Port-installed damper

Abstract

A port-installed damper for trimming a flow of a substance through a pipe, the pipe having a port formed therein, that includes a fitting that attaches to the pipe about the port, a port assembly that attaches to the fitting and includes an actuator, and means for trimming the flow of a substance through the pipe. The actuator may be connected to the means for trimming by one or more connectors. The port may have a predetermined size such that, during installation of the port-installed damper, the means for trimming may pass through the port. In some embodiments, the port may not extend beyond half of the circumference of the pipe.

1 . A port-installed damper for trimming a flow of a substance through a pipe, the pipe having a port formed therein, comprising:
 a fitting that attaches to the pipe about the port;   a port assembly that attaches to the fitting and includes an actuator; and   means for trimming the flow of a substance through the pipe;   wherein the actuator is connected to the means for trimming by one or more connectors, and the port comprises a predetermined size such that, during installation of the port-installed damper, the means for trimming may pass through the port.   
   
   
       2 . The port-installed damper of  claim 1 , wherein the port does not extend beyond half of the circumference of the pipe. 
   
   
       3 . The port-installed damper of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator adjusts the means for trimming via the one or more connectors to control the flow of the substance through the pipe. 
   
   
       4 . The damper of  claim 3 , wherein the means for trimming comprises a pair of butterfly damper blades and the one or more connectors comprises two stems that connect each butterfly damper blade to the actuator; and
 the stems, upon assembly, travel from the actuator to the butterfly damper blades through the port and an opening in the fitting.   
   
   
       5 . The port-installed damper of  claim 4 , wherein the opening in the fitting comprises a predetermined size such that, during installation of the port-installed damper, the butterfly damper blades may pass through the opening in the fitting. 
   
   
       6 . The damper of  claim 4 , wherein the butterfly damper blades comprise an open setting, wherein a majority of the cross-sectional area of the pipe may be open to flow, a closed setting, wherein a majority of the cross-sectional area of the pipe may be closed to flow, and one or more intermediary settings between the open setting and the closed setting. 
   
   
       7 . The port-installed damper of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the opening is just greater than the distance between an outer edge of each of the stems when the stems are preassembled into a unit that comprises the butterfly damper blades, the stems, the port assembly, and the actuator; and
 a length of the opening is just greater than the width of one of the butterfly damper blades.   
   
   
       8 . The port-installed damper of  claim 7 , wherein the port comprises approximately the same size as the opening in the fitting. 
   
   
       9 . The port-installed damper of  claim 7 , wherein the fitting includes a port insert that surrounds the opening in the fitting and inserts into the port. 
   
   
       10 . The port-installed damper of  claim 9 , wherein the port comprises a size such that the port fits snugly about the port insert. 
   
   
       11 . The port-installed damper of  claim 9 , wherein an end of the port insert is curved so that it matches a curvature of the pipe. 
   
   
       12 . The port-installed damper of  claim 1 , wherein the fitting includes a first flange and the port assembly includes a second flange such that a bolt attaches the port assembly to the fitting by bolting the second flange to the first flange. 
   
   
       13 . The port-installed damper of  claim 12 , wherein the butterfly damper blades, the stems, the port assembly, and the actuator are preassembled into a preassembled unit such that, when the first flange is attached to the pipe and the second flange of the preassembled unit is attached to the first flange, the damper blades are positioned within the pipe in a desired location. 
   
   
       14 . The port-installed damper of  claim 4 , wherein the port assembly comprises a shape such that when the port assembly is attached to the fitting, the opening in the fitting is substantially filled and closed by a section of the port assembly that inserts into the opening such that the inner surface of the pipe remains substantially smooth. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for trimming the flow of a substance through a pipe, the pipe having a port formed therein, the apparatus comprising:
 a port assembly;   one or more damper blades supported by the port assembly and operable between at least two positions; and   a flange portion of the port assembly connectable with the pipe to seal the port and support the damper blade in the pipe to permit flow of the substance at a first rate when the damper blade is in a first position and permit flow of the substance at a second rate when the damper is in a second position.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the port comprises a predetermined size such that, during installation of the apparatus, the one or more damper blades may pass through the port. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the port does not extend beyond half of the circumference of the pipe. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more damper blades comprise two butterfly damper blades that are each supported by the port assembly by a stem. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a width of the port is just greater than the distance between an outer edge of each of the stems when the stems are preassembled into a unit that comprises the butterfly damper blades, the stems, and the port assembly; and
 a length of the opening is just greater than the width of one of the butterfly damper blades.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a fitting that attaches to the pipe about the port;
 wherein the fitting includes a first flange and the port assembly includes a second flange such that a bolt attaches the port assembly to the fitting by bolting the second flange to the first flange.