US840464A - Pneumatic-tube system. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

- B. G. BATGHELLER.

PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1905.

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No. 840,464. v PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

B. G. BATGHELLER.

PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1, 1905.

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WITNESSES 7M xi; ATTORNEY.

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

B. G. BATOHELLBR. PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 1,1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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No. 840,464. PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

B. C. BATOHELLER.

PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1.1905.

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Q i 5 .N I N N P 7 I O4 WI E8858. 0 "IVE/ TUB 93 g ATTORNEY.

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

B. G. BATCHELLBR. PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1,1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1. ATTORNEY.

BIRNEYC. BATOHELLER, OF

TO THE PEARSALL PNEUMATIC TUBE AND PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR POWER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC-TUBE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed lay 1. 1905. Serial No. 258,288.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

To all whom. it may cancerm Be it known that I, BIRNEY O. BATCHEL- LER, a citizen of the United States of America, residingrin the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic-Tube Systems, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

, My invention relates to pneumatic -tube systems of the kind known as vacuum systion of the system and terns, and has for its object to provide for the flow of air through the tube to the vacuum pi e or reservoir and the tube system only wl ien a carrier is inserted and in transit by means which are set in o eration at each stathe use of appliances which will insure t e maintenance of the vacuum connection for a determined time after the insertion of each carrier at any station of the s stem. r

A further ob ect of my invention is to provide means whereby the operative connection of the tube and vacuum-pipe is necessarily made before a carrier is committedto the tube.

My invention is in the nature of an improvement on the general system shown and described in my application for Letters Patent filed March 11, 1905, Serial No. 249,569., and in its employment of time-escapements operated from each station of the line it is intended to include and dominate, as a broader patent, my other application for Letters Patent, filed March 21, 1905, Serial No. 251,208, which application is concerned particularly with the utilization of electromagnetic mechanism for actuating the air-valve.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is adiagrammatic-elevation of a system provided with my improvements and in whic an electroma at and circuit-wires reaching through the different stations of the system is employed as a means for actuating t e air-valve, as is also the case with my lastmentioned application, Serial No. 251,208. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the air-valve mechanism of Fi 1. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one of the intermediate station devices of 1, showing the circuit-breaker and air-valve K and by spring K time-esca ement in section on the line 2 2, of Fig. 4. ig. 3 is a front view of the same appliances Fig. 4, a side elevation of the same appliances with the circuit-breaking and. time-escapement devices shown in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing my system as a plied to a line having two stations and in .w 'ch a vacuum-pipe connecting the stations is utilized for actuating the air-valve in place of an electric circuit and electromagnet connected therewith; andFig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the time-escapement devices indicated in Fig. 5, taken on the section-line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating another modification of my system and Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the time-escapement and connected appliances shown at the right side of Fig. 7.

A, Fig. 1, indicates the terminal station; A and A intermediate stations on a 100 line, Eneumatic tubes being indicated at B and 2 B being a.terminal section of the tube at the terminal station, while B indicates the vacuum-pipe connecting through a regulatingvalve chamber (indicated at B) with a pipe-section B leading to a reservoir F. I

0 indicates the open end of the tube through which carriers are inserted at the terminal station, while at each intermediate station I have indicated at D D station appliances similar to those described in the patent to Stuart, No. 713,924, of November 18,

1902, selective carriers issuing through the gates D, while those intended for stations in advance pass through the sections D to the next succeeding station. Each station appliance also has a gate, as indicated at D for the insertion of carriers.

- At E, I have indicated a grid, connecting the ends of the tube-sections B and B the end of the section B being closed by a flapvalve, as indicated at E, and connected through lateral openings to the chamber E. At E", I have shown a receiving-chamber at the end of the pipe B The chamber E (see Fig. 1) is connected with the upper end of 100 the vacuum-tube B" and is formed with a diaphragm-chamber at its top, having a lateral port, as indicated at E. The diaphragm K is connected by rod K with the justing-screw K supported on arms K with the ad- 10 5 The vacuum-chamber F is connected by a pipe F with a chamber P in the casing P, said chamber opening to the atmosphere through a passage P and through a pipe F and port E to the diaphragm-chamber E The ports P and at the top of pipe F, are

controlled by a valve P in the chamber P, and an electromagnet P, actuating said valve, the said electromagnet being connected by circuit-wires G with the battery and the, said circuit-wires connecting through each station of the system and having circuit opening and closing devices at each station. This appliance is similar to the electromag netic mechanism described in my former application, Serial No. 251,208.

At each station the wire G connects with spring-terminals, as indicated at G G2 in Fig. 4, electric connection being made by a metallic plate I, which plate is connected by a piston-rod I with a piston 1*, working in a cylinder J 5 and pressed down toward the bottom of the cylinder by a spring L. J is a port opening into the bottom of the cylinder at J and again, at a higher point, opening into the cylinder at J this port being close by a non-return valve J. The port J also connects with the upper passageJ, leading to the cylinder J, being a needle-valve for re ulating the size of the port J".

n the intermediate stations the circuitclosing plate I is actuated by a chain I, passing over a chain-wheel I and connected with the elbow H. of crooked lever H, pivoted at H on the hinge-pin of the gate D which gate has a projecting finger H in position to be engaged by the lever H after it is pressed down and after it has actuated the closingplate I to open the circuit. Practically the same arrangement is rovided at the terminal station A except t at the chain I is actuated by a hand-lever H not directly connected with any gate-opening device. By preference, the lever H is provided with an arm or gate H, which closes the tube-mouth 0 against the insertion of a carrier when the lever is in normal position and opens it when the lever is actuated to open the circuit and set the time-escapement.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the port E is directly connected through tube F with a pi e F connecting through a valve-chamber with the vacuum-pipe F, the valve-chamber being provided with a needle-regulating valve F as indicated. A continuation of the pipe F (indicated at M) leads to the succeeding station or stations, Where it is connected (see Fig. 6) with a port N leading into a chamber N in a casing N, having also a port N 2 opening to the atmosphere. Below the casing N, in which the chamber N is formed, is secured the cylinder 0, having a conduit 0 connecting with port 0 at the lower end of the cylinder and provided with the valve-box having a needle-valve working in it, as indicated at 0, said valve box or chamber connecting with the port 0 in the cylinder 0. Q is a valve normally seated on the port N and connecting through a piston-rod P with a piston P, working in the cylinder O, said piston being formed with openings P, which during the downward motion of the piston are closed by the annular valve P said valve 0 ening when the piston moves u ward.

e valve and piston are connected t ough a connecting-rod R with the bell-crank lever R R the arm B being preferably provided with a finger or gate R which extends through an opening in the side of the pneu- .matic tube below the opening S therein, so as to support a carrier, as indicated at T, until the lever is moved to open the valve Q and draw up the piston P. v

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7

and 8 the vacuum-pipe B is in permanent connection with the tube B as indicated at U, and the air-valve which regulates the flow of air through the tube system is shown at V working just inside the mouth C of the sending-tube B at the same station. The valve V is connected by a rod V with a piston V, moving in a cylinder V, a spring V acting to normally keep the valve closed.

The air-pipe F connects directly with the right-hand end of the cylinder V and through branch pipe F, regulatin -valve F and pipe connections F and F wit the left-hand side of cylinder V. The pipe-section F also connects through pipe-sections F and M with a valve-casing N, generally similar to that shown in Fig. 6 and shown in Fig. 8, and also through a branch pipe M with a similar oasing and time-escapement O, which, as shown,

is rovided with a treadle W for actuating it.

he operation of the electromagnetic mechanism is easily followed. The operator inserting a carrier draws up by the lever H or H the circuit-closin plate I and the attached piston I. The breaking of the circuit denergizes the electromagnet P, permitting the valve P to fall, opening port P and closing pipe F. Air is thus admitted to the dia hragm-chamber E whereupon the s ring 3 draws up the diaphragm and opens t e valve K, placing the tube in communication with the vacuum-pipe, the inrushing air carrying the cylindrical carrier to the next succeeding station or stations. As soon as the operator has released the starting-lever the spring L begins the work of returning the Y tion is cut ofl and the vacuum restored in the diaphragm-chamber E, sucking down the diaphragm, this action, to ether with the suction of the ipe B, rece the valve K and cutting oii t e vacuum connection.

