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Energy-conserving thermostat and method

  • US 5,244,146 A
  • Filed: 05/08/1992
  • Issued: 09/14/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A fuel-conserving thermostat for controlling operation of a heating system that consumes fuel during a fuel-on interval and heats a defined space, thereby increasing a space temperature of said space;

  • said space being thermally conductive to an ambient, whereby a heat flux occurs from said space to said ambient;

    said heating system comprising;

    heating means for providing heat during said fuel-on interval;

    delivery means for delivering heat to said space during a delivery interval, whereby a heat flux occurs from said heating means to said space during said delivery interval;

    a heat exchanger;

    signal-receiving means, coupling said thermostat and said heating means, for;

    initiating one of said fuel-on intervals, which begins when said signal-receiving means receives a fuel-"1" signal from said thermostat;

    terminating said fuel-on interval and initiating a fuel-off interval in which said furnace does not consume fuel, said fuel-off interval beginning when said signal-receiving means receives a fuel-"0" signal from said thermostat;

    initiating one of said delivery intervals, which begins when said signal-receiving means receives a delivery-"1" signal from said thermostat; and

    terminating said delivery interval and initiating a nondelivery interval in which said furnace does not deliver heat to said space, said nondelivery interval beginning when said signal-receiving means receives a delivery-"0" signal from said thermostat;

    said thermostat including;

    a clock providing clock signals;

    a temperature sensor having means for providing a space-temperature signal representative of said space temperature;

    means for providing a set-point-temperature signal representative of a set-point temperature; and

    means for providing said fuel-"0," fuel-"1," delivery-"0," and delivery-"1" signals;

    and said thermostat further comprising;

    means for providing a maximum-on signal representative of a maximum fuel-on interval, where said maximum-on signal is provided by signal generating means for providing a signal representative of how long said heat exchanger can operate during a fuel-on interval in a linear mode before its mode of operation becomes nonlinear; and

    burn-control means for causing a fuel-on interval to have a duration of no longer than said maximum fuel-on interval.

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