Patent Application
20190032927
Various embodiments are disclosed herein of novel apparatus and methods for controlling the heat output of a radiator. Some but not all embodiments are disclosed in the text of this section and the accompanying drawings. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the present invention and should not be viewed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Various additional embodiments not described herein may include different configurations, materials, and/or combinations of the described embodiments and fall within the scope of the present invention. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy legal requirements.
The present invention is an apparatus which allows for the remote and/or programmatic regulation of the flow of air out of an air outlet of a radiator air vent, thus regulating the flow of steam into a radiator, and therefore controlling the heating of a room. The apparatus encloses the air outlet of a radiator air vent and does not replace the radiator air vent, thus eliminating the need for modifications to the heating system.
In embodiments, an actuator 114 within the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 is provided. The actuator 114 controls the adjustable opening 118 regulating the release of air within the airtight enclosure 106. In embodiments, the adjustable opening 118 maintains the airtight seal of the airtight enclosure 106 around the air outlet 130 when closed, and when open, the airtight seal of the airtight enclosure 106 is broken and the air within the airtight enclosure 106 can escape through the adjustable opening 118.
In embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus includes a controller 116 to handle the logic required to control the actuator 114. Additionally, the controller may handle scheduling and to run calculations and/or algorithms used to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room.
In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure 106 may enclose part or all of the radiator air vent 108. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure 106 may enclose only the air outlet 130. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure 106 is created using closed cell foam to provide an airtight seal around the air outlet 130 and/or air vent 108. In some embodiments, an elastic sleeve is rolled over the air vent 108 to create the airtight enclosure 106 around the air outlet 130.
For radiator 102 to fill with steam and release heat, the air contained in the radiator needs to be expelled through the air outlet 130 of air vent 108. If the air outlet 130 of the air vent 108 is enclosed by an airtight enclosure 106, the air in the radiator 102 cannot be expelled, and steam will not flow into the radiator 102, and the radiator will not heat the room 100. If the actuator 114 opens the adjustable opening 118, the airtight seal is broken. When the adjustable opening 118 is open, air in the radiator 102 can be expelled through the air outlet 130 and then flow through the adjustable opening 118; this allows steam to flow into the radiator 102, thus heating the room 100.
In some embodiments, the present invention may include one or more wireless communication interfaces 128. Various embodiments of wireless communication interfaces may be provided including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low energy, Z-wave, and/or Zigbee. The radiator temperature control apparatus 104 can also receive control information from remote servers and/or devices through a wireless communication channel 150 and/or through the internet 152. The wireless communication may allow for remote and/or scheduled control of the radiator temperature control apparatus 104.
In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface 128 allows for remote calculations and/or algorithms to be performed based on information sent from the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 to a remote server and/or device connected to the internet 152. These remote algorithms and/or calculation are performed to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room 100. These remote algorithms and/or calculations may directly control the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 and/or may update the configuration and/or control logic on the controller 116.
In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 may include one or more environmental sensors 110 and/or 112. Environmental sensors 110 are outside of the airtight enclosure and measure the ambient environment; environmental sensors 112 are within and/or are configured to measure the environment within the airtight enclosure 106. These sensors may include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and/or air flow sensors. The environmental sensors may be coupled with the controller 118 via communication channel. In some embodiments, the environmental sensors may be connected to the internet 152 and/or remote devices and/or servers using the wireless communication interface 128 via a wireless communication channel 150.
In some embodiments, environmental sensors 112 include air flow sensors. The air flow sensors are coupled to the air outlet 130 of the air vent 108 and/or airtight enclosure 106 to determine if air is flowing from the air outlet 130.
In some embodiments, environmental sensors 112 include pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may be located within enclosure 106. In operation, with the adjustable opening 118 closed, as air flows from the air outlet 130 of the air vent 108, the pressure inside enclosure 106 will change; this pressure change will be detected by the pressure sensor 112.
In some embodiments, environmental sensors 110 and/or 112 include temperature sensors. Temperature sensors 110 are used to determine the ambient temperature of the room 100 and temperature sensors 112 are used to determine the temperature within the airtight enclosure 106.
In some embodiments, in operation, if the environmental sensors 110 indicate that the room 100 has a temperature below a given set point, the controller 116 will open the adjustable opening 118 by controlling the actuator 114. When the adjustable opening 118 is open, air can flow from the radiator 102 out of the air outlet 130 of the air vent 108, allowing steam to fill the radiator 102.
In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface 128 allows the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 to send information from sensors 110 and/or 112 and the status of actuator 114 to remote servers and/or devices connected to the internet 152 and/or through a wireless communication channel 150.
In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 provides a local user interface 130. This may include buttons for input to alter set points and/or other configurations on the controller 116. Additionally, this may include a display to show information on the current configuration as well as information from the environmental sensors.
In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 with a wireless communication interface 128 can connect to remote servers and/or devices through the internet 152 and/or via wireless communication channel 150. This connectivity allows the radiator temperature control apparatus to be controlled by websites, web applications, and mobile applications.
In some embodiments, a remote sensing and control unit 120 is provided. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit 120 contains a temperature sensor 124 to relay the ambient room temperature to the remote sensing and control unit controller 126, the radiator temperature control apparatus controller 116, and/or a remote server and/or device connected to the internet 152 and/or via a wireless communication channel 150. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit 120 contains a wireless communication interface 128. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit 120 contains a controller 126 to handle scheduling and to run calculations and/or algorithms used to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room 100.
In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit 120 acts as a bridge between the internet 152 and the radiator temperature control apparatus 104. The remote sensing and control unit may have multiple wireless communication interfaces 128. In some embodiments, one wireless communication interface 128 connects to the internet 152 and another wireless communication interface 128 connects to the radiator temperature control apparatus 104. The controller 126 of the remote sensing and control unit 120 may relay the information between the two wireless communication interfaces 128.
In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit 120 provides for a local user interface 122. This may include buttons for input to alter set points and other configurations in the controller 126 and/or controller 116. Additionally, this may include a display to show information on the current configuration as well as information from the environmental sensors from the radiator temperature control apparatus 104 and/or the remote sensing and control unit 120.
If the ambient temperature is below the desired set point, at 604 the radiator temperature control apparatus can open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of radiator air vent 606, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will expel air and fill with steam. At 610, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to 602.
If the ambient temperature is not below the desired set point, at 604 the radiator temperature control apparatus can close the adjustable opening in the enclosure around the radiator air vent 608, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will not expel air and will not fill with steam. At 610, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to 602.
If the ambient temperature is below the desired set point, at 706 the radiator temperature control apparatus can open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent 708, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will expel air and fill with steam. At 710, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to 702.
If the ambient temperature is not below the desired set point, at 706 the radiator temperature control apparatus can close the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent 712, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will not expel air and will not fill with steam. At 710, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to 702.
In some embodiments, additional steps can be added to
Although the foregoing specification has described specific examples and embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may exist without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Said other embodiments and examples are contemplated and intended to be covered by the following claims.
