Small duct high velocity damper assembly

Abstract

A SDHV damper assembly and methods to assemble and install the SDHV damper assembly are disclosed. The SDHV damper assembly includes a first damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The SDHV damper assembly further includes a second damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The first open end of the second damper housing half is joined to the first open end of the first damper housing half to form an assembled damper housing. A substantially elliptical damper blade is pivotally mounted within the assembled damper housing along a minor axis of the damper blade. An actuator member is pivotally connected to a first side of the damper blade near a first end of the actuator member. The actuator member extends through an opening in the assembled damper housing and connects to a driving element of a damper actuator at a second end of the actuator member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148, issued on Oct. 17, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Also, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,165, filed on Sep. 14, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to damper assemblies for heating venting and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a small duct high velocity (SDHV) damper assembly and methods of assembling and installing the SDHV damper assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of damper devices have been developed over the years to control the flow of fluid through ducts in low velocity HVAC systems (i.e., provide zone control). The damper devices are used to control the flow of air through the systems' air ducts and range from a simple hand-turnable damper vane often found in residential buildings to motor driven mechanical damper assemblies more commonly used in commercial and industrial structures. Another type of damper device employs an inflatable bladder or bellows to control fluid flow through a duct, and details of particularly useful bladder-type flow control devices and associated systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,524, and 4,702,412. One advantage of the bladder-type flow control devices shown in these patents is that they could be easily retrofitted into existing ducts with minimal difficulty.

Another prior art type of damper device for low velocity HVAC systems is a mechanical damper assembly comprising a short piece of metal duct in which a damper vane is provided with a shaft that is pivotally mounted for rotation in the short piece of metal duct. The damper vane is rotated between open and closed positions by a motor mounted to and outside the duct piece and connected to the damper vane shaft.

The aforesaid type of mechanical damper assembly is somewhat difficult to install in an existing low velocity metal duct. Installation requires the duct piece of the damper assembly to be spliced into the existing low velocity duct. This involves cutting out a length of the existing metal duct and usually dismantling of the existing metal duct to enable such cutting and/or assembly of the duct piece between adjacent sections of the existing duct. This dismantling, cutting, and reassembling of the metal ductwork is time consuming and, therefore, an expensive operation when performed by paid installers.

The damper vanes in prior art mechanical damper assemblies heretofore have been driven by both electric and fluid motors. A drawback of electric damper motors is that often their life cycle is comparatively short and limited, thereby making motor replacement a relatively frequent and expensive maintenance operation. Another problem is that, in systems employing a considerable number of electric motor driven dampers, relatively complicated wiring schemes and transformers are often involved, all adding to the cost and complexity of the overall system. Fluid motors eliminate the electrical wiring problems and often have comparatively longer life cycles, but they too have had drawbacks associated therewith. Even with so-called frictionless diaphragm-type fluid motors, the actuator members thereof are typically engaged by bearings and wipers that still hinder free linear movement of the members. Also, to reduce friction, the members are often made of hardened steel as opposed to less expensive materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a fluid flow control damper assembly that overcomes many of the drawbacks associated with the damper assemblies described above herein. In this patent, a damper assembly comprises a support base for external mounting to a side of a duct. A damper vane is mounted to the support base for movement between open and closed positions. The damper vane is located inwardly of the inner side of the support base for positioning interiorly of the duct when the support base is mounted to the duct. An actuator is mounted to the support base and operatively connected to the damper vane for moving the damper between open and closed positions. The support base includes a closure for closing an access opening in a side wall of the duct of sufficient size to permit insertion of the damper vane therethrough. The closure includes a mounting member and a gasket at the inner side of the mounting member for providing a seal between the mounting member and the side wall of the duct. The actuator includes a fluid motor of the type including a diaphragm. The damper vane may be pivotally mounted to the end of a mounting post extending inwardly from the support base and the fluid motor may have an actuator member connected to the diaphragm and extending generally parallel to the mounting post for connection to the damper vane.

For SDHV HVAC systems, zone control has been difficult and largely impractical due to a lack of sufficient damper assemblies designed for the unique properties and characteristics of SDHV HVAC systems (e.g., higher air velocities and pressures than that of traditional low velocity HVAC systems and smaller diameter duct work, for example, 2 inch diameter duct work). Therefore, a need exists for a damper assembly that may be used in SDHV HVAC systems.

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 the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a damper assembly for controlling the flow of fluid through a duct. The damper assembly includes a first damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The damper assembly further includes a second damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end wherein the first open end of the second damper housing half is joined to the first open end of the first damper housing half to form an assembled damper housing. The damper assembly also includes a substantially elliptical damper blade pivotally mounted within the assembled housing along a minor axis of the damper blade for movement between opened and closed positions. The damper assembly further includes an actuator member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally connected to a first side of the damper blade near the first end of the member. The actuator member extends through an opening in the assembled damper housing toward the second end of the member such that the damper blade pivots about the minor axis when the actuator member is moved along a longitudinal axis of the actuator member. The longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the minor axis. The damper assembly also includes a damper actuator mounted to the assembled damper housing such that the second end of the actuator member is connected to a movable diaphragm of the damper actuator to move the actuator member longitudinally when the damper actuator is pressure or vacuum activated by an air pump.

A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of assembling a damper assembly used for controlling the flow of fluid through a duct. The method comprises identifying component parts of the damper assembly including a damper actuator having a damper actuator housing and a protruding actuator member, a damper blade having an axle and at least one bracket, a first damper housing half having a first joining flange with first axle receiver recesses, and a second damper housing half having a second joining flange with second axle receiver recesses. The method further includes pivotally securing the damper blade to the actuator member via the at least one bracket on a back surface of the damper blade. The method also includes loosely securing the first damper housing half to the damper actuator housing. The method further includes aligning the axle of the damper blade with the first axle receiver recesses in the first joining flange of the first damper housing half. The method further comprises tightly securing the second damper housing half to the first damper housing half at the joining flanges such that the axle is also aligned with the second axle receiver recesses in the second joining flange of the second damper housing half. The method also includes aligning the loosely secured damper housing halves to the damper actuator housing and tightly securing the aligned damper housing halves to the damper actuator housing.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of installing a damper assembly, comprising a damper housing connected to a damper actuator, and used for controlling the flow of fluid through small duct high velocity (SDHV) flex line duct work. The method includes making a cut through a cross-section of the duct work to form two open sections of the duct work. The method further includes inserting a first open end of the damper housing into a first open section of the two open sections of the duct work to form a first joint. The method also includes inserting a second open end of the damper housing into a second open section of the two open sections of the duct work to form a second joint. The method further comprises securing the first joint to hold the first open end within the first open section and securing the second joint to hold the second open end within the second open section. The method also includes sealing the first joint to form a first air tight sealed joint and sealing the second joint to form a second air tight sealed joint. The method further includes connecting a first end of an air supply line to an air inlet port of the damper actuator.

Like all air distribution systems, SDHV HVAC systems depend on moving conditioned air to the living spaces to maintain a desirable temperature in those spaces. The system is scaled and laid out to deliver enough air to maintain the desired temperature during peak load conditions. A problem is that peak conditions occur during only about 10% of the annual duty cycle. During other times, peak delivery will mean that some areas of the building will be too warm while others will be too cool. Zoning combats such a problem by serving only those areas that are demanding service “right now”. That is, when thermostats installed in those areas call, air is provided. When the thermostats in certain zones are not calling, the dampers are closed and the air is served somewhere else.

In general SDHV HVAC systems tend to be much more expensive than conventional HVAC systems and are installed in homes that have architectural challenges that preclude standard duct work, or in historical homes that were not designed for cooling and adding conventional duct work. Because air is moved faster in a SDHV HVAC system, the size of the duct work may be reduced. The trunk is typically 6 to 10 inches wide, with 2 inch flexible duct runouts feeding inconspicuous outlets. The small size of the runouts allows contractors to run them inside standard stud walls or through ceilings without having to build“ugly” sofits. An air pump in a SDHV HVAC system may generate 40-60 inches of water column in pressure and vacuum resulting in 1-2 inches of water column static pressure inside the SDHV duct work. Airflow is typically around 2400 feet/minute in such SDHV HVAC systems.

It has traditionally been thought that SDHV HVAC systems could not be zoned. Manufacturers have been concerned that raising the static pressure, by closing zone dampers and reducing the effective size of duct work, would cause a severe loss in airflow through the equipment, thereby causing the equipment to become too cold (during cooling) and freeze up. However, the damper assembly as described herein allows for zoning of SDHV HVAC systems. Contractors should follow the equipment manufacturers' recommendations about the total number of runs throughout the system but they should not have less than 3.5 outlets per ton of cooling in any zone. This works well for refrigerant-based air conditioning and heat pump systems. For systems using chillers or boilers, there is no restriction on outlets.

These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a damper assembly for use in a SDHV HVAC system, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate several different views of the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate several component parts of the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of assembling the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of installing the damper assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing the damper assembly of FIG. 1 installed between two sections of SDHV flex line duct work, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a damper assembly 100 for use in a SDHV HVAC system, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The damper assembly 100 is designed to operate in the much higher static pressure environments that a SDHV HVAC system typically produces (e.g., 1 to 2 inches of water column). FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate several different views of the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate several component parts of the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

The damper assembly 100 comprises a first damper housing half 110 comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having two open ends. The damper assembly 100 further comprises a second damper housing half 120 comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having two open ends. The second damper housing half 120 is joined to the first damper housing half 110 to form an assembled damper housing 110 and 120. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper housing halves 110 and 120 are substantially identical and made of a molded plastic material. The damper assembly 100 also comprises a substantially elliptical damper blade 130 pivotally mounted within the assembled damper housing 110 and 120 along a minor axis 135 of the damper blade 130 for movement between an open position and a closed position. The open position allows air to flow through the assembled damper housing 110 and 120 and the closed position substantially blocks the flow of air through the damper housing 110 and 120 when installed in a SDHV HVAC system. As used herein, the term “elliptical” means oval or non-circular. That is, the substantially elliptical damper blade has a major axis and a minor axis where the length of the major axis is longer than the length of the minor axis. In other words, a length of the elliptical damper blade is longer than a width of the elliptical damper blade.

The damper assembly 100 further comprises an actuator member 140 having a first end 141 and a second end 142 (see FIG. 2, FIG. 3a, and FIG. 4a). The actuator member 140 is pivotally connected to a first side 131 of the damper blade 130 near the first end 141 of the actuator member 140. The actuator member 140 extends through an opening 115 in the assembled damper housing 110 and 120 toward the second end 142 of the actuator member such that the damper blade 130 pivots about the minor axis 135 when the actuator member 140 is moved along a longitudinal axis 145 of the actuator member 140. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the actuator member comprises a rod having longitudinal axis 145 that is substantially perpendicular to the minor axis 135 of the damper blade 130, although the longitudinal axis 145 is in a different plane than the minor axis 135.

The damper assembly 100 also comprises a damper actuator 150 which is mounted to the assembled damper housing 110 and 120 such that the second end 142 of the actuator member 140 is connected to a movable diaphragm (driving element) inside the damper actuator 150. The damper actuator 150 is of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is an air flow fluid actuator. FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,148 illustrates an embodiment of such a damper actuator 150. Referring to FIGS. 1-4 herein, when the actuator member 140 is driven along the direction of the longitudinal axis 145 by forcing air into the damper actuator 150 or by sucking air out of the damper actuator 150, the damper blade 130 pivots about the minor axis 135 between an opened position and a closed position. However, other types of damper actuators may be used as well to drive the actuator member 140 such as, for example, an electric motor actuator.

When air is pulled out of the damper actuator 150, the damper blade 130 is pulled downward and the damper opens allowing air to pass through the damper housing 110 and 120. The damper blade 130 shown in FIG. 2 is in the opened position. When air is pushed into the damper actuator 150, the damper blade 130 is pushed closed and conditioned air flow is blocked. The damper blade 130 shown in FIG. 1 is in the closed position. The oval shape of the damper blade 130 allows the edges of the damper blade 130 to tightly fit against the inner surface of the damper assembly housing halves 110 and 120 when in the closed position. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom or far side of the damper actuator housing 151 of the damper actuator 150 is used as a stop for the actuator member 140 such that the damper blade 130 is fully open at centerline position when the actuator member 140 is stopped as such (i.e., when the air is sucked out of the damper actuator 150).

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper assembly housing halves 110 and 120 each include integral threads 111 and 121 on an outside surface of the housing halves 110 and 120. The integral threads 111 and 121 allow the housing halves 110 and 120 to be twisted into SDHV flex line duct on each side 116 and 117 of the damper assembly housing halves 110 and 120 during installation of the damper assembly 100. The threads 111 and 121 help to hold the ends of the housing halves 110 and 120 secure within the SDHV flex line duct. However, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, threads are not used (i.e., there are no integral threads on the housing halves 110 and 120).

