Electrical overload control for a combination apparatus

Claim 2

In a combination apparatus including a mechanical refrigeration unit employed in an air conditioning system and a second unit having a relatively heavy electric power demand when energized, the improvement of a control comprising: means to energize said second unit in response to a demand imposed thereon; means to sense the temperature of Air in a space being served by said air conditioning system to selectively energize and deenergize the compressor of said refrigeration unit, said air conditioning system including fan means operable to route air to be conditioned in heat transfer relation with refrigerant passing through the refrigeration unit evaporator, the refrigerant absorbing heat and being vaporized thereby; and means to deenergize said compressor regardless of the sensed air temperature when said second unit is energized, said fan means of said air conditioning system being selectively energized in response to the sensed air temperature even though said compressor is inoperable due to the energization of said heater element, whereby air is circulated in said space served by said air conditioning system.

Claim 3

A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second unit is an electric water heater having an electric water heater element.

Claim 4

A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said apparatus further includes heating means to provide relatively warm air to said space.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 4 further including the step of energizing an electric heater; and passing air in heat transfer relation with the electric heater element to warm the air to meet requirements of the space being conditioned.

Claim 8

A control for a combination apparatus of a type including an electric water heater having an electric water heater element and a mechanical refrigeration unit employed in an air conditioning system to provide relatively cold air to a space being conditioned, said control comprising: a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to a demand for water heating imposed on said control, said water heating element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to selectively energize and deenergize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating; space thermostat means having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to a demand for space cooling imposed on said control, said refrigeration unit being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said space thermostat means to energize and deenergize said compressor in response to the sensed demand for space cooling, said air conditioning system further including fan means operable to route air to be cooled in heat transfer relation with refrigerant passing through said evaporator, said fan means also being connected in said electrical circuit controlled by said space thermostat means; and means to deenergize said compressor regardless of the sensed air temperature when said heater element is energized, said fans means of said air conditioning system continuing to be selectively energized in response to the sensed air temperature of said space even though said compressor is rendered inoperable due to the energizaTion of said heater element, whereby air is circulated in said space.

Claim 9

A control for a combination apparatus of a type including an electric water heater having an electric water heater element and a mechanical refrigeration unit employed in an air conditioning system to provide relatively cold air to a space being conditioned, said control comprising: a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to a demand for water heating imposed on said control, said water heating element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to selectively energize and deenergize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating; space thermostat means having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to a demand for space cooling imposed on said control, said refrigeration unit being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said space thermostat means to energize and deenergize said compressor in response to the sensed demand for space cooling, said air conditioning system further including fan means operable to route air to be cooled in heat transfer relation with refrigerant passing through said evaporator, said fan means also being connected in said electrical circuit controlled by said space thermostat means; and means to deenergize said compressor regardless of the sensed air temperature when said heater element is energized, said fans means of said air conditioning system continuing to be selectively energized in response to the sensed air temperature of said space even though said compressor is rendered inoperable due to the energizaTion of said heater element, whereby air is circulated in said space.