Variable air volume diffuser and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305677-A1
Application number	US-201514688988-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

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 damper, comprising:
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.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage conditioning and storage unit coupled to the energy harvesting device, the voltage conditioning and storage unit 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, the voltage conditioning and storage unit 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 controller is configured to actuate the motor control to fully open a damper if an amount of energy remaining on the storage capacitor reaches a predetermined amount.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a ring having a wall with a height X.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a ring having a wall with 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;
an outer damper wall; 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:
an outer damper wall; and
a plate secured to the outer damper wall to form an air-tight barrier.

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

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

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the driver comprises a drive shaft support coupled to the screw-shaped drive shaft and the ring-shaped damper.

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

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

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

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

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

18 . The system of claim 1 wherein the frame is configured to be attached to a ceiling.

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

20 . A system for controlling a damper, comprising:
an energy harvesting device; a ring-shaped damper comprising:
a central support ring;
an outer damper wall;
a cross-brace support coupled the central support ring and the outer damper wall;
a driver coupled to the ring-shaped damper and a frame and configured to move the ring-shaped damper away from the frame in a first direction and to move the ring-shaped damper towards the frame in a second direction, wherein the driver comprises a screw-shaped drive shaft, a drive shaft support coupled to the screw-shaped drive shaft and the ring-shaped damper; and
a plate secured to the outer damper wall to form an air-tight barrier;
the frame adapted to interface with the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device; a room air sensor disposed on the frame or the ring shaped damper; a supply air sensor coupled to the frame; a voltage conditioning and storage unit coupled to the energy harvesting device, the voltage conditioning and storage unit configured to apply overvoltage and undervoltage protection to a storage capacitor; a controller coupled to the voltage conditioning and storage unit, the voltage conditioning and storage unit configured to apply overvoltage protection to the controller; a motor control coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the motor control to fully open a damper if an amount of energy remaining on the storage capacitor reaches a predetermined amount; wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a ring having a wall with a height X; wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a ring having a wall with a diameter D; wherein the ring-shaped damper further comprises a cross-brace support; wherein the frame further comprises one or more air vents; one or more air vents disposed between the frame and the ring-shaped damper; wherein the frame comprises a rectangular outer diameter; and wherein the frame is configured to be attached to a ceiling.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Hirsch Joachim
• Minor Gary A
• Hayes Makavan

Classifications

• F24F2140/40

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

• F24F11/0001 Primary

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

• F24F2005/0067

  with photovoltaic panels · CPC title

• F24F13/10 Primary

  movable, e.g. dampers · CPC title

• F24F2011/0056

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic