US3568760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optimization system
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-18
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic system for controlling the temperature of a plurality of zones in an optimum manner. Each zone has a thermostat that controls a damper within the zone to regulate the flow of conditioned air to the zone to regulate the flow of conditioned air to the zone. The output of each thermostat is connected to a pressure selector, and the pressure signal representing the greatest deviation from the desired condition in a zone is transmitted to an optimizing relay that controls the conditioned air temperature. The relay is constructed and arranged so that in a warm air system the conditioned air temperature is not increased until the damper in the zone of greatest deviation has reached a maximum flow position.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph E Hogel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:52
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/044; F24F3/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones, comprising: a source of medium capable of effecting a change in the condition; circulating means for circulating the medium to the zones; a plurality of flow-controlling means each of which controls the flow of medium to a zone; source-controlling means for controlling the source to vary the condition-changing capability of the medium; condition-sensing means in each zone for providing an output signal having a first range and a second range; means connecting the condition-sensing means to the flowcontrolling means and to the source-controlling means; the flow-controlling means arranged to establish a predetermined flow of medium before the output signal of the conditionsensing means enters the second range; and the source-controlling means arranged to establish the condition changing capability of the mEdium in response to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation when the output signal is in the second range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones, comprising: a source of medium capable of effecting a change in the condition; circulating means for circulating the medium to the zones; a plurality of flow-controlling means each of which controls the flow of medium to a zone; source-controlling means for controlling the source to vary the condition-changing capability of the medium; condition-sensing means in each zone for providing an output signal having a first range and a second range; means connecting the condition-sensing means to the flowcontrolling means and to the source-controlling means; the flow-controlling means arranged to establish a predetermined flow of medium before the output signal of the conditionsensing means enters the second range; and the source-controlling means arranged to establish the condition changing capability of the mEdium in response to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation when the output signal is in the second range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system as defined by claim 1, wherein the source-controlling means is arranged to decrease the condition-changing capability of the medium in response to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation when the output signal is in the first range and to increase the condition-changing capability of the medium when said output signal is in the second range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system as defined by claim 2, wherein the output signals of the condition-sensing means have an intermediate range between the first and second ranges, the source-controlling means arranged to hold the condition-changing capability of the medium constant when the output signal of greatest deviation is in the intermediate range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as defined by claim 3, wherein the flow-controlling means establishes a maximum volume of medium flow at the transition point between the intermediate and second ranges of the output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as defined by claim 3, wherein the medium is temperature-conditioned air, the circulating means comprises an air duct joining the source of medium with each of the zones and a blower for causing air flow in the duct, and wherein the flow-controlling means comprises a damper operated by a damper motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system as defined by claim 5, wherein the source-controlling means comprises: a heat exchanger disposed in the air duct and adapted for connection with a source of heat exchange medium; a valve for controlling the flow of heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger; and relay means responding to the output signal of greatest deviation, the relay means arranged to close the valve when the output signal is in the first range, to open the valve when the output signal is in the second range and to hold the valve at a constant position when the output signal is in the intermediate range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as defined by claim 6, and further comprising means connected to each thermostat for selecting the thermostatic output signal representing the greatest deviation from the desired temperature in a zone, the selecting means being further connected to the relay means for transmitting the selected output signal thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system as defined by claim 7, wherein: the thermostats are pneumatic; the damper motors are pressure responsive; the selecting means is a pressure selector; the valve means is pressure responsive and normally open; and the relay means is pneumatic and arranged to supply pressure to the valve means when the selected pressure signal is in the first range, to exhaust pressure when the signal is in the second range, and to block the communication of pressure between the valve means and the relay when the signal is in the intermediate range.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
333 words
A system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones, comprising: first and second sources of medium each capable of effecting a change in the condition; first circulating means for circulating the first and second media to the zone; like pluralities of first and second flow-controlling means each of which controls the flow of the first and second media to a zone respectively; first and second source-controlling means for controlling the first and the second sources to vary the condition-changing capabilities of the media; condition-sensing means in each zone for providing an output signal and controlling the respective first and second flow-controlling means in the zone in accordance with the deviation of the sensed condition from the desired condition in the zone, the output signal having a first range, a second range and a third range, the first range disposed between the second and third ranges; the first flow-controlling means being responsive to the output signal and arranged to establish a predetermineD flow of first medium before the output signal enters the second range; the first source-controlling means connected to respond to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation in a first direction to decrease the condition-changing capability of the first medium when the output signal is in the first and third ranges, and to increase the condition-changing capability of the first medium the output signal is in the second range; the second flow-controlling means being responsive to the output signal and arranged to establish a predetermined flow of second medium before the output signal enters the third range; and the second source-controlling means connected to respond to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation in a second direction to decrease a condition-changing capability of the second medium when the output signal is in the first and second ranges, and to increase the condition-changing capability of the second medium when the output signal is in the third range.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
333 words
A system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones, comprising: first and second sources of medium each capable of effecting a change in the condition; first circulating means for circulating the first and second media to the zone; like pluralities of first and second flow-controlling means each of which controls the flow of the first and second media to a zone respectively; first and second source-controlling means for controlling the first and the second sources to vary the condition-changing capabilities of the media; condition-sensing means in each zone for providing an output signal and controlling the respective first and second flow-controlling means in the zone in accordance with the deviation of the sensed condition from the desired condition in the zone, the output signal having a first range, a second range and a third range, the first range disposed between the second and third ranges; the first flow-controlling means being responsive to the output signal and arranged to establish a predetermineD flow of first medium before the output signal enters the second range; the first source-controlling means connected to respond to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation in a first direction to decrease the condition-changing capability of the first medium when the output signal is in the first and third ranges, and to increase the condition-changing capability of the first medium the output signal is in the second range; the second flow-controlling means being responsive to the output signal and arranged to establish a predetermined flow of second medium before the output signal enters the third range; and the second source-controlling means connected to respond to the output signal of the condition-sensing means in the zone of greatest deviation in a second direction to decrease a condition-changing capability of the second medium when the output signal is in the first and second ranges, and to increase the condition-changing capability of the second medium when the output signal is in the third range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system as defined by claim 9, wherein the output signals of the condition-sensing means have a first intermediate range between the first and second ranges, the first source-controlling means arranged to hold the condition-changing capability of the first medium constant when the output signal of greatest deviation in the first direction is in the first intermediate range, and a second intermediate range between the first and third ranges, the second source-controlling means arranged to hold the condition-changing capability of the second medium constant when the output signal of greatest deviation in the second direction is in the second intermediate range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system as defined by claim 10, wherein: each of the condition-sensing means is connected to means for selecting the output signal representing the greatest deviation in the first direction from the desired condition in a zone, and for selecting the output signal representing the greatest deviation in the second direction from the desired condition in a zone; the first named output signal being transmitted to the first source-controlling means; and the second named output signal being transmitted to the second source-controlling means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
243 words
The combination as defined by claim 11, wherein the physical condition is temperature, the condition-sensing means are thermostats, the first medium is warmed air, the second medium is cooled air, the first and second circulating means each comprises an air duct joining its respective source with each of the zones, each air duct having a blower for causing airflow therein, the first and second flow-controlling means each comprises a damper operated by a damper motor; the first source-controlling means comprises: a first heat exchanger disposed in the warm air duct and adapted for connection with a heating medium; a first valve for controlling the flow of heating medium through the heat exchanger; and first relay means responsive to the output signal of greatest deviation in the first direction for closing the valve when that output signal is in the first, third or second intermediate range and opening the valve when that output signal is in the second range; the second source-controlling means comprises: a second heat exchanger disposed in the cooling air duct and adapted for connection with a cooling medium; a second valve for controlling the flow of cooling medium through the second heat exchanger; and second relay means responsive to the output signal of greatest deviation in the second direction for closing the second valve when that output signal is in the first, second or first intermediate range and opening the valve when that output signal is in the third range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
193 words
The system as defined by claim 12, wherein: the thermostats are pneumatic; the damper motors are pressure responsive; the selecting means is a high- and low-prEssure selector; the first and second valves are pressure responsive and normally open; the first relay means comprises a first pneumatic relay arranged to supply pressure to the first valve when the selected pressure signal is in the first, third or second intermediate range, to exhaust pressure when the pressure signal is in the second range, and to block the communication of pressure to the first valve when the pressure signal is in the first intermediate range; and the second relay means comprises: a pneumatic signal inverter having an input and an output, the input connected to the second transmitting means; and a second pneumatic relay connected to the signal inverter output and arranged to supply pressure to the second valve when the selected pressure signal is in the first, second or first intermediate range, to exhaust pressure when the pressure signal is in the third range, and to block the communication of pressure to the second valve when the pressure signal is in the second intermediate range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as defined by claim 8, and further comprising an adjustable fluid restriction disposed between the pneumatic relay means and the pressure-responsive valve means for varying the response time of the valve means with respect to the first flow-controlling means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a pneumatic control system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones having a source of conditioned medium capable of effecting a change in the condition, circulating means for circulating the conditioned medium to each of the zones, a plurality of flow controlling means each of which controls the flow of medium to a zone, pneumatic condition-sensing means in each zone providing a pressure output having a first range, an intermediate range and a second range, the output being indicative of the deviation of the sensed condition from the desired condition, the pneumatic sensing means connected to control the respective flow-controlling means in the zone, pressure selector means for selecting and transmitting the pneumatic condition-sensing means pressure output representing the greatest deviation of the sensed conditions from the respective desired conditions in the zones, and source-controlling means including valve means for altering the condition-changing capability of the medium, the improvement comprising: relay means connected to receive the pneumatic condition-sensing means pressure output transmitted by the pressure selector means and arranged to supply pressure to the valve means when the selected pressure is in the first range, to block the communication of pressure between the valve and the relay means when the selected pressure is in the intermediate range, and to exhaust pressure when the selected pressure is in the second range and thereby to increase the condition changing capability of the medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a pneumatic control system for optimally controlling a physical condition in a plurality of zones having a source of conditioned medium capable of effecting a change in the condition, circulating means for circulating the conditioned medium to each of the zones, a plurality of flow controlling means each of which controls the flow of medium to a zone, pneumatic condition-sensing means in each zone providing a pressure output having a first range, an intermediate range and a second range, the output being indicative of the deviation of the sensed condition from the desired condition, the pneumatic sensing means connected to control the respective flow-controlling means in the zone, pressure selector means for selecting and transmitting the pneumatic condition-sensing means pressure output representing the greatest deviation of the sensed conditions from the respective desired conditions in the zones, and source-controlling means including valve means for altering the condition-changing capability of the medium, the improvement comprising: relay means connected to receive the pneumatic condition-sensing means pressure output transmitted by the pressure selector means and arranged to supply pressure to the valve means when the selected pressure is in the first range, to block the communication of pressure between the valve and the relay means when the selected pressure is in the intermediate range, and to exhaust pressure when the selected pressure is in the second range and thereby to increase the condition changing capability of the medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pneumatic control system according to claim 9, wherein the physical condition to be controlled is temperature and the pneumatic condition-sensing means are thermostats.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein the flow-controlling means establishes a maximum volume of medium flow at a transition point between the intermediate and second ranges of the thermostatic output pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |