Linear Slide Damper for Reduced Height and Flue Gas Flow Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotary-style dampers for residential water heaters increase the mounting height and restrict flue gas flow due to their circular design, requiring precise positioning and resulting in potential combustion issues and flue gas spillage.

Innovation Solution

A linear slide damper system with a rectangular damper blade that moves linearly between open and closed states, driven by a circumferentially rotating pin within a slot, allowing for reduced height and up to 20 degrees of positional variation while maintaining a fully open state, and incorporating a switch activation mechanism for precise positioning confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a rotary damper design is used, then the damper can rotate through 360 degrees or 90 degrees to open and close, but the height of mounting the draft hood increases and the positioning precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamper operation rangeVSAvoidmounting height

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional rotary damper design by using a linear sliding motion instead of rotational motion. The damper blade moves linearly along a guide way between fully open and fully closed positions, eliminating the need for 90-degree or 360-degree rotation and the associated height requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the motion parameter from rotational (angular displacement) to linear (translational displacement). This parameter change allows the damper to achieve full opening without the height constraints of rotary designs, as the linear slide mechanism has a compact footprint in the vertical dimension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a rotary damper blade stops in the open position, then the damper operates through rotation, but precise positioning is required to avoid flue gas flow restriction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflue gas flow efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the damper blade completely from the flue passage when in the open position. The linear sliding mechanism allows the blade to move entirely clear of the flue opening, eliminating any potential flow restriction and removing the need for precise angular positioning that rotary dampers require.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rotating the damper blade to achieve opening, the patent uses linear translation to move the blade completely out of the flue passage. This inversion of the opening mechanism eliminates the positioning precision problem inherent in rotary designs, as the blade simply needs to reach the end of its linear travel path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If a rotary damper design is used, then the damper can be mounted above the draft hood, but the vent pipe mounting height and shipping carton sizes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidoverall height

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the damper assembly by using linear motion instead of rotation. This results in a compact vertical profile that reduces both the mounting height above the draft hood and the shipping carton dimensions, while maintaining mounting flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a rotational design that occupies vertical space to a linear sliding design that occupies horizontal space within a compact envelope. This dimensional change allows the damper to be mounted in the same location while reducing the overall height requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 linear slide damper system reduces mounting height, minimizes flow obstruction, and ensures precise open positioning, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing flue gas spillage by maintaining a fully open state with increased positional tolerance and direct contact for position sensing.

Implementation Method 1

rotation of the drive member in a circumferential direction imparts linear motion to the damper blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical motion transformation:

Data Source

PatentUS9835330B2Linear slide damper system

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 FIELD CONTROLS LLC

AI summary

A damper system comprises a damper blade having open and closed states. The damper blade is movable in a linear direction only between the open and closed states. The damper blade may fully overlap with a flue passage in the closed state, and the damper blade may lack any overlap with the flue passage in the open state. A portion of the damper blade may directly contact a switch activation arm in the open state, wherein the switch activation arm confirms the open state of the damper blade.