Abstract: A humidity control system includes a humidification device configured to modify an indoor air humidity within a building and a humidity control device that is communicably coupled to the humidification device. The humidity control device is configured to receive a construction factor concerning a structure of the building, determine a plurality of indoor air humidity thresholds corresponding to a plurality of outdoor air temperatures based on the construction factor, receive a real-time outdoor air temperature, and control the humidification device to modify the indoor air humidity based on the plurality of indoor air humidity thresholds.

Abstract: A humidifying system and method for humidifying ambient air is disclosed. The system includes an air circulation unit, a water feed valve, and a water panel in fluid communication with the air circulation and the water feed valve. The air circulation unit and water feed valve are both operably coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to receive on or more signals from one or more sensors, a user interface, and/or a remote control communicably coupled to the controller. The controller may be configured to turn on the air circulation unit and water feed valve in response to a received input—such as a call for humidity. The controller may subsequently turn off the water feed valve when an ambient humidity satisfies a humidity threshold and delay turning off the air circulation unit to enable drying of the water panel while continuing to humidify circulating air.

Abstract: A drain pan system for receiving, routing, and draining condensate from a dehumidifying, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes a drain pan body that contains one or more walls to mitigate air flow and enable smooth condensate flow into, through, and out of the drain pan system.

Abstract: A multi-zone environmental control system such as an HVAC and/or an IAQ control system includes a control module, a primary user interface, and at least one secondary user interface. The control module is configured to control an environmental system and controlled devices, each device associated with a respective zone. The primary user interface is in communication with the control mode and associated with a first zone. The primary user interface displays information to the user, receives inputs from the user regarding control of at least the first zone, and transmits signals to the control module, which then controls the device associated with the first zone. Each secondary user interface is associated with a zone other than the first zone and is configured to display information to the user, receive an input from the user concerning control of the respective zone, and communicate with the primary user interface.

Abstract: A damper regulator for controlling the opening/closing characteristics of an HVAC damper has a swing arm coupled to the shaft on which the damper pivots. The swing arm has an arm carriage mounted to translate on the swing arm as the swing arm pivots, and a biasing spring connects the arm carriage to the damper regulator's housing, or to another suitable anchor. The translation of the arm carriage effectively adapts the characteristics of the biasing spring so that the damper need not be subjected to ever-increasing pressure to achieve greater airflow, or so that other damper opening characteristics can be achieved.

Abstract: A spool for use in a wire braiding machine, for example, which has a “bi-tapered” design including a central cylindrical section and a pair of tapered (e.g., frusto-conical or parabolic) flanges having surfaces that slope inwardly toward the cylindrical section. In this manner, the spool provides a progressively widening wire fill area, as measured along a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin, as the wound wire advances progressively radially outwardly from the cylindrical section. This widening wire fill area aids in preventing the formation, propagation and buildup of wire winding defects, such that the wire is more likely to unspool or pay-out from the spool without losing tension, snagging or breaking.

Abstract: A ventilation method and system is described for providing adequate ventilation to an indoor environment while avoiding certain periods of times where ventilation air conditions or other control variables tend to be less optimal or preferable for ventilation, but while still meeting established or future ventilation air standards. The described system and method utilize incremental target cycle times determined based on a regression analysis estimating expression of fractional on time as a function of effectiveness multiplied by fractional on time for a corresponding cycle periods.

Abstract: A bimetal composite wire including, in cross-section, an outer shell or tube formed of a first biodegradable material and an inner core formed of a second biodegradable material. When formed into a stent, for example, the first and second biodegradable materials may be different, and may have differing biodegradation rates. In a first embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively slowly for retention of the mechanical integrity of a stent during vessel remodeling, and the second biodegradable material of the core may degrade relatively quickly. In a second embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively quickly, leaving a thinner structure of a second biodegradable material of the core that may degrade relatively slowly.

Abstract: A spool for use in a wire braiding machine, for example, which has a “bi-tapered” design including a central cylindrical section and a pair of tapered (e.g., frusto-conical or parabolic) flanges having surfaces that slope inwardly toward the cylindrical section. In this manner, the spool provides a progressively widening wire fill area, as measured along a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin, as the wound wire advances progressively radially outwardly from the cylindrical section. This widening wire fill area aids in preventing the formation, propagation and buildup of wire winding defects, such that the wire is more likely to unspool or pay-out from the spool without losing tension, snagging or breaking.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

Abstract: An active air cleaning controller is connected to a forced air heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The active air cleaning controller uses call signals from a thermostat to the HVAC system and/or sensor signals to determine when, and for how long, the blower of the HVAC system has been active and whether to independently activate the blower. The active air cleaning controller uses at least the collected information regarding the blower run time to determine when to activate the blower, in addition to its use within the HVAC system, to cycle and thus clean the air in a living environment independently of call signals used to activate heating and/or cooling functions of the HVAC system.

Abstract: A test apparatus and method for determining at least one characteristic of a test specimen. An exemplary test specimen is a shape memory metal alloy and an exemplary characteristic is a transformation temperature of the shape memory metal alloy. The test apparatus may include a chiller unit including a tank containing a chilling medium, such as isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, which holds a removable fixture tray that can accommodate up to ten specimens, or more. The fixture tray holds the test specimens in an initial deformed condition, and the cooling medium may be gradually heated to induce transformation of the specimens. The test apparatus may include a vision-based optical system which includes a camera that tracks the specimens within its field of view.

Abstract: A system for operating an HVAC system in the event of a thermostat failure is provided. The system includes the steps of activating a safety control program upon determining the thermostat failure has occurred, resetting a first timer, determining if an amount of time in the first timer exceeds a first time period, activating an HVAC system blower when the time remaining first timer exceeds the first time period, measuring a temperature of conditioned air with a temperature sensor, determining whether the temperature of conditioned air is less than a preset minimum temperature, activating an HVAC system heating unit if the conditioned air is less than the preset minimum temperature, determining whether the temperature of conditioned air is greater than a preset maximum temperature, activating an HVAC system cooling unit if the conditioned air is greater than the preset maximum temperature, and repeating the process.

Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.

Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.