HVAC Damper Connector

Abstract

In some embodiments, a connector includes a housing, a handle comprising a graspable portion extending from the housing that can be grasped and manipulated to by a user, and a clamping portion disposed within the housing that is configured to move when the graspable portion is manipulated, and a support disposed within the housing, the support having a first surface, wherein the clamping portion of the handle and the first surface of the clamp are configured to attach a damper assembly jackshaft to an actuator assembly quickly and without the use of tools. A damper assembly using a connector and a method of attaching an actuator assembly to a damper jackshaft are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector comprising:
 a housing;   a handle comprising:
 a graspable portion extending from the housing that can be grasped and manipulated by a user, and 
 a clamping portion disposed within the housing that is configured to move when the graspable portion is manipulated; and 
   a support disposed within the housing, the support having a first surface,   wherein the clamping portion of the handle and the first surface of the clamp are configured to attach a damper assembly jackshaft to an actuator assembly quickly and without the use of tools.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front face and a rear face, a central hole through the front face and rear face, the rear face having attachment sites that attach the connector to the actuator, the clamping portion of the handle comprising a cam head with a curved surface. 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is pivotable with respect to the housing and the support is rotatable with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam head comprises a pin and the housing comprises a slot, the pin configured to slidably mate with the slot as the handle is pivoted with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam head occludes differing portions of the central hole as the handle is pivoted with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cam head and the support are configured to concentrically clamp onto the damper assembly jackshaft. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cam head has a slot extending through a portion of the cam head. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the support has a second surface with a profile different from the first surface. 
     
     
         9 . A damper assembly comprising:
 one or more damper blades;   a damper assembly jackshaft attached to the one or more damper blades;   a damper actuator operable to control a position of the one or more damper blades by rotation of the jackshaft; and   a connector connecting the jackshaft to the actuator, the connector comprising:
 a housing, 
 a handle comprising:
 a graspable portion extending from the housing that can be grasped and manipulated to by a user, and 
 a clamping portion disposed within the housing that is configured to move when the graspable portion is manipulated, and 
 
 a support disposed within the housing, the support having a first surface, 
 wherein the clamping portion of the handle and the first surface of the support are configured to attach the damper assembly jackshaft to damper actuator quickly and without the use of tools. 
   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a front face and a rear face, the front face laterally spaced from the rear face, and a central hole through the front face and rear face, the rear face having attachment sites that attach the connector to the actuator, and the clamping portion of the handle has a cam head with a curved surface at least partially disposed within the housing and a portion extending outside the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the clamping portion and the support are configured such that the curved surface of the cam head and the first surface of the support occlude portions of the central hole to concentrically attach the actuator to the jackshaft. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is pivotable with respect to the housing to occlude portions of the central hole. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cam head comprises a pin and the housing comprises a slot, the pin configured to slidably mate with the slot as the handle is pivoted with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cam head occupies differing portions of the central hole as the handle is pivoted with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the support has a second surface with a profile different from the first surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of attaching an actuator assembly to a damper jackshaft, comprising:
 mounting the actuator assembly to a connector, the connector comprising a housing with a central hole and a rotatable extension;   sliding the jackshaft through the hole in the connector housing; and   rotating the rotatable extension to tighten the connector around the jackshaft without the use of tools.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising attaching a fixation device to the connector to prevent relative motion between the actuator and the jackshaft. 
     
     
         18 . A damper assembly comprising:
 one or more damper blades;   a damper assembly jackshaft attached to the one or more damper blades;   a damper actuator operable to control a position of the one or more damper blades by rotation of the jackshaft; and   a connector connecting the jackshaft to the actuator, the connector comprising:
 an attachment body; 
 a first arm and a second arm pivotably attached to the attachment body; 
 a rod attached to the first and the second arms; 
 a graspable portion attached to the rod that can be grasped and manipulated by a user; and 
 clamping grips configured to move when the graspable portion is manipulated, 
 wherein the clamping grips are configured to attach a damper assembly jackshaft to an actuator assembly quickly and without the use of tools. 
   
     
     
         19 . The damper assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the rod is pivotable with respect to the arms. 
     
     
         20 . The damper assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the clamping grips are configured to concentrically clamp onto the damper assembly jackshaft. 
     
     
         21 . The damper assembly of  claim 18 , comprising a fixation element that prevents relative rotation of the connector with respect to the actuator. 
     
     
         22 . The damper assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the fixation element is a projection that is on an outer surface of a rear plate attached to the attachment body.