US4722475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Environmental control system with condition responsive timer and method
Assignee: NEWELL A T III
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Filing: 1985-09-24
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Granted: 1988-02-02
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Expires: 2005-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A controller (8) of air conditioning apparatus (18) with a cycle timer (12) for periodically actuating the apparatus (18) irrespective of temperature combined with a thermostat (10) for actuating the apparatus (18) in accordance with sensed temperature and logic circuitry (FIG. 3) for recycling the timer (12) to prevent excessive actuation of the apparatus (18) while ensuring minimum actuation in accordance with sensed conditions. Both the duration of the cycle period and the duty cycle of the timer are selectively variable over a wide range through means of timer circuitry employing dual electronic timers (12a and 12b) which are controlled to operate in a complementary manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred T. Newell, III
- 👤 E. Lane Nichols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/0047; F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/50; F24F11/61; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/88; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1913; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; F24F11/30; F24F2110/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In an environmental control system having apparatus for conditioning the air within an environmentally controlled space, an improved controller for said apparatus, comprising; means to control actuation of said apparatus in accordance with a preselected, periodic timing sequence, said timing control means including means for actuating said apparatus during a preselected portion of each period; means for controlling actuation of the apparatus in response to the condition of the air; and means responsive to the condition of the air for altering the timing sequence of said timing control means to minimize excessive combined total actuation by both said timing sequence control means and said condition responsive control means including means for reinitiating said period in response to a preselected condition occurring other than during said portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an environmental control system having apparatus for conditioning the air within an environmentally controlled space, an improved controller for said apparatus, comprising; means to control actuation of said apparatus in accordance with a preselected, periodic timing sequence, said timing control means including means for actuating said apparatus during a preselected portion of each period; means for controlling actuation of the apparatus in response to the condition of the air; and means responsive to the condition of the air for altering the timing sequence of said timing control means to minimize excessive combined total actuation by both said timing sequence control means and said condition responsive control means including means for reinitiating said period in response to a preselected condition occurring other than during said portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said apparatus includes means, when actuated, for ventilating the controlled space, and said altering means minimizes excessive ventilation which could otherwise be caused by independent actuation of said timing control means and said condition responsive controlling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said altering means includes means responsive to actuation by said condition responsive controlling means for altering the timing sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said preselected time period coincides with a portion of each timing sequence during which the timing control means is not calling for actuation of the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said reinitiating means includes means for distinguishing one portion of said period from another portion of the period, and means responsive to said distinguishing means for preventing reinitiation of said period during one of said portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The controller of claim 5 in which said one portion is a portion of the period during which said timing control means is not operative to actuate said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The controller of claim 1 including means for selectively changing the duration of the total period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The controller of claim 1 including means for selectively changing the relative duration of each of said one and the other portions relative to the duration of the total period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The controller of claim 8 including means for selectively changing the duration of the total period independently of said portion duration changing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The controller of claim 8 in which the duration of each of said portions is selectively changeable between substantially zero and one hundred percent of the duration of the total period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The controller of claim 8 in which said relative duration changing means includes a single actuator for changing both of said portions concurrently.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said condition responsive controller includes means for sensing the relative humidity condition of the air within the controlled space, and means responsive to said humidity sensing means for actuating said apparatus in accordance with the sensed humidity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said condition responsive controller includes means for sensing the temperature of the air within the controlled space, and p1 means responsive to said temperature sensing means for actuating said apparatus in accordance with the sensed temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an environmental control system having apparatus for conditioning the air within an environmentally controlled space, an improved controller for said apparatus, comprising: means to control actuation of said apparatus in accordance with a preselected, periodic timing sequence; means for controlling actuation of the apparatus in response to the condition of the air; and means responsive to the condition of the air for altering the timing sequence of said timing control means to minimize excessive combined total actuation by both said timing sequence control means and said condition responsive control means, said sequence altering means causes said periodic sequence to be repeated in response to the air within the controlled space assuming a preselected condition within a preselected time period commencing with the initiation of each new period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an environmental control system having apparatus for conditioning the air within an environmentally controlled space, an improved controller for said apparatus, comprising: means to control actuation of said apparatus in accordance with a preselected, periodic timing sequence; means for controlling actuation of the apparatus in response to the condition of the air; and means responsive to the condition of the air for altering the timing sequence of said timing control means to minimize excessive combined total actuation by both said timing sequence control means and said condition responsive control means, said sequence altering means causes said periodic sequence to be repeated in response to the air within the controlled space assuming a preselected condition within a preselected time period commencing with the initiation of each new period.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of controlling an air ventilation system of an agricultural building, comprising the steps of: establishing periodic timing cycles; actuating the ventilation system for a preselected portion of each of said time periods; sensing the condition of the air within the building; establishing a preselected condition of the air within the building; establishing a preselected time period; and causing the establishing means to interrupt a current timing cycle in response to the sensed condition assuming the preselected condition within the preselected time period after the beginning of a preceding cycle.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of controlling an air ventilation system of an agricultural building, comprising the steps of: establishing periodic timing cycles; actuating the ventilation system for a preselected portion of each of said time periods; sensing the condition of the air within the building; establishing a preselected condition of the air within the building; establishing a preselected time period; and causing the establishing means to interrupt a current timing cycle in response to the sensed condition assuming the preselected condition within the preselected time period after the beginning of a preceding cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15 in which at least a portion of the preselected time period after the beginning of a preceding cycle occurs in a portion of each cycle other than during the preselected portion that said ventilating system is being actuated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of actuating the ventilation system in response to the sensed condition assuming the preselected condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 17 including the step of establishing a second preselected condition, continuing actuation of the ventilation system after assumption of the first non-timed preselected condition until the sensed condition assumes the second preselected condition, and preventing initiation of a new periodic timing cycle until a second preselected condition is sensed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 17 including the step of continuing actuation during a preselected portion of a timing period while actuating the ventilation system in response to the sensed condition assuming the preselected condition whenever said condition responsive actuation begins during said preselected portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 including the step of recycling the timing cycle so that a new complete cycle begins a preselected time period after the interruption to timing cycle is ended.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 in which said preselected time period after interruption is ended is nil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4350962A
Cited
GB2092778A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-08-03 | 1992-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-01 | 1995-08-03 | 1996-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-01 | 1999-08-03 | 2000-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |