Wireless damper testing and control system

• US 9,395,099 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ruskin Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Edwards, Thomas R., Wiley, Josiah, Vogel, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Application Number:
  US13/746,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 236/49.3, 236/51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/12 Hinged dampers
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/35 by closing air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1426 characterised by actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/52 Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow

Abstract

A wireless damper control and test system comprising a wireless controller for communicating with a wireless interface using an identifier whereby actuation timing of a damper actuator is transmitted by signal, the wireless interface connected to a damper to be controlled or tested using the transmitted signal, the wireless controller transmits the signals to the wireless interface for operational verification of the damper and damper actuator, and the wireless interface detects a damper state by contacts mounted on the damper and communicates the damper state to the wireless controller.

Claims

1. A wireless damper system comprising:

a wireless controller for communicating with a wireless interface using an identifier whereby actuation timing of a damper actuator is transmitted by signal;

the wireless interface connected to a damper to be controlled or tested using the transmitted signal;

the wireless controller transmits the signal to the wireless interface for operational verification of the damper and the damper actuator; and

the wireless interface detects a damper state by contacts mounted on the damper and communicates the damper state to the wireless controller, wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location from the first housing and the junction box.

2. The wireless damper system as in claim 1, wherein the wireless controller comprises a visual display.

3. The wireless damper system as in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface comprises a damper blade position switch.

4. The wireless damper system as in claim 1, wherein the wireless controller stores a list of dampers, each damper is identified by a unique identification tag and location.

5. The wireless damper as in claim 1, wherein the wireless controller operates at a frequency of 315 Mhz.

6. The wireless damper system as in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface comprises a damper blade position switch coupled to one or more of the contacts.

7. The wireless damper system as in claim 1, wherein the actuator is a first component and the contacts are a second separate component.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a first connection for power and a second connection for control, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location and is connected to the junction box.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a first connection for power and a second connection for control, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location and is connected to the junction box, and further comprising a damper blade position switch.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a first connection for power and a second connection for control, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location and is connected to the junction box, and further comprising a damper blade position switch disposed in a third housing.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a first connection for power and a second connection for control, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location, and further comprising a damper blade position switch disposed in a third housing and connected to the junction box.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a first connection for power and a second connection for control, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location, and further comprising a damper blade position switch disposed in a third housing and connected to the junction box and the actuator.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless controller further comprises a plurality of navigation keys and a home key and is configured to allow a user to navigate between a plurality of menus using the navigation keys and to return to a home menu by actuating the home key.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of menus includes a “

Test Damper”

menu.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the actuation of the “

Test Damper”

menu initiates a scan of available dampers.

16. A wireless damper system comprising:

a wireless controller for communicating with a wireless interface using an identifier whereby actuation timing of a damper actuator is transmitted by signal;

the wireless interface connected to a damper to be controlled or tested using the transmitted signal;

the wireless controller transmits the signals to the wireless interface for operational verification of the damper and damper actuator; and

the wireless interface detects a damper state by contacts mounted on the damper and communicates the damper state to the wireless controller, wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location and is connected to the junction box.

17. The wireless damper system as in claim 16, wherein the wireless controller stores a list of dampers, each damper is identified by a unique identification tag and location.

18. A wireless damper system comprising:

a wireless controller for communicating with a wireless interface using an identifier whereby actuation timing of a damper actuator is transmitted by signal;

the wireless interface connected to a damper to be controlled or tested using the transmitted signal;

the wireless controller transmits the signals to the wireless interface for operational verification of the damper and damper actuator; and

the wireless interface detects a damper state by contacts mounted on the damper and communicates the damper state to the wireless controller, wherein the wireless interface is disposed in a first housing and is mounted on a duct and connected to a junction box by a plurality of conduits, and the actuator is disposed in a second housing and is mounted on the duct in a separate location and is connected to the junction box.