Thermally-powered control mechanism

• US 4,509,678 A
• Filed: 02/01/1984
• Issued: 04/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acutherm LP (Acutherm)
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Noll
• Inventors: Noll, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sollecito, John
• Application Number:
  US06/576,067
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49, 98/40 VT, 98/40 D, 165/24
• US Class Current: 236/49.5
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/06 Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/16 built up of parallelly-movable plates

Abstract

A room air diffuser control mechanism is provided which is operated by two thermally powered thermostatic actuator elements, one reacting to the room air temperature, and the other reacting to the supply air temperature. When the supply air temperature is cool (e.g., less than 68° F.), the supply air element is retracted and its linkage system is rendered inoperative. The room air element, through its linkage system, reacts to control the room temperature by varying the area of an air diffusion discharge opening. When the supply air temperature is warm (e.g., greater than 78° F.), the supply air element reacts to disengage the room air element linkage system, and to move the air diffusion discharge opening to an adjustable, predetermined position. In this mode, the room air element does not affect the discharge opening regardless of the temperature of the room air.

Claims

1. A thermally powered control mechanism for an air diffuser for discharging supply air into a room comprising:

output means for varying the size of the air diffuser discharge opening;

means for sensing the temperature of the room air;

means for sensing the temperature of the supply air;

linkage operatively connecting said room air temperature sensing means and said supply air temperature sensing means to said output means so that when the supply air temperature is cool, said room air temperature sensing means operates to decrease the size of said discharge opening when the room temperature cools, and to increase the size of said discharge opening when the room temperature warms; and

when the supply air temperature is warm, said supply air temperature sensing means operates to disengage said room air temperature sensing means and to increase the size of said discharge opening.

2. The termally powered control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said linkage includes means for selectively limiting the size of the discharge opening when said supply air temperature is warm.

3. The thermally powered control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said linkage operates so that when the room temperature is cold, said discharge opening is slightly open.