Bladder damper

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support element comprises a hollow support pipe having at least one hole formed therein for the passage of fluid therethrough, and wherein said bladder covers said hole and is inflatable under the injection of pressurized fluid from said hole, said apparatus further comprising a source of pressurized fluid connected to said second portion of said support pipe.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said support element which receives said bladder extends generally collinear with a longitudinal centerline of said ventilation duct.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said regulating device further comprises an automatic pressure regulator and wherein said position indicator is connected to an electronic control device which generates an electrical position indication signal which is transmitted to said pressure regulator.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said regulating device further comprises a manually-controlled pressure regulator and wherein said position indicator provides a visual indication of the degree of inflation of said bladder.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said position indicator comprises one of (1) a transparent cover located on said sidewall of said ventilation duct and (2) a spring-loaded rod extending through said sidewall of said ventilation duct.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said regulating device comprises a refrigerant which vaporizes at a designated temperature.

Claim 13

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element, and (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder, said bladder presenting an aerodynamic profile in both a deflated, open state and a partially inflated, partially closed state, said aerodynamic profile facilitating airflow past said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that a first portion extends within said ventilation duct and a second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct; and then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper.

Claim 14

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element, and (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder, said bladder presenting an aerodynamic profile in both a deflated, open state and a partially inflated, partially closed state, said aerodynamic profile facilitating airflow past said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that a first portion extends within said ventilation duct and a second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct; and then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 10, wherein said step (B) further comprises providing a support plate which is connected to said second portion of said support element, and said step (D) comprises securing said support plate to said wall of said ventilation duct.

Claim 20

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element, and (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that a first portion extends within said ventilation duct and a second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct; then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper; and then (F) indicating the degree of expansion of said bladder and operating a regulating device to regulate the expansion of said bladder based on said indication.

Claim 21

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element, and (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that a first portion extends within said ventilation duct and a second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct; then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper; and then (F) indicating the degree of expansion of said bladder and operating a regulating device to regulate the expansion of said bladder based on said indication.

Claim 24

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element having first and second portions, (2) a support plate which is connected to said second portion of said support element, (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said first portion of said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that said first portion extends within said ventilation duct and said second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct by securing said support plate to said wall of said ventilation duct; and then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper.

Claim 25

A process comprising: (A) providing a ventilation duct having a wall having an opening formed therein; (B) providing a normally open damper including (1) a support element having first and second portions, (2) a support plate which is connected to said second portion of said support element, (2) a bladder which is attached to and surrounds said first portion of said support element and which is inflatable under fluid pressure within said bladder; (C) inserting said support element through said opening and into said ventilation duct such that said first portion extends within said ventilation duct and said second portion extends through said opening of said wall; then (D) mounting said second portion of said support element on said wall of said ventilation duct by securing said support plate to said wall of said ventilation duct; and then (E) selectively pressurizing said bladder to over-atmospheric pressure to inflate said bladder, thereby at least partially closing said damper.