Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
I WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of 33, Bath Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its objects to improve the construction and action, of
pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus, and to reduce the cost of construction and
maintenance.
In carrying out my invention I employ pressure and suction for producing which
apparatus already employed for the same purpose may be used, and the tubes may
also be made as heretofore; I however prefer to employ bellows and accessory parts
which are to some extent like what are in use in wind organs, and I have the
conveying tubes made wholly or partly of wood, or other analogous material. The
bellows which may be worked by an hydraulic or other convenient motor are
connected with reservoirs provided with automatic apparatus for stopping the motor
when at their maximum and minimum distensions respectively and for restarting it
when the distension alters. The suction reservoir has applied to it a weight or
spring tending to distend it; and the automatic device for controlling the motor,
is arranged so as to stop it only when both reservoirs are at their extreme positions,
a by-pass or escape being provided to open in connection with either reservoir
which may reach its limit before the other.
The wooden or other conveying tubes may be of round or square or other simple
form in internal cross section, and may be bored, or built up of two or more separate
pieces circumferentially. Where the direction of the tubes have to change, curved
portions of metal may be introduced if more convenient than to make such parts of
wood, or the like. Papier-maché or fibrous pulp may be used for making the con-
veying tubes or portions of them.
Each
The pressure and suction apparatus is, in general, to be placed at a central
station, from which conveying tubes radiate to distant stations, pressure being
employed to propel the conveyers from the central to the distant stations, and
suction for their conveyance from the distant stations to the central one.
conveying tube is connected by a branch pipe at its central station end with a three-
way cock or one or more valves or slides by which in one position it is closed, and
in a second position put in communication with the pressure reservoir, and with the
suction reservoir in a third position. The three-way cock or valve is movable by a
hand lever which is also connected to other parts, one being a slide for closing the
mouth of the tube when the central operator has put in a conveyer to go to a distant
station, the same movement turning on the pressure. Another part is for closing up
against the mouth of the tube when a conveyer is to be brought from a distant
station by suction, the closing detail being a disk faced with rubber or leather and
which is held up by the suction but is easily moved away by the conveyer on its
arrival. The movement of the valve handle to place the disk up to the tube mouth,
at the same time opens the communication with the suction reservoir.
When the slide has been closed it is held in that position by a catch, but a weight
and cord or a spring is arranged to draw it outward on the release of the catch.
For releasing the catch a hammer or weight is arranged to fall on it, being held up
by a detent which is movable by the armature of an electro magnet, and the electro
magnet is excited so as to release the hammer by a current transmitted by a wire
from the distant station. When the operator at the distant station puts into the
tube a conveyer to go to the central station he opens a flap door which by a small
lever acts on an electric key or switch so as to cause the transmission of the electric

page_text: current to the central station; and at the central station whilst the slide is released
and moved out as already described, an indicator is also moved by the electro
magnet and the operator seeing thereby that a conveyer has to be drawn to his
station moves the valve lever às hereinbefore described to turn on the suction and
temporarily close the mouth of the tube. At the distant station a pipe is connected
to the conveying tube near its end to lead away the air pressed in front of a con-
veyer when moving from the central station, and prevents an objectionable noise
being caused by the outrush of air.
I make the conveyer or carrier in halves arranged to be easily connected and
detached by means of any simple catching or holding device. For conveying
phonogram cylinders I provide a carrier in which the phonogram cylinder can be
held by a central spindle or otherwise in a manner to prevent contact with or injury
of its outer surface. And the conveyers or carriers for phonogram cylinders or
other articles may be fitted with locks so that they can be opened only by means
of keys possessed by the persons from and to whom they are transmitted.
In some applications, as for example where the conveying tubes are comparatively
short the pressure and suction apparatus may be simplified, a pump or bellows
having its suction and discharge passages connected with the three-way cock or
valve or set of valves, so as to directly exhaust air from the conveying tube or force
air into it. In some cases the valves may be of the kind termed palets by organ
builders and when of comparatively large size may be moved by means of
pneumatic levers or relays or intermediate valves as used in "pneumatic-action
organs.
29
Where the conveying tubes have to be underground or otherwise situated so that
it is desirable to strengthen them they may be made of iron or other suitable metal
lined with wood or the like.
Dated this Twenty-third day of January 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic-tube Conveying Apparatus.
1, WILLIAM HAMILTON BLAKENEY, of 33 Bath Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its objects to improve the construction and action of
pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus, and to reduce the cost of construction and
maintenance. I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory drawings to be herein-
after referred to in describing my present improvements.
In carrying out my invention I employ pressure and suction, for producing which
apparatus already employed for the same purpose may be used, and the tubes may
also be made as heretofore, I however prefer to employ bellows and accessory
parts which are to some extent like what are in use in wind organs, and I have the
conveying tubes made wholly or partly of wood or other analogous material.
Figure, 1, Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a sectional elevation of such an arrangement
of bellows.
The pumping bellows, A 1, A 2, which may be worked by means of an hydraulic
or other convenient motor, such as, A 3, are connected by pipes, A 4, A5, with
reservoirs, B, C, which may be also of the bellows construction, and which are
provided with automatic apparatus for stopping the motor, A 3, when at their
maximum and minimum distensions respectively, and for restarting it when the
distension alters. The suction reservoir, C, has applied to it a weight, C1, or it
might be a spring, tending to distend it; and the automatic device for controlling

page_text: the motor, A 3, is arranged so as to stop it only when both reservoirs, B, C, are at
their extreme positions, a by-pass or escape valve, B2, C2, being provided to open
in connection with whichever reservoir reaches its limit before the other. The
supply valve lever, A 6, of the motor is connected by a link to a lever, A 7, the
opposite ends of which are connected by cords, B3, C3, to the moving ends of
the reservoirs, B, C. With this arrangement if one reservoir reaches its extreme
position before the other it turns the lever, A. 7, without acting on the valve lever, A6,
which is moved into the closing position only when both ends of the lever, A 7, are
raised into their highest position. The lever, A 6, is weighted to open the valve
again when the reservoirs or either of them becomes the one, B, less and the
other, C, more distended.
The wooden or other conveying tubes may be of round or square or other simple
form in internal cross section, and may be bored, or built up of two or more separate
pieces circumferentially. Figures, 2 and 3, are a cross section and a side elevation
of a portion of wooden conveying tubing built up of halves which are fitted together
with grooves and tongues. The joints of the lengths of half tubes are made at
different parts for each half of the tubing. Where the directions of the tubing
bas to change, curved portions of metal may be introduced, if more convenient than
to make such parts of wood or the like. Papier maché or fibrous pulp may be used
for making the conveying tubes or portions of them.
The pressure and suction apparatus is, in general, to be placed at a central
station, from which conveying tubes radiate to distant stations, pressure being
employed to propel the carriers from the central to the distant stations, and
suction for their conveyance from the distant stations to the central one.
A. modification of the central-station apparatus is shown in vertical section in
Figure, 7; on Sheet, 2, of the drawings. Each conveying tube, D), is connected
by one, or a pair of branch pipes, D 1, with a three-way 'cock, D2, in _onc
position of which it is closed, in a second position (Figure, 7,) put by a pipe, D3,
in communication with the suction reservoir, and in a third position (Figure 8)
with the pressure reservoir, by a pipe, D4. The three-way cock, D 2, is movable
by a hand lever, D5, which is also connected to or acts on other parts, one
being a slide, E, for closing the mouth of the conveying tube, D, when the
central operator has put in a carrier to go to a distant station, the same move-
ment turning on the pressure. The valve slide, E, is attached by a rod, E 1,
to a vertical bar, E2, fixed to a horizontal bar, E 3, movable in guides in a
bracket, E 4, and the lower curved end of the bar, E 2, is acted on by an
arm, D6, moving with the lever, D 5, and provided with an antifriction roller.
When the valve slide, E, has been moved in a lever catch, E 5, engages in a
notch in the bar, E 3, and holds it against the action of a cord and weight, E 6.
The catch lever, E5, is released by the action of a hammer, E 7,.on the arrival
of the carrier at the distant station, an electric impulse being then automatically
transmitted thence so as to excite an electro magnet, M, the armature of which
is arranged to act as a detent, E 8, to the hammer, E 7, and also as an indicator
cover, E 9. A link, 7 E, connecting the hammer, E 7, to the vertical bar, E 2,
draws the hammer back again into position to be caught by the detent, E 8.
Another part connected with the stopcock lever, D 5, is for closing up against
the mouth of the conveying tube, D, when a carrier is to be brought from a
distant station to the central station by suction, the closing detail being a disk, D7,
jointed to the lever, D 5, and faced with rubber or leather, and which is held up by
the suction but is easily moved away by the carrier on its arrival. The move-
ment of the valve handle, D5, to place the disk, D 7, up to the tube mouth,
at the same times opens the communication (D 3) with the suction reservoir.
