IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0270783
(2008-11-13)
|
등록번호 |
US-8485138
(2013-07-16)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Honeywell International Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Seager Tufte & Wickhem LLC.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
56 |
초록
▼
A water heater may be configured to temporarily increase its hot water capacity by heating water to a higher boost temperature. In some instances, the water heater may include a main controller that can accept a boost request from a remote controller, and thus may temporarily provide additional hot
A water heater may be configured to temporarily increase its hot water capacity by heating water to a higher boost temperature. In some instances, the water heater may include a main controller that can accept a boost request from a remote controller, and thus may temporarily provide additional hot water capacity without, for example, requiring a homeowner to go down to the basement, out to the garage, or wherever the water heater happens to be to make manual adjustments to the water heater settings.
대표청구항
▼
1. A water heater system comprising: a water tank;a heat source disposed proximate the water tank;a main controller disposed proximate the water tank, the main controller configured to control the heat source, the main controller including a maximum temperature set point and an operating temperature
1. A water heater system comprising: a water tank;a heat source disposed proximate the water tank;a main controller disposed proximate the water tank, the main controller configured to control the heat source, the main controller including a maximum temperature set point and an operating temperature set point, the main controller operating in accordance with a particular temperature differential; anda remote controller in communication with the main controller and configured to accept a request from a user for additional hot water capacity, resulting in the remote controller communicating a boost request to the main controller, wherein the boost request results in the main controller temporarily operating in accordance with a boost temperature set point that is higher than the operating temperature set point;wherein the main controller, upon receiving the boost request from the user, activates a timer and operates the heat source in accordance with the boost temperature set point for a predetermined length of time measured by the timer; andwherein the main controller sets the boost temperature set point at a temperature that is a predetermined amount above the operating temperature set point as long as the resulting boost temperature set point does not exceed the maximum temperature set point of the main controller. 2. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein the heat source includes a fossil fuel burner and the main controller is included in a communicating gas valve. 3. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller is configured to accept an operating temperature set point, and to communicate the operating temperature set point to the main controller. 4. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein the main controller, upon receiving the boost request, operates the heat source until the boost temperature set point is reached and is controlled to for the predetermined length of time. 5. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein the main controller, upon receiving the boost request, operates the heat source for the predetermined length of time unless a subsequent signal to stop the boost request is received from a user via the remote controller. 6. A water heater system comprising: a water tank;a gas burner disposed proximate the water tank;a communicating gas valve configured to control gas flow to the gas burner, the communicating gas valve including a controller with a maximum temperature set point and an operating temperature set point, the controller of the communicating gas valve operating in accordance with a particular temperature differential; anda remote controller configured to accept a request for additional hot water from a user and to communicate a resultant boost request to the controller of the communicating gas valve, wherein in response, the controller of the communicating gas valve operates in accordance with a boost temperature set point that is higher than the operating temperature set point;wherein upon accepting a request for additional hot water from a user, the controller of the communicating gas valve initiates a timer and operates in accordance with the boost temperature set point for a predetermined length of time as determined by the timer; andwherein, the communicating gas valve, in response to receiving the boost request from the remote controller, sets the boost temperature set point at a temperature that is a predetermined amount above the operating temperature set point. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to: compare the boost temperature set point to the maximum temperature set point; andset the boost temperature set point to the maximum temperature set point if the boost temperature set point is higher than the maximum temperature set point. 8. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the communicating gas valve may, in response to receiving the boost request from the remote controller, reduce the temperature differential and thus provide gas to the gas burner sooner. 9. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the communicating gas valve sets the boost temperature set point at a temperature that is a predetermined amount above the operating temperature set point limited by the maximum temperature set point. 10. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the remote controller provides the controller of the communicating gas valve with the operating temperature set. 11. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the communicating gas valve, upon receiving the boost request, provides gas to the gas burner until the boost temperature set point is reached and is to for the predetermined length of time. 12. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the communicating gas valve, upon receiving the boost request, provides gas to the gas burner for the predetermined length of time. 13. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the communicating gas valve, upon receiving the boost request, provides gas to the gas burner for the predetermined length of time unless a subsequent signal to stop the boost request is received from a user via the remote controller. 14. A method of operating a water heater having a communicating gas valve and a remote controller, the method comprising the steps of: storing a maximum temperature set point and an operating temperature set point;operating the water heater in accordance with the operating temperature set point;accepting from the remote controller a boost request for additional hot water capacity;setting the boost temperature set point to the operating temperature set point plus an offset limited by the maximum temperature set point;activating a timer;temporarily operating the water heater in accordance with a boost temperature set point for a predetermined time period as determined by the timer after the boost request for additional hot water capacity is accepted; andreturning to operate the water heater in accordance with the operating temperature set point after the predetermined time period expires. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein operating the water heater in accordance with the boost temperature set point includes operating the water heater with a reduced temperature differential. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the operating temperature set point is accepted from the remote controller. 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: comparing the operating temperature set point plus the offset to the maximum temperature set point; andsetting the boost temperature set point to the maximum temperature set point if the operating temperature set point plus the offset is higher than the maximum temperature set point.
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