Handle assembly for rotating a pivot rod attached to a damper within ductwork
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing damper handle assemblies for ductwork are cumbersome and time-consuming to assemble due to the numerous parts involved, leading to inefficiencies in the final assembly process, particularly in factory settings where time savings can significantly impact labor and profitability.
Innovation Solution
A pre-assembled handle assembly for the pivot rod, comprising a wingnut, a handle, and a washer, where the three parts are either permanently combined into a single unit or any two parts are pre-assembled to reduce the number of steps required for final assembly, allowing for quicker attachment to the pivot rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional damper handle assembly with multiple separate parts (washer, handle, wingnut) is used, then the assembly can be disassembled for maintenance and adjustment, but the final assembly process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the washer, handle, and wingnut into a single integrated unit. The washer is permanently attached to the handle, and the wingnut is permanently attached to the other side of the handle, creating one piece that performs all functions of the three separate components. This merging eliminates the need to assemble multiple parts during final installation, dramatically reducing assembly time and labor while maintaining all original functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly is pre-assembled in the factory with all components permanently attached to each other before shipment. This preliminary assembly action is performed under controlled factory conditions, allowing for quality control and efficiency. The pre-assembled unit is then simply attached to the pivot rod during final installation, eliminating the need for on-site assembly of multiple components and reducing installation time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate parts are used in the damper handle assembly, then each part can be independently replaced or adjusted, but the device complexity increases with more components to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges three separate functional components (washer for positioning, handle for rotation, wingnut for locking) into a single integrated unit. This reduces the number of parts from three to one, simplifying the device while maintaining all original functions. The integrated design eliminates the complexity of managing multiple separate components during installation and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a handle assembly for rotating a pivot rod attached to a damper within ductwork, for the purpose of controlling the flow of conditioned air therethrough. In particular, the present invention provides a pre-assembled portion of the required parts, thereby reducing the number of steps required for final assembly of the damper handle to the pivot rod, resulting in a significant time savings.