Patent · US Expired

Environmental control system incipient failure indicator apparatus

US6225907A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
16References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1999
Grant dateMay 1, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24F11/52
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An incipient failure indication apparatus for an environmental control system which includes a heat exchanger through which air flows and a temperature control thermostat. The indication apparatus includes an indicator having an alarm in communication with a control board, the control board in communication with the thermostat. The alarm has a visual indicator and/or an aural indicator, whereby the attention of a person is attracted to the indicator upon activation of the alarm. A first temperature sensor is disposed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger and a second temperature sensor is disposed on the downstream side of the heat exchanger, whereby the temperature sensors respectively sense the temperature of the air upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger. The first and second temperature sensors are in communication with the control board, and the control board has means for comparing the temperatures sensed thereby. The control board also includes means for activating the alarm in response to recognizing a difference in temperatures sensed by the first and second temperature sensors which is one of greater than and less than a predetermined value. The apparatus may …

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