Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of 33, Bath Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My present invention comprises various improvements in and modifications of
pneumatic-tube carrying apparatus, such improvements having principally for
object to reduce the cost of construction and maintenance.
I make the pneumatic tube of paper or woven fabric rolled on a mandril with a
number of plies sufficient to give the requisite strength and united with paste, or
shellac, or other suitable cement. The tube lengths may be butt-jointed, with
short coupling sleeves externally covering the joints; or the joints may be formed
otherwise so as to present no obstruction internally; and bended portions may be
formed by winding comparatively narrow ribbons of paper or woven fabric helically
on a suitably bended mandril. When the pneumatic tubes have to be laid under-
ground, or are otherwise exposed to damp, they may be protected by being coated
or saturated with bitumen or a similar substance or compound.
At a central station from which a number of tubes may radiate I employ wooden
distribution chests for pressure and vacuum with suitable valved connections to the
several tubes; and I employ wooden cylinders as pressure and vacuum reservoirs,
those for vacuum being strengthened with internal framing. The reservoirs being
connected to the pump or pumps are subjected to vibratory action and to prevent
the transmission of this action to the rest of the apparatus, short lengths of rubber
tubing are introduced in the connections between the reservoirs and the distributing
chests.
In connection with the electric circuits between the central and other stations,
for indicating the transmissions and arrivals of carriers and effecting other
operations, I by my present invention apply battery currents of different strengths
instead of arrangements for reversing the directions of the currents.
Where conveniently applicable I maintain a vacuum constantly in the conveying
tube, provision being made for exhausting from both ends. At each end a sector-
shaped piece is fitted which in one position has the exhaust pipe in communication
with the conveying tube.
When a carrier is to be transmitted it is inserted in a part of the sector which
is then outside, and the sector is turned to move that part inwards, this movement
closing the exhaust, whereupon the atmospheric pressure propels the carrier along
the tube. Electric currents are used in working the apparatus. The putting of
one sector into the sending position causes an electric contact to be made causing
an electro-magnetic indicator to be actuated at the other end; and on the arrival
of a carrier at one end a contact is made so as by a current and electro-magnet
to release a catch and allow the sector at the sending end to move by a spring or
weight to its normal exhausting position.
Carriers for conveying papers are made without loose or detachable covers, but
with a lateral slot in each for the insertion of the papers. The carriers are made
with cupped rims of leather, or rubber, or other suitable material to make them
sufficiently airtight in the tubes without excessive friction.
In the case of a
central station with a number of radiating conveying tubes, the carriers are used
discriminately those for each tube having a special mark and numbers.
Dated this Thirtieth day of March 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of 33 Bath Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer 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, that is to
say:
My present invention comprises various improvements in and modifications of
pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus, such improvements having principally for
object to reduce the cost of construction and maintenance.
I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
to in describing my improvements.
Figure, 1, is a longitudinal section of part of a conveying tube, and Figure, 2, a
side view of a bent or curved part of the tube.
Figure, 3, is a side view of an improved carrier.
Figure, 4, is a diagram showing electrical circuit arrangements.
I make the pneumatic tube of paper or woven fabric rolled on a mandril, with a
number of plies sufficient to give the requisite strength, and united with paste, or
shellac, or other suitable cement. The tube lengths, A, may be butt-jointed as
shown in Figure, 1, with short coupling sleeves, B, externally covering the joints.
The inner corner edges of the abutting ends are bevilled as shown at, F, to
prevent passing carriers from catching on them. The joints of the tube lengths
may be formed in any other suitable manner, provided care is taken to present no
obstruction internally. Bent or curved parts of the conveying tube are formed as
indicated in Figure, 2, by winding a sufficient number of plies of comparatively
narrow ribbons of paper or woven fabric in a helical manner on a suitable bent or
curved mandril. When the pneumatic tubes have to be laid underground, or are
otherwise exposed to damp, they may be protected by being coated or saturated
with bitumen or a similar substance or compound.
The
At a central station from which a number of tubes may radiate, I employ
wooden distribution chests for pressure and vacuum with suitable valved connec-
tions to the several tubes; and I employ wooden cylinders as pressure and vacuum
reservoirs, those for vacuum being strengthened with internal framing.
reservoirs when connected to the pump or pumps by rigid parts are subjected to
vibratory action, and to prevent the transmission of such action lengths of rubber
tubing are introduced in the connections either between the pumps and reservoirs
or between the reservoirs and the distributing chests, or into both connections.
In connection with the electric circuits between the central and other stations,
for indicating the transmissions and arrivals of carriers, I by my present invention,
apply battery currents of different strengths instead of arrangements for reversing
the directions of the currents. An example having such an arrangement is shown
in the diagram Figure, 4, in connection with some of my other improvements.
When conveniently applicable I maintain a vacuum constantly in the conveying
tube, T, Figure, 4, provision being made for exhausting from both ends, C,
(central) and D (distant). At the ends sector-shaped pieces, or quadrants, S1, S2,
each of which in one position puts the exhaust pipe in communication with the
conveying tube, T, this arrangement being to some extent like what is described
for the central station in my Patent Specification, No. 11,068 of 1890. When a
carrier is to be transmitted it is inserted in a part of the sector, S 1, or, S2,
which is then outside, and the sector is turned to move that part inwards, this
movement closing the exhaust, whereupon the atmospheric pressure acting through
an orifice in the sector propels the carriers along the tube. The tube, T, is
exhausted through branch pipes, U, fitted with stopcocks the plugs of which turn
with the sectors, S 1, S 2.

page_text: Electric circuits are used in working the apparatus as diagrammatically shown
in Figure, 4. The putting of one sector, as S 1, into the sending position, causes
an indicator, J 2, to be actuated at the other end; and on the arrival of the
carrier which is supposed to have been just delivered at the other station, D, a
contact is made at, K, which by a current and electro magnet, M 1, releases a
catch and allows the sector, S 1, at the sending end, to move by a spring or weight
into its normal exhausting position. With the electrical parts in the positions in
which they are shown in Figure, 4, the current from the strong battery, D 1,
passes through the contact, K, and along the line wire, L, to the electro
magnet, M1, at the central station and through the contacts, P, Q, and weak
battery, C 2, to earth. When a carrier is started from either station the contacts
then made cause a current to be sent from one of the weak batteries, C2, D2,
and this current whilst able to move the indicators, J 1, J 2, is not strong enough
to effectually actuate the electro magnets M 1, M 2.
I make carriers for conveying papers as shown in Figure, 3, without loose or
detachable covers, but with a lateral slot, R, in each, large enough for conveniently
inserting papers. A smaller slot, R 1, may be made opposite to the larger one as
shown to facilitate the removal or pushing out of papers.
The carrier is made, with cup-shaped projecting rims, V, of leather or other
suitable material, to make them sufficiently airtight in the tubes without excessive
friction.
In the case of a central station with a number of radiating conveying tubes,
the carriers are used discriminately, those for each tube having a special mark and
numbers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with sending, receiving and controlling devices of pneumatic
conveying apparatus, of conveying tubes made in whole or in part of paper or
woven fabric and formed and applied substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
2. Making bent or curved parts of the conveying tubes by helically winding on
a bent or curved mandril ribbons of paper or woven fabric substantially as herein-
before described.
3. Employing distribution chests and pressure and vacuum reservoirs made of
wood substantially as herein before described.
4. Connecting pumps with other parts of pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus
by rubber tubes to prevent transmission of vibration substantially as herein before
described.
5. Employing currents from pairs of electric batteries of different strengths for
the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The system of pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus in which the tube is
exhausted from both ends, the parts being arranged and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure, 4, of the accompanying drawings.
7. Making a carrier without loose or detachable parts, but with a lateral slot
for inserting papers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure, 3, of the accompanying drawings.
8. Making a carrier with projecting cup shaped end rims substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of November 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.