US 6,270,401 B1Granted

Air diffuser with unitary valve assembly

AssigneeHart & Cooley, Inc.

InventorDavid Wormmeester

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Abstract

An air diffuser is adapted to be fluidly connected to an air duct. The air diffuser comprises a face and a unitary valve assembly. The face comprises a number of openings separated by louvers, which are preferably of a fixed angular orientation. The unitary valve assembly comprises vanes that are rotatably attached to a body by a deformable web that is integral to the valve assembly body and the vanes. The vanes are adjusted by means of an adjustment arm that extends from each vane through the openings in the face. The unitary valve assembly is preferably constructed of a single piece of material that is shaped so that it will attach to the face. The valve assembly is unitary, requiring no assembly except to the face. The deformable webs are sized so as to give a high cycle life to the assembly, and allow the vanes to be fixedly adjusted.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In an air diffuser for controlling the flow of air from a duct to a room, the air diffuser comprising:

a cover having multiple spaced louvers, with openings between adjacent louvers, whereby air is directed into the room by the louvers, and
a valve assembly for controlling the volume of air from the duct through the cover, the valve assembly comprising:
a frame mounted to the cover and defining a valve opening for fluidly connecting the duct to the cover, and
a vane positioned within the valve opening and mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis between a closed position where the vane substantially blocks the valve opening to substantially prevent the flow of air through the valve opening, and an open position where the vane permits the flow of air through the valve opening;
the improvement wherein:
the vane is mounted to the frame by a deformable web integrally formed with the frame and the vane, said web connecting the vane to the frame along the axis, whereby as the vane is rotated between the closed and open positions, the deformable web is twisted about the axis.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/585,995Filed 2 Jun 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Jun 1999
Granted: 7 Aug 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F24F 13/1426
Built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre: characterised by actuating means
F24F 13/082
Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates: grilles, registers or guards
F24F 13/1413
Built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre: using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades
F24F 2013/1473
Characterised by actuating means: with cams or levers