Small Parcels by Electricity.
Year: 1887

page_text: Small Parcels by Electricity.
I FREDERICK CHARLES ALLSOP of Bexley in the County of Kent, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically conveying and delivering by
electricity, letters and small parcels from one place to another (such as from the lodge
gates to the house) by means of electric trucks or carriers controlled by automatic
electrical or mechanical switches.
In carrying out my invention I provide a channel or tube of rectangular or other
suitable section and constructed of iron, creosoted wood or other suitable material
fitted together so as to be watertight and laid preferably underground with suitable
provision for draining all leakage.
In this channel-which extends the entire distance from the one place to the other
between which it is desired to transmit the letters or small parcels-are fixed the rails-
insulated in a suitable manner-on which the electrical carriers or trucks run.
At one end of the channel-viz.: that from which the letters or parcels are trans-
mitted I provide suitable mechanical or electrical switches so that either by the
articles being pushed through an opening or by the switch being moved by hand
the current of electricity from a battery or other suitable source is switched on to the
rails the current going by one rail and returning by the other after having passed
through the electro-motor fixed on the carrier.
These electrical carriers or trucks are made of thin sheet metal or other suitable
material and preferably in the form of a square box the bottom of which slopes up
from the sides inwards and meeting in the middle forms a partition which thus divides
the box into two equal ✓ shaped divisions.
The sides of this box are also hinged at the bottom and capable of falling over
outwards when released by moving a lever (hereinafter called the " releasing
lever") fixed on the top of the box.

page_text: In the bottom of this box is fixed an electromotor which drives the wheels by
suitable gearing, these wheels being insulated from the axles so as not to short
circuit the rails.
The current is collected from the pair of wheels on the one side of the box
and after passing through the electromotor returns by the pair of wheels on the
other side.
Running the whole length of this box and projecting a little way at each end
I provide a metal rod (hereinafter called the "reversing rod") both ends of which
are fitted with a suitable buffer.
This rod is capable of considerable longitudinal motion and when so moved
reverses the direction of rotation of the electromotor by moving the brushes in
the ordinary way.
At both the transmitting and delivering ends of the channel I provide a
suitably arranged stop which engaging with the buffer on the end of the "reversing
rod" pushes it along and thus reverses the direction of rotation of the electromotor
and consequently the direction of the carrier.
At the delivering end I also provide suitably arranged projecting arms which
engaging with the "releasing levers" release the sides of the carrier and discharge
the contents into a receptacle placed to receive them.
At this end I also provide suitable inclined rails so that as the carrier runs
back the sides are automatically closed again.
At the transmitting end I also arrange the automatic switch or switches so that
the carrier as it comes back resets the switch or switches so that the current is
not on to the electromotor except when the carrier is either delivering or returning
from delivering the letters or parcels.
Dated this 25th day of November 1887.

page_text: I, FREDERICK CHARLES ALLSOP, of Bexley in the county of Kent, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically conveying & delivering
letters and small parcels from one place to another (such as from the lodge gates
to the house) by means of electric trucks or carriers controlled by automatic
electrical mechanical switches.
In carrying out my invention I provide a channel or tube of rectangular or
other suitable section, & constructed of iron, creosoted wood, or other suitable
material fitted together so as to be watertight and laid preferably underground
with suitable provision for draining all leakage. In this channel-which extends
the entire distance from the one place to the other between which it is desired
to transmit the letters or small parcels are fixed the rails-insulated in a suitable
manner on which the electrical carriers or trucks run.
At one end of the channel viz:-that from which the letters or parcels are
transmitted, I provide suitable mechanical or electrical switches so that, either by
the articles being pushed through an opening or by the switch being moved by
hand, the current of electricity from a battery or other suitable source is switched
on to the rails; the current going by one rail and returning by the other after
having passed through the electro-motor on the carrier.
These electrical carriers or trucks are made of thin sheet metal or other suitable
material & preferably in the form of a square box the bottom of which slopes up from
the sides inwards and meeting in the middle forms a partition which thus divides the
box into two equal V shaped divisions. The sides of this box are also hinged at
the bottom and capable of falling over outwards when released by moving a lever-
hereinafter called the "releasing lever "-fixed on the top of the box. In the bottom
of this box is fixed an electro-motor which drives the wheels by suitable gearing,
these wheels being insulated from the axles so as not to short circuit the rails. The
current is collected by the pair of wheels on one side of the box and after passing

page_text: through the motor returns by the pair of wheels on the other side. Running the
whole length of this box or carrier and projecting out a little way at each end,
I provide a metal rod-hereinafter called the "reversing rod "--both ends of which
are provided with a suitable buffer. This rod is capable of considerable longitudinal
motion & when so moved reverses the direction of rotation of the electro-motor by
moving the brushes in the usual manner.
At both the transmitting and delivering ends of the channel I provide a suitable
arranged stop, which, engaging with the buffer on the end of the reversing rod,
pushes along and thus automatically reverses the direction of rotation of the electro-
motor and consequently the direction of the carrier.
At the delivering end I also provide suitably arranged projecting arms, which,
engaging with the releasing levers, release the sides of the carrier causing it to
discharge its contents into a suitable receptacle placed to receive them. At this end
I also provide suitable inclined rails by means of which as the carrier runs back the
sides are automatically closed again.
At the transmitting end I also arrange the automatic switch so that the carrier, as
it comes back from delivering the letters or small parcels, resets the switch thus
breaking the circuit, so that the current is not on to the electro motor except
when the carrier is either delivering or returning from delivering the letters and
parcels.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe.
how it may be carried into practice with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Throughout the drawings similar letters denote similar parts.
Figs. 1 & 2 show the truck or carrier in its position on the rails, Fig. 1 being a
longitudinal & Fig. 2 a transverse section. The motor (), fixed on the carrier (a),
drives the wheels (w), by means of the cogwheel gearing. The bottom (c), of the
carrier (a), slopes up inwards towards the centre forming in the transverse section an
inverted V. The sides (d), are hinged at (e), and in the position shown in the figures
are supported by the "releasing levers" (/). But when the lever is moved, such as
it would be by engaging with a projecting arm while the carrier is running along,
the sides are released & (owing to their being set a little out of the perpendicular and
the pressure of the letters & parcels from within) fall over outwards into the position
shown by the dotted lines thus discharging the contents of the carrier as there is no
longer any further support for them. (g) is the reversing rod which when moved
along reverses the direction of the carrier. As shown in Fig. I the carrier is moving
in the direction of the arrow but when the buffer (1) comes in contact with the stop
at one end of the line it is pushed along into the position shown by the dotted lines
throwing over the brushes of the motor which reverses the direction of rotation of its
armature. The carrier then travels in the opposite direction until the buffer (i)
engages with a stop at the other end of the line, which moves the rod back into its
original position when the carrier again proceeds in its former direction. The rails (j)
are supported up & insulated by the wooden sleepers (k).
Figs. 3 & 4 are sections of the pillar box at the transmitting end showing the
carrier in its position ready to receive the letters. The letters etc are pushed through
the opening (), and fall into the carrier (a) below. But in order to pass through the
opening (), the flap (m) must be pushed back which raises the rod (n), and releases
the catch (p), that impelled by the spiral spring (o), causes the arm (y), to make
contact with the contact plate (r), fastened to the end of the cable (s). One pole of
the battery is connected direct to one of the rails while the other is connected to the
cable (s). The other rail is connected to the catch (p). Thus when the catch is
released and the current switched on to the rails the circuit being completed the
carrier starts off with its load. After the carrier has discharged its contents it comes
back, and the edge of the carrier engaging with the arın (t) of the catch (p) pushes
it back thus automatically resetting the catch & breaking the circuit.
Fig. 5 shows another form of automatic switching apparatus for the transmitting
end. The letters etc are pushed as before through the opening (1) but the carrier does

page_text: not start till the prish (u) is pressed in, which actuates the electrical switch. This
switch is shown in detail in Fig. 6, together with its connections to the rails & battery.
When the push (u) is pressed in the current flows from the pole (P), of the battery (D),
to cable (s), through push (u) magnet (V), spring (F), wire (L), rail (I), through
the motor on the carrier to rail (J), and from there to the pole (M) of the
battery. This excites the magnet (V), causing it to attract the armature (A), against
the pressure of the spiral spring (G); the armature being pivoted in the centre lifts
the catch (B), releasing the arm (C), which impelled by the spring (F), makes
contact with the contact piece (E). This closes the main circuit the current flowing
from the pole (P), of the battery (D), through the cable (s) to contact (E), arm (C),
spring (F), wire (L), rail (I), through the motor to rail (J), & pole (M) of the
battery. The circuit remains closed until the carrier in coming back runs against
the buffer (H), which pushes back the arın (C), thus resetting the switch & breaking
the circuit.
Fig. 7 is a section & Fig. 8 a plan of the apparatus at the delivering end of the
line with the carrier in its position just discharging its contents. As the carrier runs
up at the delivering end the releasing levers (ff), engage with the two projecting
arms (K K), which move the lovers releasing the sides and discharging the contents
of the carrier down the holes (NN) at the bottom of which is a suitable receptacle
placed to receive them. At the same time that the releasing levers engage with the
stops (KK) the buffer on the end of the rod (g), comes in contact with the stop (3),
which pushes the rod along reversing the motor & causing the carrier to travel back
to the transmitting end. When the sides of the carrier are released they fall on to
the rails (PP), which rails are so supported & bent that as they get further from the
holes (NN) they get higher & nearer to the carrier till at the point (0) they are
highest & nearest. Thus as the carrier runs back the sides which are resting on the
rails (P, P), are gradually raised up higher & higher till at the point (0) they are
shut right up; the catches on the "releasing levers" afterwards supporting them.
Fig. 9 shows a section of the channel with the carrier inside. The channel (T), is
fitted with a removable lid (R), and the rails on which the carrier runs are supported
off the bottom by the sleepers (k), thus leaving a space for any wet that might leak
through & which is carried off by the drain pipe (Y). The feeding cable (S) is shown
fixed on one side.
Fig. 10 shows the detail of the "releasing lever." The lever (f) is pivoted at (2),
and kept in its normal position by the spring (U). The lower end of the lever
supports the side (d), by means of the pin (W), but when the lever is moved in the
direction of the arrow the pin slips by the catch the sides being thus released.
Fig. 11 shows in detail the reversing gear, which is of the usual form employed
for motors. When the rod (g), is in the position shown the brushes (X, X), are on the
commutator (Z), and the motor runs in one direction; but when the rod is
moved in the direction of the arrow the brushes (QQ), are in use and the motor
runs in the reverse direction.
When the letters are pushed through the opening in the pillar box at the
transmitting end they fall into the carrier, and the catch being released thus
switching the current on to the rails the carrier starts off with its load & runs up
through the channel to the delivering end. Here the releasing levers engage with
the stops releasing the sides and discharging the contents of the carrier. At the
same time the reversing rod is moved over and the carrier begins to run back
to the transmitting end. In going back the sides which are resting on the inclined
rails at the side are raised up & shut by these rails; the sides being kept up
afterwards by the catches on the releasing levers. The carrier (with the sides
shut) now runs back to the transmitting end, where the buffer on the end of the
reversing rod engages with a stop thus reversing the motor. At the same time
the edge of the carrier comes in contact with the arm of the automatic switch
moving it back & breaking the circuit by resetting the catch. The carrier thus
remains in its place under the opening ready for the next delivery.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention & in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st The general arrangement & combination of parts constituting the system of
automatic electrical carriers, substantially as described & illustrated with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
2nd The electrical carrier or truck herein before described & illustrated with
reference to Figs. 1 & 2.
3rd The automatic electrical & mechanical switching apparatus hereinbefore
described & illustrated with reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.
4th The method of discharging the contents of the carrier & reclosing the sides,
substantially as described and illustrated with reference to figure 7 & 8.
Dated this the 22nd day of August 1888.
FREDERICK CHARLES ALLSOP.