Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Motive Power Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898.
- COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Motive Power
Apparatus.
}
I, LOUIS H. MAYER, formerly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, now of Mansion
House, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to pneumatic power and consists of means for application
thereof to actuate any description of machinery to which it is connected by suitable
gearing.
In carrying out my invention I provide an endless tube within which is a
piston having disk heads the periphery of which conforms to the inner surface of
the tube, which piston is caused to travel continuously within the tube by action
of exhaust of air from said tube, the movement of the disk headed piston imparting
action to gearing outside of the tube, all in manner and form as hereinafter fully
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like letters of reference point
out similar parts on each figure:-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an annular tube, parts being broken away show-
ing the piston connected to movable gearing and air ducts opening into the tube.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line r-r of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a
detail sectional view of a portion of the tube showing a section gate closed therein
and mechanism for reciprocating said gate transversely within and without the
tube, also portion of exhaust pipe with inlet opening into the main tube. Figure 4
is a sectional view of the tube and piston and its connection with gear, also coulter
and bar for operating the slot valve gates and valves of exhaust tube. Figure 5
represents sectional views of the main tube and slot closing gates. Figure 6 is a
sectional view of gates for closing the tube in sections actuated by pneumatic
power. Figure 7 is a detail view of the piston showing extension for connection
to gear wheel, the coulter for actuating the slot valves and a device for opening
and closing the air duct pipes. Figure 8 is a detail view of a slot closing gate.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the annular tube provided with closing gate shown
in Figure 6, actuated by pneumatic power.
In the drawings I have illustrated a continuous annular tube on a horizontal
plane and a vertical main shaft but do not confine my invention thereto as the tube
may be oblong or adjusted vertically or at any desired angle having interior
travelling disk headed piston actuated by motive power presently set forth, to
impart motion to the shaft of mechanism extending in any desired direction.
In the drawings, A is a tube to which are connected exhaust pipes H, H; each
having inlets opening into the main conduit tube a slight distance forward of a
section closing gate E, which is operated in a manner presently set forth. The
tube A. has a continuous slot. a, which is opened and closed by valve gates L,
operated by a curved coulter R,, extending from the grip arm N, which is
permanently connected to the piston P, as plainly illustrated in the drawings,

page_text: The valve gates L, each have outwardly extending friction wheels 1, 2, one above
the other.
As the bent coulter is moved and strikes the upper wheel 1, it lifts a valve gate
and opens the slot a as said coulter progresses onward its invertedly curved end by
bearing upon the lower wheel 2, forces the valve gate downward and closes the
tube slot, this actuation of the slot closing valve gates progressing continuously as
the piston is caused to move within the main tube.
I deem the described means of opening and closing the tube slot as exceedingly
novel and useful, obviating employment of spring pressure and gravitation, my
improvement being adapted for moving the slot valve gate outwardly at any
desired angle and forcing it within the tube slot whether said slot. is at top, side,
or any point of the tube. Besides the described device for moving the valve gates
they are so constructed that they will always move reciprocatingly at right angles
of the slot a, without risk of displacement or movement except in a direct line.
To carry out this purpose the valve gates at their opposite sides, for a given
distance of their length, are tongued and grooved as shown at i, while above said
tongues and grooves each valve gate is cut away, thus reducing its width at the
upper section thereof, thus forming an intermediate open space ¹, between each
two juxtaposing valve-gates. In connection therewith a back plate a¹ uprises
from the main tube to which plate is fastened by short screw rods a², a clamp guide
plate a³, each side of which overlies the edges of the respective adjacent slot valves
at upper section thereof, the purpose being to maintain said valve gates in perfect
alignment when projected within and without the slot a, and to limit their out-
ward passage therefrom.
As I do not limit practical operation of my invention
to placing the tube slot at any point of its circumference various modified forms of
valve gates may be employed without departing from the scope and purview of
my invention.
In Figure 5 I have illustrated the preferred form whereby perfect movement
and closure is secured as secured as the lower end of the valve gate engages a
flange a, extending outwardly from the main tube which limits the inward move-
ment of each valve gate, its outward movement being arrested by clamp guide
plate a³ as previously set forth. In this form the interior of the tube has a
continuous lengthwise groove a, into which passes a rider p¹ extending outwardly
from periphery of the disk head of the piston as illustrated in Figure 7. In the
other sectional view Figure 5, is illustrated a form of valve closing gate wherein
its lower end, when falling within the tube slot, closes the tube and its interior
is maintained in a perfect spherical form the lengthwise groove a³, and flange a*,
as shown in other sectional view of Figure 5, being omitted; either construction
illustrated may be employed in practice of my invention but as before set forth
the flange a, for limiting movement of the valve gate L, is preferable.
The grip arm N, connected to the piston, extends outwardly through the slot
of the tube and at its outer end is fastened to periphery of a main gear wheel C,
which transmits action to wheel C, and turns a smaller wheel C2 which by engage-
ment with teeth of wheel D, on shaft B, will turn said shaft and actuate suitable
mechanism connected therewith; said gearing being shown on a uniform plane
and by action thereof will turn the shaft B, in direction illustrated by arrows on
Figure 1. B' is another gear wheel which in practice is elevated above the plane
of the connected gear herein before described but by suitable means may be lowered
down on its axle b, and brought into engagement with teeth of shaft wheel D, and
by the same action lower the small gear wheel (2 on its axle c whereby as will be
readily understood, reverse rotation will be imparted to the shaft B, no special
mechanism being shown or claimed for vertical movement of said wheels B',
and C², for connection and disengagement with shaft wheel 1), the teeth of which
are of sufficient breadth and thickness to be brought into engagement with either
of the described gears.
The tube A, has closing gates E, which are provided with means when actuated,
to slide down transversely within and without the tube and as required to prevent

page_text: a continuous passage of exhaust of air the full length of the tube. I show only
two closing gates in the drawings, but more may be used to increase force especially
on pneumatic tubes extending along of a route; for, as before set forth, although
confining description of my invention to an annular tube I do not limit practical
application thereto for it is equally adaptable for employment on pneumatic tubes
of any length, which by use of the gates E, can be opened and closed into sections
of required length at predetermined times by action of a moving piston P. The
gates E, are shown in Figure 2, one to the left being projected within the tube,
the opposite one forced outwardly therefrom whereby the exhaust of air will be
arrested by the closed gate, but will freely pass the point where the gate is with-
drawn from the tube. Extending outwardly from the tube are gate boxes E¹,
within which the gates will reciprocate when actuated.
In the drawings each gate on Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated as provided with
rearward compressible and resilient springs F, which act in conjunction with other
power applied to move the gates E, to and fro within and without their boxes E¹
and the tube.
Said springs are not however, indispensable as various means may be employed
to operate said gates. The gates E, of the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
that, as before set forth, open and close the tube into sections are forced into the
tube A, by pressure of the spring F, at rear of the box E.
Sectional views of said gates are shown in Figures 2 and 3, they are moved out-
wardly from the tube A, into box E', as the piston traverses within the tube when
the lower turned end of the arm M, strikes the disk at the outer end of arm m³,
(see Figures 1 and 2), and as said arm, which is connected to the piston as herein-
before described and illustrated, passes beyond the location of the gate E, said gate
is immediately projected by pressure of spring 1', into the tube A. In Figure 6,
I illustrate the preferred form of operating the gates by pneumatic force introduced
within the gate box by opening a valve in connection with which motive power
springs F, may be employed if desired. In said construction the gate box E¹ has
connected thereto branch pipes h, h, extending from pipes H, H, provided with
independent closing valves, by which admission and exclusion of pneumatic
force is controlled.
In this form, the gate box E¹ has a rearward chamber e¹ of smaller dimension
than the forward chamber c. The section grate E, is shown as projected within the
tube A at the rear end of said gate is an imperforate plate E2, from which extends
a piston rod E. The gate box is separated by partition e, dividing it into two
chambers, e, e', in the forward one of which the gate E, can move forwardly to
and within the tube and rearwardly up to the partition e³, against which the
plate E³, will rest when brought into contact therewith.
The piston rod E, extends in a right line from plate E², to which it is per-
manently attached and passes through appertured stuffing box e, at the centre
of partition c³, from which it extends to a head plate e, to which it is permanently
connected by a nut e Said head plate fits into the rear chamber e¹ of the gate
box, its periphery being applied with a suitable yielding cover that will enable
it to pass to and fro within said chamber and maintain it hermetically closed
around said periphery during movement of the head plate therein; when the
valves, are opened exhaust of air will ensue within the chamber e¹, and draw
the head plate rearwardly as indicated by arrow at upper side of the encasement
and through piston connected to said plate and to plate E, withdraw the gate
from the tube; reverse action is accomplished by closure of valve h³ whereby the
exhaust operates on the forward surface of head plate e, to draw it forwardly in
the direction of the arrow at the lower part of the encasement chamber, the
opening and closing of said valve being effected by arm M, extending from
gripper N, as said arm progresses onward in connection with bars extending
outside of the tube of the same character as hereinafter, described for operating
valves of the pipe H.
In Figure 9, I have illustrated means for opening and closing the air ducts,

page_text: the arm M is carried onward by the piston to which it is connected will strike
valve disk m, of pipe H, and close valve h¹, thereby closing the exhaust of air from
the tube A. As the arm progresses and disk m, is released from pressure of said
arm the disk m, will spring back into position shown in Figure 9, and the pipe H,
will be re-opened so that there will be exhaust of air from section of the tube A,
rearwardly of next adjacent -closing gate E; this action of opening and closing
the exhaust ducts connected to the main tube A, can be employed whatever form
of section gate is employed. As projection of the section gates E, within the
tube A, and withdrawal therefrom rearwardly into gate box E, of the construction
shown in Figure 6, is preferably done by pneumatic power the method and means
of actuation of said gates is shown in Figure 9. A pipe h, is connected to the
pipe H, and has branches 2, opening into gate box E, one forward of head
plate, and one rearwardly thereof. Said branch pipe h, is provided with
valves Extending towards the main tube A from the forward valve 3, is a
rod having at its terminal end a disk m², which is maintained in the position
shown in Figure 9, by coiled spring h. The rod has branches 5, pivotally
extending therefrom and rearwardly connected to the rearward valve h³, of
pipe h. A's the arm, M progresses in the manner and by the means herein before
described it will strike the disk m², carrying the rod with it closing the forward
valve, ³, and opening the rear one whereby air exhaust will progress rearwardly
and draw out the gate, E, from the main tube A. After the arm M and the
piston has passed beyond the line on which the gate E is moved to and fro the
disk m², will spring back into position shown in Figure 9, closing the rear
valve and opening the forward one 'whereby the gate will return into the main
tube and closing the respective section so that exhaust of air will be in front of
the forward head of the piston P. The gates E of the form illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 are operated by arm M which is connected to grip bar N and
said arm also, as the piston passes onward, is brought in contact with plate m,
at end of bar m¹ and moves said bar forwardly thereby closing valve of pipe H,
see dotted lines Fig. 1.
"
The bar m provided at its plate m has a branch o extending outwardly at right
angles therefrom to which is pivotally connected another short arm o connected
to valve and as the plate m at the end of bar, is moved onwardly by pressure
of the arm M extending outwardly from the gripper N the valve will be closed
and when the plate m is released from pressure the valve will be re-opened; the
bar m is fastened to the upper end o² of a bar o³ connected inside of gate box E
to gate E, and when the disk m is moved onwardly by pressure of the arm M as
hereinbefore set forth, said bar will withdraw gate E from the tube and when
released from pressure the spring will force the gate back into the tube, the
opening and closing of the valves and actuation of the gates E being con-
currently effected by pressure on the plate m at outer end of bar m' as described.
The adjacent section gate E is by same action forced backward into its encasement
but the preferable means for operating the section gates is pneumatic force in
'manner and form illustrated on Figure 6 and hereinbefore described.
