Improvements in and relating to Delivery Switches for Pneumatic Tubes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1824
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Delivery Switches for Pneumatic
Tubes.
I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 689 Greenwich Street, in the City of New York, in the County and State of
New York, one of the United States of America, Mechanical 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:-
In the drawings-
Figure 1 represents a side view of a section of the pneumatic apparatus, partly
in section showing a delivery switch at one of the salesmen's counters in full lines
when not in position to switch the carrier, and in dotted lines in position to switch
the carrier from the main tube into the branch tube at the salesmen's counter.
Figure 1 represents a continuation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and
shows means at the cashier's station by which the switch at the salesman's station
is operated to divert the carrier into a branch tube from the main tube.
Figure 2 is a like view to that shown in Figures 1 and 1 but with a branch
delivery tube leading downward instead of upward as in Figure 1, and showing at
the cashier's station a dial representing any number of stations on the line, and
means whereby the cashier can set the switch at any desired station to switch the
carrier, passing through the pneumatic system, at said station.
Figure 3 is a sectional view through the dial on the line of Figure 2.
My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in delivery switches for
pneumatic tubes in which, by means of a circuit closer at the cashier's desk, the
switch at the branch station at which it is desired to switch the carrier can be set
and held in proper position to switch the carrier; it also relates to breaking the
circuit by the carrier passing through the branch tube by which the delivery
switch is held in position to switch the carrier, whereby the delivery switch is
permitted to return to its normal position. My invention also relates to means for
cushioning the carriers received at the salesman's counter through the branch
tubes and from which the same are delivered, and it further relates to means
whereby any number of stations on a line can be controlled and operated by the
cashier at the cashier's desk.
Referring to Figures 1 and 14, A represents the main tube of a pneumatic
system, to which a branch delivery tube B is secured, as shown, and within the
said main or branch tubes the carrier C is adapted to travel. At the end of the
branch tube B there is arranged a revolving air cushion F for the carriers, con-
sisting of a series of tubes. Three of these tubes G, H, J, are shown, and they
form air cushions for taking up the momentum of the carrier as it passes from the
main tube into the branch tube and then into the receiving tube in alignment with
the branch tube. The branch iube B and receiving air cushion F are supported
by brackets K resting upon the main tube A. The air cushions G, H, and J, are
held together by means of frames L, L. The frame L, being fast on the shaft L'
and the other end of the shaft is loosely mounted in the bracket K. A ratchet L'
is mounted fast on said shaft, and with said ratchet a pawl L is adapted to engage
and hold the revolving air cushion F in fixed position when any of the tubes G, H,J,
are in alignment with the branch tube B. This pawl is pivoted in the bracket K
at the point L, and at its outer end an upright lever L is secured at one end and
at the other end the lever L' pivoted to the branch tube B at L. At the forward
cud of this lever L' there is a projection L' which is adapted to pass into the

page_text: openings gh, when the air cushions G, H, J, are respectively in alignment with
the branch tube B. When the carrier passes along the branch tube B, having
been switched into said branch tube in a manner hereinafter described, it strikes
the projection L' so as to lift said projection out of the opening 91 in the air
cushion G, and this operation releases the pawl L from the ratchet L, and the
weight of the carrier in the air cushion G revolves said cushion from its position
shown in the drawings, and the air cushion H is brought into alignment with the
tube B and the projection L drops into the opening h' and the pawl L engages
with the ratchet L³ and holds the revolving air cushion F in proper position.
As the air cushion & passes from alignment with the tube B the carrier is
discharged therefrom. When the next carrier is received by the air cushion H
this operation is repeated, and a like operation takes place with the other tubes
when the carriers are received therein.
The switch M extends across the junction of the main tube A with the branch
tube B, and is fixed on the shaft M' journaled at the junction of the two tubes.
Fixed on the same shaft is a lever M having at one end a weight M³, and at the
other end extends downwardly a rod M with a soft iron core M* moving in a
solenoid M. The main tube A and branch tube B are provided respectively with
the offsets A and B' for receiving the free end of the switch M so as not to present
an obstruction to the passage of the carrier either through the main tube or the
branch tube.
The normal position of the delivery switch M is as shown in full lines, Figure 1.
Now when it is desired by the cashier to return a carrier to the salesman's station,
to which the branch tube B leads, the switch O which is normally held by a
spring O' between the wire P' and the magnet P³, is moved to close the circuit
through the wires P, P. O' is a clasp for holding the switch when moved to close
the circuit. The closing of this circuit causes the solenoid Me to draw the soft
iron core M downwardly and with it the lever M2, and thereby throws the switch
tongue M into the position, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1. The carrier is
then inserted by the cashier and passes through the main tube A until it is
deflected by the switch tongue M into the branch tube B. The carrier passing
into the branch tube B strikes the press button Q which closes the circuit through
the wires QQ. By the closing of this circuit the magnet P is energized and
draws the switch O off from the wires P, P', and thereby breaks the circuit through
these wires. The counter-weight M³ then returns the switch tongue M to its
normal position as shown in full lines. The breaking of the circuit by the carrier
in the branch tube B signals to the cashier that the carrier has been delivered to
its proper station.
In Figure 2 I have shown the branch tube as leading downward instead of
upward, so that the carrier is discharged below the main tube to the salesman's
counter, and I have also shown means, represented by a dial, whereby the cashier
can set the switch at any desired station to switch the carrier belonging to that
station upon its arriving at said salesman's station.
A represents the main tube of a pneumatic system having a branch tube B leading
downwardly therefrom, and at the lower end of said branch tube there is a
cushioning device F in which the carrier is received from the branch tube and from
which it is delivered to the salesman's counter. This cushioning device F consists
of an open-ended cylinder G¹ moving upwardly and downwardly in a frame G³,
having at the bottom of one side thereof an opening G³ from which the carrier
passes from the cylinder G³ to the salesman's counter, when the cylinder G'is in the
lower position, by reason of the weight of the carrier received therein. To the top of
the cylinder G the cord G is secured, which passes around and over the pulleys G³
supported on a post Go, and upon the lower end thereof is a weight G' which
holds the cylinder G' normally in line with the branch tube B, as shown in full lines,
Figure 2.
When a carrier which has been switched into the branch tube B passes into the
cylinder G' of the cushioning device, the weight of said carrier overcomes the

page_text: weight G' and the cylinder moves downwardly in the frame G³ until it comes in
line with the opening G³ on one side of the frame G', when the carrier passes from
said cylinder to the salesman's counter, as above stated.
In Figure 1, I have shown one branch tube and switch therefor, but it is obvious
that any number of stations could be provided and the necessary connections made
whereby any number of branch tubes and switches could be operated to switch
carriers belonging to said station from the main tube, and to carry out the same
I have shown in Figure 2 means whereby any number of switches and branch
tubes can be arranged on a line of pneumatic tube, and connections made therefrom
to the cashier's desk.
At the station shown in Figure 2, M represents a switch mounted on the shaft M',
which normally is in the position shown in full lines, so as not to obstruct the
passage of the carriers through the main tube, and from the shaft there is an
extension M³ of said switch to which is pivotally connected the rod M*, at the
bottom of which is the core M' of the solenoid M.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 a represents the wire leading from one pole of the
battery to the bottom of the pivot shaft c, at the npper end of which is a knob c¹.
Mounted and fast on said pivot shaft just below the knob c¹ is a pointer or circuit
closer d, which is adapted, when operated, to travel around the dial R. This
pointer or circuit closer d is held normally above the dial R in the position shown in
Figure 3 by the coiled spring e which bears at one end against the dial R and at
the other end against the pointer d. Now when it is desired to operate the switch
at any desired station, the pointer or circuit closer d is carried around to the
number corresponding to the desired station and pressed down on the electric wire
of the magnet located at that number, whereby the circuit is closed and the solenoid
at the desired station is energized to operate the switch to divert the approaching
carrier into the branch tube, and the carrier passing down said branch tube breaks
said circuit, and the said pointer or circuit closer, being freed from the influence of the
circuit current is carried back to the position shown in Figure 2 over zero, by suitable
means, in position to be manipulated by the cashier for another salesman's station.
For instance, suppose the station shown in Figure 2 represents the first salesman's
station. Now when it is desired to switch a carrier at this point, the cashier turns
the circuit closer d until it is over the figure I and then presses down on the knob c¹
until the pointer or circuit closer d touches the wire, whereby the circuit is
complete through the magnet g, which, being energized, acts on the armature h and
holds the pointer or circuit closer d down against the wire f. The circuit thus
being closed acts on the solenoid M and draws the core M' downwardly, whereby
the switch M is thrown across the main tube, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 2, and
held there while the circuit remains closed, and the carrier is diverted from the main
tube A into the branch tube B.
When the carrier C has passed into the branch tube B, as indicated in dotted
lines, it rolls down said tube until it comes in contact with the press button i
through which the circuit is closed through the wires b, leading respectively from
the battery and from the magnet g of the dial under the figure marked I on said
dial, and the pressure of said carrier moves said press button i from contact with
the wire ', whereby the circuit is broken and the core M not being influenced by
the solenoid, does not hold the switch M in its dotted position across the tube,
but the said switch falls to the position shown in full lines by its own weight. The
circuit being broken, the pointer d moves from the magnet 9 as previously
described, and returns to zero by the weight & secured to a cord attached to said
pivot shaft c and wound around the same, or, if desired, a coiled spring like a clock.
spring could be used, which being put under tension by the cashier moving the
pointer or circuit closer d around to different points would return said pointer to
zero when the electric circuit acting on said circuit closer is broken.
The magnet g and wire f as shown and previously described for station I on the
dial, are duplicated for all the other stations indicated on the dial, and the operation
for all the other stations is identical to that previously described for station I.

page_text: The carrier is sent to the cashier by the salesman in the usual line of tube, which
may be either located below, alongside, or above the pneumatic tube shown in the
drawings.
The wires 63 63 64 65 66 67 68 to 110 111 61 shown in Figure 2, lead respectively from
the bottom of the magnets 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, to the solenoid at the stations
corresponding to the number from which the said wires lead, and the other wire for
closing the circuit at each station leads to the said solenoids from suitable batteries.
It will be understood, however, that the construction and operation of all the other
stations after station I, which is shown in Figure 2, are identical with the
construction shown and particularly described for station I.
It will be understood from the description of the operation for the systems shown
in Figures 1 and 2 that the cashier, by means of a circuit closer, can close the
electric circuit at a station, whereby the switch at that station is moved across the
tube and held there to divert the carrier into the branch tube, and said switch
returns to its normal position when the carrier, passing down the branch tube,
breaks the electric circuit, and the circuit closer at the cashier's station assumes its
normal position, whereby the cashier is given notice that the carrier has been
switched into and is passing through the branch tube.
I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement and construction shown, as the
same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
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 a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, means controlled by the
operator for moving and retaining said switch in position to divert the carrier
from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier for
releasing said switch.
2. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for
operating said switch, a circuit closer controlled by the operator for closing said
circuit and thereby moving and retaining said switch in position to divert the
carrier from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier
for breaking said circuit and thereby releasing said switch.
3. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for
operating said switch, a circuit closer controlled by the operator for closing said
circuit and thereby moving and retaining said switch in position to divert the
carrier from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the
carrier for breaking said circuit at the operator's station and thereby releasing said
.switch.
4. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for
operating said switch, a circuit closer controlled by the operator for closing said
circuit and thereby moving said switch in position to divert the carrier from the
main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier for breaking
said circuit at the operator's station and thereby releasing said switch.
5. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for
operating said switch, a circuit closer for closing said circuit and thereby moving
said switch in position to divert the carrier from the main tube into the branch
tube, another electric circuit having a circuit closer operated by the diverted carrier
for closing the second circuit and breaking the first circuit, whereby the switch is
released and returns to its normal position.
6. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for

page_text: perating said switch, a circuit closer for closing said circuit and thereby moving
and retaining said switch in position to divert the carrier from the main tube into
the branch tube, another electric circuit having a circuit closer operated by the
diverted carrier for closing the second circuit and breaking the first circuit
whereby the switch is released and returns to its normal position.
7. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, means controlled by the
operator for moving and retaining said switch in position to divert the carrier from
the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier for
releasing said controlling means and thereby permitting the return of the switch
to its normal position.
*
8. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, a branch tube connected
therewith, a switch normally closing the branch tube, an electric circuit for
operating said switch, a circuit closer controlled by the operator for closing said
circuit and thereby moving and retaining the switch in position to divert the
carrier from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier
for releasing said circuit closer, whereby the circuit is broken and the switch
returns to its normal position.
9. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a cushioning device for receiving and
discharging the carriers, means for holding said cushioning device normally in
position to receive a carrier and adapted to be actuated by the said carrier to
release the said cushioning device from its normal position and thereby permit the
discharge of the carrier.
10. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a cushioning device for receiving and
discharging the carriers consisting of two or more chambers suitably mounted and
adapted to be rotated, means for holding one of the chambers of said cushioning
device normally in position to receive a carrier and adapted to be actuated by the
said carrier to release the said chamber from its normal position, and means, as
the weight of the carrier, for revolving the said cushioning device to permit the
discharge of the said carrier and to bring another chamber into position to receive
the next carrier.
11. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube, branch tubes connected
therewith, a switch for each branch tube normally closing the same, a dial at the
cashier's station having independent circuits leading to and controlling each switch,
a circuit closer controlled by the operator, adapted to close any desired circuit and
thereby move the switch controlled by the said circuit in position to divert the
carrier from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the carrier
for releasing said switch.
12. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube branch tubes connected
therewith, a switch for each branch tube normally closing the same, a dial at the
cashier's station. having independent circuits leading to and controlling each
switch, a circuit closer controlled by the operator, adapted to close any desired
circuit and thereby move and retain the switch controlled by said circuit in
position to divert the carrier from the main tube into the proper branch tube, and
means operated by the carrier for releasing said switch.
13. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a main tube branch tubes connected
therewith, a switch for each branch tube normally closing the same, a dial at the
cashier's station having independent circuits leading to and controlling each switch,
a circuit closer controlled by the operator adapted to close any desired circuit and
thereby move and retain the switch controlled by said circuit in position to divert
the carrier from the main tube into the proper branch tube, and means operated
by the carrier for breaking said circuit and thereby releasing said switch.
Dated this 10th dar of Iul. 1804
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.