AIR VALVE WITH FAN ACTUATOR

• US 3,690,244 A
• Filed: 04/22/1971
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen Kallel, Arthur F. Gowing
• Original Assignee: Allen Kallel, Arthur F. Gowing
• Inventors: Kallel, Allen, Gowing, Arthur F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/136,319
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.86 98/4A,43
• US Class Current: 454/286
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/003 Cabin ventilation nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/065 formed as cylindrical or spherical bodies which are rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1413 using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades F24F13/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1426 characterised by actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors

Abstract

An air valve comprising a first valve member mounted for generally universal movement and having a passage therethrough, a second valve member having a passage therethrough and mounted in the passage of the first valve member for pivotal movement relative to the first valve member. Portions of the two valve members are spaced to define a substantially enclosed region within the air valve. An actuator is mounted on one of the valve members within the enclosed region and a switch is mounted on the other of the valve members within the enclosed region. Air is supplied to the passage of the second valve member by a fan which is driven by a motor. By turning of the second valve member, the switch can be opened and closed to thereby control the operation of the motor and of the fan. Air flow through the second valve member can be modulated by an appropriate valve element.

Claims

1. An air valve comprising:

a first valve member having an inner surface defining a passage through said first valve member;

means cooperatIng with said first valve member for mounting said first valve member for movement in a direction to change the orientation of the axis of said first valve member;

a second valve member having a passage therethrough and an outer surface;

means for mounting said second valve member in said passage of said first valve member for movement with said first valve member and for pivotal movement relative to the first valve member generally about the axis of said second valve member, said surfaces defining a substantially enclosed region within the air valve;

an actuator;

means for mounting said actuator in said region on one of said valve members whereby pivotal movement of said second valve member relative to said first diffuser member causes relative movement between said actuator and the other of said valve members;

the surface of said other valve member defining a track in said region cooperating with said actuator during the relative pivotal movement of said valve members; and

circuit means in said region on said other valve member and cooperable with said actuator to open a circuit in at least one relative angular position of said second valve member relative to said first valve member and to close said circuit in a second relative angular position of said second valve member relative to said first valve member.

2. An air valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said second relative angular position includes a range of relative angular positions said air valve including valve means for varying the quantity of air flow through said passage of said second valve member as said valve members are moved through said range of positions.

3. An air valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a switch mounted on said first valve member and said actuator is carried by said second valve member, said actuator actuating said switch to open and close said circuit, respectively.

4. An air valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said first valve member includes a generally spherical shell, said second valve member includes a sleeve, said enclosed region being the space between said sleeve and said shell.

5. An air valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said actuator including interengaging means on said actuator and said second valve member and said track includes a circumferentially extending groove in said surface of said first valve member, said actuator being partially received in said groove for sliding movement therein during the relative pivotal movement of said second valve member relative to said first valve member.

6. An air valve as defined in claim 5 wherein said circuit means includes a microswitch rigidly mounted on said first valve member in said region, said microswitch being actuated by said actuator, said first valve member including a generally spherical shell and said second valve member including a sleeve, said region being the space between said sleeve and said shell, said second relative angular position includes a range of relative angular positions said air valve including valve means for varying the quantity of air flow through said passage of said second valve member as said valve members are moved through said range of positions.

7. An air valve comprising:

a ball member having a passage therethrough;

socket means for at least partially receiving said ball member and for mounting said ball member for generally universal movement relative to said socket means;

a sleeve having an air passage therethrough;

means for mounting said sleeve in said passage of said ball member for pivotal movement relative to said ball member generally about the axis of said sleeve;

said sleeve being spaced from said ball member over at least a portion of the length thereof to define a substantially enclosed region within said air valve;

a switch mounted on said ball member in said region; and

a switch actuator in said region pivotal with said sleeve and cooperable with said sWitch in a first relative angular position of said sleeve relative to said ball member to open the switch and operable through a range of relative angular positions of said sleeve relative to said ball member to close said switch.

8. An air valve as defined in claim 7 including valve means in said passage of said sleeve for varying the quantity of air flowing through the passage of said sleeve as said valve members are moved through said range of positions.

9. An air distribution assembly comprising:

a first valve member having a passage therethrough;

means for mounting said first valve member for movement;

a second valve member having a passage therethrough;

means for mounting said second valve member in said passage of said first valve member for movement with the first valve member and for pivotal movement relative to said first valve member generally about the axis of said second valve member;

portion of said first and second valve members being spaced to define a substantially enclosed region within the air valve;

an actuator;

means for mounting said actuator in said region on one of said valve members whereby pivotal movement of said second valve member relative to said first valve member causes relative movement between said actuator and the other of said valve members;

a fan for blowing air through said passage of said second valve member;

a motor for operating said fan;

circuit means in said region cooperable with said actuator to open the circuit to the fan in at least one relative angular position of said second valve member relative to said first valve member and to close the circuit to said motor in other positions of said second valve member relative to said first valve member; and

valve means for throttling the air flow through said passage of said second valve member when said valve members are in at least some of said other relative angular positions.

10. An air distribution assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said circuit means includes a switch mounted on said first valve member and cooperable with said actuator to turn the motor off in said first relative angular position and to turn the motor on in any one of said other relative angular positions.

11. An air distribution assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said first valve member has a circumferentially extending groove on the interior surface thereof for at least partially receiving said actuator to guide said actuator during the relative pivotal movement between said valve members.