Internal Actuator Airflow Valve for Remote HVAC Balancing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Airflow valves in HVAC systems are often difficult to adjust, especially when located in hard-to-reach areas, making it inconvenient to frequently change airflow settings based on occupancy and environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

An airflow valve with a rotatable plate assembly and an internally placed actuator that can be remotely operated, reducing interference with airflow by positioning the actuator downstream of the adjustment plate's rotational axis, allowing for robust and simplified coupling to the airflow conduit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the actuator is placed inside the airflow conduit to enable remote adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the interference with airflow increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidinterference with airflow

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator is positioned in the downstream region of the airflow conduit, utilizing the spatial dimension downstream of the rotational axis to minimize interference with the main airflow path while still enabling effective remote adjustment of the valve plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the actuator is positioned downstream of the rotational axis to reduce airflow interference, then the interference with airflow is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference with airflowVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator assembly is integrated with the valve plate assembly through a shared rotational axis and coupled structure, merging the actuation mechanism with the flow control mechanism into a unified device that reduces overall complexity despite the downstream positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11892098B2Airflow balancing valve with actuator

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 GREENHECK FAN CORP

AI summary

An airflow valve may comprise a plate assembly located inside an airflow conduit. An actuator may be attached to, and/or otherwise fixed relative to, a plate of the plate assembly. The actuator may be coupled to the airflow conduit. If activated, the actuator may react against the airflow conduit to induce rotation of the plate.