Variable Rate Of Heating Or Cooling (e.g., Plural Stages, Etc.) Patents (Class 165/260)
  • Patent number: 11143429
    Abstract: A control device for an HVAC fan control unit includes at least one sensor to provide a signal to the control device to determine the temperature of the working fluid supplied to a coil in the fan control unit. In a first configuration, the sensor determines if the working fluid is above or below a preselected temperature and the control device employs the signal from the sensor to determine if the fan control unit is in a heating or cooling mode. In a second configuration, the sensor measures the temperature of the working fluid and the control device employs the signal from the sensor to determine the heating, or cooling, ability of the fan control unit when utilizing the supplied working fluid. With two-pipe fan control units, a single sensor is employed on the working fluid supply pipe and a single signal representing the working fluid temperature is supplied to the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ECOBEE INC.
    Inventor: Graham Beauregard
  • Patent number: 11099080
    Abstract: The digital temperature sensing circuit includes a temperature voltage generator configured to generate a temperature voltage varying with a temperature in response to a first reference voltage, divide a supply voltage in response to a second reference voltage, and generate a high voltage and a low voltage, a code voltage generator configured to divide the second reference voltage based on the high voltage and the low voltage and output divided voltages having different voltage levels, and a mode selector supplied with the temperature voltage and the divided voltages, and configured to output a first code or a second code in response to a mode select signal, wherein the first code and the second code have different numbers of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chan Hui Jeong, Suk Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 10671102
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an air-conditioner body performing air-conditioning operation, and a remote controller to operate the air-conditioner body. The air-conditioner body includes control unit that performs operation control of the air-conditioner body, and body receiving unit that receives a transmission signal from the remote controller. The remote controller includes temperature detecting unit for detecting temperatures around the remote controller, and remote-controller transmission unit. At the time of cooling operation, the control unit compares the detected temperature received from the remote controller and a preset temperature predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawai, Yutaka Shimamura
  • Patent number: 10544785
    Abstract: A scroll compressor comprises a fixed bearing seat, a scroll fixed disk, a scroll orbiting disk, and an orbiting disk bearing seat. On the orbiting disk bearing seat, there are circumferentially three first bearing bores, and on the fixed bearing seat, there are circumferentially three second bearing bores. The front end of the locating crankshaft is rotatably connected inside the first bearing bore through the first bearing, and the rear end of the locating crankshaft is rotatably connected inside the second bearing bore through the second bearing. There is a through hole on the bottom face of the second bearing bore. The rear end of the locating crankshaft passes through the second bearing and is inserted inside the through hole. In addition, the end on which the locating crankshaft passes through the second bearing is screw connected with a locking nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Zhejiang Jieneng Compression Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daomin Xu, Min Wang
  • Patent number: 8921702
    Abstract: In one possible implementation, a thermal plane structure includes a non-wicking structural microtruss between opposing surfaces of a multilayer structure and a thermal transport medium within the thermal plane structure for fluid and vapor transport between a thermal source and a thermal sink. A microtruss wick is located between the opposing surfaces and extends between the thermal source and the thermal sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: William B. Carter, Peter D. Brewer, Adam F. Gross, Jeffrey L. Rogers, Keith V. Guinn, Alan J. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 8768531
    Abstract: A centralized-monitoring apparatus, which centralized monitors a device including a storage, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature therein, and a temperature-variable device to cool or heat inside the storage such that the temperature reaches a set object-preservation temperature, comprises: an input device to be input with first information indicative of a time zone in which the temperature-variable device performing power-saving operation and second information indicative of a set temperature of the time zone; a storage device to store the first-and-second information from the input device; a timing device to measure a current time; and a control device to control the temperature-variable device, based on the first-and-second information and current time, so as to start operation of turning the temperature to the set temperature when the current time reaches a starting time of the time zone, and terminate the operation when the current time reaches an ending time thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Sonoda, Masanaga Tanaka, Ikue Nono, Shigeyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8733429
    Abstract: A hybrid heating and/or cooling system may combine different energy sources (e.g., solar and geothermal) into a single system. The hybrid heating and/or cooling system may include one or more heat pumps, a heat exchanger system, a solar and/or waste energy system, and a delivery system for delivering heat (and/or cool air) to a space such as a building. These systems may be interconnected and controlled using various conduits, pumps, valves and controls. The solar energy system may provide heat (e.g., low grade heat) to the working fluid at the input to the source side of the heat pump and/or may provide heat (e.g., high grade heat) to the delivery system for direct solar and/or waste energy heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The H.L. Turner Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J Harrison, William A Turner
  • Publication number: 20140020883
    Abstract: A flow module or plate reactor includes one or more sectioned or un-sectioned heat exchanger plates. Each sectioned heat exchanger plates has a plurality of sections, each of which has a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet configured to flow one or more fluids therein in a first direction. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more thermocouples and/or sensors and a regulating valve positioned either downstream of each of the heat exchanger outlets or upstream of one of the heat exchanger inlets. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more serpentine configured process flow channels which have a channel inlet point and a channel outlet point which define a line oriented in a second direction which is at an angle of ninety degrees relative to the first direction. The flow module or plate reactor includes one or more flow plates and/or reactor plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Rolf Christensen, Tommy Norén
  • Publication number: 20130220590
    Abstract: Temperature-control system used for heating or cooling in a method for controlling temperature of a component includes connected temperature-control device, temperature-control arrangement, supply line, and return line. The system additionally has a controller having a valve, an actuator, a supply temperature sensor, and a return temperature sensor. A temperature difference between the supply temperature and the return temperature of a fluid circulating in the system is registered using the supply temperature sensor and the return temperature sensor and also a regulator. Proceeding from this temperature difference, the regulator causes the actuator to set a degree of opening of the valve so the temperature difference is in a selected value range. The valve always has a minimal degree of opening in the open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: OBLAMATIK AG
    Inventor: OBLAMATIK AG
  • Patent number: 8280556
    Abstract: An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John K. Besore, Michael F. Finch, Timothy Dale Worthington, Daniel Ryan Capelle
  • Patent number: 8051903
    Abstract: A cooling and/or heating device (10, 60) for use in the cooling and/or heating of one or more units (8a to 8c) includes a conduit network containing flow and return conduits (14, 16; 68, 70), with several circuits (12a to 12c; 32 to 38, 74 to 78) connected to the flow and return conduits (14, 16; 68, 70). Valves (28, 88, 96) are located in each circuit and used to regulate or control the volumetric flow through the circuits (12a to 12c; 32 to 38; 74 to 78). A heat transfer medium or coolant circulates through the conduit network, with at least one consuming device disposed in each circuit. Sensors (38) are provided in each circuit (12a-12c; 32-38; 74-78), the sensors (38) sending signals to a control unit and forming part of a control circuit. The control unit adjusts the valves (28, 88, 96) of each circuit as a function of the signals transmitted from the sensors (38) so as to hydraulically balance the individual circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Albert Bauer
  • Patent number: 7819179
    Abstract: A temperature control apparatus including a temperature control head kept in contact with an electronic device as a testing object thermally, an electric heater attached to the temperature control head, a refrigerant passage formed within the temperature control head so as to run through inside thereof, a compressor which compresses refrigerant coming out of the temperature control head, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of refrigerant on an outlet side of the compressor, a condenser which condenses refrigerant coming out of the compressor, a returning portion which returns refrigerant condensed by the condenser to the temperature control head, and a control portion which bypasses the condensed refrigerant to the intake side of the compressor by a predetermined quantity corresponding to an output of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Daytona Control Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintaro Hayashi, Osamu Urakawa, Mitsuo Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20100263852
    Abstract: Providing a plurality of fans within an enclosure. A system implementing this technique can include an enclosure, a heat sink in thermal communication with the enclosure, electronic components at least partially sealed within the enclosure, an eXclusive OR (XOR) fan array, a monitoring engine, and a control engine. A method implementing this technique can include using a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by electronic components within an enclosure; determining that each of the fans of a XOR fan array are stopped, selecting one and only one of the fans of the XOR fan array for operation, and operating the fan to increase air flow within the enclosure, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Trapeze Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Mirshams, Gary Wong, Michael Nguyen, Nozar Azarakhsh
