Patent US20040143282A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3730819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature control apparatus employing heating and cooling control circuits arranged in a head to toe configuration
Assignee: Athena Controls Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract The present system is a time proportional system for controlling both heat and cooling. The present system provides a plurality of stages of individual heating control circuits and a plurality of stages of individual cooling control circuits. The system in general follows a last on-first off procedure. The ascending stages of the heating series are respectively circuitry connected to the descending stages of the cooling series, i.e., the first stage of the heating series is connected to the last stage of the cooling series and vice versa so that when a heating stage is turned on it will cause the cooling stage to which it is connected to be turned off and vice versa. Because of the head to toe arrangement the present system can employ both heating and cooling stages simultaneously when the conditions warrant such an arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 E Evalds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1912; G05D23/20; G05D23/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
A temperature control system employing N stages of heating units and N stages of cooling units comprising in combination: a source of electrical power; temperature responsive circuit means; add-heat signal generating means connected to said temperature responsive circuit means to produce add-heat signals in response to predetermined temperature conditions; add-cold signal generating means connected to said temperature responsive circuit means to produce add-cold signals in response to predetermined temperature conditions; N heating stages arranged in ascending order, with respect to said temperature responsive circuit means, from the first stage through the Nth stage, each heating unit stage, excepting the first stage, formed to be turned on in response to the coincidence of an add-heat signal applied thereto and the presence of its preceding heating unit stage being turned on, said first stage heating unit formed to be turned on in response to an add-heat signal only; N cooling unit stages arranged in descending order, with respect to said temperature responsive circuit means, from the Nth stage through the first stage, each cooling unit stage, excepting the first stage, formed to be turned on in response to the coincidence of an add-cool signal applied thereto and the presence of its preceding cooling unit stage being turned on, said first stage cooling unit formed to be turned on in response to an add-cool signal only; first circuitry means connecting said N stages of heating units to said add-heat signal generating means; second circuitry means connecting said N stages of cooling units to said add-cool signal generating means; and third circuitry means respectively connecting each cooling unit stage in descending order to a heating unit stage in ascending order so that the Nth stage cooling unit is connected to the first stage heating unit and so that the first stage cooling unit is connected to the Nth stage heating unit, said third circuitry means formed to cause a heating unit stage to be turned off when the cooling stage connected thereto is turned on and alternatively to cause a cooling unit stage to be turned off when the heating unit stage connected thereto is turned off.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
A temperature control system employing N stages of heating units and N stages of cooling units comprising in combination: a source of electrical power; temperature responsive circuit means; add-heat signal generating means connected to said temperature responsive circuit means to produce add-heat signals in response to predetermined temperature conditions; add-cold signal generating means connected to said temperature responsive circuit means to produce add-cold signals in response to predetermined temperature conditions; N heating stages arranged in ascending order, with respect to said temperature responsive circuit means, from the first stage through the Nth stage, each heating unit stage, excepting the first stage, formed to be turned on in response to the coincidence of an add-heat signal applied thereto and the presence of its preceding heating unit stage being turned on, said first stage heating unit formed to be turned on in response to an add-heat signal only; N cooling unit stages arranged in descending order, with respect to said temperature responsive circuit means, from the Nth stage through the first stage, each cooling unit stage, excepting the first stage, formed to be turned on in response to the coincidence of an add-cool signal applied thereto and the presence of its preceding cooling unit stage being turned on, said first stage cooling unit formed to be turned on in response to an add-cool signal only; first circuitry means connecting said N stages of heating units to said add-heat signal generating means; second circuitry means connecting said N stages of cooling units to said add-cool signal generating means; and third circuitry means respectively connecting each cooling unit stage in descending order to a heating unit stage in ascending order so that the Nth stage cooling unit is connected to the first stage heating unit and so that the first stage cooling unit is connected to the Nth stage heating unit, said third circuitry means formed to cause a heating unit stage to be turned off when the cooling stage connected thereto is turned on and alternatively to cause a cooling unit stage to be turned off when the heating unit stage connected thereto is turned off.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A temperature control system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature responsive circuit means is a bridge circuit having a thermistor connected in one leg thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
A temperature control system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature responsive circuit means has first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals and wherein said add signal generating means comprises a transistor having an input element, an output element and a control element, said input element connected to said first input terminal, said output element is fourth circuitry connected to said second input terminal, and said control element connected to said first output terminal and further wherein said add signal generating means includes a capacitor connected between said input element of said last mentioned transistor and said second input terminal, and wherein said add signal generating means further include a current switching means connected to discharge said last mentioned capacitor in response to a predetermined voltage developed thereacross whereby an add signal is generated each time said last mentioned capacitor is charged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A temperature control system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature responsive circuit means has first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals and wherein said subtract signal generating means includes a transistor having an input element, an output element, and a control element and wherein said input element is connected to said first input terminal, said output element is fourth circuitry connected to said second input, said control element is connected to said first output terminal, and further wherein said subtract signal generating mEans includes a capacitor connected between said input element of said last mentioned transistor and said second input terminal, wherein there is further included a current switching means connected to discharge said last mentioned capacitor in response to a predetermined voltage developed thereacross whereby a subtract signal is generated each time said last mentioned capacitor discharges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A temperature control system according to claim 4 wherein said current switching means is a program unijunction transistor and wherein there is further included cross coupling circuitry between said last mentioned program unijunction transistor and said add signal generating means to prevent said last mentioned program unijunction transistor and said add signal generating means from turning on at the same time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A temperature control system according to claim 2 wherein there is further included in said bridge circuit means a variable resistor whose different resistance values are equated to different temperature values and whose setting determines the relationship between the desired temperature about which the system operates and the voltages developed at the output means of said bridge circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A temperature control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said add signal generating means and said subtract signal generating means are common connected through variable resistance means whereby the current through said add signal generating means and said subtract signal generating means can be varied to generate add and subtract pulses at a different rate in accordance with said variable resistance setting.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A temperature control system according to claim 1 wherein certain of said heating unit stages are formed to be simply an electrical load and not provide heat and wherein certain of said cooling unit stages are formed to be simply an electrical load and not provide cooling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3677335A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |