Air flow measurement station with orthogonally mounted damper

• US 6,129,113 A
• Filed: 10/16/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air System Components Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tomkins Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Becelaere, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/174,510
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 137/557, 73/861.62, 73/861.66, 454/335
• US Class Current: 137/557
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/165 with a plurality of closure members
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

An air flow measurement station with orthogonally mounted damper includes a station housing which encloses a damper with a plurality of movable damper blades. The damper blades are oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. The housing also encloses a plurality of air flow sensing vanes which are oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. With this orientation, the air flow sensing vanes can be positioned very close to the damper without creating dead air spaces such that reliable air flow sensing can be accomplished while keeping the station housing relatively compact.

Claims

1. An air measuring station, comprising:

(a) a station housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

(b) a movable blade damper positioned in said station housing, said damper comprising a plurality of movable blades oriented in a first direction;

(c) a plurality of air flow sensing vanes positioned in said station housing downstream from said damper, said air flow sensing vanes being oriented in a second direction which is substantially orthogonal to said first direction; and

(d) said air flow sensing vanes being positioned less than 6 inches from said damper.

2. An air measuring station as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a. a pitot pressure line which is connected to each pitot chamber and to a differential pressure sensor such that pitot chambers of said air flow sensing vanes are linked to said differential pressure sensor; and

b. a static pressure line which is connected to each static chamber and to said differential pressure sensor such that static chambers of said air flow sensing vanes are linked to said differential pressure sensor.

3. An air measuring station as in claim 2, wherein said differential pressure sensor comprises a manometer.

4. An air measuring station as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a. an air straightener positioned within said station housing downstream of said air flow sensing vane.

5. A method of packaging a damper including a plurality of movable blades with a plurality of air flow sensing vanes, and comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the damper in a station housing such that the damper blades are oriented in a first direction;

(b) positioning said plurality of sensing vanes in said station housing downstream of said damper, with said sensing vanes oriented in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction; and

(c) positioning said air flow sensing vanes within 6 inches of said damper.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein each of said air flow sensing vanes includes an upstream pitot chamber connected to an interior of said housing via a first orifice facing said damper and a downstream static chamber connected to the interior of said housing by a second orifice facing away from said damper, said method further the steps of:

a. connecting a pitot pressure line to each of said pitot chambers and to a differential pressure sensor such that said pitot chambers are linked in series to said differential pressure sensor; and

b. connecting a static pressure line to each of said static chambers and to said differential pressure sensor such that said static chambers are linked in series to said differential pressure sensor.

7. A method as in claim 5, and further comprising the step of:

a. positioning an air straightener in said station housing downstream of said air flow sensing vanes.