Thermally actuated diffuser

• US 4,523,713 A
• Filed: 01/20/1983
• Issued: 06/18/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acutherm LP (Acutherm)
• Original Assignee: Acutherm LP (Acutherm)
• Inventors: Kline, James R., Brand, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/459,468
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49, 236/1 C, 98/40 VT
• US Class Current: 236/1.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/122 using a plurality of sensing elements

Abstract

An improved thermally actuated diffuser is disclosed. The diffuser comprises three thermal sensor actuators. A first thermal sensor actuator is responsive to changes in the room air temperature and is engaged when cool air is supplied through the duct into the room. A third thermal sensor actuator is responsive to changes in the room air temperature and is engaged when warm air is supplied to the room. A second thermal sensor actuator is responsive to changes in the duct air temperature and brings either the first or second thermal sensor actuator into engagement with the diffuser when the appropriate temperature of air is supplied through the duct and disengages the thermal actuator not being used with that duct air temperature.

Claims

1. In a diffuser of the type for regulating the flow of air from a duct or other source to a room or other space including air flow control means for varying the size of an opening in said diffuser to regulate the flow of air, first sensor-actuator means responsive to room air temperature and operatively associated with said flow control means for modulating said flow control means, and second sensor-actuator means responsive to air duct temperature, wherein the improvement in said diffuser comprises:

third sensor-actuator means responsive to room air temperature and operatively associated with said flow control means for modulating said flow control means; and

said second sensor-actuator means being further formed to disassociate at least one of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means from said flow control means in response to air duct temperature present in said duct to thereby control the flow of air from said diffuser.

2. The diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said second sensor-actuator means is formed to disassociate only one of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means from, and to associate a remainder of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means with, said flow control means in response to air duct temperature which is at least equal to a predetermined air duct temperature;

and

said second sensor-actuator means is formed to disassociate a remainder of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means from, and to associate said one of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means with, said flow control means in response to an air duct temperature which is below said predetermined air duct temperature.

3. The diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said second sensor-actuator means is further responsive to a change in said air duct temperature to associate a disassociated one of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means and to disassociate the remainder of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means.

4. The diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said second sensor-actuator means is a single sensor-actuator element coupled to associate one and disassociate another of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means in response to air duct temperature to determine which of said first sensor-actuator means and said third sensor-actuator means modulates said flow control means.

5. A diffuser for regulating the volume of flow of air from a duct to a room or other space, comprising:

flow control means for varying the size of an opening in the diffuser to regulate the volume flow of air from the duct through the diffuser and into the room or other space;

first sensor actuator means responsive to a first room air temperature and operatively associated with the flow control means to commence modulating the flow control means in response to changes in room temperature when air of one temperature is supplied through the duct;

second sensor actuator means responsive to the duct air temperature;

third sensor actuator means responsive to a second room air temperature and operatively associated with the flow control means to commence modulating the flow control means in response to changes in room temperature when air of another temperature is supplied through the duct;

said second sensor actuator means formed to associate said first sensor actuator means with said flow control means and formed to disassociate said third sensor actuator means with said flow control means when air of one temperature is supplied through the duct; and

said second sensor actuator means formed to associate said third sensor actuator means with said flow control means and formed to disassociate said first sensor actuator means with said flow control means when air of said another temperature is supplied through the duct.

6. The diffuser of claim 5, wherein

said first sensor actuator means is formed for modulating the flow control means from a normally closed to open mode of operation;

and

said third sensor actuator means is formed for modulating the flow control means from a normally open to closed mode of operation.

7. The diffuser of claim 6, wherein

said first room air temperature is warmer than said second room air temperature;

and

said one temperature is cooler than said another temperature.

8. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said flow control means further comprises:

a first blade for modulating the flow of air through a first slot; and

a second blade for modulating the flow of air through a second slot.

9. The diffuser of claim 8, wherein

said first sensor actuator means is operatively associated with said first blade;

and

said third sensor actuator means is operatively associated with said second blade.

10. The diffuser of claim 8, wherein said first blade and said second blade are connected to move in tandem.

11. The diffuser of claim 10, wherein said first and third sensor actuator means are operatively associated with said first and second blades.

12. A diffuser of a kind used to regulate the volume of flow of air from a duct to a room or other space, comprising:

flow control means for varying the size of an opening in the diffuser to regulate the volume flow of air from the duct through the diffuser and into the room or other space;

first sensor actuator means responsive to a first room air temperature and operatively associated with the flow control means for modulating the flow control means in a normally closed to open mode of operation in response to changes in room air temperature when air of one temperature is supplied through the duct;

second sensor actuator means responsive to duct air temperature and operatively associated with the flow control means for moving the flow control means to an open position in response to air of another temperature in the duct;

said another temperature higher than said one temperature;

said second sensor actuator means being further formed for disassociating said first sensor actuator means from said flow control means in response to air of another temperature in the duct; and

third sensor actuator means responsive to a second room air temperature and operatively associated with the flow control means for modulating the flow control means from a normally open to closed mode of operation in response to changes in room air temperature when air of another temperature is supplied through the duct.

13. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein

said flow control means including a movable diffuser plate and a sleeve mounted for movement in the diffuser plate and a shaft mounted for movement within the sleeve;

and

wherein said first sensor actuator means being connected to move the sleeve, said second sensor actuator means being connected to move the shaft, and said third sensor actuator means being positioned to move the diffuser plate.

14. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein said flow control means further comprises

a blade actuator arm pivotally mounted for modulating the opening of said diffuser;

a bar having two lineal members;

said first sensor actuator mounted on one of said members;

said third sensor actuator mounted on other of said members;

said bar pivotally mounted spaced apart from said blade actuator arm; and

said second sensor actuator being positioned to move said bar such that said first sensor actuator is engaging said blade actuator arm when air of one temperature is supplied through the duct and said third sensor actuator is engaging said blade actuator arm when air of another temperature is supplied through the duct.