US2676795A - Register control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 27,1954 DE R00 2,676,795

REGISTER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1952 FIG! FIG.2

INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. DEROO BY ATT 'YS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,676,795 REGISTER ooNTRoL MECHANISM William Rim,.Holland,v Mich, assignorl-to Hart & -Cooley. ,-=Manufacturing- 00., Holland, Mich,= a corporation of Delaware Application February' 28, 1952, Serial Iva-2735839 5- Glaims; 1

This invention relates in general ta: dampers or registers of the characterwherein adjacent vanes or louvers rotate in relatively opposite rections between the open and closed positions thereof' and is more particularly directed toa novel form of control r'nec'ahar'iis'm for operatingthe louvers.

Ithas' been recognized for some time that registers wherein the cooperating louvers rotate in relatively opposite directions fromthe closed to open positions have the advantage-of directing the air-flow in afmore: generally upwar rec tion v therethrough' than where all of the louvers rotate in the same direction. In the-latter case when'the'louvers, which are-generally caused to move simultaneously, are partially opened,- the air now will be given a more angulardirectiorr up wardly' when tha'l'ouvers areonly partially opened; whereas in the case of louvers rotating in relatively opposite directions, the'air fldw' will be=directly in. an upward direction regardless of the-angle through which the louvers haveben rotated;

One of the problems which has been presented in connection with the oppositely-rotating adjacent louvers is the provision of as'imple and inexpensive mechanism for initially inovin'g the leading edge of one ofthe: iouvers at a greater angular velocity than the trailing edge-of the adj acent louver. In order-to effectively register-t0 prevent dust-and dams-weir s -heat from being conductedtherethrough, it is n'-z'c zes sary that adjacent louvers overlap at theit au a= cent" edges; Where: adjacent louver's rotatein the same direction there 'is'no problem involved in moving the louvers toopen position because the adjacent'ed'ges thereof wilt be'moved in opposite directions.-

It is, therefore; a principal object of the present invention to: provide a simplified? and-economie mechanism. for: properly controlling the rotatingmovements of adjacent l'ouvers in areg i'ster'where adjacent or alternate louvers rotate-in relatively opposite: directions.

Another object of the invention" is to provide atpivotally mounted control dial. or operating member which has connecting means-with: jacent louversandwhichmeans areso-proportioned and. related to each other as tocause initial rotating movementof one louver atagreater speedthan the initial rotating movement of'the adjacent louver:

A- further obj ect' of; the invention is to provide in-a: registeric'ontrol mechanism a" pivotatly' mounted operating dial or member in combina- Risethe tion with a link connected between the dial and each of. the'vlouve'rs" to be" operated wherein each link is of: substantially the same length and is mounted on: the dial the same distance from the center of rotation 'of' the dial, the greater initial velocity 'of the one louver being obtained both through the arrangement of the direction of force which is caused to rotate the louver and through" arranging properly the relative perpendicular' distances from. each link to the pivot for the-respective louvers to'which they are 0011- nected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the-following description: taken in coniunction with the accom panying drawing in 1 which:

Fig. l isa vertical transverse sectional view through the frame of' a register illustrating the control mechanism ofthe present invention in elevation and showing the lo'uvers in closed posi-' tion; and

Fig; 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the louvers in open position.

The necessity of initially moving the leading edge "of onealouverof a pair which rotate in relatively' opposite directions at a greater velocity than theadja'centedge of the other louver when these edges are inoverlapping relation has been recognized heretofore but the -mech'anism' suggested to accomplish this result has been relatively costly because ofthe numerous different specific par-ts involved- It has been proposed either that the links be made of different lengths,- or that they be mounted" on the operating mem ber atunequal distances from the center'of rotation: of themember,=al1- of which necessitates the manufacture of numerous difierent sized partsand assembling themin specific relationship 'to be sure that the proper link length is secured to the operating member'at the proper location, all of which tends to'increase thegerieral cost of manufacture.

The present invention'involves a greatly simplified construction wherein the links n'iay be substantially the same length and are pivotally term and includes the elongated side members 2 and ends 3. The sides and ends are flanged outwardly at their upper edges as shown at 4 to provide a support by which the frame may be suspended in the floor of a room. The frame itself has an open upper side 5 and an open lower side a for the passage of air therethrough when the louvers are in open position. It is understood that directional vanes may be provided in the upper portion of the frame if desired but such vanes have not been illustrated herein since they form no part of the present invention.

The particular register shown in the drawing for purposes of illustration is provided with two louvers l and 8. It is to be understood, however, that a greater number of louvers may be provided if desired and for a register having a larger opening therethrough in which case any suitable and well-known means may be provided for connecting every other louver together, whereby a single control mechanism will operate all of the louvers simultaneously.-

The louvers i and 8 are pivotally mounted by means of rods or pivot pins 8 and Ill, respectively, suitably journalled in the ends of the frame and secured to the offset portions H and 12 between the longitudinal edges of the respective louvers. In the embodiment shown the louver l is mounted on its pivot to rotate in a clockwise direction to open position and the louver ii is mounted on its pivot to rotate in a counterclock- 3 wise direction to open position. The louver i3 is provided with an offset 13 along the longitudinal edge thereof adjacent the inner edge of the louver 1 whereby the adjacent edges of the two louvers may overlap and form an effective seal against the passage of dust and dirt as well as heat therethrough when in closed position. The outer longitudinal edges of the respective louvers I and 8 contact the lower edges of the frame thereby limiting the closed movement thereof.

It will be evident that in order to assure the smooth operation of the louvers when they are moving to open position, as well as returning to closed position, it is necessary that the inner edge of louver 1 move upwardly at an initially greater speed or through a relatively greater arc than the inner edge of louver 8. As stated above, this result has been attained in the present instance by the use of a novel control mechanism wherein the parts thereof are substantially identical, it being merely necessary to position the parts relative to each other in such a way that the desired operation will result.

A dial or disk M. constitutes the operating member for the two louvers I and 8. The dial or operating member is is pivotally mounted in the frame as at l5 between the pivots 9 and H) of the louvers and at a substantial distancethere above.

clockwise direction about its pivot S by means of a link l6 pivotally connected atone end thereof as at H to the operating member or dial Hi. The other end of link 16 is pivotally connected as at 18 to an upstanding ear I9 secured to or formed integral with the louver 1 adjacent one end thereof. Thus far it will be evident that a counterclockwise rotation of the dial M will cause a movement of the link It toward the right exerting a force in a direction almost parallel to the plane of louver l which will cause the louver to rotate about its pivot 9. Since the pivotal connection 13 between the link l6 and the louver l is between the pivots 8 and The louver I is caused to rotate in a IU of the louvers, the direction of rotation of the louver I will be clockwise and it may be moved all the way to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The operating means for the louver 8 includes a link 20 pivotally connected by means of the pivot 21 at one end thereof to the dial or operating member l t. The opposite end of link 2? is connected by means such as the pivot 22 to an upstanding ear 23 secured to or formed integral with the louver 3 adjacent one end thereof. A counterclockwise rotation of the dial or operating member M will exert an angular downward force against the louver 8 to cause it to rotate about its pivot Hi. Since, however, the pivotal connection 22 between the link 2! and the louver B is on the side of the pivot it therefor which is away from the pivot 9 for the louver 1, the direction of rotation of the louver 3 will be counterclockwise. I

The links l6 and 2c are of substantially the same length and it will therefore be obvious that the cost of producing the mechanism embodying the present invention will be decreased since it will be unnecessary to produce links of different lengths. Furthermore, the pivot I? of link [5 is the same distance away from the pivot It as the pivot 2! for the link 20. Therefore, when the dial is stamped and holes made for the reception of pivots I1 and 2|, it makes no difference in assembling which of the links 16 or it is pivoted to pivots H or 2| because of the substantially identical lengths of the links and their same distances from the pivot 15 of the operating member M.

It is still advisable, however, to position the various parts with respect to each other so that the leading inner edge of louver I will move faster or through a greater are initially than the inner edge of louver 8. This result is accomplished by so positioning link 16 on the dial l4 and conmeeting to the louver I so that the perpendicular distance from the link It to the pivot 9 for louver 1 will be less than the perpendicular distance from link 20 to the pivot In of the louver 8. It is also necessary in the present construction that the perpendicular distances from both links it and 20 to the pivot 15, which is the center of rotation of the operating member 14, are the same. For purposes of illustration the perpendicular distance from the center line of the link IE to the center of rotation of dial [4 has been indicated by .r. The perpendicular distance from the centerline of link 20 to the center of rotation of dial It has been indicated by the letter 1. x and "y. are the same as shown in Fig. 1.

The perpendicular distance from an extension of the center line of link Hi to the center of pivot 9-for louver 1 is indicated as :r and the perpendicular distance from the extension of the center line of link 20 to the centerof pivot It for louver 8 is: indicated by y. In the present instance these two-distances are different, a:' being less than y so that upon the initial movement of the dial I4 the inner edge of louver I will move faster or through a greater are initially than will the inner edge of louver 8, thus assuring the avoidance of any interference between the adjacent inner edges of the two louvers when moving from closed to open positions and when moving from open back to closed positions.

It will thus be evident that a counterclockwise rotation of the dial or member It will cause simultaneous rotation of the louvers 'l and 8 in relatively opposite directions from the closed position thereof to open position without interference between the adjacent inner edgesofthe two louvers. Fig: 2 illustrates the position of the parts when the two louvers have been moved tovertical position orcompletely open. Suitable stop means (not shown)' may-be providedif desired to limit, the openinglmovement of the two louvers.

