Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100123421 | HVAC ACTUATOR WITH OUTPUT TORQUE COMPENSATION - An HVAC actuator, such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion. In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. | 05-20-2010 |
20110168793 | ECONOMIZER CONTROL - The present disclosure provides a method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning air of an inside space. The HVAC system has an economizer configured to control the intake of outside air into an HVAC air stream of the HVAC system. The method includes determining at least two parameters of the air of the inside space, where the at least two parameters are selected from a set of parameters from which an inside air dry bulb temperature, an inside air dew point, an inside air relative humidity, and an inside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly. The method also includes determining at least two parameters of the outside air, where the at least two parameters being selected from a set of parameters from which an outside air dry bulb temperature, an outside air dew point, and an outside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly. Based on one or more of the inside air dry bulb temperature, the inside air dew point, the inside air relative humidity, and the inside air enthalpy, a determination is made of whether dehumidification of the inside space is needed, and if dehumidification is not needed, the economizer is commanded to increase the intake of outside air into the HVAC air stream if the outside air dry bulb temperature is less than a dry bulb temperature reference, and if the outside air enthalpy is less than an enthalpy reference. If, alternatively, dehumidification is needed, the economizer is commanded to increase the intake of outside air into the HVAC air stream if the outside air enthalpy is less than the enthalpy reference, and if the outside air dew point is less than a dew point reference. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172831 | ECONOMIZER CONTROL - The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system. The economizer has an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air that is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system. The economizer also includes one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The control method includes positioning the one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that the mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The method also includes recording first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. First and second measures related to other parameters of the mixed air stream may be recorded as well. Based on the recorded first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream and possibly other recorded measures related to mixed air stream parameters, the method determines whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system. | 07-14-2011 |
20110174889 | HVAC SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - An HVAC sensor assembly for sensor deployment within an HVAC air passage defined by passage walls is provided. In some instances, the HVAC sensor assembly includes a base mountable to a passage wall of an HVAC air passage, and a support member attached to and extending out from the base and configured to project into the HVAC air passage. The HVAC sensor assembly may include one or more HVAC sensors secured to the support member such that the one or more HVAC sensors are positionable and then maintainable at a field configurable distance from the base. | 07-21-2011 |
20110264273 | DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION SYSTEM WITH REMOTE MONITORING - Methods and systems for remotely monitoring and/or controlling a demand control ventilation system are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a demand control ventilation device having a damper and a controller are provided. The damper may have a range of damper positions for controlling a flow of outside air into the building. The controller controls the damper positions such that a desired flow of outside air is drawn through the damper and into the building. A remote monitoring device may also be provided. The remote monitoring device may be located remotely from the demand control ventilation device, but in communication with or part of the controller. In some instances, the remote monitoring device may have a user interface for remotely monitoring and/or controlling at least certain aspects of the demand control ventilation system from the remote location. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264274 | DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION WITH FAN SPEED CONTROL - A method and system for operating a demand control ventilation system with a multi-speed fan is disclosed. The control system may modulate the fan speed of a multi-speed fan and/or the position of a ventilation damper in order to achieve desired ventilation levels for a building. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264280 | AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION OF A DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION SYSTEM - Methods and systems for automatically calibrating one or more damper positions of a demand control ventilation system are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a demand control ventilation system includes a damper for controlling a flow of outside air into a building. A controller may be programmed to automatically execute a calibration algorithm from time to time to calibrate one or more calibration damper positions such that a predetermined flow of outside air is drawn through the damper and into the building at each of the one or more calibration damper positions. This calibration can, in some instances, help increase the efficiency and/or utility of the demand control ventilation system. | 10-27-2011 |
20120078563 | ECONOMIZER/DCV CONTROLLER WITH MANUAL SENSOR CALIBRATION - An economizer controller with sensor calibration. A controller sensor may be used to measure a parameter. At the same time at the same location of the measurement with the controller sensor, a measurement of the same parameter may be made with a precision sensor. The difference between the two measurements may be saved to a controller memory as an offset. The offset may be used to compensate future measurements of the same parameter by the controller sensor. Additional offsets at various magnitudes may be obtained between the precision and the controller sensors for compensating subsequent measurements by the controller sensor. Measurements with the compensated sensor may be used for calibrating sensors in other economizer controllers, for example, at remote locations in the field. | 03-29-2012 |
20120079425 | ECONOMIZER CONTROLLER PLUG AND PLAY SYSTEM RECOGNITION WITH AUTOMATIC USER INTERFACE POPULATION - An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed. | 03-29-2012 |
20120283880 | ECONOMIZER CONTROL - Methods for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system are disclosed. An illustrative control method may include positioning one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that a mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air. First and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream may be recorded when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. Based on the recorded first and second measures, it may be determined whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system. | 11-08-2012 |
20130113402 | ACTUATOR HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY OUTPUT - An actuator system having an actuator with an auxiliary switch. Make and break connection positions of the auxiliary switch relative to a rotative position of an output shaft coupling may be adjusted electronically according to an adjustment signal. The adjustment signal may be conveyed to the actuator from a computer or controller via a two-wire polarity insensitive bus. The adjustment signal may instead be provided an auxiliary potentiometer. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116832 | ACTUATOR HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE RUNNING TIME - An actuator system having an actuator with a rotatable shaft. The shaft may have a first running time to rotate from a first position to a second position in one direction. The shaft may have a second running time to rotate from a first position to a second position in another direction. The first and second running times may be separately adjustable. A motor may be connected through a gear train to the rotatable shaft. A processor may control a rotation of the motor and thus the running times of the shaft. The running times may be adjusted with signals to the processor from a remote controller connected to the processor via a communications bus. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116833 | ACTUATOR HAVING AN ADDRESS SELECTOR - A system incorporating an actuator connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. The actuator may have an electromechanical mover, a processor connected to the electromechanical mover, and a potentiometer, having a number of address settings, connected to the processor. A setting of the number of settings of the potentiometer may be a selection of an address for the actuator on the communications bus. There may be additional actuators and a controller connected to the communications bus. Each actuator may have an address which is different from an address of the other actuators connected to the communications bus. If an actuator is substituted with a replacement actuator, then a setting of a plurality of settings on a potentiometer of the replacement actuator may be selected to obtain an address that is the same as the address of the actuator which is substituted. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116834 | ACTUATOR WITH DIAGNOSTICS - A system incorporating an actuator. The actuator may have a motor unit with motor controller connected to it. A processor may be connected to the motor controller. A coupling for a shaft connection may be attached to an output of the motor unit. The processor may incorporate a diagnostics program. The processor may be connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. Diagnostic results of the diagnostics program may be communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller. If the diagnostic results communicated from the processor over the communications bus to the system controller indicate an insufficiency of the actuator, then an alarm identifying the insufficiency may be communicated over the communications bus to the system controller. | 05-09-2013 |
20140067134 | ACTUATOR WITH DIAGNOSTICS - A system incorporating an actuator. The actuator may have a motor unit with motor controller connected to it. A processor may be connected to the motor controller. A coupling for a shaft connection may be attached to an output of the motor unit. The processor may incorporate a diagnostics program. The processor may be connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. Diagnostic results of the diagnostics program may be communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller. If the diagnostic results communicated from the processor over the communications bus to the system controller indicate an insufficiency of the actuator, then an alarm identifying the insufficiency may be communicated over the communications bus to the system controller. | 03-06-2014 |
20140309791 | ECONOMIZER CONTROLLER PLUG AND PLAY SYSTEM RECOGNITION WITH AUTOMATIC USER INTERFACE POPULATION - An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed. | 10-16-2014 |