Patent ID: 7413163
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A rack and pinion system for opening and closing a damper comprising: a plate, having parallel opposing edges, at least one of said edges having a toothed rack defined thereon; and one or more pinion wheels, said pinion wheels having a plurality of pinion pins engaging said toothed rack, such that a rotation of said one or more pinion wheels results in the movement of said plate longitudinally, in two opposite directions, with respect to said pinion wheels, each of said pinion wheels having a center of rotation, wherein the toothed rack further comprises a series of teeth formed in at least one side of the plate, the teeth having opposing sides comprising respective tooth surfaces that co-operate with the pinion pins to impart movement of said plate longitudinally in two opposite directions, the opposing sides extending, at least in part, substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to each of said two opposite directions of movement of the plate, so that upon engagement of the one or more pinion wheels with the toothed rack, the one or more pinion wheels impart forces to the plate substantially exclusively in each direction of movement of the plate.