IP Library Granted Patent US 11,774,123
Granted Patent B2
US 11,774,123 · App. 17/188,030 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

System and method for conditioning air

Inventors: Jeff Norton (Madison, WI); Tom Friederick (Madison, WI)
Assignee: Research Products Corporation
F24F11/30F24F7/10F24F13/0236F24F13/10F24F2011/0002F24F2110/12F24F2110/20F24F2110/22F24F2110/40Y10T137/87467
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,774,123
App. No.
17/188,030
Filed
Mar 1, 2021
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3763
USPC
236/44A
Abstract

A manifold assembly includes a body and a damper assembly. The body defines a first opening, a second opening, outlet third opening, and a fluid plenum. The fluid plenum fluidly couples the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening. The damper assembly includes a first damper, a second damper, and a connecting member. The first damper is disposed within the fluid plenum proximate to the first opening. The second damper is disposed within the fluid plenum proximate to the second opening. The connecting member is coupled to both the first damper and the second damper and is configured to move the first damper and the second damper to selectively open one of the first opening or the second opening while closing the one not opened.

Claims (29)

1. A manifold assembly, comprising:

a body defining a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fluid plenum, the fluid plenum fluidly coupling the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening, the first opening configured to fluidly couple the fluid plenum with an environment surrounding a building, the second opening configured to fluidly couple the fluid plenum with a space within the building, and the third opening configured to fluidly couple the fluid plenum with a dehumidifier; and

a damper assembly, comprising:

a first damper disposed within the fluid plenum proximate to the first opening;

a second damper disposed within the fluid plenum proximate to the second opening; and

a connecting member coupled to both the first damper and the second damper and configured to move the first damper and the second damper to selectively open one of the first opening and the second opening.

2. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first damper is fixedly coupled to the second damper.

3. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is rotatable between a first position in which the first damper is closed and the second damper is open, and a second position in which the first damper is open and the second damper is closed.

4. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first damper and the second damper are circular disks, and wherein the first damper is rotated approximately 90° with respect to the second damper.

5. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

6. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly further comprises a damper actuator coupled to the connecting member and configured to move the connecting member to selectively open one of the first opening and the second opening.

7. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second damper is sized to allow a predefined amount of air to bypass the second damper when the second damper is in a closed position.

8. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body further defines a first conduit extending between the first opening and the fluid plenum and a second conduit extending between the second opening and the fluid plenum, wherein the first damper is disposed within the first conduit and the second damper is disposed within the second conduit, and wherein the connecting member extends between the first conduit and the second conduit.

9. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises a shaft.

10. The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is disposed at a first inlet connection to the body, and the second opening is disposed at a second inlet connection to the body.

11. The manifold assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first damper is disposed proximate to the first inlet connection, and the second damper is disposed proximate to the second inlet connection.

12. A dehumidifier assembly, comprising;

a manifold defining a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;

a damper assembly coupled to the manifold, the damper assembly comprising:

a first damper disposed proximate to the first opening;

a second damper disposed proximate to the second opening; and

a connecting member coupled to both the first damper and the second damper and configured to move the first damper and the second damper to selectively open one of the first opening and the second opening; and

a dehumidifier coupled to the manifold at the third opening.

13. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the connecting member is rotatable between a first position in which the first damper is closed and the second damper is open, and a second position in which the first damper is open and the second damper is closed.

14. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first damper and the second damper are circular disks, and wherein the first damper is rotated approximately 90° with respect to the second damper.

15. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

16. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second damper is sized to allow a predefined amount of air to bypass the second damper when the second damper is in a closed position.

17. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the connecting member comprises a shaft.

18. The dehumidifier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first opening is disposed at a first inlet connection to the manifold, and the second opening is disposed at a second inlet connection to the manifold.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT, RECORDED ON OCTOBER 15, 2025 AT REEL/FRAME 73109/0707 Recorded Jul 16, 2026
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS EXISTING AGENT
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 075998/0444 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION; DRI-STEEM CORPORATION; EWC CONTROLS, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073109/0707 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2025
From: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION; DRI-STEEM CORPORATION; EWC CONTROLS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073007/0564 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2023
From: GREFSHEIM, SCOTT; NORTON, JEFF; FRIEDERICK, TOM
To: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063250/0051 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63081400 · Sep 22, 2020
Related Publication 20220090806A1 · Mar 24, 2022