US3683786A

US3683786A - Operating device for register valve

Info

Publication number: US3683786A
Application number: US91129A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren R Hedrick
Original assignee: Allied Thermal Corp
Current assignee: Clevepak Corp
Priority date: 1970-11-19
Filing date: 1970-11-19
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

A register valve comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted directional vanes within a frame has a novel operating device for opening and closing such vanes. The operating device includes a slide member mounted for sliding movement on a suitable support in the frame, and is frictionally held in adjusted position. A pin and slot connection between the member and a bracket on one of the vanes rotates the vanes when the slide member slides along its support.

Description

United States Patent 15] 3,683,786 Hedrick [4 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] OPERATING DEVICE FOR REGISTER 286,402 2/1953 Switzerland ..98/ 1 10 VALVE 909,989 v 4/1954 Germany ..98/1 10 [72] Inventor: Warren R. lledrlck, Holland, MlCl'l. Primary Examiner gdward l Michael [73] Assignee: Allied Thermal Corporation, New Attorney-Johnston, Root, OKeefi'e, Keil, Thompson Britain, Conn. & ShurtlefT [22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 9ll29 A register valve comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted directional vanes within a frame has a novel [52] US. Cl. ..'.....98/ll0 Operating device for Opening and Closing Such limes 511 Int. Cl. ..F24r 13/06 The Operating device includes a Slide member [58] Field of Search ..98/101 107 110 121 moumed forsliding movememo" unable PP in the frame, and is frictionally held in adjusted position. 56] References Cited A pin and slot connection between the member and a FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10/1956 France .98/110 bracket on one of the vanes rotates the vanes when the slide member slides along its support.

3 Clains, 8 Drawing Figures OPERATING DEVICE FOR REGISTER VALVE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates in general to registers which may be mounted in the floor or wall of a room and which is provided with a valve which may be opened and closed to permit or prevent the entrance of air into the room from a duct. More particularly, the invention is directed to a new and improved form of operating device for opening and closing the valve therein, which is made up of a plurality of rotatably mounted directional vanes.

Heretofore the directional vanes which comprise the valve of a register have been moved between open and closed positions either by means of a lever arm affixed mom of the vanes directly and which extends outwardly beyond the face of the frame in which the vanes are mounted, or it has been necessary to utilize a separate tool which is inserted within the frame, and which is adapted to receive one of the vanes in a slot therein whereby movement of the tool will rotate the vanes. Where it is intended that all of the vanes of the valve move together they are pivotally connected to a bar so that a rotation of one vane will act through such connecting bar to rotate all of the vanes simultaneously.

In such prior devices it was necessary to provide specially designed friction members or spring members to hold the vanes in adjusted position, and very often such parts would corrode. In instances where a separate tool or handle was used, the tool was often misplaced, resulting in loss of time and inconvenience when it became necessary to make an adjustment of the valve.

The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages of prior devices by providing an operating device which consists basically of a bracket mounted on one of the vanes, and a slide member, preferably formed of a suitable plastic material, and operatively connected to said bracket by means of a pin and slot arrangement. Such slide member is substantially flush with the face of the frame in which the vanes are mounted, thereby providing a neat appearance and is adapted to slide longitudinally of a suitable support.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved form of operating device for a register valve which is more economical to manufacture than prior devices which have been used to perform the same function, and which is easier to assemble, presents a neater appearance, and has fewer parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating device for a register valve wherein a bracket on one of the vanes making up the valve is connected by pin and slot means to a slide member which may be manually operated to cause rotation of the vanes to an open or closed position.

A further and more specific object is to provide an improved form of operating device for a register valve which includes a slide member formed of non-corrosive material, such as a moldedplastic, and which is so mounted on a support as to frictionally engage such support, thereby to retain the slide member and thevanes in any adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. I is a front elevational view of a register embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of such register taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the register show ing the wall ro floor in section, and illustrating the operating device in its position where the valve is closed, and taken substantially along the plane of line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and taken along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. I, but showing the operating member in a position where the valve is open;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view with certain parts of the register removed and showing in greater detail the valve operating device;

FIG. 5A is a more detailed showing of the bottom of the guide slot for the slide member as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the slide member of the valve operating device; and

FIG. 6A is a similar view in perspective of the slide member but showing the opposite side thereof from that shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Registers of the type to which the present invention is applied consist normally of a frame, similar to those shown in FIG. 1, wherein opposed marginal end members I and 2 are assembled with the

opposed side members

3 and 4, resulting in an area within this frame in which the valve is mounted. The frame of the register is adapted to be positioned within an opening in the floor or wall of a room through which a duct carries either heated or cooled air.

Each of the

marginal members

1, 2, 3 and 4 has a cross section which is of angular configuration with the outer faces thereof overlying portions of the wall or floor around the opening.

The wall or floor in which the register is to be positioned is indicated generally in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 by the numeral 5.

Each of the marginal members is provided with an inwardly extending flange which is received within the wall or floor opening. Such flange of the marginal member 1 is indicated by the numeral 6 and a similar flange 7 extends inwardly of the marginal member 2. The

members

3 and 4 are also provided with similar inwardly extending flanges, such flange for the marginal member 3 being indicated by the numeral 8 in FIG. 2. The similar flange for the marginal member 4 is indicated by the numeral 9 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A plurality of fins 10 may, if desired, be provided between two of the opposed marginalmembers, and in this instance such fins are shown as extending between and mounted on the flanges 8 and 9 of the

marginal members

3 and 4. The valve which is made up of a plurality of rotatably mounted vanes is located behind movement of the bar 15 and will thus rotate all of the vanes 11 simultaneously between open and closed positions.

One of the vanes 11 has secured thereto at one end thereof a bracket member generally indicated by the numeral 17. While this bracket may be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, on a smaller scale, FIG. should be referred to for a better understanding of its configuratron.

A portion 18 of the bracket 17 is suitably secured, as by rivets or the like, to the extension 14 of one of the vanes 11. Intermediate the ends of the bracket it is offset slightly so that the tailpiece 19 thereof will be spaced inwardly from the flange of its adjacent marginal member. In the present instance this tailpiece 19 is shown spaced from the flange 7.

The tailpiece 19 is provided with an elongated slot 20 therein and is so positioned that a predetermined linear movement of a pin member tr anversing the length thereof will cause the bracket to rotate the vanes between open and closed positions.

In addition to the bracket 17, the operating device has an actuator in the form of a slide member generally indicated by the numeral 21. The slide member is mounted for suitable sliding movement of any convenient support therefor within, or formed as a part of,

the frame in which the valve is located. For purposes of convenience' it has been found to be preferable that this slide member be mounted for sliding movement on one of the marginal members, although it will be evident that it could be mounted for sliding movement along any other suitable support, such as one of the fins 10.

Depending upon the support along which this member slides, the specific configuration thereof may vary. In the present instance this slide member has been designed to be mounted upon one of the marginal members such as the member 2 having the flange 7, and for mounting in this manner the slide member comprises a main body portion 22 provided at one end thereof with a face or surface 23 adapted to be engaged by a persons hand for manual movement. A pin 24 ex-' tends outwardly adjacent the opposite end of the body portion and is adapted to be received within, and to traverse, the slot 20 in the tailpiece 19 of the bracket 17.

Intermediate the ends of the slide member 21, there is a wall 25 extending transversely of the body portion and which has extending at substantially right angles thereto an arm 26. The outer end of the arm 26 provided with a finger 27 which extends toward, and terminates in spaced relation to, the body portion 22.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, the flange 7 of the marginal member 2 is provided with an elongated slot 28. The bottom or one end of the slot 28 is enlarged as at 29 for the purpose of receiving'the wall 25, arm 26 and finger 27 of the slide member during assembly of the operating device. I

It will become evident upon viewing FIGS. 5 through 6A that after the aforementioned parts of the slide member 21 have been inserted through the enlarged portion 29 of the slot 28, the member may be moved upwardly so that the portion of the flange 7 immediately adjacent the slot 28 will be received within the space between the finger 27 and the body portion 22. This space will be smaller than the thickness of the flange so that there will be a frictional engagement of the flange between the finger 27 and body portion 22. Thus, the operating device may be easily adjusted to various positions along the length of the slot 28 and yet remain in any position to which it is adjusted.

The tailpiece 19 of the bracket 17, and the slot 20 therein, are so arranged and positioned with respect to the slide member than the pin 24 may be received within the slot 20 only after the operating device has been moved into the narrow part of the slot 28. In other words, when the slide member has been inserted in the enlarged portion 29 of slot 28, and then moved into the narrow part thereof the pin 24 may be received by slot 20. Thereafter, movement of the slide member in slot 28 will operate the valve and, when moving the valve to open position the slide member will engage the end of the slot before it reaches the enlarged part 29.

The slide member is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material, or any other suitable material which is corrosion resistant. This feature, together with the construction of the slide member, overcomes the disadvantages of prior valve operating devices since there will be only two pieces to assemble. It is a simple matter to merely insert the slide member in the slot 28 and position the pin in the slot 20 of the bracket, whereupon the entire operating device will be assembled.

FIG. 3 shows the vanes 11 when they are in closed position. They are in this position when the slide member is in the far right position of FIG. 3 and in the up position in FIGS. 1 and 5. In FIG. 4 the slide member 23 has been moved toward the left, which is comparable to moving the member downwardly in FIGS. 1 and 5. In this position the pin 24 will have traversed the slot 20 in the bracket and will have rotated one of the vanes 11 in a counterclockwise direction to open position. Because of the connecting bar 15 all of the vanes will likewise be rotated so that the valve is in open position. If it is desired to move the vanes to an intermediate position it may be done merely by moving the slide member to the desired position, and it will remain in that position due to the frictional contact between the slide member and the support along which it moves, which, in the illustrated construction, happens to be the flange 7 of one of the marginal members.

It will be evident that if it is desired that the support for the slide member be the adjacent fin 10, then such member may be modified accordingly, and the pin 24 thereon will extend in the opposite direction into the slot 20 but will still operate in the same manner to produce the same result.

With this construction the end 23 of the slide member is substantially flush with the outer face of the frame, and blends well with the register, thereby presenting a more pleasing appearance than prior devices, which have operating arms extending outwardly beyond the face of the frame for a considerable distance. Furthermore, this construction obviates any necessity for the use of a separate tool or handle for operating the valve, and the attendant disadvantage thereof from the standpoint of being lost or misplaced.

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 register of the character described having a frame including opposed end members and a valve consisting of a plurality of directional vanes connected together and rotatably mounted at their ends in said end members for simultaneous movement between open and closed positions, an operating device for opening and closing said valve comprising,

a. a bracket fixed to one of said vanes b. a slide member having a pin and slot connection with said bracket,

c. support means mounting said slide member for reciprocating sliding movement in a direction transverse to the length of said vanes,

(1. said slide member including 1. a main body portion,

2. a wall extending transversely of said body portion intermediate the ends thereof,

3. an arm extending outwardly from the outer en of said wall, and

4. a finger extending from said arm in a direction generally toward said body portion but terminating in spaced relation thereto,

e. said support means being received in the space between said finger and said body portion and frictionally engaged thereby, whereby f. movement of said slide member through said pin and slot connection, will rotate said one vane, and those connected therewith, to open or closed positions, and will be retained in any position to which it is adjusted.

2. A register valve operating device as definedin claim 1, wherein said pin and slot connection comprises a slot in said bracket and a pin on said slide member adapted to traverse said slot and rotate said vanes when said slide member is moved.

3. A register valve operating device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means mounting said slide member includes anelongated slot in one of said end members receiving said wall of slide member for movement lengthwise thereof.

Claims

1. In a register of the character described having a frame including opposed end members and a valve consisting of a plurality of directional vanes connected together and rotatably mounted at their ends in said end members for simultaneous movement between open and closed positions, an operating device for opening and closing said valve comprising, a. a bracket fixed to one of said vanes b. a slide member having a pin and slot connection with said bracket, c. support means mounting said slide member for reciprocating sliding movement in a direction transverse to the length of said vanes, d. said slide member including 1. a main body portion, 2. a wall extending transversely of said body portion intermediate the ends thereof, 3. an arm extending outwardly from the outer end of said wall, and 4. a finger extending from said arm in a direction generally toward said body portion but terminating in spaced relation thereto, e. said support means being received in the space between said finger and said body portion and frictionally engaged thereby, whereby f. movement of said slide member through said pin and slot connection, will rotate said one vane, and those connected therewith, to open or closed positions, and will be retained in any position to which it is adjusted.

2. A register valve operating device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin and slot connection comprises a slot in said bracket and a pin on said slide member adapted to traverse said slot and rotate said vanes when said slide member is moved.

3. A register valve operating device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means mountiNg said slide member includes an elongated slot in one of said end members receiving said wall of slide member for movement lengthwise thereof.

3. an arm extending outwardly from the outer end of said wall, and

4. a finger extending from said arm in a direction generally toward said body portion but terminating in spaced relation thereto, e. said support means being received in the space between said finger and said body portion and frictionally engaged thereby, whereby f. movement of said slide member through said pin and slot connection, will rotate said one vane, and those connected therewith, to open or closed positions, and will be retained in any position to which it is adjusted.