Patent ID: 6209792
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F24F

Abstract:
A thermally actuated diffuser for regulating air flow from a duct into a space, said diffuser comprising:a housing having a first duct opening for communicating with a first duct and a second duct opening for communicating with a second duct, said second duct opening being diametrically opposed to said first duct opening to produce a substantially linear air path through an interior of said housing from said first duct opening to said second duct opening, said housing having a third exit opening for communicating with a room wherein said third exit opening lies in a plane orientated substantially perpendicular to said first duct opening and said second duct opening;a damper blade for diverting air flow from said air path, said damper blade being positioned in the interior of said housing, said damper blade having a first side and a second side such that said first side of said damper blade being generally facing the first duct opening and said second side of said damper blade being generally facing the second duct opening;a first device wherein said first device is responsive to the ambient temperature around said first device;a second device wherein said second device is responsive to the ambient temperature around said second device;wherein said first and second devices each have a first end and a second end, wherein said first end and said second end are adapted to move away from each other when said device is warmed and said first end and said second end are adapted to move toward each other when said device is cooled, wherein said first and second ends are extended away from each other in a warmed position when thermal energy is applied and said first and second ends are retracted inwardly toward each other in cooled position when thermal energy is removed;wherein said first device being positioned in the interior of said housing adjacent to said air path so as to be struck by air flowing along said air path, said second device being positioned in said housing adjacent to said third exit opening so as to be surrounded by air entering the interior of said housing through said third exit opening;a bracket assembly adapted for coupling said first end of the first device to said first side of the damper blade, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first device is oriented substantially perpendicular to said air flow;a mounting assembly adapted for mounting said first device to said second device, wherein said second device is adjacent to said second side of said damper blade, said second device having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said first device;a hinge coupling said second device to said mounting assembly; andwherein said damper blade has openings therein adapted to allow said mounting assembly to be movable relative to said pivot shaft, wherein said mounting assembly being is movable between a warmed position and a cooled position of said first device.