US2632377A - Louver actuating and fan motor control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1953 E. A. MADER 2,632,377A

' LOUVER ACTUATING AND FAN MoToR CONTROL MECHANIsn/xv A I Filed Jann. 17)-1949 2 SI'lEETS--Sl-XEET l i l @wav f foy@ f c, fg@ l l L\ `\{Sr' v `A k3. f E nventol: Emil A Nadi?? 2 BB 7 l' y. (Ittoneg E A MADER 2,632,377 LOUVER AOTUATING AND FAN MOTOR 'CONTROL MEOHANISM hwentor Emll A. Nadu' d4 (IttomegEI 4 2 SHEETS-#SHEET 2 March 24, 1953 Filed Jan. 17, 1949 Patented Mar. 24, '1953 l LOUVER ACTUATING AND FAN MOTOR CONTROL MEcHANisM Emil A. Mader, Detroit, Mich.,wassignor of onehalf to John Spargo, Detroit, Mich.

' Application January 17, 1949, Serial No. 71,310

This invention relates to louver actuating and fan motor control mechanism, an object of the invention being to associate with a set of louvers and a motor-driven fan inducing air flow through an opening controlled by the louvers, a normally open control switch for the motor, and means for automatically closing such switch upon opening-the louvers.

Another object is to adapt a set of normally closed louvers to be opened by a mechanism suited to remote control, and to automatically set up a forced ilow of air past the louvers, upon establishing their open position.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for establishing the open position of a set of normally closed louvers, such mechanism including a latch for holding the louvers in open position, and such latch being readily releasable by said mechanism.

Another object is to provide a quite simple and inexpensive mechanism for closing and opening a switch responsive to shifting of a set of louvers to their open and closed positions, such switch controlling the drive motor of a fan for inducing air flow past the louvers. v Another object is to provide an improved spring means for biasing a set oi louvers toward l their closed position.

These and various other objects are attained by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a set of louvers, with their frame and control mechanism, showing a .closed position of the louvers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational View thereof taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l, but showing an open position of the louvers.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, showing a tubular arm and control parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line ri-Ll of Fig. 1, showing a mercury switch employed in the disclosed construction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on the line -5-5 of Fig. 2, showing a spring connection between one of the louvers and a link bar.

Fig. 6 is an end View of a switch housing, showing the mounting of same on a post.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of said post.

In these views, the reference character l designates a oor, such as that of an attic, formed with a rectangular air flow Opening 2 dened by walls 3. For normally closing said opening there is installed in the opening a set 1 claim. (oies- 116) of ksheet metal louvers 4 similarly pivoted at corresponding edges on rods 5 journaled ina frame E formed of angle iron. The louvers, when closed, lap each other in the usual manner, and are upwardly swung, when open. Midway of their length, they are pivotally interconnected by a link bar l, engaging brackets 8 fixed on the louvers. From one of said brackets a pair of coiled springs 9, straddling the link bar, are extended to a bracket l0 upstanding on such bar, biasing the louvers AtowardY their closed position.

The opening 2 is covered by an air flow housing i i having an outlet I2 wherein is fitted a fan i3 for drawing air upwardly through the opening `and expelling it through the outlet. The fan is driven through a belt Hl from a motor i E whereof the circuit I6 is controlled preferably by a mercury switch (Fig. 4). The illustrated switch comprises the usual contact-receiving mercurybulb Il, occupying a housing i8, wherein said bulb is iixed on the upper end of a lever i9 pivoted between its ends at 26 and carrying a roller 2l below said housing. A coiled spring 22` acting on the upper end of said lever, tends to establish an open circuit position of the bulb il, vand the louvers 4, in their opening travel, serve to shift the bulb to its closed circuit position. Thus the roller 2l is engaged by an underlying louver 4 as the several louvers complete their opening travel, rocking the lever and mercury bulb to close the circuit.

It is preferred to rigidly sui-mount the housing I8 on a tubular arm or post 23 clamped by a U-bracket 24 to an end of the frame E5, such housing projecting above said underlying louver at a suicient height to clear the latter in its opening travel. The arm 23 is further vitally useful in mounting mechanism for manually controlling the louvers. Thus the arm houses and guides a tubular slide piece 25, diametrically carrying a pin 26 to which is anchored a pull cord 2l, upwardly extended beyond the post and over a pulley 28, and connected to the link bar 1 through a fusibler link 29 and a coiled spring 3G, disposed in end to end relation. Said pulley is journaled in a bracket 28a xed on the upper portion of said arm. Also anchored to the pin 26 is the upper end of a latch bar 3| which slidably extends through a slot 32 centrally formed in a head 33 permanently closing the lower end of the post or arm 23. A pull chain or the like 34, of any convenient length, depends from the latch bar. The upper end portion of said bar is cut away along one lateral tion 37 to receive and retain the shoulder. The tendency of the louvers to close,.due.to.. the.

springs 9, serves to urge the shoulder 36 "into said indentation, when downward pull'on the chain 34 is relieved. It is: to Ice un'derstood'. that the latch bar undergoes a slight #lateral swinging on the pin 26 as soon as -downtravel of said bar exposes the shoulder 36 below the arm 23, such swinging disposing the shoulder i in vertical registration with said indentation.

Such lateral swinging results from` fact `that the,l pull `chain attaches to the bar at .its vlongitudinal axis, whereas engagement of the bar with the Ypin 261s at the longitudinal axis of thetongue 35. It is obvious that arelease of the latch bar `may beeffected by a slight swingingv actuation of the pull chain.

Thedescribed mechanism assuresV that the fan will operate whenever the louvers are open and :willbe yidle when the louversare closed. Also it provides in a very simple manner for a common control of the louvers and fan motor. The-disclosed provision for latching the louvers in open position or releasing same is extremely simple, inexpensive, and reliable in action. The spring V30 is of value in assuring a suiiicient upward actuation of the latch bar, following a release vof tension on the pull chain 391:0 assure aiirm latching engagement of the shoulder 36 with the margin of the slot 32.

While the mechanism has Vbeen described in its application to a floor-installed yset of louvers, it isapparent that vit is readilyT adaptable alsoto wall-installed louvers;

In mounting the switch housingA |8` onfthe post 23, there is rigidly secured to the latter a laterally projecting arm 38 to which said housingis attached bybolts 39. It is preferred toforrn said arm withvertical slots 11i] for said bolts whereby the switch housingmay be raised orlowered 15o-assure .proper engagement of the Aroller 2| by various sizes of louvers.

What I claim is:

In a closure operating mechanism, a pivotal closure. a frame in which such closure is -pivoted, such frame having an airflow. opening, an .elongated tubular arm, means rigidly securing said arm on said frame, a slide-piece slidable in said arm, an elongated flexible actuating element for the closure connected to the slide-piece, means operatively connecting said element to the closure, a pulley mounted on the tubular arm and guiding the actuating element, means for; latchingf'the r-slideepieceto the 'tubular arm inan open position of the closure,fa l`fan mounted to deliver air through the opening of said frame, an electric motor driving the fan, a switch controlling such motor, means mounting the switch on said tubular arm, and a spring tending to open the switch, said switch having I closure and'actuable by the closure in its open- I ing Vtravelto .close Athe switch.

EMIL A. MADER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 208,692 Pohl Oct. 8, 1878 357,116 Coultaus Feb. .1, 1887 637,705 Walker Nov. 26,1901 957,776 Ilg May-10,1910

1,326,017 Brisbois et al. Y Dec, 23, 1919 1,391,360 Beach Sept. 20, 1921 1,437,732 Gray Dec. 5, 1922 1,475,111 Grieset al. Nov. 20, 1923 1,521,243 Josef Dec. 30, 1924 1,532,884, Chapink Apr. 7,1925 1,543,835 Taylor June 30, 1925 1,627,194 Norberg May, 3, 1927 1,763,282 Vining June 10, 1930 1,795,520 Steckroth Mar.V 10, 1931 1,971,920- Ross Aug. V23, 1934 2,084,807 Y Hueglin 'June .22, 1937 2,135,810 Germonprez Nov. A8,1938 2,225,349 Morse Dec. 17, 1940 2,228,224 Benson Jan.. 7, 1941 2,250,001A Bear et al. July'22, 1941 2,299,833 Mader Oct. 27, 1942 2,307,619 Brewer Jan, 5, 1943 2,314,003 Mader Mar. 16, 1943 2,323,178` Denman June 29, 1943 2,332,091 Kuhn Oct. 19, 1943 2,386,767 Arens Oct. 16,1945 2,464,000 Schild Mar.vv `8, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS VNumber Y Country Date y 574,975 Germany Apr. 21, 1933

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