Gas furnace with variable speed draft inducer

• US 6,257,870 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard International Inc (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Helt, Robert W., Storm, Timothy W., Holmes, Leonard W., Vershaw, James T., Hugghins, G. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cocks, Josiah C.
• Application Number:
  US09/217,756
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 431/18, 431/19, 431/20, 431/72, 431/73, 431/75, 431/77, 431/78, 431/89, 431/90, 431/2, 431/12, 126/116.A, 126/116.R, 126/110.R, 236/15.C, 318/645, 318/638, 318/798, 318/806, 318/563, 318/471, 318/481, 340/588
• US Class Current: 431/18
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/48 Learning / Adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/04 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/13 outdoor temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/16 Checking components, e.g. electronic
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/20 Calibrating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2233/00 Ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2233/04 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 3/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/20 with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/24 Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements F23N5/02 - F23N5/18 take precedence

Abstract

A method of controlling a variable speed draft inducer motor and fan in a gas furnace. The method comprises the steps of: detecting a first fault driving the motor to a maximum operating range; detecting a second fault forcing the motor to operate towards a minimum operating range; and generating a fault signal if both faults are detected substantially simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a variable speed draft inducer motor and fan in a gas furnace comprising the steps of:

detecting a first fault driving the motor to a maximum operating range;

detecting a second fault forcing the motor to operate towards a minimum operating range; and

generating a fault signal if both faults are detected substantially simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of using a lower limit switch to detect a minimum pressure threshold wherein the lower limit switch is closed above the minimum pressure threshold and open below the minimum pressure threshold, and generating the second fault if the lower limit switch is closed prior to starting the motor.

3. The method of claim 2 including the further step of verifying that the lower limit switch closes as the motor runs and stabilizes.

4. The method of claim 3 including the further step of verifying that a measured motor speed is within a predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 2 including the further step of, after measuring the motor speed at the minimum pressure threshold, incrementing the motor speed until a low pressure switch closes.

6. The method of claim 5 includes the further step of verifying that the minimum pressure threshold has been reached by monitoring the opening of a low pressure switch.

7. The method of claim 1 including the further step of generating the first fault signal if both the low enable and the high enable signals are received substantially simultaneously by the motor.

8. The method of claim 1 including the further step of generating the first fault upon detection of the motor operating in its maximum range.

9. The method of claim 8 including the further steps of:

sensing a transient condition;

establishing a first time period;

continuing to generate the status signal following the sensing of the transient condition until the expiration of the first time period;

determining if the transient condition still exists at the end of the expiration of the first time period; and

generating a fault signal if the transient condition still persists.