Energy controller and method utilizing bi-metal elements to adjust thermostat setting and to shed and restore controlled loads in prioritized order
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the amount of electrical energy delivered from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads, including first and second controlled loads, in order to reduce peak electrical loading by the establishment by avoiding simultaneous operation of said first and second controlled loads, said system comprising in combination:
- (a) means for sensing a quantity related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads;
(b) first temperature sensitive means having a portion that deflects in response to a change in the temperature of said first temperature sensitive means caused by a change in said quantity, wherein said first temperature sensitive means includes a first bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion undergoing rotational deflection relative to said first end portion in response to changes in temperature of said first bi-metal coil;
(c) means responsive to said sensing means for heating said first temperature sensitive means to a temperature related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads;
(d) thermostatic means for switching from one state to another when a temperature of said thermostatic means varies from a level below a first set point temperature to a level above said first set point temperature, said first thermostatic means controlling said first controlled load, wherein said thermostatic means includes a second bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion that undergoes rotational deflection relative to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil in response to changes in the temperature of said second bi-metal coil, said coupling means connecting said second end portion of said first bi-metal coil to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil, the total amount of rotational deflection of said second end portion of said second bi-metal coil being determined by both an amount of change of temperature of said second bi-metal coil and an amount of change in the total power being delivered to the establishment; and
(e) means coupling said thermostatic means to said portion of said first temperature sensitive means for changing said first set point temperature in response to changes in the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A residential energy controller includes a first bi-metal element having a free end and a stationary end. A second bi-metal element has a first end connected to the free end of the first bi-metal element. The second bi-metal element is included in a thermostat that controls an air conditioning apparatus for cooling the residence. A sensing device senses current delivered to the residence and produces a corresponding sense current. The first bi-metal element is electrically resistive. The sense current is forced through the resistive material of the first bi-metal element, causing it to be heated to a temperature that is related to the amount of power being delivered to the residence, thereby causing the free end of the first bi-metal element to rotate and causing the entire second bi-metal element to rotate. This causes the turn-on temperature of the thermostat to be increased by an amount related to the total power being delivered to the residence. A switching device mechanically connected to the first bi-metal element causes a hot water heater of the residence to be turned off as a result of rotation of the first bi-metal element caused when the air conditioning apparatus is turned on.
5 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the amount of electrical energy delivered from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads, including first and second controlled loads, in order to reduce peak electrical loading by the establishment by avoiding simultaneous operation of said first and second controlled loads, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) means for sensing a quantity related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads; (b) first temperature sensitive means having a portion that deflects in response to a change in the temperature of said first temperature sensitive means caused by a change in said quantity, wherein said first temperature sensitive means includes a first bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion undergoing rotational deflection relative to said first end portion in response to changes in temperature of said first bi-metal coil; (c) means responsive to said sensing means for heating said first temperature sensitive means to a temperature related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads; (d) thermostatic means for switching from one state to another when a temperature of said thermostatic means varies from a level below a first set point temperature to a level above said first set point temperature, said first thermostatic means controlling said first controlled load, wherein said thermostatic means includes a second bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion that undergoes rotational deflection relative to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil in response to changes in the temperature of said second bi-metal coil, said coupling means connecting said second end portion of said first bi-metal coil to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil, the total amount of rotational deflection of said second end portion of said second bi-metal coil being determined by both an amount of change of temperature of said second bi-metal coil and an amount of change in the total power being delivered to the establishment; and (e) means coupling said thermostatic means to said portion of said first temperature sensitive means for changing said first set point temperature in response to changes in the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling the amount of electrical energy delivered from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads, including first and second controlled loads, in order to reduce peak electrical loading by the establishment, by avoiding simultaneous operation of said first and second controlled loads, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a quantity related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads; (b) heating a first temperature sensitive means to increase its temperature by an amount related to the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads in response to said sensing; (c) deflecting of a portion of said first temperature sensitive means in response to said change in temperature of said first temperature sensitive means by an amount related to the amount of said increase in temperature, wherein said first temperature sensitive means includes a first bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion, said deflecting producing rotational deflection of said second end portion relative to said first end portion in response to changes in temperature of said first bi-metal coil; (d) switching a thermostatic means from one state to another when a temperature of said thermostatic means varies from a level below a first set point temperature to a level above said first set point temperature, said thermostatic means controlling said first controlled load; and (e) coupling said thermostatic means to said portion of said first temperature sensitive means to change said first set point temperature by an amount corresponding to a change in the amount of power being delivered to said plurality of electrical loads, wherein said thermostatic means includes a second bi-metal coil having a first end portion and a second end portion that undergoes rotational deflection relative to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil in response to changes in the temperature of said second bi-metal coil, said coupling including translating deflecting of said second end portion of said first bi-metal coil to said first end portion of said second bi-metal coil, the total amount of rotational deflecting of said second end portion of said second bi-metal coil being determined by both an amount of change of temperature of said second bi-metal coil and an amount of change in the total power being delivered to the establishment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification