Duct port for pressure sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9322733-B2
Application number	US-201113190188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2011
Priority date	Jul 25, 2011
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

Ports for sensing one or more parameters in an HVAC system and methods for installing such ports. In one illustrative embodiment, a port provides a fluid passageway through a wall of an HVAC component such as an air duct. The port may be formed of a hollow stem member having a first end and a second end and a head member positioned therebetween. The port may include an anchor member for anchoring the port to a wall of the HVAC component. In some cases, the anchor member may secure the port within the wall such that the head member forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A port for providing a fluid passageway through a wall of a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) component, comprising:
a hollow stem member having a first end and a second end;
a flexible head member extending laterally away from the hollow stem member, the flexible head member having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a wall that is structured to flex toward the first end of the hollow stem member and to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the wall of the HVAC component when urged against the wall of the HVAC component during installation of the port;
two or more ribs extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs extending laterally away from the hollow stem member by a height, wherein the height of at least part of the two or more ribs increases in the direction of the flexible head member; and
one or more flexible latch members extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the one or more flexible latch members situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, each of the one or more flexible latch members having a first end that is secured to the hollow stem member and a second end that is generally free such that the second end of each of the one or more flexible latch members has a relaxed position and is configured to flex inward toward the hollow stem member from the relaxed position, and wherein the flexible head member is configured to be spaced from the second end of the one or more flexible latch members even when the one or more flexible latch members are in the relaxed position, each of the flexible latch members further having a plurality of teeth, each tooth of the plurality of teeth extending in a direction laterally away from the hollow stem member by a tooth height, wherein the tooth height of the plurality of teeth increases in the direction of the flexible head member.

2. The port of claim 1 , wherein, when the second end of the hollow stem member is inserted into a hole in a wall of a HVAC component:
the two or more ribs are configured to crush;
the flexible head member is configured to form a fluid tight seal with the wall of the HVAC component when the second end of the hollow stem member is pushed sufficiently far into the hole; and
said plurality of teeth of the one or more flexible latch members are configured to engage the wall and secure the port to the wall of the HVAC component leaving the flexible head member in a deformed state.

3. The port of claim 1 , wherein the flexible head member is cup shaped and defines an interior space that faces toward the second end of the hollow stem member.

4. The port of claim 1 , further comprising a tubing port at the first end of the hollow stem member, wherein the tubing port has an outer wall that defines an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, wherein the enlarged diameter portion is closer to the first end of the hollow stem member than the reduced diameter portion.

5. The port of claim 1 , further comprising at least one slot extending from the second end of the hollow stem member along at least part of the length of the hollow stem member but terminating before the flexible head member.

6. The port of claim 1 , wherein the two or more ribs are crushable when the second end of the hollow stem member is inserted into a hole in the wall of the HVAC component.

7. The port of claim 1 wherein the one or more flexible latch members comprise two or more flexible latch members.

8. The port of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the two or more ribs are situated between the two or more flexible latch members.

9. The port of claim 7 , wherein the two or more ribs define a maximum outer diameter and the two or more flexible latch members define a maximum outer diameter, wherein the maximum outer diameter of the two or more ribs is larger than the maximum outer diameter defined by the two or more flexible latch members along at least part of hollow stem member.

10. The port of claim 7 , wherein the two or more ribs define an outer diameter and the two or more flexible latch members define an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the two or more ribs is smaller than the outer diameter defined by the two or more flexible latch members along at least part of hollow stem member.

11. The port of claim 7 , wherein the two or more flexible latch members include a first flexible latch member and a second flexible latch member, with the first flexible latch member and the second flexible latch member positioned on opposing lateral sides of the hollow stem member.

12. The port of claim 11 , wherein the two or more ribs include a first rib positioned between the first flexible latch member and the second flexible latch member on a first side of the hollow stem member, and a second rib positioned between the second flexible latch member and the first flexible latch member on a second opposite side of the hollow stem member.

13. The port of claim 11 , wherein the two or more ribs include a first rib and a second rib positioned between the first flexible latch member and the second flexible latch member on a first side of the hollow stem member, and a third rib and a fourth rib positioned between the second flexible latch member and the first flexible latch member on a second opposite side of the hollow stem member.

14. A port for providing a fluid passageway through a wall of a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) component, comprising:
a hollow stem member having a first end and a second end;
a flexible head member extending laterally away from the hollow stem member and structured to flex toward the first end of the hollow stem member and to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the wall of the HVAC component when urged against the wall of the HVAC component during installation of the port, the flexible head member positioned between and spaced a first distance from the first end and spaced a second distance from the second end of the hollow stem member;
one or more flexible latch members extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the one or more flexible latch members situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, the one or more flexible latch members having a first end that is secured to the hollow stem member and a second end that is generally free such that the second end of each of the one or more flexible latch members has a relaxed position and is configured to flex inward toward the hollow stem member from the relaxed position, and wherein the flexible head member is configured to be spaced from the second end of the one or more flexible latch members even when the one or more flexible latch members are in the relaxed position; and
two or more ribs extending longitudinally along the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs situated between the flexible head member and the second end of the hollow stem member, the two or more ribs extending laterally away from the hollow stem member by a height, wherein the height of the two or more ribs increases towards the flexible head member.

15. The port of claim 14 , wherein the flexible head member is cup shaped, with an interior of the cup shaped flexible head member facing toward the second end of the hollow stem member.

16. A port for providing a fluid passageway through a wall of a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) component, comprising:
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Assignees

• Adamik Petr
• Wolff Steve
• Bisson Reed
• Ragland Amy
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Adamik Petr
• Wolff Steve
• Bisson Reed
• Ragland Amy

Classifications

• G01L19/003 Primary

  using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge · CPC title