Each of the damper housing halves 110 and 120 include a joining flange 112 and 122 respectively. The joining flanges 112 and 122 each include two axle receiver recesses 161 and 162 (see FIG. 4b) to receive an axle 170 of the damper blade 130. The damper blade 130 includes an axle 170 extending from two opposite edges of the damper blade in line with the minor axis 135. The axle 170, when mounted between the two housing halves 110 and 120 in the recesses 161 and 162 allows the damper blade to pivot about the minor axis 135. The axle 170 may simply comprise an integral nub or extension protruding from each side of the damper blade 130 in line with the minor axis 135 as shown in FIG. 4c. Alternatively, the axle 170 may comprise a separate rod extending the entire width of the damper blade 130 along the minor axis 135 and being attached to the damper blade 130. Other axle configurations are possible as well, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

The substantially oval shape of the damper blade 130 limits the amount of side to side movement of the actuator member 140 which reduces flexing of the junction between the member 140 and the diaphragm within the damper actuator 150 to which the second end 142 of the actuator member 140 is connected. Such limited side to side movement promotes long and reliable operation and spreads out the force provided by the actuator member 140 on both the top and bottom of the damper blade 130 as well as the axle 170, allowing the required thickness of the damper blade 130 to be reduced.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the first side 131 of the damper blade 130 includes two brackets 181 and 182 extending from the first side 131 such that the actuator member 140 may be pivotally connected to the damper blade 130 via the two brackets 181 and 182. A pin 183 (see FIG. 2) is used to secure the actuator member 140 to the brackets 181 and 182 by inserting the pin 183 through holes in the brackets 181 and 182 and in the actuator member 140 near the first end 141 of the actuator member 140. The damper blade 130 also includes beveled edges 185 and 186 to provide a tight fit between the edges of the damper blade 130 and an interior surface of the assembled damper housing 110 and 120 when the damper blade 130 is in the closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, most of the elements of the damper assembly 100 are made of a molded plastic material such as, for example, a polycarbonate/ABS blend for strength, temperature tolerance, and product longevity. Also, flame retardant additives may be used to give the assembly 100 the product V0 rating (i.e., self-extinguishing within a certain time frame).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 500 of assembling the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step 510 the various component parts of the damper assembly 100 are identified including the damper actuator 150 having a damper actuator housing 151 and a protruding actuator member 140, the damper blade 130 having an axle 170 and at least one bracket 181 and 182, a first damper housing half 110 having a first joining flange 112 with first axle receiver recesses 161 and 162, and a second damper housing half 120 having a second joining flange 122 with second axle receiver recesses 161 and 162.

In step 520, the damper blade 130 is pivotally secured to the actuator member 140 via the brackets 181 and 182 on a back surface 131 of the damper blade 130. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper blade 130 is pivotally secured to the actuator member 140 by inserting a pin 183 through a hole near the first end 141 of the actuator member and through another hole in each of the brackets 181 and 182 such that the actuator member 140 resides between the two brackets 181 and 182. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, only one bracket may be used to pivotally attach the actuator member 140 to the back of the damper blade 130. Other methods of pivotally attaching the actuator member 140 to the back of the damper blade 130 are possible as well, in accordance with other various embodiments of the present invention.

In step 530, the first damper housing half 110 is loosely secured to the damper actuator housing 151. In step 540, the axle 170 of the damper blade 130 is aligned with the first axle receiver recesses 161 and 162 in the first joining flange 112 of the first damper housing half 110. In step 550, the second damper housing half 120 is tightly secured to the first damper housing half 110 at the joining flanges 112 and 122 such that the axle 170 is also aligned with the second axle receiver recesses 161 and 162 in the second joining flange 122 of the second damper housing half 120. The first damper housing half 110 may be loosely secured to the damper actuator housing 151 by screwing a screw through a hole in a base 113 (see FIG. 4b) of the first damper housing half 110 and into a corresponding hole in the damper actuator housing 151. The second damper housing half 120 may be secured to the first damper housing half 110 via bolts and nuts where the bolts pass through holes in the joining flanges 112 and 122.

In step 560, the loosely secured damper housing halves 110 and 120 are aligned to the damper actuator housing 151. Aligning the loosely secured damper housing halves 110 and 120 (i.e., loosely secured to the damper actuator housing 151 by one screw but tightly secured to each other by nuts and bolts) to the damper actuator housing 151 includes lining up a screw hole in a base 113 of the second damper housing half 120 with a screw hole in the damper actuator housing 151 by pivoting the connected damper housing halves 110 and 120 about the screw loosely securing the first damper housing half 110. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper housing halves 110 and 120 are substantially identical and the joining flanges 112 and 122 are finished such that the resultant joint is air tight up to a static pressure of at least 5 inches of water column (a safety factor of 300%).

