US 2014/0148088 A1Published application

Damper to control fluid flow and associated methods

AssigneeAirgonomix, LLC

InventorsSean J. Fitzgerald, John C. Farrar, Robert F. Keimer, David L. Huie, Allen N. Williams, Matthew S. Ikemeier, Brendan T. Fitzgerald

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Abstract

A damper for controlling fluid flow may include a main body, a stator that includes a plurality of stator blades, and a rotor moveably connected to the stator and including a plurality of rotor blades. The damper may also include a rotation mechanism mounted to the main body to move the rotor between an opened position and a closed position. The shape of each of the plurality of stator blades and rotor blades may combine to form a shape such that the velocity of the fluid is increased thereby reducing or eliminating back pressure when the rotor is in the opened position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A damper for controlling fluid flow comprising:

a main body;
a stator carried by the main body and including a plurality of stator blades, each of the plurality of stator blades having a substantially flat bottom;
and
a rotor moveably connected to the stator and carried by the main body, the rotor including a plurality of rotor blades, each of the plurality of rotor blades having a substantially flat bottom;
a rotation mechanism mounted to the main body and connected to a portion of the rotor to move the rotor between an opened position and a closed position;
wherein the shape of each of the plurality of stator blades and each of the plurality of rotor blades combine to form a converging-diverging nozzle when the rotor is in the opened position;
wherein the opened position is defined as the substantially flat bottom of each of the plurality of stator blades being aligned with the substantially flat bottom of each of the plurality of rotor blades to allow fluid to flow through the main body;
wherein the stator and the rotor are carried by the main body so that fluid flows through the main body substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat bottoms of each of plurality of rotor blades and each of the plurality of stator blades so that fluid flows through the converging-diverging nozzle formed by alignment of the substantially flat bottoms of each of the plurality of stator blades and each of the plurality of rotor blades when the rotor is in the opened position;
wherein the closed position is defined as each of the plurality of stator blades being offset from each of the plurality of rotor blades to restrict the flow of fluid through the main body.

6 more elements

A method of using a damper to control a flow of fluid, the damper comprising a main body having a substantially cylindrical shape, a first side defined as an entrance side and a second side opposite the first side and defined as an exit side, a stator having a substantially cylindrical shape carried by the main body and integrally formed therewith, the stator including a plurality of stator blades, and a rotor having a substantially cylindrical shape that is moveably connected to the stator and carried by the main body, the rotor including a plurality of rotor blades, and a rotation mechanism mounted to the main body and connected to a portion of the rotor to move the rotor between an opened position and a closed position, the method comprising:

moving the rotor from the opened position to the closed position responsive to a signal received by a controller in communication with the rotor to restrict fluid flow through the damper;
and
moving the rotor from the closed position to the opened position responsive to a signal received by the controller to allow fluid flow through the damper;
wherein the opened position of the rotor is defined as a substantially flat bottom of each of the plurality of stator blades being aligned with a substantially flat bottom of each of the plurality of rotor blades to allow fluid to flow through the main body;
wherein the stator and the rotor are carried by the main body so that fluid flows through the main body substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat bottoms of each of plurality of rotor blades and each of the plurality of stator blades so that fluid flows through a channel formed by alignment of the substantially flat bottoms of each of the plurality of stator blades and each of the plurality of rotor blades when the rotor is in the opened position;
wherein the closed position is defined as each of the plurality of stator blades being offset from each of the plurality of rotor blades to restrict the flow of fluid through the main body.
wherein the plurality of rotor blades and the plurality of stator blades are spaced between about 2 and 10 degrees apart.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/095,460Filed 3 Dec 2013
Priority: 29 Apr 2008
Published: 29 May 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

F24F 11/46
For purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring: improving electric energy efficiency or saving
F24F 11/30
Control or safety arrangements: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
F24F 11/52
Characterised by user interfaces or communication: indication arrangements, e.g. displays
F24F 11/56
Characterised by user interfaces or communication: remote control

Family

Application61/048,607Us provisional application · filed 29 Apr 2008
Application61/048,622Us provisional application · filed 29 Apr 2008
Application61/161,221Us provisional application · filed 18 Mar 2009
Application12/431,219Continuation · filed 28 Apr 2009
Application14/095,460Continuation
US 2009/0266903 A1Published application
US 8,636,567 B2Related patent
US 2014/0148088 A1This patent

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