Patent Abstract:
Embodiments of a door assembly with a door component that can open and close in response to pressure of fluids that flow in a fluid handling system. These embodiments utilize elements to seat and lock the door in position without the need for manual intervention and/or interaction, e.g., by a technician and/or maintenance personnel. However, these elements do not need to support the weight of the door and, thus, provide a more robust and cost effective design to achieve automated and reliable operation necessary for use in fluid handling systems.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to fluid handling systems and, in particular, to door assemblies that operate in response to changes in pressure of a fluid that flows in the fluid handling system. 
         [0002]    Examples of fluid handling systems include power generating systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the like. These systems include door assemblies with a door that opens and closes to regulate fluid flow into the system. Fluid that flows through the door assemblies by-passes parts of the fluid handling system, i.e., the door assemblies are downstream of air filters and other treatment components. During operation, the door can open to allow fluid into the fluid handling system in response to failure conditions (e.g., clogged and/or blocked air filters). This feature can prevent damage to components of the system and/or allow the system to continue to operate until technicians perform appropriate maintenance. 
         [0003]    The door opens automatically in most designs, e.g., in response to a pressure differential. Negative pressure inside of the fluid handling system, for example, pulls the door open in some applications. On the other hand, closing and re-setting of the door to prepare the fluid handling system for normal operation often requires manual intervention. This requirement can place maintenance personnel in danger, as well as to require construction of the fluid handling system for technicians to have access to the door assemblies to perform the necessary steps to close and re-set the door. 
         [0004]    Improvements in designs for the door assemblies introduce features that reduce and/or eliminate manual intervention. These designs may incorporate, for example, counter-balances with weights that bias the door to its closed position. Unfortunately, counter-balanced doors may not provide reliable seating of the door and, thus, are prone to leaking. Other designs integrate actuators (e.g., compressed air cylinders) into the door assembly to both open and close the door. However, although the positive actuation can eliminate leaking by securely and repeatedly seating the door in its closed position, these designs require air pressure (or other actuation force) to manipulate the weight of the door open and to effectively keep the door closed. 
         [0005]    The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This disclosure describes embodiments of a door assembly with a door that can open and close in response to pressure of fluids that flow in a fluid handling system. These embodiments can seat and lock the door in position without the need for manual intervention and/or interaction, e.g., by a technician and/or maintenance personnel. As discussed more below, these embodiments utilize elements that can position and latch the door in the closed position. However, these elements do not need to support the weight of the door and, thus, provide a more robust and cost effective design to achieve automated and reliable operation necessary for use in fluid handling systems. 
         [0007]    This disclosure describes, in one embodiment, a door assembly that has a door component with a pivot axis that permits the door component to move between a first position and a second position. The door component has a bottom portion with an engagement feature extending generally downwardly from the door component. The door assembly also has a reset component with a latch component that engages the engagement feature in the first position and a grabber element having at least one orientation that biases the door component toward the first position. 
         [0008]    This disclosure also describes, in one embodiment, a closure assembly for a blow-in door on a fluid handling system. The closure assembly has a plurality of actuators including a first actuator and a second actuator. The closure assembly also has a grabber element coupled to the first actuator. The grabber element has a first orientation and a second orientation that is radially offset from the first orientation relative to the blow-in door. The closure assembly also has a lever element coupled to the second actuator and a latch element engaging the lever element. In one example, the lever element moves in response to the second actuator to change the position of the latch element from a latched position that engages the blow-in door to an unlatched position that permits the blow-in door to move from a first position to a second position that is different from the first position. 
         [0009]    This disclosure further describes, in one embodiment, a method of operating a closure assembly for a blow-in door. The method includes a step for receiving a first signal indicating a position of the blow-in door. The method also includes a step generating a first output in response to the first signal that contains instructions to move a grabber element from a first orientation to a second orientation. In one example, the second orientation biases the blow-in door toward a closed position. 
         [0010]    This brief description of the invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of subject matter disclosed herein according to one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide to interpreting the claims or to define or limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a door assembly for use on a fluid handling systems; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an example of a fluid handling system that includes the door assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a door assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a front view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a detail view that shows a side, cross-section of the top of the door assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a detail view that shows a side, cross-section of the bottom of the door assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts a back, perspective view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3  to illustrate details of an exemplary closure assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts a back view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3  to illustrate details of an exemplary latch component in an unlatched position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts a back view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3  to illustrate details of the exemplary latch component in a latched position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  depicts a side view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3  to illustrate details of an exemplary reset component in a first orientation; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  depicts a side view of the door assembly of  FIG. 3  to illustrate details of an exemplary reset component in a second orientation; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  depicts a flow diagram of a method of operating a door assembly for use on a fluid handling system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a door assembly  100  with features that afford repeatable and secure closure. In  FIG. 1 , the door assembly  100  includes a door component  102  with one or more pivot axes (e.g., a first pivot axis  104 ). The door assembly  100  also includes a heating component  106 . The door assembly  100  further includes a closure assembly  108  with components that interface with the door component  102 . These components include a latch component  110 , a reset component  112 , and a sensor component  114 . 
         [0025]    As set forth more below, the latch component  110  and the reset component  112  interact with the door component  102 . Operation of the latch component  110  regulates movement of the door component  102 , e.g., to prevent movement of the door component  102  from a first position (or closed position) to a second position (or open position). Examples of the reset component  112  help position the door component  102  in the first position. This feature can improve reliability of the door assembly  100  to reach the closed position. For example, operation of the reset component  112  can position the door component  102  in a manner that enables repeated engagement of the latch component  110  with the door component  102 . In one example, the sensor component  114  monitors the position of one or more components (e.g., the door component  102 , the latch component  110 , and/or the reset component  112 ) of the door assembly  100 . This feature can prevent damage, e.g., by preventing operation of the latch component  110  and/or the reset component  112  if the door component  102  is not in the appropriate position. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows the door assembly  100  as part of a fluid handling system  116 , e.g., found on boats, watercraft, and similar vessels. The fluid handling system  116  has an inlet  118  and an outlet  120  that permits airflow (e.g., inlet airflow  122  and outlet airflow  124 ) to enter and exit the system  116 . The fluid handling system  116  also has an air filtration component  126 , a turbine  128 , and ducting  130  that directs air from the air filtration component  126  to the turbine  128 . As shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , the door assembly  100  mounts to the ducting  130  in a position that is downstream of the air filtration component  126  and upstream of the turbine  128 . The door assembly  100  couples with one or more supplies (e.g., a power supply  132  and an air supply  134 ) and a control unit  136 . In one example, the power generating system  116  also includes a condition sensing component  138 . Examples of the condition sensing component  138  can include pressure sensors and switches, thermocouples, and like devices that are sensitive to changes in fluid conditions (e.g., pressure, velocity, humidity, etc.) in the interior of the ducting  130 . 
         [0027]    During one exemplary operation, the control unit  136  can receive one or more signals from the condition sensing component  138 . These signals can contain data that relate to a value for one (or more of) the fluid conditions in the interior of the ducting  130 . The control unit  136  can compare this value to a threshold criteria. If the values deviate from the threshold criteria, the control unit  136  can generate an output that instructs operation of the latch component  110  ( FIG. 1 ). The output may, for example, instruct the latch component  110  ( FIG. 1 ) to operate to allow the door to open, e.g., in response to decreasing pressure of the fluid the flows in the interior of the ducting  130 . The loss of pressure may coincide with a failure condition (e.g., clogging and/or damage to the air filtration component  126 ). Continued operation of the turbine  128  during the failure condition will reduce the pressure of the fluid to cause the door component  102  to open. Fluid enters the ducting  120  via the opening, thus allowing the turbine  128  to continue operation, e.g., until technicians arrive to shut down the turbine  128  and provide repair and maintenance as required. This configuration avoids immediate shutdown of the turbine  128 , which can prevent operation of essential features (e.g., navigation features) on board a vessel. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a door assembly that can regulate the flow of fluid into the fluid handling system  216 . Turning first to the side view of  FIG. 3 , the door component  202  has a body  240  with a top  242  and a bottom  244 . At the top  242 , the door assembly  200  includes a hinge  246  that secures the body  240  with a wall  248  of the ducting  230 . The hinge  246  allows the body  240  to rotate (and/or “swing”) from a first position  250  to a second position, generally shown in phantom lines and designated by the numeral  252 . Rotation of the door component  202  exposes the interior (e.g., interior  254 ) of the ducting  230  to the exterior (e.g., exterior  256 ) of the ducting  230 . During operation of the fluid handling system  216 , this feature allows fluid flow F to develop in response to changes in pressure, e.g., from a first pressure to a second pressure that is less than the first pressure. The change in pressure effectively causes the door to move from the first position  250  to the second position  252 . 
         [0029]    As best shown in the front view of  FIG. 4 , the hinge  246  can include one or more hinge mounting brackets (e.g., a first hinge mounting bracket  258  and a second hinge mounting bracket  260 ). A hinge rod  262  (also, “axle  262 ”) extends between the hinge mounting brackets  258 ,  260 . This configuration of the hinge  246  provides at least one degree of freedom for the door component  202  to move, e.g., between first position  250  and second position  252  of  FIG. 3 . In one example, the heating component  206  includes one or more heating elements (e.g., a first heating element  264 ) that provide thermal energy about the periphery of the door component  202  and the closure assembly (e.g., closure assembly  108  of  FIG. 1 ). Examples of the heating element  264  include heating cables and/or filaments that generate thermal energy in response to electrical stimulation. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 and 6  provide side, cross-section views of, respectively, the top  242  ( FIG. 5 ) and the bottom  244  ( FIG. 6 ) of the door component  202  to illustrate one construction for the door assembly  200 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , the door assembly  200  has an angled portion  266  near the top  242  of the door component  202 . The angled portion  266  extends from the wall  248  into the interior  254  of the ducting  230 . The door assembly  200  also includes a bracket element  268  that also extends from the wall  248  proximate the angled portion  268 . The position of the bracket element  268  with respect to the angled portion  266  can form a gap that bounds at least part of the first heating element  264 . The door assembly  200  also includes a peripheral door seal  270  that mounts to the angled portion  266 . Examples of the peripheral door seal  270  can comprise compressible material (e.g., neoprene) that compresses to seal the periphery of the door component  202  with the angled portion  266 . This seal can prevent fluid from the exterior  256  of the ducting  230  from entering the interior  254  of the ducting  230  when the door component  202  is in the first position  250 , e.g., when the door component  202  is closed. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 6 , the door assembly  200  can include one or more cover components (e.g., an exterior cover  272  and an interior cover  274 ). The cover components  272 ,  274  can form a volume that surrounds the components of the closure assembly  208 . In one example, the door assembly  200  can include a gasket element  276 , which is in position to seal the exterior cover  272 . This configuration of the cover components  272 ,  274  and the gasket element  276  protect the closure assembly  208 , preventing dirt and debris from entering in proximity of the moving components found therein. These configurations can also prevent injuries, e.g., that may result from the actuating component contemplated herein. Examples of the cover components can comprise a variety of (metals, plastics, and/or composites) that have material properties (e.g., strength, hardness, etc.) suitable for the application. The door assembly  200  may utilize fasteners (e.g., screws and bolts) that secure the cover components  272 ,  274  in position. These fasteners also permit ready access to the interior of the cover to service, repair, and/or replace components of the closure assembly  208 , as necessary. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of the door assembly  200  with several components (e.g., the interior cover  274  of  FIG. 6 ) to describe additional details and exemplary construction of the closure assembly  208 . The door assembly  200  includes actuators (e.g., a first actuator  278  and a second actuator  280 ), valves (e.g., a first valve  282  and a second valve  284 ), and sensors (e.g., a first sensor  286 , a second sensor  288 , a third sensor  290 , and a fourth sensor  292 ). In one example, the door assembly  200  can include a grabber element  294  that couples with the second actuator  278 . 
         [0033]    Examples of the actuator  278 ,  280  include pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, and electric actuators. These types of actuators can afford the closure assembly  208  with various degrees of freedom and/or motion (e.g., linear translation, rotation, and combinations thereof). In the present example, the first actuator  278  and the second actuator  280  provide, respectively, linear translation and rotation. This disclosure does, however, contemplate other devices for use as the actuator that can provide different motion. 
         [0034]    Sensor for use as sensors  286 ,  288 ,  290 ,  292  can generate outputs that indicate positions of one or more components of the closure assembly  208 . These sensors include proximity sensors, although other types of sensors and switches that can indicate position are also considered to be useful for implementation as part of the door assembly  200 . For pneumatic applications, the valves  282 ,  284  can incorporate solenoids, with rapid activation to regulate a working fluid that operates the actuators  278 ,  280 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11  illustrate detail views of the door assembly  200  to focus the discussion on the closure assembly  208  and, in particular, to illustrate operation of the latch component  210  and the reset component  212 . In  FIG. 8 , the door assembly  200  includes a latch element  295  and a lever element  296  that couples with the first actuator  278 . A spring element  297  generates a spring force on the latch element  296 . The spring force causes the lever element  296  to move, e.g., to translate from an unlatched position (shown in  FIG. 8 ) to a latched position that engages an engagement feature  298  of the door component  202 .  FIG. 9  shows the latch element  296  in the latched position. In one implementation, the latch element  295  engages an engagement feature  298  of the door component  202 . This engagement can prevent the door from opening unless the latch element  295  is moved to the unlatched position ( FIG. 8 ). When in the latched position secures the door component  202  in the closed position, thus preventing (or minimizing) further fluid flow from the exterior of the ducting to the interior of the ducting. 
         [0036]    Construction of the latch element  295  can create sufficient clearance with the lever element  296  to allow the door  202  to close when the latch element  295  is in the latched position. In one example, the latch element  295  can have rounded and/or beveled features that the engagement feature  298  contacts as the door swings down to the closed position. In this manner, contact between the engagement feature  298  and the latch element  295  pushes the latch element  295  downward, compressing the spring element  297 . When the engagement feature  298  clears the latch element  295 , i.e., reaches and/or is proximate the closed position, the spring force will return the latch element to the latched position ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0037]    Sensors  290 ,  292  can monitor the position of the door component  202  and the latch element  295 . For example, the fourth sensor  292  (also “latch sensor  292 ”) generates an output to identify the position of the latch element  295  in the latched position. The third sensor  290  generates an output to identify the position of the door  202 , e.g., to reflect that the door is proximate the closed position. To allow the door component  202  to open, the control unit can utilize these outputs to instruct the first actuator  278  to actuate to move the lever element  296  against the latch element  295 , which causes the latch element  295  to retract past the end of the engagement feature  298 . When the door component  202  moves from the closed position, the control unit can instruct the first actuator  278  to actuate to allow the lever element  296  to return to the latched position. During one implementation, the control unit can verify that the latch element  295  is in the latched position prior to operation of other components, e.g., the reset component  212 , as discussed below. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 10 and 11  shows one exemplary operation of the reset component  212  to ensure the door component  202  properly closes before the latch element  296  moves from the unlatched position to the latch position. In the example of  FIG. 10 , the grabber element  294  is in a first orientation that allows the engagement feature  298  and/or the door component  202  to traverse from the second position  252  into a position proximate the closure assembly  208  ( FIG. 7 ).  FIG. 11  shows the grabber element  294  in a second orientation that corresponds to the first position  250 , or closed position, of the door component  202 . 
         [0039]    In one implementation, the first sensor  286  monitors the presence of the grabber element  294 . This feature can prevent inadvertent contact between the door component  202  and the grabber element  294 . For example, the first sensor  286  can generate an output that indicates that the grabber element  294  is not in the first orientation. The control unit can utilize this output to instruct the second actuator  280  to actuate to change the orientation of the grabber element  294 , e.g., until the first sensor  286  indicates that the grabber element  294  is in the first orientation. The second sensor  288  can generate an output that indicates the presence of the engagement feature  298  and/or the door component  202 . The control unit can utilize this output to instruct the second actuator  280  to actuator to change the orientation of the grabber element  294  from the first orientation ( FIG. 10 ) to the second orientation ( FIG. 11 ). As the grabber element  294  transits from the first orientation ( FIG. 10 ) to the second orientation ( FIG. 11 ), the grabber element  294  engages the engagement feature  298 , thereby causing the door component  202  to move towards the closed position. In one example, the third sensor  290  can generate an output that indicates that the door component  202  is proximate the closed position. 
         [0040]      FIG. 12  illustrates a flow diagram of a method  300  for controlling operation of a blow-in door on a fluid handling system. The method  300  includes, at step  302 , receiving a first signal indicating a position of the blow-in door and, at step  304 , generating a first output in response to the first signal that contains instructions to move a grabber element from a first orientation to a second orientation. The method  300  also includes, at step  306 , receiving a signal indicating a value for a fluid property and, at step  308 , comparing the value to a threshold criteria. If the value matches the threshold criteria, the method  300  continues back to step  306 . On the other hand, if the value deviates from the threshold criteria (i.e., is less than and/or greater than the threshold criteria), then the method  300  continues, at step  310 , generating the second output if the value deviates from the threshold criteria. 
         [0041]    The first signal can arise from one or more sensors (e.g., sensors  286 ,  288 ,  290 ,  292  of  FIG. 7 ). These sensors can identify the position of the components of the closure assembly. Implementations of the method  300  can also utilize sensors (e.g., condition sensing component  138  of  FIG. 2 ) that monitor conditions (e.g., pressure and/or pressure differentials) in the fluid handling system. In one example, the method  300  may further include receiving a second signal and a third signal that identifies, respectively, the orientation of a grabber element (e.g., grabber element  294  of  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
         [0042]    As used herein, an element or function recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or functions, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the claimed invention should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. 
         [0043]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5