Wireless automatic temperature control of radiator heating

• US 10,041,689 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Kymissis, Ioannis, Cox, Marshall, Sarik, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAMAY, DANIEL ELLIOT
• Application Number:
  US14/001,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20140326796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 237 79, 237 71, 237 12
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0087 Fan arrangements for forced convection
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/06 Casings, cover lids or ornamental panels, for radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/062 Heat reflecting or insulating shields
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/064 Coverings not directly attached to a radiator, e.g. box-like coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1009 for central heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

An insulated heating-unit cover having an opening to permit air to circulate around the heating-source when a vent disposed at the top of the cover is opened, allowing heat into a space. The cover can include a heating-unit temperature sensor disposed within a space covered by the cover and a controller in wireless communication with a space temperature sensor located at a distance away from the heating-unit. The controller can be configured to operate an actuator such that the vent is open when the space temperature sensor indicates that the ambient temperature is below a set point temperature and such that the vent is closed when the ambient temperature is greater than the set point temperature. The controller can communicate with a plurality of other similar controllers and a central server to effect changes in the output of a central heating source coupled to a plurality of individual heating-units.

Claims

1. A temperature control system for monitoring temperature, comprising:

a cover, including an insulating material, sized to cover and surround a steam radiator; and

at least one controller coupled to the cover, the at least one controller configured to execute computer readable instructions to,

receive a first temperature measurement from a first temperature sensor, the first temperature measurement corresponding to temperature in a space where the first temperature sensor is positioned,

determine whether the first temperature measurement is below a first threshold point, and

output a signal to an actuator if the first temperature measurement is below a first threshold point, the actuator configured to move a vent from a first position to a different second position upon receiving the signal, the first position corresponding to the vent being closed, and the second position corresponding to the vent being open.

2. The temperature control system of claim 1, the cover comprising a foil-faced bubble wrap.

3. The temperature control system of claim 1, the at least one controller comprising a wireless network interface.

4. The temperature control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one controller and the first temperature sensor are coupled via the wireless network interface.

5. The temperature control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one controller is coupled to a mesh network including a plurality of controllers via the wireless network interface, the plurality of controllers are different from the at least one controller.

6. The temperature control system of claim 3, wherein,

the at least one controller is coupled to a remote server via the wireless network interface, and

the at least one controller is further configured execute the computer readable instructions to transmit information to the remote server, the information corresponding to the first temperature measurement received from the first temperature sensor.

7. The temperature control system of claim 6, wherein the at least controller is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to,

transmit a notification to the remote server when the vent is in the second position and the first temperature measurement is below the first threshold point for a predetermined period of time.

8. The temperature control system of claim 1, comprising a thermo-electric generator, the thermos-electric generator configured to power the at least one controller.

9. The temperature control system of claim 1, comprising a thermo-electric generator, the thermos-electric generator being configured to power the actuator.

10. The temperature control system of claim 1, further comprising,

a fan coupled to the at least one controller,

wherein the at least one controller is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to activate the fan when the vent is in the second position.

11. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a hollow enclosed structure with an open bottom segment such that air passes through the open bottom segment into the hollow enclosed structure.

12. A method of environmental control in individual spaces of a building, the method comprising:

receiving a first temperature data from one or more temperature sensors located in a space, the space including at least one radiator coupled to a central heating source;

receiving a different second temperature data from one or more radiator temperature sensors couple to at least one radiator;

adjusting an actuator by having at least one controller execute computer readable instructions to output a signal to the actuator based on the first temperature data being below a first threshold point, the actuator and the at least one controller being coupled to a cover surrounding the at least one radiator; and

transmitting a first information to a remote server configured to control the central heating source, the first information corresponding to the first temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors;

wherein the adjusting of the actuator corresponds to moving a vent from a first position to a different second position upon receiving the signal, the first position corresponding to the vent being closed, and the second position corresponding to the vent being open.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, a respective radiator temperature sensor of the one or more radiator temperature sensors is coupled to the at least one radiator, and

at least one of the one or more temperature sensors being mounted at a location in the space at a distance away from the at least one radiator, the at least one of the one or more temperature sensors being configured to measure the ambient temperature of the space.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a second information to the server, the second information corresponding to the first position or the second position of the vent.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

adjusting the output of the central heating source based on the first information and the second information;

wherein,

the output of the central heating source is reduced if the first information and second information indicate that the ambient temperature of the space is above the first threshold point, and

the output of the central heating source is increased if the first information and second information indicate that the ambient temperature of the space is below the first threshold point.

16. The method of claim 12, comprising:

recording, at the server, the first information and the second information from a plurality of spaces; and

reporting variances in the first information and the second information, the variances indicate one of the plurality of spaces is wasting heat energy.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting a fan coupled to the cover surrounding the at least one radiator in response to changes in the first temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors.

18. A method of controlling environmental conditions in individual spaces of a building, the method comprising:

receiving ambient temperature data from one or more ambient temperature sensors located in a plurality of the individual spaces of the building;

receiving radiator temperature data from one or more radiator temperature sensors located proximate to a radiator in each of the plurality of the individual spaces;

receiving a vent open or closed status indication, the vent formed in the radiator cover enclosing the radiator in each of the plurality of the individual spaces; and

adjust the vent by having at least one controller execute computer readable instructions to output a signal to an actuator based on the ambient temperature data being below a first threshold point, the actuator configured to control configuration of the vent between open and close, and vent status received from each of the individual spaces of the building.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the output of the heat is reduced in response to the ambient temperature data, and vent status received from a plurality of the individual spaces of the building indicating that the plurality of the individual spaces of the building have an ambient temperature above the first threshold point and a closed vent status.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the output of the heating source is increased in response to the ambient temperature data, and vent status received from a plurality of the individual spaces of the building indicating that the plurality of the individual spaces of the building have an ambient temperature below a set point and an open vent status.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving outdoor temperature data from at least one temperature sensor located outside of the building;

wherein the output of the heating source is adjusted in response to changes in the outdoor temperature data.

22. A method of environmental control in individual spaces of a building, the method comprising:

receiving temperature data from one or more temperature sensors located in a space, the space including at least one radiator coupled to a central heating source;

adjusting a vent actuator coupled to an insulating cover surrounding the at least one stream radiator in response to changes in temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors, the adjusting of the vent actuator by having at least one controller execute computer readable instructions to the vent actuator based on the temperature data being below a first threshold point;

adjusting a fan coupled to the vent in response to changes in temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; and

transmitting temperature information to a server configured to control the central heating source;

wherein the vent actuator is opened when the temperature data indicates that the space has an ambient temperature below the first threshold point, and the vent actuator is closed when the temperature data indicates that the ambient temperature of the space is above the set point.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

adjusting the output of the central heating source based on the temperature information and the actuator information;

wherein the output of the central heating source is reduced if the temperature information and actuator information indicate that the ambient temperature of the space is above the first threshold point, and the output of the central heating source is increased if the temperature information and actuator information indicate that the ambient temperature of the space is below the first threshold point.

24. A temperature control apparatus comprising:

a cover, including a high thermal resistance insulating material, sized to cover and surround a steam radiator and an adjustable vent;

a fan disposed inside the cover and configured to blow air to a space outside the apparatus;

one or more temperature sensors disposed inside or outside the cover; and

at least one controller operatively engaged to the fan and the adjustable vent, in communication with the one or more temperature sensors, the controller being configured to execute computer readable instructions to operate the fan and actuate open and closing of the adjustable vent based on the one or more sensors determining a set point temperature.

25. The temperature control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the one or more temperature sensors includes a temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of the space or a measure temperature at the radiator.

26. The temperature control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to output a signal to the fan such that air is blown from outside the cover to inside the cover.