Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A heating system control device comprising: means responsive to the dropping of the outside temperature to below a predetermined weatherhead set point for turning on a heating system to be controlled; means for determining the establishment of heat in the heating system to be controlled; means defining a heating cycle consisting of a heat-on portion and a heat-off portion having a duty cycle dependent on the outside temperature and starting in response to the establishment of heat in the heating system to be controlled; and means for checking for heat loss in the system to be controlled and for delaying the start of a new heating cycle when heat is established until more heat is needed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A heating system control device comprising: means responsive to the dropping of the outside temperature to below a predetermined weatherhead set point for turning on a heating system to be controlled; means for determining the establishment of heat in the heating system to be controlled; means defining a heating cycle consisting of a heat-on portion and a heat-off portion having a duty cycle dependent on the outside temperature and starting in response to the establishment of heat in the heating system to be controlled; and means for checking for heat loss in the system to be controlled and for delaying the start of a new heating cycle when heat is established until more heat is needed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the means defining the heating cycle comprises an electronic clock, means for dividing each day into at least one first period and at least one second period and for storing the starting times for each period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein the means for turning on the system includes means for storing a first weatherhead set point for the at least one first period and a second weatherhead set point for the at least one second period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device according to claim 2, further comprising boosting means for turning on the heating system to be controlled for a predetermined duration prior to the earliest first period during each day.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein the means defining the heating cycle includes means for setting a first general heating level for the at least one first period and a lower second general heating level for the at least one second period, whereby the duty cycles for the second period will be lower than that of the first period for the same outdoor temperature and means for setting a third minimum heat level for a 24-hour period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein the storing means includes means for storing the starting times of each period for each day of the week.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to claim 2, further comprising means for substantially increasing the speed of the clock to substantially decrease the duration of the periods during a day to effect testing of the system being controlled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device according to claim 2, further automatic boosting means for turning on the heating system to be controlled for a variable duration prior to the earliest first period during each day comprising means for calculating the duration in response to the outside temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 8, further comprising means for recording the duration of time the device is in the boost mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device according to claim 2, further comprising automatic shutdown means for turning off the heating system to be controlled for a variable duration prior to the latest second period during each day as a function of the outside temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device according to claim 2, further comprising means for turning off the circulating pump of the heating system to be controlled during the second period, when the outside temperature rises a predetermined amount above the weatherhead set point and the heating system latent heat has been reduced to a predetermined amount.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying when the system being controlled is being established or is established and is on or off.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the means defining the heating cycle further comprises means for setting the cycle time frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the delay means comprises means for electrically adjusting the system heat loss differential indicative of when heat is needed to effect adjustment in the new cycle delay time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 1, further comprising stoking means for turning on the heating system to be controlled for a predetermined time each day regardless of outside temperature.