Damper latch

Claim 2

In a mechanism for positioning a damper member between respective positions opening and substantially closing a flue, said mechanism comprising motive means having an armature, means eccentrically linking said armature to a rotatable cam member drivingly engaged to said damper member, and yieldable means opposing movement of said armature in a first direction for returning said armature in an opposite direction upon de-energization of said motive means; the improvement wherein said cam member has first latching means, and including a latch member and means coupling said latch member to said armature, said latch member having second latching means cooperating with said first latching means to latch said cam member and therewith said damper member following movement of said armature in one of said directions, one of said latching means comprising a latching slot and the other of said latching means comprising a detent.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means linking said armature to said cam member comprises a link engaging one of said armature and said cam member with lost motion.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said link engages said armature with lost motion.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said cam member is mounted for rotation about a first axis, said latch member is mounted for rotation about a second axis, and including means providing a lost motion connection between said latch means and said armature.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 4 further including a pin traversing said armature, said link having an elongated slot receiving a first portion of said pin to provide the lost motion engagement of said link to said armature, said member providing a lost motion connection between said latch member and said armature comprising a second elongated slot in said latch means receiving a second portion of said pin.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a solenoid coil, said armature movable linearly through said coil.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said detent enters said latching slot during return of said armature by said yieldable means.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a coil through which said armature moves linearly, said coil received in a housing having means for mounting the same to a frame plate, said cam member and said linking means interposed between said armature and said frame plate, said latch members interposed between said armature and said frame plate alongside a periphery of said cam member.

Claim 10

In a mechanism for controllably venting gases from the flue of a combustion apparatus, said mechanism comprising a housing for mounting to said flue to receive gases therefrom, a damper affixed to a shaft mounted in said housing, moveable between a first position opening said housing for the passage of gases therefrom and a second position substantially closing said housing against the passage of gases therethrough, frame means mounted to said housing, solenoid motor means mounted to said frame means, said frame means including a plate portion having an aperture through which passes said shaft, a cam driveably carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith about a rotary axis, said motor means including an armature, link means engaged to said cam eccentrically with respect to said rotary axis, and means pivotally connecting said link means to said armature; the improvement wherein the pivotal connection of said link means has lost motion with respect to said armature, and including a latch member, means rotatably mounting said latch member to said frame means, means having lost motion connecting said latch member to said armature, said cam having a slot in a periphery thereof, said latch member having a detent for entering said slot, a dust cover, said frame means having side plates engaged to said dust cover and cooperating with said dust cover and with said plate portion to generally enclose said motor means, said cam, said link means and said latch means.

Claim 11

In a mechanism for controllably venting gases from the flue of a combustion apparatus, said mechanism comprising a housing for mounting to said flue to receive gases therefrom, a damper affixed to a shaft mounted in said housing, moveable between a first position opening said housing for the passage of gases therefrom and a second position substantially closing said housing against the passage of gases therethrough, frame means mounted to said housing, solenoid motor means mounted to said frame means, said frame means including a plate portion having an aperture through which passes said shaft, a cam driveably carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith about a rotary axis, said motor means including an armature, link means engaged to said cam eccentrically with respect to said rotary axis, and means pivotally connecting said link means to said armature; the improvement wherein the pivotal connection of said link means has lost motion with respect to said armature, and including a latch member, means rotatably mounting said latch member to said frame means, means having lost motion connecting said latch member to said armature, said cam having a slot in a periphery thereof, said latch member having a detent for entering said slot, a dust cover, said frame means having side plates engaged to said dust cover and cooperating with said dust cover and with said plate portion to generally enclose said motor means, said cam, said link means and said latch means.

Claim 12

In a mechanism for controlling the operation of a combustion apparatus, and venting gases from a flue of such apparatus at times when combustion is occurring, said mechanism comprising a housing for attachment to said flue, a damper plate, means mounting said damper plate in said housing for movement between a first position opening said housing for the passage of gases from said flue and a second position substantially closing said housing to substantially prevent the passage of gases between said housing and said flue, yieldable means for biasing said damper plate to said first position, motor means for driving said damper plate to said second position against the bias of said yieldable means, cam means drivingly connected to said damper plate, and means following said cam means for controlling operation of said combustion apparatus; the improvement wherein said cam means has a first latching portion, and including a second latching portion and means coupling said second latching portion to said motor means for engaging said second latching portion with said first latching portion following movement of said damper plate to said first position.

Claim 13

In a mechanism for controlling the operation of a combustion apparatus, and venting gases from a flue of such apparatus at times when combustion is occurring, said mechanism comprising a housing for attachment to said flue, a damper plate, means mounting said damper plate in said housing for movement between a first position opening said housing for the passage of gases from said flue and a second position substantially closing said housing to substantially prevent the passage of gases between said housing and said flue, yieldable means for biasing said damper plate to said first position, motor means for driving said damper plate to said second position against the bias of said yieldable means, cam means drivingly connected to said damper plate, and means following said cam means for controlling operation of said combustion apparatus; the improvement wherein said cam means has a first latching portion, and including a second latching portion and means coupling said second latching portion to said motor means for engaging said second latching portion with said first latching portion following movement of said damper plate to said first position.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 10 wherein said first latching portion comprises a slot disposed in a periphery of said cam means and second latching portion comprises a pivotally mounted latch member having a detent for entering said slot.