Mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator

Abstract

A mechanically automatically operated volumetric flow regulator for interior ventilation systems through which a medium flows has a housing that comprises a wall and forms part of a flow conduit. A flap valve is mounted in the interior of the housing on a shaft arranged transversely to the flow direction. The flap valve is swingable against between open and closed positions. In order to describe a volumetric flow regulator in which the flap valve position is identifiable even from outside the housing without disassembly, an indicating element, indirectly or directly connected to the flap valve and/or to the shaft and likewise moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve, is to be provided inside and/or outside the housing, said element being arranged, for visual monitoring of the position of the flap valve, in a manner freely visible from outside the housing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator, in particular for interior ventilation systems through which a medium flows, having a housing ( 1 ) that comprises a wall and forms part of a flow conduit, having a flap valve ( 5 ) mounted in the interior of the housing ( 1 ) pivotably on a shaft ( 4 ) arranged transversely to the flow direction ( 3 ), such that under the influence of the medium flowing against the flap valve ( 5 ), the flap valve ( 5 ) is swingable against a return force out of an open position into a closed position, and upon a decrease in the volumetric flow of the flowing medium pivots back into the open position as a result of the return force,
 wherein an indicating element ( 8 ), indirectly or directly connected to the flap valve ( 5 ) and/or to the shaft ( 4 ) and likewise moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), is provided inside and/or outside the housing ( 1 ), said element being arranged, for visual monitoring of the position of the flap valve ( 5 ), in a manner freely visible from outside the housing ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ) is embodied as an indicating element ( 8 ). 
     
     
         3 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is embodied as a separate component. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is fastened at an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is arranged inside the housing ( 1 ); and the housing ( 1 ), at least in the region of the indicating element ( 8 ) moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), is made of a transparent material or comprises an opening, in particular closed off with a viewing window ( 12 ). 
     
     
         6 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one opening ( 6 ) as a mount for an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ). 
     
     
         7 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 6 , wherein the end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ) projects externally out of the opening ( 6 ). 
     
     
         8 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a device for generating the return force, in particular the entire device for generating the return force, is arranged on the outer side of the housing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of a securing device for securing the device for generating the return force, in particular the entire securing device for securing the device for generating the return force, is arranged on the outer side of the housing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 8 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises an external cover ( 9 ) that covers, externally in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the shaft ( 4 ), at least a sub-region of that portion of the securing device which is arranged outside the housing ( 1 ), and/or that covers, externally in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the shaft ( 4 ), at least a sub-region of that portion of the device for generating the return force which is arranged outside the housing ( 1 ), and/or that covers, externally in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the shaft ( 4 ), at least a sub-region of that portion of the indicating element ( 8 ) which is arranged outside the housing ( 1 ), such that the cover ( 9 ), at least in the region of the indicating element ( 8 ) likewise moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), either is made of a transparent material or comprises an opening, in particular closed off with a viewing window ( 12 ), or the indicating element ( 8 ) is located outside the cover ( 9 ). 
     
     
         11 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover ( 9 ) is made of a panel. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover ( 9 ) comprises a preferably peripheral shoulder ( 19 ) bent over in the direction of the housing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is embodied as a separate component. 
     
     
         14 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is arranged inside the housing ( 1 ); and the housing ( 1 ), at least in the region of the indicating element ( 8 ) moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), is made of a transparent material or comprises an opening, in particular closed off with a viewing window ( 12 ). 
     
     
         15 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is arranged inside the housing ( 1 ); and the housing ( 1 ), at least in the region of the indicating element ( 8 ) moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), is made of a transparent material or comprises an opening, in particular closed off with a viewing window ( 12 ). 
     
     
         16 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 4 , wherein the indicating element ( 8 ) is arranged inside the housing ( 1 ); and the housing ( 1 ), at least in the region of the indicating element ( 8 ) moving in accordance with the movement of the flap valve ( 5 ), is made of a transparent material or comprises an opening, in particular closed off with a viewing window ( 12 ). 
     
     
         17 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one opening ( 6 ) as a mount for an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ). 
     
     
         18 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 3 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one opening ( 6 ) as a mount for an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ). 
     
     
         19 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one opening ( 6 ) as a mount for an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ). 
     
     
         20 . The mechanically automatically operating volumetric flow regulator according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one opening ( 6 ) as a mount for an end ( 7 ) of the shaft ( 4 ).