AIR VALVE PNEUMATIC TUBE CARRIER SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A pass-through valve for a pneumatic tube carrier system, comprising:
- a pneumatic tube having an internal bore at least partially defined by a sidewall extending between a tube inlet and a tube outlet, wherein the internal bore has an internal diameter that is sized to accommodate the passage of a pneumatic carrier there through and the a sidewall includes a first plurality of apertures;
an outer sleeve circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the pneumatic tube;
an actuator in operative communication with the outer sleeve and operative to move the outer sleeve with respect to the pneumatic tube from an Open position to a closed position, wherein when the outer sleeve covers the apertures in the closed position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve device and method are provided that are operative to selectively divert the flow of air within a pneumatic carrier within a pneumatic carrier system. Generally, the device includes a pneumatic tube that is sized to permit the passage of pneumatic carriers. The pneumatic tube includes at least aperture in a sidewall of the pneumatic tube, an outer sleeve, and an actuator. The actuator acts on the outer sleeve to block and open the aperture to fluid flow in order to divert air in the pneumatic system. In one embodiment, the valve is disposed in a pneumatic system in conjunction with a pneumatic carrier handling device.
97 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A pass-through valve for a pneumatic tube carrier system, comprising:
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a pneumatic tube having an internal bore at least partially defined by a sidewall extending between a tube inlet and a tube outlet, wherein the internal bore has an internal diameter that is sized to accommodate the passage of a pneumatic carrier there through and the a sidewall includes a first plurality of apertures; an outer sleeve circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the pneumatic tube; an actuator in operative communication with the outer sleeve and operative to move the outer sleeve with respect to the pneumatic tube from an Open position to a closed position, wherein when the outer sleeve covers the apertures in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pass-through valve for use in a pneumatic carrier system, comprising:
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a tube having an internal bore extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the internal bore has an inside diameter sized to accommodate passage of a pneumatic carrier; at least first and second apertures extending through a sidewall of the tube, wherein a combined area of the apertures is at least half of the cross-sectional area of the internal bore; an arcuate member sized for conformal positioning around at least a portion of an outside surface of the tube; and an actuator for moving the arcuate member between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein the arcuate member covers the apertures in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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20-21. -21. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
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27-35. -35. (canceled)
Specification