Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for interior space conditioning with improved zone control

US5245835A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
16References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 10, 1992
Grant dateSep 21, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 10, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24F2221/54
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An interior thermal conditioning method and apparatus with improved zone control is disclosed. The thermal conditioning apparatus, such as a heat pump assembly, generates a desired thermal condition which is conveyed by a thermal distribution medium to a number of zones within a multiple zone building. Each zone includes a heat exchange device for receiving the thermal distribution medium. Each zone also includes a thermostat which is used to set a desired temperature range and to indicate the prevailing temperature. When the prevailing temperature is inconsistent with the desired temperature range, a conditioning request is generated. Rather than immediately responding to the conditioning request, the heat pump controller assesses the temperature of the thermal distribution medium to determine whether it is within a target range. If the thermal distribution medium is not within the target range, execution of the conditioning request is delayed while the heat pump is modulated to produce the desired thermal distribution temperature. Additional conditioning requests may be generated during this modulation period. Conditioning requests are processed after the desired thermal distribu…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.