Abstract: A pneumatic transmission system has a customer terminal, a teller terminal and a transmission tube connecting the terminals. A pair of blowers are disposed in the transmission tube. Each terminal has a slide gate which is operable to close the transmission tube, and a catch disposed below the gate which is operable to catch the pneumatic carrier. The carrier is transmitted from one terminal to the other terminal by opening the gate of the one terminal, closing the other gate of the other terminal, and energizing the blower remote from the one terminal, thereby creating a vacuum between the one blower and the carrier. The one blower is de-energized after the carrier has passed the one blower, and the carrier rides down on a cushion of air, coming to rest on the gate of the other terminal. The gate of the other terminal is then opened and the carrier drops downwardly onto the catch of the terminal. A controller and timer facilitate sequencing of the slide gates and blowers.

Abstract: A quadrilateral transparent tube section that is used with a heavy payload captive carrier in a pneumatic transport system. The tube section is constructed of four transparent panels connected at their longitudinal edges with four corner structures which contain longitudinal cavities that may be used as wiring conduits.

Abstract: A captive carrier for a heavy payload system having end caps rigidly connected thereto. Each end cap has a sliding cover mounted in an outer most surface thereof, Restraining means on the cover restrain the cover from motion in response to the captive carrier tilting outwardly toward the user thereby opening the top of the carrier. The end caps and covers have a curved profile that corresponds to the curvature of the pivoting motion of the top of the carrier, The carrier further includes a wear strip mounted on one side which is directed vertically downward when the carrier is moving in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A downsend terminal for a pneumatic transport tube system has a pivoting tube section pivoting about an upper horizontal axis to move the pivoting tube section between a first vertical position and a second oblique position. When at the oblique second position, the carrier is dropped out of the pivoting tube section onto a carrier support holding the carrier in a generally vertical position for access to the user. When the user completes the transaction, the terminal pulls the carrier vertically back into the pivoting tube section. If the carrier is overloaded, there is insufficient force to lift it off of the carrier support, and therefore an overloaded carrier is prohibited from entering the transport tube system. In addition, the construction prevents debris and other material from entering the transport tube system.

Abstract: An alignment tool for aligning the internal surfaces of multilateral tube sections to be joined. The alignment tool includes aligning members connected to toggle links which are in turn connected to a toggle actuator. The toggle actuator is effective to push a first area of bearing surfaces on the aligning members into contact with internal surfaces of the first tube section. The toggle actuator is locked into position in the first tube section. Internal surfaces of a second tube section are slid over exposed second areas of the bearing surfaces of the aligning members thereby aligning the first and second tube sections. The tube sections are connected; the aligning members are moved away from the internal surfaces and the alignment tool is removed.

Abstract: A pneumatic transmission system has a customer terminal, a teller terminal and a transmission tube connecting the terminals. A pair of blowers are disposed in the transmission tube. Each terminal has a slide gate which is operable to close the transmission tube, and a catch disposed below the gate which is operable to catch the pneumatic carrier. The carrier is transmitted from one terminal to the other terminal by opening the gate of the one terminal, closing the other gate of the other terminal, and energizing the blower remote from the one terminal, thereby creating a vacuum between the one blower and the carrier. The one blower is de-energized after the carrier has passed the one blower, and the carrier rides down on a cushion of air, coming to rest on the gate of the other terminal. The gate of the other terminal is then opened and the carrier drops downwardly onto the catch of the terminal. A controller and timer facilitate sequencing of the slide gates and blowers.

Abstract: A transportation system in which cars having cargo containers are driven along tracks. Access to a car's cargo container is provided via a door on the car which is moved by a door drive system carried on the car. In the exemplary case of a remote bank teller transportation system, a car moves between two terminals in which the car and the car door are orientated vertically "right side up" in one terminal and "upside down" in the other terminal. The door drive system serves to move the door downwardly for both orientations of the car.

Abstract: A self-cleaning track and slidable cover for a station of a pneumatic carrier system, such as for the customer terminal of a drive-up banking system, is disclosed. The terminal cover slides along a track on the station to provide selective access to the terminal interior for insertion and removal of carriers. A temporary airflow path is defined between the bottom edge of the cover and the track through which passes pressurized air supplied to the terminal interior when the cover is closed and carrier transmission from the terminal is desired. The pressurized air passing through this path blows dirt and debris from the track which might otherwise build up and bind the sliding cover. As the air pressure in the terminal interior increases, a valve member in the form of a flexible flap extending along the airflow path moves into a position blocking the airflow path, allowing completion of pressurization of the terminal for transmission of a carrier.

Abstract: A pneumatically-propelled carrier system including a pneumatic system tube of generally circular cross section interconnecting a first terminal constructed to permit the carrier to be removed, that is, a "free carrier" terminal, and a second terminal constructed to prevent removal of the carrier, while providing access to it through a terminal access opening, this latter terminal being a "captive carrier" terminal. Since the system tube interconnecting the captive and free terminals has a generally circular cross section, the carrier, regardless of its cross section, is free to assume any rotational orientation about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A dispatch and receive terminal that, in preferred form, includes an air tight pusher housing and a pusher flap swingably mounted to move between a retract position and an extend position in response to air pressure in that housing. In the dispatch or pressure mode, the pusher flap swings into an air tight terminal housing to push the carrier axially along the guide tray and partially back into the system tube. After the carrier has been initially dispatched back into the system tube, and as the pusher flap swings further into the terminal housing to an open position, the pusher flap structure opens a pressure port between the terminal and the pusher housings, thereby pressurizing the terminal housing and the system tube behind the carrier for pushing the carrier completely out of the housing and at least partially through the tube.

Abstract: A carrier for transporting articles in a pneumatic tube system including, in one preferred embodiment, an elongated cylindrical body completely closed at one end and having an opening in the side wall thereof extending from the other end of the carrier a substantial distance along the length thereof, but substantially less than the entire carrier length, and having a width measured circumferentially approximately one-half of the carrier circumference. A semi-cylindrical cover is hinged to the carrier body along one longitudinal edge thereof to selectively close the opening in the side wall. Also included are mating semi-circular discs integral with the outer ends of the semi-cylindrical cover and cylindrical body section which cooperate to seal the end of the carrier adjacent the side wall opening when the semi-cylindrical cover is in its closed position sealing the side wall opening. Other embodiments are also disclosed.