US7097111B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Environmental control system and method for storage buildings
Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls LLC
•
Filing: 2002-10-15
•
Granted: 2006-08-29
•
Expires: 2022-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like, is described. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.
Inventors
- 👤 William P. Riley
- 👤 II William P. Riley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:01
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/70; F24F11/72; F24F11/74; F24F11/77; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/042; F25D17/045; F24F2110/00; F24F2110/20; F24F2110/50; F24F2110/65; F24F2110/72; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage facility, the method comprising: providing at least one fan for inducing air movement within the storage facility; continuously operating the at least one fan at less than full speed; flowing air through the at least one fan, through an air plenum and into the storage facility; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum; and varying speed of the at least one fan.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage facility, the method comprising: providing at least one fan for inducing air movement within the storage facility; continuously operating the at least one fan at less than full speed; flowing air through the at least one fan, through an air plenum and into the storage facility; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum; and varying speed of the at least one fan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum includes sensing temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum includes sensing humidity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage facility and selecting a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage facility should be maintained.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 4 , further comprising varying the speed of the at least one fan according to a relationship between the least one environmental parameter within the air plenum and the at least one environment parameter within the storage facility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed environmental parameter within the air plenum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein regulating flow of the external air includes regulating the flow of the external air independent of the speed of the at least one fan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 8 , further comprising varying the speed of the at least one fan according to the at least one sensed parameter of the environment external to the storage facility.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing ambient temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing humidity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 8 , further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed parameter of the external environment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin containing a mass of produce, the method comprising: flowing air through at least one fan, through at least one air plenum, through at least a portion of the mass of produce and into the storage bin so as to induce continuous air movement within the storage bin; providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin; flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and varying speed of the at least a second fan.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin containing a mass of produce, the method comprising: flowing air through at least one fan, through at least one air plenum, through at least a portion of the mass of produce and into the storage bin so as to induce continuous air movement within the storage bin; providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin; flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and varying speed of the at least a second fan.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13 , further comprising continuously operating the at least one fan at less than full speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin includes sensing a parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, carbon dioxide, and humidity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising selecting a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin should be maintained and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to a relationship between the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin and a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin should be maintained.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed environmental parameter within the storage bin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage bin and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to the at least one sensed environmental parameter external to the storage bin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing ambient temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing humidity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 18 , further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed parameter of the environment external to the storage facility.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising selecting a maximum fan speed and a minimum fan speed wherein the maximum fan speed is a reduced fan speed, and continually operating the at least a second fan at a speed between the selected maximum and minimum fan speeds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising selecting a maximum power level and a minimum power level for input to the at least one fan wherein the maximum power level is a reduced power level, and continually operating the at least a second fan at a speed between the selected maximum and minimum power levels.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for controlling an internal environment of a storage facility having an air plenum, the system comprising: at least one fan adapted to induce air movement through the air plenum and within the storage facility through continuous operation; at least a second fan adapted to induce introduction of external air to the storage facility; a variable-speed drive coupled to the at least a second fan, wherein the variable-speed drive provides a drive signal to the at least a second fan for controlling speed of the at least a second fan; at least one sensor adapted to determine at least one internal environmental parameter; at least one electrical control unit coupled to the at least one sensor and to the variable-speed drive, wherein the at least one electrical control unit receives a parameter signal indicative of the at least one internal environmental parameter from the at least one sensor and provides a command signal to the variable-speed drive based upon the parameter signal for varying an operational speed of the at least a second fan; and a ventilation inlet wherein air external to the storage facility is admitted into the internal environment.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for controlling an internal environment of a storage facility having an air plenum, the system comprising: at least one fan adapted to induce air movement through the air plenum and within the storage facility through continuous operation; at least a second fan adapted to induce introduction of external air to the storage facility; a variable-speed drive coupled to the at least a second fan, wherein the variable-speed drive provides a drive signal to the at least a second fan for controlling speed of the at least a second fan; at least one sensor adapted to determine at least one internal environmental parameter; at least one electrical control unit coupled to the at least one sensor and to the variable-speed drive, wherein the at least one electrical control unit receives a parameter signal indicative of the at least one internal environmental parameter from the at least one sensor and provides a command signal to the variable-speed drive based upon the parameter signal for varying an operational speed of the at least a second fan; and a ventilation inlet wherein air external to the storage facility is admitted into the internal environment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least a temperature sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, or a humidity sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 24 , further comprising at least one additional sensor adapted to determine at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage facility wherein the at least one additional sensor is coupled to the at least one electrical control unit and provides an external parameter signal to the at least one electrical control unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein the variable-speed drive is adapted to have a maximum speed setting and a minimum speed setting such that the at least a second fan is continuously running between the maximum and minimum speed settings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 24 , further comprising at least another variable-speed drive coupled to the at least one fan, wherein the at least another variable-speed drive is configured to operate the at least one fan continuously at a reduced speed.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin, the method comprising: providing at least one fan for inducing continuous air movement within the storage bin; providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin; flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage bin and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to the at least one sensed environmental parameter external to the storage bin.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin, the method comprising: providing at least one fan for inducing continuous air movement within the storage bin; providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin; flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin; sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage bin and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to the at least one sensed environmental parameter external to the storage bin.
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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) | 2009-08-28 | 2010-02-27 | 2010-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-28 | 2014-02-27 | 2014-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-28 | 2018-02-27 | 2018-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |