Multiple load integrated fluid control units

• US 4,263,931 A
• Filed: 11/09/1979
• Issued: 04/28/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Wichman, Paul E., Laakaniemi, Richard N., Bramow, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, Jr., William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/092,724
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 137/84, 91/47, 91/48, 236/49, 236/13, 236/91 R, 165/16
• US Class Current: 137/84
• 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 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/185 with auxiliary non-electric power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2365 Plural series units

Abstract

A mixed air conditioning controller is formed as a factory assembled and adjusted unit in a compact housing, with simple and direct input/output field connectors. Various temperature and humidity input devices are field connected to produce a sequenced control of the air dampers and mechanical cooling and heating devices, as well as auxiliary devices. The controller includes a primary input related to room demand, an outside air temperature input, with an interlocked control to the damper, a fan status input, a minimum air supply control and a by-pass switch having a low limit input. The logic network connecting the input/output includes pneumatic switching, pressure selecting and comparing devices of a diaphragm-controlled-orifice construction connected to function as fluidic repeaters, pressure regulating valves and pressure isolating and switching devices. The controller includes a conditioning channel and a damper channel. An outside air interlock controls the damper channel and a presettable switch controls the minimum air supply control. The presettable switch also includes a low limit temperature signal input. An auxiliary output may drive a humidity controller having a conditioning channel and a humidity channel. The humidity controller includes an interlock network connected to transfer the humidity input signal to the conditioning channel and a switch means controlled by the auxiliary output of the temperature controller.

Claims

1. An interrelated control apparatus for separately and selectively conjointly controlling a plurality of different load means, comprising first and second channels for providing separate load controls, a demand signal means connected to each of said channels for simultaneously signaling each channel, said first channel having an output means adapted to be connected to a first load and having a first means for developing an output signal related to said demand signal, said second channel including an output means adapted to be connected to a second load and having a second means for developing an output signal related to said demand signal, said second channel having an interlock means and a minimum load setting means, said interlock means including an override sensing input means and an adjustable setpoint means for generating a control signal at a selected sensed condition and said an interlock means connected in the second of said channels to selectively hold said channel in a standby position, and said minimum load setting means including an adjustable control means and connected to said second channel to maintain a minimum load setting signal independent of said demand signal.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1 having a presettable switch means coupled to said interlock means and to said minimum load means for selectively disabling said minimum load means in response to operation of the interlock means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said presettable switch means includes a second signal input means to further control the minimum load means in accordance with the level of said second signal.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1 including an auxiliary output means connected to said interlock switch means to generate a related auxiliary signal, third and fourth load control channels, said third channel having a third input means connected to the output of the first channel and having an output adapted to be connected to said first load, said fourth channel having a fourth input means adapted to be connected to a second signal source and having an output adapted to be connected to a third load, an interlock means coupling said fourth input means to said third input means for conjointly controlling said first load, and a disable switch means coupled to said auxiliary output means to selectively actuate said interlock means.