Modulating boiler system

• US 8,490,886 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wescast Inc. (Mestek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wescast Inc. (Mestek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cohen, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): DECKER, PHILLIP
• Application Number:
  US11/770,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,217 Days
• Field of Search: 237/8.R, 237/19, 237/8.A, 237/12, 236/20.R, 236/46.R, 126/344, 122/4.R, 700/278, 700/296, 700/306
• US Class Current: 237/8.A
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1048 Counting of energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/144 Measuring or calculating energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/176 Improving or maintaining comfort of users
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/212 Temperature of the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/355 Control of heat-generating means in heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

A modulating boiler system for heating a structure including a controller, a boiler operatively connected to the controller, and a thermostat operatively connected to the controller and boiler. The controller assesses a level of thermostat activity over a predetermined measuring period and adjusts the boiler in response to the level of activity to increase the boiler'"'"'s efficiency.

Claims

1. A modulating boiler system, comprising:

a boiler;

a controller in operative connection with said boiler, said controller selectively controlling an input energy provided to said boiler;

a thermostat in operative connection with said controller, said thermostat communicating to said controller a proportional time period reflecting how long said thermostat is requesting heat from said boiler within a predetermined time period, and communicating to said controller a cycle frequency reflecting the number of times said thermostat is requesting heat from said boiler within said predetermined time period; and

wherein said input energy is adjusted by said controller in dependence upon said proportional time period and said cycle frequency detected by said controller.

2. The modulating boiler according to claim 1, wherein:

a thermal output of said boiler is adjusted when said input energy is adjusted by said controller.

3. The modulating boiler according to claim 1, wherein:

said predetermined time period is one hour.