US7200468B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for determining overall heating and cooling system efficienies
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2005-04-05
•
Granted: 2007-04-03
•
Expires: 2025-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A computer readable medium with instructions stored on the medium. When the instructions are executed by a processor, they cause the processor to calculate overall efficiency. A system for determining the overall efficiency for a building. The system comprises: an environment system controller with a processor used to calculate overall efficiency; a plurality of indoor temperature sensors in communication with the environment system controller; an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the environment system controller; an efficiency monitoring device in communication with the environment system controller; and a chronograph configured to time stamp sensor readings.
Inventors
- 👤 John Ruhnke
- 👤 John Distinti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:42
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/46; F24F2130/00; F24F2130/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A first enviromental control unit comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to calculate an overall efficiency that is proportional to the ratio of a first building's heat loss divided by the energy inputted into the first building, and where the overall efficiency can be used as a comparison against an overall efficiency of a second building with a second environmental control unit, and wherein the instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: solve the equation OVERALLEFFICIENCY = Q loss t T I - T O × HDD × 24 hours 1 day Q in for the term OVERALL EFFICIENCY, wherein Q loss is the building heat loss in BTUs; t is time, in hours; T I is the inside temperature; T O is the outside temperature; HDD is heating degree days for a specified time period; Q in is the energy put into the building, in BTUs for the specified time period; and 24 hours/1 day is a conversion factor to cancel out the hour unit from the term t.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A first enviromental control unit comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to calculate an overall efficiency that is proportional to the ratio of a first building's heat loss divided by the energy inputted into the first building, and where the overall efficiency can be used as a comparison against an overall efficiency of a second building with a second environmental control unit, and wherein the instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: solve the equation OVERALLEFFICIENCY = Q loss t T I - T O × HDD × 24 hours 1 day Q in for the term OVERALL EFFICIENCY, wherein Q loss is the building heat loss in BTUs; t is time, in hours; T I is the inside temperature; T O is the outside temperature; HDD is heating degree days for a specified time period; Q in is the energy put into the building, in BTUs for the specified time period; and 24 hours/1 day is a conversion factor to cancel out the hour unit from the term t.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: determine a building's heat loss rate; determine an indoor temperature; determine an outdoor temperature; determine heating degree days for a specified time period; determine a heat input for a building for the specified time period; and calculate an overall efficiency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain building size information; obtain building window information; calculate a heat loss rate for the building.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain solar gain information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain average wind speed information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain power output from building lights and appliances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain the daily average outdoor temperature; and calculate a heating degree day value for a specified time period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The first environmental control unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: obtain BTU meter data from an outlet side of a building heating system; obtain BTU meter data from an inlet side of the building heating system; and calculate a heat output value for the building for a specified time period.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
252 words
A system for determining overall efficiency for a first building, the system Comprising: a first-environment system controller with a processor and a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to calculate an overall efficiency that is proportional to the ratio of the first building's heat loss divided by the energy inputted into the first building, and where the overall efficiency can be used as a comparison against an overall efficiency of a second building with a second environment system controller, and wherein the instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: solve the equation OVERALL EFFICIENCY = Q loss t T i - T o × HDD × 24 hours 1 day Q in for the term OVERALL EFFICIENCY, wherein Q loss is the building heat loss in BTUs; t is time, in hours; T I is the inside temperature; T O is the outside temperature; HDD is heating degree days for a specified time period; Q in is the energy put into the building, in BTUs for the specified time period; and 24 hours/1 day is a conversion factor to cancel out the hour unit from the term t; a plurality of indoor temperature sensors in communication with the first environment system controller; an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the first environment system controller; an efficiency monitoring device in communication with the first environment system controller; and a chronograph configured to time stamp sensor readings.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
252 words
A system for determining overall efficiency for a first building, the system Comprising: a first-environment system controller with a processor and a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to calculate an overall efficiency that is proportional to the ratio of the first building's heat loss divided by the energy inputted into the first building, and where the overall efficiency can be used as a comparison against an overall efficiency of a second building with a second environment system controller, and wherein the instructions stored thereon further cause the processor to: solve the equation OVERALL EFFICIENCY = Q loss t T i - T o × HDD × 24 hours 1 day Q in for the term OVERALL EFFICIENCY, wherein Q loss is the building heat loss in BTUs; t is time, in hours; T I is the inside temperature; T O is the outside temperature; HDD is heating degree days for a specified time period; Q in is the energy put into the building, in BTUs for the specified time period; and 24 hours/1 day is a conversion factor to cancel out the hour unit from the term t; a plurality of indoor temperature sensors in communication with the first environment system controller; an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the first environment system controller; an efficiency monitoring device in communication with the first environment system controller; and a chronograph configured to time stamp sensor readings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a flow meter in communication with the efficiency monitoring device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a BTU meter in communication with the efficiency monitoring device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a network in communication with the efficiency monitoring device; a weather tracking center in communication with the efficiency monitoring device via the network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 12 , further comprising: a database in communication with the efficiency monitoring device via the network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a computer in communication with the efficiency monitoring device; a network in communication with the computer; a weather tracking center in communication with the computer via the network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 14 , further comprising: a database in communication with the computer via the network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3918300A
Cited
US4423487A
Cited
US4334275A
Cited
US4685615A
Cited
US5197666A
Cited
US5983010A
Cited
US5717609A
Cited
US6522994B1
Cited
US6691054B1
Cited
US6134511A
Cited
US6478233B1
Cited
US20010020219A1
Cited
US7072727B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-04-02 | 2010-10-02 | 2011-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-04-02 | 2014-10-02 | 2015-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-04-02 | 2018-10-02 | 2019-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |