Fire damper actuator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11273335-B2
Application number	US-201815965413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2018
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

A fire damper actuation system in an HVAC system includes a damper system and an actuator system. The damper system includes damper blades rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a crank arm assembly configured to drive the damper blades, a spring assembly configured to be held in a loaded condition when the damper blades are in the open configuration, a temperature-activated fusible link, and a fusible link arm coupling the temperature-activated fusible link to the crank arm assembly. The actuator system includes a motor and a drive device. The drive device is coupled to the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link. Operation of the drive device by the motor between a first end stop location and a second end stop location simultaneously rotates the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link to complete a test inspection procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fire damper actuation system in an HVAC system, the fire damper actuation system comprising: a damper system comprising: a plurality of damper blades rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a crank arm assembly configured to drive the plurality of damper blades between the open configuration and the closed configuration, the crank arm assembly comprising: a first pivoting linkage, a second pivoting linkage pivotally coupled to the first pivoting linkage and at least one of the plurality of damper blades, and a shaft coupled to the first pivoting linkage; a spring assembly coupled to the crank arm assembly and configured to be held in a loaded condition when the plurality of damper blades are in the open configuration; a temperature-activated fusible link configured to fail when the temperature-activated fusible link is proximate to a fire; and a fusible link arm coupled to the temperature-activated fusible link and pivotally coupled to the first pivoting linkage and the second pivoting linkage; and an actuator system comprising a motor and a drive device, the drive device coupled to the shaft, wherein operation of the drive device by the motor between a first end stop location and a second end stop location simultaneously rotates the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link to complete a test inspection procedure, and wherein a remote inspection tool in communication with the actuator system is configured to transmit a control signal initiating a test inspection procedure to the actuator system and is configured to: receive at least one of a plurality of current values or a plurality of voltage values from the actuator system, determine that the actuator system has failed based on the at least one of the plurality of current values or the plurality of voltage values, and receive motor current measurement data from the actuator system, and detect an abnormal operating condition based on the motor current measurement data.

2. The fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the drive device is coupled to the temperature-activated fusible link using a joint component.

3. The fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the abnormal operating condition is at least one of a broken spring assembly, an obstruction in a path of the plurality of damper blades, a broken temperature-activated fusible link, or a missing temperature-activated fusible link.

4. The fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the remote inspection tool is at least one of a dedicated handheld device, a fire alarm system control panel component, a mobile phone, or a tablet device.

5. The fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the first end stop location corresponds to the open configuration of the plurality of damper blades and the second end stop location corresponds to the closed configuration of the plurality of damper blades.

6. The fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a torsion spring.

7. A fire damper actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-activated fusible link is fabricated from a fusible metallic alloy.

8. A method of testing a fire damper system including a damper system and a remote inspection tool, the damper system having a plurality of damper blades, a drive device, a motor operating the drive device, a crank arm assembly, and a temperature-activated fusible link, the method comprising:
providing, by the remote inspection tool, a signal to initiate a test inspection procedure of the damper system;
operating, by the damper system, the drive device between a first end stop location and a second end stop location to simultaneously rotate the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link;
measuring, by the damper system, a plurality of current values for a current through the motor; and
transmitting, by the damper system, the plurality of current values to the remote inspection tool; and
determining, by the remote inspection tool, that the damper system has failed based on the plurality of current values.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first end stop location corresponds with an open configuration of the plurality of damper blades, and the second end stop location corresponds with a closed configuration of the plurality of damper blades.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote inspection tool is at least one of a dedicated handheld device, a fire alarm system control panel component, a mobile phone, or a tablet device.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote inspection tool is configured to detect an abnormal operating condition based on the plurality of current values.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the abnormal operating condition is at least one of an obstruction in a path of the plurality of damper blades, a broken temperature-activated fusible link, or a missing temperature-activated fusible link.

13. A fire damper actuation system in an HVAC system, the fire damper actuation system comprising: a damper system comprising a plurality of damper blades rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the plurality of damper blades normally retained in the open configuration by a temperature-activated fusible link; and an actuator system comprising a motor and a drive device, the drive device coupled to the temperature-activated fusible link and configured to drive the plurality of damper blades between the open configuration and the closed configuration; and a remote inspection tool in communication with the actuator system and configured to transmit a control signal initiating a test inspection procedure to the actuator system and configured to: receive at least one of a plurality of current values or a plurality of voltage values from the actuator system, determine that the actuator system has failed based on the at least one of the plurality of current values or the plurality of voltage values, receive motor current measurement data from the actuator system, and detect an abnormal operating condition based on the motor current measurement data; wherein the test inspection procedure comprises rotation of the temperature-activated fusible link while the plurality of damper blades are simultaneously driven between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

14. The fire damper actuation system of claim 13 , wherein the abnormal operating condition is at least one of an obstruction in a path of the plurality of damper blades, a broken temperature-activated fusible link, or a missing temperature-activated fusible link.

15. The fire damper actuation system of claim 13 , wherein the remote inspection tool is at least one of a dedicated handheld device, a fire alarm system control panel component, a mobile phone, or a tablet device.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co
• Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP

Inventors

• Jenks Russell T
• Bero Kyle M
• Mccaleb Myles S
• Prato Nicholas P
• Lynn Stephanie P
• Maune Kent S

Classifications

• E05Y2900/146

  Shutters · CPC title

• E05Y2400/50

  Fault detection · CPC title

• E05F15/40

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title

• A62C2/065

  having as the main closure device materials, whose characteristics undergo an irreversible change under high temperatures, e.g. intumescent · CPC title

• E05F1/006

  by emergency conditions, e.g. fire (operating or controlling mechanisms for physical fire-barriers A62C2/24) · CPC title