Adjustable automatic airflow control damper system

Abstract

An automatic remote controllable duct damper with an adjustable minimum flow through the duct, an adjustable maximum flow through the duct, which is configured so that an electric motor configured to adjust one of the adjustable maximum flow through the duct and the adjustable minimum flow through the duct is not configured to drive a damper plate in opposite directions and the amount of the adjustment of the adjustable maximum flow and the adjustable minimum flow is infinitely variable from said maximum flow to said minimum flow, without introducing any new matter within the interior of the duct.

Claims

1. A remote controlled adjustable duct damper comprising: a duct, having an interior and an exterior; a damper plate, disposed within said duct and configured to move so as to regulate a fluid flow through said duct; a damper plate elongated member, extending from said interior to said exterior and coupled to said damper plate, configured to move said damper plate, through an infinite number of positions, when said damper plate elongated member is moved; a spring configured to move said damper plate in only one direction; an adjustable means, disposed in said exterior, for regulating permissible positions of said damper plate, to variably control one of a maximum fluid flow and a minimum fluid flow through said duct; wherein said adjustable means comprises: a first member which adjustably limits rotation of said elongated member, wherein said first member can be adjusted to an infinite number of configurations which result in fluid flow rates between said maximum fluid flow and said minimum fluid flow; a second member; where both of said first member and said second member are configured to rotate around a central axis of said elongated member; a first screw, and a second screw; where said first screw selectively couples one of said first member and said second member to said elongated member and said second screw selectively couples said first member and said second member to each other; wherein said first member and said second member are positioned and configured so that contact with any portion of said first member or said second member with a portion of a motor bracket disposed on said exterior, necessarily results in limiting rotation of said damper plate elongated member and therefore limits rotation of said damper plate; said damper plate elongated member being configured for a 90 degree relative adjustment with respect to one of said damper plate and said adjustable means, so that said spring can be used to cause said damper plate to be in a different one of each of a normally fully open and a normally fully closed configuration before and after said 90 degree relative adjustment is made; wherein said damper plate is substantially circular and said elongated member is transversely disposed across said damper plate along a line through a center of said damper plate; and wherein said adjustable means has an ability to electrically drive movement of the damper plate through an infinite number of positions in a first direction; but lacks an ability to electrically drive movement of the damper plate in opposing directions.

2. The remote controlled adjustable duct damper of claim 1 wherein the spring is coupled between said first member and a portion of said motor bracket so that said damper plate is in one of a normally open and a normally closed configuration.

3. A remote controlled adjustable duct damper comprising: a duct, having an interior and an exterior; a damper plate, disposed within said duct and configured to move so as to regulate the fluid flow through said duct; a damper plate shaft, extending from said interior to said exterior and coupled to said damper plate, configured to rotate said damper plate, through an infinite number of positions, when said damper plate shaft is rotated; a spring configured to rotate said damper plate shaft in a first direction; a coupler configured to be coupled to said damper plate shaft at an infinite number of different locations about a damper shaft axis, by a first screw; an outer ring disposed around a portion of said coupler which extends distally of said damper plate; said outer ring having an orifice therethrough for receiving a second screw, which when advanced through said orifice, can engage a portion of said coupler; said coupler having fixed thereon a coupler engaging arm; said outer ring having fixed thereon an outer ring engaging arm; said coupler engaging arm and said outer ring engaging arm being capable of a mutual alignment configuration such that rotation of said outer ring in one direction results in a limitation on a maximum flow amount through said duct and a rotation in an opposite direction results in a limitation on a minimum flow rate through said duct; and said damper plate shaft being configured for a 90 degree relative adjustment with respect to one of; said damper plate; said coupler engaging arm and said outer ring engaging are; so that said spring can be used to cause said damper plate to be in a different one of each of a normally fully open and a normally fully closed configuration before and after said 90 degree relative adjustment is made.

4. The remote controlled adjustable duct damper of claim 3 further comprising an electric motor disposed distal of said outer ring and configured to engage a portion of said coupler extending through a central orifice of said outer ring.

5. The remote controlled adjustable duct damper of claim 4 wherein said electric motor is configured to drive said damper plate shaft in only one direction of rotation, which is opposite said first direction.

6. A method of remotely controlling a gaseous fluid flowing through a duct comprising the steps of: providing a duct; providing a rotating damper plate, with a rotating damper plate shaft, configured to be moved through an infinite number of orientations, in the duct; providing a spring configured to rotate said rotating damper plate only in a first direction; providing an electric actuator configured to rotate said rotating damper plate, in a direction opposing said first direction; adjusting a maximum flow rate through said duct, and thereby creating a reduced maximum flow rate, without making any changes inside of said duct, and by only loosening a first screw, rotating a first arm, and then tightening said first screw; adjusting a minimum flow rate through said duct, and thereby creating an increased minimum flow rate without making any changes inside of said duct, and by only loosening a second screw, rotating a second arm and then tightening said second screw; where rotation of one of said first screw and said second screw causes an engagement with said rotating damper plate shaft; causing the rotating damper to move from orientations corresponding to said reduced maximum flow rate, to said increased minimum flow rate, and back to the reduced maximum flow rate, without using said electric actuator to rotate the rotating damper plate in opposite directions; and said electric actuator being configured for a 90 degree relative adjustment with respect to said rotating damper plate, so that said spring can be used to cause said rotating damper plate to be in a different one of each of a normally fully open and a normally fully closed configuration before and after said 90 degree relative adjustment is made.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of adjusting a minimum flow rate through said duct comprises rotation of said second arm coupled, so that, said second arm engages a motor bracket when an orientation of said rotating damper plate corresponds to said increased minimum flow rate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of the present invention where a portion of the damper duct 101 is removed and control system 1300 is exploded, unadjusted for closing and/or opening stops and in an unpowered state.

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the coupler assembly 1100.

(3) FIG. 3 is a non-exploded view of the system of FIG. 1 in an unpowered state.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the system of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a system of FIG. 3 in a fully powered state.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the system of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a view of the present invention with a closing stop adjustment in an unpowered state in a normally open configuration.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of the system of FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a view of the system of FIGS. 7 and 8 except in a powered state.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of the system of FIG. 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a view of the present invention with an opening stop adjustment in an unpowered state in a normally open configuration.

(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of system of FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 13 is a view of the system of FIGS. 11 and 12 except in a powered state.

(14) FIG. 14 is a side view of the system of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(15) Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout and more particularly referring to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of the automatic adjustable damper system 1000 of the present invention which is low cost and versatile. It incorporates two mechanical stops to be used for limiting open and closed positions, the damper can be changed from normally open to normally closed (the position when the motor is de-energized), the system is easy to use and understand, and uses reliable low-cost components. All of the figures show a normally open configuration, but rotating the damper plate (106) 90 degrees with respect to the inner coupler can result in the present invention being in a normally closed configuration.

(16) The present invention is made up of a sheet metal damper 1200 and a control system 1300. The sheet metal damper 1200 comprises a damper duct 101, a damper plate 106 and a damper plate shaft 132. The control system 1300 comprises a motor bracket 120, a two-part coupler 1100, extension spring 108, motor 110, and screws 124 and 130. See FIG. 1. The coupler assembly 1100 comprises the coupler 100 with inner arm 102 and the adjustable outer ring 116 with arm 118. See FIG. 2. The coupler assembly 1100 serves the function of a traditional coupler with several additional features: 1. It includes a fixed inner arm 102 integral to the coupler 100, which can be used to limit rotation. 2. The coupler 100 has a counter bore 104 (recesses) to accept a standard screw (in this case a self-tapping, sheet metal screw). This allows for easy release and repositioning of the fixed inner arm 102 relative to the damper plate 106. 3. After being back driven by the return spring 108, the coupler 100 allows the motor 110 to rotate freely and stop naturally. (Motors with reduction gears develop inertia due to the mass of the rotating parts. Damage may result if the motor shaft 112 is not allowed to slow before stopping.) 4. It incorporates an anchor point 114 for the attachment of a return spring 108. 5. The coupler 100 is designed to accept an additional adjustable outer ring 116 with arm 118 that is used to limit rotation. 6. The inner 102 and outer 118 arms of the coupler 100 can be used in conjunction to adjust the plate 106 position. 7. Adjustable damper stops can be disposed within the motor bracket 120.

(17) The adjustable outer arm 118 is designed as a ring 116 on one end that fits around the coupler 100. The ring 116 has two screw bosses that can accept a self-tapping screw 124. The adjustable outer ring 116 slides onto the coupler 100 and is rotated into position. Once in the desired position, the self-tapping screw 124 is used to affix the outer adjustable arm 118 to the coupler 100.

(18) A hysteresis motor 110 with integrated gear reduction is used. It is mounted to a motor bracket 120 that is also used to attach one end of an extension spring 108. The other end of the extension spring 108 is attached to the coupler 100 and exerts a force opposed to the rotation of the energized motor 110. When de-energized the motor 110 is back driven by the spring 108. This de-energized position is considered the “normal” or “return” position since it is the position the damper will be in when unpowered.

(19) The standard arrangement for the damper is to be open when the motor 110 is not energized (normally open). When the inner arm 102 on the coupler 100 and the adjustable outer arm 118 are aligned, the damper will act as a traditional two-position damper; open will be parallel to the air flow (100% open), see FIGS. 3 and 4, and closed (powered) will be perpendicular to the flow of air (100% closed). See FIGS. 5 and 6. Adjustment to the open and closed position is accomplished by loosening the screw 124 fastening the adjustable outer arm 118 to the coupler 100. Rotating the outer adjustment arm 118 counterclockwise reduces the amount by which the damper rotates, or closes. For example, a thirty-degree counterclockwise rotation of the outer adjustment arm 118 will result in the damper plate 106 rotating sixty-degrees when the motor 110 is energized. The damper will be fully open in the unpowered position, see FIGS. 7-8, and will be open thirty-degrees when in the closed (powered) position. See FIGS. 9 and 10. Conversely, a thirty-degree clockwise rotation of the outer adjustment arm 118 will result in the damper plate 106 being positioned at thirty-degrees from the direction of air flow, or sixty-degrees from the closed position. The damper plate 106 will rotate sixty-degrees to fully closed when the motor 110 is energized, see FIGS. 13-14, and will rotate back sixty-degrees on the return. See FIGS. 11 and 12. Note the total amount of rotation is reduced by thirty-degrees, and that the maximum amount of rotation possible is ninety-degrees.

(20) Alternatively, the damper can also be adjusted to operate as normally closed (closed when the motor is de-energized), this is done by loosening the outer adjustment arm 118 and sliding it forward to expose the screw 130 fastening the coupler 100 to the damper plate shaft 132. This screw 130 is then loosened and, while keeping the inner coupler arm in the same position (relative to the motor 110 and bracket 120), the damper plate shaft 132 is rotated 90 degrees to the desired position. The coupler screw 130 is then tightened; outer adjustment arm 118 is slid back into place, positioned, and fastened to the coupler. The adjustments to either the powered or unpowered position are as described above for the normally-open damper, but reversed.

(21) An additional benefit of this method is that in the event the outer adjustment arm is misplaced or otherwise damaged/loose, the damper will “fail-safe” as a standard full-open, full-closed automatic damper.

(22) It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred and/or exemplary embodiment thereof.