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Small duct high velocity damper assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Inlet Airway, Including Automatic Control MeansSmall duct high velocity damper assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070173192, Small duct high velocity damper assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0001] U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148, issued on Oct. 17, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Also, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,165, filed on Sep. 14, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to damper assemblies for heating venting and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a small duct high velocity (SDHV) damper assembly and methods of assembling and installing the SDHV damper assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various types of damper devices have been developed over the years to control the flow of fluid through ducts in low velocity HVAC systems (i.e., provide zone control). The damper devices are used to control the flow of air through the systems' air ducts and range from a simple hand-turnable damper vane often found in residential buildings to motor driven mechanical damper assemblies more commonly used in commercial and industrial structures. Another type of damper device employs an inflatable bladder or bellows to control fluid flow through a duct, and details of particularly useful bladder-type flow control devices and associated systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,524, and 4,702,412. One advantage of the bladder-type flow control devices shown in these patents is that they could be easily retrofitted into existing ducts with minimal difficulty. [0004] Another prior art type of damper device for low velocity HVAC systems is a mechanical damper assembly comprising a short piece of metal duct in which a damper vane is provided with a shaft that is pivotally mounted for rotation in the short piece of metal duct. The damper vane is rotated between open and closed positions by a motor mounted to and outside the duct piece and connected to the damper vane shaft. [0005] The aforesaid type of mechanical damper assembly is somewhat difficult to install in an existing low velocity metal duct. Installation requires the duct piece of the damper assembly to be spliced into the existing low velocity duct. This involves cutting out a length of the existing metal duct and usually dismantling of the existing metal duct to enable such cutting and/or assembly of the duct piece between adjacent sections of the existing duct. This dismantling, cutting, and reassembling of the metal ductwork is time consuming and, therefore, an expensive operation when performed by paid installers. [0006] The damper vanes in prior art mechanical damper assemblies heretofore have been driven by both electric and fluid motors. A drawback of electric damper motors is that often their life cycle is comparatively short and limited, thereby making motor replacement a relatively frequent and expensive maintenance operation. Another problem is that, in systems employing a considerable number of electric motor driven dampers, relatively complicated wiring schemes and transformers are often involved, all adding to the cost and complexity of the overall system. Fluid motors eliminate the electrical wiring problems and often have comparatively longer life cycles, but they too have had drawbacks associated therewith. Even with so-called frictionless diaphragm-type fluid motors, the actuator members thereof are typically engaged by bearings and wipers that still hinder free linear movement of the members. Also, to reduce friction, the members are often made of hardened steel as opposed to less expensive materials. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a fluid flow control damper assembly that overcomes many of the drawbacks associated with the damper assemblies described above herein. In this patent, a damper assembly comprises a support base for external mounting to a side of a duct. A damper vane is mounted to the support base for movement between open and closed positions. The damper vane is located inwardly of the inner side of the support base for positioning interiorly of the duct when the support base is mounted to the duct. An actuator is mounted to the support base and operatively connected to the damper vane for moving the damper between open and closed positions. The support base includes a closure for closing an access opening in a side wall of the duct of sufficient size to permit insertion of the damper vane therethrough. The closure includes a mounting member and a gasket at the inner side of the mounting member for providing a seal between the mounting member and the side wall of the duct. The actuator includes a fluid motor of the type including a diaphragm. The damper vane may be pivotally mounted to the end of a mounting post extending inwardly from the support base and the fluid motor may have an actuator member connected to the diaphragm and extending generally parallel to the mounting post for connection to the damper vane. [0008] For SDHV HVAC systems, zone control has been difficult and largely impractical due to a lack of sufficient damper assemblies designed for the unique properties and characteristics of SDHV HVAC systems (e.g., higher air velocities and pressures than that of traditional low velocity HVAC systems and smaller diameter duct work, for example, 2 inch diameter duct work). Therefore, a need exists for a damper assembly that may be used in SDHV HVAC systems. [0009] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] An embodiment of the present invention comprises a damper assembly for controlling the flow of fluid through a duct. The damper assembly includes a first damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The damper assembly further includes a second damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end wherein the first open end of the second damper housing half is joined to the first open end of the first damper housing half to form an assembled damper housing. The damper assembly also includes a substantially elliptical damper blade pivotally mounted within the assembled housing along a minor axis of the damper blade for movement between opened and closed positions. The damper assembly further includes an actuator member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally connected to a first side of the damper blade near the first end of the member. The actuator member extends through an opening in the assembled damper housing toward the second end of the member such that the damper blade pivots about the minor axis when the actuator member is moved along a longitudinal axis of the actuator member. The longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the minor axis. The damper assembly also includes a damper actuator mounted to the assembled damper housing such that the second end of the actuator member is connected to a movable diaphragm of the damper actuator to move the actuator member longitudinally when the damper actuator is pressure or vacuum activated by an air pump. [0011] A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of assembling a damper assembly used for controlling the flow of fluid through a duct. The method comprises identifying component parts of the damper assembly including a damper actuator having a damper actuator housing and a protruding actuator member, a damper blade having an axle and at least one bracket, a first damper housing half having a first joining flange with first axle receiver recesses, and a second damper housing half having a second joining flange with second axle receiver recesses. The method further includes pivotally securing the damper blade to the actuator member via the at least one bracket on a back surface of the damper blade. The method also includes loosely securing the first damper housing half to the damper actuator housing. The method further includes aligning the axle of the damper blade with the first axle receiver recesses in the first joining flange of the first damper housing half. The method further comprises tightly securing the second damper housing half to the first damper housing half at the joining flanges such that the axle is also aligned with the second axle receiver recesses in the second joining flange of the second damper housing half. The method also includes aligning the loosely secured damper housing halves to the damper actuator housing and tightly securing the aligned damper housing halves to the damper actuator housing. [0012] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of installing a damper assembly, comprising a damper housing connected to a damper actuator, and used for controlling the flow of fluid through small duct high velocity (SDHV) flex line duct work. The method includes making a cut through a cross-section of the duct work to form two open sections of the duct work. The method further includes inserting a first open end of the damper housing into a first open section of the two open sections of the duct work to form a first joint. The method also includes inserting a second open end of the damper housing into a second open section of the two open sections of the duct work to form a second joint. The method further comprises securing the first joint to hold the first open end within the first open section and securing the second joint to hold the second open end within the second open section. The method also includes sealing the first joint to form a first air tight sealed joint and sealing the second joint to form a second air tight sealed joint. The method further includes connecting a first end of an air supply line to an air inlet port of the damper actuator. [0013] Like all air distribution systems, SDHV HVAC systems depend on moving conditioned air to the living spaces to maintain a desirable temperature in those spaces. The system is scaled and laid out to deliver enough air to maintain the desired temperature during peak load conditions. A problem is that peak conditions occur during only about 10% of the annual duty cycle. During other times, peak delivery will mean that some areas of the building will be too warm while others will be too cool. Zoning combats such a problem by serving only those areas that are demanding service "right now". That is, when thermostats installed in those areas call, air is provided. When the thermostats in certain zones are not calling, the dampers are closed and the air is served somewhere else. [0014] In general SDHV HVAC systems tend to be much more expensive than conventional HVAC systems and are installed in homes that have architectural challenges that preclude standard duct work, or in historical homes that were not designed for cooling and adding conventional duct work. Because air is moved faster in a SDHV HVAC system, the size of the duct work may be reduced. The trunk is typically 6 to 10 inches wide, with 2 inch flexible duct runouts feeding inconspicuous outlets. The small size of the runouts allows contractors to run them inside standard stud walls or through ceilings without having to build"ugly" sofits. An air pump in a SDHV HVAC system may generate 40-60 inches of water column in pressure and vacuum resulting in 1-2 inches of water column static pressure inside the SDHV duct work. Airflow is typically around 2400 feet/minute in such SDHV HVAC systems. [0015] It has traditionally been thought that SDHV HVAC systems could not be zoned. Manufacturers have been concerned that raising the static pressure, by closing zone dampers and reducing the effective size of duct work, would cause a severe loss in airflow through the equipment, thereby causing the equipment to become too cold (during cooling) and freeze up. However, the damper assembly as described herein allows for zoning of SDHV HVAC systems. Contractors should follow the equipment manufacturers' recommendations about the total number of runs throughout the system but they should not have less than 3.5 outlets per ton of cooling in any zone. This works well for refrigerant-based air conditioning and heat pump systems. For systems using chillers or boilers, there is no restriction on outlets. [0016] These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a damper assembly for use in a SDHV HVAC system, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. [0019] FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate several different views of the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Continue reading about Small duct high velocity damper assembly... Full patent description for Small duct high velocity damper assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Small duct high velocity damper assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Small duct high velocity damper assembly or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Roof vent Next Patent Application: Dangerous mail handler Industry Class: Ventilation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Small duct high velocity damper assembly patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.52692 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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