Patent US5547017A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5547017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air distribution fan recycling control
Assignee: ABT Systems LLC
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Filing: 1995-01-05
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Granted: 1996-08-20
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Expires: 2015-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An system for controlling the operation of the circulating fan of a closed central air conditioning(CAC) system is disclosed. The system periodically activates and deactivates only the circulating fan after a preselected delay time from the normal running of the cooling and heating modes of the CAC system. The preselected delay time is adjustable based on non thermostat parameters and include parameters such as room volume size to be ventilated and the number of occupants in the room. The control can periodically distribute and mix ventilation air or spot-conditioned (humidified, de-humidified, or cleaned) air while the CAC system is not running in the heating, cooling or constant fan modes. The cooling and heating modes of the CAC system operate independently of the fan recycling control.
Inventors
- 👤 Armin Rudd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:18
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/0001; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/65; F24F11/67; F24F11/30; F24F2120/00; F24F2120/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising: a circulating fan; a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building; a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising: a circulating fan; a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building; a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes: a cooling only mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes: a cooling mode and a electric heat mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes: a heat pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes: a gas heat source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the air conditioning system includes: an oil heat source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes: a time delay based on number of occupants within the building to be ventilated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes: a time delay based on volume dimensions of the building to be ventilated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The recycling control apparatus of claim 1, where the preselected time period includes: a time delay based on both number of occupants and volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of mixing air throughout a building when not running a heating and cooling air conditioning system comprising the steps of: shutting off both cooling and heating modes on an air-conditioning system; activating a circulating fan only after preselected delay time periods, wherein each the delay time periods is adjusted based on nontemperature conditions, wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of: volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of mixing air throughout a building when not running a heating and cooling air conditioning system comprising the steps of: shutting off both cooling and heating modes on an air-conditioning system; activating a circulating fan only after preselected delay time periods, wherein each the delay time periods is adjusted based on nontemperature conditions, wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of: volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from: a range of approximately 20 minutes to approximately 3 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 1 occupant is within the room.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from: a range of approximately 12 minutes to approximately 1 and 1/4 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 2 occupants are within the room.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10, wherein each of the delay time period is selected from: a range of approximately 10 minutes to approximately 3/4 of an hour for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 3 occupants are within the room.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10, further including the step of: turning on the heating and the cooling modes of the air-conditioning system when a temperature threshold has been reached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automated fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising: a circulating fan; a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building; a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period based on selected nontemperature conditions, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated, and wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of: volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automated fan recycling control apparatus for a central air conditioning(CAC) system comprising: a circulating fan; a central air conditioning system with ducts to distribute cooled and heated conditioned air throughout a building; a thermostat for activating and deactivating both the central air conditioning system and the circulating fan; and a recycle control for periodically activating and deactivating only the circulating fan after a preselected time period based on selected nontemperature conditions, since the central air conditioning system or the circulating fan have been deactivated, and wherein the nontemperature conditions are chosen from at least one of: volume dimensions of an air-space to be ventilated and number of occupants of the air-space to be ventilated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the preselected time period is selected from: a range of approximately 20 minutes to approximately 3 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 1 occupant is within the room.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15 wherein the preselected time period is selected from: a range of approximately 12 minutes to approximately 1 and 1/4 hours for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 2 occupants are within the room.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The automated fan recycling control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the preselected time period is selected from: a range of approximately 10 minutes to approximately 3/4 of an hour for a room having volume dimensions between 600 to 3800 cubic feet, when 3 occupants are within the room.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |