Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
We, HUBERT FEILDEN JACKSON of Queen Victoria Street, in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman, and DANIEL SINCLAIR of Royal Exchange Buildings,
Glasgow in the County of Lanark, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows
This Invention which relates to telephonic apparatus, has for its object improve-
ments in switch boards for telephonic exchanges whereby operators may work on
opposite sides of the boards and a largely increased number of subscribers' lines
may be operated from a board occupying a given space; and the invention also
comprises improvements in the construction and operation of the spring jacks fitted
on such boards, and in switches for use on switch board tables to enable the operators
to call subscribers or connect them to the exchange telephone and to each
other.
The improved switch board, which may be of the usual shape or made of
cylindrical, conical prismatic, pyramidal or similar form, is constructed with wood
facings on each side whereinto the jacks are so fitted that the plugs for making
connections between subscribers may be inserted therein from either side. The
jacks under one arrangement extend through the board and long plugs are used
which when inserted from one side of the hoard to make connection to subscribers
project through or close the opening in the jack at the opposite side of the board and
indicate to the operators at that side that the subscriber is already connected through
the exchange. In a slightly modified form plugs of ordinary longth are used and
in the jacks are fitted sliding plugs which, on the insertion at either side of the plugs
for making connection between subscribers, are pushed through to the opposite
side. The sliding plugs are provided with stops to prevent their being ejected from
the jacks. In a further modification the jacks which extend through the board or
may be fitted in pairs in line on opposite sides of the board have for each pair a light
beam or other lever suspended or pivotted at a point midway between the operating
faces and extending out through the jacks. On the insertion of a plug at one
side of a jack, the lever is tilted and pressed into a recess in the jack whilst its
opposite end partially closes the orifice of the jack at the opposite face of the board
and prevents the insertion of a plug at that side whilst indicating that the line is
engaged. The line wires are connected to terminal points in the jacks, and in the
space between the wood facings of the board a terminal point is provided for each
pair of jacks to which point is connected the line which completes the circuit. On
the base of the jacks is fitted a spring which normally makes contact with the latter
terminal but which on the insertion of a plug from either end is pressed aside to
break the contact, the circuit being then completed through the plug and cord to
the operators telephone or the line of the subscriber whose plug is inserted in the
jack. Under the arrangements described the space between the operating faces of
the board may be varied to suit the requirements of leading in wires or cables.
These may be conveniently laid in a trough formed along the top of the duplex
board and properly divided so as to carry the cables without entanglement.. The
framework of the board may be similar to that usually provided for what is known
as the Multiple System of switch boards, and the jacks are fitted as above described in
blocks of one hundred or other convenient number the number of blocks being varied
according to the requirements of the exchange. The plugs, indicators, key-board
and other accessories may be placed as is usual in multiple switchboards.
The improved operator's switch which we employ in conjunction with the duplex
witch board above described, but which is also adapted for use. with ordinary switch

page_text: boards, consists of a central pivotted or jointed key or spindle provided with acting
arms, a ringing bar connected to a magneto or battery and a series of spring terminals
which are acted on by the arms on the key to connect subscribers either directly to
each other or through the operator's telephone, or to make contact with the ringing
bar and transmit a ringing current to call either of the subscribers connected through
the switch. The terminals springs are so formed that a rubbing action takes place on
making contact through them, one spring terminal bearing on the other and slightly
following up the movement of that acted on by the switch key whereby the contact
surfaces are kept clean and in good condition for conducting the current transmitted
through the terminals.
The ringing bar is placed on one side of the pivotted key, and close to but out of
contact with it are two terminal springs, one to each subscribers plug cord. By
turning the key slightly to either side one or other of the terminals is pressed against
-the-ringing bar-and-the-corresponding-subscriber thereby-called.--Normally bearing
on these terminals are springs which are connected by wires through a ring-off
indicator said springs and wires completing the circuit whereby the subscribers may
call each other or ring off, and in said circuit and situated at the side of the switch
key opposite to the ringing bar is a spring terminal having a catch adapted to engage
a shoulder on the key or spindle when the latter is pressed over to make contact with
it. When the key is so pressed over the catch spring is thrown out of contact with
one spring terminal normally bearing on it and into contact with another spring
terminal whereby the circuit is broken through the ring-off indicator and made
through the operator's telephone.
Dated this Sixteenth day of January 1889.
- CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephonic Apparatus.
We, HUBERT FEILDEN JACKSON of Oxford Court Cannon Street, London,
Gentleman, and DANIEL SINCLAIR of Royal Exchange Buildings, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention which relates to telephonic apparatus has for its object improve-
ments in switch boards for telephonic exchanges whereby operators may work on
opposite sides of the boards and a largely increased number of subscribers' lines may
be operated from a board occupying a given space; and the invention also comprises
improvements in the construction and operation of the spring jacks fitted on such
boards, and in switches for use on switch board tables to enable the operators to call
subscribers or connect them to the exchange telephone and to each other..
The improved switch board which may be of the usual shape as represented in
cross section at figure 1 and in part in elevation at figure 2 of the accompanying
drawings but which may be made of cylindrical, conical, prismatic, pyramidal or
similar form is constructed with wood facings A, A', on each side whereinto the
jacks B are so fitted that the plugs for making connections between subscribers may
be inserted therein from either side, operators being seated on both sides of the
board. The jacks under one arrangement extend through the board and long plugs C
as represented in figure 3 are used which when inserted from one side of the board
at A to make connection to subscribers project through or close the opening in the
jack at the opposite side A' of the board and indicate to the operators at that side
that the subscriber is already connected through the exchange. In a slightly modified
form indicated at figure 4 plugs C of ordinary length are used and in each jack is
fitted a sliding plug D which, on the insertion at either side of the board of the plug
for making connection between subscribers is pushed through to the opposite side.

page_text: The sliding plugs D are provided with stops d to prevent their being ejected from the
jacks. In a further modification indicated at figures 5 and 6, the jacks B which
extend through the board or may be fitted in pairs in line on opposite sides of the
board have for each pair a light beam or other lever E suspended or pivotted at a
point midway between the operating faces A, A', and extending out or partly through
the jacks. On the insertion of a plug at one side A of a jack as shown the lever E
is tilted and pressed into a recess in the jack whilst its opposite end partially closes
the orifice of the jack at the opposite face A¹ of the board and prevents the insertion
of a plug at that side whilst indicating that the line is engaged. The line wires w, to
are connected to terminal points in the jacks, and in the space between the wood
facings A A of the board a terminal point F is provided for each double jack or pair
of jacks to which point is connected the line which completes the circuit. On the
base of the jacks is fitted a spring G which normally makes contact with the latter
terminal but which on the insertion of a plug (from either end is pressed aside as
indicated at figure 6 to break the contact, the circuit being then completed through
the plug and cord to the operators telephone or the line of the subscriber whose plug
is inserted in the jack-Under the arrangements described the space between the
operating faces of the board may be varied to suit the requirements of leading in
wires or cables. These may be conveniently laid in a trough H formed along the
top of the duplex board as indicated a figure 1 and properly divided so as to carry the
cables without entanglement. The framework of the board may be similar to that
usually provided for what is known as the "Multiple System" of switch boards, and
the jacks are fitted as above described in blocks of one hundred or other convenient
number of blocks being varied according to the requirements of the exchange. The
plugs, indicators, key-hoard and other accessories inay be placed as is usual in multiplo
switchboards.
The improved operator's switch which we employ in conjunction with the duplex
switch board above described, but which is also adapted for use with ordinary switch-
boards, consists as represented at figures 7 and 8 of a central pivotted or jointed key
or spindle I provided with acting arms i, i, a ringing bar J connected to a magneto
or battery and a series of spring terminals which are acted on by the arms i, i, on the
key to connect subscribers either directly to each other or through the operator's
telephone, or to make contact with the ringing bar and transmit a ringing current to
call either of the subscribers connected through the switch. The terminal springs are
so formed that a rubbing action takes place on making contact through them, one
spring terminal bearing on the other and slightly following up the movement of that
acted on by the switch key, whereby the contact surfaces are kept clean and in good
condition for conducting the current transmitted through the terminals.
The ringing bar J is placed on one side of the pivotted key I and close to but out
of contact with it are two terminal springs K K' one to each subscribers plug cord.
By turning the key I slightly on either side one or other of the terminals K K¹ is
pressed against the ringing bar ; and the corresponding subscriber thereby called.
Normally bearing on these terminals are springs K³, K which are connected by
wires through a ringoff indicator L said springs and wires completing the circuit
whereby the subscribers may call each other or ring off; and in said circuit and
situated at the side of the switch key opposite to the ringing bar is a spring terminal K²
having a catch k adapted to engage a shoulder 1 on the key or spindle when the
latter is pressed over to make contact with it. When the key is so pressed over the
catch spring K is thrown out of contact with one spring terminal K³ normally
bearing on it and into contact with another spring terminal K whereby the circuit is
broken through the ring-off indicator I and made through the operator's telephone T
and transmitter M by means of the wires 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A telephone switch board constructed and furnished to permit of operators

page_text: making connections between subscribers at either or both sides of the board substan-
tially as described.
2. A telephonic switch board having the jacks therein carried through from front
to back of the board substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In telephonic switch boards jacks constructed and furnished substantially as
herein before described with reference to figures 3 to 6 of the annexed drawings.
4. A switch for telephonic switch boards constructed and operating substantially
as herein before described with reference to figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth day of October 1889
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.