Method and apparatus for sampling room-air conditions for HVAC control

• US 5,773,730 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warren Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Warren Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McConnell, Douglas Carl, Kelley, Winfield LeRoy
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/782,101
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 73/863.81, 73/863.83, 374/208, 356/440, 236/49.1-49.5, 454/237, 454/241, 454/243-245, 454/248
• US Class Current: 73/863.83
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties

Abstract

An apparatus for sampling room air-conditions comprising a sensor well having a discharge opening into which sensor well is placed a sensor, a fan for passing room-air past the sensor, a discharge plenum outside of the sensor well for receiving room-air discharged from the sensor well discharge opening and diffusers for discharging received room-air in directions away from the room-air sensor well. A method for sampling room-air conditions wherein the room-air is passed by a sensor, dispensed in directions to envelop the room-air to be sensed and prevented from contacting or mixing with the room-air to be sensed by the sensor with air not passing the sensor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sampling air conditions in a room comprising a first sensor for determining room air conditions, means forming a sensor well into which said sensor is placed, said sensor well having an inlet opening and a separate discharge opening, means within said sensor well for drawing room air past said sensor positioned in said sensor well to determine a said room air condition, means forming a discharge plenum outside of said sensor well for receiving only sensed room air discharged from said discharge opening of said sensor well, discharge means for discharging from said discharge plenum only said received sensed room air in directions away from said room air sensor well, and an air supply plenum including means to diffuse supply air into said room, said sensed room air discharged from said discharge plenum forming a boundary layer of air between said room air to be sensed at said sensor well and said supply air diffused into said room.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discharge means are diffusers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sensor has wrapped wire leads extending from said supply-air plenum through said discharge plenum and wrapped around said sensor well to said first sensor to eliminate conductive heat-transfer from the supply-air through the wires to said first sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for drawing is a constant-volume fan.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor well is made of an insulating material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge plenum is made of an insulating material.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a second sensor positioned within said discharge plenum.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second sensor registers carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke particles, or gaseous products of combustion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor registers the temperature.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor registers the humidity.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor registers carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke particles or gaseous products of combustion in the air.

12. Apparatus for supplying fresh air to a room and for sensing a physical condition of air contained in the room which comprises:

first chamber means forming a well chamber and providing first and second openings, said first opening communicating with said room,

second chamber means surrounding a portion of said first chamber means to define a plenum chamber around said first chamber means, said second chamber means providing a third opening communicating with said room, said second opening of said first chamber means communicating with said plenum chamber,

a sensor means located near said first opening of said first chamber means for sensing a condition of air in said room as said air flows therepast,

draft means for drawing air exclusively from said room through said first opening of said first chamber means and past said sensor means into said well chamber, then through said second opening into said plenum chamber, and out of said third opening of said second chamber means back into said room,

discharge means for directing room air passing from said plenum chamber through said third opening back into said room so as to flow away from said first opening, and

an air supply plenum including means to diffuse fresh air into said room, said sensed room air discharged from said discharge plenum forming a boundary layer of air between said room air to be sensed at said sensor well and said fresh air diffused into said room.