooks which engage with the racks raised being
kept in their raised position until the carriages have returned to their starting
point.
On continuing their rotary movement the rods 5, 8, pass over the contacts 771
and 78 which follow the contacts 77 and 78, but which are insulated therefrom
(Figures 11 and 12), and over the contact 76. Now the contact 77' is connected
by the wire 81 to the electromagnet W, placed at the one extremity of the beam R,
and the contact 781 is connected by the wire 82 to the electromagnet W₁, placed at
the other extremity of the beam R. At the moment when the rods s₁ and 8, pass
over the contacts 77' 78' and 76, a current traverses the electromagnets W and W',
the circuits of which are completed. This current, which traverses the electro-
magnets W and W', produces the upward attraction of the beam R and this latter
while being raised, forces back the carriage E, very slightly but to a sufficient
extent so that the blade K, will touch the contact L. which, as we before
described, completes the circuit of the electromagnet 19, of the commutator of the
The arm V, which was resting upon an insulating part, is placed upon
motor gir
C

page_text: the following metal contact which is of necessity one of the metal contacts 16.
producing the rearward motion of the carriage since before its stationary period on
the beam R, the carriage E, was moving forward, the arm V, touching a metal
contact 15, causing the forward movement, and we have seen that upon the
plate u₁ of the switch or commutator the metal parts are arranged in the following
succession:
(1) A metallic part 15, connected to the positive pole of the battery (forward
movement).
(2) An insulating part (stopping).
(3) A metal part 16, connected to the negative pole of the battery (rearward
movement).
(4) An insulating part (stopping) and so forth.
The carriage E, thus returns rearwardly until it has arrived at the extremity
of its course, where, as we know, it stops, owing to the contact of the rod ', and
of the terminal jix, which contact again completes the circuit of the electro-
magnet 19.
It follows therefrom that all the mechanisms of the plate X, also those of the
carriage of the subscriber and those of the carriage of the subscriber z have now
returned to their starting point. All the parts of the apparatus are therefore now
at their zero or initial position.
There remains to be examined the effect produced by the negative controlling
current in the commutator 28 at the moment of the contact of the brushes 39
and 40 upon metallic parts of the wheel 38. This negative controlling curient
arrives at the instrument of the subscriber x and causes a current to traverse
the electromagnet Ex; the wheel 1, thus turns one quarter of a revolution and
Repos (rest) appears opposite the opening provided above the
the word 66
wheel I..
"
It is thus evident that after the pressure has been exerted by the two
subscribers upon the knobs V,, the whole is brought back to the zero position
and the mechanisms are ready for a new conversation.
The same phenomena would take place in the same succession, if instead of
entering into communication with the subscriber 2, the subscriber had entered
into communication with another subscriber and if instead of the carriage E.
having become hooked on to the beam R, it had been hooked on
beam R¹.
to the
In order to prevent any subscriber from unduly monopolizing a beam, I provide
a counting apparatus of any suitable kind, at the extremity of each of these organs.
This counting apparatus is actuated by the lowering of the beam and at the
expiration of a given lapse of time, automatically completes the circuit of the
electromagnets W W₁ for the return."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A self-connecting or automatic telephone system in which the line wire
starting from each subscriber's post, terminates in a carriage or waggon capable
of moving over beams and of being put into electrical contact therewith, each of
these beans being connected to a plate at the central station analogous to that
described in the Specification of prior Patent No. 3954 of 1895, and on which plate
as many contacts are provided as the system has subscribers, each contact on the
plate being connected to the line wire of only one subscriber substantially as shown
and described.
2. In the self-connecting or automatic telephone system, described in Claim 1, a
switch A arranged at the central station end of each subscriber's line wire, at the
side of the carriage or waggon which it controls, the said switch being formed by a
rod a capable of oscillating on the pivot B and having at one of its two extremities
the two spring blades a a¹¹ and at the other extremity the two spring blades α₁ a

page_text: capable of entering respectively into contact with the studs or contacts 61 ¿¹¹, b₁ b₂,
the contacts being connected to the contacts, corresponding to that particular
subscriber whose switch at the central station we are considering, in each plate of
the system, the two contacts b₁b, being connected to the subscriber's line wire; the
movements of the rod a being obtained by two electromagnets d d' one of which,
namely the electromagnet d is connected to the blade a₁, which is itself connected
by the wire 7 to the blade a" and the other electromagnet d' is connected to the
blade a; the blade a, being moreover connected to a metal strip or band placed
parallel to the rail or track travelled over by the carriage controlled by the
switch.
3. In the self connecting or automatic telephone system described in Claim 1, a
carriage or waggon corresponding to each subscriber and capable of being moved
by means of a screw, actuated by an electro motor the said carriage being arranged
to carry an electromagnet E which through the blade and the strip f₁, is traversed
by the current arriving from the subscriber's instrument when the carriage is at the
extremity of its path, the plate h attracted by the electromagnet rubbing, while
rising, upon a contact j₁, for the purpose of closing the circuit of a battery so as to
produce the rotation of the electro-motor armature the front part of the carriage
hemg provided with a frame M which, when the carriage or waggon arrives over a
beam, not in contact with another carriage or waggon lowers the same and thus
establishes the communication between the beam and the platform e of the carriage
or waggon connected by the spring P to the metal strip or band F, the latter being
itself connected to the subscriber's line wire; the frame M carrying moreover a
spring K capable of rubbing upon the contacts L L when the frame is depressing
or releasing any beam and capable of freely rubbing upon the contact L' when the
carriage arrives at the rear end of its path.
4. In the self connecting or automatic telephone system described in Claim 1 a
switch placed near each electro-motor actuating each carriage and enabling the
said motor to be stopped or to be started in either direction the said switch being
formed by a disc u, the periphery of which is divided into metal sectors separated
by insulating parts, upon the said insulating and metal parts a spring V can be
displaced, the said spring being mounted upon a vertical shaft U which, under the
action of the ratchet wheels u, and u driven by the electromagnets 19 and 20 will
rotate, thereby forcing the spring V to traverse either one single sector or two
consecutive sectors; all sectors 15 of the disc u, being connected to the positive
pole of the battery driving the electro-motor and all sectors 16 to the negative
pole of the same battery, whilst the spring V is connected to the electromotor;
the electromagnet 19, which drives the ratchet wheel u₁, being connected, to the
terminals L and j, and also to the metal strip or band N with the interposition of a
battery 22; the electromagnet 20 which drives the ratchet wheel u, being connected
to the terminal L' and, also to the metal strip or band N by the same wire as is
used for the electromagnet 19, for the purpose hereinbefore specified.
5. In the self-connecting or automatic telephone system, described in Claim 1,
beams with metal conductors placed below the tracks traversed by the carriages or
waggons and perpendicularly thereto the said beams being normally maintained in
their raised position by the springs V, which are compressed when the beam
descends under the action of a carriage or waggon each of such beams being
connected to a separate contact plate; and the beams returning to their original
position under the action of the electromagnets w w', placed at their extremities,
which are energized by currents arriving from the plate corresponding to each
beam, substantially as shown and described.
6. In combination with the parts herein before described and for each pair of
plates, that is to say for each beam a current distributor actuated by a fixed electro-
magnet the said distributor being substantially formed of a ratchet wheel which
under the action of a pawl actuated by a lever attracted by the electro-magnet turus
an axis which carries
-
(a) A metallic wheel insulated from the axis whose circumference formed of

page_text: segments successively metallic and of ebonite or other insulating material
is in contact with two brushes one of which is connected to the beam
corresponding to the plate and the other to the negative pole of the battery
at the central station for the purpose of sending from the central station to
the apparatus of the subscriber a negative current each time the ratchet
wheel turns through a distance corresponding to one tooth.
b) A metallic wheel insulated from the axis, with four projecting parts placed
at the extremities of two perpendicular diameters and rubbing upon the
metallic contacts two of which are connected, on the one hand to the movable
point on the contacts and on the other hand to the beam corresponding to
the particular plate and the other two of which are included in the circuits
of the electro-maguets of the carriages;
c) Four metallic rods in two pairs insulated from the axis each pair being
perpendicular to the other and closing successively the circuits of the
solenoid surrounding the contact making point, those of the electro-magnets
causing the return of the carriages to their points of departure, and those of
the electro-magnets placed at the ends of the beam corresponding to the
plate substantially as herein described.
Dated this 24th day of February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.