Environmental distribution control module

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6209335
  • Patent Number
    6,209,335
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 5, 1999
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 3, 2001
    25 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • (Carol Stream, IL, US)
  • Examiners
    • McDermott; Corrine
    • Norman; Marc
Abstract
Enhanced controls added to conventional heating and air conditioning equipment provides a uniform comfort environment though out the structure. Enhanced control module monitors variously placed sensors within the structure and activates a conventional fan. The fan mixes air throughout the structure maintaining a uniform comfort though out economically.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to the heating ventilating and air condition controls of residential homes, in particular to provide a uniform comfort throughout the home utilizing conventional equipment without extensive or costly modification.




SUMMARY OF INVENTION




The environmental distribution control module invention maintains an acceptably uniform comfort throughout a residential home in an economically fashion. Current residential controls sense the environment at one location. Sun location and intensity with outside temperature heat the residential home in varying degree and location. Inconsistent heating yields various temperatures within the home. The hot second floor in two story homes demonstrates a common problem. Multiply sensing of temperature and or humidity relays information to a central module. The central module determines the heating or cooling mode and acceptable tolerance of environmental variation. The central module may contain the common functions as the standard thermostat combined with multiple sensing. The decision of heating, cooling, humidifying, and mixing activates common elements of burner, compressor, humidifier, and blower fan. Automatically controlling the fan independent of the other function allows mixing of the air to maintain a reasonably uniform environment. Utilizing the fan only when required saves energy. Minimum additional equipment and rework balanced against energy savings yields an economic advantage.











DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

Physical Layout And Control Routing





FIG. 2

Physical Layout Of Typical Two Story Home











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION





FIG. 1

relates the basic elements of this invention. Structure


8


contains a media


1


typically air. Sensors


3


and


4


located within a media at various locations determine conditions as example temperature and or humidity for air. Control module


2


compare conditions from a collection of sensors. Dashed line


7


illustrates signal and control routing. Difference comparison measure against preset limits activates an output signal on excessive deviation. Output signal initiates mixing of media


1


by running motor


5


to turn fan


6


causing mixing flow to occur. When media becomes acceptably homogenous, the control module


2


turns the motor


5


off discontinuing the media mixing. A single unit contained within housing of motor fan can sense local temperature and distance condition via as example infra red detection of remote object.





FIG. 2

illustrates a typical household installation of this invention. A common two story home


9


contains a second floor media


17


and a first floor media


18


. Sensor


10


measures temperature and or humidity of second floor media or air


17


. Sensor


11


measures temperature and or humidity of first for air


18


. Sensor


11


may contain additional functions of a common household thermostat. Common function list contain programmable temperature set points, humidity set points, heating or cooling mode, and manual fan run switch. Detection of compressor activation initiates an enable timer. The timer enables automatic fan operation until the time limit expires. This timer disables winter cold fan run condition. Excessive comparison difference of sensor


10


and


11


sends a to mix signal to central furnace


22


. Central furnace


22


activates motor


14


to turn fan


19


when receiving a to mix signal. Air


17


from second floor enters return vent


12


and combines with air


18


from first floor entering return vent


13


. Central furnace fan


18


moves the combined air through heating elements


20


and cooling elements


21


. Preset conditions determine the addition or removal of heat requirements. Supply vents


15


returns air to the first floor


18


and supply vent


16


returns air to second floor


17


. When sensors


10


and


11


measure sufficiently uniform conditions the to mix signal terminates run of motor


14


and hence mixing stops.



Claims
  • 1. A control system for heating or cooling an environment, the system comprising a control module which interfaces multiple sensing of a media at various locations for comparing to a settable difference limit; determines set conditions by monitoring a last function and time for heating or cooling the environment utilizing commercially available thermostats; and, when excessive differences in temperature exist during cooling or heating mode, activates a blower fan mixing sensed media until uniformity of sensed conditions exist.
  • 2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising placement of wire routing in a return air duct for the purpose of sensing a media condition in a given room.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
3563460 Nine Feb 1971
4915294 Wylie Apr 1990
4950871 Pollak et al. Aug 1990
4993629 Wylie Feb 1991
5497632 Robinson Mar 1996
5582233 Noto Dec 1996
5755378 Dage et al. May 1998