Variable position low profile shutter valves

Abstract

A method of mixing air in an HVAC system includes the step of simultaneously and differentially rotating the valve plates different degrees of rotation to differentially control air flowing in the housing. An assembly for controlling air flow in an HVAC system includes a mechanism for simultaneously and differentially rotating valves different degrees of rotation. The mechanism includes a control device on each shaft of each valve including a pin extending axially from each valve plate. A slide defines a plurality of serpentine slots with one of the pins slidably disposed in each of the slots. The slots each follow a path incongruent from one another for differentially rotating the valve plates in response to the slide sliding along the guide and the pins moving along the paths of the slots.

1 . An assembly for controlling air flow in an HVAC system comprising;
 a housing defining a passage for conveying air,   a plurality of valves supported in said housing for rotation between open and closed positions to control air flowing in said housing,   said valves each including parallel valve plates each having a shaft,   a mechanism for simultaneously and differentially rotating said valves plates different degrees of rotation.   
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said mechanism includes a means for maintaining at least one of said valve plates stationary during rotation of remaining ones of said valve plates for a dwell period. 
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  including a control device on each of said valves. 
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said control device includes a pin extending axially from each of said valve plates in spaced and parallel relationship to the respective shaft. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said mechanism includes a slide defining a plurality of slots with one of said pins slidably disposed in each of said slots. 
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said mechanism includes a guide supported by said housing and slidably supporting said slide. 
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said slots of said slide each following a path incongruent from one another for rotating said valve plates different degrees of rotation in response to sliding of said slide. 
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said paths of said slots are serpentine. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said shaft of said valve is rotatably supported in said housing and fixed relative to said valve plates and said control device includes a lever arm extending radially from each of shafts of said valves and wherein said pin extends axially from said lever arm and said lever arms rotate different degrees of rotation. 
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said guide includes a U-shaped channel defining an open side and a plurality of brackets partially enclosing said open side of said channel for restricting movement of said slide in said guide to retain said slide in sliding engagement with said guide. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said slide has a plurality of teeth and further comprising a gear rotatably supported on said frame and including gear teeth engaging said teeth of said slide for moving said slide rectilinearly along said guide. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said valves include cool air valves and warm air valves. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a frame extending between a first end and a second end transversely to said passage wherein said guide extends from said first end of said frame to said second end of said frame and wherein said frame has a first half defining said first end and a second half defining said second end and wherein said cool air valves are supported on said first half of said frame and said warm air valves are supported on said second half of said frame. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said frame has a first half defining said first end and a second half defining said second end and wherein said cool air valves are supported on said first half of said frame and said warm air valves are supported on said second half of said frame. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly for controlling air flow in an HVAC system comprising;
 a housing defining a passage for conveying air,   a blower disposed in said housing for blowing the air through said passage of said housing,   an evaporator disposed in said housing for cooling the air flowing in said passage,   a heater disposed in said housing for heating a portion of the air flowing in said passage,   a frame having a first half defining a first end and a second half defining a second end and extending transversely to said passage between said first end and said second end in said housing,   a plurality of cool air valves rotatably supported on said first half of said frame for rotation between open and closed positions to control cooled air exiting said evaporator,   said cool air valves including parallel valve plates each having a shaft fixed relative to said valve plate,   a plurality of warm air valves rotatably supported on said second half of said frame for rotation between open and closed positions to control heated air exiting said heater,   said warm air valves including parallel valve plates each having a shaft fixed relative to said valve plate,   a control device disposed on each of said shafts and extending through said frame,   said control device including a lever arm extending radially from each of said shafts of said valves,   said control device including a pin extending axially from said lever arm in spaced and parallel relationship to the respective shaft supporting said lever arm,   a mechanism for simultaneously and differentially rotating said valve plates different degrees of rotation,   a means for maintaining at least one of said valve plates stationary during rotation of remaining ones of said valve plates for a dwell period,   said mechanism including a slide defining a plurality of serpentine slots with one of said pins of said control device slidably disposed in each of said slots for rectilinearly movement adjacent said valve plates,   said mechanism including a guide extending from said first end of said frame to said second end of said frame and slidably supporting said slide,   said guide being a U-shaped channel defining an open side and extending between said ends of said frame and including a plurality of brackets partially enclosing said open side of said channel for restricting movement of said slide in said guide to retain said slide in engagement with said guide,   said slide having a plurality of teeth,   a gear rotatably supported on said frame and including gear teeth engaging said teeth of said slide for moving said slide rectilinearly along said guide between said ends of said frame, and   said slots of said slide each following a path incongruent from one another for rotating said lever arms different degrees of rotation thereby differentially rotating said valve plates in response to rotation of said gear.   
   
   
       16 . An assembly for controlling air flow in an HVAC system comprising;
 a housing defining a passage for conveying air,   a plurality of parallel valves rotatably supported in said housing for rotation between open and closed positions to control air flowing in said housing,   a control device disposed on each of said valves,   a slide defining a plurality of slots with one of said control devices slidably disposed in each of said slots, and   a guide supported by said housing and slidably supporting said slide.   
   
   
       17 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said control device includes a pin extending axially from each of said valves. 
   
   
       18 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said slots of said slide each following a path incongruent from one another for rotating said shafts of said valves different degrees of rotation thereby differentially rotating said valves in response to rotation of said gear. 
   
   
       19 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said slots are serpentine. 
   
   
       20 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said valves include parallel valve plates each having a shaft fixed relative to said valve plate, and said pin extends axially from each of said valve plates in spaced and parallel relationship to the respective one of said shafts and wherein said control device includes a lever arm extending radially from each of said shafts of said valves and wherein said pin extends axially from said lever arm and said lever arms rotate different degrees of rotation. 
   
   
       21 . An assembly for as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising a frame extending between a first end and a second end transversely to said passage wherein said guide extends from said first end of said frame to said second end of said frame. 
   
   
       22 . An assembly for as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said slide has a plurality of teeth and further comprising a gear including gear teeth engaging said teeth of said slide for moving said slide rectilinearly along said guide between said ends of said frame with rotation of said gear. 
   
   
       23 . A method of mixing air in an HVAC system of the type including a housing defining a passage for conveying air, a plurality of parallel valves plates supported in the housing for rotation between open and closed positions, and
 simultaneously and differentially rotating the valve plates different degrees of rotation to differentially control air flowing in the housing.   
   
   
       24 . A method as set forth in  claim 23  including the step of moving a slide rectilinearly adjacent the valve plates. 
   
   
       25 . A method as set forth in  claim 24  including converting rectilinearly movement of the guide to a different degree of rotation of each respective valve plate.