Cross platform valve blower module

A pressure differential generator module for a pneumatic carrier transport system, said pressure differential generator module comprising

• an air chamber having a longitudinal axis, a pressure chamber having an air outlet port and a vacuum chamber having an air intake port;
• at least one blower disposed within said air chamber and coupled between said pressure chamber and said vacuum chamber;
• a valve housing coupled between said air chamber and said carrier transport system, said valve housing having ambient air access means;
• a cylindrical valve disposed within said valve housing coaxial with said longitudinal axis, said valve having
• an air pass-through port coupled to said air intake port and said air outlet port;
• a baffle disposed within and covering a portion of said air pass-through port;
• a valve position control system having
• a magnet coupled to said valve;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic position sensors disposed within said valve housing at a plurality of select sensor positions around said longitudinal axis;
• a gear coupled to a perimeter of said valve;
• a step motor coupled to said gear and adapted to rotate said valve selectively to position said magnet at one of said plurality of select sensor positions;
• and
• a system controller electrically coupled to said valve position indicator means and said valve position changing means, said system controller adapted to rotate said valve selectively to direct air between said air intake port, said air outlet port, said ambient air access means and said carrier transport system.

A pressure differential generator module comprising

• an air chamber having a longitudinal axis, a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber, and module output means;
• at least one blower disposed within said air chamber and coupled between said pressure chamber and said vacuum chamber;
• a valve coupled coaxially to said air chamber and adapted to rotate about said longitudinal axis and having
• an annular perimeter;
• an air pass-through port coupled to said pressure chamber and said vacuum chamber;
• and
• a baffle disposed within and covering a portion of said air pass-through port;
• and
• ambient air access means;
• a valve position control system coupled to said valve;
• and
• a system controller electrically coupled to said valve position control system, said controller adapted to operate said valve position control system to rotate said valve selectively to direct air between said pressure chamber, said vacuum chamber, ambient air access means and said module output means.

A method of operating a pneumatic carrier transport system, said system having at least one carrier tube coupled between an originating terminal and a target terminal, the system further having at least one movable carrier adapted to propagate through said carrier tube, the method comprising

• providing
• a pressure differential generator module coupled to said originating terminal and having
• an air chamber having a longitudinal axis, a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber;
• at least one blower disposed within said air chamber and coupled between said pressure chamber and said vacuum chamber;
• a valve coupled coaxially to said air chamber and adapted to rotate about said longitudinal axis and having an annular perimeter, an air pass-through port coupled to said pressure chamber and said vacuum chamber, a baffle disposed within and covering a portion of said air pass-through port;
• and ambient air access means;
• providing
• a valve position control system coupled to said valve;
• and
• providing
• a system controller electrically coupled to said valve position control system;
• then
• operating said system controller to direct said valve position control system to rotate said valve selectively to direct air between said pressure chamber, said vacuum chamber, said ambient air access means and said originating terminal.