US1120133A - Conduit and car for pneumatic railways. - Google Patents

Description

R. G. COLLINS, JR. CONDUIT AND GAR POR PNEUMATIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED LIAR.4,1914.

AL 1 9 1 00x a C D d 8 t n G t n@ P 3 SHE Fade Qui

R. G. COLLINS, JR.

CONDUIT AND UAR POR PNEUMATIG RAILWAYS. APPLICATION FILED 111111.11, 1914.

1, 1 20, 1 33. Patented Dec, 8, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ffg-@ MTW @,161 @afn/U27 dnowu 1HE MORRIS PETERS C0.FINOT0-LI1H0..WASHANGWN D C R. G. COLLINS, Jn. GONDUIT AND CAR FOR PNEUMA'IIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION x-LLED MAR.4,1914

1 1 20, 1 33. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 SHEETSMSHEET 3.

RODERICK G. COLLINS, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONDUIT ANDGAR FOR PNEUMATIC RAILWAYS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Appiicauon filed March 4, 1914. Serial No. 822,507.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RODERICK G. COLLINS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conduite and Cars for Pneumatic Railways, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to pneumatic despatch apparatus, more particularly to an improved pneumatic tube and carrier therefor, and has for one of its objects to provide a pneumatic tube of such construction that it may be made of cementitious material. In forming the tube of cementitious material a tube or conduit is provided which may be cheaply laid, and wherein wear plates may be embedded in the cementitious material to take care of the wear and tear incident to the passage of the carriers through the tube, the wear plates constituting reinforcing and strengthening means prolonging the life of the tube or conduit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic tube and carrier of such cross-sectional shape that the carrier will not turn about its longitudinal axis dur* ing its passage through the tube, and wherein the carrier has a greater cross-sectional area so as to provide for a relatively large space for accommodating the load.

In carrying out this latter object of the invention, provision is made whereby there is practically no turning movement of the carrier within the tube, and wherein the pneumatic tube is trackless, and at the same time admitting of the installing of automatic switches, particularly of the selective type. This is accomplished by providing the carrier with an adjustable tripper, or the like, which as the carrier is maintained in upright position at all times, will remain in the adjusted position relative to the switch operating mechanism so that the operation is positive and accurate at all times.

In order that the invention may be clear to those skilled in the art, I have shown in the kaccompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention, the same being merely illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, for I reserve the right to make such mechanical changes as may be found necessary to adapt the invention to different circumstances, all of which being within the purview of my invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a cross section of a conduit in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the conduit shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the conduit constructed at a curve. Fig. /1 is a. cross section of the conduit at the apex of a curve. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same showing a slightly different construction. Fig. (3 is a cross section of a conduit showing a modified form of the same. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the bottom of the conduit showing a slightly different form of reinforce. Fig. 8 is a similar view disclosing another form of reinforce.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several figures, 10 designates the pneumatic tube or conduit which may be formed of any suitable cementitious material, and which is laid into a suitable trench or suitable supporting forms. The bore 11 of the conduit or tube is made U-shape in cross section, although any other cross-section may be given the bore provided that the cross-section presents a non-circular bore for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The body of the tube or conduit 10 is preferably reinforced by longitudinally extending tie-rods 12 arranged in the side walls of the tube. It is of course understood that these tie-rods can be arranged in any suitable manner. For the purpose of protecting and reinforcing this eementitious tube, which is of material more or less friable and tending to disintegrate under constant rubbing of the carrier wheels, I provide wear-plates, preferably of metal, located in the inner walls of the tube at points where the carrier wheels engage the tube. These wear plates are placed at different positions in the tube according to the location of the carrier wheels, and in the construction shown in Fig. 1, I have shown` the same as comprising metal tread plates 13 being rounded or arched to conform to the bore 11 and lying substantially flush with the surface thereof so as to provide a smooth uninterrupted bore. These tread plates 13 are anchored in the body of the tube by depending legs 14 embedded firmly in the cementitious material to prevent any shifting of the plates. It is, of course, understood that these plates may be of any desired length and that they are placed end to end throughout the length of the tube. To insure the anchoring of the legs 14: inthe body of the tube, I provide tie-rods 15 which, as shown in Fig. 1, may pass transversely through the legs 14: and beyond the same or, if preferred, the tie-rods may extend longitudinally through the legs 1/1 as shown at 15a in Fig. 7. Further, the tierods 15 of. Fig. 1 may be supplemented by the addition of the longitudinal tie-rods 15a, as shown in Fig. 8.

The car or carrier, designated by 16, corresponds in cross-section to the shape of the tube. The carrier is provided with end plates 17 each of which is provided with a supporting wheel 1S at its lower end adapted to engage and move over the tread plates 13. On either side of each of the main supporting wheels 18 are preferably arranged buffer wheels 19 to take care, to a certain extent, of the side thrust or rock of the carrier. These buffer wheels 19 also contact with the metal tread plates 13, and if desired the latter may extend up toward the sides of the tube for engagement with the buffer wheels, as shown. The upper end of each plate 17 carries at its opposite sides a pair of horizontal buffer Wheels 2O which project slightly beyond the lateral edges ofthe plate 17 and are adapted to engage the sides of the pneumatic tube when the carrier rocks, for instance as when rounding a horizontal curve, to retain the carrier in upright position and reduce frictional contact between the carrier and the tube. Each end plate 17 is further provided with a vertical buffer wheel 21 at its upper end adapted for engagement with the roof 22 of the tube when the carrier rises in the tube in passing over ridges or where the conduit curves in a vertical plane. VFrom Fig. 1 it will be noted that wear-plates 23 of angular form are embedded in the cementitious material at the angles of the tube, the vertical depending flanges of the wear-plates 23 lying directly opposite to the side buer wheels 2O at the top of the carrier. The angle wear-plates 23 are anchored in the cementitious bodyby L-bolts 2&1 arranged in staggered relation in the opposite flanges of the wear-plates 22, and in the sides and roof of the tube. The Wearplates 23 lie flush with the inner surface of the tube and may be retained in position in any .other suitable manner than herein disclosed. These wear-plates 23 also serve as reinforcements for the upper portion of the tube, materially strengthening the same at the upper corners.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings a modified construction of the tube and carrier is shown. ln this construction the tube 10 is of substantially the same shape as shown in Figy 1 but is provided with a roof 22a instead of an arched roof. The'roof 22 is reinforced, preferably throughout its entire width, by a wear-plate 23a extending entirely across the roof 22- and having its opposite sides embedded in the corners of the tube 10. The end plate 17 of the carrier has the horizontal buffer wheels 2.0d dropped down to an intermediate point at the lateral edges of the plate 17 instead ofrat the top thereof, and the tread plate 13a is extended up within the inner surface of the tube to a point opposite Y to, or slightly above the buffer wheels 20a, so as to receive the impact of these buffer wheels and prevent undue wear upon the inner surface of the tube, particularly when the carrier is rounding a curve. Instead of providing one central buffer wheel 21 at the top ofthe end-plate 17, a pair of upper buffer wheels 21a are mounted on the plate, onernear each corner thereof, and adapted to bear against the wear-plate 23a" upon the rocking or lifting of the carrier in the tube. It will thus be noted that the wear-plates used within this improved tube are to be placed at any point found necessary or desired to receive the impact of the supporting and buffer wheels of the carrier.

In pneumatic tube systems, particularly of the vtube herein disclosed, the strain is greatest at the curves in thetubes or conduits dueto the fact that the cars or carriers are swung from a right line to a curve. To compensate for this strain, l preferably incline the 'verticalaxis of the bore of the tube,`as shown in Figs. et and 5 of the drawings, so that the swinging or side thrust of the car in taking a curve will be cared for.

lie thus tilted bore. of the tube has the effect of easing the 'car around the curves even at a high speed without undue side thrusts on the walls of the tube, the inclining of the vertical axis being dependent on the curve and being ]`n"oportioned to give thel necessary compensation for side thrusts duei to the tendency 'of the car to travel tangentially. y ln Fig. 1 of the drawings I disclose the bore 11 of the conduit formed eccentrically inthe body 10 of the tube, or in tilted relation tothe vertical axis of the tube, the latter being disposed in upright position. ln Fig. 5, I show the bore formed concentrically Ain the body 10. and the entire body 10 of the tube'tilted in` the trench or supporting form, so that vthe bore of the tube will have its vertical axis correspondingly tilted. lt will be understood nthat the curved portion of the conduit is tilted ygradually from aproper position near' the beginning ofthe curved 'portion of the apexl thereof,

and is then gradually righted in like manner to a similar point slightly beyond the end of the curve.

In Figs. l and 6 of the drawings I have shown, diagrammatically, an automatic switch throwing mechanism wherein the arm 25 of the mechanism projects out from the surface of the bore 11 a slight distance, and wherein the carrier head or end plate 17 is provided with an adjustable striker or tripper rod 26. It will be noted that the tripper rod 26 must always be maintained in the path of the projecting arm 25 in order to throw the switch. It is readily seen that as the carrier 16 is maintained in the same relative position to the bore at all times the tripper rod 2G is maintained in its true path and the striking of the tripper rod 26 against the projecting arm 25 is insured. It is of course understood that the switch throwing device herein is only dia grammatically shown, and the same may comprise operating levers to mechanically throw the switch, or the device shown may be electric contacts to close circuits to op* erate the switch electrically.

It will thus be seen that the car is maintained in its upright position to produce the above noted advantages without the use of rails or other auxiliary devices which have been heretofore used to effect this result.

It is necessary in pneumatic tube systems that the carriers fit the tubes relatively close in order to conserve pressure. l/Vhere curves of relatively small radius are formed in the tubes considerable difficulty is experienced in handling cars of any considerable length, owing to the fact that if the curve be a sharp one the carrier would jam. To overcome this diiliculty and permit the use of relatively long cars I have devised the conduit construction shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. In this figure the curved portion of the conduit has its opposite walls spread relatively far apart to increase the width of the bore 11. The bore in the curved portion of the tube is increased in diameter gradually from its beginning to its apex and then decreased in like manner to the point where it merges into the straight section of the tube.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the dotted line 27 indicates the true curve of the inner wall of the tube, and obviously the car 16 would not pass such a curve without jamming. The inner segment 28 of the tube is, therefore, somewhat flattened so that the bore is increased in width between the outer wall 29 of the curve and the inner wall 28. This construction gives a flared or expanded section in the curve about which the car will readily pass, and this I regard as of considerable importance in this art for the reason that it permits the use of cars of considerable length in conduits where relatively sharp turns must be taken.

By providing a carrier which is substantially U-shape in cross-section a greater amount of space is provided in the carrier than carriers heretofore known which are of circular er 1sssection. It will thus be seen that with a carrier of given length, constructed in accordance with my invention, a larger load may be carried than with the old form oit' carrier.

While I have shown a particular construction it will be understood that the bore of the tube and the carrier may be given any other shape which is non-circular so as to prevent the turning of the carrier in a tube without the use of tracks or other like devices, and the various details oi? construction above enumerated, and disclosed in the drawings, may be changed to accommodate my apparatus to various conditions without departing -from the spirit of my invention except insolar as I am limited by the appended claims. It is also understood that the tube above described may be made of other material than cementitious material, such as metal, without departing from the spirit oi' my invention.

I claim- 1. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a tube comprising a body ol cementitious material having a non-circular bore, a carrier in said tube conforming to the shape of said bore, supporting wheels at the lower end of the carrier, butler wheels at the sides of the carrier adapted to support the carrier when rounding a curve, a tread-plate in the bottom of the tube lush with the surface oit' said bore and having depending legs embedded in the cementitious material, tierods extending through said legs and the cementitious material for anchoring said tread-plate therein, wear-plates embedded in the tube at the upper end thereof opposite said buil'er wheels, and means for anchoring said wear-plates in the tube.

2. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, a tube of cementitious material having a substantially rounded bottom and a non-circu lar top in cross-section, a wheeled carrier 'for said tube conforming to the shape thereof whereby said carrier is maintained in an upright position, and a curved wear plate in the bottom of the tube substantially flush with the surface thereof and adapted to support the wheels of the carrier and upon which the wheels are free to move laterally.

3. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, a tube of eementitious material having a bore rounded at its bottom and non-circular at its top, a tread plate in the bottom of the tube having its tace substantially flush with the surface thereof and adapted to support a carrier, and wear plates in the top of the tube adapted to receive the thrust of a carrier when rounding a curve and lying substantially flush With the top Wall of said bore and constituting a continuation of the surface thereof.

Ll. A pneumatic despatch tube of cementitious material having a bore rounded at the bottom and non-circular at the top, said tube at curves having its vertical axis displaced outwardly at the lower portion whereby substantially all of the thrust of a carrier in rounding curves is received by said rounded bottom.

A pneumatic despatch apparatus, a tube of cementitious material having a rounded bottom and a non-circular top in cross-section, a carrier for said tube having a substantially rounded bottom and a noncircular top, a main carrying Wheel on each head of the carrier, said carrying Wheels having their rims projecting slightly beyond the peripheries of the heads for contact with said rounded bottom to support the carrier, and buffer Wheels mounted on the said heads at the opposite sides of said c: rrying Wheels and projecting slightly beyond the peripheries of the head for contact with the tube to reduce frictional contact between the carrier and the tube.

G. A pneumatic despatch tube of cementitious material having a bore non-circular at its top and rounded at its bottom and adapted to receive a carrier, a tread plate in the bottom of the bore having a curved carrier supporting face substantially flush with the surface of the bore and having anchoring members embedded in the cementitious body for securing said tread plate in the tube.

7. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube of cementitious material having a bore with a rounded bottom and an angular top, a tread plate on the bottom of the tube having a curved carrier supporting surface, means for anchoring the tread plate in the tube, angular Wear-plates embedded in the tube at the corners of said bore adapted to receive the thrust of a carrier thereagainst when rounding `curves and to reinforce the tube at its top and means embedded in said material for securing said angular Wear plates in position.

8. A pneumatic despatch tube carrier having a rounded bottom and a non-circular top, a carrier YWheel mounted on each head of the carrier, said carrying Wheels having their rims projecting yslightly beyond the peripheries of the heads for supporting the carrier, and buffer Wheels mounted on said heads with their axes of rotation at substantially right angles to the adjacent edges of the heads.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GERTRUDE M. STUCKEP., Jas. J. MAWHiNNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images