US4156455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling a heat transfer installation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-02
•
Granted: 1979-05-29
•
Expires: 1996-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling a heating system includes regulating feed temperature of the heat carrying medium as a function of the differential between the feed medium temperature and the return medium temperature, and limiting the lower limit of the temperature of the feed medium to a predetermined minimum. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes first and second thermostats which determine feed and return medium temperatures and a control device responsive to the determined temperatures for adjusting feed medium temperature in accordance with the temperature difference. A further thermostat arrangement, in cooperation with a further control device, is provided for maintaining a minimum feed medium temperature, an auxiliary energy source being controlled by the further control device.
Inventors
- 👤 Theo van der Meulen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:26
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D19/00; F24D19/10; F24D19/1006; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1919; G05D23/1924; G05D23/20; F24D10/00; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/17; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/14; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/10; Y02P80/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of controlling a space heating system without regard to sensing inside and outside ambient temperature using a constantly circulating heat carrying medium which circulates at a nearly constant rate, the method comprising determining temperature differential measured between feed medium and return medium of the constantly circulating heat carrying medium circulating at the nearly constant rate, regulating temperature of the feed medium as a function of the determined temperature differential measured between the feed medium and the return medium, and limiting lower limit of temperature of the feed medium to a predetermined minimum temperature; whereby the system is controlled without regard to inside and outside temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of controlling a space heating system without regard to sensing inside and outside ambient temperature using a constantly circulating heat carrying medium which circulates at a nearly constant rate, the method comprising determining temperature differential measured between feed medium and return medium of the constantly circulating heat carrying medium circulating at the nearly constant rate, regulating temperature of the feed medium as a function of the determined temperature differential measured between the feed medium and the return medium, and limiting lower limit of temperature of the feed medium to a predetermined minimum temperature; whereby the system is controlled without regard to inside and outside temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, including, upon reaching the minimum temperature, interrupting temperature differential control based on said differential, and thence raising and lowering feed medium temperature in a predetermined range between the minimum temperature and an adjusted threshold temperature value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 2, including supplying heat from an auxiliary energy source whenever the feed medium minimum temperature is reached, and interrupting said supplying whenever the adjusted threshold temperature is reached.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for controlling a space heating system having a heat carrying medium constantly circulating in a circuit without sensing inside and outside ambient temperature, the apparatus comprising: means for circulating said heat carrying medium at a nearly constant rate, first temperature sensing means for determining feed temperature of the constantly circulating medium, second temperature sensing means for determining return temperature of the constantly circulating medium, control means responsive to output from said first and said second temperature sensing means for determining the temperature differential and adjusting feed temperature according to a given temperature differential, and at least one basic load thermostat means responsive to at least feed temperature of the medium coupled to said control means for establishing a minimum temperature of the heat carrying medium; whereby the system is controlled without regard to inside and outside temperatures.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for controlling a space heating system having a heat carrying medium constantly circulating in a circuit without sensing inside and outside ambient temperature, the apparatus comprising: means for circulating said heat carrying medium at a nearly constant rate, first temperature sensing means for determining feed temperature of the constantly circulating medium, second temperature sensing means for determining return temperature of the constantly circulating medium, control means responsive to output from said first and said second temperature sensing means for determining the temperature differential and adjusting feed temperature according to a given temperature differential, and at least one basic load thermostat means responsive to at least feed temperature of the medium coupled to said control means for establishing a minimum temperature of the heat carrying medium; whereby the system is controlled without regard to inside and outside temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said thermostat means comprises two thermostats located in said circuit, one of said thermostats being responsive to feed temperature of the medium and the other of said thermostats being responsive to return temperature of said medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said circuit includes return line means and feed line means, and wherein said two thermostats are located respectively in said feed line means and in said return line means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, including a four-way mixing valve coupled to said control means via a motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, including a timing means incorporated between said motor and said control means for de-energizing said motor after a given interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, including at least one main energy source and at least one auxiliary energy source, said control means including an auxiliary control device for turning said auxiliary energy source on and off respectively when predetermined bottom and top limit values of actual temperature differential are reached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said main energy source comprises solar cells by means of which the heat carrying medium can be heated, and including a medium storage container in which medium heated by said solar cells is stored, and wherein said auxiliary energy source comprises a conventionally fired boiler for further heating medium in said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said boiler includes heat exchanger surfaces directly contacting heat carrying medium contained in said storage container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, including a second storage container for storing utility heat carrying medium which has been heated by said main energy source, and a further secondary energy source which can be switched on and off as desired to heat additionally medium in said second storage container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, including a utility medium circuit having a feed line and also a return line, a second control means, and at least two temperature sensors coupled to said second control means, and a further secondary energy source coupled to said second control means for turning it on and off in response respectively to attaining of limit values of temperature differential.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3768545A
Cited
US4034738A
Cited
US3931806A
Cited
US4007776A
Cited
US4031880A
Cited
US4027821A
Cited
US3998207A
Cited
US4010734A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-28 | 1982-11-27 | 1983-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-28 | 1986-11-27 | 1987-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-28 | 1990-11-27 | 1991-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |