Outdoor Air Used In Lieu Of Operating Heating Or Cooling Means (e.g., Economy Cycle, Etc.) Patents (Class 165/250)
  • Patent number: 11920821
    Abstract: A dual configuration ERV can be connected directly to an east facing wall or west facing wall without requiring unnecessary conduit to accommodate the different configurations. Ports 1 and 2 are interchangeable so that Port 1 can be configured as a outside air port or a return air port, and port 2 can be configured oppositely and similarly. Each of these ports has associated therewith a temperature sensor and a fan. A controller interrupts a fan when the temperature is below a predetermined value so thereby preventing or lessening frost buildup on the heat exchanger core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nu-Air Ventilation Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Keith Gibbon
  • Patent number: 11859837
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes devices and systems for an economizer of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The disclosed technology can include an economizer for an HVAC system comprising a housing, an air inlet extending through a wall of the housing, a sliding door configured to transition between a closed position and an open position, and a controller configured to cause the sliding door to transition between the closed position and the open position based on temperature data. The sliding door can comprise a first portion forming a barrier and a second portion comprising at least one aperture. In the closed position, the first portion can align with the air inlet and substantially prevent ambient air from moving through the air inlet. In the open position, the second portion can align with the air inlet and permit the ambient air to move through the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Chitra Sadanandan, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Patent number: 11768005
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning system that divides a room to be air-conditioned into a plurality of areas and controls air-conditioning of each of the plurality of areas, a set temperature of an occupied area in which somebody is present is determined as a target temperature of the occupied area. Target temperatures of unoccupied areas in which nobody is present are determined such that the air-conditioning mode set for the occupied area weakens stepwise from an adjacent area located next to the occupied area toward a distal area located farthest from the occupied area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 11739964
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for monitoring an HVAC system. One of the methods includes receiving pressure data from one or more sensors monitoring a supply air duct of an HVAC system at a property that indicates a pressure in the HVAC system; determining, using the pressure data, that the pressure satisfies a pressure threshold for the HVAC system; and in response to determining that the pressure satisfies the pressure threshold, adjusting an actuator-controlled damper between the supply air duct and a return air duct or adjusting a fan speed of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Harrison Wayne Donahue, Daniel Marc Goodman, Craig Carl Heffernan, Liam Shea Daly, Grant Rudd
  • Patent number: 11708990
    Abstract: An air cleaner includes: a housing including an inlet and an outlet for air; an air blower configured to blow air introduced through the inlet to the outlet; a panel configured to face the outlet and including holes; a driver configured to move the panel with respect to the housing; and a controller configured to control the driver to move the panel to open or close a channel between the outlet and the panel and adjust an air volume discharged through the holes of the panel. Thus, the air cleaner prevents a cold draft phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Euysung Chu, Moonsun Shin, Inchul Yun, Byungghun Kim, Wooseog Song, Dongwoo Woo, Sekwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 11668474
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat recovery device and an air conditioning system. The heat recovery device includes: a shell, provided with an indoor air return port, a first outdoor air inlet and an air outlet; a fresh air heat recovery assembly, disposed in the shell, the fresh air heat recovery assembly including a first heat exchange passage and a second heat exchange passage exchanging heat with each other; and an air valve assembly, disposed in the shell, and located between the fresh air heat recovery assembly and the indoor air return port, the air valve assembly having a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: AIRSYS Refrigeration Engineering Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunshui Chen, Xuming Fang, Kai Han, Yaguo Ma
  • Patent number: 11655990
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes: a housing, having an indoor air supply port; a first heat exchanger, disposed in the housing, an air outlet of the first heat exchanger being communicated with the indoor air supply port; a first air supply mechanism, disposed in the housing, an air outlet of the first air supply mechanism being provided correspondingly to an air inlet of the first heat exchanger; and a plurality of replaceable assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of replaceable assemblies can be assembled in the housing, and the housing is selectively cooperated with one or more of the plurality of replaceable assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AIRSYS Refrigeration Engineering Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunshui Chen, Xuming Fang, Kai Han, Yaguo Ma
  • Patent number: 11644205
    Abstract: A smoke control system of a building including a supply air duct installed in an interior of the building having a plurality of floors in a vertical direction, including a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of floors, respectively, and one end of which is exposed to an outside of the building, a blower that supplies air to the supply air duct, and a plurality of automatic differential pressure dampers installed in a plurality of ancillary rooms provided on the plurality of floors, respectively, to be adjacent to the plurality of openings. Opening areas of the plurality of openings increase as locations of the plurality of openings become farther away from a point, at which air is supplied to the supply air duct by the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Sung Hwan Yoon
  • Patent number: 11505035
    Abstract: An air conditioning system using a fuel cell system can reduce energy consumption for air conditioning and can use the electricity produced by operating the fuel cells, where a fuel cell blower that is used to operate fuel cells is also used for air conditioning. The air conditioning system includes an air intake line connected between an interior and an exterior of a building; an air blower disposed in the air intake line to supply external air to the interior; a first intake shut-off valve for opening or closing the air intake line; a fuel cell system receiving air in the interior by operation of the fuel cell blower and producing electrical energy; and a controller controlling operation of the first intake shut-off valve to open the air intake line when the fuel cell system is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Min Su Hyeon
  • Patent number: 11054161
    Abstract: A damper controller may be configured to send damper control commands to open and close an outdoor air damper to provide free cooling as necessary to satisfy a temperature setpoint inside the building. In some cases, the damper controller may initiate a damper fault test to determine if a damper fault is present. The damper fault test may be based, at least in part, on an outdoor air temperature input, a discharge air temperature input, a commanded damper position, and a damper fault temperature threshold. If a damper fault is determined, the damper controller may send an alert indicative of a detected damper fault. In some cases, the damper fault test results may be weighted to reduce the false positives alerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lubos Sikora, Adrienne Thomle, Cory Grabinger, Miroslav Mikulica, Jan Prostejovsky
  • Patent number: 10908578
    Abstract: A method for operating a ventilation system and a cooling system exterior air damper to vent outside air within a structure is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an interior temperature of the structure, monitoring an exterior temperature, defining a first time range and a second time range, associating operating parameters of the ventilation system and the cooling system with the first and second time ranges, monitoring operational time and operational load of the cooling system for the first time range, and controlling the exterior air damper during the second time range based upon the monitored operational time and operational load of the cooling system for the first time range, the monitored interior and exterior temperatures, and the one or more operating parameters of the cooling system associated with the second time range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Solid State, LLC
    Inventors: David Johnson, Jr., Valerie Jean Johnson, John Edward Dumar
  • Patent number: 10871756
    Abstract: A method for operating a temperature control system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an interior and exterior temperature of a structure, defining a first time range and a second time range, associating one or more operating parameters of the temperature control system with the first time range, associating one or more operating parameters of the temperature control system with the second time range, monitoring operational time and operational load of the cooling system for the first time range, predicting a space temperature and an outdoor air temperature for a subsequent time period, and controlling a ventilation subsystem during the second time range based upon the monitored operational time and operational load of the cooling subsystem for the first time range, the predicted space temperature, the predicted outdoor air temperature, and the one or more operating parameters of the cooling subsystem associated with the second time range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: JOHNSON SOLID STATE, LLC
    Inventors: David Johnson, Jr., Valerie Jean Johnson, John Edward Dumar
  • Patent number: 10451295
    Abstract: An equipment enclosure with temperature control components, an equipment enclosure temperature control unit, an equipment enclosure temperature control method, and various modular temperature control subassemblies are respectively disclosed for controlling the temperature of equipment in an equipment chamber. The temperature control components and unit may be implemented with a modular design wherein an air-conditioning unit is selectively mountable on an air handler assembly. The temperature control components and unit may support air-conditioning, free-air-cooling, free-air-cooling-with-return, and heating modes of operation. An emergency-free-air-cooling mode of operation may also be supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Diversified Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. James, Lewis G. James, Aron J. King
  • Patent number: 10234200
    Abstract: A moisture removal system and method employing air movers, dehumidifiers, heaters and attendant methods for reducing moisture in a construction project. The method and system include operating moisture removal equipment and testing moisture content levels sufficient to reduce the moisture content levels to a desired threshold to reduce the likelihood of mold growing or moisture damage in the construction after it is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAVANNAH IP, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Weisenberger, Robert A. Weisenberger
  • Patent number: 10161640
    Abstract: An air conditioning that includes a housing. The housing encloses a mode control unit that switches a zone coil associated with a zone from a cooling mode to a heating mode by switching from a cooling medium to a heating medium flowing through the zone coil. The zone coil receives the heating or cooling medium and conditions incoming air from a supply fan to be exhausted in a zone associated with the zone coil. A variable refrigerant flow cooling/heating unit provides a cooling medium or a heating medium at varying rates to control a temperature of a zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MJC, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Gene Sprayberry, Joel John Williams, Charles Thomas Couch, Edward H. Metzger
  • Patent number: 10107511
    Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial cellar, including receiving actual preservation conditions of a natural cellar, the actual preservation conditions having at least one of an actual temperature and an actual humidity within the natural cellar, and adjusting preservation conditions of the artificial cellar to substantially correspond to the received actual preservation conditions of the natural cellar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cellier Domesticus Inc.
    Inventors: Franck Boulbes, Gregory Boulbes
  • Patent number: 9874362
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for ventilating a building using a rooftop heating ventilating and air conditioning system that in one instance involve determining a first outdoor airflow into the system through a barometric relief damper; subtracting the first outdoor airflow from a minimum required outdoor airflow rate to arrive at second outdoor airflow; and setting an outdoor damper to provide an outdoor airflow through the outdoor damper that is greater than or substantially equal to the second outdoor airflow. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Douglas
  • Patent number: 9674988
    Abstract: A center includes a main room having a number of rows of bays, which hold functional energy-intensive pieces of equipment having air intake passages located functionally beside their front surface and air discharge passages located beside their rear surface, and cooling elements associated with passages, with the arrangement of the bays and functional equipment being such that a pair of two rows, whose back-to-back surfaces are the rear surfaces, defines a hot passage where the air discharge passages, in which the air is hot, are accessible at a temperature T3 that is higher than the temperature T2 of the tempered air found in the portion of the main room that is outside the hot passage and from which the front surfaces and the air intake passages are accessible, and air-conditioning elements for providing filtered air, whose flow rate, temperature T2, and hygrometric degree are suitable for optimal operation of functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ATRIUM DATA
    Inventors: Michel Dernis, Thierry Duflos
  • Patent number: 9605859
    Abstract: A system and method including the ability of a building automation system controller to automatically determine which VAV boxes are physically associated with which air sources in a building or facility with multiple air sources by coordinating the individual or simultaneous manipulation of the fan speed of the air sources or the VAV damper positions, while obtaining data from networked sensors that measure VAV box airflow or duct pressure or the environmental conditions of a space being supplied with air from one or more VAV boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Dave Uden
  • Patent number: 9568011
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating air-cooling of, for instance, one or more electronics racks within a data center. The apparatus includes an air-moving assembly and one or more flywheels. The air-moving assembly includes a shaft, one or more mechanical fans coupled to the shaft to rotate, at least in part, with the shaft, and a motor coupled to the shaft to rotatably drive the shaft. The flywheel(s) is sized and coupled to the shaft of the air-moving assembly to store rotational energy, and to facilitate, for a specified period of time, continued rotation of the shaft during interruption in power to the motor. In one implementation, the flywheel(s) is sized and coupled to the shaft to facilitate, for the specified time period, continued rotation of the shaft at a specified percentage, or greater, rotational speed of the shaft compared with shaft speed when rotatably driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Milnes P. David, Michael J. Domitrovits, Joshua Murphy, John V. Palmer, Sal M. Rosato
  • Patent number: 9545833
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air conditioning system can select several airflow modes with one air conditioner. The method includes a mode check step that checks whether the number of airflows of the air conditioner decreases, a state check step that checks whether a blower is selected to a minimum air amount mode, and a minimum operation step that operates a blower motor with a minimum torque smaller than a minimum start torque, if the number of airflows of the air conditioner decreases and the blower is selected to the minimum air amount mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventor: Yong Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 9464634
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating air-cooling of, for instance, one or more electronics racks within a data center. The apparatus includes an air-moving assembly and one or more flywheels. The air-moving assembly includes a shaft, one or more mechanical fans coupled to the shaft to rotate, at least in part, with the shaft, and a motor coupled to the shaft to rotatably drive the shaft. The flywheel(s) is sized and coupled to the shaft of the air-moving assembly to store rotational energy, and to facilitate, for a specified period of time, continued rotation of the shaft during interruption in power to the motor. In one implementation, the flywheel(s) is sized and coupled to the shaft to facilitate, for the specified time period, continued rotation of the shaft at a specified percentage, or greater, rotational speed of the shaft compared with shaft speed when rotatably driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Milnes P. David, Michael J. Domitrovits, Joshua Murphy, John V. Palmer, Sal M. Rosato
  • Patent number: 9417005
    Abstract: A method and device for improving moisture removal capacity of a vapor compression system is disclosed. The vapor compression system is started up with the evaporator blower initially set to a high speed. A relative humidity in a return air stream is measured with the evaporator blower operating at the high speed. If the measured humidity is above the predetermined high relative humidity value, the evaporator blower speed is reduced from the initially set high speed to the lowest possible speed. The device is a control board connected with the blower and uses a predetermined change in measured relative humidity to control the blower motor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Paul Roth, David C. Hahn, Robert P. Scaringe
  • Patent number: 9303890
    Abstract: Intelligent HVAC register is an HVAC register outlet which can control the temperature in a space by operating independently. The Intelligent HVAC register works in network with other vents within the system using low power wireless technology and a smart application so that the temperature of multiple individual spaces can be controlled while operating on a single HVAC system. Intelligent HVAC register uses a solar strip to charge the battery which runs each vent's hardware. This enables more efficient use of energy as airflow to unused spaces can be blocked therefore keeping air pressure and efficiency higher in the spaces where temperature adjustments are necessary. Intelligent HVAC register can be controlled using a learning application on a smart device. By setting the time & temperature needed in each space the Intelligent HVAC smart vane will automatically open or close to keep the room at the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Russell Haines, Cory Grenier
  • Publication number: 20150114614
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit for providing a mixed air temperature signal is provided. The circuit has a temperature input to an economizer controller, an air temperature sensor, a false air temperature device, and a switching device. The switching device has a switch and a switch actuating device. The switch connects the temperature input to the air temperature sensor when the switch is in a first state. The switch connects the temperature input to the false air temperature device when the switch is in a second state. The switch actuating device places the switch in the first state when a mechanical cooling signal is not sent. The switch actuating device places the switch in the second state when the mechanical cooling signal is sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Troxell, Michael Renker
  • Publication number: 20150027681
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to control an HVAC system according to a comfort mode and an economy mode. When the HVAC system is operating according to the comfort mode, the HVAC system may primarily draw energy from a locally generated energy source or local energy storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Ragland, David Quam, Brad Paine
  • Publication number: 20150013958
    Abstract: A controller sets a target setting temperature for an air-conditioning space, compares a value obtained by subtracting an outdoor temperature detected by an outdoor temperature sensor from the target setting temperature, with a first threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting the outdoor temperature from an indoor temperature detected by an indoor temperature sensor, with a second threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting a heat load in the air-conditioning space from a cooling capacity, with a third threshold related to the value, and controls operation of a heat pump type air-conditioning device and a ventilating device on the basis of these comparison results. The first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are set in accordance with the number of people detected by a human detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Kubo
  • 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: 20140216707
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling an economizer in a ventilation system based upon moisture related properties of a first input air source and a second input air source to minimize energy for conditioning air in a structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: AIRCUITY, INC.
