US578237A - Pneumatic-despatch system - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) I

H...A. HAMLIN & D. HUNTER.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH SYSTEM- Patented Mar. 2,189'7.-

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H. A. HAMLIN & D. HUNTER.

PNEUMATIC DBSPAICH SYSTEM.

No. 578,237. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

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HENRY A. HAMLIN AND DAVID HUNTER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PN EU MATlC-DESPATCH SYSTEME SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,237, dated March 2, 1897. Application filed May 4, 1896. Serial No. 590,182. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY A. HAMLIN and DAVID HUNTER, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved pneumatic-despatch system which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved delivery-box having a door or valve through which the carrier may be delivered, the box being provided with means whereby any back draft into the end of the delivery-tube will be prevented when the door or valve is open for the purpose of permitting the delivery of the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for introducin g the carriers to the pneumatic tubes. Y

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a pneumatic-despatch system illustrating our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing one of the stationboxes provided both with a delivery-valve and with a sending device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the station-boxes, such as will preferably be used at the station opposite that at which is used the box shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a plan view of the box shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the box shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line {B x of Fig.

The system we have here shown is especially adapted for use as a cash-carrier system connecting-the cashiers desk in a store or other building with the various sales-counters or individual stations located throughout the building. A number of terminal boxes will be arranged at the cashiers desk and other terminal boxes at the sales-counters. A suctionor draft through the pipe is obtained by means of a fan or other suitable device. We

prefer to employ a steam-jet for creating the suction through the pipes, such, for example, as that shown in the patent to the abovenamed David Hunter, granted February 9,

1892, No. 468,419. We prefer also to provide a series of terminals in connection with a pipe that is looped back and forth from one box to another, so that we may connect a number of stations with terminal boxes at the cashiers desk, all operated by a single suction device.

In the drawings, 2 represents the intake end of the pipe of the system, and l the end that is connected to the steam-jet, fan, or other suction device. The pipe is provided with a number of loops 3 3 3 3, connecting terminal boxes at the cashiers desk with terminal boxes located at the various outside or individual stations. These stations may be located at the different sales-counters or at other different points.

The means employed for delivering the carrier are the same at the cashiers desk or central station and at the other stations, but we prefer to employ different sending means at the cashiers or central station from what we do at the other stations. The terminal boxes all exclude the atmosphere except momentarily while the carrier is being delivered, and

then the air only enters in such a small quantity and for such a short time as to have no effect upon the operation of the system. The current of air flowing in through the open end 2 of the pipe forming the system passes through each of the terminal boxes at the various stations and finally passes out at the opposite end of the system, the draft, as before stated, being created either by a fan, a steamjet, or other suitable means. The construction of the terminal box employed at the sales counters or outer stations is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 4. As here shown, the pipe 3 enters the box a and passes through said box and has its open end projecting through the bottom of the box. The pipe 3 within the box 4 is provided with a slot or longitudinal opening 5, preferably extending substantially the full height of said box, and secured to the pipe 3 at the walls of said opening is a suitable casting or casing 6, within which is pivoted the valve 7. This valve is mounted upon a pivot 8, located, preferably, at a point slightlyat one side of the center of the valve. As here shown, this pivot is located a short distance below the center of the valve, so that the upper end of the valve is somewhat longer than the lower end. A stop 9 is preferably arranged in the box in position to be encountered by the end of the valve 7, whereby the movement of said valve is limited. The intake end of the next loop of the pipe 3 is arranged to pass through the box 4, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of said pipe being preferably flush with the top of the box 4. Said loop is provided within the box 4 with a series of slots 10. At the lower end of the outlet or delivery end of the pipe 3 is a hinged valve 11, which is arranged to close the end of said pipe. This valve is preferably mounted upon the short shaft 12, having upon its end the eccentrically-placed wheel or pulley 13. A spring 14 is secured to this wheel and to a stud or loop 15 upon the box 4.

\Vhen the device is in operation, the current of air passing through the various loops of the pipe 3 and passing from one loop to the next through the terminal box 4, both the delivery and the intake ends of said pipe being closed, with the exception, of course, of the open end 2, hereinbefore referred to, if a carrier passes through one of the loops of said pipe it will enter the box 4 and passing down through the pipe will close the valve 7, turning it from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. This will shut off the suction through the opening 5, and as the valve or door 11 opens will prevent any air from flowing in through said opening and creating a back draft through the opening 5. If it were not for the fact that the opening 5 is closed as the valve or door 11 is opened, the vacuum caused by the steam-jet or fan would cause the air to rush in through the open end of the pipe, and this inflowing current of air would intercept the carrier and would frequently prevent it from being delivered; but where the valve 7 is employed this inflow of air through the end of the pipe when the valve 11 is open is prevented, and the weight of the carrier causes it to drop out of the pipe as the valve 11 swings open.

It will also be noticed that as soon as the valve 7 is closed the pressure upon the valve 11 is relieved and the weight of the carrier readily opens said valve, whereas if this pressure were not relieved considerable of a blow would be necessary to open the valve. It will also be noticed that by providing the eccentric 13 upon the rod 12, which forms the axis of the valve 11, and by connecting the spring to the circumference of said eccentric when the valve is closed the spring will be most nearly in its normal or undistended position, in which position it will exert the least power or pull on the valve, but that as the valve begins to open and the spring to be distended the pulling force of the spring is increased as the tension becomes greater, and the resistance to the opening of the valve will therefore become increased; but we obviate this by connecting the spring with the eccentric in the manner shown, for as the valve opens the distance between the center of the axis 12 and the point on the eccentric 13, to which the power of the spring is applied, decreases, thereby shortening the leverage-between said spring and the axis of said valve. This tends to lessen the power exerted by said spring upon said valve, thereby compensating for the increasing tension of the spring, and the resistance to the opening of the door or valve will be practically the same at all points. This permits the door to be opened by a very light carrier, so as to permit the carrier to drop out of the end of the pipe.

Arranged upon the top of the box 4 is a plate or shelf 16, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) provided with an opening which coincides with the open upper end of the loop of the pipe 3. This plate preferably extends a short distance beyond the wall of the box 4, as shown in Fig. 4. Pivoted upon the top of this plate is a second plate 17. The axis upon which said plate turns is preferably coincident with the axis of the delivery end of the pipe 3. The plate 17 has an opening through it adapted to coincide when the plate is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 with the opening in the plate 16 and in the top of the pipe. Secured upon the top of the plate 16 and over the opening therein is a receptacle 13, open both at top and bottom and provided at its top with a hinged cover 19, said cover being provided with a projection 20. Secured to the pipe 3 or to any other suitable support is a rod or projection 21. When the plate 17 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 4, the bottom of the receptacle 13 will be over the imperforate part of the plate 16. Then if a carrier is dropped into the receptacle 1S and the plate 17 is turned back to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 the carrier will drop out of the receptacle 1S and into the pipe 3. hen the plate is swung to the position shown in Fig. 4, the projection 20 on the cover 19 will en gage the projection 21, and said cover will be thrown to the open position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the plate is swung back to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the projection 21 will strike the cover and cause the same to close. This construction permits the carrier to be put into the system without permitting any air to enter, and the construction of the cut-off valve and valve for the delivery end of the pipe permits the carrier to be delivered without the admission of any air to the pipe and without necessitating any additional force over the weight of the carrier itself to open the valve at the end of the pipe.

\Ve prefer to employ in connection with the box 4 and the delivery devices described a different device for inserting the carrier at the cashiers desk or central station. \Ve prefer at this point to have the carrier pass into the upgoing end of the pipe 3, and for this purpose we preferably do away with the slots 10 (shown in Fig. 2) and provide the pipe 3 with an open end which is arranged nearthe bottom of the box 4, and below said open end is an opening 24 in the bottom of the box. A plate 25, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, is pivoted to the bottom of the box 4. When said plate is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 5, an opening 26 in said plate will coincide with the opening 24 in the bottom of the box. Secured to the plate 25 and covering the opening 24 is atelescoping receptacle 27. (See Fig. 3.) By turning the link 25, which is preferably provided with the handle 29, to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 the' top of the receptacle 27 will be outside or beyond the side wall of the box 4 and the bottom section of the receptacle will drop down by gravity to its lowest position. A carrier may then be inserted within said receptacle. Then by turning the plate 25 back to the position shown by full lines in Figs. 3 and 5 the top of the receptacle will be brought opposite the opening 24 and opposite the open end of the pipe 3. Atmospheric pressure upon the bottom of the receptacle 27 will cause said lower section of said receptacle to telescope over the other section, carrying the end of the carrier up into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, when the aircurrent will pick up said carrier and carry it into and through the pipe until it is delivered at the next station. 'It will be understood that when the plate 25 is turned to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 the imperforate portion of said plate will cover the opening 24 in the bottom of the box, so that at no time will any air be permitted to enter the box 4 through the opening 24.

We do not limit ourselves to the details of the construction herein shown and described, as it is obvious that the same may be varied in many particulars without departing from our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A pneumatic-despatch system, comprisin g a series of receiving and despatch boxes located at a central station, a series of receivin g and despatch boxes located at outer or individual stations, a pipe connecting the sending or despatch portion of each box at the individual stations with the receiving portion of one of the boxes at the central station, a pipe connecting the sending or despatch portion of such box at the central station with the receiving portion of the box of another individual station, and means for creating an air current or draft through all of said pipes and boxes. I

2. A pneumatic-despatch system comprising a series of sending and receiving boxes located at a central station, receiving and sending boxes located at several individual stations, pipes looped back and forth between the central station and the individual stations, and connecting the sending or despatch portion of each box at an individual station with the receiving portion of one of the boxes at the central station, and connecting the sending or despatch portion of such box at the central station with the receiving portion of a box at a different individual station, and means for creating an air current or draft through all of said pipes and boxes.

3. A pneumatic-despatch system com prising a series of receiving and despatch boxes, located at a central station a series, of receiving and despatch boxes located at individual stat-ions, pipes looped back and forth and connecting, in series, the boxes at the individual and central stations, and means for creating an air draft or current through all of said pipes and boxes.

4. The combination, with the terminal box forming a connection between the receiving and sending end of pneumatic tubes, of a bal anced valve located in one of said tubes and arranged to be closed by the passage of the carrier in the tube and to be opened by the air-current.

5. The combination, in a pneumatic-despatch system, with a terminal box 4 having a pipe 3 extending therein and provided with an opening in its wall within said box, a valve 7 pivotally supported in said opening, said pivot being arranged nearer one end of the valve than the other, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the terminal box 4, of the pipe 3 having its delivering end extending through said box and provided within said box with an opening in its side wall, the valve 7 pivoted in said opening, by a pivot located nearer one end than the other, and an independent valve or door arranged to close the end of said pipe.

7 The combination, with the box 4 and the pipe 3, provided with the opening in its side within said box, of the valve 7 pivoted in said opening, the independent valve 11 closing the end'of said pipe, the eccentric 13 arranged upon the axis of said valve, and the spring 14 connected to said eccentric.

S. The combination, with the box 4 and the receiving-pipe 3, of the plate 16 arranged upon said box and provided with an opening coinciding with the end of said pipe, the pivoted plate 17 arranged upon said plate 15 and provided with the open-ended receptacle 18 having the hinged cover 19, and suitable means for automatically opening and closing said cover as said plate 17 is moved back and forth, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with the terminal box 4, and the pipe 3 having an open end within said box, an opening in said box below the end of said pipe, a plate pivoted to said box,

and a telescoping receptacle carried by said plate.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 30th day of April, A. D. 1896.

HENRY A. HAMLIN. DAVID HUNTER.

In presence of A. 0. PAUL, M. E. GooLEY.

ITO

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