Air duct damper
AssigneeJohnson Controls GmbH
InventorsJean H. Scholten, Aurimas Aniulis, Damon Bryan Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air damper assembly for an air duct having an interior wall and an exterior wall is provided. The air damper assembly includes a damper plate having a periphery and multiple teeth spaced at least partially around and extending from the periphery. The multiple teeth vary in length from a maximum to a minimum over a span of approximately 90 degrees around the periphery. The air damper assembly further includes an axle assembly fixedly coupled to the damper plate and rotatably coupled to the air duct. Rotation of the axle assembly causes the damper plate to rotate within the air duct between a fully open position and a fully closed position to increase or decrease a flow of fluid through the air duct.
Claims23
An air damper assembly for an air duct, the air duct having an interior wall, the air damper assembly comprising:
- an airflow member having a first peripheral edge;
- a plurality of flexible projections spaced at least partially around and extending from the first peripheral edge, the plurality of flexible projections providing a plurality of airspaces between adjacent ones of the plurality of flexible projections at least partially around the first peripheral edge;
- a gasket having a second peripheral edge;
- an axle assembly rotatably coupled to the air duct such that rotation of the axle assembly causes the airflow member to rotate within the air duct between a fully open position and a fully closed position to control a flow of a fluid through the air duct;
- and
- a first damper plate having a third peripheral edge disposed radially inward from the second peripheral edge;
- wherein the axle assembly is coupled to the first damper plate;
- and
- wherein the plurality of flexible projections flex during rotation of the airflow member between the fully closed position and a partially closed position such that a size of one of the plurality of airspaces varies to control a portion of the flow of the fluid through the air duct.
A method of controlling a flow of fluid through an air duct, the method comprising:
- receiving a target airflow setpoint;
- receiving an airflow measurement from a pressure sensor;
- generating a command to rotate an airflow member about an axis to a position setpoint between a fully open position and a fully closed position based at least in part on the target airflow setpoint and the airflow measurement, wherein the airflow member has a first peripheral edge and a plurality of projections spaced at least partially around and extending from the first peripheral edge, the plurality of projections increasing in length from the first peripheral edge at increasing distances from the axis, wherein the airflow member is coupled to a damper plate having a second peripheral edge, wherein a gasket is placed on the damper plate, the gasket having a third peripheral edge disposed radially outward from the second peripheral edge;
- and
- driving the airflow member to the position setpoint.
A method of providing an air damper assembly for an air duct, the air duct having an interior wall, comprising:
- providing an airflow member having a first peripheral edge;
- providing a damper plate having a second peripheral edge, the damper plate coupled to the airflow member;
- providing a gasket having a third peripheral edge disposed radially outward from the second peripheral edge;
- providing a plurality of projections between the airflow member and the air duct, the plurality of projections extending from the first peripheral edge and gradually increasing in length from a minimum to a maximum, the length being from the first peripheral edge;
- and
- providing an axle assembly fixedly coupled to the damper plate and rotatably coupled to the air duct such that rotation of the axle assembly about an axis causes the airflow member to rotate within the air duct and increase or decrease fluid flow therethrough;
- wherein a first projection of the plurality of projections has a length equal to the minimum is disposed adjacent the axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.