U.S. patent application number 10/689575 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for system for controlling a ventilation system.
Invention is credited to Halabi, Khalid.
Application Number | 20050082053 10/689575 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34521437 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Halabi, Khalid |
April 21, 2005 |
System for controlling a ventilation system
Abstract
A central system wherein conditioned or heated air is supplied
to a plurality of rooms to be air-conditioned through a common
duct, the system comprising: means for generating conditioned air
or heated air and forcibly supplying the air to a plurality of
rooms; a vent control mechanism, corresponding to a vent in each
room, for controlling a flow of the conditioned air from the common
duct into corresponding room; a room remote controller, provided in
each room, including a command signal to control the operation of
the vent control.
Inventors: |
Halabi, Khalid; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
National IP Rights Center, LLC
Suite 400
550 Township Line Road
Blue Bell
PA
19422
US
|
Family ID: |
34521437 |
Appl. No.: |
10/689575 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/10 20180101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; F24F 11/76 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/217 |
International
Class: |
F24F 003/00 |
Claims
1. A central system wherein conditioned or heated air is supplied
to a plurality of rooms to be air-conditioned through a common
duct, the system comprising: means for generating conditioned air
or heated air and forcibly supplying the air to a plurality of
rooms; and a vent control mechanism, corresponding to a vent in
each room, for controlling a flow of the conditioned air from the
common duct into corresponding room; a room remote controller,
provided in each room, including a command signal to control the
operation of the vent control
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system controller
includes a mode selection function for selecting a heating or
cooling mode.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the system controller
also includes a target temperature set function.
4. A central air conditioning system wherein conditioned air is
supplied to a plurality of rooms to be air-conditioned or heated:
air conditioning means, having a housing, for generating
conditioned air and forcibly supplying the conditioned air;
variable vent control means, corresponding to each room, for
controlling a flow of the conditioned air from the common duct into
corresponding room; a room remote controller, provided centrally
including a command signal pursuant to a pre-stored program to
control the variable vent control means in each room so that a
desired room temperature is set; and a temperature detection
mechanism in each room to be controlled wherein the actual room
temperature of each corresponding room is detected.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the system controller
includes a mode selection function wherein one of the heating and
cooling modes is selected.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the system controller
also includes a target temperature set system wherein a target
temperature is set.
7. A system of claim 4, wherein the system controller includes a
desired temperature determination system wherein a desired
temperature of the air is determined based on the pre-set room
temperature in each room.
8. The system of claim 4 wherein the system is controlled by
wireless control.
9. A method of controlling the temperature of a room having an air
conditioning or heating system, said method comprising the steps
of: (a) setting a temperature setter of each respective room at a
desired level; (b) selecting a predetermined temperature to
maintain the room in accordance with the set desired level; and (c)
automatically adjusting the vent duct of the room to maintain the
temperature.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said open area of each
of said vent is selectable between a fully opened position and a
predetermined position between said fully opened position and a
fully closed position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to the field of
temperature control for homes, buildings and offices. In
particular, the present invention is directed to a system for
controlling the temperature of the individual rooms and spaces
within a building, office or home.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The problem of controlling the temperature of individual
rooms has been a frequent issue in homes, buildings and office
buildings. Frequently, different locations of a home or office
present different heating and cooling needs at different times of
the day. For example, it is often desirable to cool the bedrooms of
a house at night, while the temperature of the den or living room
area may be of less significance. The increasing cost of energy
coupled with the international situation has made it more important
than ever to maximize energy conservation and efficiency.
[0003] Heretofore, the problem of controlling individual room
temperatures within a building has been handled by a wide variety
of systems. Some of the prior art systems have used a temperature
controller which incorporates expensive switching mechanisms or the
like and complex zone area controls. Some of these controls require
extensive modifications to existing duct work or complicated HVAC
systems. Such system have been difficult to adapt to older HVAC
systems and beyond the reach of many consumers.
[0004] The patent literature has disclosed a variety of systems for
controlling the temperature in homes and the like. U.S. Pat. No.
4,997,030 to Goto entitled Central air conditioning system having
remote controller in a plurality of rooms for starting or stopping
air conditioning apparatus. Central air conditioning system
includes an air conditioning apparatus having a system controller
and a variable air volume controller having a damper which controls
the amount of conditioned air fed from the air conditioning
apparatus into each room to be air-conditioned. Each room is
provided with a room remote controller for controlling the
operation of the air volume controller. The room remote controller
outputs a start/stop command signal to control the operation of
both the air conditioning apparatus and the air volume controller.
The temperature of conditioned air fed from the air conditioning
apparatus is maintained at a prescribed value determined on the
basis of the desired room temperature in each room.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,781 discloses a variable air volume air
conditioning system and is provided with thermostat controlled
variable air volume terminal boxes for controlling the volume of
constant temperature conditioned air provided to each space to be
conditioned. The conditioned air is delivered through a short
pressure recovery duct to a trunk duct by a centrifugal fan having
forward curved blades. The trunk duct pressure is maintained
substantially constant by control vanes disposed at the recovery
duct outlet, said control vanes being responsive to an increase in
duct pressure to close the duct outlet and unload the fan, thereby
reducing the energy consumed by the fan. Economizer operation is
provided by the use of return air dampers and outside air dampers
controlled in response to outside air temperature and air supply
duct temperature to mix outside air and return air to reduce the
amount of mechanical refrigeration required. A power air return
means is provided for returning air to the system from the spaces
that are conditioned and for controlling the amount of return air
in accordance with the volume of air delivered to the conditioned
spaces.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,168 discloses a method for controlling
duct-type air conditioning systems. A method of controlling a
centralized or duct-type air predetermined control pattern which is
selected in accordance with a desired level set by a temperature
setter for each individual room.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,096 discloses a variable air volume air
distribution system, an improved variable air volume air
distribution system for distributing air within the interior of a
building. The variable air volume air distribution system includes
an air supply plenum, a supply fan for transferring air from the
air supply plenum into the interior of the building, a return air
plenum for receiving air from the conditioned space of the
building, and an exhaust fan for exhausting air from the return air
plenum to the outside atmosphere. The improvement includes a first
pressure sensor located in the air supply plenum for sensing the
air pressure within the air supply plenum; a second pressure sensor
located in the return air plenum for sensing the air pressure
within the return air plenum; and a control structure for causing
the exhaust fan to exhaust air from the return air plenum at a rate
proportional to the ratio of the air pressure within the air supply
plenum and the return air plenum.
[0008] As can be seen, each of the above systems is largely
directed to a complicated or costly system. It would be desirable
to provide a system which can easily control the temperature in a
room, such as a bedroom or an office.
[0009] It would be particularly desirable to provide a temperature
control system which is compatible with existing systems and duct
work and which can easily be retrofitted into existing systems.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore, an object of the present invention to
control the operation of an air conditioning apparatus by a remote
control unit in each room in a central air conditioning or heating
system.
[0011] It is a further object of the invention to supply
air-conditioned or heated air sufficient to control the temperature
of each room to be air-conditioned or heated at each desired room
temperature.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
room temperature control system which can be retrofitted onto
existing HVAC systems.
[0013] To accomplish the above-described objects, according to one
embodiment of the present invention, a central air conditioning or
heating system is provided wherein conditioned or heated air is
supplied to a plurality of rooms to be air-conditioned or heated
through a common duct system. The system includes a variable air
vent control system, corresponding to each room, for controlling
the flow of the conditioned air from vent duct into the
corresponding room.
[0014] The system also includes a controller, which may be provided
in each room, including an adjustment mechanism, wherein a command
signal is output there from to control the operation of the vent.
In a preferred embodiment, the variable air volume control unit is
affixed to the vent. A desired room temperature is established such
that a desired room temperature is pre-stored and when the actual
room temperature of the corresponding room is detected, the vent
control is activated to control the room temperature by the
controller. The room remote controller may include a mode selection
function wherein either heating or cooling may be chosen.
[0015] A temperature detection thermostat is included wherein the
actual room temperature of the corresponding room is detected, and
where a command signal is output from the controller, pursuant to a
program, to control the vents. The present invention may be
operated via a wireless system and may also incorporate a centrally
located system which controls a number of rooms.
[0016] These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detached descriptions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the components of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the vent control system of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternative central
temperature control for the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present invention is described with reference to the
enclosed Figures wherein the same numbers are utilized where
applicable. The present invention is broadly directed to a system
for controlling the temperature of a room or number of rooms, both
for heating and/or air conditioning. The present invention is
specifically directed to a system for controlling the temperature
in a room. In particular, the present invention is directed to
systems for controlling the temperature of specific rooms in a home
or building.
[0022] The system in one embodiment may build upon existing
technology and relies on the existing vents throughout the
building. Vents in each room or area, open and close according to a
pre-stored or pre-programmed profile for that room. The major
objective of the invention is to match the desired set temperature
for a particular area such as bedrooms at night while other areas
can be set at a less costly temperature.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention, in a
simplest embodiment incorporates three basic components; a
controller; a vent control system and a thermostat system. The
first element of the invention is a system 12 which facilitates the
control of the vents 13 within the house, office or facility. As
shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the vent control system 12 comprises a
small electric motor 14 which is attached to the applicable vent in
each room to be controlled. The motor 14 through a mechanism such
as a gear arm 16 facilitates precise movement of the vents to
selectively control the outflow of air between fully open and fully
closed.
[0024] The present invention thus relies upon the use of the
existing vents and grills through out the building. Vents in each
room/area are configured to open and close at specific levels and
intervals, according to each individual room temperature and
according to a pre-stored program so to maintain a preset
temperature for that room. For example, at night while the house
residents are sleeping, the living area, kitchen, guest room, and
other areas not used at night, is set to 85 degrees. At the same
time, the 3 bedrooms that the residents are sleeping in are set to
70 degrees. As soon as temperature in the not needed areas rises to
86 degrees, the automatic vents open (partially or completely) and
stay open until the temperature lowers to 85 degrees.
Simultaneously, if the bedroom temperatures dropped to below 70
degrees, the vents in those rooms would shut (partially or wholly)
until the temperature increases to 70 degrees.
[0025] The second component of the invention comprises a controller
16. The controller 16 is a operational heart of the system. The
controller can comprise part of a digital input system 18 which may
be programmable. The controller in one embodiment comprises housing
19 having a processor 20, PROM or EPROM 22 and Input/Output 23. In
one embodiment, the controller may include a digital readout
display 24. PROM or EPROM 22 contain the operational programs used
by the system.
[0026] Actuation buttons 25 permit the controller to be programmed
and controlled to meet the temperature requirements of the room in
which it is located. The controller can be set up so that the user
inputs the desired temperatures at the different times for the
different areas. The controller sends signals (hard wired or
wireless) to the vent motors to open and close.
[0027] Finally, in the preferred embodiment, the system further
includes a thermostat 26 to determine the temperature of each room
to be controlled. At least one thermostat 26 in each area that
requires temperature control is needed to communicate with the main
controller. The thermostats could be either wired to the main
controller or completely wireless. In a wireless system, each of
the systems will include a wireless adapter. It is to be noted that
the power requirements for the system could be provided by the
building electricity via wires or, locally, through batteries.
[0028] In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown
in FIG. 4, the invention comprises a wireless central control
system 30 which can be configured to be controlled by a wireless
controller. In this embodiment, the controller can be situated at a
central location within a house or building. Thermostats 32
situated in each room can send temperature signals to the
controller. Based upon a preprogrammed temperature profile for each
room, the controller will send out signals to the vent control
motor in each room to be controlled. The vent motors 34 will then
open or close the vents 36 as required. Such a system could be
configure to be activated by a cell phone, wireless device, PDA,
PALM Pilot. The controller of both embodiments can be configured to
switch between air conditioning and heat as the need arises.
[0029] The present invention suggests a large number of alternative
embodiments which utilize automatic vents to control different
areas temperatures to add comfort and to save energy. For example,
the present invention suggests a kit which could be sold in stores
and retrofitted onto existing systems. Such a kit could include the
requisite controller, a plurality of thermostats and vent control
mechanisms. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the
controller itself, rather than be an independent unit, could be a
module within a PC, Laptop or PDA.
[0030] The present invention has been described with reference to
the above detailed description. The true nature and scope of the
invention should be determined with reference to the claims
appended hereto
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