July 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1291

exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are divided into groups, the lines of each group being presented by line- and service-contacts, and in which there is combined therewith a plurality of coupling-devices, each composed of two electrically associated mechanisms or couplers, independently and electrically movable across the line- and service-contacts of a group of lines (the one of such associated couplers being appropriated for making connection with a called line, and the other for making connection with a calling line), each such coupler being provided with a plurality of sets of line- and service-contact fingers, the fingers of like function of all the sets of the one coupler being electrically connected with each other, and connected at predetermined moments with the fingers of like function of all the sets of the associated coupler, through the agency of a multiple switch or distributor in connection with the called-line coupler,—the combination with the sets of contact-fingers of each coupler of the one kind (that appropriated to make connection with called lines) of contact-fingers’ selecting mechanism electrically operated or controlled, said mechanism being constituted by a plurality of members, the operations of the several members being so co-ordinated that by their conjoint action one only of the several sets of contact-fingers will be enabled at one time to make operative contact with a set of line- and service-contacts. (4.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are divided into groups, the lines of each group being presented by line- and service-contacts, and in which there is combined therewith a plurality of coupling-devices, each composed of two electrically associated mechanisms or couplers independently and electrically movable across the line- and service-contacts of a group of lines (the one of such associated couplers being appropriated for making connection with a called line and the other for making connection with a calling line), each such coupler being provided with a plurality of sets of line- and service-contact fingers, the fingers of like function of all the sets of the one coupler being electrically connected with each other, and connected at predetermined moments with the fingers of like function of all the sets of the associated coupler, through the agency of a multiple switch or distributor in connection with the called-line coupler,—the combination with the sets of contact-fingers of each coupler of the one kind (that appropriated to make connection with called lines) of contact fingers’ selecting mechanism, the said selecting mechanism being constituted by a pair of cam-like retaining-plates for each set of contact-fingers, the plates of each acting independently on the contact-fingers of a set, and being themselves actuated by independently operated cam-shafts common to all the pairs of plates of a coupler, the operation of the cams being so co-ordinated that by their conjoint action one only of the several sets of contact-fingers will at one time be enabled to make operative contact with a row of line- and service-contacts. (5.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are grouped on coupling-boards as described, and in which there is combined with the coupling-boards a plurality of coupling-devices each composed of two electrically associated mechanisms or couplers independently and electrically movable each across a coupling board, and provided each with a plurality of sets of contact-fingers electrically associated as described, the two couplers of a coupling-device being adapted, the one to make contact with calling lines and the other with called lines, and the contact-fingers of the coupler for making contact with a called line being under the control of an electrically operated contact-fingers’ selector,—the combination with each such called-line coupler of electrically operated combined escapement and propelment mechanisms, the escapement mechanism being adapted to throw the propelment mechanism out of action and to permit of the said coupler moving step by step across the coupling-board in the one direction, and to control the extent of such movement, and the propelment mechanism being adapted to cause the said coupler to return step by step in the opposite direction. (6.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are grouped on coupling-boards as described, and in which there is combined with the coupling-boards a plurality of coupling-devices, each such coupling-device being constituted by two electrically operated couplers (respectively distinguished as called line coupler and calling-line coupler), said couplers being independently and electrically movable each across a coupling-board, and each comprising a plurality of sets of electrically controlled contact-fingers, the fingers of like function of all the sets comprised in each coupler being electrically connected,—the combination with each coupler appropriated to make contact with called lines of a rotary multiple switch or distributor, and circuit-connections with the combined escapement and propelment mechanisms of the called-line coupler, the connections being such that the movement of the coupler as a whole will be controlled by said distributor; and of circuit connections of the said distributor with the respective members or operative mechan-

isms of a contact-fingers’ selector adapted to determine the bringing into operative position any one set of contact-fingers of the called line coupler, the circuit-connections being such that the co-ordinated operation of the mechanisms of the said contact-fingers’ selector will also be controlled by said distributor; and of circuit-connections of the said distributor with the service-contact finger, and with the actuating mechanism of the line-contact fingers of the calling-line coupler (associated with the called-line coupler to which said distributor appertains) the connections being such that the fingers of the called-line coupler will be electrically connected at predetermined moments with the corresponding fingers of the calling-line coupler. (7.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are grouped on coupling-boards as described, and in which there is combined with the coupling-boards a plurality of coupling-devices, each composed of two electrically associated couplers independently and electrically movable across a coupling-board, and provided each with a plurality of sets of contact-fingers electrically associated as described, the two couplers of a coupling-device being respectively adapted to make contact with calling and called lines, and the contact-fingers of the coupler for making contact with a called line being under the control of an electrically operated contact-fingers’ selector,—the combination with each such calling-line coupler of electrically operated mechanism adapted to set the calling-line coupler in motion across the coupling-board by a current transmitted to said mechanism through the distributor appertaining to the associated called-line coupler and through the selector- and service-circuit by which the associated couplers are connected; and of electrically operated mechanisms adapted to arrest the motion of the calling-line coupler when actuated by a current transmitted to such mechanism through the service-finger circuit of the calling-line coupler, on the completion of said circuit by a service-finger of the calling-line coupler meeting a service-wire which has been put to earth by the previous operation of the electro-magnetic commutator or connector appertaining to the line to which such service-wire belongs. (8.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which the subscribers’ lines are divided into groups, the lines of each group being presented by line- and service-contacts to coupling-devices composed of pairs of electrically operated coupler-mechanisms, each having sets of contact-fingers, those of the one coupler being selectively controlled and being electrically associated at predetermined moments with those of the other coupler by the action of a multiple switch or distributor, the several pairs of associated couplers being located with regard to the groups of lines in the manner described, and in which there is connected with each subscriber’s line an electro-magnetic multiple commutator, designated a connector, adapted to establish at the required moment temporary connections of the line-wires and service-contacts (of the line to which it appertains) with the various elements of electro-magnetic apparatus at the central station,—the combination with each group of lines of a combination of electro-magnetic apparatus for use in common by all the lines of the group, such combination comprising an electro-magnetically actuated rotary main distributor or multiple switch, formed of a plurality of sets of pairs of contacts and of a plurality of brushes revolved together as one over the pairs of contacts, whereby to effect a plurality of circuit changes at each step made by the brushes, the brushes being actuated by a propelment-mechanism in response to successive signals of one kind; a main selector comprising a plurality of circuits and a plurality of movable contacts, whereof groups are controlled by a plurality of electro-magnetically operated mechanisms, to each of which in turn the signals sent are switched by the main distributor, the individual action of each such mechanism depending on the nature of the signals, and the action of the several mechanisms being so co-ordinated that their conjoint action will have for effect to complete one out of a number of selector circuits, which circuits are respectively connected to the operative mechanisms of different coupling-devices; and a manipulator formed of relays and batteries adapted to transmit through the selector-circuit completed, local currents corresponding to the signals which the manipulator receives through the main distributor, substantially as specified. (9.) In an automatic telephone-exchange system in which groups of subscribers’ lines are presented, along with service-wires, to coupling-devices arranged as described with regard to the groups of lines, said coupling-devices being composed of pairs of electrically operated couplers, having sets of electrically associated and selectively controlled contact-fingers, and in which there is provided for each line an electro-magnetic multiple commutator, designated a connector, and adapted to connect the line-wires and service-contacts of the lines to which it appertains with the various elements of a set of electro-magnetic apparatus for common use by the lines of a group