Energy cost allocation method and system
First Claim
1. A system for allocating heating energy costs among a plurality of units served by a common heat generating installation, each said unit including a heat inlet line and a heat return line coupled to the heat generating installation, said heat return line having a valve therein responsive to given control signals for opening and closing, and a thermostat in each said unit for producing the control signals for opening and closing the return line;
- said allocating system comprising;
temperature responsive means located on each said heat return line for providing a temperature signal which is a predetermined function of the temperature at said return line; and
microcomputer means responsive to said temperature signal and to the control signal from said thermostat for recording the time during which said temperature signal corresponds to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature and said thermostat signal simultaneously corresponds to the open condition of said valve; and
allocating means responsive to said recorded time data for each of said units for allocating heating energy costs among said units.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for allocating energy costs comprises sensing a first parameter; comparing the sensed parameter with a selectable value of the parameter; initiating recording of data when the sensed parameter bears a predetermined relation to the selectable value; and recording data corresponding in a predetermined fashion to the quantity of energy consumed. The invention also extends to a system for allocating energy costs as a function of at least one sensed parameter. This system comprises a condition responsive element for providing a sensor signal which is a function of the sensed parameter; a control apparatus for comparing the sensor signal with a controllably variable signal corresponding to a selectable value of the parameter, and for producing a control output signal when the sensor signal bears a predetermined relation to the controllably variable signal; a recording apparatus is selectively actuatable for recording data corresponding in a predetermined fashion to the quantity of energy consumed and is actuated in response to the control output signal.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A system for allocating heating energy costs among a plurality of units served by a common heat generating installation, each said unit including a heat inlet line and a heat return line coupled to the heat generating installation, said heat return line having a valve therein responsive to given control signals for opening and closing, and a thermostat in each said unit for producing the control signals for opening and closing the return line;
- said allocating system comprising;
temperature responsive means located on each said heat return line for providing a temperature signal which is a predetermined function of the temperature at said return line; and
microcomputer means responsive to said temperature signal and to the control signal from said thermostat for recording the time during which said temperature signal corresponds to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature and said thermostat signal simultaneously corresponds to the open condition of said valve; and
allocating means responsive to said recorded time data for each of said units for allocating heating energy costs among said units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- said allocating system comprising;
-
4. A method for allocating energy costs among a plurality of units served by a common heat generation installation, each unit having a heat inlet line and a heat return line coupled with said heat generating installation, said heat return line having a valve therein responsive to a control signal for opening and closing, and each unit having a thermostat for producing said control signals for opening and closing said return line valve;
- said method comprising;
monitoring the signal condition of said thermostat and the temperature in said control line; and
recording data corresponding to the duration of such times during which both the temperature in said return line exceeds a predetermined temperature and also the control signal produced by said thermostat corresponds to the open condition of said return line valve; and
allocating, based upon said recorded time data, heating energy costs among said plurality of units. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
- said method comprising;
Specification