Abstract: An air conditioning system cools air within an area. An air conditioner controller defines information based on input data from door and window open status sensors and a return air monitor sensing the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature or relative humidity of the air within the area being cooled by the air conditioning system and shuts down the system when specific conditions exist. The defined information is transmitted to a remote host device which retains and presents the transmitted information or information derived therefrom.

Abstract: An air conditioning system cools air within an area. An air conditioner controller defines information based on input data from door and window open status sensors and a return air monitor sensing the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature or relative humidity of the air within the area being cooled by the air conditioning system and shuts down the system when specific conditions exist. The defined information is transmitted to a remote host device which retains and presents the transmitted information or information derived therefrom.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid in a unit of a multi-tenant building occupied by a tenant or other consuming entity from the building management entity or owner, the use of the resource being monitored with monitoring technology having a substantial cost and installed by a resource servicing company. An agreement is established between the tenant or other consuming entity and the building management entity or owner including billing terms for the monitored resource(s). An agreement is established between the building management entity or owner and the resource servicing company whereby the resource servicing company will install, operate and service the monitoring technology in the unit, compute and deliver periodic bills to the tenant or other entity for the use of the monitored resources and collect the bills and share the proceeds with the building management entity or owner.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for defining a cost for water usage in a unit of a multi unit building such as an apartment or commercial building. The unit may include a water discharge device such as a sink, tub/shower or toilet and may include a device such as a heating/cooling device which is connected to a closed loop water supply pipe. Monitor means is associated with each supply pipe to determine the commencement of flow through the monitor means, the stoppage of such flow indicating the conclusion of an event and the duration of the flow. The flow duration and flow events for each monitor means are accumulated and are multiplied by a defined cost per unit flow duration/flow events for that monitor means to define a cost for the use of the water.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the use of heating/cooling energy in a remote heat exchanger. The temperature and pressure at either side of the heat exchanger are periodically monitored and the delta temperature times the square root of the pressure difference are accumulated for periodic transmission to a host computer for energy use calculation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring the use of water supplied by a pipe to a device that discharges water during use. A meter generates information indicating the volume of water is flowing through the pipe and the temperature times the volume thereof which is transmitted to a host computer. The host computer determines the average temperature of the water by dividing the temperature times volume data by the volume data and corrects the volume data for any temperature difference above a reference cold water temperature.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the flow of water through a pipe. A metering device is located in a pipeline. A transmitting unit including a sensor is contained within a housing which has a frame projecting horizontally outwardly from the housing. A clip having an elongated band and a “U” shaped clasp at either end has an inner clasp portion and an outer catch portion to hold the meter against the housing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the use of water supplied by a pipe to a device that discharges water during use. A meter generates information indicating that water is flowing through the pipe with a measured BTU content and a control receives the information and determines that either the water is flowing through the pipe or that water has stopped flowing through the pipe. An event counter counts events defined by the flow of water through the pipe followed by the stoppage of water flow in the pipe for at least a predetermined duration of time, and a volume counter counts volumetric flow (gallons of flow, for example) and energy content (therms of energy, for example). Where the meter can be interfered with by attaching a magnet to the meter a tamper signal is also generated. With this data, misoperation of the devices can be indicated.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the flow of water through a pipe. A pipe section is adapted to be located in a water line which includes a metering device having a target displaceable at a rate representative of the rate of flow through the pipe section. A telemetering unit includes a sensor for sensing a target and a receiver for receiving the output of the sensor and transmitting data representative of the flow to a remote receiver. A housing houses the telemetering unit and is releasably secured to the pipe section so that the sensor will sense the metering device target.

Abstract: A siphon for use with a flush type toilet having a tank with a drain hole at the bottom. The siphon comprises a vertical tubular discharge portion including a vertical tube which is secured within the drain hole in the bottom of the tank. The siphon also includes a bell shaped inlet portion including a connecting portion having a downwardly extending tubular portion for telescopic insertion into the vertical tube. A hole in defined in the bell shaped inlet portion and an elbow is secured within the hole and extends downwardly, terminating at a height selected to define the desired flush height of the toilet.

Abstract: A pressure assist toilet includes a gravity flow bowl, a gravity flow tank, and a thin walled pressure tank. The thin walled pressure tank is selectively configured to have a rectanguloid shape for insertion into the gravity flow tank and having strengthened areas to enable said thin walled pressure tank to be pressurized to about 20 PSI. The thin walled pressure tank is charged with a predetermined volume of water at about 20 PSI, and the charge is released from the thin walled pressure tank to the gravity flow bowl.

Abstract: A siphon for use with a flush type toilet having a tank with a drain hole at the bottom. The siphon comprises a vertical tubular discharge portion including a vertical tube which is secured within the drain hole in the bottom of the tank. The siphon also includes a bell shaped inlet portion including a connecting portion having a downwardly extending tubular portion for telescopic insertion into the vertical tube. A hole is defined in the bell shaped inlet portion and an elbow is secured within the hole and extends downwardly, terminating at a height selected to define the desired flush height of the toilet. The flush volume can be automatically set to either a normal or low volume flush with a control that includes a sensor that senses the presence of a user at the toilet.

Abstract: A building automation system comprising: means for conditioning air; means, associated with the air conditioning means, for distributing the conditioned air to at least one space to be conditioned and means for sensing environmental conditions in the at least one space to be conditioned. The building automation system also includes means for managing the operation of the conditioning means, the distributing means, and the sensing means; and means, using wireless two-way transmissions, for operably linking the managing means, the conditioning means, the distributing means, and the sensing means.

Abstract: A retrofit assembly for adapting two replacement rooftop air handling units to a multizone installation that originally had only one air handling unit. The two replacement units include one heating unit and one cooling unit, while the original unit typically had provided both heating and cooling to several zones in the building. The retrofit assembly includes a valve manifold and a curb adaptor that make it possible to use the building's existing roof curb and air ducts. The curb adaptor supports the cooling unit on top of the existing roof curb and includes an air duct for conveying air from the existing return air ducts in the building to the inlet of the cooling unit. The heating unit is mounted on its own separate roof curb and the valve manifold receives the air discharged from both replacement units and directs it into the existing plurality of supply air ducts which further convey the air to the plurality of zones in the building.