Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES F. MCLAUGHLIN, of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, Electrician.]
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.L.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a new and improved carrier for pneumatic tube despatch
systems but is more particularly designed for use, in conjunction with the electro-
pneumatic system application simultaneously filed herewith.
The object of this invention is to provide a flexible carrier which will readily
accomodate itself to the contour and direction of the pneumatic tube, whereby it is
enabled to turn sharp corners or curves therein and is at the same time simple in its
construction durable in use and of such arrangement as to receive and concentrate the
full force of the motive power therefor, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.
This invention consists in certain details of construction, arrangement and com-
binations of parts which will be more fully explained and the specific points of novelty
in which will be designated in the appended claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of this invention complete.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through same showing spring clips for securing the
inner edge or end of a sheet of paper which can be rolled around the central shaft.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line - of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is central longitudinal section showing a different manner of constructing
the flexible sides of the carrier.
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of central shaft removed with paper partly
rolled thereupon.

page_text: Like letters of reference mark similar parts in all the figures of the drawing.
Referring to drawing by letters, A represents a central removable shaft consisting
of the two end sections à a and the central section ; the sections a a being screw
threaded as shown and provided with nuts a¹ a¹ and the inner ends of said sections
having each a conical point (not shown) which fits in a corresponding conical recess in
each end of the section b.
BB designate two circular rubber end pieces or heads having the concave central
circular depressions c c and provided each, with a central perforation e¹ through which
passes one of the sections a à of shaft A.
CC are four perforated metal discs of the same diameter as the heads B B and are
each provided with a peripheral rectangular groove d as shown. These discs are
placed in pairs at each end of the carrier with the groove d d adjacent to each other
and are held apart by the rubber ring D which is of sufficient diameter to fit snugly
within the sized tube of the desired system and is secured within the grooves d d thereby
holding the discs apart and serving as a cushion therefor.
EE are two spools or thimbles which pass through the central perforations of
heads B B and discs CO and serve to hold these parts firmly together.
The under sides of the outer heads of each of said spools in formed curved to conform
to the curvature of the central concave circular depressions cc and the distance from
the outer heads to the inner removable screw threaded heads a" al of the spools E E
is approximate to the central thickness of heads B B discs CC and the ring D.
The central section of shaft A is a metal roll of the desired dimensions to permit
paper to be rolled and secured thereupon as shown in Figures 2 and 5.
ee are two small spring catches of any suitable construction riveted upon the
periphery of section which serve to secure the inner edge or end of the paper; the
outer or free end of which may be fastened by a rubber band or other convenient
means as desirable when rolled. This section bis hinged or rendered longitudinally
and vertically flexible by the small pivoted plates the said plates being in turn
centrally hinged to allow of a vertical flexibility of said shaft.
e¹e are corresponding spiral springs placed opposite the plates so as to cooperate
therewith and return the shaft to its normal position after being displaced.
FF designate the ribs or sides of said carrier which consist of a series of steel rods
or flat bars of great elasticity and retractibility which are riveted at each end to an
external hinged metallic ring G which in turn is divided into two semi circular rings,
as shown, one half being rigidly fastened to the discs C C as shown in Figure 3; thus
one half of rings G G being free and hinged to the other rigid half it will be readily
understood that the carrier can be opened shut and fastened at will; the spring
catch other suitable fastening device being secured centrally on one side of the
bars FF of the door.
Referring to Figure 4 the sides of the carrier consist of any suitable number of
semicircular convex metallic sections HH hinged on top as shown and provided
with corresponding spiral springs on the bottom to co-operate with the upper hinged
plates; thus it will be obvious that the flexible sections H H can be substituted for the
steel bars FF without departing from the spirit of this invention.
The operation of this invention when used in connection with the new and improved
pneumatic tube system before mentioned is as follows:-
The operator at any station end being desirous of conveying a parcel or package to
the exchange or other initial station first marks on the outside thereof the number or
letter of the station to which it is to be forwarded.
He then opens the door inserts the desired package to the interior of the receptacle
fastens the said door and thrusts the carrier in the end of the tube which action
operates automatically the electro mechanical signalling apparatus (described in another
application) thereby notifying operator at exchange that the carrier is ready.
The operator at exchange adjusts the valve of this particular tube to suction power,
which transmits the carrier to exchange: then, if it is destined to any other initial
station it is transferred at exchange to that particular branch.
Should it be desired to send a roll of paper or letter the edge of same adjacent to

page_text: section is first secured under clips e e then rolled around said section and transmitted
in the same manner as before described.
When desirable to remove section 6 to give more space within this can be casily
accomplished by loosening either one of the sections a a which serve as bearings for
shaft-section b.
It will be obvious that the solid metal roll b may be converted into a hollow metal
cylinder without departing from the spirit of this invention and that the metallic sides
may be arranged universally jointed or flexible by any equivalent means to that shown
and described.
By means of the circular depressions c c in the heads B B the outer ends of the
screw threaded sections a a are protected and kept from projecting beyond the planes
of the heads B B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems the combination of the elastic
heads or packing with the central flexible shaft for the purpose set forth.
2. A carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems having flexible sides and a
removable central flexible shaft as specified.
3. A carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems having flexible sides a removable
central flexible shaft and elastic adjustable heads or packing substantially as set forth.
4. In a carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems an exterior head or packing
consisting of a perforated rubber disc provided with a concave external depression for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems the elastic adjustable head or
packing consisting of a rubber exterior disc having central external concave depressions
the discs CC the thimble E the cushion ring D in combination with the flexible
metallic sides of said carrier as described.
6. A carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systems having removable central flexible
shaft journalled and supported by the screw threaded end sections a a the flexible
external ribs or sides FF the heads B B provided with depressions cc the thimbles E E
discs CC and cushion ring D all arranged to operate as set forth.
7. The combination of a flexible carrier for pneumatic despatch tube systeins having
metallic flexible sides provided with hinged joints and cooperating retracting springs
whereby the device is enabled to turn sharp corners and curves during its course
through tubes with the central removable hinged flexible shaft supported in adjustable
bearings and the elastic heads or packing arranged and constructed as described.