Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, a bi-directional valve for a bi-flow filter drier includes a valve body and a movable valve member disposed within the valve body. The movable valve member is movable within the valve body between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable valve member permits fluid flow in a first or forward flow direction through the valve while blocking or inhibiting fluid flow in a second or reverse flow direction through the valve. In the second position, the movable flow member permits fluid flow in the second or reverse flow direction through the valve while blocking or inhibiting fluid flow in the first or forward flow direction through the valve. The direction of fluid flow through the other filter drier components may be essentially the same whether the movable valve member is in the first position or the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of control circuits for supplying current to actuate solenoids, such as refrigerant valves in HVAC systems, other valves, “solenoid” style contactors, other coil driven actuators, etc. In exemplary embodiments, a control circuit for supplying current to actuate a solenoid comprises a solenoid coil and a switch coupled with the solenoid coil. The control circuit may be configured such that the solenoid coil is operable as a load coil and a switch mode supply coil and such that the switch is configured to operate a load and power supply of the control circuit. Additionally, or alternatively, the control circuit may include a current monitoring shunt and a flyback diode that are located in a circulating current loop defined by and/or including the solenoid coil, the current monitoring shunt, and the flyback diode.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments for monitoring for and/or detecting freeze-up and/or paddle wear conditions within dispensers and mixers associated with soft frozen desserts (broadly, edibles or edible products) and crushed ice drinks (broadly, drinkables or potable products).

Abstract: A system for externally monitoring a tank level is provided. The system includes a tank monitoring computer device and at least one sensor array. The at least one sensor array includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of fasteners. The at least one sensor array is configured to be attached to a tank by the plurality of fasteners. The tank monitoring computer device is in communication with the at least one sensor array. The tank monitoring computer device is programmed to a) receive a plurality of sensor readings from the plurality of sensors associated with the at least one sensor array, b) calculate a first tank level using a first method, c) calculate a second tank level using a second method, d) compare the first tank level to the second tank level to determine a final tank level, and e) report the final tank level.

Abstract: A valve includes a shaft having threads along at least a portion of a length of the shaft. A travel limit member (e.g., a coil spring, a washer, etc.) is disposed within one or more of the threads. The travel limit member may comprise a coil spring configured to be movable within the threads along the shaft when the shaft is rotated relative to the coil spring. The coil spring is configured to be operable for providing: a safety stall or hard stop for a fully open position of the valve when the coil spring is within the top thread and/or runs out of the threads after having traveled upwardly along the shaft within the threads; and a safety stall or hard stop for a fully closed position of the valve when the coil spring contacts a stop after having traveled downwardly along the shaft within the threads.

Abstract: A valve includes a movable valve member movable relative to a valve port between a closed position in which fluid flow through the valve port is inhibited and an open position in which fluid flow through the valve port is permitted. A valve seat is coupled to the movable valve member. The valve seat is configured to seat against and seal the valve port when the movable valve member is in the closed position and to be spaced apart from the valve port when the valve member is in the open position. A sealing member is disposed within a cavity behind the valve seat.

Abstract: A valve includes a shaft having threads along at least a portion of a length of the shaft. A travel limit member (e.g., a coil spring, a washer, etc.) is disposed within one or more of the threads. The travel limit member may comprise a coil spring configured to be movable within the threads along the shaft when the shaft is rotated relative to the coil spring. The coil spring is configured to be operable for providing: a safety stall or hard stop for a fully open position of the valve when the coil spring is within the top thread and/or runs out of the threads after having traveled upwardly along the shaft within the threads; and a safety stall or hard stop for a fully closed position of the valve when the coil spring contacts a stop after having traveled downwardly along the shaft within the threads.

Abstract: A valve system includes a motor, a first valve, a second valve, and a controller. The first valve is connected to the motor shaft and is rotatable to an open position, in which fluid flows through a first channel, and a close position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing through the first channel. The second valve is connected to the motor shaft and is rotatable to an open position, in which fluid flows through a second channel from a first end to a second end, and to a close position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing through the second channel. The controller is connected to the motor and can sequentially actuate the first valve and the second valve to create at least a first, second, third, and fourth position.

Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.

