US2861597A

US2861597A - Air guide device

Info

Publication number: US2861597A
Application number: US363640A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin M Gracer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-06-23
Filing date: 1953-06-23
Publication date: 1958-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-25

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 M. M. GRACER 2,861,597

AIR GUIDE DEVICE v Filed June 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Marfin grace-r BY W 4110M Nov. 25, 1958 GRACER v 2,861,597

AIR GUIDE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23. 1953 I NVEN TOR.

Martin racer fi n12, RNEY} 7 United States Patent 2,861,597 AIR GUIDE DEVICE Martin M. Gracer, Levittown, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1953, Serial No. 363,640

6 Claims. (Cl. 138-39) This invention relates to duct constructions of ventilating and air conditioning systems and more particularly to the assembly of supporting rails, and for vanes or blades for attachment thereto of these elements, and still more particularly to a method of uniting vanes to the blade rails employed in ducts of ventilating and air conditioning systems.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vane or blade supporting rail and method for making the same used in elbows or turns of ducts in ventilating and air conditioning systems, in which the blades are assembled with the rails assuring silent operation, ease of joining whereby simple assembly tools may be employed to construct and install the same and in which either single or double vaned blades may be employed, utilizing simple metal stampings of low cost without sacrificing rigidity of construction.

The invention has for its object the provision of a blade rail and method in which blades or vanes may be assembled in elbows or turns of ducts of ventilating and air conditioning systems characterized by the provision of a blade rail made from fiat stock, into which is formed slitted protrusions in which the blade or vane may be arcuately supported, and further characterized by so forming the slit and protrusion to serve as a guide for efliciently and simply uniting the blade to the rail by simple expedients, and still further characterized by the formation of vane retaining protrusions facilitating the temporary union of the vanes and rails as well as to efiect an engagement assuring silence of operation and eliminating any looseness of fit causing air vibratory noises in the ventilating or air conditioning, systems.

Still further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a' blade rail to which blades may be quickly and efiiciently united by the formation of flat stock sheet metal and forming thereon joint outlining protrusions susceptible of formation by simple metal stamping dies, to effect in such parts edge guides for the'blades hold ing the same in predetermined arcuate position, with minimum clearances to prevent wind rattles and consequent noises, and to provide for a method of assembly of the blades and rails requiring no expensive soldering, welding, or blazing operations to assure rigidity of union.

To attain these objects and such other objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a sheet metal stock for a blade rail at the initial stages of production;

Figure 2 is a similar view at the final stage thereof;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the joint formed with the blade attached thereto;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, illustrating the working tool in position; e a

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a duct with a blade rail and blade in position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a rail in accordance 2,861,597 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 ICC 2 with my invention as applied to a double layered blade;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a duct with a plurality of blades in position in accordance with my invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a protrusion for another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line 11--11 of Figure 9.

Making reference to the drawing, it is contemplated by my invention to provide blade rails which are angularly positioned in the elbows or turns of ducts in ventilating or air conditioning systems to support one or several blades normally thereto, thereby to effect an efiicient circulation of the air projected through the ducts in accordance with well known principles of air circulation. For this purpose, a pair of rails edgewisely support one or more blades which are arcuately formed to assume a shape influencing an efficient air circulation.

In accordance with this invention, a blade rail serves as the-medium for supporting the blades in butt-joint contact by the formation of a joint angularly positioned to hold the blade in predetermined arcuate position. Accordingly in the method contemplated by me, a strip of fiat stock sheet metal forming the rail 10 is initially stamped to form angularly directed

slots

11 and 12 which are positioned in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rail 10 and to each other to have the ends of the

slots

12, 13, 14 and 15 substantially fall on the arc, defining the desired curvature of a blade in the duct of the elbow or corner of the ventilating system. Upon formation of a rail 10 with a plurality of

slits

11, 12 arranged in rows over the length of the blade, the stock so produced is then subjected to a stamping operation to form a localized protrusion 16 preferably of generally ovoid outline with the longest axis intersecting the axial line acute With relation to each other and of the slot at an acute angle. The stamping die which is chosen to form the protrusion 16 is calculated to raise edges defining the walls 17 and 18 out of the plane of the rail 10 to form the off-

sets

19 and 20 and opposed

edges

21 and 22, distended in dimension with relation to the ends of the slots thereby to progressively taper the dimensions of the

edges

20 and 21 to a more constricted size adjacent the face of the rail 10 at the

ends

12, 13, 14 and 15 of the slots previously described. The protrusion thus made forms upstanding walls on the front face 22a and a socket 23 on the rear face 24.

' In the more specific embodiment involving the formation of the protrusion, I employ a stamping die which outlines a guide seat 25 of elongated dimensions, the long axis of which OO' is positioned with regard to the axis YY of the slot (11 or 12) by an angle which is preferably an angle of between 30 to 45. The protrusion on the front face and the socket on the rear face is made by a stamping die employing a male and female die, backed by a pressure pad calculated to spread the

edges

21 and 22 of the slot from each other to contour the slot in the tapering dimension previously described, as well as to form the outline comprising the angle guide and working tool or chisel seat as will be apparent from the description which proceeds.

With the formation of the protrusions as described, as embly of the blade with relation to the rail is effected by positioning the blade 27 with edge 28 directed into a pair of

slots

11 and 12, contoured or protruded in accordance with the manner already described. The tapered walls of the protrusion extending from the ends of the slot initially will wedge the blade 27 up to the point where the edge 28 contacts the flat front face 22a of the rail. A'close tolerance of fit is thereby provided, permitting the use of stock of sheet metal of various thicknesses within limits without the necessity of accurately relating the stock available to the dimensions of the slot in the protrusions.

A slight blow of the hammer at the point Where the protrusions envelope the blade will provide a binding fit, clamping the parts together temporarily with sufficient engagement frictionally to facilitate handling and to take up any play, causing rattling by reason of the hand contouring of the blade 27 to the arcuate position. With a pair of rails 10 thus assembled and sandwiching the blades therebetween in number as found desirable, final union may be effected at the joints.

It will be observed that the protruding portion of the edge 28 in the socket 23 of a rail exposes a short segment of a web angularly extending in the socket 23 with respect to the guide 25. In the assembled portion of the rail and blades, a simple metal working tool such as a chisel 29, preferably one which has its working edge 30 ground to about 90 cutting edge, is positioned to have the axis of the cutting edge arranged in parallelism to the axis -0 of the angle guide or chisel seat. In this position a blow of the hammer to the web shears it to split the web into oppositely folded

segments

31 and 32 to the limits of engaging the side walls of the socket portion 23 of the, rear face.

A quick shearing action of the chisel as its reache the chisel seat along the guide line 0-0 may cause the chisel to engage the wall of the socket 23 as the folded segments 31-32 are formed to press the rail into contact with the blade edge 28. Where the sheet metal of the blade 27 makes a close fit with the slot, further engagement is assured to take up any play tending to cause rattling movement. The completion of the union of the blade and the rails permits the assembly of the rails and blade into a duct D shown in Figure 6 by the usual procedure in the elbow E.

Setting a pair of rail and the proper number of blades in position may be effected without fear of dislodging or loosening the connection between the blades and the rails, no riveting, notching, brazing or spot-welding or any special tools being required to assure the production of a rattle-free assembly, the union at the joints being effected by the method described without distortion of the blades or special edge contouring of the protruding Web or folded sections on the rear face of the rail.

By the formation of a rail as described, providing a fiat abutting surface for the blade, either single blades may be employed or double blades may be employed without changing the rail or multiplying the protrusions to take care of the double sheets of a double-layered blade.

This is exemplified in Figure 7 wherein the rail 10 is shown with the protrusions 16 as initially described. In this embodiment, however, the blades 27a are extended to hold at the ends by a folded edge 27b the second layer 27c of greater curvature, to secure the known and desirable aerodynamic benefits in blades of this construction.

As will be observed from an inspection of Figure 11, the forward blade segment 27a enters the slot 11 of the protrusion to extend the edge 28a to the rear face thereof. The rearward plate 270 has its edge 23b in buttjoint contact with the face 22a of the rail.

Thus, by the construction described, no special preparation need be made of a rail 10 to adapt it for use with a single-layered blade or a double-layered blade in the ventilating and air circulating systems in which these devices are to be used.

In Figure 8 the rail if! supporting a plurality of blades 27 is shown in the elbow of a duct, the protrusions which hold the blades offering no obstructing influence to the circulation of air and the entire passage P between the blades being negligibly altered by the localized protrusions which form the edge joints for the blades.

While I have shown in the prior embodiments the employment of a protrusion having a slot outlined by the flattened offsets 25, outliningchisel guides and seats with the arrangement that the slot defining walls are angularly related to the chisel guide and seat at an acute angle, 1 may make the protrusion for a chisel seat as shown in Figures 9 and 10, employing however an indexing guide 25a extending angularly with relation to the axis Y-Y' of the slot for an acute angle, as previously described in the first embodiment, to wit, at an angle between 30 to 45 to each other. The indexing line 25a serves as a guide for the chisel edge 30 to effect the desirable shearing action, to fold the

segment

31 and 32 in effective locking relation to the rear surface of the protrusion.

While I have described the formation of the portrusions in the sequence of, first, stamping the sheets with the slot 11 before die-stamping to form the protrusions, in that the use of two-part dies with pressure pads, spreads the wall defining the slot 11 to the desirable funnel or tapering shape arrangement, useful in frictionally wedging the blade thereinto, it will be understood that the locking joint or slot formed in the protrusion may be eflfected by a sequence of operations involving first forming the protrusion and then forming the slots by a die or saw-cut. This latter procedure, however, is deemed to be less desirable in that there is a tendency to form a slot whose walls are uniformly spaced from each other and thereby to lose the benefits of the frictional wedging action and driving fit connection.

By the provision of a rail having the funnel shaped or wedge shaped slot extended across the protrusion, a rail having minimum air resistance is furnished, providing a preliminary union of the butt end of the blade when driven into the funnel shaped slot, thereby permitting sheet metal to be used for the blade within wide tolerances of its thickness. Further, by providing an angularly directed chisel guide and seat, effective shearing action of the locking joint may be secured without distortion characteristic of a peening hammer and the necessity for using special tools. A better gripping action is thereby secured, wedging the sheared web segments into forming engagement, stiffening the sheet metal at the point of engagement and minimizing wind rattling action which is experienced in cold joints.

Furthermore, by maintaining the rail preponderantly fiat, single or double sheeted blades may be employed, the rail serving effectively as a support for either form of blade which may be selected.

Accordingly, large economies in assembly as well as in the parts thereof are achieved.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A blade rail for the purposes described comprising sheeted metal formed with spaced apart, localized protrusions outlining an angular slot with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail, positioned to coincide with a predetermined arc, the walls of each of which slots taper from the base of the protrusion forwardly from the face of the sheet where by the forcing of a blade into the slots of the protrusions to effect a but-joint engagement to each side of the protrusions, a preliminary frictional union of the butt end of the blade is effected within the slots, and thereby permitting sheet metal to be used for the blade within wide tolerances of thickness, and minimizing wind rattling action when the projecting end of the blade is bent into engagement with the protrusion.

2. An elongated rail of flat stock sheet material having parallel longitudinal edges, said rail having a plurality of localized protrusions formed therein extending away from the face of said rail on one side thereof, said rail having a plurality of narrow spaced slots cut across said protrusions, said slots being arranged in at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows, which rows are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal edges of said rail, each of said rows being positioned close to a different one of said longitudinal edges, the slots in each row being parallel to each other and at an angle to the slots in the other row so that if lines were drawn through said slots, these lines would intersect at a point on said rail between said slots, the rail having preponderantly flat areas between the protrusions running along the longitudinal edges of the rail, thereby minimizing the obstructing influence to the circulation of air in the passage between blades which may be aflixed therein and being negligibly altered by the localized protrusions which form the edge joints for the blades, the flat surface between protrusions thereby permitting single or double sheeted blades to be engaged with the rail, without increasing the number of slotted protrusions where double sheeted blades are employed.

3. An elongated rail in accordance with claim 2, wherein said slots of said rail have a funnel-shaped contour, flaring from the base of the protrusion to the outer portions thereof, whereby a preliminary union of the butt end of the blades may be secured when driven into the funnel-shaped slots.

4. An air guide device comprising a plurality of curved guide blade members arranged in mutually spaced relationship to each other, said guide blade members being rectangular in shape, with smooth, straight top and bottom edges, a top rail having a plurality of downwardly extending projections formed therein and a bottom rail having a plurality of upwardly extending projections formed therein, each of said rails being of strip material having parallel longitudinal edges, said top rail and bottom rail having a plurality of spaced narrow elongated slots cut entirely across said projections, and said slots being funnel-shaped flaring from the base of the projections adjacent the faces of the rails outwardly, said projections and said guide blade members intersectcing within said slots so that portions of the top and bottom edges of said guide blade members project through said slots and are wedged into said slots, said guide blade members being secured to said rails by having the portion of said blades which project through said slots in a bentover projection, said narrow elongated slots being formed in laterally spaced longitudinal rows comprising a first row of slots posistioned close to one of said longitudinal edges, substantially parallel therewith, and a second row of slots positioned close to the other of said longitudinal edges, substantially parallel therewith, said first and second rows of slots being positioned substantially parallel to one another, the slots in each row being parallel to one another and at an angle to the slots in the other row so that if lines were drawn through said slots, these lines would intersect at a point laterally between said slots.

5. An air guide device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said projections are localized to provide preponderantly flat areas between projectcions longitudinally 6 of said rail, whereby single or double sheeted blades may be employed withoutincreasing the number of the slots and the air passage between the blades being negligibly altered by the localized protrusions which form the edge points for the blades.

6. An air guide device comprising a plurality of curved 7 guide blade members arranged in mutually spaced relationship to each other, said guide blade members being rectangular in shape, with smooth, straight top and bottom edges, a top rail having a plurality of downwardly extending projections formed therein and a bottom rail having a plurality of upwardly extending projections formed therein, each of said rails being of strip material having parallel longitudinal edges, said top rail and bottom rail having a plurality of spaced narrow elongated slots cut entirely across said projections, said projections and said guide blade members intersecting within said slot so that portions of the top and bottom edges of said guide blade members project through said slots and are wedged into said slots, said guide blade members being secured to said rails by having the portion of said blades which project through said slots in a bent-over projection, said narrow elongated slots being formed in laterally spaced longitudinal rows comprising a first row of slots positioned close to one of said longitudinal edges, substantially parallel therewith, and a second row of slots positioned close to the other of said longitudinal edges, substantially parallel therewith, said first and second rows of slots being posistioned substantially parallel to one another, the slots in each row being parallel to one another and at an angle to the slots in the other row so that if lines were drawn through said slots, these lines would intersect at a point laterally between said slots, said projections being localized to provide preponderantly flat areas between projections longitudinally of said rail, whereby single or double sheeted blades may be employed without increasing the number of the slots and the air passage between the blades being negligibly altered by the localized protrusions which form the edge points for the blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,276 Sloan Sept. 8, 1908 1,996,596 Smith Apr. 2, 1935 2,110,201 Cornell Mar. 8, 1938 2,216,046 Peck Sept. 24, 1940 2,264,897 Becker Dec. 2, 1941 2,292,246 Steifens Aug. 4, 1942 2,396,826 Callan Mar. 19, 1945 2,826,221 Speiser Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 481,927 Canada Mar. 25, 1952