Valves and valve actuation – Rotary valves – Butterfly
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-04-03
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
Rotary valves
Butterfly
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209850
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mounting assembly for mounting a volume damper within an air duct system to adjust the flow of air in the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In modern heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, sheet metal duct work is utilized to convey conditioned air throughout buildings. Conventionally, manual volume dampers are positioned at various points throughout the duct work to adjust the flow of air in various sections of the HVAC system. There are presently available a range of low cost hardware options to mount the dampers within the HVAC system. The hardware is adequate for positioning the damper within the duct. However, the current hardware is typically not effective for sealing the holes in the duct that are formed to receive the hardware that holds the damper blade within the duct. Typically, there are air spaces around the shafts which hold the damper blade in place which permits air to leak through the spaces and reduce the efficiency of the duct system. Some examples of earlier damper hardware are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,241; U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,627; U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,581; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,625.
The present invention is directed to damper hardware which permits a round insert to project through a round hole within the duct to minimize pressure loss from the duct. The snap-in feature of the present invention enables the close fitting round shaft to substantially fill the round hole in the duct that receives the damper shaft. A cup washer is utilized for fixing the damper in place once it has been adjusted to the desired angle by tightening a lock nut against the handle that abuts the cup washer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The damper mounting assembly of the present invention includes two attachment clips that are arranged to be affixed to axially opposite sides of a damper blade. Each of the attachment clips has a shaft-receiving opening to permanently receive a shaft segment that supports the damper blade within the duct. First and second shaft segments that each have an interior end that permanently mates with one of the attachment clips shaft receiving openings are provided. The first and second shaft segments each have a cylindrical portion that extends through the wall of the duct. The first shaft segment has a control handle receiving portion for attaching a control handle that controls the position of the damper blade within the duct. The second shaft segment has a head larger than the shaft segment cylindrical portion so that the head remains outside the duct.
The present invention further provides a combination of a circular damper blade and a damper mounting assembly for rotatively mounting the circular damper blade in a duct having a circular cross section. The combination includes a circular damper blade that has two attachment clips secured to axially opposite sides of the damper blade. The attachment clips each have four-sided shaft receiving openings that have a snap-in tongue extending into the shaft receiving openings to permanently receive a shaft segment that rotatively supports the damper blade within the duct. First and second shaft segments are provided that each have an interior rectangular end portion that has a groove in the end portion to receive the snap-in tongue to permanently secure the shaft segment to its respective attachment clip once the shaft segment rectangular end portion is inserted into the attachment clip four-sided shaft receiving opening. The first and second shaft segments each have a cylindrical portion that extends through circular holes formed in the axially opposite positions in the duct. The first shaft segment has a flattened threaded portion extending axially outwardly from the cylindrical portion to receive a control handle for controlling the position of the damper blade within the duct. The second shaft segment has a head larger than a shaft segment cylindrical portion that remains outside the duct.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide relatively inexpensive hardware for positioning a damper blade within a duct that does not degrade the efficiency of the duct.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a damper and a mounting assembly which is easily assembled by inserting shaft segments from outside the duct to register with the attachment clips which have already been secured to the damper blade.
These and other objects of the present invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 131591 (1872-09-01), Ball
patent: 2772850 (1956-12-01), Eaton
patent: 4503755 (1985-03-01), Nordquist et al.
patent: 4715581 (1987-12-01), Myers
patent: 5356116 (1994-10-01), Morgan et al.
Bonderer David A.
Ductmate Industries, Inc.
Raynovich, Jr. George
Shaver Kevin
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