Patent Application
20120100797
The invention relates to a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system, and more particularly, to a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator.
Air-handling systems have traditionally been used to condition buildings or rooms. An air-handling system can include a system that includes components designed to work together in order to condition air as part of the primary system for ventilation of structures. The air-handling system may contain components such as cooling coils, heating coils, filters, humidifiers, fans, sound attenuators, controls, and other devices functioning to meet the needs of the structures.
Representative of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,999 (1995) which discloses a controller for a variable air volume terminal of a variable air volume air conditioning system which comprises a temperature sensing circuitry for generating a temperature process value, a setpoint determining circuitry for establishing a temperature setpoint, an airflow signal circuitry for generating an airflow setpoint in response to the temperature process value and the temperature setpoint. A flow sensing circuitry for generating a flow process value in response to a predetermined set of flow sensing inputs and damper control circuitry for generating a damper motor operation signal to control the damper motor in response to the flow process value and the airflow setpoint. The damper control circuitry comprises a fuzzy logic control mechanism for implementing a set of fuzzy logic rule-based instructions in generating the damper motor operating signal.
What is needed is a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator. The present invention meets this need.
The primary aspect of the invention is to provide a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system having a detachable controller for calculating an air flow rate and for powering a damper actuator.
Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
The invention comprises a remote zone balancing damper and air flow sensor system comprising a differential pressure air flow sensor, a damper having an actuator, a remote terminal connected to the air flow sensor and the actuator, the remote terminal disposed a predetermined distance from the duct, the air flow sensor and damper mounted in a duct, and a detachable controller that is connectable to the remote terminal, the detachable controller configured to receive a signal from the remote terminal and to provide power to the actuator and thereby position the damper according to the calculated air flow.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The air flow sensor and damper assembly 100 comprises an air flow sensor 120 which is installed within a duct 110. Air flow sensor 120 measures a differential pressure as is known in the art.
A damper 140 is also disposed within duct 110. Damper 140 is actuated by a known actuator 141. Actuator 141 may comprise any suitable actuator known in the art, including an electric, pneumatic or manual device.
Actuator 141 and air flow sensor 120 are connected to wall terminal 200. Actuator 141 is connected to the wall terminal 200 by control cable 142. Air flow sensor 120 is connected to the wall terminal by tubes 131, 132 at fittings 1310 and 1320.
Wall terminal 200 comprises an RJ11 connector 3100, a total pressure fitting 1320 and a static pressure fitting 1310.
The hand held controller 300 comprises a microprocessor 210 an LCD screen 220, a pressure transducer 230, a 9v battery terminal 240, a PC terminal block 250 and a FCC connection receptacle 260. The LCD screen can be used to display information relating to air flow. PC terminal block 250 is used to connect the controller to the actuator. Pressure transducer 230 coverts the differential pressure received from the air flow sensor 120 into an electrical signal.
Microprocessor 210 includes software for calculating an air flow rate in feet per minute based upon the signal received from the pressure transducer 230. Controller 300 also provides power to the actuator 141 by which the damper 140 is positioned.
Using the controller, a user will select the proper position for the damper based upon the desired airflow rate for the duct in which the system is located. If the desired airflow rate matches the air flow rate calculated from the signal, then the user does not reposition the damper. If the desired air flow rate does not match the desired air flow rate, then the user will use the controller to send a signal to the remote terminal and thereby to the actuator to move the damper until the desired air flow rate is achieved. The damper can be “parked” in any position between 100% open and 100% closed.
The power used to energize the actuator is onboard the controller 300. The preferred power source is a 9 volt battery, however, any battery or combination of batteries known in the art may be used with equal success.
Hand held controller 300 comprises a display 301 for displaying air flow information in cubic feet per minute. Controller 300 also comprises keys 302 whereby a user can input information into the controller or to change or manipulate resident information.
The hand held controller 300 can be connected to the wall terminal 200 by a cable 310 used to engage the RJ11 port 3100. Cable 310 comprises a known RJ11 cable.
Damper 140 comprises a shaft 145 to which a damper blade 146 is attached. Actuator 141 is attached to shaft 145.
Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.
