US 10,240,787 B2 · Integrated damper control system

Abstract

An integrated damper control system is used with a gas fired appliance including a gas burner, a flue and a damper for selectively opening the flue. The damper control system comprises an appliance control including a programmed processor for controlling the gas burner and a communication interface device. A damper control comprises a programmed processor for controlling the damper and a communication interface device for communication with the appliance control communication interface device. The damper control programmed processor is programmed to selectively open or close the damper responsive to status of a damper request register and to control status of a lockout register to indicate status of the damper. The appliance control programmed processor is programmed to control status of the damper request register responsive to a call for operation of the gas burner and to operate the gas burner only if the lockout register is set to unlock.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of controlling a damper used with a gas fired appliance including a gas burner and a flue, the damper for selectively opening the flue, the method comprising:

providing an appliance control programmed processor for controlling the gas burner, the appliance control programmed processor including a digital lockout register for storing electronic data information;
providing a damper control programmed processor for controlling the damper, the damper control programmed processor including a digital damper request register for storing electronic data information;
and
providing communications between the appliance control programmed processor and the damper control programmed processor,
the damper control programmed processor selectively opening or closing the damper responsive to status of the digital damper request register and controlling status of the digital lockout register to indicate status of the damper, and the appliance control programmed processor controlling status of the digital damper request register responsive to a call for operation of the gas burner and operating the gas burner only if the digital lockout register is in an unlock status.

2 more elements

A method of controlling a damper used with a gas fired appliance including a gas burner and a flue, the damper for selectively opening the flue, the method comprising:

providing an appliance control programmed processor for controlling the gas burner, the appliance control programmed processor including a digital lockout register for storing electronic data information;
providing a damper control programmed processor for controlling the damper, the damper control programmed processor including a digital damper request register for storing electronic data information;
and
providing communications between the appliance control programmed processor and the damper control programmed processor,
the damper control programmed processor selectively opening or closing the damper responsive to status of the digital damper request register and controlling status of the digital lockout register to indicate status of the damper, and the appliance control programmed processor controlling status of the digital damper request register responsive to a call for operation of the gas burner and operating the gas burner only if the digital lockout register is in an unlock status,
wherein the damper control programmed processor terminates the call for operation of the gas burner in the absence of a request to open the damper after the call for operation of the gas burner, and
wherein the damper control programmed processor lowers a temperature set point of the appliance control programmed processor to effectively terminate the call for operation of the gas burner.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,933 words

Summary1,382 words

#Not Applicable.

#This invention relates to gas fired appliances and, more particularly, to an integrated damper control system for use with a gas fired appliance.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art analog vent proving system;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a damper control system in accordance with the invention mounted to a gas fired appliance;

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the damper control system of FIG. 2;

Detailed description2,464 words

#The integrated damper control system disclosed herein identifies functions and methods to interface a damper control to an appliance control, such as a smart heat system, through a serial network interface.

#The integrated damper control system performs the same basic function as an analog damper control system. However, the proving circuit is isolated from the smart heat system and not directly connected to the fuel delivery solenoid. The damper gate position is monitored by the integrated damper control by use of a motorized cam and position switches that indicate to a microprocessor the open or closed state of the gate. The serial interface of the smart heat system is used to transmit and receive data to the integrated damper control.

#A safe and reliable method to operate an integrated damper control with a smart heat system control incorporates a direct register control that permits or prevents the fuel delivery solenoid activity in relation to the damper gate position.

Facts

Application

13/458,163Filed 27 Apr 2012 · us provisional application

Priority

3 May 2011

Published

US 2012/0282557 A18 Nov 2012

Granted

26 Mar 2019

Term ends

20 Jun 2036

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,515 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

F23L 13/02
Construction of valves or dampers for controlling air supply or draught: pivoted about a single axis but having not other movement
F23N 3/042
By operation of single valves or dampers by temperature sensitive elements: using electronic means
F23N 5/242
Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements: using electronic means
G05D 23/1917
Characterised by the use of electric means: using digital means

Timeline

3 May 2011Priority claimedParent application 61/481,921
27 Apr 2012Application filedUS 13/458,163
27 Apr 2012Assigned to Field Controls, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
8 Nov 2012PublishedUS 2012/0282557 A1
26 Mar 2019GrantedUS 10,240,787 B2
16 Sep 2022Assigned to Field Controls, L.L.C.assignment of assignor's interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Jun 2036Term endsEstimated, includes 1,515 days of adjustment

Integrated damper control system

Life of this patent

Integrated damper control system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description3,933 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,933 words