METHOD OF CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT IN A HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100106319A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nanjundeshaiah, Kamala Kodihally, Courtney, Michael, Hadzidedic, Darko, Grohman, Wojciech
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/41 Defrosting; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a sensor and a local controller. The sensor is configured to detect a fault condition associated with operation of a demand unit. The local controller, associated with the demand unit, is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor and to communicate the sensor data over the network. A network controller is configured to receive the sensor data via the communication network and to generate an alert in the event that the sensor data indicates the fault condition.

Claims

1. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a fault condition associated with operation of a demand unit;

a local controller associated with said demand unit and configured to receive sensor data from said sensor and to communicate said sensor data over said network; and

a network controller configured to receive said sensor data via said communication network and to generate an alert in the event that said sensor data indicates said fault condition.

2. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein said alert includes instructing said user interface to display an error message.

3. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gateway, wherein said alert includes instructing said gateway to send an error message to a remote entity.

4. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to change an operational aspect of said network in response to said fault condition.

5. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said controller disables operation of said demand unit.

6. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said controller disables operation of the entire network.

7. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said demand unit is a heat pump, and controller is further configured to initiate a heating cycle when said sensor detects said icing condition.

8. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

provide a sensor configured to detect a fault condition associated with operation of a demand unit;

provide a local controller associated with said demand unit and configured to receive sensor data from said sensor and to communicate said sensor data over a data bus; and

provide a subnet controller configured to receive said sensor data via said data bus and to generate an alert in the event that said sensor data indicates said fault condition.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to instruct a user interface to display an error message when generating said alert.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to instruct a gateway to send an error message to a remote entity when generating said alert.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, configuring said subnet controller to change an operational aspect of said network in response to said fault condition.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to disable operation of said demand unit in response to said fault condition.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to disable operation of the entire network in response to said fault condition.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said demand unit is a heat pump, and subnet controller is further configured to initiate a heating cycle when said sensor detects said icing condition.

15. An HVAC data processing and communication network;

comprising;

a heat pump;

a communicating indoor unit configured to cooperate with said heat pump to operate in a cooling mode;

an auxiliary heater configured to temper cooled air output by said indoor unit during a defrost cycle of said heat pump; and

a controller configured to detect operation of said auxiliary heater during said cooling mode, and to disable said auxiliary heater in the event that said operation is detected.

16. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to determine that said auxiliary heater operates during said cooling mode.

17. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 16, wherein said sensor detects a temperature rise of air passing through said auxiliary heater.

18. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 16, wherein said sensor detects a control voltage configured to enable operation of said auxiliary heater.

19. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 15, wherein said heat pump is a non-communicating heat pump and said controller is a heat pump controller.

20. The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in claim 15, further comprising a subnet controller configured to issue an alert in response to disabling said auxiliary heater.