Remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system

Abstract

A remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising a differential pressure air flow sensor, a damper having an actuator, a remote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct, the air flow sensor and damper mounted in a duct, and a detachable controller that is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to the calculated air flow.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system, and more particularly, to a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air-handling systems have traditionally been used to condition buildings or rooms. An air-handling system can include a system that includes components designed to work together in order to condition air as part of the primary system for ventilation of structures. The air-handling system may contain components such as cooling coils, heating coils, filters, humidifiers, fans, sound attenuators, controls, and other devices functioning to meet the needs of the structures.

Representative of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,999 (1995) which discloses a controller for a variable air volume terminal of a variable air volume air conditioning system which comprises a temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value, a setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint, an airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to the temperature process value and the temperature setpoint. A flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs and damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to the flow process value and the airflow setpoint. The damper control circuitry comprises a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating the damper motor operating signal.

What is needed is a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator. The present invention meets this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary aspect of the invention is to provide a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator.

Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

The invention comprises a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising a differential pressure air flow sensor, a damper having an actuator, a remote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct, the air flow sensor and damper mounted in a duct, and a detachable controller that is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to the calculated air flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system.

FIG. 2 is a section view A-A of the air flow sensor and damper assembly in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate damper actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system. The system comprises the air flow sensor and damper assembly 100, the wall terminal 200, and the hand held control 300.

The air flow sensor and damper assembly 100 comprises an air flow sensor 120 which is installed within a duct 110. Air flow sensor 120 measures a differential pressure as is known in the art.

A damper 140 is also disposed within duct 110. Damper 140 is actuated by a known actuator 141. Actuator 141 may comprise any suitable actuator known in the art, including an electric, pneumatic or manual device.

Actuator 141 and air flow sensor 120 are connected to wall terminal 200. Actuator 141 is connected to the wall terminal 200 by control cable 142. Air flow sensor 120 is connected to the wall terminal by tubes 131, 132 at fittings 1310 and 1320.

Wall terminal 200 comprises an RJ11 connector 3100, a total pressure fitting 1320 and a static pressure fitting 1310.

The hand held controller 300 comprises a microprocessor 210 an LCD screen 220, a pressure transducer 230, a 9v battery terminal 240, a PC terminal block 250 and a FCC connection receptacle 260. The LCD screen can be used to display information relating to air flow. PC terminal block 250 is used to connect the controller to the actuator. Pressure transducer 230 coverts the differential pressure received from the air flow sensor 120 into an electrical signal.

Microprocessor 210 includes software for calculating an air flow rate in feet per minute based upon the signal received from the pressure transducer 230. Controller 300 also provides power to the actuator 141 by which the damper 140 is positioned.

Using the controller, a user will select the proper position for the damper based upon the desired airflow rate for the duct in which the system is located. If the desired airflow rate matches the air flow rate calculated from the signal, then the user does not reposition the damper. If the desired air flow rate does not match the desired air flow rate, then the user will use the controller to send a signal to the remote terminal and thereby to the actuator to move the damper until the desired air flow rate is achieved. The damper can be “parked” in any position between 100% open and 100% closed.

The power used to energize the actuator is onboard the controller 300. The preferred power source is a 9 volt battery, however, any battery or combination of batteries known in the art may be used with equal success.

Hand held controller 300 comprises a display 301 for displaying air flow information in cubic feet per minute. Controller 300 also comprises keys 302 whereby a user can input information into the controller or to change or manipulate resident information.

The hand held controller 300 can be connected to the wall terminal 200 by a cable 310 used to engage the RJ11 port 3100. Cable 310 comprises a known RJ11 cable.

FIG. 2 is a section view A-A of the air flow sensor and damper assembly in FIG. 3. Air flow sensor 120 is disposed upstream of the damper 140 in duct 110. In this embodiment damper 140 comprises a single blade, however, a damper comprising two or more blades may be used as well.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly. The air flow sensor 120 comprises two tubes that cross at a right angle, centered in duct 110. Each tube has a single hole 122 on the upstream side of each tube. Pressure tubes 131, 132, extend from sensor 120 through duct 110.

Damper 140 comprises a shaft 145 to which a damper blade 146 is attached. Actuator 141 is attached to shaft 145.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly. Air flow sensor is disposed upstream of the damper blade 140. Actuator 141 is mounted to the exterior of duct 110.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air flow sensor and damper assembly. Pressure tubes 131, 132 protrude from duct 110. Damper 140 meters the flow of air through duct 110.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate damper actuator. A cable drive worm gear actuator 150, 151, 152 is shown. Worm gear 150 is connected to the damper. Cable 151 is connected between the worm gear 150 and the remote driver 152. A user operates driver 152 which turns worm gear 150, thereby opening or closing the damper. An example device is Rototwist™ 200 worm gear system.

Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising:

a differential pressure air flow sensor;

a damper having an actuator;

a remote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct;

the air flow sensor and damper mounted in a duct; and

a detachable controller that is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to the calculated air flow.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises an energy source for energizing the actuator.

3. The system as in claim 1, where in the controller comprises a visual display.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein the controller comprises:

a processor connected to the visual display;

a pressure transducer connected to the air flow sensor and to the processor; and

the processor using a signal from the pressure transducer to calculate an air flow rate, the air flow rate displayable on the visual display.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the air flow sensor is disposed upstream of the damper.