Reversible damper means

Abstract

Automatic damper means having a multiplicity of damper blades rotatably mounted in housing means to control and regulate the flow of a heating/cooling medium into individual rooms or zones served by a central heating/cooling appliance. The damper blades are opened and closed by a reversible motor connecting to a driver blade, all blades being interconnected by linkage means. The motor and a fuel control device on the heating/cooling appliance are energized by thermostatic means.

Description

The present invention sets forth improvements in the operation of the automatic damper means of application Ser. No. 385,765.

In the referenced application the motor means rotating the damper blades is comprised of a unidirectional motor having its shaft attached to one of the damper blades. Because the motor rotates in only one direction, gear means are utilized to provide rotation of the multiple damper blades in a 360 degree arc through four equal increments of arc.

Incorporating reversing motor means in the present invention permits a linkage mechanism to replace the aforesaid gears thereby allowing an incremental rotation of 90 degrees in a forward direction, opening the blades and a subsequent rotation of 90 degrees in the opposite direction, closing the damper blades. Thus, the reversing motor means operates the multiple damper blades effectively when said damper blades are connected by a simpler linkage mechanism replacing the gear means of previously stated reference.

The damper means being placed in a wall, ceiling, or floor recess housing a duct boot are energized and controlled by a thermostatic means regulating the temperature in a room or zone. When the room environment requires an increase in the temperature, said thermostatic means activates a fuel control device on a heating/cooling appliance influencing the applicance to enter a combustion cycle. Simultaneously, one of two windings of the reversing motor means is energized to rotate the damper blades to an open position in preparation for transmitting a heating/cooling medium into the room. When aforesaid environment has reached the desired temperature, said thermostatic means deenergizes the fuel control device and energizes the second motor winding to rotate the damper blades to the closed position.

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide automatic damper means having a multiplicity of blades with simple operating means and few movable components.

Another objective is to provide fully operable damper means having an adjustable housing for mounting in recesses enclosing duct boots.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings which cover a preferred embodiment, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the automatic multiblade damper device constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view taken along 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a member damper means requiring only a singular damper blade.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 5 showing the switch means and switch operator for a single blade damper means.

FIG. 7 shows the schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry for energizing and controlling the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic showing the revised circuitry required for the single blade damper means.

Giving attention to the drawings more specifically, FIG. 1 shows automatic damper means 10 having two damper blades 11a and 11b representing the multiplicity of blades that can be rotatably mounted in adjustable damper housing 12. As shown in the several views, housing 12 has four sliding support bars 13a-13d attaching to panels 14a and 14b by screw means 15. Each support bar is formed with a slot 16 along a vertical axis (FIG. 2) providing for adjustment of damper housing 12 within the recess 17 of FIG. 3, within which duct boot 18 is mounted. Said housing adjustment permits the use of registers of non-standard thickness to be placed over said damper housing. Screw means 15 pass through slot 16 tightening into threaded holes in side panels to secure said supports 13a-13d to damper housing 12.

Aforesaid damper blades 11a and 11b are rotably mounted in housing 12 by means of bearing pins 19 and shaft 20a of motor 20; said pins and shaft having connection to the blades as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Motor 20 being fully supported on end panel 14c of damper housing 12 passes its shaft through a hole in motor cover 21 to capture damper blade 11a. Aforesaid bearing pins likewise extend through holes in panels 14c and 14d to rotatably support the ends of blades 11a and 11b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 motor cover 21 cooperates to support the two way motor operating switch 22 and hold-in switch 23, both switches being operated by cam 24 attached to motor shaft 20a--the purpose of said switches to be explained.

To better understand the operation of the damper means, let's refer to FIG. 7. When a room or zone calls for heat, switch lever 25a of thermostatic means 25 closes thermostatic contacts 25b, 25c, and 25d thereby energizing fuel control device 26 (gas valve) through conductor 28, light means 29, and conductor 30; said light means providing an affirmation that thermostatic means 25 is in an operating mode. As the fuel control device urges the central heating/cooling appliance to enter a combustion cycle, motor winding 20b is simultaneously energized through switch lever 25a, a first position of motor switch 22, conductors 31 and 32, and relay contacts 33; said energizing of winding 20b causes motor to rotate damper blades 11 to an open position and influences cam 24 to move switch operator 22a to a second position to deenergize winding 20b. During the rotation of cam 24 through a 90 degree increment, hold-in switch 23 is locked in a closed position by cam 24, preventing premature deenergizing of winding 20b should thermostatic switch lever 25a be arbitrarily moved to open contacts 25b-25d while the damper blades are in a partially open position. Hold-in switch 23 maintains a closed circuit between thermostatic switch lever 25a and motor means until damper blades reach a position congruous with the operating state of the heating/cooling appliance.

Upon attaining the temperature required by the thermostatic means, the room environment influences thermostatic switch 25a to move to position 25b-25e energizing winding 20c through said second position of motor switch 22. The change of position of switch 25a causes thermostatic means 25 to relinquish control over fuel control device 26, and motor shaft 20a simultaneously rotates in the reverse direction from that previously related, closing damper blades 11a and 11b; hold-in switch 23 being operated in a manner identical to that employed when said blades were moving to the open position.

As previously described. damper blade 11a functions as the driver blade, having a direct connection to motor shaft 20a. FIG. 3 shows linkage mechanism 38 providing the required interconnection between blades 11a and 11b. Linkage bar 38a being rotatably fastened to connector plates 38b and 38c, the latter being rigidly attached to said blades, moves in cooperation with blade 11a to rotate blade 11b to the required open or closed position. With the employment of reversing motor means 20, said linkage mechanism 38 is only required to rotate said damper blades through a forward and reverse angle of 90 degrees.

When all other thermostats in a multi-room or multiple zone dwelling have relinquished control over the central heating/cooling appliance, and the thermostatic means 25 of the present invention continues to energize the fuel control device 26, relay coil 27 is likewise energized to maintain normally open contacts 33 in a closed condition. As thermostatic switch lever 25a moves to position 25b-25e to energize winding 20c and close damper blades 11, contacts 33 are opened by deenergized relay coil 27. Hi-temperature thermostatic switch 34 mounted in the exhaust flue or other hi-temperature zone of said heating/cooling appliance is also in an open position thereby preventing motor means 20 from closing said damper blades thereby permitting residual conditioned air to be transported into the room or zone by a blower operating within the appliance. When hi-temperature thermostatic switch 34 cools and closes, damper blades 11a and 11b are rotated to the closed position as motor means 20 is energized through the completed circuit; said circuit including switch lever 25a, motor switch 22, winding 20c, and hi-temperature thermostatic switch 34.

Manual switch 35 shown in FIG. 7 provides a manual shutoff of all thermostatic means from a single location, while the three positional jog switch 37 permits either winding of motor means 20 to be energized manually for rotation of damper blades 11, and light means 36a and 36b serve to indicate the winding being energized.

Many dwellings have small rooms or spaces such as bathrooms where a single blade damper means provides sufficient flow of the heating/cooling medium to meet the air conditioning requirements of the room or space. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through damper housing 12 and its single blade 11a. With only the single blade, damper housing 12 is narrower in width than previously required and linkage mechanism 38 unnecessary. Other construction and operative procedures are as heretofore described and set forth for rotation of the damper means by reversing motor means.

However, without the need for the linkage mechanism 38, damper blade 11a of FIG. 4 can be rotated through a 360 degree arc in four equal increments of arc to open and close said blade. The means for regulating a unidirectional motor 40 to accomplish rotation are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with FIG. 7 being modified as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when thermostatic means 25 calls for heat and energizes fuel control device 26 as aforedescribed, motor 40, being unidirectional, is energized through switch lever 25a in position 25b-25d, switch 41, having switch lever 41a in position 41b-41c, and closed contacts 33 (as previously discussed). As motor 40 rotates said damper blade 11a, attached cam 42, having switch operating surfaces of two different radii positioned in adjacent quadrants, holds motor control switch 41 in position 41b-41c by means of a first surface having a first radius until said damper has arrived at the open position. Hold-in switch 23, having the function previously defined, is operable by all surfaces of said cam 42, while motor control switch 41 is required to make contact with only two surfaces of said cam, said two surfaces having the same larger radius and being diametrically opposed.

To permit a change in the switch status allowing motor 40 to deenergize after being energized, cam 42 has the surfaces of its four quadrants separated every 90 degrees by a depression that allows each switch button or actuator to extend and break contact with internal switch terminals.

Hold-in switch 23, being a SPST (single pole single throw) switch, requires each surface of cam 42 to hold said switch in a closed position since the sole purpose of said switch is to maintain an auxillary closed circuit whenever motor 40 is energized. Conversely, motor control switch 41 having both a normally open and normally closed position requires mechanical closure by said cam through use of only two diametrically opposed surfaces.

When thermostatic means 25 deenergizes fuel control device 26, motor means 40 is energized through thermostatic switch 25a (in position 25b-25e), switch 41 (in position 41b-41e) and contacts 33 or hi-temperature switch 34 as previously discussed.

The foregoing description has set forth an improved automatic damper device which meets all the requirements sought after. It being understood, however, that the form of the invention herein described and shown is to be taken as the preferred embodiment. Many changes, modifications, variations, other uses, and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow:

Claims

1. Automatic damper means, having thermostatic means, controlling and regulating the flow of a heating/cooling medium traversing between a central heating/cooling appliance and individual rooms or zones via a duct network; said damper means having in combination:

(a) a housing means;

said housing means comprising an enclosure having adjustable support means, and motor covering means; said enclosure containing closure means and transmission means, said housing means, having open top and bottom sections, adapted to be mounted in floor, wall and ceiling recesses;

(b) said closure means;

said closure means comprising damper blade means rotatably mounted in said enclosure; said damper blade means opening and closing said enclosure in cooperation with said thermostatic means;

(c) said transmission means;

said transmission means comprising motor means having a shaft connecting to a driven blade of said damper blade means;

(d) control means;

said control means energizing and controlling said transmission means, said control means comprising said thermostatic means, said thermostatic means providing electrical interlocks between fuel control means of said heating/cooling appliance and motor control means, and between said fuel control means and said transmission means; first and second switch means operating by automatic and manual means respectively; and first and second light means respectively connecting said thermostatic means to said said motor control means and interlocking said fuel control means and said motor means;

(e) said support means;

said support means comprising movable brackets having mobility along an axis having fastening means; said mobility permitting adjustment of said enclosure in recesses, said fastening means attaching said brackets to enclosure panels, said brackets providing support for said enclosure on external means;

(f) said motor control means;

said motor control means comprising a coil and contacts and a high temperature switch; said coil electrically interlocking with said thermostatic means and controlling operation of said motor means.

2. The motor means defined in claim 1 being a reversible motor and having a first winding energizing, in combination, said fuel control means and said motor control means through a first switch position of said thermostatic means; and a second winding energizing said motor means through a second switch position of said thermostatic means; said shaft of said motor means having a switch operator actuating said first switch means.

3. The closure means defined in claim 1 having a multiplicity of damper blades interconnected by a linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism comprising plates attaching to said damper blades and a connector bar interconnecting said plates by fastening means.

4. The first switch means of claim 1 comprising a hold-in switch and a two-way switch, said hold-in switch connecting to said thermostatic means and said motor means, said two-way switch connecting to multiple windings of said reversible motor, said first switch means being operable by a rotating switch operator.

5. The second switch means of claim 1 comprising a manual switch electrically disconnecting a plurality of damper means simultaneously; a jog switch bypassing said thermostatic means and connecting to said motor means; said jog switch operating said motor means independently of said thermostatic means.

6. Automatic damper means, operable by motor means, controlling the temperature of an environment in individual rooms or zones; said damper means being an assembly comprising:

(a) housing means;

said housing means having an enclosure with open top and bottom sections, said enclosure supportable on external means by adjustable means attaching to panels of said enclosure by fastening means; said enclosure supporting closure means and said motor means;

(b) said closure means;

said closure means having an included driven blade, pivotally mounting within said enclosure of said housing means, said driven blade attaching to said motor means;

(c) transmission means;

said transmission means comprising said motor means energizable by thermostatic means and second switch means of control means; a shaft of said motor means having attachment to a longitudinal axis of said driven blade and rotating said closure means between open and closed positions;

(d) said control means;

said control means comprising said thermostatic means interconnecting and energizing fuel control means of a heating/cooling appliance, motor means, and a first light means; in combination with a first switch means said thermostatic means operating said motor means; second switch means, being a manual switch, interconnecting second light means and said motor means to said fuel control means;

(e) said adjustable means;

said adjustable means being said support means comprising movable brackets having mobility along an axis having fastening means; said mobility accommodating adjustment of said enclosure within recesses, said fastening means attaching said brackets to enclosure panels, said brackets providing support of said enclosure on external means surrounding said recesses;

(f) motor control means;

said motor control means comprising a coil and contacts and a high temperature switch; said coil electrically interlocking with said thermostatic means and controlling operation of said motor means.

7. The means defined in claim 20 wherein said motor means comprise a singly wound, unidirectional motor having said shaft attaching to said driven blade of said closure means, said closure means comprising a single blade, said single blade being said driven blade.

8. The first switch means of claim 6 comprising a hold-in switch and a two-way switch, said hold-in switch connecting to said thermostatic means and said motor means, said two-way switch interconnecting said motor means and thermostatic means, said first switch means being operable by a rotating switch operator.

9. The second switch means of claim 6 comprising a manual switch electrically disconnecting a plurality of damper means simultaneously; a jog switch bypassing said thermostatic means and connecting to said motor means, said jog switch operating said motor means independently of said thermostatic means.

10. The means defined in claim 1 wherein said closure means comprise a single damper blade, said single blade being said driven blade connecting to said shaft of said motor means.

11. The means defined in claim 6 wherein said closure means having a plurality of damper blades interconnected by a linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism comprising plates attaching to said damper blades and a connector bar interconnecting said plates through fastening means.

12. The means defined in claim 6 wherein said motor means comprise a motor having reversing means, said reversing means including a first winding and a second winding, said first winding operating said fuel control means and said motor control means through a first switch position of said thermostatic means; a second switch position of said thermostatic means energizing said second winding of said reversing means; said shaft of said motor means having a switch operator actuating said first switch means.