Abstract: A surface flow air conveyor pressurized by a motor driven open wheel fan mounted within the plenum or in a separate pod housing attached to the plenum. The standard scroll housing is eliminated and the fan wheel draws air directly through an opening in the plenum without the use of ducts. The fan wheel is mounted between the ends of the conveyor rather than beyond the ends of the conveyor. The conveyor may be divided into mass produced modules with the option of providing a fan wheel pod in selected modules.

Abstract: A device including a storage area for holding objects on one or a plurality of tracks; an air conveyor for constantly urging the objects along the tracks; a gate holding the objects from proceeding forwardly and intermittently opening to permit a selected number of objects to move forwardly, a booster for accelerating one object at a time in each of the tracks; a counting device and transporting conveyors mounted downstream of the gate for carrying the objects forwardly.

Abstract: A live storage system for packages is provided in which a rack has a plurality of storage rows, each row having a slot along its base. An input lane for the packages extends along one side of the storage rack and an output lane for the packages extends along another side of the storage rack. A traveler mounted beneath the storage rack moves to positions beneath each of the rows. The traveler has an air plenum with a plurality of air jets extending through the upper surface of the plenum. The traveler has a diverter at each end to divert packages from the input lane to a storage row, and to divert packages from a storage row to the output lane. An air supply pressurizes the plenum of the traveler and the pressurized air flows through the jets in the upper surface of the traveler and through the slot in the base of each of the storage rows to create an air film along which the packages are conveyed onto and off of each storage row. An accumulating conveyor gathers slugs of packages for the storage system.

Abstract: A low pressure air propelled transportation system for moving a vehicle or objects through a conduit having unrestricted, non-gated portals open at all times to atmospheric pressure at both ends. Adjacent the intake end of the conduit a plurality of Coanda-effect directional slit orifices are formed in the wall of the conduit. A manifold communicates with the orifices and blower means and supplies air through the orifices.

Abstract: A low pressure transportation system for moving a vehicle between stations which are at atmospheric pressure without the use of valves in the vehicle conduit and without any substantial movement of system air in or out of the vehicle portals. The system comprising: an elongated vehicle conduit having first and second portals located at the extreme ends of the conduit, a plurality of coanda-effect directional slit orifices communicating with the conduit immediately adjacent the portals for supplying substantially all of the system air to the conduit at one end and removing substantially all of the system air at the other end. A pair of manifolds communicating with the separate areas of directional orifices; and blower means supplying air to one manifold and removing the air from the other manifold.