US1248657A - Carrier-despatch power-control system. - Google Patents

Description

C. P. HIDDEN.

GARR(ER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1914.

Patented Deal/1917;

3 SHEETS-SHEET C. P. HIDDEN.

CARRIER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I914.

JLMR RWW Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 6 /9 Z022)? eases, 473 4 C. P. HIDDEN.

CARRIER DESPATCH POWER CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1914. I

Patented Dec. 4,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CHARLES P. HIDDEN, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CARRIER-DESPATCH POWER-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. I, IQI'I.

Application filed. May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HIDDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrier-Despatch Power-Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a power control system for carrier despatch apparatus and is particularly well adapted to pneumatic despatch tube systems.

It is the object of the present invention, to provide a system in which no dependence need be placed on any time-off mechanism, but rather one in which as soon as a carrier is introduced into a line, the expenditure of power commences, while the instant that the carrier emerges from said line or is delivered at a determined station, the expenditure of power ceases automatically, provided that there is no succeeding carrier in the line, traveling in either direction. If there be such succeeding carriers, then the instant that the last carrier emerges or is delivered at the station for which it is destined, the expenditure of power ceases.

To this end I have invented certain novel pieces of apparatus, which are particularly well adapted to accomplish the purpose in question when embodied in a system of this description. I am aware, however that various changes and modifications may be made in my improved system without departing from the spirit of my invention and also that the said pieces of apparatus are adapted to various other uses. I hence desire to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing which form a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts, I have exemplified my invention as applied to a pneumatic despatch tube system.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a system of the character in question, in which the flow of air through pneumatic transmission tubes is controlled by valves which in turn are controlled by the apparatus hereinafter particularly described.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a pneumatic despatch system, in which the motor and blower are directly controlled by my said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a contact device which is disposed at despatching points in the above system.

Fig. 4 is a detail section of certain contact devices which may be disposed adjacent the respective receiving stations in the above systems.

1 Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section of a preferred circuit making and breaking device which controls respectively the valves and the motor in the above systems; the section being taken on line V-V of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line VIVI of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of one of the contact disks in the mechanism shown in Figs. 5, 6 and Referring first to Fig. 1, herein the despatch tubes leading from stations A, B and C have respectively been designated 1 1 and 1. These tubes extend respectively to stations D, E and F, and the return tubes from these latter stations have been designated 2 2 and 2 The delivery terminals 3 at stations D, E and F are of a well known type; carriers emerging therefrom in the direction of the arrows through suitable clapper valves 4; the exemplified despatch system being of the vacuum type.

When one of the valves hereinafter referred to is opened, air enters at the open end of the corresponding one of the tubes 1 1', etc., and propels a carrier which may have been inserted in said open end upwardly to the corresponding terminal 3 and out through it valve 4; the current of air normally returning toward the lower station from the corresponding terminal 3 through the tube 2 2 or 2 being led off laterally from the line of travel of the carrier through a suitable conduit 5, and thence through an exhaust tube 6 past a valve 7 (above referred to) and into the drum 8, or the like, from whence it flows through the blower 9 in the usual manner; this blower conveniently exhausting to the atmosphere at 10 and being driven by an electric motor 11. At substantially the entrance toeach of the tubes 1*, 1 and 1, there is a contact box 12, the details of which are shown in Fig. 3. Herein a trip or lever 13 extends into the path of carriers being despatched, and is pivoted at 14 so that it may as the case may be; and

correspondingly be thrust upwardly and aside by each carrier as it is inserted into the transmission tube. Apair of resilient contact strips and 16 are disposed adjacent the hub of this lever; strip 15 having. a projection near its free end which is normally seated in a depression in the lever hub, but which when lever 13 is rotated counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a passing carrier, is cammed out of said depression so that contact 15' is forced into engagement with the contact '16; thereby closing an electric circuit now to be described.

Current for this circuit may be conveniently supplied by a battery 17 or any other suitable and preferably low voltage source of current. When engagement is effected in the manner above described between contacts' 15 and 16, current may flow from this battery throughwire 18 to a wire 19, 19 or 19*, according to which of the tubes lead ing from the several lower stations, is being used. This current passes from wire 19, foreXample, through contacts 15 and 16, at station A, and a wire 20 to one of the circuit making and breaking devices, details of which have been shown in Figs. 5, 6,7 and 81 For convenience this particular device has been broadly designated 21 and wire 20 leads thereinto through, for example, the base plate 22 thereof up to a magnet 23, which controls one of the contact disks hereinafter referred to; current passing through this magnet emerges therefrom through a wire 24 to a wire 25, and the latter extends to a lead 26 which runs back to the battery. I

The energization of magnet 23 attracts its armature 27 which is mounted upon lever 28 pivoted at 29 in the upper extremity of a bracket 30. The free end of the lever 28 has a slotted connection 31 with an escapement like member 32 and the latter is pivoted upon a shaft 33 in a frame 34.

Below the shaft 33 in this frame is a second shaft 35 upon which are loosely mounted two wheels respectively designated 36 and 36. Each of these wheels is toothed around the periphery thereof as at 37, in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; and the escapement 32, above referred to, engages the teeth 37 of wheel 36, while a similar escapement 32 is adapted to actuate the wheel 36 through its engagement with the teeth 37 of said wheel. The escapements 32 and 32 may be spaced apart by a sleeve 38 and the wheels 36 are preferably provided with hubs which bear against each other and properly space these elements apart.

Attached, as by means of rivets, to the wheels 36 and 36 are disks of fiber or other suitable insulating material, respectively designated 39. and 39, and each of these insulating disks. carries a cup-like contact member the bottom OfWhlCll bears against the inner side of these disks, while the flanges of said cup-like elements are disposed around the peripheries of the disks.

These cups have been respectively designated 40 and 40, and each preferably having a hole 41 in the center thereof through which the hub of the corresponding wheel 3636 may project. The member 40 is cut away as at 42, so that, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the flange thereof is substantially unimpaired, but a recessis provided in the lateral face thereof through which the insulating material of the disk 39 is exposed.

The member 40' instead of being cut away as is the cup 40, carries a spring contact 43 which may be riveted thereto at 44 and which is so shaped that its free end projects resiliently out toward the disk 30 and normally extends into the aperture 42 and contacts with the surface of this said disk exposed at this point.

Mounted upon the base 22 are two resilient contact strips designated 45 and 45, which respectively bear against the flanges of the conductive members 40-40. Wires 4-6 and 47 extend from the strips 4545' respectively to positive and negative leads 48 and 49; and since in Fig. 1 there are 3 valves 7, for convenience and as there are several sets of these wires 46-47, they have been respectively designated 46, 46 47, 47", etc.

A solenoid 50- is introduced into the line or wire 47 while correspondingly a solenoid 50 is connected in the wire 47", etc; so that when contact is established between the strip 43 and the cup 40 of the device designated 21, current will ilow through the positive lead 48 through wire 46, strip 45, cup 40, spring contact 43, cup 40, strip 45, wire 47 and solenoid 50 to the negative lead 49.

Vhenever a carrier is inserted into the open end of the tube 1, this circuit is completed because of the energization. of magnet 23 in the manner above described, the

movement of whose armature causes the escapement-like member 32 to rotate clockwise as viewed in Fi 5 so that the wheel 36 is advanced in the direction of the arrow indicated thereupon, one step, and no more than one step for any single actuation of the armature 27. The whole of this step is not effected solely by the descent of the armature, sincethe release of the armature upon the deenergization of magnet 23 per mits of a counter-clockwise rotation of member 32 by a spring 51, and this movement of the element 32 completes the step.

The wheel 36 is, however, advanced sufiiciently by the downward movement of armature 27' to efiect an engagement between the contact strip 43 and the cup 40, so that immediately after a carrier has been thus inserted into the tube for despatch from station A, the valve 7 corresponding to such station will be opened by its solenoid and air will flow upwardly through tube 1 and downwardly through the tube 2 and exhaust pipe 6 to the drum 8. The carrier will be propelled by this flow of air toward station D, and just before it enters the terminal 3, said carrier will pass through a casing 52 which constitutes a portion of said tube 1.

Within this casing are preferably 3 contact actuating levers respectively designated 53, 5 1 and 55. Levers 53 and 541 have a relatively small movement and are adapted to be displaced laterally or counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, by the felt heads of a carrier. A. carrier 56 has been shown in full lines in the tube 1, in Fig. 1, and comprises the usual body of brass tubing or the like into which messages or other articles may be placed, and which body has at each extremity thereof a felt head which projects out beyond this body, or therearound, a short distance. When the front head of the carrier impinges against, for example, the lever 53; this lever is swung around and thereby cams into engagement contacts 57 and 58, in similar fashion to the manner in which contacts 15 and 16 are engaged by the action of the lever 13 above described.

As soon as this head of the carrier has passed the point of lever 53, the latter is snapped back into its normal position by its spring 59; there being sufficient clearance between the body of the carrier and the tube to permit of this action.

Levers 53 and 5 1 have their carrier head engaging points spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the felt heads of the carrier plus the thickness of one head, so that each carrier is adapted to operatively displace levers 53 and 5 1 simultaneously for just one instant as it passes said levers. The lever 55 is adapted for somewhat greater movement than levers 53 and 54:111 that its point normally moves suiiiciently far into the tube to insure its being displaced not only by the felt heads of the carrier but also by the body thereof. When a carrier impinges against lever 53 it thereby cams into engagement contacts 60 and 61 which are controlled by this lever.

The lever 54. controls contacts 62 and 63 in similar fashion, and all three sets of these contacts are in series; a wire 64- connecting contact 57 with contact 60 and a wire 65 connecting contact 61 with contact 63. From contact 58 extends a wire 66 and a wire 67 similarly extends from contact 62.

By reason of the provision of these three sets of contacts every carrier which passes through the casing 52 will invariably complete a circuit which includes the wires 66 and 67 just at the instant that this carrier occupies the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The reason that three sets of contacts are provided instead of one or two sets is this: If one set of contacts were used, controlled by lever 55, for example, then if two carriers were about to emerge from tube 1 the second of these carriers being almost in contact or quite in engagement withthe first, then lever 55 would be displaced to effect contact between members 60 and 61 but once for these two carriers, whereas it is highly desirable in operating a system such as that herein described to have each carrier individually close the circuit through wire 66 once.

If, on the other hand, a single operating lever such as that designated 53 were to be provided, then such lever would be actuated twice for every single carrier which passed it and the circuit through wire 66 would hence be completed twice for such a carrier, owing to the successive engagements of the heads of this carrier with said lever. If some provision be made for spacing apart the adjoining heads of closely succeeding carriers, it is feasible to use a single contact in a casing 52, but owing to the fact that most of the carriers in use to-day have flattened heads which are adapted to abut against each other closely, it is obvious that if two such closely succeeding carriers should move past the contact lever 53, then the first head would energize wire 66 once, andthe two adjoining heads of the two carriers would actuate lever 53 but once, thereby reenergizing wire 66 a second time, while the rear head of the second carrier would again energize wire 66 ;making three times in all; whereas to maintain proper actuation of the system when in use, a single lever such as that designated 53, would have to be actuated by said two carriers so as to energize wire 66 four times.

Evidently if two levers, each of which are adapted to make a contact every time a carrier head passes each one of them, be disposed as shown in Fig. 4, then the wire 66 will be energized once and once only, for each carrier which passes through the casing 52, except in the one case when two carriers, one following the other, happen to be so spaced apart in the casing while traveling therethrough that the rear head of the foremost carrier presses against lever 54:, while the first head of the rear carrier presses against lever 53. It is for just this case that the third contact 55 is provided, since at such time lever 53 would occupy its innermost position; there being no body of the carrier in contact therewith to hold it in its contact making position. Therefore if two carriers should be so disposed, while they would complete the circuit at contacts 57 and 58, 62 and 63 the said circuit would still be broken between contacts 60 and 61. From the foregoing it is evident that three sets of contacts with actuating parts such as have, been described, will unfailingly cause the energization of the circuit including wire 66, once and once only for each carrier which passes through the easing 52.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be observed that wire 66 is connected to a lead 68 which extends to a wire 18 which runs from the battery, while the wire 67 connects contact 62 with a magnet 23, disposed alongside of the magnet 23, above referred to, and since there are a plurality of stations D, E and F, the wire 67 which leads from station D has been designated 67 and the corresponding wires for the other stations 67 and 67.

The magnet 23" controls an actuating mechanism for the wheel 86 which is substantially identical with that already discussed in connection with wheel 36, so that it may suffice here to say that every time a magnet 23 is thus energized by the passage of an emerging. carrier through the casing .52 at a given station, the disk 10, which carries a contact spring 45% and which corresponds to such station, is advanced one step in the same direction that the corresponding disk 40 is advanced by the previously described mechanism.

It follows from this that every time a carrier is inserted at station A, for example, for despatch to station D, the disk L0 in the apparatus 21, will be cumulatively advanced substantially one step; causing the solenoid 5 0 to be energized and thus opening the preferably balanced valve 7, to establish a carrier propelling current of air to transmit said carrier to station D.

VVhen this carrier is about ready to discharge at station D, its passage through the casing 52 at this station advances the disk to one step, so as to cause the spring 43 to tend to catch up with the opening or recess 42 in the cup 40. If no other carrier has been inserted for dcspatch from station A to station D, before this first despatched carrier has been passed through casing 52, then the free end of strip will again be brought into coincidence with the recess 42; breaking the circuit through wire t7 and permitting the core of solenoid 50 by its weight, or in any other suitable manner, to close the valve 7 and stop the further expenditure of power through this line. If, however, a second carrier has been inserted into the tube 1 before the first carrier thus emerges therefrom, such second carrier will have caused the disk 4L0 to be advanced a second step, so that even when the first carrier thus causes the disk 40 to move around a single step, still contact 43 will be in engagement with cup 40 and valve 7 will be maintained open. Practically the instant, however, that this second carrier also emerges at station D, valve 7 will be closer. Thus there is no dependence upon any time interval; but a mere insertion of a carrier into the system starts the expenditure of power to transmit said carrier, and it will make no difference whether this carrier be followed by a, second, third, fourth or fifth carrier in rapid succession and before the en'iergence of the first, in so far as the operation of the system is concerned. Assuredly, the emergence of the last of these carriers from the lines will cause a shutting down of the power.

For transmitting carriers from station D to station A, for example, a second power control device 21 is provided, and the downward passage of a carrier being desputched through the contact box 12 at station D will in corresponding fashion, through the instrumentality or the mechanism 21, elfect the opening of the valve 7 which corresponds to stations A and D.

Each of the devices 21 and 21 act independently of each other and obviously as long as a single carrier is in course of transit in either direction, between stations A and D, the said valve will be maintained open; while at almost the instant that the last carrier emerges from the tubes 1 and 2, considered collectively, said valve will close.

Referring now more particularly to the construction shown in Fig. 2, herein in place of controlling valves, or the like, whereby to control the expenditure of power, the motor itself is directly controlled by power control mechanisms 21, which may be identical with those used in the previous system. The air current in the present case, when the motor is in operation, flows through the tube 1 from the open end thereof at station G, in the direction of the arrow indicated on this tube to station H and from thence back through the terminal and tube 2 to the olfset conduit 5, exhaust tube or pipe (3, drum 8 and blower 9 to the atmosphere at 10. Contact boxes 12 may be provided adjacent stations G and H, so that the instant that a carrier is inserted for dcspatch at either of these points, one or the other of the corresponding control mechanisms 21 or 21 will have the element 40 thereof advanced one step. Correspondingly the passage of a carrier through the casing 52 at either station G or station H will effect the single step displacement of the contact cup d0 in the corresponding power control device, so that in so far as the operation of this system to this point is concerned it is substantially identical to that already discussed.

In the present case the circuit making and breaking parts 4l:OlO are in circuit with the motor 11 so that the moment that contact is made between spring 4-3 and the cup 40 of either of the devices 21 or 21 current will flow from the positive main 48, through the motor and thence through lead 47 and one or the other of its branches 4:7 or 4L7, to the contact l5, cup 40, spring 43, cup 40, strip 4.5 and wire 46 or 46 as the case may be, to the negative lead 49.

As long, therefore, as one or the other of the contacts 43 is operatively disposed with respect to its corresponding contact cup 40 the motor will continue in operation, and by reason of the construction shown, almost immediately after the emergence of the last carrier. through either of the tubes 1 or 2 said motor will be shut down, or the ex penditure of power will be otherwise conserved.

For the purpose of illustrating how a plurality of despatching points may be located along a transmission tube, I have somewhat diagrammatically indicated, below the station H, a despatching terminal J, provided with the usual valve 69 below which is disposed one of the. contact boxes 12 with Wires 19 and 20 respectively leading into wire 19 and 20 which extend to contacts at the station E, so that the box 12 at station J is in parallel with box 12 at station I-I.

When therefore, a carrier is despatched at either station H or station J the contact cup 40 of the power control device 21 will be advanced one step, and this joint control from two points of this device will not throw out of step contact parts thereof, since carriers inserted at both II and J emerge at station G, where the element 40 of this same device, is controlled by the triple contacts in casing 52 of this latter station.

I have not attempted to apply designating characters to all of the wires, since owing to the similarity of the several circuits, the course of current therethrough will at once be apparent in view of the above disclosure. Suffice it to say, however, that in general a scheme of nomenclature has been followed in which like numerals designate like wires or parts, and where such numerals have a supplementary letter, the wires so designated correspond to a station having a like letter. In general each despatching point is provided with a contact making box 12 from which electrical connections extend to a power control circuit making and breaking device which corresponds to such station, so as to eflect an energization of the magnet 23 of such device for each carrier despatched from a station; while at each point from which a carrier may emerge from the system, or substantially adjacent said point, there is a contact box or casing 52 from whence electrical connections extend to the magnet 23 of the power control device corresponding to the given line.

' If a plurality of despatching points he located along a single transmission line, there may occur at comparatively rare times, a simultaneous despatch of carriers from two make contact merely momentarily as it passes the trip or lever 13 below such despatching points, in order that the time during which the corresponding contacts 15 and 16 are held in engagement may be reduced to a minimum. This greatly reduces the chance of so causing this particular arrangement of the system to operate in an abnormal manner.

Even, however, if the elements 4040 of a given power control device should get out of step, the only harm which can result will be that the power will continue to be expended until it is observed by some one that the system is not operating properly, and in any case no carrier will be left in the system.

In certain of the appended claims I have referred to the elements i040 as rotary parts, in contradistinction to reciprocatory or to and fro moving parts; since a very great advantage is obtained when said elements are mounted for step-by-step movement continuously ahead, as shown ;in that the neutral position of these parts with respect to each other becomes cyclic in character and there is hence no necessity for a retrograde step or movement of one or the other, or both, of said parts at a time.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, means to propel carriers along said way step-by-step acting means, controlled from one of said stations from which carriers are despatched, for rendering said propelling means operative to propel a carrier from said station toward another one of the same, said step-by-step acting means being advanced a step for each carrier despatched, means to thus control said step-by-step acting means, and co-acting means to limit the operation of said propelling means substantiallyas soon as said way is clear of all despatched carriers and normally only when said way is thus clear, said co-acting means having an actuating part along the path of carriers in course of transit near their point of delivery and said part being separately actuated by each carrier as it passes the same irrespective of the proximity of such carrier to any carrier in advance thereof.

2. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, meansto propel carriers along said way, rotarily mounted stepby-step acting means,

controlled from one of said stations from separately actuated by each carrier as it passes the same irrespective of the proximity of such carrier to any carrier in advance thereof. 7 o

3; In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations power means to propel carriers along safe way, step-by-step acting means for rendering said power means operative to propel carriers, controlling means for a part of said step-by-step acting means, disposed adjacent one of said stations, controlling means for another part of said stepby-step acting means, disposed at a point relatively remote from said first mentioned controlling means, one at least of said controlling means being actuated by each carrier passlng thereby, as said carrier approaches the point at which it ultimately comes to rest, said stepby-step acting means having rotary parts thereof adapted to normally occupy a neutral position with respect to each other and one of said controlling means acting to change this normal relationship of said parts while the other of said controlling means acts to restore saidrelationship.

l. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, a plurality of elements which normally occupy a determined relationship with respect to each other, said elements co-acting' to control the expenditure of power by said power means, substantially independent controlling means for'each of said elements, one of said controlling means normally aeting, each time it is rendered operative, to displace one of said elements one step for each carrier despatched and to thereby destroy said normal relationship, and another of said controlling means acting to counteract the action of said first mentioned one of said controlling means and to restore said relationship, the second of said controlling means being rendered operative with certainty each time that a carrier being delivered passes a part of said last mentioned controlling means, said part having pro visions to insure against improper actuation of said second controlling means resulting from closely following carriers.

5. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, a plurality of elements which normally occupy a determined relationship with respect to each other, said elements co-acting to control the expenditure of power by said power means, relatively widely spaced apart controlling means for each of said elements, one of said controlling means normally acting, each time it is rendered operative, to displace one of said elements one step for each carrier despatched and to thereby destroy said normal relationship, and another of said controlling means acting to counteract the action of said first mentioned one of said controlling means and to restore said relationship, the second of said controlling means being rendered operative each time that a carrier being delivered passes a part of said last mentioned controlling means, said part having provisions to insure against improper actuation of said second controling means resulting from closely following carriers.

6. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power apparatus to propel carriers along said way, a pin ality of independently movable rotatably mounted elements which normally occupy a determined relationship with respect to each other, said elements coacting to control the expenditure of power by said power apparatus, and C011t1'0lling means "for each of said elements, one of said means normally acting each time it is reudered operative, to displace one of said elements normally farther and farther from said relationship, another of said means acting, each time it is rendered operative, to move a second of said elements so as to tend to catch up with the first, whereby to ultimately reestablish said relationship, said first mentioned controlling means being normally actuated once for each carrier despatched and said second mentioned controlling means being normally actuated once as each of the so despatched carriers passes a determined point in said way.

7. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control the expenditure of power by said power means, means including a control device at one of said stations whereby as each carrier is despatched from such station, a part of said mechanism will be correspondingly set to cause said power means to expend power to drive said carrier along said way, and auxiliary means including a contact device at a point in said way, relatively adjacent another one of said stations and one at which said carrier is to be delivered, for electrically setting a part or said mechanism to counteract the effect oi the action of said first device, each of the eases? respective actions of said devices upon said mechanism being cumulative and each single action of one of said devices normally oil'- setting a single action of the other of said device,

S. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power'means to propel carri rs along said way, mechanism to control the expenditure of power by said power means, means actuated by each successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set a part of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power to drive carriers along said way, and means, including an electric circuit controlled by the so despatched carriers after they have traversed a part at least oi said way, for cumulatively setting a part of said mechanism to counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid, whereby to restore the parts of said mechanism to their neutral positions with respect to each other substantially as soon as said way is clear of all carriers.

9. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control the expenditure of power by said power means, said mechanism comprising two rotatable elements both of which normally rotate in the same direction when actuated, means at one of said stations for controlling one of said elements, and means substantially at another of said stations for controlling the other of said elements, each of said elements controlling means being adapted to cause the advance of the corresponding element one step for each actuation of such corresponding controlling means.

10. In a carrier despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a way having therealong a plurality of contact making parts each of which controls a set oi said contacts, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control said power means, and electrical connections between said contacts and said mechanism, for controlling said mechanism from said parts, the said contact making parts which are actually engaged simultaneously by a single car rier at a determined point along said way being at least two in number and the contacts controlled by said parts being all in series with each other.

11. In a carrier despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a way having therealong a plurality of contact making parts each of which controls a set of said contacts, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control said power means, and electrical connections between said contacts and said mechanism for controlling said mechanism from said parts, the said contact making parts which are actually an gaged simultaneously by a single carrier at a determined point along said way being three in number and the contacts controlled by said parts being all in series with each other.

12. In a pneumatic despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a carrier, a transmission tube having at a determined point therein a plurality of contact making parts each of which parts controls a set of said contacts, a mechanism controlled by the passage of said carrier past said determined point, and electrical connections between said sets of contacts and said mechanism, said carrier having spaced apart enlarged portions adapted to simultaneously operatively engage said plurality of contact making parts only when said carrier is located at said determined point.

13. In a pneumatic despatch system, a plurality of contacts, a carrier, a transmission tube having at a determined point therein a plurality of contact making parts each of which parts controls a set of said contacts, a power control mechanism for said system controlled by the passage of said carrier past said determined point, and

electrical connections between said sets of contacts and said mechanism, said carrier having spaced apart enlarged portions adapted to simultaneously operatively ensaid plurality of contact making parts only when said carrier is looted at said determined point.

.l-fl in a device of the class described, in combination, a carrier having a head at each end thereof of greater diameter tian the body of said carrier, a conduit through. wiich said carrier travels and a plurality of co-acting contact making parts one of which is adapted to be operatively disposed when in engagement with the body oi said carrier and two othe of which are adapted to be simultan ously operatively disposed by the heads of said carrier, a mechanism controlled by the passage of said carrier past a determined point in said conduit, and electrical connections between said parts and. said mechanism.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a transmission tube, a plurality of carriers adapted to closely follow each oth r through said tube, said carriers having portions thereof of relatively different sizes, a plurality of contact parts disposed to be operatively engaged by different portions of each of said carriers as it passes said parts, and a mechanism electri cally controlled by said parts only when a determined actuation of a determined plurality of said parts has been effected by a single passing carrier, said actuation of said plurality of parts by a plurality of said carriers being normally impossible.

1%, ln pneumatic do patch tube apparw tus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of statlons, means to establish a. carrier propelllng current of air through said conduit, means including a rotary step-by-step acting part, actuated substantially upon the despatch of a carrier, for rendering said first mentioned means operative to establish said current of air to propel a carrier from one of said stations toward another, said step-by-step acting part being advanced rotarily one step for each carrier despatched through said conduit, and co-acting means to disestablish said carrier propelling current of air substantially as soon as said conduit is clear of all despatched carriers and normally only when said conduit is thus clear.

17. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit connecting a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit of sufficient force and duration to positively insure the proper transmission 01": a pluality of successive carriers simultaneously en route through said conduit, past a determined point therein, coaeting means to disestablish said carrier propelling current of air only when said conduit, at least up to said point, is free from carriers in course of transit, said co acting means being independent of time running from the despatch of said carriers and being further independent of the pressure of said air current, and means, also independent of said time and pressure, for actuating said co-acting means when said conduit is thus tree of said carriers.

18. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having there along a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrier propellin current of air through said conduit of sudicient force and duration to positively insure the proper transmission of a plurality or" successive carriers simultaneously en route through said conduit, past a determined point therein, and electrically controlled co-acting means to thereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air only when said conduit, at least up to said point, is free from carriers in course of transit, said co-acting means beingfree from time element instrumentalities and being adapted to operate immediately upon the passage of the last carrier in said conduit past said determined point, and contact making means, a part of which is located at said point, for electrically actuating said co-acting means when said conduit isthus free of said carriers.

19. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, means, including a rotary step-by-step acting part, to establish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit, co-acting means, also including a rotary part, to thereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air only when said conduit is free .irom carriers in course of transit and requiring such air current to propel them, and means, controlled by carriers in course of delivery, for causing actuation of said last mentioned rotary part.

20. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, carrier controlled means to establish a carrier propel ling current of air through said conduit, co-acting carrier controlled means, including a rotary element, which directly co-acts with a part of the carrier controlled means first aforesaid, to disestablish said carrier propelling current of air only when said conduit is free from carriers in course of ransit and requiring such air current to propel them, said co-acting means being free from time element instrumentalities and being adapted to operate immediately upon the passage of the last carrier in said conduit past a determined point in the normal path of travel of said carrier, and means to actuate said co-acting means upon the passage of said last carrier past said point.

21. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control the expenditure of power by said pow means, means actuated by each successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set a part of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power to drive carriers along said way, and means, including an electric circuit controlled by the so despatched carriers after they have traversed a part at least of said way, for ciunulativeiy setting a part of said mechanism to counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid, whereby to restore the parts of said mechanism to their neutral positions with respect to each other substantially as soon as said way is clear of all carriers, said last mentioned means including contact-controlling provisions for said circuit to insure each passing carriers individual control of said circuit.

22. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit, step-by-step acting nieans, actuated substantially upon the despatch of a carrier, for rendering said first mentioned means operative to establish said current of air to propel a carrier from one of said stations toward another, said stepby-step acting means being advanced one step for each carrier despatched through said conduit, and co-acting means to operate independently of said air current to disestablish said carrier propelling current of air substantially as soon as said conduit is clear of all despatched carriers and normally only when said conduit is thus clear.

23. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, means to establish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit, means, including a rotary step-by-step acting part, actuated substantially upon the despateh of a carrier, for rendering said first mentioned means operative to establish said current of air to propel a carrier from one of said stations toward another, said step-by-step act ing means being advanced one step for each carrier despatched through said conduit, and co-aeting means, directly controlled by actual physical contact of a part of the same with passing carriers, to disestablish with certainty said carrier propelling current of air substantially as soon as said conduit is clear of all despatched carriers and normally only when said conduit is thus clear.

2a. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, means, including a rotary step-by-step acting part, to es tablish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit, and co-aeting means, controlled directly by carriers in course of delivery and by said carriers alone, to thereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air when said conduit is free from carriers in course of transit, said coacting means including a rotary step-bystep acting part to co-act with the part aforesaid.

25. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transmission conduit having therealong a plurality of stations, means including a rotary step-by-step acting part to establish a carrier propelling current of air through said conduit, co-acting means to thereafter disestablish said carrier propelling current of air when said conduit is free from carriers in course of transit and actuating means for operating said eo-acting means strictly in accordance with the passage of carriers past said actuating means irrespective of the propinquity of said can riers to each other.

26. In a carrier despatch system, a way having therealong a plurality of stations, power means to propel carriers along said way, mechanism to control the expenditure of power by said power means, means actuated by each successive carrier despatched from a station to cumulatively set a part of said mechanism to cause said power means to expend power to drive carriers along said way, and means, including an impulse transmitting system controlled by the so despatched carriers after they have traversed a part at least of said Way, for cumulatively setting a part of said mechanismto counteract the cumulative setting aforesaid, whereby to restore the parts of said mechanism to their neutral positions with respect to each other as soon as said way is clear of all carriers requiring power from said power means to propel them, said last mentioned means including provisions to positively insure each passing carriers individual control of said impulsetransmitting system.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. HIDDEN. Witnesses N. L. Dominion, H. E. MORRILL.

women of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latenta, Washington, I). G.

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