U.S. patent application number 10/326894 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for potable water heater and method of using same.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL THERMAL INVESTMENTS LTD.. Invention is credited to Haklander, William John, Robinson, Edgar C..
Application Number | 20040031858 10/326894 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25424144 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040031858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haklander, William John ; et
al. |
February 19, 2004 |
Potable water heater and method of using same
Abstract
A hot water heating system for use in a boat or vehicle which
utilises the engine of the vehicle or boat, an AC power source or a
fuel powered heater to heat a living area and to heat potable
water. Each of the power sources can be utilised independently or
in combination depending on the location and operation of the
vehicle or boat. A valve is automatically controlled by a
thermostat to allow heated fluid to circulate through the living
area or to bypass the area. Aquastats are provided to automatically
allow potable water to be heated. A display is provided for
displaying textual and numerical information in user friendly
format relating to the operation of the hot water heating
system.
Inventors: |
Haklander, William John;
(Delta, CA) ; Robinson, Edgar C.; (Vancouver,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John Russell Uren, P. Eng.
Suite 202
1590 Bellevue Avenue
West Vancouver
BC
V7V 1A7
CA
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL THERMAL INVESTMENTS
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
25424144 |
Appl. No.: |
10/326894 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10326894 |
Dec 20, 2002 |
|
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|
09907467 |
Jul 16, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
237/2A |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 2200/08 20130101;
B60H 1/2209 20130101; F24D 12/02 20130101; Y02B 30/14 20130101;
B60H 2001/2253 20130101; Y02B 10/70 20130101; B60H 2001/2262
20130101; Y02B 30/00 20130101; F24D 2200/26 20130101; B60H
2001/2287 20130101; F24H 9/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
237/2.00A |
International
Class: |
B60H 001/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. Heating system for a boat or vehicle living environment
comprising a first source of heat for a first fluid and a second
source of heat for said first fluid, at least one space heater
within which said first fluid circulates to provide heat to said
living environment, a valve to allow said first fluid to bypass
said at least one space heater or to allow said first fluid to flow
through said at least one space heater, said valve being controlled
by a thermostat to allow said first fluid to circulate through said
space heater when said thermostat indicates heat is needed in said
living environment and to bypass said space heater when said
thermostat indicates heat is not required by said living
environment.
2. Heating system as in claim 1 wherein said thermostat is
adjustable.
3. Heating system as in claim 1 wherein said first source of heat
is a fuel powered heater and said second source of heat is an AC
powered heater.
4. Heating system as in claim 3 and further comprising a potable
water circuit for carrying potable water and a first heat exchanger
between said first fluid and said potable water, said first heat
exchanger exchanging heat from said first fluid to said potable
water.
5. Heating system as in claim 1 and further comprising a third
source of heat for said first fluid.
6. Heating system as in claim 4 wherein said third source of heat
is an engine of said boat or vehicle.
7. Heating system as in claim 5 wherein said third source of heat
heats a second fluid and further comprising a second heat exchanger
between said second fluid And said first fluid to exchange heat
between said second fluid and said first fluid.
8. Heating system as in claim 4 and further comprising a first
fluid pump to pump said first fluid through said first heat
exchanger carrying said first fluid and said potable water.
9. Water heating system for a vehicle or boat comprising a heater
fluid loop with heater fluid therein, an engine circuit with engine
fluid therein, a space heating loop used for heating a living
environment and being operable to allow said heater fluid to
circulate therein, a first heat source to heat said engine fluid, a
second beat source to heat said heater fluid, a valve to route said
heater fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said
space heating loop, said valve being operably connected to a
thermostat for measuring the temperature of said living environment
to be heated and for instructing said valve to route said heater
fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said space
heating loop.
10. Water heating system as in claim 9 wherein said thermostat is
adjustable.
11. Water heating system as in claim 9 herein said first heat
source is an engine of said vehicle or boat.
12. Water heating system as in claim 11 wherein aid second heat
source is a fuel powered heater.
13. Water heating system as in claim 9 and further comprising a
third heat source to heat said heater fluid.
14. Water heating system as in claim 13 wherein said third source
of heat is an AC powered heater.
15. A heating system for heating an environment within a boat or
vehicle, said heating system comprising a first heater, a first
fluid circulating through said first heater and a potable water
heat exchanger, a second fluid circulating through said potable
water heat exchanger and being heated by said first fluid in said
potable water heat exchanger, said second fluid being potable
water.
16. Heating system as in claim 15 wherein said second fluid is
potable water.
17. Heating system as in claim 15 and further comprising a second
heater.
18. Heating system as in claim 17 wherein said second heater heats
said first fluid.
19. Heating system as in claim 18 wherein said first heater is a
fuel powered heater and said second heat source is an AC powered
heater.
20. A heating system for heating an environment within a boat or
vehicle, said heating system comprising a fuel powered heater, a
heater fluid line carrying fluid circulating through said fuel
powered heater, a pump to circulate heater fluid through said
heater fluid line, said heater fluid in said heater fluid line
being heated by said fuel powered heater, said heater fluid line
extending though at least one space heater in a living environment,
said heater fluid in said space heater providing heat to said
living environment and a temperature sensor to sense the
temperature of said living environment and to control the ingress
of said heater fluid into said space heater or to bypass said space
heater according to said temperature sensed by said temperature
sensor and a potable water heat exchanger having an aquastat and a
potable water line carrying potable water associated therewith,
said heater fluid line extending through said potable water heat
exchanger and exchanging heat with said potable water in said
potable water line, said aquastat controlling the operation of said
fuel powered heater.
21. Heating system as in claim 20 and further comprising an AC
powered heater to heat said heater fluid separately from or in
combination with said fuel powered heater.
22. Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical
form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle
comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or
serial communications received from a control board into a text
and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus
displaying the status of components of said water heating system
and for displaying faults associated with said components of said
water heating system.
23. Apparatus as in claim 22 and further displaying advertising
and/or servicing information.
24. Apparatus as in claim 23 and further displaying a list of said
faults and the number of times each of said faults has occurred
during operation of said water heating system.
25. Method for displaying in a user friendly format text and
numerical information relating to a water heating system used in
association with a vehicle or boat comprising visually displaying
said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on
a display, intermittently interrogating a control board connected
to components of said water heating system, determining whether a
fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of
said components, converting said fault information to said text and
numerical information in said user friendly format and displaying
said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on
said display.
26. Method for displaying user friendly text and numeral
information relating to a water heating system on a vehicle or boat
comprising positioning a display device for visually displaying
said user friendly text and numerical information for viewing by a
user in a convenient location for said user, continuously
interrogating a control board connected to components of said water
heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault
is associated with individual ones of said components, converting
said fault information to said user friendly text and numerical
information and displaying said user friendly text and numerical
information on said display device.
27. Method as in claim 26 wherein said display is an LCD
display.
28. Method as in claim 26 wherein said display is by way of a
vacuum tube display and/or a touch screen display.
29. Method as in claim 26 and further displaying said faults upon
commencement of the operation of said water heater system.
30. Method as in claim 29 and further displaying said faults upon
shutdown of said water heater system.
31. Method as in claim 29 and further displaying the number of said
faults associated with each of said components.
32. Method as in claim.26 and further including emitting an audio
signal when a fault is present in said water heating system.
33. Method as in claim 26 wherein a unique number is
33. Method as in claim 26 wherein a unique number is associated
with each of said components, said numbers being displayed upon
power up or shutdown of said water heating system.
34. Method as in claim 26 and further including displaying textual
and numerical information relating to fault free operation of said
water heating system and for displaying servicing and advertising
information.
35. Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical
form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle
comprising a display device for for displaying system status in a
text and numerical form for said water heating system comprising a
micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or serial
communications received from a control board into a text and/or
numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus displaying
the status of components of said water heating system and for
displaying faults associated with said components of said water
heating system.
Description
INTRODUCTION
[0001] This invention relates to a heater and, more particularly,
to a heater finding particular application in recreational
vehicles, boats and the like where heated potable water is required
and where heating for the vehicle or boat is required from time to
time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In our pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/851,465 filed
May 5, 1997, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference, there is disclosed a fuel powered heater used for
heating fluid which fluid is subsequently used for circulation
throughout a heating system and which finds particular application
in boats and recreational vehicles. While the heated fluid is used
to warm the environment in the vehicle or boat wherein the heater
is placed, it is often the case that heated potable water is also
useful for cooking, drinking, washing and the like within the
recreational vehicle or boat. Heretofore, such heated potable water
has generally been produced by a heater independent from the
heating system used for heating the vehicle or boat and the fuel
used in such independent heaters is usually propane.
[0003] It is also often desired that the fuel powered heater used
for heating fluid be supplemented or replaced by an AC powered
heater if there is a source of AC power available. This might be
the case where the boat is docketed and AC power is available or
where the recreational vehicle is in an RV park where AC power is
available.
[0004] WO 99/61884 (Rixen), published Dec. 2, 1999 and entitled
HEATING SYSTEM FOR POTABLE WATER AND RELATIVELY SMALL AREAS,
teaches a heating system used to heat a recreational vehicle which
system is also used to heat potable water. This system is an
advance in an attempt to achieve potable water and space heating
with an integrated system. However, Rixen teaches a supplemental
heater and a heat exchanger, which supplemental heater heats a
second liquid independent from the heating of the first fluid. The
use of two powered heaters to heat two fluids, one for each fluid,
is costly and creates additional servicing and maintenance
problems. Further, Rixen's apparatus is not operated automatically.
He requires manual operation of the components of his heating
system which manual operation is often very inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a heating system for a boat or vehicle living environment
comprising a first source of heat for a first fluid and a second
source of heat for said first fluid, at least one space heater
within which said first fluid circulates to provide heat to said
living environment, a valve to allow said first fluid to bypass
said at least one space heater or to allow said first fluid to flow
through said at least one space heater, said valve being controlled
by a thermostat to allow said first fluid to circulate through said
space heater when said thermostat indicates heat is needed in said
living environment and to bypass said space heater when said
thermostat indicates heat is not required by said living
environment.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a water heating system for a vehicle or boat comprising a
heater fluid loop with heater fluid therein, an engine circuit with
engine fluid therein, a space heating loop used for heating a
living environment and being operable to allow said heater fluid to
circulate therein, a first heat source to heat said engine fluid, a
second heat source to heat said heater fluid, a valve to route said
heater fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said
space heating loop, said valve being operably connected to a
thermostat for measuring the temperature of said living environment
to be heated and for instructing said valve to route said heater
fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said space
heating loop.
[0007] According to still a further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a heating system for heating an environment within a
boat or vehicle, said heating system comprising a first heater, a
first fluid circulating through said first heater and a potable
water heat exchanger, a second fluid circulating through said
potable water heat exchanger and being heated by said first fluid
in said potable water heat exchanger, said second fluid being
potable water.
[0008] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a heating system for heating an environment within a boat
or vehicle, said heating system comprising a fuel powered heater, a
heater fluid line carrying fluid circulating through said fuel
powered heater, a pump to circulate heater fluid through said
heater fluid line, said heater fluid in said heater fluid line
being heated by said fuel powered heater, said heater fluid line
extending though at least one space heater in a living environment,
said heater fluid in said space heater providing heat to said
living environment and a temperature sensor to sense the
temperature of said living environment and to control the ingress
of said heater fluid into said space heater or to bypass said space
heater according to said temperature sensed by said temperature
sensor and a potable water heat exchanger having an aquastat and a
potable water line carrying potable water associated therewith,
said heater fluid line extending through said potable water heat
exchanger and exchanging heat with said potable water in said
potable water line, said aquastat controlling the operation of said
fuel powered heater.
[0009] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention,
there is provided apparatus for displaying system status in a text
and numerical form for a water heating system used in a boat or
vehicle comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal
data or serial communications received from a control board into a
text and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus
displaying the status of said components of said water heating
system and for displaying faults associated with said components of
said water heating system.
[0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for displaying in a user friendly format text and
numerical information relating to a water heating system used in
association with a vehicle or boat comprising visually displaying
said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on
a display, intermittently interrogating a control board connected
to components of said water heating system, determining whether a
fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of
said components, converting said fault information to said text and
numerical information in said user friendly format and displaying
said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on
said display.
[0011] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for displaying user friendly text and numeral
information relating to a water heating system on a vehicle or boat
comprising positioning a display device for visually displaying
said user friendly text and numerical information for viewing by a
user in a convenient location for said user, continuously
interrogating a control board connected to components of said water
heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault
is associated with individual ones of said components, converting
said fault information to said user friendly text and numerical
information and displaying said user friendly text and numerical
information on said display device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic overall view of the fluid and
potable water heating system according to a first aspect of the
invention in which an optional potable water tank is used for
holding heated potable water;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic overall view of the heating system
similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating electrical apparatus for
heating fluid wherein no potable water storage tank is
illustrated;
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a wiring diagram for the systems
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the diagnostics for the
systems illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0017] FIG. 5, appearing on seven (7) pages with nine (9)
accompanying sheets, is an electronic diagram showing in greater
detail-the control board of FIG. 3 accompanied by sheets 1-9 which
are enlarged portions of FIG. 5 and which collectively are
identical of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates the circuit for the flame sensor of FIG.
3;
[0019] FIG. 7 sets out the diagnostic codes for the heating system
displayed by the main control board according to the invention;
and
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates the diagnostic code interpretations as
displayed on the LCD associated with the remote control panel.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, reference is made to FIGS. 1
and 2 wherein the overall heating system according to the invention
is illustrated generally at 100. The heating system 100
conveniently utilises glycol fluid circulated through a glycol
circuit 101 and potable water circulated through a potable water
circuit 102, although other liquids could conveniently also be used
within the glycol circuit 101. A fuel powered fluid heater 103 of
the air aspirated type as disclosed in our U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,075,
the contents of which are herein disclosed by reference, is
conveniently used to heat the glycol in the glycol circuit 101. A
heater sold under the trademark HURRICANE.RTM. and marketed by
International Thermal Research Ltd. of Richmond, British Columbia,
Canada has proven useful for this application. A heat exchanger 104
is conveniently used to exchange heat from the glycol fluid in the
glycol circuit 101 to the potable water in the potable water
circuit 102.
[0022] A potable water heater and storage tank 106 is provided to
heat the potable water although it is optionally provided in the
configuration of FIG. 1. A pump 110 moves the glycol through the
glycol circuit 101 and isolation valves 107 are provided to
terminate or allow flow of the glycol through the glycol circuit
101.
[0023] A single thermostat 131 (FIG. 1), in the event a single
heating zone is heated or a plurality of thermostats 130 (FIG. 2)
in the event a plurality of heating zones are heated, monitor the
temperature of the living space or environment of the vehicle or
boat. Aquastats 123, 132, adjustable as desired, are provided to
monitor the temperatures within the potable water heater 106 and
the engine fluid circuit 113, respectively, and to send appropriate
temperature information to the main control board 115. An engine
pump 153 (FIG. 2) circulates water in the engine circuit 113 as
will be described. Cycling aquastats 152 (FIG. 2), an additional
one being used as a failsafe backup aquastat, used with the AC
powered wire coils 122, are positioned within the annulus of the
fluid heater 103 and are operable to maintain the potable water at
approximately 150 deg.F., the aquastats 152 having a range of about
10 deg.F. A pair of high temperature aquastats 154 shut down the
power supplied to the AC powered coils 122 if the temperature of
the fluid exceeds 200 deg.F. for safety purposes.
[0024] The glycol circuit 101 includes a winter loop circuit 105 to
heat the space or zones within which the various space heaters 142
are located and a summer loop circuit 108 which bypasses the winter
loop circuit 105 according to the position of three way directional
valve 109 which valve 109 is manually or conveniently automatically
operated by, for example, adjustable thermostat 131 or thermostats
130 (FIG. 2) which measure the environment or living space
temperature. If the temperature of the space is below that desired
by the user, three way valve 109 will allow the heated glycol to
circulate through the winter loop 105. If the temperature is above
the desired user temperature as measured by thermostat 131, three
way valve 109 will bypass the winter loop 105 and pass the glycol
directly to summer loop 108 thereby avoiding a temperature increase
in the living environment of the vehicle or boat. Further, by
bypassing the winter loop 105 when the heat for space heating is
not required, the heat provided to the potable water through heat
exchanger 104 will be more efficiently used and the temperature
increase of the potable water will be more quickly achieved such as
would be desirable, for example, if hot water was suddenly
needed.
[0025] An expansion tank 111 and an overflow tank 114 are
associated with the glycol circuit 101. A heat exchanger 121 is
provided between the glycol circuit 101 and the engine fluid
circuit 113 to allow heat to be exchanged between the two circuits
101, 113 in the event the engine is operating such that the fluid
heater 103 is not required. A mixing valve 133 is provided in the
potable water circuit 102 to allow for the desired water
temperature in circuit 125 due to mixing the cold water provided by
the inlet circuit 126 prior to heating the potable water in heat
exchanger 104 or potable water heater 106 and the heated water
emanating from the heat exchanger 104 or potable water heater
106.
[0026] A main control panel 115 (seen in more detail in FIG. 5) is
used to control the various components of the overall water heating
system 100 and is further used to interrogate the components so as
to display any problem or fault associated with the various
components. A remote control 124 with an associated. LCD display
151 may be operably associated with the main control panel 115 and
mounted for operation at a location more user convenient than that
occupied by the main control panel 124. A wiring harness 116 (see
also FIG. 2) runs from the main control panel 115 to the space
heaters 142 in winter loop 105 and associated space heater
thermostats 130, it being appreciated that the individual ones of
the space heaters 142 may be located in different living areas and
each may conveniently have an individual bypass loop as well as the
entire circuit 105 being bypassed by directional valve 109 which
will allow the heater water in the winter loop 105 to enter or to
bypass the respective space heaters 142 according to the user
desired temperatures as evidenced by thermostats 130.
[0027] The usual components are associated with the fuel powered
fluid heater 103. Fuel lines 140 are used to provide fuel to and
allow fuel to leave heater 103. An air intake duct 141 supplies
combustion air to the fluid heater 103 and an exhaust duct 145
allows for exhaust to the ambient surroundings through a muffler
143.
[0028] The LCD display 151 provided on the remote control 124
displays text and number relating to the operating conditions and
heater system diagnostics as will be described. The display format
is user friendly in a text and numerical form and may include
servicing information and advertising.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, in which like numerals cover the
same apparatuses as shown in FIG. 1 but which embodiment does not
utilise a separate potable water heater 106 as illustrated in FIG.
1, a first technique for heating glycol fluid passing through the
fluid heater 103 where it is not desired to utilise the fluid fuel
powered heater 103 such as when an AC power source is available, is
to use a set of wire coils 122 which coils 122 are easily attached
to and removed from the circumference of the fluid heater 103 and
which are heated by passing AC power through the coils 122 when
desired. This is one of several techniques which may be used to
heat the water in the fluid heater 103 when AC power is available,
another being to simply provide an immersible rod (not shown) into
the glycol circuit 101 which rod heats the fluid upon passing power
through the rod. These techniques and others using AC power as an
independent heat source to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit 101
are commonly used and form no part of the present invention.
[0030] A diagnostic system used for the system diagnostics is
generally illustrated at 116 in FIG. 4. The result of the
diagnostics is displayed by LCD display 151 which diagnostic
display 151 will be described in greater detail. The diagnostic
codes for the heater 103 are illustrated in FIG. 7. These
diagnostic codes are displayed on the main control board 115 by
numeric display 160 (FIGS. 1 and 5). The numeric display 160 is
converted to the textual and numerical display of FIG. 8 on LCD 151
by a micro-controller associated with the remote control 124. The
wiring diagram used for the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown
generally at 112 in FIG. 3. A service switch 120 provides power to
the main control board 115. A remote switch 117 (FIG. 4) allows the
user to remotely control the operation of the fluid heater 103.
[0031] The flame sensor circuit is generally illustrated at 127 in
FIG. 6 and is used for sensing the presence or absence of a flame
in the fluid heater 103. The flame sensor circuit 162 is
illustrated and described in detail in our pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/579,444 filed May 26, 2000, the contents of
which are herein disclosed by reference.
OPERATION
[0032] In operation, it will be assumed that the vehicle or boat is
at rest with the engine not running and that AC shore or outside
power is available to the vehicle or boat from an AC power source
generally illustrated at 134 (FIG. 2). The AC power source 134 is
intended to heat and to maintain the potable water within the
temperature range of 150 deg.F. and 205 deg.F. as defined by
cycling aquastats 152 and high temperature or limit aquastats 154
(FIG. 2). In the event the temperature of the fluid measured by the
aquastats 152 falls below 150 deg. F., the wire coils 122 will
commence operation and draw AC power from the AC power source
134.
[0033] The AC heater coils 122 (FIG. 2) form an independent heat
source for the fluid in the glycol circuit 101. The cycling
aquastats 152 are normally closed when the temperature is below 150
deg.F. and allow the flow of AC power. The aquastats 152 open when
the temperature of the fluid exceeds 150 deg.F. thereby shutting
down the power. There is an approximate 10 deg. Temperature range
of the cycling aquastats 152. High temperature or safety limit
aquastats 154 terminate AC power flow to the coils 122.
[0034] If the aquastats 152 are closed indicating that heat is
required in the glycol circuit and power is flowing in the AC
circuit, aquastats 161, 132 become relevant. If either of aquastats
161 or 132 are closed thereby to indicate that heat is available,
fluid pump 110 will be activated and the glycol will circulate
through the fluid heater 103 and potable water heat exchanger 104
without the operation of fluid heater 103 being necessary. If
aquastat 161 opens thereby indicating the temperature has dropped
below 100 deg.F., it is apparent the heat created by the coils 122
is insufficient. Accordingly, the pump 110 will terminate and the
fuel heater 103 will commence operation assuming main and remote
switches 120, 117, respectively, are in the "ON" position. When the
temperature of the glycol exceeds 100 deg.F., as measured by
aquastat 161, the pump 110 will again commence operation.
[0035] While the fuel powered heater 103 is operating, cycling
aquastats 162 will attempt to maintain a fluid temperature of 180
deg.F. High temperature aquastats 163 will terminate operation of
the heater 103 when the temperature exceeds 180 deg.F. for safety
reasons. When aquastats 152 exceed 150 deg.F., the AC powered coils
122 will terminate operation but fuel powered heater 103 will
continue operation until aquastat 162 reaches 180 deg.F. at which
point the fuel powered heater 103 will terminate operation with the
pump 110 continuing to operate until aquastat 161 drops below 100
deg.F. or until there is no demand for heat as represented by
aquastat 123 in potable water heat exchanger 104 or as represented
by thermostats 130. If desired, the operation of the fuel powered
heater 103 may be terminated by moving remote switch 117 to the OFF
position.
[0036] The heat provided from the engine forms a third independent
source of heat for the heating system 100 in the event the engine
is operating. In this case, aquastat 132 will be sensing the
temperature in heat exchanger 121. If heat is required as indicated
by thermostats 130 or by aquastat 123 on potable water heat
exchanger 104, then pump 110 will commence operation when aquastats
132 or 161 indicate heat is available from either the engine or the
fuel powered heater 104, and the glycol in glycol circuit 101 will
be heated in the engine heat exchanger 121 and provide the
requested heat to any or all of the space heaters 142 and potable
water heat exchanger 104. When the thermostats 130 indicate no heat
is required in the winter loop 105, three way directional valve 109
will terminate flow through the winter loop 105 and the heated
glycol will flow only through the potable water heat exchanger 104.
When aquastat 123 indicates the potable water is at 150 deg.F. or
above, the pump 110 will terminate operation.
[0037] It will next be assumed that it is desired to heat the space
within which the various space heaters 142 are situated. The user
will raise the temperature of thermostat 131 (FIG. 1) or one of
thermostats 130 (FIG. 2) to the desired temperature of the space to
be heated. This will initiate operation of the three-way
directional valve 109 and require heated glycol in the glycol
circuit 101 to be circulated through the winter loop circuit 105 as
is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The circulation of glycol through the
winter loop 105 will continue until the temperature sensed by
thermostat 151 or one of the thermostats 130 reaches the desired
user value at which point the three-way directional valve 109 will
terminate flow through the winter loop 105 and initiate glycol flow
only through the summer loop 108 thereby avoiding any additional
heat emanating from the heaters 142 in the winter loop 105 and
providing heat solely to heat the potable water through heat
exchanger 104 which is a more efficient use of the heated glycol in
the glycol circuit 101.
[0038] It will now be assumed that the vehicle or boat is underway
and that the engine is operating in its normal operating mode. No
shore based AC power is available and therefore the wire coils 122
will not be operating. Aquastat 132, which is associated with heat
exchanger 121, will be monitoring the temperature of the fluid in
the engine circuit 113. In the event aquastat 132 senses a
temperature of greater than 120 deg.F., it will signal the control
board 115 that heat is available from the engine circuit 113. If
the aquastat 123 associated with heat exchanger 104 indicates water
temperature below 150 deg.F., pump 110 will commence operation and
circulate the glycol within the glycol circuit 101 thereby picking
up heat from the engine fluid by way of heat exchanger 121 until
the potable water temperature returns to a temperature of greater
than 150 deg.F. at which point pump 110 will cease operation.
Ordinarily, engine operation will suffice to maintain the potable
water temperature above 150 deg.F.
[0039] In the event there is no engine power and no source of AC
power, the heat to supply the space heaters 142 and to provide
heated potable water is provided by the fluid heater 103. The
aquastat 132 will indicate no heat is-available from the engine
circuit 113 and, accordingly, when the aquastat 123 indicates a
temperature of less than 150 deg.F., the fluid heater 103 will
commence operation and the pump 110 will circulate the glycol
within glycol circuit 101.
[0040] If the service switch 120 is ON, control board 115 is
continuously supervising the system 100 and sending coded electric
signals to the remote panel 124 where the LCD 151 is located. A
micro-controller on remote panel 124 will interpret the codes and
convert the codes to a user friendly display in a text and
numerical format. In addition, the micro-controller will store the
information concerning faults associated with the components of the
system and display the loggings of such faults when the system is
initially powered up and while the system 100 is on a purge mode
when the system 100 is turned off from its operating mode by
service switch 120.
[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates the diagnostic codes which are displayed
on main control board display 160 (FIGS. 3 and 5). Each number or
symbol represents a particular diagnostic condition and, to allow a
display from LCD 151 in a user friendly format, the codes are
converted by a micro-controller on the remote control 124 according
to the interpretations of FIG. 8. In addition to the user friendly
text and number display, a service number may be given as at 170
(FIG. 8) or advertising may be displayed as shown at 171.
[0042] Any known display technique may be used besides that of an
LCD, such as light emitting diodes, fluorescent displays and the
like.
[0043] Various other modifications and changes may readily occur to
those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the
specific embodiments described should be taken as illustrative of
the invention only and not as limiting its scope as defined in
accordance with the accompanying claims.
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