Improvements relating to the Pneumatic Transmission of Packages or Mail Matter, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
COMPLEIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Pneumatic Transmission of Packages
or Mail Matter, and to Apparatus therefor.
I, BIRNEY CLARK BATCHELLER, of 1518 North Fifteenth Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to an improved system for the pneumatic transmission of
packages or mail matter, in which the carriers are transported through pipes which
pass, not only between terminal stations, but connect as well with intermediate
stations, and my improvements are particularly applicable to the intermediate
stations of the line, although in many features they can be advantageously applied
at terminal stations as well.
My invention has to do, in the first place, with mechanism for arresting th
motion of a carrier upon its reaching a station and preparatory to its discharge
at or further transmission from that station, and in connection with this portion of
my invention I would state that the leading features consist, first, in providing
in connection with tripping and selecting devices arranged in the path and to be
operated by a carrier, mechanism for checking the motion of the carrier placed
in advance of such trips or selecting mechanism and arranged to check the motion
and take up the momentum of the carrier before it comes in contact with the
selecting mechanism, and, second, in providing in connection with a delivery tube
and two or more receiving and discharging tubes or openings, a transfer tube
movable to register with each tube in turn and arranged when in registry with the
delivery tube to check and stop the motion of the carrier and then to transport it
while relatively stationary to bring it into a position of registry with a receiving
or discharge tube or opening, the motion and arrest of motion of the transfer tube
being preferably automatically effected by the selecting mechanism connected
with the carrier.
In addition to the mechanism for arresting the motion of a carrier coming to
the station and effecting its delivery at or transmission through said station, 1
have invented mechanism whereby carriers can be fed into the main transmission
tubes at the station, and which I will refer to as the sending apparatus, said
mechanism being characterised first by a simple and effective mechanical construc-
tion, but principally by the provision of locking mechanism set in operation to
lock the apparatus by the passage of a carrier through a determined portion of
the main tube, said locking apparatus being provided with self-actuating or auto-
matic releasing mechanism arranged to release the apparatus within a definite
time after the passage of the carrier or the setting of the lock.
My sending apparatus is actuated indirectly by a setting lever which acts upon
a valve which valve controls the admission and exhaust of pressure fluid from a
cylinder by which the sending apparatus is directly actuated, and while the con-

page_text: trolling valve is, as I have stated, actuated by the lever, it is also controlled b
locking mechanism whereby under certain contingencies the actual motion of th
valve is deferred for a regulated period after the actuating stroke of the lever
thus, in the construction shown one locking device is that already referred to b
which the approach of a carrier is made to lock the sending apparatus for a suffi
cient time to insure the passage of the carrier through the sending apparatu
and I have found it advisable to use also another time lock set in operation by eacl
action of the sending apparatus and by means of which the insertion of a second
carrier is prevented until the lapse of a determined time, and both of these locking
devices may be conveniently made to act either wholly or in part upon the actuat
ing valve so as to prevent its motion under the impulse of the sending lever unti
the designated time periods have elapsed. It will be understood that for uses in
connection with a lock or locks such as are above indicated it is desirable that the
sending lever should be locked in position after it has made its stroke and until
the valve is permitted to make its stroke in obedience to the impulse of the lever
and by this it is desirable that after the valve has moved and the carrier has moved
in obedience to the valve that the sending lever should be returned to its normal
position; this I have provided for and the mechanism for effecting it constitutes
a feature of my invention.
Reference being now had to the drawings in which my invention is illustrated,
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view representing a central station and four pneu-
matic tube circuits of varying construction connected with the said central station.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an intermediate station connected
with the outgoing and incoming tubes of a pneumatic circuit, each tube being
provided as shown with receiving and transmitting apparatus, and with sending
apparatus.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the receiving and transmitting mechanism.
Figure 4 is a similar view with the parts shown in vertical section, for instance,
on the lines 2--2 and 3--3 of Fig. 5.
Figure 5 is an end or edge view of the receiving and transmitting mechanism.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken as on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4 showing
the tripping and selecting mechanism which governs the motion and arrest of
the transfer tube.
Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a carrier adapted for use in my
system, an end view being shown to the right.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view in central section showing a simple mode of attach-
ing the selecting device to the end of the carrier.
Figure 9 showing selecting devices of different area such as are used for different
stations of the line.
Figure 10 is a cross sectional elevation through the delivery gate and the gate 4
actuating cylinder taken for example upon section line such as 4-4 in Fig. 3.
Figure 11 is a cross section taken as on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 10.
Figures 12 and 133 are respectively plan and edge views of the gate.
Figure 14 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the receiving and
transmitting apparatus embodying many of the leading features of my invention 4
in a somewhat different form.
Figure 15 is a front elevation of the substation sending apparatus and its
attached mechanism,
Figure 16 being a longitudinal section through one end of this apparatus show-
ing its internal construction.
Figure 17 is a view of a detail of the apparatus.
Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 15.
Figure 19 is a detached and partly sectional view of a trigger detail of the
pparatus.
50
Figure 20 is a sectional elevation of my preferred form of time lock mechanism 55
rranged to be set in operation by the approach of a carrier,
Figure 21 showing the levers operated by the mechanism shown in Fig. 20.

page_text: Figure 22 is a front elevation of the time lock mechanism set in operation by
each motion of the sending lever.
Figure 23 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the section line 7-7 of Fig. 22.
Figure 24 is a view showing a detail of construction.
Figure 25 is a sectional elevation showing the sending lever, the valve actuated
thereby and the mechanism for releasing the pawl which holds the sending lever
in operative position.
Figure 26 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig: 25.
Figures 27, 28 and 29 are sectional views representing the trigger and trigger
actuated mechanism set in operation by the discharge of a carrier from or through
the centre.
Figure 30 is a side elevation with a portion of the framework cut away of a
modified form of time lock which may be substituted for the form shown in Fig: 20.
Figure 31 is a front view of the said modification, and
Figures 32 and 33 side elevations showing the device in operation.
Referring to the diagram, Fig. 1, A indicates a central station and A¹ and A³
indicate respectively the outgoing and incoming portions of a pipe circuit, four
such circuits being shown as extending out from the central station A, one extends
to a terminal station A³ and back therefrom, another extends through sub-
stations A and A5 to a terminal station A6, the outgoing and incoming tubes
passing through each station, another circuit extends through sub-stations A7 A8
AA10 and A, the outgoing and incoming tubes both passing through the sta-
tions A and As, but each of the sub-stations A9 A and A" being traversed by
only a single one of the circuit tubes, and the fourth circuit passes through the sub-
stations A2 A3 A4 and A5, the conduit being looped so that only one tube passes
through each sub-station and so that while each sub-station can freely communi-
cate with those in advance of it they can only communicate with those at the rear
through the central station. Figure 2 indicates the arrangement of the receiving
and transmitting mechanism and of the sending mechanism at a sub-station, such
as A4, which is traversed by both the incoming and outgoing tubes of a circuit
so that carriers either passing in or out can be received at the substation and so
that carriers can be sent in either direction.
The transmitting device indicated at B consists of a casing having preferably
an annular internal wall B' through which extend several openings as follows:
see Fig. 4, an opening B2 arranged in registry with the delivery tube through
which the carriers come to the apparatus; an opening 133 situated directly oppo-
site to the opening B2 and closed by mechanism to be hereafter described; an
opening B4 through which the carriers to be delivered at the sub-station are dis-
charged; an opening B5 through which the carriers to be transmitted through
the substations are transmitted, said opening of course being in registry with the
continuation of the main tube A¹; an opening B at the other side of the frame B
and directly opposite to the opening B5; an opening B situated directly opposite
to the discharge opening 134, the opening Bi being preferably of rather small
section as shown situated on the outside of the annular plate B round air pass-
ages B and B which receive the compressed air from the main line through the
slotted thimble 139, the passage B7 leading to the openings B6 and B" and the
passage B8 leading to the continuation of the main line with which it connects
through the slotted thimble B10. C is the transfer ring or table consisting, as
shown, of an annular ring fitting and turning in the ring B₁ and having formed
in or secured to it the transfer tube C3 opening freely at both ends as shown. The
ring is pivoted on trunnion C¹ to a frame indicated at C2, see Figs. 3 and 5. C* is
a channel leading from the lower end of the tube C³ and connecting through
pipes C C with an opening through the transfer ring which when the transfer
tube registers with the delivery tube, as shown in Fig. 4, registers with the trans-
mitting portion of the main tube, as shown in the said figure, a regulable valve C7
serving to regulate the freedom with which air can pass through the channels C
C5 and C6 and serving thus as a regulable check to the carrier as it enters the

page_text: transfer tube and compresses the air in front of it, the air escaping through the
pipe connection described in such a way as after it has cushioned and checked the
impetus of the carrier to permit the carrier to fall to the bottom of the transfer
tube. The transfer ring and tube is moved, as shown, by the piston C12 working
in the cylinder C¹³, C" being the piston rod, C¹o the crosshead working in suitable
guides and C9 a connecting rod secured to the crosshead and to a pin C8 in the side
of the transfer frame. C14 and C15, Fig 4, are parts leading to the respective ends
of the cylinder C¹³ from a valve casing C16 in which moves, as shown, a double
piston valve C20, C17 indicating parts leading to each end of the valve cylinder
from a source of fluid pressure, preferably pneumatic pressure, drawn from the
main pipes of the system through a pipe CB and C indicating the exhaust passage
of the valve cylinder. The piston valve is connected to a valve stem Cal with a
lever Chaving upon it an armature C23 in operative relation to an electro-
magnet (24
The arrangement of the circuit leading to the said magnet is illus-
trated in Fig. 6 and will be hereafter described.
D, see Figs. 4 and 10 to 13, is the discharge gate arranged to open and close
the opening B in the casing ring B' thus controlling the passage to the substation
receiving spout, indicated at 64 65. The gate is made with a planed portion adapted
to close the opening B and with a portion having in it an opening D¹ adapted to
permit the passage of a carrier which, when in registry with the hole B34, will per-
mit a carrier to pass into the spout. Its motion is controlled through a valve
rod D2 by a piston D3 working in a cylinder D, D and D indicating parts leading
to the respective ends of the cylinder from a valve cylinder D9, 18 indicating the
exhaust port and D7 a port leading to the respective ends of the valve cylinder from
a supply pipe D10, D1 indicating a double piston valve working in the valve
cylinder and actuated through a valve rod 112 by a lever D13 having connected
with it an armature 14 in operative relation with an electromagnet D15. The
circuit wire connections with each magnet are indicated in Figure 6. D16 indicates
the plates by means of which the cylinder D4 is connected to the side of the trans-
mitter frame and which, as shown, also afford guides for the gate D. E, see
Figs. 4 and 6, indicates a double headed plug which is inserted in and fills the
opening B3 being clamped in place as shown by bolts E2 passing through
flanges E. The upper head E3 of the plug is pierced with holes E6 which are of
smaller diameter but in registry with holes E in the lower head E of the plug.
E is a hollow support upon the end of which is secured a platform E8 and which
at its lower end passes through an opening in a partition wall E' and is secured
below said wall to a piston E10 working in a cylinder E" at the bottom of the plug
the lower end of which is closed by a screw cap E12. I have referred to the
cylinder as being formed in the lower end of the plug, though, as shown, and as
preferably constructed it is formed in a separate casting E13 secured to the plug
proper and forming a continuation of it as shown. E is a spring acting to hold
the piston E10 normally in its uppermost position and E15 is a channel leading from
the upper end of the cylinder E to the valve casing C16. F and F are tubes
secured to the head Es and extending up through the holes or perforations E Es
in the lower head E4 of the plug E; extensions F2 F2 of insulating material extend
through the openings E6 E6 in the upper head E3 of the plug. F3 and F are
needles or rods extending through the insulating material F2 and into the inside
of the tubes F1 and F2 being of sufficient length to extend to the bottom of the
said tubes, as shown in Fig. 6, springs being secured on the inside of the tubes
which act to hold the needles in the upper position shown in Fig. 6 by elastic
pressure. Immediately below the needle is situated the spring contact F5 secured to
the hollow rod E' and having leading from it the circuit wire F6 which connects
with the winding of the electromagnet C. A wire F7 leads from the needle F³
and connects through a battery Fio with the same electromagnet and a wire F
leads from the needle F4 and connects with the winding of the electromagnet 115 5
a connecting wire F serving to connect this magnet also with the battery F10 and
circuit wire F7.

page_text: G, see Figs. 7, 8 and 9, is the carrier provided with packing rings G¹ G¹ and
having a gate or lid G³ through which it can be filled. As shown the front end
of the carrier is made up of a concave dish shaped portion G packed with a con-
siderable body of felt, indicated at G³, a leather washer Go resting upon the outside
of the mass of felt and being held in place by a. metallic plate G secured to a
spindle G held in place on the inside of the dish shaped end piece G₁ by a
nut Go The outer end of the spindle G is threaded, as indicated at G", to
receive the threaded centre piece G₁ of the disc G2 which is of conducting material
and rests upon a non-conducting disc Gs placed between it and the metal plate G².
The construction above described is one adapted to give the front end of the
carrier considerable elasticity which is quite important and each carrier is pro-
vided with a disc G2 of a size appropriate to the arrangement of needles F3 and F
in the transfer apparatus of some particular sub-station. The needle F3 is always
sufficiently near the centre of the transfer tube to insure its being
engaged by the disc G2 irrespective of the diameter of the disc,
but the needle F is arranged at different distances from the centre
in different stations, the distance being in each case appropriate to the
diameter of a disc G² with which the carriers intended to be arrested
at that station are provided for as will be explained whenever the disc G2 acts upon
both needles F3 and F the result is that the carrier will be discharged from the
transfer apparatus while in case only the needle F is engaged by the disc the result
will be that the carrier will be transported into registry with the extension of
the main tube and delivered into it for transportation to another station.
The carrier entering the transfer tube C³ has its momentum checked by the com-
pression of the air in front of it and is practically arrested in the transfer tabe
before reaching the end thereof, the air then escapes from the portion of th transfer
tube in front of the carrier either through the passage E16 and regulating cock E,
see Fig. 4, or preferably through the passage C4 C5 C and the regulatin; valve C7
as shown in the same figure, I say preferably through the last mentioned device,
because among other reasons it will be obvious that absolutely no air is lost in
this construction but all is delivered into the extension A¹ of the transfer tube.
As the carrier sinks gradually downward its disc G³ in all cases comes in contact
with the needle F3 depressing it by compressing the supporting spring and bring-
ing its lower end into contact with the spring F³ thus closing the circuit through
the wires F6 and F7 and the battery Fio to the electromagnet C24 which acting
upon the armature C³ draws down the lever C22 moving the piston valve (20 so as
to admit air through the channel C to the head of the cylinder C3 while permit-
ting the exhaust of air through the channel C15 from the bottom of the cylinder,
the result of this of course is to lead the piston C12 downward and acting through
the mechanism described and shown in Fig. 3 to rotate the transfer frame C
through a distance which, if only the circuit above described is closed, is equal to
a turn of 90°, bringing the transfer tube C3 into registry with the openings B5
and B whereupon the compressed air entering the head of the transfer tube
through the opening 13 will force the carrier out of the opening B and through
the thimble 10 into the conduit leading to the next station. If however the
disc G is of such dimensions as to come in contact simultaneously with the
needles F3 and F the circuit of the wires F F F8 is also closed through the plate
and through the electromagnet 115 and the energised magnet acting on the arma-
ture 4 (see Fig 10) draws the lever D13 inward moving the piston valve D)" so as
to admit compressed air to the right hand side of the cylinder 14 while permitting
it to exhaust through the left hand end. The piston D³ is thus moved toward the
left drawing. the gate D so that its opening D₁ will register with the opening B',
the motion of the gate setting also a stop which arrests the motion of the transfer
frame when the transfer tube C is brought to registry with the opening B. The
stop device indicated is a lug C secured to the transfer frame and which, when
the gate D is opened, comes in contact with it arresting the motion of the frame.
The mouth of the tube C³ being in registry with the opening B the upper end

page_text: registers with the opening B" so that some compressed air entering through the
regulating valve I will force the carrier out of the transfer tube, the regulation of
the valve being such as to permit a proper amount of force to expel the carrier
without any considerable loss of pressure.
Since the needles F3 and F project inside of the casing ring B' and into the
transfer tube C3 when said tube is in the position shown in Fig. 4 it is obvious
that they would interfere with the movement of the transfer frame if they were not
withdrawn at or before the time when the transfer tube is moved and it is to effect
this withdrawal that I support the needles upon the head Es of the tube E7 and
secure the said tube to the piston E10 working in the cylinder E", (see Fig. 6) and
securely held in its upper position by the action of the spring E¹. The con-
duit Es leads from the top of the cylinder E" to a point in the valve chamber C16
connected with the port C4 so that whenever the valve C20 is moved to admit the
pressure fluid through the port C4 to the top of the cylinder C¹³ pressure fluid
will also be admitted through the conduit E15 to the top of the cylinder E" where
acting on the piston E10 it will draw down the rod E7 and the needles supported
thereon retracting the said needles to such a degree that they will no longer extend
through the wall B' of the casing and as the spring E¼ need be but a light one the
piston E10 can readily be made to move in advance of the movement of the
piston C2; the shifting of the valve C20 to lead the pressure fluid into the lower
part of the cylinder C¹³ and permit it to exhaust from the upper part thereof will
of course permit the fluid to exhaust from the upper part of the cylinder E" where-
upon the spring E" will restore the piston E10 to the position shown in Fig. 6,
but the needles F3 and F4 will in their upward motion come in contact with the
smooth surface of the transfer ring B', the springs in the tube E³ being therein
compressed as the head E8 moves up to the position shown in Fig. 6 and only after
the transfer ring has rotated back to the position shown in Fig. 4 will the needles
be projected by their springs beyond the inner face of the ring B¹ and into the
lower end of the transfer tube C³.
To pass next to the mechanism for effecting the return stroke of the transfer
frame H and H' (see Fig. 4) are shafts upon which turn fingers H2 and H³ the
second extending into the thimble 1310 in front of the opening B³ and the first
extending into the discharge passage 64 in front of the opening 134, connected and
moving with the finger H2 is a lever arm H4 which, connects in turn through a
rod H with a bell crank lever H6 H7 elastically pivoted at H8 as shown and having
the stub end of its short arm H7 in such relation to the end of the lever (22 as to
raise it and the piston valve C20 when the finger H2 is pressed downward by the
passage of a carrier through the opening B. The finger H³ has connected and
moving with it a lever arm H14 connected by a rod H15 with a lever arm H¹ which
moves with the finger H2 and the lever H so that whenever a carrier passes out
through the opening B5 and depresses the finger H³ the action on the valve (20
will be the same as previously described with respect to the finger H2 consequently
the exit of a carrier through either opening B4 or 135 results in the exhaust of the
pressure fluid from the top of the cylinder C13 and the inflow of the pressure fluid
to the bottom of the said cylinder the raising of the piston C12 of course restoring
the transfer frame to the position shown in Fig. 4. The fingers are held normally
in operative position by some elastic pressure, conveniently by the action of a
spring as H18 secured to a hook H (see Fig. 4). In order to effect the closing of
the gate D immediately after the passage of a carrier through it I connect a fourth
lever Hº, (see Figs. 3 and 4) with the finger H2, a rod H10 (see
Fig. 10) connecting it with the arm H¹ of a bell crank lever H¹¹ H
elastically pivoted at H and having the stub end of the arm H¹ arranged to act
upon the end of the lever D¹³ so as to move the piston valve D" toward the right and
with a result of moving the piston D³ to the right and closing the gate D, as shown
in Fig. 10.
While it is desirable to provide a free connection, as by the passage B³, Fig. 4,
between the two branches of the conduit A¹ leading to and from the transfer ap-

page_text: paratus it is also advisable when the transfer tube is moved into registry with
the openings B and B that the full force of the compressed air should act against
the rear of the carrier and that its motion out of the transfer tube should not be
interfered with by pressure in front, for this reason I provide in the passage 138
a damper valve I secured on shaft I to which shaft is attached on the outside of
the passage Be the fork lever I a pin I being provided in the transfer frame to
engage the forked end of the said lever so that as the transfer frame is moved to
bring the transfer tube into registry with the outlet section of the main tube the
valve I will be wholly or partly closed so that the entire force of the air pressure will
flow in through the opening 136 and through the transfer tube into the said section
of the main tube.
While I prefer the rotary form of transfer apparatus shown, many of the advan-
tages of my apparatus can be secured with other forms of moving transfer frames,
thus, for illustration, I have in Fig. 14 shown a transfer frame carrying a transfer
tube C and moving in a straight guideway and it will be seen without further
description that the action of the apparatus is in all material respects the same as
in the case of the rotary transfer frame.
What I consider the leading feature of my invention is the provision of means
for checking and arresting the motion and momentum of a carrier in advance of
its action upon tripping or selecting mechanism which governs the free course of
the carrier through or out of the pneumatic tube system. Heretofore the momen-
tumn of a carrier has been utilized to actuate tripping or selecting mechanism but
with naturally injurious and destructive results owing to the violent blows struck
upon the selecting devices by the rapidly moving carrier and entirely irrespective
of the kind of mechanism used for transfer or deflecting the carrier it is new with
me to first arrest its motion and then utilise it to actuate proper tripping or
selecting mechanism.
It is also a leading feature of my invention to effect the switching, so to speak,
of the carrier by means of a transfer apparatus the motion of which is auto-
matically governed by a selecting device secured to the carrier and which changes
the position and registry of the carrier while the carrier is with respect to it,
stationary. In this respect my device differs very radically from all switching
mechanism in which the direction of a moving carrier is changed without arrest-
ing or stopping its motion, it of course follows that the detailed mechanism for
effecting the switching of the carrier and for moving the carrier and transfer
apparatus are also new.
Passing next to that portion of the substation mechanism which relates especially
to the insertion of carriers at and their transmission from the sub-station, and
which part of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 15 to 33 inclusive of the draw-
ings, and in Fig. 2 is diagrammatically indicated at J and shown as if situated at
some distance from the receiving mechanism shown at C B, although, in fact,
it is most convenient to associate the whole mechanism of the substation closely
together, constructing it practically as one machine.
JJ, see Figs. 15, 16 and 18, indicate standards which, as shown, are cast integral
with the pipe section J4 connecting opposite terminal sections J J of the main
tube and in connection therewith, as shown, by means of slots J2 (Fig. 16) opening
into the curved pipe sections J4. The opposite faces J3 of the sections J having
also extending out flush with them plates J5 J5 and to the top of the standards J J
is secured a shaft Jo which serves as a journal for the swinging arms J7 J7 which,
together with the connecting web J8 forms a swinging frame in which are secured
or situated tube sections JJ10 fitting nicely between the opposing faces J3 of the
tube sections J1 and between he plates J J. In normal position the tube sec-
tion is in registry with the sections J J ferming in effect a portion of the
main transmitting tube ile he tube section 10 is open at both ends when in
the position indicated in rig. 18nd ready to receive a carrier which can be in-
serted in it, as shown in the said igure. After the insertion of the carrier the
frame J J is moved as to the right, in Fig. 18, the section J' moving away from

page_text: To the terminals of the main tube, but having its ends closed as it mo
away so that no escape of air can occur through it, while the web section J8, fitti
nicely against the surface J³, prevents the escape of air on the side uncovered
the moving away of the tube J, the constant and necessary flow of air through t
main tube being maintained through the curved pipe sections J. The furth
movement of the swinging arm brings the tube section J10 into registry with th
terminals of the main tube whereupon the pressure of air will force the carrier
out or the tube section and into the main tube, and the swinging frame is the
moved back to the position shown in Fig. 18 so that the section J10 will be read
to receive another carrier when desired. Obviously more than one feed tube J
can be used in the swinging frame if desired.
As shown, the swinging frame is provided with an arm J", Fig. 18, to which is
attached one end of a connecting rod J¹² the other end of which is attached to a
crosshead J13 moving on a guide J14, the crosshead in turn being connected with
the piston rod K² of a piston K¹ moving in a cylinder K into the opposite end of
which leads ports K3 K4 connecting with a valve box K supplied with motive
fluid, as compressed air, through a pipe K and containing, as shown, a piston
valve K which as it is moved from one side to the other alternately admits the
motive fluid to one end of a cylinder K and permits its exhaust from the other
end. It will be obvious that by the simple shifting of the valve the motive fluid
will be caused to shift the swinging frame forward or backward as desired, and
it is also obvious that any other motor and motor controlling device may be sub-
stituted for the cylinder and its controlling valve as shown in the drawings, though,
for obvious reasons it is most convenient to use for this purpose a motor of the
general type indicated and which is adapted to be actuated by compressed air.
The valve stem of the piston valve K6 extends from the valve chamber K5 into
a chamber K8 its end extending through an opening in a sliding block K prefer-
ably chambered out as shown, see Figs. 25 and 26, to receive a spring K" one end
of which rests against the end of the block while the other end rests against a
collar K on the valve rod the arrangement being such that as the block K9 is 3
moved its motion will be transmitted through the spring K" to the valve rod unless
some opposing force able to overcome the resilience of the spring is opposed
in which case the block will move without actuating the valve. K10 K10 are trun-
nion like extensions from the sides of the block K extending through slots in
the casing K8, as best shown in Fig. 26, and connected with the forked arms L L 3
of an actuating lever L L' by moving which the block is caused to move up and
down in the casing K8, K12 being a spring arranged in said casing between the end
of the valve chamber and approximate end of the block K having the function of
returning said sliding block to the normal position as indicated in Figs. 18 and 25.
The opposite end of the valve rod which extends through the other side of the 40
valve casing has, as shown, a guide block K¹³ moving in a suitable stationary
bearing and formed with a perforation K¼ which in the normal position of the
alve, that shown in Fig. 18, registers with a similar perforation in the guide, as
est shown in Fig. 24, and so that a locking pin N will pass through both perfora-
ions and lock the valve in position. Obviously so long as this pin remains in 45
lace, as indicated in Fig. 24, the valve is incapable of moving. The particular
orm of this locking device is not material nor indeed is it of the essence of my
vention, broadly considered, to what particular part of the mechanism it should
attached or operate upon so long as it effectually prevents the movement of the
inging frame or equivalent mechanism by which carriers are inserted at the 50
bstations. The function of this lock, however formed or however situated, is to
event the movement of the feeding frame for a definite time after it has been
tuated to feed a carrier into the main line and thus to prevent two carriers being
rown into the line from the same sending apparatus too close together. The
chanism by which the lock is actuated
and 24.
shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 22, 55

page_text: The locking bolt N, see Fig. 24, is connected by a connecting rod N¹ with the
frame N of a bell crank lever N2 N3 having in connection with it a spring N
which exerts its force to turn the bell crank lever in a direction to thrust the lock-
ing bolt inward in a position to lock. The bell crank lever is secured to a frame N16
in such position that its arm N3 lies beneath a flange or shoulder N¼ secured to
a rod N to which is also, secured a piston N moving in a cylinder N and having
formed through it ports N10 provided with a valve or valves such as the disk
valve N which permits the flow of fluid in the cylinder N through the piston
when the piston is moving up and cuts off the flow through the piston when the
piston is moving down. Connected ports N and N lead from points in the
cylinder No below and above the extreme positions of the piston in said cylinder
and obviously the cylinder No being filled with fluid the downward motion of the
piston is only permitted by the flow of the fluid beneath it through the port No
and back into the cylinder above the the piston through the port N and the resist-
ance of this flow is nicely regulated by an adjusting cock №8 situated in the con-
nected ports. The force, in the plan shown, which is relied upon to move the
piston is that of a coiled spring NB situated in the cylinder N5. It will be obvious
that from the construction above described that whenever the rod N12 and piston N⁹
are moved up the spring N will be free to force the bolt N into the perforation N
and that it will so force the bolt and thereby lock the controlling valve of the
motor whenever the valve is in position to cause the perforation K¼ to register
with the bolt. On the other hand the action of the spring N pressing down upon
the piston N causes it to move slowly down, the speed being nicely regulated by
the cock N8, until the shoulder N14 coming in contact with the lever arm N³
counteracts the effect of the spring N and withdraws the bolt N from the perfora-
tion K14.
The raising of the piston rod N12 is effected through a suitably guided head N17
through which the piston rod passes and which carries a pivoted lever N22 N21
normally held in the position shown in Fig. 23 by the action of a spring N20 car-
ried in a cap N also secured to the head N the upper arm of the lever extending
as shown beneath a shoulder, preferably adjustable, as indicated, N15 secured to
the top of the rod N. N23 indicates a stop, preferably adjustable, as shown,
secured to a fixed part of the mechanism and situated immediately above the
end of the arm N¹. The head N17 is actuated through a rod N2, see Figs. 18
and 23, and a bell crank lever N25 N26 pivotally attached to a standard J by a
rod N27 secured to one end of the said bell crank lever and to the swinging frame J7
and so that whenever the said frame is moved to feed a new carrier into the main
tube the head N is raised, carrying with it the rod N12 and piston N° for a distance
determined by the position of the stop, N23, which by coming in contact with a
lever arm N2 forces it down and the other arm N22 of the lever outward releasing
the head N15 and permitting the spring NB to force the piston and its rod down-
ward with the speed regulated by the cock N8 and with the result that the spring N+
is acting upon the bolt N for a period determined by the time the piston requires
to move downward and so that if the controlling valve of the motor is moved back
to normal position during this time it is locked in that position and the operator
prevented from sending a fresh carrier until the determined time has elapsed
after which the bolt is withdrawn as above described and the motor is free to move.
It will be observed that neither this nor any of the other locking devices to be here-
after described interfere with the motion of the sending lever L L' and that there-
fore the operator can at any time insert the carrier and move the lever to position
to actuate the controlling valve of the motor securing it there by a pawl so that
whenever the locking mechanism is released the resilient force exerted through the
spring compressed by the motion of the lever will move the controlling valve to
the position for actuating the sender. Such a pawl for locking the sending lever
in position is indicated at L3 L3, Figs. 18 and 25, and for its most efficient operation
it should be provided with mechanism which normally acts upon it with resilient
force to move it in a direction where it will engage and lock the lever L' when

page_text: said lever is moved to the sending position, and with mechanism which will with-
draw it from contact with the sending lever and permit the lever to move back to
normal position as soon as the carrier has left the sending apparatus. A con-
venient form of such pawl actuating mechanism is that illustrated in Figs. 18, 19,
25, 27, 28 and 29. The arm L³ of the pawl is connected, as shown, with a rod L*
attached to a piston L moving in a short cylinder L, (see Figs. 18 and 25) a
spring L' being provided to force the piston, as shown in Fig. 25, to the left and
thereby to force the arm L² of the pawl upward in position to engage the lever L'
when it is moved to operate the sending motor. From the end of the cylinder L
extends a pipe L8 which (see Figs. 27, 28 and 29) communicates with a port M23
in a valve casing in which is formed the cylindrical perforation in which moves
the sleeve Mhaving attached to it the piston M10 moving in a cylindrical por-
tion 18 of the casing. The outer end of the piston M10 is exposed to the cham-
ber M from which leads a pipe L' and, as shown in Figs. 18 and 25, connects with
the cylinder L through a port which opened when the piston L is in the posi-
tion shown in Fig. 25 and closed when said piston moves toward the left (see Figs.
27, 28 and 29). The valve casing illustrated in these figures connects with the
pipe Lo which, as indicated in Fig. 18, may connect with the curved pipe section J
or indeed with any source of fluid pressure. The other moving member of the
valve mechanism illustrated in Figs. 27, 28 and 29 is the plunger M5 working in
the sleeve M" and secured in the body of the valve casing by a pin M2 passing
through a slot M in the plunger, the said plunger being connected by a connecting
rod M with an arm M3 secured to a rock shaft M¹ to which is also secured the
trigger lever which, as is shown in Figs. 15 and 18, extends up into the main
tube in position to be struck by a carrier as it leaves the sending tube, and pushed
down to the position shown in Fig. 28, a spring M2, Fig. 19, restoring it to the
position shown in Figs. 27 and 29 after the carrier has passed. The normal posi-
tion of the parts is that shown in Fig. 27 of the drawings in which it will be
observed that the tre or sleeve M" is moved to a position which cuts off the
entrance of motiv fluid through the port M and in which the pawl actuating
cylinder L is nrough its pipe connection LB, the port M2 in the casing, the
port M in the sleeve, the ports M7 and M8 in the plunger M³, the port M13 in the
sleeve, the chamber M in the casing and its outlet port M2 in free communication
with the atmosphere, and as the pipe L leading from the chamber M also opens
freely into the cylinder L there is no pressure above that of the atmosphere in
the chamber M19 Upon the passage of a carrier out of the sending apparatus
the trigger lever M is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 28, the plunger M
being thereby moved to the left and carrying with the sleeve M and the piston M10
to the positions indicated in the last mentioned figure, and it will be observed that
the change in the position of the sleeve has brought the two ports M16 and M15
in the sleeve into registry with the ports M² and M23 of the casing. The passage
of the carrier permits the trigger M to move back to the position shown in Fig. 29
carrying with it the plunger M³ but not the sleeve M" which remains in the posi-
tion indicated in Fig. 28. Motive fluid it will be seen can now pass freely from
the pipe L through ports M2, M16, M7, M15 and M23 to the pipe L8 and thence
into the cylinder L where acting against the piston L5 it forces said piston, shown
in Fig. 25, releasing the lever L' and permitting it to move back over the pawl to
the position shown in the last mentioned figure. On the completion of the motion
of the piston L5 the compressed air will pass from the cylinder L through the
pipe L into the chamber M¹ and acting against the piston M will force it and
the sleeve attached to it to the right bringing all of the ports back to the position
shown in Fig. 27 cutting off the motive fluid from the pipe L and permitting the
exhaust of the pressure fluid from the cylinder L' so that on a new motion of the
lever L the spring L' will cause the pawl to engage with it.
While I believe the special mechanism above described to be as thoroughly
efficient as any which can be provided for controlling the motion of the pawl it
is obviously practicable to actuate said pawl in the manner described by many other

page_text: arrangements and I do not wish to be understood as limiting this feature of my
invention upon the use of the special devices shown for accomplishing the move-
ments of the pawl with reference to the sending lever and the exit of the carrier
as this co-action of the parts is, I believe, new with me irrespective of the particular
mechanism shown for communicating motion from the one to the other.
Referring next to the mechanism for locking the sending apparatus when a
carrier approaches within a determined distance of the substation, and for a definite
time after the carrier has reached such determined point. My preferred con-
struction, besides being shown in Figs. 15 and 18 in connection with the other
parts of the sending apparatus, is illustrated on an enlarged scale and in greater
detail in Figs. 20 and 21, and may be described as follows:
At a point in the main tube A¹ at a determined distance in advance of the sub-
station, say, for example, three hundred feet, I connect a pipe or pipes 0 with
points ()¹ and (² at some distance apart the two sections of the pipe leading into
opposite sides of a casing (3 which is divided into two chambers by a diaphragm 04,
said diaphragm being electrically connected in circuit with the battery and a
contact point 05 being provided also connected in the same circuit and situated
on the substation side of the diaphragm, the arrangement being such that when
the pressure on the two sides of the diaphragm is equal there is no pressure
between the diaphragm and the contact point and such that when a carrier pass-
ing through the main tube enters the space betwesu 01 and 02 the pressure behind
the carrier entering through the pipe sectio ding from 02 and exceeding the
pressure in front of the carrier entering, w ing through the pipe leading
from ¹ will force the diaphragm 0+ into contact with the point 05 closing the
circuit at this point. This pneumatic circuit closing device, while a convenient
ane, and well adapted for my uses, is only illustrated as a form of circuit closing
device; any other such device adapted to be actuated by the passage of the carrier
may be substituted in its place without effecting the operation of the device ana
whole.
The line wires 06 and 07 forming the circuit connected with the diaphragm and
contact point before mentioned and in one of which wires is situated a battery (s
lead to an electro magnet 010 which is of course energised whenever the circuit
is closed and the direct action of which is upon an armature 017 attached to the
arm 15 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 03 and the other arm of which 16 is con-
nected with a valve as shown by the rod P9 with the valve P6 P6 working in the
cylindrical chamber P5 and the function of which will hereafter be described.
As for reasons which will he hereafter clear the closing of the circuit by the
instrumentalities actuated directly by the passage of the carrier will not continue
long enough to effect the desired results I provide a short circuiting apparatus
indirectly actuated by the closing of the main circuit and which maintains the
circuit in a closed condition after the contact between the diaphragm 04 and the
point is broken. As shown, this short circuiting apparatus, consists of a
lever 02 also pivoted at 013 and by the action of a spring 0 18 held in contact with
the arm 015 of the bell crank lever before mentioned or rather, as shown, with the
back of its armature 017. This lever is in electrical connection, as shown, with
the circuit wire 07 and moving to the right when the arm 015 of the bell crank lever
is attracted by the magnet it comes in contact with the point Q" which is in
electrical connection as through a wire 09 with the circuit wire 06%; obviously
therefore the energising of the magnet 010 by the closing of the circuit through
the diaphragm O will not only attract the armature 017 but will cause the circui
to he short circuited through the lever 014 and contact point Q thus maintaining
the current through the magnet after the carrier has passed beyond the point
in the main tube and until the contact between the end 0 14 of the lever 012 and
the contact point is broken. How this is accomplished will be described later
on. The valve P6 Po works in a chamber P5 which connects a compressed air
pipe P which may lead from the main tube with the port P8 leading into a
chamber P. The normal position of the valve is that shown in Fig. 20 and in

page_text: indicating a weight which aids in bringing the valve back to the normal pos
between the supply pipe P4 and the chamber
shown, which is that corresponding to the position of the lever 016 015 when
magnet is not energised. The action of the magnet when energised upon
lever 015 016 draws up the valve and permits compressed air to flow into the ch
ber P at one end of which is situated the cylinder P in which works the piston
from which piston extends the rod P2 which, as shown, extends through
end of a conical cap P2 screwing on the end of the cylinder P and serving
only to protect the cylinder against dirt but also to serve as an abutment to
end of a spring 123 the other end of which presses against the piston Pa and ho
it normally in the position shown in Fig. 20. At another point in the walls
the chamber P is formed a passage P10 having an opening to the outer air, as in
cated at P, the area of said opening being controlled by an adjustable piston
by means of which the escape of air from the chamber P is permitted at a regula
amount. Also leading from the chamber P is the pipe P15 which enters one e
of the cylinder P16 while from the pipe P4 leads a pipe P13 which enters one e
of a cylinder P the latter cylinder being situated directly opposite to the cyli
der Pie and is of smaller diameter. Pistons P18 and P17 actuated by a slotted co
necting rod P19, the slot being indicated at P20, work in the respective cylinder
the normal position being that shown in Fig. 20 and in which the piston is force
outward in the cylinder P¼ while the piston of the cylinder PI6 is forced inwar
by the action of the compressed air coming from the supply pipe, through th
pipe P13, the larger der P16 being practically at atmospheric pressure. Th
slot P20 gives passage to the lever 02 and is so proportioned, as shown, as no
to interfere with the motion of the lever to close the circuit by coming in contac
with the point O" when the parts are in normal position but to break this contac
by pushing the lever to the left when the piston moves in that direction. It wil
be seen, see Figs. 20 and 21, that the rod P22 lies in contact with the arm Q of
a rock lever QQ the end Q1 of which, see Fig. 18, lies in front of the guide
block K13 on the valve stem K, also lying in fror of the rod P22 is the arm Q
of the bellcrank lever Q2 Q3 upon the arm Q3 of wh.ch is arranged a locking hook
which, when said arm is forced upward, engages in a notch Q of the swinging
frame of the sending apparatus.
The operation of the device may be described as follows: The carrier coming
within the determined distance of the substation closes the circuit and energises
the magnet 10 as already described, the magnet acting on the armature of the
bell crank lever 015 016 raises the valve P6 giving passage to the compressed air of
the supply pipe P4 into the chamber P and the action of the spring 018 on the
lever 12 causes it to move to the right as the armature moves in that direction
closing the circuit or short circuiting it by coming in contact with the point Oll so
that the magnet remains energised and the valve raised after the carrier has passed
the point 0. The compressed air entering the chamber P and escaping therefrom at
the same time through the graded passage P10 P1 gradually rises in pressure until
it reaches a point when acting against the piston P21 it overcomes the spring P
and forces the piston and its rod P2 outward the said rod first acting against the 4
rock lever QQ presses its arm Q¹ to the left and in contact with the end of the
valve rod Ke then passing under the end of the arm Qit locks the lever in this
position the lever in turn locking the controlling valve of the motor which actuates
the sending frame and making it impossible for the operator's sending lever L'
to set the motor in operation until this lock is removed. After passing under the 50
arm Q of the lever the end of the rod P22 comes in contact with the arm Q3 of the
bell crank lever forcing it to the right and forcing its hooked end Q³
upward into the notch
tself and preventing any movement
Q' thus directly locking
esults by its action on
the sending frame
hamber P continues to rise and finally equalling or nearly equalling the
the piston P21 the pressure of the air in the 55
After accomplishing these
pressure in the main supply pipe and acting through the pipe Pis
piston P18 it overcomes the opposing pressure acting against the smaller piston P17
upon the larger
in it.

page_text: and forces the two connected pistons to the left, their slotted connecting rod, in
this motion, acting against the lever O2 and pushing it to the left so as to break
its contact with the point 0" and open the circuit which energizes the magnet 0¹º
whereupon the weight of the valve pe causes the lever 015 016 to fall to its normal
position, as shown in Fig. 20, closing the valve and cutting off further supply of
air from the supply pipe to the chamber P thereupon the pressure of air in the said
chamber gradually falls as it escapes through the opening P10 P1 with the result
that the diminishing pressure in the cylinder P16 permits the constant pressure in
the smaller cylinder P to restore the pistons to their normal position, as shown
in Fig. 20, and also with the further result of permitting the constant force of the
spring P23 when it is no longer counterbalanced by the air pressure on the pis-
ton P, to force the said piston back to its normal position releasing the locks Q³
and Q and permitting the motion of the sending frame and of the motor control-
ling valve. Obviously the time during which the parts will remain locked will
depend upon the adjustment of the piston valve P12 and may be nicely regulated
so as to release the locking devices when the carrier has had time to pass a deter-
mined distance beyond the substation, say, for instance, three hundred feet on the
further side thereof.
It will be clearly understood from the above description that my device is in
the nature of a time escapement, the passage of the carrier through a determined
part of the tube leading to the substation effecting the locking of the sending
apparatus and also determining the time at which it shall be unlocked, the un-
locking of the mechanism being entirely independent of the actual position of the
carrier and dependent entirely upon the lapse of a determined time after the lock-
ing is effected. This is the essential feature of my invention and distinguishes
it from devices in which a carrier approaching a station effects the locking of a
sending apparatus and afterward in receding from the station effects through
another mechanism the unlocking thereof, a plan which has been found defective
because in case a second carrier passes the locking mechanism before the first
carrier has passed the unlocking mechanism the first carrier will nevertheless
unlock the device entirely irrespective of the position of the second carrier and
with an obvious possibility of disaster, while by my time escapement mechanism
the unlocking of the mechanism is always determined by the last carrier to pass
the locking point.
Referr
The principle of my time escapement locking-device can be embodied in very
different mechanical structures without departure from the essential features of
my invention, thus, in Figs. 30 to 33 of the drawings, I have illustrated a device
similar in principle but employing only mechanical and electrical devices and
entirely avoiding the pneumatic mechanism of the device above described
ing to these figures of the drawings, R R indicate fixed standards upon which is
journalled a shaft R' driven at a low rate of speed by any convenient mechanical
device diagrammatically indicated at R³, which may be an electric motor, a clock
or any other convenient device. R2 is a ratchet wheel and situated between the
standards R R journalled upon the shaft R' is the U shaped frame R having, as
shown, one depending leg R5 with a laterally projecting end R5 and which is
adapted, by coming in contact with one of the standards R, to prevent the rota-
tion of the frame in one direction. Secured to one leg of the frame R' and arranged
concentrically with the shaft R¹ is the hub or drum R6 having one circular por-
tion of its surface grooved, as indicated, and another portion cut away, or flattened,
as indicated at 6. R' is a rope or cord secured in the groove of the drum and
having a weight R8 appended to it, the action of which is to turn the U shaped
frame upward to the position indicated in Figs. 31 and 32 in which position it
is held by the engagement of the leg R5 with one of the standards R. R R indi-
cate electro-magnets secured to the top of the U shaped frame and R10 is an arma-
ture arranged within proper distance of the magnet and attached to a pawl R¹¹
which pawl is attached to a rock shaft journalled on the frame R and having also
secured to it the lever arm R¹³, for which see Figs. 30 and 31. The position of

page_text: Pawi Is
ediately above the ratchet R² and it is held normally out of enga
ment with the said ratchet as by a spring R12 the electromagnet acting on
armature overcoming the force of the spring and causing the pawl to engage w
the ratchet and the effect of this engagement being to cause the U shaped fra
to rotate with the ratchet wheel for a distance which is determined by the comi
in contact of the lever arm R13 with the pin R14 which last mentioned pin is secu
to an adjustable disc, as shown in Fig. 31, so that the distance and conseque
time during which the frame shall revolve with the ratchet can be regulated
will. R is a lever pivoted on the rock shaft of the pawl R and having,
shown, its longer arm normally pressed upward by a light spring while the short
arm extends over the top of the pawl and is so arranged as to be engaged there
and pulled upward depressing the longer arm when the pawl is pulled up by t
spring R12 On the other hand when the pawl is in engagement with the ratch
the long arm of the lever R15 rises until it is in contact with the electrical scre
contact point R16. R17 is a lever pivoted on one of the standards R and presse
against the drum R6 by a spring, as indicated.
its normal upright position the lever R rests against the flattened face of th
When the U shaped frame is i
drum, as shown in Fig. 32, but as the frame and drum are revolved the cylindrica
face of the drum pushes the lever R" out, as indicated in Fig. 32. To the top o
the said lever R17 is attached the rod R18 which in position and construction i
similar to the rod P2 of the pneumatic device before described and operates in the
same way to set the locking devices.
The electrical connections of this modification of my invention are substantially
the same as in the pneumatic device before described and diagrammatically illus
trated in Fig. 30. As in the former device the electrical circuit from the battery 08
through the line wires 06 07 is first closed by the passage of a carrier through a
determined portion of the main line tube and with the result of energising the
magnet R causing it to act upon the armature of the pawl and the pawl to engage
with the ratchet. The movement of the pawl to engage the ratchet permits the
lever R15 to come in contact with the electrical short circuiting contact pin R16
so that the circuit is maintained closed after the carrier has performed its function
of closing it. The effect of the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet is to
revolve the frame R4 and by the action of the drum R6 to force the lever and
rod R17 R18 to the position indicated in Fig. 33 and with the result as before
described of locking both the motor valve and the sending frame and the parts
are maintained in this position until the slow revolution of the ratchet wheel
brings the lever R¹³ into contact with the pin R14 with the result of releasing the
pawl from the ratchet and of breaking the short circuiting connection through the
lever R whereupon the weight R8 will immediately bring the parts back to
the position indicated in Fig. 32 releasing the locking appliances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
4
1. In a pneumatic transmission system having a delivery tube and two or more
receiving tubes or discharge passages connectible therewith, a device for deliver- 45
ng the carrier coming from the delivery tube into one of the receiving tubes or
lischarge passages, in combination with mechanism for actuating said device
rranged to be set in actuation by a carrier, and means for checking the motion
f the carrier in advance of its reaching said actuating mechanism so as to avoid
he impingement of the carrier thereon while moving at speed.
50
2. In a pneumatic transmission system having a delivery tube and two or more
eceiving tubes or discharge passages connectible therewith, a device for deliver-
g a carrier coming from the delivery tube into one of the receiving tubes or
scharge passages in combination with mechanism for actuating said device
ranged to be set in actuation by a carrier, mechanism for governing the motion 55
d arrest of the device for delivering the carrier also operated by the carrior ant

page_text: means for checking the motion of the carrier in advance of its reaching said actua-
ting mechanisms so as to avoid the impingement of the carrier thereon while
moving at speed.
3. In a pneumatic transmission system the combination with a delivery tube of
one or more receiving or discharge passages, a transfer tube adjustably supported
so as to be movable into registry with each tube in turn, automatic means arranged
to check and stop a carrier as it is received from the delivery tube into the transfer
tube and means for moving the transfer tube into registry with any receiving
tube or discharge passage.
4. In a pneumatic transmission system the combination with a delivery tube
of one or more receiving tubes or discharge passages, a transfer tube adjustably
supported so as to be movable into registry with each tube in turn, automatic
means arranged to check and stop a carrier as it is received from the delivery*
tube into the transfer tube and automatic means for moving the transfer tube into
registry with any receiving tube arranged to be actuated by the entrance of the
carrier into said transfer tube and to be impinged upon by said carrier after its
motion is checked.
5. In a pneumatic transmission system the combination of a delivery and one
or more receiving or discharge tubes, of a transfer apparatus casing into which
said tubes lead, a transfer tube open at both ends and adapted to register in turn
with the delivery and receiving tubes but not with two tubes simultaneously said
tube moving on the casing aforesaid and having its far end closed thereby when in
registry with the delivery tube, mechanism for moving the transfer tube into
registry with the receiving or discharge tubes and a trip for putting said mechanism
into operation arranged to be engaged by a carrier after it has entered the transfer
tube.
6. The combination with conveying tubes out of line and a discharge chute,
of a receiving and transferring tube movable into line with either of the conveying
tubes or the chute, and stop mechanism designed to stop the receiving and trans-
ferring tube opposite the discharge chute or conveying tube, substantially as
specified.
7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a suitable
casing and transfer frame provided with a receiving tube, of transfer frame actua-
ting mechanism, an electrically actuated valve controlling said mechanism, a
carrier, and means for closing the electric circuit by the movement of the carrier,
substantially as specified.
8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a suitable
casing, discharge gate and transfer frame provided with a receiving tube, of valve
controlled transfer frame actuating mechanism, valve controlled discharge gate
actuating mechanism, electrical valve actuating mechanism for each, of said
valves, and circuit closing mechanism operated by the movement of the carrier,
substantially as specified.
9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a suitable
casing and transfer frame provided with a receiving tube designed to receive a
carrier, of valve controlled transfer frame actuating mechanism, means for actua-
ting the valve in one direction, and a finger operatively connected to the valve
through intermediate mechanism and located in the path of the carrier for actua-
ting the valve in the opposite direction, substantially as specified.
10. The combination with a casing, transfer frame, discharge gate, and valve
controlled discharge gate actuating mechanism, of means for actuating the valvo
in one direction, and a finger operatively connected with the valve and located in
the path of the carrier, designed to actuate the valve in the opposite direction,
substantially as specified.
11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a casing,
5 conveying tubes, a discharge gate and a movable transfer frame, of valve con-
trolled transfer frame actuating mechanism, valve controlled discharge gate
actuating mechanism, means for actuating the valves in one direction and inter-

page_text: dependent fingers operatively connected with the valves and adapted to actuate
the valves in the opposite direction, said fingers being located adjacent to the
discharge gate and to the entrance of the conveying tube, respectively, substan
tially as specified.
12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a transfer
frame provided with a receiving tube designed to receive a carrier, of a discharge
gate, electrically controlled transfer frame actuating mechanism, electrically con
trolled discharge gate actuating mechanism, a transfer circuit and a discharge
circuit, and a plurality of movable needles in electrical connection with the cir
cuits, substantially as described.
13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with am
electric circuit, and a plurality of needles mounted upon a reciprocatory needle
support, and means for reciprocating the same, substantially as specified.
14. A carrier for pneumatic despatch tubes having on its forward end an insu-
lated plate of electrical conducting material, substantially as described
15. In a carrier the combination with a cylindrical casing, of a concave end
piece, a filling of felt or the like, an insulating disc superimposed upon the felt,
an internally and externally threaded bolt piercing the insulating disc, felt and
nd piece, the interior bore of the bolt being designed for the reception of the
of a detachable disc, substantially as specified.
16. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a despatch tube having sub-stations
intermediate its terminals, means at each sub-station receiving and arresting each
carrier passing through the tube, and adjustable selecting devices on the carriers
and in the receiving and arresting apparatus whereby the carrier may be auto-
matically ejected or continued in its journey substantially as described.
17. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with the main tube,
of a sending apparatus, consisting essentially of duplicate tube sections, a swinging
frame supporting said sections, fluid pressure means for shifting the frame so
that one or the other of the sections may be aligned with the main tube, and an
auxiliary by-pass for the main tube for permitting a continuity of pressure in the
air column, substantially as described.
18. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with the main tube,
of two or more tube sections, a supporting frame therefor, and means for swinging
said supporting frame, consisting essentially of a cylinder, a piston therein, a
valve mechanism and leverage devices for operating said valve mechanism, sub-
stantially as described.
19. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with the main tube,
of two or more tube sections, a swinging support therefor, fluid pressure means
for shifting said swinging support for the purpose of placing one or the other of
the tube sections in alignment with the main tube, and a lever for controlling
said fluid pressure motor, together with an automatically yielding connection
between the lever and the fluid pressure motor, substantially as described.
20. The combination with a pneumatic despatch tube, of two or more tube
sections, a supporting frame therefor, and means for shifting said supporting
frame for the purpose of introducing one or the other of said tube sections into
alignment with the main tube, the same consisting of a cylinder, a piston therein
whose piston rod operates to shift the supporting frame, a valve chamber on the
cylinder, valve mechanism within the same, an operating lever for said valve
mechanism, a yielding connection between said lever and the valve mechanism,
and locking devices for restraining the operation of said valve mechanism when
a carrier happens to be passing through the main tube opposite to the substation
where the sending apparatus is locked.
21. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with the main tube
of two or more tube sections, a supporting frame therefor, a motor arranged to
actuate said frame, a power controlling device as a valve for regulating the actions
of the motor, an operating lever for actuating said controlling device having a
resilient connection therewith, a lock adapted to hold the controlling device

page_text: against the resilient pressure of the actuating lever, means controlled by the motion
of the tube supporting frame for setting said lock and a time escapement for
releasing the same all substantially as specified and whereby the motor is rendered
inoperative for a determined time after each operation thereof to inject a carrier
into the main tube.
22. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a main transit
tube of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus whereby a carrier can be
injected into the transit tube, a motor for actuating said sending apparatus, a
power controlling device for regulating the operation of said motor, an actuating
lever having a resilient connection with said controlling device and a lock to secure
it in position to actuate said controlling device, means as one or more locks for
temporarily preventing the motor controlling device from moving under the
resilient pressure of the lever, and means for releasing the lever lock aforesaid
actuated by the escape of a carrier from the sending apparatus.
23. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a main transit
tube of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus whereby a carrier can
be injected into the transit tube, a motor for actuating said sending apparatus,
a power controlling device for regulating the operation of said motor, an actuating
lever having a resilient connection with said controlling device and a lock to
secure it in position to actuate said controlling device, means as one or more locks
for temporarily preventing the motor controlling device from moving under the
resilient pressure of the lever, means, as a spring, acting to normally press the
lever lock into position to engage the lever, a pneumatic cylinder and piston
arranged to disengage said lock from the lever, a conduit for motive fluid leading
to said cylinder, a valve or valves in said conduit regulating the passage of fluid
therethrough and a trip arranged to be operated by the exit of a carrier from the
sending apparatus and to open said valve or valves to admit motive fluid to the
lock cylinder.
24. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a main transit
tube of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus whereby a carrier can be
injected into the transit tube, a motor for actuating said sending apparatus, a
power controlling device for regulating the operation of said motor, an actuating
lever having a resilient connection with said controlling device and a lock to secure
it in position to actuate said controlling device, means as one or more locks for
temporarily preventing the motor controlling device from moving under the
resilient pressure of the lever, means, as a spring, acting to normally press the
lever lock into position to engage the lever, a pneumatic cylinder and piston
arranged to disengage said lock from the lever, a conduit for motive fluid leading
to said cylinder, a valve or valves in said conduit regulating the passage of fluid
therethrough, a trip arranged to be operated by the exit of a carrier from the send-
ing apparatus and to open said valve or valves to admit motive fluid to the lock
cylinder, and mechanism for closing said valve actuated by the motion of the lever
lock or attached devices.
25. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a main transit
tube of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus whereby a carrier can be
injected into the transit tube, a motor for actuating said sending apparatus, a
power controlling device for regulating the operation of said motor, an actuating
lever having a resilient connection with said controlling device and a lock to secure
it in position to actuate said controlling device, means as one or more locks for
temporarily preventing the motor controlling device from moving under the resi-
lient pressure of the lever, means, as a spring, acting o normally press the lever
lock into position to engage the lever, a pneumatic cylinder and piston arranged
to disengage said lock from the lever, a conduit for notive fluid leading to said
cylinder, a valve or valves in said conduit regulating the passage of fluid there-
through, a trip arranged to be operated by the exit of a carrier from the sending
apparatus and to open said valve or valves to admit motive fluid to the lock cylinder,
a port in the lock actuating cylinder opened when the piston is moved to open

page_text: and a conduit leading therefrom to a cylinder arranged to close the val
in the conduit aforesaid.
26. In a sending apparatus for a pneumatic tube system, substantially as spe
fied, the combination with the sending lever L₁ of a lock as L2 arranged to ho
the lever in operative position and normally tending to assume the position
do so, a cylinder as L5 having in it a piston connected to the lock and arranged
detach it from the sending lever when actuated, said cylinder having an inlet co
duit L8 leading into it and an outlet conduit L leading from a point thereon u
covered by the piston when actuated a main conduit Lo leading from a source
pneumatic power, a trip as M arranged to be actuated by the outward passage
a carrier from the sender, the plunger and sleeve valves M5 and M actuated b
said trip as described to open connection between conduits L10 and L8, a cylin
der M19 connected to conduit L and a piston M18 secured to sleeve valve Man
arranged to move it to position to close the connection between L10 and L8 whe
air is admitted to cylinder M19 all substantially as specified.
27. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a main transi
tube of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus whereby a carrier can b
injected into the transit tube, a lock for said substation sending apparatus actuated
by the passage of a carrier or carriers in the main tube as it or they approaches
the substation and lock releasing mechanism arranged as described to be set
in operation simultaneously with the setting of the lock and whereby the setting
apparatus is released a definite time after it is locked and without the further
action of the carrier.
28. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with a substation
sending apparatus, of means for locking said sending apparatus, and devices
operated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving
carrier and controlling the operation of said locking means, substantially as
described.
29. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with a substation
sending apparatus, of means for locking said apparatus, an electric circuit con-
trolling the operation of said locking means, and means operated by the difference
in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving carrier to close a switch
in said electric circuit before the carrier reaches the substation substantially as
described.
30. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with a substation
sending apparatus, of means for locking said sending apparatus, an electric
circuit controlling the operation of said locking means, and means operated by
the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving carrier to
close a switch in said electric circuit before the carrier reaches the substation,
and to open said switch after the carrier passes the substation, substantially as 4
described.
31. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, the combination with a substation
sending apparatus of means actuated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in
front of and behind the passing carrier to lock said sending apparatus before the
carrier reaches the substation substantially as described.
32. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with a substation
sending apparatus of means actuated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in
front of and behind a passing carrier to lock said sending apparatus before the
carrier reaches the substation and to unlock the same after the carrier has passed
he substation, substantially as described.
4.
50
33. The combination with the main tube, of an air chamber, an inlet valve
herefor, an electric circuit which is automatically closed and opened by the pass-
ng of a carrier through the main tube, an electromagnet on the air chamber,
everage mechanism connected to the inlet valve and operating in connection
ith the electromagnet, a differential double piston engaging said leverage mech- 55
nism and operated by air pressure from within the air chamber on the one side

page_text: and from the source of air supply on the other side, and a locking rod operated
by the pressure within the air chamber, substantially as described.
34. The combination in a pneumatic despatch system of the main tube, a circuit
closing device operated by the passage of a carrier along the main tube, an air
chamber, an inlet valve therefor, an electromagnet, a leverage mechanism opera-
ting to open the inlet valve when the electromagnet is excited, a differential piston
engaging said leverage mechanism to close the inlet valve at the proper time, an
air conduit leading from a source of air supply and connecting with the air
chamber, an auxiliary air passage connecting with the air chamber and the afore-
said supply conduit, in which latter auxiliary conduit the differential piston is
arranged so that the air pressure may operate upon both sides thereof, and a lock-
ing rod carried by a disc whose face is exposed to the air pressure within the air
chamber, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st dow of Donomhan 1907
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.