Grille

W. W. KENNEDY

GRILLE

Jan. 20, 1953

Filed Aug. 5, 1950

2,625,873

SHEETS—SHEET 1

<img file="US2625873A_D0001.tif" />

Jan. 20, 1953 w. w. Kennedy 2,625,873

GRILLE

Filed Aug. 5, 1950 2 SHEETS—SHEET 2

<img file="US2625873A_D0002.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

Patented Jan. 20, 1953

2,625,873

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,625,873

GRILLE

Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois

Application August 5,1950, Serial No. 177,934

Claims.

The invention pertains to grilles of the type used in air conditioning systems for controlling the flow Of air discharged from heating or cooling ducts, and has more especial reference to having air directing vanes adjustable to vary the direction of discharge of the air.

More specifically stated, the invention has for its primary object the provision of a grille composed of two relatively perpendicular sets of vanes advantageously arranged in interfitting relation so that both sets of vanes are capable of adjustment on their longitudinal axes for the purpose of controlling the direction and discharge of the air in two relatively perpendicular directions usually vertically and horizontally.

Another object is to construct the vanes of one set in two parts relatively shiftable longitudinally of each other to change the angular position of the vanes of the other set.

A further object is to construct the two part Vanes in a novel manner such as to provide frictional holding of the vane adjustment and minimize Obstruction to the flow of air through the grille.

The invention also resides in the novel Construction of the vane parts which enables the same to be produced from Sheet Metal and assembled easily.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grille embodying my invention and representing a preferred embodiment in which both sets of vanes are adjustable.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse Sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 2—2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken approximately in the plane of line 3—3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of construction and the manner in which the parts are assembled.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional Views taken along the line 5—5 of Fig. 7 and partially broken away.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary views Similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing a modified form of the invention, Fig. 7 being a section taken along the line 7-—7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 9—9 of Fig. 6.

The double adjustable grille constituting the (Cl. 98—40) embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings comprises in general two relatively perpendicular sets of vanes ! (3 and ί 1, the vanes 10 being in the present instance horizontally disposed ³ and the vanes tl arranged vertically. The ends of the vanes of both sets are mounted within a frame 12 preferably of U-shaped cross section so as to form an inwardly opening channel 13. The grille herein shown by way of illustration is ^{! u} rectangular in form but it will be understood that it may be of any preferred shape. In accordance with common practice, the frame in the present instance is made from an elongated channel bar notched so as to be capable of being bent in rec¹⁵ tangular form and the ends welded together in a mitered joint 12^a.

The two sets of vanes 19 and I 1 are associated in interfitting relation and in a manner such as to permit Of individual turning movement of each Vane on its longitudinal axis. At the same time, the interfitting relationship is such that the vanes Of each set are maintained in spaced parallel relation by coaction with the vanes of the other set. This is accomplished in general 25 through th® provision of Mined holes 14 in one set Of Vane'S, wherein the horizontal Vanes 10 through which the other set of vanes i I are inserted, the latter set of vanes being provided with Spaced notches 15 and 16 respectively adapt30 ed to receive lands ί 7 at the edges of the vanes on opposite sides of the holes. The vertical vanes are capable of turning in the alined holes 14 so as to permit of individual adjustment about the centers of the alined holes.

To enable the horizontal vanes ! 0 to be turned and adjusted about their longitudinal center lines, the opposite edges of the vertical vanes are notched and shaped to permit such adjustment and one or more of these vanes is made in two 40 sections or parts t8 and 19 slidable endwise to effect the adjustment. Notches 15 and 16 are thus formed in the respective parts and spaced along the latter to receive the lands 17 of the vanes 10.

In the present instance, the vanes 10 are made from thin flat Strips of metal, preferably soft steel about .020 of an inch thick, to form narrow fins of a length substantially corresponding to the horizontal dimension of the frame 12, the 50 opposite ends of the strips being received within the vertical Channel 13 at opposite sides of the frame as Shown clearly in Fig. 3. The end portions slidably engage with the walls of the channel so as to permit of rotative adjustment of the 55 fins about their longitudinal horizontal axes.

2,625,873

The vanes 11 on the other hand are preferably constructed to provide the two relatively slidable sections or members 18 and 19 interfitting in partially telescoping relation and respectively providing edge portions 20 and 21 carrying the notches ί 5 and ί 6. The section ί 8 is made from a flat sheet of metal of heavier gauge than the fins 10 and folded upon itself to form a bar having a rib constituting the edge portion 20 and a channel 22 for receiving one edge portion of the section 19. The latter is in the form of a flat bar and the depth of the channel 22 is dimensioned to receive the bar with a sliding fit, with the edge portion 21 in which the notches 16 are formed projecting beyond the channel. The walls of the channel22 preferably converge slightly toward the open end of the channel so as to reduce the area of contact of the channel section with the bar section in assembling these parts and in the adjustment thereof after assembly.

The holes 14 in the vanes 10 are specially formed to permit of the assembly of the vertical vanes II with the horizontal vanes. Thus each hole comprises a main or circular portion 23 located substantially centrally of the vane and a longitudinal slot 24 opening at one side of the portion 23 of the hole, thereby forming in effect an aperture of keyhole shape. In assembling the parts, the vanes 10 are suitably supported in a jig or fixture with the vanes in spaced parallel relation and the holes 14 in alinement. Thereupon the channel sections 18 of the vertical vanes are inserted through the holes in the manner illustrated at the left in Fig. 4, the edge portions 20 entering the slots 24. It will be observed that the channel portions are of a width substantially corresponding to the diameter of the circular hole portions 23.

After insertion of the sections 18 they are rotated through 180 degrees and the bar sections 19 then inserted into their channels 22 with the edge portions 21 of the bars 19 passing through the slots 24. With the parts of this vane shown in position at the right of Fig. 4, the vanes are turned (reversely in the present instance) so that the notched edge portions 20 and 21 are disposed opposite the lands 17 for coaction therewith.

It will be observed that by this construction and arrangement the sections 18 and 19 of the vertical vanes are held by the vanes 10 in assembled relation. At the same time, relative endwise movement between the sections is permitted when the vanes 10 are turned on their horizontal axes. To facilitate insertion of the sections 18 through the holes 14, the lower ends of the channel portions of these sections may be beveled as at 25 (Fig. 4). Similarly, to facilitate insertion of the bar sections into the channels 22 and slots 24, the lower ends of the bar sections may be beveled as shown at 25α.

In the form of the grille shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the notches 15 and 16 along opposite edge portions of the vanes 11 are of the same general shape, the inner extreme end or bottom of the notch being relatively wide and converging to a narrow central portion providing opposed bearing and fulcrum points 26 from which the edges diverge outwardly to the open end of the notch. The holes 14 in the fins (0 are as shown slightly larger than the spacing of the bottom of the notches 15 so as to provide the clearance necessary for permitting tilting of the fins. Such shaping of the notches is advantageous in that it permits rocking motion of the horizontal vanes while holding the vanes relatively snugly. Also, the point bearing contact between the horizontal vanes and the vertical points determined by the opposed bearing points 26 minimizes the area on the vanes 19 subjected to wear, thereby preventing any undue removal of any finishing coating applied to the vanes. By spacing these points outwardly from the holes, the adjusting force resulting from relative sliding of the parts is utilized at greater mechanical advantage.

It will be clear from the foregoing that both sets of vanes are capable of being adjusted for the purpose of varying the direction of flow of the air both horizontally and laterally. The vanes 11, herein disposed vertically, are capable of individual or independent adjustment so that they may be set as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 to control the air discharge in any preferred pattern in one direction, e. g., horizontally of the grille. The center vane is shown in perpendicular relation to the face of the grille and the two sets of vanes on opposite sides of the center vane are oppositely adjusted so as to effect a spreading of the air. The vanes 10 on the other hand are adjusted in unison due to the fact that these vanes are interconnected by the vertical vanes. It will be understood that to permit of relative endwise movement of the vanes 11, one of the sections, herein the bar section 19, is made somewhat shorter than the other or channel section as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the bar being shown in its uppermost position in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4 being shown as shifted downwardly from such uppermost position. The section 18 is fixed rigidly between the sides of the frame 12 as shown in Fig. 2.

The end portions of the vanes I ί fit slidably within the channels 13 along the upper and lower edges of the grille so as to permit rotative adjustment of these vanes, and preferably the ends of the channel section bear against the outer wall of the frame channel 13 so as to be held thereby against endwise movement. Thus rotative adjustment of the vanes 10 occurs solely as an incident to the endwise movement of the bar sections 19 and such adjustment is retained by virtue of the friction between the bar and channel sections.

It will be seen that through the use of a novel interfitting relationship between two sets of relatively perpendicularly disposed vanes I have provided for the control of air passing through the grille so as to determine the discharge pattern as may be desired. Of primary importance is the control of air flow in two directions through the rotative adjustment of both sets of vanes as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and more especially through the provision of one set of rotatively adjustable vanes supporting the other set for similar adjustment. It is to be observed in this connection that one of the vertical vane sections, herein the channel sections, constitute in their broader aspect connecting members providing pivotal supports for the edges of the vanes 10 at one side of the grille, while the bar sections serve to connect the opposite edges of the vanes 10 for movement in unison.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the parts common to the form above described are indicated by corresponding reference numerals. In this construction, the channels 22 of the parts 18 of the vertical vanes are somewhat flatter and the notches 15 in the folded outer edge thereof are shaped differently than the notches 16. The notches 15 are V-shaped with sides I6^adiverging outwardly from a generally fiat bottom I6^b at a sufficiently large angle to allow for tilt2,625,873 s

ing of the fins 10 between the desired limit positions shown in Figs. 5 arid 6. In any of it's various positions each vane is Supported on one side by one of the points 26 on the vanes 11 and on the other side by engagement of the edge of the corresponding land 17 with one of the notch walls I6^a. As before, the adjusted positions of all of the vanes 10 are retained by virtue of the friction between the sliding parts of the vanes 11 to which the vanes IΘ are always connected rigidly at the points 26 of the notches 16. By this same connection, the positions of angular adjustment of the vertical vanes 11 is also retained frictionally. This is because the vanes 10 when punched from thin sheet metal are deformed somewhat along their lengths so that some of the lands ί 7 on each fin bear against the point 26 on one side of the notch 16 while the other lands bear against the other side. The frictional binding thus produced holds the vanes 11 firmly in place.

If desired, additional slots 24^a may be punched in the fins I β on the sides of the holes 14 opposite the slots 24. This permits the two parts of each vane 11 to be interfitted before insertion through the alined holes 14 during which the edge portions of the two parts 18 and 18 pass through the slots 24 and 24^a respectively.

When the vanes of both sets 18 and 11 are swung out of planes perpendicular to the face of the grille, some small clearance is produced between the side edges of the vanes and the walls of the frame channel. Most of this is normally taken up by the slight but unnoticeable unevenness of the grille face in the final assembly of the grille core. However, if desired, means such as a spring 30 (Figs. 6 and 9) may be provided to take up all of such clearance. The spring shown comprises a thin strip of resilient metal bent into a serpentine shape as shown in Fig. 9 and extended along one side of the frame 12 within the channel thereof with the bends on one side bearing downwardly against the ends of the channel bars i 8 and urging the latter endwise against the bottom of the frame 12.

It will be apparent from the fbregoing that the grilles above described are very versatile in service use in that either or both sets bf the vanes 10 and 11 may be adjusted simultaneously to vary the direction of the air stream discharged through the grille in either or both of two transverse planes that is, horizontally or vertically. Such double adjustability is achieved by virtue of the novel manner of interfitting the crossed vanes with each other to permit swinging of either set in one plane perpendicular to the grille face irrespective of the positions in which the other vanes are located. This is achieved by extending the vanes 11 through holes in the vanes 10 and supporting the latter vanes on the vanes 11 at two points 26 and 26^a spaced transversely of the vanes 10 and relatively adjustable along the vanes 11 to tilt the vanes 19 while leaving the vanes 11 free to swing independently around their own axes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 596,882 filed May 31, 1945, now abandoned.