Self diagnosing HVAC zone configuration

• US 20060074596A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Engle, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0736 in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/079 Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36

Abstract

In a drive circuit in which a plurality of drive motors are connected to a power source through a protective device which trips when the flow of current is excessive, provision is made to detect which circuit or circuits were active at the time of the failure. A microprocessor is provided to both control the activation of each of the various circuits and to also sense which circuits were active at the time of the failure. Appropriate signals are sent from the microprocessor to a user interface so that proper diagnostic and repair action can be taken.

Claims

1. A diagnostic apparatus for determining the location of a fault in a comfort system having power selectively delivered to individual devices among a plurality of devices, comprising:

a current protective device connected in parallel between a power source and the plurality of devices, said protective device being adapted to trip when a current level therethrough exceeds a predetermined level;

a control device connected to both said protective device and to the plurality of devices for selectively directing power from said protective device to operate at least one of said plurality of devices at a time;

means for sensing, when said protective device is tripped, which of said at least one device was operating at that time; and

means for providing an indication thereof for purposes of diagnostics and repair.

2. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said current protective device is a self-healing fuse.

3. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said self-healing fuse is a poly thermal crystal.

4. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means is integral with said control device.

5. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for providing an indication is by way of a user interface display.

6. A method of diagnosing faults in a comfort system having power deliverable to a plurality of devices in individual circuits, comprising the steps of:

installing a current protective device in parallel between a power source and the plurality of devices, said protective device being adapted to trip when a current level therethrough reaches a predetermined level;

providing a control for selectively switching power from said protective device to operate at least one individual device among the plurality of devices;

when said protective device trips, sensing which of said at least one device was operating at that time; and

providing an indication thereof for purposes of diagnostics and repair.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said current protective device is a self-healing fuse.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said self-healing fuse is a poly thermal crystal.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said indication providing step is provided by a user interface display.

10. A diagnostic apparatus for determining the location of a fault in a comfort system having power selectively delivered to individual devices among a plurality of devices, comprising:

a current protective device connected in parallel between a power source and the plurality of devices, said protective device being adapted to trip when a current level therethrough exceeds a predetermined level;

a control device connected to both said protective device and to the plurality of devices for selectively directing power from said protective device to operate at least one of said plurality of devices at a time; and

a sensor which, when said protective device is tripped, determines which of said at least one device was operating at that time.

11. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said current protective device is a self-healing fuse.

12. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said self-healing fuse is a poly thermal crystal.

13. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sensor is integral with said control device.

14. A diagnostic apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and including an interface display that receives a signal from said sensor to provide an indication to an operator.