Multi-zone energy supply controller

• US 4,335,320 A
• Filed: 02/13/1980
• Issued: 06/15/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wa Brown & Son, Inc. (Imperial Brown, Inc. (Oregon))
• Original Assignee: Wa Brown & Son, Inc. (Imperial Brown, Inc. (Oregon))
• Inventors: Garver, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/121,158
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 307/39, 307/40, 307/41, 307/38, 307/35, 307/117, 165/25, 165/27, 165/28
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence

Abstract

A controller for the power supply system of a building structure divided into multiple zones provides a time-programmer and a load shedder for controlling the availability of separate heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning apparatus for individual zones and the separate apparatus associated with the building and includes switches for overriding the time programmer to allow selected apparatus to operate at will for a short period. The controller includes thermostats monitoring the temperature in the zones and operating the HVAC apparatus during certain temperature conditions, a meter for displaying the monitored temperature, and switches for selectively disconnecting the thermostats from the respective zone apparatus and connecting them to the meter while simultaneously connecting a dummy resistor to the respective zone apparatus in lieu of the thermostat. Hour meters and counters on the controller panel monitor and indicate elapsed running time and number of cyclings for certain elements of the apparatus, and signal lights indicate the operating status of certain elements.

Claims

1. A controller for the power supply system of a structure having multiple zones therein with separate heating, ventilating and air-conditioning apparatus for individual zones, said structure having other separate apparatus associated therewith and having means at said controller for automatically selectively controlling the availability for operation of individual elements of said separate apparatus on power demand and time bases, wherein the improvement comprises means at said controller for selectively overriding said availability controlling means for selectively allowing individual elements of said separate apparatus to be available to operate independent of said controlling on said time bases, means associated with said separate apparatus for individually monitoring environmental conditions in at least some of said zones, means responsive to said monitoring means and connected thereto for causing the corresponding separate apparatus to operate during the existence of predetermined environmental conditions in a zone so monitored subject to said availability, selective means at said controller for determining and displaying the measure of said environmental conditions in a zone so monitored as sensed by said monitoring means, and said selective means at said controller comprises means for simultaneously for a selected zone (a) disconnecting said monitoring means from said responsive means, (b) connecting said monitoring means to said determining and displaying means for said determining and displaying said sensed environmental condition measure, and (c) connecting a dummy load to said responsive means while said monitoring means is so disconnected therefrom.

3. A controller according to claim 1 or 2 and characterized further by means at said controller for monitoring and indicating elapsed running time and number of cyclings of at least some of the elements of said apparatus.

4. A controller according to claim 1 or 2 and characterized further by means at said controller for monitoring and indicating elapsed running time and number of cyclings of at least some of the elements of said separate apparatus and for indicating the operating status of at least some of the elements of said separate apparatus.

5. A controller according to claim 1 or 2 and characterized further by means at said controller for indicating the operating status of at least some of the elements of said separate apparatus.

6. A controller according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said means for selectively overriding said availability controlling means comprises means for causing said overriding to occur for predetermined periods of time.

2. A controller for the power supply system of a structure having multiple zones therein with separate heating, ventilating, and air conditioning apparatus for individual zones, said controller including means associated with said separate apparatus for monitoring environmental conditions in at least some of said zones, means responsive to said monitoring means and connected thereto for causing the corresponding separate apparatus to operate during predetermined environmental conditions, and means for selectively determining and displaying the measure of said environmental conditions as sensed by said monitoring means, wherein the improvement comprises selective means at said controller for simultaneously (a) disconnecting said monitoring means from said responsive means, (b) connecting said monitoring means to said determining and displaying means for said determining and displaying said sensed environmental condition measure, and (c) connecting a dummy load to said responsive means while said monitoring means is so disconnected therefrom.