Improvements in Apparatus for Registering the Number or Duration of Telephonic Conversations.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Registering the Number or Duration
of Telephonic Conversations.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Heinrich Eichwede, of
Thiergartenstrasse, 19, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer,) and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a device for registering the length of time a telephone
subscriber uses his instrument in actual conversation with other subscribers,
(or if desired the number of conversations) so that the time consumed in con-
versation with the central offices will not be registered, neither will any
registration take place, if the subscriber rung up fails to answer the call.
The arrangement shown in the annexed drawings and described hereafter
effects this purpose in a simple and satisfactory manner.
By means of a circuit closing or contact device operated from the place called
up when the receiver is taken off its hook both stations are connected in such a
manner for a short time, that the current then passing is strong enough to operate
at the call end a clock or registering apparatus or both together. Such a current
produced in different ways, for instance, the said circuit closing or contact device
connects in series at the given moment the element groups of both stations put
generally into circuit against one another, or one of these element groups is put
out of circuit and only the current of the group remaining is used for operating
the clock and registering work, or a branch wire passing from the speaking wire
to the ground is inserted by a time contact and the current of the elements in this
wire is used for operating the clock and registering work.
In the annexed drawings:-Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of the improved
apparatus, in which the controlling elements of both stations are temporarily cor
nected in series when the receiver is hung on the hook. Fig. 2 shows the samo
plan of circuit closing, the receiver being taken off the hook. Fig. 3 is a front
elevation, with parts broken away, of the call indicator and of the alarm in con-
nection with the mechanism for operating the registering device. Fig. 4 is a side
view of the call indicator and the parts connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a plan
view of the releasing mechanism for the registering work. Fig. 6 is a side view
of the switch connected with the telephone hook. Fig. 7 shows an electrolytic
cell serving as resistance. Fig. 8 shows the plan of another form of arrange-
ment of mechanism in which the controlling element or elements of the one
station are temporarily put out of circuit. Fig. 9 shows the plan of a third form
of arrangement of apparatus for operating the clock and registering work in which
are inserted temporarily the elements with a branch wire passing from the
speaking wire to earth. Fig. 10 shows the front view, with parts broken away, of
the inductor and of the alarm in connection with the releasing device of this
apparatus. Fig. 11 shows the side view of a part of the inductor. Fig. 12 shows
the side view of a time contact.

page_text: In the following will be first described the arrangement of the plan shown.in
Figs. 1 and 2 and the construction of the parts of the apparatus shown in
Figs. 3 to 6.
In the mechanism shown there are arranged two receivers 6 connected in series,
but the circuit arrangement of the present apparatus for telephones with only one
receiver is essentially the same.
Of the receivers 6, which are connected with one another by the wire-42", the
one is in connection by means of the wire 42, 48 with the one controlling element
or battery 41 and the contact plate 7, the other one by the wire 43 with the
contact 23. When using only one receiver the wire 42 is omitted, and the
wirus 43 and 42 are then connected with the receiver. The wire 43 is further
joined to a device 1 serving for releasing the clock and registering work and to the
induction coil 44 and contains a switch lever 2, which when lying on the contact
plate 23 short circuits the releasing device. The coil 44 is connected by the wire 45
with the contact plate 10. A double switch 4, 4' which is operated from the
telephone hook 5, lies either on the contacts 7 and 8 or on the contact plates 9
and 10, whereof the contacts 8 and 9 are always in connection with the battery 41
by means of the wire 40. The inductor 13 is connected with the line and with
the telephone hook 5, a lightning arrester 64 being inserted. In the call bell
circuit is inserted between the call bell 3 and the earth wire an electrolytic cell 11
serving as a resistance. The microphone element and the battery 41" are joined
on the one side to the wire 45" which passing to the primary binding of the coil 44
is opened or closed by the telephone hook 5 and on the other side to the wire 43".
The exterior line leads to the annunciator drop arranged in the known manner
at the central office, but between this drop and the ground there is also inserted
another resistance cell 11.
The inductor 13 (Figs. 3 and 4) is provided in the well known manner with
a crank 12, which is seated on the axle 14. The latter carries an eccentric 15,
by which the spring controlled lever 16, which is fulcrumed upon the pin 16",
can be raised. The lever 16 is provided with an arm 17, which lies with its free
end under the lever 19 fulcrumed upon the pin 18 and raises the same once at
each revolution of the axle 14. On the inductor frame there is seated a pin 20,
which limits the movement of the lever downwards. On the lever 19 there is
seated a pin 21, which lies against the under end of the switch lever 2 which is
fulcrumed upon the pin 22 and can be brought into or out of contact with the
contact plate 23. The arm 52 of the switch lever 2 is provided with a pin 51 which
lies in the way of the armature 50 of the call bell 3, as shown in Fig. 3.
The lever 19 is connected by a rod 24 with a lever 26, which is fulcrumed on
the pin 25 and lies with its free end on the nose 27 of the escapement pawl 29
turnable round the axle 28.
This escapement pawl 29 has an upwardly directed
arni 30 which can be engaged with a retaining pawl 32 fixed on the casing of the
apparatus and turnable round the pin 31. By means of the escapement pawl 29
there is operated in the well known manner the escapement wheel 49 which is
connected either with a train of wheels for registering the number of conversations
or with a clock work for indicating the duration of the conversations or with
both.
The releasing device 1, which serves for operating the clock and registering
work, consists of a coil 33, which surrounds a magnet 34 in a freely movable
manner and is fixed on a lever 36 turnable round the axle 35 and balanced by
means of a weight 36. For increasing the magnetic effect on the coil 33 iron
plates 38 are arranged on both sides of the magnet 34. On the lever 38 there is
seated a pin 37, on which there lies the pawl 32 turnable round the pin 31. The
coil 33 is joined to the wire as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The electrolytic cell 11 (Fig. 2) serving as resistance consists of a glass tube
filled with acidulated water for instance diluted sulphuric acid, with two platinum
wires embedded therein, the exterior ends of which are connected with the wires.
Such an electrolytic cell while offering no appreciable resistance to the passage of

page_text: the alternating current produced by the inductor 13 will not let pass unhindered
a continuous current, but forms at the passage of the same an electromotive
counter force of about 2.7 volts.
The telephone hook 5 (Fig. 6) is under the influence of the spring 63 and is
provided at its inner end with a fork 53 which surrounds a pin 54 seated on the
switch lever 41 of the double switch. The levers 4, 4¹ of the double switch are
connected with one another by an intermediary member 55 made of insulating
material. The upper switch lever 4 has an arm 58, which lies against the pin 59
of a wheel 57, which stands under the effect of a spiral spring 56. The wheel 57
meshes into a pinion 60 of the wheel 61 which is prevented by a retarding device 62
from a quick revolution, but in such a manner, that it can move to both sides,
that is, forward and backward. When the receiver. 6 is suspended on the telephone
hook 5, the levers 4 and 4 lie on the upper contacts 7 and 8. When taking
the receiver 6 off however the levers 4 and 4¹ are lowered slowly by the effect of
the spring 56 connected with the wheel 57, until its free ends are lying on the
under contacts 9 and 10.
The operation of the described device is as follows:-
When one wants to call the central station and a subscriber, one turns as usual
the crank 12 of the inductor 13. Hereby the levers 16 and 19 are raised by means
of the eccentric 15 seated on the axle 14, whereby the switch lever 2 turnable with
some friction is moved in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) and is removed from
the contact 23. Simultaneously the rod 24 joined to the lever 19 is raised in such
a manner, that the free end of the lever 26 presses on the nose 27 of the escapement
pawl 29 and moves the latter upwards, until its arm 30 springs behind the
click 32 which keeps the pawl in the position ready for registering.
The call bell circuit is as follows:-From the ground through the cell 11 to
the call bell 3, pin 47, telephone hook 5 inductor 13 to the line (Fig. 1).
Through the interruption which takes place by the revolution of the inductor
crank, of the circuit between the switch lever 2, and the contact 23,, the releasing
device I which was short circuited now lies in the speaking circuit (Fig. 2).
When the subscriber then takes the receiver 6 from the telephone hook 5, the
switch 4 4 moves from the upper contact 7, 8 downwards and engages the lower
contacts 9, 10 (Fig. 2) whereby the following connection is produced. From the
earth the wire passes to the switch lever 4 contact 9, wire 40 to the negative
pole of the controlling element 41, wire 42 through the receiver 6 connected by
means of the wire 42, 43 releasing device 1, induction coil 44, wire 45, contact 10,
switch lever 4¹, spring 46, contact pin 47, telephone hook 5 and from the latter
in the well known manner through the line to the annunciator drop of the central
station, this drop being connected with the ground. This putting into circuit
the controlling element 41 of the calling station would send its current through
the coil of the drop magnet to the earth, and operate the releasing device 1 of
the calling subscriber. In order to prevent this, there is inserted behind the
drop magnet the above described resistance cell 11, which stops the continuous
current of the controlling element 41 in consequence of the electromotive counter
force formed at once without however preventing the passage of the inductor
current used for calling. Similarly after having rung on the desired subscriber's
station as in Fig. 1.- the current of the controlling element 41 would pass through
the line, inductor 13, telephone hook 5, pin 47, and call bell -3 to the earth and
operate the releasing device 1 of the caller. In order to prevent this, there is
also inserted a resistance 11 in the same manner as above described between the
call bell 3 and the earth.
