Improvements in Telephone Exchange Systems.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephone Exchange Systems.
I, ROMAINE CALLENDER, Electrician, of Numbers 36 and 38 Dufferin Avenue,
Brantford, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, 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 is directed particularly to the following named improvements in
the art of automatic telephone exchange systems :
First. An improved automatic exchange apparatus and method of operation
whereby any subscriber may obtain control of one section of the switching apparatus
instantaneously, and to the exclusion of all other subscribers from the use of that
particular section for a brief space of time sufficient to effect the desired connection,
and then through the mechanism thus actuated to automatically disconnect the
section of switching mechanism used and leave it for the use of any other subscriber,
while he (the first named subscriber) continues his conversation unmolested with
the subscriber called, and at the end of that conversation restores his line and the
line of the subscriber to whom he is talking, to normal condition, the arrangement
being such that if need be, an indefinite number of the entire list of subscribers
might call and talk simultaneously with a like number of outlying subscribers and
in such manner that there would be no delay in signalling, nor interference of any
kind whatever at any point.
Second. A method and means whereby if a subscriber when called is using his
line, any such calls are stored up one after another and then sent in to the first
named subscriber automatically and in the order stored; the sequence of connections
to the various lines being effected in the order in which they are stored.
Third. An automatic recorder which is located at the exchange and operatively
connected with any subscriber and adapted to make a record of all calls made by
all subscribers connected to it, thereby acting as a check on the actual number of
calls made.
Fourth. To the details of construction of the entire apparatus as hereinafter
fully described.
The features of novelty which I deem as of my invention are particularly pointed
out in the claims at the end of this Specification.
Referring to the drawings which constitute a part of this Specification and in
all of which like letters and figures represent like parts wherever used,
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the complete and
operative parts of a system by showing the circuit connections and mechanism
entire for two independent telephone lines which are shown at the top of Fig. 1,
as applicable
additional parts of the apparatus being shown at the bottom of Fig.
to a complete system of nine lines.
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing a main runway and an accumulator or
storing track in their relation to an accumulator switch or gate.
Figs. 8 and 8B are diagrammatic views illustrating the switching apparatus
utilized by me in connecting up telephone subscribers' lines in a system of lines
involving ninety-nine subscribers.
Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the elevator or hoisting apparatus which
returns the circuit controlling balls of the system to their normal position after they
have been used in making the necessary circuit connections at the switch board.
Fig. 10 is a part diagrammatic part side elevational view of my novel percentage

page_text: circuit selecting apparatus which enables any subscriber to obtain control of the
switching apparatus and effect his circuit connections with that of the subscriber
called and without any fear of interruption.
Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the track sections which sustain the circuit
controlling balls at the switch board and releasing apparatus therefor for releasing
and allowing them to be returned to the elevator shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my novel percentage circuit selector
as applicable to a large series of telephone lines.
Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating what I term a signal storing
mechanism or call accumulator for storing up calls from outlying subscribers and
for discharging them consecutively in such a way that only one stored call at a time
can be sent to its proper destination, thus preventing more than one connection at
a time for each wire even if calls are stored on every accumulator tier in the
system. This figure also shows a portion of what I term the signal distributing
mechanism for ultimately releasing and distributing the calls previously stored by
the call accumulator just referred to; the remainder of the signal distributing
mechanism being shown in Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 12.
Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating circuit connections and electro-
magnetic controlling apparatus with switching devices for causing the circuit
connecting balls to drop into their proper pockets at the switch board and on a tier
thereof which shall correspond in number to that tier of the percentage selecting
device shown in Fig. 12 through which the incoming signal was transmitted.
Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of apparatus for individually
operating the hinged track sections over the switch board connections.
I preferably make use of an all wire circuit from each subscriber to the exchange
system and each of such circuits includes a signalling battery and a relay which is
adapted to control switching mechanism operatively connected to a cross connected
switch board, and also a continuously operating switching device which in turn
controls the operation of numerical receiver switches having a decimal order of
relation. The pivoted travelling arms of the numerical receiver switches are
utilized to perform the function of acting as carriers or conveyers for the transference
of metal balls or moving circuit closers which are set in motion and allowed to run
over or through fixed runways, chutes or conveyers to their destination finally
making the necessary connections (much as switch plug connections are made in an
ordinary cross connected switch board) between any two subscribers' lines, while
the pivoted conveyers or arms of the numerical receiver switches are automatically
returned instantly to normal position for use by other subscribers as desired.
I make use also of what I term a percentage circuit selector which acts to receive
all incoming signals and to distribute them to those sections of the switching
system not in use at the time of the arrival of said signals, thus allowing a limited
number of short switching lines at the station to accommodate themselves to a large
number of possible signals or calls.
In other words I assume, upon a careful analysis of telephone statistics, that a
given system of outlying telephone lines will, at the busiest time of the day, be
called upon to carry a known maximum number of signals or calls in a definite
period of time, and for security I multiply this number by a given number which
will surely give a number of signals greater than any probable number estimated.
I then adapt the mechanism to work always for all signals or calls within this
fixed limit; so proportioning the several sections of the percentage selector that
it will receive and distribute all signals or calls within the limit named and without
failure.
I provide a cross connecting switch board with the usual cross connections and
with automatic switching devices for adapting it for connections between any and
all pairs of lines of the system.
The usual plug connections in this switch board are effected, as I have above
indicated, by metallic or other conducting balls which are allowed to roll down and
drop into the plug holes or upon exposed contacts in pairs, finding their way to tho

page_text: proper plug holes over stationary runways or conveyers connected to the movable
switch arms of the numerical receiver switches aud controlled by electro-magnets.
With a limited number of such conducting balls which are released and restored
automatically by electro-magnetic mechanism and carried by mechanical runways
and an elevator back to the starting point for re-use, I am enabled to quickly effect
any cross connection desired and to maintain any two lines in undisturbed relation
as long as the subscribers may wish, while additional calls for either of them are
temporarily stored, the balls for effecting the connections for such additional calls
being held in check by mechanism controlled by the subscribers themselves.
Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to Sheets 1 to 7 inclusive, which
should be placed side by side in sequence; there are shown at the top of Fig. 1 two
telephone lines, Nos. 1 and 2 each provided with a complete metallic circuit running
from the individual subscriber to the central station, the usual telephone transmitters,
receivers and magneto call bells being located at the subscribers' telephone boxes and
each provided with a circuit interrupting transmitter adapted to transmit over the
line to the central station any desired order of circuit interruptions, ba¹ and b³ a³
being the signalling batteries here shown as located at the subscribers' stations.
A and A2 are relay electro-magnets located in the individual subscriber's lines
adapted to control the switching current impulses from batteries 63 a³ and 6* aª.
B and B are switching electro-magnets for switching one terminal of each
subscriber's line from direct connection with the central office mechanism into
connection through a conductor 4 with one pole of a magneto electric generator
located also at the central station and shown at the upper right hand side of Fig. 6,
Sheet 6.
C' and C² are switching electro-magnets for disconnecting the other terminal of
each subscriber's line from connection with its particular relay A¹ or A³ &c., and
connecting each line directly to and through an automatic releasing electro-
magnet G or G².
D' and D are releasing electro-magnets, the armatures d' and d' of which are
adapted to hold the armatures 61 and 6 when the electro-magnets B' and B² are
energized.
E' and E are releasing electro-magnets, the armatures e¹ and e³ of which are
adapted to lock the armatures c¹ and c² of the electro-maguets C¹ and C³ in their
upper positions when the electro-magnets C¹ and C2 are energized.
E and E are also releasing electro-magnets designed to perform the same
function as the electro-magnets E' and E2 and act upon the same armature
levers e¹ and e² but are energized from another circuit.
F and F are electro-magnets designed to close the proper circuits through their
armature levers f¹ and f* for enabling a calling subscriber to automatically restore
his particular portion of the switching mechanism at the central or exchange
station to normal condition so as to enable him to call any other subscriber when
on turning in a call he is automatically warned that the subscriber called is busy.
H' and H2 are releasing electro-magnets, the armatures h¹ and 2 of which are
adapted to lock the armature levers f' and 12 of the electro-magnets F' and F' in
their uppermost positions when the latter electro-magnets have been energized.
11 and 12 are additional releasing electro-magnets the armatures i¹ and of which
are adapted to lock the armature levers g' and g' of the electro-maguets G' and G³
in their uppermost positions when the latter electro-magnets are energized.
Referring now to Fig. 2, Sheet 2.
J and J are switching electro-magnets provided with switching armature
levers ; and j² carrying contact springs and so, the function of which is to change
the circuits of the relay batteries a and b a shown at the bottom of Sheet 1
from connection with the switching electro-magnets L' and L2 shown in the central
part of Fig. 2, Sheet 2, into direct connection through what I call a "percentage
circuit selector" shown at the bottom of Fig. 3, Sheet 3, to the electro-magnet M
of the numerical receiver switch and also to the controlling electro-magnets M² of
what 1 call a "time relay" shown at the top of Sheet 4.

page_text: The apparatus already described in connection with Sheets 1 and 2 of the
drawings and illustrated as in duplicate for two lines is a necessary part of each and
every subscribers' line.
The apparatus denominated as the "percentage circuit selector" shown in plan
view at the bottom of Fig. 3 and also in side elevational view in Fig. 10 consists of
two non-conducting drums DR and D' R' carried upon a horizontally disposed
shaft S provided with a pulley and a belt be connected to an electric motor E M
or other constant source of power adapted to rotate it in the direction of the
arrows.
The shaft S is geared through miter gearing bg with a vertical shaft vs, see
Fig. 10, which passes through a vertically disposed cylinder J' upon which
is arranged a series of conducting or contact plates e p having enlarged lower ends.
1 r, 2 r, 3 r are conducting rings carried by the shaft vs and insulated from each
other, and so, s17 and 18 are contact brushes resting thereon.
hh are similar conducting rings insulated from and carried by the shaft 8, i i being
contacting brushes resting on the conducting rings h h.
k is a horizontal non-conducting arm carried by the vertical shaft v₁s and
sustaining near its outer end two pairs of electro-magnets M and M" adapted to
rotate over the opposite ends of radially disposed tilting armature levers l, m, there
being one of these tilting armature levers for each subscribers' line.
fand flare spirally disposed conducting strips carried by the non-conducting
cylinders DR, D' R'.
jjare contact brushes adapted to make electrical contact with the contact strip f
at different times as the drum D R is rotated, and ; j' are corresponding contact
brushes adapted to make similar contact with the contact strip f¹. The spirally
disposed contact strips f and f¹ are so located with relation to the ends of the
contact brushes jj that when the left hand brushes ; j' of each pair are resting
upon said strips, the arm k carried by the shaft vs is directly over the armature
lever so that said armature lever is in the magnetic field of both pairs of electro-
magnets M and M" and similarly when the right hand pair of brushes j and j¹ of
each pair are in contact with the contact strips f and f¹, the arm k and electro-
magnets M and M" will be directly over the left hand tilting armature lever m.
The contact strips f and f' are connected to the conducting rings h by short
conductors 94 and 95. The tilting armature levers and m are each provided at
their opposite ends with conducting springs for changing the direction of the current
as will be described in connection with the description of the mode of operation, the
arrangement being such that as the arm k rotates in the direction of the arrows, the
armature levers 7 m will be tilted in either direction at will according to the current
changes through the magnets M10 and M" and the necessary circuit connections
made through the brushes jj, jj and the contact strips f and f¹.
At the top of Sheet 4 is disclosed what I term a "time relay" which is set in
operation by the signalling impulses sent into the exchange station by any
subscriber, and kept in operation during the time that such impulses are being
transmitted and for a given length of time thereafter, dependent upon the
adjustment of the instrument itself, the function of this instrument being to
permit of the operation of the apparatus only after the numerical receiver switch
arm A has arrived at its proper position for discharging the switching balls. This
time relay consists of an operating electro-magnet M which is in direct circuit
with the electro-magnet M of the numerical receiver switch N' R¹.
m is a vibratory steel reed of well known form which may be arranged
adjustably in any well known manner so as to vibrate for any brief length of
time.
e is a conducting point carried by the free end of the reed m' and adapted to
contact with a yielding arm $15.
M³ is a releasing electro-magnet having an armature m³, the free end of which
is attached to a sliding conducting bar a, one end of which is adapted to bear
against the side of a conducting head 6 on the upper end of a sliding pin p

page_text: carried in a guide-way a anu naving a non-conducting nead cresting normally on
the upper surface of the vibratory reed m'.
is a yielding arm having electrical connection through a conductor 91 with a
releasing battery B' A', the circuit of this battery being normally open between
the contact arms and the conducting head band closed between the vibratory
reed m' and the arms at the point e.
I will now describe that portion of the entire apparatus which I have
denominated a percentage circuit selector.
For the purpose of rendering the description as simple as possible I have only
shown, at the bottom of Sheet 3, a percentage circuit selector having a single
pair of tilting armature levers 7 and m for two lines, viz., line No. 1 and line No. 2,
Sheet 1, it being understood that, as I have already indicated, for a greater
number of lines there would be additional armature levers and corresponding
circuit connections and contacting brushes jj for each line and that these
armature levers would all be located in the same horizontal plane or tier directly
below the rotating arm k and electro-magnets M, M" carried thereby.
For the purpose of preventing any possibility of interference in incoming
signals I arrange several sets of these tilting armatures in independent planes or
tiers above each other and connect the circuits thereof in multiple arc relation, as
will be more fully described in connection with Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the arrange-
ment being such that when any one subscriber has sent in a preliminary signal for
the purpose of calling another subscriber, he, by the act of such preliminary signal
tilts his own armature lever corresponding to the levers or m on the first tier not
in use, which is put in connection with his particular contact brush; through the
contact strip on the rotating drum DR of the percentage selector, thereby
securing to himself the use of this particular portion of the apparatus for
effecting the necessary circuit connections to the subscriber wanted. It must be
understood in this connection that for every tier of the armature levers 1, m there
are corresponding spirally disposed strips ff¹, contacting rings hh, brushes ii and
connecting wires similar to 92 and 108 leading to the individual tiers and corre-
sponding radially disposed arms & carrying corresponding electro-magnets M⁰
and M, the radial relation of the strips f to the arms k being such as to always
place the arms k over the tilting armature levers of a particular tier when the
corresponding contact brushes are directly in contact with the corresponding
strips, the relation of the strips f¹ and brushes j' for reversing the position of
the armature levers being of course the same.
M and M are electro-magnets provided with armature levers m³ and m*
carrying contact springs s13 and s", the functions of these magnets and armature
levers being to act as switching devices for preventing any other subscriber from
obtaining control of the particular tier of tilting armature levers 7 and m after a
signalling subscriber has obtained such control thereof. These switches, together
with the peculiar disposition or arrangement of the contact brushes ; and strips f,
act in conjunction in the nature of a non-interfering apparatus to prevent any
possibility of interference of signals, and at the same time allow or permit other
subscribers to seize their own tilting armature levers upon any other unused tier
thereof and likewise prevent any interference therewith.
This will be made more apparent in connection with the description of Figs. 12,
13 and 14.
M and M are electro-magnets having armature levers m³ and m which are
adapted to lock and release at will, the armature levers m³ aud m* of the tier
controlling switches.
The numerical receiver switch N' R¹ consists of a vertically disposed shaft
carrying at its upper end an open sided pocket B and an inclined pair of arms A
and is adapted to rotate step by step in the direction of the arrow under the
influence of the armature lever m³ and its propelling pawl.
OR, 1 R, 2 R, 3 R, 4 R, 5 R, 6 R, 7 R, 8 R, and 9 R are radially disposed inclined
pairs of rails, runways or chutes with their upper ends so located that the pair of

page_text: rotating arms A will fall in alignment therewith as it moves step by step in the
direction of the arrow.
SH is a chute and B' B2 are metallic balis resting normally upon this chute,
the lower end of which is so located that said balls will, when released, drop into
the pocket B and roll down over the arms A, see Figs. 4, 8 and 9, and that
particular pair of rails 0 R to 9 R opposite which the free ends of said arms are
located.
E is an elevator for the balls B2 B2 shown in detail in Fig. 9, said elevator
consisting of a pair of driving pulleys W and W', an elevator carrying
pockets PO for the balls and arms V adapted to tilt a ball separating device T as
they pass under the free end thereof, thereby dropping them one by one into the
pockets PO, the elevator being driven by a belt fe3 and an electric motor E* M³.
99 are ball retaining and ejecting devices for the balls, said devices being
carried on the free ends of armature levers of electro-magnets Q'Q' which are so
-arranged that when the electro-magnets are energized one of them will be lifted
and the other lowered, always causing the balls to be received and ejected in
pairs.
Although I have shown a system of ten individual tracks from OR to 9 R
inclusive I have only shown three complete sets of tracks running to the switch
board, near the bottom of Fig. 6, Sheet 6, and two complete sets of apparatus
which I shall now describe as "call accumulating devices" designed to store up
or retain any incoming call provided the person called is busy, or his line in use.
These two lines with the complete apparatus I have designated as 1 R and 2 R and
the third line as 3 R, the operation for the entire apparatus for the remaining
lines to 9 R being identically the same.
The call or signalling accumulating apparatus shown in Fig. 4, and which I shall
for brevity sake denominate as "accumulators," consists in each instance of a
spirally disposed side track shown in connection with line 1 R and R'S' as in
connection with line 2 R as R2 S2. All of the tracks, runways or chutes have an
inclination from the points of radiation near the free rotating ends of the arms A
to the switch board in Fig. 6 of sufficient inclination to carry the circuit controlling
balls B2 B2 by their own gravity. The accumulators or side tracks R' S' R² S' are
located above the main tracks and at such a height as will permit any ball running
over a main track to pass freely under them. Just in front of these side tracks, and
constituting in each instance a mechanical switch, is a tilting sectional track or
gate R or R2 adapted, when resting in its lower position, to direct the balls over
the main track, and when in the upper position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,
to switch them from the main track on to the accumulator or side track R' S¹
or R2 S³, each track, as before indicated, being provided with a similar apparatus.
O¹ and O are electro-magnets for lifting the mechanical switches or gates R¹ R2
from their lower to their upper positions, and N' N are releasing magnets having
hooked armature levers n' and n2 adapted to lock said gates in their upper positions
and to release the same when the magnets N¹ N' are energized.
The other ends of these side tracks or accumulators R' S', R³ S2 have each
sufficient down grade to carry the balls back again on to the main track when
released and to thereby allow them to proceed over such main tracks to their
destination.
P¹ P are electro-magnets for operating the ball retaining and ball ejecting
devices pl p¹, p2p of these accumulators or side tracks.
Referring now to Fig. 5, Sheet 5,
SW and S¹ W' are what I call "individualizing switches."
The accumulators or side tracks have short disconnected sections of rails as
shown in Fig. 4 on their outer tracks at 1 rl, 2 r¹, 3 r², 4 r¹ and 5, and 1², 22,
33, 4 and 5 which are connected by conductors 47, 48, 49, 46, 51, 50, 52 and 53
respectively with other circuit connections to be described later on. In a similar
manner one set of the rails of the main tracks 1 R, 2 R, &c., is divided in each
instance into short sectional disconnected conductors 1 s, 2 s to 11 s, see Figs. 5

page_text: and 6, and these short sectional conductors are connected by individual conductors
to different parts of the apparatus. The sections of track 1 s, 2 s, 3 s, 4s and 5 s,
shown in Fig. 5, are connected directly back to the apparatus shown in Figs. 4, 1 and 2,
without any intermediate switching apparatus, while the remaining short sections
of track already referred to, both on the accumulators R' S', R'S' and 1s of Fig. 5,
and 6 s, 7 s, 8 s, 9 s, 10 s and 11s of Fig. 6 are connected directly with what I call
the "individualizing switches" SW, and S¹ W' at the top of Fig. 5. Each
subscriber's line is provided with one of these individualizing switches and two are
shown in Fig. 5 as applicable to the two individual telephone lines shown in Fig. 1,
Sheet 1.
Each one of these switches performs four functions as follows:
First it makes circuit connections whereby any signalling subscriber is auto-
matically warned that the circuit closing balls B2 B2, which he has already
automatically released at the central station for the purpose of connecting the line
of the subscriber signalled with his own line, have been diverted to the accumulator
or side track of the person signalled.
Second it establishes additional circuit connections whereby the calling subscriber
may, if he so chooses, restore his individual portion of the switching apparatus at
the central station to normal condition so that he may call any other subscriber or
any other subscriber call him.
Third it effects additional circuit connections whereby the calling subscriber,
after his circuit controlling balls have been released and diverted to the side track
or accumulator of the subscriber called and wishes to await his turn for connection
to the line of such subscriber, has his apparatus placed in the same condition in
which it was placed just previous to the time of the diversion of such balls to the
accumulator.
Fourth it effects additional circuit connections whereby the call bell of the
subscriber signalling is caused to be rung from any track over which the circuit
closing balls may have been directed, thereby indicating to him that the proper
connections have been established and he may proceed with his conversation.
These several sets of circuit connections are effected by multiple sliding contacts
insulated from each other and attached to the armature levers of the switching
magnets referred to and through individual pairs of contact springs, as clearly
indicated, and additional stationary contacts connected respectively to wires 60, 61,
62 and 67.
The switch board proper to which all incoming telephone wires are ultimately
connected is illustrated near the bottom of Fig. 6 as applicable to three individual
lines and consists of horizontally disposed pairs of disconnected contact plates cp, c¹ p¹,
there being shown eight such pairs of contact plates connected together by cross
connecting wires in substantially the same manner as well known forms of cross
connecting switch boards are designed, these contact plates being borne by short
arms Pt secured to pivoted shafting Sh and S¹ h', S, S³ ³, the normal condition
of these pivoted supporting arms being horizontal, in which position they are held
by retractile springs as clearly shown on the right near the bottom of Fig. 11, the
arrangement being such that when the balls B B2 are released in pairs they will
be directed to the proper switch board plates c p and e' p' and ultimately make the
required connections between such plates for the calling and called subscribers'
lines.
The runways, chutes or tracks 1 R, 2 R, 3 R, &c., are horizontally disposed
directly over the switch board and are provided with pivoted sections TS, T' S¹
which are capable of assuming either of two positions shown in Fig. 11. When in
their lower position they carry the switching balls B2 B3 forward and when in their
upper position, as shown on the right in Fig. 11, they permit them to drop into
circuit connection with the proper circuit connecting plates cp and c'p', there being
one such tilting cross section of track TS, T'S' for every transverse section of the
switch board, thereby making it possible for any pair of balls to be directed to

page_text: any portion of the switch board and dropped into the proper circuit connections as
directed by the signalling subscriber.
M and M2 are electro-magnets having armatures m17 and m attached to the
short arms of the pivoted track sections TS and T'S', the arrangement being
such that when either one of said electro-magnets is energized its corresponding
track section will be elevated, as shown on the right near the bottom of Fig. 11.
M1 and M2 are releasing electro-magnets having armature levers provided with
hooked extensions adapted to retain said sections in their elevated position until
the corresponding electro-magnets M18 or M" are energized.
M and M are releasing electro-magnets having armatures m¹ and m² attached
to the pivoted supporting arms Pt and Pt, the arrangement being such that when
said magnets M and M" are energized the circuit closing balls B² B² will be
released and allowed to return by a return runway or chute R R, as shown at the
bottom of Figs. 9 and 11, and also near the bottom of Fig. 4 where they return by
gravity to an elevator and are restored to their normal position.
At the top of Fig. 6, Sheet 6, is shown a general recording apparatus RE
consisting of a rotary cylinder carried by a pair of upright standards on a
car C A having movement in the direction of the length of the cylinder. This
recording apparatus is moved longitudinally through the agency of a ratchet
wheel Rw and a pawl carried by an armature lever m2 actuated by an electro-
magnet M, the ratchet wheel being carried by a worm shaft adapted to give the
car the necessary movement and at the required speed, said ratchet wheel being
stepped forward once in twenty-four hours through the agency of the electro-
inagnet M27 in circuit 68, 69, controlled by a twenty-four hour clock C K and a
battery B2 A seen in Fig. 7, Sheet 7.
M20 is an electro-magnet having an armature lever m30 provided with a pawl
adapted to rotate the recording cylinder RE once in twenty-four hours through
the agency of the ratchet wheel R₁ w, the electro-magnet M80 being in circuit 70, 71
controlled by a clock C' K' which closes the circuit from a battery B³ A³ three
times in each revolution or once in every twenty seconds.
M28 and M2 are the recording electro-magnets, the former for subscribers' line
No. 1 and the latter for subscribers' line No. 2, the armature levers m2 and m
being provided at their free ends with recording needles adapted to prick or
otherwise make a record upon a record paper carried by the rotating cylinder RE,
it being understood that there would be as many recording electro-magnets with
recording armature levers as there are subscribers' lines, the circuit connections
being from the electro-magnets M28, M20, &c., to and through the automatic releasing
mechanism and so arranged that ordinarily a call will only be recorded after circuit
connection is actually effected between two subscribers.
The apparatus so far described and shown is applied to a system of ten lines of
runways or chutes running from 0 R to 9 R inclusive, as shown in Fig. 4, Sheet 4.
In order to show the application of my invention to a system of more than ten
subscribers' lines, I have illustrated in diagrammatic view in Figs. 8 and 8B, a
system of ball runways or chutes and accompanying attachments adapted for use
with ninety-nine subscribers' lines, without, however, showing the circuit connections
running back to the subscribers' or forward to the switch board, the releasing
electro-magnets for the numerical receiving switches or the circuit connections in
general running to the individualizing switches &c., these two figures of the
drawings being in the nature of a skeleton illustration of the portion of the ball
conveying runways or chutes only with their accompanying numerical receiver
switch arms and pivoted runways.
The two sheets of drawings upon which Figs. 84 and 8B are found should be laid
side by side in order to understand the arrangement of parts referred to.
The electro-magnets M³, four in number, one in Fig. 8A and the other three
upon Fig. 8B are the counterparts of the propelling electro-magnet M' which
propels the numerical receiver switch N' R' illustrated in Fig. 4, and the rotating

page_text: switch arms A. in each instance are propelled by the armature levers m³ in the same
manner as were the like parts propelled in connection with the receiver switch
referred to.
When the system of subscribers' lines extends beyond ten, it is necessary that
the numerical receiver switches should make circuit connections forward to corre-
sponding numerical receiver switches in sequence, in order that the rotating arms of
such numerical receiver switches may be rotated to the proper connections for
conveying the circuit connecting balls B2 B' to their destination. In the first
numerical receiver switch N' R' therefore one of the arms A is a conducting arm
carrying a contact spring adapted to make electrical contact with any one of a
number of corresponding fixed electrical contacts to inclusive according to its
radial position, said fixed contacts being in turn connected by electrical conductors
through the outlying propelling electro-magnets M of the corresponding numerical
receivers, there being shown for clearness sake, only three such connections running
by wires 110, 140 and 170 to each of the electro-magnets shown on Fig. 88 and
having a common return conductor 29. The stationary section of runways or
chutes OR to 9 R inclusive at the numerical receiver switch N' R' are the
same as in Fig. 4, but to the outer ends of these stationary sections are
pivotally attached ten movable sectional runways or chutes SR united together by
a segmental strip L C having sliding bearings U, the opposite ends of said
segmental strip being attached directly to armature levers a m and a¹ m¹ of switch
controlling electro-magnets S' M' and S3 M², the function of which electro-
magnets, segmental strip and armatures is to place the outer ends of the ten pivoted
sectional runways or chutes in alignment with either of two sets of stationary
runways or chutes 0 R, 1 R, 2 R to 9 R inclusive or 10 R, 20 R, 40 R, 70 R, to 99 R,
the arrangement being such that if the sectional switch rails are in the position shown
in full lines any pair of circuit connecting balls travelling on the chutes OR to 9 R
will make circuit connections at the switch board with any line from 1 to 9 inclusive
in the same manner as shown in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6, while if said
pivoted sectional rails be in the position shown in dotted lines any pair of balls
running down the chutes OR to 9 R will be diverted to the corresponding stationary
runways or chutes running from 10 R to 99 R on Fig. 8B.
I have shown for simplicity sake only three stationary sets of runways or chutes
runuing to numerical receivers adapted to convey circuit connecting balls over
runways to the switch board as follows: Namely, for any subscriber's line from 10
to 19 or from 40 to 49 or from 70 to 79 the stationary runways or chutes opposite
the corresponding rotary switch arms A, Fig. 8B, having stationary continuations
in the nature of runways as are found for the like parts at the outer ends of the
stationary runways 1 R to 9 R inclusive, Fig. 4.
Referring now to Fig. 84 and particularly to the electro-magnetic mechanism
and circuit connections for operating the numerical receiver N' R¹.
NS is a numerical separator or time relay which is a duplicate of the time relay
shown at the top of Fig. 4, and the reed m¹ thereof is adjusted like the reed m
in Fig. 4 to vibrate for a definite time for each electrical impulse passing through
the electro-magnets M". An additional time relay T R identically like the time
relay TR shown in Fig. 4 is placed also in the same circuit with the electro-
magnet M" of the numerical separator for the purpose of releasing and ejecting
the circuit connecting balls B B' in the same manner as the latter function is
performed in connection with the electro-magnets Q1 Fig. 4.
When the number of subscribers' lines is more than 9 it becomes necessary to
provide a numerical separator with each series of numerical receivers of the higher
orders. I therefore provide an individual numerical separator for the first 100 lines
of the system, ten additional numerical separators for 1,000 lines and one hundred
additional numerical separators for 10,000 lines, making all told one hundred and
eleven (111) such instruments in a system of 10,000 subscribers' lines.
S M, Fig 84, is a switching electro-magnet adapted to act on a switching
armature lever sm and transfer the circuit from the incoming conductor No. 30 to

page_text: and through conductor 109 through one of the numerical receiver arms A and with
that one of the conductors 110, 140, 170 &c., with which the contact spring carried
by said arm may be in contact.
R M is a release electro-magnet provided with a locking armature r m adapted
to lock the armature lever s m of the switch magnet S M in its upper position and
to release it, and is in the same circuit with the releasing magnet to the numerical
receiver N¹ R¹ not shown in this figure of the drawing but shown as M" in
circuit 44 in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be understood also that the circuit 44
in this instance includes the switching magnet S M², the armature of which is
adapted to move the pivoted runway rails S R, SR, to their normal positions.
I will now describe the mode of operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1
to 9 inclusive, Sheets 1 to 7 of the drawings, assuming first that No. 2's circuit is
not in use. I will then describe the operation of the apparatus upon the assumption
that No. 2's circuit is in use and that the circuit controlling balls of No. 1 released
by his preliminary signal have been stored upon the accumulator or side track of
No. 2 shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and that they are afterwards released by
No. 2 when he rings off his connection with the subscriber with whom he was first
engaged and that they then run forward to their destination and automatically
connect the two lines together and ring the call bells of both subscribers.
Subscriber No. 1 causes a single current impulse to be transmitted from
battery b¹ a¹ to the central station through the armature lever b' of the electro-
magnet B', through switch spring s', conductor 98, armature lever f', switch
spring so, conductor 100, relay electro-magnet A' conductor 100, switch springs,
armature lever c' of electro-magnet C₁ back by his return wire to his own
instrument. This causes the armature lever a' of the relay electro-magnet A¹ to
be drawn forward and a single current impulse is sent from his own relay
battery a³ by way of conductor 35, through the armature lever of electro-
magnet J at the top of Sheet 2, contact springs, conductor 33, branch
conductor 103, electro-magnet L', branch conductor 103, conductor 36 back to
the starting point, thereby causing the armature lever of the electro-magnet L',
Sheet 2, to be drawn forward so that the contact spring on the free end
thereof is transferred from connection with conductor 43 to connection with
conductor 41; at the same time the locking armature lever m¹ of the release
electro-magnet M' is allowed to fall behind the free end of the armature lever m'
and lock it in its uppermost position where it was just left. At the same time that
the current impulses just referred to was transmitted through conductor 103 and
electro-magnet L', Sheet 2, a divisional branch of the current passes directly over
conductor 33 through Sheets 3, 4, 5 and 6 to electro-magnet M at the bottom of
that sheet, returning by conductor 15 to and through electro-magnet O' near the
center of Sheet 4 of the drawings, thence by conductor 15 to and through
Sheets 3, 2, to conductor 103 where it joins conductor 36 and returns to the
battery a³, Sheet 1. This second divisional current impulse therefore energizes
the two magnets referred to, acting first upon the armature mattached to the
shaft Sh, see Fig. 6, which carries all of those track sections lying over
subscriber No. 1's contact plate with which all other subscribers' wires are cross
connected, thereby holding all of No. 1's track sections T S in an elevated position
so as to admit of the reception of the circuit controlling balls B B³ when they
shall have reached their particular runway or chute, corresponding in number to
the subscriber signalled, in this instance, No. 2.
The same current impulse, as just noted, energized the electro-magnet O', sce
Figs. 4 and 8, thereby causing the mechanical switch or gate of runway 1 R of
subscriber No. 1 to be elevated into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,
thereby disconnecting the main track runway or chute 1 R and providing a shunt
path on to the accumulator or side track RS' for the admission of any circuit
controlling balls B2 B2 which may be released by any additional subscriber who
shall call subscriber No. 1 either while he is turning in his signal for
subscriber No. 2 or during the time that his, subscriber No. 1's, line is in

page_text: connection with the line of subscriber No. 2 or that of any other subscriber, the
object of this portion of the apparatus being to prevent the possibility of any
circuit connecting balls making any circuit connection between his, sub-
scriber No. 1's, line and that of any other subscriber until he is ready to have
such connection effected.
I will return to the description of the operation of this apparatus later and
describe what disposition is made of any circuit connecting balls which are stored
on the accumulator or side track. The action of the apparatus so far has put the
mechanism at the central station which controls the movement of the circuit
controlling balls B2 B2 in such a position that no one can release additional circuit
controlling balls and cause them to interfere in any manner with subscriber No. 1
until he is ready to receive any such signal.
When the armature lever m20 was drawn down or tilted, the shaft S h, as already
described, caused the free end of the contact springs to be drawn down into
contact with a second yielding contact sp, thereby closing an electrical circuit
from battery B5 A5 as follows:
By conductor 59, shaft S h, spring sx, spring sp, conductor 62, electro-
magnet M, at the top of Fig. 5, conductor 62, contact spring carried by armature
lever m² of electro-magnet M², conductor 59, theuce back to battery B³ A³,
Sheet 6.
This causes the individualizing switch S W to be drawn to the right, thereby
establishing several circuits between conducting springs and contact plates and
simultaneously rupturing the circuit of battery B³ A³ between the contact spring
carried by armature lever m24 and the contact point connected to conductor 62 and
re-establishing a new but temporary open circuit through said spring by a contact
point connected to conductor 61. The several functions of the individualizing
switch S W will be described in their proper sequence as the operation of the
apparatus advances.
At this point that portion of the apparatus which I call the "percentage circuit
selector" PC shown at the bottom of Sheet 3, is brought into play. This
percentage circuit selector, it will be understood, is constantly driven by an electric
motor EM or other constant source of power, and the arm k carried by the
vertical shaft vs is constantly rotated in the direction of the arrows from left to
right.
Returning now to Sheet 2 of the drawings: The next step in the operation of
the apparatus in the order of description, which is also simultaneous with the steps
just described, is traceable to what I call the "percentage switch" governed by
the electro-magnet L' and the movement of its armature 1, the free end of which
latter, it will be remembered, was moved as already described so that the contact
spring is now in connection with conductor 41 instead of conductor 43 its normal
position as now shown in the drawings. In this locked position of the switch
therefore battery BA is brought into play at such time as the cylinder D R of
the percentage circuit selector shall have reached such a position with the contact
brush corresponding to the line of subscriber No. 1, which in this instance is
connected to circuit 41 shall have made contact with the spirally disposed con-
ducting strip f, while at the same time the radial arm k which carries the electro-
magnets M and M" shall have arrived at a point directly over the tilting
armature which is designed to connect a circuit directly from the relay
battery ba³ of the line of subscriber No. 1 to the electro-magnet M³, Sheet 4, of
the numerical receiver switch in order that subscriber No. 1 may transmit the
necessary sequence of current impulses from his relay battery b³ a³ and advance
the arms A of numerical receiver N' R' to the stationary runway 2 R which is to
guide or carry the circuit controlling balls B2 B2 when released to their ultimate
destination. The circuit from battery B A is therefore traceable as follows:
By conductor 20 to armature lever l', spring s", contact plate p", conductor 41,
electro-magnet J', conductor 41, releasing electro-magnet M', conductor 41, thence
to the left hand contacting brush 2 the free end of which rests upon drum D R,

page_text: thence through the spirally disposed strip on the supposition of course that the
ylinder has advanced to such a position as will make the contact referred to,
thence through conductor 94 to the insulated conducting ring h carried by the
shaft S, thence through brush i, conductor 92 and contact brush s to insulating
conducting ring 1 r, see also Fig. 10 of the drawings, thence through upper
conductor 92 to the outer electro-magnet M10 borne by the arm k, thence through
lower conductor 92 to the central ring 2 r, thence by brush s", thence by conductor 28
to sheet 4, thence through contact springs and the armature lever m³, thence
through conductor 20 and electro-magnet M³, thence by conductor 20 back through
sheets 2 and 1 to the starting point.
This current impulse therefore first energizes the electro-magnet J' elevating
the free end of its armature lever j so as to place the contact spring in
connection with conductor 38: at the same time the armature lever k¹ of the
releasing electro-magnet K¹ drops behind the free end of the lever and locks it
in the uppermost position. The same current impulse energized the releasing
electro-magnet M₁ causing armature m¹ to be drawn forward thereby releasing the
armature lever of the percentage switch and allowing it to be returned to its
normal position so that the contact spring " is again in contact with circuit 43 as
now shown. The same current impulse energized the electro-magnet M10 carried
by the arm k at the instant that it was directly over the tilting armature / thereby
causing said armature to be tilted in the reverse position to that now shown in
Fig. 10, thus establishing new circuit connections for circuits 35 and 36, which
circuit connections will be traced later on.
The same current which energized the magnet M10 as just described energized
the electro-magnet M³ at the upper right hand side of sheet 4, thereby causing
the armature lever m³ thereof to be drawn into its uppermost position and by that
act automatically rupture the circuit just described between the contact spring sla
and the conductor 28. As the armature lever m³ was drawn into its upper position,
however, the armature lever m³ of the releasing electro-magnet M³ fell behind the
free end of the former armature lever and locked it, leaving the circuit of
battery B A ruptured as described.
The circuit of the relay battery 63 a³ of subscriber No. 1 has now been connected
directly with the electro-magnets M and M' of the numerical receiver and of the
time relay shown on Fig. 4 of the drawings, so that he, subscriber No. 1, may now
transmit the necessary number of current impulses to step forward the arms A of
the numerical receiver into alignment with the runway or chute 2 R of subscriber
No. 2 and at the same time automatically release the circuit connecting balls B² B²
in the chutes S H after the arms have reached this point. In order to step the
arms A of the numerical receiver switch forward to the runway or chute 2 R to
subscriber No. 2 three electrical impulses are necessary; subscriber No. 1 therefore
transmits three such impulses from his battery ba¹ which in the same manner as
before described actuate his relay A' and caused three impulses to be sent forward
to the electro-magnets M and M', Fig. 4, by the following circuit.
Starting from battery through the armature lever a', conductor 35, armature
lever of electro-magnet J', which it will be remembered is locked in its upper
position by the armature, contact spring sp, contact point p³, conductor 38, thence
to the left hand or rear contact point u, Fig. 3, thence by the rear one of a pair of
contact springs so carried by the armature to an insulated conductor 104 carried
also by the armature lever, thence to the rear one of a pair of contact springs $21
carried at one end of the armature lever and now in contact with a fixed contact z
attached to conductor 29, thence by conductor 29 to electro-magnet M' of the
time relay, thence through electro-magnet M of the numerical receiver switch,
thence by conductor 30 to the front one of the contacts z, thence by the front one
of the contact springs 21 carried by the armature lever 1, thence by conductor 105
to the front one of the conducting springs so carried on the free end of the
armature lever 7, thence by the remaining one of the stationary contacts u, thence
by conductor 36 back to the starting point.

page_text: The transmitted impulses therefore from the battery 63 a³ energize the electro-
magnets M' and M', causing the armature lever m' of the latter electro-magnet to
impart a rotary motion through the agency of a ratchet wheel on the shaft which
supports it to advance until the arms A are in aligument with the stationary section of
track 2 R. At the same time the continued action of the electro-magnet M7 upon the
reed armature m' caused said reed to vibrate back and forth, thereby imparting to the
sliding pin p a vertical movement through the agency of the non-conducting head c
which rests upon the upper side of said reed. Consequently the upper conducting
head carried by the pin p was lifted into its uppermost position until its shoulder
was raised above the sliding conducting bar a thereby allowing the latter to be
moved slightly to the left under the influence of the retractile spring attached to
the armature lever m of the releasing electro-magnet M8. When this shouldered
head was lifted, as described, it was brought into direct contact with the yielding
spring or arms, thereby closing the circuit of battery B' A' through conductor 91
and between the springs, the conducting head 6 and the sliding bar a.
The
act, however, of setting the vibrating reed m' in motion caused the shouldered
head to be locked in the uppermost position and to simultaneously and
intermittently interrupt the circuit of the battery B' A¹ between the now vibrating
contact e at the free end of the reed m' and the yielding contact spring ss so that
as long as this reed m continues to vibrate, the battery circuit B₁ A', although
closed between the yielding spring and the sliding bar a is now intermittently
interrupted between the points e and the spring s in such rapid succession that
the battery B A¹ will be ineffective so long as this vibration continues.
When
therefore the reed settles to its normal position after the last impulse is transmitted
the circuit of battery B¹ A' will be closed as follows:
By conductor 91, spring 16, conducting head now locked in its uppermost
position by the free end of the bar a resting under the shoulder of said head,
through the bar a, thence through the now stationary reed m', contact point e,
yielding spring 815, conductor 91 to and through the electro-magnets QQ, thence
by conductor 91 through a releasing electro-magnet M³. The result therefore of
this closure of the circuit of the battery B' A¹ is that the electro-magnets Q¹ Q¹
are both energized, thereby causing their armature levers q¹g to be moved in
opposite directions so that the one next to the open sided pocket B is raised out of
the path of the balls B2 B2 and the one behind said pair of balls is drawn down,
thereby bringing the wedge shaped edge of the ejecting lever, shown more clearly
in Fig. 9, into frictional relation with the rear ball and giving to both balls an
impetus to start them on their journey. At the same time the electro-magnet M8
being energized its armature m8 caused the sliding bar a to be drawn forward,
thereby releasing the shouldered head band allowing it and the sliding pin p to
drop into their lower position, so that one edge of the shouldered head locks the
sliding bar in the forward position shown, while the other edge of said conducting
head is left out of electrical contact with the yielding springs and the circuit of
the battery B'A' again ruptured at this point the insulated bead c resting as shown
upon the upper
surface of the reed m'. The instant that the circuit of the
battery B A was ruptured between the spring 16 and the sliding bar a therefore,
the two electro-magnets QQ which control the ball retaining and ball ejecting
levers 'q' were demagnetized, thereby allowing them to assume their original
position so that the one next the open sided pocket is again in position to check
the next pair of balls which will now run down the chute SH into position, the
ejecting lever q' being again in position to perform its function as before, when
actuated.
The circuit connecting balls B2 B2 have now been set in motion and pass by
their own weight down the inclined arms A on to the runway or chute 2 R passing
over the accumulator switch or gate R² which is now in its lower position so that
they pass directly under the accumulator or side track R² S² of subscriber No. 2
and on to the continuation of the runway until they reach a point shown at the
extreme left hand of Fig. 5 where they close an electrical circuit from a short

page_text: section of the track 1s on one side and the other or continuous track 2 R on the
other side by conductors 83 and 84 in opposite directions.
As the circuit just described is utilized only when the connecting balls have been
first diverted to the accumulator or side track it will be unnecessary to further
.describe its function here. At the same time that the balls are passing over the
short section 1s an additional multiple arc branch circuit is closed to the magneto
generator as follows:-
Passing downward by conductor 44 to the bottom of the sheet, thence to the left
through Sheet 4, thence upward through the releasing electro-magnet M" of the
numerical receiver switch, thence upward through conductor 44 to the top of the
sheet, through the releasing electro-magnet Mo, thence by conductor 44 to
conductor 4 located directly under electro-magnet M, thence to the right through
Sheets 4, 5 and 6 to one pole of the magneto generator, thence through conductor 45
to the bottom of Sheet 6, thence to the left through Sheets 6 and 5 to conductor 84,
thence upward through the continuous main rail 2 R through the balls. This
current from the magneto generator therefore causes the electro-magnet M¹² to
actuate its armature lever m2 which is provided at its free end with a retaining
pawl and is operatively connected by a cord passing over a pulley with a propelling
pawl carried by the armature m³. Consequently when these pawls are released the
arms A of the numerical receiver are returned to their normal position under the
influence of a spring or weight. The same current impulse from the magneto
generator caused the releasing electro-magnet M to withdraw the locking
armature me from beneath the armature lever m' of the electro-magnet M', thereby
establishing an electrical contact between the spring s¹ carried on the free end of
this armature lever with a conductor 87.
For the present we will leave the balls B2 B2 upon the section 1 s and trace the
operations of that portion of the apparatus effected by the two switches controlled
by the four electro-magnets M³, M, M and M at the top of Sheet 4.
Reverting now to the percentage circuit selector at the bottom of Sheet 3 it will
be found that the movement of the armature lever m' and the contact spring s
last effected and seen near the top of Sheet 4 will put the circuit 27 running to the
percentage circuit selector in such relation to it that one of the contact brushes j',
namely, that one connected to the circuit 43 and belonging properly to the central
station apparatus of subscriber No. 1 will be in position to effect certain operations
from the battery B A on Sheet 2, whereby the armature lever I which permitted
subscriber No. 1 to obtain control of the numerical receiver switch will be returned
to its normal position so as to allow the circuit selecting apparatus to be used by
other subscribers. This is brought about as follows:
When the drum D' R' advances in the direction of the arrow so that the left hand
brush comes into contact with the spirally disposed contact strip ¹ a circuit is
closed from the battery B A as follows:
By conductor 20, armature lever l, springs, conductor 43, left hand brush j¹³,
strip, conductor 95, insulated ring h, left hand contact brush i, conductor 108,
brush, insulated conducting ring 3 r, see also Fig. 10, conductor 93, inner left
hand electro-magnet M" carried by the radial arm k, thence through a conducting
spring t carried by the same arm and having electrical contact with the upper ends
of a series of contact plates ep, thence through that one of said contact strips
which lies directly opposite the ends of the armature lever 7 and thence through a
conducting spring 22 carried by the armature lever, it being understood that this
armature lever is now in the reverse position from that shown in Fig. 10 so, that
the upper end of the contact spring 82 bears on the enlarged lower end of that one
of the contact plates e p through which the current came; thence directly through
the armature lever to the pivot points of the armature and by conductor 27,
through the electro-magnet M at the top of Sheet 4, thence through the armature
lever m and contact spring s¹ carried thereby, thence through the lower contact
point which is connected to conductor 87, thence through the release electro-
magnet at the right of Sheet 4, thence downward. hrough conductor 87, through

page_text: conductor 20, thence to the left through Sheet 3 back to the battery BA
completing the circuit.
This current impulse therefore energizes the electro-magnet M" on the inner
end of the arm & and restores the armature to its normal position as shown in
Fig. 10. The same current impulse caused the electro-magnet M' at the left an 1
top of Sheet 4 to restore the armature lever m' to its normal position where it is
locked by the armature lever m of the release electro-magne: M. The same
current impulse energized the release electro-magnet M³ on the right and at the
top of Sheet 4, and allowed the armature lever m³ of the electro-magnet M³ to
return to normal position with its contact spring s³ in connection with circuit 28,
thus leaving the percentage circuit selector and its circuit connections free for use
by any other subscriber.
Having restored the percentage selector and its circuit connections to normal
position where they may be used independently by other subscribers we are now
prepared to return to the circuit connecting balls which were temporarily left
moving over the section 1s of the runway 2 R. They pass onward to a second
short section of track 2s where they close a new circuit to and through the magneto
generator and other apparatus as follows:
Upward by conductor 81 to conductor 8, thence to the left through Sheets 4, 3, 2
and to electro-magnet B2 of the apparatus of subscriber No. 2, thence through
electro-magnet E, thence upward to confuctor 4, thence to the right through
Sheets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the magneto generator, thence through conductor 45 to
the bottom of Sheet 6, thence to the left through Sheets 6 and 5 to conductor 84
through the continuous track to the starting point through the travelling conducting
balls.
This current impulse therefore placed the free end of the armature lever b² of
the electro-magnet B2 of the apparatus of subscriber No. 2 in its upper position so
that the contact spring s³ carried thereby is now placed out of contact with
circuit No. 99 and into contact with circuit No. 4 preparatory to the ringing of his
call bell by the passage of the travelling conducting balls over the next section of
the runway or chute. As these balls pass therefore upon this section 3 s they
close another circuit as follows:
Upward by conductor 80 to conductor 7, thence to the left through sheets 4, 3,
and 2, downward and to the left through sheet 1, upward through conductor 101,
thence to the extreme left of sheet 1 where conductor 7 joins conductor 101, thence
upward to and through contact springs carried at the outer end of the armature
lever of electro-magnet C³, thence out of the exchange station over the line of
subscriber No. 2 through his call bell, not shown, backward through the return
line to armature lever 63, through contact spring s³, contact point p³ up and to the
right through conductor 4, through sheets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the magneto generator,
thence downward to conductor 45 to the left, through sheets 6 and 5 to conductor 84,.
thence upward to the continuous track 2 R and through the travelling balls..
Consequently the call bell of subscriber No. 1 is rung during the time that the.
balls are passing over the short section of track 3 s. As the balls advance they
pass from the short section 3s on to the next succeeding short section 4s and a
fourth circuit is closed as follows:
From the short section of track 4s upward through conductor 6 to the left
through sheets 4, 3, 2 and 1, to the left and upward through electro-magnet C² of
the apparatus of subscriber No. 2, thence through conductor 6 to and through
releasing electro-magnet D2, thence upward through conductor 4 and to the right
through the common return conductor to the magneto generator, thence downward
by conductor 45 to conductor 84, sheet 5, thence upward to the continuous
track 2 R through the balls. The electro-magnet C2 is therefore energized and the
contact spring s* carried by the armature lever c change their connection with 101
into connection with contact plate p¹ connected to the talking circuit 18. The
electro-magnet D2 was also energized and its armature a³ drawn forward, thereby
releasing armature lever 6 changing the position of the contact spring s³ from.

page_text: connection with circuit 4 running to the magneto generator into connection with
circuits 99 and 31, the latter, 31, being a through talking circuit. The balls now
pass on to the short section 5 where a new circuit is closed to and through the
magneto generator as follows:
Upward through conductor 79 to conductor 16, thence to the left through
sheet 5, thence to sheet 4 downward and to the left, thence through electro-
magnet O, thence upward by conductor 16 to the left, thence upward to
the conductor 4 running to the magneto generator on sheet 6, thence downward and
to the left through conductor 45 and upward through conductor 84 to the continuous
track 2 R through the balls. The energizing of the electro-magnet O' therefore
caused the accumulator switch or gate R2 to be lifted into a position corresponding
to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 so that any incoming signals for subscriber
No. 2 from any other subscriber will be stored up until conversation between
subscriber No. 1 and subscriber No. 2 is concluded, it being apparent that any
circuit connecting balls which may be released by any other subscriber than No. 1
over the runway or chute 2 R, he, the additional calling subscriber will now run
on to the accumulator or side track of subscriber No. 2 and there be held in
check by the ball retaining device p³ until they are released, as will be described
later on.
The balls now pass on to a short conducting section 6s at the left of sheet 6
where another circuit is closed through the magneto generator to other apparatus.
which circuit, however, it should be remarked is made dependent upon the
individualizing switch SW which it will be remembered was moved to the right
in the previous operation of the apparatus so that the contact spring mis
in connection with circuit 61 and the several contact springs above and below in
the switch itself are in electrical contact with the metallic sections of the switch.
Bearing this in mind therefore the circuit is closed from section 6s upward through
conductor 57, thence to the left to the center of sheet 5 where it joins conductor 52,
thence upward through conductor 52 through the extreme right hand spring of the
individualizing switch SW, thence through the first metallic plate of the switch,
thence through the lower right hand conducting spring, thence by conductor 11 to
the left through sheets 4, 3 and 2 to electro-magnet B₁ of subscriber No. 1,
Sheet 1, thence through electro-magnet E³, thence by conductor 11, thence to the
common magneto conductor 4 connected with the magneto generator sheet 6,
thence by conductor 45 to the bottom of sheet 6 and upward by conductor 73 to
the continuous track 2 R and through the conducting balls.
The electro-magnet B¹, sheet 1, of the apparatus of subscriber No. 1 was
therefore energized through the contact springs carried at the free end of the
armature lever 6' and changed from connection with conductor 98 into connection
with the upper contact plate p¹ which in turn is connected directly with the
common return conductor No. 4 running to the magneto generator on sheet 6.
This last act therefore of connecting the contact springs with the common return
conductor 4 places the apparatus of subscriber No. 1 in condition for the ringing
of his call bell as the balls pass forward to the next section of track. The circuit
for effecting this ringing is therefore closed as the balls pass on section 7s as
follows:
Upward through conductor 56 to the left to the center of Fig. 5 where 56 joins
conductor 50, thence upward to the second one of the upper contact springs of the
individualizing switch SW, thence downward through the second conducting
plate, thence through the second lower contact spring, thence by conductor 86
downward to conductor 10, thence to the left by conductor 10, through sheets 3
and 2 to the center of sheet 1 where conductor 10 joins conductor 100, thence
upward by conductor 100, through contact springs, armature lever c', thence
through the call bell of subscriber No. 1, thence back to the office through the
return wire to armature lever b', thence through contact spring s¹, contact plate p
to the common return conductor 4 connected with the magneto generator on sheet 6,
thence by conductor 45 back to sheet 6, upward by conductor 73 to the continuous

page_text: track of 2 R and through the conducting balls. The balls now pass on to the last
short conducting section and another circuit is closed therefrom as follows:
By conductor 55, to the top of sheet 6, thence to the left to the center of sheet 5
where they join conductor 51, thence upward by conductor 51, thence through the
third one of the upper conducting springs of the individualizing switch SW,
thence downward through the third conducting plate of that switch and through
the third lower conducting spring by conductor 85 to conductor 9, thence to the
left through sheets 4, 3, 2 and 1, to and through electro-magnets C¹ and D' of the
central station apparatus of subscriber No. 1, thence to the common return
conductor 4 of the magneto generator on sheet 6, thence by conductors 45 and 73
to the continuous track 2 R and through the balls. The act of energizing the
electro-magnet C¹ caused its armature c¹ to change the position of the contact
spring from connection with circuit 100 into connection with circuit 19 at the
point p, which plate in turn is connected to circuit No. 19 or the talking circuit
of subscribers line No. 1. At the same time the armature lever d' was drawn
forward and the armature lever 6' of the electro-magnet B' released, allowing the
contact springs to be restored to its normal position, thereby disconnecting
the circuit running to the magneto generator and connecting it directly to the
remainder of the talking circuit of No. 1.
The balls finally pass under the free or elevated end of the pivoted section of
track way TS which is held in that position, it will be remembered, by the hooked
armature sp, this operation having been described in the early part of the
Specification. As the balls drop into their position upon the contact plates c p
and c¹ p¹ one of them momentarily closes contact between two yielding contact
springs te and an electrical circuit is closed from battery B' A' as follows:
By conductor 59 to yielding contact springs te and one of the balls, downward
by conductor 77 to conductor 64, thence to the left to sheet 5, thence upward by
conductor 64 to the restoring electro-magnet M23 of the individualizing switch S W,
thence downward by conductor 63, thence to the right, thence downward and again
to the right to the center of sheet 6, thence upward through electro-magnet M²,
thence downward by conductor 61 to the left to sheet 5, thence upward and to the
left and again upward by conductor 61 to the upper right hand contact plate to
which said conductor is connected, thence through the spring carried by the
armature m2 which spring it will be remembered was left in connection with that
contact plate, thence by armature lever m2, thence by conductor 59 to the right to
sheet 6, thence downward to the other pole of the battery B³ A". The
individualizing switch S W was therefore restored to its normal position under the
action of the electro-magnet M23. The elevated section of the runway TS was
released under the action of the electro-magnet M" and its hooked armature
lever m² so that all of the elevated sections of track-way connected to the
shaft S have been restored to their normal or lower positions, thus allowing the
passage of balls on other tracks than that of R2 or R¹ for making additional
connections at points beyond.
It is to be here observed that the short conducting sections 1s, 6s, 7 s and 8 s of
the runways 1 R, 2 R, 3 R, &c. are all connected in multiple arc relation and that
when the individualizing switch S W was returned to its normal position the
passage of circuit closing balls on other tracks will not affect in any way the
apparatus of subscriber No. 1 or the circuit established between subscriber No. 1
and subscriber No. 2.
The balls B2 B2 having found their way into contact with the contact
plates cp, cl pl beneath the runway 2 R near the center of sheet 6 the talking
circuit is closed and an uninterrupted conversation may now be had between
subscribers No. 1 and No. 2 and through the following circuit.
Passing by subscribers line No. 1 to the armature lever b', thence through
contact spring s¹, thence by conductor 98 to conductor No. 1, thence upward to the
top of sheet 2, through sheets 2, 3 and 4 to the top of sheet 5, thence downward
and to the right through sheet 5 to sheet 6, thence up and to the right to a short
C

page_text: cross connector which joins the left hand series of contact plates cp in pairs,
thence downward, thence through one of the balls to the right hand contact
plate cp of the left hand pair, thence through conductor 18 up and to the left to
sheet 5, thence to the left through sheets 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 through the electro-
magnet G² of the automatic release, thence upward by conductor 18 to the contact
plate p, thence through the contact plate s, armature lever c³, thence out of the
exchange station by subscribers line No. 2 through his instruments, thence back
through his return wire through armature lever 62, through springs, thence
downward through conductor 99 to conductor 31, thence to the right and downward
to and through sheet 2, through sheet 3, through sheet 4 and sheet 5 and upward
and to the right to sheet 6, downward to the left hand contact plate te of the
right hand pair of plates, thence through the second ball, thence to the right hand
plate cpl of the second pair, thence upward and to the left by conductor 19,
through sheets 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 to electro-magnet G of the automatic release,
thence upward by conductor 19, through contact plate p², contact spring s²,
armature lever out of the exchange station, through the return wire of
subscriber No. 1 to the starting point. Both subscribers may therefore talk at
pleasure without any fear of interruption from any other subscriber as no other
subscriber can by any possibility obtain connection with the lines of either. When
the conversation has concluded the subscribers hang their receiving telephones
upon their hooks and either one of them may disconnect or ring off the circuit
connections at the exchange system by transmitting a single current impulse over
his line. When this is done the circuit impulse which is from one of the
batteries b¹ a¹ or 62 a2 passes over the same circuit throughout the system as was
used for the purpose of talking which circuit has just been described. In doing
so the current impulse transmitted being from one or both of the batteries 6' a¹
or 62 a2 and of greater strength than the currents used in talking will energize the
two electro-magnets G₁ and G³, sheet 1, thereby lifting the armature levers g'g'
so that the armature levers of the releasing electro-magnets will lock them in
their upper positions. In these locked positions two local circuits are closed from
batteries 65 a5 and 66 a*.
I will first trace the circuit from battery 6 a" which is as follows:
Passing by conductor 5 through electro-magnet E, thence through conductor 5
through sheets 2, 3, 4 and 5, downward to the bottom of sheet 5, thence to the
right on sheet 6 downward and to the left through conductor 64 back again to
sheet 5, thence upward and to the left and again upward to electro-magnet M23 of
the individualizing switch S W, thence downward by conductor 63 to the right,
thence downward to the bottom of sheet 5, thence to the right through sheet 6,
thence upward to and through electro-magnet M2, thence downward through
conductor 61 and to the left through branch 61 a to electro-magnet M², thence to
the left through conductor 26 to sheet 5, thence upward and to the right back
again to sheet 6 through the recording electro-magnet M, thence to the left
through conductor 3, thence through sheet 4, thence downward through electro-
magnets P¹ of the accumulator apparatus R¹ St of subscriber No. 1, thence to the
left through the releasing clectro-magnets N¹ of the accumulator switch or gate of
subscriber No. 1, thence upward through conductor 3 to the top of sheet 4, thence
to the left through sheet 3 to the top of sheet 2, thence downward through
releasing electro-magnet K', thence downward and to the left to sheet 1 where it
joins conductor 22, thence upward through the releasing electro-magnet H', thence
to the left where it joins conductor 23, thence upward through releasing electro-
magnet I back through conductor 23, contact spring se, armature lever g¹ to the
starting point or battery 15 a³.
Electro-magnet M21 was energized but for the present this need not be
considered.
Electro-magnet M22 was energized thereby causing the armature lever m² to tilt
the contact plates and their supports downward so that the balls B2 B2 will run by
their own weight and drop upon the return runway or chute R R, as shown at the

page_text: bottom of Fig. 11, ultimately returning to the elevator E shown in Fig. 9, where
they are lifted one by one in pockets P O and returned to the upper chute SH
shown in Fig. 4 for re-use.
Electro-magnet M3 of the individualizing switch SW was also energized but
this need not be noticed here.
The electro-magnets P¹ of the accumulator R' S' were energized, but based
upon the supposition that there were no balls standing upon this accumulator, this
fact need not be noticed here. The releasing electro-magnet N' of the accumulator
switch or gate R' running to the accumulator R₁ S of subscriber No. 1 was
released in order to place his runway in condition for the reception of incoming
balls from other subscribers, seeing that he is now ready for additional calls.
The recording electro-magnet M28 at the top of sheet 6 was also energized,
thereby causing the armature lever m28 and its marker to make a record upon the
The release electro-
paper carried by the revolving recording cylinder RE.
magnet K at the top of sheet 2 was also energized drawing up the armature k
thereby releasing the armature of the electro-magnet J₁ and allowing said
armature to return to its normal position for the reception of other signals from
subscriber No. 1.
The release electro-maguet E' at the top of sheet 1 was also energized, thereby
causing its armature lever to permit the return of the armature lever c¹ so that the
contact spring is in direct connection again with its signalling relay A' through
circuit 100. The releasing electro-magnets H¹ and I were energized thereby
causing the locking armatures and to release the armature levers f' and g₁ thus
restoring the complete circuit connections to the signalling relay for subscriber No. 1
and automatically rupturing the circuit of battery a°. Returning now to the
other battery 66 a and its circuit connections (they are traceable as follows) it
being remembered that the armature lever g2 was left locked in its upper position
by the armature lever 2 of the electro-magnet 12.
The current passes from battery baby conductor 2 through the releasing
electro-magnet E2 at the top of the sheet, thence to the right by conductor 2 to
the releasing electro-magnet K2 through conductor 2 at the top of sheets 2, 3 and 4,
thence downward through electro-magnets P2 of the accumulator apparatus R² S²
of subscriber No. 2, thence through the releasing electro-magnet N2 of the switch
or gate R², thence to the right and upward to the top of sheet 4, thence to the right
through sheet 5 to the top of sheet 6 through the recording electro-magnet M² of
subscriber No. 2, thence downward to the bottom of sheet 6 and to the left to
conductor 66, thence to the left to sheet 5, thence upward and to the left to
electro-magnet M25 of the individualizing switch S₁ W₁ of subscriber No. 2, thence
downward and to the right to conductor 65 to the bottom of sheet 5, thence to the
right through sheet 6, thence upward to electro-magnet M18, thence to the left by
conductor 60 a to and through electro-magnet M, thence to the right and upward
by conductor 17, thence to the left through sheet 6, sheet 5, sheet 4, sheet 3,
sheet 2 and sheet 1 where it intersects conductor 24, thence upward through releasing
electro-magnet H2, thence to the left where conductor 24 intersects conductor 25,
thence upward through releasing electro-magnet 12, thence through contact point p³,
spring back to the battery baº. Electro-magnet M18 was therefore energized
but this need not be noticed here.
Electro-magnet M19 was energized thereby rotating the shaft S³½³ and causing
any balls which might have been held upon any of the contact plates cp, c² p¹ to
be released and returned to and through the return runway RR back to the
elevator; but inasmuch as subscriber No. 1 called subscriber No. 2 and subscriber
No. 2 has not called subscriber No. 1 there are no connecting balls in No. 2's
cross connections so that the operation of this electro-magnet need not be noticed
here.
Electro-magnet M25 of the individualizing switch S₁ W' of subscriber No. 2 at
the top of sheet 5 was energized but this fact need not be noted here.
Electro-magnets P² of the accumulator or side track R2 S were also energized

page_text: Have supposed the
wans up
need not be noted here.
The release electro-magnet N2 of the accumulator switch or gate R³ was
energized and that gate released and allowed to assume its normal position thereby
leaving his, No. 2's, runway in condition to receive circuit controlling balls from
other subscribers.
The recording electro-magnet M29, sheet 6, of subscriber No. 2 was energized
thereby causing the armature lever m² and its recording stylus to make a record
of the call for subscriber No. 2 upon the record paper carried by the revolving
recording cylinder R E.
Release electro-magnet K' at the top of sheet 2 was energized thereby causing
its armature lever k² to release the armatur lever j³ of the switch magnet J, thus
placing this part of the apparatus of No. 2 in condition for the reception of incoming
signals.
The releasing electro-magnet E³ at the extreme left of sheet 1 was energized
causing its armature lever e* to move thereby connecting the spring with the
circuit 101 and restoring it to direct connection with the signalling relay A². The
releasing electro-magnets H2 and 12, sheet 1, were also energized thereby causing
their armature levers h² and 2 to release the armature levers f² and 9, thereby
restoring the complete circuit to the signalling relay through conductor 101 and
automatically rupturing the circuit of battery be aº.
The entire apparatus is now in condition for the sending or receiving of signals by
or from either one of these subscribers No. 1 or No. 2, it being understood that the
switching apparatus at the exchange system was left at the disposal of the other sub-
scribers for their mutual use during the time that No. 1 and No. were holding their
conversation, or rather from the time that the numerical receiver switch N¹ R',
sheet 4, was released on the movement of the circuit controlling balls B2 B² over
the first short section 1s of the runway 2 R at the left hand edge of sheet 5 through
the agency of the circuit, consisting of conductors 44, 4, 45 and 84, the magneto
generator and the releasing electro-magnet M³, at which time also the percentage
switch at the upper left hand side of sheet 4 was automatically released through the
agency of electro-magnet M.
Suppose now that immediately after the numerical receiver switch and the
armature lever of the percentage selector had been restored to their normal
positions some other subscriber calls subscriber No. 1, and also that still an
additional subscriber calls subscriber No. 2. Inasmuch as both No. 1 and No. 2
are busy, it will be remembered that their accumulator switches or gates 01 02 are
in their uppermost positions, Fig. 4, Sheet 4. The apparatus of the subscriber now
calling subscriber No. I will therefore act as did the apparatus of subscriber No. 1
when calling subscriber No. 2. The preliminary impulse sent by this subscriber
will cause his particular relay battery to transmit forward an impulse from that
battery which will actuate his particular percentage control switch corresponding
to the percentage control switches actuated by the electro-magnets L' and L³ for
subscribers Nos. 1 and 2 and found on sheet 2. It will likewise tilt his particular
armature lever corresponding to 1 or m in the percentage selector, sheet 3, and will
make the necessary connections through the electro-magnet M³ of the numerical
receiver switch and the electro-magnet M' of the time relay to enable this subscriber
through the agency of his particular relay battery corresponding to b³ a³ to transmit
forward through the electro-magnet M the two current impulses which will place
the arms A of the numerical receiver switch in alignment with the runway 1 R of
subscriber No. 1 and will simultaneously set in motion the vibrating reed m' which
ultimately permits the battery B₁ A' to energize the electro-magnets Q'Q' and
effect the ejection of an additional pair of balls. These balls being released will
drop into the open sided pocket as before, pass thence down to the runway 1 R and
ultimately up over the accumulator switch or gate 01 on to the accumulator,
which is so constructed that after they reach a certain point of elevation it has a
down grade returning again to the main runway 1 R at a point below the starting

page_text: point, so that when the balls are released they will run on again over the main
runway. These balls will, however, be checked by the ball retaining arm p¹ in the
same manner as they were primarily held in check by the arm q' previous to entering
the open sided pocket B.
This pair of balls is therefore held in check for subscriber No. 1 until released by
him, as will be described later on.
It will be remembered that in the description of the operation of the calling of
subscriber No. 2 by subscriber No. 1 the preliminary signal sent over the line by
subscriber No. 1 to the central station actuated the individualizing switch S W
of subscriber No. 1 shown at the top of Fig. 5 and also that the track section over
the contact plates of his, subscriber No. 1's, cross-way were elevated for the reception
of the circuit connecting balls for making connection between the lines of subscriber
No. 1 and subscriber No. 2, and also that the accumulator switch or gate of
subscriber No. 1 was elevated simultaneously through the agency of this preliminary
impulse. In a similar manner the preliminary signal turned in by the additional
subscriber affects corresponding parts of his particular portion of the central station
apparatus, namely, elevates his particular track section for the reception of the
circuit connecting balls which are to connect his line with that of subscriber No. 1,
shifts or sets his particular individualizing switch corresponding to S¹ W' of
subscriber No. 2 and places his accumulator switch or gate in position to divert any
incoming circuit connecting balls upon his individual accumulator. By the action
of this subscriber's individualizing switch therefore the short sections of track 11,
2, 3, 4, and 5 r of No. 1's accumulator or side track have been put in connection
with signalling apparatus of the subscriber now calling so that as the balls roll
over the first section of track 1 r of the accumulator R¹ S¹ a circuit corresponding
to the following will be established.
Passing by conductor 47 to the right to the center of sheet 5, thence upward
through 47 to that point of the individualizing switch of the subscriber calling and
corresponding to S¹ W₁ at the top of Fig. 5; thence through the right hand
contact plate of this switch by conductor corresponding to conductor 8, thence to
the left to the center of sheet 1 through the electro-magnet of the corresponding
subscriber corresponding to the electro-maguet B33, thence through electro-magnet E
and conductor corresponding to conductor 8, thence through the conductor 4 to the
magneto generator, sheet 6, thence through conductor 45 to the bottom of sheet 4,
thence by conductor 88 to the starting point through the balls, thereby placing the
contact spring corresponding to the spring & in connection with its corresponding
plate p³ in direct connection with one pole of the magneto generator. The balls
then pass upon the two adjoining sections 2 and 3 in sequence both of which
are connected to a single conductor corresponding to 48 and running to the
individualizing switch of the subscriber calling corresponding to the switch S' WI
as before, and out through the second contact plate of that switch by a conductor
corresponding to 7, thence to the extreme left of sheet 1 and up through a conductor
corresponding to conductor 101 and out to the subscriber calling, thence back to
the central station through the armature contact spring and contact plate corre-
sponding to b² s² and 3 back by the common conductor 4 to the magneto generator
on the extreme right of Fig. 6, thence by conductor 45 back to the bottom of
sheet 4, thence by conductor 88 to the other track of the accumulator R' S' through
the balls to the starting point, sending to the subscriber calling two short sets of
signals notifying him that the line of subscriber No. 1 is in use and that his circuit
connecting balls have therefore gone on to the accumulator of subscriber No. 1 to
await their turn for connection with that subscriber. The balls now pass from
section 3 r² on to section 4 r¹ and make electrical connection through a conductor
corresponding to conductor 49 to and through the third contact plate of the
individualizing switch of the subscriber calling and corresponding to switch S₁ W',
thence downward through a conductor corresponding to conductor 6 and to the left
to the extreme edge of sheet 1 to and through electro-magnets corresponding to C³
and D2 and thence back by the common return conductor 4 of the magneto generator

page_text: on sheet 6, thence through the return conductors 45 and 88 to the other rail of the
accumulator track. This therefore causes the armature lever corresponding to 62
of the subscriber calling to be returned to its normal position and elevates the
armature lever corresponding to c² so that the contact spring corresponding to s
is in contact with a plate corresponding to pt. The balls finally pass over the short
conducting section 5 of the accumulator of subscriber No. 1 and an additional
electrical circuit is closed through a conductor corresponding to 46, to and through
the individualizing switch corresponding to S' W', through the fifth contact plate
thereof downward and to the left by a conductor corresponding to 14, thence to
the center of sheet 1 through an electro-magnet corresponding to F2, thence
through a conductor corresponding to 21 to the top and right hand side of sheet 4
where it joins the conductor 4 running to the magneto generator, thence by
⚫ conductor 45 and conductor 88 back to the other track of the accumulator.
This current impulse therefore shifts the armature lever corresponding to the
armature 2 of the subscriber calling into its upper position and into connection
with a conductor corresponding to conductor 97. As soon therefore as the balls
released by the subscriber calling arrive at their destination upon the accumulator
of No. 1 and are held in check by the arm p² two courses of action are open to
this subscriber as follows:
First he may await his turn until the subscriber called releases the stored up
balls by the act of ringing off, in which event. they will pass directly upon the main
runway 1 R and effect the necessary connections in the same manner as the like
.connections were effected between subscriber No. 1 and subscriber No. 2 or he may
automatically release his particular track section, de-individualize his individualizing
-switch and restore his own switching apparatus, the operation of which has just
been described, to normal condition so that he may, if he chooses, call some other
:subscriber, it being remembered that the individual pair of balls which he has
released and which have been stored upon the accumulator of subscriber No. 1
will remain there until subscriber No. 1 releases them, in which event they will
run off by runway 1R but will not make any electrical connections over that
runway as they pass out, inasmuch as the restoration of his individualizing switch
has interrupted all of the circuit connections which would have been made had
they been sent forward while the switching apparatus of the calling subscriber
remained in the position at which it was left when the balls first reached their
destination upon the accumulator of No. 1. Inasmuch also as the track section of
the calling subscriber has been released they will simply run off at the end of
runway i R and drop into the return chute R R without performing any function
whatever. The balls will, however, when thus released ring the bell of subscriber
No. 1 and warn him that some one has called him but did not care to wait.
I will now describe how the apparatus works in the event of a calling subscriber
desiring to await his turn.
As soon as subscriber No. 1 had finished his first conversation, by the act of
ringing off he energized his individual electro-magnet G³ of the automatic release
apparatus and the armature lever g' was therefore momentarily locked up in its
upper position by the armature lever i¹. A circuit was closed therefore from the
battery ba³ as herein before described, which included in turn the electro-
magnet M of his own individualizing switch, the track section releasing electro-
magnet M2, Sheet 6, the electro-magnet M22 on Sheet 6 for returning the balls to
the return elevator chute RR, the recording electro-magnet M at the top of
Sheet 6, the ball ejecting and retaining electro-magnets P1 P', Fig. 4, the
accumulator or gate releasing electro-magnet N', the electro-magnet K' at the top
of Sheet 2, the release electro-magnets H' and I Sheet 1 back to starting point.
The balls therefore were started on their journey by the propulsive action of the
ball ejecting arm pand were caused to pass down and back, upward a short
distance over the accumulator switch or gate which is now in its lower position,
after which they return through gravity directly down the runway R and under
the accumulator upon which they were just stored. When they reach that section

page_text: of the runway 1 R indicated by 1s circuit connection is made by conductor 83,
upward through the fourth contact plate from the right of the individualizing
switch of the subscriber calling which corresponds to the switch S¹ W₁, thence
back by a conductor corresponding to conductor 24 to the extreme left of Sheet 1
through the release electro-magnet corresponding to the release electro-magnet H²,
thence downward by conductor corresponding to conductor 25, thence through
Sheets 2, 3 and 4 to the left hand side of Sheet 5 where it joins conductor 4 running
to the magneto generator, thence through conductor 45 back through conductor 84
to the starting point through the balls. This action of the electro-magnet
corresponding to the electro-magnet H2 disconnected the automatic release
controller which was put in position by a prior action of the signalling subscriber,.
as will be remembered, in order that he might disconnect his apparatus in the event
of his not wishing to await the pleasure of subscriber No. 1. The action of the
balls over the remaining sections 2 s, 3s, &c., of the runway 1 R to their final
destination for the purpose of connecting the subscriber now calling with subscriber
No. 1 is identically the same as it was as before described in uniting the circuits of
subscriber No. 1 with subscriber No. 2, with the exception of course that the balls
now enter to the conducting plates cp and c'p' which lie below the now elevated
track section of the subscriber calling, the remaining track sections all being in
their lower positions in order to allow the travelling balls to pass over them to their
proper destination.
In the same manner any calls which have been made by other subscribers for
subscriber No. 2 or for any of the other subscribers except the calling and the
called subscriber will be stored upon the individual accumulators of the subscribers
called, it being understood that the particular individualizing switches corresponding
to the particular subscribers called will always be operated in each instance so as to
connect the accumulators of the called subscribers individually with the calling
subscribers.
It might be well to notice here that in the event of the storing up of two or
more sets of balls on any individual accumulator through the independent calls of
two or more individual subscribers that the individualizing switches of all of the
calling subscribers will be actuated in the manner already described so as to put
the apparatus of all of the individual calling subscribers into multiple are connection
with the section of track of the accumulator of the subscriber called. Owing to
this fact it must be apparent that each time a pair of balls enters upon the
sectional tracks of the accumulator, the bell or bells of the subscriber or subscribers
who have previously called the same person will be each rung twice, thus indicating
to the subscribers in the order in which the calls were made that there are
additional subscribers seeking to obtain connection with the line of the same
subscriber, except under the condition of course that none of those who have
previously called the same person and have themselves automatically disconnected
their own apparatus in the manner heretofore described, will of course not be
signalled, their signal receiving or circuit connections having been disconnected by
their own act.
When
The operation of the apparatus in connection with Sheets 1 to 8 inclusive is as
heretofore indicated, applicable to a system of ten subscribers' lines.
it becomes necessary to increase the nu.nber of subscribers' lines and therefore
the means of making cross connection between any two of such subscribers,
additional apparatus is necessary for effecting the movement of the circuit
controlling balls to their proper channels and ultimately to the points of connection
between any two of the lines. In this connection reference is had to Figs. 8 and 8B,
which, as heretofore indicated, are diagrammatic views illustrating a skeleton plan
of runways, electrical circuits and mechanism applicable to a system of ninety-nine
lines.
I will suppose that subscriber No. 1 desires to call subscriber No. 79.
In order to accomplish this it will be necessary for him, subscriber No. 1,
to first place the numerical receiver switch arm A in alignment with the

page_text: sectional track 7 R and the pivoted sectional track SR at the outer end of
7 R in alignment with the runway 70 R to 79 R, and through the agency of an
additional set of impulses place the numerical receiver switch arm A. of numerical
receiver N2 R2 in the extreme lower right hand corner of Fig. 8B into alignment
with and leading to the individual runway of 79 R of subscriber No. 79. The
positions of these moving portions of the runways for the circuit controlling balls
are shown in dotted lines between the numerical receiver N' R' and the inner end
of 7 R, the outer end of 7 R, the inner end of 70 R and between the numerical
receiver N2 R2 and the inner end of 79 R on the lower side of Fig. 84, the
arrangement being such that when a pair of balls is released by subscriber No. 1
for forming connection with subscriber 79 they will run by the arms A to 7 R,
thence by the arms S R to 70 R, thence to numerical receiver N2 R2 and by the
arms A to 79 R and finally over the runway 79 R to their destination, the track
and switch board relations from 79 R to the point where the switch board
connections are made being the same as from 1R Sheet 4, to the extreme right of
Sheet 6, there being for the runway 79 R an accumulator switch or gate corresponding
to O¹, an individual accumulator corresponding to the accumulator R' S₁ and all
of the necessary mechanical and electrical connections which are found in the
like parts of the apparatus shown in connection with the lines of subscriber Nc. 1
and subscriber No. 2 on Sheets 1 to 6 inclusive.
Upon turning in his preliminary impulse subscriber No. 1 puts his apparatus in
connection with the electro-magnet M2 of the numerical receiver switch N'R' in
circuit 29 and 30 which circuit also includes an electro-magnet M" of the time
relay which is the exact counterpart of the time relay shown in Fig. 4 but which
serves in the present instance an additional capacity in the nature of a numerical
separator for the purpose of separating the two sets of impulses coming from the
subscribers station in order that the first set thereof may step forward the arms A
of numerical receiver No. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines, leave it there and
effect such additional circuit connections as will enable the second set of impulses
from the subscriber to step forward the arms A of numerical receiver N2 R2 into
the position shown in dotted lines as will be described.
It will be understood that the preliminary impulse just referred to as coming
from subscriber No. 1 was instrumental in raising his own track section, operating
his own individualizing switch S W and raising his own accumulator switch or
gate O to prevent interference from other subscribers. Subscriber No. 1 then
transmits over his line to the central station from his battery b¹ a' eight impulses.
These impulses as before described, come from battery 6' a' and are ultimately
relayed through circuits 29 and 30 energizing electro-magnet M, electro-magnet M
and electro-magnet M'. Consequently the arms A of the numerical receiver switch
No. 1 are stepped forward until their free ends are in alignment with the stationary
runway 7 R. At the same time the reeds m' and m" of the numerical separator N S
and the time relay TR were kept vibrating continuously. It should be noted,
however, that the time relay reed m' should be so adjusted that it will vibrate for
a somewhat longer time than does the corresponding vibrating reed m", for the
reason that the function of the time relay is to permit of the release of the circuit
connecting balls, which should not take place until all of the arms A of the
numerical receivers to be affected, N' R', N2 R2 have been put into their proper
positions to carry the balls to their final destination. As soon therefore as the
reed m ceased vibrating a circuit was closed from the battery Be A as follows:
By conductor 112 by release electro-magnet M³, conductor 112, switch magnet S M,
the function of which is to switch the current from the units circuit 30 to the tens
circuit 109, thence by conductor 112, springs, conducting head b of pin p, sliding
bar m, reed m", spring s¹³, conductor 112 back to the starting point. The release
electro-magnet M8 therefore automatically ruptured the battery circuit B° A
between the head band the springs so that the pin p assumed its normal position.
The armature s m of the switch magnet S M was locked in its uppermost position
by the armature r m of the release electro-magnet R M in circuit 44. The second

page_text: set of impulses from subscriber No. 1 now come forward while the reed m' of the
time relay is still vibrating.
By the operation of the switch magnet S M a new signalling circuit is now
established for the reception of this second set of impulses, 10 in number, which
are to rotate the numerical receiver switch arms A of the numerical receiver N* R*
into final position opposite the inner end of 79 R. The circuit is as follows:
Entering at 30 as before, passing thence through the numerical separator
magnet M", thence through conductor 30 to armature s m of switch magnet S M,
thence through the contact spring carried by the free end of its armature lever
now locked in its upper position, thence by the new path through conductor 109 to
a contact spring having metallic contact with a conducting portion of the numerical
receiver switch which in turn is connected metallically with one of the conducting
arms A carrying a contact spring at its outer end adapted to make electrical
contact with one of the contacts ' to a. The arms A having been moved as
already described into the position shown in dotted lines, this contact spring rests
upon contact spring s', through conductor 170 to electro-magnet M° at the lower
right hand corner of Fig. 8B, thence through the return conductor 29 back to the
energizing battery. All of these impulses therefore energize the switch electro-
magnet S R in the lower left hand side of Fig. 84, thereby causing the local
battery B' A' to energize an electro-magnet S¹ M', the armature of which a m is
attached to a connecting link LC adapted to rotate the pivoted sections of
runways S R so that all of the outer ends of the pivoted sections of runway S R
are turned to the left and consequently put in alignment with the fixed sections of
track running to those series of subscribers' runways higher than 9, through
additional runways 10 R to 99 R inclusive, there being only three sets of these
continuous runways shown for clearness sake.
As the 10 impulses come forward therefore through numerical receiver N2 R²
the arms A are finally placed in alignment with the runways 79 R. Immediately
thereafter the reed m of the time relay which controls the releasing of the balls
ceases to vibrate and the electro-magnets Q Q are energized and the balls set in
motion when they run over the route already indicated, and finally find their way
to their destination beneath the open track section of subscriber No. 1 at that point
of the switch board which is cross connected to No. 79, it being understood that
the several functions referred to as having transpired in connection with the
runway 2 R of subscriber No. 2 when subscriber No. 1 was calling him have taken
place through the corresponding electrical connections through the runways of
subscriber No. 79 and the apparatus of both subscriber No. 1 and subscriber
No. 79.
It will of course be understood that there should be release electro-magnets for
the numerical receiver switching apparatus of the several numerical receivers
corresponding to the electro-magnet M" and that all of said release electro-magnets
are included in series in the circuit 14 together with the restoring electro-
magnet S2 M² and the release electro-magnet R M which releases the armature sm
of the switch magnet S M for the purpose of restoring all of the apparatus in the
system for the use of other subscribers.
It will be understood also that the capacity of the system may be increased for a
larger number of subscribers by providing the second series of numerical receiver
switches N2 R2 with apparatus like that shown in Fig. 8A so that a corresponding
switching electro-magnet like S M shall shift the circuit forward through the
numerical receiver arm to the next series of numerical receivers of higher order.
With an extended system of apparatus embracing more than 10 lines like that
shown in Figs. 84 and 8B should a subscriber desire to connect his line with that of
any other subscriber whose number is less than 10 the operation would be as
before up to the point where the switching magnet S M operated the switching
armature s m; but it is to be observed that the apparatus which is in circuit
through circuit 109 although placed in circuit will not be operated because no
second set of impulses will be sent forward. This being true the switching
D

page_text: magnet S¹ M' will not be operated, the operation of the numerical separator M
effecting simply the stepping of the switch arm S M. Consequently the pivoted
sectional track release SR will now be moved so that the balls released by the
subscriber calling will run over the arm A and that one of the arms 0 R to 9 R
inclusive opposite which the free ends of the arms A have been placed and
will pass then over the pivoted section SR directly to that one of the stationary
runways 1 R to 9 R inclusive which is designed to carry the balls to the subscriber
called.
In describing the apparatus and the operation thereof up to the present time,
I have assumed that the tilting armature levers, l, m &c., one for each subscriber
were all located in a single horizontal plane and that there was but a single
radiating arm & carrying the operating electro-magnets M10 and M" therefor, the
first of which enabled the subscriber to connect his relay battery directly with the
numerical receiver switch magnet M' and the second of which enabled him to
reverse this operation. It is to be noted, however, that in this connection with
such an arrangement the signalling subscriber who first obtains control of the
percentage circuit selector embracing a single series of armatures does so to the
exclusion of all other subscribers for the time being, which under ordinary cir-
cumstances does not exceed three seconds. It it possible therefore, and in fact
probable, that a second subscriber might call during this time, in which event his
percentage switch corresponding to the switches controlled by electro-magnets L'
and L2, Sheet 2, would be actuated but he would not obtain control of the percentage
selector until the apparatus of the subscriber simultaneously signalling had released
his connection therewith, whereupon the second subscriber would immediately
obtain control of the apparatus. This feature is not a serious objection in connection
with a limited number of subscribers' lines, inasmuch as it would only cause slight
delay in waiting for the apparatus to work or to operate.
In a larger system of subscribers' lines I overcome this objection, however, by
providing a series of tiers or planes of percentage selectors and their necessary
circuit connections all arranged in multiple are relation to each other as shown in
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 which I shall now proceed to describe.
The individual circuit connections of each of these tiers of apparatus of the
percentage selector proper, shown in Fig. 12, is the duplicate of that shown in
Fig. 3 and the incoming circuit connections are connected in multiple as described,
so that if a subscriber has obtained control of say tier No. 1 of the percentage
circuit selector any incoming signal from an additional subscriber will immediately
obtain possession of circuit connections through tier No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4, or the
first one of the tiers not already in use at the time of his incoming signal.
In describing the operation of the apparatus allusion has heretofore been
made to a percentage principle. This principle is intimately associated with a
small exchange but is still more closely connected with a larger exchange. In
order therefore that said principle may be fully understood I will describe it and
will afterwards exemplify it by reference to Figs. 12 to 14 of the drawings.
Automatic telephone exchange apparatus as heretofore devised may be divided
into two classes; first that class which only contemplated the making of a few
connections at one time, and second that class which permitted of a larger number
being made but with the attendant disadvantage of complication of mechanism and
interference of signals and conversation.
In nearly all of the devices known at the present time the prevalent idea has been
to provide a conductor for each and every telephone in the system. The percentage
system as applied to automatic telephone exchanges is a method of providing switching
or connecting apparatus enough to carry the computed maximum number of con-
nection calls likely to be received in the central office simultaneously or within a
few seconds of each other.
Referring now to Fig. 12, DR and D' R' are drums the substantial duplicates
of the like parts in Fig. 3. They are carried by a shaft S as before and are
connected through miter gearing bg with a shaft vs the same as before, but

page_text: instead of there being a single radiating arm carried by the shaft vs there are
now found four such radiating arms located at 90° apart and four corresponding
pairs of electro-magnets M10 and M" carried thereby with tilting armature levers Im
and circuit connections, the same as in Fig. 3, with a single difference, namely that all
of the incoming conductors for each subscriber are connected at the points u in
multiple arc relation.
The four armature levers / corresponding to the line of subscriber No. 1 are
therefore located one in each tier and directly above each other, and each tier has
as many of these tilting armature levers as there are subscribers' lines. Diametri-
cally opposite the four armature levers are located four additional armature
levers lo of a third subscriber's line; the four corresponding armature levers m
of the second subscriber's line which correspond to the armature m seen on Fig. 3
would not be visible in this figure of the drawing as will be apparent on inspection
of the latter figure. The circuit connections to the four points u on the left from
the subscriber's line would be the same as are the corresponding connections from
subscriber's line No. 1 by conductor 36 to the four points u on the right, and in
fact all of the incoming connections to the several sets of individual armatures would
be the duplicates of the parts shown.
This multiple arrangement of tiers necessitates of course a multiple arrangement
of contact brushes ii, contact rings hh, one set for each tier, and a like corre-
sponding multiple arrangement of spirally disposed strips ff, f' f¹, one set for each
cylinder, one of which strips in each set is connected to its corresponding rings i i
by a conductor 94 or 95. The contact springs carried by the several armature
levers, together with the vertically disposed contact strips e p on the stationary
hubs J, are also arranged in multiple sets, the individual circuit connections for
each set being the same as those of the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 3
and 10. The contact brushes jj, j¹j¹ for individual subscribers are the same
as the like parts in Figs. 3 and 10. I have shown, however, six pairs of such
inclusive.
brushes corresponding to six individual telephone circuits, Nos. 1 to
In Fig. 13 is shown in diagrammatic view, a corresponding multiple arc or tier
arrangement of accumulators or side tracks necessitated by the tier arrange-
ment of the percentage selector shown in Fig. 12, and in Fig. 14 is shown a
corresponding tier arrangement of the track sections lying over the switch
board circuit connections similar to those shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings,
together with individualizing switches for the complete operation of this tier
arrangement of parts.
Before proceeding with the description of the mode of operation of the
percentage circuit selector apparatus illustrated in Fig. 12 and the necessary
circuit connections therefor for the application of this principle, it may be well to
state that it is to be understood that this principle contemplates a multiple arrange-
ment of parts of the entire system; that is to say, all of the apparatus in the
percentage circuit selector is arranged in tiers or horizontal planes as shown in
Fig. 12, all of the numerical receiver switches are arranged in sets in horizontal
planes corresponding thereto, as are all of the accumulators, the runways and
switch boards. In other words in a system of say 100 subscribers' lines I would
provide 100 tilting armature levers corresponding to levers on each tier, four
sets of radiating arms carrying electro-magnets M, M", one such set for each
tier; 100 pairs of brushes jj, jj, four spirally disposed strips f and f¹ for each
drum D R, D' R' and four sets of circuit connections as shown, four sets of
numerical receiver switches and circuit connections corresponding to the numerical
receiver switch N' R¹, Fig. 4, arranged in tiers one above the other and individual
circuit connections therefrom to their individual corresponding tiers of the
percentage circuit selector; a single elevator corresponding to the elevator E with
multiple branch chutes SH running to each of the corresponding tiers of numerical
receivers, four sets of numerical receivers N2 R2 of the second order arranged in
tiers above each other and having their individual circuit connections and operating
apparatus conuected to their corresponding parts of the first sets of numerical

page_text: receivers, the individual circuit connections of the several sets being the same
as those heretofore described in connection with the apparatus shown in Figs. 8ª
and 8B; four tiers of accumulators, four sets of runways arranged in tiers, runways
or chutes, four sets of accumulators as shown in Fig. 13, one for each tier of
runways, four sets of switch boards arranged in tiers with elevating track section
as shown in Fig. 14.
This multiple arrangement of all of the parts is made necessary, although not
fully illustrated here in order that the different parts of the apparatus from the
percentage circuit selector to the switch board connections may be made simul-
taneously available for different subscribers at the same time. In other words it
is to be understood that when any subscriber has seized, say tier No. 1 of the
entire apparatus from the percentage circuit selector through to the switch board
connections, he has done so to the exclusion of any other subscriber so that any
such other subscriber may use either tier No. 2, tier No. 3, tier No. 4, or in fact
the first disconnected or unused tier of the apparatus made accessible to him by
the rotation of the drums D R, and the available circuit connections therefor.
My novel percentage system is based upon the theory that for a given number
of subscribers and with an apparatus in which circuit connections are made
within a time not to exceed say about three seconds, there is not even a remote
probability that there will ever be a sufficient number of subscribers calling at one
and the same time to utilize all of the tiers of an apparatus planned to meet the
properly estimated maximum number of calls.
Reverting now to Fig. 13 of the drawings, it will be seen that there are four
sets of accumulators R¹ S', four sets of electro-magnets N¹ N¹ &c. with corre-
sponding accumulator switches or gates, there being four complete sets of these
apparatus for every telephone subscriber of the system arranged in tiers, preferably
above each other, corresponding to the like tiers of the percentage selector shown
in Fig. 12. It will also be noted that the accumulator switches or gates R¹ are
connected together by a link or rod E B, the lower end of which is attached to
the free end of an armature lever o³ of a common actuating electro-magnet O¹,
the arrangement of parts so far being different from that of the like parts shown
in Figs. 4 and 8 only in the multiple arc or tier arrangement thereof.
O³ is an electro-magnet adapted to act upon the same armature lever o³ as does
the electro-magnet O after any pair of balls has been released from any one of
the accumulators so as to restore the gates and prevent any further release of balls
for the time being.
M³¹ is a release electro-magnet for locking or controlling the movement of the
armature lever o³ and is located in the common release circuit 3-3, which it will
be remembered is controlled by either the signalling or signalled subscriber after
conversation has been completed.
M³ is a switching electro-magnet enabling the calling subscriber to elevate
his track section only in that tier of track sections corresponding to that tier of
the percentage circuit selector through which he has obtained control of the
switching apparatus. M33 is a release electro-magnet therefor. M34 and M³ are
electro-magnets of subscriber No. 2 corresponding to M and M³ just described.
I will now describe briefly the application of the percentage principle above
referred to and indicate how two or more subscribers may simultaneously use the
individual parts of the apparatus at the same time.
Before proceeding with the description it may be well to indicate that the
general operation of the apparatus, in so far as it relates to individual subscribers
and their incoming lines and circuit connections up to the point of juncture with
the percentage selector is identically the same as in the system shown and
described in connection with Sheets 1 to 7 inclusive.
Suppose any subscriber, say subscriber No. 1, calls subscriber No. 2, his
preliminary signal coming in to the office as already described actuates his per-
centage circuit selector switch controlled by the electro-magnet L', thereby
bringing into play the battery B A, Sheet 2.

page_text: When, therefore, the drum D R advances until the brush; in connection with
conductor 41 comes in contact with the strip fa circuit is closed in the same
manner that the corresponding circuit was closed in the original description in the
connection of subscriber's line No. 1 with subscriber's line No. 2 as follows :
From the brush j, strip f, conductor 94 to the right hand ring i, the con-
ductor d, through Figs. 13 and 14, thence through electro-magnet M" of tier
switch No. 4 TS at the bottom of Fig. 14, thence upward to the top of the
figure, and to the left to the top of Fig. 12, through brush 13, contact ring 1 r,
thence through electro-magnet M and to contact ring 2 r, brush 517, thence by
conductor 28, thence to the tier controlling switch magnet corresponding to M³ at
the top of Fig. 4, thence by conductor 20 back to the battery. This tilts the
armature lever 1 of the fourth tier into the reverse position from that shown,
thereby making connection between the conductors 36 and 38 to and through the
armature lever and its circuit connections to the conductors 29 and 30, see Figs. 3
and 4, to the numerical receiver and the time relay of the fourth tier which
corresponds to the fourth tier of the percentage circuit selector. This act there-
fore has enabled subscriber No. 1 to seize for his own use, the fourth tier of the
entire apparatus including the percentage selector, the numerical receiver switches,
the runways or chutes, the accumulators or side tracks and the track sections of
the fourth tier over the corresponding tier of the switch board connections. The
energizing of the electro-magnet M2 at the extreme right hand lower edge of
Fig. 14 caused the armature lever m2 to actuate the tier switch so that the contact
springs thereof are in electrical contact with their corresponding contact plates.
In the
The act of turning in the preliminary signal it will be remembered closed a
circuit from the relay battery ba³ Sheet 1, through the circuit 33-15 in the
apparatus disclosed in Sheets 1 to 7 inclusive, thereby elevating the track section
of No. 1; it also elevated the accumulator switch or gate O¹, Fig. 4.
present instance this same circuit elevates all four of the accumulator switches or
gates of the apparatus of subscriber No. 1 corresponding to the four tier accumu-
lators shown in Fig. 13, the armature o³ of the electro-magnets 0 and 0³ in this
instance being connected by a link E B to the several gates. The same current
also energizes the electro-magnet M32 thereby elevating the free end of its
armature lever m³ to lock it in its upper position so that the contact spring on
the free end of armature lever m³ is now in contact with circuit 118 running to
the magneto generator. The circuit is therefore closed from the magneto
generator on Fig. 13 as follows:
By conductor 115, branch conductor 119, thence to the right and downward
through conductor 124 through the left hand contact plate of No. 4 tier switch,
thence downward by conductor 122 d, thence upward to the top of the sheet
through electro-magnet M20, thence downward by conductor 122 and to the left
to the magnet M³, thence through the armature lever m³, thence through
conductor 118 by conductor 113 back to the magneto generator.
This does two things. It elevates the track section T S at the top of Fig. 14
corresponding to the fourth tier of the percentage circuit selector through which
the incoming signal made connection to the fourth tier of the apparatus throughout,
thereby opening the proper tier track section for the reception of the circuit
connecting balls; it also through the agency of armature lever m³³ of electro-
magnet M33 released the armature lever m³ and restored it to normal position.
By this time the particular time relay of the fourth tier of the numerical receiver
switches has caused the pair of balls B2 B2 in the top or fourth elevator
chute SH to be released and started on their journey to the particular runway 2 R
to which they were directed by the signalling impulses sent from subscriber No. 1
in the manner already described. These balls therefore advance over the top or
fourth tier of runways 2 R uninterruptedly making the usual circuit connections
over the sectional conductors 1 s, 2s to 8s inclusive, ringing the bells of the two
subscribers, releasing the track section as before and making the necessary circuit
between the two subscribers.

page_text: It will be remembered that in passing over the section 1s of the runway the
circuit-44 was closed to the electro-magnet M of the numerical receiver switch,
Fig. 4, and to the single tier release control electro-magnet M at the top of that
figure. In similar manner the numerical receiver switch of the fourth tier of
numerical receivers was released, which circuit corresponding to 44 I have lettered
as "44 d" Fig. 14, passes through the restoring electro-magnet M3 of the tier
switch No. 4 TS returning it to normal position. When the balls dropped into
their final position beneath the track section TS that section was released in the
same manner as was the corresponding track section, Fig. 11, in the early
description of the apparatus.
Suppose now that an additional subscriber, say subscriber No. 3 calls at
identically the same instant of time for subscriber No. 1 as did subscriber No. 1 for
subscriber No. 2. It will be remembered that subscriber No. 1 has seized the
fourth tier so that the new subscriber, No. 3 has no access to that tier of the
apparatus but his circuit connections will be made through his conductor corre-
sponding to 36 and through his particular tilting armature lever corresponding
to 1 of that one of the other tiers of armature levers over which the electro-
magnets M10 M" will pass immediately thereafter so that the electro-magnet M¹º
carried by the arm k of, say the second tier, will seize his particular armature
corresponding to 1, say 1 o, and make the necessary connections to and through the
apparatus in the same manner through his particular contact brush ; and the strip f
and circuit connections running out through conductor 2 to the extreme right of
Fig. 14, thence through electro-magnet M³ of the No. 2 tier switch, thence to the
top and to the left through conductor 6" to contact spring s¹ near the center of
Fig. 12, thence by conducting ring 1 r, through electro-magnet M10, thence by
sonducting ring 2 by brush s and conductor 28 as before. This will give him
control of the second tier which in turn will connect his apparatus with the second
tier of the numerical receiver switches and will in the same manner elevate his,
No. 3's, individual accumulator switches or gates and will move his switch through
the electro-magnet corresponding to electro-magnet M³ for effecting the same set
of operations for his accumulator apparatus and track section corresponding to T S
as was accomplished for subscriber No. 1.
It must not be forgotten, however, that although both subscribers sent in their
preliminary impulses at identically the same instant of time it was not possible for
both of them to obtain control of any part of the percentage circuit selector
apparatus at identically the same instant of time, owing to the fact that the
revolving drum DR and the spirally disposed strips can only connect one
subscriber at a time with any portion of the percentage circuit selector apparatus,
so that I will assume for the present that the point of the brush j of
subscriber No. 1 was nearest to that particular spirally disposed strip f which
corresponded to the location of the arm k above the fourth tier of his armature
lever l. Therefore he was the first to obtain possession of a tier which happened
in this instance to be the fourth, while subscriber No. 3 happened in the same
manner to obtain possession of the second tier. As a matter of fact if No. I
obtained possession of the fourth tier first, No. 3 would obtain possession of the
first tier immediately after owing to the consecutive order or arrangement of the
brushes j, strips f and arms k, but I have described No. 3 as having obtained
possession of the second tier, for the reason that the circuit connections are more
fully portrayed than is possible either in the first or third tiers where the electro-
magnets in one instance are in front of and the other behind the shaft vs and the
:stationary hub J. No. 1 and No. 2 are supposed to be conversing, consequently
the accumulator switches or gates R¹ R² of the several tiers of both runways are in
.an elevated position for the purpose of side tracking any balls which may come
over either of their runways. It will be remembered that No. 1's accumulator
switches or gates were elevated by the action of the preliminary signal through
circuit 33-15 and electro-magnet O¹, consequently when the balls of the signalling
.subscriber No. 1 pass over a short conducting section of track Os just in front of

page_text: the short section of track 1 s a circuit is closed through the magneto generator by
conductors corresponding to the following conductors.
From the magneto generator by 114 to the short section of track 0s, thence.
through the balls and by conductor 117 to electro-magnet O³, thence back to the
other pole of the magneto generator thus tilting the armature lever corresponding
to o which controls the elevation of the accumulator switches or gates for
subscriber No. 2. Consequently all of the four accumulator switches or gates of
each subscriber being elevated, it will be apparent that when the circuit closing-
balls of subscriber No. 3 are released by the time relay for the second tier with
which this apparatus has been connected, they will pass down the runway of
subscriber No. 1 and upon his accumulator where they will be stored until either
subscriber No. 2 or subscriber No. 1 releases them by the act of ringing off in the
manner already described.
For more fully illustrating the action of the circuit closing balls on two or more.
individual sets of tier accumulators, I have shown a pair of circuit connecting balls.
on each accumulator or side track of the third and fourth tiers of one telephone.
subscriber, say subscriber No. 1.
Suppose now that subscriber No. 1 and subscriber No. 2 have completed their
conversation and either one of them rings off. The act of ringing off puts in
circuit the automatic release of both No. 1 and No. 2 in circuit 3-3 for
subscriber No. 1 and the corresponding circuit for the other subscriber. These
two release circuits for the two individual lines include respectively the electro-
magnet M, Fig. 13, and a corresponding electro-magnet for subscriber No. 2,.
consequently both of these electro-magnets are energized and their armatures mai
drawn forward thereby releasing the armature for subscriber No. 1 and the
corresponding armature for subscriber No. 2; consequently the following action
ensues for both sets of apparatus.
I will trace first the operation for say
subscriber No. 1 in connection with the circuits, Fig. 13, and it will be appreciated
that the operation of the apparatus for subscriber No. 2 is identically the same.
When the armature o³ of the electro-magnet 03 was released in the manner just
explained a circuit was closed between the armature lever and conductor 115
through the magneto generator as follows:
From the magneto generator by conductor 113 to a series of contact brushes js.
adapted to make contact with any one of a series of spirally disposed strips f' on a
consecutive tier operating cylinder D'R' rotated by an electric motor E¹ M' which
strips are connected respectively with insulated conducting rings 2 upon which
rest contact brushes 2, the arrangement being such that this selector will elect
which of the sets of balls upon the accumulator tracks shall be first released so as
to prevent the possibility of more than one set of balls being released at
one time.
Suppose that the strip f is connected with the first ring h³ on the left,.
consequently the circuit is closed when the left hand brush je touches this strip
through the conductor 115 h, thence through conductor 115 a, thence through
electro-magnet N' and armature lever o³ by conductor 115 back to the generator..
This releases the accumulator switch or gate of the first tier. In the same.
manner when the same contact brush touched the second strip on the continued
rotation of the cylinder D2 R2 which is connected to the second ring 2 and through
the second brush with conductor 115 g, the circuit was closed to 1156 and thence.
through the electro-magnet N¹ of the second tier, thence by conductor 115 a,
armature lover o³ and conductor 115 back to the starting point, thereby releasing
the accumulator switch or gate of the second tier.
Up to the present time I have assumed that there were no circuit controlling
balls upon either of the accumulators of the first or second tiers. I have supposed
that there are balls, however, on each of the accumulators of the third and fourth
tiers, consequently when the cylinder D2 R2 advances an additional portion of a
revolution so as to bring the left hand brush into contact with the third spirally
disposed strip which is connected electrically with the third conducting ring **

page_text: a circuit is closed as before through the magneto generator through conductor 115 f
back by conductor 115 c, the electro-magnet N' of the third tier, conductor 115 a,
armature lever o³ by conductor 115 back to the generator, releasing in sequence
the accumulator switch or gate of the third tier. Inasmuch as a pair of balls B2 B'
is found standing upon the accumulator R' S' of the third tier, it will be observed
that a multiple arc circuit is closed from conductor 115f, through conductor 115c to
the right, through the ball ejecting electro-magnets P' to the track-way through
the balls to the other side of the track-way, thence downward by conductor 116
to the left, thence through conductor 115 a by armature lever os to conductor 115
back to the generator. The balls B2 B2 upon the accumulator of the third tier
are therefore started on their journey. As they pass back on to the main track
and run out over the first short conducting section of track Os a circuit is closed
as follows:
From the upper section of track 0s by conductor 114, through the magneto
generator, thence out by conductor 117, through electro-magnet o³, upward and to
the right by conductor 117 to the lower section of the tracks through the balls.
This energizes the electro-magnet O³, lifts the armature lever o³ to its upper
position and permits the armature lever m³ to lock it in that position; at the same
time it elevates through the link E B all of the accumulator switches or gates
guarding the approach to No. 1's track-way. By the rupture of the circuit
between the arniature o³ and conductor 115 the release of the balls B2 B2 on the
accumulator of the fourth tier is prevented by the further advance of the rotary
drum D2 R. In other words, before the contact brush on the left is put into
contact with that spirally disposed strip on the drum D2 R2 which makes circuit
connection to the right hand ring 2, brush and conductor 115 e running to the
upper electro-magnet N' and upper ball ejecting magnets P of the fourth tier the
circuit has been interrupted by the balls just released as they pass over the short
section Os of track from the accumulator of the third tier. They will remain,
therefore, in their locked position until they have been automatically released by
the ringing off of either subscriber No. 1 or the subscriber who has just called
him. It will be apparent therefore that no matter how many sets of balls may be
in position upon any or all of the accumulators of the different tiers there
can be no interference of signals and only one pair of balls can be released at
a time.
From the previous description of that part of the apparatus covering the switch
board or switch boards, it will be noticed that when a preliminary signal was turned
in by any subscriber wishing to make connection with another subscriber, the first
act done was to raise the track sections T S of the calling subscriber across the
whole of the switch board through the agency of the electro-magnet M. It will also
be remembered that when a pair of circuit closing balls were caused to be directed
over any particular runway or chute, they eventually found their way to their
particular destination and in falling on to the proper contact plates of the switch
board under an elevated track section, they, by that act closed the circuit of a
local battery through two yielding contact springs which caused the whole of the
cross track sections of the calling subscriber to be lowered so that other circuit
closing balls running to cross sections near the extreme edge of the switch board
might afterwards run over them to their points of destination beyond.
It will also be remembered that when a subscriber called for some other
subscriber who at that time was talking, the circuit closing balls released by the
former went on to the accumulator of the latter. Therefore if the calling
subscriber, who in the meantime would have been notified of the fact of his circuit
closing balls having gone on said accumulator, wished to await his turn for
conversation he did not release or ring off thus leaving his apparatus in a certain
condition, one feature only of which need be noticed here, and that is the feature
of his, the calling subscriber's, individual track section it having been left in an
elevated position across the whole of the switch board. If, now, while awaiting
his turn for conversation some one else should turn in a call for some other

page_text: subscriber whose line was not in use at that time and whose cross connection with
the line called was at a point beyond that of the elevated gate-way in the line of
the runway over which the circuit closing balls would pass, they, the balls of this
additional calling subscriber might and would if the office were busy, run under
some other track section and obtain a wrong connection. To prevent any possibility
whatever of this ever happening even at the busiest times when the switching
mechanism at the central station may be all or nearly all in use, I provide an
arrangement of individual track sections as shown in Fig. 15 where 1 R, 2 R, 3 R
and 4 R are the approachers of the track sections of telephone subscribers 1 to 4
inclusive, and R' S₁, R² S², R³ S3 and R'S' are the accumulators of their respective
tracks.
One set of these several approaching runways is connected in multiple arc
relation with a conductor 125 running directly to one pole of the magneto
generator, the other sides thereof being connected respectively through con-
ductors 127, 128, 129 and 130 in multiple arc relation with individual electro-
magnets M20, one for each track section of the entire switch board, the terminals
of these conductors 127, 128, 129 and 130 being connected to normally open
contact points located in alignment with conducting springs carried at the ends of
armature levers ma adapted to be operated by electro-magnet M³, one for each
cross connected conductor, each electro-magnet M³ being in circuit 33-15 of the
preliminary signal circuit of each subscriber.
M33 are switching release magnets located in the branches 127, 128, 129 and 130
connected to the armature levers m³ at one end and to the other end to a common
return conductor 126 running to the magneto.
The operation of the track section in such a system is distinctly individual and
I have shown in Fig. 15 connections and cross connections for four subscribers, it
being understood of course that a switch for a larger number of subscribers
embraces a mere extenuation of the parts therein shown.
I will now give an illustration of elevating a single track section of the person
calling for the admission of circuit closing balls beneath such elevated track section
to the contact plates whereby the necessary connections are made between the
calling and the called subscribers.
We will suppose that subscriber No. 1 has called subscriber No. 2. The act of
turning in the preliminary signal operated the switch electro-magnet M" at the
extreme right of Fig. 15 which electro-magnet is in circuit 33-15, consequently
the armature m3 was tilted into the position there shown so that its contact spring
is in electrical contact with conductor 127. We will suppose that the apparatus
heretofore described has gone through the several functions of making the necessary
circuit connections through the percentage circuit selector until the balls have been
released by the time relay for the numerical receiver switch and that they have
travelled down the arms A of the numerical receiver switch and are just entering
upon the runway or chute 2 R of subscriber No. 2 just in advance of the
accumulator switch or gate of subscriber No. 2 as shown in Fig. 15.
I will first suppose that the line of subscriber No. 2 is not in use and hence that
the accumulator switch or gate is down so that the balls will pass forward directly
to their destination on the switch board. As they enter the section of track 2 R
they close a circuit as follows:
By conductor 125 to one pole of the magneto generator, thence by conductor 126
through conductor 127, release electro-magnet M³, conductor 127, armature m³z,
contact spring carried thereby, conductor 127, electro-magnet M20 of No. 1's
CLOSS-way on No. 2 track, thence back by conductor 128 through the balls and to
the starting point. This elevates the individual track section TS of subscriber
No. 1 on the runway of subscriber No. 2 only and leaves all other track sections
of No. 1 unaffected. At the same time by the energizing of the electro-magnet M³
the armature m³ was drawn forward, thereby releasing the armature m³ of the
electro-magnet M³ restoring it to normal position. When the balls ran into their final

page_text: resting place upon the contact plates cp, c¹¹ they closed a circuit through a release
electro-magnet as before, thereby releasing the track section just referred to and
allowing it to return to its normal position.
I will suppose now that subscriber No. 3 called subscriber No. 2 during the time
that subscriber No. 1 was talking with subscriber No. 2. The preliminary signal
sent by subscriber No. 3 closes a circuit through his corresponding set of
conductors 33-15 and corresponding electro-magnet M thereby elevating his
armature lever m³ and placing the contact spring carried thereby in connection
with conductor 129. As the balls pass over No. 2's runway 2 R a circuit is closed
therefore through conductor 125, the magneto generator, conductor 126, con-
ductor 129, release electro-magnet M³, conductor 129, armature lever m³,
conductor 129 through electro-magnet M20 of No. 3's cross-way and No. 2's track
back by conductor 128 through the balls to the starting point. This elevates the
particular track section of No. 3's cross-way in No. 2's runway only. Inasmuch
No. 1 is talking with No. 2, however, it will be remembered that the
accumulator switch or gate of No. 2 is elevated so that the balls released by No. 3
will now pass on to the accumulator R2 S2 of subscriber No. 2 and remain there
until released, after which they will run down in the same manner as heretofore
described, pass directly over track section of No. 1 cross-way in No. 2 runway
which now is closed to their final destination beneath the track section of No. 3
cross-way which now is raised and closing this track section above them in the
same manner as before descr bed. In like manner any one of the individual track
sections of any subscribers' cross-way may be actuated by the circuit closing balls
on any other runway, and there is no possibility of any confusion.
as
I do not limit myself to the specific details of construction herein shown and
described for effecting the several results sought and obtained.
I believe it is broadly new with me to store up or distribute incoming signals to
individual parts of a central station switching apparatus so that a limited number
of circuit changing or switching devices may be utilized on a percentage basis for
effecting the total connections for a large system of lines, and my claims in this
particular are to be construed as of such scope as will cover the application of the
generic principle disclosed without regard to any special means.
I believe it is also new with me to store up individual signals or calls at an
exchange and to permit them to be automatically transmitted to the individual or
person called when he shall be ready to receive them, and this without relation to
any special form of mechanism for accomplishing such result.
Nor do 1 limit myself to the special type of movable or moving circuit closers
herein shown and described, nor to the particular means of conveying said movable
circuit closers to the points of connection between any of the lines. I believe I am
the first to adopt a series of movable or moving circuit closers provided with
automatic means of conveyance adapted to dispose of or place the movable
circuit closers in the required relation to connect outlying subscribers' lines, and
my claims in this particular are to be construed as covering broadly the automatic
disposition of movable circuit closers adapted or use in any order at will.
Nor do limit myself to the automatic application of this feature of movable
balls or
equivalent c.rcuit closers as they might obviously be thrown by hand into
the conveyers or chutes and thus caused to make the required connections, and my
claims comprehend this feature also.
I also contemplate using any number of balls or movable circuit closers, one or
more, although I prefer to use pairs thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An automatic exchange system for effecting intercommunication between any
two of a series of telephone or analogous electrical circuits, comprising a portable

page_text: circuit closer adapted to be controlled by all of the incoming lines in common, in
combination with means for conveying it to a point where it will unite the two
lines to be connected.
2. An automatic exchange for effecting intercommunication between any two of
a series of telephone or analogous electrical circuits, comprising means whereby two
portable gravity actuated circuit closing agents are released at will by any of the
calling subscribers and are directed by their own weight to two points where they
unite the two lines to be connected.
3. An automatic telephone exchange comprising telephone lines, signal storing
mechanism, signal distributing mechanism and means for thereby uniting the lines
in individual pairs.
4. An automatic telephone exchange having a series of runways conveyers or
chutes, circuit closing agents adapted to be conveyed by said runways conveyers or
chutes and accumulators or waiting tracks having switches or gates adapted when
moved from their normal position to divert the circuit closing agents from their
normal paths to said accumulators or waiting tracks; together with means whereby
one of the signal impulses from a signalling subscriber causes his accumulator
Bwitch or gate to be moved from its normal position for the purpose of preventing
interference by other signalling subscribers.
5. An automatic telephone exchange provided with a call accumulator or waiting
track for storing movable circuit closing agents when diverted from their normal
path by a controlling switch or gate, together with means for restoring said
controlling switch or gate to its normal position by the turning in of a release or
ringing off signal by a telephone subscriber.
6. An automatic telephone exchange provided with call accumulators or waiting
tracks and accumulator switches or gates for diverting movable circuit closing
agents from their normal paths to said accumulators or waiting tracks; together
with means for retaining and ejecting the stored agents and for causing the
releasing or ringing off signal to liberate the stored agents automatically and direct
them to their ultimate destination.
7. An automatic telephone exchange having a series of runways, conveyers or
chutes and circuit closing agents adapted to be conveyed by said runways conveyers
or chutes, together with a call accumulator consisting of a track adapted to store or
hold in check the circuit closing agents when diverted from their normal path and
having means for afterwards restoring them to said normal path; said call
accumulator being normally disconnected from all of the outlying telephones and
connected with individualizing mechanism whereby it may be operatively connected
to any of the outlying telephones for the purpose of automatically transmitting a
signal from the central exchange.
means for
8. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a main track having
above or near it a second or accumulator track, together with
automatically switching moving circuit connecting agents from the main track to
said accumulator track.
9. An automatic telephone exchange system having an accumulator switch or
gate provided with a releasing mechanism a ball ejecting device and circuit
connections whereby the releasing mechanism and ball ejecting device will operate
simultaneously.
10. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a main track having
above or near it a second or accumulator track and having means for automatically
switching moving circuit connecting agents from the main track to said accumulator
track, together with additional means whereby circuit connecting agents may be
liberated and allowed to return to the main track.
11. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a series of runways
conveyers or chutes, circuit closing agents adapted to be conveyed by said runways
conveyers or chutes, and accumulator switches or gates for the purpose of diverting
said circuit closing agents when a subscriber is signalling or talking.
12. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with duplicate series of

page_text: tiers or planes of individual runways conveyers or chutes for the conveyance
of movable circuit closing agents, and having means whereby when one set of movable
circuit closing agents has entered on one of said individual runways conveyers or
chutes the corresponding individual runways conveyers or chutes of the remaining
tiers or planes will be temporarily closed.
13. An automatic telephone exchange having a series of runways conveyers or
chutes and circuit closing agents adapted to be conveyed by said runways conveyers
or chutes, together with a call accumulator consisting of a track adapted to store
or hold in check the circuit closing agents when diverted from their normal path
and having means for afterwards restoring them to said normal path; said call
accumulator being normally disconnected from all outlying telephones and
connected with individualizing mechanism whereby it may be operatively connected
to any of the outlying telephones and a releasing device placed in circuit therewith.
14. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a series of portable
circuit closing agents controllable by all of the incoming lines in common, and
having electro-magnetic mechanism together with circuit connections for holding
said agents in check.
15. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of portable circuit
closing agents controllable by all of the incoming lines in common, and electro-
magnetic mechanism and circuit connections for holding said agents in check
together with additional means for starting them on their journey when released.
16. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a series of broken
tracks connected through switching mechanism to an outlying telephone, a magneto
generator, a circuit closer adapted to run over said tracks and means for signalling
each individual subscriber to the exclusion of all other subscribers, the form
of the signal depending upon either the length or the number of broken tracks,
or both.
17. A series of rocking armatures arranged radially and having each a contact
spring on its inner end normally out of engagement with fixed corresponding
contact strips when any one of said armatures is rocked out of its normal position,
in combination with a revolving arm carrying two electro-magnets, one having
circuit connections for rocking into engagement that armature over which it is
passing, when energized, and the other having circuit connections for afterwards
reversing the position of said armature.
18. A telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone lines, a
switching apparatus for connecting any two lines together, means for storing up
signals for lines in use at the time additional signals are sent in and additional
means for causing the stored up signals to be properly received and to effect the
required ultimate connections.
19. A telephone exchange system embracing two or more normally disconnected
lines or circuits, means for receiving signals and effecting interconnection between
any two lines and additional mcans for storing up such signals when the subscribers
called are busy; said storing up means being also adapted to release the stored up
signals in sequence when the signalled subscriber is ready to receive them.
20. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with duplicate series of
tiers or planes of individual runways conveyers or chutes for the conveyance
of movable circuit closing agents and having means whereby when one set of
movable circuit closing agents has entered one of said runways conveyers or chutes
the corresponding individual runways conveyers or chutes of remaining tiers or
planes will be temporarily closed, and additional means for re-opening said
individual runways conveyers or chutes successively on various tiers in consecutive
order,
21. An automatic telephone exchange system having call accumulators and
accumulator switches or gates in combination with means whereby one of the
signal impulses from a signalling subscriber will cause his individual accumulator
switch or gate to be moved for the purpose of storing incoming calls for said
signalling subscriber.

page_text: 22. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with runways conveyers
or chutes and having circuit closing agents adapted to run over or through said
runways conveyers or chutes, together with means whereby a calling subscriber
may liberate one or more of such circuit closing agents for one of said runways
conveyors or chutes, for the purpose of effecting a connection with another
subscriber, and additional means for causing said circuit closing agents to elevate
the accumulator switch or gate of the individual track over which they have been
directed.
23. A series of numerical receiver switches of the second order with individual
conductors leading from contact points in the path of a contact brush carried by
a numerical receiver switch of the first order, in combination with a conductor
leading to said numerical receiver switch of the first order, said conductor including
in its circuit a time relay or separator for automatically changing the circuit out of
the numerical receiver switch of the first order to and through that one of the
uumerical receiver switches of the second order corresponding with the connection
to the contact point on which said contact brush rests or with which it is in
electrical connection.
24. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a percentage circuit-
selector having a capacity in proportion to the estimated maximum number of calls
likely to be received at one time consisting of a revolving drum or cylinder
carrying contact strips insulated from each other, adapted to be put into electrical
connection with each incoming line successively, each of said contact strips being
electrically connected through an electro-magnet carried by a revolving arm over
a series of contact makers, together with electro-mechanical means and circuit
connections whereby the first contact strip not in use, which is rotated into
electrical connection with a signalling subscriber, will be seized and held by
said subscriber, leaving the remaining contacts and connections for other signalling
subscribers.
25. An accumulator track or pair of runways, one runway of a pair being
connected to one pole of an electrical generator the other runway being broken into
sections insulated from each other and connected by electro-magnetic switching
mechanism to and through the call bell of an outlying telephone to the other pole
of said electrical generator.
26. In a telephone exchange system a series of subscribers' lines; electro-magnetic
calling mechanism at each subscriber's station, a calling electrical generator at the
exchange, automatic means for connecting the generator to any pair of lines and
through both sets of calling mechanism, automatic mechanism also at the exchange
for connecting the lines together in independent pairs, and means at each subscriber's
station whereby any subscriber may connect his line with that of any other
subscriber, ring both alarms, hold conversation with the subscriber called and
afterwards restore his switching mechanism to its normal condition.
27. A series of rocking armatures arranged radially in a plane, each armature
having contacts at either end adapted to simultaneously connect the outer end to a
pair of individual telephone wires and the inner end to another pair of wires leading
to switching mechanism.
28. A telephone exchange system provided with a series of subscribers' lines, a
series of runways conveyers or chutes, circuit closing agents adapted to run
thereon and electro-magnetic mechanism and circuit connections for connecting
independent pairs of lines together simultaneously, in combination with means for
preventing a third subscriber from interfering with connected lines, consisting of a
series of mechanical switches for diverting an interfering circuit-closing agent from
the individual runway conveyer or chute, and means at each subscriber's station
for controlling said automatic mechanism.
29. One or more tiers or planes of circuit selecting apparatus, each tier governed
by two electro-magnetic switches, and circuit connections whereby when the
controlling switch has seized its tier or plane of circuit selecting apparatus it will

page_text: automatically place in circuit the other switch for the purpose of afterwards
releasing the tier and restoring it to general use.
30. A revolving arm carrying a contact brush against a fixed commutator having
contact strips of enlarged section at one end in conjunction with a series of radially
disposed rocking armatures carrying contact springs adapted to engage with the
enlarged ends of the contact strips on said commutator, together with a pair of
electro-magnets carried by a revolving arm over the inner ends of the said
armatures for the purpose of tilting them into engagement with the enlarged ends
of the commutator contact strips.
31. A series of movable circuit closing agents adapted to connect two lines or
circuits together electrically, in combination with a return runway conveyer or chute
and an elevator for restoring them to their normal position.
32. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a numerical receiver
switch having a pivotal cup or open sided pocket adapted for the reception of
metallic or other circuit closing agents, in combination with a directing track or
pair of arms along which the circuit closing agents move after they fall into
the cup.
33. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a numerical receiver
switch having a pivotal cup or open sided pocket adapted for the reception of
metallic or other circuit closing agents, a directing track or pair of arms along
which the circuit closing agents may be directed, and means for bringing the free
ends of the directing track or arms opposite any point in their radial path.
34. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a numerical receiver
switch operatively controlled step by step by an electro-magnet, and having a
pivotal cup for the reception of metallic or other circuit closing agents, with a
directing track or pair of arms along which the circuit closing agents may be
directed, together with a contact spring carried by one of the said arms adapted
to make electrical contact with any one of a series of contact plates lying in its
radial path.
35. A telephone exchange system embracing a series of telephone circuits and
provided with means for distributing incoming signals to the unused sections of a
percentage signal receiving apparatus, said means consisting of a revolving
cylinder carrying spirally disposed contact strips adapted to be brought into
electrical connection with each one of the incoming telephone lines successively,
each contact strip having electrical connection with one of a number of duplicate
switching apparati, and additional means for transferring such signals to the
individual subscriber wanted.
36. A series of radially disposed rocking armatures having contacts on their
inner ends adapted to make electrical connection through a pair of common
conductors with a switching apparatus connected thereto, a revolving arm carrying
an electro-magnet having circuit connections for rocking any of said arinatures into
engagement with said pair of common conductors and a switch for automatically
opening the circuit of said electro-magnet for the purpose of preventing
engagement with a pair of commion conductors of more than one armature at
one time.
37. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a revolving drum or
cylinder carrying a series of contact strips baving electrical connection with a
series of switching apparati common to all of the incoming lines, in combination
with a series of contact brushes held against said cylinder, and such relation of
brushes and contact strips as will allow each one of a number of incoming lines to
simultaneously make electrical connection with different contact strips and will
allow only one contact brush on each contact strip at one time.
38. A numerical receiver switch of the first order, a series of runways conveyers
or chutes, a series of numerical receiver switches of the second order, an additional
or second series of runways conveyers or chutes, one or more circuit closing agents
adapted to be carried by said runways conveyers or chutes, means whereby the
circuit closing agent will be directed over one of the first series of runways

page_text: convevers or chutes by one set of impulses and then directed over one of the
second series of runways conveyers or chutes by a second set of impulses.
39. A numerical receiver switch of the first order, a series of runways conveyers
or chutes, a series of numerical receiver switches of the second order, a second
series of runways conveyers or chutes, one or more circuit closing agents adapted
to be carried by said runways, and means whereby said circuit closing agents are
directed over any one of the first series of runways by the numerical receiver
switch of the first order to one of the numerical receiver switches of the second
order, and additional means for changing the further direction of the circuit
closing agents by the movement of any one of the numerical receiver switches of
the second order.
40. A numerical receiver switch operatively controlled by an electro-magnet
step by step, a contact brush held against the pivotal part of said switch, a contact
spring carried by an arm of said switch passing over and electrically connecting
with a series of contact plates lying radially in its path, together with means for
changing the circuit automatically out of the operating magnet to and through the
pivotal part of the numerical receiver switch to and through that one of the
contact plates with which it may engage and out to the corresponding one of a
series of extended electro-magnets controlling other like numerical receivers.
41. An automatic telephone exchange system having a revolving drum or
cylinder carrying spirally disposed contact strips insulated from each other and
each connected electrically to duplicate sets of electro-magnets carried by revolving
arms over duplicate series of rocking armatures, said armatures adapted to be tilted
when in the magnetic field of said electro-magnets.
42. A percentage telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone
lines having each a switch controlling relay in the exchange operatively connected
through means for distributing incoming calls in accordance with the capacity of
the switching apparatus, said means consisting of a revolving cylinder carrying
spirally disposed contact strips adapted to be brought into electrical connection
with each one of the incoming telephone lines successively, each contact strip having
electrical connection with one of a number of duplicate apparati, and additional
means for transferring such signals to the individual subscriber wanted.
43. A telephone system comprising a movable conveying channel, in combination
with two or more fixed conveying channels and a movable circuit closing device
adapted to move over or through the movable chaunel and either or any of the
fixed channels at will.
44. A telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines all connected'
to a switchboard provided with disconnected contacts; a series of portable
conducting circuit closers adapted to be controlled by all of the incoming lines in
common and to bridge the disconnected contacts; a series of fixed and a series of
movable chutes for conveying the circuit closers into electrical connection with the
disconnected contacts and additional means for removing and returning them to
their starting points.
45. A telephone exchange system comprising a series of runways conveyers or
chutes pivotally secured at one end and having their other ends connected to
electro-magnetic mechanism for moving them out of alignment with a fixed series
of runways conveyers or chutes into alignment with a second series of fixed runways
conveyers or chutes, in combination with a series of portable circuit closing agents
adapted to be conveyed by said runways conveyers or chutes.
46. A series of individualizing switches controlling a series of circuits leading in
multiple from an individual runway conveyer or chute to the switching mechanism
of two or more subscribers, circuit closing agents adapted to run over said runway
conveyer or chute and means whereby any subscriber so connected may move his
individualizing switch by turning in a signal, and automatically connect a switching
mechanism to the individual runway conveyer or chute.
47. An individual receptacle for holding circuit closing agents adapted to rest in
it and complete a circuit between two telephone lines, in combination with two or

page_text: more broken tracks conveyers or chutes connected to the line of an individual
telephone subscriber through an individualizing switch for the purpose of controlling
the switching mechanism of, and signalling to, the said subscriber.
48. A telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone lines, a switch-
board having a series of directing runways conveyers or chutes for automatically
conveying any of a series of movable circuit closing agents to any part of said
switchboard, in combination with two or more duplicate sets of switching mechanism
and means for uniting the lines through the switch board simultaneously in pairs in
any desired order.
49. An automatic telephone exchange system having a normally open branch
circuit from an individual relay to a pair of metallic conductors placed in multiple
arc relation to two or more rocking armatures having contact springs adapted to
engage with said metallic conductors and from the other ends of the rocking
armatures out to one of a series of numerical receiving switches, together with
mechanism for allowing only one armature of each tier at a time to engage with
one of said pairs of metallic conductors, for the purpose of completing a circuit
through one armature of each tier at a time.
50. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with two or more series
of rocking armatures arranged radially in planes or tiers having contacts on each
end of said armatures adapted to simultaneously connect their outer ends to
metallic conductors passing in multiple through the outer ends of such tiers or
planes and thence to telephone terminals, and their inner ends on each separate tier
engaging with an individual pair of metallic conductors, each pair leading to an
individual duplicate set of switching apparatus.
51. An automatic telephone exchange system having two or more terminals from
outlying telephones, contact brushes in line with the axis of a revolving drum or
cylinder, spirally disposed contact strips carried thereon and insulated from each
other, duplicate revolving arms carrying electro-magnets over duplicate tiers of
radially disposed series of armatures, together with such arrangements of parts
that as each strip carried by the drum or cylinder passes under any one contact
brush, the corresponding arm of said strip will simultaneously pass over the
armature on that tier corresponding to said brush.
52. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of electro-magnetic
switches, a series of contact brushes arranged in a line with the axis of a revolving
drum or cylinder carrying spirally disposed contact strips insulated from each other,
electrical connections from said contact strips to electro-magnets carried by duplicate
revolving arms, each arm being located over duplicate tiers of rocking armatures,
and circuit connections whereby the controlling switch will not be energized when
its brush passes over contact strips connected to tiers in use but will suspend its
operation until the first unused strip is in contact with said brush.
53. A telephone switch board having a series of directing ways conveyers or
chutes for automatically conveying any of a series of movable circuit closers,
controllable by all of the lines in common, to any part of said switch board, together
with means for diverting superfluous circuit closers from tracks in use, and
preventing more than two telephones from being connected in one circuit at the
same time.
54. An automatic telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone
lines, a series of relays, one for each line, a circuit selector or distributing device
operatively connected to all of the relays through intermediate connections, a series
of numerical receivers each provided with means for controlling the movement of
one or more movable circuit controllers, a switch board having switch connections
with all of the lines and a series of runways conveyers or chutes for conveying
the movable circuit controllers to the points of line connections in the switch
board.
55. An automatic telephone exchange system having a revolving drum or cylinder
carrying spirally disposed contact strips insulated from each other, electrical con-
nections from said contact strips to duplicate pairs of electro-magnets carried by

page_text: duplicate revolving arms over duplicate series of rocking armatures arranged in
duplicate planes or tiers, contact brushes arranged in a line with the axis of said
drum or cylinder, and tier releasing switches placed in circuit by the energizing of
any pair of said electro-magnets for the purpose of automatically releasing that
one tier when signalling has gone through it.
56. An automatic telephone exchange system having a revolving drum or cylinder
carrying spirally disposed contact strips insulated from each other, electrical con-
nections from said contact strips to duplicate pairs of electro-magnets carried by
duplicate revolving arms each located over duplicate series of rocking armatures
arranged in duplicate planes or tiers, contact brushes arranged in line with the
axis of said drum or cylinder and circuit breaking switches for isolating one
of the planes or tiers as soon as its pair of electro-magnets is energized.
57. An automatic telephone exchange system having a call accumulator normally
disconnected from all of the outlying telephone lines and connected with
individualizing mechanism whereby said accumulator may be operatively connected
to any one of the outlying lines and a releasing device placed in circuit therewith,
together with means for automatically reversing the operation of said individualizing
mechanism by the transmission of an electrical impulse over the line of the individual
subscriber.
58. An automatic telephone exchange system having a revolving drum or cylinder
carrying spirally disposed contact strips insulated from each other, electrical con-
nections from said contact strips to duplicate pairs of electro-magnets carried by
duplicate revolving arms each over duplicate series of rocking armatures arranged
in duplicate planes or tiers, a series of contact brushes arranged in a line with the
axis of said drum or cylinder for the purpose of receiving signals from several
subscribers (which signals may arrive simultaneously) and for storing and
distributing each set of signals individually one after the other to the several
unused tiers or planes.
59. Two or more telephone lines connected to a switch board having cross
connections, in combination with a series of conducting balls, controllable in common
by all of the incoming lines, and runways conveyers or chutes adapted to convey
the balls into contact with any pair of cross connections.
60. A telephone exchange system having a series of radiating runways conveyers
or chutes, provided with means for connecting them together end to end, in com-
bination with one or more movable circuit closing devices adapted to travel over said
runways and be deposited between the disjointed ends of two or more electrical
conductors.
61. A telephone exchange system having a series of fixed and a series of movable
conveying channels or ways, in combination with a switch board having circuit
connections with all of the subscribers' lines, and a series of gravitating circuit
closing devices adapted to pass to the switch board contacts by way of the conveying
channels.
62. A telephone switch board having a series of directing ways conveyers or chutes
for automatically conveying any of a series of movable circuit closing agents,
controllable in common by all of the incoming lines, to any part of said switch-
board, together with means for diverting additional circuit closing agents from
those conveyers that are in use.
63. A switch board for a telephone system having exposed contact surfaces and
a series of runways conveyers or chutes, in combination with a series of conducting
balls adapted to descend by gravity into contact with the contact surfaces and
additional means for returning the balls to their normal position.
64. A telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines all connected
to a switch board provided with plug holes or exposed contact plates, a series of
rolling or movable conducting circuit makers, a series of chutes, runways or
conductors adapted to convey said circuit makers to and away from the plug holes
or contact plates of the switch board, and means adapted to restore them to their
normal position.

