US 4,267,967 AGranted

Two-speed automatic control of supply fans

AssigneeJ.C. Penney Company Inc.

InventorsJoseph H. Beck, Paul F. Orilio

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The control system maintains air temperature comfort in a zone of a commercial structure. Outside air is supplied into the zone for ventilation purposes and for cooling the zone to the desired temperature whenever possible to minimize the use of mechanical air cooling apparatus and thereby reducing energy consumption. Heating and cooling coils temperature condition the supplied air. A pneumatic control system selectively activates the heated, cooled or ventilated air supplied in the zone. A two-speed supply fan, controlled by the pneumatic control system, operates in a first state at only low speed to reduce energy consumption, or in a second state at automatic thermostat two-speed control (high or low). The fan in this second state operates at low speed except when maximum cooling is required and then switches back to low speed operation from high speed when the ambient temperature in the zone approaches the desired temperature.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An energy-saving system for maintaining air temperature comfort in a zone of a structure comprising:

means for sensing the ambient temperature in the zone;
fan means for supplying air into the zone;
means for temperature conditioning the supplied air;
starter means for starting said fan means and having a high speed coil and a low speed coil;
two-speed motor means for driving said fan means to distribute the conditioned and supplied air in the zone, said motor means having a high speed and a low speed winding;
and
control means for selectively coupling said high speed and said low speed winding to the corresponding one of the starter means coils to produce two fan driving speeds, each exceeding at least one-half of the rated maximum speed of the fan means, said control means being responsive to the temperature sensing means for separately actuating the temperature conditioning and and having a selectable first operational state wherein irrespective of the temperature sensing means the low speed starter means coil and the corresponding motor means winding are energized to produce said low fan speed, with said low fan speed being less than the rated maximum speed of the motor so as to reduce energy consumption of the system, and a selectable second operational state wherein the high speed starter means coil and the corresponding motor means winding are energized to produce said high fan speed in response to the temperature sensing means irrespective of energy consumption, and automatic switching from the high fan speed to the low fan speed occurs when the ambient temperature sensed drops below a preselected temperature.

4 more elements

In a system for controlling air temperature in one or more zones within a structure, utilizing a supply fan for each of the zones, the energy-saving improvement comprising:

means for sensing ambient temperature conditions in at least one zone;
means for admitting air into said zone;
means for temperature conditioning the air admitted into said zone;
two-speed, two-winding motor means for driving the supply fan for said zone to distribute the admitted and conditioned air in said zone and having a high speed substantially at its rated maximum speed and a low speed substantially two-thirds of its rated maximum speed;
and
control means for controlling said motor means and comprising first means for actuating said motor means to drive said supply fan at said low speed irrespective of the operation of said temperature conditions sensing means and said temperature conditioning means, and second means, responsive to said temperature conditions sensing means, for actuating said motor means to drive said supply fan at the low speed except when the temperature conditions in said zone exceed a preset value during which period said motor means is actuated to drive said supply fan at the high speed irrespective of the operation of said temperature conditioning means.

3 more elements

In a system for controlling air temperature in one or more zones within a structure, utilizing:

a supply fan for each of the zones;
means for sensing ambient temperature conditions in each of the zones;
means for admitting air into each of the zones;
means for temperature conditioning the air admitted into each of the zones;
the improvement comprising:
two speed motor means for driving each of said supply fans and having a high speed winding which produces a fan speed substantially at the rated maximum for said fan and a low speed winding which produces a
fan speed substantially at two-thirds the rated maximum of said fan;
and
control means, responsive to a signal from said temperature sensing means, for controlling the speed of said motor means, said control means comprising:
starter means for energizing said motor means and having a high speed coil and a low speed coil respectively efficiently matched and coupled to said high and low speed windings;
and
switch means for actuating said starter means to energize only said low speed winding through said low speed coil to drive said fan means at said low speed, and for actuating said starter means to energize both said low speed and said high speed windings but energizing said high speed winding through said high speed coil to drive said fan means at said high speed only when the signal from the temperature sensing means indicates a temperature in said zone above a predetermined level and irrespective of the operation of said temperature conditioning means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/937,163Filed 28 Aug 1978
Granted: 19 May 1981
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F24F 11/77
For controlling air flow rate or air velocity: by controlling the speed of ventilators
F24F 11/30
Control or safety arrangements: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
F24F 11/46
For purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring: improving electric energy efficiency or saving
F24F 11/88
Control or safety arrangements: electrical aspects, e.g. circuits