Damper for an air distribution system
First Claim
1. A damper apparatus for an air input port of an air distribution system, comprising:
- a closure element having a perimeter portion seatable on the edge of said input port,an actuating means and associated driving element, including a linear actuating means for selectively moving said driving element between first and second limit positions along an actuator axis,linkage means for coupling said closure element to said input port whereby said closure element is driven between first and second operating positions as said driving element passes between said first and second limit positions, said closure element being seated against said input port in said first operating position, and being linearly displaced from said input port and being rotationally displaced from said first operating position about a first reference axis parallel to the plane of said input port in said second operating position, said linkage means including at least one base pivot member which is pivotable about a base axis, said base axis being fixed with respect to said input port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A damper assembly for an air passage. A damper assembly includes a disk element associated with a circular orifice of an air passage, and an actuator having an associated drive element. The disk is coupled to the drive element and a fixed reference point by a linkage so that as the actuator drive element is displaced from a first limit position to a second limit position, the disk moves between a sealing position and an open position. In the sealing position, the disk perimeter is flush against the perimeter of the orifice establishing an air-tight seal between the disk and the perimeter of the orifice. In an open position, the disk is displaced from the orifice perimeter and forms an angle with a plane defined by the orifice perimeter. An array of damper assemblies may be configured with a controller for selectively controlling the position of each actuator between the respective limit positions.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A damper apparatus for an air input port of an air distribution system, comprising:
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a closure element having a perimeter portion seatable on the edge of said input port, an actuating means and associated driving element, including a linear actuating means for selectively moving said driving element between first and second limit positions along an actuator axis, linkage means for coupling said closure element to said input port whereby said closure element is driven between first and second operating positions as said driving element passes between said first and second limit positions, said closure element being seated against said input port in said first operating position, and being linearly displaced from said input port and being rotationally displaced from said first operating position about a first reference axis parallel to the plane of said input port in said second operating position, said linkage means including at least one base pivot member which is pivotable about a base axis, said base axis being fixed with respect to said input port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An air damper apparatus for an air distribution system, comprising:
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a plate having a perimeter portion defining a circular opening in said plate, a closure element having a circular perimeter seatable on said plate perimeter portion, linear actuating means for selectively translating a driving element between first and second limit positions along an actuator axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of said opening, connecting means for pivotally coupling said driving element about a pivot axis to the center of said closure element, said pivot axis being perpendicular and intersecting with said actuator axis, linkage means for coupling said closure element to said plate, said linkage means being adapted so that said closure element rotates about said pivot axis between a position with the plane of said closure element perimeter parallel to the plane of the perimeter of said opening, to a position with the plane of said closure element perimeter forming a non-zero angle with the plane of the perimeter of said opening in response to translation of said driving element between said limit positions, said linkage being further adapted so that said pivot axis translates in the direction of said actuator axis during such rotation, said linkage means including at least one base pivot member which is pivotable about a base axis, said base axis being fixed with respect to said plate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A damper system for an air distribution system comprising:
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an array of damper assemblies, each damper assembly including; A. A closure element having a perimeter portion seatable on the edge of said input port, B. an actuating means and associated driving element, said actuating means including a linear actuator and being responsive to an associated control signal to selectively move said driving element between first and second limit positions along an actuator axis, wherein the position of said driving element is related to said control signal, C. linkage means for coupling said closure element to said input port whereby said closure element is driven between first and second operating positions as said driving element passes between said first and second limit positions, said closure element being seated against said input port in said first operating position, and being linearly displaced from said input port and being rotationally displaced from said first operating position about a first reference axis parallel to the plane of said input port in said second operating position, said linkage means including at least one base pivot member which is pivotable about a base axis, said base axis being fixed with respect to said input port, a controller including means for selectively generating and applying said control signals to associated actuating means of said array of damper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification