Damper control system for centrifugal fan
First Claim
1. A centrifugal fan system, comprising:
- (a) a centrifugal fan and a power source for rotating the fan about an axis of rotation;
(b) a first damper shroud disposed coaxially about the axis of rotation, the first damper being translatable along the axis of rotation;
(c) a housing enclosing the fan and first shroud, the housing including an inlet port for allowing air from an ambient atmosphere into the fan and an outlet port for discharging air from the fan thereby defining an air flow path from the inlet port through the fan to the outlet port;
(d) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing; and
(e) a damper actuation system coupled to the first shaft and the first damper wherein rotation of the first shaft actuates the damper actuation system thereby moving the first shroud, wherein the damper actuation system includes a first bar coupled to the first shaft, a second shaft coupled to the first bar, the second shaft passing through the housing, a second bar coupled to the second shaft, and a third bar coupled to the second bar and the first shroud wherein rotation of the first shaft rotates and translates the first bar thereby rotating the second shaft thereby rotating the second bar thereby rotating and translating the third bar thereby moving the first shroud.
29 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifugal fan having a damper control system located away from the air flow path is disclosed. The control system includes a rotatable shaft located outside of a fan housing wherein rotation of the control shaft actuates a plurality of shafts and rods to move an annular damper located within the housing into an open position away from the centrifugal fan blades and to a closed position coaxially over the fan blades thus substantially restricting the flow of air through the centrifugal fan. The dampers are mounted for translation on two support rods located on opposite sides of the centrifugal fan. The dampers ride on a support system including a plurality of ball bearings that are in tangential contact with the support rods thus providing high-pressure contact surfaces between the bearings and the support shafts which act to keep the path of travel of the bearings on the rods free of debris so that the dampers have unobstructed motion between the open and closed positions.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A centrifugal fan system, comprising:
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(a) a centrifugal fan and a power source for rotating the fan about an axis of rotation; (b) a first damper shroud disposed coaxially about the axis of rotation, the first damper being translatable along the axis of rotation; (c) a housing enclosing the fan and first shroud, the housing including an inlet port for allowing air from an ambient atmosphere into the fan and an outlet port for discharging air from the fan thereby defining an air flow path from the inlet port through the fan to the outlet port; (d) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing; and (e) a damper actuation system coupled to the first shaft and the first damper wherein rotation of the first shaft actuates the damper actuation system thereby moving the first shroud, wherein the damper actuation system includes a first bar coupled to the first shaft, a second shaft coupled to the first bar, the second shaft passing through the housing, a second bar coupled to the second shaft, and a third bar coupled to the second bar and the first shroud wherein rotation of the first shaft rotates and translates the first bar thereby rotating the second shaft thereby rotating the second bar thereby rotating and translating the third bar thereby moving the first shroud. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A damper control system for a centrifugal blower having a centrifugal fan, at least one cylindrical damper shroud supported for translation to a position substantially coaxial with the fan so as to permit minimum air flow and a position proximate the fan so as to permit maximum air flow, and a housing enclosing the fan and shroud, the housing including an inlet for ingress of air and an outlet for egress of air, the control system comprising:
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(a) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing and rotatable relative thereto; (b) a first bar coupled to the first shaft wherein rotation of the first shaft translates the first bar; (c) a second shaft extending through the housing and rotatable relative thereto, the second shaft coupled to the first bar such that translation of the first bar rotates the second shaft; (d) a second bar coupled to the second shaft for rotation therewith; and (e) a third bar coupled to the second bar and the shroud, wherein rotation of the first shaft translates the first bar thereby rotating the second shaft, thereby rotating the second bar thereby moving the third bar thereby moving the shroud so as to control the volume of air discharged by the fan. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A centrifugal fan system, comprising:
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(a) a centrifugal fan and a power source for rotating the fan about an axis of rotation; (b) a first damper shroud disposed coaxially about the axis of rotation, the first damper being translatable along the axis of rotation; (c) a housing enclosing the fan and first shroud the housing including an inlet port for allowing air from an ambient atmosphere into the fan and an outlet port for discharging air from the fan thereby defining an air flow path from the inlet port through the fan to the outlet port; (d) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing; (e) a damper actuation system coupled to the first shaft and the first damper wherein rotation of the first shaft actuates the damper actuation system thereby moving the first shroud; and (f) a bearing-rail support system for supporting the first shroud and upon which the first shroud translates, wherein the bearing-rail support system comprises a rail fixedly coupled to the fan system and a plurality of bearings arranged to press against the rail, the bearings being rotatably coupled to the first shroud.
