Electronic air register controller

• US 4,942,348 A
• Filed: 03/08/1989
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Original Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Inventors: Nilssen, Ole K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/320,503
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 307/141, 318/16, 318/467, 318/468, 318/471, 318/473, 137/79, 137/80, 137/552.7, 137/553, 137/554, 137/624.11, 137/624.13, 137/624.14, 137/624.15, 137/624.16, 137/624.17, 137/624.21, 98/121.2, 165/42, 165/43, 236/1 G, 236/12.11, 236/12.12, 236/35.2, 236/35.3, 236/46 F, 251/129.01, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 43/04 Means for time setting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator

Abstract

A self-contained electronic air register controller can easily be mounted directly onto the outside of an air register. When so mounted, the controller engages the register'"'"'s actuating lever and permits automatic opening and closing of the air register by way of simple programming instructions and/or by way of a temperature sensor. The controller comprises a small battery, a miniature electric motor with a gear/linkage mechanism operable to engage with and to move the register'"'"'s actuating lever between its OPEN and SHUT positions, and a quartz-clock-based programming means.

Claims

1. In a home or office having a forced air heating/cooling system with an air duct, the improvement comprising:

air flow control means mounted in relationship with the air duct and operative to control the flow of air therethrough;

the air flow control means comprising;

(i) electric motor means operatively connected with an air damper means;

(ii) electric energy means connected with the electric motor means and operative in response to control actions provided at a control input to provide electric power thereto, thereby to permit control of the air damper means without requiring connection with an external source of electric power, such as an electric utility power line; and

(iii) control action means connected with the control input and operative to provide said control actions;

whereby the air flow control means is operable to control the flow of air through the air duct in response to the control actions provided by the control action means, yet without having any electrical connection with a power source external of the air flow control means.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the electric energy means comprises an electric battery.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the electric motor means comprises a DC motor.

4. The improvement of claim 1 combined with programming means operative, in response to a pre-established program, to control the operation of the air flow control means.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the programming means provides for the pre-established program to be repeated on a periodic basis.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the air duct has an outlet; and

(ii) the air flow control means is mounted at this outlet;

thereby controllably to impede the flow of air therefrom.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the control action means is combined with temperature sensing means operative, in response to a set of temperatures, to provide at least some of said control actions.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the temperature sensing means is located remotely from the air flow control means.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the damper means may assume a position; and

(ii) the electric motor means is operable to control the position of the damper means such that the damper means may controllably and alternatively assume a substantially open position and a substantially closed position.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the electric motor means is operable to control the position of the damper means such that the damper means may controllably assume positions between the substantially open position and the substantially closed position.

11. In a home having a forced air heating/cooling system, the heating/cooling system having an air duct connected therewith and operative to duct heated or cooled air to an air register located in a room of the home, the air register having a damper means and being plainly visible from a position inside of the room, the improvement comprising:

air flow control means combined with the air register and operative to control the flow of air therethrough;

the air flow control means comprising;

(i) electric motor means operatively connected with the damper means;

(ii) electric energy means connected with the electric motor means and operative in response to control actions provided at a control input to provide electric power thereto, thereby to permit control of the damper means; and

(iii) control action means connected with the control input and operative to provide said control actions;

whereby the air flow control means is operable to control the amount of air provided by the air register in response to the control actions provided by the control action means, yet without having to be connected with an electric utility power line.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the electric energy means comprises an electric battery means.

13. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the air flow control means is mounted on the air register in such manner as to cover at least part of the air register when viewed from a position inside of the room.

14. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the electric motor means comprises a DC motor.

15. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the electric motor means has a motor shaft operable to rotate in either direction depending upon the manner in which electric power is provided to the electric motor means.

16. In a home having a forced air heating/cooling system, the heating/cooling system having a central heating/ cooling unit and an air duct operative to duct heated or cooled air from the central heating/cooing unit to an aperture in a room in the home, the improvement comprising:

air flow control means mounted at the aperture and operative to control the flow of air therethrough;

the air flow control means having;

(i) air damper means;

(ii) electric motor means operatively connected with the air damper means;

(iii) electric energy means connected with the electric motor means and operative in response to control actions provided at a control input to provide electric power thereto, thereby to permit control of the air damper means; and

(iv) control action means connected with the control input and operative to provide said control action;

whereby the air flow control means is operable to control the amount of air flowing through the aperture in response to the control actions provided by the control action means yet without having to be connected with an electric utility power line.

17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the electric energy means comprises an electric battery.

18. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the electric motor means comprises a DC motor.

19. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the control action means comprises program means operative, in response to manual input, to provide said control action in a pre-programmed manner.

20. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the control action means is operative to provide at least some of said control actions in response to a temperature.

21. An air register means for use in a home having a forced air heating/cooling system;

the heating/cooling system having a central heating/cooling unit and an air duct operative to duct heated or cooled air from the central heating/cooling unit to an aperture in a room in the home;

the air register means comprising;

air damper means;

electric motor means operatively connected with the air damper means;

electric energy means connected with the electric motor means and operative in response to control actions provided at a control input to provide electric power thereto, thereby to permit control of the air damper means; and

control action means connected with the control input and operative to provide said control actions;

whereby the air register means is operable to control the amount of air flowing through the aperture in response to the control actions provided by the control action means, yet without having to be connected with an electric utility power line.

22. The air register means of claim 21 wherein the electric energy means comprises an electric battery.

23. The air register means of claim 22 wherein the electric battery may be removed and replaced by a person located in the room.