Air conditioning wiring system

• US 8,123,571 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Steven C., Chamorro, Carlos O., Chapin, Merlin K., Gilkison, Robert W., Him, Aylan A., Lisbona, Randall L., Mauk, Richard A., Renker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/694,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 439/79, 439374-378, 439/651, 439/680
• US Class Current: 439/680
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A wiring system for use in an air conditioning system comprising a printed circuit board having a perimeter and wiring receptacles located proximate the perimeter and wiring connectors. In one aspect, at least some of the wiring receptacles comprise two or more wiring sub-receptacles, and each of the wiring sub-receptacles includes a slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern. Furthermore, the slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern of each of the wiring sub-receptacles is different from every other sub-receptacle connection pattern. Each of the wiring connectors includes a ridged connection pattern that is different from every other ridged connection pattern of the wiring connectors, such that a given wiring connector is receivable within only one of the wiring sub-receptacles. An air conditioning system and a method of manufacturing is also provided.

Claims

1. A wiring system for use in an air conditioning system, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a perimeter and wiring receptacles located proximate said perimeter wherein at least some of said wiring receptacles comprise two or more wiring sub-receptacles, and wherein each of said wiring sub-receptacles includes a slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern, such that said slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern of each of said wiring sub-receptacles is different from every other sub-receptacle connection pattern; and

wiring connectors wherein each of said wiring connectors includes a ridged connection pattern that is different from every other ridged connection pattern of said wiring connectors, such that a given wiring connector is receivable within only one of said wiring sub-receptacles.

2. The wiring system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said wiring receptacles comprise a functional grouping of related wiring sub-receptacles.

3. The wiring system as recited in claim 2 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises more than one wiring receptacle having a same functional grouping.

4. The wiring system as recited in claim 3 wherein said printed circuit board is adapted to operate with a plurality of models of an air conditioning system.

5. The wiring system as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of models uses a one of said wiring receptacles having said same functional grouping.

6. The wiring system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said wiring sub-receptacles further comprises a sub-receptacle color designator matching a color of one of said wiring receptacles on said printed circuit board.

7. The wiring system as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said wiring connectors comprises a wiring color designator matched to a one of said corresponding sub-receptacle color designators.

8. The wiring system as recited in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises unique receptacle labels proximate each of said wiring sub-receptacles and wherein said wiring connectors further comprise matching connector labels for each of said wiring connectors.

9. The wiring system as recited in claim 1 further comprising wiring having a first end coupled to a one of said wiring connectors and a second end coupled to a first wiring inline connector, wherein said wiring inline connector has a slotted inline connection pattern configured to cooperate with a ridged inline connection pattern of a second wiring inline connector that is different from every other ridged inline connection pattern.

10. An air conditioning system, comprising:

a compressor;

a controller;

a thermostat; and

a wiring system coupling said compressor, said controller and said thermostat together, said wiring system including;

a printed circuit board having a perimeter and wiring receptacles located proximate said perimeter wherein at least some of said wiring receptacles comprise two or more wiring sub-receptacles, and wherein each of said wiring sub-receptacles includes a slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern, such that said slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern of each of said wiring sub-receptacles is different from every other sub-receptacle connection pattern; and

wiring connectors wherein each of said wiring connectors includes a ridged connection pattern that is different from every other ridged connection pattern of said wiring connectors, such that a given wiring connector is receivable within only one of said wiring sub-receptacles.

11. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said wiring receptacles comprise a functional grouping of related wiring sub-receptacles.

12. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 11 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises more than one wiring receptacle having a same functional grouping.

13. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 12 wherein said printed circuit board is adapted to operate with a plurality of models of an air conditioning system.

14. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of models uses a one of said wiring receptacles having said same functional grouping.

15. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 10 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises unique receptacle labels proximate a one of said wiring sub-receptacles and wherein said plurality of wiring connectors further comprise matching connector labels for a matching one of said plurality of wiring connectors.

16. The air conditioning system as recited in claim 10 further comprising wiring having a first end coupled to a one of said wiring connectors and a second end coupled to a first wiring inline connector, wherein said wiring inline connector has a slotted inline connection pattern configured to cooperate with a ridged inline connection pattern of a second wiring inline connector that is different from every other ridged inline connection pattern.

17. A method of manufacturing a wiring system for use in an air conditioning system, comprising:

providing a printed circuit board having a perimeter and wiring receptacles located proximate said perimeter wherein at least some of said wiring receptacles comprise two or more wiring sub-receptacles, and wherein each of said wiring sub-receptacles includes a slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern, such that said slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern of each of said wiring sub-receptacles is different from every other sub-receptacle connection pattern; and

providing wiring connectors wherein each of said wiring connectors includes a ridged connection pattern that is different from every other ridged connection pattern of said wiring connectors, such that a given wiring connector is receivable within only one of said wiring sub-receptacles.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of wiring receptacles comprise a functional grouping of related wiring sub-receptacles.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises more than one wiring receptacle having a same functional grouping and wherein said printed circuit board is adapted to operate with a plurality of models of an air conditioning system.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of models uses a one of said wiring receptacles having said same functional grouping.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein each of said physically unique wiring sub-receptacles further comprises a sub-receptacle color designator unique among said plurality of wiring receptacles on said printed circuit board and wherein each of said plurality of wiring connectors comprises a wiring color designator matched to a one of said corresponding sub-receptacle color designators.

22. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises unique receptacle labels proximate each of said wiring sub-receptacles and wherein said plurality of wiring connectors further comprise matching connector labels for each of said plurality of wiring connectors.

23. A method of manufacturing an air conditioning system, comprising:

providing a compressor;

providing a controller;

providing a thermostat; and

coupling a wiring system to said compressor, said controller and said thermostat, said wiring system including;

a printed circuit board having a perimeter and wiring receptacles located proximate said perimeter wherein at least some of said wiring receptacles comprise two or more wiring sub-receptacles, and wherein each of said wiring sub-receptacles includes a slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern, such that said slotted sub-receptacle connection pattern of each of said wiring sub-receptacles is different from every other sub-receptacle connection pattern; and

wiring connectors wherein each of said wiring connectors includes a ridged connection pattern that is different from every other ridged connection pattern of said wiring connectors, such that a given wiring connector is receivable within only one of said wiring sub-receptacles.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said wiring receptacles comprise a functional grouping of related wiring sub-receptacles.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises more than one wiring receptacle having a same functional grouping and wherein said printed circuit board is adapted to operate with a plurality of models of an air conditioning system.

26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein each of said plurality of models uses a one of said wiring receptacles having said same functional grouping.

27. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said printed circuit board further comprises unique receptacle labels proximate each of said wiring sub-receptacles and wherein said plurality of wiring connectors further comprise matching connector labels for each of said plurality of wiring connectors.