Air conditioning methods and apparatus
OwnerDavid Richard Mathewsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for enhancing the performance of air conditioning systems (heat pump and traditional) in both cooling and heating modes, in some exemplary embodiments using a controller providing electronic circuitry to enable three stage fan activation at the beginning of a cooling cycle and defeat and avoidance of the now-common forced fan activation after compressor deactivation. In some exemplary embodiments the device enables two stage fan activation at the beginning of a heating cycle (for heat pump systems). In some exemplary embodiments the circuitry is a combination of conventional wiring, relays, and dip switches, and in some exemplary embodiments a microprocessor is provided.
Claims42
A method of conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the method comprising:
- alternately activating and deactivating the compressor and alternately activating and deactivating the air mover, the air mover activation comprising a first stage of zero speed, a second stage of reduced speed, and a third stage of substantially full speed;
- responding to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator such that the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins the air mover first stage;
- initiating the air mover second stage following the air mover first stage;
- and
- initiating the air mover third stage following the air mover second stage.
A method of conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the method comprising:
- responding to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator such that the compressor, condenser and air mover are functioning to cool the air;
- and
- responding to a conditioning termination signal from the conditioner initiator by deactivating the compressor, reducing the air mover speed for approximately 1-5 seconds beginning at the compressor deactivation, and then deactivating the air mover.
A method of conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the method comprising:
- responding to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator such that the compressor, condenser and air mover are functioning to cool the air;
- and
- responding to a conditioning termination signal from the conditioner initiator by deactivating the compressor and deactivating the air mover, the air mover deactivation being for an extended time period.
The method of claim 21, wherein the air mover is normally continuously activated, and responding to a conditioning termination signal from the conditioner initiator further comprises reducing the air mover speed for approximately 1-5 seconds beginning at the compressor deactivation, prior to deactivating the air mover.
A method of conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, a reversing valve, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned in a heat mode, the cooling coil being heated in such mode, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from a space across the cooling coil to warm the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the method comprising:
- alternately activating and deactivating the compressor and alternately activating and deactivating the air mover, the air mover comprising a heat mode first stage of zero speed, and a heat mode second stage of substantially full speed;
- responding to a heat initiation signal from the conditioner initiator such that the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins the air mover heat mode first stage;
- and
- initiating the air mover heat mode second stage following the air mover heat mode first stage.
A controller for controlling a system for conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the controller comprising:
- means providing electronic circuitry for alternately activating and deactivating the compressor and alternately activating and deactivating the air mover, the air mover activation comprising a first stage of zero speed, a second stage of reduced speed, and a third stage of substantially full speed;
- the means further providing electronic circuitry such that in response to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator, the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins the air mover first stage;
- the means further providing electronic circuitry such that the air mover second stage is initiated following the air mover first stage;
- and
- the means further providing electronic circuitry such that the air mover third stage is initiated following the air mover second stage.
A controller for controlling a system for conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the controller comprising:
- electronic circuitry for alternately activating and deactivating the compressor and alternately activating and deactivating the air mover, the air mover activation comprising a first stage of zero speed, a second stage of reduced speed, and a third stage of substantially full speed, the electronic circuitry being configured such that;
- in response to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator, the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins the air mover first stage;
- the air mover second stage is initiated following the air mover first stage;
- and
- the air mover third stage is initiated following the air mover second stage.
A controller for controlling a system for conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the controller comprising:
- first terminal set means having a plurality of terminals for electronic communication with the conditioner initiator such that one or more of the terminals are alternately energized and de-energized;
- a second terminal set means having a plurality of terminals for alternately activating and deactivating the compressor, the condenser and the air mover, the air mover being activatable at a reduced speed and a normal speed;
- electronic circuitry means for relaying and enabling selective and delayable electronic communications between at least some of the first terminal set means terminals and at least some of the second terminal set means terminals;
- wherein in response to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator:
- the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins an air mover first stage wherein the air mover is operating at zero speed;
- an air mover second stage is initiated following the air mover first stage, wherein the air mover is activated at a reduced speed;
- and
- an air mover third stage is initiated following the air mover second stage, wherein the air mover speed is activated at normal speed.
A controller for controlling a system for conditioning the air in a space, wherein a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and a cooling coil are provided and operatively connected to function such that air is conditioned, wherein an air mover is provided for passing air from the space across the cooling coil to cool and dehumidify the air, then back into the space, and further wherein conditioning is initiated and terminated in response to signals from a conditioner initiator, the controller comprising:
- a first terminal set having a plurality of terminals for electronic communication with the conditioner initiator such that one or more of the terminals are alternately energized and de-energized;
- a second terminal set having a plurality of terminals for alternately activating and deactivating the compressor, the condenser and the air mover, the air mover being activatable at a reduced speed and a normal speed;
- electronic circuitry for relaying and enabling selective and delayable electronic communications between at least some of the first terminal set terminals and at least some of the second terminal set terminals;
- wherein in response to a conditioning initiation signal from the conditioner initiator:
- the compressor is activated, the condenser is activated and the air mover begins an air mover first stage wherein the air mover is operating at zero speed;
- an air mover second stage is initiated following the air mover first stage, wherein the air mover is activated at a reduced speed;
- and
- an air mover third stage is initiated following the air mover second stage, wherein the air mover speed is activated at normal speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.