Automatic damper assembly

• US 4,697,736 A
• Filed: 03/25/1986
• Issued: 10/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard W. Suroff
• Original Assignee: Leonard W. Suroff
• Inventors: Kolt, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/843,769
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 98/72, 98/116, 98/42.09, 98/38.7, 98/38.8, 98/40.25, 236/49, 236/1 G, 236/93 R, 236/93 A, 251/298, 251/212, 137/601
• 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 13/14 built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
• 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 2013/146 with springs

Abstract

An automatic temperature responsive damper assembly for use within the conduit of a ventilating system designed to exhaust the air from a confined space to the atmosphere when the confined space reaches a preselected temperature greater than that in the conduit adjacent to the atmosphere includes at least one vane pivotally mounted within the conduit and preferably two. The vane or vanes are mounted so that they are movable between a generally opened position, wherein air can pass freely through the conduit, and a generally closed position, wherein air passage through the conduit is restricted. A temperature responsive drive assembly that detects the temperature of the air within the conduit is mounted therein and opens and closes the vanes. Biasing the vanes to a normally closed condition is accomplished by placing a greater portion of each vane beyond its pivotal axis and having the smaller portion of one vane cooperate with the larger portion of the other to maintain the generally closed position. Auxiliary biasing springs may also be utilized.

Claims

1. An automatic temperature responsive damper assembly for use within the conduit of a ventilating system designed to exhaust air from a defined space into the atmosphere comprising:

(a) mounting means for mounting said damper assembly within said conduit;

(b) at least one vane rotatably mounted on said mounting means, said vane being rotatable between a normally closed position wherein said vane substantially reduces the passage of air flow through said conduit and an open position wherein said vane increases the air flow through said conduit, said vane having;

(i) a pivotal axis disposed transverse to the axis of said condut,

(ii) a surface area including a larger first portion and a smaller second portion, said larger first portion extending beyond one side of said pivotal axis for biasing said vane to a closed position, said second portion extending beyond the other side of said pivotal axis, said second portion being adapted to cooperate with a first portion of a complementary vane to substantially reduce the air flow through said conduit,

(iii) an air flow path provided in said first vane portion for permitting a prescribed amount of said air to flow through said conduit when said vane is in said normally closed position, and

(iv) said vane first portion and said vane second portion being provided with inner edges and an outer edge, said inner edges being disposed at an angle from said pivotal axis of between 10 and 30 degrees, said outer edge substantially conforming to the shape of said conduit except for an opening through which said prescribed amount of air flows; and

(c) means for rotating said vane towards said open position when the temperature of the air in said defined space reaches a predetermined level.

2. An automatic temperature responsive damper assembly according to claim 1, wherein said angle is essentially 25 degrees.