US 12,044,430 B2Granted

Retrofit damper assembly

AssigneeAdemco Inc.

InventorsDavid J. Emmons, Nathan Carlson, Steven Wolff

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A damper assembly is configured for placement within a duct of a ductwork system that supplies conditioned air through a register boot to a register vent. The damper assembly includes a damper that is configured to articulate from a deployment configuration, which facilitates advancement of the damper through the register boot and into the duct, to an operational configuration, in which the damper is positioned within the duct and able to selectively control how much conditioned air being supplied through the duct is permitted to pass by the damper and exit the register vent. The damper assembly includes an elongated deployment member that extends from the damper and is configured to facilitate advancement of the damper through the register boot and into the duct.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A damper assembly comprising:

a damper frame configured to be advanced into a duct to position the damper assembly within the duct, wherein the damper frame defines an air flow aperture;
a damper blade configured to rotate relative to the damper frame to control air flow through the aperture when the damper assembly is positioned within the duct, wherein the damper blade is configured to:
rotate to a closed end position wherein air is restricted from flowing through the aperture,
rotate to an open end position wherein air is less restricted from flowing through the aperture relative to the closed end position, and
rotate to one or more intermediate positions between the closed end and the open end positions;
a flexible member extending outward from the damper frame, the flexible member being configured to engage an inner wall of the duct when the damper assembly is positioned within the duct;
a damper insert arm pivotably secured to the damper frame,
wherein the damper insert arm is configured to be movable between a deployment configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially parallel with the damper frame and an operational configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially perpendicular to the damper frame;
and
a latch secured to the damper assembly,
wherein the latch is configured to releasably engage the damper insert arm in order to hold the damper insert arm in the deployment configuration,
wherein the latch comprises a pin on a locking structure and a corresponding cutout, wherein the locking structure is secured to the damper frame;
wherein the corresponding cutout releasably engages the pin when the damper insert arm is in the deployed configuration.

10 more elements

A method, comprising:

positioning a damper assembly within a duct of a ductwork system, wherein the duct is configured to supply air to a register vent, and wherein the damper assembly comprises:
a damper frame configured to be advanced into the duct to position the damper assembly within the duct, wherein the damper frame defines an air flow aperture,
a damper blade configured to rotate relative to the damper frame to control flow through the aperture when the damper assembly is positioned within the duct, wherein the damper blade is configured to:
rotate to a closed end position wherein air is restricted from flowing through the aperture,
rotate to an open end position wherein air is less restricted from flowing through the aperture relative to the closed end position, and
rotate to one or more intermediate positions between the closed end and the open end positions, and
a flexible member extending outward from the damper frame,
a damper insert arm pivotably secured to the damper frame,
wherein the damper insert arm is configured to be movable between a deployment configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially parallel with the damper frame and an operational configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially perpendicular to the damper frame;
and
a latch secured to the damper assembly,
wherein the latch is configured to releasably engage the damper insert arm in order to hold the damper insert arm in the deployment configuration,
wherein the latch comprises a pin on a locking structure and a corresponding cutout, wherein the locking structure is secured to the damper frame,
wherein the corresponding cutout releasably engages the pin when the damper insert arm is in the deployed configuration;
and
engaging an inner wall of the duct with the flexible member.

13 more elements

A method, comprising

positioning a damper assembly within a duct of a ductwork system, wherein the duct is configured to supply air to a register vent, and wherein the damper assembly comprises:
a damper frame configured to be advanced into the duct to position the damper assembly within the duct, wherein the damper frame defines an air flow aperture,
a damper blade configured to rotate relative to the damper frame to control flow through the air flow aperture when the damper assembly is positioned within the duct, wherein the damper blade is configured to:
rotate to a closed end position wherein air is restricted from flowing through the aperture,
rotate to an open end position wherein air is less restricted from flowing through the aperture relative to the closed end position, and
rotate to one or more intermediate positions between the closed end and the open end positions,
a flexible member extending outward from the damper frame,
a damper insert arm pivotably secured to the damper frame,
wherein the damper insert arm is configured to be movable between a deployment configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially parallel with the damper frame and an operational configuration in which the damper insert arm is substantially perpendicular to the damper frame,
a latch secured to the damper assembly,
wherein the latch is configured to releasably engage the damper insert arm in order to hold the damper insert arm in the deployment configuration,
wherein the latch comprises a pin on a locking structure and a corresponding cutout, wherein the locking structure is secured to the damper frame,
wherein the corresponding cutout releasably engages the pin when the damper insert arm is in the deployed configuration,
a control module including a control module housing, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the damper assembly, and
a power module including a power module housing, wherein the power module is configured to provide electrical power to actuate the damper assembly;
engaging an inner wall of the duct with the flexible member;
securing the control module housing to at least one of the duct or a register boot;
and
securing the power module housing to at least one of the duct or the register boot.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/658,711Filed 11 Apr 2022 · continuation
Priority: 12 Jun 2018
Published: US 2022/0235965 A128 Jul 2022
Granted: 23 Jul 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F24F 13/10
Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates: movable, e.g. dampers
F16K 1/221
With axis of rotation crossing the valve member, e.g. butterfly valves: specially adapted operating means therefor
F16K 1/2263
Shaping or arrangements of the sealing: the sealing being arranged on the valve seat
F16K 1/2071
The sealing being arranged on the valve seat: and being forced into sealing contact with the valve member by a spring or a spring-like member

Family

Application16/006,782Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Jun 2018
US 2022/0235965 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Jul 2022
US 11,300,319 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0376722 A1Published application
US 12,044,430 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.