A second modification of the central-station apparatus is shown in sectional
side elevation in Figure, 9, on Sheet, 3, of the drawings, Figure, 10, being a
front elevation of the upper part thereof. In this modification the valve details
are simplified. The slide, E, for closing the end of the conveying tube, D,
when a carrier is being propelled away by pressure is moved directly by hand

page_text: by means of a button on the end of its spindle, Ei. A plain disk valve, F,
provided with a spring is used for closing the pipe, D 4, communicating between
the conveying tube, D, and the pressure reservoir. When the valve, F, is
opened by means of its spindle, F 1, it acts on a catch lever, F 2, and makes
it engage with a catch on an armature, F 3, so as to hold the valve open, until
an electric impulse from the distant station causes the electro magnet, M, to lift
the armature, F 3, and release the catch lever, F2, whereupon the valve, F,
closes by its spring. The pipe, D3, communicating with the suction reservoir
is similarly closed by a plain disk valve, F4, and the spindle of this valve is
connected by a chain to a rubber ball F5, which is used for closing the mouth
of the conveying tube, D, when suction is to be put in action to bring a carrier
from the distant station. The action of placing this ball, F 5, in the closing
position by hand at the same time opens the valve, F 4, and the suction keeps
the ball in position until the carrier on arriving pushes it away, and then the
valve, F4, at once closes.
Figure, 11, is a vertical section of the distant discharge end of the conveying
tube, D, as viewed laterally and Figure, 12, is a front elevation. A pivoted
flap valve, G, closes the outlet in an inclined position, the air propelled in front of a
carrier when moving from the central station to the distant station, escaping by
an air outlet, G1, which is opened by the upper end of the valve, G.
When
a carrier arrives the valve, G, is turned by it into the vertical position and the
carrier passes out; and at the same time an electrical contact piece, G 2, on
the outside of the valve makes contact with a spring wire, G3, fixed to an
insulated terminal, G4, to which an electrical conducting wire is secured, the
second wire being secured to a terminal, G 5, fixed on the metal shell of the
apparatus and communicating with the contact piece, G2, on the valve, G,
through the pivots of that valve. When the operator at the distant station
opens the valve, G, to put in a carrier for transmission to the central station,
the upper part of the valve, G, closes the communication with the air outlet, G 1,
so that the suction in the conveying tube may be effective on the carrier; and
at the same time a contact is made between the parts; G 2, and G 3, so that an
electric impulse is transmitted to the central station, to move the indicator (E 9)
there and let the central operator know that he must set the valve (D 2) to put
the conveying tube, D, in communication with the suction reservoir.
The valve, G, is in the shape of a cylindrical segment making when open
a partial continuation of the interior of the tube, D; but there may be substituted
for such valve an inclined wire, H, as shown in Figure, 13, which is a vertical
section on a reduced scale. An arriving carrier turns the wire, H, out of the
way, into a groove in the inner side of the tube, D, which is continued substan-
tially entire to the end. The outer end of the wire, H, is bended and carries a
disk, H1, which causes the air propelled outwards by a carrier proceeding
towards the distant station to escape laterally. The wire, H, has a counter-
balance, H2, to make it close inwards; and when it is moved outwards, either
by an arriving carrier or by the (distant) operator when about to insert a
carrier, it makes contact with the electric contact wire, G 3.
I make the conveyer or carrier in halves arranged to be easily connected
and detached by means of any simple catching or holding device. An example
of such improved carrier shown in Figures, 4, 5 and 6, on Sheet, 1, of the
drawings, which are respectively, an end view, a side view and a section. The
halves, K1, K2, fit together telescopically with sufficient tightness to hold
together; and a central spindle, K 3, is shown as fixed in one half, K 2, for the
purpose of carrying a phonogram cylinder, K4, in a manner to prevent contact
with or injury to its outer surface. The conveyers or carriers for phonogram
cylinders or other articles may be fitted with locks so that they may be opened
only by means of keys possessed by the persons from and to whom they are
transmitted.
In some applications, as for example where the conveying tubes (D) are

page_text: comparatively short, the pressure and suction apparatus may be simplified, a pump
or bellows having its suction and discharge passages connected with the three-
way cock (D2) or equivalent valve or set of valves, so as to directly exhaust
air from the conveying tube or force air into it. In some cases the valves may
be of the kind termed palets by organ builders; and when of comparatively
large size may be moved by means of pneumatic levers, or relays, or intermediate
valves as used in "pneumatic-action organs.
Where the conveying tubes have to be underground or otherwise situated so that
it is desirable to strengthen them, they may be made of iron or other suitable
metal lined with wood or other suitable substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In pneumatic-tube conveying apparatus the employment of pressure and
suction producing appliances of bellows-like construction, the parts being com-
bined and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings.
2. Making the conveying tubes wholly or partly of wood or analogous material
in the manner shown in Figures 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings, and
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. Constructing and combining the parts of the central-station apparatus sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 7, and, 8, of the
accompanying drawings.
4. Constructing and combining the parts of the central-station apparatus sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures, 9, and 10, of the
accompanying drawings.
5. Constructing and combining the parts of the distant-station apparatus sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures, 11, 12, and 13, of
the accompanying drawings.
6. Making the conveyers or carriers in halves arranged to be easily connected
and detached, and, when to be used to hold phonogranis, with central spindles
to hold the same, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures, 4, 5, and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-first day of October 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.