Modular retrofit damper system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11359828-B2
Application number	US-201816006779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2018
Priority date	Jun 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A modular damper system is configured for installation in a ductwork of a building that supplies conditioned air through a register vent of the building and includes a damper unit, a control module and a power module. The damper unit is mountable upstream of the register vent and includes a damper that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The control module includes a controller that provides control commands to the damper unit and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit. A power module is electrically coupled to the control module to provide power to the control module and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular damper system configured for installation in a ductwork system including a duct configured to supply air through a register boot to a register vent of a building, the modular damper system comprising:
a damper unit configured to be mounted within the duct upstream of the register boot, the damper unit including a damper that is movable between a closed end position in which air moving through the duct is restricted from flowing past the damper unit and through the register vent, and an open end position in which air moving through the duct ductwork is less restricted from flowing past the damper unit and through the register vent;
a control module configured to be mounted separately from the damper unit but communicatively coupled to the damper unit, the control module including a controller configured to provide control commands to the damper unit to regulate a position of the damper of the damper unit, the control module including a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork between the register vent and the damper unit;
a power module configured to be mounted separately from the control module but electrically coupled to the control module to provide power to the control module, the power module including a housing that is configured to be secured to the register boot; and
a control cable extending between the housing of the control module and the damper unit, the control cable configured to provide the control commands to the damper unit when the housing of the control module is secured to the ductwork and the housing of the power module is secured to the register boot.

2. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the damper is moveable between a plurality of intermediate positions between the closed end position and the open end position.

3. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the damper unit comprises a deployment member that extends downstream from the damper unit and terminates at a downstream end portion, the deployment member having a length sufficient to permit the damper of the damper unit to be disposed within the duct when the downstream end portion of the deployment member is secured to the register boot.

4. The modular damper system of claim 3 , wherein the deployment member is bendable in at least one dimension.

5. The modular damper system of claim 3 , wherein the housing of the control module is configured to be secured to the register boot, and wherein the control cable is configured to extend between the housing of the control module and the damper unit when the housing of the control module is secured to the register boot.

6. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the damper of the damper unit is configured to be located within a circular duct of the ductwork system upstream of the register vent.

7. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the control module includes a wireless communications unit that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a wireless building controller within the building in which the modular damper system is deployed.

8. The modular damper system of claim 7 , wherein the wireless communications unit includes an antenna that is configured to extend through a sidewall of the ductwork when the control module is secured to the existing ductwork.

9. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is configured to accommodate one or more batteries.

10. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the damper unit includes a damper blade motor configured to move the damper between the closed end position and the open end position.

11. The modular damper system of claim 10 , wherein the control cable is configured to provide the control commands to the damper blade motor.

12. The modular damper system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to provide power to the damper blade motor to move the damper between the closed end position and the open end position, and wherein the power module is configured to provide the power to the controller.

13. The modular damper system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat configured to wirelessly communicate with the control module to control operation of the damper unit.

14. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the damper unit further comprises a damper frame, wherein the damper is rotatably connected to the damper frame.

15. The modular damper system of claim 14 , wherein the damper is substantially coplanar with the damper frame in the closed end position, and wherein the damper blade is substantially perpendicular to the damper frame in the open end position.

16. The modular damper system of claim 14 , further comprising a deployment member secured to the damper frame, wherein the deployment member is configured to extend downstream from the damper frame.

17. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the control module includes a curved surface configured to be installed on a curved surface of the register boot.

18. The modular damper system of claim 1 , the system further comprising a magnet configured to hold the power module on the register boot.

19. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is configured to accommodate one or more batteries, and wherein the controller is configured to determine an energy level of the one of more batteries.

20. The modular damper system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide electrical power to actuate the damper unit, and wherein the control cable is configured to provide the electrical power to the damper unit when the housing of the control module is secured to the ductwork, the damper system further comprising:
a power cable extending between the housing of the power module and the housing of the control module, the power cable configured to provide the electrical power to the control module when the housing of the control module is secured to the ductwork and the housing of the power module is secured to the register boot.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Emmons David J
• Carlson Nathan
• Wolff Steven
• Zalesak Martin

Classifications

• F24F13/1426 Primary

  characterised by actuating means · CPC title

• F24F11/0001 Primary

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

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24F11/88

  Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits · CPC title

• F24F2013/1433

  with electric motors · CPC title