US 10,578,318 B2Granted

Single thermostat with multiple thermostatic radiator valve controllers

AssigneeComputime, Ltd.

InventorsWai-Leung Ha, Philip John Smith, Hong Bin Liao

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Abstract

A heating system includes a single thermostat that controls multiple thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers that control heat transfer to radiators in a room. Each TRV controller has the capability to automatically detect the open/closing point and maximum heating point and to register corresponding pin positions of the valve. Each TRV controller is subsequently instructed by the thermostat to adjust the valve in relation to a determined percentage of the registered pin positions, thus accounting for the varying characteristics among the valves in the system. The TRV controller detects the maximum heating point by checking the rate of temperature rising and the open/closing point by sensing the temperature turning point through a temperature sensor situated appropriately in relation to the associated radiator.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A heating system comprising:

a single thermostat;
a first radiator configured to transfer heat to a surrounding room and comprising a first valve;
a first thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller configured to control the first valve of the first radiator;
the first valve comprising a first pin, wherein a first operating position of the first pin determines a first amount of heat transferred to the first radiator;
the first TRV controller configured to automatically determine a first minimum opening position and a first maximum opening position of the first pin;
the single thermostat configured to determine the first operating position of the first pin from a room temperature and a set point temperature of the surrounding room and to send first position information indicative of the first operating position to the first TRV controller;
and
the first TRV controller configured to adjust the first operating position between the first minimum opening position and the first maximum opening position from the first position information, wherein the first TRV controller automatically detects winter operation when an auto-detection fails, detects a signature indicative of a call for heat, and initiates a subsequent auto-detection.

5 more elements

A single thermostat in a heating system for a surrounding room with a plurality of thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers, the single thermostat comprising:

a computing device;
a wireless module;
and
the computing device configured to perform:
sensing a room temperature of the surrounding room;
determining a first operating position of a first pin of a first thermostatic valve from the room temperature and a set point temperature of the surrounding room;
determining a second operating position of a second pin of a second thermostatic valve from the room temperature and the set point temperature of the surrounding room;
normalizing the first operating position to first characteristics of the first thermostatic valve and the second operating position to second characteristics of the second thermostatic valve, wherein
a first minimum opening position and a second minimum opening position of the first and second thermostatic valves, respectively, are different;
and
a first maximum opening position and a second maximum opening position of the first and second thermostatic valves, respectively, are different;
and
sending first and second normalized position information to first and second TRV controllers, respectively, through the wireless module.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/254,042Filed 1 Sep 2016
Published: US 2018/0058705 A11 Mar 2018
Granted: 3 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F24D 19/1018
Using a valve or valves: radiator valves
F16K 31/04
Electric ; magnetic: using a motor
F16K 37/0083
For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment: by measuring valve parameters
F24D 19/0056
Means for connecting central heating radiators to circulation pipes: supplies from the central heating system