Fluid flow control damper assembly and method

• US 6,105,927 A
• Filed: 10/07/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alex Zelczer, Ruth Zelczer
• Original Assignee: Alex Zelczer, Ruth Zelczer
• Inventors: Zelczer, Ruth, Zelczer, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/946,640
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 92/5 R, 92/98 R, 92/98 D, 92/100, 92/103 SD, 92/136, 92/138, 92/148, 251/58, 251/229, 251/251, 251/252, 251/305, 251/306, 251/308, 251/61.2, 251/61.3, 251/61.4, 251/61.5, 137/15, 137/315, 137/317, 137/318, 137/556, 285/197
• US Class Current: 251/58
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/221 specially adapted operating means therefor operating means per se F16K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0218 Butterfly valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/165 the fluid acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0486 Specific valve or valve element mounting or repairing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0525 Butterfly valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/599 Pressure regulating type valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6028 Assembling or disassembling pivoted valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6103 Cam type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated

Abstract

A low friction fluid motor has a diaphragm mounted in a shell to divide the shell into first and second chambers, a port means for connecting the second chamber to a pressure or vacuum source, and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is connected to the diaphragm and includes an actuator member extending out of the shell through an aperture. The actuator is free of any seal member which is interposed between the actuator member and the shell and which functions to form a seal between the actuator member and the aperture in the shell. The aperture is oversized relative to the actuator member to allow free passage of the actuator member from the actuator assembly through the first chamber and out of the fluid motor.

Claims

1. A low friction fluid motor comprising:

a shell;

a diaphragm separating the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber;

a port in the shell for connecting a source of pressure or vacuum to the second chamber;

an actuating member connected to the diaphragm for axial movement therewith in the first chamber, the actuating member telescopically extending into a cam assembly which translates the axial movement into a rotational movement, the cam assembly having a motion transfer connection accessible through an aperture in the shell adjacent the first chamber for transferring the rotational movement to an external device;

wherein the cam assembly includes a tubular cam follower which is supported adjacent an interior wall surface of the shell adjacent the aperture inside the first chamber for rotation about an axis thereof by an interior surface of a tubular bushing which is fixedly attached to the interior wall surface of the shell adjacent the aperture inside the first chamber, and wherein axial movement of the actuating member causes rotational movement of the cam follower within the bushing inside the first chamber for transferring the rotational movement to the external device.

2. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuator member is substantially free of any breakaway friction.

3. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cam follower has a cam slot therein, the tubular bushing includes a guide slot, the actuator member is telescopically axially movable in the tubular bushing and cam follower, the actuator member has thereon a cam element extending through the guide slot and the cam slot, and the guide slot and the cam slot are configured to effect rotational movement in response to telescoping axial movement of the actuator member.

4. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the aperture is oversized to allow free passage of a vane mounting member from the cam assembly out of the shell of the fluid motor.

5. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the vane mounting member and cam follower are connected by a key and slot arrangement.

6. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pressure and vacuum source supplies pressure and vacuum alternately to move the actuator member axially between a first position and a second position.

7. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fluid motor is operable with a pressure of about one pound per square inch.

8. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is made of a resilient elastomeric material.

9. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 8, wherein the diaphragm is made of polyurethane.

10. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an indicator which indicates whether the actuator member is in at least one of the first position and the second position.

11. A low friction fluid motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the indicator is a flexible wire extending through an opening in the wall of the first chamber of the shell.

12. A fluid damper comprising:

A low friction fluid motor including;

a shell;

a diaphragm separating the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber;

a port in the shell for connecting a source of pressure or vacuum to the second chamber;

an actuating member connected to the diaphragm for axial movement therewith in the first chamber, the actuating member telescopically extending into a cam assembly which translates the axial movement into a rotational movement, the cam assembly having a motion transfer connection accessible through an aperture in the shell adjacent the first chamber for transferring the rotational movement to an external device; and

a damper vane attached to a vane mounting member for rotational movement therewith;

wherein the vane mounting member is coupled to the motion transfer connection of the cam assembly;

wherein the cam assembly includes a tubular cam follower which is supported adjacent an interior wall surface of the shell adjacent the aperture inside the first chamber for rotation about an axis thereof by an interior surface of a tubular bushing which is fixedly attached to the interior wall surface of the shell adjacent the aperture inside the first chamber, and wherein axial movement of the actuating member causes rotational movement of the cam follower within the bushing inside the first chamber for transferring the rotational movement to the external device.

13. A fluid damper as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a duct section;

wherein the fluid motor is attached to the duct section and the damper vane is contained within the duct section.