Conveyors: fluid current – Blower or pump having load intake opening in housing – Including load or blower protecting means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-22
2003-07-15
Dillon, Joseph A. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: fluid current
Blower or pump having load intake opening in housing
Including load or blower protecting means
C406S105000, C417S062000, C417S315000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06592302
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a blower assembly suitable for use with a pneumatic transmission system. Specifically, this invention relates to a blower assembly which includes a blower motor and a bypass path. The bypass path provides an alternate route through the blower assembly, so that air may flow through the bypass path rather than the blower motor for reduced path resistance and therefore improved overall efficiency. In one aspect, the invention relates to a pneumatic transmission system with a blower unit having a blower motor and a bypass path.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Blower assemblies where air flow can be selectively directed in either direction are commonly used in pneumatic transmission systems, which are widely known and are used to transmit articles from a first point to a second point, which is remote from the first point. Pneumatic transmission systems usually include at least two stations, a tube or conduit extending between the two stations, and a carrier which can be positioned within the tube so that it can be transmitted from one station to another.
A common example of a pneumatic transmission system is in drive-in bank teller facilities where business is conducted via a carrier transmitted between the bank and the remote drive-in terminal. Other examples include pneumatic transmission systems used for sending documents between different floors in a building or between offices which are located some distance apart.
Typical blower assemblies include two opposing blowers for selectively providing air-flow in opposite directions in the tube or conduit connecting the two stations.
FIG. 1
shows an example of a pneumatic transmission system having this type of a conventional blower assembly. The blower assembly
10
includes a pair of vacuum cleaner blower motors
15
A and
15
B positioned in a blower tube
20
in pneumatic series with each other, meaning the vacuum cleaner blower motors
15
A and
15
B are within the same air flow path. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner blower motors
15
A and
15
B are spatially separated from each other within the blower tube
20
. The blower tube
20
and the vacuum cleaner blower motors
15
A and
15
B are disposed within a blower housing
25
. The blower tube
20
is substantially open on one end and closed on the other end except for communication with a vent/inlet
30
, which is for supplying or exhausting air. The blower assembly
10
communicates with a transport tube
35
via a conduit
40
. The conduit
40
is attached at one end to the blower housing
25
and at its other end to a check/relief valve
45
. The check/relief valve
45
controls air-flow between the conduit
40
and the transport tube
35
such that air may flow between the transport tube
35
and the conduit
40
or, alternately, air may flow between the conduit
40
and a second conduit
50
. The second conduit
50
is connected at one end to the check/relief valve
45
and at its other end to a station
55
. The transport tube
35
is connected to the station
55
at one end and to a second station
60
at its other end, and is of sufficient internal diameter such that a carrier
65
can be transmitted therethrough.
During normal operation, either the first blower motor
15
A or the second blower motor
15
B is activated based on a desired direction of travel for the carrier
65
through the transport tube
35
. In a case where the first blower motor
15
A is activated, air is pulled into the blower tube
20
through the vent/inlet
30
and pushed out of the blower tube
20
through the second blower motor
15
B, then through the blower housing
25
, the conduit
40
, the check/relief valve
45
, and the second conduit
50
to the station
55
. In a case where the second blower motor
15
B is activated, air is pushed out of the blower tube
20
through the first blower motor
15
A to the vent/inlet
30
, and pulled into the blower tube
20
through the blower housing
25
, the conduit
40
, and the check/relief valve
45
from the transport tube
35
.
One disadvantage of a pneumatic transmission system that includes a conventional blower assembly having opposing blower motors is that since the path of air-flow includes a non-activated blower motor, a path resistance of the pneumatic transmission system is increased. Thus, an additional amount of force is required for the air to travel through the pneumatic transmission system due to the path resistance encountered at the non-activated blower motor, reducing the distance a given blower motor can cause a driven member such as a carrier to travel. This additional amount of force also results in an increased amount of work for the activated blower motor over time, which decreases the efficiency of the pneumatic transmission system. Such inefficiency can result in an increase in the cost of operation as well as increased wear on the blower motors. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a pneumatic transmission system that has a reduced path resistance for air flow and can therefore operate more efficiently and with an increased transmission range.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a blower assembly suitable for use with a pneumatic transmission system wherein the blower assembly provides a path having a reduced path resistance for air flow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic transmission system having an increased range over which a carrier may be transmitted and an improved operating efficiency by reducing the pneumatic resistance of the system.
A pneumatic transmission system having features of the present invention comprises at least a first and a second station, each for sending or receiving a carrier, a transport conduit connected between the first station and the second station, wherein the transport conduit permits a transfer of the carrier between the first station and the second station, and a blower assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the blower assembly comprises a housing and a blower, a bypass path, and a bypass valve all disposed within the housing. The housing is connected to the first station such that air can flow between the housing and the first station. The blower has an inlet/outlet opening which can serve as both an air inlet for providing air from the atmosphere through the housing to the pneumatic transmission system and an air vent for exhausting the air from the pneumatic transmission system through the housing to the atmosphere. The blower is for moving a volume of the air through the transport conduit. The bypass path provides a path through which air can flow without flowing through the first blower. The bypass valve is for blocking the flow of the air through the bypass path when the blower is active.
In another embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic transmission system is provided comprising a first station and a second station, both for sending or receiving a carrier, a transport conduit connected between the first station and the second station for permitting a transfer of a carrier between the first station and the second station, and a blower assembly. The blower assembly includes a housing and a first interior wall, a first blower, a second interior wall, a second blower, and a valve assembly all disposed within the housing. The housing is connected to the first station such that air can flow between the housing and the first station. Also, the housing has an inlet/outlet opening which can serve as an air inlet for providing air from atmosphere through the housing to the pneumatic transmission system and can serve as an air outlet for exhausting air from the pneumatic transmission system through the housing to the atmosphere. The first interior wall has a blower aperture and a bypass aperture. The first blower is mounted through the blower aperture of the first interior wall, while the bypass aperture of the first interior wall provides a path through which the air can flow without flowing through the first blower. The second int
Comco Systems
Dillon Joseph A.
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
LandOfFree
Pneumatic transmission system and blower unit therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pneumatic transmission system and blower unit therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pneumatic transmission system and blower unit therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3105140