US680697A - Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 680,697. Patented Aug. 20, IQUL J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 680,697. Patented Au 20, I901. J. 'r. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Aug. 20, IQOI.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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JAMES T. COWLEY, OF LOWVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATlC DESPATCH=TUBE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,697, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed November 27, 1899. Serial No. 738,329. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. WLEY, of Lowell, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatoh-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus in which the carriers are propelled by an air-current from one end of the line to the other.

My invention more particularly relates to pneumatic-despatch-tube systems in which carriers are sent from the several stations through a single despatch-tube and are returned to their respective stations through independent tubes. A series of inlets are provided in the despatch-tube, one for each station, from which the carriers are to be forwarded, and each independent return-tube is provided with a discharging-terminal for carriers belonging to that station.

The main feature of my invention relates to the arrangement of the several covers closing the open ends of the independent returntubes leading to the different stations by which the carriers are returned from the central station to the station from which they were sent, and by means 'of my arrangement upon the opening of the cover of one of the tubes the cover of the one last opened is antomatically closed, so that the air-c urrent will pass only through one tube to its dischargeterminal and then return through the despatching-tube leading to the central station. By this arrangement the air current is changed from one tube to another, so that the current of air is passing only through the tube through which a carrier is to be sent, therefore requiring only power enough to operate one line, as only one line is actually in use at any one time.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tubes and terminals located on different floors.

Fig. 2 is a front View showing three independent return-tubes with two of the covers closed and one open. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the center of one of the returntubes. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view showinga catch for engaging one of the valvearms for holding the valve open.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A B C D represent a series of floors. The forwarding-tube E extends through said floors and is provided with a series of inlets, one for each of the floors above the central station, said inlet having covers E, E and E normally closed by the vacuum in the pipe. The lower end of the despatch-tube E above the central station located on floor A is provided With a discharging-terminal E of any suitable construction, provided with a suitable valve E which closes the outlet, and through said terminals the carriers are discharged at the central station from the despatch-tube E. A suction-pipe F is connected to the despatch-tube E and to an air-exhaustingapparatus. Locatedin thesuction-pipeF is a valve G,with asuitable handle G6 for regulating the pressure within the system. From the central station a series of return-tubes H, I and, extend to the several upper floors and are provided with terminals H, I, and J, of any suitable known construction, and which are not here particularly described, as they form no part of the present invention. The return-tubes H and Iare connected to the return-tube J by the pipes H and I and the return-tube J is connected to the tube E by the pipe J for the purpose of providing a circulation through the system.

On the lower end of each tube H, I, and J is located a valve K, and said valves are all of similar construction. Each valve K is pivoted at L to the handle L,which is mounted upon the arms L These arms are pivoted at L to the lugs L projecting from the ring L".

This rod M extends through all the Upon the end of each tube H, I, 5

hubs M on the rings M on each tube to connect the rings and hold the parts in their proper positions. Projecting from the under side of the ring M are the lugs M in which is loosely mounted the shaft M ,which also extends through thelugs M on the rings M for a purpose hereinafter described. Upon this shaft M are securely fastened the catches M and on said shaftis also secured fast the lever M to which is attached one end of the spring M the opposite end of the spring M being secured around the shaft M The upper end of the catch M is formed with a shoulder M adapted to engage with the lug M on the arm L when the valve K is open and hold the arm L and the valve K in their raised position. (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.) The shaft M extends through all of the lugs M on the rings M and is provided with a catch similar to the one shown and described for each of the valves, all the catches M being securely fastened to the shaft M so that when the catch M is moved backward against the tensionof the spring M by raising the valve K all the catches mounted on the shaft M are moved simultaneously. It will be seen that when the valve K is raised and the lug M on the arm-L forces back the catch M all of the catches on the shaft M are moved, and this movement will release any of the valves that may be held open, allowing them to close by gravity. The arm L is pivoted to the lugs L in such position that the valve K is only slightly raised from its seat on the ring M when the valve is open; also, as the valve is closed the valve will gradually comein contact with its seat on the ring M, and the force of the air drawing against the valve K as the valve K is gradually closed will be taken up by the bearing L allowing the valve to close easily. Each of the tubes H, I, and J is provided with a similar arrangement as that described for the tube H. (Shown in Fig. 3.) Connected to each ring M and extending downwardly is an inclined carrier-holder N, in which the carrier 0 is placed preparatory to being despatched to the station to which it belongs.

In operation when it is desired to despatch a carrier to the central station the valve closing the outlet at that station is opened and the carrier introduced into the tube E, through which it will pass and be received through the terminal E at the central station on floor A. To return the carrier, it is then placed in one of the carrier-holders N and the valve K belonging to the holder in which the carrier is placed is raised,thereby closing one of the other valves which at that timeis open. The carrier is then pushed into the open end of the tube, the holder acting as a guide to keep the carrier in alinement with the tube. The carrier is then carried by the air-pressure to the station to which it belongs. Where two or more carriers are sent in succession through the same return-tube,

the valve K controlling said tube will not be operated, as the valve is already open, and it is only necessary to introduce another carrier into the tube for transmission.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction em bodying the same, what I claim as new, and de sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmission tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a valve closing said inlet, supporting means for said valve, and a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmission tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a valve closing said inlet, supporting means for said valve, a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily, and means for holding said valve open.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmission tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a valve closing said inlet, supporting means for said valve, a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily, means for holding said valve open, and means for releasing said valve-holding means to allow the valve to close.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a series of carrier-transmission tubes, an inlet for each tube, a valve for each inlet, means for holding one of said valves open for the insertion of a carrier, means for releasing said valve to allow it to close upon the opening of another valve to insert a carrier into another tube, supporting means for each of said valves, and a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on the valve upon the closing of the valve and thereby allow it to close easily.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmitting tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a pivoted valve, supporting means for said valve, and a bearing for said supporting means located above said inlet and adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmitting tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a pivoted valve, supporting means for said valve, a bearing for said supporting means located above said inlet and adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily, and means for holding said valve open.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a

carrier-transmitting tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a pivotedvalve, supporting means for said valve, and a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily and located above said inlet on the opposite side of the tube from the valve.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-transmitting tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a pivoted valve, supporting means for said valve, a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily and located above said inlet on the opposite side of the tube from the valve, and means for holding said valve open.

9. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a

carrier-transmitting tube, an inlet to said tube for the carrier, a pivoted valve, supporting means for said valve, a bearing for said supporting means adapted to receive the pressure on said valve upon the closing of said valve and thereby allow the valve to close easily and located above said inlet on the opposite side of the tube from the valve, and a handle pivoted to said valve for operating the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of November, A. D. 1899.

JAMES T. GOWVLEY'.

Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, O. A. STEWART.

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