Damper assembly

Abstract

A damper assembly includes a housing positionable between refrigerator compartments operable at different temperatures. A damper door is coupled to the housing and is movable between a first position configured to restrict airflow between the refrigerator compartments and a second position configured to allow airflow between the refrigerator compartments. An actuation device is operatively coupled to said damper door. The actuation device is configured to move the damper door between the first position and the second position during an energizing cycle, and the actuation device is configured to be energized intermittently during the energizing cycle.

1 . A damper assembly comprising: 
 a housing positionable between refrigerator compartments operable at different temperatures;    a damper door coupled to said housing, said damper door movable between a first position configured to restrict airflow between the refrigerator compartments and a second position configured to allow airflow between the refrigerator compartments; and    an actuation device operatively coupled to said damper door, said actuation device configured to move said damper door between said first position and said second position during an energizing cycle, said actuation device configured to be energized intermittently during the energizing cycle.    
   
   
       2 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said actuation device comprises a solenoid comprising a plunger operatively coupled to said damper door.  
   
   
       3 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said actuation device comprises a dual coil solenoid comprising a plunger operatively coupled to said damper door wherein a first coil is energized to move said damper door in said first direction and a second coil is energized to move said damper door in said second direction.  
   
   
       4 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , said actuation device configured to receive a voltage during the energizing cycle, wherein the voltage is pulsed during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       5 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the voltage is pulsed for an increasing duration during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       6 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the voltage is incrementally increased for each pulse during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       7 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , said actuation device configured to receive a pulse width modulated signal.  
   
   
       8 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the pulse width is increased with each pulse during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       9 . A damper assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said damper door is decelerated as said damper door moves from said first position toward said second position and said damper door is decelerated as said damper door moves from said second position toward said first position.  
   
   
       10 . A control system for a damper assembly having a damper door movable between a first position and a second position, said control system comprising: 
 an actuation device operatively coupled to the damper door and configured to move the damper door between the first position and the second position during an energizing cycle; and    a controller configured to supply energy from an energy source during the energizing cycle, wherein the energy is supplied intermittently during the energizing cycle.    
   
   
       11 . A control system in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said actuation device comprises a solenoid comprising a plunger operatively coupled to the damper door.  
   
   
       12 . A control system in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the energy supplied is pulsed to said actuation device and the duration of each successive pulse is increased during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       13 . A control system in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the energy supplied is pulsed to said actuation device and the voltage of each successive pulse is increased during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       14 . A control system in accordance with  claim 10 , said controller is configured to supply a pulse width modulated signal from the energy source.  
   
   
       15 . A control system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the pulse width is increased with each pulse during the energizing cycle.  
   
   
       16 . A method of operating a damper assembly having a controller, a damper door, and an actuation device operatively coupled to the damper door and configured to move the damper door between a first position and a second position during an energizing cycle, said method comprising: 
 supplying energy from an energy source to the actuation device during the energizing cycle; and    controlling the supply of energy from the energy source to the actuation device by intermittently energizing the actuation device during the energizing cycle.    
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said controlling the supply of energy comprises pulsing energy from the energy source to the actuation device.  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said controlling the supply of energy comprises pulsing energy from the energy source to the actuation device, wherein a duration of each successive pulse is incrementally increased.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said controlling the supply of energy comprises transmitting a pulse width modulated signal from a controller to the energy source.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said controlling the supply of energy comprises transmitting a pulse width modulated signal from a controller to the energy source, wherein the pulse width of each successive signal is incrementally increased.