Control apparatus for warm up cycle of air distribution system

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling the ambient temperature in an enclosed area by regulating the flow of variable-pressure, conditioned air into said enclosed area, said apparatus comprising: pressure regulator means having a pressure chamber for converting a portion of said variable pressure air to substantially constant pressure air provided in said pressure chamber; signal generating communicating with said pressure chamber means for generating a pressure signal indicative of said ambient temperature, and including means for sensing said ambient temperature; an air volume controller for metering said variable-pressure, conditioned air to said enclosed area, said pressure signal acting directly on said air controller; and overriding means interacting with said pressure regulator means for overriding said signal generating means by reducing the pressure in said pressure chamber to a sufficiently low level so that said pressure signal is at a minimum value regardless of the ambient temperature, whereby said controller provides maximum flow of variable pressure air to said area independently of said ambient temperature sensing means, said overriding means being activated upon the introduction of variable pressure air having a temperature substantially different from that normally used.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling the ambient temperature in an enclosed area by regulating the flow of variable-pressure, conditioned air into said enclosed area, said apparatus comprising: pressure regulator means having a pressure chamber for converting a portion of said variable pressure air to substantially constant pressure air provided in said pressure chamber; signal generating communicating with said pressure chamber means for generating a pressure signal indicative of said ambient temperature, and including means for sensing said ambient temperature; an air volume controller for metering said variable-pressure, conditioned air to said enclosed area, said pressure signal acting directly on said air controller; and overriding means interacting with said pressure regulator means for overriding said signal generating means by reducing the pressure in said pressure chamber to a sufficiently low level so that said pressure signal is at a minimum value regardless of the ambient temperature, whereby said controller provides maximum flow of variable pressure air to said area independently of said ambient temperature sensing means, said overriding means being activated upon the introduction of variable pressure air having a temperature substantially different from that normally used.

Claim 8

An apparatus for use in an air distribution system which controls the ambient temperature in an enclosed area comprising: means for generating a pressure signal indicative of said ambient temperature, said signal generating means including a pressure reducing valve having first and second chambers and a ball resting against a seat to close said first chamber from said second chamber and intermittently bleeding said first chamber to said second chamber to produce substantially constant pressure in said first chamber, a pneumatic thermostat, and means for transmitting constant pressure to said pneumatic thermostat; means for transmitting said signal to an air volume controller which meters the air flow to said area in response to said signal; and means for overriding said signal generating means so that said controller provides maximum air flow to said area independently of said ambient temperature sensing means, said overriding means including a bi-metallic helical element for raising said ball from said seat when said element is activated upon introduction into said system of air having a temperature substantially different from that normally used in the system.

Claim 9

An apparatus for use in an air distribution system which controls the ambient temperature in an enclosed area comprising: means for generating a pressure signal indicative of said ambient temperature, said signal generating means including a pressure reducing valve having first and second chambers and a ball resting against a seat to close said first chamber from said second chamber and intermittently bleeding said first chamber to said second chamber to produce substantially constant pressure in said first chamber, a pneumatic thermostat, and means for transmitting constant pressure to said pneumatic thermostat; means for transmitting said signal to an air volume controller which meters the air flow to said area in response to said signal; and means for overriding said signal generating means so that said controller provides maximum air flow to said area independently of said ambient temperature sensing means, said overriding means including a bi-metallic helical element for raising said ball from said seat when said element is activated upon introduction into said system of air having a temperature substantially different from that normally used in the system.

Claim 14

An apparatus for controlling the ambient temperature in an enclosed volume by regulating the flow of conditioned air into said enclosed volume, said apparatus comprising: a pressure reducing valve including a first chamber having a bleed port, a second chamber having restricted inlet opening and a restricted outlet opening, and a ball resting on a valve seat interposed between said first chamber and said second chamber so that the weight of the ball is employed to regulate the pressure in said second chamber to provide a substantially constant pressure in said second chamber; thermostat means for sensing the ambient temperature within said enclosed volume and generating from said constant pressure a pressure signal indicative of the ambient temperature; control means for controlling in response to said pressure signal the flow rate of the conditioned air into said enclosed volume; and override means comprising a bi-metallic element inside said second chamber of said pressure reducing valve for lifting the ball so as to continuously bleed said second chamber, the bleeding of the second chamber reducing constant pressure in said second chamber to a level where the thermostat means is rendered ineffective, causing said regulating means to select the maximum flow rate of the conditioned air into said enclosed volume.

Claim 15

An apparatus for controlling the ambient temperature in an enclosed volume by regulating the flow of conditioned air into said enclosed volume, said apparatus comprising: a pressure reducing valve including a first chamber having a bleed port, a second chamber having restricted inlet opening and a restricted outlet opening, and a ball resting on a valve seat interposed between said first chamber and said second chamber so that the weight of the ball is employed to regulate the pressure in said second chamber to provide a substantially constant pressure in said second chamber; thermostat means for sensing the ambient temperature within said enclosed volume and generating from said constant pressure a pressure signal indicative of the ambient temperature; control means for controlling in response to said pressure signal the flow rate of the conditioned air into said enclosed volume; and override means comprising a bi-metallic element inside said second chamber of said pressure reducing valve for lifting the ball so as to continuously bleed said second chamber, the bleeding of the second chamber reducing constant pressure in said second chamber to a level where the thermostat means is rendered ineffective, causing said regulating means to select the maximum flow rate of the conditioned air into said enclosed volume.