Method of providing auxiliary heat during primary heat pump lock-out

• US 5,405,079 A
• Filed: 07/08/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Neeley, Timothy A., Thompson, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Application Number:
  US08/089,793
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 237/2 B, 236/10, 236/1 E, 62/324.1, 62/238.6
• US Class Current: 237/2.00B
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1039 the system uses a heat pump
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1912 whose output amplitude can take more than two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

In a heating system with a plurality of heat sources, wherein at least a first heat source is normally activated at a first, higher ambient temperature and at least one additional heat source is normally activated at a second, lower ambient temperature, a method for maintaining a desired comfort level in a comfort zone when the first heat source is deactivated comprising the steps of: recognizing that the first heat source is deactivated; and initiating at least one of the additional heat sources when the first, higher ambient temperature is reached.

Claims

1. In a comfort heating system with a plurality of heat sources, wherein at least a first heat source is normally activated at a first, higher comfort temperature demand level and at least one additional heat source is normally activated at a second, lower comfort temperature demand level, a method for maintaining a desired comfort temperature level in a comfort zone when said first heat source is deactivated comprising the steps of:

recognizing that said first heat source is deactivated; and

responsively initiating at least one of said additional heat sources when said first, higher comfort temperature demand level is reached.

2. In a comfort heating system with a primary heat source and an auxiliary heat source, wherein said primary heat source is normally activated at a first, higher comfort temperature demand level and said auxiliary heat source is normally activated at a second, lower comfort temperature demand level, a method for maintaining a desired comfort level in a comfort zone, when said primary heat source is deactivated comprising the steps of:

recognizing that said primary heat source is deactivated; and

responsively initiating said auxiliary heat source when said first, higher comfort temperature demand level is reached.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said primary heat source is a heat pump.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said auxiliary heat source is a furnace.

6. The method of claim 2 comprising the further step of differentiating between deactivation due to malfunction of said primary system and deactivation due to desired functions of the system.

5. In a comfort heating system with a primary heat source and an auxiliary heat source, wherein said primary heat source is normally activated at a first, higher comfort temperature demand level and said auxiliary heat source is normally activated at a second, lower comfort temperature demand level, a method for maintaining a desired comfort level when said primary heat source is deactivated comprising the steps of:

recognizing a call for heat;

recognizing that said primary heat source is deactivated;

responsively initiating said auxiliary heat source when said higher comfort temperature demand level is reached; and

maintaining operation of said auxiliary heat source until the call for heat is satisfied.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein recognizing a call for heat is performed by a thermostat.