IMPROVEMENTS TO ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEMS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

• US 20160201930A1
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logicor
• Original Assignee: Logicor
• Inventors: Bowen, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,823,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1096 for electric heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

An electric heating system is provided including first and at least second electric heating devices. The first and at least second electric heating devices each include or have associated therewith communication means, whereby data concerning all or one or more of the heating devices can be communicated directly to or between the first and at least second electric heating devices.

Claims

1. An electric heating system including first and at least second electric heating devices, wherein the first and at least second electric heating devices each include or have associated therewith communication means, whereby data concerning all or one or more of the heating devices can be communicated directly to or between the first and at least second electric heating devices.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication means of at least one of the heating devices is associated with, communicates with, forms part of and/or is connected to control means, and said control means control one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics of said at least one heating device and/or one or more other heating devices.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the control means includes or is associated with switching means for controlling or switching the supply of electrical power to said one or more heating devices according to said one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics.

4. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the data being communicated and/or the one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics include any or any combination of the temperature of one or more of the heating devices, the ambient temperature of the location in which one or more of the heating device are located, a temperature variation from a predetermined threshold value or range, the operating and/or functional condition of one or more of the heating devices, the amount of energy being used by one or more of the heating devices, the cost of energy being used by one or more of the heating device, the amount of carbon being used by one or more of the heating devices and/or the carbon footprint of one or more of the heating devices, a time period over which energy consumption for one or more of said heating devices is defined, a rate or amount of heat loss in a particular locality, or a time period over which switching means on the heating devices are actuated for.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein a value range and/or an upper and/or a lower threshold limit for a particular parameter, function and/or characteristic being controlled and/or data item being communicated is pre-determined and/or can be selected by a user.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein in order to allow one or more of all of the heating devices to operate within the range and/or above or below the user selected or pre-determined parameter, function and/or characteristic, at least one of the heating devices in the system is not switched on all the time or is provided with a reduced electric power supply for part of a total time period.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein each heating device within the system receives electrical power in turn for a pre-determined period of time;

with one or more other heating devices in the system being switched to an off or relatively low power consuming position when one or more heating devices in the system are switched to an on or relatively high power consuming position.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein a single control means controls a plurality of heating devices in the system substantially simultaneously, the single control means being located on or associated with one of the heating devices, or being located remote to and/or independent of one or more or all of the heating devices.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electric power or voltage supplied to one or more of the heating devices is pulsed, in that it is moved between on and off conditions and/or relatively high and low conditions.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein two or more of the heating devices receives one or more electric pulses in turn or successively.

11. A system according to claim 4 wherein the data being communicated and/or one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics associated with or selected for each heating device or two or more heating devices being controlled is different.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the heating devices are any or any combination of one or more electric radiators, fan heaters, cookers, hair straighteners, kettles or electrically controlled water heating devices.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electric heating devices are powered by mains electricity.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication between two or more heating devices can be unidirectional, bidirectional or, if more than two heating devices are provided in the system, communication between the heating devices can be multidirectional.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein communication via the communication means is via any or any combination of wireless means, one or more radio frequency signals, infrared signals, light signals, electrical wiring, electrical wiring and/or cabling associated with the one or more heating devices, and/or the electrical wiring and/or cabling associated with the electrical supply of a locality, room and/or building in which the one or more heating devices are located in use.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein sensing means are provided for sensing the temperature of each or one or more of the heating devices.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing means are provided on or associated with the heating device, the control means, the communication means and/or the switch means.

18. A system according to claim 3 wherein the switch means, communication means and/or sensing means are provided in, on or associated with any or any combination of an electrical plug, a wall socket, a fuse spur or microprocessor controlled relay forming part of or associated with a heating device.

19. A system according to claim 1 wherein each heating device is provided with a control box and/or plug into which communication means, sensing means and/or switching means are incorporated.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein each heating device or communication means, control means, switching means and/or plug associated with a heating device includes identification means to allow other control means to identify said heating device, communication means, control means, switching means and/or plug.

21. A system according to claim 2 wherein the control means has a user interface, visual display and/or touch screen display to allow a user to select and/or control one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics of a heating device.

22. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication means can send data to and/or receive data from outside of the system.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein the communication means communicates with one or more external data sources or service providers including any or any combination of a weather forecast data source, electricity supplier data source, electricity tariff data source or historical data source for other independent heating systems or emergency service provider.

24. A system according to claim 22 wherein if the system and/or one or more electric heating devices detects a sudden change, an unusual or unexpected change, and/or a substantial change in detected temperature at one or more localities from a pre-determined temperature value or temperature range, said change is communicated to a user and/or suitable authority.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein the detected temperature change can be used to indicate a possible fire, intruder, open and/or broken door or window, water pipe leak, flood at or adjacent the system and/or mechanical failure of one or more components of the system.

26. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication means and/or one or more control means associated with one or more of the heating devices can be accessed and/or controlled remotely.

27. A system according to claim 9 wherein the length of time each heating device is powered for or a pulsed electric supply is provided for is substantially equal to a second divided by the number of electrical heating devices in the system controlled by at least one control means.

28. A system according to claim 2 wherein a user is able to prioritise or order the heating devices in a particular hierarchy using the control means so that a prioritised heating device or a heating device high up in the hierarchy receives electrical power first or in priority to one or more other heating devices in the system.

29. A system according to claim 1 wherein each or one or more heating device is made from a ceramic and/or glass material in which a heating element is embedded or sandwiched.

30. An electric heating device for use in the system according to claim 1.

31. A method of using an electric heating system, said system including first and at least second electric heating devices, wherein the first and at least second electric heating devices each include or have associated therewith communication means, and wherein said method includes the step of communicating data directly from one of said heating devices to at least one other of said heating devices.