US3701496A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic tube system y-tube diverter construction
Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A Y-tube diverter construction for multiple station pneumatic tube systems. A Y-tube section having a main and two branch legs is mounted within an airtight housing and is provided with a pair of slots throughout the tube section main and branch legs. A pair of guide members alternately extend through the slots and provide connecting portions between the main leg and one of the branch legs. A slide plate alternately diverts the air flow between the main leg and a selected branch leg, which, in cooperation with the guide members, enables a carrier to travel in either direction through the main diverter leg and a selected branch leg.
Inventors
- 👤 Pieter J Ekama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:10
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/04; B65G51/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87788; Y10T137/87804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
Y-tube diverter construction for a pneumatic tube system having main and branch tubes including, a substantially airtight housing having first and second end wall means; Y-tube means mounted within the housing; the Y-tube means having a main leg and two branch legs; said branch legs intersecting each other and merging with the main leg, and ridge means formed at the location of branch leg intersection; means extending through the first end wall means connecting said main leg with a pneumatic tube system main tube; opening means formed in the second end wall means providing communication between said branch legs and pneumatic tube system branch tubes; longitudinal slot means formed in said main leg on diametrically opposite sides thereof; the slot means on one side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into one of said branch legs, and the slot means on the other side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into the other of said branch legs; guide means including guide members at opposite sides of said main leg each pivotally mounted at one end within the housing and exteriorly of said Y-tube means and movable through said slot means into and out of said Y-tube means; said guide members each being formed with a carrier engaging surface matching the shape of the merging contour of the opposite wall of the Y-tube means main and branch legs; valve means movable between extended and retracted positions for selectively sealing one or the other of said branch legs against air flow through such leg and the system branch tube communicating therewith; bar means interconnecting the guide members for alternate movement of one or the other through said slot means into said Y-tube means; said ridge means and guide member carrier engaging surfaces providing substantially continuous engagement with wall portions of a carrier moving through the diverter to direct a carrier during movement in either direction through the Y-tube means between the main leg and one or the other of the branch legs; and drive means operatively connected to said valve means and guide means for cooperatively moving said valve and guide means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
358 words
Y-tube diverter construction for a pneumatic tube system having main and branch tubes including, a substantially airtight housing having first and second end wall means; Y-tube means mounted within the housing; the Y-tube means having a main leg and two branch legs; said branch legs intersecting each other and merging with the main leg, and ridge means formed at the location of branch leg intersection; means extending through the first end wall means connecting said main leg with a pneumatic tube system main tube; opening means formed in the second end wall means providing communication between said branch legs and pneumatic tube system branch tubes; longitudinal slot means formed in said main leg on diametrically opposite sides thereof; the slot means on one side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into one of said branch legs, and the slot means on the other side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into the other of said branch legs; guide means including guide members at opposite sides of said main leg each pivotally mounted at one end within the housing and exteriorly of said Y-tube means and movable through said slot means into and out of said Y-tube means; said guide members each being formed with a carrier engaging surface matching the shape of the merging contour of the opposite wall of the Y-tube means main and branch legs; valve means movable between extended and retracted positions for selectively sealing one or the other of said branch legs against air flow through such leg and the system branch tube communicating therewith; bar means interconnecting the guide members for alternate movement of one or the other through said slot means into said Y-tube means; said ridge means and guide member carrier engaging surfaces providing substantially continuous engagement with wall portions of a carrier moving through the diverter to direct a carrier during movement in either direction through the Y-tube means between the main leg and one or the other of the branch legs; and drive means operatively connected to said valve means and guide means for cooperatively moving said valve and guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the ridge means and guide means have smooth surfaces providing substantially continuous engagement with wall portions of a carrier moving through the diverter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the main and branch legs are tubular; in which the tubular branch legs merge with the main branch leg and intersect with each other; in which the intersection between the branch legs forms ridge means; and in which the guide means, ridge means and tubular Y-tube means legs provide a sufficient seal with a carrier passing therethrough to maintain at all times pneumatic tube propulsion of the carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the pivotal mounting of the guide members maintains the guide members in alignment with the slot means for movement therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the opposite guide members are adjustably connected together for coordinated movement alternately one or the other into said Y-tube means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the valve means includes a slidable member, and in which the slidable member in each of extended and retracted positions maintains one branch leg of the Y-tube means open and the other closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which channeL means is formed in the housing; in which the valve means includes a slide member movable in said channel means; in which said channel means intersects both branch legs of the Y-tube means; and in which the slide member has an imperforate wall portion blocking one branch leg in extended position and the other branch leg in retracted position of the valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 7 in which the slide member has an opening adjacent its inperforate wall portion which is aligned with one of the branch legs when the other branch leg is blocked by the imperforate slide portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 7 in which the slide member is formed with drive opening means; and in which the drive means includes projection means engaged in said drive-opening means for moving the slide member between extended and retracted positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 16 in which the drive opening means in said slide member comprises a diagonal slot formed in the slide member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the drive means includes motor and gear reduction means operatively connected with said valve and guide means outside the Y-tube means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which supplemental housing means is provided connected to and communicating with the housing; and in which the drive means includes motor and gear reduction unit means mounted in the supplemental housing having connection with the valve and guide means within the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the drive means includes a drive motor, in which switch means is operatively connected with the drive motor, and in which the switch means controls operation of the drive motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which the Y-tube means has one straight and one curved branch leg; and in which one guide member has a straight guiding edge and the other guide member has a curved guiding edge corresponding in contour with the contour of the opposite merging main and branch legs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |