AIRFLOW CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20070178823A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adaptive-AC, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adaptive-AC, Inc.
• Inventors: Fincher, Roger, Aronstam, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/256
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/00 Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems room units F24F1/00

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and a method for controlling an environment in a location. In one aspect, an apparatus for controlling an environmental condition in a location is provided. The apparatus includes a flow control device, wherein the flow control device is connectable to an environmental control unit via a conduit. The flow control device comprising a flow restriction member configured to selectively control an airflow into the location and a controller member configured to autonomously actuate the flow restriction member based upon the environmental condition in the location. In another aspect, a method for controlling an environmental condition in a first location and a second location is provided. In a further aspect, a system for controlling an environmental condition in a first location and a second location is provided. In yet a further aspect, a method for controlling an environmental condition in a location is provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an environmental condition in a location, the apparatus comprising:

a flow control device, wherein the flow control device is connectable to an environmental control unit via a conduit, the flow control device comprising;

a flow restriction member configured to selectively control an airflow into the location; and

a controller member configured to autonomously actuate the flow restriction member based upon the environmental condition in the location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a sensor member configured to provide data to the controller member in the flow control device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor member includes an inductive coupling to provide power to the sensor member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor member includes a data storage member in a microcontroller for storage of operational data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor member includes an interface member configured to be an interface between a computer and the data storage member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a cable is used to temporally connect the computer to the interface member.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor member is disposed at a location remote from the flow control device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow restriction member is a butterfly valve.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control device further includes a power member to supply energy to the flow control device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power member includes a rotating structure operatively attached to a generator to generate energy by utilizing the airflow through the flow control device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the power member includes a storage member for storing energy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control device further includes a communication member for receiving the environmental data from the sensor member.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is humidity, temperature or combinations thereof.

14. A method for controlling an environmental condition in a first location and a second location, the method comprising:

placing a first flow control device within the first location and a second flow control device within the second location;

controlling the environmental condition in each location by autonomously controlling airflow through each flow control device;

sending a signal from the first flow control device to the second flow control device via a duct system that interconnects the flow control devices; and

detecting the signal in the second flow control device and adjusting the airflow through the second flow control device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is a pressure pulse.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressure pulse is generated by a flow restriction member in the flow control device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is detected by a power generating member in the flow control device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is detected by a duct pressure sensor in the flow control device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is an acoustic tone.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental condition is controlled by communicating airflow from an environmental control unit to the locations via the duct system and the flow control devices.

21. The method of claim 20, further including communicating a back airflow from the second location to the first location via the duct system and the flow control devices when the environmental control unit is off.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a power generating member in the second flow control device is utilized to communicate the back airflow into the duct system from the second location.

23. The method of claim 21, further including detecting the back airflow in the duct system and causing the first flow control device to increase the airflow into the first location.

24. The method of claim 21, further including actuating the environmental control unit upon detection of the back airflow.

25. The method of claim 14, further including monitoring a pressure in the duct system and adjusting the airflow through the flow control devices upon detection of a predetermined pressure.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental condition is humidity, temperature, or combinations thereof.

27. A system for controlling an environmental condition in a first location and a second location, the system comprising:

a first flow control device and a first sensor member disposed within the first location, the first sensor member configured to sense and send environmental data regarding the first location to the first flow control device; and

a second flow control device and a second sensor member disposed within the second location, the second sensor member configured to sense and send environmental data regarding the second location to the second flow control device, wherein each flow control device includes a flow restriction member and a controller member configured to autonomously actuate the flow restriction member.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein each flow control device is interconnected via a duct system.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein each flow control device is configured to communicate with the other flow control device by generating and sending pressure pulses via the duct system.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein each flow control device is configured to communicate with the other flow control device by generating and sending an acoustic tone via the duct system.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the controller member in each flow control device is capable of being programmed to follow a predetermined sequence.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the controller member in each flow control device is configured to receive functional requests sent from a remote device.

33. A method for controlling an environmental condition in a location, the method comprising:

placing a flow control device within the location, wherein the flow control device is connected to an environmental control unit via a conduit;

comparing the environmental condition to an environmental condition parameter; and

controlling the environmental condition in the location by autonomously controlling airflow through the flow control device based upon a difference in the environmental condition and the environmental condition parameter.

34. The method of claim 33, further including monitoring the environmental condition in the location.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the environmental condition is monitored by a sensor member.