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10. A centrifugal fan system, comprising:
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(a) a centrifugal fan and a power source for rotating the fan about an axis of rotation; (b) a first damper shroud disposed coaxially about the axis of rotation, the first damper being translatable along the axis of rotation; (c) a housing enclosing the fan and first shroud the housing including an inlet port for allowing air from an ambient atmosphere into the fan and an outlet port for discharging air from the fan thereby defining an air flow path from the inlet port through the fan to the outlet port; (d) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing; (e) a damper actuation system coupled to the first shaft and the first damper wherein rotation of the first shaft actuates the damper actuation system thereby moving the first shroud; and (f) a bearing-rail support system for supporting the first shroud and upon which the first shroud translates wherein the bearing-rail support system comprises a rail, a bearing support plate, and a plurality of bearings, the rail being fixedly coupled to the housing, the support plate being fixedly coupled to the first shroud and the plurality of bearings being rotatably coupled to the support plate. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A centrifugal fan system, comprising:
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(a) a centrifugal fan and a power source for rotating the fan about an axis of rotation; (b) a first damper shroud disposed coaxially about the axis of rotation, the first damper being translatable along the axis of rotation; (c) a housing enclosing the fan and first shroud the housing including an inlet port for allowing air from an ambient atmosphere into the fan and an outlet port for discharging air from the fan thereby defining an air flow path from the inlet port through the fan to the outlet port; (d) a first shaft rotatably coupled to the housing; (e) a damper actuation system coupled to the first shaft and the first damper wherein rotation of the first shaft actuates the damper actuation system thereby moving the first shroud; and (f) a bearing-rail support system for supporting the first shroud and upon which the first shroud translates, wherein the bearing-rail support system comprises two rails located at opposite sides of the first shroud, four support plates fixedly coupled to the first shroud, the support plates include a hole, each rail being received within the hole of two support plates, each support plate also having two bearings rotatably coupled thereto, the bearings being in contact with the rail. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A damper system for controlling a volume of air flow out of a housing having a centrifugal fan that rotates about a rotation axis, comprising:
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(a) two support shafts; (b) a damping shroud supported by the support shaft and movable from a cover position coaxially about the centrifugal fan to a noncover position proximate the fan or any position therebetween so as to provide partial cover about the fan thereby permitting or blocking air flow; (c) an elongate control shaft rotatably mounted proximate the shroud; and (d) a plurality of linkages operatively connecting the control shaft to the shroud whereby rotation of the control shaft about its longitudinal axis causes the shroud to translate along the support shaft so as to cover a greater or lesser amount of the centrifugal fan, wherein the two support shafts are located at substantially diametrically opposed positions about the shroud and include support plates fixedly coupled to the shroud, each support plate including a hole for receiving a respective support shaft, each support plate including a plurality of roller bearings arranged to press against the respective support shaft when the support plate is disposed about the respective support shaft.
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15. A damper system for controlling a volume of air flow out of a housing having a centrifugal fan that rotates about a rotation axis, comprising:
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(a) at least one support shaft; (b) a damping shroud supported by the support shaft and movable from a cover position coaxially about the centrifugal fan to a noncover position proximate the fan or any position therebetween so as to provide partial cover about the fan thereby permitting or blocking air flow; (c) an elongate control shaft rotatably mounted proximate the shroud; and (d) a plurality of linkages operatively connecting the control shaft to the shroud whereby rotation of the control shaft about its longitudinal axis causes the shroud to translate along the support shaft so as to cover a greater or lesser amount of the centrifugal fan, wherein the plurality of linkages comprises a first bar coupled to the control shaft, a transfer shaft coupled to the first bar, a second bar coupled to the transfer shaft and a third bar coupled to the second bar, the third bar also being coupled to the shroud, wherein rotation of the control shaft rotates and translates the first bar thereby rotating the transfer shaft thereby rotating the second bar thereby rotating and translating the third bar thereby moving the shroud so as to cover a greater or lesser amount of the fan. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification