U.S. patent number RE30,204 [Application Number 05/959,437] was granted by the patent office on 1980-02-05 for control damper.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ruskin Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to James R. Root.
United States Patent |
RE30,204 |
Root |
February 5, 1980 |
Control damper
Abstract
A control damper is mounted in a building duct system for
closing a control opening through a housing or frame and includes a
linkage connected to the housing and to a vane positioned in the
control opening and is operative for moving the vane between a flow
permitting position and a position closing the control opening. The
linkage includes a fusible portion permitting a resilient member to
move the vane to the position closing the control opening in the
event of temperature above the melting point of the fusible
portion. Cooperating latch members are mounted on the housing and
on the vane and are moved into vane holding engagement after
melting of a fusible portion and movement of the vane to the
position closing the control opening through the housing.
Inventors: |
Root; James R. (Independence,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Ruskin Manufacturing Company
(Grandview, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
27087291 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/959,437 |
Filed: |
November 9, 1978 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
614593 |
Sep 18, 1975 |
03996952 |
Dec 14, 1976 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/77;
137/601.09; 169/42; 292/81; 292/DIG.66; 49/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
17/383 (20130101); F16L 55/10 (20130101); Y10T
137/87475 (20150401); Y10T 137/1834 (20150401); Y10T
292/0895 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
17/38 (20060101); F16K 17/36 (20060101); F16L
55/10 (20060101); F16K 017/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/75-77,601
;98/86,101,113,121A ;160/1 ;292/81,DIG.66 ;49/7,8,74 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schwadron; Martin P.
Assistant Examiner: Gerard; Richard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fishburn, Gold & Litman
Claims
I claim:
1. A control damper for a fluid conduit, said control damper
comprising:
a. a housing defining a control opening;
b. at least one vane mounted in said housing and having opposed
side portions and movable between a fluid flow permitting position
and a position closing the control opening;
c. resilient means mounted on said housing and connected to said
vane for urging same into the position closing the control
opening;
d. means mounted on said housing and connected to said vane for
moving same between the flow permitting position and the position
closing the control opening and having a fusible portion thereby
allowing said resilient means to move said vane into the position
closing said control opening in the event of temperature above the
melting point of said fusible portion;
e. means mounted on said vane and said housing for retaining said
vane in the position closing the control opening after melting of
said fusible portion, said means for retaining said vane in said
closing position after melting of said fusible portion
including:
1. a stop member mounted on said housing adjacent said vane;
2. a fusible link having opposite ends;
3. a first holder member mounted on said vane and having one end of
said fusible link connected thereto; and
4. a second holder member mounted on said vane and having the other
end of said fusible link connected thereto, said second holder
member being resilient and retained in a position to clear said
stop member during movement of said vane and movable to a position
in engagement with said stop member upon melting of said fusible
link.
2. A control damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
a. said means for moving said vane between the flow permitting
position and the position closing the control opening includes:
1. a first bracket mounted on said housing;
2. a second bracket mounted on said vane and movable therewith;
and
3. an arm operatively connected to said first bracket and movable
relative to same, said arm having said fusible portion connected
thereto and extending therefrom and connected to said bracket.
3. A control damper as set forth in claim 2 wherein:
a. said housing has a plurality of vanes mounted therein and
including an upper vane and a lower vane;
b. each of said vanes has an axle portion extending therefrom and
outwardly through said housing;
c. each of said axle portions has an arm extending therefrom;
and
d. a connector link pivotally .[.is.]. connected to each of said
arms whereby movement of one of said vanes effects movement of all
of said vanes and locking of one of said vanes locks all of said
vanes.
4. A control damper as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
a. said control bracket of said means for moving said vanes between
the flow permitting position and the position closing the control
opening is mounted on the upper vane; and
b. said first holder member and said second holder member of said
means for retaining said vanes in the position closing the control
opening are mounted on the lower vane.
5. A control damper for a fluid conduit, said control damper
comprising:
a. a housing having side walls defining a control opening;
b. a plurality of elongated vanes mounted in said housing and
including at least a first vane and at least a second vane with
connecting mechanism for simultaneous movement, said vanes each
having opposed side portions and being movable between a fluid flow
permitting position and a position closing the control opening;
c. a resilient member mounted on said housing and connected to one
of said vanes for urging same into the position closing the control
opening;
d. means mounted on said housing and connected to first vane for
moving said vanes between the flow permitting position and the
position closing the control opening and having a fusible portion
thereby allowing said resilient member to move said respective
vanes into the position closing the control opening in the event of
temperature above the melting point of said fusible portion, said
means for moving said vanes between the flow permitting position
and the position closing the control opening including:
1. a pair of laterally spaced first brackets each mounted on a
respective one of said side walls of said housing, said first
brackets being laterally aligned;
2. a shaft extending between and rotatably supported on said first
brackets;
3. a second bracket mounted on the upper vane and movable
therewith; and
4. an arm mounted on said shaft and movable therewith relative to
said first brackets, said arm having said fusible portion connected
thereto and extending therefrom and connected to said second
bracket thereby retaining said vanes in a respective selected
position;
e. means mounted on said second vane and on said housing for
retaining said vanes in the position closing the control opening
after melting of said fusible portion, said means for retaining
said vanes in said closing position after melting of said fusible
portion including:
1. a stop member mounted on said housing adjacent the second
vane;
2. a fusible link having opposite ends;
3. a first holder member mounted on said second vane and having the
other end of said fusible link connected thereto; and
4. a second holder member mounted on said second vane and having
the other end of said fusible link connected thereto, said second
holder member being resilient and retained in a position to clear
said stop member during movement of said second vane and moveable
to a position in engagement with said stop member upon melting of
said fusible link.
6. A control damper as set forth in claim 5 wherein:
a. each of said plurality of vanes has axle portions extending from
opposite ends thereof and each extending outwardly through a
respective one of said side walls of said housing; and
b. said means for retaining said vanes in the position closing said
control opening after melting of said fusible portion includes:
1. a plurality of arms each mounted on and extending outwardly from
respective one of said axle portions, said arms each being adjacent
a respective one of the side walls of said housing; and
2. a connector link pivotally connected to each of said arms
whereby movement of one of said vanes effects movement of all of
said vanes and locking of one of said vanes effects locking of all
of said vanes.
7. A control damper for a fluid conduit, said control damper
comprising:
a. a housing defining a control opening;
b. at least one vane mounted in said housing and having opposed
side portions and movable between a fluid flow permitting position
and a position closing the control opening;
c. resilient means operatively connected to said vane for urging
same into the position closing the control opening;
d. means mounted on said housing and connected to said vane for
moving same between the flow permitting position and the position
closing the control opening and having a fusible portion thereby
allowing said resilient means to move said vane into the position
closing said control opening in the event of temperature above the
melting point of said fusible portion;
e. means mounted on said vane and said housing for retaining said
vane in the position closing the control opening after melting of
said fusible portion, said means for retaining the vane in said
closing position including:
1. a stop member mounted on said housing adjacent said vane;
2. a holder member mounted on said vane and having an end portion,
said holder member being resilient; and
3. a fusible link having one end fixed relative to said vane and
another end connected to said holder member adjacent said end
portion for normally retaining said holder member in a position
clear of said stop member during movement of the vane and releasing
said holder member for movement to a position in engagement with
said stop member upon melting of said fusible link. .Iadd. 8. A
control damper for a fluid conduit, said control damper
comprising:
(a) a housing defining a control opening;
(b) at least one vane mounted in said housing and having opposed
side portions and movable between a fluid flow permitting position
and a position closing the control opening;
(c) resilient means operatively connected to said vane for urging
same into the position closing the control opening;
(d) means mounted on said housing and connected to said vane for
moving same between the flow permitting position and the position
closing the control opening and having a fusible portion thereby
allowing said resilient means to move said vane into the position
closing said control opening in the event of temperature above the
melting point of said fusible portion;
(e) means mounted on said vane and said housing for retaining said
vane in the position closing the control opening after melting of
said fusible portion; said means for retaining the vane in said
closing position including:
(1) a stop member mounted on one of said housing and said vane;
(2) a holder member mounted on the other of said housing and said
vane, and having a resilient end portion positioned adjacent to
said stop member in the vane position closing the control opening;
and
(3) a fusible link connected with said holder member end portion
and normally retaining said end portion in a position clear of said
stop member during movement of the vane, and releasing said end
portion for movement to a position in engagement with said stop
member upon melting of said fusible link. .Iaddend.
Description
The present invention relates to fluid flow control apparatus and
more particularly to a control damper for controlling air flow in a
duct system of a building.
The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a
control damper for mounting in a fluid conduit and which is adapted
to close a control opening in the event of temperature above the
melting point of fusible members in control structure thereof; to
provide such a control damper having means adapted to retain vanes
in a closed position when subjected to heat and then to high
pressure streams of water after melting of certain fusible members;
to provide such a control damper having latch members adapted to
retain the vanes in a closed position with the latch members being
arranged to permit normal operation until melting of certain
fusible members; to provide such a control damper having a
connector linkage adapted to effect uniform movement of all vanes
whereby locking of one vane effects locking of all vanes; to
provide such a control damper wherein fusible members are
replaceable whereby the control damper may be quickly and easily
returned to operable position after melting of the fusible members;
to provide such a control damper including a motor operator
electrically connected to a smoke detector and energized thereby to
close vanes of the control damper until the smoke clears away; to
provide such a control damper wherein the components thereof are
all heat resistant except the fusible members; and to provide such
a control damper which is economical to manufacture, durable in
contruction, positive in operation, and particularly well adapted
for the proposed use.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration
and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of the specification and include an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate varius
objects and features of the control damper.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control damper embodying features
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the control damper and
showing vanes therein in a flow permitting position.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the control damper showing a
connector linkage for effecting simultaneous movement of the
vanes.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2
and showing resilient means for moving the vanes to a closed
position upon melting of a fusible member.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3
and showing the connector linkage for effecting simultaneous
movement of the vanes.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1 and
showing latch members adapted to retain the vanes in a position
closing the control opening.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 except showing
the latch members in a position retaining the vanes in the closed
position.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8--8
of FIG. 2 and showing a fusible portion of a control linkage.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the fusible
portion.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the latch
members shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and funtional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as
limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
Referring more in detail to the drawings:
In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference
numeral 1 designates generally a control damper adapted to be
mounted in a duct system of a building and operative for closing a
control opening through a housing or frame 2. The control damper 1
includes a control linkage 3 connected to the housing 2 and to a
vane 4 positioned in the control opening and operative for moving
the vane 4 between the flow permitting position and a position
closing the control opening. The control linkage 3 includes a
fusible portion 5 permitting a resilient member 6 to move the vane
4 to the position closing the control opening in the event of
temperature above the melting point of the fusible portion 5.
Cooperating latch means 7 are mounted on the housing 2 and on the
vane 4 and are moved into vane holding engagement after melting of
a fusible portion 7' and movement of the vane 4 to the position
closing the control opening through the housing 2.
The housing 2 comprises a damper frame defining a fluid control
opening. The illustrated housing preferably is of a generally
rectangular configuration and includes a pair of opposite side
frame sections 8 and 9 and top and bottom frame sections 10 and
11.
The housing or frame 2 has at least one vane 4 and preferably a
plurality of vanes movable simultaneously between a fluid flow
permitting position, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a
position closing the control opening, as best illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 7. The vanes 4 each have opposite side portions 12 and 13
each adapted to cooperate with respective adjacent side portions of
the next adjacent vane 4 when in the closed position to thereby
provide a positive closure for the housing 2. The housing 2 and
vanes 4 are substantially similar in construction to the housing
and vanes illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,081, issued Feb. 27,
1973, to James R. Root for CONTROL DAMPER CONSTRUCTION.
As best seen in FIG. 4, each vane has connected thereto one end of
a respective resilient member 6 with the other end thereof
connected to the housing or frame 2. The resilient members 6 are
each operative for urging each of the respective vanes into the
position closing the control opening. In the illustrated
embodiment, the resilient members 6 are coil springs each having
one end thereof connected to one of the side frame sections, for
example, side frame section 8, and the other end thereof connected
to an axle portion 14 of the respective vane 4.
The axle portions 14 each extend through the side frame section 8
and are preferably mounted in heat and corrosion resistant bearings
which will remain operative at 1800.degree. F. An example of
suitable bearings are of stainless steel which have the desired
heat and corrosion resistance for long life.
The control linkage 3 includes a bracket 15 mounted on the one vane
4 and movable therewith. Means are mounted on the housing and
operatively connected to the bracket 15 for selectively moving the
vanes 4 and include an arm 16 having the fusible portion 5
connected thereto and extending therefrom and connected to the
bracket 15 on the one vane 4. In the illustrated structure,
brackets 18 and 19 are mounted on the side frame sections 8 and 9
respectively and are laterally aligned. A shaft 20 extends between
and has opposite end portions thereof rotatably supported on the
brackets 18 and 19. The shaft 20 has the arm 16 mounted thereon
with the fusible portion 5 extending between the arm 16 and the
bracket 15 on the vane 4.
The illustrated fusible portion 5 has suitable holders on each of
the opposite ends thereof with the holders being pivotally
connected to the bracket 15 on the upper vane 4 and to the arm 16
on the shaft 20. The fusible portion 5 has sufficient strength to
transfer rotary motion of the shaft 20 to the upper vane 4 and is
formed of a metal having a melting point such that melting occurs
in the event of a fire in the building adjacent the control damper
1.
Any suitable means may be connected to the shaft 20 to selectively
rotate same to move the vanes 4 between the flow permitting
position and the position closing the control opening. In the
illustrated embodiment, a reversible drive motor 21 is pivotally
mounted on a suitable bracket 22 extending from the housing or
frame 2 and preferably mounted on a exterior surface thereof. The
drive motor 21 has a drive shaft 23 extending therefrom and
pivotally connected to a second arm 24 on the shaft 20. The drive
shaft 23 has threaded telescoping portions whereby extension
thereof moves the vanes 4 to a position closing the control opening
and retraction thereof moves the vanes 4 to the flow permitting
position.
Manual means may also be connected to the shaft 20 for turning same
to move the vanes 4 between the flow permitting position and the
position closing the control opening. The manual means are also
preferably positioned exteriorly of the control opening.
The drive motor 21 is preferably electrically connected to a
suitable smoke detecting device (not shown) in an electrical
circuit operative to energize the drive motor 21 to move the vanes
4 to the position closing the control opening when smoke is
detected and to move the vanes 4 to the flow permitting position
after the smoke clears from the smoke detecting device.
The control damper 1 includes a connected linkage 25 operative to
effect uniform movement of all vanes 4, such that when one vane is
moved, all vanes are moved together and when one vane is locked or
latched in the closed position, all the vanes are retained in the
closed position.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the vanes 4 has a second
axle portion 26 extending therefrom and outwardly through the other
side frame section 9. Each second axle portion 26 is suitably
rotatably supported in a heat resistant bearing. Each second axle
portion 26 has an arm 27 mounted thereon and extending therefrom. A
connector link 28 has each of the arms 27 pivotally connected
thereto whereby movement of one of the vanes 4, for example, an
upper vane having the bracket 15 thereon, effects movement of all
of the vanes 4 and locking or latching of one of the vanes, for
example, the lower vane 4, locks or latches all the vanes.
The latch means 7 is operative to retain the lower vane 4 in the
position closing the control opening. The connector linkage 25 and
the latch means 7 are operative to retain all the vanes 4 in the
position closing the control opening after melting of the fusible
portion 5 in the control linkage 3. In the illustrated embodiment,
a stop member 29 is mounted on the bottom frame section 11 adjacent
the lower vane 4 and is illustrated as an angle having an
upstanding leg 30 spaced from the lower vane 4 when in position
closing the control opening. A first holder member 31 is mounted on
and extends outwardly from one of the side portions, for example,
side portion 12, of the lower vane 4 and is positioned adjacent the
axle portion 14 thereof. A second holder member 32 is mounted on
and extends outwardly from the side portion 12 of the lower vane 4
and is spaced from the first holder member 31. The second holder
member 32 is formed of resilient metal, such as spring steel, and
is retained in a position to clear the upstanding leg 30 of the
stop member 29 during movement of the lower vane 4.
A fusible link 7' extends between the first and second holder
members 31 and 32 and has opposite ends thereof connected to the
first and second holder members by suitable hooks. The fusible link
7' has sufficient tensile strength to retain the second holder
member 32 in position to clear the upstanding leg 30 until melting
of the fusible link 7' permits the second holder member 32 to move
into retaining engagement with the stop member 29.
It is preferably that the fusible link 7' have a slightly higher
melting point than that of the fusible portion 5 whereby the second
holder member 32 of the latch means does not operate to hold the
vanes 4 closed until the resilient members 6 have moved the vanes 4
to the closed position after melting of the fusible portions 5.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the fusible portion 5 and means for
mounting same in the control linkage 3. The fusible portion 5 is
illustrated as an elongated bar having a respective aperture in
each of the opposite end portions 36 and 37 thereof. Mounting clips
38 and 39 removably receive the opposite end portions 36 and 37
respectively of the fusible portion 5.
The mounting clips 38 and 39 are pivotally connected to the bracket
15 on the upper vane 4 and to the arm 16 on the shaft 20
respectively. The mounting clips 38 and 39 each have a suitable
pivot pin 40 and a removable spring lock washer 41 for retaining
same in the mounted position.
Each of the mounting clips 38 and 39 has a pair of laterally spaced
ears 42 and 43 extending therefrom for engaging the respective end
portion of the fusible portion 5 and restricting relative movement
between the fusible portion 5 and the mounting clips 38 and 39. A
holder tab 44 and a spacing finger 45 extend from each of the
mounting clips 38 and 39 and are received in the aperture in the
respective end portion of the fusible portion 5. The holder tab 44
is positioned to permit the fusible portion 5 to snap into the
mounting clips.
FIG. 10 illustrates the components of the latch means 7. The
illustrated first holder member 31 has an outwardly extending arm
46 and a mounting arm 47 for connection to the lower vane 4. The
illustrated second holder member 32 has an outwardly extending arm
48 and a mounting arm 49 for connection to the lower vane 4 with
the mounting arm 47 of the first holder member 31 in overlying
relation therewith.
The fusible link 7' of the latch means 7 is illustrated as an
elongated bar having a respective aperture in each of the opposite
end portions 50 and 51 thereof. A first S-hook 52 extends between
the outwardly extending arm 46 and the upper end portion 50 of the
fusible link 7' and has opposite hook ends thereof received in
respective apertures in the first holder member arm 46 and the
fusible link end portion 50. A second S-hook 53 extends between the
outwardly extending arm 48 and the lower end portion 51 of the
fusible link 7' and has opposite hook ends thereof received in
respective apertures in the second holder member arm 48 and the
fusible link end portion 51.
It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described
one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific
form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.
* * * * *