Variable speed drive for pneumatic transport system
First Claim
1. A method for use in operating a pneumatic carrier system where the pneumatic carrier system includes a plurality of user stations, pneumatic tubes and transfer devices, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a destination location for a pneumatic carrier, wherein said pneumatic carrier is at an origination location within the pneumatic carrier system; and
receiving an input indicating a carrier includes sensitive contents, wherein said destination location and said input is received by a controller, wherein said controller is operative to;
identify a travel path having at least one segment through said pneumatic carrier system between said origination location and said destination location;
access electronically stored path characteristic information for said travel path at the controller, wherein said path characteristic information identifies at least one of roughness, length and curvature for each segment of said travel path; and
based on said path characteristic information, variably controlling the power output of a power source connected to a pneumatic compression device that provides airflow to pneumatic tubing of said pneumatic carrier system while said pneumatic carrier moves between said origination location and said destination location along said travel path, wherein variably controlling the power output varies speed and output of the pneumatic compression device and varies a velocity of airflow in the pneumatic tubing and an associated velocity of the pneumatic carrier as the pneumatic carrier moves with the airflow to reduce forces acting on the carrier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are systems and methods for use in controlling a translocation process of a pneumatic tube system in order to reduce the amount of energy transferred from the tube system to a pneumatic carrier and, hence, its contents. Generally, these utilities entail identifying and/or reducing forces applied to a pneumatic carrier traveling through a travel path within a pneumatic tube system. The systems and method disposed herein allow for varying the velocity of a pneumatic carrier as it passes through a travel path of the pneumatic system. Such varying of the velocity allows for reducing the total forces applied to the pneumatic carrier during passage through the system. In one arrangement, the power output of a power source connected to a compressor device is altered to vary the velocity of pneumatic carries in the system.
45 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for use in operating a pneumatic carrier system where the pneumatic carrier system includes a plurality of user stations, pneumatic tubes and transfer devices, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a destination location for a pneumatic carrier, wherein said pneumatic carrier is at an origination location within the pneumatic carrier system; and receiving an input indicating a carrier includes sensitive contents, wherein said destination location and said input is received by a controller, wherein said controller is operative to; identify a travel path having at least one segment through said pneumatic carrier system between said origination location and said destination location; access electronically stored path characteristic information for said travel path at the controller, wherein said path characteristic information identifies at least one of roughness, length and curvature for each segment of said travel path; and based on said path characteristic information, variably controlling the power output of a power source connected to a pneumatic compression device that provides airflow to pneumatic tubing of said pneumatic carrier system while said pneumatic carrier moves between said origination location and said destination location along said travel path, wherein variably controlling the power output varies speed and output of the pneumatic compression device and varies a velocity of airflow in the pneumatic tubing and an associated velocity of the pneumatic carrier as the pneumatic carrier moves with the airflow to reduce forces acting on the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification