FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2006
COMPLETE
Specification
(See Section 10; Rule 13)
MINI AEROFOIL DAMPER FOR RISER AND HEPA
BOX
MAAP ENGINEERING PVT. LTD.
an Indian Company
of Survey No. 111, H. No. 1/1, Gala No.67/68/69,
Choudhari Compound, Wakanpada,
Nalasopara (E), Thane - 401 208,
Maharashtra, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air handling system.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a damper for controlling air flow through an air handling system such as an air heating, air conditioning, air filtering, ventilating or riser system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air handling systems for heating, conditioning, ventilating or filtering generally comprise a large casing containing a blower, a heating/cooling element and/or a filtering element, sound attenuators and dampers, A ventilation or distribution network distributes the air from the air handling system into a room. The dampers regulate the flow of air inside the air handling system, and can be used to stop the flow into a region or regulate the flow to control the room temperature. Also, a damper can be used to restrict air flowing through the distribution network until the air handling system determines that the conditioned air needs to be provided to the room.
Where, in large structures such as office buildings, the building can be divided into a series of zones so that the conditioned air is only provided to a specific zone as needed. For example, each zone can include its own series of the distribution networks, and a damper can be positioned at a source of each series of the distribution network to open and close as necessary to deliver conditioned air to one or more of the distribution network. In this manner, separate zones can be conditioned separately as desired.
The dampers may comprise single or multiple blades, vanes or louvers. The damper blades maybe rectangular, circular or any other shape as suited. There are typically three types of dampers, viz., manual dampers in which the damper blades are manually opened or closed to control the airflow; remotely actuated dampers where actuators are used to open or close the damper blades; and gravity actuated

dampers where the damper blades are opened by the pressure of air passing through it and closed by the force of gravity acting on its vanes.
Traditionally, pivoting or sliding damper blades have been provided to constrict the air passage. With such dampers, metal-to-metal contact permits leakage and inefficiency. Leakage includes air flow around the damper blades which can cause volumetric or temperature related problems. This leakage may also cause undesirable whistling and vibration. In certain applications there can be a significant temperature differential which can cause loss of heating or cooling energy across the damper. The damper blades therefore may require seals to optimize the system efficiency.
US Patent Application No. 20140008561 discloses a damper having a first blade and a second blade pivoted on a frame, each blade includes a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material, and a first seal and a second seal disposed to engage first blade end portion and second blade end portion such that a dead air space is created between the first seal and the second seal in a damper closed position, and a first thermal gap and a second thermal gap is defined within the dead airspace.
US Patent Application No. 20110028080 discloses a back draft damper including a rectangular shell having a central opening through which the air can pass, and a plurality of vanes mounted rotatably in the shell, where the vanes are rotatable about axes which are slightly off set from vertical at a predetermined angle.
US Patent No. 7089958 discloses a damper unit for an air circulation system including a frame defining an air flow opening, first and second damper vanes for opening and closing the air flow opening, and at least one drive mechanism for turning the damper vanes between open and closed positions, where the drive mechanism includes a microcontroller that sequences the opening and closing of

the damper vanes such that the first and the second damper vanes are not simultaneously moved between the open and closed positions.
The dampers of prior art are expensive to build and difficult to maintain. There is therefore felt need for a damper for use in air handling systems, particularly a mini aerofoil damper for Riser and HEPA box, which gives accurate adjustment of air flow without cross-flow or leakage, which has a simple construction, is economical and easy to manufacture. Furthermore, there is need for a damper which attenuates noise or vibrations under high flow conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a damper for controlling air flow rate through an air handling system, particularly a mini aerofoil damper for Riser and HEPA box, which gives accurate adjustment of air flow without cross-flow or leakage, which has a simple construction, is economical and easy to manufacture, use and maintain. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a damper for use in air handling systems which attenuates noise or vibrations under high flow conditions.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing a mini aerofoil damper for Riser and HEPA box, said damper comprising:
a frame defining an air flow passage, said frame having a first inner surface and a second inner surface;
a plurality of vanes pivotally engaged with said frame between said first inner surface and said second inner surface for defining a damper open position and a damper closed position, said plurality of vanes having a first end portion and a second end portion;

a separator for sealing said air flow passage in said damper closed position, said separator being attached to at least one surface selected from at least a portion of said first inner surface for receiving said first end portion of said plurality of vanes and at least a portion of said second inner surface for receiving said second end portion of said plurality of vanes; and
a drive mechanism operatively connected to said plurality of vanes for rotating said plurality of vanes between said damper open position and said damper closed position.
Advantageously, said frame and said plurality of vanes are made of aluminum. Preferably, said separator is a polymer plate. More preferably, said polymer is nylon.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, said drive mechanism is accessible to be manually actuated by means of a knob.
Additionally, said drive mechanism is adapted for simultaneously uniformly rotating said plurality of vanes between said damper open position and said damper closed position. Typically, each of said plurality of vanes rotates in one direction.
Alternatively, said plurality of vanes comprise one or more pair of vanes, and each vane in said pair rotates in opposite direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with the help of the following drawings, in which,
FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic of a preferred embodiment of the mini aerofoil damper in open position;
FIGURE 2 illustrates a schematic of the preferred embodiment of the mini aerofoil damper in closed position;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a schematic of another preferred embodiment of the mini aerofoil damper in closed position; and
FIGURE 4 illustrates an air handling system containing the mini aerofoil damper of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting examples in the following description. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of the ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The description herein after, of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The present invention envisages a damper for controlling air flow through an air handling system. The air handling system may be an air heating, air conditioning, air filtering or ventilating system. Preferably, the damper of the present invention is a mini aerofoil damper suitable for use in a return air riser, puff partition riser, terminal

HEPA (high-efficiency partition air) filter box, bleed air unit, or any other type of air handling unit. The damper in accordance with the present invention is light-weight, compact and corrosion resistant. The damper provides accurate adjustment of air flow without cross-flow or leakage, has a simple construction, is economical, easy to manufacture, use and maintain, and helps at attenuating noise and vibrations during high flow conditions.
FIGURES 1 & 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the mini aerofoil damper of the present invention; the damper is generally referenced in the FIGS. 1 & 2 by the numeral 100. Fig. 1 shows the damper 100 in an open position and Fig. 2 shows the damper 100 in a closed position. The damper 100 comprises a frame 102 for defining an air flow passage. The frame 102 is made from a light-weight material, preferably aluminum. A plurality of vanes 106 are positioned within the frame 102. The plurality of vanes 106 are made of a light-weight material, preferably aluminum. The movement of the plurality of vanes 106 is controlled by a drive mechanism 108.
The frame 102 defines a first inner surface 110 and a second inner surface 112. The plurality of vanes 106 are pivotally engaged with the frame 102 between the first inner surface 110 and the second inner surface 112. The plurality of vanes 106 are aluminum plates, preferably rectangular, having a first end portion and a second end portion. The plurality of vanes 106 can be rotated between a damper open position (shown in Fig. 1) and a damper closed position (shown in Fig. 2). The plurality of vanes 106 may rotate in a single direction. Alternatively, the plurality of vanes 106 may comprise one or more pair of vanes, in which each vane rotates simultaneously in the opposite direction, between the damper open position and the damper closed position.
A separator 104 is attached to at least a portion of the first inner surface 110 and/or at least a portion of the second inner surface 112. The separator 104 is adapted to receive the first end portion and the second end portion of the plurality of vanes 106,

so as to seal the air flow passage in the damper closed position. The separator 104 is preferably a polymer plate. Nylon is a preferred material for the separator 104. The drive mechanism 108 is operatively connected to the plurality of vanes 106 for rotating the vanes 106 between the damper open position and the damper closed position. The damper is accessible to be manually actuated with the drive mechanism 108 by means of a knob. The knob is made from a polymer, such as nylon. The drive mechanism 108 helps at simultaneously uniformly rotating the plurality of vanes 106 between the damper open position and the damper closed position, where the first end portion and the second end portion of the plurality of vanes 106 snugly fits with the separator 104 on the first inner surface 110 and the second inner surface 112 of the frame 102 to prevent leakage and vibrations during high airflows, thereby eliminating leakage and attenuating sound/noise. The damper is light-weight, compact and corrosion-resistant.
Another preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in the FIGURE 3; the damper being generally referenced by numeral 200 in the FIGURE 3. The damper 200 comprising a frame 202, a separator 204, plurality of vanes 206 are pivotally engaged with the frame 202 between the inner surfaces 210, and a drive mechanism 208 for movement of the plurality of vanes 106.
FIGURE 4 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an air handling unit (HEPA box) containing the mini aerofoil damper of the present disclosure; the unit being generally referenced by numeral 300 in the FIGURE 4.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF THE INVENTION
A mini aerofoil damper for controlling air flow rate through Riser and HEPA box, as disclosed here above, has economic significance and several technical advancements including, but not limited to, the realization of: the mini aerofoil damper provides accurate adjustment of air flow without cross-flow or leakage, has a simple construction, is economical, easy to manufacture, use and maintain, and attenuates noise or vibrations under high flow conditions.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the invention to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the invention, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
Embodiment of the present invention is applicable over a wide number of uses and other embodiments may be developed beyond the embodiment discussed heretofore. Only the most preferred embodiments and their uses have been described herein for purpose of example, illustrating the advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention; the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments or their specified uses. Thus, the forms of the invention described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should also be

understood that additional changes and modifications, within the scope of the invention, will be apparent to one skilled in the art and that various modifications to the construction described herein may fall within the scope of the invention.

We Claim:
1. A mini aerofoil damper (100) for controlling air flow through a Riser and HEPA
box, said damper (100) comprising:
a frame (102) defining an air flow passage, said frame (102) having a first inner surface (110) and a second inner surface (112);
a plurality of vanes (106) pivotally engaged with said frame (102) between said first inner surface (110) and said second inner surface (112) for defining a damper open position and a damper closed position, said plurality of vanes (106) having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a separator (104) for sealing said air flow passage in said damper closed position, said separator (104) being attached to at least one surface selected from at least a portion of said first inner surface (110) for receiving said first end portion of said plurality of vanes (106) and at least a portion of said second inner surface (112) for receiving said second end portion of said plurality of vanes (106); and
a drive mechanism (108) operatively connected to said plurality of vanes (106) for rotating said plurality of vanes (106) between said damper open position and said damper closed position.
2. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (102) and said plurality of vanes (106) are made of aluminum.
3. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separator (104) is a polymer plate.
4. The damper as claimed in claim 3, wherein said polymer is nylon.
5. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism (108) is accessible.
6. The damper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said drive mechanism (108) is manually actuated by means of a knob.

7. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism (108) is adapted for simultaneously uniformly rotating said plurality of vanes (106) between said damper open position and said damper closed position.
8. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of vanes (106) rotates in one direction.
9. The damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of vanes (106) comprise one or more pair of vanes, and each vane in said pair rotates in opposite direction.