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Variable diameter pneumatic tube brake

  • US 8,382,401 B2
  • Filed: 10/07/2009
  • Issued: 02/26/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A brake for use in a pneumatic tube carrier system, comprising:

  • a pneumatic tube having a sidewall that at least partially defines an internal bore extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein said internal bore has a first cross dimension sized to accommodate the passage of a pneumatic carrier there through;

    a deflectable sidewall portion of said pneumatic tube, wherein said deflectable sidewall portion is selectively deflectable relative to the internal bore to establish a second cross dimension at least at one axial location along a length of the pneumatic tube between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the second cross dimension is less than the first cross dimension; and

    an actuator in operative communication with the deflectable sidewall portion via a compression band disposed around the pneumatic tube, wherein the actuator is operative to constrict the compression band to displace at least a portion of the deflectable sidewall portion relative to internal bore of the pneumatic tube.

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