An actuator for controlling the position of a damper. It is an adjustable damper actuator that can actuate a damper to have positions that are other than fully open and fully closed. The actuator has adjustable stops for attaining a partially closed or partially open damper as the operator wants. This actuator is useful for zone heating and air-conditioning as well as for providing a continuous supply of make-up air at low flow rates.

Adjustable damper actuator

An actuator including an electric motor driven by a drive circuit powered by a power source, and a load coupled to the electric motor. The actuator further includes a spring biasing the load to a first position, and a microcontroller coupled to the electric motor to commutate the electric motor. Upon failure of the power source, the spring returns the damper to the first position, and, as the spring returns the load to the first position, the electric motor is spun to generate electricity that is used to power the microcontroller. The microcontroller can govern a speed at which the spring returns the load to the first position. In addition, a potentiometer can be used to indicate when the load approaches the first position so that the microcontroller can slow the speed of return prior to the load reaching the first position.

Spring return actuator for a damper

A control system for controlling movement of damper blades in a damper housing being open and closed positions consists of a support member having a driving link movable thereon and moved through a drive means. The driving link is biased to a closed position by a spring and is moved to an open position through the drive means, which is disengaged from the driving link through a power-operated member. The drive motor and the power-operated member connected to a power source through an electric circuit which incorporates switches and sensors that will automatically cause the damper blades to close under preselected conditions and a manual-override for remote-control and for manually overriding the temperature-sensing mechanism when desired.

Ventilation damper control system

In a ventilating hood of the type incorporating a supply chamber, an exhaust outlet, one or both of which incorporate air blower or moving means, such as fans, pressure taps are incorporated at strategic locations about the supply and exhaust chambers, generally at the location of their separating partitions, as where the air is diffused as passing through the hood, so that pressure drops can be readily determined, and airflows at these locations may be properly set as determined from previously prepared graphs.

Flow measurement for exhaust-type canopy and ventilating hood

An HVAC actuator (10), such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor (12) with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion (32). In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train (14) and/or the HVAC component (16) when an end stop (28, 30) is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached.

Hvac actuator with output torque compensation

Exhaust system control apparatus operative to automatically close a damper in an exhaust duct leading from a spray booth when the spray booth is not in operation. A reversible damper motor is energized to rotate the damper to an open position when the spray booth is in operation. The damper motor is automatically reversed to close the damper in response to termination of spray booth operation. Energy is thus conserved by reducing the amount of heated air that would otherwise escape through the exhaust duct when the spray booth is not being used. In case of fire, the same damper is automatically rotated to a closed position in the exhaust duct by a spring loaded sprocket assembly on the damper shaft. This safety action takes place in response to the melting of a fusible link located in the exhaust duct and connected to a sprocket retention cable.

Thadeus Skuba

Papers

Automatic energy saver and fire damper for exhaust systems