The described aspects relate to an adjustable bracket assembly usable with a heating venting and air conditioning (HVAC), and more particularly an adjustable bracket assembly for adjusting the position of a series of dampers within an HVAC system.
Heating venting and air conditioning (HVAC) and/or venting systems and other venting systems may require for controlling airflow within ducting of the system. A damper system generally includes a blocking mechanism (e.g., pivoting blades connected to an electric, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic actuator) that are capable of opening and closing the passage within a duct. However, packaging and/or retrofitting of the electric, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic actuator system and associated linkages may pose challenges due to space and efficiency concerns, especially when retrofitting damper systems to existing ducts or wall/floor openings. Thus, improvements in damper systems and damper actuator systems are desired.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
An example implementation includes an adjustable bracket assembly for transmitting an actuation force from an actuator to a plurality of damper assemblies. The adjustable bracket assembly may include a shaft extending along and configured to rotate about a first axis in response to an output from the actuator, a first output lever configured to transmit a rotational force of the shaft to a first damper assembly, and a second output lever configured to transmit the rotational force of the shaft to a second damper assembly.
Another example implementation includes a damper system for selectively controlling airflow in a first duct and a second duct. The damper system may include a first damper assembly with a first damper, wherein the first damper assembly is configured to be mounted in-line with the first duct, a second damper assembly with a second damper, wherein the second damper assembly is configured to be mounted in-line with the second duct, and an actuator for controlling a position of the first damper and the second damper via an adjustable bracket assembly. The adjustable bracket assembly may include a shaft extending along and configured to rotate about a first axis in response to an output from the actuator, a first output lever configured to transmit a rotational force of the shaft to a first damper assembly, and a second output lever configured to transmit the rotational force of the shaft to a second damper assembly.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.
The features believed to be characteristic of aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use and further advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative aspects of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an adjustable bracket assembly that improves ease of installation of a damper system in both new HVAC and/or venting systems or when a damper system is retrofitted to existing HVAC and/or venting ducts.
The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components that fall within the scope of a term and that may be used for implementation. The examples are not intended to be limiting. Further, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
For purposes of the disclosure, directional terms are expressed generally with relation to a standard frame of reference when the system and apparatus described herein is installed and in an in-use orientation.
Throughout the disclosure, the term substantially may be used as a modifier for a geometric relationship between elements or for the shape of an element or component. While the term substantially is not limited to a specific variation and may cover any variation that is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to be an acceptable variation, some examples are provided as follows. In one example, the term substantially may include a variation of less than 10% of the dimension of the object or component. In another example, the term substantially may include a variation of less than 5% of the object or component. If substantially is used to define the angular relationship of one element to another element, one non-limiting example of the term substantially may include a variation of 5 degrees or less. These examples are not intended to be limiting and may be increased or decreased based on the understanding of acceptable limits to one of skill in the relevant art.
Throughout the disclosure, the term duct may be used in conjunction with HVAC systems and in conjunction with example implementations of the disclosure. As one example, a duct may include any passage, opening, or conduit and may configured the have fluids such as air, liquid, or gasses passed therethrough. It is noted that the term duct is not limited to a conduit associated with an HVAC system and may include any opening or passage in a wall, ceiling, floor, and/or door, to name a few examples. The aforementioned examples are not intended to be limiting.
Aspects of the current disclosure are usable with any HVAC system, venting system, dynamic or static fire and smoke damper, which may include some type of blocking mechanism (e.g., pivoting blades connected to an electric, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic actuator) that is capable of opening and closing the passage within a duct. In one example, the aspects of the current disclosure are usable with a venting system for providing ventilation to enclosed or underground facilities or tunnels. It is noted that throughout the disclosure the terms, blocking mechanism, blocking device, blade, or damper system may be used interchangeably and may include any device or structure that may be movable between open and closed positions and/or otherwise is configured control the flow of air or other gasses through ductwork.
For context, a general overview of an implemented damper system and bracket assembly usable with the current disclosure is provided below. The following serves as a broad overview of the current disclosure and the problems the disclosed concepts aim to solve. When installing ductwork and damper assemblies in a facility and/or retrofitting damper assemblies to existing ductwork, space requirements may partially dictate the location of the ductwork. Thus, when damper systems are specified for a duct or series of ducts variances may exist that would pose challenges when a traditional damper system is installed in a facility. For example, with reference to
Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. Further, in some cases, methods, procedures, and components that are well-known or methods that would have been understood by one of skill in the art are described generally and without specific so as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.
Referring to
The damper position (e.g., opening and closing of blades 63 and 65) of the first damper assembly 51 and second damper assembly 52 may be controlled by a single actuator 57. The actuator 57 may be controlled via a control box 55b, which may be mounted to the second damper assembly 52 or alternative to the second damper assembly 51. The control box 55b may include any type of controller for controlling the rotational position of actuator 57. The actuator 57 may be mounted to an adjustable bracket assembly 100, which is described in further detail with relation to
The first damper assembly connection link 69 and/or second damper assembly connection link 67 may include a through hole or “eye” at each end of the connection link, which may be interchangeably referred to as a first eye and second eye of each respective connection link. In addition, an eye-to-eye distance of the connection link may be adjustable using any known means in the art. In one example, a first eye and second eye of either one of or both of the first damper assembly connection link 69 and second damper assembly connection link 67 may be configured to be threaded into an elongated body of each respective connection link. Thus, each eye of the connection link may be rotated to adjust the eye-to-eye length of the link. Each threaded eye may further include a jamb nut which can be tightened against an end of the elongated body once an eye-to-eye length of the link is set to fix the eye-to-eye length of the link.
In the Example in
While not shown in
The first damper assembly connection link 69 may be connected to a first output lever 121 and the second damper assembly connection link 67 may be connected to a second output lever 123 of the adjustable bracket assembly 100.
The bottom wall 135 may include one or more mounting provisions for mounting the bottom wall 135 of bracket assembly 100 to the first damper assembly 51 and/or the second damper assembly 52. In one example, the mounting provisions may include a first set of one or more openings or through-holes 111 (
The bottom wall 135 may further include a second set of one or more openings or through-holes 89 configured to receive fasteners there through for mounting the bracket assembly 100 to second damper assembly 52 via second damper assembly mounting points 87 (
In addition to the adjustability of the mounting provisions of bracket assembly 100 discussed above, the bracket assembly 100 may further include two adjustable outputs (e.g., for controlling the positions of blades 63 and 65) from a single rotational input (e.g., from actuator 57) as described in further detail below.
As noted above, the first side wall 115 and second side wall 131 may also be connected via a top wall 118 (
As such, the first side wall 115 and/or bearing/bushing 119, as well as the second side wall 131 and its bearing/bushing, may define respective input shaft support portions. Correspondingly, the bottom wall 135 in combination with the first and second sets of one or more openings or through-holes 111 and 89 may define a first damper assembly mounting portion for mounting the input shaft support portion to the first damper assembly at a first mounting location, and a second damper assembly mounting portion for mounting the input shaft support portion to the second damper assembly at a second mounting location.
The input shaft 117 may be mounted proximal to a first end of the input shaft 117. As shown in
The input shaft 117 may have the first output lever 121 and the second output lever 123 adjustably mounted thereto. For example, the first output lever 121 may be have an opening dimensioned to receive the input shaft 117 so that the output lever is movable in a first direction (e.g., direction 53) and/or a second direction (e.g., direction 54) along the input shaft 117. In addition, the interface between the input shaft 117 and the first output lever 121 may be an anti-rotation interface configured to prevent the first output lever 121 from rotating with relation to the input shaft 117. In one example, of an anti-rotation interface, the input shaft 117 may have a keyed portion 125, which may for example be a protrusion. The first output lever 121 may have a first key receiving portion 128 (
The second output lever 123 may similarly include a second key receiving portion 132 (
Either one of or both of the first output lever 121 and second output lever 123 may further include a corresponding first and second locking feature 127 and 129 configured to lock or fix the location of each of the first output lever 121 and second output lever 123 along axis 105 of the input shaft 117. In one example, either one of or both of the first and second locking features 127 and 129 may for example be a bolt or other threaded fastener and corresponding threaded through hole for receiving each corresponding fastener. With the aforementioned construction, threading each bolt or other threaded fastener in a first direction may result in the bolt or other threaded fastener bottoming out on an outer surface of input shaft 117 thus causing the corresponding first output lever and/or second output lever to be fixed in place and preventing the same from sliding or translation along axis 105 of input shaft 117. Conversely, loosening each bolt or threaded fastener in a second direction may result in the bolt or other fastener separating from the outer surface of the input shaft 117 thus allowing the respective first output lever 121 or second output lever 123 to be slid along the input shaft 117 in directions 53 and/or 54. With the aforementioned example locking features 127 and 129, a technician or user may loosen the fastener corresponding to locking features 127 and/or 129 and adjust the location of corresponding first output lever 121 or second output lever 123 with relation to input shaft 117. Once the first output lever 121 and/or second output lever 123 are in the desired location, the fastener corresponding to locking features 127 and/or 129 may be tightened or rotated in the first direction until the first output lever 121 and/or second output levers 123 are locked in place. The aforementioned features may allow for adjustment of the locations of either one of or both of the first output lever 121 and/or second output lever 123 along the input shaft 117.
The foregoing description of various aspects and examples have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the disclosure to the forms described. The embodiment(s) illustrated in the figures can, in some instances, be understood to be shown to scale for illustrative purposes. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings, including a combination of the abovementioned aspects. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that various implementations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. The various aspects were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the present disclosure and various aspects as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the present disclosure is, of course, not limited to the examples or aspects set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather, it is hereby intended the scope be defined by the claims appended hereto.
This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/811,856, entitled “ADJUSTABLE HEAVY-DUTY BRACKET ASSEMBLY,” filed Mar. 6, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16811856 | Mar 2020 | US |
Child | 17953097 | US |