Programmable energy saving register vent

• US 20070298706A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Springfield Acquisition Co., LLC
• Original Assignee: Springfield Precision Instruments (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hudon, Steven, Brewer, David, Safronchik, Valery, Cheng, Mang
• Application Number:
  US11/601,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/256
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/15 with parallel simultaneously tiltable lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature

Abstract

A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system. The programmable vent includes a vent housing with a front face which has an inset, where the vent housing is configured to allow air flow from the duct. At least one louver is movably connected to the vent housing, an actuator is connected to the at least one louver, a controller module is removably attached to the vent housing and positioned in the inset, the controller module being connected to the actuator when positioned in the inset.

Claims

1. A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system, said programmable vent comprising:

a vent housing having a front face with an inset, said vent housing configured to allow air flow from the duct;

at least one louver movably connected to said vent housing;

an actuator connected to said at least one louver;

a controller module removably attached to said vent housing and positioned in said inset, said controller module connected to said actuator when positioned in said inset.

2. The programmable vent of claim 1, wherein said actuator includes an electric motor, said controller module being electrically connected to said electric motor when positioned in said inset.

3. The programmable vent of claim 1, wherein said controller module includes a circuit board with motor controls connected to said electric motor, further including a display, a user input device, batteries and associated wiring all electrically connected to said circuit board.

4. A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system, said programmable vent comprising:

a vent housing configured to allow air flow from the duct;

at least one louver movably connected to said vent housing;

an electric motor connected to said at least one louver;

a first plurality of electrical terminals connected to said electric motor and fixedly connected to said vent housing; and

a controller module removably attached to said vent housing, said controller module including a controller housing and a controller unit within said controller housing, said controller unit including a second plurality of electrical terminals resiliently contacting said first plurality of electrical terminals.

5. The programmable vent of claim 4, wherein said controller unit includes a circuit board with motor controls connected to said second plurality of terminals.

6. The programmable vent of claim 5, wherein said controller module further includes a display, a user input device, batteries and associated wiring all electrically connected to said circuit board.

7. The programmable vent of claim 4, wherein said controller housing is in a snap fit arrangement with said vent housing.

8. The programmable vent of claim 7, wherein said snap fit arrangement comprises at least one resilient ramped projection connected to said controller housing, and at least one detent in said vent housing, said at least one resilient ramped projection insertable in a corresponding said at least one detent when said controller housing is in said snap fit arrangement with said vent housing.

9. The programmable vent of claim 8, wherein said vent housing further includes a frame in which said controller module is inserted, said frame includes at least one access aperture for accessing said controller module.

10. The programmable vent of claim 4, further including a rack and pinion gear set connected between said electric motor and said at least one louver.

11. The programmable vent of claim 10, wherein said rack and pinion gear set includes at least one pinion gear connected to a corresponding said louver and said motor, and a rack gear slidably connected to said vent housing.

12. The programmable vent of claim 4, further including a temperature sensor providing a temperature input to said controller module, said controller module sensing said temperature input.

13. The programmable vent of claim 12, wherein said temperature sensor is in wireless communication with said controller module.

14. The programmable vent of claim 4, further including an infrared sensor providing an infrared input to said controller module, said controller module sensing said infrared input.

15. The programmable vent of claim 14, wherein said infrared sensor is in wireless communication with said controller module.

16. A building environmental air temperature control system, comprising:

at least one of a heating system and a cooling system;

at least one duct connected to at least one of said heating system and said cooling system;

a programmable vent connected to a corresponding said at least one duct, said programmable vent including;

a vent housing through which air flows from the duct;

at least one louver movably connected to said vent housing;

an electric motor connected to said at least one louver;

a first plurality of electrical terminals connected to said electric motor and fixedly connected to said vent housing; and

a controller module removably attached to said vent housing, said controller module including a controller housing and a controller unit within said controller housing, said controller unit including a second plurality of electrical terminals resiliently contacting said first plurality of electrical terminals.

17. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 16, wherein said controller unit includes a circuit board with motor controls connected to said second plurality of terminals.

18. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 17, wherein said controller module further includes a display, a user input device, batteries and associated wiring all connected to said circuit board.

19. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 16, wherein said controller housing is in a snap fit arrangement with said vent housing.

20. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 19, wherein said snap fit arrangement comprises at least one resilient ramped projection connected to said controller housing, and at least one detent in said vent housing, said at least one resilient ramped projection insertable in a corresponding said at least one detent when said controller housing is in said snap fit arrangement with said vent housing.

21. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 20, wherein said vent housing further includes a frame in which said controller module is inserted, said frame includes at least one access aperture for accessing said controller module.

22. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 16, further including a rack and pinion gear set connected between said electric motor and said at least one louver.

23. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 22, wherein said rack and pinion gear set includes at least one pinion gear connected to a corresponding said louver and said motor, and a rack gear slidably connected to said vent housing.

24. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 16, further including a temperature sensor providing a temperature input to said controller module, said controller module sensing said temperature input.

25. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 24, wherein said temperature sensor is in wireless communication with said controller module.

26. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 16, further including an infrared sensor providing an infrared input to said controller module, said controller module sensing said infrared input.

27. The building environmental air temperature control system of claim 26, wherein said infrared sensor is in wireless communication with said controller module.

28. A method of controlling air flow within a building environmental air temperature control system, comprising the steps of:

providing a programmable vent including housing having a front face with an inset, said vent housing configured to allow air flow from the duct, at least one louver movably connected to said vent housing, an actuator connected to said at least one louver, a controller module removably attached to said vent housing and positioned in said inset, said controller module connected to said actuator when positioned in said inset;

removing said controller module from said programmable vent;

programming said controller module to open and close said at least one louver;

reinstalling said controller module into said programmable vent; and

selectively controlling an air flow exiting said duct using said programmable vent.

29. A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system, said programmable vent comprising:

a vent housing

a fixed aperture plate connected to the vent housing, the fixed aperture plate including a plurality of apertures configured for accepting air flow through the vent housing from the duct; and

at least one movable aperture plate connected to the vent housing and slidable relative to the fixed aperture plate between an open position which substantially allows the air flow and a closed position which substantially restricts the air flow.

30. The programmable vent of claim 29, wherein at least one said movable aperture plate is horizontally slidable relative to the fixed aperture plate.

31. The programmable vent of claim 29, further including an actuator connected to at least one movable aperture plate.

32. The programmable vent of claim 31, further including a controller module attached to the vent housing the controller module for controlling the actuator.

33. The programmable vent of claim 31, further including a rack and pinion gear set connected between the actuator and at least one said movable aperture plate.

34. A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system, said programmable vent comprising:

a vent housing;

a fixed ventilation element connected to the vent housing;

at least one movable ventilation element connected to the vent housing and movable relative to the fixed ventilation element; and

a rack and pinion gear set connected between the at least one movable ventilation element and the vent housing.

35. The programmable vent of claim 34, further including an actuator connected to at least one ventilation element.

36. The programmable vent of claim 35, wherein the rack and pinion gear set includes a rack gear and a pinion gear, the rack gear being connected to at least one of the actuator and the vent housing, the pinion gear being connected to the other of the actuator and the vent housing.