page_text: 65. A telephone exchange system having a series of runways conveyers or chutes
arranged in increasing radial relation, a series of pivoted runways conveyers or
chutes having means for placing them in alignment with the fixed chutes and a
series of movable circuit closers adapted to travel in or over said chutes, in
combination with a switch board having circuit connections adapted to receive the
movable circuit closers from the chutes.
66. A telephone exchange system provided with a switch board having means
for connecting it with all of the subscribers' lines, in combination with a series of
gravitating movable circuit closers, controllable by all of the lines in common, and
means adapted to convey any of said circuit closers to any plug or contact points of
the switch board.
67. A series of runways conveyers or chutes pivotally secured at one end and
having their other ends connected to electro-magnetic mechanism for moving them
out of alignment with a series of runways conveyers or chutes into alignment
with another or second series of runways conveyers or chutes, together with a time
relay and circuit connections for effecting the switching after the expiration of the
time limit.
68. An automatic telephone exchange system having a pair of runways conveyers
or chutes, one runway conveyer or chute connected to one pole of an electric
generator, the other being broken into sections insulated from each other, and
connected to and through the energizing magnets of electro-magnetic switching
mechanism, together with one or more circuit closing agents and means for directing
them over said runway conveyer or chute for the purpose of actuating the switching
mechanism of individual subscribers.
69. A telephone exchange system having a series of normally disconnected pairs
of subscribers' lines and a series of movable circuit closing devices for affording
connection between the lines in pairs, in combination with a series of conveying
channels runways or chutes for the movable circuit closers; the conveying channels
being arranged so that all of the movable circuit closing devices must pass over
the first conveying channel and over only such of the other channels as the
numerical order of the signal will determine for the connection of the two lines
requiring each other.
70. A telephone exchange system comprising a cross connected switch board,
means for connecting the cross connections to outlying lines, in combination with a
series of runways conveyers or chutes and a series of circuit controlling balls,
governable by all of the incoming lines in common, adapted to travel on said
runways conveyers or chutes and to make circuit connections through the cross
connections of the switch board.
71. A series of conductors leading from individual broken tracks runways
conveyers or chutes to outlying telephone subscribers, having circuits open at two
points, with means for closing circuit at one point by the action of an individualizing
switch, and for afterwards closing it at the other point by the movement of one or
more circuit closing agents.
72. A series of broken tracks runways conveyers or chutes individually connected
to the call bells of outlying telephones through switching mechanism, a series of
individualizing switches, and means whereby when the circuit closing agents pass
over such tracks runways conveyers or chutes none of the call bells will be affected
excepting such as may have been previously connected by the movement of their
individualizing switches.
73. A telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone lines
connected to a cross connected switch board, movable circuit closers, controllable
by all of the incoming lines in common, for completing the cross connections through
the board and any two lines of the series, and a series of numerical receivers and
runways conveyers or chutes adapted jointly to guide and carry the movable circuit
closers to the points of connection which unite the lines of the signalling and
signalled subscribers.
74. An electrical circuit including an individualizing switch placed contiguous

page_text: to an individual runway conveyer or chute adapted to carry a circuit closing agent
and means whereby the circuit closing agent as it passes off the runway conveyer of
chute will complete the circuit for the purpose of de-individualizing the
individualizing switch.
75. A telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines, a cross
connected switch board, a series of conducting balls, controllable by all of the
incoming lines in common, and runways conveyers or chutes for conveying said
conducting balls to the switch board cross connections, in combination with electro-
magnetic means operated by the subscribers for directing the movements of
the balls.
76. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines,
a cross connected switchboard, a series of runways conveyers or chutes, a series of
gravitating circuit closers, controllable by all of the incoming lines in common, for
affording cross connections at will and electro-magnetic switching mechanism
controlled by the subscribers and adapted to govern the movements of the
gravitating circuit closers so as to connect any two lines at will.
77. A telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone lines, a switch
board adapted for cross connecting any two lines together in any desired order,
means for automatically connecting said lines to the switch board and a series of
runways conveyers or chutes having movable circuit closing agents controllable by
all of the incoming lines in common and adapted to run over said runways conveyers
or chutes for connecting said telephone lines in circuit with each other in
independent pairs, and additional mechanism controlled by the subscribers for
restoring the line connections to normal condition.
78. An automatic telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone
lines, means for receiving or selecting simultaneously at one receiving point a
number of incoming signals and distributing them to different parts of the system,
in combination with a series of short radiating switching tracks, a switch board
having connection with all of the lines and a series of movable circuit closers,
controllable by all of the incoming lines in common, adapted to run over said
switching tracks and to make the necessary connections at the switch board.
79. An automatic telephone exchange system having a final talking circuit
consisting of a branch circuit at the exchange including a releasing electro-magnet
of low resistance, in combination with a runway conveyer or ehute and a moving
circuit closing agent adapted to run thereon, together with additional means for
putting the final talking circuit into effect by the movement of the automatically
directed circuit closing agent.
80. An individual receptacle for holding movable circuit closing agents and
completing a circuit between two telephones or analogous lines, consisting of
electrically disconnected metallic plates normally covered by a section of a track
runway or chute, said track section adapted, when moved, to intercept the circuit
closing agents and direct them into connection with said plates.
81. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of metallic or other
movable conducting circuit closing agents, two or more tiers of duplicate runways
conveyers or chutes accessible in common to and adapted for conveying said
movable circuit closing agents, in combination with means for restoring the used
circuit closers to the several tiers of runways conveyers or chutes.
82. An automatic telephone exchange system comprising a series of telephone
lines each operatively connected to means in the exchange for storing calls made
by a signalling subscriber for other subscribers whose lines are in use at the time
such calls are made.
83. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines
each operatively connected to means in the exchange for storing calls made by a
signalling subscriber for other subscribers whose lines are in use at the time such
calls are made, and additional means for automatically rendering the calls effective
as soon as the various called lines are in disuse.
84. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines

page_text: each operatively connected to means in the exchange for storing calls made by a
signalling subscriber for other subscribers whose lines are in use at the time such
calls are made, and additional means for automatically rendering the calls effective
as soon as the various called lines are in disuse, in combination with means at the
exchange for automatically transmitting a pre-arranged signal to a calling subscriber
for the purpose of notifying him that his call has been stored.
85. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines
each operatively connected to means in the exchange for storing calls made by a
signalling subscriber for other subscribers whose lines are in use at the time such
calls are made, and additional means for automatically rendering the calls effective
as soon as the various called lines are in disuse, in combination with means at the
exchange for automatically transmitting a pre-arranged signal to a calling subscriber
for the purpose of notifying him that is call has been stored, and additional
means for enabling the calling subscriber to cancel his stored call at will.
86. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of gravitating
portable circuit closing agents normally held in check, in combination with a series
of runways conveyers or chutes and means for enabling all of the incoming lines
in common to release and direct any of the circuit closing agents over any of said
runways conveyers or chutes.
87. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of gravitating
portable circuit closing agents for connecting telephone lines together in individual
pairs, in combination with a controlling mechanism for said circuit closing agents
and means for enabling it to be operated by all of the lines in common.
88. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of runways
conveyers or chutes terminating in a series of track sections, a series of circuit
closing agents adapted to be conveyed by said runways conveyers or chutes and a
series of receptacles for receiving the circuit closing agents and for closing through
them a circuit between two individual telephone lines, said track sections being
adapted when open, to intercept circuit closing agents and when closed, to act as
runways over which the circuit closing agents may pass without interference when
destined for other points.
89. A telephone exchange system having a pivoted runway conveyer or chute,
adapted to be placed in alignment with any one of a series of fixed runways
conveyers or chutes and one or more movable circuit closers carried by said run-
ways, in combination with a switch board having cross connections with a series of
telephone lines and means for receiving said movable circuit closers as they leave
the runways.
90. An automatic telephone exchange system having a recording device pro-
vided with means for automatically recording each individual connection, in
combination with electro-magnetic mechanism and circuit connection for auto-
matically placing the recording device in circuit as soon as connection is effected.
91. A series of telephone lines connected to a switch board having cross
connections, a series of conducting balls for completing connections between any
two lines, a series of stationary runways for carrying said balls to the points of
cross connection, one or more pivoted runways operatively connected with electro-
magnetic mechanism controlled by signals sent over the lines by subscribers, and
means for releasing the balls when the pivoted runways have arrived at the.r
proper discharge points.
92. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a telephone con-
nection recorder having revolving cylinders carrying impression paper together
with a series of individual electro-magnets each having an armature, a lever and a
stylus; in combination with means for automatically placing the connection
recorder in circuit with individual pairs of connections when such connections are
effected.
93. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a recording device
having a movable recording surface and individual record making devices each
operatively connected with and controlled by an individual subscriber, in combination

page_text: with means for automatically placing the record making devices in circuit with
individual pairs of connected lines and for causing release signals to operate said
record making devices whereby records are made of all connections made through
the system.
94. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a time relay set for
any predetermined interval of time and operatively connected with electro-magnetic
mechanism for the purpose of liberating one or more movable circuit closing agents.
95. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a time relay included
in the signalling circuit and set for any predetermined interval of time, operatively
connected to switching mechanism for the purpose of changing the path of any
impulses arriving over said signalling circuit after the expiration of said time
limit.
96. A time relay and circuit connections for controlling a two point switch having
one point connected to a numerical receiver switch of the first order and the other
point connected to one of the numerical receiver switches of the second order.
97. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a switch board
having individual runways conveyers or chutes passing over it, in combination with
hinged track sections and means whereby any subscriber on turning in a signal will
elevate his individual hinged track section in one of said runways or chutes.
98. An automatic telephone exchange system having an individual track section
provided with mechanism and circuit connections for elevating it on the turning in
of a signal by an individual subscriber, together with means for restoring it to its
normal condition as soon as the signalling subscriber has obtained connection with
another subscriber.
99. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of hinged track
sections in alignment with fixed track sections and means whereby when any
subscriber transmits a set of signals to said exchange one or more circuit closing
agents will be liberated, and additional means for elevating the track section of
the signalling subscriber only in that runway or chute over which said subscriber
has caused his circuit closing agents to be directed.
100. Au automatic telephone exchange system provided with a general recording
device operatively connected with each subscriber's line through individual circuit
connections, and having additional means for giving it rotary and longitudinal
motion, in combination with means for automatically placing the recording device
in circuit with individual pairs of connected lines and for causing release signals to
operate said recording device whereby a continuous individual record is kept of all
connections made through the system.
101. An automatic telephone exchange system having an individual track section
provided with mechanism and circuit connections for elevating it on the turning in
of a signal by an individual subscriber, together with means whereby said signalling
subscriber may restore his track section to its normal condition at any time after
sending in a signal without waiting his turn for connection to the subscriber
called.
102. An automatic telephone exchange system having a longitudinal track way
consisting of one or more series of broken tracks and having signalling lines
connected to them, a series of circuit closing agents adapted to run over said
trackway and means for completing a circuit only through such signalling line as
has been previously individualized or put into operative connection.
103. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of runways
conveyers or chutes, and a series of movable track sections adapted, when moved
from their normal position, to intercept the circuit closing agents, together with
means for causing the restoration to normal of the track section through the
instrumentality of the intercepted circuit closers.
104. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of runways
conveyers or chutes, a series of incoming telephone lines, each line passing through
a circuit controller and being then connected in multiple to all of the runways
conveyers or chutes, and a series of circuit closing agents adapted to run over said

page_text: .
runways conveyers or chutes, in combination with means provided for enabling
each subscriber to effect an operative connection with any track at will.
105. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a signalling track
having a plurality of telephone lines connected to it, in combination with movable
circuit closers adapted to run over said track and means for causing a signal to be
sent over one line to the exclusion of the remaining lines.
106. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a series of
signalling tracks having a plurality of telephone lines in multiple connection
therewith, in combination with movable circuit closers adapted to run over any of
said tracks and means for operatively connecting one line to all of the tracks in
common, to the exclusion of the remaining lines.
107. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of main runways
or tracks, an additional series of accumulator runways or busy tracks, a series of
circuit closing agents adapted to run over any of said tracks and a series of
accumulator switches for diverting the circuit closing agents from the main runways
to the accumulator runways or busy tracks, in combination with means for causing
the circuit closers to automatically signal the subscriber who initiated the
movements of said circuit closing agents.
108. An automatic telephone exchange provided with a series of circuit closing
balls, a series of runways or tracks adapted to carry said balls and a pivoted
receiving cup provided with means for directing the balls over any of said runways
-or tracks.
109. An automatic telephone exchange provided with a series of circuit closing
balls, a series of runways or tracks adapted to carry said balls and a pivoted
receiving cup provided with means for directing the balls over any of said runways
or tracks, in combination with means for automatically restoring the cup to its
normal condition as soon as the circuit closing balls pass on to any of said tracks.
110. An automatic telephone exchange system provided with a series of runways
or tracks and a series of portable circuit closers, in combination with a series of
accumulator switches for diverting the circuit closers from the tracks, said
switches being normally inoperative but provided with means for rendering them
operative by the passage of circuit closers over any pre-arranged portions of the
tracks.
111. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of subscribers'
lines, two or more series of switching mechanisms accessible in common to all of
the incoming lines and controlling in common the interconnection of all of the
lines, one or more sets of circuit controlling apparatus presented successively to the
signalling subscriber for enabling him to select some one of the two or more series
of switching mechanisms not in use at the time, a series of portable circuit closers,
two or more series of duplicate sets of runways conveyers or chutes adapted to
convey any of said circuit closers, together with corresponding duplicate sets of
cross connecting interceptors and means enabling a signalling subscriber to operate
that one of his cross connecting interceptors corresponding with the particular
switching mechanism and set of runways selected by him through the instru-
mentality of that set of circuit controlling apparatus that was operatively presented
to him.
112. A telephone exchange system in which the instrumentalities for effecting
intercommunication between the lines are divided into independent components and
in which the capacity of the exchange is increased without extra mechanism by a
proper proportioning of the constituent parts in relation to the length of time each
element will be in use when active, consisting of apparatus in operative connection
with the signalling lines for selecting a circuit leading to an unused switching
series element, apparatus for releasing one of a series of portable circuit closers
over any one of a series of runways over which it runs until intercepted by a cross
connecting mechanism by which it is caused to interconnect the lines in any desired
order and to leave them connected without holding the connect ng elements
contributing to the various steps of the connection, the arrangement being such

page_text: that each separate element reverts to common use as soon as it has served its
proper function.
113. An automatic telephone exchange system having one or more series of
fixed and one or more series of movable runways conveyers or chutes and a
series of portable circuit closing agents adapted to run over said runways
conveyers or chutes, together with automatic means for aligning the movable
runways into such relation with the fixed runways as will determine the direction
of the circuit closing agents when they are caused to run over said runways
conveyers or chutes.
114. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of telephone lines,.
two or more series of duplicate switching mechanisms adapted to be controlled by
any subscriber, two or more series of duplicate runways conveyers or chutes having
two or more corresponding series of cross connectors in conjunction therewith..
together with a series of individualizing switches for rendering operative the cross
connectors of that series corresponding to the series of runways over which a
signalling subscriber has obtained control.
115. An automatic telephone exchange system having a series of runways
conveyers or chutes, portable circuit closing agents adapted to run over any of said
runways, a series of telephone lines adapted to control the movement and direction
of the circuit closing agents and to be operatively connected each to any one of its
individual series of cross connectors extending across the runways conveyers or
chutes, together with means for operatively connecting a signalling line to that
cross connector of its individual series corresponding to the particular runway
selected by said signalling line.
116. A normally open electrical circuit including a time relay consisting of an
electro-magnet having a reed armature adapted to vibrate for any predetermined
length of time on a single closure of the circuit, in combination with means whereby
a second or local circuit is closed by the reed armature at the termination of its
vibratory period
117. An electrical circuit controller in the nature of a time relay comprising an
electro-magnet and a vibratory reed armature therefor adapted to be put into
vibration for a predetermined period of time on a single closure of a circuit
through said controlling magnet, in combination with means whereby a second or
local circuit is closed by the reed armature at the termination of its vibratory
period; the arrangement being such that periodic circuit closures of higher
frequency than the natural vibratory period of the reed armature will not effect a
closure of the second or local circuit, while the first lapse of frequency exceeding
the natural vibratory period of said reed armature will cause the second or local
circuit to be closed.
118. A time relay or retarding circuit-closing device included in a main electrical
circuit for closing a second or local circuit at any predetermined period of time
after a closure of said main circuit, consisting of an electro-magnet included in the
main circuit and having a vibratory reed armature therefor, together with means
whereby the closure of the second or local circuit is initiated by the reed armature
whenever it is thrown into vibration, but is not completely effected until the
termination of the reed armature's vibratory period.
119. A time relay or circuit controlling device for regulating the length of time
a circuit shall remain open, consisting of circuit interrupters at two points in the
circuit, one of which is controlled by the movements of the other, in combination
with mechanism and electro-magnetic means for causing one of said interrupters to
intermittently interrupt the circuit for a definite period of time and to place the
other in closed position.
120. A time relay or circuit controlling device consisting of means for interrupting
the circuit at two independent points in combination with mechanical connections
between the two interrupters, the arrangement being such that the circuit is
temporarily closed at one point and intermittently interrupted at the other for a
definite period of time.

page_text: 121. An electrical circuit having means for interrupting it at two independent
points, in combination with means for imparting vibratory motion to one of said
circuit interrupters for a definite period of time and connections between the two,
whereby the circuit is established at one point and intermittently broken at the
other for the stated time and finally broken at the first point again.
122. A time relay or retarding circuit closing device included in a main electrical
circuit for closing a second or local circuit at any predetermined period of time
after a closure of said main circuit, consisting of an electro-magnet included in the
main circuit and having a vibratory reed armature therefor; together with means
whereby the closure of the second or local circuit is initiated by the reed armature
whenever it is thrown into vibration but is not completely effected until the reed
armature has terminated its vibratory period, in combination with additional means
for automatically rupturing the second or local circuit as soon as it has been
closed.
123. A time relay or main circuit controlling a local or secondary circuit in
combination with means whereby the closure of the secondary circuit is initiated
through the instrumentality of a vibratory reed armature controlled by an electro-
magnet in the main circuit adapted to put the reed armature into motion for a
definite period of time on a single closure of said main circuit, and is completed by
the reed armature when it terminates its vibratory period.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.