Patent ID: 6557574
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: F24F,G01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A damper for both controlling fluid flow through a duct and measuring a flow rate of the fluid past the damper, comprising in combination:at least one damper vane having a leading surface facing at least partially upstream at least some of the time and a trailing surface facing at least partially downstream at least some of the time; said damper vane configured to be pivotably mounted within the duct such that said damper vane can rotate between different positions; said different positions of said damper vane having a unique amount that said different positions of said damper vane control flow of the fluid through the duct; a damper vane rotational position sensor; a first pressure sensor positioned to sense fluid pressure at a location on an upstream side of said damper vane and coupled to said damper vane; a second pressure sensor positioned to sense fluid pressure at a location on a downstream side of said damper vane and coupled to said damper vane; and a fluid flow rate calculator coupled to said first pressure sensor, said second pressure sensor and said damper rotational position sensor, said calculator configured to determine fluid flow rate past said damper vane from inputs provided by said first pressure sensor, said second pressure sensor and a position of said damper vane provided by said damper vane position sensor.