US1791189A - Pneumatic-dispatch system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1931. c. H. BURToN PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed June 16, 1930 ZSheetS-Sheet l CHA/us5 H Bzfero/v l Patented Feb. 3, 1931 Y Parana CHARLES H. BUn'roN, or WASHING-fron, nrsrnror on COLUMBIA, AssiGNoR or ycnn-x Y HALF To cnaanrs rrsnnn, or NEW Yoan, N. Y.

PNEUM-.TIC-DISPATCI SYSTEM I .Application ilecl June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic dispatch systems, and more especially to a novel terminal for such systems.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic dispatch terminal so constructed that when a shuttle or carrier arrives `in the terminal, it will operate certain instrumentalities Which Will effect the movement of a plural cylinder carriage, so that the cylinder containing the carrier o-r shuttle will be transferred to a discharge station, While another cylinder Will be brought into position to receive the next carrier or shuttle.

Another object is to furnish a terminal of this character, in which the Cylindercarriage may be shifted Without affecting pressure conditions existing in the main trunk through Which the carrier or shutt-le travels` A stillfurther object is to provide aterso minal of this kind, in which the cylinder carriage is automatically reciprocated, so as to alternately bring` each cylinder iirst into alignment With the main trunk, and then into alignment with a discharge station, and so on.-

25 Another object is to so construct the terminal that the carriers or `shuttles arriving therein automatically operate the control valves of a pressure iiuid system which is employed to shift the carriage back and forth. Another object. is to furnish a terminal of this kind, in Which the shifting of the carriage automatically opens pressure fluid centrol valves. which admit a pressure iluid to the cylinders for blowing the shuttle or carrier out of the same on to an unloading platform or trough. 'y

A further object is to provide a terminal having novel means for checking the impact when the shuttle arrives in the terminal, and for preventing the shuttle, due to the rebound,

from passing again int-o the main air trunk.l

With the foregoing objects outlined and With other objects in View which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, yillustrated in the accompanying dra-Wings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

1;; Referring to the drawings,

1930. Serial No. 461,468.

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of the improved terminal. y

y Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View partly in top plan, of the carriage shifting cylinder, and its control valve means. v y

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of one of the control valves, taken on the line 1v-1 of F ig. 5.

Fig. 5 -is area-r elevation ofthe trigger operated valves of the device.

Fig." 6 is a vertical transverse sectional ,view on the line 6-6 of Fig.- 1, and With certain parts omitted. l

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal. vertical sectional` View of a detail on the line 7 7 'of Fig. 2.

end of Which is to be connectedr to the terminal end of a pneumatic dispatch trunk, (not shown), the other end of the tube being joined by an air-tight oint, to the cheek plate 11 of a carriage support that is mounted on legs 12. The other cheek platel of this support is connected to lthe first mentioned cheek plate by tie-rods 14, which tie-rods are omitted in Fig. 2 to facilitate illustration. y I

rl"he cheek plate 11 has a centrally disposed aperture indicated by dotted lines as at 15, While the cheek plate 13 has tWo such apertures 16 at its end portions. Horizontal grooves 17 at the upper end of the legs form transverse tracks for V-shaped guides 18 of a cylindercarriage, Which consists of apertured end plates 19 that are connected together by cylinders 20, and snugly engage cheek platesv 11 and 13.

From F ig. 2 it Will be observed that one of the carriage cylinders isin alignment with the tube 10, so that a shuttle from the main trunk Will pass through the tube intothis cyl- In the drawings,10 designates a tube, one 1 inder. When the carriage is in this position,

one of the cylinders v2 Will be moved to one f side to bring the sameinto position to dis'- f i' allarga its shuttle on to an unloading trough ment withY the pipe 40. Consequently, air will be admitted to the control cylinder 38 to shift the valve 32,-and thereby bring the port 33 into alignment with the pipe 33, with the result that air will be admitted to the cylinder 27 to cause the piston 26 to shift the cylinder carriage in direction away 'from the cylinder 27.V f

As the carriage is shifted to bring one of the cylinders in alignment with the trough 22, the carriage will strike the hooked end 70 of the air valve 67, and air will enter the last mentioned cylinderto drive the shuttle on to the unloading trough 2.2,.

