Abstract: The invention relates to a throttle device for delivery of a current of gas through a channel (1), the device comprising a flap (4) which is arranged so that it can pivot on an axle (5) and which is designed in such a way that, at a certain pressure force exerted by the current of gas, it is opened from a position in which the channel (1) is essentially closed. The invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one weight (7) which is arranged to rotate together with the flap (4) and is designed to deliver a torque to the axle (5) in conjunction with the pivoting of the flap (4). The invention is intended in particular for recovery boilers, or heating boilers or steam boilers for solid fuels. The invention achieves an improved air penetration in respect of air flowing into the boiler.

Abstract: A vent assembly for controlling flow of air into a room. The vent assembly comprises a housing and a damper member mounted entirely within the housing. The housing is mounted to a surface of the room such that air passing through an air duct pass through a passageway defined by the housing. Air flowing through the passageway causes the damper member to rotate into an open position; when no air is flowing through the passageway, gravity or another force (such as a return spring) causes the damper member to remain in a closed position. A control member may be provided to allow the damper member to placed into a locked closed configuration, a locked open configuration, or an open configuration.

Abstract: A ceiling ventilation inlet includes a housing having an air inlet aperture, an air outlet aperture, and a baffle supported for linear movement adjacent the air outlet aperture. A spring is positioned such that the baffle moves dependant upon air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building in a 360 degree dispersion pattern. The spring causes the baffle to direct the flow of air into the confinement space at a near constant rate so as to optimize ventilation. The greater the air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment the greater the air outlet area becomes. Since the inlet is responsive to the pressure difference and the air outlet area increases or decreases in size, the airflow velocity entering the confinement space may be optimized at a near constant rate.

Abstract: A ventilation inlet includes a housing having two air inlets apertures, a solid wind-deflecting rear wall, and a baffle supported for pivotal movement about a pivot point. A spring or other biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the baffle. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building. The baffle, positioned responsive to the amount and pressure of air entering the housing, directs the flow of air into the confinement space so as to optimize the speed and direction of the external fresh air entering the confinement space. The design of the ventilation inlet is optimized by calculating the necessary operators required to enable the baffle to properly respond to the incoming air.

Abstract: A dual baffle system which can be incorporated into automatic air inlets used in livestock facilities. This system consists of four different components: two baffles, spring, opening mechanisms, and stationary bracket. This baffle system is positioned inside an automatic air inlet. The two baffles are hinged at the top and bottom of the inlet respectively and the opening between the baffles is allowed to increase or decrease. The opening mechanism is connected to the bottom baffle and allowed to slip through the stationary bracket. These two components allow the two baffles to open and close simultaneously. The spring allows the system to open and close to maintain the desired flow rate through the inlet.

Abstract: A barometric damper has a housing which is adapted to be coupled with a structure. The housing has an opening that allows spatial communication between the interior and the exterior of the structure. The damper also has a damper blade. The damper blade is movably coupled with the housing. The blade has an open position where the blade accommodates air passage through the opening and a closed position where the flow of air through the opening is substantially precluded. The damper also has a lever that is movably coupled with the housing. The lever has an attaching means that is used to attach the lever to the blade when desired. The lever is movable between a first position where the lever accommodates free movement of the blade in response to barometric pressure changes on opposite sides of the blade, and a second position where the lever maintains the attaching means against the blade, thus holding the blade in its closed position.

Abstract: In the case of a heat exchanger, in particular a cooling apparatus, having a housing and at least one ventilator for blowing the air which flows through the heat exchanger out through an outlet opening in the housing, there is arranged on the outside of the outlet opening (4) of the housing (1), in order to avoid energy losses upon defrosting and to save energy costs, a flexible flat piece (6, 15) which permits air to emerge unimpeded into the surrounding space when the ventilator is operating but which collapses when the ventilator is shut off and thereby covers the outlet opening of the housing so that, upon the defrosting, no moist and warm defrosting air can emerge through the outlet opening of the housing into the surrounding space.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic control of ventilation of premises comprising a flexible flat membrane (11) attached by one of its edges in the interior of the casing (12) on the upper wall between two opposed openings (18) and (19). The upper wall supports the membrane. The membrane buckles and bends under the effect of an air current flowing through said casing in order to seal and block one of the openings (18) or (19) to a larger or smaller extent. The bending strength of the flexible planar membrane (11) is made different according to the direction of actuation of the membrane by the presence of the stops (13) and (15) which have a different length on both sides its attachment. This difference can be increased by the presence of perforations and holes in the membrane at the level of the stop closest to the attachments.

Abstract: A roof vent for a grain bin communicates air flow from within the grain bin to ambient air, especially when air is forced through the bin for the purpose of drying the grain therein. The vent includes a housing with a flap closure member in the shape of an airfoil pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis above the center of gravity of the flap member. When sufficient air pressure is developed within the bin, the force of gravity on the flap member is overcome and the flap member pivots to an open position. As air flows over and under the flap member, the airfoil shape of the flap member creates a decreased pressure over the member and a lift force causes the flap member to position itself in an open position with minimal obstruction to air flow through the vent housing providing many operational advantages.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber, a combustion chamber for heating water in the water chamber, and a combustion air inlet pipe including an outlet end communicating with the combustion chamber. The inlet pipe also includes an inlet end having a longitudinal axis, and a plate in the combustion air inlet pipe adjacent the inlet end, which plate extends outwardly of the inlet end along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Barometric damper apparatus is usable for both horizontal air flow and vertical air flow and thus comprises a universal barometric damper apparatus without a structural change. The barometric damper apparatus includes a plurality of louvers or damper blades pivotly secured to a frame and which pivot to the closed position under gravity when air stops flowing. Each louver includes a relatively short upstream portion and a relatively long downstream portion, with the relatively short upstream portion including a counterweight which causes the relatively short upstream portion to be heavier than the relatively long downstream portion so that the louver apparatus pivots to the closed position with the relatively short upstream portion always moving downwardly. A bend in the relatively long downstream portion allows the louver to contact the adjacent louver in the closed position so as to provide a seal to prevent air from leaking back through the damper apparatus.

Abstract: A flow control has a rotary gate residing within an internal flow space in a conduit. The gate is mounted for movement relative to the conduit between first and second positions, the gate in the first and second positions accounting for a different flow rate between first and second fluid masses between which the gate resides. The gate has an actuator with a plurality of spaced shoulders. A flexible force-applying member is connected to the actuator and bears upon the shoulders to thereby urge the gate towards the other of the first and second positions. The shoulders are situated so that the number of shoulders engaged by the force-applying member at any one time is not the same as the gate moves from the one of the first and second positions towards the other of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A corrosion-free, condensation-free, flush-mounted automatic air intake has a rectangular plastic frame insertable into an agricultural building ceiling or wall opening and fastenable thereat. The frame has a flange therearound for mounting and supporting an attic or wall housing forming an insulation barrier. The housing may also be integral with the frame flange. A lip extends outwardly from the frame and engages the room side of the ceiling or wall for fastening thereat in a flush-mount arrangement. The frame has a central frame or baffle opening for permitting fresh air to pass therethrough. An inwardly projecting flange is on the frame around the opening forming a baffle seat. A baffle is pivotally mounted and adapted to rest in the baffle seat flush with the frame, to close the baffle opening and to swing outwardly to permit air to pass through the intake and into the room under the influence of the building exhaust fan.

Abstract: A collapsible lightweight cover device (10) for floor registers (100) including a cover member (20) pivotally secured to the register (100) and having accordion folded panel members (30) operatively attached to both the cover member (20) and the register (100); wherein, forced air flowing through the register (100) will force the cover member (20) to pivot upwardly relative to the front of the register (100).

Abstract: An integrally formed air intake apparatus for regulating air flow into a structure such as a barn. The air intake apparatus includes an elongate convex valve seat to minimize contact between the valve seat and its valve and to permit smooth air flow over the rounded valve seat. The apparatus further includes a duct-receiving groove for easily mounting a duct which directs outside air into the valve and a shoulder extending about the duct-receiving groove for bearing against an inner portion of the structure. The housing is molded from one-piece such that the valve seat, duct-receiving groove, and shoulder are integrally formed.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for the ventilation duct to the passenger space of a motor vehicle comprises an outer housing (3), to which is fastened through at least one clamping connection an inner frame (4). Between the outer housing (3) and inner frame (4) there is clamped at least one check valve element (5) of flexible, soft sheet material. In the rest position, the valve element lies against an oblique grating (11). When air flows, the valve element opens and engages against stays (9). The inner frame (4) is set into the front of the outer housing (3) and the assembled unit comprised of outer housing (3) and closing valve (5) is fastened to a support (2) of the motor vehicle by at least one clip connection (6) arranged on the outer housing (3).

Abstract: A decontamination chamber entranceway to an asbestos removal work area includes rigid swinging doors for a rapid escape from the contaminated work area due to an emergency such as a fire or smoke. Also during a power failure it is easy for the workers to leave the work area through the rigid swinging doors of the invention. Each of the doors may include an air inlet opening having at least one plastic flap covering the inlet opening which allows suitable amounts of air to flow through the inlet to maintain a negative air pressure in the work area while having air flow in the work area sufficient to change the air at least every 10 to 15 minutes. The plastic flaps of the doors are preferable pivotally-mounted rigid clear plastic which seal automatically upon loss of negative air pressure in the work area. The rigid flaps can be electro-mechanically operated to positively control size and functioning of air inlet openings and close off the openings upon emergency conditions.

Abstract: A passive building vent disposed in an outside vertical building wall, communicates between the outside atmospheric air and the confined air within the building, via a housing forming an air mixing chamber with a passageway disposed therethrough. A movable membrane is mounted within the housing at one end of the passageway, the other end of the passageway communicates with the confined air and is disposed outside of the vertical building wall. The membrane has a closed position, substantially blocking the passageway and an open position, permitting the free flow of air therethrough. The air passage permits the flow of outside air into the air mixing chamber. A venting device communicates with the air mixing chamber permitting the flow of air to exit from the air mixing chamber. A deflector is mounted on the housing proximate the venting device and communicates with the air mixing chamber.