In step 570, the aligned damper housing halves 110 and 120 are tightly secured to the damper actuator housing 151. The first damper housing half 110 and the second damper housing half 120 are tightly secured to the damper actuator housing 151 via screws. For example, the screw that is loosely securing the first damper housing half 110 is tightened down and another screw is used to tightly secure the second damper housing half 120 to the damper actuator housing 151 in a similar manner after alignment of the damper housing halves 110 and 120 to the damper actuator housing 151.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 600 of installing the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an illustration showing the damper assembly 100 of FIG. 1 installed between two sections 710 and 720 of SDHV flex line duct work, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 610 of the method 600, a cut is made through a cross-section of small duct high velocity (SDHV) flex line duct work to form two open sections 710 and 720 of duct work. The cut may be made with a simple box cutter knife or some other cutting tool, for example. In step 620, a first open end 116 of the damper assembly housing 110 and 120 is inserted into the first open section 710 of the duct work to form a first joint 711. In step 630, a second open end 117 of the damper assembly housing 110 and 120 is inserted into the second open section 720 of the duct work to form a second joint 721. Insertion may be accomplished, for example, by twisting the threaded open ends of the damper housing halves 110 and 120 into the two open sections 710 and 720 of the duct work.

In step 640, the first joint 711 is secured to hold the first open end 116 within the first open section 710. In step 650, the second joint 721 is secured to hold the second open end 117 within the second open section 720. The joints 711 and 721 may be secured by, for example, tightening a heavy Nylon cable around each joint. Clamps or other securing means may be used instead. In step 660, the first joint 711 is sealed to form a first air tight sealed joint. In step 670, the second joint 721 is sealed to form a second air tight sealed joint. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, air tight duct tape, for example, is used to seal the joints 711 and 721. Other means may be used to seal the joints instead.

In step 680, a first end of an air supply line 730 is connected to an inlet port 735 of the damper actuator 150. A second end of the air supply line 730 may be routed to a pressure/vacuum air pump of the HVAC system and connected to a port of the pressure/vacuum pump. Once the basic installation is completed, as described above, the installed damper assembly 100 may be wrapped using, for example, standard duct wrap in order to protect and insulate the installed damper assembly 100. Since, the damper assembly 100 has no moving external parts and generates no heat, it is safe to wrap the entire assembly 100.

In summary, a SDHV damper assembly and methods to assemble and install the SDHV damper assembly are disclosed. The SDHV damper assembly encloses a substantially elliptical damper blade within two damper housing halves such that the damper blade may pivot about a minor axis of the damper blade. An actuator member ties a damper actuator to the damper blade such that the damper actuator may drive the damper blade between open and closed positions in order to control air flow into a zone.

While the invention 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 invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A damper assembly for controlling the flow of fluid through small duct high velocity (SDHV) ductwork, said damper assembly comprising:

a first damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end;

a second damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end wherein said first open end of said second damper housing half is joined to said first open end of said first damper housing half to form an assembled damper housing;

a substantially elliptical damper blade pivotally mounted within said assembled damper housing along a minor axis of said damper blade for movement between opened and closed positions;

an actuator member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally connected to a first side of said damper blade near the first end of said member and extending through an opening in said assembled damper housing toward the second end of said member such that said damper blade pivots about said minor axis when said actuator member is moved along a longitudinal axis of said actuator member, said longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to said minor axis; and

a damper actuator mounted to said assembled damper housing such that said second end of said actuator member is connected to a driving element of said damper actuator to move said actuator member longitudinally when said damper actuator is driven by saiddriving element.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said damper housing halves includes integral threads on an outside surface of saidhousing halves.

3. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said damper housing halves includes a joining flange on saidfirst open end of each of said damper housing halves.

4. The damper assembly of claim 3 wherein said joining flange includes axle receiver recesses to receive an axle of said damper blade.

5. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein said second damper housing half is substantially identical to said first damper housing half.

6. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein said damper blade includes an axle extending from two opposite edges of said damper blade in line with said minor axis to allow said damper blade to pivotally mount to said assembled damper housing via axle receiver recesses in said assembled damper housing.

7. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein said first side of said damper blade includes at least one bracket extending from saidfirst side of said damper blade such that said actuator member may be pivotally connected to said damper blade via said at least one bracket.

8. The damper assembly of claim 7 wherein a pin is used to secure said actuator member to said at least one bracket by insertion of said pin into a first hole through said actuator member and a second hole through said at least one bracket.

9. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein said damper blade includes beveled edges to provide a tight fit between said edges and an interior surface of said assembled damper housing when said damper blade is in said closed position.

10. The damper assembly of claim 1 wherein said driving element comprises a movable diaphragm which moves said actuator member longitudinally when said damper actuator is pressure or vacuum activated by an air pump.

11. A method of assembling a damper assembly used for controlling the flow of fluid through small duct high velocity (SDHV) ductwork, said method comprising:

identifying component parts of said damper assembly including a damper actuator having a damper actuator housing and a protruding actuator member, a damper blade having an axle and at least one bracket, a first damper housing half having a first joining flange with first axle receiver recesses, and a second damper housing half having a second joining flange with second axle receiver recesses;

pivotally securing said damper blade to said actuator member via said at least one bracket on a back surface of said damper blade;

loosely securing said first damper housing half to said damper actuator housing;

aligning said axle of said damper blade with said first axle receiver recesses in said first joining flange of said first damper housing half;

tightly securing said second damper housing half to said first damper housing half at said joining flanges such that said axle is also aligned with said second axle receiver recesses in said second joining flange of said second damper housing half;

aligning said loosely secured damper housing halves to said damper actuator housing; and

tightly securing said aligned damper housing halves to said damper actuator housing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said damper blade is pivotally secured to said actuator member by inserting a pin through a first hole near a first end of said actuator member and through a second hole of said at least one bracket.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said first damper housing half is loosely secured to said damper actuator housing by screwing a first screw through a first hole in a base of said first damper housing half and into a corresponding first hole in said damper actuator housing.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said second damper housing half is secured to said first damper housing half via bolts and nuts, said bolts passing through holes in said joining flanges.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said first damper housing half and said second damper housing half are tightly secured to said damper actuator housing via said first screw and by screwing at least one second screw through a second hole in a base of said second damper housing and into at least one corresponding second hole in said damper actuator housing.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said aligning said loosely secured damper housing halves to said damper actuator housing includes lining up at least one screw hole in a base of said second damper housing half with at least one screw hole in said damper actuator housing.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said damper housing halves includes integral threads on an outside surface of said housing halves.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said second damper housing half is substantially identical to said first damper housing half.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said damper blade includes beveled edges to provide a tight fit between said edges and an interior surface of said damper housing halves when said damper blade is in a closed position within said damper housing halves.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said damper housing halves comprise a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end and wherein said damper blade is substantially elliptical in shape.

21. A method of installing a damper assembly, comprising a damper housing connected to a damper actuator, and used for controlling the flow of fluid through small duct high velocity (SDHV) flex line duct work, said method comprising:

making a cut through a cross-section of said duct work to form two open sections of said duct work;

inserting a first open end of said damper housing into a first open section of said two open sections of said duct work to form a first joint;

inserting a second open end of said damper housing into a second open section of said two open sections of said duct work to form a second joint;

securing said first joint to hold said first open end within said first open section;

securing said second joint to hold said second open end within said second open section;

sealing said first joint to form a first air tight sealed joint; and

sealing said second joint to form a second air tight sealed joint.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising connecting a first end of an air supply line to an air inlet port of said damper actuator.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising wrapping said installed damper assembly.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein standard duct wrap is used to perform said wrapping.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said inserting includes twisting threaded open ends of said damper housing into said two open sections of said duct work.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said securing includes tightening a heavy Nylon cable tie around said joints.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein air tight duct tape is used to perform said sealing.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising routing a second end of said air supply line to a pressure/vacuum air pump and connecting said second end of said air supply line to a port of said pressure/vacuum air pump.

29. A damper for controlling the flow of a fluidized medium through high velocity ductwork, the damper comprising:

a substantially tubular damper housing having first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends is adapted for insertion into associated high velocity ductwork respectively;

a substantially elliptical damper blade pivotally mounted within said damper housing along a minor axis of said damper blade for movement between opened and closed positions;

an actuator member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally connected to a first side of said damper blade near the first end of said member and extending through an opening in said damper housing toward the second end of said member such that said damper blade pivots about said minor axis when said actuator member is moved along a longitudinal axis of said actuator member, said longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to said minor axis; and

a damper actuator mounted to said damper housing such that said second end of said actuator member is connected to a driving element of said damper actuator to move said actuator member longitudinally when said damper actuator is driven by said driving element.

30. A damper for controlling the flow of a fluidized medium through high velocity ductwork, the damper comprising:

a substantially tubular damper housing having first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends is adapted for insertion into associated high velocity ductwork respectively; and

a substantially elliptical damper blade pivotally mounted within said damper housing along a minor axis of said damper blade for movement between opened and closed positions.