Then the person rung up takes his receiver 6 off, he closes in the well known
manner the microphone circuit and the speaking wire by the spring 46 and the
pin 47 on the telephone hook 5. As the switch 4, 4¹ in consequence of brake
device connected with it moves slowly downwards, it keeps during this movement
the circuit closed at the contacts 7, 8 for a short time in the position shown in
Fig. 1 whilst the telephone hook 5 occupies already the position shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: ::
During this lapse of time there is produced the following connection with the
calling station.
Line, telephone hook 5, contact 47, contact spring 46, switch lever 41, con-
tact 8, wire 40, controlling element 41, wire 48, contact 7, switch lever 4, and
earth wire 39. From this mode of connection it results, that in the station called
up the positive pole, and in the calling station the negative pole of the controlling
element 41 are connected with the ground. Therefore now the controlling
elements 41 of the calling station and of the subscriber called are connected in
series, so that now a sufficiently strong current passes through the wire in order
to operate the clock and registering work at the calling station. This is effected
in such a manner, that the coil 33 turns upwards, when the current is passing,
and lifts hereby the click 32 by means of the pin 37, whereby the escapement
pawl 29 becomes free and registers the beginning of the conversation by engaging
with the balance wheel 49 connected with the clock or registering work.
As soon as the double switch 4, 4¹ has moved so far downwards that it closes
the contacts 9, 10 the electrical connections are the same at the called station as at
the calling station, with the difference only that by the movement of the arma-
ture 50 produced during the operation of the call bell 3, which armature lies
against the pin 51, of the armature 52 seated on the switch 2, the switch 2 in
the station rung up is slid on the contact 23 in a direction opposed to the arrow
shown in Fig. 3, where it remains. The releasing mechanism at the called
station is therefore short circuited, so that it can never be released by any current
that may come from the calling station. Besides the controlling elements 41 of
both stations are connected with the ground at their negative poles and are there-
fore put into circuit against one another, so that now the conversation can begin.
It is not necessary to reverse the connection of the controlling element of the
subscriber rung up, but a weaker and in many cases sufficient current can be
obtained by connecting the wire coming from the calling subscriber directly with
the earth or return wire and using only the current of the controlling, element
of the calling subscriber for operating the clock and registering work.
Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8. Here the wire 40 coming from the
negative pole of the controlling element 41 is laid on the contact 9 of the
switch 4, 41, whilst the contacts 7 and 8 are connected with one another. With
this connection the current coming from the calling subscriber would take its way
in the following manner at the moment, when the subscriber rung up lifts the
receiver 6, when therefore the switch 4, 41, still occupies the position shown in
dotted lines; From the telephone hook 5 to the pin 47 contact spring 46, switch
lever 41, contacts 8, 7, switch lever 4 and wire 39 to the ground and return wire.
In this form of arrangement the current necessary for influencing the clock or
registering work is produced in such a manner, that the controlling element 41
of the subscriber called when taking off the receiver 6 is put out of circuit for
a moment and the current of the controlling element of the calling subscriber
consequently is alone effective.
The form of arrangement of the conversation counting device shown in Figs. 9
to 12 has for its purpose to keep the existing arrangement and the fixed con-
nection of the elements and to allow of the elements of both stations being put
into circuit in series, so that a current sufficiently strong for all cases is produced
for releasing the registering device.
For obtaining this purpose there is inserted at the station called, when taking
the receiver off, by means of a hereinafter described time contact a branch wire
passing from the speaking wire to the earth, in such a manner, that the elements
in the latter, the number of which can be chosen at pleasure are put into circuit
in a row for a short time with one or more elements of the calling station, in order
to operate the clock and registering work.
In the form of arrangement represented the arrangement is made in such a
manner on account of simplicity, that when taking the receiver 6 off there is

page_text: inserted at the station called by means of the branch wire 72 connected with the
earth the microphonic element 41° indispensable at any station.
on
dotted
The time contact 4° operated by the movement of the telephonic hook 5 consists, as
shown in Fig. 12 of a vessel filled partly with mercury but the rest being a
vacuum, the pear shaped parts 4 and 4 of this vessel being connected with one
another by a narrow channel, the one of these pear shaped parts receiving the
contact pins 65 seated on the ends of the wires. This contact 4° is fixed on an
arm 67 turnable round the pin 66, against the under side of which arm there lies
the inner end of the telephone hook 5. When the receiver 6 is suspended
the latter,
the contact 4° is in
in
the position shown
lines, in which the two contact pins 65 are surrounded by the mercury. As
however hereby the contact 46, 47 is not closed, no current passes through the
wire, when the receiver 6 is taken off the contact 4 is lowered, the mercury how-
ever can pass only gradually from the upper vessel 4" into the under one 4b and
keeps thus the contacts 65 still some seconds in conducting connection, after the
speaking circuit is already closed by the contact 46, 47. This circumstance is
utilized by means of the branch wire 69 (Fig. 1) for the temporary putting into
circuit of the microphonic element 41° with the element or elements of the calling
station. The passage of the current is is follows:
In the calling station contact 4° (represented in Fig. 9 only as a simple switch
arm) as the receiver 6 is taken off, is in the dotted position shown and is therefore
open. The current coming from the subscriber rung up passes consequently from
the earth and return wire 70 to the controlling element 41 through the wire 42,
receiver 6, wire 43, secondary winding 44 of the induction coil, wire 45, releasing
device 1, operating the latter, contacts 46, 47, telephone hook 5 into the line 71
passes through the latter to the station rung up, goes here through the telephone
hook 5 contacts 46, 47 releasing device 1, wire 45, time contact 4° branch wire 69,
to the negative pole of the microphonic element 41" and from the positive pole of
the latter through the wires 72 and 70 to earth. Hereby the releasing device 1 of
the subscriber called is not operated, as its lever 36 is stopped in the manner
hereinafter described.
The controlling elements 41, as before said are lying with the positive pole on
the wire and with the negative pole in the ground connection. It can therefore
be seen that when taking off the receiver 6. of the subscriber rung up his micro-
phone element 41° is put into circuit in series with the controlling element 41
of the calling station without any interruption of the speaking circuit and the
registering device of the calling subscriber is hereby operated.
The construction and manner in influencing the registering work is somewhat
changed in the device represented in Figs. 9 to 12 from the device before described.
The releasing device 1 (Fig. 10) consists here again of a coil 33, which surrounds
freely a fixed magnet not represented in the drawing and is seated on the balanced
lever 36 fulcrumed upon the axle 35. On the latter lever there is provided a
click 32 easily movable between two limiting pins 37° and 37b and fulcrumed upon
the pin 31. The first registering disk is formed as a ratchet wheel 73, on the
axle 74 of which there is mounted to turn an arm 75 lying with its upper end in the
path of the click. The spring operated pawl 76 seated on this arm meshes in
such a manner with the wheel 73, that at a revolution of the arm 75 downwards
the wheel 73 is moved forwards one tooth, whilst a pawl 77 fixed on the plate
The arm 75
prevents any backwards revolution of the ratchet wheel 73.
is brought by the revolution of the inductor crank 12 into the position
ready for counting and registering. This is effected in such a manner, that by.
the revolution of the crank 12 the eccentric 15 (Fig. 11) seated on the axle 14
moves the arm 16 fulcrumed upon the pin 16 in the direction of the arrow, where-
by a pin 79 seated on the latter arm passes through an opening 80 of the inductor
wheel. 81. At the further revolution of the wheel 81 this pin meets the bent
lever 83 fulcrumed upon the pin 82 and presses the same down. As the lever 83
lies with a pin 84 against the under end of the arm 75, it turns by its downward

page_text: movement, this arm 75 in such a manner, that the upper end of the same lies
behind the click 32. Hereby the arm 75 strikes against the arm 2 rotatable
with some friction upon the pin 22 and moves the same in such a manner, that
its projection 85 comes out of line with the pin 86 of the lever 36, so that the
latter can thus move freely. When the current passes through the coil 33 the
latter moves upwards with the lever 36 whereby the click 32 is carried along and
lets the arm 75 fall downwards, the pawl 76 of which pushes hereby the wheel 73
forward for one tooth and thus registers a conversation.
When however the station is called a counting shall not take place. This is
obtained by the movement of the call bel armature 50, when ringing up the
arm 52 connected with the arm 2 and lying with a pin 51 against the call bell
hammer is displaced in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 10). Hereby the projec-
tion 85 of the arm 2 is laid over the pin SG of the lever 36 and thus prevents an
upward movement of the latter.
As there are telephone arrangements, in which instead of the earth wire a
special return wire is used, it will be understood that my invention applies as well.
to constructions in which a return wire is used as to those in which a' ground
connection is employed, and that a ground connection and a return wire are
equivalents.
It is evident, that the several devices used in the described arrangement can
be replaced by equivalent means without the characteristics of the present invention
being affected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A registering device for telephonic conversations, in which by means of a
switch device 4 4 and 4° operated from the station rung up upon taking off the
receiver the elements 41.41 of one or both stations are put into circuit in such
a manner, that the current passing through the wire in the calling station operates
a clock or registering work or both together.
2. A telephone call register in which upon taking off the receiver 6 at the
station called, the controlling elements 41 of both stations (put into circuit
generally against one another) are put into circuit in such a manner in series by
a switch 4 4¹ moving under the influence of an escapement 62, that the current
of both element groups is used for operating the clock and the registering work
at the calling station..
3. A telephone call register in which a group of elements 41 is cut out of circuit
by the switch 4 4' in such a manner, that only the circuit of the group of elements
remaining in the circuit is used for releasing the clock and registering work.
4. A telephone call register provided with a switch 2 connected in series with
the secondary winding of the transmission coil 44 of each station which switch 2
is moved in such a manner by the caller at the station rung up by its call bell 3
that it short circuits there the releasing device 1 for the clock registering work
and thereby prevents the operation of the latter, whilst at the calling station it is
brought by the revolution of the inductor 13 into the position required for releas
ing the short circuit of the disengaging device.
5. A telephone call register, provided with resistance cells 11 connected to the
ground or to a return wire, and to the call bell 3, said cells being so constructed
as to allow an alternating current to pass unhindered, but when a continuous
current is effected to produce an electro motive counter force for the purpose of
preventing when calling, the current from being conducted off to earth or to
the return wire.
6. A telephone call register, in which at the station called up, taking the
receiver 6 off will throw into the circuit a branch wire 69 leading from the speak-
ing wire to ground or to a return wire in such a manner that the elements of any

page_text: number in the latter branch wire are put into circuit in series with one or more
elements, 41 41° of the calling station for the purpose of being able to produce a
carrent of any desired power for putting into operation the clock and registering
work at the calling station.
7. A telephone call register, provided with a time contact 4° to be operated by
the movement of the telephone hook 5 and consisting of a vessel, which is filled
partly with mercury and formed in two parts 4" 4b connected with one another by
a narrow channel, having therein embedded contacts 65 of the branch conduct 69
which when the receiver 6 is hung on, are kept closed and are interrupted succes-
sively when the latter is taken off for the purpose of effecting for a short time the
putting into circuit in series of the elements of both stations.
8. In a telephone system the combination of a registering device, a device for
normally locking the same, an electrically operated releasing mechanism for said
locking device, electric generators such as batteries, located at the subscribers'
stations and current switching devices, in connection with said batteries and with
the releasing mechanism, said current switching devices being controlled by the
establishing and interruption of the speaking circuit and serving to normally con-
nect like poles of said batteries so as to render the batteries inactive, while the
establishment of connections for conversations will so effect the current switching
devices as to change the connection of the batteries and send an operating current
into the releasing mechanism, and mechanism for operating the locking device at
the end of a conversation.
9. In a telephone system the combination of a registering device a device for nor-
mally locking the same, an electrically operated releasing mechanism for said locking
device, current switching devices, in connection with said releasing mechanism and
with generators such as batteries, said devices being controlled by the establish-
ment and interruption of the speaking circuit to operate the releasing mechanisin
of the calling subscriber when the speaking circuit is completed, a switch located
at each subscriber's station to short circuit the releasing mechanism mechanism
controlled by the calling subscriber ringing up the central for throwing the short
circuiting switch out of action means controlled by the operation of the call bell
at the called subscriber's station, for throwing the short circuiting switch at his
station into action, so that only the releasing mechanism of the calling subscriber
can be operated, and mechanism for operating the locking device at the end of
a conversation.
10. In a telephone system the combination of a registering device a device for
normally locking the same, an electrically operated releasing mechanism for said
locking device current switching devices, in connection with said releasing
mechanism and with generators such as batteries, said device being controlled by
the establishment and interruption of the speaking circuit to operate the releasing
mechanism of the calling subscriber, when the speaking circuit is completed, a
resistance interposed between the call bell and the ground to oppose the passage
of a continuous current while allowing the alternating call current to pass, and
mechanism for operating the locking mechanism at the end of a conversation.
Dated thie 94th day of September 1898