DAMPER REGULATOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A damper regulator device for adjusting the orientation of a damper blade in an air transfer system, such as a duct, is disclosed. The regulator is coupled to an end portion, of a damper shaft, pivoting of a handle component of the regulator functioning to turn the shaft and hence the blade. The device is adjustable to accommodate damper shafts of different configurations and sizes without disassembly of the device by shifting the handle between one or another of a pair of slots disposed at disparate distances from the shaft. The shifting of the shaft between slots in effected by a channel extending between the slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the damper regulator assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the control handle of the regulator.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device prior to assembly.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the device.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of the drawings.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the regulator similar to the FIG. 4 but with the lock bolt in a different arcuate slot on the handle.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the regulator assembly mounted on the outer wall 10 of a duct. The device comprises an operating handle 11 having a clamp assembly 12 at one end and an operating lever 13 at the other end.

The clamp assembly 12 comprises a U-shaped component 14. The leaf 15 of the clamp assembly is formed with two socket components 15,16, laterally off-set one from the other. The shaft component 17 of the damper extends through duct wall 10. The sockets 15 and 16 are of disparate sizes enabling the user to adjust to accommodate shafts of different sizes. In the view of FIG. 1, the shaft 17 is coupled to socket 16. A principle advantage of the present invention resides in the manner in which the damper shaft 17, for instance in the view at FIG. 1, the shaft 17 is coupled to socket 16.

A principle advantage of the present invention resides in the manner in which one or the other of the sockets 15,16 is shifted in alignment with a damper shaft. More particularly, the shaft as depicted in FIG. 1 is disposed in socket 16 or in socket 15 as depicted in FIG. 6. The device includes a mounting plate 18 adapted to be coupled to the outer duct surface as by mounting screws 19. The plate 18 includes a through-going aperture 20 (FIG. 3) providing for passage there through of the damper shaft 17. The handle 13 may be bodily shifted towards or away from shaft 17 in a manner as hereinafter set forth.

The plate 18 includes a bracket 21 having formed therein an arcuate slot 24. The handle incorporates two arcuate slots 22,23 spaced disparate distances from the shaft 17. A locking bolt 26 extends through the bracket slot 24 and through one or the other of arcuate slots 22,23. In FIG. 3, the components are located such that bolt 26 extends through slots 22.

There is formed through the handle between slots 22,23 a linking channel 27. The bolt 26 extends through slot 24. When the bolt is aligned with channel 27, the handle may be moved by bodily towards or away from the damper shaft and into alignment with one of slots 22 or 23. In FIG. 3, the bolt 26 is aligned with slot 22 whereas in FIG. 6, the bolt is aligned with slot 23 of the handle.

The locking of the handle in a desired pivoted position is accomplished by clamping wing nut 30 or the like to bolt 26 after the handle 13 is pivoted to a desired position. The bolt includes a square shank 31 co-acting with bracket 24 whereby locking of the handle in a desired rotated position is accomplished (see solid, dot and dashed lines, FIG. 4). Alternatively, or in addition, the end of the damper shaft can be threaded or supplied with, e.g., a transverse opening for a locking screw or cotter pin to prevent sliding along the shaft.

The device is installed by mounting plate 18 to the duct wall. The damper shaft 17 is passed through aperture 20 in alignment with the appropriate slots, 22 or 23. The handle 11 is pivoted to achieve a desired position of a damper blade (not shown) within the duct and locked into position by tightening the clamp assembly 12 over the shaft and the wing nut 30.

As will be apparent from the preceding description, there's provided in accordance with the invention, a damper regulator assembly which may be adapted for use with damper shafts of different sizes thereby minimizing stocking requirements. The adjustment may be effected without removing or disassembling any of the components of the device.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and familiarized with the instant disclosure, the device may be converted for use with more than two sizes of damper shafts. Numerous variations may be made in the described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed within the language of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a damper regulator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a damper blade within a duct, a damper shaft affixed to said blade and including an end portion extending outwardly through said duct, a mounting plate affixed to said duct, an aperture formed in said plate, said end portion projecting outwardly through said duct, an adjustment handle adapted to be coupled to said end portion of said shaft and a first arcuate slot means in said handle and clamp means extending through said plate and said first slot coupling said handle to said plate in a desired orientation, the improvement which comprises a second arcuate slot in said handle said first and second slots being located disparate distances from said end portion of said shaft, a channel in said handle extending between said first and second slots, said clamp means being shiftable between said first and second slots through said channel.

2. A regulator assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said handle includes first and second drive socket means, one said socket means being aligned with said shaft when said clamp means is disposed in said first slot and the other said socket being aligned with said shaft when said clamp means is disposed in the other said slot.

3. A damper control device for adjusting the position of a damper blade within a duct affixed to a damper shaft, a mounting plate having a through-going passage adapted to receive said shaft, and an adjustment handle, first and second drive sockets formed on said handle, first and second arcuate slots formed on said handle, said slots disposed a disparate distances from said passage, clamp means extending through said plate and a selected one of said slots for coupling said handle to said plate, a channel extending between said first and second slots, said clamp means being shiftable through said channel selectively to align said clamp means with one or the other of said slots.

4. A damper control device in accordance with claim 3 wherein one or the other of said sockets is adapted to be aligned with said passage, in accordance with which slot is occupied by said clampings.

5. In a damper regulator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a damper blade within a duct, the duct having a side wall with an opening extending through the wall, a damper shaft affixed to said blade and including an end portion extending outwardly through the opening through the wall of said duct, a mounting plate affixed to said duct wall, an aperture formed in said plate, the plate being located so that the aperture and the opening are aligned, said end portion projecting outwardly through said aperture, an adjustment handle coupled to said end portion of said shaft, exteriorly of the wall, and a first arcuate slot through said handle, and a projection extending from said plate and through said first slot, adjustably coupling said handle to said plate in a desired orientation, the improvement which comprises a second arcuate slot through said handle, said first arcuate slot being located between the aperture and the second arcuate slot, so that the two arcuate slots are located at disparate distances from said end portion of said shaft, a transverse slot through said handle extending between said first and second arcuate slots, said projection being shiftable between said first and second slots through said transverse slot.

6. A regulator assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said handle further comprises first and second drive apertures, and the damper shaft passes through one of the first and second drive apertures, and is thus adjustably coupled to the handle, so that when the projection passes through said first slot the damper shaft passes through the first drive aperture, and when the projection passes through said second slot the damper shaft passes through the second drive aperture, the two drive apertures being of different sizes, so that drive shafts of different dimensions can be accommodated.

7. A regulator assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said projection is secured to and extends outwardly from the duct wall.

8. A regulator assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said projection is releasably secured to the handle so as to clamp the handle to the plate and duct wall.