Contingency mode operating method for air conditioning system

• US 20090048715A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard International Inc (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hugghins, Gordon Jeffrey, Boydstun, Roger L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21157 Broken, open line, cable, circuit, faulty connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric

Abstract

An air conditioning apparatus including a heater or furnace includes a controller for receiving control signals from a thermostat and from a user interface for initiating a contingency mode of operation when a signal from the thermostat is not available. The user interface includes a visual display and multiple keys for entering the contingency mode which includes selecting a capacity of heat output of the apparatus and a duty cycle. The user interface may be disposed in the apparatus cabinet and connected directly to a microprocessor based controller for the apparatus. The contingency mode is automatically aborted if a fault signal is received by the controller, a signal is received from a thermostat or power to the apparatus is interrupted.

Claims

1. In an air conditioning apparatus for conditioning air to be circulated to an enclosed space, a controller for controlling operation of said apparatus, and a user interface operably connected to said controller for inputting selected control functions by a user of said apparatus, a method of controlling said apparatus when a signal is not being received by said controller from a thermostat, comprising the steps of:

selecting a contingency mode of operation by way of said interface;

selecting at least one of a capacity of air conditioning to be produced by said apparatus and a duty cycle of said apparatus by way of said interface; and

initiating said contingency mode of operation.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

aborting said contingency mode of operation if a fault signal is received by said controller.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

aborting said contingency mode of operation if power to one of said apparatus and said controller is interrupted.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

aborting said contingency mode of operation if a signal is received by said controller from said thermostat.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

providing said controller to include a controller microprocessor and providing a program for said contingency mode of operation resident on one of said controller microprocessor and another microprocessor which may be operably connected to said controller microprocessor.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

providing said interface to include a visual display and plural user operable keys for commanding said interface to carry out selected steps to establish said contingency mode of operation.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 including the step of:

selecting an operating capacity of said apparatus in response to a message on said display.

8. The method set forth in claim 6 including the step of:

selecting a duty cycle of operation of said apparatus in response to a message on said display.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 including the step of:

selecting a duty cycle of operation of said apparatus of from 10% to 50% wherein said duty cycle of 10% includes operating said apparatus for two minutes and turning said apparatus off for eighteen minutes, and a duty cycle of 50% comprises operating said apparatus for ten minutes and turning said apparatus off for ten minutes.

10. The method set forth in claim 9 including a step of:

repeating a duty cycle multiple times per unit of time.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

providing said interface disposed in a cabinet of said apparatus.

12. In an air conditioning apparatus for conditioning air to be circulated to an enclosed space, a controller for controlling operation of said air conditioning apparatus including first and second microprocessors, and a user interface operably connected to said controller for commanding selected control functions by a user of said apparatus, a method of controlling said apparatus in the absence of a signal being received by said controller, comprising the steps of:

selecting a contingency mode of operation of said apparatus by way of said interface;

selecting at least one of a capacity of air conditioning to be produced by said apparatus and a duty cycle of said apparatus;

initiating said contingency mode of operation; and

aborting said contingency mode of operation if one of a fault signal is received by said controller, power to one of said apparatus and said controller is interrupted, and a signal is received by said controller from a thermostat.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 wherein:

the steps of said method are carried out at least in part by a program resident on one of said microprocessors.

14. The method set forth in claim 12 including the step of:

providing said interface to include a visual display and plural keys for commanding said interface to carry out selected steps of said contingency mode of operation.

15. The method set forth in claim 14 including the step of:

selecting said capacity to be produced by said apparatus in response to a message on said display.

16. The method set forth in claim 14 including the step of:

selecting said duty cycle of operation of said apparatus in response to a message on said display.

17. The method set forth in claim 16 including the step of:

selecting a duty cycle of said apparatus of from 10% to 50% wherein said duty cycle of 10% includes operating said apparatus for two minutes and turning said apparatus off for eighteen minutes, and a duty cycle of 50% comprises operating said apparatus for ten minutes and then turning said apparatus off for ten minutes.

18. The method set forth in claim 17 including a step of:

repeating a duty cycle multiple times per unit of time.

19. In an air conditioning apparatus for conditioning air to be circulated to an enclosed space, a controller for controlling operation of said air conditioning apparatus including at least a first microprocessor, and a user interface operably connected to said controller, said interface including a visual display and plural keys for commanding selected control functions by a user of said apparatus, a method of controlling said apparatus by way of said interface in the absence of a signal being received by said controller from a thermostat, comprising the steps of:

selecting a contingency mode of operation of said apparatus in response to a message on said display;

selecting a capacity of air conditioning to be produced by said apparatus and a duty cycle of said apparatus in response to messages on said display; and

initiating said contingency mode of operation.

20. The method set forth in claim 19 including the steps of:

aborting said contingency mode of operation if one of a fault signal is received by said controller, power to one of said apparatus and said controller is interrupted, and a signal is received by said controller from said thermostat.