Airflow control valve for a clean room
AssigneeSynetics Solutions Inc.
InventorsBruce S. MacGibbon, Mark C. Wolochuk, Lee I. Wolochuk, Christopher P. Sirovy, James F. LeBaron, Jeffrey W. Yarroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airflow control valve for a clean room having a duct section with a damper positioned within the duct. The damper being capable of an adjustment from an open position to a closed position. The opening and closing of the duct is accomplished through a magnetic coupling such that the duct can remain sealed during operation. The airflow control valve includes a sensor for measuring the airflow rate, so that the duct can be adjusted to maintain one or more predetermined flow rate set-points.
Claims7
An airflow control valve comprising:
- at least a portion of an air flow duct;
- a damper positioned within the duct;
- at least one magnet connected to the damper;
- and
- a magnetic damper actuator positioned outside the duct such that movement of the actuator causes a corresponding movement of the damper, thereby actuating the damper to adjust the airflow through the duct;
- wherein the damper is comprised of a plurality of rotatable plates, each plate having at least one airflow opening, wherein the plates are coupled together in a manner so that the rotary actuation of one plate may cause another plate to rotate, in a manner so that the plates cooperatively adjust the open area for airflow through the valve.
An airflow control device comprising:
- an adjustable damper that restricts the airflow through a duct;
- a means for adjusting the amount of airflow restriction created by the damper;
- a means for determining the volumetric flow rate of air through a region of the duct;
- and
- a controller that automatically adjusts the amount of airflow restriction caused by the damper by a predetermined amount in response to a measured change in the volumetric flow rate;
- wherein the damper comprises a plurality of plates each having at least one airflow opening, the plates being rotatable coupled together in a manner so that the rotary actuation of one plate may cause another plate to rotate, in a manner so that the plates cooperatively adjust the open area for airflow through the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.