An Improved Pneumatic Conveying System for Use in Conveying Cash-carriers, Parcels, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
An Improved Pneumatic Conveying System for Use in Conveying
Cash-carriers, Parcels, and the like.
A communication from MELVIN JOSEPH FOYER, Manufacturer, of 52, Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates particularly to an improvement in pneumatic conveying
apparatus for use in stores, or similar places, for conveying cash-carriers to and
fro between a central cashier's desk and outlying salesman's stations. The
apparatus may be used, however, for conveying parcels of any description and
in any location within the limits of practicability.
The object is to provide apparatus of this character which can be more cheaply
operated than any heretofore known, the time of the operator and character of
the service being taken into consideration.
In carrying out this invention a series of outgoing or distributing tubes are
employed leading to the several salesman's stations connected with a given
cashier's desk, and but one return or collecting tube leading to the cashier's
desk. Preferably, also, the distributing tube for the farthest outlying station
is in circuit with the collecting tube. In the preferred construction, the dis-
tributing tubes connect with the high-pressure side of an air-compressor, prefer-.
ably a rotary blower, and the collecting pipe with the low-pressure side thereof..
Certain valves are supplied for momentarily admitting atmospheric pressure to
the collecting tube to convey carriers from the outlying stations, and other
valves are supplied for admitting compressed air to the distributing tubes. These
valves are preferably provided with time regulators for controlling their closing
movements, the pressure being admitted only sufficiently long to move the .
carrier quickly to its destination.
It thus appears, that in the preferred construction the collecting tube is nor-
mally under suction adjacent to its delivery end, while the distributing tubes
are normally supplied with pressure adjacent to their dispatching ends. This
enables the cashier to use compressed air to send the carriers out, while it enables
the several salesmen to use atmospheric pressure to send the carriers to the
cashier.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate this invention in its preferred
embodiment-
Figure 1 is a view, diagrammatic in its nature, showing a central or cashier's
tation and several outlying or salesman's stations, and the manner of connect-
ng the tubes; Figure 2, a detail of a valve and, a time-regulator therefor for
se at an intermediate salesman's station: Figure 3, a detail of the valve em-
loyed where a closed delivery end is desired; Figure 4, a detail of the valve
mployed between the charging or dispatching end of a distributing tube and
[Price 8/1

page_text: the point of admission of compressed air to said tube; Figure 5, a detail of a
gate-valve employed in connection with the distributing tubes for preventing
escape of compressed air, except when propelling carriers; and Figure 6, a
plan section on line 6 of Figure 5.
A represents a rotary blower, the blast or high-pressure side of which com-
municates with a compressed-air pipe B, and the suction or low-pressure side
of which communicates with a low pressure pipe C. Where the type of blower
shown is employed, a check-valve a may be used, if desired. The blower shown
may be replaced, however, by any other type of blower, such as the well-known
double-head positive rotary blower which is of such construction as to prevent
a backward flow of air when the machine is held at a stand-still.
DEF, represent a series of distributing tubes having their charging ends
supplied with doors D, E, F, controlled, in closing, by time-regulators, D² E², F2.
Valve-casings D3, E3, F3, are interposed in the course of their respective tubes
and these are joined at their upper or outer portions, by supply pipes D, E, F,
with the compressed-air pipe B, and at their lower portions, by exhaust or
suction pipes D, E, F, with the low-pressure pipe C. The pipes D, E, F
and provided with gate-valves D, E, F connected with the regulators D2, E³, F³.
G represents an incoming collecting tube along the course of which are
located salesman's stations H, H', H². It will be understood that the collecting
tube is shown disproportionately short. At these stations, the tube G is sup-
plied with doors I, I¹, I³, connected with time-regulators J, J¹, J. At the
station H2, the door I serves also as a time-valve; while at the stations H and H¹
the regulators are connected with time valves K K' applied to the pipe D. When
the doors II are thrown open, the time-regulators J J¹ are thereby set and the
valves are thrown open by the quick movements of the pistons of said
regulators in one direction, and controlled in closing by the comparatively slow
movement thereof in the opposite direction, the doors themselves being quickly
closed. At the station H2 the door I is regulated in its closing action by the
time-regulator Ja.
At the station H2, the delivery end of the tube 1) is supplied with a valve-
casing L the inner or upper end of which is joined by a branch-pipe L¹ to the
pipe G, adjacent to its dispatching end. Near the cashier's station, which is
denoted by M, and within reach of which are located the charging or dispatching
ends of the distributing tubes, the tube G is supplied with a valve-casing indi-
cated by the letter L, and which is similar to the valve-casing and contained
valve at station H². A detail of this last-named valve-casing appears in Fig. 3,
showing it equipped with an upwardly seating valve L³. An exhaust or suction
pipe N connects the upper part of said casing with the low-pressure pipe C.
It is evident that when a carrier arrives at either of the stations M and H2, it
will shoot past the branch-pipe of the valve-casing thereat, and be delivered to
the attendant.
A detail of the casing 1)³ (casings E3, F3, being similar thereto) appears in
Fig. 4, showing the lower section of the tube D extending into the casing and
provided with slots b, affording air passages, and the extreme upper end of said
tube-section left imperforate and affording a valve-seat 61, for a downwardly
seating combined valve and door 62. The detail further shows the lower end
of the upper tube-section extending into the casing and slotted and expanded
to form a guide for conducting the carrier smoothly past the junction with the
pipe D It will be understood that the pipe D5 being under suction, a carrier,
inserted through the door DI, will be carried upward by atmospheric pressure
with enough force to acquire sufficient momentum to cause it to pass the valve b³
and enter the path of a blast from the pipe D.
A detail of the door I, regulator J. and valve K is shown in Fig. 2. All the
regulators employed are similar to the regulator there shown.
P represents a piston supplied with perforations c and moving within a closed
casing. The piston is rigid with a piston-rod c¹, one end of which is connected

page_text: 5
by a link with the valve K, and the opposite end of which is connected by
a link with the door I. The link c³ is provided with a slot c, engaging a
pin on said door. Between the piston and one end of the casing is confined
a spring, and on the opposite side of the piston is a movable washer c'. The
casing contains oil, air, or other fluid, which, when the piston is moved against
its spring, passes readily through the perforations c, but in the return movement
is caused to pass through a channel 8, the size of which is regulated by a set-
screw The door I is pivoted at d and provided with a spring d for closing
it quickly. The valve kis pivoted at e, and adjacent to said valve is a down-
O wardly seating check-valve e¹, the purpose of which
from the tube D under any possible working conditions while the admission
to prevent escape of air
valve 16 is open.
-
The construction at station H' is exactly like that described at station H.
The construction at station H2 has been partially described. The combined
door and valve 12 is pivoted at f, and when opened, acts through an arm f¹ and
link on the piston-rod c¹ of the regulator J2 (similar to regulator J).
At station M, the doors D, E, F, act also as time-valves, being connected to
the regulators in the same manner as has been described, with reference to
door I. Here, however, the piston-rods c¹ of the regulators are connected at
their ends opposite the doors with the slide or gate valves D6, E6, F6. A detail
of one of these valves is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, showing a guide g for the valve
to move in as it is withdrawn.
The time-regulators are shown attached to the several adjacent tubes by bracket-
arms Q.
In Fig. 1, a pipe C is shown in communication with the low-pressure pipe C.
It is supplied with a diaphragm C2 which connects by link and lever mechanism
with the governor of the engine or motor which runs the fan. As the pressure
falls in the pipe C, the action of this mechanism is to so affect the governor as
to cause the motor to slacken its speed. An inwardly opening valve C³ is pro-
vided which opens to admit air to the pipe C in case the motor slackens its speed
too much.
A relief valve for the high-pressure pipe C may be provided, none being
shown.
The operation has been indicated in the above description. It may be sum-
marized thus:
Under the action of the fan, air is transferred from the pipe C and accumu-
lates in the pipe B. The charging ends of the tubes D, E, and F are normally
at low pressure, owing to their communication, through the pipes D³, E³, F³,
with the low-pressure pipe C. When, therefore, the door FI for example, is
opened, and simultaneously therewith, the valve F and a carrier is inserted into
the charging end of the tube, the carrier is forced upward by atmospheric pres-
sure, gaining sufficient momentum to carry it past the valve at F3 and into the
path of the high-pressure current from the pipe F by which it is carried to
tation H. Similarly, carriers inserted at E and D₁ are carried to stations H¹
nd H, respectively. At the latter station the discharge past the valve at L,
s described.
As stated, the collecting tube G is normally at low pressure, through connec-
ion with the pipe C. When, therefore, a carrier is introduced through either
f the doors I, II and I, it is carried by atmospheric pressure to station M,
ischarging through the valve at L. A valve K or K¹, or door I³, as the case
ay be, is held open long enough for the carrier to reach its destination.
With the arrangement of tubes shown it is obvious that the portion of the
istributing tube D outlying beyond the station H is utilized for supplying air
the collecting tube G during the time that a carrier inserted at station H is
assing to station M. In performing this function said portion of the pipe D
ts virtually as an inward or backward extension of the collecting tube.
Changes in details of construction may be made without departure from my

page_text: invention, hence no limitation is intended by the particular description given,
except as may appear from the appended claims. Any means for producing
movement of air through the tubes may be employed in connection with the time-
regulator for controlling the periods of closing of the admission valves, whether
said valves be to admit compressed air or air of atmospheric pressure to the tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is: _
1-In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a conveying tube, means for
producing a movement of air therethrough, a normally closed admission valve
for the tube which may be opened to admit air, and a time-regulator connected
with said valve and controlling its period of closing, said regulator operating
independently of the pressure in the conveying tube, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2 In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of an outgoing distributing
tube, an incoming collecting tube, means for applying pressure to the distribut-
ing tube and suction to the collecting tube, a normally closed air admission
valve for said collecting tube, and a time regulator controlling the period of
closing said valve, said regulator operating independently of the pressure in
said tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of an outgoing distributing
tube, an incoming collecting tube, means for applying pressure to the dis-
air admission valve for
tributing tube and suction to the collecting tube, an
said collecting tube, a time-regulator operating independently of the pressure
in said collecting tube controlling the closing action of said valve, and means
for adjusting the period of action of said regulator, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4-In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a plurality of distributing
tubes, a collecting tube provided with an outlying loop station and an inter-
mediate station, said collecting tube being extended from said loop station back
to said intermediate station, an air admission valve connected with said collect-
ing tube at said loop, a door at said intermediate station on the incoming or
carrying portion of said collecting tube, a suitably controlled air admission valve
on the backward extension of said collecting tube and connected with said door,
and means for applying pressure to said distributing tubes near their dispatch-
ing ends and suction to said collecting tube near its delivery end, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
5-In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a plurality of distributing
tubes a collecting tube provided with an outlying loop station and an inter-
mediate station, said collecting tube being extended from said loop station back
to, said intermediate station, an air admission valve connected with said collect-
ing tube at said loop, a door at said intermediate station on the incoming or
carrying portion of said collecting tube, a suitably controlled air admission valve
on said backward extension of the collecting tube and connected with said inter-
mediate station door, and means for applying suction to said collecting tube
adjacent to its delivery end, substantially as and for the purpose set. forth.
6--In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a plurality of distributing
tubes, a collecting tube provided with a plurality of dispatching stations, means
for applying pressure to. said distributing tubes and suction to said collecting.
tube, valves controlling the flow of air into and through said tubes, a pipe con-
necting one of said distributing tubes near its delivery end with said collecting
tube adjacent to a dispatching station, and an inwardly seating valve in the
delivery end of said last named distributing tube beyond or outside said con-
necting pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7-In a pneumatic conveyer, an air compressor, a plurality of distributing
tubes, pipes connecting said tubes with the high-pressure side of said compressor,

page_text: valves controlling the admission from said pipes to said distributing tubes, doors
near the dispatching ends of said tubes connected with said valves, a collecting
tube, a pipe joining said collecting tube adjacent to its delivery end with the
low-pressure side of said compressor, an upwardly seating valve near the deli-
very end of said collecting tube, a plurality of dispatching doors for said collect-
ing tube, and means for controlling the admission of air to said collecting tube
at the several stations, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8--In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a compressor, a distributing
tube provided with a dispatching door and on the side of said door opposite the
dispatching end of the tube with a valve capable of actuation by a carrier, an
exhaust pipe joining said tube between said valve and dispatching door with the
low-pressure side of said compressor, supply-pipe joining said tube above said
valve with the high-pressure side of said compressor, and a valve controlling
the flow of compressed air through said supply-pipe, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
9 In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a compressor, distributing
tube provided with dispatching door and above said door with downwardly seat-
ing valve, exhaust pipe joining said tube below said valve with the low-pres-
sure side of said compressor, supply pipe joining said tube above said valve with
the high-pressure side of said, compressor, valve in said supply pipe connected
with said dispatching door, a collecting tube provided with outlying dispatching
door, and adjacent to its delivery end with an upwardly seating valve, and an
exhaust pipe connecting said collecting tube above its said valve with the low
pressure side of said compressor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10-In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination with distributing tube provided
with downwardly seating valve, a compressor, supply-pipe connecting said tube
above said valve with the high-pressure side of said compressor, and exhaust
pipe connecting said tube below said valve with the low-pressure side of said
compressor, whereby carriers, inserted at the delivery end of said tube are first
carried upward past said valve by atmospheric pressure, and then carried to
their destination by force of compressed air, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
11-In a pneumatic conveyer, the combination of a compressor, a distributing
ube connected adjacent to its dispatching end with the high-pressure side thereot,
a normally closed valve controlling the flow of air from the compressor to said
ube, a collecting tube connected adjacent to its delivery end with the low-pres-
ure side of said compressor, a valve adjacent to the delivery end of the collect-
ng tube and movable by a carrier, a normally closed dispatching door at the
lispatching end of the collecting tube, and pressure actuated means connected
vith the system for regulating the action of said compressor, substantially as
nd for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of The
1
1000
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.