Airflow control mechanism insertable into an air duct

Claim 2

An air flow control mechanism for use in an air duct having an aperture therein and for controlling air flow through the air duct, the air flow control mechanism comprising: a housing adapted to be slideably inserted through the aperture into the air duct, said housing including a plurality of side walls positionable adjacent the interior surface of the duct, means for supporting said housing in the air duct, said supporting means including a flange fixedly attached to said housing and for surrounding the aperture, the flange being adapted to be fixed to the air duct, and means for providing a seal between the housing and the interior surface of the air duct for preventing air flow around the housing, said seal means including elongated resilient blades fixedly attached to the external surface of the housing and engageable against the internal surface of the air duct.

Claim 3

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said blades include one longitudinal edge secured to said housing and an opposite longitudinal edge engageable against the interior surface of the air duct and wherein said blades are curved toward the air flow whereby air pressure against said blade forces said opposite longitu-dinal edge against the interior surface of the air duct.

Claim 4

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said housing includes a plurality of sides forming a rectangular air flow opening therebetween, and further including a flange plate secured to one of said sides, said flange plate including a peripheral edge defining said flange.

Claim 5

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 3 and further including an insulation layer between said flange plate and said one of said sides.

Claim 6

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said housing includes a plurality of sides forming a rectangular air flow opening therebetween, and further including a flange plate secured to one of said sides, said flange plate including a peripheral edge defining said flange.

Claim 7

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 5 and further including an insulation layer between said flange plate and said one of said sides.

Claim 8

An air distribution system comprising: An air duct having an aperture therein, and An air flow control mechanism, slideably insertable through said aperture into said air duct and for controlling air flow through said air duct, said air flow control mechanism including a housing having a plurality of peripheral sides and defining an air flow space therethrough, and a peripheral flange extending peripherally outwardly from one of said sides and said flange surrounding said aperture and fixedly attached to said air duct, means for controlling the volume of air flow through said air flow space, said controlling means including a plurality of vanes supported in said air flow space, at least one of said vanes being pivotable between a first position and an air flow limiting position, means for causing movement of said at least one vane between said positions including an actuator supported by said housing, said actuator including a moveable piston connected to said moveable vane, and means for providing a seal between said housing and the internal surface of said duct for preventing air flow around said housing, said seal means including elongated resilient blades fixedly attached to the external surface of said housing and engageable against the internal surface of said air duct.

Claim 9

An air distribution system comprising: An air duct having an aperture therein, and An air flow control mechanism, slideably insertable through said aperture into said air duct and for controlling air flow through said air duct, said air flow control mechanism including a housing having a plurality of peripheral sides and defining an air flow space therethrough, and a peripheral flange extending peripherally outwardly from one of said sides and said flange surrounding said aperture and fixedly attached to said air duct, means for controlling the volume of air flow through said air flow space, said controlling means including a plurality of vanes supported in said air flow space, at least one of said vanes being pivotable between a first position and an air flow limiting position, means for causing movement of said at least one vane between said positions including an actuator supported by said housing, said actuator including a moveable piston connected to said moveable vane, and means for providing a seal between said housing and the internal surface of said duct for preventing air flow around said housing, said seal means including elongated resilient blades fixedly attached to the external surface of said housing and engageable against the internal surface of said air duct.

Claim 10

The air distribution system set forth in Claim 7 wherein said blades include one longitudinal edge secured to said housing and an opposite longitudinal edge engageable against the interior surface of said air duct and wherein said blades are curved toward said air flow whereby air pressure against said blade forces said opposite longitu-dinal edge against the interior surface of said air duct.

Claim 11

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said housing includes a plurality of sides forming a rectangular air flow opening therebetween, and further including a flange plate secured to one of said sides, said flange plate including a peripheral edge defining said flange.

Claim 12

An air flow control mechanism as set forth in Claim 9 and further including an insulation layer between said flange plate and said one of said sides.