Variable air volume diffuser and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317099-B2
Application number	US-201514688988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A variable air volume diffuser and method of operation are disclosed. The system includes an energy harvesting device, a ring-shaped damper and a frame adapted to interface with the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a ring-shaped damper, comprising:
an energy harvesting device;
the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper comprises an outer damper wall that defines a central flow path through the ring-shaped damper and a plate coupled to the outer damper wall; and
a frame adapted to interface with the ring-shaped damper, wherein the plate is configured to form an air-tight barrier with a portion of the frame extending around a circumference of the ring-shaped damper to block air flow through the central flow path when the ring-shaped damper is in a closed position, and wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage conditioning and storage unit coupled to the energy harvesting device, wherein the voltage conditioning and storage unit is configured to apply overvoltage and undervoltage protection to a storage capacitor.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a controller coupled to the voltage conditioning and storage unit, wherein the voltage conditioning and storage unit is configured to apply overvoltage protection to the controller.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a motor control coupled to the controller, wherein the motor control is configured to actuate a driver that moves the ring-shaped damper to a fully open position if an amount of energy remaining in the storage capacitor reaches a predetermined amount.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer damper wall has a height X.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer damper wall has a diameter D.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a cross-brace support.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises:
a central support ring; and
a cross-brace support coupled the central support ring and the outer damper wall.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a driver coupled to the ring-shaped damper and the frame, wherein the driver is configured to move the ring-shaped damper away from the frame in a first direction and to move the ring-shaped damper toward the frame in a second direction.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the driver further comprises a screw-shaped drive shaft.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises one or more air vents.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a room air temperature sensor disposed on the frame.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a room air temperature sensor disposed on the ring-shaped damper.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more air vents disposed between the frame and the ring-shaped damper.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a rectangular outer diameter.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to attach to a ceiling.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a supply air temperature sensor coupled to the frame.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive shaft frame coupled to the frame; and
a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the drive shaft frame, wherein the ring-shaped damper engages with the drive shaft such that rotational movement of the drive shaft axially displaces the ring-shaped damper relative to the drive shaft frame.

19. A system for controlling a ring-shaped damper, comprising:
a frame comprising a rectangular outer diameter, wherein the frame is configured to attach to a ceiling;
the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper comprises:
a central support ring;
an outer damper wall defining a central flow path through the ring-shaped damper, wherein the outer damper wall has a height X and a diameter D;
a cross-brace support coupled the central support ring and the outer damper wall; and
a plate secured to the outer damper wall, wherein the plate is configured to form an air-tight barrier with a portion of the frame extending around a circumference of the ring-shaped damper to block air flow through the central flow path when the ring-shaped damper is in a closed position, and wherein one or more air vents are disposed between the frame and the ring-shaped damper;

a driver coupled to the ring-shaped damper and the frame, wherein the driver is configured to move the ring-shaped damper away from the frame in a first direction and to move the ring-shaped damper toward the frame in a second direction, wherein the driver comprises:
a screw-shaped drive shaft; and
a drive shaft frame coupled to the screw-shaped drive shaft and the ring-shaped damper;

an energy harvesting device, wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device;
a room air temperature sensor disposed on the frame or the ring-shaped damper;
a supply air temperature sensor coupled to the frame;
a voltage conditioning and storage unit coupled to the energy harvesting device, wherein the voltage conditioning and storage unit is configured to apply overvoltage and undervoltage protection to a storage capacitor;
a controller coupled to the voltage conditioning and storage unit, wherein the voltage conditioning and storage unit is configured to apply overvoltage protection to the controller; and
a motor control coupled to the controller, wherein the motor control is configured to instruct the driver to move the ring-shaped damper to a fully open position if an amount of energy remaining in the storage capacitor reaches a predetermined amount.

Assignees

• Air Distribution Tech Ip Llc

Inventors

• Hirsch Joachim
• Minor Gary A
• Hayes Makavan

Classifications

• F24F2140/40

  Damper positions, e.g. open or closed · CPC title

• F24F2005/0067

  with photovoltaic panels · CPC title

• F24F11/0001 Primary

  for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F13/10 Primary

  movable, e.g. dampers · CPC title