Programmable energy saving register vent

Abstract

A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system. The programmable vent includes a vent housing with a front face which has an inset, where the vent housing is configured to allow air flow from the duct. At least one louver is movably connected to the vent housing, an actuator is connected to the at least one louver, a controller module is removably attached to the vent housing and positioned in the inset, the controller module being connected to the actuator when positioned in the inset.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This is a non-provisional application which claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 815,702, entitled “PROGRAMMABLE ENERGY SAVING REGISTER VENT”, filed Jun. 22, 2006; and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 837,155, entitled “PROGRAMMABLE ENERGY SAVING REGISTER VENT”, filed Aug. 11, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to building environmental air temperature control systems, and, more particularly, to programmable duct vents for such systems.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Known heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can include a thermostatically controlled furnace unit connected to ducts, where the ducts terminate in louvered vents. An air conditioning compressor with an evaporator coil is connected to the furnace unit. For heating, a blower circulates air across a heat exchanger / burner within ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026]An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an energy saving floor, ceiling and / or wall register vent that allows users to shut off the flow of heat or air conditioning in select rooms via an internal controller.

[0027]Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a multi-zone heating and cooling system that allows users to shut down rooms at programmed times to reduce the amount of energy wasted on heating or cooling inactive areas of the home

[0028]Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides energy savings, so that the cost of the item can be recovered through energy savings in a relatively short time.

[0029]Yet another advantage of the present invention is that multiple programmable vents can be easily installed and customized to a particular building and user requirements to maximize the energy savings potential.

[0030]Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is relatively easy and cost effective to install.

[0031]Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is relatively easy and cost effective to maintain.

Problems solved by technology

Although these are effective ways of reducing heating and cooling costs, there can be a high capital cost associated with such installations, and a significant inconvenience to the building occupants during installation.

This method has the disadvantage of reducing the comfort of the building environment.

This is a tedious and time consuming process.

Additionally, when a person may be in a hurry to leave the building or home, as when leaving for work, it is easy to overlook the need to adjust the vents, which problem is exacerbated if there are numerous vents to open or close.

Firstly, the system requires relatively expensive modified ductwork including the motorized dampers and wiring thereto, which is even more costly to retrofit into an existing system as the ducts may be hidden in walls, floors or ceilings, thereby requiring modification of the structure with the attendant inconvenience, mess and expense.

Additionally, the furnace controller, or other controller, needs to be compatible with the motorized dampers, and existing systems generally do not have this capability, which then requires a new furnace when an HVAC system is retrofitted, which again is a very costly expense.

Further, the installation or retrofitting of such systems typically requires professional installation technicians, with their attendant cost and scheduling issues, and is therefore not easily accomplished by a typical homeowner as a do-it-yourself project.

Yet further, maintenance of such a system can be costly in that if a motorized damper fails to operate properly there may not be easy access to the motor / damper because the ductwork and damper system is typically installed within a structural component such as a floor, ceiling and / or wall, which structural component is damaged and subsequently repaired during the installation / repair process.

One disadvantage of this system is that it requires a wireless receiver in the vent which can be susceptible to noise and interference, for example, and less cost effective to manufacture as the programming unit does require the receiver.

Other disadvantages of this system are that it requires temperature sensor, and opens and closes the dampers based on a preset temperature, instead of a time of day.

Further, the eccentric rotary arm and engaging member for actuating the dampers is susceptible to bending.

Again, this system requires a wireless receiver in the vent which can be susceptible to noise and interference, for example, and less cost effective to manufacture as the programming unit does require the receiver.

In addition to requiring a receiver in the vent, this system additionally has the disadvantage of requiring a fairly complicated configuration of cams, bars and arms which can be unreliable, and which can also be a fairly inefficient means of energy transfer.

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