System and method for controlling ignition sources and ventilating systems during high carbon monoxide conditions

• US 20050156730A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Inventors: Ashworth, Nicholas, Wallaert, Timothy E., Chapman, John Gilman Jr., Burt, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,579,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1939 Atmospheric

Abstract

Upon detection of a high carbon monoxide condition, an intelligent thermostat regulates operation of appliances that have sources of combustion which could be the source of or may exacerbate the high carbon monoxide condition. This hazardous condition is detected by a detector and communicated to the intelligent thermostat by wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat then communicates with these appliances either via wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat may also operate a ventilation system to flush the environment with fresh air to minimize or eliminate the hazardous condition. External and internal temperature sensors allow coordinated operation of the ventilating and heating systems to flush the environment with fresh air without causing a freezing condition to exist within the environment.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an appliance having a source of combustion during a hazardous condition, comprising the steps of:

receiving a carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal;

disabling the source of combustion of the appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal comprises the step of receiving by an electronic controller of the appliance the carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal transmitted by a hazardous condition detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal comprises the step of receiving by a thermostat the carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal transmitted by a hazardous condition detector, and wherein the step of disabling the source of combustion of the appliance comprises the step of transmitting by the thermostat an appliance control signal to an electronic controller of the appliance commanding the electronic controller of the appliance to extinguish any source of combustion of the appliance.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying on a user interface display of the thermostat hazardous condition warning information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal comprises the step of receiving by a thermostat the carbon monoxide (CO) warning signal transmitted by a hazardous condition detector, the method further comprising the step of energizing a ventilation system to provide fresh air.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of energizing the ventilation system comprises the steps of:

monitoring an external temperature; and

enabling operation of the ventilation system when the exterior temperature is above a first predetermined set point.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring an internal temperature at least when the external temperature is below the first predetermined set point;

enabling operation of the ventilation system when the exterior temperature is below the first predetermined set point; and

operating a furnace when the interior temperature drops below a second predetermined set point.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of disabling the ventilation system when the interior temperature is above the second predetermined set point whenever the exterior temperature is below a third predetermined set point.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of energizing the ventilation system comprises the steps of:

monitoring an internal temperature; and

regulating operation of the ventilation system to prevent the internal temperature to drop below a predetermined threshold.

10. An appliance control system, comprising:

at least one appliance having a source of combustion controlled by an electronic controller;

at least one carbon monoxide detector; and

a thermostat operably coupled to the electronic controller of the at least one appliance;

wherein the carbon monoxide detector transmits a warning signal upon detection of a hazardous carbon monoxide condition; and

wherein the thermostat receives the warning signal from the carbon monoxide detector and transmits an appliance control signal to the electronic controller to disable the appliance'"'"'s source of combustion.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a ventilation system operably coupled to the thermostat, and wherein the thermostat controls the ventilation system to introduce fresh air upon receipt of the warning signal from the carbon monoxide detector.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the thermostat controls the ventilation system to introduce fresh air while preventing an internal temperature from dropping below a threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein one of the at least one appliances is a furnace, and wherein the thermostat operates to control the furnace to prevent the internal temperature from dropping below the threshold.

14. An appliance, comprising:

a source of combustion;

an electronic controller configured to control the source of combustion; and

wherein the electronic controller is configured to disable the source of combustion upon receipt of a carbon monoxide warning signal.

15. A thermostat, comprising:

control circuitry configured to control a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

means for communicating with at least one appliance; and

means for communicating with at least one carbon monoxide detector.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a furnace, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to disable operation of the furnace when the means for communicating with the at least one carbon monoxide detector receives a carbon monoxide warning signal.

17. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a hot water heater, and wherein the means for communicating with the at least one appliance is configured to transmit an appliance control signal to the hot water heater to disable the source of combustion of the hot water heater.

18. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the HVAC system includes a ventilator, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to enable operation of the ventilator when the means for communicating with the at least one carbon monoxide detector receives a carbon monoxide warning signal.

19. The thermostat of claim 18, wherein the HVAC system includes a furnace, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to disable operation of the furnace when the means for communicating with the at least one carbon monoxide detector receives a carbon monoxide warning signal.

20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry is configured to coordinate operation of the ventilator and the furnace to prevent an interior temperature to drop below a predetermined threshold.