AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS, AND OTHER FREIGHT
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the invention of AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS,
AND OTHER FREIGHT."-A communication from abroad by Alfred Ely
Beach, of Stratford, in the State of Connecticut, United States of
America.
man, for the invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS,
AND OTHER FREIGHT."-A communication from abroad by Alfred Ely
Beach, of Stratford, in the State of Connecticut, United States of
America.
Sealed the 20th October 1865, and dated the 7th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th August 1865.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS
FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY OF LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS,
AND OTHER FREIGHT;" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the employment of an endless travelling bag, pouch,
receptacle, belt, or canal of such construction that letters, parcels, and other
freight may be readily deposited in the canal while it is in motion.

page_text: Steam power or other motor is employed to drive the canal; and when
letters, parcels, or other freight are deposited within the canal their transpor-
tation at once commences. The delivery of the letters or freight at appointed
stations is effected by causing the canal to pass over drums, which invert the
canal and discharge the contents into suitable receptacles.
The canal is to be composed of canvas, or other fibrous material, or leather,
or india-rubber, wire cloth, or any other suitable pliable material or combi-
nation of materials; and the canal is to be stretched over drums or pullies
like an endless belt, so that when motion is imparted to one or more of the
pullies the canal will also have movement....
Having thus stated the general nature of the Invention, I will now proceed
to a more particular description thereof. The travelling canal is enclosed in
a line of cylindrical or other shaped tubes, which tubes are laid in the route
to be traversed. At given spots receiving posts and sorting stations are con-
nected with the tubes, which for convenience in traversing towns may be
placed under the street pavement.
The line of tubes is provided with rails or ledges, upon which the supporting
wheels of the canal run. This canal may be constructed in various forms,
from the flat form of a common belt to that of a trough or canal. The canal
is to be open at the top, or is to be so made that when it passes under a
deposit box or post it will become open at the top, so that when any letter
or parcel is dropped into the deposit box, such letter or parcel will fall into
the canal. When the canal is supported on wheels their axles must be
secured to metallic frames on the exterior of the body of the canal, which
frames will serve to keep the body extended in the form of a trough. To give
additional strength, the body may be provided with inner frames rivetted to
the outer frames. If the body of the canal is composed of thin metal it
should be divided into sections, which may be connected by coupling rings, so
as to ensure flexibility. In some cases the metallic frames may be so formed
as not only to keep the canal open, but also to suspend the canal from rails,
grooves, or ledges provided in the upper part of the enclosing. tube. The
grooves or. ledges are to contain lubricating matter, so that the supporting
slides or hooks projecting laterally from the frame will move thereon.
In order to dispense with the frames in the construction of the canal, and
also to add strength to its upper edges, there may be attached thereto a rope
by means of wire clips, which clips carry antifriction rollers. The walls of the
tube are to be provided with ledges or rails suited to receive and guide. the
said rollers, which thus take the weight of the canal.
In order to effect the automatic delivery of the contents of one canal into

page_text: another (as, for example, where tubes and canals cross each other in cities), a,
box is placed below the side walk, into which the crossing tube and canal
enter. Within the box is a drum, over which the upper canal (say No. 1)
passes. This drum causes the canal to be inverted, and the letters and other
5 contents fall down into the bottom of the box and pass through an opening
therein into the crossing canal (No. 2) below, with which the bottom of the
box communicates. Canal No. 1 having discharged its contents passes around
a second guide drum, and thereby recovers its upright position, and emerges
from the side of the box into its enclosing tube. In this manner an auto-
Omatic transfer of the contents of one canal into another may take place, and
cross lines as well as longitudinal lines of canals may be connected and
extended indefinitely.
The method by which the contents of canals are delivered at appointed
distributing or receiving stations may be thus explained. On entering the
station the caual passes over a vertical drum, by which it is inverted, and its
contents are discharged upon a table. The canal then passes over guide
drums, by which it is restored to its upright position and led under the table,
and thence into the street. As fast as the letters or parcels fall upon the
table the attendant selects those that remain at that station, but all that
require further transportation he returns again to to the canal through an
opening made in the table for that purpose.
It will readily be understood that almost any form of tube to conduct the
canals may be used, and that instead of tubes, frames, or rails, or other
guides may be employed; also that these improvements may be used in or
upon buildings or bridges, or wherever the canals can be supported and
guided. The horizontal drums, around which the canals pass when supported
by ropes and wires or hooks, will have two diameters, the one exceeding the
other to the extent of double the width of the canal. In passing around this
horizontal drum one side of the canal presses against the smaller, and the other
side of the canal against the larger diameter, both peripheries being grooved
or concaved, so as to catch the respective edges and ropes of the canal, one
face of the drum pressing upon the inside edge of the canal, the other face
upon the outer edge. In passing around the drum one side of the canal
must be higher than the other, in order that both edges of the canal may be
supported by the respective faces of the drum. This change in the height
of the edges of the canal is obtained by having the supporting ribs of the
enclosing tube placed lower one one side thereof than on the other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
"
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th February 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord. One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Ar
IMPROVED MODE OF, AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORTATION AND
DELIVERY OF LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS, AND OTHER FREIGHT," being a communica-
tion from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention consists in the transportation and delivery of letters, parcels,
and other freight by means of a system of travelling endless bags, pouches,
receptacles, belts, or canals contained in tubes of iron or other material,, which
may be laid like gas or water mains below the level of the roadway, and must
extend to the points desired to be brought into communication. These recep-
tacles, belts, or canals are of such construction that letters, parcels, and

page_text: other freight may be readily deposited therein at different points while they
are in motion.
Steam power or other motor is employed to drive the canals, and when.
letters, parcels, or other freight are deposited within the canals their transpor-
tation at once commences. The delivery of the letters or freight at appointed
stations is effected by causing the canal, which is carrying the same; to pass
over drums, which invert it and discharge the contents thereof either into
suitable stationary receptacles or into other canals, which form branches and
serve to divert or distribute the traffic.
The canals are to be composed of canvas or other fibrous material, or
leather, or india-rubber, wire cloth, or any other suitable pliable material or
combination of materials; and they are to be stretched over drums or pullies
like an endless driving belt, so that when motion is imparted to one or more
of the pullies a travelling movement will be given to the canal.
Having thus stated the general nature of the Invention, I will now proceed
to a more particular description thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fig. 1 shews in transverse sectional elevation the canal contained in the
tube, and also a hollow lamp-post communicating therewith, and arranged for
the delivery of letters into the canal; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion
of a canal; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the frames used to support
and extend the canal; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a canal
with supporting frames and safety chains attached; Fig. 5 is an end sectional
clevation of a rectangular tube with canal and supporting frame arranged
therein for operation; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of a canal with
supporting hooks attached; Fig. 7 is an end sectional elevation of a tube with
two canals supported upon hooks, and arranged for operation within the tube;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a method of making the supporting frames of
the canal in one piece of wire or metal; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion
of a canal showing a method of attaching a strengthening and supporting rope
to the canal; Fig. 10 is an end sectional elevation of the said rope and canal,
together with a portion of a rectangular tube; Fig. 11 is a perspective view
of the box and method by which the automatic transfer of the contents of one
canal into another canal is effected; Fig. 12 is a general view of the interior
of a receiving station apartinent, showing the method of inverting the canal,
delivering its contents, and restoring the upright position of the canal without
impeding the movement thereof; Fig. 13 is an elevation, in part sectional, of
a horizontal double-faced drum for carrying the canal around such drum
or curve; Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same, showing also the position of the

page_text: canal and tubes in conjunction with the double-faced drum; and Fig. 15 is
an end sectional elevation of a tube and canal showing the mode of lowering
one side of the canal so as to fit it to the double-faced drum. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
In Fig. 1 is shown a lamp-post or depositing box for letters, which com.
municates with a line of tubes A placed under the street pavement.
The line of tubes is provided with rails or ledges a, upon which the sup-
porting-wheels d of the canal run. This canal may be constructed in various
forms, from the flat form of a common belt to that of a trough or canal; the
latter is, however, preferred.
á
The body of the canal C may be made of leather, canvas, metal, or, as
stated, of any other suitable materials that will secure the requisite amount of
flexibility. The canal is to be open at the top, or is to be so made that when
it passes under a deposit box or post it will become open at the top, so that
when any letter or parcel is dropped into the post or deposit box, such letter
or parcel will fall into the canal, as shewn in Fig. 4, in which 6 is the lamp-
post or deposit box, and c an orifice therein for the introduction of letters,
which fall down through the post and through an opening c¹ in the tube A
into the canal.
It will readily be understood that large and weighty packages or freight
must be introduced into the canal through large deposit boxes and apertures
to be made for that purpose. When the canal is supported on wheels d, the
said wheels are attached by axles e to metallic frames f, which are secured
upon the exterior of the body C of the canal; these frames f also serve to
keep the body C extended in the form of a trough or canal. To give addi-
tional strength the body C may be provided with inner frames f¹, both frames
being secured by rivets g, as shown, see Figure 2. The material composing the
body C of the canal should be of a pliable or elastic nature, so that it will
readily conform to the surfaces of drums, or pullies, or curves which it is
required to pass. If the body of the canal C is composed of thin metal it
should be divided into sections, which may be connected by coupling rings h,
as shewn in Fig. 2, so as to ensure flexibility of such canal.
The use of supporting wheels upon the canal will not always be essential;
in some cases the metallic frames may be so formed as not only to keep the
canal open, but also to serve as slides or supports for the canal; an example
of this construction is shewn in Figures 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows a frame f"
made in one piece of metal; the upper part of each side of the frame is
provided with a horizontal bar i or part of a hook. In Fig. 4 the frames f"
are shown attached to the body C of the canal.

page_text: The upper parts of these frames are bent in hook form as stated, and their
bars i form sliding surfaces which support the canal, and on which it slides,
as shown in Fig. 5. In this Figure the tube A' is made rectangular in form,
and near the upper part of its side walls are grooves or ledges j, which receive
and hold the bars i of the frames; these grooves are to be furnished with
lubricating matter, so that the bars i will easily slide therein.
Instead of supporting the canal upon frames, as described, hooks may be
substituted, as shown in Fig. 6. In this example a series of hooks.k are
attached to the upper edge of the body C of the canal, and these hooks catch
upon and run in the grooves j, as before described, and, also as shown in
Fig. 7, in which two canals are represented as running in one tube; in this
Figure the grooves j are contained in the projecting ribs j', which extend from
the roof of the tube. The frames may be connected by safety chains 1, 1, so
that in case of the breakage of the canal or of any of the frames the parts
could not be wholly separated.
The frames, instead of being made in separate sections as before described,
may be composed of a single wire or bar of metal bent into the form shewn
in Fig. 8; this form of frame has flexibility in all directions. The body C of
the canal may be attached either within or upon the outside of this frame;
the ends of the frame form hooks, which fit into and slide in the grooves j.
In order to dispense with the frames and also add strength to the upper
edges of the body C of the canal it is proposed to attach to the sides of the
canal, and near the edges thereof, a rope D; this rope (see Fig. 9) is securely
fastened to the body C by means of wire clips m in the following manner.:-
At suitable distances apart on the rope rings or coverings of rubber or other.
material are placed, and around these rings strong wires m are twisted. At
the junction or twisted part the wire forms an axle for an antifriction roller n
(see Figures 9 and 10); the extremities of the wire are then passed through
the material composing the body of the canal C and through plates o, o, and
they are then rivetted or turned down, thus securely uniting the rope D and
body C. The canal in this example is supported upon the rollers n, and the
walls of the tube are to be provided with ledges or rails p,p, suited to receive
and guide the said rollers, substantially as shown in Fig. 10.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the Invention is applicable
chiefly to large cities, where the frequent collection and delivery of letters and
parcels is required. By a suitable arrangement of tubes beneath the street,
with canals moving therein, and convenient receptacles for the deposit of
letters and parcels, together with a proper appointment of delivering stations,

page_text: all kinds of mail matter and freight may be speedily and safely transported
and delivered,
In order to effect the automatic delivery of the contents of one canal into
another (as, for example, where tubes and canals cross each other in cities) a
box E is placed below the side walk, into which the crossing tube'and canal
enters (see Fig. 11). Within the box is a drum F, over and around which
the canal (No. 1) passes in the direction of the arrow 1; this drum causes
the canal to be inverted, and the letters and other contents fall down into the
bottom of the box E, and pass through an opening therein into the crossing
canal No. 2 below, with which the bottom of the box communicates. Canal
No. 1 having discharged its contents passes over and around the drum G,
and thereby recovers its upright position, and emerges from the side of
the box at q into the continuation of its tube A, as shewn. In this manner
an automatic transfer of the contents of one canal into another may take
place, and cross lines as well as longitudinal lines of canals may be connected
and extended indefinitely.
The general method by which the contents of canals are delivered at
appointed distributing or receiving stations is shown in Fig. 12, which is an
interior view of an apartment at such a station. On entering the apartinent
the canal moves in the direction of arrow 3, and passes over the vertical
drum H, by which the canal is inverted and its contents are discharged upon
the table I. The canal then passes over guide pulleys J, K, by which it is
restored to its upright position'; it is thon led along under the table in the
direction of the arrow 4 and onward, as indicated by the arrows 5 and 6,
around drums L, M, into the street. As fast as the letters or parcels fall
upon the table the attendant selects those intended for that station, but all
that require further transportation he returns again to the canal through an
opening q¹ made in the table for that purpose.
It will readily be understood that almost any form of tube to conduct the
canals may be used, and that instead of tubes, frames, or rails, or other guides
may be employed; also that these improvements may be used in or upon
buildings or bridges, or wherever the canals can be supported and guided.
'The horizontal drums around which the canals pass when supported by
ropes and wires or hooks are of peculiar construction; Fig. 13 is an illus-
tration thereof; it is a double-faced drum N, one face being larger in diameter
than the other. In passing around this horizontal drum one side of the
canal presses againt the smaller face y, and the other side of the canal against
the larger face, bath faces or peripheries being grooved or concaved so as

page_text: to catch the respective edges and ropes of the canal, as shown, one face of
the drum pressing upon the inside edge of the canal, the other face upon the
outer edge.
In passing around the double-faced drum, one side of the canal must be
higher than the other, in order that both edges of the canal may be supported
by the respective faces of the drum; this change in the height of the edges of
the canal is obtained by having the supporting ribs p, p, of the enclosing
tube A placed lower on one side thereof than on the other, as shewn in
Fig. 15.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "An Improved
Mode of and Apparatus for Facilitating the Transportation and Delivery of
Letters, Newspapers, and other Freight," and explained the manner of carry-
ing the same into effect, I would remark that I do not limit myself to any
particular form of construction for the canal or device which receives and
carries the letters and freight, nor to any particular construction of the parts
necessary to operate the canals. The skilled mechanic will vary the details
of the construction according to the requirements of the service to which the
canals are to be applied. Under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim,―
First, the employment of moving pouches, belts, or canals contained in or
supported by tubes or guides for the transportation of letters, parcels, and other
freight, and the mode of ensuring the automatic delivery or transfer of the
same into another canal, or into or upon any other receptacle, substantially as
described.
Secondly, I claim the construction of the canals and the methods of sup-
porting them, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (LS.).