US3820740A

US3820740A - Plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube

Info

Publication number: US3820740A
Application number: US00371693A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Tsimbler; J Topolyansky; A Alexandrov; V Aglitsky; G Alexeev; I Kantor; V Maslov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-20
Filing date: 1973-06-20
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28

Abstract

The plant has a loading/-unloading station including a chamber which is a section of a tube, and a charging/delivery device and a lifting device mounted at the opposite sides of this chamber. The chamber has two opposing ports of which one is intended for passage of the goods therethrough and the other is an additional port for passage into this chamber of the movable member of the lifting device. The two ports are closable with respective lids to render the chamber air-tight during transportation of the containers. The chamber is mounted for rotation about the geometric axis thereof, for the goods passage thereof to register with the port of a charging/delivery device and the additional port thereof to face the lifting device. The movable member of the lifting device during its working stroke engages the body of the container and lifts it to engage the port of the charging/delivery device, in which position it supports this body at a loading operation. With the loading/unloading station being constructed in the disclosed manner, it becomes possible to load container both with piece goods and with materials in bulk form.

Description

United States Patent [191 Alexandrov et al.

[111 3,820,740 [451 June 28, 1974 PLANT FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS IN CONTAINERS ALONG A TUBE Primary Examinerlames B. Marbert Assistant Examiner-Hadd S. Lane Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ho1man & Stern [76] Inventors: Adolf Moritsovich Alexandrov,

Federativny prospekt 6, korpus 3, kv. 8; Vladimir Efimovich Aglitsky, Zatsepsky val 6/13. kv. 61; Jury ABSTRACT Abramovich Tsimbler, Sojuzny prospekt 0 $2 mi- The plant has a load1ng/ -un1oadmg station including a Arnoldovich Topolyansky, chamber which 18 a section of a tube, and a charging- Matvecskaya ulitsa 10, Korpus 4 ldelivery device and a lifting device mounted at the kv. 233; llya Solomonovich Kantor, Opposite Sldes of this Chamber- Malo-Moskovskaya ulitsa 31, kv. The chamber has two opposing ports of which one is 45; Viktor Semenovich Maslov, intended for passage of the goods therethrough and Leningradskoeshosse, 128, korpus the other is an additional port for passage into this 3, kv. 75, all of Moscow; Gennady chamber of the movable member of the lifting device. Mikhailovich Alexeev, Sredny The two ports are closable with respective lids to prospekt, 61, kv. 55, Leningrad, all render the chamber air-tight during transportation of of USSR. the containers.

[22] Filed: June 20, 1973 The chamber is mounted for rotation about the geometric axis thereof, for the goods passage thereof [21 1 Appl' 371,693 to register with the port of a charging/delivery device and the additional port thereof to face the lifting [52] US. Cl....- 243/19, 243/33 device Int. Cl. The movable member of the device during its Field of Search 3/1, 19, 20, 1, 23, working stroke engages the body of the container and 243/24, 25, 28, 3 ,lifts it to engage the port of the charging/delivery 214/18 RK, 41 device, in which position it supports this body at a loading operation. With the loading/unloading station References Cited being constructed in the disclosed manner, it becomes UNITED STATES PATENTS possible to load container both with piece goods and 3,512,735 5/1970 Hallstrom 243/19 x with mammals bulk form- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5 Claims 11 Drawing Figures 1,224,207 3/1963 Germany 243/19 mmmum m4 SHEET 1 BF 7 FIE] PATENTEDJUNZB m4 SHEET 7 [IF 7 FIG]! PLANT FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS IN CONTAINERS ALONG A TUBE The present invention relates to plants for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers.

It is expedient that a plant for pneumatic transportation of goods, constructed in accordance with the present invention, should be employed for transportation of materials or articles intended for compression, e.g., of domestic and industrial waste.

It is also possible to employ said plant constructed in accordance with the invention for transportation of various other goods in bulk and piece form.

There are known plants for pneumatic transportation of bulk goods in containers along tube lines under the action of a pressure. These plants comprise a loading station and an unloading station interconnected by a tube, as well as means for creating an air flow carrying therewith the containers, either individually or in trains.

The loading stations of these known plants include a charging device and a cylindrical chamber fixedly mounted under this charging device. The chamber has a port for passage of the goods therethrough, placed in opposition to the port of the charging device. Within this cylindrical chamber there is a section of the tube line, rotatable about its geometrical axis.

This section of the tube line has lattice ports for passage of the goods therethrough, the number of said portscorresponding to the number of the ports of the cylindrical chamber. Mounted on the external surface of this section of the tube line are funnels encircling the ports in the tube line, these funnels being intended to direct the goods being charged into the containers. During transportation of containers in the tube line. the ports in the cylindrical chamber are sealingly closed with lids mounted on the above mentioned section of the tube line, to ensure air tightness of this section.

The unloading stations of the above specified plants have a structure which is substantially similar to the abovedescribed loading station. The ports for passage of the goods and the charging device are situated in the lower part of the cylindrical chamber.

The containers employed by the above specified plants for pneumatic transportation of goods include each a cylindrical vessel with a port for passage of the goods, freely supported by wheeled travel bogies.

The above specified plants are intended for transportation of goods in bulk form.

In the above specified plants a certain amount of the goods might be spilled during loading of goods into the containers at the loading stations, since the container port is somewhat spaced from the port of the charging device. To remove the spilled goods, a special-design device is to be incorporated in the loading stations, which both complicates the operation of such stations and increases their cost. The containers are unloaded at an unloading stations by being tripped, which is effected by a tripping mechanism temporarily coupling the section of the tube line with the cylindrical body of the container, which complicates the operation of the unloading stations and increases their cost.

It is an object ofthe present invention to improve the above specified known plants by simplifying the loading unloading operations.

It is another object of the present invention to create a plant that should be capable of transportation both of goods in bulk form and piece goods.

With these and other objects in view there is herein disclosed a plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers, wherein the loading/unloading station has a structure providing for loading and unloading of practically any goods, be it goods in bulk form or piece goods.

This is attained in a plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube line, wherein each container includes a closed body provided with a port for passage of the goods therethrough, said body being freely supportedby the frame of the travel bogies, the plant further comprising a loading/unloading station including a chamber which is a section of said tube, said chamber having at least one port for passage of the goods therethrough which port is germetically sealed during transportation of containers, said chamber being mounted for rotation relative to the geometric axis thereof, for registering of said port of said chamber and the port of a charging delivery device to register during an operation of loading of said containers, in which plant, in accordance with the present invention, said loading/unloading station incorporates a lifting device of which is arranged relative to said chamber at the side thereof, opposite to said port of said charging/delivery device, said movable member being adapted to cooperate with said container during the operation of loading of said container, said chamber further having at least one additional port disposed opposite to said port for passage of the goods therethrough, said additional port being intended for passage of said movable member into said chamber during the operation of loading of said container; to provide air-tight sealing of said chamber at transportation of containers, said ports thereof are associated with respective lids adapted to close said. ports, the surfaces of said lids, facing the interior of said chamber, being a continuation of the cylindrical internal surface of said chamber, said lids being mounted for reciprocation relative to said chamber, when said ports thereof are positioned for transportation of said containers.

It is advisable that said lifting device should include a power cylinder having a bar mounted on the movable member thereof, the bar extending in a direction parallel to geometric axis of said chamber and having mounted thereon spaced transverse bifurcated mem bers adapted for cooperation with said container, to support said closed body of said container and to lift said body until it engages said port of said charging device, in which way said body is supported during the loading operation.

The above structure of the lifting device is simple, conveni'enband reliable in operation.

It is practical from the technological point of view that said body of said container should be provided at the side thereof, opposite to said goods passage port, with an additional port closable with a double-flip door which in the closed position rests upon respective bars extending along the geometrical axis of said container, said bars having the ends thereof pivotally connected with articulated spring-biased systems mounted on the face ends of said frame of said travel bogies, said sytems being adapted for interaction with said movable member of said lifting device, for said door to be opened during a container unloading operation.

The above structure of the container simplifies the operation of unloading of said container.

It is expedient that each said articulated system should include a pusher and a pair of L-shaped arms of which the pivot axes should be fixed on the frame of the bogies, the lower ends of said arms being pivotally connected with said bars maintaining said door in the closed position and the upper ends of said arms being connected with said pusher mounted for reciprocation in a sleeve attached to said frame, as pusher is acted upon by movable member of lifting device of said loading/unloading station. during the container loading operation.

The above structure of the articulated system is relatively simple and reliable in operation.

It is further expedient that said plant should incorporate a device for ejecting the goods from the body of the container, mounted outside said chamber, opposite to said additional port thereof and comprising a power cylinder having a plate mounted on the movable member thereof, said plate being adapted to be projected by the motion of said last-mentioned movable member through said additinal port into said body of said container, to eject the goods therefrom.

It is essential that the plant should incorporate this device for ejecting the goods when the latter are characterized by increased adhesion of their particles to one another and to the walls of the body of the contamer.

A plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube line, constructed in accordance with the invention, is capable of transportation of goods both in bulk and piece form.

Furthermore, it is structurally simple and-economical in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a plant for pneumatic transportation of goods along a tube, embodying the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube line;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the loading station, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, with the container in a transportation position;

FIG. 4 shows the same, as FIG. 3, with the body of the container in the loading position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion A of FIG.

FIG. 6 illustrates a container with an additional port,

according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view along line VIII- VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a part of the unloading station in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line X--X of FIG. 9, with the container in the unloading position;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line XI-XI of FIG. 9, with the container in the unloading position.

Referring now in particular to the appended drawings, the plant for pneumatic transportation of goods includes a loading station 1 (FIG. 1), an unloading station 2, a tube line 3 interconnecting the two stations and means 4 for providing an air flow carrying therewith containers 5 either individually or interconnected into trains.

The loading station I has a framework 6 (FIG. 2) having mounted thereon a chamber 7, a charging device 8 positioned above the chamber 7 and a lifting device 9 underlying the chamber 7.

The chamber 7 is a section of the tube line 3, being a continuation of this tube line 3 along which the containers 5 are transported.

The chamber 7, in its turn, includes several separate sections of which the number equals the number of the containers 5 which are simultaneously loaded. The sections 10 are interconnected by flanges l 1 having the peripheries thereof supported by rollers 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) rotatably mounted on the framework 6.

The chamber 7 has attached thereto a bracket 13 pivotally connected with the plunger rod 14 of a power cylinder 15 effecting rotation of the chamber 7 about its geometric axis 16. The cylinder 15 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 17 attached to the framework 6.

Each section 10 of the chamber 7 has a port 18 for passage of the goods and an additional port 19 disposed in opposition to the port 18. In the position of the chamber 7 corresponding to transportation of the containers through the tube line the two ports are positioned at the opposite sides of the chamber 7. In ,this position the two ports are sealingly closed with lids 20 providing air tightness of the chamber 7 in the trans portation position. The surface of each lid 20, facing the interior of the chamber 7, forms a continuation of the cylindrical internal surface of the chamber. On the external surface of the chamber 7, about the two

ports

18 and 19, there are attached two funnels 21 each having a sealing element 22 (FIG. 5) mounted on the inter nal surface of the funnel 21, remotely from the chamber 7. The lid 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is rigidly connected by means of ribs 23 to a flat flange 24 which adjoins the sealing element 22, ensuring air tightness of the internal space of the chamber 7.

On the external side of each such flange 24 there are attached pins 25 received in sleeves 26 mounted on the framework 6. The pins 25 freely slide within these sleeves 26 and thus guide the motion of the lids, as the latter are closing and opening the

respective ports

18 and 19.

Also secured to the external side of each flange 24 is a bracket 27 pivotally connected to one end of an arm 28 of which the other end is pivotally connected to the plunger rod 29 of a power cylinder 30 and to an arm 31 of which the pivot axis 32 is mounted on the framework 6. The power cylinder 30 is pivotally mounted on the framework 6.

The arms 28, 31 and the power cylinder 30 effect reciprocation of the lids 20 to open the

respective ports

18 and 19 at loading of the containers 5 and to close these ports at transportation.

The charging device 8 is likewise made up by a plurality of individual sections of which the number equals the number of the sections 10 of the chamber 7. Each section of the charging device has a port 33 for passage of the goods, closable with a gate 34 actuated by a power cylinder 35.

In case the charging device 8 is intended for loading the containers 5 with bricks a of compressed material,

each section of the device 8 is associated with a powerdriven ejector 36.

Mounted under each section 10 of the chamber 7 on the framework 6 is the lifting device 9 including a power cylinder 37 of which the plunger rod 38 is the movable member of the device. The plunger rod 38 is adapted for cooperation with the body 39 of the container 5, for which purpose the free end of the plunger rod 38 has secured thereto a bar 40 made up by two rigidly interconnected channel pieces. The last-mentioned bar 40 extends parallel to the axis 16. Bifrucated members 41 are rigidly secured to this bar 40 and transversely extend therefrom at spaced locations. The bar 40 and the bifurcated members 41 are serving as a support for the body 39 of the container 5, when the plunger rod 38 is projected from the power cylinder 37.

The container 5 further includes a frame 42 (FIGS. 6 and 7), the face ends of which have respective journals 43 rigidly secured thereto. The journals 43 provide connection between the container frame 42 and travel bogies 44. The body 39 of the container is freely supported by the frame 42 and has a goods passage port 45 in the upper part thereof.

To provide for loading and unloading of bricks a of a compressed material, e.g., of domestic or industrial waste, the side walls 46 of the body 39'are flat, while the bottom of the body is a part of a cylindrical surface.

To provide for unloading of a container 5 without re moving either the container or at least the body thereof from the chamber 7, the bottom of the body of the container 5 is in the form of a double-flap door 47 supported on the side walls 46 on hinges 48. As this double-flap door is open, there is provided in the body 39 an additional port 49 through which the goods leave the container, as the latter is being unloaded.

The door 47 is maintained in a closed state by two bars 50 extending parallel to the geometric axis of the container, the ends of the bars 50 being pivotally connected with articulated systems, or leverages 51 mounted on the end faces of the frame 42 of the travel bogies 44. Each articulated system 51 includes a sleeve 52 (FIG. 8) secured to thejournal 43 and extending along the vertical axis 53 of symmetry of the container 5. The sleeve 52 slidably receives therein a vertically reciprocable pusher 54. Mounted on the frame 42 symmetrically in respect of the axis 53 are pivot axis 55 pivotally supporting respective L-shaped arms 56. The upper ends of these arms 56 are pivotally connected with the bottom end of the pusher 54, whereas the lower ends of these arms are pivotally connected with the bars 50. The two arms 56 are interconnected with an extension spring 57. The pushers 54 are arranged for interaction with the lifting device 9, transmitting the effort of the last-mentioned device to the respective articulated systems 51, to effect opening of the doubleflap door 47, as the container 5 is being unloaded.

The unloading station 2 (FIGS. 9, l0 and 11) has a structure similar to that of the above described loading station 1. The charging device8 (which in the case of the unloading station 2 is a delivery device 8) is positioned under the chamber 7 of the unloading station, while the lifting device 9 is positioned above the chamber 7.

To facilitate opening'of the double-flap door 47 of the body 39 of the container 5, the lifting device 9 has two power cylinders 58 arranged so that thir respective plunger rods 59 are adapted to pass through the additional port 19 of the chamber 7 and to actuate the pushers 54 of the container 5.

To compensate for eventual inaccurate positioning of a container 5 in the unloading station 2 at transmission of the effort from the power cylinder 58, the upper extremity of the pusher 54 of the container 5 carries a crosspiece 60, whereas the end of the plunger rod 59 has secured thereto a cross-piece 61. To prevent skewing of the cross-piece 61, as the latter is moved by the plunger rod 59, the crosspiece 61 is provided with guide pins freely passing through corresponding openings made in the framework 6.

If the container 5 is loaded with a material character ized by increased adhesion of its particles to one another and to the walls of the body 39, e.g., when it is loaded with domestic waste compressed into bricks, or else with such'a materialasdamp clay, complete unloading of the container 5 is effected with the help of a device 63 for ejecting the load from the container, mounted on the framework 6 of the unloading station 2 above the chamber 7, in opposition to the additional port 19. The device 63 includes a power cylinder 64 with a movable member 65 carrying a plate 66 which is driven by the motion of this movable member 65 into the body 39 of the container 5 through the port 45.

To prevent skewing of the moving plate 66., the latter carries thereon guide pins 67 freely sliding inside sleeves'68 secured to the framework 6.

Reciprocation of the lids 20 of the chamber 7, to close and open the

ports

18 and 19 of this chamber, can be effected by a drive including a power cylinder 69 of which the plunger rod 70 is directly connected with the flange 24, as is illustrated in FIG. 11.

The herein disclosed plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube operates, as follows.

Empty containers 5 are conveyed from the unloading station 2 to the loading station 1 via the tube 3 under the action of a pressure differential created by the means 4 for providing an air flow, the last-mentioned means in this case acting as a vacuum pump, as is illustrated in FIG, 1.

In the initial container-receiving position (FIG. 3) the

ports

18 and 19 of the chamber 7 are closed with the respective lids 20. The port 33 of the charging device 8 is closed with the gate 34. The plunger rod 38 of the lifting device 9 is in its lowermost position.

Upon the containers 5 having arrived at the loading station 1 and having been accurately registered in respect of the ports 33 of the charging device 8, the power cylinders 30 are operated by a suitable automatic control device. As the plunger rods 29 of these cylinders move downwardly, the lids 20 are driven off the funnels 21 and open the

ports

18 and 19. The pins 25 freely slide in the sleeves 26 and thus positively prevent skewing of the moving lids 20. When the lids 20 are driven completely off the funnels 21, the power cylinder 15 is automatically operated, its plunger rod 14 diriving the bracket 13 to rotate the chamber 7 through in a clockwise direction, to effect registration of the

load passage ports

33, 18 and 4 5, respectively, of the charging device 8, chamber 7 and body 39 of the container 5, the chamber 7 being rotated with its flanges ll rolling on the rollers 12. Then. the power cylinder 37 of the lifting device 9is automatically operated, its

plunger rod 38 rising together with the bar 40 and the bifurcated members 41 and entering the internal space of thevchamber 7 through the port 19. This motion brings the rod 40 into engagement with the face end walls 71 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and the double-flap door 47 of the body 39 of the container 5, while the projecting ends 72 (FIG. 3) of the bifurcated members 41 engage the side walls 46 of the body 39. With the plunger rod rising further on, the body 39 is lifted off the frame or undercarriage 42 and is carried upwardly through the port 18 (of which the corresponding dimensions are larger than the length and width of the body 39C toward the port 33 of the charging device 8, ie into a position illustrated in FIG. 4. The gate 34 of the charging device is opened by the power cylinder 35, and the goods are loaded from the charging device 8 through the port 33 (the size of which should not exceeded that of the port 45 of the body 39) into the body 39. If the goods are a material in a bulk form, the charging device 8 includes a hopper with a suitable metering device (not shown) situated above the gate 34. If the goods are in the form of a material compressed into a brick a, as is shown in FIG. 4, the brick is fed into the body 39 by the downward motion of the ejector 36. As the container is being thus loaded, the lifting device 9 main tains the body 39 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

After the body 39 has been thus loaded, the plunger rod 38 is lowered into its initial position, whereby the body 39 is lowered to rest by its abutments 73 on the frame 42 of the travel bogies 44 of the container 5, and the double-flap door of the body 39 bears upon the bars 50. Thereafter the-power cylinder is operated to rotate the chamber 7 counterclockwise through 90, i.e., into the position of the chamber, corresponding to transportation of the containers 5; the

ports

18 and 19 are sealingly/closed with the lids 29 driven into the funnels 21 by the respective power cylinders 30. The flanges 24 engage the sealing element 22, and the chamber 7 becomes air-tight.

The loading station 1 may be used for unloading the containers 5, the unloading operation being in many respects similar to the abovedescribed loading operation. Thus, the loading station 1 is operable as an unloading station, the only modification needed for the purpose being that the size of the port 33 of the charging device should be greater than the length and width of the body 39 of the container 5. The container 5 is unloaded by its body 39 being lifted off the frame 42 by the lifting device 9 and transferred together with the load carried thereby through the port 33 into the charging device 8, where the load is removed therefrom, whereafter the body 39 is lowered by the device 9 to rest on the frame 42 of the travel bogies 44 of the container 5, Le, into the transportation position.

The loaded containers 5 are conveyed from the loading station 1 toward the unloading station 2 via the tube 3 under the pressure differential created by the air flow means 4 which in this case operates as an air charging device (i.e., an air compressor), as is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The operations of receiving the containers 5 and preparing the unloading station 2 for unloading of these containers are similar to the abovedescribed corre sponding operations performed at the loading station 1.

Upon registration of the

ports

18 and 33, respectively of the chamber 7 and of the charging delivery device 8 situated under this chamber, the power cylinders 58 of the lifting device 9 positioned above the chamber 7 are operated automatically, the plunger rods 59 of these cylinders moving downwardly and entering through the additional port 19 the internal space of the chamber 7, where they engage the pushers 54 of the articulated systems 51 of the container 5. As theplunger rods 59 continue their downward stroke together with the pushers 54, the latter effect pivoting of the arms 56 about their pivot axes 55 against the resistance of the spring 57. The bars 50 which in the transportation position of the containers 5 maintain the double-flap door 47 of the body 39 of the container in the closed state are now driven apart, whereby the door 47 opens under its own weight and the weight of the load supported thereby in the body 39. The goods either flow or drop out through the port 49 now formed in the body 39 of the container 5 into the charging/delivery device 8 which in the unloading station is positioned under the chamber 7. When the goods to be unloaded from the container 5 are characterized by increased adhesion of their particles to one another and to the walls of the body 39, e. g., when the goods are in the form of domestic and industrial waste compressed into bricks a, there is operated the device 63, with its power cylinder 64 starting its working stroke. The plate 66 which is carried on the extremity of the movable member of the cylinder 64 has dimensions that are slightly less than those of the port 45 of the body 39; it enters the body 39 through the additional port 19 of the chamber 7 and through the port 45 and ensures complete unloading of the container 5.

After the container 5 has been unloaded the plunger rods 59 of the lifting device 9 and the movable member 65 of the device 63 (in case this device is incorporated) are raised. Thus, the pushers 54 are released, and the extended spring 57 rotates the L-shaped arms 56 about their pivot axes in the opposite direction, the rotating arms driving the bars 50 to close the port 49 of the body 39 with the flaps of the double-flap door 47.

The remaining operations of preparing the unloading station 2 for transportation of the containers along the tube 3 toward the loading station are similar to the corresponding operations performed at the loading station, as it has been described hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. A plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube, comprising: a loading station, an unloading station, said tube connecting said stations, each said container including a frame, travel bogies mounted on said frame a closed body freely supported by said frame and having a goods passage port, means for creating an air flow in said tube, said loading and unloading stations having a substantially similar structure, each said station incorporating: a chamber which is a section of said tube, mounted for rotation about the geometric axis thereof, a charging/delivery device with a goods passage port mounted at one side of said chamber, a lifting device having a movable member and being mounted at the opposite side of said chamber so that the movable member thereof is situated in opposition to said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device, said chamber having at least two opposite ports of which one is intended for passage of the goods therethrough and the other one is an additional port for passage therethrough of said movable member of said lifting device into said chamber; said goods passage port of said chamber registering with said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device for passage therethrough of the goods from said charging/delivery device at loading of said container; said two goods passage ports not communicating when said containers are to be transported along said tube, lids for sealingly closing said ports of said chamber, the internal surface of said lids, facing the interior of said chamber, being a continuation of the cylindrical surface of said chamber, means effecting reciprocation of said lids relative to said chamber, said movable member being adapted to cooperate with said container at loading of the latter; and means effecting rotation of said chamber about said geometric axis thereof.

2. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting device includes a power cylinder with a movable member having attached thereto a bar extending in a direction parallel to said geometrix axis of said chamber, said bar carrying thereon spaced transverse bifurcated member adapted, at cooperation with said container, to

support said body thereof and to lift said body into engagement with said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device, as well as to support said body during a container loading operation.

3. A plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube, comprising: a loading station and an unloading station,.said tube interconnecting said stations; means for producing an air flow within said tube, said loading station and said unloading station being of a substantially similar structure, each said station including, a chamber which is a section of said tube, mounted for rotation about the geometric axis thereof, a charging/delivery device with a goods passage port mounted at one side of said chamber; a lifting device having a movable member and being mounted at the opposite side of said chamber so that the movable member thereof is situated in opposition to said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device, said movable member being adapted to cooperate with said container at said station, said chamber having at least two opposite ports of which one is intended for passage of the goods therethrough and the other one is an additional port for passage therethrough of said movable member of said lifting device into said chamber; said goods passage port of said chamber registering with said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device for passage therethrough of the goods from said charging/delivery device at loading of said containers, said two goods passage ports not communicating when said containers are to be transported along said tube, lids for sealingly closing said ports of said chamber, the internal surface of said lids, facing the interior of said chamber, being a continuation of the cylindrical surface of said chamber, means effecting reciprocation of said lids relative to said chamber, means effecting rotation of said chamber about saidgeometric axis thereof, each said container including: a frame, trave bogies mounted on said frame, a body freely supported by said frame, said body including at least two opposing ports of which one is intended for passage of goods therethrough at loading of said container and the other one is an additional port intended for passage of goods therethrough at unloading of said container, a doubleflap door adapted to close off said additional port of said container at transportation of the latter, springbiased articulated systems mounted at face ends of said frame, bars extending along the geometric axis of said container and adapted to support thereon'said door at a closed state of the latter, the ends of said bars being pivotally connected with said articulated systems, said articulated systems being arranged to be acted upon by said movable member of said lifting device of said unloading station to effect opening of said door of said container at unloading of the latter.

4. A plant as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said articulated system includes a pusher and a pair of L- shaped arms of which the pivot axes are fixed to said frame of said bogies, the lower ends of said arms being pivotally connected with said bars supporting said door in the closed state thereof, the upper ends of said arms being connected with said pusher mounted for reciprocation in a sleeve attached to said frame, as said pusher is acted upon by said movable member of said lifting device of said unloading station during a container unloading operation.

5. A plant as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is in corporated a device for ejecting the goods from'said body of said container, mounted outside said chamber opposite to said additional port thereof and including a power cylinder with a movable member having a plate mounted thereon, said plate being adapted to be introduced by the motion of said last-mentioned movable member through said additional port into said body of said container, to eject the goods therefrom.

Claims

2. A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting device includes a power cylinder with a movable member having attached thereto a bar extending in a direction parallel to said geometrix axis of said chamber, said bar carrying thereon spaced transverse bifurcated member adapted, at cooperation with said container, to support said body thereof and to lift said body into engagement with said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device, as well as to support said body during a container loading operation.

3. A plant for pneumatic transportation of goods in containers along a tube, comprising: a loading station and an unloading station, said tube interconnecting said stations; means for producing an air flow within said tube, said loading station and said unloading station being of a substantially similar structure, each said station including, a chamber which is a section of said tube, mounted for rotation about the geometric axis thereof, a charging/delivery device with a goods passage port mounted at one side of said chamber; a lifting device having a movable member and being mounted at the opposite side of said chamber so that the movable member thereof is situated in opposition to said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device, said movable member being adapted to cooperate with said container at said station, said chamber having at least two opposite ports of which one is intended for passage of the goods therethrough and the other one is an additional port for passage therethrough of said movable member of said lifting device into said chamber; said goods passage port of said chamber registering with said goods passage port of said charging/delivery device for passage therethrough of the goods from said charging/delivery device at loading of said containers, said two goods passage ports not communicating when said containers arE to be transported along said tube, lids for sealingly closing said ports of said chamber, the internal surface of said lids, facing the interior of said chamber, being a continuation of the cylindrical surface of said chamber, means effecting reciprocation of said lids relative to said chamber, means effecting rotation of said chamber about said geometric axis thereof, each said container including: a frame, trave bogies mounted on said frame, a body freely supported by said frame, said body including at least two opposing ports of which one is intended for passage of goods therethrough at loading of said container and the other one is an additional port intended for passage of goods therethrough at unloading of said container, a double-flap door adapted to close off said additional port of said container at transportation of the latter, spring-biased articulated systems mounted at face ends of said frame, bars extending along the geometric axis of said container and adapted to support thereon said door at a closed state of the latter, the ends of said bars being pivotally connected with said articulated systems, said articulated systems being arranged to be acted upon by said movable member of said lifting device of said unloading station to effect opening of said door of said container at unloading of the latter.

4. A plant as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said articulated system includes a pusher and a pair of L-shaped arms of which the pivot axes are fixed to said frame of said bogies, the lower ends of said arms being pivotally connected with said bars supporting said door in the closed state thereof, the upper ends of said arms being connected with said pusher mounted for reciprocation in a sleeve attached to said frame, as said pusher is acted upon by said movable member of said lifting device of said unloading station during a container unloading operation.

5. A plant as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is incorporated a device for ejecting the goods from said body of said container, mounted outside said chamber opposite to said additional port thereof and including a power cylinder with a movable member having a plate mounted thereon, said plate being adapted to be introduced by the motion of said last-mentioned movable member through said additional port into said body of said container, to eject the goods therefrom.