Fresh air flor modulation device

• US 5,741,180 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard Companies Incorporated (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Inventors: Lunacek, Michael G., Hanson, Rolf M., Ebbesen, Nels R., Moore, Jeffrey A., Swanson, Robert M., Dorman, Dennis R., Xia, Lunxi Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/843,066
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 454/325-327, 454/335, 454/336, 137/691, 137/896
• US Class Current: 454/327
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/223 with a plurality of valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/041 for rotating valves F16K31/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1406 characterised by sealing means
• 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 13/142 using pivoting blades with intersecting axles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1426 characterised by actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/15 with parallel simultaneously tiltable lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure

Abstract

A device for monitoring and modulating the admission of fresh air into a building. The device comprises a housing; a sensor associated with the housing and operable to measure airflow through the housing; and a damper including at least two damper blades. Each damper blade includes a shaft rotatably attached to the housing at least at a first shaft end. The shaft is located on the surface of the damper blade so as to divide the surface into first and second substantially equal areas.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring and modulating the admission of fresh air into a building, the device comprising:

a housing;

a sensor, associated with the housing and operable to measure airflow through the housing; and

a damper including at least two damper blades wherein each damper blade is substantially planar with a first substantially straight edge and a second curved edge;

wherein each damper blade includes a shaft rotatably attached to the housing at least at a first shaft end;

wherein the shaft is located on a surface of the damper blade so as to divide the surface into first and second substantially equal areas; and

wherein the shaft is not located on the surface at the midpoint of a perpendicular line taken from the midpoint of the first straight edge.

2. The device of claim 1 further including a linking mechanism causing said at least two damper blades to move in synchronized but mirror image fashion.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first substantially straight edges of said at least two damper blades engage.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the housing is circular and the second curved edges of the at least two damper blades sealingly engage the housing.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the shape of each damper blade is half circular.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein a small change in damper blade position results in a small and linear change in airflow through the device.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein each damper blade has a range of positions and airflow is balanced on either side of the shaft of each damper blade for each damper blade position.

5. An airflow modulation device comprising a housing, the housing supporting:

a flow ring;

a first damper blade;

a second damper blade;

wherein each of the first and second damper blades includes a first edge which is substantially straight, and a second edge which is substantially arced, a shaft being attached to each damper blade in the plane of the damper blade, the shaft being movably attached to the housing and located so as to divide the surface of the damper blade into first and second surfaces where the area of the first surface is substantially identical to the area of the second surface; and

wherein the shaft is not located on the damper blade surface at the midpoint of a perpendicular line taken from the midpoint of the straight edge.

6. A flow modulation device comprising:

a housing;

at least a pair of damper blades each damper blade moveably supported within the housing by a shaft rotationally associated with the housing at a first shaft end; and

a flow ring sensor mounted within the housing and operable to measure airflow through the housing;

wherein each damper blade has a semicircular shape which is separated by the shaft into two regions of approximately equal area each damper blade having a straight edge and a curved edge, the shaft being located parallel to the straight edge but not at the midpoint of a perpendicular line taken from the midpoint of the straight edge.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the housing is substantially circular and each shaft is rotationally associated with the housing at a second shaft end.

8. The device of claim 7 further including an actuator operable to control movement of the damper blades, the actuator being located external of and associated with the housing.

9. The flow modulation device of claim 6 wherein the damper blades have a shape which is generally half circular with a peripheral edge where the peripheral edge includes a straight portion and a curved portion.

10. The flow modulation device of claim 9, the flow modulation device having an open position and a closed position, wherein airflow is linear across the range from the open position to the closed position.

11. The flow modulation device of claim 10 wherein a small change in damper position results in a small and linear change in airflow.