Energy control system providing selective control of remote zone heating or cooling from a central location
First Claim
1. An energy control system for selectively controlling permissible temperatures in a plurality of remote zones from a control location, said zones each having heat transfer means normally operational for effecting heat transfer with respect to said zone to control temperature in said zone, said zones each being interconnected with said control location by respective telephone circuits each comprising ring and tip conductors constituting a conductor pair having a DC telephone operating voltage normally imposed thereon of a normal polarity, said system comprising polarity reversing means for effecting a reversal of said normal polarity, said polarity reversing means comprising polarity switching means interconnected with each said conductor pair for selectively reversing the polarity of connection of such conductor pair to said DC telephone operating voltage, voltage responsive means in each zone responsive to reversal of polarity of said DC voltage imposed on a conductor pair interconnecting said zone with said control location, heat transfer control means in each zone, operatively associated with said voltage responsive means in said zone, for altering normal operation of said heat transfer control means for as long as there is maintained a reversal in the polarity of the voltage on said conductor pair, in a sense tending to require less enerby for heat transfer with respect to said zone, said polarity reversing means and said voltage responsive means each operating independently of any telephone voice communication signals carried by said conductor pair without interruption by voice communication signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy control system for selectively controlling permissible temperature ranges in a plurality of remote zones from a central control location where the zones each have a heat transfer unit for controlling temperature in the zone. The system is intended for use where the zones are interconnected by pairs of conductors, preferably telephone circuits, with the control location. The system includes a switching arrangement for selectively controlling voltages on the conductors, as by reversing the polarity of normal DC voltage across a conductor pair. Voltage responsive circuits at each zone are interconnected with such conductors. Heat transfer control switching circuits in each zone are associated with the voltages responsive circuits for altering normal operation of the heat transfer unit in the zone in response to a detected change in voltage on the conductor by the voltage responsive circuit. Operation is altered, as by shutting off the heat transfer unit, in a sense tending to require less energy for heating or cooling the zone thereby conserving energy.
44 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. An energy control system for selectively controlling permissible temperatures in a plurality of remote zones from a control location, said zones each having heat transfer means normally operational for effecting heat transfer with respect to said zone to control temperature in said zone, said zones each being interconnected with said control location by respective telephone circuits each comprising ring and tip conductors constituting a conductor pair having a DC telephone operating voltage normally imposed thereon of a normal polarity, said system comprising polarity reversing means for effecting a reversal of said normal polarity, said polarity reversing means comprising polarity switching means interconnected with each said conductor pair for selectively reversing the polarity of connection of such conductor pair to said DC telephone operating voltage, voltage responsive means in each zone responsive to reversal of polarity of said DC voltage imposed on a conductor pair interconnecting said zone with said control location, heat transfer control means in each zone, operatively associated with said voltage responsive means in said zone, for altering normal operation of said heat transfer control means for as long as there is maintained a reversal in the polarity of the voltage on said conductor pair, in a sense tending to require less enerby for heat transfer with respect to said zone, said polarity reversing means and said voltage responsive means each operating independently of any telephone voice communication signals carried by said conductor pair without interruption by voice communication signals.
Specification