  • Publication number: 20100206540
    Abstract: A centralized-monitoring apparatus, which centralized monitors a device including a storage, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature therein, and a temperature-variable device to cool or heat inside the storage such that the temperature reaches a set object-preservation temperature, comprises: an input device to be input with first information indicative of a time zone in which the temperature-variable device performing power-saving operation and second information indicative of a set temperature of the time zone; a storage device to store the first-and-second information from the input device; a timing device to measure a current time; and a control device to control the temperature-variable device, based on the first-and-second information and current time, so as to start operation of turning the temperature to the set temperature when the current time reaches a starting time of the time zone, and terminate the operation when the current time reaches an ending time thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Sonoda, Masanaga Tanaka, Ikue Nono, Shigeyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100163221
    Abstract: A temperature regulation method and system (100) includes a reservoir (112) having a fluid with a temperature of a value such that, within a control range of a local temperature controller, a local set point temperature is achievable. A piping system (101) delivers the fluid from the reservoir to one or more elements needing temperature control. A heat generator/removal device (110) in one of the fluid paths is disposed at or near an element needing temperature control. For each heat generator/removal device, a local temperature controller (116) and a feedback sensor (114) are configured to control the heat generator/removal device such that an amount of heat exchanged with the fluid, at or near the element needing temperature control, results in a local temperature, monitored by the control feedback sensor to be locally and accurately maintained at the local set point temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Theo Anjes Maria Ruijl, Hendrik Jan Eggink, Jacobus Cornelis Gerardus Van Der Sanden, Ralph Theodorus Hubertus Maessen, Jeroen Dekkers
  • Patent number: 7743820
    Abstract: The circulation main loop supplies the liquid coolant by means of the main pump to the cooling plate which cools the electronic element, and then, dissipates the heat by the main heat exchanger 20 to return the same to the reservoir tank. The circulation sub-loop supplies the liquid coolant by means of the sub-pump, and after dissipating the heat by the sub-heat exchanger, returns the same to the refrigerant tank. The controller controls as required the supply flow rate from the main pump and the sub-pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Jie Wei
  • Publication number: 20100083680
    Abstract: A system is provided to control and operate a compressor to have two or more discrete output capacities in response to an outdoor temperature measurement. During operation of the compressor in an air conditioning or cooling mode, the compressor has a first output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being greater than a first temperature setpoint and the compressor has a second output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being less than a second temperature setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: John W. TOLBERT, JR., Scott G. HIX, David T. MONK, Jerry D. EDWARDS
  • Publication number: 20100012310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sectioned heat exchanger plate, sectioned flow module or sectioned plate reactor, which comprises one or more heat exchanger sections and one or more regulating valves, which regulating valves are connected to the inlet of each heat exchanger section or are connected to the outlet of each heat exchanger section or are connected to the inlet and outlet of each heat exchanger section, each heat exchanger section being at an angle of 90° relative to a main direction of flow for a process flow in at least one flow plate or relative to a main direction of flow for a process flow in said sectioned flow module or relative to a main direction of flow for a process flow in said sectioned plate reactor. The present invention also relates to a method for regulating the temperature in a sectioned heat exchanger plate, flow module or plate reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATION AB
    Inventors: Rolf Christensen, Tommy Norén
  • Patent number: 6986387
    Abstract: A temperature conditioning system includes a damper system that determines the pattern of airflow through two coil slabs of an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is preferably part of a split-system air conditioner or a heat pump. In a normal mode position, the damper system directs the airflow in a parallel flow relationship through the two coil slabs for optimum capacity and efficiency. In an enhanced mode position, the damper system directs the airflow in a series flow relationship through the two coil slabs. The enhanced mode position not only helps reduce humidity when the temperature conditioning system operates in a cooling mode but also helps raise the supply air temperature at a room register when the system is operating in a heating mode. In some embodiments, the damper system is also movable to a bypass position that allows the air to bypass the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen S. Hancock
  • Patent number: 6945324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controlling method of the discharge of coolant medium, and more particularly to a controlling method of the discharge of coolant medium in the heat exchange wind box. By mainly controlling the discharge of coolant medium in the heat exchange wind box, it is able to directly control the volume of discharged coolant medium that supplies the circulation need of the heat exchange tube according to the variations of the target volumes of environmental heat energy in the freezing and air-conditioning area. Therefore, it increases the operation efficiency of the freezing and air-conditioning equipment and achieves the heat balance stability of the freezing and air-conditioning area. Furthermore, by saving the circulated volume of the coolant medium, it achieves the energy saving objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Cohand Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Liang Weng
  • Publication number: 20040211553
    Abstract: A temperature conditioning system includes a damper system that determines the pattern of airflow through two coil slabs of an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is preferably part of a split-system air conditioner or a heat pump. In a normal mode position, the damper system directs the airflow in a parallel flow relationship through the two coil slabs for optimum capacity and efficiency. In an enhanced mode position, the damper system directs the airflow in a series flow relationship through the two coil slabs. The enhanced mode position not only helps reduce humidity when the temperature conditioning system operates in a cooling mode but also helps raise the supply air temperature at a room register when the system is operating in a heating mode. In some embodiments, the damper system is also movable to a bypass position that allows the air to bypass the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen S. Hancock
  • Patent number: 6808011
    Abstract: A system for cooling a canister has first, second and third heat pipes. The first heat pipe has an evaporator and a condenser. The first heat pipe is mounted with its evaporator inside the canister and its condenser outside the canister. The second heat pipe has an evaporator conductively coupled to the condenser of the first heat pipe. The second heat pipe has a condenser. The third heat pipe has an evaporator conductively coupled to the condenser of the second heat pipe. The third heat pipe has a condenser with a plurality of fins on the condenser of the third heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Thermal.Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Lindemuth, Brian E. Mast, Nelson J. Gernert, James L. Smith, Jr., John J. Todd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6736206
    Abstract: A thermal processor comprises a thermal processing plate employing a heat pipe structure, a heater heating a working fluid and a cooling plate for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate. In order to reduce the temperature of the thermal processing plate, a cooling water supply part supplies cooling water to the cooling plate, for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate at a high speed. Then, a compressed air supply part supplies compressed air to the cooling plate, for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate at a low speed. Thus, a thermal processor capable of quickly reducing the temperature of a thermal processing plate to a set level without exerting bad influence on a result of processing a substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Hisai
  • Publication number: 20030217841
    Abstract: A thermal regulator stabilizes the temperature within an internal cavity of an instrument. The thermal regulator includes a circulator that draws ambient medium surrounding the instrument and recirculated medium within the internal cavity, into a duct. The circulator forms a mixture of the drawn ambient medium and recirculated medium. An adjustable heater intercepts the mixture and controls the temperature of the mixture to be within a temperature range that is less than a temperature range of the ambient medium in which the instrument is surrounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Paul E. Bussard, Gabriel Todd Manville
  • Publication number: 20030070799
    Abstract: A method for cooking food in a refrigerated oven comprising a cool cycle, bake cycle, and warm cycle. The cool cycle maintains the food placed in the refrigerated oven at a temperature suitable to prevent the spoiling of the food prior to the initiation of the bake cycle. The food is cooked during the bake cycle. The warm cycle maintains the cooked food at a temperature suitable for serving on removal from the cooking chamber. In optional cool cycle can precede the warm cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Dale Lukens, David J. Anderson, Ralph Tate, Thomas J. Leichliter
  • Publication number: 20030056936
    Abstract: A system for cooling a canister has first, second and third heat pipes. The first heat pipe has an evaporator and a condenser. The first heat pipe is mounted with its evaporator inside the canister and its condenser outside the canister. The second heat pipe has an evaporator conductively coupled to the condenser of the first heat pipe. The second heat pipe has a condenser. The third heat pipe has an evaporator conductively coupled to the condenser of the second heat pipe. The third heat pipe has a condenser with a plurality of fins on the condenser of the third heat pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Lindemuth, Brian E. Mast, Nelson J. Gernert, James L. Smith, John J. Todd
  • Publication number: 20020139523
    Abstract: A thermal processor comprises a thermal processing plate employing a heat pipe structure, a heater heating a working fluid and a cooling plate for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate. In order to reduce the temperature of the thermal processing plate, a cooling water supply part supplies cooling water to the cooling plate, for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate at a high speed. Then, a compressed air supply part supplies compressed air to the cooling plate, for reducing the temperature of the thermal processing plate at a low speed. Thus, a thermal processor capable of quickly reducing the temperature of a thermal processing plate to a set level without exerting bad influence on a result of processing a substrate is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Dainippon Screen Mfg.Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Hisai
  • Publication number: 20020011242
    Abstract: A charge air cooler for internal-combustion engines, having at least two cooling circulations which are guided through heat exchanger blocks which are connected behind one another in the flow direction of the air and have different coolant temperatures. At least the heat transfer block provided as the first heat transfer block in the flow direction of the air is produced of a more erosion-resistant and temperature-stable material than the heat transfer block which fallow and is situated in la high-temperature coolant circuit in which the coolant temperature is selected to be as high as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ruppel, Guenther Schmalzried
  • Patent number: 6267172
    Abstract: A method for exchanging heat between a pipeline through which fluid is flowable and an earth heat exchanger through which heat transfer fluid is flowable flows, the method including flowing heat transfer fluid through an earth loop or conduit extending from an earth surface down into the earth and having a portion in the earth at a desired location with a desired earth temperature, emplacing heat exchange apparatus with respect to a pipeline portion of a pipeline, the heat exchange apparatus including a heat exchange device for exchanging heat with the pipeline and connection apparatus, connecting the connection apparatus in fluid communication with the heat exchange device and the earth loop or conduit, and flowing the heat transfer fluid in heat exchange relation with the heat exchange device to transfer heat between the pipeline portion and the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 5984004
    Abstract: For cooling and/or heating a machine casing, a method and an arrangement is disclosed in which the machine casing is provided with cooling channels in which pipes are received. Between the pipes and the walls of the cooling channels, a cavity remains through which a cooling medium is circulated. A liquid heat exchange medium is circulated through the pipes. In order to vary the heat energy exchanged per time unit between the pipes and the machine casing, the kind of the medium circulating in the cavities is changed, or its composition is changed, or the flow velocity of the heat exchange medium is varied, or any desired combination of the above measures is realized. Thus, the heat flow, i.e. the exchange of heat energy per time unit, can easily be influenced by the provision of cavities between machine casing and heating or cooling medium by controlling its limiting heat exchange factors, i.e. thermal conductivity and heat transfer resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Buss AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Caviezel, Raphael Deschler, Patrick Tschopp
  • Patent number: 5977785
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying a temperature of a device under test (DUT). The apparatus comprises a plate having a surface area configured to couple to the DUT to transfer heat to and from the DUT by way of conduction. A heat exchanger is connected to the plate to set a temperature of the surface area of the plate to one of a range of temperatures by way of conduction. The heat exchanger circulates a plurality of fluids that each have a different nominal temperature, and the flow rates of the fluids are adjustable to vary the temperature of the surface area of the plate, thereby varying the temperature of the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Trevor Burward-Hoy
  • Patent number: 5806760
    Abstract: An electronic two stage furnace controller may be used interchangeably, without modification thereof, with either a single or two stage thermostat to regulate the heating and cooling operation of a two stage heating/cooling furnace to which the controller is connected. The controller is operative to monitor the input it receives from the thermostat, automatically deduce whether the input is from a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, and responsively regulate the operation of the furnace under a corresponding single stage thermostat heating or cooling mode, or a corresponding two stage thermostat heating or cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Dennis R. Maiello