GB1591855A - Ventilating damper - Google Patents

Abstract

In the slatted flap for regulating, throttling and shutting off the air throughput of a ventilating duct, the sealing between the longitudinal sides of the slats (16) takes place by sealing strips made of elastomeric material which preferably have a hook-shaped profile (26). For sealing between the end sides (36) of the slats (16) and the frame (10) of the slatted flap, sealing strips (28) made of elastomeric material are provided. For adapting and adjusting the sealing strips (28), their longitudinal edges (30) are clamped into clamping profiles (32). <IMAGE>

Description

(54) VENTILATING DAMPER (71) We, SCHAKO-METALL WARENFABRIK FERDINAND SCHAD KG, a German company of D-7201 Kolbingen, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a ventilating damper.

Known ventilating dampers are constructed to prevent the passage of air as fully as possible. They are provided with rotatable flaps which act together to close and open the damper. To prevent draughts in the closed position elastic terminal strips are fitted to the longer sides of the flaps which sealingly cooperate in the closed position. Complete sealing of the damper however is not effected mainly because of insufficient sealing between the frame supporting the flaps and the ends of the flaps.

It is an object of the invention to obviate this difficiency.

According to the invention there is provided a ventilating damper comprising a frame, an array of elongate flaps having elastic strips along their longitudinal edges, the flaps being mounted in the frame for rotatable movement between an open position and a closed position whereat the strips cooperate to close the damper in a sealing manner, with the longitudinal edges of the respective end flaps in the array in sealing engagement in the frame, characterised in the provision of further sealing strips of elastic material attached to the frame at positions thereon so as to be interposed between the respective ends of the flaps and the frame for adjustable sealing contact with said ends in said closed position.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a ventilating damper; Figure 2 is a side view of the damper viewed from the right in relation to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 111-111 in Figure l; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating how the damper flaps cooperate in the closed position; Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 5 but showing additional detail of the mounting frame and the manner in which the damper flaps seal with the frame in the closed position;; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the mounting arrangement for the damper flaps and the sealing strip cooperating therewith attached to the supporting frame.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of an end mounting for a damper flap shown in the closed position corresponding to Figure 1.

The blind shown in the drawings has a generally rectangular frame 10, which is usually composed of sheet metal, and is provided with outwardly directed flanges for the purpose of stiffening and also anchoring in a wall breach. Parallel flaps 16 are rotatably mounted in two facing side walls 12 of the frame 10 on shafts 14. Each flap 16 is composed of two hollow oppositely profiled parts 16' and 16" which are welded together. The base 20 of an elastic terminal strip 22 is embedded in the longitudinal edges 18 of the flaps 16. The strip 22 projects from the longitudinal edges 18 to form hook-shaped profiled parts 26, which are open in an open position of the flaps and close when the flaps are moved in a closing direction 24 to a closed position of the flaps.

On each inside face of the side walls 12 of the frame 10, in which the shafts 14 of the flaps 16 are mounted, is located an elastic sealing strip 28. The sealing strip 28 is clamped in two U-shaped clamping profiles 32, about its longitudinal edges 30, so that its centre section 34 which is not enclosed by the clamping profiles 32 is pressed into sealing abutment with the end faces of each of the flaps 16, as may be seen in Figures 7 and 8. Each clamping profile 32 is integral with a sheet metal strip 38 which runs along the inside of the frame 10, as seen in lower half of Figure 7. In the case of the specific embodiment represented in the top half of Figure 7, another strengthening strip 42, which is also preferably of sheet metal, is inserted between the sheet metal strip 38 and the inside of the frame 10.

As may be seen in Figure 6, the clamping profiles 32 are fixed to the frame 10 by uniformly spaced adjustable fixing screws 40. The fixing screws penetrate the clamping profiles 32, the compressed edges 30 of the sealing strips 28 and the sheet metal strips 38. By adjusting the tightness of the fixing screws 40, the abutment pressure of the centre section 34 of the sealing strips 28 against the end faces 36 of the flaps 16 can be varied as required.

On the inside faces of the frame 10 which run parallel to the longer sides of the flaps 16 are fastened stop strips 44. The strips 44 project from the inside faces of the frame 10 and are arched towards the flaps 16. If the upper and lowermost ones of flaps 16 are rotated into the closing position in Figure 3, that is in direction 24, the exterior surfaces of projecting hook-shaped profiled parts 26 come into abutment with the upper and lower stop strips 44, and are therefore compressed into a U-shape as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. Similar sealing is obtained between cooperating hook shaped parts 26 on adjacent ones of the flaps 16.As soon as the flaps are rotated into their opening position in the direction of arrows 46 (Figure 5) or in the direction of the arrows 48 (Figure 6), the hook-shaped profiled parts 26 are released and thus open as may be seen in Figure 3 or is represented at the top edge of the uppermost flap 16 in Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the shafts 14 of the flaps 16 pass through the sealing strips 28 and the side walls 12 of the frame 10, to terminate in square-sectioned ends 50.

Adjusting levers 52 each having a corresponding aperture to the squared ends 50 are mounted on the square ends of each shaft 14. Each adjusting lever 52 is rotatably mounted on a common adjusting strip 54, and the centre one of the adjusting levers 52 is lengthened to form a handle 56 for rotating all the flaps simultaneously. The handle 56 projects beyond the front face of the blind and the flaps may thus easily be closed in the direction of arrow 58 in Figure 3 or opened in the opposite direction, in spite of the increased friction due to the sealing action between the flaps and the flaps and the frame.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A ventilating damper comprising a frame, an array of elongate flaps having elastic strips along their longitudinal edges, the flaps being mounted in the frame for rotatable movement between an open position and a closed position whereat the strips cooperate to close the damper in a sealing manner with the longitudinal edges of the respective end flaps in the array in sealing engagement with the frame, characterised in the provision of further sealing strips of elastic material attached to the frame at positions thereon so as to be interposed between the respective ends of the flaps and the frame for adjustable sealing contact with said ends in said closed position.

2. A damper as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges of the sealing strips are clamped to the frame.

3. A damper as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the sealing strips are adjustably clamped to the frame.

4. A damper as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said further sealing strips are each clamped to the frame by means of a metal strip which runs along an inside face of the frame and has U-shaped edge portions for passing round the longitudinal edges of the further sealing strips, each Ushaped edge portion being attached to the frame by fixing screws.

5. A damper as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a strengthening strip is positioned between the frame and said metal strip.

6. A damper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer parts of said elastic strips along the longitudina edges of the flaps are pressure loaded in a direction so as to provide cooperation therebetween in said sealing manner in said closed position.

7. A damper as claimed in Claim 6, wherein stop strips are attached to the frame at positions thereon to provide said sealing engagement of said longitudinal edges of the respective end flaps in said array in said closed position.

8. A damper as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said pressure loading is provided by resilient hook-shaped projecting parts provided on said elastic strips, the openings of which are directed such that they face away from each other in said closed position.

9. A damper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flap is rotatable on a respective shaft which passes through said sealing strips and the frame to which they

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the clamping profiles 32 is pressed into sealing abutment with the end faces of each of the flaps 16, as may be seen in Figures 7 and 8. Each clamping profile 32 is integral with a sheet metal strip 38 which runs along the inside of the frame 10, as seen in lower half of Figure 7. In the case of the specific embodiment represented in the top half of Figure 7, another strengthening strip 42, which is also preferably of sheet metal, is inserted between the sheet metal strip 38 and the inside of the frame 10. As may be seen in Figure 6, the clamping profiles 32 are fixed to the frame 10 by uniformly spaced adjustable fixing screws 40. The fixing screws penetrate the clamping profiles 32, the compressed edges 30 of the sealing strips 28 and the sheet metal strips 38. By adjusting the tightness of the fixing screws 40, the abutment pressure of the centre section 34 of the sealing strips 28 against the end faces 36 of the flaps 16 can be varied as required. On the inside faces of the frame 10 which run parallel to the longer sides of the flaps 16 are fastened stop strips 44. The strips 44 project from the inside faces of the frame 10 and are arched towards the flaps 16. If the upper and lowermost ones of flaps 16 are rotated into the closing position in Figure 3, that is in direction 24, the exterior surfaces of projecting hook-shaped profiled parts 26 come into abutment with the upper and lower stop strips 44, and are therefore compressed into a U-shape as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. Similar sealing is obtained between cooperating hook shaped parts 26 on adjacent ones of the flaps 16.As soon as the flaps are rotated into their opening position in the direction of arrows 46 (Figure 5) or in the direction of the arrows 48 (Figure 6), the hook-shaped profiled parts 26 are released and thus open as may be seen in Figure 3 or is represented at the top edge of the uppermost flap 16 in Figure 5. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the shafts 14 of the flaps 16 pass through the sealing strips 28 and the side walls 12 of the frame 10, to terminate in square-sectioned ends 50. Adjusting levers 52 each having a corresponding aperture to the squared ends 50 are mounted on the square ends of each shaft 14. Each adjusting lever 52 is rotatably mounted on a common adjusting strip 54, and the centre one of the adjusting levers 52 is lengthened to form a handle 56 for rotating all the flaps simultaneously. The handle 56 projects beyond the front face of the blind and the flaps may thus easily be closed in the direction of arrow 58 in Figure 3 or opened in the opposite direction, in spite of the increased friction due to the sealing action between the flaps and the flaps and the frame. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A ventilating damper comprising a frame, an array of elongate flaps having elastic strips along their longitudinal edges, the flaps being mounted in the frame for rotatable movement between an open position and a closed position whereat the strips cooperate to close the damper in a sealing manner with the longitudinal edges of the respective end flaps in the array in sealing engagement with the frame, characterised in the provision of further sealing strips of elastic material attached to the frame at positions thereon so as to be interposed between the respective ends of the flaps and the frame for adjustable sealing contact with said ends in said closed position.

2. A damper as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges of the sealing strips are clamped to the frame.

3. A damper as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the sealing strips are adjustably clamped to the frame.

4. A damper as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said further sealing strips are each clamped to the frame by means of a metal strip which runs along an inside face of the frame and has U-shaped edge portions for passing round the longitudinal edges of the further sealing strips, each Ushaped edge portion being attached to the frame by fixing screws.

5. A damper as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a strengthening strip is positioned between the frame and said metal strip.

6. A damper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer parts of said elastic strips along the longitudina edges of the flaps are pressure loaded in a direction so as to provide cooperation therebetween in said sealing manner in said closed position.

7. A damper as claimed in Claim 6, wherein stop strips are attached to the frame at positions thereon to provide said sealing engagement of said longitudinal edges of the respective end flaps in said array in said closed position.

8. A damper as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said pressure loading is provided by resilient hook-shaped projecting parts provided on said elastic strips, the openings of which are directed such that they face away from each other in said closed position.

9. A damper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flap is rotatable on a respective shaft which passes through said sealing strips and the frame to which they

are attached, the shafts having end portions which are polygonal in section.

10. A damper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.