The piston P having terminal disk heads outwardly shaped to fit within the
inner conformation of the tube A is caused to travel therethrough by exhaust
of air from the tube through pipes H, which at their terminal station are con-
nected to an exhaust air pump of well known character not shown in the drawings
as no special description of pump is relied on. As soon as the arm M passes
onward beyond the section gate line the plate m is released from pressure and the
valve ! becomes opened giving free conduit for exhaust of air through pipe H
and tube A up to the next closed section gate. The main tube A is supplied with
one or more man holes a¹ of suitable construction for having access to interior of
the tube for a purpose that will be readily understood. Although the annular
tube herein described and illustrated is shown provided with two sectional gates E
more may be employed in accordance with my invention on such tube when
increased force is to be applied. In operation of the device with an annular tube

page_text: as
divided into two sections both gates E are projected therein as illustrated on the
left hand side of Figure 2 and exhaust of said sections is applied through the air
duct pipes H. Within one of the sections is the disk headed pistón normally next
adjacent to one of the section gates, E which by force of exhaust of air is carried
away therefrom onwardly toward the 'other closed section gate; as it progresses
it will consécutively lift each slot valve gate and close them by contact of the
coulter arm with the friction wheels 1,2 and the gripp arm extending through
the slot a being permanently connected to the main gear wheel C will turn it and
transmit motion to the shaft, B; when the piston approaches the next section
gate E it will close the valve of pipe H as previously described. As soon
the piston passes through the opening of the tube made free by retraction of the
respective gate, E within its encasement outward pressure is withdrawn from the
gate and it immediately returns within the tube and the inlet of pipe H being
free by opening of its valve the exhaust will progress forward of the section gate
closed in manner set forth. The piston is drawn onward by exhaust through the
next inlet and as it reaches the next section gate, E, the same action will be
imparted thereto and to the valve of the exhaust pipe adjacent to said gate and
thus by alternate opening and closing of the tube A the piston will travel con-
tinuously and transmit motive power to the gear with which it is connected and
thereby rotate the shaft or actuate any movable elements of machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
--
my
1. In a device of the character described, gates for dividing the main tube into
sections consisting of an encasement. divided into chambers the forward one being of
larger dimensions than the rear one said chambers being separated by an air
tight partition the forward chamber provided with a reciprocating movable gate
having a rearward plate from the centre of which extends a piston rod extending
through stuffing box of the partition that divides the chambers of the encasement
and thence passes rearwardly and is connected by a nut bolt to a disk head the
periphery of which conforms to the inner surface of the smaller chamber in com-
bination with branch pipes having inlets within said chamber at opposite sides of
the disk head of the piston the branch pipes being connected to a main exhaust
tube and means for opening and closing said branch pipes whereby as said air is
exhausted from either surface of the piston head disk the gate connected to the
piston will reciprocate within the encasement, as and for the purpose intended
substantially as described.
2. In a pneumatic motive device of the character described a main slotted tube
a piston adjusted to travel within said main tube and having a grip arm extending
outwardly through the slot of the tube connected to gear wheel of mechanism
outside of the tube said grip arm having an upturned branch to the outer end
of which is connected a bar for opening and closing valves of pipes connected to
the main tube said upturned branch of the grip arm supplied all in combination
with slot valve gates having outwardly extending friction rollers one above the
other which the coulter as the piston traverses the main tube will cause to con-
secutively open and close said slot substantially as described.
3. In a pneumatic motive device of the character described a tube a slot
extending lengthwise thereof the tube at one side of said slot having an outwardly
extending flange the tube at the opposite side of the slot provided with an uprising
back plate in combination with slot valves adapted to slide in alignment with
said back plate and when actuated to close the slot and rest upon the tube flange
at side of the slot, said slot valves being each provided with two friction rollers
one above the other in vertical alignment and bent coulter extending from grip
arm of a piston moved within the tube by exhaust of air therefrom the upturned
bent portion of the coulter as it progresses by engagement with the upper friction
roller extending from the valve gate lifts said valve gate outwardly from the

page_text: tube slot and the downwardly bent portion of the coulter when brought into
engagement with lower friction roller extending from the valve gate forces it
within the tube slot and closes it substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1897.
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for the Applicant.