Apparatus for controlling vehicles moving through a conduit by air

• US 4,245,935 A
• Filed: 06/12/1979
• Issued: 01/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Carstens, Marion R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/047,794
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 406/105, 406/109, 406/110, 406/111, 406/147, 406/148, 406/149, 406/150, 406/176, 406/93, 406/94, 406/83, 406/84, 406/192, 406/76
• US Class Current: 406/105
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/04 Conveying the articles in carriers having a cross-section approximating that of the pipe or tube; Tube mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/28 for despatch

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling vehicles which are moved through a conduit by air and includes a processing system positioned in the conduit for collecting, storage and dispatching the vehicles in which an air pump is positioned in parallel with the processing system having its suction connected to the conduit upstream of the system and its discharge connected to the conduit downstream of the system. Valve means are connected to the conduit for reducing the tendency of the vehicles in the processing system to move upstream towards the pump suction. The valve means alternates the pressure in a portion of the processing system between less than atmospheric and at least atmospheric. One form of the valve means may include an air blocking vehicle stop movable into and out of the conduit and a valve connected between the conduit and the atmosphere upstream of the vehicle stop which is open and closed in synchronism with the vehicle stop. In addition, a second valve may be connected between the conduit and the pump suction upstream of the air blocking vehicle stop for speeding up the vehicle processing. In another embodiment, first and second swingable flap valves may be positioned in the conduit in the upstream portion of the processing system with an air flow control connected to the pump suction and positioned for alternately withdrawing air from the conduit upstream of each of the first and second valves for allowing the vehicles to pass through the flap valves, but preventing the application of the pump suction to the conduit downstream of the second valve.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for controlling a plurality of individual vehicles which are moved through a conduit by air wherein the conduit includes zones one, two and three in sequence from an upstream position towards a downstream portion of the conduit and are inclined downwardly towards downstream, an air blocking vehicle stop is movable into and out of the conduit at the downstream end of zone two for stopping a vehicle in zone two and releasing the vehicle to zone three, a vehicle holding arm is positioned upstream of the vehicle stop and is movable into and out of the conduit in zone two and alternates with the vehicle stop for holding additional vehicles in zones one and two when the stop releases a vehicle to zone three and feeding a vehicle towards the vehicle stop, the improvement comprising,

an air pump in parallel with zones one, two and three having a suction connected to zone one and a discharge connected to zone three,

valve means positioned between the second and third zones for reducing the tendency of vehicles in zones one and two to move upstream including,

a second air blocking vehicle stop movable into and out of the conduit, and

a valve connected between the conduit and the atmosphere upstream of the second air blocking vehicle stop, said valve being opened and closed in synchronism with the second air blocking vehicle stop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

a second valve connected between the conduit and the pump suction upstream of the second vehicle stop for moving a vehicle downstream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second valves are simultaneously but alternately actuated for aiding the admission and exit of a vehicle.

4. In an apparatus for controlling a plurality of individual vehicles which are moved through a conduit by air wherein the conduit includes zones one, two and three in sequence from an upstream position towards a downstream portion of the conduit and are inclined downwardly towards a downstream portion of the conduit and are inclined downwardly towards downstream, an air blocking vehicle stop is movable into and out of the conduit at the downstream end of zone three, a vehicle holding arm is positioned upstream of the vehicle stop and is movable into and out of the conduit in zone two and alternates with the vehicle stop for holding additional vehicles in zones one and two when the stop releases a vehicle to zone three and feeding a vehicle towards the vehicle stop, the improvement comprising,

an air pump in parallel with zones one, two and three having a suction connected to zone one and a discharge connected to zone three,

a first overhead-suspended swingable valve in said conduit adapted to move between a closed position blocking off said conduit and an open position permitting a vehicle to move therethrough,

a second overhead-suspended swingable valve in said conduit downstream of the first valve adapted to move between a closed position blocking off said conduit and an open position permitting a vehicle to move therethrough, and

air flow control means connected to the suction of the pump and positioned for alternately withdrawing air from the conduit upstream of each of the first and second valves for allowing vehicles to pass through the first and second valves, but preventing the application of the suction to the conduit downstream of the second valve.