US1972272A

US1972272A - Pneumatic dispatch tube apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1972272A
Application number: US438809A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Needham
Original assignee: PNEUMATIC TUBE SUPPLY CO
Current assignee: PNEUMATIC TUBE SUPPLY CO
Priority date: 1930-03-25
Filing date: 1930-03-25
Publication date: 1934-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1951-09-04

Description

Sept. 4,-1934- J. T. NEEDHAM PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE APPARATUS Original Filed March 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTR UOHN T. NEEDHAM MW W ATTORNEYS Sept. 4, 1934- J. T. NEEDHAM PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE APPARATUS m A TH E 2 ND W H EE R a vm o m N n T M A s 8 N m w, Y dB 2 0 9 1 *2 Rm 6 2 h. m M d e 1 i F l m 0 1 m 6 5 e r o no x img n n 9d 8 .w u H Patented Sept. 4, 1934 c i 7 STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 John T. Needham, North Plainfield, N. 1., 33-

signer, by mesne assignments, to Pneumatic v Tube Supply Co. of Delaware Application March 25, 1930, 'Serial No. 438,809

Renewed March 8, 1932 20 claims. ((11. 24s 19) This invention relates to an improved terminal device for a pneumatic dispatch tube system. Important objects of the invention are, to provide an improved terminalhead embodying a dispatch tube terminal for discharging carriers, a dispatch tube terminal for sending carriers and a more simple and directair connection between said terminals for conductin air from the discharge terminal to the sending terminal for the propulsion of a carrier inserted into the latter; to effect said air connection between the terminals through a chamber which also serves as a temporary receptacle for carriers delivered through the discharge terminal; to provide an improved,

compact terminal head designed for convenient mounting and operation thereof and embodying a discharge terminal, a sending terminal and an additional terminal for conveniently relaying" carriers to another station, and. to provide other 2 improved features of design which will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings: r a Fig. 1 is a vertical fore-and-aft sectional View of the terminal head, taken on the line'1-1 of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 2 a similar section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 a

Fig. 1; 4

Fig. 4 a,- horizontal section taken on the line -i-4' of Fig; l;

Fig. 5 a front view of the terminal head;

Fig. 6 a detail vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 a detail vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 a detail section taken on the line 8- 8 of 7; and

Fig. 9 a diagrammatic View showing the termi-- nal head connected into a dispatch tube system;

The terminal head. forms a unit and its struc' ture includes a casing lwhich forms a temporary receptacle for carriers as they delivered from i a dispatch tube. The casing is a metal casting, substantially rectangular in plan, elongated fore and aft, and having a" fiat bottom wall 2, flat side walls 3 and an arched wall forming the top and ends of the casing, and serving as a deflector for carriers discharged into the casing from the dispatch tube. 'Within the casing, near one of the rear corners thereof, the bottom 2 is integrally formed with a nozzle 5 extending upwardly a 'ei'ial distance and open and flared at its upper end, This nozzle forms a discharge terminal for a dispatch tube 6 connected to it. In:

detail section taken on the line 33 of" one of thefront corners of the casing, diagonally opposite the terminal 5, the bottom 2 of the casing is integrally formed with a vertical open nozzle '7 of material height. Nozzle 7 serves as a sending terminal into which carriers are inserted for transmission through a dispatch tube 8 connected to the nozzle. Above the nozzle 7 thewall 4 is formed with a doorway 9 of material size directed forwardly and upwardly. This doorway gives access to the interior of the casing for the removal of carriers discharged from the terminal 5 and for the insertion of carriers into the terminal 7. A hinged door lonormally closes the doorway.

, Overlying the bottom 2 of the casing l is a flat carrier supporting plate or -platform 11. The

to almost the front of the casing. 'Its width is nearly equal to that of the interior of the casing and, at one of its front corners, it is cut away to clear the terminal 7. A yieldable support 14 locatednear the forward end-of the platformnor mally holdsit horizontal or substantially so. Said 1 support comprises a threaded plug 15 which is screwed into a threaded aperture in the bottom of the casing and is formed at its upper end with a wrench-engaging head 16. A plunger pin l'l is fitted to slide vertically within a; bore in said plug and is normally projected upwardly by a spring 18 disposed'in the lower end of the bore. At its upper end the pin engages'the under side of the platform to yieldably support it. By turning the plug 15 the y'iedable support may be vertically adjusted. A check nut 19 is threaded upon the plug to bear against the bottom of Y the casing and maintain the adjustments. 7 1

Beneath the platform 10 and just to the rear of terminal 7 is an electric switch 20. 'Switch 20 comprises a pair of

spring contact fingers

21 and 22 supported upon the bottom of the casing by an insulation block 23 and normally outofcontact with each other. 'Ihe switch forms part of a circuit for a signal lamp 24 mounted upon a bracket 25 at the frontof the casing. Upon the 2 under side of the platform is an insulation block 26 which, when the platform is depressed by the weight of one or more carriers thereon, engages the upper contact finger 21 and forces it into en-f gagement with the lower finger 22 to close the lamp circuit. The yieldable support 14 permits the depression of the platform and elevates it to normal position when the weight is removed. The

switch then automatically opens the lamp circuit. I A switch 27 to control the circuit of an electrically driven means, not shown, for causing a forced flow of air through the tube system, is also mounted beneath the platform. This switch comprises a pair of normally separated

spring fingers

28 and 29 supported at one end upon an insulation block 30 mounted upon the bottom of the casing. A switch operating arm 31 extends fore-and-aft along side the contact finger 29 and is pivoted at its rear end upon a bracket 32 mounted upon the casing bottom. This arm is mounted to swing laterally and is provided at its forward end with an upwardly tapering cam nose 33 which projects transversely into terminal 7 through a side slot in the latter. When a carrier is inserted into the terminal it engages the cam nose, forces the arm 31 outward and presses an insulating block carried thereby against the switch finger 29 to close the switch and thereby cause a flow of air through the system, to propel the carrier.

At one side of casing 1 is a sen-ding terminal comprising a tubular casing 3% in the form of a substantially semi-circular loop, disposed in a fore-and-aft plane. A tube 35 is connected to the rear end of said terminal loop, and a tube 36 is connected to the forward end thereof. Above the connection of the latter tube the casing 3% is formed with a forwardly and downwardly directed doorway 37 through which carriers are inserted for transmission through the tube 36. This doorway is conveniently disposed beside the doorway 9 and is normally closed by a hinged door 38.

At the front of the terminal head the casings 1 and 34.- are covered by a face plate; 39 which is removably secured to said casings by screws 40.

' The plate is rectangular in front view and its lower portion is vertical and extends materially below the level of the bottom of casing 1. Its

upper portion recedes to follow the recession of the curved walls of the terminal casings. Along its upper and'side edges the plate'extends forwardly to form a hood 39'. Within said hood the plate is formed with two apertures 41 and 42 which register with the doorways 11 and 3'? respectively of the terminal casings and are of a size and shape to provide clearance for the

doors

11 and 38 and their mountings, to be described hereinafter. The lower vertical portion of the face plate carries a plurality of carrier supporting barrels 43 whichform a carrier magazine. They extend rearwardly from the plate and open forwardly through it. A cover 44 for the signal .larnp 24 is mounted upon the front face of the.

plate 39. This cover comprises a plate which is removably fastened to plate 39 by screws 45 and centrally formed with an outwardly bulged portion 46 which covers the lamp and is perforated to admit the light through it. I

The casing l carries a flat frame 47 surrounding the doorway 9 and forming a seat or abutment for the door 10, thelatter having an inner facing 48 of suitable soft material .to bear against the frame. -At its inner side edge the door is hinged as at 49 by means of a pintle sleeve and pintle carried by the door, and a pair of pintle bearings carried by easing 1. Near its opposite edge the 'door is provided with a rotatable knob 50 to which is fixed a latch 51. The latter is adapted to engage in a notched keeper 52 carried by the casing l and projecting forwardly through the aperture 41 in the face plate. Similarly, the terminal casing 34 carries a flat doorway frame 53, pintle sleeves 54 at' the inner casing 59 within which is supported a switch 60.

This switch controls a circuit of the electrically driven means and when closed it causes a forced flow of air from tube 35 through the terminal casing to the tube 36 for the propulsion of a carrier through the latter. Switch 60 comprises two normally separated

spring contact fingers

61 and 62. The pintle sleeve of door 38 is formed with a cam face 63 which, when the door is opened for the insertion of a carrier, is adapted to force the contact finger 61 against finger 62 and close the circuit.

My improved terminal head will operate satisfactorily under either pressure or vacuum in the tube system. Anincoming carrier is delivered by the tube 6, through the constantly open terminal 5 and into the casing 1 where it falls upon the platform 11. Its weight then depresses the platform, closes the switch 20 and causes the signal lamp 24 to be illuminated, thereby indicating to an operator the presence of a carrier in the casing. Air which has propelled the carrier into the casing flows through the latter and out through the constantly open terminal 'I. The receiving chamber formed by thecasing will accommodate-a number of carriers and, if desired, the yieidable platform support 14 may be adjusted to yield only whena' certain number of carriers are upon the platform; Then, when the signal lamp illuminates the operator knows that it is time to unload the casing by opening the door 10 and removing the carriers. To prevent the delivery of a carrier across the'receiving chamber and out through the terminal '7 the door is provided with a stop rib 64 which, when the this obstruction is removed and the terminal is readily accessible just within the doorway for the insertion of a carrier to be dispatched. In-

sertion, of the carrier closes the switch 2'? and starts a flow of air from the terminal 5 across the interior of the casing and into the terminal 7 for the propulsion of the carrier. By forming an air connection between the discharge terminal and the sending terminal directly through the carrier receiving chamber I materially simplify the air circulation.

The complete terminal head forms a compact unit which is designed for convenient mounting upon a desk or within a compartment of a desk. The mounting of the three terminals closely adjacent to each other is particularly convenient. In some dispatch tube systems a station'may have no direct delivery connection with the central station and must rely upon an intermediate station to relay carriers to it. Such a system is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9. Carriers arriving in casing 1 at station S forrelay are inserted into the terminal 7 therein and dispatched through the tube 8 to the station S. The latter is connected to the central station C through the tube 35, the terminal casing 34 and the tube 36, but has no connection for receiving carriers directly from the central station. The

not intended for relay are removed. from the casing 1, while carriers are dispatched directly to the central station from station S by. insert-' ing them into casing34. The terminal head may, however, be used in other systems with different tube connections. The terminal 7"for example may be directly connected to the central station insteadof to the outlying stations.

While I have shown and described .avery 'satis factory form of my invention I1do not wish to be limited strictly to this disclosure but reserve the right to make-such changes as will lie within the scope of the claims. 1

What I claim is: i 1. In a pneumatic dispatch tube apparatus, a imitai vterminal' device comprising a casing form ing a -ohamber to receive a number of carriers; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers to the chamber; a dispatch tube sending terminal opening into the chamber; a support for the delivered carriers within the casing adapted to be depressed by the weight of the carriers; signal means adapted to be operated by depression of said support to indicate the presence of carriers in the casing; electric circuit-closing means adapted tobe operated by the insertion of a carrier into said sending terminal to close a circuit for causing a forced circulation of air through the apparatus, the said terminals being constantly open 1 within said chamber and the carrier receiving 'spaceof the chamber forming a passage for the direct fiow of air fromthe discharge terminal to the sending terminal; a door giving access to the chamber and closing a doorway through which carriers may be passed; and an additional sending terminal connected to the casing.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch tube apparatus, a unitary terminal device comprising a casing form ing a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers thereto; a dispatchtube sending terminal opening into'the chamber, the

chamber forming a passage for a how of air from said discharge terminal to the sending terminal for the propulsion of a carrier inserted into the latter; and an additional sending terminal'attached to the casing.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch tube apparatuaa unitary terminal device comprising a dispatch tube discharge terminal having a dispatch tube connection with a central station; a dispatch tube sending terminal having a dispatch tube connection with an outlying station; and a easing into which both of said terminals open forming.

a passage for the flow of air between said terminals for the transmissionof carriers received in the apparatus, said casing having a door giving access to the interior: of the casing and closing a doorway through which carriers may be passed;- and a sending terminal attached to said casing-,- having an entrance closely adjacent to said casing door for: the insertion of carriers i and havingdispatch tubeiconnections with the'sendingterminal of said outlying station and the discharge terminal of the central station.

4. In a pneumatic dispatch; tube apparatusfa terminal device comprising a casing forming a carrierreceiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge. terminal havin a dispatchtube connection with a central station and opening into said chamber forthe delivery of carriers thereto, from the central station; a dispatch tube sending tere: minal openings-into the chamber and having. a dispatch tube relay connection with an outlying station for transmitting carriers to said outlying station, the chamber forming a passage for a'fiow of air from said discharge terminal to the sending terminal; and a second sending terminal mounted closelyadjacent to said casing and having a dispatch tube connection with:the sending terminal of said outlying station and a dispatch tube connection with the discharge terminal of the central station.

5. Ina pneumatic dispatch tube apparatus, a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers to the chamber; a platform mounted within the chamber to support the delivered carriers and depressible by the weight of, the carriers thereomna yieldable supportfor the platform to normally hold it elevated and yieldably resist depression thereof; and means rendering said platform support vertically adjustable. I g

6. In a pneumatic dispatch tube apparatus, a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers to the chamber; a dispatch tube sending terminal opening into the chamber; adoor giving access to the chamber and closing a doorway thr'ough which carriers maybe passed; second sending terminal disposed adjacent said casing; a door to give access to said'latter terminal disposed closely adjacent to said door of the casing; a front structure framing said two doors; and a plurality of carrier holders carried by said frontjframing structure. 'Z. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carsending terminaldisposed adjacent said chamber and having an entrance located closely adjacent to said door of the casing; and a front structure framing said door and said terminal entrance.

8. A pneumatic dispatch'tube terminal device comprising a unit formed for fitting into a forwardly opening compartment of a desk or similararticle of furniture and comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal. opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers into the chamber, the casing having a forwardly directed entraQnceaffording access to the chamber for the removal of carriers therefrom; a sending terminal disposed adjacent said chamber and having a forwardly directed entrance located closely adjacent to said casing entrance; and a front structure framing said two entrances and formed toclose niture compartment.

QFA pneumatic dispatchtube terminal devicev comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge, terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers thereto; a .dispatchtube sending terminal.

the furtube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers thereto; a dispatch tube sending terminal opening into the casing, the casing having an entrance at its front facing forward and upward and affording access to the chamber and through which carriers may be passed; another sending terminal disposed adiacent the first and. having a forwardly and upwardly directed entrance adjacent said casing entrance; rearwardly inclined doors closing said entrances; and a front structure formedto close the front of the furniture compartment and having a rearwardly inclined front wall portion framing said doors and a forwardly opening cowl portion extending forward over the doors.

11. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a unit formed for fitting into a forwardly opening compartment of a desk or similar article of furniture and comprising a dispatch tube sending terminal for disposal in said compartment and having a forwardly and upwardly directed entrance; a rearwardly inclined door for said entrance; and a front structure formed to close said compartment and having a rearwardly inclined front wall portion framing said door, and a forwardly opening cowl portion extending forward over the door.

'12. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a unit formed for fitting into a forwardly opening compartment of a desk or similar article of furniture and comprising a dispatch tube sending terminal for disposal in said cornpartment and having a forwardly and upwardly directed entrance; a rearwardly inclined door for said entrance; and a front structure formed to close said compartment and having a rearwardly inclined front wall portion framing said door, a forwardly opening cowl portion extending forward over the door, and a front wall portion depending below the door; and a plurality of forwardly opening, tubular carrier holders carried by I said depending wall portion and extending rearward therefrom.

13. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for the delivery of carriers thereto; mounted within the chamber to receive the delivered carriers thereon; a signal circuit-closing means operable by depression of the platform under the weight of the carri rs for operating a signal; a dispatch tube sending terminal opening upward into the chamber and extending above the bottom thereof; electric air control circuit closing means, comprising a pair of normally separated contact members mounted between the bottom wall of said chamber and the platform and covered by the latter, one of said contact members being laterally shiftable toward and from the other and having a cam nose projecting laterally into the sending terminal through an aperture in the side of the terminal and engageable by an inserted carrier for closing a circuit to start I a flow of carrier propelling air through the terminal, the contact members and their connections being accessible by raising the hinged platform.

14. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a unit for fitting into a forwardly opening compartment of a desk or similar article of furniture and including a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube dis-.

charge terminal opening into said chamber for delivery of carriers into the chamber; a dispatch a hinged, depressible platform' tube sending terminal opening into the casing, the casing having an entrance at its front facing forwardand affording access to the interior of the casing and formed to permit carriers to be passed through it; another sending terminal disposed adjacent the first sendingterminal and having a forwardly facing entrance; and a front structure framing said two entrances and formed to close the front of the furniture compartment.

15. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber to deliver carriers into the chamber; a substantially U-shaped dispatch tube loop connected'to said casing and having a connection for an incomingdispatch tube at one end, a connection at its other end for an outgoing dispatch tube and an opening at an intermediate point in the loop for insertion of carriers for transmission through said outgoing tube.

16. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber and having an arched top; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber to deliver carriers into it; a dispatch tube loop disposed alongside said casing, of' approximately inverted U form and having a. curvature conforming approximately to the arch of the casing top, said loop having a connection at one end for'a'n incoming dispatch tube, a connection at its opposite end for an outgoing dispatch tube and an opening at an intermediate point for insertion of carriers for transmission through said outgoing tube. V

17. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device for fitting into a forwardly opening compartment of a desk or similar article of furniture and including a casing forming a carrier receiving chamber; a dispatch tube discharge terminal opening into said chamber for delivery of carriers into the chamber; a dispatch tube sending terminal opening into the casing, thecasing having an entrance opening at its'front facing forward and affording access to the interior of the casing and formed to permit carriers to be passed through it; an approximately U -shaped dispatch tube loop disposed alongside said casing and con nected thereto and having, a connection at one end for anincoming dispatch tube, a connection at its opposite end for an outgoing dispatch tube and a forwardly facing entrance opening at an intermediate point in the loopfor insertion of carriers for transmission through the said outgoing tube; and a front wall structure framing said entrance openings of the casing and loop and formed to close the front of the furniture compartment.

able by insertion of a carrier into said sending terminal to close a circuit to startv a carrierpropelling flow of air through thesending termi-,

nal, the platform being upwardly shiftable to afford access to said two circuit-closing means.

19. A pneumatic dispatch tube terminal device comprising a carrier receptacle; a dispatch tube discharge terminal directed into said receptacle for delivery of carriers thereto; a depressibly mounted platform disposed Within the receptacle to receive and support the delivered carriers thereon; and signal circuit-closing means beneath the platform and operable by depression of the platform under the carrier weight to close a signal circuit, said platform being shiftable upward to afford access to said circuit-closing means.