US 4,393,664 A · Multiple damper assembly for reach-in cases of the air defrost type

Abstract

A damper system, for a reach-in refrigerated display case of the air-defrosted type utilizes a single gear-reduction, reversible motor to operate between open and closed positions a multiplicity of dampers, all of which must be operated simultaneously. A radial arm on the motor shaft has a pin-and-slot connection to one damper connected to a series of other dampers pivoted about a common axis for joint opening and closing thereof. Each of the connected dampers includes cam means acting upon tongues of a second series of dampers pivoted about a common axis parallel to the axis of the first damper series. When the dampers of the first series are actuated to open position, the cams individual to the dampers of that series act to cause corresponding dampers of the second series to open simultaneously therewith. In a similar fashion, all the dampers are closed simultaneously by reason of their interconnection and cam action. The disclosed invention has particular adaptability for incorporation in refrigerated display cases in which dampers control the inflow and exhaust of ambient air used in the described type of cases for defrost purposes.

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a refrigerated display case formed with an air inflow duct and an adjacent primary air passage having a refrigeration coil therein and respectively having inflow and exhaust openings for communicating said duct and passage with the ambient atmosphere during a defrost cycle, the improvement comprising:

(a) a first series of dampers controlling air flow through the exhaust openings;
(b) a second series of dampers controlling air flow through the inflow openings;
and
(c) means interengaging all of said dampers for joint simultaneous movement to open and closed positions respectively, the dampers of each series being arranged in a straight row, the row of dampers of the first series being parallel to the row of dampers of the second series, each damper of the first series being aligned transversely of said rows with a damper of the second series, the damper-interengaging means including an element extending between and rigidly connecting all the dampers of one of said series, said element being in the form of an elongated bar fixedly connected to each of the dampers of said one series and extending from end-to-end of said one series, the dampers of each series being hingedly mounted for movement between open and closed positions, all the dampers of each series being swingable about a common hinge axis, the hinge axes of the first and second series being parallel, said bar extending in parallel relation to said hinge axes, said damper-interengaging means including a cam on each damper of said one series and a tongue on the corresponding, transversely aligned damper of the other series engageable by the cam upon opening of the damper of said one series, the cams on the several dampers of said one series biasing the tongues of the several dampers of the other series when the dampers of said one series are moved to open position, for simultaneous movement of the dampers of the other series to open position conjointly with the dampers of said one series.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple damper assembly for reach-in cases of the air defrost type

Life of this patent

Multiple damper assembly for reach-in cases of the air defrost type

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10