    Inventor: Eric M. Desrochers
  • Patent number: 8781634
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system and a communication method thereof a wireless network may be established between indoor units and a controller or between outdoor units so as to allow communications therebetween, thereby facilitating device addition or device deletion. Also, one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units may be controlled without a dedicated communication line or with using a less mount of the dedicated communication line, and the outdoor units or indoor units may perform communications using one or more communication technologies, such as wireless communication and pipe communication technologies and wireless communication and dedicated line communication technologies, while performing communications with the controller using the wireless communication technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juntae Kim, Sangchul Youn
  • Publication number: 20130153196
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for cooling an enclosure includes an air conditioner and a control system for triggering an economizer cycle of the air conditioner. The control system determines an electrical load of equipment in the enclosure, calculates a maximum acceptable outdoor temperature at which the economizer cycle may be operated based at least partially on the electrical load, receives data representative of an actual outdoor temperature, and initiates the economizer cycle if the actual outdoor temperature is equal to or below the maximum acceptable outdoor temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: AIRXCEL, INC.
    Inventor: AIRXCEL, INC.
  • Publication number: 20110253359
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an HVAC system in a building are provided. The apparatus may include: (a) sensors provided at different locations inside and outside of the building each providing an electrical output signal representative of a measured condition, wherein the sensors sense two or more of the following conditions: temperature, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compound conditions; (b) an embedded computer receiving the electrical output signals of the sensors and based upon which provides a plurality of output control signals; and (c) HVAC actuators operating in accordance with the output control signals, wherein the HVAC actuators affect a climatic condition or an air quality condition at one or more locations where the sensors are located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: John Stockton
  • Publication number: 20110172831
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system. The economizer has an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air that is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system. The economizer also includes one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The control method includes positioning the one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that the mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The method also includes recording first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. First and second measures related to other parameters of the mixed air stream may be recorded as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kreft, Cory Grabinger, Scott McMillan, Paul Wacker
  • Patent number: 6688531
    Abstract: A method and system for staging the cooling effect of an air conditioning unit in which outside air is substantially prevented from passing through the cooling unit for a prescribed time after the cooling function has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Sparling, Kevin J. Porter, James Deltoro, Guy DeLuca
  • Patent number: 6684653
    Abstract: Closed loop cooling is provided by means of a mechanical air conditioner combined with an air-to-air heat exchanger. Three basic modes of operation maximize cooling while minimizing energy consumption, depending on ambient air temperature. In the first mode the air-to-air heat exchanger or economizer provides all required cooling to a closed circuit enclosure air stream, transferring heat to the cold ambient air stream. In the second mode the air-to-air heat exchanger precools the closed air circuit stream using moderate temperature ambient air, in the same manner as in the first mode, followed by further removal of heat by passing enclosure air through refrigeration condenser coils. The heat taken in at the evaporator is transferred to the ambient air stream as it passes through a condenser coil after passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Des Champs, Benjamin R. Tritt
  • Patent number: 6634422
    Abstract: A method of controlling an economizer is provided. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit is operated in one of a heating mode and a cooling mode to provide conditioned air to a plurality of zones. A first temperature representative of air returned to the unit from the plurality of zones is sensed and a second temperature representative of the outdoor air is sensed. An economizer is modulated to increase the amount of outdoor air entering the unit when the first temperature falls below a cooling setpoint, the second temperature is greater than the first temperature, and the unit is operating in the cooling mode. The economizer is also modulated to increase the amount of outdoor air entering the unit when the first temperature rises above a heating setpoint, the second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and the unit is operating in the heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Rayburn, Stephen Blake Pickle, Stephen Carl Wilson
  • Patent number: 6491094
    Abstract: A control system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit having a heating stage, a cooling stage, and an economizer is provided. The system includes a memory configured to store a first predetermined temperature range and a second predetermined temperature range. The system also includes a control having an input device configured to receive an indoor air temperature representative of the air in one or more zones and a supply air temperature representative of the air entering the one or more zones. The control selectively activates at least one of the heating stage, the cooling stage, and the economizer when the indoor air temperature is outside of the first predetermined temperature range. The control also selectively activates at least one of the heating stage, the cooling stage, and the economizer when the indoor air temperature is within the first predetermined temperature range and the sensed temperature of the supply air is outside of the second predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Rayburn, Neil A. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6488081
