SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HVAC INTERLOCKS

• US 20130253709A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Renggli, Franz, Walti, Marcel, Pienta, William Thomas, Seribo, Virgil, Coogan, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00

Abstract

An interlock function block system, method, and apparatus that reduces the necessity for a building automation programmer to program low-level instructions using a complex series of ANDs, ORs, and arithmetic functions to protect such devices is provided.

Claims

1. A method for applying interlock assurances for a plurality of building automation devices:

providing a first interlock block logically connected to a supported building automation device and a supporting building automation device;

the first interlock block comprising;

an input status module for receiving an input from the supporting building automation device;

an output status module for sending an output to the supported building automation devices; and

means for determining whether the supporting building automation device is configured to support the supported building automation device;

receiving a demand request from the supported building automation device; and

determining whether the supporting building automation device is configured to support the supported building automation device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a signal to the supported building automation device that the supporting building automation device is presently in a state in which it can support the supported building automation device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a signal to the supported building automation device that the supporting building automation device is presently not in a state in which it can support the supported building automation device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising configuring the supported building automation device to disengage.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a priority with the demand request for the supported building automation device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a second interlock block logically connected to a second supporting building automation device, wherein the second interlock block is logically connected to the first interlock block.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the supported building automation device comprises a fan and the supporting building automation device comprise a damper or a heating coil.

3. The method of claim 3, further comprising configuring the supported building automation device to engage.

9. A system for assuring that a supported building automation device has adequate support from a supporting building automation device, the system comprising:

an interlock block logically connected to a supported building automation device and a supporting building automation device, wherein the interlock block comprises;

an input status module for receiving one or more inputs from one or more building automation devices;

an output status module for sending outputs to one or more building automation devices; and

means for determining whether a supporting building automation device is configured to support a supported building automation device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising configuring a supported building automation device to properly react to a received signal indicating that the supporting building automation device is configured to support the supported building automation device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the supporting building automation device comprises a damper or a heating coil.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a control sequence linker.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a temperature sequence linker logically connected to the interlock block, wherein the temperature sequence linker includes a temperature controller for a heating coil.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the interlock block is configured for supply chain coordination.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the interlock block is configured outside a control loop device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the interlock block is configured to communicate with cascaded control loop devices.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the interlock block is configured with control loop devices of two or more control variables.

18. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for controlling a supported building automation device, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

providing an interlock block logically connected to a supported building automation device and a supporting building automation device;

the interlock block comprising;

an input status module for receiving inputs from a first building automation device;

an output status module for sending outputs to a second building automation device; and

determining whether the supporting building automation device is configured to support the supported building automation device;

receiving a demand request from the supported building automation device; and

determining whether the supporting building automation device is presently configured to support the supported building automation device.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for determining whether a supporting building automation device is configured to support a supported building automation device.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for determining a priority level of the supported building automation device.