In the special lans of Figs. 5 and 6 the of the va ve Q permits the entrance 0 air t ough the casing N to the p'pe M and to the vacuum-chamber E wit recisely the same results as already described. Here also the return of the valve to seated position isregulated by the time-escapement cylinder 0 in practically the same way as that already described, and it will be seen that as soon as the valve Q is returned to itsseat the pi e M will be exhausted by its connection wit the pipe F. The needle-valve casing F is pro-' vided to restrict the flow to the vacuumpipe, so that when the valve Q is open the pipe M remain full of air at atmospheric pressure, while on the closing of valve Q the pipelwill be exhausted with suificient rapidity. the modification of F 7 the tube B is in constant communication with a vacuumchamber F, as is also the tube B, through the station-head (indicated at D) at station marked A, the flow of air through the system being prevented by the normally closed gate-valve (indicated at V) situated at the month of the pipe B in station A. When it is desired to insert a carrier at the station A,

' the operator presses down the treadle W,

opening'the valve Q connected therewith,

and setting the time-escapement. at atmospheric ressure then enters the casing N and through the pipe connections M F F .to the left-hand side of the cylinder V, the righthand side of said cylinder being in free communication with the vacuum-chamber F through the i e F. The piston B then moves toward the light, opemn the ate'V and the carrier is inserted at an passes through the pipe B and head D, issuing through the gate D The time-escapement operated by the treadle W then closes the valve Q andnormal vacuum is restored to the left-hand side of the cylinderVby the exhaustion of the air through the pipes F F valvebox F, and pipe the ipe F.

en a carrier'is inserted at the station A, the local valve Q and connected time-escapement is opened and set in o eration by the an lar lever H, the gate-Va ve D being opene onlyaftertheair-valveisopened. The atmos heric air then passes through the pipes connecting with M F 8 to the left-hand side of the cyhnder V, with the same result as already describedfor the operation of the similar parts at the station A.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a neumatic-tube s stem, the combination 0? a pneumatic tu e, two or more stations thereon, a vacuum-pipe connected to said tube, a normally closed air-valve for controlling the flow of air through the tube, means for opening said valve, means for setting .the valve-opening mechanism in operation situated at each station, and a time-escapement device also situated at each station and connected with the local device for actuating the valve-o crating mechanism whereby said local va ve-opening mechanism is maintained in position to kee the air-valve open for a-determinedtime a er it is set in operation from the station when said local device is actuated.

2. In a pneumatic-tube system, the combination or a pneumatic tube, two or more stations thereon, a vacuum-pipe connected to said tube, a normally closed air-valve for controlling the flow of air through the tube, means for opening said valve, a conduit extending from the valve-opening mechanism to each stationi means, consisting of a device ated by the initial movement for opening and closing the conduit wherebiyl the local devices for opening and closing t e conduit are returned to normal position after a determined interval.

3. In a pneumatic-tube system the combination of a pneumatic tube, a vacuum pipe or chamber connected therewith and a nor,- mally closed air-valve controlling said conncctlon, with means for actuating said valve,

havmg connection to the vacuum-pi e and to the atmosphere, a valve for contro g said connection to the atmosphere normally held in and returned to'one position by resilient means, means for moving said valve from nor- -mal position, and a time-esca ement connected to said valve and where its return to normal position is retarded or a determined period,

4. In a neumatic-tube s stem,-the combination o a pneumatic tu e, two or more stations thereon, a vacuum-pipe connected to said tube, a normally closed air-valve for controllingthe flow of air through the tube,

' means for opening said valve, means for setting the valve-openingmechanism in operation situated at each station, movable barriers for 1preventing the insertion of the carriers in t e tube at each station said barriers being connected to and actuated by the local means for setting the valve-opening mechanism in operation so as to permit of the insertion of a carrier only after the valveactuating mechanism is set in operation.

BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER.

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