US 4,710,098 AGranted

Valve and blower apparatus for pneumatic tube system

AssigneeDiebold, Incorporated

InventorsWalter G. Anders, Leo J. Grosswiller, Jr., Benjamin F. Lozier, Alan J. Rozlosnik

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Abstract

A blower and valve apparatus for a pneumatic tube system is enclosed in a divided housing (10). A conventional blower fan (36) operates to create pressure in a pressure area P and suction in a suction area S of the housing. Area P has two air passage outlets; a first pressure outlet (38) to atmosphere and a second pressure outlet (40) to a neutral area C. Area S likewise has two air passage outlets; a first suction outlet (44) to atmosphere and a second suction outlet 42 to neutral area C. Area C is connected through a coupling (23) to the end of a pneumatic tube. A first rotatable flapper vane (50) is mounted in area P. At one extreme of its arcuate movement, the rotatable flapper vane closes the first pressure outlet to atmosphere and at the other extreme closes the second pressure outlet to area C. A second rotatable flapper vane (54) is mounted in area S. At one extreme of its arcuate movement the second flapper vane (54) closes the first suction outlet to atmosphere and at the other extreme closes the second suction outlet to area C. The rotatable flapper vanes are rotated together by a control linkage (63). The control linkage is arranged so that in a first position the vane in area S closes the outlet to atmosphere and opens the outlet to area C while the vane in area P closes the outlet to area C (40) leaving the outlet to atmosphere in area P open.

Claims55

Dependent claims

Apparatus for selectively applying pressure or suction to a pneumatic tube comprising:

a housing;
dividing means dividing said housing into compartments, said compartments including a suction area, a pressure area, and a neutral area;
tube connecting means connecting the neutral area to the tube;
first air flow passage means for air flow between said suction area and said pressure area;
fan means for moving air from said suction area to said pressure area through said first air flow passage means;
second air flow passage means for air flow between said suction area and atmosphere;
third air flow passage means for air flow between said suction area and said neutral area;
fourth air flow passage means for air flow between said pressure area and said neutral area;
fifth air flow passage means for air flow between said pressure area and atmosphere;
first air flow director means for directing air flow into said suction area, said first air flow director means having a first condition opening said third air flow passage means while closing said second air flow passage means, and a second condition opening said second air flow passage means while closing said third air flow passage means;
second air flow director means for directing air flow out of said pressure area, said second air flow director means having a first condition opening said fifth air flow passage means while closing said fourth air flow passage means, and a second condition opening said fourth air flow passage means while closing said fifth air flow passage means;
and
control means for controlling the conditions of said first and second air flow director means, suction being applied to the tube when said first and second air flow director means are in their respective first conditions and pressure being applied to the tube when said first and second air flow director means are in their respective second conditions.

10 more elements

Apparatus for selectively applying pressure or suction at an outlet port comprising:

a housing;
dividing means dividing said housing into compartments, said compartments including suction area and a pressure area;
suction producing means for producing suction in the suction area;
pressure producing means for producing pressure in the pressure area;
second air flow passage means for air flow between said suction area and atmosphere;
third air flow passage means for air flow between said suction area and said outlet port;
fourth air flow passage means for air flow between the pressure area and said outlet port;
fifth air flow passage means for air flow between the pressure area and atmosphere;
first air flow director means for directing air flow into said suction area, said first air flow director means having a first condition opening said third air flow passage means while closing said second air flow passage means, and a second condition opening said second air flow passage means while closing said third air flow passage means;
second air flow director means for directing air flow out of said pressure area, said second air flow director means having a first condition opening said fifth air flow passage means while closing said fourth air flow passage means, and a second condition opening said fourth air flow passage means while closing said fifth air flow passage means;
and
control means for controlling the conditions of said first and second air flow direction means, suction being applied at said outlet port when the first and second air flow director means are in their respective first conditions andpressure being applied at said outlet port when the first and second air flow director means are in their respective second conditions.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.