Volume Flow Of Discharged Air At Discharge Into Zone Modulated By Zone Heating Or Cooling Load (e.g., Variable Air Volume, Etc.) Patents (Class 165/217)
  • Patent number: 11465204
    Abstract: A build material management system for a 3D printing system is described in which one or more input ports of a housing of the build material management system is to connect to one or more respective transportable containers. The transportable containers contain a volume of build material comprising 3D printed parts and a portion of non-fused build material. A pump also comprised within the housing is operable to provide a pressure differential across a conduit network of the build material management system. The pump is connected to the input port(s) by the conduit network. An air-flow caused through at least one of the one or more input ports is controlled by processing circuitry also comprised within the housing. The air-flow causes cooling within the respective transportable container. In one alternative, the housing comprises at least two input ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin M. Roman, Xavier Alonso Becerro, Ismael Chanclon Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11162706
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system including an exhaust plenum configured to receive an exhaust air flow from a cooling load. The HVAC system also includes a condenser configured to receive an input air flow and transfer thermal energy to the input air flow. A panel is positioned directly adjacent to and between the exhaust plenum and the condenser. The panel includes a passage providing a fluid flow path directly between the exhaust plenum and the condenser. The passage is configured to discharge a portion of the exhaust air flow, and the input air flow includes the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Anil V. Bhosale, Appiya B. Suriya Prakash, Neelkanth S. Gupte, Vinay Nanjappa
  • Patent number: 11156997
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining an air conditioning system. A system can include one or more sensors positioned inside of the air conditioning system configured to transmit current sensor data to a remote location. A data repository contains historic sensor data and corresponding air conditioning system status data. A neural network is trained using the historic sensor data and the corresponding air conditioning system status data to predict a future air conditioning system status based on the transmitted current sensor data. A server computer system is configured to predict the future air conditioning system status based on the current sensor data using the neural network, and a graphical user interface is configured to display the predicted future air conditioning system status to a remote client. The current sensor data is stored in the data repository and the neural network is further trained based on the current sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Alisea S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Casa
  • Patent number: 10941951
    Abstract: A residential HVAC system includes, a compressor, and an outdoor unit controller in communication with the compressor. The outdoor unit controller is configured to receive an indoor ambient temperature and a temperature set point. The outdoor unit controller is further configured to determine an outdoor ambient temperature, and to determine an operating value for the compressor based on a percentage of a delta between a minimum operating value of the compressor and a maximum operating value of the compressor, plus the minimum operating value. The minimum operating value and the maximum operating value are based on the determined outdoor ambient temperature. The percentage of the delta is based on a predefined temperature differential multiplier and one or more time dependent multipliers. The outdoor unit controller is further configured to modify the current operating value of the compressor with the determined operating value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Shawn A. Hern, Brian D. Rigg, Tom R. Tasker, Jedidiah O. Bentz, Theresa N. Gillette, Shaun B. Atchison, Tyler McCune, Aneek M. Noor, Cody J. Kaiser, Daniel S. Middleton
  • Patent number: 10837665
    Abstract: An HVAC system within a building including a ventilator, a number of sensors, and a control device. The control device has a processor that is configured to receive a request to operate the ventilator. The control device is further configured to determine a status of a minimum runtime mode of the ventilator. The minimum runtime mode operates the ventilator for a minimum amount of each time in a predefined time period. The control device is further configured to determine an air quality value. The air quality value is based on one or more measurements provided to the control device by the plurality of sensors. The control device is further configured to operate the ventilator based on the air quality value being determined to be below an acceptable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Joseph Michael Ruggiero
  • Patent number: 10724753
    Abstract: A method of operating a variable speed compressor, the variable speed compressor in electrical communication with a computing element and the computing element in electrical communication with a sensing device, the method including operating the computing element to transmit a control signal to the compressor to operate in an operational mode, operating the computing element to receive outdoor air temperature data from the sensing device, operating the computing element to determine an operational run time value of the compressor based in part on the outside air temperature data, operating the computing element to determine an estimated day period based in part on the control signal, and operating the compressor at an operational speed based in part on the outdoor air temperature data, the operational run time value, and the estimated day period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Jun Pyo Lee
  • Patent number: 10723197
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for motor vehicles is designed to independently cool or heat a plurality of vehicle room regions and to independently adjust discharged air volume levels in the respective vehicle room regions. The air conditioning system includes a control unit configured to, when one of the discharged air volume levels in the respective vehicle room regions is set to a maximum air volume level, dependently control the other discharged air volume level to the maximum air volume level while entering into a maximum air volume control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Ei Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 10697657
    Abstract: A ventilation method includes: acquiring an outdoor temperature; and increasing an amount of ventilation of a ventilation unit including one or more ventilators that ventilate a shopping space of a shop in which a cooling apparatus for storage of a product is provided when the outdoor temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sista Nugrahani, Katsunori Daimou
  • Patent number: 10473340
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus which can separately control separate air-sending devices according to an operation state of two outdoor units connected with the indoor unit, and can pass winds generated by the separate air-sending devices to separate heat exchangers without any waste. This indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes; one box-shaped casing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a partition plate part partitioning the inside of the box-shaped casing to form two wind passages; separate air-sending devices provided respectively in the wind passages to suction air through the air inlet into the wind passage and blow out the air through the air outlet; and separate heat exchangers provided respectively in the wind passages between the separate air-sending device and the air outlet, connected respectively with independent outdoor units to configure separate refrigerant circuits, and air-conditioning the air suctioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Tomoigawa
  • Patent number: 10401044
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for thermal management of buildings using intelligent and autonomous set-point adjustments are provided herein. A method includes capturing a user-selected setting that represents a desired balance between (i) energy usage and (ii) thermal comfort associated with a building; capturing, via a communication link with one or more hardware devices associated with thermal management of the building, one or more items of real-time information pertaining to the thermal management of the building; determining one or more set-point temperatures for the building based on (i) the user-selected setting, (ii) the items of real-time information pertaining to the thermal management of the building, and (iii) one or more constraints; and outputting the set-point temperatures to the hardware devices associated with the thermal management of the building for execution of a thermal management schedule to be carried out in accordance with the set-point temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Utopus Insights, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Chandan, Zainul Charbiwala, Rohit Chintala, Sunil Kumar Ghai
  • Patent number: 10375864
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to airflow control in data centers utilizing hot aisle containment. Consistent with some embodiments disclosed herein, a first differential pressure sensor may be located in a contained hot aisle in a data center and a second differential pressure sensor may be located in an above-ceiling hot air return plenum connected to the contained hot aisle. Pressure sensor data obtained from the differential pressure sensors may be used to maintain a near-neutral pressure in the contained hot aisle and a set negative pressure in the hot air return plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Dawson
  • Patent number: 10359202
    Abstract: Individual zone temperature control sensors in a multiple zone system are monitored by a controller, and when one zone calls, the calling zone is allocated all of the airflow from the HVAC system except for a predetermined minimum that is allocated to the other zones. If all zones have equal priority, then the airflow continues to be supplied to the first calling zone until a temperature condition is satisfied, at which time the full airflow is allocated to a second calling zone and only the predetermined minimum is supplied to the first and all other calling zones. When two or more zones having different priorities, or set point deviations, are calling at the same time, the zone with the highest priority or whose temperature is furthest from a set point will become the single zone that is open and receives all of the air except for the predetermined minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Donald B. Prather
  • Patent number: 10303574
    Abstract: Self-generated thermal stress evaluation concepts are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a computing device, a cooling system, such as fans, that draws heat away from the computing device, and a management controller. The management controller can sense a temperature in the computing device and compare it against a temperature profile. The temperature profile can specify one or more target temperatures in the computing device over time. Based on the comparison, the management controller can adjust a cooling capacity of the cooling system. The adjustment to the cooling capacity can be achieved by reducing the speed of the fans, for example, to raise the temperature in the computing device. Processing tasks can also be executed in the computing device and, in response to the detection of an error in the computing device, the management controller can record the error and a profile for the error for further evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Jeffrey Aalund, Christopher James BeSerra
  • Patent number: 10274228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for independently controlling the climate within a primary zone and at least one secondary zone of a building. The system comprises a primary packaged unit comprising a primary indoor coil and a primary variable speed indoor fan blowing over the primary indoor coil to serve the primary zone of the building. The system further comprises a secondary unit comprising a secondary indoor coil circulating the refrigerant and a secondary variable speed indoor fan blowing over the secondary indoor coil to serve a secondary zone of the building. The primary unit and the at least one secondary unit shares a common variable speed compressor, outdoor coil, and an outdoor fan that are disposed within the primary unit. First and second solenoid valves in the primary unit selectively control refrigerant flow to the primary and secondary units to enable independent control of the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Groskreutz, John David Williams
  • Patent number: 10274217
    Abstract: An airflow system includes a damper apparatus configured to adjust a flow volume of recirculated air and a flow volume of outside air within the airflow system, a variable air volume (VAV) apparatus disposed in fluid communication with the damper apparatus, and a controller disposed in operative communication with the damper apparatus and the VAV apparatus. The controller is configured to determine a percentage of outside air provided to the airflow system by the damper apparatus, determine a minimum flow volume provided by the VAV apparatus of the airflow system, which relates a required flow volume of outside air provided by the VAV apparatus to a zone and the percentage of outside air provided to the airflow system by the damper apparatus, and adjust a flow volume of air provided by the VAV apparatus to the zone based upon the determined minimum flow volume provided by the VAV apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: AEOLUS BUILDING EFFICIENCY
    Inventor: Michael A. Gevelber
  • Patent number: 9797619
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein include features for compensating a temperature reading of a thermostat. The thermostat may include a housing and one or more temperature sensors within the housing. The thermostat may sense a temperature using one or more of the temperature sensors. A processor and/or memory of the thermostat may be capable of and/or configured to compensate the sensed temperature with a first temperature compensation model and compensate the sensed temperature with a second temperature compensation model. During compensation of the sensed temperature, the system may transition from compensating the sensed temperature with the first temperature compensation model to compensating the sensed temperature with the second temperature compensation model over time and independent of the sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Aljabari, Michael Lunacek
  • Patent number: 9777937
    Abstract: A controller and loop performance monitoring system is coupled to a controller, detects loop performance degradation in time, and diagnoses a cause of the loop performance degradation. If the cause of loop performance degradation is poor controller tuning, a re-tuning mechanism is triggered. If the cause of loop performance degradation is external to the controller (a disturbance acting on the loop, hardware malfunction etc.), an action defined in control strategy is taken, or the user is informed via alarm, user interface, or upper layer software that collects the performance measures. The monitoring itself is designed to be recursive and with low memory demands, so it can be implemented directly in the controller, without need for data transfer and storage. The monitoring is modular, consisting of oscillation detection and diagnosis part, performance indices part, internal logic part, and triggering part, easily extensible by other performance indices or parts (e.g. for overshoot monitoring).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Endel, Rajni Jain, Christopher Chapman, Ranganathan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9694652
    Abstract: Rear console duct air flow of an air conditioner for a vehicle is provided. An inlet of the rear console duct which is in fluid communication with a rear console register is located at a position where conditioned-air which passes through an evaporator and a heater core flows. The inlet of the rear console is always opened such that the conditioned-air is always introduced into the rear console duct when the air conditioner is operated. A guide member, which guides the conditioned-air to the rear console register through the rear console duct, is disposed between the rear console duct inlet and a face duct inlet that is in fluid communication with a face register. An end of a face door selectively contacts the guide member selectively contacts the guide member when the face door makes a turning movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DOOWON CLIMATE CONTROL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Byung Guk An, Joon Hong Choi
  • Patent number: 9690270
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for cooling a device are disclosed. For example, the method sets at least one accumulator increment rate, an accumulator decrement rate, at least one threshold value, and an accumulator value maximum based on empirical data associated with the device, tracks an accumulator value up to the accumulator value maximum based upon productivity of the device, wherein the accumulator value is adjusted based on an integral of the at least one accumulator increment rate and the accumulator decrement rate and operates a fan of the device based upon the accumulator value rising above the threshold value or falling below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy David Jonathan Spink, David Berke, Philip James Hambridge, Colin William Robert Hewitt, Veena Kumari Saluja, Christopher Francios David Watts, Lakshmi Sujatha Yaramsetti
  • Patent number: 9657959
    Abstract: Fan coil thermostats can provide energy savings by, for example, operating a fan coil system more efficiently. Fan coil systems employing such a fan coil thermostat may be more energy efficient. A fan coil system may include a fan coil that is configured for fluid communication with a source of heated fluid and/or a source of cooled fluid, a valve that controls fluid flow through the fan coil and a fan that blows air across the fan coil. The fan coil thermostat may include a controller that implements a control algorithm that calculates an error percentage value relating to a temperature difference between the current temperature and the temperature set point. The error percentage value may include a proportional term related to the temperature difference and an integral term related to the temperature difference. The controller may regulate the fan speed in accordance with the calculated error percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Sullivan, Levi H. Geadelmann, Paul Wacker
  • Patent number: 9599361
    Abstract: A heat quantity displaying device displays the state of supply of a heat quantity from air-conditioning equipment to a subject space that is subject to air-conditioning control. The heat quantity displaying device includes a heat quantity display that displays substantially simultaneously on a screen at least a range of heat quantities that can be supplied by the air-conditioning equipment to the subject space, and a heat quantity currently are required by the subject space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9599382
    Abstract: An air-conditioning remote controller includes a display section, an operable section, a memory, a transmitter unit, and a processor. The operable section includes a set-temperature increase button and a set-temperature decrease button. In the memory, information designating an upper limit, a lower limit, or both the upper limit and the lower limit as a setting target in setback control is set. The processor makes the display section display a set temperature or temperatures designated by the setting target set in the memory, changes the set temperature or temperatures designated by the setting target on the basis of an operation result of one of or both of the set-temperature increase button and the set-temperature decrease button, and transmits the changed result to the transmitter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Higaki
  • Patent number: 9578787
    Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) temperature control system includes a cooling system, a controller coupled to the cooling system, and an IHS coupled to the controller. The IHS includes a temperature status reporting engine that is configured to determine a first temperature of the IHS and determine a second temperature of the IHS subsequent to determining the first temperature. In response to the second temperature being above a first predetermined temperature range, the temperature status reporting engine provides a first signal to the controller to increase cooling provided by the cooling system if the first temperature and the second temperature indicate that a temperature trend of the IHS is not decreasing, and provides a second signal to the controller to maintain cooling provided by the cooling system if the first temperature and the second temperature indicate that the temperature trend of the IHS is decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Marcelo DeSouza, Arun Subash Manickam
  • Patent number: 9520939
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling access to secure areas are described. Time varying values are generated from access device identifiers, e.g., door identifiers. The time varying value, e.g., a hashed door identifier value, is transmitted as a VLC signal by a luminaire near the door to which the hashed identifier corresponds. A mobile detects the transmitted hashed door identifier value and sends an access request via a wireless signal, e.g., a radio signal. The access request includes a value generated from the received hashed door identifier and a mobile device identifier. A control device determines, from information in the access request and stored information indicating which mobile devices have authority to access which doors, if access should be granted to the door corresponding to the hashed access device identifier from which the received information was generated. The received information may be hash of the mobile identifier and hashed door identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Aleksandar Jovicic, Ivan Klimek, Thomas Joseph Richardson, Junyi Li
  • Patent number: 9464818
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling ventilation of an indoor area of a building, comprising the steps of: ventilating the indoor area by means of mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation according to a ventilation mode selected among a plurality of ventilation modes, a set of adjustable control parameters (31; 32; 33; 34; 35) and at least one measurement value from a sensor, wherein each ventilation mode is associated with the set of adjustable control parameters (31; 32; 33; 34; 35), each having an adjustable value selected among a group of mode dependent adjustable values, and/or a set of fixed control parameters (34) each having a mode dependent fixed value, and controlling the mechanical ventilation and the natural ventilation by comparing the measurement value from the sensor with a corresponding value of the control parameters of the ventilation mode such that a desired indoor climate defined by the ventilation mode is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Windowmaster A/S
    Inventors: Jes Weinreich Holm, Jesper Darum, Lennart Ostergaard, Ole Bentsen Hansen, Kaare Slyngbom Jorgensen, Henning Gronbaek
  • Patent number: 9428034
    Abstract: Described herein is a system, apparatus, and method for providing an integrated vehicle cabin experience. A wearable device including one or more bio-physical sensors may be configured to sense bio-physical conditions from a wearer of the wearable device and determine a state of the wearer. The state information may then be referenced by a vehicle computing system in order to control one or more vehicle systems and/or components that create a cabin environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hsin-hsiang Yang, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Gary Steven Strumolo
  • Publication number: 20150136377
    Abstract: A control method for a heat transfer system, wherein the heat transfer system comprises a supply conduit (12), at least one load circuit (2) and a heat transfer device (6; 28) between the supply conduit and the at least one load circuit, wherein a supply flow (qS) in the supply conduit (12) is detected on the basis of a desired entry-side load temperature (Tref), of an actual entry-side load temperature (TL) which is detected in the load circuit (2) and of a load flow (qL) in the load circuit (2), as well to as a heat transfer system, in which such a control method is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Carsten Skovmose KALLESØE, Brian Kongsgaard NIELSEN
  • Patent number: 9033778
    Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Controlled Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald E Jackson
  • Publication number: 20150066222
    Abstract: The object of this invention a regulation method for regulating an air conditioning system suitable for independently regulating the temperature of a plurality of zones. The air conditioning system comprises a thermal cycle machine. According to various embodiments, the thermal cycle machine is capable of delivering a cold airflow, a hot airflow or both. This flow is divided into smaller flows supplied to each of the zones to be regulated. The method according to the invention allows regulating these smaller flows as well as the operating conditions of the thermal cycle machine. According to various embodiments, the method additionally incorporates more complex variants involving variables such as pressure or thermal inertia. Likewise, according to one embodiment the air conditioning system incorporates a particular distributor configuration simplifying the installation of said regulation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Antonio Mediato Martinez, Francisco Garcia Vacas, Francisco Vertedor Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8956207
    Abstract: A zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Controlled Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20150021005
    Abstract: An HVAC system controller has at least one processor configured to monitor at least one of a first humidity and a first temperature of a first air volume sensed by a first sensor and at least one of a second humidity and a second temperature of a second air volume sensed by a second sensor, configured to calculate an environmental metric, and configured to determine whether mixing the first air volume with the second air volume can cause the environmental metric to conform to a first threshold requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph George Land, III
  • Publication number: 20150013957
    Abstract: A temperature probe having a terminal attachment arrangement for securing and selectively releasing an electrical connection is disclosed. The temperature probe further includes a housing for sealing the temperature probe to a structure, such as a HVAC duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Tasseron Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 8930030
    Abstract: A method performed by a zone controller for a zone of a building for improving energy efficiency in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The method includes operating in a ventilation mode. A temperature of the zone and outside air conditions for the building are monitored. A determination is made regarding whether to switch from the ventilation mode to an economizing mode based on a first set point for the temperature of the zone and based on the outside air conditions. The first set point is determined based on a second set point for the temperature that is different from the first set point. A determination is made regarding whether to activate the HVAC system based on the second set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Bester, Robert Bartmess
  • Publication number: 20140277766
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a multi-zone HVAC system, wherein the controller operates at least one damper based on an adjustable first timing parameter and a relative damper position based on a zone demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan M. Yarde
  • Publication number: 20140238654
    Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion and second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, a second portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, and a weight adjustment for modifying the torque exerted by the second portion against the system static pressure to adjust the selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20140238655
    Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20130304259
    Abstract: Devices and methods for airflow and water balancing are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include receiving, with a balancing handler, a signal that includes a variable air volume (VAV) balancing command for multiple VAV controllers; determining VAV balancing profiles associated with each of the multiple VAV controllers; and sending the VAV balancing command to the multiple VAV controllers in accordance with the VAV balancing profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jayaprakash Meruva, Ankith Makam, Nallam Chandrasekhar
  • Publication number: 20130233530
    Abstract: A container module includes a first container, a second container, a first passage and a second passage, a first fan and a second fan. The first passage and the second passage each are connected between the two containers. The two fans are installed at corresponding two junctions in the corresponding two passages, which can control the drawing and exhausting of the airflow between the two containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YAO-TING CHANG
  • Publication number: 20130146272
    Abstract: A zone damper having a first portion and second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, a second portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, and a weight adjustment for modifying the torque exerted by the second portion against the system static pressure to adjust the selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20130128455
    Abstract: A system is provided in one example embodiment that includes at least one rack for electronic equipment, each rack including: at least one sensor configured to measure an environmental condition, an air conditioning system, an ingress port configured to allow air to flow into a corresponding rack from an environment surrounding the racks, and an egress port configured to allow air to flow out of a corresponding rack and into the environment surrounding the racks. The system also includes a housing that surrounds the racks and that defines the environment surrounding the racks. The air that flows out through the egress ports of the racks conditions the air in the environment surrounding the racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Brian D. Koblenz, Carol Simon, Milton P. Hilliard
  • Patent number: 8365542
    Abstract: The present invention provides an energy efficient air conditioner that can provide a continuous supply of air at dew point that is several degrees Celsius below zero, without requiring a defrost cycle. The air conditioner in accordance to present invention comprises a plurality of cooling coils with interconnecting refrigerant piping, refrigeration circuit consisting of compressor and condenser coils, control circuit and one or more electric motor driven centrifugal fan. The present invention uses two cooling systems. The first cooling system having single coil cools the air to a temperature just above zero deg. C., say four deg. C. so that the second stage gets a steady supply of cold air. The second stage has two coils, each being half the size of the first stage coil, thus taking half the air from it so that all the air from stage 1 passes through stage 2. In operation, only one coil of the second stage is active arid chills the air going through it to say minus 14 Deg. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Surendra Himatlal Shah
  • Publication number: 20130014927
    Abstract: Individual VAV controllers send, to an air-conditioner controller, current cooling/heating requirement information for the controlled area that is controlled by that VAV controller. If there is a mixing of a cooling requirement and a heating requirement in the cooling/heating requirement information that is received, the air-conditioner controller establishes a cold air temperature setting value and a hot air temperature setting value that can handle the cooling requirements and the heating requirements at that time, to perform alternating switching of a supply air temperature setting value. If a VAV controller that requires heating is supplied cold air, it blocks the supply of air to the controlled area. If a VAV controller that requires cooling is supplied hot air, it blocks the supply of air to the controlled area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Ryouta DAZAI
  • Publication number: 20120255720
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Gregory R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120253524
    Abstract: A zoned HVAC system comprises an HVAC unit including a climate control system and an air mover. In addition, the system comprises a supply air duct in fluid communication with the outlet of the HVAC unit. Further, the system comprises a return air duct in fluid communication with the inlet of the HVAC unit. Still further, the system comprises a plurality of zones positioned between the supply air duct and the return air duct. Moreover, the system comprises a bypass duct extending between the supply air duct and the return air duct. The bypass duct includes an active bypass damper having an open position, a closed position, and a plurality of partially opened positions. The system also comprises a control device configured to control the position of the bypass duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Billy W. Norrell, Gregory S. Brown, John Tanner Taylor, Jonathan David Douglas
  • Patent number: 8038075
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for manually balancing the volume of air supplied through at least one duct to a conditioned space the system including a damper rotatably mounted within the air duct by a damper shaft having a first and second ends, an electronic pulse actuator responsive to an electronic pulse being associated with the first end, a housing associated with the electronic pulse actuator is generally adapted for operably connecting the electronic pulse actuator to the air duct and a remote positioning unit in electric communication with the electronic pulse actuator where the damper is rotated between an open and a closed position for manually balancing the conditioned space to receive the desired volume of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Emmet M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 8006407
    Abstract: A drying system (100) for use in drying out a water-damaged structure includes a blower (105) for providing outside air to the water damaged structure. An indirectly fired furnace (101) is used for heating the outside air prior to its introduction into the water-damaged structure. An exhaust blower (114) removes humid air from the water-damaged building, and one or more remote temperature and humidity sensors (117) are used for controlling the furnace air temperature and supply blower volume. An air intake filter box (111) is used for adding make-up air to recirculated building air and promoting cooling within accompanying trailer. A differential air pressure transmitter (118) controls the volume of moist air removed from the water damaged building to an optimal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100314458
    Abstract: A system and method to control environmental parameters of pre-defined zones within an environment using an electronic controller. An electronic controller monitors a loop temperature of a loop field of a geo-thermal heat pump as detected by a temperature sensor connected to the loop field. The electronic controller selects a staging combination of the geo-thermal heat pump and an auxiliary HVAC equipment based on at least the loop temperature. The electronic controller activates the selected staging combination, to modify at least a portion of the environmental parameters, using non-proprietary activating signals provided by the electronic controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: ARZEL ZONING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Votaw, Dennis Laughlin, Joseph Ramunni, Bill Molica, Ken Barton
  • Patent number: 7789317
    Abstract: A system and method to control environmental parameters of pre-defined zones within an environment using an electronic controller are disclosed. The system includes a non-proprietary electronic controller which enables a weighting value to be assigned to each zone within the environment. The electronic controller also detects any zone service calls from sensor devices associated with each of the zones and determines a cumulative weighting value in response to the detected zone service calls. The electronic controller selects an equipment staging combination from at least two possible equipment staging combinations in response to thermal capacity, and an air handler stage is selected in response to at least the cumulative zone weighting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Arzel Zoning Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Votaw, Joseph Ramunni, Thomas Delp, Dennis Laughlin, Al Zelczer, Leonard Roth, Vladimir Sipershteyn
  • Patent number: 7650206
    Abstract: An apparatus situated in a space for controlling an air terminal device to affect at least one environmental condition in the space includes: (a) at least one sensor unit for presenting at least one sensed indication related with at least one respective environmental condition of the at least one environmental condition; and (b) a local control unit coupled with the air terminal device and coupled with at least one respective sensor unit of the at least one sensor unit. The local control unit responds to a relationship of at least one predetermined requirement with the at least one sensed indication to effect the controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Brian R. Hudson
  • Patent number: 7551983
    Abstract: A method, as well as a controller, for controlling room temperature within a variable air volume system having a plurality of zones wherein the thermal transfer rate with respect to each of such zones is maintained at a substantially constant value notwithstanding changes in the temperature of the supply air thereby providing improved efficiency and environmental comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell G. Attridge, Jr.