Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of New Bridge Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object; first, the utilizing of the annunciator drops to
connect automatically the subscribers line to earth, or to the central office, or to
the electrical generator, or to the telephone instruments; secondly, the utilizing the
connecting plug in which the subscribers line ends in the switch board, for
automatically connecting the line to earth when not in use; and thirdly, the
placing of a rotating key or switch in circuit for the purpose of dividing a
telephone switch board in sections.
•
The invention consists in such improvements in telephone switch boards that
the above named objects are accomplished in a very effective and convenient
manner.
The accompanying drawing shows how these purposes are effected.
Fig. 1 shows a section and Fig. 2 a front view of an ordinary annunciator
switchboard, where the connections between subscribers is made with cords ending
in plugs. The circuits are shown by the dotted lines, viz: The subscribers call
current L passes through the electromagnet of the annunciator A and through
the cord B into the plug C. This plug, which is kept upright by the weight
underneath, makes by its lower end contact with a metallic piece D, which is again
connected to the body of the annunciator drop E. Behind E is arranged a metallic
spring F against which. E rests when in its natural position, and with which it
makes electrical contact. All the springs F are connected directly to Earth, either
separately or, preferably, being made in one piece as shown in Fig. 2. In this way
the circuit is completed.
When a call arrives, and the drop E falls down, it makes contact with a spring G,
which is in connection with the central office telephone, or, by means of the push-
button or key S, with the electric generator. All the springs G may also be made
in one piece as shown in the figure. The operator has consequently nothing to do
but press down S and reply by a ring and then speak after having released S, and
need not touch the connecting plug, till he has ascertained the subscriber's wish.
After having connected the parties he resets the drops, which may again serve to
indicate when the subscribers "ring off." Immediately the plug C is released, it
returns to its normal position, making connection with D. In this way at least
two manipulations are avoided at each call.
Supposing all the springs G to be connected together, when two or more drops
fall at the same time, they connect several lines to the operator's telephone at once.

page_text: The inconvenience of this may be obviated by the operator either replacing the
drops all but the one he wishes to reply to first, or else lift up the plugs C of those
lines that are to wait, a little way from D or else put the plug up in any empty
connecting strap and thus insulating the wires until he is ready to speak to the
waiting, subscribers. Practically this answers very well on a switchboard up to
50 lines or when the exchange is not very busy (I have tried it on a 50 line
switchboard). In case, however, that calls are so frequent that this causes
inconvenience, the system of springs, G, may be divided in sections of any
convenient number (as shown in Fig. 2) where they are divided between No's. 10
and 11 and temporarily connected by a piece of wire, a plug or connecting strap
or any other convenient method. Each group is then connected to a contact in
the switch shown in Fig. 3, the body of which is connected to the telephone T.
The body of the key or switch may rotate on a pivot arranged to stop readily over
any of the contact pieces by means of a rachet arrangement d. A catch may be
arranged on the key so that it may be locked down, the operator then need not
As mentioned above, arrange-
hold it all the time the conversation is going on.
ments may be made so as to connect together or disconnect from each other at will
all or several of the sections of springs Ğ as the exchange is more or less busy.
Of course the system may be attached to any form of annunciator switchboard,
and any convenient mode for making the connections between the drops and,
respectively, earth and telephone, arranged.
This arrangement is also applicable to switchboards worked with loose plugs.
Here the subscriber's strap is normally connected to the contact piece D by the
loose plug, just as it is else connected to the earthstrip.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be preformed, I declare that what I claim is
First. In a telephone switchboard, the combination of a circuit containing a
magnet adapted to operate an annunciator signal, a contact plug C, an annunciator
drop E, a contact spring F and an earth connection; and a branch circuit con-
taining telephonic instruments, a switch S in connection with an electric generator,
and a terminal spring G beneath the annunciator drop E, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
Second. In a telephone switch board, the connecting or contact plug C in circuit
with the magnet for operating the annunciator, with the metallic annunciator
drop E, with the spring F pressing upon said annunciator drop, and with the earth,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In a telephone switch board, the switch S in circuit with the telephonic
instruments, with the earth, with the annunciator drop, with the removable.
connecting plug C and with the subscriber's line, including the annunciator
magnet A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In a telephone switch board, a switch S, in circuit with an electric
generator, with an annunciator drop E, with a removable connecting plug C and
with the subscriber's line including the annunciator magnet A, substantially as
described.
Fifth. In a telephone switch board, the combination of the groups of springs G,
each located under an annunciator drop E, as shown; switches f located between
said group for the purposes specified; and a second switch provided with contact
points e connected each by wires to each of said groups, and arranged side by side,
as and for the purposes described.