Damper for controlling air flow through a passage
OwnerThomas L. Clarkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A damper for allowing some degree of air flow (winter ventilation) through a roof mounted, conduit to aid in preventing the growth of black mold in an attic while aiding in heat retention during colder periods of the year. The low profile damper is comprised of a housing having a plurality of louvers pivotably mounted therein. A linkage strip interconnects the louvers together whereby a bimetal coil move the louvers in unison between their open and closed positions in response to temperature. The damper includes an air flow selector means that allows a “selected” closed position to be selected at which a predetermine volume of air is allowed to flow through the damper.
Claims20
A damper for controlling the air flow through a passage such as a ventilation conduit used in mounting a wind turbine on a roof of a structure, said damper comprising:
- a housing having a cylindrical wall, said housing being adapted to fit within said passage;
- a plurality of louvers pivotably mounted in said housing and being rotatable between an open position and a selected closed position, said louvers blocking at least a portion of the air flow through said damper when in said selected closed position;
- means for moving said louvers between said open position and said selected closed position in response to changes in temperature;
- linkage means for interconnecting said louvers together whereby said louvers are moved in unison between said open position and said selected closed positions;
- and
- air flow selector means on said damper for adjusting the selected closed position of said louvers to control the amount of air flow through said damper when said louvers are moved to said selected closed position.
A damper for selectively controlling air flow through a passage, said damper comprising:
- a cylindrical, stepped housing made of molded plastic, said housing having an upper wall, a larger-diameter lower wall, and an integral step connecting said walls;
- a plurality of latch slots formed in and radially spaced around said step;
- a pair of arcuate retainers formed of molded plastic, each retainer having a plurality of latches molded thereon which are adapted to be received by respective said slots in said step of said housing to latch said retainers in said housing, each retainer having a plurality of troughs spaced along the upper surface thereon;
- a plurality of louvers of appropriate lengths to selectively fit within said housing, each louver having an axle pin at either end thereof adapted to be pivotably received in a respective said trough in each of said retainers so that when said latches are received into their respective said latch slots within said housing, said louvers are thereby pivotably mounted in said housing and are rotatable between an open and a selected closed position;
- means for moving said louvers between said open position and said selected closed position in response to changes in temperature;
- linkage means for interconnecting said louvers together whereby said louvers are moved in unison between said open position and selected closed positions;
- and
- air flow selector means on said damper for adjusting the selected closed position of said louvers to control the amount of air flow through said damper when said louvers are moved to said selected closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.