CAM ACTUATED DAMPER

• US 20150024673A1
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Degree Controls, Inc. (Nova Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Degree Controls, Inc. (Nova Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Phelps, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US14/327,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024673A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/256
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/10 movable, e.g. dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/12 built up of sliding members
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/16 built up of parallelly-movable plates
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature

Abstract

A damper system includes a first plate having a plurality of openings and a second plate having a plurality of openings. A cam is coupled to the first plate, and a motor is coupled to the cam. The motor turns the cam, and the cam moves the first plate in relation to the second plate, thereby aligning or offsetting the openings of the first and second plates.

Claims

1. A damper system comprising:

a bottom plate comprising a plurality of first openings;

a top plate comprising a plurality of second openings, the top plate positioned above the bottom plate;

a cam coupled to the top plate; and

a motor coupled to the cam.

2. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings are rectangular.

3. The damper system of claim 1, comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the motor.

4. The damper system of claim 3, wherein the motor is configured to rotate a shaft as a function of signals from the temperature sensor.

5. The damper system of claim 4, wherein a rotation of the motor shaft in a first circular direction causes the cam to move the top plate in a first direction, thereby causing the openings of the top plate to align with the openings of the bottom plate;

and wherein a rotation of the motor shaft in a second circular direction causes the cam to move the top plate in a second direction, thereby causing the openings of the top plate to be offset from the openings of the bottom plate.

6. The damper system of claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to control a single damper apparatus.

7. The damper system of claim 3, comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors;

a plurality of damper apparatuses, each damper apparatus comprising the top plate, the bottom plate, the cam, and the motor; and

a central controller to which the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of damper apparatuses are coupled;

wherein the central controller is configured to operate the plurality of damper apparatuses based on input from the plurality of temperature sensors.

8. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the cam comprises a round disk with a rotary drive hole that is offset from a center of the round disk, or the cam comprises an oval disk with the rotary drive hole that is offset from a center of the oval disk, wherein the offset rotary drive hole is for receiving a drive shaft of the motor;

and wherein the cam comprises a flange.

9. The damper system of claim 8, wherein the top plate comprises a third opening for receiving the cam and a rectangular cam follower surface;

and wherein the third opening is configured to permit insertion of the cam with the flange.

10. The damper system of claim 1, comprising connectors for attachment of the damper system to a raised access floor panel, a ceiling mounted diffuser, or a wall mounted diffuser.

11. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a servo motor.

12. A damper system comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors;

a plurality of damper apparatuses, each damper apparatus comprising a top plate comprising a plurality of first openings, a bottom plate comprising a plurality of second openings, a cam coupled to the top plate, and a motor coupled to the cam; and

a central controller to which the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of damper apparatuses are coupled;

wherein the top plate is positioned above the bottom plate; and

wherein the central controller is configured to operate the plurality of damper apparatuses based on input from the plurality of temperature sensors.

13. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the operation of the plurality of damper apparatuses comprises rotating a shaft of the motor as a function of signals from the temperature sensors.

14. The damper system of claim 13, wherein the rotating of the shaft of the motor in a first circular direction causes the cam to move the top plate in a first linear direction, thereby causing the openings of the top plate to align with the openings of the bottom plate;

and wherein a rotation of the shaft of the motor in a second circular direction causes the cam to move the top plate in a second linear direction, thereby causing the openings of the top plate to be offset from the openings of the bottom plate.

15. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings are rectangular.

16. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the cam comprises a round disk with a rotary drive hole that is offset from a center of the round disk, or the cam comprises an oval disk with the rotary drive hole that is offset from a center of the oval disk, wherein the offset rotary drive hole is for receiving a draft shaft of the motor;

and wherein the cam comprises a flange.

17. The damper system of claim 16, wherein the top plate comprises a third opening for receiving the cam and the third opening comprises a cam follower surface;

and wherein the third opening is configured to permit insertion of the cam with the flange.

18. The damper system of claim 12, comprising connectors for attachment of each of the damper apparatuses to a raised access floor panel, a ceiling mounted diffuser, or a wall mounted diffuser.

19. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the motor comprises a servo motor.

20. A damper system comprising:

a controller;

a first plate comprising a plurality of first openings;

a second plate comprising a plurality of second openings, the first plate positioned adjacent to the second plate;

a cam coupled to the first plate;

a motor coupled to the controller and the cam; and

a temperature sensor coupled to the controller.

21. The damper system of claim 20,

wherein the motor is configured to rotate a shaft as a function of signals from the temperature sensor;

and

wherein a rotation of the motor shaft in a first circular direction causes the cam to move the first plate in a first direction, thereby causing the openings of the first plate to align with the openings of the second plate; and

wherein a rotation of the motor shaft in a second circular direction causes the cam to move the first plate in a second direction, thereby causing the openings of the first plate to be offset from the openings of the second plate.