METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CONTROLLING AIR TO A BUILDING
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing at least one HVAC component for connection to a building'"'"'s HVAC system with HVAC ducting, wherein the HVAC component receives input from a user input and controls the airflow entering the building'"'"'s HVAC system, the method comprising the acts of:
- 1) providing a first HVAC component, said HVAC component including;
a) a first housing with a first airflow passage configured and adapted to connect to the HVAC ducting installed in a building with the first airflow passage in fluid communication with the HVAC ducting,b) a first airflow detector for measuring the volume of air passing through the first airflow passage,c) a first airflow regulator for regulating the airflow through the first airflow passage, andd) a first controller with a memory, the first controller configured and adapted to command the airflow regulator to change the amount of air moving through the first airflow passage;
2) attaching the first airflow detector to the first housing at a first location, wherein said attaching places the first airflow detector in the first airflow passage;
3) moving air through the first airflow passage;
4) obtaining a measured airflow by measuring the airflow through the first airflow passage with the first airflow detector;
5) obtaining an actual volumetric airflow by determining the airflow through the first airflow passage with a calibrated test system;
6) determining a correction to convert the measured airflow to the actual airflow; and
7) applying the correction to the first controller and, while the first controller is in communication with the first airflow regulator and the first airflow regulator is attached to the first housing, causing the controller to;
a) command an increase in the first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow is below a desired airflow,b) command a decrease in the first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow is above a desired airflow, andc) maintain a constant first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow equals a desired airflow.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
HVAC systems, including various HVAC system components, and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed for controlling airflow into a building. Embodiments of the HVAC systems include apparatuses for controlling the volumetric airflow moving through at least one HVAC system component using a measurement device, for example an airflow detector, a regulator, for example a damper or blower, and a controller, where the controller receives input from the measurement device, manipulates the input with a control algorithm, and sends output commands to the regulator. Further embodiments include apparatuses and methods for development of the control algorithm by testing a similar HVAC system component, measuring the actual volumetric airflow through the HVAC system component, and comparing the actual volumetric airflow with the airflow measured by the measurement device. Still further embodiment include forming a plurality of similar HVAC components that each control airflow without requiring further testing.
244 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing at least one HVAC component for connection to a building'"'"'s HVAC system with HVAC ducting, wherein the HVAC component receives input from a user input and controls the airflow entering the building'"'"'s HVAC system, the method comprising the acts of:
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1) providing a first HVAC component, said HVAC component including; a) a first housing with a first airflow passage configured and adapted to connect to the HVAC ducting installed in a building with the first airflow passage in fluid communication with the HVAC ducting, b) a first airflow detector for measuring the volume of air passing through the first airflow passage, c) a first airflow regulator for regulating the airflow through the first airflow passage, and d) a first controller with a memory, the first controller configured and adapted to command the airflow regulator to change the amount of air moving through the first airflow passage; 2) attaching the first airflow detector to the first housing at a first location, wherein said attaching places the first airflow detector in the first airflow passage; 3) moving air through the first airflow passage; 4) obtaining a measured airflow by measuring the airflow through the first airflow passage with the first airflow detector; 5) obtaining an actual volumetric airflow by determining the airflow through the first airflow passage with a calibrated test system; 6) determining a correction to convert the measured airflow to the actual airflow; and 7) applying the correction to the first controller and, while the first controller is in communication with the first airflow regulator and the first airflow regulator is attached to the first housing, causing the controller to; a) command an increase in the first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow is below a desired airflow, b) command a decrease in the first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow is above a desired airflow, and c) maintain a constant first airflow regulator output when the actual airflow equals a desired airflow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A plurality of HVAC systems, each system with at least one HVAC component for controlling the volumetric airflow through the HVAC system, each of the plurality of HVAC system components being substantially similar to one another, at least one of the HVAC system components comprising:
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a first HVAC component, including; a first housing with a first airflow passage configured and adapted to connect to one of the HVAC system'"'"'s ducting with said first airflow passage in fluid communication with the HVAC system'"'"'s ducting, a first airflow regulator for changing the airflow through said airflow passage, a first airflow detector for measuring the airflow passing through said first airflow passage, and a first controller with a memory, said first controller connected to said first airflow regulator and said first airflow detector, wherein said first controller commands said first airflow regulator to change the airflow rate through said first airflow passage to achieve a desired actual airflow rate using a control algorithm; means for deriving said control algorithm including means for measuring the actual airflow through said first HVAC system component, wherein the control algorithm converts input from the first airflow detector to an actual airflow rate through said first HVAC system component, and wherein the control algorithm compares the actual airflow rate to a desired airflow rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An HVAC system component for attachment to a building'"'"'s HVAC system and for controlling the airflow through the HVAC system component, the component comprising:
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a housing defining an airflow passage; an airflow detector for detecting the airflow through said airflow passage, said airflow detector attached to said housing and located at a first position in said airflow passage; an airflow regulator attached to said housing and configured to regulate the airflow through said airflow passage; a controller in communication with said airflow detector and said airflow regulator, wherein said controller receives input from said airflow detector and calculates a command using a control algorithm, wherein said controller commands said airflow regulator to; increase airflow through said airflow passage when the actual airflow through said airflow passage is less than a desired airflow, decrease airflow through said airflow passage when the actual airflow through said airflow passage is greater than a desired airflow, and maintain the airflow rate through said airflow passage when the actual airflow through said airflow passage equals a desired airflow; wherein said airflow regulator receives the controller command and correspondingly changes the airflow through said airflow passage; wherein said control algorithm is derived by testing a test-component, said test-component including; a test-housing similar to said housing and defining a test-airflow-passage similar to said airflow passage, a test-detector similar to said airflow detector for detecting the airflow through said test-airflow-passage, said test-detector attached to said test-housing at a position in said test-airflow-passage similar to said first position, and a test-regulator similar to said airflow regulator and attached to said test-housing, said test-regulator configured to regulate the airflow through said test-airflow passage; and wherein said control algorithm is further derived by comparing the actual volumetric airflow through said test-airflow-passage to the airflow measured by said test-detector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification