Method and apparatus for centrally controlling environmental characteristics of multiple air systems

• US 6,848,623 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tjernlund Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tjernlund Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoyez, Timothy G., Weimer, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US10/671,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/11, 236/51, 236/1.EA, 236/1.G, 126/312
• US Class Current: 236/11
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and single controller for receiving constant and individualized information from a plurality of air control systems. A single controller is capable of controlling and interacting with at least two separate air control systems to control an environmental characteristic, and in the process, reduces the costs associated with the manufacturing and every day operation of the individual systems. In addition, the controller is capable of intelligently communicating with the input and output devices of the system, and particularly with each individually interfaced appliance, such that the controller can adaptively control the system through the use of stored historical data.

Claims

1. An air control system for controlling both vent air and combustion air, comprising:

a pressure sensor, wherein said pressure sensor detects an environmental pressure characteristic of an enclosed environment and wherein said pressure sensor produces a signal representative of the detected environmental characteristic;

a single controller, wherein said single controller receives said signal and wherein said single controller utilizes said signal to determine if the detected environmental pressure characteristic is within a desired operating range, and wherein upon said detected environmental pressure characteristic being outside said desired operating range said single controller produces both a first output signal and a second output signal;

a vent air actuator, wherein said vent air actuator receives said first output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to adjust said environmental pressure characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range; and

a combustion air actuator, wherein said combustion air actuator receives said second output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to

adjust said environmental pressure characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range.

2. The air control system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of appliances, wherein the operation of said plurality of appliances affects said environmental pressure characteristic, and wherein said single controller individually interfaces with each of said plurality of appliances to individually control the operation of each of said plurality of appliances.

3. The air control system of claim 1, wherein said single controller includes an interface for communicating with an external electronic management system.

4. The air control system of claim 1 wherein said single controller includes memory for retaining historical data regarding operation of said pressure sensor, said vent air actuator or said combustion air actuator.

5. The air control system of claim 1, wherein said vent air actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a variable speed fan, a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, a variable speed fan and modulating damper, and a modulating damper.

6. The air control system of claim 1, wherein said combustion air actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a variable speed fan, a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, a variable speed fan and modulating damper, and a modulating damper.

7. The air control system of claim 1, wherein said system includes a mechanical override safety switch.

8. A method for controlling both vent air and combustion air in an enclosed environment, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an environmental pressure characteristic of said enclosed environment;

producing a signal representative of the sensed environmental pressure characteristic;

receiving said signal via a single controller;

determining with said single controller whether said signal is within a desired operating range;

producing with said single controller a vent air output signal and a combustion air output signal upon determining said signal has fallen outside said desired operating range; and

adjusting said environmental pressure characteristic of said enclosed environment in pursuit of said desired operating range and in accordance with said vent air output signal and said combustion air output signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of interfacing said single controller to a plurality of appliances and individually controlling the operation of each of said plurality of appliances with said single controller to affect said environmental pressure characteristic of said enclosed environment.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of communicating, via said single controller, with an external electronic management system.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of retaining historical data regarding said steps of sensing and adjusting.

12. The method claim 8, wherein said step of adjusting is performed by:

a variable speed fan, the combination of a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, the combination of a variable speed fan and modulating damper, or a modulating damper.

13. An air control system, comprising:

a sensor, wherein said sensor detects an environmental characteristic of an enclosed environment and wherein said sensor produces a signal representative of the detected environmental characteristic;

a plurality of appliances, wherein the operation of at least one of said plurality of appliances affects said environmental characteristic;

a single controller, wherein said single controller individually interfaces with and monitors each of said plurality of appliances in order to individually control the operation of each of said plurality of appliances, wherein said single controller receives said signal, and wherein said single controller utilizes said first output signal to determine if the detected environmental characteristic is within a desired operating range, and wherein upon said detected environmental characteristic being outside said desired operating range said single controller produces;

a vent air output signal to a vent air actuator, wherein said vent air actuator receives said vent air output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to adjust said environmental characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range;

a combustion air output signal to a combustion air actuator, wherein said combustion air actuator receives said combustion air output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to adjust said environmental characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range;

or

both a vent air output signal to a vent air actuator and a combustion air output signal to a combustion air actuator, wherein said vent air actuator receives said vent air output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to adjust said environmental characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range, and wherein said combustion air actuator receives said combustion air output signal from said single controller and responds thereto by operating to adjust said environmental characteristic in pursuit of said desired operating range.

14. The air control system of claim 13, wherein said sensor is selected from a group consisting of:

a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a particulate sensor, and a density sensor.

15. The air control system of claim 13, wherein said single controller includes an interface for communicating with an external electronic management system.

16. The air control system of claim 13, said single controller includes memory for retaining historical data regarding operation of said sensor, said vent air actuator or said combustion air actuator.

17. The air control system of claim 13, wherein said vent air actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a variable speed fan, a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, a variable speed fan and modulating damper, and a modulating damper.

18. The air control system of claim 13, wherein said combustion air actuator is selected from a group consisting of:

a variable speed fan, a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, a variable speed fan and modulating damper, and a modulating damper.

19. The air control system of claim 13, wherein said system includes a mechanical override safety switch.

20. A method for controlling air flow in an enclosed environment, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an environmental characteristic of said enclosed environment;

producing a signal representative of the sensed environmental characteristic;

receiving said signal via a single controller;

determining with said single controller whether said signal is within a desired operating range;

interfacing said single controller to a plurality of appliances and individually monitoring each of said plurality of appliances;

individually controlling the operation of each of said plurality of appliances with said single controller based upon said monitoring to affect said environmental characteristic of said enclosed environment; and

producing with said single controller an output signal selected from the following;

a vent air output signal upon determining said signal has fallen outside said desired operating range;

a combustion air output signal upon determining said signal has fallen outside said desired operating range;

or

both a vent air output signal and a combustion air output signal upon determining said signal has fallen outside said desired operating range; and

adjusting said environmental characteristic of said enclosed environment in pursuit of said desired operating range and in accordance with said output signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of sensing is performed with a sensor selected from a group consisting of:

a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a particulate sensor, and a density sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of communicating, via said single controller, with an external electronic management system.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of retaining historical data regarding said steps of sensing and adjusting.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of adjusting is performed by:

a variable speed fan, the combination of a fixed speed fan and modulating damper, the combination of a variable speed fan and modulating damper, or a modulating damper.