From the foregoing itw'i1l1 be. clear that; the present invention embodies a departure from structures proposed heretofore where it was thought necessary to form the two links of different lengths and to position them on the operating member at diiferent distances from the pivot of the operating member. To do so is more costly than the structure embodying the present invention where the parts may be interchangeable and more easily and quickly assembled.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a damper mechanism having a pair of louvers mounted for rotation in relatively opposite directions, in combination, a frame, a pair of louvers pivoted in said frame and having the adjacent edges thereof in overlapping relation when in closed position, an operating member for said louvers mounted for rotation at one end of said frame, a link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said member and at its other end to one of said louvers at a point thereon at one side of a plane passing through the center of rotation of said member and parallel to said louvers when in completely open position, and a second link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said member and at its other end to the other of said louvers at a point thereon at the opposite side of said plane passing through the center of rotation of said member, the proportions of the parts being such that in closed damper position the perpendicular distance from each said link to the center of rotation of said member is substantially the same.

2. In a damper mechanism having a pair of louvers mounted for rotation in relatively opposite directions, in combination, a frame, a pair of louvers pivoted in said frame and having the adjacent edges thereof in overlapping relation when in closed position, the pivot for each said louver being between the edges thereof, an operating member for said louvers mounted for rotation in said frame between the pivots for said louvers and atone side of a plane passing through the louver pivots, a first link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said member and at the other end thereof to one of said louvers between the pivots for said louvers, and a second link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said. member and at the other end thereof to the other louver at a point thereon which is on the side of the pivot for said other louver away from the pivot for the first mentioned louver, the proportions of the parts being such that inclosed damper position the perpendicular distance from each said link to the center of rotation of said member is substantially the same, and the perpendicular distance from a plane passing through the pivot points of said first link to the pivot of Said first mentioned louver is less than the-perpendicular distance from a plane passingthrough the pivot points of said second link to the .pivot for said other louver.

3; In a damper mechanism having a pair of louvers mounted'for rotation in. relatively opposite directions, in combination, a frame, a pair of @louverspivoted in said frame and having the adjacentedges thereof in overlapping relation when in closed position, thepivot for each said louver being; located between the edges thereof,

an operating disk pivotally mounted at substantially the center thereof between the pivots for said louvers and in said frame, a first link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said disk and at the other end thereof to one of said louvers at a point thereon between the pivots for said louvers, and a second link pivotally connected at one end thereof to said disk and at the other end thereof to the other louver at a point thereon which is on the side of the pivot for said other louver away from the pivot for the first mentioned louver, the proportions of the parts being such that in closed damper position the perpendicular distance from each said link to the pivot of said disk is substantially the same, and the perpendicular distance from a plane passing through the pivot points of said first link to the pivot of said first mentioned louver is less than the perpendicular distance from a plane passing through the pivot points of said second link to the pivot for said other louver.

4. In a. damper mechanism having a pair of louvers mounted for rotation in relatively opposite directions, in combination, a frame, a pair of louvers pivoted in said frame and having the adjacent edges thereof in overlapping relation when in closed position, an operating member for said louvers pivotally mounted in said frame, a first link and a second link, both of said links being pivotally mounted on said member equal distances from the pivot of said member, said first link also being pivotally connected to one of said louvers at a point thereon between the pivots for said louvers, said second link being also pivotally connected to the other louver at a point thereon which is on the side of the pivot for said other louver away from the pivot for the first mentioned louver, the proportions of the parts being such that in closed damper position the perpendicular distance from a plane passing through the pivot points of said first link to the pivot of said first mentioned louver is less than the perpendicular distance from a plane passing through the pivot points of said second link to the pivot for said other louver.

5. In a damper mechanism having a pair of louvers mounted forrotation in relatively opposite directions, in combination, a frame, a pair of louvers pivoted in said frame and having the adjacent edges thereof in overlapping relation when in closed position, an operating member for said louvers pivotally mounted in said frame, a first link and a second link, both of said links being pivotally mounted on said member, said first link also being pivotally connected to one of said louvers at a point thereon between the pivots for said louvers, said second link being also pivotally connected to the other louver at a point thereon which is on the side of the pivot for said other louver away from the pivot for the first mentioned louver, the proportions of the parts being such that in closed damper position the perpendicular distance from said first link to the pivot of said first mentioned louver is less than the perpendicular distance from a 7 planepassing through the'pivot points of said Number second link to the pivot for said other louver 2,331,758 2,341,038 References Cited in the file of this patent 4 5,555 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,479,773 2,561,627 Number Name Date 5,698 Culver Aug. 10, 1848 657,347 Human Sept. 4, 1900 Number 671,593 Harper Apr. 9, 1901 10 30,158' 1,659,880 Kaufiman Feb. 21, 1928 1,848,978

Smith Mar. 8, 1932 Name I Date Barnett Oct. 12, 1943 Harris Feb. 8, 1944 Smith Mar. 29, 1949 Piehl Aug. 23, 1949 Klanner July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Jan. 9, 1885

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