Automatic damper means

Claim 2

Means for controlling the flow through an exhaust flue of a combustion device such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater and the like comprising an open ended pipe adapted to be installed as part of the exhaust flue, a frame assembly mounted on the inside of the pipe, a layer of noise suppression material positioned between the frame assembly and the inside of the pipe, other noise suppression cushioning means attached to said frame assembly, a damper plate pivotally mounted in said frame assembly and movable between a closed position engaging the frame assembly including the said other noise suppression material substantially completely around the periphery thereof and an open position allowing substantially unrestricted communication through the pipe section, an operator member including a cam attached to and movable with the damper plate, DC solenoid motor means including a link member operatively connected offcenter to said cam and to said damper plate, means including a source of rectified alternating current and thermostatic control means for energizing the motor means as a condition to enable the combustion device to go into a combination cycle, said motor means operating to move said damper plate from its normally closed position to its open position, normally open switch means having switch actuator means engageable by the said cam, said switch actuator means being moved by said cam from a normally open to a switch closed condition whenever the damper plate is moved from its closed to its open position, the closed condition of said switch means establishing a circuit which enables the furnace or other associated device to go into a combustion cycle, and yieldable means urging the damper plate to its closed position and the solenoid motor means to its deenergized condition.

Claim 3

The means as defined in claim 1 wherein said other noise suppression cushioning means includes substantially semicircular shaped portions thereof attached to opposite surfaces on the frame assembly to engage the damper plate around the periphery thereof when the damper plate is in its closed position.

Claim 4

The means defined in claim 1 wherein said open ended flow pipe defines a larger cross-sectional flow area at the location where the frame assembly and the damper plate are located than at other locations therealong such that the cross-sectional flow area at the location of the damper plate when the damper plate is open is at least as large as the flow area cross section at other locations along the flow pipe.

Claim 5

The means defined in claim 3 wherein the flow pipe and the damper plate are both substantially round, the diameter of the damper plate beIng smaller than the diameter of the flow pipe at the location where the damper plate is positioned.

Claim 6

The means defined in claim 1 wherein said damper plate is attached to a shaft member pivotally mounted in the frame assembly, said cam being fixedly connected to said shaft member, which shaft member extends across the inside of the pipe substantially on a diameter thereof, said motor means including a solenoid having a movable armature operatively connected to the cam on the said shaft to cause rotation of the shaft when the solenoid is energized.

Claim 7

Means for controlling the discharge of the products of combustion from an exhaust flue of a combustion device such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or the like comprising an open ended tubular flue section adapted to be installed as part of an exhaust flue, a frame member formed by connected semicircular portions, said frame member being mounted to the inside of the flue section, a shaft member rotatable mounted in said frame in position to extend across the frame member and across the inside of the flue section, said shaft extending out through at least one side of the open ended tubular flue section, a damper plate fixedly mounted on said shaft and movable therewith between a closed position extending across the flue section and engaged around the periphery thereof with the frame member to substantially restrict communication through the flow section, and an open position angularly related to the closed position to provide communication through the flue section, means forming a cushioning layer between said shaft and said damper plate, means mounted outside of the flue section and operatively connected to said shaft for moving said shaft and the attached damper plate between its open and closed position, said shaft moving means including a cam attached to the shaft and solenoid motor means energizable in response to the occurrence of a predetermined condition which must occur before the furnace or other device can begin a combustion cycle, said solenoid motor means having an armature pivotally connected to the cam at a location spaced outwardly from the shaft, energization of said motor means operating to rotate the shaft and move the damper plate from its closed to its open position, and means including a spring mounted on the shaft between the cam and the flue section to restore the damper plate to its closed position when the motor means are deenergized.

Claim 8

Means for controlling the discharge of the products of combustion from an exhaust flue of a combustion device such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or the like comprising an open ended tubular flue section adapted to be installed as part of an exhaust flue, a frame member formed by connected semicircular portions, said frame member being mounted to the inside of the flue section, a shaft member rotatable mounted in said frame in position to extend across the frame member and across the inside of the flue section, said shaft extending out through at least one side of the open ended tubular flue section, a damper plate fixedly mounted on said shaft and movable therewith between a closed position extending across the flue section and engaged around the periphery thereof with the frame member to substantially restrict communication through the flow section, and an open position angularly related to the closed position to provide communication through the flue section, means forming a cushioning layer between said shaft and said damper plate, means mounted outside of the flue section and operatively connected to said shaft for moving said shaft and the attached damper plate between its open and closed position, said shaft moving means including a cam attached to the shaft and solenoid motor means energizable in response to the occurrence of a predetermined condition which must occur before the furnace or other device can begin a combustion cycle, said solenoid motor means having an armature pivotally connected to the cam at a location spaced outwardly from the shaft, energization of said motor means operating to rotate the shaft and move the damper plate from its closed to its open position, and means including a spring mounted on the shaft between the cam and the flue section to restore the damper plate to its closed position when the motor means are deenergized.

Claim 9

The means defined in claim 6 wherein said frame member is formed by semicircular offset portions having surfaces positioned thereon to engage opposite sides of the damper plate, said surfaces on the frame member including resilient overlayers to sealably engage the damper plate around the periphery thereof when closed and to minimize noise produced when the damper plate moves to its closed position.

Claim 10

The means defined in claim 6 including switch means operatively connected with said cam and circuit means the position of said damper plate.