Abstract: The building automation application framework defines an object-oriented class hierarchy in which a standard object superclass defines a plurality of different standard objects that may be assembled by a system designer into larger and more complex building automation systems. The standard objects include a view component that handles implementation details of displaying that object's contents on a standardized or generic user interface browser. The standard object also includes a command component that identifies to other objects what methods may be invoked by that object, thereby relieving the system developer from attending to this programming detail. The application framework defines a building automation model that is application-centric, as opposed to device-centric. Applications are constructed by interconnecting standard objects, assemblies formed from standard objects, and other application objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting actuation of a device. The device has a home position and a set position and the apparatus returns the device to the home position upon loss of power to the apparatus. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a drive motor for providing a driving force to a drive shaft, and a bias member having a cocking mechanism and a release mechanism. The bias member provides a bias force to a bias shaft when the cocking mechanism is cocked and the release mechanism is released; the release mechanism is released when power is lost to the actuator. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus further includes a drive member which delivers an actuating force to an actuating shaft in response to forces received on an input shaft. Still further, the apparatus preferably includes a transmission mechanism coupled with the drive shaft, with the bias shaft, and with the input shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting actuation of a positioning member and a method for commissioning the apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a controller coupled to a drive motor and adapted to receive an input signal and to apply positioning signals to the drive motor. The positioning signals selectively effect positioning of the positioning member and determine a first position and a second position of the positioning member. The method for commissioning the apparatus selectively includes performing an end stop determination sequence in response to an end stop determination signal, winding a bias member, and determining a range of rotation for the positioning member. The end stop determination sequence seeks to detect the presence of both a load and spring when rotating the positioning member and biasing member, respectively, in one of a first and second direction.

Abstract: A thermal release coupler is provided for use in a fire and smoke damper assembly. The fire and smoke damper assembly includes an array of damper blades carried in a damper frame which are moveable between open and closed positions; a linkage joining the damper blades; and a damper actuator operatively connected to the linkage for driving the damper blade array between the open and closed positions. The thermal release coupler has a drive shaft coupled to the damper actuator and a connecting shaft coupled to the damper blade linkage and rotatably coupled to the drive shaft. A drive coupler and a connecting coupler, each being secured to and carried on the drive shaft and the connecting shaft, respectively, are maintained in fixed relationship by a linking member which has a first fixed state and a second free state.

Abstract: A networked system having a wide variety of applications and particularly applicable to facilities management systems has multiple levels of software in processsing nodes. The levels include a "features" processing level which communicates requests for data to a software object level containing databases of processes and attributes and database managers. The database managers in the software object level operate to provide data to the high level features in the same format. The software object level communicates with a hardware object level which also contains databases and database managers to mask differences between operational hardware units. By categorizing operational units by type, additional units of a known type can be added with only low level hardware object database changes. Adding units of a new type is facilitated by software changes confined to the lower level hardware and software objects, avoiding software changes at high level features.

Abstract: An adaptive airflow control system for positioning damper systems or controlling air units utilized in an environment control system is provided. The system is based on a fixed-gain, proportional-only feedback design to provide stable operation given the nonlinear behavior of flow through a valve or damper. A time-dependent deadzone of nonlinearity is used to reject measurement noise. The deadzone of nonlinearity is adjusted by an adaptively calculated proportionality constant which is capable of switching the control system between various operating modes for adjusting the performance of the system.

Abstract: A closed loop feedback control system that operates to maintain a process variable at or near a process variable setpoint. The system includes a setpoint regulator that adjusts the value of a process variable in response to a setpoint associated therewith. A sensor associated with the setpoint regulator senses the process variable and outputs a process variable signal corresponding thereto. A controller connected to both the setpoint regulator and the sensor in a closed loop is programmed with PID logic to control operation of the setpoint regulator in response to the process variable signal received from the sensor. The controller generates a control signal that controls the setpoint regulator based on a non-uniform two-point sampling of the process variable signal. The controller delivers smooth, bump-free, control in spite of changes in the setpoint controller gains or system parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modeling multi zone ventilation systems. The method integrates flow rate standards with the concept of age of air. The method serves as the basis for several different ventilation effectiveness calculation methods, and for translating outdoor air requirements to age of air requirements, and vice versa. The method also serves as the basis for the development of new ventilation strategies for multi zone systems that minimizes the amount of outdoor air required to maintain the age of the zone air at or below a maximum acceptable level. Preferably, the ventilation control strategy of the present invention allows age of air in each of a plurality of zones in a multi-zone system to conform to ASHRAE Standard 62 requirements.

Abstract: An electric actuator return-to-normal failsafe system that utilizes a bank of storage capacitors to store electrical energy for returning an electrical actuator to a safe position in the event of a power failure. The failsafe system includes a regulator circuit that regulates the output of the storage capacitor such that a constant power output is applied to the electric actuator. The constant power output from the regulator circuit is also available to provide directional control of the actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of series-produced valves which are used in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems and which comprise a cast-iron valve body, at least one stainless steel valve seat disposed in a flow restrictor opening in the valve body and an actuating rod having at least one flow restrictor, the actuating rod being taken out of the valve through a cover which closes an opening for the cover in the valve body, such opening being in alignment with the valve seat. The valve seat is welded into a casting serving as blank for the valve body without previous chip removal treatment of the casting surface, in one chucking. The blank is then finish-treated. Preferably, the valve seat is produced by build-up welding followed by chip removal shaping of the weld bead.

Abstract: A Refrigerant Sensor is provided that provides within a common assembly pressure, temperature and superheat measurements and calculations with respect to a refrigerant material. The Refrigerant Sensor includes a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant material and a temperature transducer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant material. The pressure and temperature measurements are used by a microprocessor to calculate the superheat value of the refrigerant material. The microprocessor is within the common assembly. The Refrigerant Sensor can send and receive information from the network and also calibrate the pressure and temperature measurements.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an air handling unit. The control system links the position of an exhaust air damper and a recirculation air damper so as the exhaust air damper is opened, the recirculation air damper is closed the same amount, and vice versa. An outside air damper remains completely open at all times. The relative positions of the exhaust air damper and the recirculation air damper control the amount of outside air that is emitted into the air handling unit through the outside air damper. For each of the control states of heating with minimum outside air, cooling with outside air, mechanical cooling with maximum outside air, and mechanical cooling with minimum outside air, the outside air damper remains completely open, and the position of the exhaust air damper and the recirculation air damper are controlled based on a particular state. Sequencing strategies are employed for transitions between the control states that utilize these positions of the dampers.

Abstract: A flow measurement device and a VAV device are adapted to be directly coupled. The flow measurement device is adapted to automatically make and record flow measurements and to communicate the measurements to a VAV controller. The VAV controller is adapted to receive the flow measurements and self calibrate in response thereto. The VAV device is further adapted to report results of the calibration process to a system central and/or supervisory controller.

Abstract: A variable air volume heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system controller with adaptive control architecture adjusts control parameters to provide for increased direct expansion coil air flow and reduced compressor cycling. The supply air temperature set point is adjusted as a function of the return air temperature and compressor cycling is time limited.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptive airflow control system for positioning damper systems or controlling air units utilized in an environment control system. The system is based on a conservative, fixed-gain, proportional-only feedback design to guarantee stable operation given the nonlinear behavior of flow through a valve or damper. A time-dependent deadzone of nonlinearity is used to reject measurement noise. Such a system allows a person to adjust the performance of the system by selecting a parameter that affects the tradeoff between tracking capability and noise rejection.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively effecting actuation of one of a rotatably driven device and a linearly driven device. The apparatus includes a frame, an output gear cluster coupled to the frame for rotation relative thereto and driving means for selectively rotating the output gear cluster in a first direction and a second direction. The actuator further includes an output hub having at least one of a rotary output head adapted to couple the output gear cluster to the positioning member of the rotatably driven device and a linear output head adapted to couple the output gear cluster to the positioning member of the linearly driven device. By this arrangement, and by selectively coupling one of the rotary output head and linear output head to the output gear cluster and to the positioning member of one of the rotatably driven device and linearly driven device, the actuator selectively actuates one of the rotatably driven device and the linearly driven device.