Abstract: An apparatus for controlling vehicles which are moved through a conduit by air and includes a processing system positioned in the conduit for collecting, storage and dispatching the vehicles in which an air pump is positioned in parallel with the processing system having its suction connected to the conduit upstream of the system and its discharge connected to the conduit downstream of the system. Valve means are connected to the conduit for reducing the tendency of the vehicles in the processing system to move upstream towards the pump suction. The valve means alternates the pressure in a portion of the processing system between less than atmospheric and at least atmospheric. One form of the valve means may include an air blocking vehicle stop movable into and out of the conduit and a valve connected between the conduit and the atmosphere upstream of the vehicle stop which is open and closed in synchronism with the vehicle stop.

Abstract: A pump which generates pressurized air flow in a pipeline to sweep wheeled vehicles along with the air flow is provided with a flow control mechanism. First and second blocking valves which normally prevent reverse flow of air in the pipeline but which can alternately swing open to allow a vehicle to pass are automatically moved between open and closed positions by altering the pressure differential acting on the valves. The valves are urged to the open position and air flow control mechanism associated with the pump alternately directs air against the back of the valves in response to the position of a vehicle to sequentially operate the valves to move the vehicle through the pump.

Abstract: A pipeline transportation system for wheeled vehicles which are moved therethrough by air. The vehicle functions as a pipeline sweeper to remove debris from the pipeline through one or more openings provided in the bottom of the pipeline. In one embodiment, the vehicle is self-righting whereby the vehicle will maintain an upright attitude and the vehicle wheels will straddle the openings in the pipeline and pass over the openings without the wheels being caught in the openings. In another embodiment, the vehicle includes loading wheels adjacent the bottom of the vehicle and side wheels on either side of the loading wheels, and the opening in the pipeline is positioned in the path of movement of the load wheels but out of the path of movement of the side wheels whereby debris will fall out of the opening but the vehicle will roll over the openings on the side wheels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing vehicles which are moved through a conduit by air through sequential zones one, two and three. Preferably, the zones are inclined downwardly towards downstream for aiding movement of the vehicles downstream by gravity. Zone one is a storage zone which preferably has vents adjacent its upstream end and its downstream end for controlling the speed of movement of vehicles into zone one and from zone one to zone two. Zone two is the processing zone which receives vehicles from zone one and releases the vehicles to zone three. Zone two includes an air blocking vehicle stop at its downstream end against which a first vehicle is held, and includes a holding arm which holds a second vehicle while the leading first vehicle is released. The first vehicle is released to zone three, but only when three is clear of vehicles and a second vehicle is positioned behind the first vehicle.

Abstract: A releasable stop for releasably stopping a vehicle moving through a conduit. A stop gate is supported for pivotal movement into and out of the path of movement of the vehicle. First and second arms are pivotally connected together between the gate and a support and a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly actuates one arm for moving the gate between a closed and opened position. The pivoting arms are moved into or slightly past a dead center position when the gate is in the closed position whereby the impact of a vehicle engaging the gate will be transmitted to the support instead of to the piston and cylinder assembly. When the gate is closed, the dead center position of the arm maintains the stop gate in a locked position. The stop gate may be sized and shaped to entirely block the conduit to provide a dead end air cushion stop assist.

Abstract: Booster pump devices for maintaining air flow through a conduit system for sweeping vehicles along the path defined by the conduit operate in full flow fashion such as tends to create reverse flow of air in the conduit within those sections between the inlet and outlet connections of the pump with the conduit. An overhead suspended air control plate is provided for each section movable incident to vehicle approach from a closed position blocking the section to an upwardly swung open position allowing the vehicle to pass beneath it. The plate is balanced by forces acting upon it to stabilize in the open position until the vehicle passes beyond it whereupon the plate automatically returns to closed position.