Pneumatic transport zone exchange system and method
AssigneeSwisslog Healthcare Solutions
InventorPedro Barrios
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein is a system and method for providing inter-zone connections between first and second portions of a pneumatic tube system. The systems and methods (i.e., utilities) permit creating a direct pneumatic path between the first zone and the second zone. In this regard, air pressure or vacuum from a first zone may be utilized to effectuate transfer of a carrier through a portion or all of the second zone and/or to provide operating pressure or vacuum to the second zone.
Claims23
A pneumatic transfer device for transferring a pneumatic carrier between a first pneumatic system portion including a first plurality of pneumatic tubes and a second pneumatic system portion including a second plurality of pneumatic tubes, comprising:
- a first diverter having a first head end with a first head end port, a first transfer end with a first plurality of ports connected to said first plurality of pneumatic tubes and a first transfer tube for selectively pneumatically connecting one of said first plurality of ports to said first head end port;
- a second diverter having a second head end with a second head end port, a second transfer end with second plurality of ports connected to said second plurality of pneumatic tubes and a second transfer tube for selectively pneumatically connecting one of said second plurality of ports to said second head end port;
- a connecting tube pneumatically interconnecting said first and second head end ports for direct transfer of a pneumatic carrier there between;
- and
- a valve in pneumatic communication with the connecting tube, said valve being selectively operative to vent said connecting tube to atmosphere.
A pneumatic transfer device for transferring a pneumatic carrier between a first pneumatic system portion including a first plurality of pneumatic tubes and a second pneumatic system portion including a second plurality of pneumatic tubes, comprising:
- a pneumatic coupling having an internal bore sized to permit transit of a pneumatic carrier there through;
- a first transfer tube having a first end rotatively coupled to a first end of the pneumatic coupling, said first transfer tube having a second end for selectively rotation relative to one of a first plurality of ports connected to said first plurality of pneumatic tubes;
- a second transfer tube having a first end rotatively coupled to a second end of the pneumatic coupling, said second transfer tube having a second end for selectively rotation relative to one of a second plurality of ports connected to said second plurality of pneumatic tubes;
- and
- a valve in pneumatic communication with the pneumatic coupling, said valve being selectively operative to vent said pneumatic coupling to atmosphere.
A pneumatic tube system, comprising:
- a first system zone having a first air source interconnected to a first plurality of user stations;
- a second system zone having a second air source interconnected to a second plurality of user stations;
- a transfer device interconnecting said first and second zones, comprising:
- a first diverter having a first plurality of ports selectively connected to a single connecting tube, wherein a first tube pneumatically connected to said first system zone is connected to one of said first plurality of ports;
- a second diverter having a second plurality of ports selectively connectable to said single connecting tube, wherein a second tube pneumatically connected to said second system zone is connected to one of said second plurality of ports;
- and
- a valve in pneumatic communication with the single connecting tube, said valve being selectively operative to vent said pneumatic coupling to atmosphere.
A method for transferring a pneumatic carrier between a first pneumatic system portion including a first plurality of pneumatic tubes and a second pneumatic system portion including a second plurality of pneumatic tubes, comprising:
- connecting head end ports of first and second diverter units with a connecting tube, wherein said diverters each divert multiple pneumatic tubes to the connecting tube;
- aligning a first transfer tube of the first diverter with a first tube of a first pneumatic system zone, wherein the first system zone includes a first air source and one or more user stations;
- aligning a second transfer tube of the second diverter with second tube of a second pneumatic system zone, wherein the second system zone includes a second air source and one or more user stations;
- operating one of the first and second air sources to provide vacuum or pressure;
- and
- closing a vent in the connecting tube to communicate the vacuum or pressure provided by the operating air source in one of the systems zones to the other of the system zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.