U.S. patent application number 13/530108 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for temperature controller for unit.
Invention is credited to Gregory R. Miller.
Application Number | 20120255720 13/530108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46965200 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120255720 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Gregory R. |
October 11, 2012 |
Temperature Controller for Unit
Abstract
A temperature controller for a positive pressure room air
purification unit is provided with a sensor for ambient room air
temperature and supply duct air temperature. Based on the desired
temperature, supply duct air may be drawn or drawn and heated.
Inventors: |
Miller; Gregory R.;
(Washington, MO) |
Family ID: |
46965200 |
Appl. No.: |
13/530108 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12229169 |
Aug 20, 2008 |
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13530108 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/217 ;
165/234; 236/49.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/10 20180101;
F24F 13/08 20130101; G05D 23/1931 20130101; F24F 2011/0004
20130101; F24F 11/30 20180101; F24F 11/70 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/217 ;
165/234; 236/49.3 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/053 20060101
F24F011/053; F24F 13/10 20060101 F24F013/10 |
Claims
1. A temperature controller system for a positive pressure air
purification unit comprising: a positive pressure air purification
unit disposed within a room, having a first inlet in fluid
communication with an HVAC supply duct, a second inlet in fluid
communication with ambient air within a room, a filter for
filtering air, an outlet, and a fan having a plurality of speed
settings disposed between said filter and said outlet for drawing
air from at least said first inlet; a first temperature sensor
disposed on an exterior surface of said positive pressure air
purification unit adapted to sense ambient room air temperature; a
second temperature sensor disposed within said positive pressure
air purification unit adapted to sense supply duct air temperature
of an HVAC duct system; a room air damper infinitely movable
between an open and a partially closed position to allow air from
the supply duct to be drawn and positionally controlled by said
temperature controller system, said room air damper being incapable
of fully closing the supply duct; a user input interface for
inputting a desired temperature; and wherein said room air damper
is moved by said temperature controller between said open position
and said partially closed position, such that some volume of air is
always drawn from said HVAC supply duct by said positive pressure
air purification unit to create a positive pressure in the room in
which said positive pressure air purification unit is disposed.
2. The temperature controller system according to claim 1, wherein
when said room air damper is in an open position, air is drawn only
from said first air inlet and no air is drawn from said second air
inlet, and wherein when said room air damper is in a partially
closed position air is drawn from said second air inlet and a much
smaller volume of air is drawn from said first air inlet, such that
a volume of air is always drawn from said first air inlet, said
room air damper being capable of assuming any position between said
open position and said partially closed position.
3. The temperature controller system according to claim 2, wherein
said room air damper will be moved to an open position when said
supply duct air temperature is less than ambient room air
temperature and said input desired temperature is less than ambient
room air temperature; and wherein said room air damper will be
moved to an open position when said supply duct air temperature is
greater than said ambient room air temperature and said input
desired temperature is greater than ambient room air
temperature.
4. The temperature controller system according to claim 2, wherein
said room air damper will be moved to an open position when said
supply duct air temperature is less than ambient room air
temperature and said input desired temperature is less than or
equal to a positively-weighted ambient room air temperature; and
wherein said room air damper will be moved to a partially closed
position when a negatively-weighted ambient temperature is less
than or equal to the input desired temperature and said supply duct
air temperature is less than said ambient room air temperature.
5. The temperature controller system according to claim 2, wherein
said room air damper will be moved to an open position when said
supply duct air temperature is greater than ambient room air
temperature and said input desired temperature is greater than or
equal to a negatively-weighted ambient room air temperature; and
wherein said room air damper will be moved to a partially closed
position when a positively-weighted ambient temperature is greater
than or equal to the input desired temperature said supply duct air
temperature is greater than said ambient room air temperature.
6. The temperature controller system according to claim 1, wherein
said user input interface further comprises an input for setting a
desired fan speed.
7. The temperature controller system according to claim 6, wherein
said temperature controller system ignores said user-input set fan
speed when said controller system is in automatic mode.
8. The temperature controller system according to claim 1, wherein
said room air damper is biased to assume an open position upon the
occurrence of one of the following events selected from the
following group: loss of power, malfunction of said first
temperature sensor, malfunction of said second temperature sensor,
malfunction of said controller system, and malfunction of said
fan.
9. The temperature controller system according to claim 1, wherein
said positive pressure air purification unit further comprises: a
plate attached to one of two perpendicular air flow paths, blocking
fluid communication between a supply duct and said positive
pressure air purification unit; wherein said first inlet allows
fluid communication between one of two perpendicular air flow paths
and said damper.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/229,169 filed on Aug. 20, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is a temperature controller for a
positive pressure air purification unit and, more specifically, a
temperature controller using two temperature sensors for a positive
pressure air purification unit.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] The prior art for room air purification in a residential
home uses a single air temperature controller and a single
temperature sensor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is a temperature controller that uses two
sensors for controlling temperature in a room. The temperature
controller is disposed in a positive pressure room air purification
unit that is connected to a supply duct of a duct system of a
standard residential HVAC duct system. The first temperature sensor
senses ambient room air temperature. The second temperature sensor
senses the air temperature of the air from a supply duct of a
standard residential HVAC duct system. Based on the desired room
air temperature, and the supply duct air temperature, the
temperature controller determines whether to draw supply duct air,
or both room air and supply duct air and further determines the fan
speed setting of the purification unit, and whether to heat the
air.
[0007] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a flow chart that illustrates the operation of the
temperature controller of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an elevated view of the present invention
incorporating the temperature controller.
[0011] FIG. 3. illustrates a side section view taken along line 3-3
of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0013] In FIG. 1, the operation of the temperature controller 10 of
the present invention is provided. The normal operating environment
for the temperature controller 10 is a positive pressure room air
purification unit as shown generally at 12 in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
room air purification unit 12 is connected to a supply duct 110 of
a standard residential HVAC system. Initially, the temperature
controller 10 determines whether it is functioning normally 14,
whether the fan 49 is functioning normally 49A, whether the mom air
temperature sensor 22 is functioning normally 22A (and then
collects room air temperature information 20 via a temperature
sensor 22 (See FIG. 3) located on the exterior of the room air
purification unit 12) and whether the supply duct air temperature
sensor 40 is functioning normally 40A.
[0014] The temperature controller 10 is provided with a user
interface for setting a desired room air temperature. Then, the
temperature controller 10 determines whether the room air
temperature is higher 30 or lower 32 than a calculated temperature
which is based on a desired temperature and a dead band range. In
addition, the temperature controller 10 determines whether the
supply duct air temperature is higher 41 or lower 42 than the room
air temperature.
[0015] If the room air temperature is higher than desired, then the
cooling mode shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1 applies. In this
case, if the supply duct air temperature via sensor 40 is cooler
than the ambient air temperature 22, 42, the fan output speed is
initiated (54 or 58) and the damper 102 is open 50 thereby closing
the room air inlet. If the supply duct air temperature is higher
than the ambient room air temperature, then the damper 102 is set
in the partially closed position 52, and fan output speed is set
60.
[0016] If the room air temperature is lower than desired, then the
heating mode shown the dotted line column in FIG. 1 applies. In
this case, if the supply duct air temperature via sensor 40, is
higher than the ambient room air temperature via sensor 22, then
according to FIG. 1, at diamond 41, damper 102 is open 50, and fan
output speed is set 56 or 58. If the supply duct air temperature
via sensor 40 is lower than the ambient room air temperature 22,
41, then damper 102 is placed in the partially closed position 52,
and fan output speed is set 60.
[0017] Based upon the desired temperature, a temperature range, and
the room air temperature and the supply duct temperature, the
temperature controller determines as shown in FIG. 1 whether the
room air damper disposed with, which is infinitely movable between
an open 50 and a nearly closed 52 position, will be partially
closed 52, or open 50, and whether to adjust the user-input minimum
fan speed 60. The fan draws air from the through the supply duct
and possibly through the room air damper through the positive
pressure room air purification unit. After making the
determination, the temperature controller operates to move the room
air damper 50, 52 and operates to adjust the user-input fan speed
60, or user-input maximum fan speed 58, or the automatic fan speed
54, 56, 58 (which may override the user-input minimum fan speed
60), so that the desired room air temperature may be achieved.
[0018] It should be appreciated that fan speed settings 54, 56 and
58 (FIG. 1) are applied only when the supply duct inlet 112 is open
via an open position 50 of room air damper 102.
[0019] As seen in FIG. 1, there is a negatively-weighted ambient
temperature at 32 and a positively-weighted ambient temperature at
30. Negatively-weighted ambient temperature 32 is any ambient
temperature that is less than or equal to a user-set desired
temperature from which half of a deadband range temperature has
been subtracted. Positively-weighted ambient temperature 30 is any
ambient temperature that is greater than or equal to a user-set
desired temperature to which half of a deadband range temperature
has been added. Because the deadband range has a default setting of
four degrees the default negatively-weighted ambient temperature 32
is any ambient temperature that is two degrees or less than a
user-set desired temperature. Similarly, the default
positively-weighted ambient temperature 30 is any ambient
temperature that is two degrees or more than a user-set desired
temperature. While the default deadband range is four degrees, this
range may be re-set to a larger or smaller range by the user
through user input.
[0020] The use of negatively-weighted ambient temperature 32 and
positively-weighted ambient temperature 30 allows the user to
potentially favor more constant fan speed over temperature
fluctuation, rather than constant temperature over fan speed.
[0021] If the desired temperature is higher than the ambient room
air temperature and supply duct air temperature, the auxiliary
heater will be turned on 44 by temperature controller 10.
[0022] If the desired temperature is lower than the ambient room
air temperature, and the supply duct air temperature is lower than
ambient room air temperature, the temperature controller 10 will
open 50 room air damper 102 and the fan speed will be set
automatically 54, 56, if the unit is in "automatic mode," (48) or
the fan speed will be set according to command block 58 if the unit
is not in "automatic mode." In other words, temperature controller
10 will ignore any user-input fan speed setting when said
temperature controller system 10 is in automatic mode 48. With
respect to fan speed settings 54, 56, it is important to point out
that the fan speed settings are based on weighted set points.
Specifically, with respect to fan speed settings 56, the high fan
speed setting will be engaged only when the ambient temperature is
greater than a high-weighted set point equal to 3 degrees over the
user-set desired temperature; the medium fan speed setting will be
engaged only when the ambient temperature is greater than a
medium-weighted set point equal to 2 degrees over the user-set
desired temperature; the low fan speed setting will be engaged only
when the ambient temperature is greater than a low-weighted set
point equal to 1 degree over the user-set desired temperature.
Specifically, with respect to fan speed settings 54, the high fan
speed setting will be engaged only when the ambient temperature is
less than a low weighted set point equal to 3 degrees under the
user-set desired temperature; the medium fan speed setting will be
engaged only when the ambient temperature is less than a
medium-weighted set-point equal to 2 degrees under the user-set
desired temperature; the low fan speed setting will be engaged only
when the ambient temperature is less than a low-weighted set-point
equal to 1 degree under the user-set desired temperature. The 3
degree, 2 degree and 1 degree set point weightings are default
settings and these amount of weighting may be changed by user
input.
[0023] In order to maintain positive pressure within the room, it
will be appreciated that supply duct air at all times will be drawn
by the positive pressure room air purification unit into the same
room in which the positive pressure air purification unit 12 is
located. This is because the partially closed position 52 of damper
102 always allows some volume of air to pass from supply duct 110
through supply duct inlet 112 and through outlet 46. Ideally, the
positive pressure room air purification unit will be equipped with
a filtration system that will allow only purified air to pass
through and exhaust into the room.
[0024] It should be appreciated that in case of component
malfunction 14, 22A, 40A, 49A, the fan output may be manually set
60, but the damper 102 will remain in the default open 50
position.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an HVAC floor supply duct 110 is
in communication with a bottom chamber of temperature controller
system unit 10. The temperature of the air from HVAC floor supply
duct 110 entering supply duct inlet 112 is taken by sensor 40.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, supply duct 110 may physically
enter supply duct inlet 112 not from the floor, but from the wall
or ceiling, depending on the physical location of the supply duct
within the room. In this case, as seen in FIG. 3, there is a plate
114 having a width 114W which may be removed to provide a
perpendicular, second direction of entry from which a volume of air
may be admitted through supply duct inlet 112. If plate 114 is
removed and used for introducing air into supply duct inlet 112,
then plate 114 may be re-used by connecting it into the bottom of
positive pressure air purification unit 12 thereby covering and
preventing HVAC supply duct 110 from supplying air from the floor
HVAC duct 110. Alternatively, a different plate (not shown) other
than plate 114 and having different dimensions from plate 114 may
be used to prevent HVAC supply duct 110 from supplying air from the
floor. Because the positive pressure air purification unit 12 may
be also mounted to a ceiling to provide inlet 112 access to a
ceiling supply duct (not shown), it is important to note that
regardless of the plate 114 itself, positive pressure air
purification unit is adapted to provide a single inlet 112 for one
of two perpendicular air flow paths (floor or wall).
[0027] A room air inlet is shown at 108. The temperature of the
room air (ambient air) is sensed by room air temperature sensor
22.
[0028] Damper 102 is controlled by damper motor 106 and spring 104.
It should be appreciated that spring 104 may be either internal to
damper motor 106 (not shown) or external to damper motor 106 as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0029] In either configuration, upon a loss of power to damper
motor 106, spring 104 biases damper 102 to an open position 50.
This open position 50 prevents any accumulated foreign materials
from falling from the face of the filter into the room. Similarly,
in the event of malfunction, the display shows an error 50A (See
FIG. 1), and any error 50A results in the damper's 102 moving to
open position 50.
[0030] When powered, damper motor 106 moves damper 102 from the
open position 50 to an infinite number of positions between open
position 50 and (nearly completely closed position) or partially
closed position 52. Nearly completely closed (or partially closed
position) 52 does not allow damper 102 to completely prevent air
from HVAC floor supply duct 110, but always allows some air from
the HVAC floor supply duct 110 to be drawn to generate positive
pressure within the room. Damper motor 106 may be a standard type
AC motor, or may be a stepper motor. With any type of damper motor
106, the motor will be adapted to stop at position 52 such that
damper 102 does not completely prevent air from HVAC supply duct
110 from entering the unit 12 via supply duct inlet 112. In
addition, preferred embodiment shows the two bar linkage 116
between damper 102 and damper motor 106 physically prevents damper
106 from completely closing air flow from HVAC supply duct 110.
Therefore, position 52 has a mechanically-enforced limit separate
and independent from the spring 104 bias that may be already
incorporated into damper motor 106. Because the mechanically
enforced limits 104,116 are each independently sufficient to
position damper 102 in a nearly closed position 52, it should be
understood that the present invention will function perfectly with
only one of these mechanically-enforced limits. As stated above
with respect to the description of FIG. 1, based on how the user
selects room size, the damper motor 106 varies the size of the
opening of (and thus the mass flow rate of air from) the supply
duct air.
[0031] Air passes over heating elements 44A, which may be "on" or
"off" depending on the decision by the system controller 10 in FIG.
1.
[0032] It is very important to understand that the combined mass
flow rate of air entering through supply duct 110 and room air
inlet 108 is equal to the mass flow rate of air passing heating
elements 44A and exiting unit 12 via outlet 46. Thus, positive
pressure is generated by the present invention in the same room in
which the entire invention is located, but due to equal mass flow
rates in and out, there is no net positive pressure within the unit
of the present invention itself.
[0033] As various modifications could be made to the exemplary
embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding
illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention,
it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing
description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth
and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of
the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined
only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *