VARIABLE DIAMETER PNEUMATIC TUBE BRAKE

摘要

A braking device and method is provided that is operative to selectively slow and/or stop a pneumatic carrier within a pneumatic carrier system. Generally, the device includes a pneumatic tube that is sized to permit the passage of pneumatic carriers. The pneumatic tube includes at least one braking element that may be disposed into the bore of the pneumatic tube to at least partially impede the passage of a pneumatic carrier through the bore. In one embodiment, the braking element is formed as a variable diameter section of the pneumatic tube that may be selectively constricted to change the diameter of the bore of the pneumatic tube. Such constriction may slow and/or stop the passage of a pneumatic carrier through the bore of the pneumatic tube.