US1660293A - Station for pneumatic-dispatch systems - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2l, 1928.

J. T. COWLEY vSTATION Fon PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed June 2, 1926 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1928.

J. T. cowLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS l'f sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1926 Feb. 21, 1928.

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7 Sheets-She t 5 J. T. COWLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed June 2. 1926 FebQZl, 1928.

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Feb. 2l, 1928.

.1.1'. cowLEY STATION FOR PNEUMATIG DISPATCH SYSTEMS Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT o-FFICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY,

OF SYRAGUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0IMASSACHUSETTS.

STATION FOR PNEUMATICI-DISPATCH SYSTEMS.

Application' led June'2, 1926. SeraI No. 113,194..y

This invention relates to carrier dispatch systems and more particularly provides a convenient receiving and sending station for the same. i i

In conveyors or conveying apparatus of the prior art, it is customary to employ closed tubes through which carriers are impelled by differential air pressure. Such constructions as have been heretofore. em-

ployed for this purpose usually involve special apparatus and require a. special location and considerable space for the sending and receiving stations.

It is an object of the present invention so to combine the sending and receiving apparatus, that al single station may comprise bot-h units and be installed in a piece of usual otiice furniture. It is a further object to provide a delivery station or carrier outlet which shall be adapted automatically yto receive one or more carriers without requiring the attention of an operator and without conflicting with yor interrupting the continued operation of the system as a whole. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

Generica-lly, the invention includes means for conveying carriers and the like, as forv example through a predetermined path or system defined by closed tubes, provided with suitably disposed outlet means for the delivery of a carrier or carriers from the path of the conveyor and further provides means for enclosing t-he outlet from the .conveyor and means permitting the withdrawal of the carrier from the enclosing means, characterized by preserving the continued operation of the conveying apparatus during and after the ejection and removal of a carrier, substantially without interruption.

More specifically the herein disclosed embodiments of the invention each includes a closed pneumatic dispatch system through which carriers may be impelled by a positive air pressure or drawn forward by suction (or both) and an outletfor such carriers suitably positioned and arranged to permit or cause the ejection of a carrier at a yde-V sired point and means such as an air-tight carrier receptacle or chamber enclosing the outlet and which prevents loss of air pressure or suction in the carrier tube, after the ejection of a carrier from the latter, thereby applicable for the to maintain continued operation of the system. Means also are provided for releasing the differential pressure between the interior of the air tight receptacle or chamber and the atmosphere to facilitate opening a door or other closure through which the carrier may be removed. y

Usually systems of `this type are 4operated by suction (i. e. a column of air under a differential of pressureon either side of the carrier, bothpressures'being less than atmospheric)l although it is conceivable thata compressed air vcolumn could be used. In either event,-with suitable modiiications accordingly,- the present invention mayv be purposes indicated with satisfactory results. Y ,4

rllhe section of the system in' which the station is installed, may .be conveniently f (though not necessarily) arranged infa horizontal position, with the carrier outlet rnormally closed but adaptedto be opened by the carrier and to eject the same, as for eX- ample by gravity, and may yor mayk not beself-closing, as later to be explained. The outer air-tight receptacle or chamber may advantageously be provided with means for breaking the suction and/or equalizing the differential air pressure therein, thus permitting the door to be openedand the carrier removed. The return end of the carrier tube may be additionally equipped with a sending station, thus making a complete apparatus for receiving and sending carriers which may be fitted intosmall compass, such as the ordinary flat topk desk, or under a counter or table, and thus inconspicuous but convenient for ready use.y

Atypical and representative embodiment ofthe inventionin a desk structure is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal elevation and section (on line 1%-,-1 of Fig. 2) of'a flat top desk with a receiving and sending apparatus Fig. 6 is an eleva-tion of a modiied form of the apparatus installed under `a counter;

Fig. 7 isan end view of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a detail cross-section of the door shown in Figs. 3 or 7;

Fig.. Qyis a longitudinal elevation: of a urp sending station or opening `The section 3 is provided at 7" in the instant case with .a gravity operated outlet for the carriers, 20

said outlet being arranged in the closed compertinent 4 which has a door 8 (Fig 3)j provided `with means `for releasing differential pressure between'the: compartment and the outside" atmosphere. f

Variousfdrawers or conipartments 10` may be provided tor the normal" use of the. construction as a desk, and also a central space 11, permitting the userto sit up closely against.v it in the ordinary manner, while the top l2`is tree and clear. i

Thev inlet tube '2 is oi" the ordinary construction ot conveyor systems of `the type described andlias a curve or elbow lconnected by a neck 14to the opening 15 in a headerplate 16. Thelatter also has a second opening 18 to which is connected outlet tube 19 making a Tconnectionwith return tube 5 andthe sending or dispatch terminal 6. The latter isV closed by a tight fitting cover 21 pivoted at 22. Header-plate 16J lits over and 1s hermetically joined tothe end of the receiving chamber 23; which comprises the section 3 of' the tube, and inthe under side of which is the outlet 7" consisting of a wide open-ing 24 'defined -by Vlshaped ends 26 and horizontal margins 27. Above fthe latter, at 28, are pivotallly'suspended the coacting" gatesY or doors 29, 30 having counterweights 32 (or other means tending to close Vthe gates)` and adapted to* swing upwardly against said :margins 27 and. the `Vshaped ends 26, to close the opening 24 and; thus substantially to seal thesame by means ot a softpacking or gasket '31 on the contacting surfaces;` Below the opening 24 an inclined slide 34 slopes downward tothe door 8- which is pivoted at 35 to be swung downwardly by the handle 86; The door 8 is rendered airtightiby means-of `a rubber lining or gaskets 37, which bear firmly against the projecting frames `38. Therest otchamber 4 may also V be rendered substantially air-tight by suitable joining of the `wa-llsor other well known means such as packing and the like. In the apparatus as thus constructed and vacuum is employed in the system (i. e. hieh A carrier introduced into the system at a distant point (not shown) obviously tends to travel` inV substantially the same direction `as theeir current therethrough. Accordi ingly, a carrier coming to the station shown enters in the direction of the arrow, passes through inlet tube 2 and thence through opening 15 into the receiving chamber 23. Here it fallsupon the gates 2S) and 30. Underthe torce of gravity the gates are caused to swing downwardly, `thus separating and letting' the carrier tall 'through the terminal" outlet opening 24,"striki'ng upon the slide 34, and rolling down to the door 8.' The door 8 ymay now be opened andthe carrier removed. ,Wlhen this is done, air is allowed to rush in through the open doorway and"- thence through the opening 24 into the outletv or return tube 5. This current ot' air drawsthe gates 29, 30 back into `closed positionover the opening 24. The door 8 is then closed..v Y

It is` to be observedthat, although the gates 29, 30 may be so counterpoised that even with the door 8 open and hence the total difference of pressure between the system and outer atmosphere being exerted thereon, the additional pressure of a carrier will be sulii'cient to open them,-such` adjustment must be predicated upon a very low total pressure `differential or an exceedingly nice adjustment ofthe gates 29,30, unless independent.` and; more or less complex mechanismis provided or'this purpose. Onthe other hand, the enclosing chamber 4 is normally under an appreciably reduced pressure by leakage of` air theretrom past the gates y29 and 30 into the system. its a result, the pressure dillerential between Vthe system and chamber 4 Vis not so great as bty tweenithe system and the outer atmosphere andi hence the gates may be readily opened bythe impact ot a carrier tl'iereon. llore over,Y this result may be definitely obtained and relied. upon regardlessot how low a diilierential between pressure'of the systen'i and atmospheric pressure) because, -tith spect to the opening of gates 29. 30, it is the difference in pressure between the Atube sys-v tem and chamber 4 which `tends to hold the gates 1n closed position and it thisditfer- `entialV is appreciably,reduced the gates are by so much, theimore readily opened by the impact of" a carrier.` Again, under such nthat after-the exit of a carrier they will tend to close and in thisevent, as such residual differential of pressure as may' exist between the system and the chamber is equalized, the resulting' rush of air will more tightly close the gates 29 and 30.

In caseswhere there is high vacuum and appreciable leakage of air into the dispatch tubes, or in case door 8 is not vopened promptly after a carrier has opened the gates 29, 30, or there has been a considerable period between the arrival of two-successive carriers, it may be extreinelydiiiicult to open the door 8. 1 In this event, the atmospheric pressure against the relatively large area of the door 8 Vrepresents an ultimate load of'considerable proportions. To ovei'coine this difficulty means may be pi'ovided asV shown in Fig. 8 in which the door is provided with a glass panel 4l through which the arrival of a carrier may be observed while above the panel there is an opening` 42- passing completely through the door and covered by a softrubber vplate or gasket 43 to the outside of which a haiidle 36 isattached. This rubber plate is held in position by springs 45, 46, which are attached to its inner surface, extend across the opening 42 and bear against the inner side of door 8. vBy this device, when the chamber 4 is under reduced pressure (or vacuum) the suction upon the door is broken by grasping the handle 36 and pulling it forward. This draws the rubber gasket away from the opening 42 and permits air to enter and partially equalize pressure onboth sides of the door, whereupon the door may be readily opened. u y A After a carrier has been received and until the door 8 is opened, .the air current of the systen'ifpasses through the inlet 2, receiving chamber 23, closed chamber 4 and thence to outlet 5 as a continuous closed circuit. Accordingly the system continues to function regularly regardless of whether an operator is present to remove the deposited cairier or not. As soon as the rubber plate 43 is released and door 8 is opened, the rush of airinto the system immediately closes the gates 29 and 80 in readiness for'further functioning in the manner described. When the carrier has been removed, door 8 is of course again closed by the operator and-a reduced pressure is again induced in chamber 4 as before.

For sending carriers, the cover 21 may be raised and the carrier dropped into the sending tube Gand the cover closed. Gravity will bringl the carrier below the connection between the return tube 5 and outlet tube 19 before 'closing the cover 21, and it is'then urged forward through the system in the usual manner.

A modified form of th apparatus is shown iii Figs. 6 and 7. This arrangpmentl includes a cabinet 50 which vmay be locatedy under a counter or table 51, said cabinet having an inlet 2 and outlet 5,' the' outlet'or return having an inclined sending opening 6 projecting` laterally therefrom. g

lThe further modification illustrated by Figs. 9 and l0 includes a cabinet l', standing above the topv of the desk :1, in whichvthe receiving and sending tubes `are located, leaving the forward portion of the desk top Vl2 unobstructed and free for general use, and

the front part of the desk free to receive drawers 10 or the like, therein. a f

- Y It will be clear from the above disclosure' and the represent-ative construction de scribed, that a construction is thus obtained whereby air tubes, conveyors, and the'like may be connectedv with a suitable station or vsta-tions for thejreceiving and sending of carriers, in conjunction withthe customary forms of office furniture without iinpairing the normal use of the latten-and'whercbyf the delivery ofcarriers at such vstations may be effected without Vinterrupting the con. tinuous functioning of the conveyor system, and without requiring the attention1of an operator. 4

-fIt-is to be understood that such stations may be terminal stations intended to receive allY of the carriers directed thereto or they Vmay be set vup in conjunction with selective devices, known to the art, whereby `certain carriers vare delivered through the gates 29 and .30 .while certain other carriers arepermitted to pass on, without operating the .gates or beingdepositedv at the station, to

another station at some Alater point in the system where it does open the gatesV and is deposited. l

It is also to be understood that the inven tion is adaptable generally tothe various methods and systems of conveyor appara tus,-though more especially those of the air tube type, and that numerousy combinations withand substitutions ofthe operating parts employed may be .made without departing Y.

from thescope 0f the invention herein described. Such adaptations and substitutions are to be considered as comprehended by the present specification and included by the following claims. l

I claim: f o

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising a piece of usual office furniture provided with a compartment, a` door normally closing an entrance to said compartment, a pneumatic tube delivery terminalarranged to deliverv carriers into said compartment, said terminal being connected toa pueumatic transmission tube,` and means Within the compartment nornially closing sa-id'ter'- miiial.

2. Apparatus oi' the class described coinprising a piece or usual oiiice furniture provided ivith a normally closed compartment,

` a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said compartment, saidterminal being connected to a pneumatic tube,and valve `iiiieaiis normally closing said delivery terminal, said valve means opening automatically to permit a carrier to pass from `the `terminal into said compartment and closing automatically" in response to differential pressure between the pneumatic tube and the compartment.

3; A station for a pneumatic carrier system comprising an oiiice desk o substantially usual typehaving a normally closed compartment, a movable closure givingaccess to the compartment, a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged `to deliver carriers into said compartment, said terminal being connected to the transmission tube of the system, and means normally closing said=ter ininal, said means openingautomaticallyin response-tothe Weight or a cari'ier'so as to `permit the carrier to enter the compartment.

4:. A station 'for a pneumatic carrier system comprising a piece of usual oiiice turni ture provided with a normally closed chain ber of a size sut'licient tohold a plurality of carriers, a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said chami bei', said terminal being connected to a transmission tube otthesystem, means normally closing the delivery terminal, and means `permitting removal of carriers romthe chamber. i p

5. A station for a pneumatic tube system comprising a delivery terminal having an outlet, gravity actuated means normally closing theoutlet, means providing a. chainf i i bersuirounding and enclosing said delivery terminal outlet, said chamber beingV oi. a size suilicient to hold a plurality or carriers, and

a door opening from said chamber to the` outer atmosphere, said door normally re- .i'naining closed to retain the carriers Within the chamber. Y v

`6. Apparatus oit the class described comprising a piece of usual oice furniture pro- A Vvided With-a substantially air-tight cornpartment, a 4door normally closing an entrance to said compartment, a pneumatic tube delivery terminal having an outlet arranged to deliver kcarriers into said coinpartment, said terminal being attached to a pneumatic transmission tube, and valvej means normally closing the terminal outlet. l `7. A station for a pneumatic tube system having a transmission tube, said station comprising a delivery terminal 'for' the tubehaving a downwardly directed outlet, a: pair of gates cooperating substantially to close theoutlet, said gates normallybeing closedV but opening in response to the `Weight oft a carrier resting thereon, means providing an air-tight chamber enclosing the outlet to said terminal, said chamber being ot a size`su'lticient toliold a plurality of carriers, adoor in the Wall oit the chamber, said door-nor mally being held closed by vdifferential air pressures, and inanuallyactuable means for air tight andnormallysealed against the `entrance of atii'iosplieric pressure, and a nanually actuable valve tor breaking Vthe seal to permit airfat atmospheric pressure to enter the chamber. ,i 9. A receiving station -for pneumatic carrier systems, comprising afpneumatic tube,a

carrier outlet `in a section' of the tube, a-

closed chamber surrounding and enclosing said outlet, adoor in ythe chamber, means providing a hermetic seal to the chamber, a

displaceable `member in the door, and a hans` die 'attached thereto for displacingV said member, and` for breaking the `act of opening the door.

