Patent GB-714143-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in pneumatic conveyor and message systems
IPC: B65G51/04
Filed: 1949-07-04
Abstract: 714,143. Pneumatic tube conveyers. HALPERN, J. W. July 3, 1950 [July 4, 1949], No. 17566/49. Class 78 (1) A pneumatic tube system comprises a single closed main tube line with at least one branch loop accommodating a combined receiving and despatch station for carriers and associated with each loop a traffic controlling device positioned in the main tube for selective receiving at each receiving station and for preventing a carrier after its insertion at the corresponding despatch station from colliding with an oncoming carrier. A main pneumatic tube 1, Fig. 1, derives its aircurrent from pump 2 which sucks in air at 3 and comprises spacing units 8, traffic guards 4a, 5a, 6a, despatch units 10, receiving units 9 positioned in loop branches 4, 5 and 6, and diverting units 7. Spacing unit 8, Figs. 2 and 3. Secured to main tube 1 is short tube 11 having open slot 19, and within which is located rotatable insertion 14, which insertion is spring-biased at 18, has finger 16 projecting into tube 1, and has locking lever 21 pivoted to 20 and influenced by electromagnet 22. When finger 16, is struck by a carrier the insertion 14 is rotated (lengthwise) to allow air to pass from slot 19 through slot 15 of the insertion and into the tube 1 to accelerate the carrier, the insertion being retained in this position by gravity-operated lever 21 until the magnet is energized to restore it to its original position. Alternative spacing unit 8, Fig. 4. The carrier enters main tube part 26, passes interceptor 34 which flicks idly, and is held by interceptor 35. At this moment it presses trigger blade 40 to close contacts 42 so as to operate magnets 38 and 39 which actuate respective stops 36 and 37 for said interceptors, the interceptor 35 being freed to release the carrier and the interceptor 34 being held to hold up an oncoming carrier, which carrier is released to take the place of the original carrier at 35 after the delay of a relay circuit. Despatch unit 10, Fig. 7. Cylinder 46 fits rotatably around branch tube 44 and comprises integral chamber 49 having lid 51 spring- influenced at 55, there being two apertures namely 56 in cylinder 46 and 56' in tube 44 so that, when a carrier is inserted by means of lid 51 and when cylinder 46 is rotated by handle 53, the carrier then falls through the two apertures and into tube 44 to operate lever 57 of the electric circuit. Guard-ring 60, with suitable aperture, prevents the opening of lid 51 except when the two said apertures are unaligned. Alternative despatch unit 10, Fig. 9. Cylinder 65 is rotatable around branch tube 63, and has aperture 66 therein co-operating with aperture 64 in the branch line, the carrier being fed through said apertures (by rotation of said cylinder by handle 65a) from fixed housing 69 provided with lid 72, the lid being opened by handle 78 which at the same time opens valve 72 to equalise inside and outside pressures. Receiving and despatch unit, Fig. 11. The carrier proceeding along main tube from the left operates traffic guard 87 (see later) which closes the circuit and energizes magnet 97 which swings flap 85 of diverting unit 84 into the main tube and diverts the carrier into receiving unit 81 and it falls out through door 83 whilst operating contacts E-F. When a carrier is inserted into despatch unit 82 it makes contacts G-H which energizes magnet 97, swing flap 85 into the main tube and divert the air stream so that the carrier is despatched. Despatch unit, Fig. 15. Despatch unit is fitted with pivoted lever 99 actuating contacts G-H (see above); and has counter-balanced door 100 which is connected by wire 102 to spring 103, the wire passing frictionally over pulley 101 which carries eccentrically pivoted arm 105, the arm projecting into the despatch unit to retain the inserted carrier but being withdrawn when the door is closed. Traffic guard, Fig. 16. When the carrier comes from the left whilst approaching a receiving unit (situated on the right), it strikes lever 92 pivoted at 93 and causes armature 91 to pivot and to close contacts A-B, so closing the electrical circuit (which circuit has already been alerted by reception of the signal (e.g. acoustic) emitted by the carrier) and operating the diverting unit (see above) to divert the carrier to the receiving unit. At the same time the circuit energizes magnet 90 to hold the lever 92 in its place. The circuit is broken and lever 92 released when the carrier reaches the said receiving unit. Another alternative spacing unit, Fig. 4a. A carrier proceeding downwards through main tube 137 is braked and therefore spaced by a counter air-flow the air being by-passed through tube 135, governed by valve B4 and passing then through the tube circuit 136, 137, 139, the counterflow in tube 137 acting as a brake. Specification 590,728 is referred to.