U.S. patent number 3,800,688 [Application Number 05/296,979] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-02 for method and apparatus for pivotally mounting fluid deflection blades.
This patent grant is currently assigned to United States Register Company. Invention is credited to Wilbert J. Parrish.
United States Patent |
3,800,688 |
Parrish |
April 2, 1974 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING FLUID DEFLECTION
BLADES
Abstract
In an air flow register, a plurality of deflection blades are
channeled at their ends to pivotally receive the ends of opposed
pivot pins. A plurality of such pins are secured along an elongated
support, which, in turn, is either received within a groove of the
register frame or grips the edge of the frame. Assembly of the
blades is facilitated by first mounting the blades on opposed pivot
pin strips and then mounting the assembly of blades and pivot pin
strips in the register.
Inventors: |
Parrish; Wilbert J. (Battle
Creek, MI) |
Assignee: |
United States Register Company
(Battle Creek, MI)
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Family
ID: |
23144361 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/296,979 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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157531 |
Jun 28, 1971 |
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19337 |
Mar 13, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/320;
454/313 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
13/15 (20130101); F24F 13/1486 (20130101); F24F
13/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
13/14 (20060101); F24F 13/15 (20060101); F24f
013/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;48/107,110,112,113,114,121 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dority, Jr.; Carroll B.
Assistant Examiner: Ferguson; Peter D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gary, Juettner, Pigott &
Cullinan
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE
This is a divisional application of my copending application Ser.
No. 157,531, filed June 28, 1971, which is a continuation-in-part
of my application Ser. No. 19,337, filed Mar. 13, 1970, now
abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. An article to enable pivotal mounting of a plurality of members
relative to the edge of a support, said article comprising a first
strip, a plurality of pins projecting from one surface of said
strip, a second strip secured along the opposite surface of said
first strip transversely thereof, a groove in said first strip at
the juncture thereof with the second strip, said groove being
proportioned to receive the edge of the support, and an abutment on
said opposite surface of said first strip, said abutment having a
top surface coplanar with the bottom of said groove and being
tapered from said top surface toward said opposite surface of said
first strip.
2. Means for mounting deflector blades in a fluid flow register
comprising an integral molded strip having a plurality of spaced
pivot pins projecting therefrom, said strip comprising a generally
L-shaped base having a first leg for overlying the front face of an
edge surface of the register and a second leg, said second leg
having spaced detent lugs on the back thereof and juxtaposed to the
back of said first leg for engaging the rear face of the edge
surface of the register.
3. Means for mounting deflector blades in the outlet opening of an
air flow register wherein the outlet is defined by inwardly
projecting edges of the frame around said opening, comprising a
strip having a plurality of pivot pins projecting from one side
thereof, and means defining a groove in the other side of said
strip parallel to and facing in the direction opposite said pins
adapted to receive the projecting edge of said frame for mounting
said strip on said edge, said groove defining means including
detent means at the side of the groove adjacent the interior of the
register for permitting said strip to be snapped into the register
outlet from the front face of the frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for directing or
deflecting fluid flow through a duct and more particularly to a
method and apparatus wherein a plurality of blades or louvers are
pivotally mounted across the duct, in order to control or direct
the flow of fluid therethrough.
Conventional fluid directing apparatus comprises a plurality of
blades extending across a duct through which the fluid is
delivered. The blades are normally pivotally mounted in order to
adjustably direct or otherwise control the flow of fluid emitted
from the duct. In the case of an air register, a duct leading from
a source of forced air terminates at the register, which is
conventionally mounted in the wall of a building. The register,
being in fluid communication with the duct, may employ a damper to
control the degree of air flow therethrough, as well as a grill
having blades or louvers for deflecting the air flow in a specific
direction or pattern.
In many instances, it is desirable to provide means for adjusting
the angle of the deflector blades, in order to selectively direct
the air flow toward one or more given areas. One manner of
providing for such adjustability is to pivotally mount the
individual blades at their ends in the register. Heretofore, and as
shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the deflectors have
been pivotally mounted by means of individual rods extending
through the full length of each blade, with the protruding ends of
the rod extending into apertures within respective rearwardly
extending walls of the register.
Such structure suffers the disadvantage that is is expensive and
difficult to manufacture. For example, individual apertures must be
drilled on both sides of the register in order to accommodate the
rods. Also, care must be taken to align the opposed apertures such
that the assembled blades will be disposed in a parallel
relationship with respect to one another. Furthermore, the rods
must be individually inserted from the side of the register through
one aperture, then through a rod receiving channel running the
length of the blade, and then through the opposite aperture at the
other side of the structure. Because of the numerous steps
involved, assembly is costly and time-consuming. In addition, some
register installations do not permit the use of rearwardly
extending walls, thereby prohibiting the use of pivoted blades.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a fluid directing
apparatus, such as an air flow register, having means for pivotally
mounting a plurality of deflector blades and employing a minimum
number of parts that may be readily assembled.
Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid directing
apparatus having pivoted blades, wherein the parts required for
assembly may be inexpensively formed and be installed in various
types of support structure.
A further object is to provide a simple and rapid method for
assembling a plurality of pivoted deflector blades into a
register.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following description and claims, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partially assembled
gaseous fluid directing apparatus, in the form of an air register,
constructed in accordance with the prior art.
FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view illustrating a
modified frame member and an integral pin carrying strip for
supporting the deflector blades or louvers in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a register having a blade
pivotally mounted therein in accordance with the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but
illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but
illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show respective top, bottom, and side elevational
views of a further embodiment of the pivot pin strip that may be
used in connection with the structure shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 9 is a cross section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are respective top, end and bottom views of an
additional version or embodiment of a pivot pin strip that may be
secured along the edge of a support.
FIG. 13 is a front elevation of a register with certain parts
omitted or broken away, said register employing the pivot pin
strips of FIGS. 10-12.
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a deflector blade on line
14--14 of FIG. 13.
Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner
of making and using my invention, I shall describe in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings certain preferred embodiments of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a conventional register over which the present
invention is an improvement, said register being shown in inverted
position to facilitate the description thereof. The register 10
comprises a rectangular frame 12 having a central air flow opening
or window 15, said window also being rectangular in shape.
Side walls 14, 16, 17 and 18 are secured from the frame 12 around
respective sides of the window and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Adjacent side walls are connected to each other to form a box
structure that is normally inserted into an opening in a wall of a
building for fluid communication with a duct. A plurality of
louvers or blades 20 are pivotally mounted in the window 15, each
blade comprising an enlarged rib 22 extending along one edge and
having a cylindrical bore or channel 50 therethrough (see FIG. 3)
extending the full length of said rib.
Opposed pluralities of apertures 25--25 are provided along parallel
lines in opposed side walls 14 and 16. A rod 24 is inserted
completely through the channel 50 of each blade, and the ends of
the rod are received in the opposed apertures 25. A removable
terminus, such as a nut may be provided at each end of each rod 24
to prevent axial disengagement from the frame. As shown, a
plurality of blades are thus mounted in the window in parallel
relationship. The rods 24 extending across the window provide a
pivotal mounting for each blade, which in turn allows for
adjustment of the slot between adjacent blades as well as the angle
of deflection of such blades.
It will be appreciated therefore that the blades must be
individually assembled by passing the rod through an aperture in
one side wall, then completely through the channel of the blade,
and then through the aperture in the opposite wall. Assembly is
necessarily time consuming, tedious and costly because of the many
operations involved. Also, the alignment of opposed apertures as
well as the spacing between adjacent apertures is critical in
assuring proper functioning and appearance of the register.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention as
illustrated in FIGS. 2-13, a plurality of blades 20 may be mounted
as an assembly, in contrast with the individual mounting
illustrated in FIG. 1. In accordance with the present invention,
the blades are mounted at their ends on opposed short pivot pins,
which pins at each side of the register are integral with an
elongated strip or support, herein called a pivot pin strip. After
the blades have been mounted on the pivot pin strips, the blade and
strip assembly is mounted in the register as a unit, thereby
greatly facilitating construction and minimizing assembly time. The
pins are fixed in the proper spaced relationship, thereby
eliminating the need for the drilling of holes in the register
walls. Moreover, the opposed pins are automatically aligned by
abutment of the end of the supporting strip with an adjacent wall
or edge of the register.
Referring in greater detail to FIG. 2, one preferred embodiment
includes a unitary pin strip comprising an elongated support or
base 34, generally rectangular in cross-section, and having a
plurality of spaced pins 30 projecting from the surface of the
base. The pins 30 are parallel to one another, of the same length
and equally spaced, with their axes located in a common plane. The
pins 30 are each tapered at their free ends to facilitate their
insertion into the blade channels 50. The pivot pins strips may be
molded from a suitable material such as die cast or extruded metal,
or plastic in the form of a phenolic resin, or a thermoplastic
resin such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon, or
other suitable materials, with the pins 30 being molded or cast
integrally with the base 34.
The base 34 of the pivot pin strip is shaped to lie in a
complementary three-sided open groove 48 formed in a rearwardly
extending wall 42 of the register frame 40, corresponding to wall
16 of the frame 12 of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 3, the frame 40 includes opposite rearwardly
extending walls 42 and 44 (corresponding to walls 14 and 16 of the
frame 12 of FIG. 1) each of which is formed with a groove 48, the
grooves opposing and being parallel to one another and each being
adapted for reception of a pivot pin strip as shown in FIG. 2. For
the sake of convenience, one of the pin strips is indicated at
30-34 and the other at 32-36 in FIG. 3. As shown, the opposed pins
30 and 32 of the respective bases or strips 34 and 36 are first
inserted in respective ends of the channel 50 in each blade 20. The
channel 50 may be located at one of the longitudinal edges of the
blade as shown, or may be formed near the center of the blade.
After insertion of the pins in the ends of blades, the respective
bases 34 and 36 are inserted into opposed parallel grooves 48
formed in the respective opposed walls 42 and 44 of the support.
Preferably, the step of insertion is performed before one of the
adjacent walls, such as one of the walls 17 or 18 (FIG. 1) is fixed
in position. In this manner, the blade and strip assembly may be
slid into the opposed grooves as a unit from one side of the frame.
When assembled, the pins 30 of one strip oppose the pins 32 of the
other strip, with the axes of all of the pins being located in a
common plane. The blades 20 are preferably sufficiently wide so
that the ends of the ribs 22 extend to the bases of the opposed
pins, thereby preventing excessive lateral freeplay of the blades.
Also, contact of the pivot pin strip with the end of the blade
prevents excessive inward movement of the strip relative to the
register frame and hence, prevents accidental dislogement of the
strip from the groove 48.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein the
strip 34a is embraced within or dovetailed into a corresponding
groove 48a of the support 42a. For simplicity of description, parts
similar to those previously described bear the same reference
numeral to which the distinguishing suffix a has been added. Thus,
the blades 20a are pivotally mounted at one end on pins 30a, each
of the pins 30a being integrally formed as a part of a strip 34a. A
similar arrangement (not shown) pivotally supports the other end of
the blades. The strip 34a is slidably mounted within the side 42a
of the frame 40a. Unlike the previous embodiment, however, the
sides 60 and 62 of the base do not extend at right angles with
respect to the bottom surface, but rather are slanted and converge
inward toward the pins in the form of a trapezoid when viewed in
cross-section. The groove 48a has a pair of converging walls that
are complementary with the slanting sides 60 and 62 of the base.
Thus, the strip 34a is dovetailed into the side wall 48a of the
frame. This feature imparts additional stability to the assembly
and prevents dislodgment of the strip from the groove, regardless
of pressures exerted on the blade 28. The dovetailing of the strip
into the groove also eliminates the need for maintaining close
tolerances between the width of the window and the length of the
blade.
Assembly of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is identical with the
assembly shown in FIG. 3. The blades 20a are mounted on
corresponding pins of opposed strips, and the blade and strip
assembly is inserted into the opposed grooves from one end
thereof.
FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention, wherein
the strips 34b are supported in a removable grooved panel 70 which
is separate from the side wall 42b of the frame. Parts similar to
those previously described bear the same reference numeral to which
the suffix b has been added. The blades 20b are supported at one
end by pins 30b which are integrally formed with a strip 34b.
Unlike the previous embodiments, the strip 34b is received in a
groove 74 in a separate panel 70, the panel in turn being supported
from the side wall 42b between a pair of notched ears 72 extending
from the wall. The strip 34b is supported and confined within a
suitably shaped groove 74 in the panel 70. The feature of employing
a separate grooved panel is desirable in instances where it may be
inconvenient or impractical to form a groove in the opposed side
walls of the register structure. It will be appreciated that the
groove 74 and the base 34a can be provided with converging side
walls in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4.
FIGS. 6-9 illustrate a further embodiment similar to that shown in
FIG. 4 but with the addition of features that result in cost
savings in the fabrication of the pivot pin strip. Since the cost
of a cast or molded part is directly related to the amount of
material used therein, it is desirable to eliminate the use of any
material that is not essential to the structural qualities of the
final product. In connection with the present embodiment, I have
found that considerable cost savings may be realized by reducing
the dimensions of the pivot pin strip between adjacent pins and by
providing recesses beneath the pins.
As shown, the modified pivot pin strip comprises a base or support
strip 80 having integrally formed and parallel pivot pins 82
projecting from one surface thereof. The base comprises relatively
thick portions 81 directly beneath the pins 82, said thick portions
preferably being of trapezoid shape in cross section and including
opposed side walls 84 and 86 (FIG. 9) converging toward the pins.
The support strip 80 further comprises relatively thin strands 88
of equal length connecting the thicker portions, said strands being
narrower and thinner than the pin supporting portions 81. As shown
in FIG. 7 and 9, additional material savings are realized by
providing recesses 90 in the underside of the support strip 80,
particularly in the thicker portions that support the pins 82. The
recesses 90 may be slightly converged toward the pin axis in order
to assure a substantially uniform wall thickness.
It will be understood that the pivot pin strips shown in FIG. 6-9
are used and assembled with deflector blades in the same manner as
the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. I have found that these modified
strips are equivalent to the FIG. 4 strips from a structural
viewpoint and yet are more economically constructed because of
savings of material.
FIGS. 10-14 show a further embodiment wherein the strips are
constructed and mounted in a different manner from the embodiments
previously described. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-9, the
strips are mounted within a channel or groove in a support which
necessarily extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the
axes of rotation of the blades, thereby necessitating the specially
formed and rearwardly extending walls 14-16, 42-44. In the FIG.
10-14 embodiment means are provided for mounting the deflector
blade assembly directly into the front of the window of the frame,
without need for rearwardly extending side walls or the strip
mounting grooves. In particular, the embodiment includes means for
mounting a pivot pin strip directly along the window defining edge
of the front face 12 of the register frame, i.e. on a support
surface that is parallel to the axes of rotation of the blades.
As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the improved pin strip comprises a
composite L-shaped support strip 100 having a pin carrying strip
102 and an integral support strip 104 that is perpendicular to the
pin strip. A plurality of equi-spaced pivot pins 106 project at
right angles from the pin carrying strip 102 near the free edge
thereof. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a groove 108 is provided on
the back side of the pin strip 102 (the side opposite the pins 106)
at the juncture of the pin and support strips. The top of the
groove 108 is coplanar with the underside of the support strip 104
and is of sufficient width to receive a free edge of the register
frame 110 (FIG. 11).
When mounted on the frame, the support strip 104 overlies and bears
on the front face of the frame 110, with the window defining edge
of the frame resting in the groove 108. A plurality of spaced
detent lugs or hooks 112 are provided on the back surface of the
pin support strip 102, the purpose of which is to secure the entire
strip in position upon installation into the frame. The hooks 112
are in the form of slightly rounded protuberances beneath the
groove 108, and each comprises a flat top surface that forms a
coplanar extension with the bottom of the groove. The hooks 112
have outer surfaces that taper inward toward the back surface of
the pin support strip 102 from the top surface thereof, in order to
facilitate assembly, as will be hereinafter described.
The assembled register of the presently described embodiment is
shown in FIG. 13. Again, a plurality of blades 118 are provided,
each having a substantially cylindrical channel 120 (FIG. 14) at
each end thereof adapted to receive corresponding pins 106. As
shown in FIG. 13, each blade 118 has a curved profile when viewed
in cross-section. The channel 120 may be conveniently formed by
crimping or bending one edge of the blade over toward its concave
surface. The other edge of the blade is also bent over and
flattened as indicated at 122 to provide additional structural
rigidity and to prevent exposure of sharp edges.
A plurality of the blades 118 are first assembled on opposed pin
strips 100a and 100b before assembly into the register. The
subassembly of blades and pivot pin strips is then inserted into
the window of the register frame from the front, such that the
tapered sections of the hooks 112 ride over the window-defining
edges of the frame 110. The subassembly snaps or locks into
position with the opposed edges of the window lying in the
respective grooves 108 of the pivot pin strips 100a and 100b.
When assembled, the blades 118 are each of sufficient width to
overlap an adjacent blade in order to provide for the maximum
degree of air flow control. Also, the blades are preferably of
sufficient length to prevent excessive lateral movement of the
subassembly in the window of the frame and further to prevent
accidental dislodgment therefrom.
Although the invention has been described in connection with
preferred embodiments, various obvious modifications to the
structures shown may be made. For example, the pin strip may be
modified to adapt to various types of support structures, and a
single pin disposed on a support may be used to support a single
blade or part. Further, while the invention has been described in
terms of the pivotal mounting of blades, it will be understood that
the pivot pin strips herein described are equally adaptable to the
mounting of other pivoting parts. Accordingly, it is intended that
the invention cover all alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *