With Adjustable Valve Patents (Class 454/322)
  • Publication number: 20040067731
    Abstract: A remote controlled air vent is provided comprising at least one closure member, and a vent control unit. The at least one closure member (e.g., a plurality of louvers) may be configured to control the egress of the air from the air vent and the vent control unit may control displacement of the at least one closure member in response to a wireless control signal. In one exemplary embodiment, the vent control unit may comprise a mechanical component to control displacement of the at least one closure member, and an electrical component including a wireless receiver to receive the wireless control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Duncan Brinkerhoff, Thomas Keith Geraty
  • Patent number: 6666761
    Abstract: A wall-mounted supply-air device comprising an upper valve part connected to an upper edge of an aperture in a primary wall side and a lower valve part connected to a lower edge of the aperture in the wall side, the supply air to the device being arranged to be supplied downwardly to the inlet side of the device, between the primary wall side and a secondary wall side in connection with the primary wall side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Air Innovation Sweden AB
    Inventor: Bernt Nyström
  • Publication number: 20030157880
    Abstract: A regulator for regulating airflow through an air outlet includes a plurality of louver blades integrated with axis portions supported at bearing holes and interconnected through an interlocking member; a supporting plate with the bearing holes attached to an air outlet; and an elastic portion provided on the supporting plate to be capable of deforming along an axis of the louver blades. Also, the regulator may include a damper; a manual operating member for tilting the louver blades and damper; and two gears engaging each other and disposed at an interconnecting portion between the manual operating member and the damper. One of the gears is formed in two portions separated along an axis and provided coaxially. The two portions have slightly shifted pitch, and are able to displace with each other in a circumferential direction with elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Ryuhei Nishida, Kihwan Choi
  • Patent number: 6582293
    Abstract: An air vent damper assembly that controls air flow into the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle and includes an air passage having a generally rectangular cross-section and a gasketless damper door. The damper door pivots between a closed position in which the door blocks airflow and a fully open position in which the door presents minimum obstruction to airflow. The damper door may be set at intermediate positions between closed and fully open to meter airflow and to direct air flowing from the exit end of the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew Siniarski, Karel Caslavsky
  • Patent number: 6533655
    Abstract: An air escape for ventilation systems in vehicles comprises manual adjusting means for as outflow direction and for an outflow volume. The manual adjusting means have a single operating element that is movable in translation and in rotation about an axis, translational movement of the operating element causing a change the outflow direction and rotational movement causing a change of the volume flow. The operating element is connected by a cardan shaft (24) to an actuating drive that converts rotational movement of the cardan shaft into an adjustment movement of an air flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Demerath, Norbert Klein
  • Patent number: 6496110
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for responding to a fire emergency at a facility by analyzing a plurality of fire threat conditions to determine possible responses to a fire emergency and selecting a response to the fire emergency for minimizing human casualties within the facility. The present invention may be characterized in one embodiment as a method for generating an automated response to an emergency that includes the steps of (a) receiving as input fire threat condition data for a facility; (b) analyzing the fire threat condition data to determine a matrix of possible responses to a fire emergency; and (c) selecting a response from the matrix of possible responses to minimize human casualties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Edward W. Peterson, Richard A. Grot
  • Patent number: 6270401
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Hart & Cooley, Inc.
    Inventor: David Wormmeester
  • Patent number: 6142867
    Abstract: An opening/closing apparatus of a damper for adjusting a blowing amount of air out of an air diffuser comprises a case mounted at the center of the diffuser in a predetermined size and shape and having an indicating scale portion to be properly positioned at the front surface thereof; a rotating shaft passed through the center portion of the case and extended in a predetermined length out of the case; a rotating manipulation portion including a knob integrally fixed to one end of the rotating shaft; and an indicating operation portion cooperated with the rotating manipulation portion to enable an indicator to direct the indicating scale, thereby confirming the exact opening or closing degree of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hyundai Enginerring & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Woo Lee, Myung Sig Park, Jung Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 5816907
    Abstract: A vehicle air outlet having an outlet bell, an upstream shutoff valve having an open and closed position, a directionality control member which is downstream of the shutoff valve. The upstream shutoff valve includes a flow straightener assembly rendered functional when the shutoff valve is in a fully opened position and non-functional when the shutoff valve is in a closed position. The shutoff valve is mounted on a rotary shaft in the air outlet, and the flow straightener is mounted on the same rotary shaft with the shutoff valve and is operated commonly on an operation of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Crockett
  • Patent number: 5702298
    Abstract: A damper control system which employs an unsheathed cable to transmit torque from a torque inducing tool to a damper regulator for regulating a damper of an air processing system. The damper control system has a first cable bracket with a first bracket passage through which the unsheathed cable passes. The first cable bracket is designed to be affixed to a surface accessible to the torque inducing tool. Longitudinal motion of the unsheathed cable with respect to the first cable bracket is limited by a pair of first bracket clips attached to the unsheathed cable and positioned such that the first bracket passage is interposed therebetween. The unsheathed cable is provided with a first cable end which can be engaged by the torque inducing tool and a second cable end which is either permanently affixed to or can be maintained slidable engaged with the damper regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Stephen J. Conkling
  • Patent number: 5584098
    Abstract: An operating knob-mounting structure in an air-conditioner for vehicle includes a support shaft provided on an equipment and an operating knob having a boss provided with an axial hole formed therethrough, the operating knob being rotatable and supported on the supported shaft fitted in the axial hole. The support shaft has an engagement portion formed thereon and engageable with an outer end face of the boss of the operating knob. The axial hole of the boss has an insertion recess formed in a periphery thereof and allowing the engagement portion to pass therethrough in a direction of an axis of the support shaft when the operating knob is mounted on said support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Koyama, Hiroshi Suyama, Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5582544
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for establishing an air flow pathway between a stationary feed duct of an air handling system and a desired spot in a work environment. The apparatus includes an air passage conduit in communication with the feed duct including a flexible intermediate section and an adjustable rotary coupling so as to allow full directional control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Robert S. Ely
  • Patent number: 5370578
    Abstract: An apparatus for ventilating spacious public rooms, workshops, industrial halls, underground parking lot and the like spaces, which apparatus comprises a damper having a plurality of shutters attached by a ring to inner surface of tubular body so as to radially move a series of shutters from shut position to opened position. The apparatus further comprises a nozzle having a plurality of guide vanes which occur swirls in jet as well as in injected ventilation air supplied to the rooms. With this arrangement, the apparatus is effective for obtaining a precise adjustment of supply air with minimum air resistance, non-turbulent, and protecting dwelling zones against undesirable thermal air streams or undesirable radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Sang Su Lim
    Inventor: Seong H. Yi
  • Patent number: 5346426
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the mechanical ventilation and heating of a premises with improved removal of impurities from air present in the premises. At least one suction extraction device is provided for removing polluted or stale air in a region adjacent to the ceiling of the premises. Pure supply air at a temperature in the region of or exceeding the air temperature of the premises is supplied to the premises in the lower region thereof. The supply air forms a substantially horizontal and vertically narrow air jet for displacement of existing air located in a region proximate the floor. The apparatus (1) includes one low impulse device (10) and one high impulse device (20), in addition to which at least one device (31) is provided for guiding air (supply air) emitted from a fan system to the high impulse device and/or to the low impulse device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Mats Kronfalt
  • Patent number: 5338252
    Abstract: An air outlet louver assembly (10) includes a housing (12), primary vanes (14,36), secondary vanes (48,49), and a damper door (86). A control handle (58) independently controls the primary and secondary vanes (14,36,48,49), and a wheel (100) controls the damper door (86). Ridges (74) on a secondary vane (48) engage a control fork (66) on the control handle (58) to provide ratcheting control of the primary vanes (14,36) by the control handle (58). A nub (82) on a secondary vane (48) contacts depressions (80) in the housing (12) to provide ratcheting control of the secondary vanes (48,49). Frictional contact between a nub (106) on the wheel (100) and depressions (108) in the housing (12) provide ratcheting control of the damper door (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Manchester Plastics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey H. Bowler, Bruce H. B. Chow
  • Patent number: 5275333
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning system which provides for controlling the flow of conditioned air from a duct to a predetermined location of an occupied area of a building. A fitting is secured at one end thereof to the duct and has a moveable butterfly valve mounted therein for selectively controlling flow of conditioned air therethrough, the fitting including a motor and motor control relay for controlling operation of the valve. An outlet is mounted in association with wall means adjacent the location and spaced from the fitting. A flexible conduit is connected to another end of the fitting means and extends from the fitting means to and is connected with the outlet means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Robert T. Tamblyn
  • Patent number: 5238452
    Abstract: An air conditioning system comprises a room divider extending upwardly from a floor, the room divider having first and second sides for supplying conditioned air to an area. The room divider comprises a first panel integrally connected to a second panel to form the room divider. The first and second panels are spaced apart a predetermined distance to define an air flow area therebetween for allowing air to flow between the panels. The first and second panels include a bottom portion positioned proximate a first side of the floor, the bottom portion including a generally imperforate bottom member adjacent the second panel and sized to complement the air flow area such that air cannot flow directly through the bottom portion from or to the air flow area. At least one air outlet is integral with one of the first or second panels and is elevated a predetermined distance from the floor for allowing air within the air flow area to flow therethrough to an area surrounding the room divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Argon Corporation
    Inventors: Hans F. Levy, Peter G. Betz, Otto J. Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 5234374
    Abstract: An inflatable bag of flimsy plastic material is placed in the air duct of a house or other building. The bag is coupled to a fan and electric motor. The device is placed near the duct outlet register, where it can be easily inserted and retrieved. The motor is operated, to inflate/deflate the bag, by a thermostat in the room via radio connection between the thermostat and the motor. When the bag is deflated, the duct is open, and treated air from a central unit can then enter the room. The bag takes air from inside the duct, and static pressure inside the duct holds the bag inflated; when the bag is deflated, the air intake faces away from velocity of the flowing air, so the flowing air does not tend to inflate the bag. The fan motor is driven by a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventors: Mariusz Hyzyk, Tadeusz Rekret
  • Patent number: 5218998
    Abstract: A linearly adjustable fluid damper of the sliding plate adjustable orifice type damper system having a fixed flat plate with a plurality of specifically arranged trapezoidal shaped apertures therethrough, and a slideably adjustable flat plate also having a plurality of specifically arranged trapezoidal shaped apertures therethrough. The sliding plate is juxtaposed the fixed plate such that apertures of the sliding plate overlap apertures of the fixed plate, and aperture orientation of the sliding plate is reversed that of the orientation of the apertures on the fixed plate. The area of the resultant hexagonal composite orifice through both plates varies non-linearly from full open position to full closed position throughout movement of the sliding plate. The result is that fluid flow from zero fluid flow to maximum fluid flow through the resultant orifice is a straight line relationship with linear displacement of the sliding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventors: Gary M. Bakken, Phillip E. Branham, William R. Acorn
  • Patent number: 5207615
    Abstract: An air plenum system is disclosed which is adapted to distribute air from a central air plenum through a plurality of air duct lines, with a predetermined and readily adjustable air flow rate through each of the lines. A damper plate is pivotally mounted in each of the lines at a location sufficiently close to the outlet end of the line so as to permit a person to reach into the line through the outlet end, and manually pivot the damper plate to a desired setting. Also, the damper plate is mounted by a pair of rods which mount spring loaded washers which bear against the wall of the air duct line and provide a simple, reliable, and readily adjustable system for controlling the pivotal movement of the damper plate. An adjustable air diffuser is preferably mounted to cover the outlet end of each line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: John H. Edmisten
  • Patent number: 5137491
    Abstract: An air spout device for an air conditioning system comprises a duct having an intake portion and a ventilator spout. A plurality of guide vanes are arranged in the duct to define passages, and a plurality of dampers are arranged between the intake portion and the plurality of guide vanes to selectively open and close the passages, the plurality of dampers being rotatable with its shaft to assume concentration blow, diffusion blow, and avoidance blow modes. A blow mode selecting mechanism is operatively connected to the shaft to allow the plurality of dampers to assume the concentration blow, diffusion blow, and avoidance blow modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Ishihara, Mitsuru Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5135436
    Abstract: An air conditioning system comprising a personal air terminal extending upwardly from a floor through a surface for supplying conditioned air to an area. The personal air terminal includes a first wall integrally connected to a second wall to form the personal air terminal. The first and second walls each have an upper and a lower portion. The first and second walls taper inwardly from their lower portions to their upper portions for allowing air to readily flow therebetween. The first and second wall are in engagement with and surround an opening in the floor. A pair of air outlet registers are integral with one of the first and second walls and elevated a predetermined distance from the floor for allowing air flowing between the first and second walls to flow to an area surrounding the personal air terminal. A fan unit moves conditioned air from the second side of the floor through the opening, between the first and second walls and through the registers to the surrounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Argon Associates, L. P.
    Inventors: Hans F. Levy, Peter G. Betz
  • Patent number: 5095942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system of adjustable preformed ductwork for the conveyance of a fluid. The system uses a distribution box which includes an upper portion having a plurality of walls and a bottom plate. The distribution box may act either as a diffuser boot or as a splitter box. The distribution box is joined to interconnecting duct lines by adaptor conduits. The adaptor conduits are duct line which are adapted at one end for connection to an opening in a wall and are adapted at the other end for connection to adjoining duct line. A valve having a housing, a first cone and a second cone is also included in the system either in a duct line or in an adaptor conduit. The first and the second cone have matching apertures. The second cone is rotatable within the first cone such that the matching apertures may be selectively aligned or misaligned to adjust the flow of the fluid through the ductwork system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Gerard C. Murphy