Temperature setback control

Claim 2

A temperature setback control for a temperature controlling system wherein a thermostat having a room temperature sensing element is employed on a wall in a room to sense room temperature for control of a heating system operative in the room to maintain a thermostat selected ambient room temperature comprising a self-contained room temperature simulator for setting back the room temperature controlled by the thermostat during a desired time period, said simulator being mounted in heated air convection flow relationship with the thermostat; said room temperature simulator further including heating means for producing a convection flow of heated air and being located to expose the thermostat thereto; timing means for enabling energization of the heated air convection flow producing means during a selected time period; and control means coupled to the heating means and the timing means and being operative above a predetermined ambient setback room temperature selected lower than the thermostat selected ambient room temperature for energizing the heating means to produce a convection flow of heated air to the thermostat for influencing its operation until the ambient room temperature has dropped to the predetermined temperature and effectively de-energizing said heating means when the ambient room temperature drops below the predetermined room temperature, whereby the ambient room temperature is maintained at the predetermined lower room temperature during the desired time period without electrical coupling to the room thermostat.

Claim 3

The teMperature setback control as claimed in claim 1 wherein the simulator further includes a housing for retaining the self-contained room temperature simulator and being shaped to mount against the wall on which the thermostat is located, said housing being vertically aligned with the thermostat to enable generally vertical convection air flow from said heated air flow producing means to the thermostat for setback temperature control.

Claim 4

The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the housing includes baffle means located to extend upwardly towards the thermostat upon operative mounting of the housing on the wall for protection of a region including the generally vertical convection air flow from the heating means for accurate setback ambient room temperature control.

Claim 5

A temperature setback control for a temperature controlling thermostat having a room temperature sensing element employed on a wall in a room to sense room temperature for control of a heating system operative in the room to maintain a thermostat selected ambient room temperature comprising a self contained setback control housing shaped for mounting below the thermostat on the wall of the room at a distance selected to enable heated air from the housing to infuence the operation of the thermostat, the housing being provided with a heated air exit located to enable escape of heated air therefrom to pass onto the thermostat; an electrical heat source located in the housing to generate a flow of heated air from said air exit; timing means mounted to the housing for enabling electrical energization of the heat source during a selected time period; a room temperature sensor located in the housing; switch means effectively controlled by the room temperature sensor and coupled between the room temperature sensor and the heating means for enabling electrical energization of the heating means; and means for selecting a predetermined reference temperature representative of a setback temperature above which said switch means is actuated to electrically energize the heating means and below which the heating means is de-energized, whereby said self-contained housing provides closed-loop control of the heating system to a setback temperature level without physical connection thereto.

Claim 6

A temperature setback control for a temperature controlling thermostat having a room temperature sensing element employed on a wall in a room to sense room temperature for control of a heating system operative in the room to maintain a thermostat selected ambient room temperature comprising a self contained setback control housing shaped for mounting below the thermostat on the wall of the room at a distance selected to enable heated air from the housing to infuence the operation of the thermostat, the housing being provided with a heated air exit located to enable escape of heated air therefrom to pass onto the thermostat; an electrical heat source located in the housing to generate a flow of heated air from said air exit; timing means mounted to the housing for enabling electrical energization of the heat source during a selected time period; a room temperature sensor located in the housing; switch means effectively controlled by the room temperature sensor and coupled between the room temperature sensor and the heating means for enabling electrical energization of the heating means; and means for selecting a predetermined reference temperature representative of a setback temperature above which said switch means is actuated to electrically energize the heating means and below which the heating means is de-energized, whereby said self-contained housing provides closed-loop control of the heating system to a setback temperature level without physical connection thereto.

Claim 7

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spacing between the heated air exit and the thermostat is selected sufficiently small to enable influencing of the thermostat and sufficiently great to enable normal thermostat control of the heating system when the setback control is inactive.

Claim 8

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 5 wherein the housing is further provided with an air-flow passage oriented to enable vertical air convection flow, with said room temperature sensor located near a lower end of the passage to enhance ambient room temperature sensing and with the electrical heat source located above the room temperature sensor to enhance the air convection flow through said passage.

Claim 9

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 6 and further including a baffle extending from the housing towards the thermostat, said baffle being shaped to form an air flow protected region to enhance influence of the thermostat by the flow of heated air from the heat source in the self-contained setback control housing.

Claim 10

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 4 wherein the timing means includes a timer and a timer controlled switch, with the electrical heat source coupled to the timer switch for energization when the timer switch is closed, said switch means being coupled in electrical series relationship with the timer switch and heat source to enable operation of the setback control without electrical connection to the heating system operative in the room.

Claim 11

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat source is of low voltage range.

Claim 12

The temperature setback control as claimed in claim 9 wherein the rooM temperature sensor in the housing is of the bimetal type mounted in electrical series relationship with the low power heat source whose current demand is sufficiently low to avoid disturbance of operation of the bimetal housing mounted room temperature sensor.

Claim 13

In a temperature setback control using a timer to establish a temperature setback for a control system coupled to a heating system operative in a room with a room thermostat located on a wall in the room to maintain a thermostat selected room temperature, the improvement comprising a setback housing adapted for mounting below and near the room thermostat and having an air passage oriented to influence the operation of the room thermostat without electrical coupling thereto with a heated air convection flow emerging from an upper port in the air passage; a heater element mounted to the setback housing to provide the convection flow of air from the upper port, and a temperature selectable setback thermostat mounted in the setback housing, said setback thermostat being coupled in electrical circuit with the heater element to maintain the room at a setback thermostat selected temperature by enabling the electrical energization of the heater element to influence the room thermostat when the ambient room temperature is above the selected setback temperature and inhibit electrical energization of the heater element to enable normal room thermostat operation when the ambient room temperature falls below the selected setback temperature.

Claim 14

In a temperature setback control using a timer to establish a temperature setback for a control system coupled to a heating system operative in a room with a room thermostat located on a wall in the room to maintain a thermostat selected room temperature, the improvement comprising a setback housing adapted for mounting below and near the room thermostat and having an air passage oriented to influence the operation of the room thermostat without electrical coupling thereto with a heated air convection flow emerging from an upper port in the air passage; a heater element mounted to the setback housing to provide the convection flow of air from the upper port, and a temperature selectable setback thermostat mounted in the setback housing, said setback thermostat being coupled in electrical circuit with the heater element to maintain the room at a setback thermostat selected temperature by enabling the electrical energization of the heater element to influence the room thermostat when the ambient room temperature is above the selected setback temperature and inhibit electrical energization of the heater element to enable normal room thermostat operation when the ambient room temperature falls below the selected setback temperature.

Claim 15

The improved temperature setback control as claimed in claim 11 wherein the setback housing has an air passage extending in a generally vertical orientation when the setback housing is operatively mounted with a room thermostat, said air passage extending from a lower air entrance to the upper exit port with the heater element operatively coupled to the air passage towards the upper end thereof to effectively initiate the convection flow of heated air from the air passage.

Claim 16

The improved temperature setback control as claimed in claim 12 wherein the setback thermostat is effectively mounted to respond to air flowing through the passage from the lower air entrance with the temperature of the air entering the air passage at its lower air entrance being sufficient to influence the room thermostat and the setback thermostat.

Claim 17

The improved temperature setback control as claimed in claim 11 and further including a timer device for coupling electrical power to the heater element controllably through the setback thermostat during a selectable time period, said timer device being separated from the setback housing to avoid timer generated thermal influence of the setback control.

Claim 18

A temperature setback control using a timer to establish a temperature setback for a heating system control operative in a room with a room thermostat located in a wall in the room to sense ambient room temperature for heating system control to establish a room thermostat selected temperature comprising a setback housing for mounting in air convection flow communication with the room thermostat and having an air passage extending from a lower air entrance to an upper air exit port to facilitate the generation of air convection flow from the air exit port to the room thermostat for operational influence thereof; a low power heater element effectively mounted within the air passage to initiate a convection flow of heated air from the air exit port, with the heater element being sized in electrical power to produce a gentle convection flow of air flow sufficient to influence the operation of the room thermostat when the setback housing is operatively mounted with a room thermostat, the electrical power of the heater element being further selected sufficiently small to avoid undesirable heating of the setback housing; a setback thermostat being located in the setback housing effectively to regulate the setback temperature controlling convection flow from the lower poweR heater element, the setback thermostat being temperature variable and coupled in interruptable electrical circuit with the heater element to enable heating of the heater element when the ambient room temperature is above a setback thermostat selected temperature to produce said heated air convection flow from the setback housing to influence the room thermostat and effectively disengage the heating system, with the setback thermostat disabling heating of the heater element when the ambient room temperature drops below the setback thermostat selected temperature to terminate said setback influencing of the room thermostat and enable its normal operation of the heating system.

Claim 19

A temperature setback control using a timer to establish a temperature setback for a heating system control operative in a room with a room thermostat located in a wall in the room to sense ambient room temperature for heating system control to establish a room thermostat selected temperature comprising a setback housing for mounting in air convection flow communication with the room thermostat and having an air passage extending from a lower air entrance to an upper air exit port to facilitate the generation of air convection flow from the air exit port to the room thermostat for operational influence thereof; a low power heater element effectively mounted within the air passage to initiate a convection flow of heated air from the air exit port, with the heater element being sized in electrical power to produce a gentle convection flow of air flow sufficient to influence the operation of the room thermostat when the setback housing is operatively mounted with a room thermostat, the electrical power of the heater element being further selected sufficiently small to avoid undesirable heating of the setback housing; a setback thermostat being located in the setback housing effectively to regulate the setback temperature controlling convection flow from the lower poweR heater element, the setback thermostat being temperature variable and coupled in interruptable electrical circuit with the heater element to enable heating of the heater element when the ambient room temperature is above a setback thermostat selected temperature to produce said heated air convection flow from the setback housing to influence the room thermostat and effectively disengage the heating system, with the setback thermostat disabling heating of the heater element when the ambient room temperature drops below the setback thermostat selected temperature to terminate said setback influencing of the room thermostat and enable its normal operation of the heating system.

Claim 20

The setback control as claimed in claim 15 wherein the setback housing is formed to provide an air passage channel for generally vertical mounting to produce upward projection of said heated air convection flow towards the room thermostat, with the heater element being chosen to enable spaced mounting of the setback housing from the room thermostat to enable influence thereof as well as enable normal operation of the room thermostat.

Claim 21

The setback control as claimed in claim 15 and further including a separable timer mountable to provide electrical power to the setback thermostat and the low power heater element during a timer-selectable duration.