Timer controlled space thermostat with battery operated timer

• US 4,049,973 A
• Filed: 04/26/1976
• Issued: 09/20/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Lambert, Rudolph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US05/680,142
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/141.8, 307/66, 307/117, 337/302, 337/303, 337/331, 236/46 R, 236/47, 58/33, 58/152 A, 58/23 BA, 219/492, 165/12
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/16 acting only at one preselected time or during one adjustable time interval
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/275 with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature

Abstract

A timer controlled space thermostat includes a timer, a rechargeable battery for providing the electrical power to operate the timer, circuit means for recharging the battery, and two single-pole, double-throw temperature responsive switches. One conductive position of each switch enables the energizing of space conditioning apparatus control means, the other conductive position of each switch enables the energizing of the recharging circuit means, and the short timer period incidental to the movement of the switch between the conductive positions provides a sufficient time to ensure de-energizing of the space conditioning apparatus control means prior to the energizing of the recharging circuit means.

Claims

1. In a timer controlled space thermostat for controlling operation of electrically operated space conditioning apparatus, two double-throw temperature responsive switches arranged to move sequentially to a first conductive position in response to a progressing temperature change in one direction and to move sequentially to a second opposite conductive position in response to progressing temperature change in the opposite direction, timer operated switching means including circuit connections for alternately completing an energizing circuit for the operation of space conditioning apparatus through said double-throw switches when in their said first conductive positions, said timer operated switching means including an electrically operated timer movement, a storage battery connected to said timer movement for the energizing thereof, recharging circuit means for said battery completed through said timer operated switching means and one or the other of said double-throw switches when in their said second conductive position, and said double-throw temperature responsive switches having a discrete non-conductive period when moving from their said first to their said second conductive positions during which neither said space conditioning apparatus nor said recharging circuit means are energized.

2. In a timer controlled space thermostat for controlling operation of space conditioning apparatus control means, an electrically operated timer movement, a rechargeable storage battery connected to said timer movement for the energizing thereof, two double-throw temperature responsive switches, timer operated switching means including circuit means for alternatively connected through one and then the other of said temperature responsive switches, an energizing circuit for the operation of space conditioning apparatus control means and a recharging circuit for maintaining a charge on said battery, one of said temperature responsive switches being adjustable to a temperature set point and having a first conductive position effected by temperature change in one direction from said set point and a second conductive position effected by a temperature change in the opposite direction from said point, the other of said temperature responsive switches being adjustable to a temperature set point lower than said set point of said one switch and having a first conductive position effected by temperature change in one direction from said lower set point and having a second conductive position effected by a temperature change in the opposite direction from said lower set point, both said temperature responsive switches having a discrete non-conductive position between their said first and second conductive positions, said first conductive positions of said switches effective to complete said energizing circuit, said second conductive positions of said switches effective to complete said recharging circuit, and said non-conductive position effective to break both said energizing circuit and said recharging circuit.

3. In a timer controlled space thermostat for controlling operation of space conditioning apparatus control means, two double-throw temperature responsive switches adjustable to respond to preselected levels of space temperature, each switch being actuated to a first conductive position in response to a space temperature change in one direction and being actuated to a second conductive position in response to a space temperature change in the opposite direction, timer operated switching means including an electrically operated timer movement, a rechargeable storage battery connected to said timer movement for the energizing thereof, said timer operated switching means including circuit means for alternately completing an energizing circuit extending through one and then the other of said temperature responsive switches when in their said first conductive positions for the operation of space conditioning apparatus control means, a recharging circuit for said battery being completed through one and then the other of said temperature responsive switches only when in their said second conductive positions, said temperature responsive switches having a transitory non-conductive position between their said first and second conductive positions at which said energizing circuit and said recharging circuit are de-energized.

4. The timer controlled space thermostat claimed in claim 3 in which said timer operated switching means comprises a double-throw switch actuated alternately to opposite closed positions at timed intervals by said timer movement.

5. In a timer controlled space thermostat for controlling operation of heating and cooling apparatus control means, two double-throw temperature responsive switches arranged to be sequentially moved to first conductive positions in response to progressing decrease in space temperature and to be sequentially moved to second conductive positions in response to progressing increase in space temperature, timer operated switching means including an electrically operated timer movement, a rechargeable storage battery connected to said timer movement for the energizing thereof, a double-throw timer switch operative to alternately complete a circuit through one and then the other of said temperature responsive switches, heating circuit connections including a system selector switch means in a first position connecting said temperature responsive switches when in their said first conductive positions to heating apparatus control means through said timer switch and connecting said temperature responsive switches when in their said second conductive positions to a first circuit means for recharging said battery through said timer switch, cooling circuit connections including said system selector switch means in a second position connecting said temperature responsive switches when in their said second conductive positions to cooling apparatus control means through said timer switch and connecting said temperature responsive switches when in their said first conductive positions to a second circuit means for recharging said battery through said timer switch, each of said temperature responsive switches having a discrete non-conductive position when moving between their said conductive positions during which said heating circuit connections and said cooling circuit connections are broken and said first and second recharging circuit means are de-energized.

6. The timer controlled space thermostat claimed in claim 5 wherein said second recharging circuit means includes a resistor which is concurrently effective to limit the recharging rate and to provide cooling anticipation.

7. The timer controlled space thermostat claimed in claim 5 further including a third circuit means independent of said temperature responsive switches and said timer switch for recharging said battery.

8. The timer controlled space thermostat claimed in claim 7 wherein said third recharging circuit means includes said system selector switch means in a third position.