CA2700827A1 - Heating control activation feature - Google Patents
Heating control activation feature Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2700827A1 CA2700827A1 CA2700827A CA2700827A CA2700827A1 CA 2700827 A1 CA2700827 A1 CA 2700827A1 CA 2700827 A CA2700827 A CA 2700827A CA 2700827 A CA2700827 A CA 2700827A CA 2700827 A1 CA2700827 A1 CA 2700827A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- heating control
- activation
- heating
- recited
- building
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 62
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000008672 reprogramming Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002028 Biomass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 206010016275 Fear Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009428 plumbing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1009—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
- F24F11/63—Electronic processing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/06—Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
- F24F11/56—Remote control
- F24F11/58—Remote control using Internet communication
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
- F24F11/56—Remote control
- F24F11/59—Remote control for presetting
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
- F24F11/61—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using timers
Abstract
In a building's heating/cooling system which is controlled/operated by an electronic heating control, this invention is the feature of time limited operation and automatic expiration of some or all of the operation of the heating control's functions, and thus operation of the building's heating/cooling system, unless or until an activation code or key is input via an interface into the electronic heating control, thereby facilitating permanent and continuous operation of the building's heating/cooling system. Primary use of this invention is to assure payment to the manufacturer and/or installer of the heating control and/or building's heating/cooling system, while the initial time-limited operation provides a grace period for installation and start-up of the system.
Description
Heating Control Activation Feature Definitions (as accepted by the plumbing and heating industry) used throughout this patent:
Heating control (also referred to as a "heating controller") is defined as the electrical and or electronic components controlling a building's heating system.
Building heating system is defined as a mechanism consisting of various elements connected to a heating control for the purposes of heating and/or cooling a building and/or generating hot water for the use of its occupants. These elements can include any or any combination of, but are not limited to, the following: boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning units, sensors, thermistors, aquastats, thermostats, differential controllers, and heat collection systems including solar, geothermal, and bio mass.
Field of the Invention The invention pertains generally to heating controls. More specifically, the invention relates to heating controls associated with building heating, cooling and hot water systems. In particular, this invention provides a unique ability to automatically suspend operations of the heating control's functions and thereby the building's heating system after a limited (probationary) time unless activated through an interface.
Background, Purpose, and Benefits of the Invention The invention came about to address an issue brought to the forefront in the housing downturn of 2007/08. Many heating contractors were caught without recourse for defaulted payment for completed work; a method of insuring receipt of due payment was needed for the industry. To understand this, one must consider the context of Canadian law on building improvements. Canadian law defines that once a product is installed into a building it becomes part of that building; as such, installed materials cannot be repossessed. This puts a contractor/installer at risk of not being paid without effective recourse on every job. This invention is completely in keeping with Canadian law in that nothing is ever removed or repossessed from the premises if the Heating Control
Heating control (also referred to as a "heating controller") is defined as the electrical and or electronic components controlling a building's heating system.
Building heating system is defined as a mechanism consisting of various elements connected to a heating control for the purposes of heating and/or cooling a building and/or generating hot water for the use of its occupants. These elements can include any or any combination of, but are not limited to, the following: boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning units, sensors, thermistors, aquastats, thermostats, differential controllers, and heat collection systems including solar, geothermal, and bio mass.
Field of the Invention The invention pertains generally to heating controls. More specifically, the invention relates to heating controls associated with building heating, cooling and hot water systems. In particular, this invention provides a unique ability to automatically suspend operations of the heating control's functions and thereby the building's heating system after a limited (probationary) time unless activated through an interface.
Background, Purpose, and Benefits of the Invention The invention came about to address an issue brought to the forefront in the housing downturn of 2007/08. Many heating contractors were caught without recourse for defaulted payment for completed work; a method of insuring receipt of due payment was needed for the industry. To understand this, one must consider the context of Canadian law on building improvements. Canadian law defines that once a product is installed into a building it becomes part of that building; as such, installed materials cannot be repossessed. This puts a contractor/installer at risk of not being paid without effective recourse on every job. This invention is completely in keeping with Canadian law in that nothing is ever removed or repossessed from the premises if the Heating Control
2 Activation Feature is put to use. However, it provides strong incentive for payment to be made.
This invention possesses numerous benefits and advantages over known heating controls. Primarily, the invention protects the manufacturer, seller, and/or installer against fraud and nonpayment situations. The resultant benefits are far-reaching. The invention reduces the increased costs of credit due to late payment and reduces the risk of high value delinquent and defaulted payment. The reduction of risk benefits the consumer by the way of passed down efficiencies and the costs of delinquent customers being mitigated and not being passed to the overall customer base. An added macroeconomic benefit is that even in less certain economic situations when historically contractors/installers will reduce risk by not installing heating systems, this invention alleviates their fears by insuring due payment, thus helping to stabilize a part of the housing and building industries to carry on in less than ideal economic conditions.
Additionally, the invention will help reduce jobsite theft, since the invention will make the heating control of limited use due to its expiry. Without the proper activation code or key through the interface it becomes worthless to the thief, reducing another significant risk and associated cost to business, insurance, and consumer alike. The invention is simple and no more difficult to use than any conventional heating controls. It can thus be seen that this invention provides a unique heating control which successfully mitigates risk, encourages use, and is of economic benefit to government, business and public.
Description of Prior Art Searches for any like feature in the industry in the Canadian patent data base resulted in the following:
1. heating system control a. 9 returns, no conflicts 2. home heating control a. 0 returns
This invention possesses numerous benefits and advantages over known heating controls. Primarily, the invention protects the manufacturer, seller, and/or installer against fraud and nonpayment situations. The resultant benefits are far-reaching. The invention reduces the increased costs of credit due to late payment and reduces the risk of high value delinquent and defaulted payment. The reduction of risk benefits the consumer by the way of passed down efficiencies and the costs of delinquent customers being mitigated and not being passed to the overall customer base. An added macroeconomic benefit is that even in less certain economic situations when historically contractors/installers will reduce risk by not installing heating systems, this invention alleviates their fears by insuring due payment, thus helping to stabilize a part of the housing and building industries to carry on in less than ideal economic conditions.
Additionally, the invention will help reduce jobsite theft, since the invention will make the heating control of limited use due to its expiry. Without the proper activation code or key through the interface it becomes worthless to the thief, reducing another significant risk and associated cost to business, insurance, and consumer alike. The invention is simple and no more difficult to use than any conventional heating controls. It can thus be seen that this invention provides a unique heating control which successfully mitigates risk, encourages use, and is of economic benefit to government, business and public.
Description of Prior Art Searches for any like feature in the industry in the Canadian patent data base resulted in the following:
1. heating system control a. 9 returns, no conflicts 2. home heating control a. 0 returns
3. hydronic heating control a. 0 returns
4. activation heat a. 2 returns, no conflicts
5. control activation a. 72 returns, no conflicts 1. building heat a. 13 returns, no conflicts Searches of patents of major companies in the building heating industry:
1 Tekmar 9 patents, no conflict or like patent 2 HBX 2 patents, no conflict or like patent 3 Honeywell Controls 2 patents, no conflict or like patent There are a number of heating controls currently manufactured, but none has the feature of this invention, and any existing heating controls would have to be substantially redesigned and remanufactured to allow for this invention to operate within them.
Summary of the Invention The invention is the built-in feature of time-limited (probationary) operation of a heating control's functions (and thereby the building heating system which is connected to it), in which operation automatically ceases after a predetermined time unless activated by means of an input via an interface. Method of activation (alpha-numeric, encrypted or other) is not pertinent to the invention but may be through any interface at the controller, for example: keypad, wireless, internet or other. After activation, the operation becomes permanent and cannot be reversed. The expiry of the probationary period cannot be influenced by resetting or restarting the heating control nor by unplugging either power or communication cables. Activation may be done at any time before or after expiry of the probationary period. For example, the heating control could be activated immediately upon installation if deemed prudent by the installer/contractor, for instance, in a building contract with secure or pre-payment terms; otherwise the activation can be delayed until payment is received; if this is before the probationary period expires, operation continues uninterrupted with input via the interface, or if after the probationary period has expired, operation can be reactivated at any time with input via the interface. If the probationary period and operation do expire before activation, once activation occurs, the heating control will immediately resume full operation without any need for reprogramming, replacement of parts, or any other change or damage to the control having taken place.
Brief Description of the Drawings of the Working Prototype FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the heating control of the present invention FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the heating control of Figure 1 Description of the Prototype Embodiment With reference to the drawings and, in particular, with reference to FIG. 1, the heating control comprises an enclosure, indicated generally at 1, fabricated of multiple moldings of insulative materials, or sometimes also of metal. The enclosure is defined generally as a box to hold the electrical and electronic controls containing the invention.
There is an optional readout 4, terminals for inputs 2 from sensors, thermostats, aquastats, etc., and terminals for outputs 3 to connect to pumps, valves, heat sources, etc. This embodiment of the invention has the interface to facilitate activation in the form of input buttons 5 on the case as in FIG. 1; however, other embodiments may have activation interface(s) in various forms and locations on the enclosure as in FIG. 2, such as ethernet 6, wireless 7, or other 8.
A mechanical embodiment of this invention (as in the prototype) functions with the existence of two power paths to the logic control of the heating controller utilizing soft switching. The first power path (path "A") runs through a timed switch to the functioning logic of the heating controller (the part that runs the logic of the incoming and outgoing signals). This first timed switch (A) latches (closes) upon initial installation, however, without activation the timed circuit will unlatch (open) at the expiry time and some or all of the heating controller function is discontinued. There is a second power path (path "B") to the functioning logic of the heating controller which is initially unlatched (open). Input via the interface signals multiple latching switches. When these switches are closed in the correct order they signal the latching switch (B) to close permanently, creating an alternate path to power the control functions and supersede the timed switch (A) which allowed for the probationary time period. Software programming would emulate this mechanical functioning and would very likely be the preferred embodiment for production units of this invention. It would duplicate the same function by using soft switching or logic changes to create the same result.
Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
1 Tekmar 9 patents, no conflict or like patent 2 HBX 2 patents, no conflict or like patent 3 Honeywell Controls 2 patents, no conflict or like patent There are a number of heating controls currently manufactured, but none has the feature of this invention, and any existing heating controls would have to be substantially redesigned and remanufactured to allow for this invention to operate within them.
Summary of the Invention The invention is the built-in feature of time-limited (probationary) operation of a heating control's functions (and thereby the building heating system which is connected to it), in which operation automatically ceases after a predetermined time unless activated by means of an input via an interface. Method of activation (alpha-numeric, encrypted or other) is not pertinent to the invention but may be through any interface at the controller, for example: keypad, wireless, internet or other. After activation, the operation becomes permanent and cannot be reversed. The expiry of the probationary period cannot be influenced by resetting or restarting the heating control nor by unplugging either power or communication cables. Activation may be done at any time before or after expiry of the probationary period. For example, the heating control could be activated immediately upon installation if deemed prudent by the installer/contractor, for instance, in a building contract with secure or pre-payment terms; otherwise the activation can be delayed until payment is received; if this is before the probationary period expires, operation continues uninterrupted with input via the interface, or if after the probationary period has expired, operation can be reactivated at any time with input via the interface. If the probationary period and operation do expire before activation, once activation occurs, the heating control will immediately resume full operation without any need for reprogramming, replacement of parts, or any other change or damage to the control having taken place.
Brief Description of the Drawings of the Working Prototype FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the heating control of the present invention FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the heating control of Figure 1 Description of the Prototype Embodiment With reference to the drawings and, in particular, with reference to FIG. 1, the heating control comprises an enclosure, indicated generally at 1, fabricated of multiple moldings of insulative materials, or sometimes also of metal. The enclosure is defined generally as a box to hold the electrical and electronic controls containing the invention.
There is an optional readout 4, terminals for inputs 2 from sensors, thermostats, aquastats, etc., and terminals for outputs 3 to connect to pumps, valves, heat sources, etc. This embodiment of the invention has the interface to facilitate activation in the form of input buttons 5 on the case as in FIG. 1; however, other embodiments may have activation interface(s) in various forms and locations on the enclosure as in FIG. 2, such as ethernet 6, wireless 7, or other 8.
A mechanical embodiment of this invention (as in the prototype) functions with the existence of two power paths to the logic control of the heating controller utilizing soft switching. The first power path (path "A") runs through a timed switch to the functioning logic of the heating controller (the part that runs the logic of the incoming and outgoing signals). This first timed switch (A) latches (closes) upon initial installation, however, without activation the timed circuit will unlatch (open) at the expiry time and some or all of the heating controller function is discontinued. There is a second power path (path "B") to the functioning logic of the heating controller which is initially unlatched (open). Input via the interface signals multiple latching switches. When these switches are closed in the correct order they signal the latching switch (B) to close permanently, creating an alternate path to power the control functions and supersede the timed switch (A) which allowed for the probationary time period. Software programming would emulate this mechanical functioning and would very likely be the preferred embodiment for production units of this invention. It would duplicate the same function by using soft switching or logic changes to create the same result.
Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (8)
1. A heating control for use in building heating/cooling applications which includes the feature of a limited time or probationary time period of operation, which allows for installation and normal operations to begin, followed at the end of that time period by either 1) permanent operation of the heating control if initiated by activation, or 2) automatic discontinuance of operation of some or all of the heating controller's functions if not initiated by activation.
2. The heating control recited in claim 1 in which the activation feature is either built into the control hardware or programmed by software or firmware.
3. The heating control recited in claim 2 which includes an interface by which externally initiated activation occurs.
4. The heating control recited in claim 3 wherein the activation may take place either before expiry or after expiry of the probationary period.
5. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein if activation occurs before the expiry of the probationary period, heating control operation continues uninterrupted.
6. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein if the probationary period expires without activation, operation of some or all of the heating control functions automatically cease without any inputs required, until such time as it is activated by inputs via the interface.
7. The heating control recited in claim 6 wherein if the probationary period expires without activation, once activation does occur, normal operations resume without damage or need for reprogramming the control.
8. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein heating control operation becomes permanent once activation takes place.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2700827A CA2700827A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-04-21 | Heating control activation feature |
| US12/970,469 US20110259967A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-12-16 | Heating Control Activation Feature |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2700827A CA2700827A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-04-21 | Heating control activation feature |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2700827A1 true CA2700827A1 (en) | 2011-10-21 |
Family
ID=44814969
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2700827A Abandoned CA2700827A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-04-21 | Heating control activation feature |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20110259967A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2700827A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7083109B2 (en) * | 2003-08-18 | 2006-08-01 | Honeywell International Inc. | Thermostat having modulated and non-modulated provisions |
| US9336369B2 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2016-05-10 | Abbyy Development Llc | Methods of licensing software programs and protecting them from unauthorized use |
-
2010
- 2010-04-21 CA CA2700827A patent/CA2700827A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-12-16 US US12/970,469 patent/US20110259967A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20110259967A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20140422 |