FOLDABLE, BOOT LOADABLE, INSERTABLE AIR DAMPER DEVICE
A foldably tensioned boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork, and a method of installing same. The damper device includes an actuator having a retractable member and a pivoting member, wherein the pivoting member is operatively connected to the retractable member of the actuator. The damper device also includes at least one support base supporting the actuator and the pivoting member with respect to each other, a foldable damper blade attached to the pivoting member, and at least one tensioned hinge member operatively connected to the foldable damper blade for unfolding the damper blade. The damper device may be inserted through a register boot and into a ductwork when folded.
Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to air dampers. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to air dampers that are installed into air ducts.
BACKGROUNDToday, airflow control systems are used in retrofit applications in ductwork, mainly to control a room or area's temperature and/or climate. An example of a type of control system that is utilized is a damper, which may generally be a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a duct, chimney, variable air volume box, air handler, or other air handling equipment. A damper can be used to shut off the airflow into various rooms or to regulate its temperature and climate. Various damper apparatuses utilize manual and/or automatic functions to adjust the airflow into the designated room or area, and thereby control its temperature qualities. However, when applying airflow control techniques to retrofit applications, reconfiguring the ductwork is very expensive because of the time and material required to modify such ductwork and the inability to access ductwork between floors or above finished ceilings, for example. Examples of dampers, when there is enough access room within the ductwork, include installation of either trunk dampers in the main trunks or branch dampers near the main truck. However, there are many instances where portions of the ductwork are inaccessible to these types of dampers, and other methods and devices are necessary. Louvered dampers, for example, may not provide a complete shutoff of the airflow.
Other considerations that may be taken into account are issues of noise level and damper size. If a damper is too large, then the damper is unusable because it is not able to fit through an opening of the ductwork. For example, if the cross section of the damper is too large, it may not be installed through a standard register boot. Additionally, damper and blade positioning are important because as the blades close, they can produce objectionable whistling due to accelerated air that moves through small spaces between the edges. Also, register dampers and register louvers tend to create rattling noises. Therefore, a need exists for a damper that can easily access existing or new ductwork and may be adjustable.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the present invention comprises a boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork. The damper device is able to be folded and slipped through a register boot to control airflow. The damper device includes an actuator having a retractable member. The damper device further includes a pivoting member, wherein the pivoting member is operatively connected to the retractable member of the actuator. The damper device also includes at least one support base supporting the actuator and the pivoting member with respect to each other. The damper device further includes a foldable damper blade attached to the pivoting member, and at least one tensioned hinge member operatively connected to the foldable damper blade. The actuator may be a pneumatic (air pressure) actuator or an electro-mechanical actuator, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The electro-mechanical actuator may include a portable power supply, for example. The pivoting member may include at least two pins, for example, nylon pins. The foldable damper blade may include three portions including, for example, a first portion, a middle portion, and a second portion. The foldable damper blade may include a sealing member made of, for example, a flexible material. The tensioned hinge member may include a spring. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper device may further include a foldable sheet member, wherein the foldable sheet member is attached to the support base. The foldable sheet member may be magnetic, for example. The damper device may also include a stop member for stopping an unfolding of the foldable damper blade.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of inserting a boot loadable air damper device into a ductwork. The method includes providing the damper device having an actuator having a retractable member, a pivoting member, wherein the pivoting member is operatively connected to the retractable member of the actuator, at least one support base supporting the actuator and the pivoting member with respect to each other, and a foldably tensioned damper blade attached to the pivoting member. The method further includes folding the foldably tensioned damper blade of the damper device, and inserting the damper device through a register boot of the ductwork. The method also includes releasing the foldably tensioned damper blade of the damper device. The method may further include securing the damper device within the ductwork. The method may also include folding a foldable sheet member of the damper device before inserting the damper device through a register boot of the ductwork, wherein the foldable sheet member is attached to the support base. The method may further include securing the damper device within the ductwork using the foldable sheet member. The method may also include operatively connecting an air hose to the actuator before inserting the damper device through the register boot of the ductwork. The method may instead include operatively connecting an external power source to the actuator before inserting the damper device through the register boot of the ductwork.
A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a register boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork. The damper device includes a foldable damper blade and a means for pivotally actuating the foldable damper blade. The damper device further includes means for folding and unfolding the damper blade. The means for pivotally actuating may be pneumatic or electro-mechanical, for example. An electro-mechanical means for pivotally actuating may include a portable power supply (e.g. a battery). The foldable damper blade may include three portions including, for example, a first portion, a middle portion, and a second portion. The foldable damper blade may include a sealing member that is made of, for example, a flexible material. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the means for folding and unfolding the damper blade includes at least one tensioned hinge member. The tensioned hinge member may include a spring, for example. The damper device may further include a foldable means for securing the damper device to an interior of the ductwork. The foldable means for securing the damper device may be magnetic, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The damper device may also include means for stopping an unfolding of the foldable damper blade. The damper device may further include means for supporting the foldable damper blade and the means for pivotally actuating with respect to each other.
These and other features of the claimed invention, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
The pivoting member 120 may be constructed of a plastic or metallic material that may be strong enough to withstand pressures or external forces that may be exerted on the damper device 10. Moreover, the pivoting member 120 may include pivoting pins 190 that allow the pivoting member 120 to be connected to the retractable member 110 and the support base 130.
With continued reference to
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Additionally, the foldable damper blade 160 may further include a sealing member 150 (e.g., a gasket), which may be a flexible material, such as rubber, that encompasses the periphery of the foldable damper blade 160. The sealing member 150 may be in the same shape as the foldable damper blade 160, but may be larger than the foldable damper blade 160, as shown in
With continued reference to
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Once the damper device 10 is positioned in the ductwork and the foldable damper blade 160 “unfolded,” the user may then position the foldable damper blade 160 by utilizing the actuator 100. In an embodiment of the present invention wherein the actuator 100 is driven by air pressure, the user may attach an air supply hose to the adapter 180 before inserting the damper device 10 into the ductwork, in order to inject air into the actuator 100 from an air pump. Depending on the amount and/or duration of air added into the actuator 100, the foldable damper blade's 160 position, with respect to the actuator 100, may change between a first position that may allow the most amount of air flow through the ductwork, as shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention wherein the actuator 100 is powered by electricity, the user may “plug” the actuator 100 into a power source such as a battery, an electronic controller providing power, or any other power source known to one of ordinary skill in the art capable of providing the appropriate electrical power. Depending on the utilization of a power supplied actuator that may retract and extend the retractable member 110, the foldable damper blade's 160 position, with respect to the actuator 100, may change between a first position that may allow the most amount of air flow through the ductwork, as shown in
In summary, a foldably tensioned boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork, and a method of installing same are disclosed. The damper device includes an actuator having a retractable member and a pivoting member, wherein the pivoting member is operatively connected to the retractable member of the actuator. The damper device also includes at least one support base supporting the actuator and the pivoting member with respect to each other, a foldable damper blade attached to the pivoting member, and at least one tensioned hinge member operatively connected to the foldable damper blade for unfolding the damper blade. The damper device may be loaded through a register boot and into a ductwork when folded.
While the claimed subject matter of the present application has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the claimed subject matter without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the claimed subject matter will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork, the damper device comprising:
- an actuator having a retractable member;
- a pivoting member, wherein said pivoting member is operatively connected to said retractable member of said actuator;
- at least one support base supporting said actuator and said pivoting member with respect to each other;
- a foldable damper blade attached to said pivoting member; and
- at least one tensioned hinge member operatively connected to said foldable damper blade.
2. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator is an air pressure actuator.
3. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator is an electro-mechanical actuator.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said electro-mechanical actuator further comprises a portable power supply.
5. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivoting member further comprises at least two pins.
6. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 5, wherein said at least two pins are nylon pins.
7. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said foldable damper blade comprises at least three portions.
8. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least three portions is a first portion, a middle portion, and a second portion.
9. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said foldable damper blade further comprises a sealing member.
10. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 9, wherein said sealing member is made of a flexible material.
11. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one tensioned hinge member includes a spring.
12. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said damper device further comprises a foldable sheet member, wherein said foldable sheet member is attached to said at least one support base.
13. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 12, wherein said foldable sheet member is a magnetic foldable sheet member.
14. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 1, wherein said damper device further comprises a stop member.
15. A method of inserting a boot loadable air damper device into a ductwork, the steps comprising:
- providing said damper device having an actuator having a retractable member, a pivoting member, wherein said pivoting member is operatively connected to said retractable member of said actuator, at least one support base supporting said actuator and said pivoting member with respect to each other, and a foldably tensioned damper blade attached to said pivoting member;
- folding said foldably tensioned damper blade of said damper device;
- inserting said damper device through a register boot into said ductwork; and
- releasing said foldably tensioned damper blade of said damper device.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising securing said damper device beyond said register boot within said ductwork.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising folding a foldable sheet member of said damper device before inserting said damper device through a register boot of said ductwork, wherein said foldable sheet member is attached to said at least one support base.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising securing said damper device within said ductwork using said foldable sheet member.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising operatively connecting an air hose to said actuator before inserting said damper device into through a register boot of said ductwork.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising operatively connecting an external power source to said actuator before inserting said damper device through said register boot of said ductwork.
21. A boot loadable air damper device for controlling the flow of air through ductwork, the damper device comprising:
- a foldable damper blade;
- means for pivotally actuating said foldable damper blade; and
- means for folding and unfolding said damper blade.
22. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for pivotally actuating is pneumatic.
23. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for pivotally actuating is electro-mechanical.
24. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 23, wherein said electro-mechanical means for pivotally actuating includes a portable power supply.
25. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said foldable damper blade comprises at least three portions.
26. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 25, wherein said at least three portions includes a first portion, a middle portion, and a second portion.
27. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said foldable damper blade further comprises a sealing member.
28. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 27, wherein said sealing member is made of a flexible material.
29. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for folding and unfolding said damper blade includes at least one tensioned hinge member.
30. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 29, wherein said at least one tensioned hinge member further comprises a spring.
31. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said damper device further comprises a foldable means for securing said damper device to an interior of said ductwork.
32. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 31, wherein said foldable means for securing is magnetic.
33. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21, wherein said damper device further comprises a means for stopping an unfolding of said foldable damper blade.
34. The boot loadable air damper device as defined in claim 21 further comprising means for supporting said foldable damper blade and said means for pivotally actuating with respect to each other.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2015
Inventors: Mark Votaw (North Canton, OH), Dennis Laughlin (Chardon, OH), Al Zelczer (University Heights, OH), Howard Zelczer (Brooklyn, NY), Lenny Roth (University Heights, OH), Vladimir Sipershteyn (Independence, OH), Joseph Ramunni (Wadsworth, OH), Bill Molica (Willowick, OH)
Application Number: 14/618,249