At the same time, the other cylinder 20 is brought into such-position that its trigger pin 55 comes beneath the :forward end of the lever 52, and then when the next shuttle arrives,the trigger pin 55 will be raised,

-1 so as to elevate the forward end of the lever 52 and depress the active member of the valve 42, whereby air will travel through the line 39 into the opposite end ot' the control cylinder 38, to shift the valve 32 and bring the port 3e in alignment with the pipe 29, whereby air will enter the opposite end of the cylinder 27 and return the piston to its former position. f

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages ot the invention may be readily understood, and it is apparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spiritof the invention, as expressed f in the claims.

l/Vhat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: y

l. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube, unloading` stations arranged out ot alignment with the axis of said tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, each one of which is to'be brought tirst into alignment with the tube and then into alignment with one of the unloading stations, a` shuttle adapted to pass from the tube into any one of the cylinders, and, means controlled by the shuttle for shifting said car 1iage.

24A. pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal'trunlr tube, a pair of unloading stations arranged at opposite sides of the axis of said tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, each one ot which is to be brought lirstinto alignment withV the tube and then into alignment with one of the unloading stations, a shuttie adapted to pass 'from the tube into any one of the cylinders, means controlled by the shuttle for shitting said carriage, said carriage being provided with guides' extending transversely ofthe tube and unloading stations, and traclsfor said guides.k

3. A. pneumatic' dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunlr tube, ak pair yoi unloading stations arranged at opposite sides shuttle for shifting said carriage, said carriage comprising apertured cheek plates provided with guides, the ends oi' the cylinders ref-isterinrr with the apertures of the cheek a o u ttes, and tracks for said 'uides extendinol l 23 transversely of the tube and unloading stations.

e. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube, a pair of unloading stations arranged at opposite sides of the axis ot said tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, 'each one of which is to be brought lirst into alignment'with the tube and `then into alignment with one of the unloading stations, a shuttle ladapted to pass from the tube into any one off the cylinders, and means controlled by the shuttle for shitting said carriage, the control means for shitting the carriage comprising triggers extending intothe cylinders.

l5. fi pneumatic dispatch terminal coniprising a terminal trunk tube, a pair ont unloading stations arranged atopposite sides of the axis ot' said tube, a movable carriage provided with open-ended cylinders, each one y of which is to be brought iirst into alignment with the tube and then intov alignment `with one of the unloading stations, a shuttle adopted to pass from the tube into any one of the cylinders, means controlled by the shuttle for shifting said carriage, and means for absorbing the shock when the shuttle passes into one of the cylinders while it is in alignment with said tube.

6. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprising a terminal trunk tube, a pair oi' unloading stations arranged at opposite sides ot the axis of said tube, a movable carriageprovided with open-ended cylinders, each one oi which is to be brought first into alignment with the tube and then into alignment with one oit they unloading stations, a shuttle' adapted to pass from the tube into any one of the cylinders, and means controlled by the shuttle for shifting said carriage, each cylinder being provided with a rebound checlr to prevent the shuttle after it ai'rivesin the cylinder from rebounding bach into tube.

` 71A pneumatic dispatch. terminal comprising av trunk terminal tube, unloading stations spaced endwise away from an end ot the tube andY positioned at opposite sides ot the axis of the latter, a cheek plate fixed to the last mentioned end oi" the tube and having an aperture in its medial portion, a shuttle adapted to travel' through said tube and to be discharged through said aperture, said cheel: plate projecting laterally'at opposite sides aligning ot thetube, a pressure i'luid supply port in e: cn end portion oil the cheelr plate, each port substantial alignment with one of l being unloading stations, valves contro aid ports, shi'ftable carriage arran tween the cheoelr p atc and the tions and orovideo With a plurality or inders into any one of which the shuttle pass from said tube, means tor shitting carriage, the carriage controlling said valves 's Ward ends ot the unloading stations and having end apertures in alignment Wit-h said stations, a reciprocating carriage provided with apertured cheek plates and cylinders, the apertures of the last mentioned cheelr plat i vith the ends of the cylinders, tl e carriage cheek plates snugly engaging the stationary cheelr plates to prevent the escape ot' 'rom any one or" the cylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, a shuttle adapted to trav l through the tube into any one of the cylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, and means controlled by the movement or" the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted out of alignment with the tube and into alignment With one of the unloading stations.

9. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube, unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube and arranged at opposite sides et' the axis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged in spaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the other cheek plate being connected to the forward ends of the unloading stations and having end apertures in alignment with said stations, a reciprocating carriage provided with apcrtured cheek plates and cylinders, the apertures ot the last mentioned cheelr plates aligning With the ends of the cylinders, the carriage cheelr plates snugly engaging the stationary cheeli plates to prevent the escape of air from any one ot the cylinders when the latter is aligned With the tube, a shuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one of the cylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, and means con 'i trolled by the movement of the shuttle for meuse reciprocating said carriage, whereby a cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted out of alignment with the tube and into alignment With one or" the unloading stations, the last mentioned means including trigger actuated pins projecting from the cylinders, and valve controlled levers actuated by the pins i and supported by one of the stationary cheek plates.

l0. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube, unloading stations spaced endWise from the tube and arranged at opposite sides ot the airis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged in spaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the other cheek plate being connected to the forwardv ends of the unloading stations and having end apertures in alignment With said stations, a reciprocating carriage provided with apertured cheelr plates and cylinders, the apertures of the last mentioned cheel: plates aligning With the ends oic the cylinders, the carriage cheek plates snugly engaging the stationary cheek plates to prevent the escape ot air from anyone ot the cylinders When the latter is aligned With the tube, a shuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one ot the cylinders When the latter is aligned With the tube, and means controlled by the movement t the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby a cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted out of alignment With the tube and into alignment with one oil the unloading stations, the last mentioned means including a pair of valves, each valve having an active member, means connecting said active members to cause one ot the same to open its respective valve when the other one is closed, a pair of levers pivotally connected to said active members, and trigger actuated elements projecting from the cylinders and arranged to actuate the last mentioned levers.

ll. A pneumatic dispatch terminal including a trunk discharge tube, unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube and arranged at opposite sides ot the axis ot the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged in spaced relation, one et said cheek plates being secured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the other cheek plate being connected to the forward encs of the unloading stations and having end apertures in alignment With said stations, a reciprocating carriage provided With apertured cheek plates and cylinders, the apertures of the Vlast mentioned cheek plates aligning with the ends of the cylinders, the carriage cheek plates snugly engaging the stationary cheek plates to prevent the escape of air from any one of the cylinders When the latter is aligned With the tube, a shuttle adapted to travel through the tube into any one of the cylinderswhen the latter is aligned with the tube, and -means controlled by the movement of the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby a cylinder, after receiving the shuttle, is shifted' out ot alignment with the tube and into alignment with one of the unloading stations, the last` mentioned means comprising a stationary cylinder, a piston reciprocating in the last mentionedcylinder, and operatively connected with said carriage, means for admitting a pressure luid to opposite ends of said stationary cylinder, and meansl for controlling the admission and discharge of fluid to and trom the opposite ends of the stationary cylinder.

12. A pneumatic dispatch terminalincluding a trunk discharge tube, unloading stations spaced endwise from the tube andarranged at opposite sides of the axis of the latter, stationary cheek plates arranged in spaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the other cheek plate being connected to the forward ends of the unloading stations and having endk aperthe last mentioned cheek plates aligning with the ends et' the cylinders,the carriage cheek plates snugly engaging the stationary cheek c Carriage, f

tlc, is'shilted out of alignment with the tube and into alignment with one of the unloading stations, the last mentioned means comp-rising a stationary air cylinder, a reciprocating piston arranged in said cylinder and operatively connected to the carriage, pipes conn SU nected to the opposite ends of the air cylinder, i

means for admitting pressure air into said pipes, a control valve for controlling the passage of air thropugh pipes, and trigger controlled means Ior shitting said valve. Y In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

CHARLES H. BURTON,

tures in alignment with said stations, areciprocatmg carriage provided with apertured cheek plates and cylinders, the aperturesrof the last mentioned cheek plates aligning with the ends of the cylinders, thefcarriage cheek plates snugly -engaging the stationary cheek plates to prevent the escape of air from any one of the cylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, a sliuttleadaptedY to travel through the tube into any one of the cylinders when the latter is aligned with the tube, and means controlled by the movement of the shuttle for reciprocating said carriage, whereby a cylinder, alter receiving the shut-y tle, is shifted out of alignment with the tube i and into alignment with one of the unloading stations, the last mentioned means including triggers arranged in the cylinders, elements Y actuated by the triggers and projecting from Ythe exterior of the cylinders, rocking levers actuated by said elements, valvesactuated by said levers, an air cylinder, a piston in the last mentioned cylinder operatively connected to the carriage, and means controlled by said' valves for admitting air to and discharging air `trom the opposite ends of the air cylinder. i i

13. A pneumatic dispatch 'terminal includ-l ing a trunk discharge'tube, unloading stations spaced endwise from the tubeand arranged at Y opposite sides of theaxis of the latter, stationary cheel: platesarranged in spaced relation, one of said cheek plates being secured to the discharge end of the tube and having a centrally disposed aperture, the other cheek plate being connected to theforward ends of `the unloading station-s and having end aper. tures in alignment kwith said stations, a reciprocating carriage provided'with apertured cheek plates and cylinders, the apertures of

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