Reversing shuttle for air handling device

• US 6,220,957 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: SubAir Incorporated
• Inventors: Clarkson, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US09/310,303
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 454/256, 454/338, 454/254, 47/1.01 R, 47/1.01 F, 405/37, 405/36
• US Class Current: 454/256
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/005 reversible fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/00 Pumping installations or systems controlling F04D27/00

Abstract

A fan unit has inlet and outlet ducts facing in the same direction. A reversing shuttle is connected to the inlet and outlet ducts of the fan unit and includes a diverter damper and two opposing dampers. The reversing shuttle further includes an outlet that is connectable to a duct network that is under a sports field or portions of a golf course. When the fan unit is running, depending on how the opposing dampers and diverter damper are positioned, air is either blown into the duct network, thereby causing air and possibly other additives to enter the soil profile of the field, or sucked (vacuumed) from the duct network, thereby draining moisture through the soil profile and into the duct network. Moving the diverter damper from a first position to a second position while changing which of the opposing dampers is open and which is closed reverses the air flow in the duct network.

Claims

1. A reversing shuttle for an air handling device, comprising:

a) a first portion connectable to a fan inlet such that said first portion is in fluid communication with said fan inlet;

b) a second portion connectable to a fan outlet such that said second portion is in fluid communication with said fan outlet;

c) a third portion connectable to a duct network such that said third portion is in fluid communication with said duct network;

d) a first damper in fluid communication with said first portion;

e) a second damper in fluid communication with said second portion;

f) said first and second dampers being opposable dampers such that when said first damper is closed, said second damper is open, and vice versa;

g) a diverter damper disposed in said reversing shuttle such that said diverter damper prevents fluid communication between said first portion and said second portion;

h) said diverter damper having a first position wherein said second portion and said third portion are in direct fluid communication and a second position wherein said first portion and said third portion are in direct fluid communication; and

i) actuating means for actuating said first damper, said second damper, and said diverter damper such that when said diverter damper is in said first position, said first damper is open and said second damper is closed and when said diverter damper is in said second position, said first damper is closed and said second damper is open.

2. A reversing shuttle according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling said actuating means.

3. A reversing shuttle according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes means for a user to manually control said actuating means.

4. A reversing shuttle according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes means for automatically controlling said actuating means based on feedback from a sensor.

5. A reversing shuttle according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes means for automatically controlling said actuating means based on time of day.

6. A reversing shuttle according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes remote control means for controlling said actuating means based on input from a user.

7. A reversing shuttle according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes a computer and display.