Damper Switch Load Sensing to Prevent Motor Overload and Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smoke exhaust dampers suffer from leakage gaps due to structural defects, leading to poor airtightness and inefficient smoke removal during fires, affecting both smoke exhaust and air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A damper switch with a rotating part, driving part, and controller that measures load and interrupts power when excessive leakage is detected, utilizing optical sensors and a clamp to ensure airtight closure and prevent motor overload, thereby minimizing leakage and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the damper blades are structurally designed with gaps for mechanical movement, then the blades can be opened and closed, but leakage gaps are generated leading to poor airtightness
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing member (rubber strip) is attached to the edge of the damper blade to create a flexible seal that maintains airtightness while allowing mechanical movement. The flexible material deforms to fill gaps between blades during opening/closing operations, preventing leakage without restricting blade motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the sealing member to move and deform with the blade during operation. The sealing strip can expand and contract, and change position relative to the blade edge, maintaining continuous contact and seal integrity throughout the full range of motion.
2Reliability
If the damper blades are forced to close completely to improve airtightness, then leakage is reduced, but the motor may overload and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor detects the closed position of the damper blade and provides feedback to the control unit. When the sensor detects that the blade has reached the closed position, it signals the control unit to stop motor operation, preventing overload and damage while ensuring complete closure for airtightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is designed to apply sufficient force to achieve complete blade closure for airtightness, but the feedback-controlled stop prevents excessive action beyond the required closure point. The system applies more force than minimally needed to ensure sealing, then stops immediately when the seal is achieved, avoiding motor overload.
3Ease of operation
If the motor continuously operates to maintain blade position, then precise control is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor operates periodically rather than continuously - it activates only when position adjustment is needed, moves the blade to the desired position, then stops. The feedback sensor monitors position and triggers motor operation only when correction is required, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that reduces energy consumption while maintaining precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback sensor and control unit enable the system to self-regulate blade position without continuous motor intervention. Once the blade reaches the correct position, the system maintains it automatically through sensor monitoring, eliminating the need for continuous power input and achieving energy-efficient self-positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces leakage, enhances airtightness, prevents motor malfunction, and conserves energy by ensuring blades are fully closed and only consuming power when necessary, improving the reliability and efficiency of smoke removal systems.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit having a pair of optical sensors located on opposite sides with the rotary shaft interposed therebetween
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a damper switch mounted on a damper having a blade opening/closing structure to open/close blades of the damper, and a damper including the same. The damper switch configured to open/close a plurality of blades of a damper according to the present invention includes a rotating part mounted on a damper shaft of the damper and rotated together with the damper shaft, a driving part configured to provide a power for rotating the rotating part, and a controller configured to measure a load applied to the driving part when the blades are closed, and interrupt an electric power supplied to the driving part when the measured load is not less than a predetermined value.