Damper blade seal system
View Patent ↗A damper having a first seal and a second seal disposed to cooperatively engage an adjacent first blade end portion and second blade end portion such that a dead air space is created between the adjacent first seal and second seal in a damper closed position, and a first thermal gap and a second thermal gap disposed within said dead air space in the damper closed position.
1. A damper comprising:
a frame;
a first blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the first blade comprising a first end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a first blade axis, the first blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a first thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the first end portion;
a second blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the second blade comprising a second end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a second blade axis, the second blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a second thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the second end portion;
a first seal connected to the first end portion of the first blade;
a second seal connected to the second end portion of the second blade;
the first seal and the second seal disposed to cooperatively engage an adjacent first blade end portion and second blade end portion such that a dead air space is created between the adjacent first seal and second seal in a damper closed position; and
the first thermal gap and the second thermal gap disposed within said dead air space in the damper closed position.
2. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the angle α is in the range of approximately 110° to 120°.
3. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the first thermal gap has a length greater than 50% of a distance between the first seal and the second seal.
4. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the first seal is hollow.
5. The damper as in claim 4 , wherein the second seal is hollow.
6. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the first blade rotates in a direction opposite of the second blade during operation.
7. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the insulating material is foam.
8. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the first seal has a rolling engagement with the second blade end portion as the damper is closed.
9. The damper as in claim 1 , wherein the first blade rotates in the same direction as the second blade during operation.
10. A damper comprising:
a frame;
a first blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the first blade comprising a first end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a first blade axis, the first blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a first thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the first end portion;
a second blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the second blade comprising a second end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a second blade axis, the second blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a second thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the second end portion;
a first seal connected to the first end portion of the first blade;
a second seal connected to the second end portion of the second blade;
the first seal and the second seal disposed to cooperatively engage an adjacent first blade end portion and second blade end portion with the damper in the closed position; and
a dead air space disposed between the first seal and second seal with the damper in the closed position.
11. The damper as in claim 10 , wherein the first seal has a rolling engagement with the second blade end portion as the damper is closed.
12. The damper as in claim 10 , wherein the first thermal gap is disposed between the first seal and the second seal with the damper in the closed position.
13. The damper as in claim 12 , wherein the second thermal gap is disposed between the first seal and the second seal with the damper in the closed position.
14. A damper comprising:
a frame;
a first blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the first blade comprising a first end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a first blade axis, the first blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a first thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the first end portion;
a second blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the second blade comprising a second end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a second blade axis, the second blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a second thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the second end portion;
a first hollow seal connected to the first end portion of the first blade;
a second seal connected to the second end portion of the second blade;
the first hollow seal and the second seal disposed to cooperatively engage an adjacent first blade end portion and second blade end portion such that a dead air space is created between the adjacent first hollow seal and second seal in a damper closed position;
the first thermal gap and the second thermal gap disposed within said dead air space in the damper closed position; and
wherein the first hollow seal has a rolling engagement with the second blade end portion as the damper is closed.
15. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the angle α is in the range of approximately 110° to 120°.
16. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the first thermal gap has a length greater than 50% of a distance between the first hollow seal and the second seal.
17. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the second seal is hollow.
18. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the first blade rotates in a direction opposite of the second blade during operation.
19. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the insulating material is foam.
20. The damper as in claim 14 , wherein the first blade rotates in the same direction as the second blade during operation.