10. Apparatus of the class describedcomprising a piece offiirniture otsubstantially usual `external appearance having a normally closed and substantially air-tight comseall, in` the partment therein, a movable closure giving access to such compartment', a pneumatic dispatch tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, and a combined closure opener and relief. valve for admitting atmosphericpressure to said compartment prior to opening the closure.

ll. A station for a pneumatic tube system having a transmissionitub .and a delivery terminal provided With` an outlet, said station having agate counterpoised so as vnormally substantially to close said outlet, means providing a` substantially air-tight chamber enclosing `the outlet,` a normally closed door giving access to the chamber from theexteriona valve for equalizing the ditlerence in pressure at the opposite sides of said door, and a handle for the door, said handle being connected to the valve for actuating tlie latter. i, i

12. Apparatus of the class described cour prising a desk having af'top and a substantially air-tight compartment below said top, a door normally closing an entrance to said compartment, a cabinet mounted` upon the desir, said cabinet having a chamber therein constituting L"rcontinuation of thel compartment in the desk, a` pneumatic tube delivery lll) terminal having its outlet disposed within said cabinet, said terminal being connected to a pneumatic transmission tube, and means normally closing the terminal outlet, said outlet closing means openingy automatically to permit a carrier to pass from the transmission tube into said chamber. n 13. A station' 'or a pneumatic dispatcl system having a transmission tube, said station comprising a piece of usual otce turniture provided with a compartment, a movable closure normally closing an access opening in the wall of said compartment, and a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said compartment,

said terminal being connected with thetransmission tube. n

14. ln combination with a piece of customary ofiice furniture such as a desk, a portion of a pneumatic'carrier system directed therethrough, a. carrier outlet from the system, means comprising a compartment in i said desk enclosing said outlet, and means normally closing the carrier outlet.

15. In combination kwith a piece of customary olice furniture suoli as a desk, a portion of a pneumatic carrier system directed therethrough, ka carrier outlet from the system, means comprising a 'compartment in said desk enclosing said outlet, and means normally closing the carrier outlet but opening under tlieimpact ofV a carrier v thereagainst.

16. In combination with a piece of customary ollice furniture such as a desk, a portion of a. pneumatic carrier system-di rected therethrough, a carrier outlet from the system, means comprising an air-tight compartment in said desk enclosing said out. let, and'means normally closing the carrier outlet but permitting a slight by-pass of air therethrough. f

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising an ollice desk of substantially usual type, a pneumatic tube dispatch terminal supported by the desk, the desk having withn in it a chamber' of a size sufficient to hold a pluralit of pneumatic carriers, a pneumatic tube de ivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said chamber, and a normally closed door giving access to said chamber.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising an oihce desk having a top, drawers below the top, a compartment below the top,

said compartment being of sulcient capacity i to hold a plurality of carriers, a pneumatic tube dispatch terminal carried by the desk structure, the. receiving end oi-said terminal Vbeing abovetlie top of the desk and within convenient reach of a person seated at the desk, a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into said compartment, and a normally closed door giving access to the compartment.

19. Apparatus ot' the class described comprising an office desk having a top and a partprovided with a substantially air tight com artment for receiving and trinnoraril retaining carriers, a pneumatic tube dispatch terminal built into the structure of the desk, said terminal projecting up throughV the desk top and having'its receiving end `disposed just above the level of the desk top,

that carriers arriving therethrough discharge 'freely intov said compartment.

2l. Apparatus ot the classdescribed comthe top, said compartment having a normall closed hinged door, and `a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, saidv terminal being provided with a normally closed gate prising an oirce-desk having atop and a compartment at one side of the desk beneath at its delivery end, said gate opening when engaged' by a carrier to permit the carrier. l

to drop into said compartment.

22. `Apparatus of the class described comprising an oliice desk having a top and a compartment provided with a normally closed hinged door, a pneumatic tube delivery terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, and a deflector within the compartment for directing carriers arriving through the terminal into the forward part ot said compartment adjacent to the door, said door being within' convenient reach ot' a person seated at the desk.

Signed by me at Syracuse, New York this twenty-first day of May 1926. l

JAMES T. COWLEY.

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