Step-By-Step Switching or Strowger System

Step-By-Step Switching or Strowger System Points : Step-By-Step Switching or Strowger System, Uniselector, Two motion selector The first automatic telephone system initiate through Almon B. Strowger. This system uses selectors for switching. Selectors use in strowger exchange are mostly of two types
1. Uniselector
2. Two motion selector 1. Uniselector The uniselector says because rotary motion of this switch is in one direction, that is., the wiper assembly moves only in one direction. The uniselector consist moving contacts called wipers. These are used to make electrical connections with any one of several contacts, called bank contacts, in an are round it. The arc in most cases consists of ten steps. The wiper assembly is divided into three sets of wipers so that the switch has to turn through only one third of a full circle when operated. These wipers are operated by an electromagnet, called driving magnet, with the help of a ratchet and pawl mechanism. When current flows through the windings of the driving magnet, it is energised and attracts the armature; the pawl slips over one tooth of the ratchet wheel. The ratchet is prevented from movement in the reverse direction by a detent. When the current stops through the windings of the driving magnet, it is devenergised, and the armature comes back to its rest position. During the reverse movement of the armature and hence that of the pawl, the ratchet wheel step ahead in the clockwise direction by one tooth and the wipers move to the next contact. The uniselector rotates, as many steps as the electromagnet is energised and deenergised. The schematic diagram of the uniselector is shown.

2. Two Motion Selector Two-motion selector is a kind of rotating switch, in which the motion of the wiper assembly is in two directions, vertical as well as horizontal. In the vertical direction the wipers move upward to the desired level and make no connections with the hank contacts. While in the horizontal direction the wipers create connection with the hank contacts. Two-motion selector has 10 levels; each having 10 contacts, thus a total of 100 contacts are accessible. Numbering of the 100 contacts of a two-motion selector is shown in the figure.

Every contact represents the terminals of one switch of the higher stage or of one telephone line in the case of final selector. The dialling pulses cause the wiper assembly to step up or down to the desired level. If we take the example of a final selector, where up to 100 lines can be connected, the vertical and horizontal stepping of the selector are controlled by the digits dialled by the subscriber. When the first digit is dialled, the dialling pulses energise and de- energises the vertical magnet. The vertical magnet with the help of ratchet and pawl mechanism step up the wiper assembly, corresponding to the digit dialled. This is called vertical stepping. When the second digit is dialled the dialling pulses are now diverted to another magnet, called horizontal magnet, with the help of a relay. These pulses energise and de-energise the horizontal magnet, which with the help of ratchet and paw! causes the wiper assembly to rotate to the proper contact, corresponding to the second digit dialled. This is called horizontal stepping. Thus the wiper assembly makes connection with the required number dialled by the subscriber. After completion of the call the wiper assembly comes back to the home position. For this purpose the rotary magnet is operated by the current and thus the wiper assembly moves through the remaining contacts of the level. A spring forces the wiper assembly to drop vertically and then to return horizontally to its normal position. Thus the two—motion selector does not require an additional magnet for its “homing process”. This switch is also called a rectangular motion selector, because the wiper assembly moves along a rectangle: vertical stepping — rotary stepping dropping returning to its normal position. Two-motion selector is given away in the figure.