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit is provided. A conditioning unit having a heating stage, a cooling stage, a fan, and an economizer is operated to provide supply air to one or more zones. The temperature of air in the one or more zones and the temperature of air supplied to the one or more zones from the conditioning unit is sensed. At least one of the heating stage, the cooling stage, and the economizer is activated when the sensed temperature in at least one of the one or more zones is outside of a first predetermined temperature range. At least one of the heating stage, the cooling stage, and the economizer is activated when the sensed temperature of the air in the at least one of the one or more zones is within the first predetermined temperature range and the sensed temperature of the supply air is outside of a second predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Rayburn, Neil A. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20020153133
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a isolating heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between exhaust air leaving an enclosed space and outside air entering the enclosed space. The system operates in three basic modes, under the control of a microprocessor-based controller which is responsive to the temperatures inside and outside of the enclosed space. In the heating mode, heat is transferred from the exhaust air to the outside air when the enclosed space requires heating. In the cooling mode, heat is transferred from the outside air to the exhaust air when the outside air temperature is higher than that in the enclosed space. In the supplemental cooling mode, heat transfer between the exhaust and outside air is reduced or eliminated when the outside air temperature is below the desired temperature in the enclosed space and cooling is required. In the heating mode, the heat exchanger is selectively heated when necessary to defrost it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Building Performance Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6176305
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a isolating heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between exhaust air leaving an enclosed space and outside air entering the enclosed space. The system operates in three basic modes, under the control of a microprocessor-based controller which is responsive to the temperatures inside and outside of the enclosed space. In the heating mode, heat is transferred from the exhaust air to the outside air when the enclosed space requires heating. In the cooling mode, heat is transferred from the outside air to the exhaust air when the outside air temperature is higher than that in the enclosed space. In the supplemental cooling mode, heat transfer between the exhaust and outside air is reduced or eliminated when the outside air temperature is below the desired temperature in the enclosed space and cooling is required. In the heating mode, the heat exchanger is selectively heated when necessary to defrost it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6145750
    Abstract: An apparatus for ventilating the crawl space of a structure, comprising an exhaust fan adapted to at least partially occlude an aperture in a structure and oriented to, upon receiving an appropriate stumulus, exhaust crawl space air through said aperture to outside the structure, a temperature sensor and a relative humidity sensor for sensing the respective temperatures and relative humidities of crawl space air and of outside air, and for transmitting respective stimulus dependent thereon to a programmed computer, said computer determining the absolute moisture differential therebetween and comparing said differential to a pre-set minimum absolute moisture differential parameter for ventilation activation, said computer also functionally connected to said fan for controlling the activation thereof, said computer also programmed to discriminatorily activate either a humidity decreasing or a humidity increasing mode depending upon a maximum or minimum inside RH parameter, and to deactivate said mode at a break
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Peter W. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5971067
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for controlling the quality of air in a building. The system includes a sensor disposed for sensing the air quality in a building. Upon a sensing of an air quality problem, the system issues a command to draw in additional outside air into the building to alleviate the problem. The issuing of such command can be made conditional on a measurement of outside air temperature. The flow of additional outside air may be limited or avoided altogether where drawing in additional outside air would adversely affect the inside air temperature. Additional air can be drawn into a building, for example, by opening an economizer, activating a fan system, or by increasing a pressure setpoint in a supply air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Rayburn, Guy A. Deluca
  • Patent number: 5881806
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an air distribution fan and the operation of a motorized outside air damper of an air conditioning system, having heating and/or cooling and/or humidifying and/or dehumidifying operating modes. The system includes a fan recycling control for periodically energizing and de-energizing an air distribution fan in an air conditioning system in order to operate the air distribution fan for a first selectable time period after a second selectable time period from the end of the last operation of the air distribution fan. The last operation of the air distribution fan could have been due to the heating or cooling or humidifying or dehumidifying or constant fan modes of the air conditioning system, or due to fan operation initiated by the fan recycling control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: University of Central Florida
    Inventor: Armin Rudd
  • Patent number: 5791408
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventor: John E. Seem