19194results about "Space heating and ventilation details" patented technology

The present invention is related to the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). More particularly, the present invention is related to methods and systems for controlled heating and cooling in order to reduce costs and the carbon footprint of said heating and cooling by optimizing the use of fresh air ventilation. The present invention is directed to mathematical algorithms incorporated into a controller and a method of determining control signals that are dependent on said mathematical algorithms and user programming that integrates information from multiple sensors, thermostats as well as weather information. Used in any home or building, the controller controls heating, cooling and ventilation systems in order to reduce costs and the carbon footprint of said heating and cooling by optimizing the use of fresh air ventilation. The controller works with typical HVAC systems generally in buildings and homes. The Smart-Stat algorithms are programmed into the controller and enable the controller to identify user-determined set-points alongside data from one or multiple internal temperature sensors. The user-determined set-points are also linked to time of day and day of week in a manner typical for typical thermostat devices available today. In such typical thermostat devices the controller will call for cooling or heating depending on the set points and conditions determined by the sensors in the building. The present invention is capable of interrupting the call for cooling or heating depending on whether the mathematical algorithms identify suitable outside weather conditions that permit the use of outside air cooling or outside air heating. Thus the call for heating or cooling can be redirected to call for ventilation instead of heating or cooling.

At least first and second thermostats may be operably coupled to one another and are capable of sharing their target temperatures and their temperature signals. The first thermostat may provide a thermostatic control signal to the air temperature control system. In some embodiments at least one thermostat further comprises a target-temperature-modifying occupant presence detector. Some embodiments further comprise first and second air movement control devices operably coupled to and controlled by the first and second thermostats, respectively. The operation of the stages of a multistage air temperature control system may be controlled.

An thermostat 10 includes an improved user interface, including automatic scheduling, remote control, system failure warning messages, and Energy Star compliance messages. Diagnostics can be provided without additional communication links to the thermostat. A sub-base accepts multiple thermostats and uses color coded terminals to ease installation. Glow-in-the-dark features reduce power needs. In one embodiment, thermostats are coupled to AC power sources and communicate using wireless communications to control an HVAC system. A dampered system can be effected through a thermostat that communicates directly with zoned dampers.

A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing intuitive navigation within a menuing system. In a first mode of operation, an electronic display of the thermostat displays a population of tick marks arranged in an arcuate arrangement including a plurality of background tick marks, a setpoint tick mark representing a setpoint temperature, and an ambient temperature tick mark representing an ambient temperature, the setpoint temperature being dynamically changeable according to a tracked rotational input motion of a ring-shaped user interface component of the thermostat. In a second mode, the a plurality of user-selectable menu options is displayed in an arcuate arrangement along a menu option range area, and respective ones of the user-selectable menu options are selectively highlighted according to the tracked rotational input motion of the ring-shaped user interface component.

Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment. In addition, access to the energy-consuming equipment for establishing remote energy control is not necessary; rather, the remote energy control can be effected by accessing user-friendly locations, such as those where thermostats and other controllers are typically located.

A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling fluid consumption in a fluid-supply system are disclosed using one or more sensors for generating signals indicative of the operation thereof. In one embodiment, a method of preventing freezing of a conduit for fire suppression fluid in a fire sprinkler system includes sensing, with a temperature sensor, a temperature at a location; and if the sensed temperature falls below a predetermined threshold, sending, to at least one fluid control device interfaced with the conduit, at least one control signal to impede a flow of fire suppression fluid through the conduit.

A respiratory device is disclosed that optimizes delivery of oxygen and detection of carbon dioxide to a user through the use of a flexible lever arm and mouthpiece which may be adjusted to deliver the oxygen toward the user's oral and nasal cavities, and detect carbon dioxide, exhaled by the user, from a separate orifice of the mouthpiece. The lever is supported by a rotatable adapter attached to a head mounted brace. The adapter can rotate through 180° for placement of the lever on either side of the user's head. The adapter is hinged to eliminate occluding and kinking during rotation. A hose having tubular members therein delivers the gases to and from the user. The hose traverses through the lever arm and adapter, terminating at the lever arm into the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece has a plurality of ports for fluid flow. The hose terminates at the other end in gas detection and delivery equipment. The hose may be segmented or one continuous piece.

A thermostat that can display information in multiple different orientations is provided. The thermostat includes a housing, a display, and an input device. As the housing is mounted in a particular orientation, the thermostat changes the orientation of the information for properly displaying same to a user. This is accomplished by sensing the orientation of the housing in one embodiment, and through user selection of a desired orientation in another embodiment. A separate display and input device(s) are provided in one embodiment, and a combined touch screen display and input device is provided in another embodiment.

A thermostat is configured for automated compatibility with HVAC systems that are either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The compatibility is automated in that a manual jumper installation is not required for adaptation to either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The thermostat has a plurality of HVAC wire connectors including a first call relay wire connector, a first power return wire connector, a second call relay wire connector, and a second power return wire connector. The thermostat is configured such that if the first and second external wires have been inserted into the first and second power return wire connectors, respectively, then the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically isolated from each other. Otherwise, the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically shorted together.

A stable portable fan capable of generating an exhaust air stream elevated above a support surface allowing the exhaust air stream to be directed as desired by the user is provided. The device includes an air generator assembly located within a polygonal column generating an exhaust air stream that exiting the polygonal column. The polygonal column of the device is used to disguise/conceal the fan.

A programmable thermostat is disclosed having a continuously movable indexing mechanism, such as a rotatable wheel, that allows a user to scroll or cycle through sequential time intervals ranging over a complete week to view currently programmed time intervals and to select periods of time during the week that the user wishes to program or reprogram. Such a design allows a user to easily program different temperature settings during different time intervals during the week and allows the user to easily view the programmed settings.

A low depth telescoping downdraft ventilator controlled by an electronic controller providing a precisely controlled and efficient way of removing gases and fumes is disclosed. The low depth telescoping downdraft ventilator has the ability to fit behind a built-in oven placed below a cook top unit. The telescoping downdraft ventilator has an almost infinitely selectable range of heights above a cook top with a built in oven. The ventilator collects and draws in exhaust fumes and smoke, filters it and re-circulates or expels it either outdoors or indoors. The inner member of the telescoping ventilator may house the exhaust fans and may move up or down without the use of mechanical switches for elevation detection and stopping. The ventilator may have sensors to detect temperatures, filter change need, fan speeds, telescoping stop points, energy consumption, resistance and voltage, enabling programmable set point operation.

A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The nozzle defines, and extends about, an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle also includes a heater for heating the air flow upstream of the mouth.

A roof top cooling unit has an evaporative cooling section that includes at least one evaporative module that pre-cools ventilation air and water; a condenser; a water reservoir and pump that captures and re-circulates water within the evaporative modules; a fan that exhausts air from the building and the evaporative modules and systems that refill and drain the water reservoir. The cooling unit also has a refrigerant section that includes a compressor, an expansion device, evaporator and condenser heat exchangers, and connecting refrigerant piping. Supply air components include a blower, an air filter, a cooling and/or heating coil to condition air for supply to the building, and optional dampers that, in designs that supply less than 100% outdoor air to the building, control the mixture of return and ventilation air.

Embodiments of the invention provide thermostat controls having improved tactile feedback. According to one embodiment, a thermostat includes a bottom member, a switch, a top member, and a motion guiding member or assembly that operationally couples the top member with the bottom member so that the top member is inwardly pressable by a user relative to the bottom member to allow the thermostat to receive input from the user by contacting the switch with a component of the top member or the bottom member. The motion guiding member or assembly contacts the top member near its outer periphery to control the inward motion of the top member relative to the bottom member to provide the improved tactile feedback.

A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air outlet mounted on a stand. The stand includes a base and a body tiltable relative to the base. Each of the base and the body has an outer surface shaped so that adjoining portions of the outer surfaces are substantially flush when the body is in the untilted position.

A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.

A pedestal for a fan assembly includes a telescopic duct for conveying an air flow to an outlet of the fan assembly. The duct includes an outer tubular member having a first stop member, an inner tubular member located at least partially within and slidable relative to the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member having a second stop member for engaging the first stop member to inhibit withdrawal of the inner tubular member from the outer tubular member, and a mainspring rotatably mounted on the second stop member, the mainspring having a free end retained by the first stop member.

A fluid communication system for providing coolant to and exhausting coolant from a cooling unit includes flexible tubing and a plurality of support members. Each support member is configured to be secured to a support structure and to be releasably secured to the flexible tubing. Each support member includes a first part and a mating second part, with the first and second parts being configured to be secured to one another with the flexible tubing disposed in between. A method of installing a fluid communication system of a cooling system is further disclosed.

An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.

The invention relates to an intelligent heating network dispatching system. The system comprises a data monitoring and collecting unit, a load predicting unit, a heating network balancing unit and a dispatching unit. The data monitoring and collecting unit can carry out data collecting and monitoring on a heat source, a heat exchanging station, a heat user and a pipe network of a heat supplying system. According to data collected by the data monitoring and collecting unit and meteorological information, real-time user load predicting is carried out by the load predicting unit in a heating period, and an energy consumption predicted value is obtained. Comparing is carried out on actual running data of the heat supplying system and the energy consumption predicted value, and according to the compared result, correcting is carried out on the energy consumption predicted value. According to the real-time running data collected by the data monitoring and collecting unit, analyzing is carried out by the heating network balancing unit in the heating period, and a whole network dynamic balancing control scheme is confirmed. According to the energy consumption predicted value of the load predicting unit and the whole network dynamic balancing control scheme confirmed by the heating network balancing unit, intelligent heating network dispatching is achieved by the dispatching unit.

The invention relates to a centralized heating whole-network heat balance control method, in particular to a control system which is charged on area, which can eliminate the heat imbalance of the whole network and balance the heating effect. The control method adopts different control strategies for a heat source and two links of a primary side in the heating system so as to meet the requirement of users. For the heat source, the online prediction of the heat load is realized according to external temperature variation, and a running instruction is supplied for the heat source; a uniform control strategy is adopted for a primary network, automatic adjustment of a primary valve of a heat exchanging station of the heat network can be realized, a weighted value can be manually given to a special heat exchanging station, and the heat imbalance degree is used for analyzing and evaluating a whole-network heat balance control effect; and the control method can effectively solve the problems of the heating system such as imbalance heat and energy waste, a great amount of manpower and material resource can be saved in the adjustment process of the heat network, and the balance and consistency of the heat supply effect can be guaranteed.

This invention relates to an energy-saving central air conditioning system, which comprises cold and hot water source host, terminal device and the control system to adjust and monitor. The said control system processes according to the large amount of data collected to get the needed optimized status operation orders. It real-time adjusts the each part load of the system into cold storage or cold discharging modes and the said host works under the mode of cold storage and stops working in cold discharging mode.

An air conditioning system for conditioning the space within an enclosure having at least one inlet and one outlet, the system comprising first and second liquid/air heat exchangers; the first heat exchanger having an opening for receiving fresh air from the environment and for propelling the fresh air through the first heat exchanger to exchange heat with the liquid before it is entered into the enclosure, and the second heat exchanger having an opening for receiving air from the enclosure and for propelling it through the second heat exchanger to exchange heat with the liquid before it is expelled into the atmosphere. There are also provided methods for air-conditioning an enclosed space and for evaporation of industrial wastes.

A user adjustable visual display system and method for a digital thermostat having a backlit user display screen and system operation indicators is provided. The system allows a user to programmatically vary the illumination intensity of the backlit user display screen and the operational indicators. The variance provided includes disabling of the backlight and operational indicators. The system utilizes a variable pulse width modulated (PWM) intensity control for the backlight and indicators. Alternatively, an adjustable current drive illumination control is used to control the backlight and indicators. The selection of the desired intensity is provided via a display settings menu accessed via the user display screen.

A zone-control unit for use in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the zone-control unit includes a heat exchanger, an inlet piping assembly coupled with the heat exchanger for supplying fluid to the heat exchanger, an outlet piping assembly coupled with the heat exchanger for receiving fluid from the heat exchanger, a bracket that maintains the inlet piping assembly and the outlet piping assembly in positional relationship, and an ancillary component coupled with the heat exchanger.

A vent assembly, suitable for marine use including, for example, venting an enclosure, such as an engine compartment, on a boat. The vent assembly has substantially the external appearance of a cast or machined, one piece, stainless steel vent, at a cost very little more than a molded plastics vent. A molded plastics vent has a head perforated by a pattern of ventilating slots separated by flanking strips. A decorative, corrosion-resistant, sheet metal cover shell lies tight against the front side of the molded plastics vent and has a pattern of slots and strips mapping substantially on the pattern of slots and strips of the molded plastics vent. Snap-fit fasteners fix the cover shell on the vent so that the cover shell slots are a substantially flush continuation of the vent slots, so as to provide the decorative appearance of a solid metal vent at substantially lower cost and without compromising or through flow capability.

A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a body on which the nozzle is mounted. The nozzle has a rear section having at least one first air inlet, at least one first air outlet, and a first interior passage for conveying air from said at least one first air inlet to said at least one first air outlet; and a front section having at least one second air inlet, at least one second air outlet, and a second interior passage for conveying air from said at least one second air inlet to said at least one second air outlet. A first air flow through the first interior passage and a second air flow through the second interior passage are each generated within the body. At least one of the temperature, humidity, and electrical charge of the second air flow is changed before it enters the second interior passage.

The invention discloses a purification device equipped with an integrated negative ion air purification system. The purification device comprises a shell, wherein the shell is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; a channel for ventilation is formed between the air inlet and the air outlet; ion air purification modules are arranged in the shell; air draft devices used for sucking external air are arranged in the ion air purification modules; the air draft devices are arranged between the air inlet and the channel; negative ion generators used for generating negative ions are arranged in the shell as well; and the negative ion outlet of each negative ion generator is formed between the air inlet and the corresponding air draft device. According to the air purification system, the air draft devices are tightly connected with ion generator modules to form integral bodies, the structure is compact and reasonable, the space is saved, the mounting and maintenance operation is more convenient, the ion air purification modules form an integrated system through parallel connection, and the functions of energy saving and electricity saving are achieved.