Method of controlling heating and cooling sources

• US 4,379,483 A
• Filed: 08/17/1981
• Issued: 04/12/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evcon Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Farley, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/293,185
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1 EA, 236/78 D, 62/175, 62/160, 165/29, 165/26, 165/2, 307/39, 364/557, 364/141
• US Class Current: 165/261
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1912 whose output amplitude can take more than two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

A method of controlling heating and cooling sources utilizes a computer or an electronic thermostat to control a plurality of heating or cooling resources for regulating indoor temperature within a narrow temperature range. The method maintains a temperature within the control range by activating a required number of heating or cooling sources and proportionally controlling one of the sources within the control range. An additional heat source is activated each time the indoor temperature falls below a preset "add heat" temperature, and a heat source is deactivated each time the indoor temperature passes a preset "delete Heat" temperature. Similarly, when the method is operating in the cooling mode, an additional cooling source is activated when the indoor temperature passes an "add cooling" temperature, and an additional cooling source is deactivated each time the indoor temperature passes a "delete cooling" temperature.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of heating sources comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set temperature at which it is desired to maintain the indoor temperature;

(b) selecting an on temperature at which all heating sources will be turned on;

(c) selecting an add heat temperature;

(d) selecting an off temperature at which all heating sources which are not in a locked-on mode will be turned off;

(e) turning all heat sources on when the indoor temperature is below the on temperature;

(f) turning all heat sources off except a heat source which is in a proporational control mode and any heat source which is in a locked-on mode as the indoor temperature rises past the off temperature;

(g) transferring one of the heat sources from an off mode to a proportional control mode if the indoor temperature falls past the add heat temperature;

(h) proportionally controlling the heat source which is in the proportional control mode in order to try to maintain the indoor temperature adjacent the set temperature; and

(i) transferring the heat source which is in the proportional control mode to a locked-on mode in which the heat source is turned on and transferring another heat source from an off mode to the proportional control mode each time the indoor temperature falls past the add heat temperature until all heat sources are on the locked-on mode.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the off temperature is the same as the add heat temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 including the steps of selecting upper and lower temperature limits for the proportional control mode which are above and below the set temperature, turning the heat source which is in the proportional control mode fully on when the indoor temperature is below the lower temperature limit and turning the heat source which is in the proportional control mode off when the indoor temperature is above the upper temperature limit and proportionally controlling the heat source which is in the proportional control mode when the indoor temperature is between the upper and lower temperature limits.

4. The method of claim 1 including the steps of selecting a delete heat temperature, and transferring the heat source which is in the proportional control mode to an off mode and transferring a heat source which is in a locked-on mode to the proportional control mode each time the indoor temperature rises past the delete heat temperature until all heat sources are on the off mode.

5. The method of claim 4 including the steps of selecting a second off temperature above the delete heat temperature, and turning all heat sources off if the indoor temperature rises past the second off temperature.

6. A method of controlling a plurality of cooling sources comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set temperature at which it is desired to maintain the indoor temperature;

(b) selecting an on temperature at which all cooling sources will be turned on;

(c) selecting an off temperature at which all cooling sources which are not in a locked on mode will be turned off;

(d) selecting an add cool temperature;

(e) turning all cooling sources on when the indoor temperature is above the on temperature;

(f) turning all cooling sources off except the cooling source which is in a proportional control mode and any cooling source which is in a locked-on mode if the indoor temperature falls below the off temperature;

(g) transferring one of the cooling sources to a proportional control mode if the indoor temperature rises past the add cooling temperature;

(h) proportionally controlling the cooling source which is in the proportional control mode in order to try to maintain the indoor temperature adjacent the set temperature;

(i) transferring the cooling source which is in the proportional control mode to a locked-on mode in which the cooling source is turned on and transferring another cooling source to the proportional control mode each time the indoor temperature rises above the add cool temperature until all cooling sources are in the locked-on mode.

7. A method of controlling a heat pump and a second heat source, the heat pump being capable of operating as a first heat source and as a cooling source, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set temperature at which it is desired to maintain indoor temperature;

(b) selecting an on temperature at which both heating sources will be turned on;

(c) selecting an add heat temperature below the set temperature;

(d) selecting a first heat-off temperature;

(e) selecting a delete heat temperature above the set temperature;

(f) selecting a second heat-off temperature above the delete heat temperature;

(g) turning both heat sources on when the indoor temperature is below the on temperature;

(h) turning both heat sources off if the indoor temperature is above the second heat-off temperature;

(i) transferring one of the heat sources from an off mode to a proportional control mode if the indoor temperature falls past the add heat temperature;

(j) proportionally controlling the heat source which is in the proportional control mode in order to try to maintain the indoor temperature adjacent the set temperature;

(k) transferring the first heat source to a locked-on mode and transferring the second heat source from an off mode to the proportional control mode if the indoor temperature falls past the add heat temperature when the first heat source is in the proportional control mode;

(l) turning any heat source which is not in a locked-on mode or in the proportional control mode to an off mode when the indoor temperature rises above the first heat-off temperature;

(m) when the temperature rises past the delete heat temperature;

(1) if the second heat source is in the proportional control mode, then transferring the second heat source to an off mode and transferring the first heat source to the proportional control mode;

(2) if the first heat source is in the proportional control mode, then transferring the first heat source to an off mode;

(3) if neither heat source is in the proportional control mode, then operating the heat pump as a cooling source.