Standoff for ductwork damper assembly, ductwork damper assembly incorporating same and method of assembling ductwork damper assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional standoffs for ductwork damper assemblies are secured to the ductwork using fasteners like rivets or spot welds, which are costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A standoff assembly comprising a plate member with orthogonally extending leg members and a central aperture, secured to the ductwork via a pivot rod without fasteners, using threaded members to bias the standoff against the ductwork surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional fasteners (rivets or spot welds) are used to secure the standoff to the ductwork, then the standoff is securely attached, but the manufacturing cost increases and the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the fastener component from the attachment system. The standoff is designed with leg members that directly contact and friction-fit against the ductwork outer surface, removing the need for rivets, welds, or other fastening means. This simplifies the assembly process and reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining secure attachment through the biasing mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot rod serves as an intermediary element that performs dual functions: it provides the rotational axis for the damper blade and simultaneously acts as the fastening mechanism for the standoff. By threading the pivot rod through the plate member and securing it with a set screw, the standoff is firmly attached to the ductwork without requiring separate fasteners

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fasteners are used to attach the standoff, then secure mounting is achieved, but the assembly time and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The standoff is pre-assembled with the plate member and leg members in a factory setting, allowing quality control and inspection to be performed before field installation. The leg members are positioned and secured to the ductwork outer surface using the biasing mechanism, eliminating the need for time-consuming field fastening operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing mechanism automatically secures the standoff to the ductwork through the friction fit of the leg members against the outer surface. The system is self-securing, requiring no additional fastening operations by the installer, thereby reducing assembly time and labor requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260009557A1Standoff for ductwork damper assembly, ductwork damper assembly incorporating same and method of assembling ductwork damper assembly

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 CAPITAL HARDWARE SUPPLY LLC

AI summary

A standoff for a ductwork damper assembly includes a plate member and first and second leg members extending orthogonally from respective opposing sides of the plate member, the plate member having an aperture for receiving a pivot rod of a damper of the ductwork assembly, wherein the standoff is adapted for mounting on an outer surface of a section of ductwork of the ductwork damper assembly in the absence of fasteners at a site of contact between the first and second leg members and the surface of the section of ductwork.