Abstract: A valve system includes a motor, a first valve, a second valve, and a controller. The first valve is connected to the motor shaft and is rotatable to an open position, in which fluid flows through a first channel, and a close position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing through the first channel. The second valve is connected to the motor shaft and is rotatable to an open position, in which fluid flows through a second channel from a first end to a second end, and to a close position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing through the second channel. The controller is connected to the motor and can sequentially actuate the first valve and the second valve to create at least a first, second, third, and fourth position.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is disclosed. The monitoring system includes at least one processor and a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the at least one processor. The instructions include: determining a capacity of a filter of the HVAC system based at least on dimensions of the filter; determining a threshold based on the capacity of the filter; monitoring a state of a circulator blower of the HVAC system; and calculating a filter usage based on the state of the circulator blower and one of (i) a power consumed by the circulator blower and (ii) an operation mode of the HVAC system. The instructions also include generating, in response to the filter usage exceeding the threshold, an alert suggesting replacement of the filter.

Abstract: A powered anode current drive device is configured to automatically determine an anode drive current that offsets galvanic corrosion in a vessel. A method alerts a user on a change of an output of a powered anode current drive device. The method includes receiving an anode drive level output of the powered anode current drive device, determining electrical characteristics of the anode drive level output, analyzing the determined electrical characteristics for anomalous behavior, and generating an alert of the anomalous behavior.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments for monitoring for and/or detecting freeze-up and/or paddle wear conditions within dispensers and mixers associated with soft frozen desserts (broadly, edibles or edible products) and crushed ice drinks (broadly, drinkables or potable products).

Abstract: A multi-thermostat temperature control system and related methods include thermostats spaced about respective conditioning zones in conditioned spaces. The control system includes a thermostat controller configured to store a temperature setpoint value for each of the thermostats in an operating schedule. The thermostat controller is also configured to transmit a first control signal to the conditioning units to control an operation of the conditioning units to maintain a temperature of the conditioned spaces at a first respective temperature setpoint value and to receive offset values for respective ones of the thermostats wherein the one or more offset values are determined to counter the temperature effects of a local heat load in the conditioned spaces proximate an associated thermostat.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building receives, from a monitoring device located at the building, a frequency domain representation and a time domain current value that are based on an aggregate current supplied to a plurality of components of an indoor air handler of the HVAC system. The monitoring system assesses, based on the received frequency domain representation and time domain current value, whether a first fault has occurred in a first component of the plurality of components of the indoor air handler and whether a second fault has occurred in a second component of the plurality of components of the indoor air handler. The monitoring system generates and transmits an alert in response to assessing occurrence of at least one of the first fault and the second fault. The monitoring system is located remotely from the building.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a fuel-fired heating appliance having a burner, a fuel flow control for controlling a fuel flow to the burner, and a combustion air blower for supplying combustion air to the burner, includes iteratively (1) determining the quality of combustion by sensing a flame at the burner and outputting a time-varying flame current signal that includes an ionization signal from the flame; sampling the flame current signal to obtain a time record of the flame current signal; using a Fourier transformation, transforming the time record into a frequency spectrum of frequency components that include frequency components of the ionization signal, the frequency spectrum having a spectrum shaped defined by various frequency components of the flame current signal; and determining whether the frequency spectrum indicates flame stability or instability.

Abstract: A system and methods of controlling a powered anode are disclosed. The method includes varying an electrical power input driving the powered anode through a range of values of a first electrical parameter, the range defined by an upper range limit and a lower range limit and measuring a current value of a second electrical parameter of the electrical power input during the varying. The method also includes determining a slope between the measured current values of the first and corresponding second electrical parameters and measured previous values of the first and second electrical parameters and comparing the determined slope to a predetermined slope threshold range and applying the current value of a first electrical parameter to the electrical power input when a discontinuity in the slope is determined.

Abstract: A method and a thermostat for a multi-thermostat temperature control system are provided. The system includes a thermostat including at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one memory device. The thermostat is configured to receive one or more input signal commands permitting a recovery from a demand management system load shedding event and determine a pseudo-random starting time window from which a recovery starting time is selected. The pseudo-random starting time is based on a value accessible to the thermostat that is unique to the thermostat. The starting time window includes a primary delay window and a secondary delay window within the primary delay window. The thermostat is also configured to start an operation of a conditioning unit associated with the thermostat at the selected time.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes a monitoring server. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate control line current value from a monitoring device. The aggregate control line current value represents a total current flowing through control lines used by a thermostat to command the HVAC system. The monitoring server is configured to determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate control line current value. Operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode. The monitoring server is configured to analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode.

Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.