Wireless HVAC Control Assembly

A wireless HVAC control assembly for wirelessly actuating a heat pump includes a thermostat that is positioned within a building. An air handling unit is positioned within the building and the air handling unit is in electrical communication with the thermostat. A transmitter is integrated into the air handling unit and the transmitter broadcasts an actuate signal when the thermostat is actuated into the cooling condition. A heat pump is positioned outside of the building and a receiver is integrated into the heat pump. The receiver is in wireless communication with the transmitter and the heat pump is actuated into a cooling condition when the receiver receives the actuate signal from the transmitter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to wireless control devices and more particularly pertains to a new wireless control device for wirelessly actuating a heat pump. The device includes a transmitter that is integrated into an air handling unit of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The device includes a receiver that is integrated into a heat pump of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and the receiver is in wireless communication with the transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts an actuate signal to the receiver when a thermostat is actuated into a cooling condition. In this way the heat pump is wirelessly controlled by the thermostat.

The prior art relates to wireless control devices including an HVAC system that includes a programmable thermostat and a HVAC unit. The prior art discloses an HVAC system that includes leakage detecting incorporated into ductwork. The prior art discloses a wireless HVAC control device that includes a wireless thermostat, a plurality of vent actuators that are in wireless communication with the wireless thermostat and a control unit. The prior art discloses a remote HVAC control device that includes a wireless device that is in remote communication with one or more components of an HVAC system for remotely controlling the HVAC system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a thermostat that is positioned within a building. An air handling unit is positioned within the building and the air handling unit is in electrical communication with the thermostat. A transmitter is integrated into the air handling unit and the transmitter broadcasts an actuate signal when the thermostat is actuated into the cooling condition. A heat pump is positioned outside of the building and a receiver is integrated into the heat pump. The receiver is in wireless communication with the transmitter and the heat pump is actuated into a cooling condition when the receiver receives the actuate signal from the transmitter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS.1through2thereof, a new wireless control device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through2, the wireless HVAC control assembly10generally comprises a thermostat12that is positioned within a building14. The building14may be a house or other type of building that would commonly be occupied by one or more individuals. The thermostat12has a plurality of output contacts16and the plurality of output contacts16includes a cooling contact18. Additionally, the thermostat12is actuatable into a cooling condition and the thermostat12may comprise a thermostat of any conventional design that is commonly employed in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Furthermore, the cooling contact18may be an electrical contact commonly referred to as a “Y” contact on the thermostat12.

An air handling unit20provided, the air handling unit20is positioned within the building14and the air handling unit20is in electrical communication with the thermostat12. The air handling unit20has a plurality of input contacts22and the plurality of input contacts22includes a cooling contact24. The air handling unit20may comprise an electric furnace, a gas fired furnace or any other type of air blower that is commonly employed in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Additionally, the cooling contact24associated with the input contacts22may be an electrical contact commonly referred to as a “Y” contact on the air handling unit20.

A conductor26is provided and the conductor26is electrically coupled between the output contacts16on the thermostat12and the plurality of input contacts22on the air handling unit20. In this way the thermostat12is electrically coupled to the air handling unit20thereby facilitating direct electrical communication between the cooling contact18associated with the output contacts16and the cooling contact24associated with the input contacts22. The cooling contact18associated with the input contacts22receives a cooling signal from the cooling contact24associated with the output contacts16when the thermostat12is actuated into the cooling condition.

A transmitter28is integrated into the air handling unit20and the transmitter28is in electrical communication with the air handling unit20. The transmitter28broadcasts an actuate signal when the thermostat12is actuated into the cooling condition. Furthermore, the transmitter28is electrically coupled to the cooling contact24associated with the plurality of input contacts22on the air handling unit20. The transmitter28broadcasts the actuate signal when the cooling contact24associated with the input contacts22receives the cooling signal from the cooling contact18associated with the output contacts16on the thermostat12. The transmitter28may comprise a radio frequency transmitter or the like and the transmitter28may employ Bluetooth communication protocols. Additionally, the transmitter28may have a signal strength sufficient to pass through interior and exterior walls of the building14such that transmitter28has an operational range of at least 50.0 feet away from the building14.

A heat pump30is provided and the heat pump30is positioned outside of the building14. The heat pump30may be a heat pump of any conventional design that is commonly employed in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. A transformer32is coupled to the heat pump30and the transformer32has an input34and an output36. The input34is electrically coupled to a power source40comprising a 240.0 volt electrical circuit of the building14. The transformer32decreases voltage from the power source40to a signal voltage employed by the power input34of the heat pump30. The transformer32may be a step-down transformer of any conventional design that is capable of reducing 240.0 volts of alternating current down to 24.0 volts of alternating current. The input34of the transformer32may comprise a male electrical plug that is matable to a female electrical socket which receives 240.0 volts of alternating current.

A receiver42is provided and the receiver42is integrated into the heat pump30. The receiver42is in electrical communication with the heat pump30and the receiver42is in wireless communication with the transmitter28. Moreover, the heat pump30is actuated into a cooling condition when the receiver42receives the actuate signal from the transmitter28. Additionally, the receiver42is electrically coupled to the output36of the transformer32such that the transformer32facilitates operational voltage for the receiver42. The receiver42may comprise a radio frequency receiver or the like and the receiver42may employ Bluetooth communication protocols.

In use, the transmitter28and the receiver42take the place of a low voltage conductor26that is commonly installed between the air handler and a heat pump30of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Thus, the heat pump30can be wirelessly actuated into the cooling condition when the thermostat12is actuated into the cooling condition. In this way the possibility of developing a short circuit or other type of electrical fault, in the low voltage conductor26is eliminated. Thus, the process of troubleshooting a malfunction in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is simplified for a technician with respect to the process of identifying and locating a short circuit, or other electrical fault, in conventional low voltage conductors. Furthermore, the transformer32facilitates a low voltage signal to be available to the heat pump30and the transmitter28in a manner that does not rely on the conventional process of installing the low voltage conductor between the thermostat12and the heat pump30.