US3887053A

US3887053A - Gravity chute systems

Info

Publication number: US3887053A
Application number: US412360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter H Luiten
Original assignee: Aerojet General Corp
Current assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc
Priority date: 1973-11-02
Filing date: 1973-11-02
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

A gravity chute system has a substantially vertical riser conduit which is divided into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit. Each of the riser conduit sections is essentially completely closed for deposited objects relative to any adjacent riser conduit section. Objects to be conveyed are deposited in the closed riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit. The riser conduit sections are opened from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit. Deposited objects are removed from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

Description

United States Patent 1 Lulten [73] Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation, El

Monte, Calif.

22 Filed: Nov. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 412,360

[52] US. Cl 193/34; 302/27 [51] Int. Cl B65g 11/00; E04f 17/12 [58] Field of Search 193/34, 33, 32; 302/39, 302/27, 17; 222/502, 503, 506, 508, 145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,490,813 1/1970 Hallstrom 302/17 3,687,503 8/1972 Ekstrom et a1. 193/34 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 332,968 8/1930 United Kingdom 302/27 1,223,279 2/1971 United Kingdom 302/17 PRIOR ART June 3, 1975 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Jeffrey V. Nase Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward O. Ansell; T. Reid Anderson [57 ABSTRACT A gravity chute system has a substantially vertical riser conduit which is divided into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit. Each of the riser conduit sections is essentially completely closed for deposited objects relative to any adjacent riser conduit section. Objects to be conveyed are deposited in the closed riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit. The riser conduit sections are opened from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit. Deposited objects are removed from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET PATH-MUM 3 I975 Qt wwt wt GRAVITY CHUTE SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The subject invention relates to gravity chute systems and, more particularly, to gravity chute systems having a substantially vertical riser conduit. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, gravity chute systems according to the subject invention may be employed for a disposal of refuse or a removal of soiled laundry in high-rise buildings.

2. Description of the Prior Art Gravity chute systems are, for instance, used in highrise buildings for vertical conveyance of solid waste or soiled laundry. Such chutes must either remain open at the bottom or be emptied very frequently to prevent the lower portion of the chute from being filled with material which would make it impossible to use the lower floor loading stations.

As may, for instance, be seen from US. Pat. No. 3,687,503, Ekstrom et al., issued Aug. 29, 1972, there exist prior-art proposals which have dealt with the latter problem. However, for the types of gravity chutes under consideration, there exist additional problems brought about by the fact that accumulated objects at the bottom of the riser are compacted by the impact of objects falling from great heights. With a closed chute system, a dense slug of material forms at the bottom of the riser where it will cause temporary interruption of the use of the gravity chute. This leads to serious problems, since such compacted slugs will not be removed by gravitational forces alone and will also withstand removal by ordinary air evacuation systems.

In accordance with an early prior-art proposal, highrise waste chute systems were thus designed to be open at the bottom for discharge into a storage container, Compactor or storage room.

In order to reduce problems of this type, an early proposal suggested the use of a chain of dumb waiter-like arrangements for removing waste from different stories of a building down a chute system (see French Pat. No. 617.968, by Fernand Bodson, issued Nov. 30, 1926). This system is noisy in its operation, subject to continuous wear and tear, and consumptive of perpetual drive energy. Also, this system requires an extra shaft for the return of the dumb waiter pallets.

A serious obstacle to an earlier solution of the problems under consideration has been the fact that several requirements peculiar to gravity chutes in high-rise buildings have not generally permitted any transplantation of solutions from other fields of utility. This may, for instance, be seen from a consideration of British Patent Specification No. 966,303, by Eduard Koster, published Aug. 12, 1964.

According to the latter British patent, a stairway structure in a vertical mine shaft has several retractable steps projecting from opposite walls of the shaft proper in an interdigitated relationship. To avoid the danger of a sudden rush of discharging material through the stairway structure, the steps are retracted in a predetermined pattern.

In particular, the individual steps are retracted in succession from the shaft, starting at the bottom, either by a carriage having an actuating cam attached to a traveling cable, or by a series of stationary actuating cams.

The structure disclosed in this British patent specification would not be suitable for the purposes of a waste or laundry disposal gravity chute system. For one thing, that prior-art system presupposes a deposition of ob- 5 jects directly on the steps of the stairway structure. In

addition, the stairway structure is not fireproof and, due to its construction, would generate inordinate amounts of dust if waste products or the like were permitted to fall by the weight of gravity onto the steps of the stairway structure.

When a pneumatic transfer system is utilized to convey the material from a multiple number of gravity chutes to a central point, such chutes are provided with discharge valves that permit periodic emptying of the accumulated material into the pneumatic transfer lines below. Each discharge valve effectively closes the bottom of the chute when material is being dumped into it. To avoid the above mentioned problems with highrise closed chutes, the height limit of gravity chute feeding into a pneumatic transfer systems is generally limited to twelve stories or less, depending on the amount of waste handled, the type of occupancy and the storage height available in the lower portion of the chute below the lowest landing station.

For buildings having a number of stories exceeding these limits, several independent vertical gravity chutes are used, each serving, say, eight to twelve stories, and each having a discharge valve permitting the chute material to be dropped periodically into a common riser chute that extends for the entire height of the building. This design requires shaft space for two or three parallel chutes throughout the building as well as valve room space every twelve floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide improved methods of conveying objects through a gravity chute system.

It is a related object of this invention to provide improved gravity chute systems.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in the further course of this disclosure.

The subject invention resides in a method of conveying objects through a gravity chute system, and resides more specifically, in the improvement comprising in combination the steps of providing a substantially vertical riser conduit, dividing the riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit, essentially completely closing each of the riser conduit sections for the objects relative to any ad jacent riser conduit section, depositing objects in the closed riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit, opening the riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit, and removing the deposited objects from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the location of the riser conduit sections are maintained stationary in the riser conduit.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, compressible fluid cushions are provided at the closed riser conduit sections, and the fall of deposited objects is braked in the closed riser conduits with the aid of these compressible fluid cushions.

From another aspect thereof, the subject invention resides in a gravity chute system and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, a substantially vertical riser conduit, means for dividing the riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit, these dividing means including means for essentially completely closing each of the riser conduit sections for the objects relative to any adjacent riser conduit section, means operatively associated with the riser conduit for depositing objects in the riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit, means connected to the dividing means for opening the riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit, and means operatively associated with the riser conduit for removing the deposited objects from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent parts, and in which: I

FIG. 1 is a section through a high-risebuilding being equipped in part with a prior-art gravity chute system and in part with a gravity chute system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a valve according to a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, for use in a gravity chute system of the above mentioned type;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing equipment for actuating the valve to a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the valve actuating equipment as positioned when the valve is open; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the valve shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 with a part broken away for better illustration of the inside of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The high-rise building shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a priorart gravity chute system 12 which includes a vertical riser 13 extending from the bottom to the top of the building. For the purpose of this prior-art gravity chute system, the building is subdivided into a plurality of sections, each being limited to twelve floors or less. Each such section is equippedwith its individual gravity chute subsystem 14.

The subsystems 14 have their own bottom valves 15 through which they issue into the riser 13 or into another part of the removal system as shown, for instance, for the bottom subsection 14 in FIG. 1.

The disadvantages of the prior-art gravity chute system 12 have been stated above in detail. Reference should now be had to the right-hand portion of FIG. 1 which shows a gravity chute system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

The gravity chute system 20 shown in FIG. 1 has only one vertical riser conduit 21 extending from the bottom to the top of the building 10. Several valves 22 are located directly in the riser conduit 21 so as to subdivide the riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections 23 distributed along the riser conduit. Unlike prior-art systems, the system according to the subject invention does not require separate gravity chute subsystems or branches, but is nevertheless capable of dividing the system into several manageable sections.

As will become apparent in the further course of this disclosure, the valves 22 are capable of essentially completely closing each of the riser conduit sections 23 relative to any adjacent riser conduit section, at least as far as the objects being handled by the gravity chute system are concerned.

As in prior-art systems, each floor is provided with equipment for depositing objects, such as refuse or soiled laundry, in the riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit. Several access doors or closures are known for this purpose and can, for instance, be seen in US. Pat. Nos. 1,739,534 and 1,834,171, which are herewith incorporated by reference herein. Accordingly, the access doors or closures for introducing objects into the gravity chute system are shown merely schematically at 25 in FIG. 1.

The gravity chute system 20 of FIG. 1 has a bottom valve 26 which may be of the same type as the valves 22 or which may be of a prior-art design. The purpose of the valve 26 is to provide a selectively openable and closable connection between the riser 21 and a system 28 for removing deposited objects from a bottom region of the riser conduit. The removal system 28 may be of a conventional type. By way of example, this removal system may include a truck or similar vehicle as shown, for instance, in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 1,739,534. Alternatively or additionally, one of the well-known types of exhaust system may be employed for removing deposited objects from the riser conduit bottom.

In considering the gravity chute system 20 shown in FIG. 1, it will be noted that the locations of the conduit sections 23 are maintained stationary in the riser conduit. This in contradistinction to some prior-art systems which operate in the manner of an elevator with mov able containers or plates.

A valve 22 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 5.

As seen in these figures, the valve 22 is interposed between adjacent riser conduit sections 23. The valve 22 has a housing 31 shaped in the manner of a truncated pyramid whose cross section at the top is larger than its cross section at the bottom to provide for an accommodation of a pair of panels or plates 32.

The panels 32 are rotatable or swingable about axes 33 between

positions

35 and 36 shown in FIG. 2.

The valve 22 is open when the panels 32 are in their position 35 whereby essentially the entire cross section of the adjacent sections 23 of the riser conduit 21 is opened. In that case, deposited objects are able to fall from one riser conduit section into the next lower conduit section. On the other hand, the valve 22 is closed when the panels 32 are in their position 36. In that case, the panels 32 extend horizontally and essentially completely close the valve for objects the gravity chute system is designed to handle. Since the panels 32, in their position 36, extend essentially over the entire cross section of the riser conduit 21, it follows that objects being deposited in the riser conduit by way of the doors or closures 25 will remain in the particular riser conduit sections until the valves 22 are opened.

Where safety regulations or sanitary considerations require it, specific closed riser conduit sections or, if

desired, each of the closed riser conduit sections 23 may be vented. For instance, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, venting apertures, such as shown at 38 in FIG. 5, may be provided in one or both of the panels 32. These apertured panels provide air communication inside the riser conduit, even when the panels are in their closed position 36. The apertures 38 are small enough to prevent objects intended to be retained by the closed valve from falling through the panels 32. Alternatively, ventilation may take place through an opening (not shown) in the wall of each valve, or in the conduit below each valve, and through a common ventilation duct (not shown) providing air ventilation to the outside of the building, e.g., via the roof.

The panels 32 may be reinforced by frame members 41 to which the panels are welded or otherwise connected. Nut and bolt assemblies 42 are attached to the panel frame members 41 and extend through bushings 43 which are attached to the valve housing 31 to provide pivotal movement of the panels about their respective axes 28.

Actuating levers 45 are attached to the nut and bolt assemblies 42 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, to provide for an actuation of the panels 32. Each actuating lever 45 has a linkage 46 articulately connected thereto.

The linkages 46 are pivotally connected to a carriage 48 which rides on a rail 49. The carriage 48 is connected to an end of a piston rod 51, the other end of which is connected to a piston shown in dotted outline at 52in FIG. 3.

The piston 52 rides in an air cylinder 54 which, in turn, is articulately connected at 55 to a support 56. The support 56 is welded or otherwise connected to the valve housing 31.

Two springs 58 act on the linkages 46 in order to bias the panels 32. to their open position in the quiescent, open position'of the valve 32. In order to actuate the valve to its closed position, pressurized air is supplied via a pressure line 61 to the air cylinder 54. The pressure'line 61 is connected to a source 63 of pressurized air by way of a valve 62.

The valve 62 may be of a conventional three-way type which has a first position in which air from the cylinder 54 and line 61 is vented to the atmosphere as shown at 65, and a second position in which pressurized air is applied from the source 63 through the pressure line 61 to the air cylinder 54. When air is vented to the atmosphere as shown at 65, then the springs 58 are able to bias the panels 32 to their open position 35. On the other hand, when pressurized air is admitted to the air cylinder from the source 63, then the piston 52 is pushed upwardly and the panels 32 are actuated to their closed position 36 against the bias of the springs 58.

If desired, the air cylinder assembly may be mounted above the linkages 46 so that the panels 32 are biased to their closed position by the spring 58 and are actuated to their open position by the air cylinder and piston assembly.

In the operation of gravity chute system, the valves 22 are normally maintained closed so that deposited articles will not fall down to the bottom of the system, but will remain compartmentalized for the time being. From time to time, the valves 22 and also the valve 26 are opened to permit deposited objects to fall to the bottom of the system for removal therefrom. In practice, each valve 22 may have its own air valve 62 and a timer or other conventional timing device may be employed to open the valves 22 in a desired sequence. such as from the bottom to the top of the system, to prevent an undue load on any of the valves. Media other than pressurized air may, in accordance with prior-art practices, be employed for the actuation of the valves 22.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings resides in the fact that the pressurized air in the cylinder 54 provides a compressible fluid cushion at the closed riser conduit section 23. This fluid cushion acts on the panels 32 by way of the cylinder 52, linkages 46 and actuating levers 45 in order to break the fall of deposited objects. In this manner, objects which are deposited in a riser conduit section and which fall onto the closed panels 32 are not able to deform or destroy the panels. Rather, the impact generated by these objects is absorbed by the fluid cushion in the air cylinder 54. It is, therefore, preferred that a compressible medium be employed for actuating the piston 52.

The subject disclosure will suggest or render apparent further modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the subject invention.

I claim:

1. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; 3

means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

means for venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

2. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections front the outseide of said riser conduit;

said dividing means include means for providing air communication inside said riser conduit sections between said riser conduit sections when said riser conduit sections are closed for said objects.

3. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit;

said dividing means being stationary and including closing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;

opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit;

said dividing means include plate members dimensional to extend over the entire cross section of said riser conduit;

said opening means include means for actuating said plate members to first positions in which the cross section of the riser conduit is substantially open; and

said closing means include means for actuating said plate members to second positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduit is essentially closed for said objects by said plate members.

4. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

said dividing means include apertured members for providing air communication inside said riser conduit between said riser conduit sections when said riser conduit sections are closed for said objects, said apertured members being dimensioned to extend over the entire cross section of said riser conduit;

said opening means include means for actuating said open; and

said closing means include means for actuating said apertured members to second positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduit is essentially closed for said objects by said apertured members. 5. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially veritcal riser conduit; means for dividing said ri'ser conduit into a plurality of riser con duit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and including closing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; said dividing means include means for providing compressible fluid cushions with movement of the riser conduit sections to their closed positions; and

means connected to said fluid cushion providing means for braking the fall of deposited objects with the aid of said compressible fluid sections.

6. In agravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

means is provided for opening the several riser conduit sections in sequence from the lowermost section in an upwardly direction to the uppermost section. 7. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough;

depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;

opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

8. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

providing air communication inside said riser conduit between adjacent closed riser conduit sections.

9. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit;

providing compressible fluid cushions at said closed riser conduit sections; and

braking a fall of deposited objects in said closed riser conduits with the aid of said compressible fluid cushion.

10. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough;

opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit, said opening of the riser conduit sections being accomplished by proceeding in sequence from the lowermost section in an upwardly direction to the uppermost section; and

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit.

Claims

1. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser cOnduit; means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and means for venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

2. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outseide of said riser conduit; means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and said dividing means include means for providing air communication inside said riser conduit sections between said riser conduit sections when said riser conduit sections are closed for said objects.

3. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and including closing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; said dividing means include plate members dimensional to extend over the entire cross section of said riser conduit; said opening means include means for actuating said plate members to first positions in which the cross section of the riser conduit is substantially open; and said closing means include means for actuating said plate members to second positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduit is essentially closed for said objects by said plate members.

4. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and including closing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; said dividing means include apertured members for providing air communication inside said riser conduit between said riser conduit sections when said riser conduit sections are closed for said objects, said apertured members being dimensioned to extend over the entire cross section of said riser conduit; said opening means include means for actuating said apertured members to first positions in which the cross section of the riser conduit is substantially open; and said closing means include means for actuating said apertured members to second positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduit is essentially closed for said objects by said apertured members.

5. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially veritcal riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and including closing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; said dividing means include means for providing compressible fluid cushions with movement of the riser conduit sections to their closed positions; and means connected to said fluid cushion providing means for braking the fall of deposited objects with the aid of said compressible fluid sections.

6. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and means is provided for opening the several riser conduit sections in sequence from the lowermost section in an upwardly direction to the uppermost section.

7. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a substantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

8. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a substantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduIt sections against passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and providing air communication inside said riser conduit between adjacent closed riser conduit sections.

9. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a substantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; providing compressible fluid cushions at said closed riser conduit sections; and braking a fall of deposited objects in said closed riser conduits with the aid of said compressible fluid cushion.