Rohrpoststation (pneumatic-tube station)

• US 4,256,418 A
• Filed: 02/23/1979
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cargo Handling AG
• Original Assignee: Aerotrans Rohrpostanlagen GmbH
• Inventors: Stangl, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/014,516
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 406/110, 406/112, 406/147, 406/148, 406/176, 406/177, 406/179, 406/180, 406/84
• US Class Current: 406/112
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/32 for despatch, delivery, and transit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3241 using predistortion circuits H03F1/3211, H03F1/3217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages

Abstract

A pneumatic tube station with a displaceable tube portion which can be moved parallel to itself out of a continuous delivery tube, and respectively, which can be inserted into the delivery tube, which displaceable tube portion in the position inserted into the delivery tube is connected at both ends with the delivery tube by means of respectively one seal each. In the vicinity of one end of the displaceable tube portion there is provided a slider. The slider closes the displaceable tube portion when the slider is in the inserted condition. The two ends of the delivery tube are connected with each other by means of an air channel. The displaceable tube portion in its position in which it is moved out of the delivery tube, is arranged between a storage hopper and a discharge opening, the hopper being provided with a blocking device.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tube station, comprising

a continuous delivery tube defining two coaxially facing ends and an interrupted space therebetween,

a displaceable tube portion which can be moved out of the interrupted space of the continuous delivery tube, and respectively, which can be inserted in the interrupted space into the delivery tube, said continuous delivery tube with said tube portion in said interrupted space communicating simultaneously with said two ends being adapted for passage therethrough of pneumatic-tube carriers,

one seal means each for connecting each respective end of the displaceable tube portion in the position inserted into the delivery tube with the delivery tube,

a slider slidably disposed in the vicinity of one end of said displaceable tube portion, said slider air-tightly sealingly closes said displaceable tube portion when the slider is in an inserted condition therein,

means comprising an air channel extending by-passingly exterior to said tube portion and communicatingly connects said two ends of the delivery tube,

a storage hopper and a discharge opening spaced axially apart from each other,

said displaceable tube portion in its position in which it is moved out of the delivery tube is arranged between said storage hopper and said discharge opening,

a blocking means for blocking said storage hopper.

2. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 1, wherein said displaceable tube portion is displaceable perpendicularly to its longitudinal direction.

3. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 2, further comprising

inclined seats which are inclined in a wedge-shaped configuration tapering towards each other are formed at both ends of said displaceable tube portion, and said displaceable tube portion is displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said delivery tube.

4. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 1, further comprising

a tube switch means for being actuatable by a pneumatic-tube carrier placed in the displaceable tube portion, or respectively, which passes therethrough said displaceable tube portion, said tube switch means is arranged in said displaceable tube portion.

5. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 1, further comprising

a check valve operating toward one direction is arranged in said air channel which connects said two ends of said delivery tube.

6. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 1, wherein

said air channel has a mouth located remote from said slider, said mouth is arranged in said delivery tube spaced far from said displaceable tube portion in order to permit a pneumatic braking of pneumatic-tube carriers with a heavy transport load, and respectively, a pneumatic braking from high transportation speeds.

7. The pneumatic tube station according to claim 3, further comprising

a housing accommodates all components of the pneumatic tube station and is injection molded from plastic material or hard foam, respectively, and forms in an integral one-piece construction said air channel, said storage hopper, said inclined seats for said displaceable tube portion, said discharge opening and attachment means for guiding of said displaceable tube portion and for a drive means for displacing the displaceable tube portion, and a control means therefor.

8. The pneumatic-tube station according to claim 1, further comprising

a slider housing holding said slider,

said displaceable tube portion comprises two half-shells which are injection molded from plastic material or hard foam, respectively,

said two half-shells are formed in one piece with parts of said slider housing.

9. The pneumatic-tube station as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said slider is displaceably mounted in said displaceable tube portion.

10. The pneumatic-tube station as set forth in claim 9, further comprising

a slider housing fixedly connected to said displaceable tube portion,

said slider is displaceably mounted in said slider housing,

said slider is formed with an elongated recess formed as a toothed rack,

a slider drive mounted on said slider housing and having a pinion drivably engaging said toothed rack of said slider.