IM. PROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, PARCELS, AND OTHER FREIGHT, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM.
PROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, PARCELS, AND
OTHER FREIGHT, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."-A communication
from abroad by Alfred Ely Beach, of Stratford, in the County of
Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 18th January 1867, and dated the 26th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
September 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, PARCELS,
AND OTHER FREIGHT, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is to facilitate the collection, transportation,
and delivery of letters, parcels, and other freight, and the improvements are
intended for use more especially in connection with tubes, in which cars or
conveyors or other receptacles for freight are made to travel.
Pain 17

page_text: First, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor that at
certain specified places on the route of the car or conveyor the contents or a
part thereof will be discharged from the car or conveyor.
Secondly, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor
which carries the letters or freight, and the depository or receiver wherein the
letters or freight are deposited, that when the car or conveyor passes near
the receiver the freight therein contained will be transferred to the car or
receiver.
Thirdly, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor that
it will both receive and deliver freight at given places or stations, or will
receive and not deliver, or will deliver and not receive, or will pass the
stations without either delivering or receiving, all at the will of the operator.
Fourthly, this Invention consists in the combination of an electric apparatus
with the receiver, and also with the car or conveyor, and also with the tube
or track, or with either of them in such a manner that the car or conveyor
may be caused either to receive or to deliver freight at given places, or to
pass such places without delivering or receiving at the will of the operator.
Fifthly, this Invention consists in the employment of sundry new mechanical
devices used in connection with the receiver, car, tube, and track, or with
either of them, to be herein-after more fully described.
There are various ways in which the present Invention may be practically
carried out; for example, it may be used in connection with the tube and
conveyors described in the Letters Patent heretofore granted in favor of the
aforesaid Alfred Ely Beach, being Number 2049, and dated the 7th day of
August, 1865, for "An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Facilitating the
Transportation and Delivery of Letters, Newspapers, and other Freight."
In the said Patent although an endless trough or conveyor is generally men-
tioned, it will readily be understood that suitable separate boxes or cars might
be substituted if connected together and operated by an endless belt, rope, or
cable, to which separate boxes or cars these present improvements could be
readily applied. I therefore deem it unnecessary specially to describe the
whole mechanism and devices mentioned in the said former Patent, but will
describe as one example of the use of the present improvements, the appli-
cation or employment thereof in connection with the pneumatic tube, in
which air is the motor by which the freight receptacles or conveyors are
moved. I employ a pneumatic tube in which runs upon a track a pneumatic
car or conveyor, and furnished with a valve made of brush or other material
attached to one end of the car. The tube, car, and valve may be of the usual
construction, and the propulsion of the car by air effected in the well-known

page_text: manner, a description of which is here unnecessary. The car may have a
brush or other valve at either end. A portion of the car is made hollow and
open at the top so to form a receptacle, in which letters, parcels, and freight
may be deposited. The bottom or some other part of the receptacle is made
movable, so that it can be opened and the freight discharged. In the
present example the bottom is divided into two parts hinged to the sides of the
receptacle; the bottoms are kept closed by springs attached to the sides, the
lower ends of the springs being made to press upward against the under side
of the bottoms and keep them closed. Upon the inside of each side there is
a vertical sliding rod, the head of which forms an inclined plane, and the
lower end bears upon the inside of the bottoms. When the rods are pressed
down the bottoms open and the freight is discharged; when the pressure is
removed the springs close the bottoms and lift the rods. For the discharge
of freight, supposing a delivery station on a pneumatic tube route, projecting
from or into the tube, at the said station are one or more inclined planes or
studs so constructed and arranged that as the car advances they will come in
contact with and depress the rods, which depression causes the bottoms of the
car to open and the contents of the car or receptacle to be at once discharged.
That portion of the tube at the point where the discharge takes place is pro-
vided with an aperture and a discharge pipe into which the freight falls; this
pipe is provided with two valves to permit the extraction of the freight, and
at the same time prevent the escape of air from the pneumatic tube. When
the lower valve is closed by the attendant, the upper valve is to be opened
and the freight will fall upon the lower valve. The upper valve may be then
closed and the lower valve opened, whereby the freight will be discharged
upon the table or other receptacle placed under the tube. When the upper
valve is closed the freight falls thereupon and remains until it is opened for
discharge, as described. The depressing or discharging rods are intended to
be so made as to be readily removed from the car or to be capable of being
moved aside, and when so removed it is obvious that the bottoms would not
open on reaching a given place or station, because there would be no contact
between the heads of the rods and the studs, and the car would pass such
station without discharging its contents. One or more sets of depressing rods
or equivalent devices may be employed upon each car, and each set may be
arranged in different positions, and the studs may be differently placed at
different stations, a distinctive arrangement of studs being employed for each
station if desired. If on starting a car from a given station the operator
desires to make the car discharge at the next station, the discharging rods
are so arranged upon the car by him that they will come in contact with the

page_text: studs at that station and open the car bottom; but if it is desired to have the
car pass such station and discharge at the next station, then the said rods are
correspondently arranged upon the car by the operator at the starting station.
In this manner the operator may cause the several cars to discharge their
contents at such stations only as may be desired. Instead of making the dis-
charging rods removable the studs may be made removable, and subject to
the will of the operator at the given stations, so that when the operator fixes
the studs in proper position the rods or equivalent devices upon the advancing
car will strike the studs and discharge the contents of the car; but when the
studs are removed out of proper position no discharge from the car will take
place. A convenient method of operating the studs or their equivalent devices
so as to put them in or out of position, and thereby govern the discharge of
the contents of the car at given stations at the will of the operator, consists in
the employment of an electro-magnetic apparatus, and one or more conducting
wires with which the studs or equivalent devices are to be so connected that
by the closing of the electric circuit the studs will be moved into or held in
proper position to cause the opening of the car bottom. The skilled mechanic
will have no difficulty in so applying an electric apparatus as to accomplish
the above-described purpose, and I shall therefore describe only one form for
its application, although there are many forms that might be described, and
which would come within the meaning of this Invention. A bracket-like
contact stud is disposed at the delivery station, the lower vertical limb of
which passes through the pneumatic tube; this limb is encircled by a spring
to keep it in place. The horizontal and upper limb of the stud forms an
armature of an electro-magnet; at any other convenient position subject to
the will of the operator is a circuit key. When the electric circuit is closed
by the operator the electro-magnet and its armature or stud will be attached
and firmly held together, when the lower end of the stud will be thereby
depressed and prevented from rising, so that the discharging rods upon the
advancing car will come in contact with the stud, and the contents of the car
will be thereby discharged in the manner before described; but when the
circuit is open the armature or stud being no longer attracted and held by the
magnet, the stud will not depress the rods and the car will pass the station
or magnet without discharging its contents. One or more such contact studs
may be employed. It will be readily understood that one or more electric
conducting wires will be extended between the several stations upon the route
of the cars or conveyors, and that the operation of the studs or any devices
needed for the control either of the discharging of the contents of the con-
veyors, or for the loading thereof, or the regulation of the speed thereof, or

page_text: signalling from on station to another may be readily effected by means of the
electric current passing through the wires. The conducting wires are to be
laid or extended within the tube by which they are protected, and convenient
access to them always afforded.
Another modification consists in such an attachment of a stud to the car,
and such an arrangement of an electric device, that the car itself may be made
to open and close the circuit at the proper times.
The collection of the letters, parcels, or freight, and the gathering thereof
into the passing car or conveyor is effected in the following manner:-Com_
municating with the pneumatic tube, and rising therefrom above the surface
of the ground is a receiving column or depository which may form the base
of a lamp post.
In the lower part of this receptacle are two swing valves,
and when there is no car or conveyor passing below the said receptacle the
lower valve is always closed and the upper valve is always open. But when
a car or conveyor approaches it operates both of the valves, opening the lower
valve and closing the upper one, all passage of air through the receptacle is
thus prevented; these valves instead of being flat may be made of dish-form,
or in the form of boxes. The letters or freight are deposited through aper-
tures near the top of the receiver, and fall down and remain upon the upper
surface of the lower swing valve, upon the pivot bar of which is a crank which
is connected by means of a rod with a crank upon the pivot bar of the upper
valve. Both valves are simultaneously operated by means of a rock lever,
one end of which is pivoted to a suitable standard and the other end is slotted
and attached by a pivot through the slot to the connecting rod. When the
rock lever is push upward, as will be presently explained, the lower valve
opens and the upper valve closes, and when the lever falls the lower valve
closes and the upper valve opens. Connected with this rock lever is a spring,
the pressure of which is so arranged as to pull down the lever and keep the
lower valve always closed and the upper valve open until some other force is
applied to overcome the power of the spring and lift the rock lever.
The lifting the rock lever is effected by means of an inclined projection
which is attached to some part of the car or conveyor. Pivoted to and
extending from the rock lever is a vertical rod, the lower end of which passes
through the pneumatic tube and occupies such a position therein that when
the car or conveyor passes near the receivor the lower end of the vertical rod
will come in contact with and be lifted by the inclined projection upon the
car, which lifting will close the upper valve and open the lower valve, and the
letters and freight which were deposited upon the valve will by the opening
thereof fall down into the receptacle of the car or conveyor. As soon as the
"

page_text: car and the projection thereon have passed the upward pressure upon the
vertical rod will be removed, and the pressure of the spring will act in
the manner described, closing the lower valve and opening the upper one, and
any letters or freight which entered the receiver and rested upon the upper
surface of the top valve will now fall and rest upon the upper surface of the
lower valve.ready for delivery into the next passing car or conveyor.
One or more inclined projections may be used upon each car, and the studs
are intended to be removable at pleasure, so that the receiving valves will be
operated and the letters and freight collected when the car passes near the
receiver, or not operated according to the will of the operator who starts the
car, and who places the projections upon the car. The arrangement and
manipulation of these projections and of the vertical rods is intended to be
substantially similar to the arrangement and manipulation before described
in connection with the contact studs and discharging rods.
The assistance of an electro-magnet is to be employed when desired in con-
nection with the vertical rods or with the inclined projections, substantially in
the same manner and for the same purpose as I have already described in
connection with the discharging rods and contact studs; for example, the pivot
which connects the vertical rod and the oscillating lever for actuating the
upper and lower valves, before mentioned, may be provided with a spring, the
lower part of which spring serves as an armature for a magnet. When
the circuit is closed the magnet withdraws the spring and thus pulls the pivot
out of connection with the vertical rod, the upper end of which being slotted
may then rise without operating the oscillating lever, and if a car passes the
station when the pivot is thus withdrawn no transfer of letters or freight will
take place from that station into the car because the valves will not be
operated; thus the collection of the letters and freight and the successive
deposit thereof into the passing cars or into any car appointed to collect
freight from any appointed receiver is readily and effectively accomplished.
According to a second arrangement, I employ a rotating valvular box or
receptacle arranged below the pillar, lamp-post, or other repository, and so
constructed that when the car or conveyor passes under the said depository it
will operate the said rotary box and cause its contents to be transferred into
the car or conveyor. The said rotary valvular box or receptacle consists of
two discs,between which are radial partitions which divide the receptacle into
four or other suitable number of separate receiving compartments. A central
shaft is suitably mounted in the base of the receiving pillar or depository, on
which shaft the valvular box or receptacle rotates; the interior of the base
of the receiving pillar corresponds in form to the periphery of the circle.

page_text: described by the rotating box. Letters or freight deposited through the aper-
ture of the pillar or lamp-post fall down into the uppermost compartment of
the rotary box or receptacle and there remain until a car or conveyor
approaches, when the front end or nose of the car comes in contact with one
of the partitions of the box and causes the latter to make a partial rotation,
thereby delivering the freight contained in the said uppermost compartment of
the box into the car, and at the same time carrying an empty compartment
of the box upward under the receiving pillar where it remains to catch any
letters or freight that may be dropped through the aperture, as before-
mentioned. The rotary box is operated by the striking against its lower
partition of a nose piece which is attached to the front of the car as it
advances; the car in passing under the rotary box leaves the latter in such a
position that one of its partitions projects slightly below the roof of the
pneumatic tube, so that the nose of the next advancing car will strike the said
partition, rotate the box, and transfer its freight into the car in the manner
before described. The partitions of the rotary box, arranged as described,
serve as valves within the receiving pillar to prevent the air from passing
either up or down it. The nose above mentioned is intended to project a
little above the top of the car, and it may also be made adjustable both ver-
tically and laterally upon the car, and also easily removable therefrom by
means of a slotted strap and binding screw. When it is desired to send
the car through the tube without operating any of the boxes, the attendant
either removes the nose from the car or lowers it so that it will not strike
the partitions of the box, as before described. By arranging the boxes upon
different planes, the nose of the car when properly adjusted will only
strike and operate those boxes that are upon the lowest plane; by another
higher adjustment of the nose the boxes upon the next higher plane will also
be operated. In some cases the extremities of the partitions may be provided
with apertures so that when the nose is laterally adjusted it will pass through
them without operating the box; these apertures are to be covered by bristles
or other suitable substances to prevent the admission of air. In the above
manner, and by the necessary arrangement of the position or formation of the
rotary boxes, with the necessary adjustment of the car nose, any desired
number of the boxes upon a given route of the pneumatic tube may be
operated at the will of the director, and the collection of freight may be timed
and regulated as desired.
According to a further modificating of this Inventiou, I make one side of
the fixed letter or freight receptacle movable, so as to form a swing valve.
This valve is hinged to the receptacle, and in the hinge is a spring which has

page_text: a constant tendency to close the valve, so that its lower end will rest against
the lower edge of the inclined bottom of the receptacle. Letters and freight
deposited in the receptacle will rest upon the said bottom until the valve is
opened, the letters and freight will then fall from the receptacle. The
opening of the valve is effected by the contact therewith of the front part of
the car which pushes the valve forward, and on the opening of the valve the
letters and freight immediately fall into the car. The lower end of the valve
rests upon the car, and is held open by the car until the latter has passed
beyond the valve when the spring of the hinge causes the valve to close. To
prevent the escape or loss of any letters or freight, the valve is allowed to
close just before the car has advanced beyond it. This is effected by having
the rear portion of the car made lower than the front part of the car, so
that the valve on reaching the said lower portion will no longer be held
open and will consequently close. The devices which are used to discharge
the freight from the car, or to cause the passage of the freight from the
receiver into the car, may be operated by the weight of the car, or by contact
with the car in any manner, or by electrical mechanism, or by the agency of
the air blast derived from the pneumatic tube when such tube is used.
This Invention is not limited to any particular form of construction for any
of the parts of the mechanism herein mentioned, nor to any particular method
of propulsion or form of the car or conveyor. Such forms will be selected for
use as the skill and experience of the constructor shall dictate or as may be
demanded by the nature of the place, or the particular service in which the
Invention is to be employed.
In order to facilitate and ensure the correct action of the mechanism in
collecting and delivering the freight, the speed of the car may be reduced on
passing the stations.
One method of reducing the speed of the car consists in having it so
_constructed, that at certain points upon the route a portion of the valve of
the car, or a portion of the car may be opened so as to allow the air to pass
by or through the car, thus reducing the pressure of air upon the valve and
causing the speed of the car to be reduced.
The following is the mode of construction:-The rear part of the car, and
the valve is provided with an opening in which is a swing valve, which when
opened allows a portion of the air to pass through the valve and under the
car, but when the valve is closed no air can pass through. The opening and
closing of the valve is effected by the striking of the head of the valve rod
against a stud or projection arranged and operating in the tube at certain
points in substantially the same manner as the contact studs before referred

page_text: to, either with or without the electro-magnetic arrangement. By the
foregoing means the car may be wholly stopped at the station if desired.
In connection with the above method of reducing the speed, the cars may
be provided with suitable brakes, so arranged that the head of a rod con-
necting with the brake will when the car approaches a receiving or delivering
station come in contact with a stud arranged in the tube, in such a manner
that the said rod will be pressed down, and cause the brakes to press upon the
wheels of the car until the freight has been received or delivered, after which
the rod having passed the stud, the pressure of the brakes upon the car will
be released, the rod being thrown up by a suitable spring. In lieu of brakes
the tube or track may be provided with longitudinal springs placed near the
receiving and delivering stations, in such a manner that the car wheels will
pass under the springs, which will press upon the wheels and check the speed
of the car until the stations have been passed when the springs no longer
operating the original speed of the car will be resumed.
Another method for arresting or reducing the speed of the car at the time
of passing the receiving and delivering stations, consists in enlarging the tube
near the said stations, so that neither the car nor its yalve will wholly fill the
tube, and the air will consequently pass by the car and valve without acting
upon the latter with full force, and in consequence of such reduction of
impelling force the speed of the car will be diminished, but when the car has
passed beyond the tubular enlargement the air will then again act upon the
car with full force and increase the speed of the car to its maximum. Each
car may be divided into two or more compartments with delivering mechanism
connected with each compartment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight.hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
rigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any timeagree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION
AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, PARCELS, AND OTHER FREIGHT, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Alfred Ely Beach, of
Stratford, in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
'their, or one of their hands and seals,should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manuer the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the two Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of these improvements is to facilitate the collection, transportation,
and delivery of letters, parcels, and other freight, and the improvements are
intended for use more especially in connection with tubes in which cars, or
conveyors, or other receptacles for freight are made to travel.
First, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor that at
certain specified places on the route of the car or conveyor the contents or a
part thereof will be discharged from this car or conveyor.
Secondly, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor
which carries the letters or freight, and the depository or receiver wherein the
letters or freight are deposited, that when the car or conveyor passes near
the receiver the freight therein contained will be transferred to the car or
receiver.
Thirdly, this Invention consists in so constructing the car or conveyor that
it will both receive and deliver freight at given places or stations, or will
receive and not deliver, or will deliver and not receive, or will pass the stations
without either delivering or receiving, all at the will of the operator.
Fourthly, this Invention consists in the combination of an electric apparatus
with the receiver, and also with the car or conveyor, and also with the tube

page_text: "
F
11.19
15
or track, or with either of them in such a manner that the car or conveyor
may be caused either to receive or to deliver freight at given places, or to pass
such places without delivering or receiving, at the will of the operator.
Fifthly, this Invention consists in the employment of sundry new mechanical
devices used in connection with the receiver, car, tube, and track, or with
either of them, to be herein-after more fully described.
I..
There are various ways in which the present Invention may be practically
carried out, for example, it may be used in connection with the tube and con-
veyors described in theSpécification of Letters Patent granted to Alfred Vincent
Newton, and bearing date the Seventh day of August, One, thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five, being a communication to him from the within-named
Alfred Ely Beach, for "An Improved Mode of and Apparatus for Facilitating
the Transportation and Delivery of Letters, Newspapers, and other Freight."
In the said Patent, although an endless trough or conveyor is generally men.
tioned, it will be readily understood that suitable separate boxes or cars might
be substituted, if connected together and operated by an endless belt, rope, or
cable, to which separate boxes or cars these present improvements could be
readily applied by any person skilled in the art from the description herein-
after given. I therefore deem it unnecessary specially to describe the whole
mechanism and devices mentioned in the said former Patent, but will describe,
as one example of the use of the present improvements, the application or
employment thereof in connection with the pneumatic tube, in which air is
the motor by which the freight receptacles or conveyors are moved.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a portion of the tube, car, and delivering apparatus;
Figure represents a portion of the tube, car, and receiving apparatus;
Figure 3 represents a side secțional elevation of a car; Figure 4 is an end
elevation of the same; Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the tube, car,
and delivering apparatus; Figure 6 is an elevation of a portion of the
delivering apparatus, showing the application thereto of an electro-magnet;,
Figures 7, 8, and 9 illustrate the operation of the rotary box receptacle, and
the action of the car in connection therewith. Figure 9 is an elevation of a
receptacle of letters and freight, which is provided with a swinging valve, and
illustrates the operation of the valve in connection with the car or conveyor,
whereby the letters or freight are taken from the receptacle and transferred
to the car or conveyor. Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in
all the Figures.
A is a preumatic tube, in which runs upon a track a, a, a pneumatic car or

page_text: a
conveyor B, and C is the valve thereof, made of brush or other material,
attached to one end of the car. The tube, car, and valve may be of the usual
construction, and the propulsion of the car by air is effected in the well-known
manner, a description of which is here unnecessary. The car may have
brush or other valve at either end. A portion of the car is made hollow and
open at the top so as to form a receptacle D, in which letters, parcels, and
freight may be deposited. The bottom or some other part of the receptacle
is made movable, so that it can be opened and the freight discharged. In
the present example the bottom is divided into two parts d, d, hinged to the
sides d', d', of the receptacle. The bottoms d, d, are kept closed by springs e, e,
attached to the sides d', d, the lower ends of the springs being made to press
upward against the under side of the bottoms and keep them closed. Upon
the inside of each side d¹ there is a vertical sliding rod E, the head of which
forms an incline plane, and the lower end bears upon the inside of the
bottoms d,d, as shown. When the rods E are pressed down the bottoms d, d,
open and the freight is discharged. When the pressure is removed the
springs e, e, close the bottoms and lift the rods E
route.
1
The discharge of freight will be more clearly understood by reference to
Figure 1, which represents a delivery station on a supposed pneumatic tube
The car advances in the direction of the arrow, and at F, projecting
from or into the tube A, are one or more inclined planes or studs, so con-
structed and arranged that as the car advances they will come in contact with
and depress the rods E, which depression causes the buttons d, d, to open, and
the contents of the car or receptacle D are at once discharged. That portion
of the tube A at the point where the discharge takes place is provided with
an aperture and a discharge pipe A¹, into which the freight falls; this pipe is
provided with two valves H, H¹, to permit the extraction of the freight, and
at the same time prevent the escape of air from the pneumatic 'tube; when
the lower valve H is closed by the attendant the upper valve H¹ is to be
opened and the freight will fall upon the lower valve, the upper valve may
be then closed and the lower valve opened, whereby the freight will be dis-
charged upon the table or other receptacle placed under the tube A¹; when
the upper valve is closed the freight falls thereupon and remains until it is
opened for discharge, as described.
The rods E are intended to be so made as to be readily removed from the
car, or to be capable of being moved aside, and when so removed it is obvious
that the bottoms'd would not open on reaching a given place or station,
because there would be no contact between the heads of the rods E and the
studs F, and the car would pass such station without discharging its contents.

page_text: One or more sets of bolts E or equivalent devices may be employed upon each
car, and each set may be arranged in different positions; and the studs F
may be differently placed at different stations, a distinctive arrangement of
studs being employed for each station if desired. If on starting a car from a
given station the operator desires to make the car discharge at the next
station, the rods E are so arranged upon the car by him that they will come
in contact with the studs F at that station and open the car bottom; but if it
is desired to have the car pass such station and discharge at the next station,
then the rods E are correspondently arranged upon the car by the operator
at the starting station. In this manner the operator may cause the several
cases to discharge their contents at such stations only as may be desired.
Instead of making the rods E removable the studs F may be inade removable
and subject to the will of the operator at the given stations, so that when the
operator fixes the studs in proper positions the rods E or equivalent devices
upon the advancing car will strike the studs and discharge the contents of the
car; but when the studs F are removed out of proper position no discharge
from the car will take place. A convenient method of operating the studs F
or their equivalent devices, so as to put them in or out of position, and thereby
govern the discharge of the contents of the car at given stations at the will
of the operator, consists in the employment of an electro-magnetic apparatus
and one or more conducting wires, with which the studs or equivalent devices
are to be so connected that by the closing of the electric circuit the studs will
be moved into or held in proper position to cause the opening of the car
bottom. The skilled mechanic will have no difficulty in so applying an
electric apparatus as to accomplish the above described purpose, and I shall
therefore describe only one form for its application, although there are many
forms that might be described as forming part of this Invention..
Referring to Figure 1, F1 is a vertically moving stud, the lower end of
which passes through the tube A; the shank of the stud is girdled by a
spring f to keep it in place. The upper end of the stud F" forms an armature
of an electro-magnet G. The electric wire I is shown in red.
At H², or
any other convenient position, subject to the will of the operator, is a circuit
key. When the electric circuit is closed by the operator the magnet G¹ and
its armature or stud F2 will be firmly held together, and the lower end of the
stud F1 will be thereby prevented from rising, so that the rods E upon the
advancing car will come in contact with the stud F1, and the contents of the
car will be thereby discharged in the manner before described; but when the
circuit is open the armature or stud F being no longer held by the magnet
the stud F will not depress the rods E, and the cars will pass the station or

page_text: magnet without discharging its contents. One or more studs F1 may be
employed.
It will readily be understood that one or more electric conducting wires I
will be extended between the several stations upon the route of the cars or
conveyors, and that the operation of the studs or any devices needed for the
control either of the discharging of the contents or the conveyors, or for the
loading thereof, or the regulation of the speed thereof, or signalizing from one
station to another, may be readily effected by means of the electric current
passing through the wires. The conducting wires are to be laid or extended
within the tube, by which they are protected, and convenient access to them
always afforded.
Another modification would consist in such an attachment of a stud to the
car, and such an arrangement of an electric device, that the car itself would
be inade to open and close the circuit at the proper times. The collection of
the letters, parcels, or freight, and the gathering thereof into the passing car
or conveyor is done in the following manner, referring to Figure 2:-Com-
municating with the tube A, and rising therefrom above the surface of the
ground, is a receiving tube or depository A2 which may form the base of a
lamp-post. In the lower part of tube A2 are two swing valves J, K, and when
there is no car or conveyor passing below tube A³ the lower valvé Jis always
closed and the upper valve K is always open; but when a car or conveyor
approaches it operates both of the valves, open's the lower valve and closes the
upper valve; passage of air through tube A2 is thus prevented. These valves,
instead of being flat, may be made of dish form, or in the form of boxes.
Letters or freight deposited through the aperture a² of the receiver fall down
and remain upon the upper surface of the lower swing valve J, upon the pivot
bar of which is a crank L which is connected by means of a rod M with a
crank L¹ upon the pivot bar' of the upper valve K. Both valves are simul-
taneously operated by means of a rock lever N, one end of which is pivotted
to a suitable standard, and the other end is slotted and attached by a pivot
through the slot to the connecting rod M. When the lever N is pushed
upward the lower valve J opens and the upper valve K closes, when the
lever N falls the lower valve closes and the upper valve operis. Connected
with the lever N is a spring O the presence of which is so arranged as to pull
down the lever N and keep the valve J'always closed and the valve K open
until some other force is applied to overcome the power of the spring and lift
the lever N. The lifting of the lever' N' is effected by means of an inclined
projection or stud' P which is attached to some part of the cat or conveyor.
Pivotted to and extended from the lever N is a vertical rod Q the lower end

page_text: of which passes through the tube A and occupies such a position therein that
when the car or conveyor passes near the receiver A the lower end of the
rod will come in contact with and be lifted by the stud P upon the car,
which lifting will close the upper valve K and open the lower valve J, and the
letters and freight which were deposited upon the valve J will by the opening
thereof fall down into the receptacle of the car or conveyor, as shown in
Figure 2. As soon as the car and stud P have passed upon the upward pressure
upon the rod Q will be removed, and the pressure of the spring O will act in
the manner described, closing the valve J and opening K, and any letters
or freight which entered the receiver and rested upon the upper surface of
valve K will now fall and rest upon the upper surface of valve J, ready
for delivery into the next passing car or conveyor. One or more studs P may
be used on each car, and the studs are intended to be removable at pleasure,
so that the receiving valves will be operated and the letters and freight col-
lected when the car passes near the receiver, or not operated, according to the
will of the operator, who starts the car and who places the studs P "pon the
car. The arrangement and manipulation of the studs P and rods Q is intended
to besubstantially similar tothe arrangement and manipulation before described
in connection with the studs F and rods E. The assistance of an electro-
magnet is to be employed, when desired, in connection with the rods Q or
studs P, substantially in the same manner and for the same purpose as I have
already described in connection with the rods E and studs F2. For example,
the pivot which connects the rod Q and the lever N may be provided with a
spring R, as shown in Figure 6, the lower part of which spring serves as an
armature for magnet S. When the circuit is closed the magnet withdraws
the spring and thus pulls the pivot out of connection with the rod Q, the
upper
end of which being slotted may then rise without operating the lever N, and
if a car passes the station when the pivot is thus withdrawn no transfer of
letters or freight will take place from that station into the car, because the
valves J, K, will not be operated. Thus the collection of the letters and
freight and the successive deposit thereof into the passing cars, or into any
car appointed to collect freight from any appointed receiver, is readily and
effectively accomplished.
.
Figure 7 of the Drawings illustrates a method of employing a rotating
valvular box or receptacle arranged below the pillar, lamp-post, or other
repository, and so constructed that when the car or conveyor passes under the
said depository it will operate the said rotary box, and cause its contents
to be transferred into the car or conveyor; Figure 7 is a view, in part sectional,
showing the method of operating the rotary box by means of the car and

page_text: the transfer of letters from the box into the car without stoppage of the latter;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the rotary box removed from its tube;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the car showing the nose, and its mode of
adjustment.
U is the said rotary valvular box or receptacle, of which ware the sides, and u¹
the partitions, which divide the receptacle into separate receiving compart-
ments u², 4³ ³, 8, as shown; is a central shaft, suitably mounted on the
receiving tube A2, on which shaft the box or receptacle Urotates. The interior
of the receiving tube A2 corresponds in form to the periphery of the circle des-
cribed by the rotating box U. Letters or freightdeposited through the aperturea²
of the pillar or lamp-post fall down into the uppermost compartment of the
rotary box or receptacle U,and there remains until a car or conveyorapproaches,
when the front end or nose V of the car comes in contact with one of the
partitions of the box, and causes the latter to make a partial rotation, thereby
dumping the freight contained in said uppermost compartment of the box
into the car, and at the same time carrying an empty compartment of the box
upward under the receiving tube A², where it remains to catch any letters
or freight that may be dropped through the aperture a². The rotary box is
operated by the striking against its lower partition of a nose-piece V, which is
attached to the front of the car, when it advances in the direction of arrow 4
as illustrated in Figure 7. The car in passing under the rotary box leaves
the latter in such a position that one of its partitions projects slightly below
the roof of the tube A, so that the nose of the next advancing car will strike
the said partition, rotate the box, and transfer its freight in the manner
as before described. The partitions of the box are so arranged that
they serve as valves within the receiving tube A² to prevent the air from
passing either up or down through the tube A2, as will readily be understood
by referring to Figure 7. The nose V is intended to project a little above
the top of the car, and it may also be made adjustable, both vertically and
laterally, upon the car, and also easily removable therefrom by means of slotted
strap w and screw a as shown in Figure 9. When it is desired to send the car
through the tube without operating any of the boxes, the attendant either
removes the nose V from the car, or lowers it so that it will not strike the
partitions of the box as before described. By arranging the boxes upon
different planes the nose of the car when properly adjusted will only
strike and operate those boxes that are upon the lowest plane. By another
higher adjustment of the nose the boxes upon the next higher plane will also
be operated. In some cases the extremities of the partitions may be cut out
as shown in red at, Figure 8, so that when the nose is laterally adjusted it

page_text: .
will pass through said cut without operating the box. The cuts.
are to be
covered by bristles or other suitable substance to prevent the leakage of air.
In the above manner by a proper arrangement of the position or formation
of the rotary boxes with a proper adjustment of the car nose any desired
number of the boxes upon a given route of the pneumatic tube may be operated
at the will of the director, and the collection of freight may be timed and
regulated as desired.
Figure 10 illustrates a modification of this improvement, in which one
side of the letter or freight receptacle A³ is made movable so as to form a
swing valve U. This valve is hinged at r to the receptacle A³ as shown, and
in the hinge at r is a spring which acts to close the valve U¹, so that its lower
end will rest against the lower edge of the inclined bottom a³ of the receptacle
A³ as shown. Letters and freight deposited in the receptacle will rest upon
said bottom as shown until the valve U is opened as shown in red, the letters
and freight will then fall from the receptacle. The opening of the valve U¹ is
effected by the contact therewith of the front part of the car B, which pushes
the valve forward into the position shown in red, and on the opening of the
valve the letters and freight immediately fall into the car as shown. The
lower end of the valve rests upon the car, and is held open by the car until
the car has passed beyond the valve, when the spring at the hinger causes
the valve to close. To prevent the escape or loss of any letters or freight the
valve U is allowed to close just before the car has advanced beyond the
valve U. This is effected by having the rear portion of the car at s made
lower than the front part of the car, so that the valve on reaching said lower
portion will no longer be held open, and will consequently close as illustrated
in red, Figure 10. The devices which are used to discharge the freight from
the car, or to cause the passage of the freight from the receiver into the car
may be operated by the weight of the car, or by contact with the car in any
manner, or by electrical mechanism, or by the agency of the air blast derived
from the pneumatic tube, when such tube is used.
any
This Invention is not limited to any particular form of construction for:
of the parts of the mechanism herein mentioned, not to any particular method
of propulsion or form of the case or conveyor. Such forms will be selected
for use as the skill and experience of the constructor shall dictate, or as may
be demanded by the nature of the place or the particular service in which this
Invention is to be employed. In order to facilitate and ensure the correct
action of the mechanism in collecting and delivering the freight the speed of
the car may be reduced on passing the stations. One method of reducing the
speed of the car consists in having it so constructed that at certain points upon

page_text: the route a portion of the valve of the car, or a portion of the car may be
opened so as to allow the air to pass by or through the car, thus reducing the
pressure of air upon the valve, and causing the speed of the car to be reduced.
This construction is illustrated in Figure 3, and is shown by the red lines.
The rear part of the car and the valve is provided with an opening 9, in which
is set a swing valve h, which when opened allows a portion of the air to pass
through the valve and under the car, as shown by the arrows. When the
valve is closed no air can pass through. The opening and closing of the valve
is effected by the striking of the head of the valve rod i against a stud or
projection arranged and operating in the tube at certain points in substantially
the same manner as the studs F, F1, either with or without the electro-
magnetic arrangement. By the foregoing means the car may be wholly
stopped at the station if desired. In connection with the above method of
reducing the speed the cars may be provided with suitable brakes m, so
arranged that the head of the rod n connecting with the break will when the
car approaches a receiving or delivery station come in contact with the stud
arranged in the tube in such a manner that the rod n will be pressed down
and cause the brakes to press upon the wheels of the car, and thereby check
the speed of the car until the freight has been received or delivered, after
which the rod n having passed the stud the pressure of the brakes upon the
car will be released, the rod being thrown up by a girdle spring n¹. In lieu of
brakes the tube or track may be provided with longitudinal springs y placed
near the receiving and delivering stations in such a manner that the car wheels
will pass under the springs, which will press upon the wheels and check the
speed of the car until the stations have been passed, when the springs no
longer operating the original speed of the car will be resumed, see Figure 3.
Another method for arresting or reducing the speed of the car at the time
of passing the receiving and delivering stations consists in enlarging the tube
near said stations, as shown in red at a¹, a¹, Figure 1, so that neither the car
nor its valve will wholly fill the tube, and the air will consequently pass by the
car and valve without acting upon the latter with full force, and in consequence
of such reduction of impelling force the speed of the car will be diminished;
but when the car has passed beyond the tubular enlargement the air will then
again act upon the car with full force, and increase the speed of the car to its
maximum.
Each car may be divided into two or more compartments with delivering
mechanism connected with each compartment.
Figure 11 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the use of the rotary
letter boxes and cars in their special application to the postal service, and the

page_text: collection and delivery of letters and small parcels within sub stations or post
offices. The general construction and operation of these boxes and the cars
therewith have already been described in connection with Figure 7. The
general method for discharging the letters and freight from the cars has also
been described in connection with Figure 1, and need not be here repeated.
Figure 11 is intended to represent the interior of a sub post office, which
for convenience I will designate as station Number Four, having an arrange-
nent of letter boxes, tube, and car for the conveyance of letters and parcels
from that station to the three other separate stations upon this route, which
stations I will designate as stations Number One, Two, Three. In the Drawing
No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 indicate the letter receptacles of the stations, to which
conveyance is to be made from station Number Four. The attendant distributes
the letters and parcels into the respective boxes marked No. 1, No. 2, No. 3,
and the letters fall into the upper compartment of the rotary letter boxes
Below, which are rotated by the car when it advances through the tube, and
the contents of the boxes are transferred into the car, substantially in the
manner herein-before described in connection with box U, Figure 7.
In the present example, Figure 11, the car is divided into three separate
compartments, marked 1, 2, 3, corresponding to the designation of the letter
boxes, and also to the numbers of the stations to which the letters are to be
conveyed. Each compartment of the car has an independent movable bottom
for the separate discharge of its contents, the bottom of each compartment
being closed by springs and pushed open at the proper moment by rods E,
which operate similar to the rods E in Figure 1. The rotation of the letter
boxes is effected by means of removable projecting pins No. 1, No. 2, No. 3,
suitably arranged upon the car, one pin near each compartment, in such a
manner that when the car advances in direction of the arrow the piu No. 1
will strike the rotary box of No. 1 and transfer its contents into the car com-
partment 1; pin No. 2 will operate the box No. 2, and transfer its contents
into car compartment 2, and pin No. 3 will operate the box of No. 3 and
transfer its contents into car compartment 3, the several transfers or collections
being made by the car without stoppage thereof while passing through the
station. When the car arrives at the next station Number One, the
heads of the rods E upon the car compartment 1 are depressed by a cam
fixed within the tube or station Number One, and the bottom of the car com-
partment 1 is opened, and the contents thereof are instantly delivered within
the station without stoppage of the car. Within the station Number One
there is to be a set of letter boxes arranged like those herein described, under

page_text: which set of boxes the advancing car passes, and when the car passes under
the box No. 2 of said set it will transfer the contents thereof into car com-
partment 2, and the contents of box No. 3 will be transferred into car
compartment 3, as before described. The collection ofletters and parcels from
onestation for delivery at several different stations, together with collections and
deliveries at the intermediate stations may be thus conveniently accomplished
with certainty and rapidity. Each blade of each of the rotary letter boxes is
provided with a projection c1, c2, c³, against which the car pins No. 1, No. 2,
No. 3, respectively strike, ir. order to rotate the boxes, and unless the pins are
80 placed upon the car as respectively to be in line with the projections upon
the boxes, then the said boxes will not be turned, and their contents will not
be transferred into the car. For example, the pin No. 2 cannot turn the box
of No. 1, because the pin No. 2 is not in line with the projection c¹. The
pins No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 are intended to be removable, and when it is desired
to have the car pass through a station without operating the letter boxes in
that station the pins are all removed from the car before it is started; but any
designated letter box or boxes may be operated by the car by placing the
proper pins upon the car before starting; in this manner all the letter boxes
on a route, or any portion of the boxes may be operated by the car as desired
by the operator who starts the car. Instead of having the car divided into
compartments as described, separate cars may be used with one designated
car to collect from one designated letter box or series of letter boxes. Each
separate car will have the pins arranged upon it to correspond with the pro-
jections upon the blades of the letter boxes which that car is to operate. The
projections c¹, c², c³, project below the roof of the tube, as also do the cams
which operate the rods E, and in order that the rear of the car may pass
these projections without turning the letter boxes the rear of the car is pro-
vided with slots or openings 6x, corresponding to and in line with the said
projections. In order to keep these openings tight to prevent leakage of air
the said openings are covered by weak flat springs dx, which yield without
turning the boxes, when the advance of the car brings the springs against the
said projections. In order to render the operation of the rotary letter boxes
airtight within their respective cases or receiving tubes A², the said cases are
provided with grooves c* made in the cases corresponding to the projections
c1, c2, c³, upon the blades of the rotary letter boxes. The edges of the rotary
letter boxes may be also provided with rubber or other packing e* set in
in the edge of the blades, as shown in Figure 12, the packing may
be attached in any other equivalent manner. In lieu of packing upon the
grooves

page_text: blades of the letter box the interior surface of the case or chamber in which
the letter box turns, or suitable portions thereof may be lined or provided with
rubber or other packing.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate an arrangement of the pneumatic tubes and
switch for use in the stations ofthe pneumatic route, by which the cars intended
to go from one station to any other specified station may be sent through the
main tube and landed at the required station, while other following cars
destined for more distant stations will continue on to their destination without
stoppage.
9
In Figures 13 and 14 A is the main tube passing through a station, and A
is a switch tube communicating with the main tube, and having a switch track
for the pneumatic cars, which track joins the track of the main tube. Upon
the side of the pneumatic car B there is secured a vertically adjustable
switching device or bar 10, and upon one side the switch track there is a fixed
switch lip or rail 11 which stands higher than the rail of the main track and
close to the latter. The extremity of the lip 11 is to be so made and placed
that whenever the car approaches the station in the direction of the arrow the
lower end of the bar 10, if the bar has been properly adjusted, will come in
contact with and catch upon the outer surface of the lip 11 and cause the
car to be switched off from the main track to the station or switch track;
but when the bar 10 is not adjusted low enough down its lower end will
not strike the lip 11 and the car will not leave the main track. When a car
is to be started from any station, if it is to be switched off at the next station,
the bar 10 is lowered by the attendant prior to starting the car, and adjusted
so that when the car arrives at the desired station the bar 10 will come in
contact with lip 11, and the car will be switched off into the station through
tube A. By a suitable change in the form and position of the switching bars
or devices 10, and the lips or switch rail devices 11, and the use of differently
located devices for different stations, the car destined for the several
stations of the pneumatic route may be sent through the main tube upon the
main track without diverging therefrom until they respectively reach their
appointed stations, but when they reach their appointed stations they will
switch off into the station through tube A°. The extremity of the lip 11 may,
when desired, be made adjustable either laterally or vertically, so as to bring
it near to the main rail for the purpose of switching off the car, in which case
the switching bar upon the car may be fixed, or the wheels of the car may be
flanged, so as to take to the switch lip. When the said extremity 11¹ is
adjusted near the rail, the bar 10 will act on the lip and the car will be.
switched off, but when the extremity is not adjusted near the rail the car will

page_text: pass the station. In the present example the extremity 111 has a vertical
adjustment,being pivotted at 12,its frontend resting upon an oscillating cam 13,
the shaft of which is turned by a lever 14. When the cam 13 is turned
so as to raise the extremity 111, the car will be switched off; but when the
cam is turned so as to lower the extremity 11¹ the bar 10 will not act upon
the lip 11, and the car will not be switched off. It will be obvious that the
extremity 11¹ might be made to move laterally instead of vertically, and that
various other mechanical devices might be employed to effect the switching
of the car.
It will be readily understood that the switch may be set and
operated by hand or by the use of electricity and an electro-magnet acting
a'pon the shaft of the cam or other device connected therewith or with the
switch to be moved. If an electrical agency is used the switches for the
several stations, or for any particularstation may, through the medium of a con-
ducting wire be set by the attendant of any of the stations. For example, if
the attendant of station No. 1 is about to start a car which is to be switched
off at station No. 2, he sets the switch lip 11' of station No. 2 by means of
the electrical conducting wire so that the car on arrival at No. 2 is duly
switched off. The several switch tubes are to be provided with the usual air
valves to prevent leakage of air, and permit the exit and ingress of the cars so
that they may be conveniently received and started from the several stations.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, I claim the automatic collection of letters, parcels, and other freight
from stations,pillars, posts, or other receptacles, into conveyors moving through
tubes, substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly, I claim the automatic delivery of letters, parcels, and other
freight from conveyors moving through tubes, substantially as herein set forth.
Thirdly, I claim the employment of studs and rods, or their substantial
equivalents to operate the delivering and receiving mechanism, substantially
as herein shown and described.
Fourthly, I claim the employment of an electro-magnetic apparatus in
combination with the mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.
Eifthly, I claim the several methods herein described for reducing the
speed, substantially as described.
Sixthly, I claim in the collection of letters; parcels, and other freight, the
employment of a moving box or receiver, operating substantially as described,
so as to transfer its contents into the car or conveyors:

page_text: Seventhly, I claim the movement of the said box by means of the car,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Eighthly, I claim the employment of the adjustable nose or its equivalent
with the car, substantially, as and for the purpose herein shown and
described.
Ninthly, I claim the employment of a swinging valve in connection with
the freight receptacle, substantially as herein shown and described.
Tenthly, I claim in the collection and delivery of letters, parcels, and other
freight, the employment of the several mechanisms, herein shown and described,
or their substantial equivalents, operating separately or otherwise,substantially
as herein shown and described.
Eleventhly, I claim the employment of the movable letter boxes or freight
receivers arranged in series, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown
and described.
Twelfthly, I claim the employment of switch tubes in combination with the
main tube, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Thirteenthly, I claim the employment of a switch bar or its equivalent device
with the pneumatic car, substantially as described.
Fourteenthly, I claim the employment of the lip rail, or its substantial
equivalent with the switch tube and main tube, substantially as described.
Fifteenthly, I claim the methods of operating the said switch devices sub-
stantially as herein described, it being understood that I do not limit myself
to any particular form of construction in the use of the several devices herein
mentioned, and that I do not claim them generally but only their use and
application to pneumatic tubes and cars.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
JMS. DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)