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 Auto-balancing damper controlThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070277542. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention generally relates to control systems for heating and air conditioning, and for methods of operating heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems for multi-zone control. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems provide comfort and convenience for persons using modern residential, commercial and industrial buildings. This comfort and convenience comes with a cost, of course, for installing and operating the fans, furnaces, and air conditioners that make possible such comfort and convenience. There is a great variety of controls for operating these systems, but there may be room for improvement in any of them. [0003]A common occurrence in many multiple floor dwellings is that comfort is sacrificed for cost in providing for HVAC comfort control and efficiency. This sacrifice in efficiency usually equates to less than desirable performance for the temperatures of the upper and lower floors. The traditional method of improving these symptoms is to control or balance the airflow to a favored area. This can be done at additional cost by using automated controlled ducting vents to achieve improved temperature balance. [0004]One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,524, which describes a complicated HVAC system. In this patent, a fan-powered mixing box with a master damper supplies air from a heating or cooling unit and sends a variable amount of air to each of a plurality of zones. Each zone has its own thermostat and damper for controlling the flow or air, and thus the temperature of the zone. While effective, this is a complicated and expensive system to install. In addition, the needs of the zones must be balanced since each has its own controlling thermostat. [0005]Another way to control temperature and ventilation in a multi-zone facility is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,165. Heating and cooling to an upper and a lower floor are adjusted by multiple dampers and a thermostat on each level. Temperature differences between the upper and lower levels may be evened out by directing air from the upper level to the lower level. However, there may be high temperature differentials between the floors. [0006]In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,473 discloses a climate control system with separate zones, a separate damper for each zone, and interlocking controls. Each zone has its own thermostat and can individually call for heating or cooling. In this disclosure, however, if one zone is being heated, the other zones are not allowed to call for cooling; or if one zone is being cooled, the other zones are not allowed to call for heating. This system provides good control for each zone, but has a very high cost of equipment and installation. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,098, each zone also has its own thermostat and sets of contacts for calling for heating and cooling. The control system, which does not allow simultaneous heating and cooling, requires a separate damper for each zone. This will also be an expensive system to operate. [0007]What is needed is a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system that is simple and economical to operate, and which is also effective to control the temperature in at least two zones of a building. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008]One embodiment is an automatic balancing damper control system. The damper control system includes a single set point environmental controller, at least two temperature elements, each temperature element located in a separate zone and in communication with the environmental controller, and a control output for a motorized damper, the damper responsive to the controller and configured to control a flow of air to the separate zones, wherein the controller is configured to accept temperature inputs from the at least two temperature elements and to send the control output for adjusting a position of the damper in accordance with the single set point and inputs from the at least two temperature elements. [0009]Another embodiment is an automatic balancing damper control system. The damper control system includes a single set point environmental controller, two temperature elements, each temperature element located in a separate zone and in communication with the environmental controller, and a control output for a motorized damper, the damper responsive to the controller and configured to control a flow of air to the separate zones, wherein the controller is configured to accept temperature inputs from the two temperature elements and to adjust a position of the damper in accordance with the single set point and inputs from the two temperature elements. [0010]Another embodiment of the invention is a method for automatically controlling a temperature in a building. The method includes setting a single set point for an environmental control system, measuring a temperature of each of two zones controlled by the environmental control system, and adjustably controlling a flow of air to the two zones by adjusting a position of a damper. [0011]Through the various embodiments of the present invention, value of improved energy conservation is realized. That is, by improving airflow and waste from over heating or cooling other zones, an energy value can be realized. Embodiments of the system of the present invention also brings value by operating independently as an improved air circulatory system. Further, embodiments of the present invention provides value of when used to balance or offset natural convection airflow currents. [0012]Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment; [0015]FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a control scheme for operating a HVAC embodiment; [0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of controls for operating an HVAC system according to the present invention; [0017]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a dwelling with an HVAC embodiment; and [0018]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a building with multiple zones to control. [0019]While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading... 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