Heating and cooling energy saving device

• US 6,688,384 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony B. Eoga
• Original Assignee: Anthony B. Eoga
• Inventors: Eoga, Anthony B.
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US09/898,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 165/212, 165/48.1, 165/217, 165/253, 165/254, 165/255, 165/259, 165/208, 165/209, 165/247, 165/210, 165/211, 236/49.3, 236/1.B, 236/1.C, 454/256
• US Class Current: 165/212
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

An energy savings device (ESD) for regulating the temperature of individual rooms or areas within a facility having a central heating and cooling plant. The device includes a fan and thermostats to control the temperature in each room. A first thermostat is located within the energy savings device to activate a fan only when a baseboard-heating element, cooling element or conduit provides a pre-selected sufficient temperature level range to activate a fan. Another thermostat is located remotely in each room and communicates to each ESD to deactivate the fan when the temperature in any room exceeds or is less than the desired temperature level. The desired temperature level may be higher or lower than a main thermostat setting that controls the central heating and cooling plant, in accordance with a heating or cooling mode, respectively.

Claims

1. An energy savings device for use within a facility heating and cooling plant having conduits that circulate fluid for transferring or removing heat from areas within the facility, said energy savings device comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to the conduits;

a first thermostat for sensing the temperature of the fluid within one of the conduits, the fluid attaining a first pre-selected temperature based on the operation of said facility heating and cooling plant;

a second thermostat for sensing the temperature within an area of the facility and for comparing the sensed temperature of said area of the facility to a second user-selected temperature; and

a fan contained within said housing, said fan being in electrical communication with said first thermostat and with said second thermostat and operational to transfer heat to, or remove heat from, said area of the facility to substantially maintain said area near said second user-selected temperature,

wherein said fan is energized when the fluid attains said first pre-selected temperature and is de-energized when said area of the facility attains said second user-selected temperature.

2. The energy savings device as recited in claim 1, wherein the facility heating and cooling plant is set to a third temperature that is different than said second user-selected temperature of said area of the facility.

3. The energy savings device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is higher than said second user-selected temperature.

4. The energy savings device as recited in claim 3, wherein said area of the facility is maintained at a higher temperature than said third temperature of said hearing and cooling plant.

5. The energy savings device as recited in claim 2, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is lower than said second user-selected temperature.

6. The energy savings device as recited in claim 5, wherein said area of the facility is maintained at a lower temperature than said third temperature of said heating and cooling plant.

7. A thermal energy transfer device for use within a facility heating and cooling plant having conduits that circulate fluid for transferring or removing heat from areas within the facility, said thermal energy transfer device comprising:

a housing adapted to be fastened to the conduits;

a first thermostat operative to energize said thermal energy transfer device when the fluid flowing through the conduits attains a first pre-selected temperature, the fluid attaining said first pre-selected temperature based on the operation of said facility heating and cooling plant; and

a second thermostat operative to de-energize said thermal energy transfer device when an area of the facility under thermal control of the second thermostat attains a second user-selected temperature as measured by said second thermostat,

wherein during periods when said thermal energy transfer device is energized, said thermal energy transfer device assists said facility heating and cooling plant in maintaining the temperature of said area of facility under thermal control substantially near said second user-selected temperature.

8. The thermal energy transfer device as recited in claim 7, wherein the facility heating and cooling plant is set to a third temperature that is different than said second user-selected temperature of said area of the facility under control.

9. The thermal energy transfer device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is higher than said second user-selected temperature, and wherein said second user-selected temperature is higher than said third temperature of said heating and cooling plant.

10. The thermal energy transfer device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is lower than said second user-selected temperature, and said second user-selected temperature is lower than said third temperature of said heating and cooling plant.

11. A method of operating an energy savings device to regulate a temperature of an area under thermal control, the energy savings device being located within a facility heating and cooling plant that has conduits that circulate fluid for transferring or removing heat from areas within the facility, said method comprising:

energizing said energy savings device when a temperature of the fluid crosses a threshold first pre-selected temperature in a first direction, the fluid attaining said first pre-selected temperature based on the operation of said facility heating and cooling plant;

transferring thermal energy from the fluid to an area of the facility under thermal control;

regulating said area of the facility to a second user-selected temperature and de-energizing said energy savings device once said second user-selected temperature is attained in said area of the facility; and

thereafter, cycling the energy savings device to substantially maintain said area of the facility at said second user-selected temperature until the temperature of the fluid within the conduits crosses said threshold first pre-selected temperature in a second direction opposite said first direction.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said heating and cooling plant is set to a heating mode and to a third temperature which is lower than said second user-selected temperature.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is higher than said second user-selected temperature and said third temperature.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said thermal energy transfer is performed by a fan that accelerates the thermal energy transfer from said fluid to said area of the facility beyond a nominal thermal energy transfer rate of the heating and cooling plant to heat said area of the facility under thermal control.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said heating and cooling plant is set so a cooling mode and to a fourth temperature which is higher than said second user-selected temperature.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said first pre-selected temperature is lower than said second user-selected temperature and said fourth temperature.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said thermal energy transfer is performed by a fan that accelerates the thermal energy transfer from said fluid to said area of the facility beyond a nominal transfer rate of the heating and cooling plant to cool the area under control.