Control system

• US 4,805,519 A
• Filed: 07/27/1987
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EDI Engineering Limited
• Original Assignee: EDI Engineering Limited
• Inventors: Young, Alan G., Boddey, Derek O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US07/077,899
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 98/1, 98/41.1, 98/41.2, 98/41.3, 137/487.5, 137/624.11, 137/594, 236/1 B, 165/22, 340/825.06, 340/825.07
• US Class Current: 454/256
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87153 Plural noncommunicating flow paths

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of dampers serving ventilation apertures in the structure of a building, which system comprises a plurality of actuators, one or more to be associated with each damper and to actuate the damper between an open and a closed position; the actuators incorporating means for receiving a signal from a controller, for identifying that that signal contains instructions relevant to the damper which that actuator actuates; the plurality of actuators being adapted to be connected in series with the controller via a single connecting cable.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of dampers serving ventilation apertures in the structure of a building, which system comprises a plurality of actuation means, one or more to be associated with each damper and to actuate the damper between an open and a closed position;

said actuation means incorporating means for receiving a signal from a control means, for identifying that signal contains instructions relevant to the damper which that means actuates;

said plurality of actuation means being adapted to be connected in series on a single connecting cable, with the connecting cable forming a loop, the two ends of which are connected to the control means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation means incorporates means for transmitting a signal to the control means to indicate that a signal has been received by that actuation means from the control means.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said signal reports the operation of the damper to the control means for verification that the damper has been operated in accordance with the instruction issued from the control means.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal transmitted from the control means to the damper actuation means is in the form of binary coded pulses with one part of the pulse carrying the address information, another part the open or shut instruction and, optionally, a third part carrying a verification code to ensure that the actuation means rejects extraneous or corrupted signals.

5. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the control means is adapted to compare the signal from the damper with the damper operating signal sent from the control means to ensure that the signals conform;

and wherein the control means is provided with means for actuating an alarm if the signals do not conform.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided means for causing the actuation means to close the associated damper in the event that the control means does not receive a signal within a predetermined time interval from the damper actuation means.

7. A ventilation installation for a building, the installation comprising a plurality of dampers serving ventilation apertures in the structure of the building and a control system for controlling the operation of the dampers, which system comprises a plurality of actuation means, one or more being connected to each damper and arranged to actuate the damper between an open and a closed position;

said actuation means incorporating means for receiving a signal from a control means, for identifying that signal contains instructions relevant to the damper which that means actuates;

said plurality of actuation means being adapted to be connected in series on a single connecting cable, with the connecting cable forming a loop, the two ends of which are connected to the control means.