Patent Abstract:
An HVAC diverter valve including a diverter valve body. The diverter valve body includes an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The HVAC diverter valve further includes a flow constrictor assembly, and at least one motor adapted to adjust the flow constrictor assembly to divert air entering the inlet to the first and second outlet and maintain a substantially constant backpressure in front of the valve during air diversion.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Current HVAC systems come in a wide variety of configurations. These configurations vary greatly in cost, efficiency and their ability to provide consistently accurate temperature, humidity and ventilation control, simultaneously, to multiple vent locations. The ability to accurately control these parameters is desirable as it increases the comfort of the occupants and may, under certain conditions, increase the potential for energy savings. 
         [0002]    Current systems that supply conditioned air to multiple vent locations suffer from a number of problems. For example, control of airflow through the system is accomplished by restricting the flow of air, which increases the backpressure of the air distribution system. This increase in pressure reduces the flow rate of the fan and the overall efficiency of the HVAC system. Moreover, current systems lack the ability to sufficiently change flow parameters into rooms when switching between a heating and cooling mode in a system that provides both heating and cooling, such as in a reverse-cycle heat pump. This lack of flexibility dictates that the during the original installation, the choice must be made whether to install the discharge vents high in a room (thereby maximizing comfort during cooling mode) or to install them low in the room (thus maximizing comfort when in heating mode). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention offer an improved system for regulating the distribution of conditioned air in a forced-air HVAC system. By utilizing a network of diverter valves (which in some embodiments are smart/intelligent diverter valves) which, when under the control of a control unit that has received pre-set operational parameters and is receiving real-time data from a variety of sensors, regulates the flow of conditioned air to a plurality of outlet vents. These vents may be located within one or multiple enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. 
         [0004]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system, comprising a first diverter valve adapted to divert air entering the valve and maintain a substantially constant backpressure in front of the valve during air diversion, a first sensor assembly adapted to sense a first environmental condition that includes at least one of temperature and a phenomenon indicative of the makeup of air, a control unit, and a user interface unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the first diverter valve and the first sensor assembly. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the first diverter valve is a Y valve including an inlet and two outlets adapted to route air entering the inlet into the outlets at varying routing ratios. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the first diverter valve is adapted to receive a communication initiated by the control unit and substantially steplessly vary a routing ratio of air routed into the two outlets based on that communication. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the first diverter valve includes a stepper motor adapted to move a flap to accordingly vary the routing ratio of air routed into the two outlets. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the first diverter valve is adapted to output a signal indicative of at least one of the identity of the first diverter valve, a current routing ratio of the first diverter valve, and a relative position of a flap that diverts air in the first diverter valve. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the first diverter valve is electrically operated and stepless. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the present invention, there is a method of delivering conditioned air in an HVAC system, comprising cooling or heating air, automatically directing the cooled or heated air into a first diverter valve, automatically routing, at a first routing ratio, the directed cooled or heated air to a first outlet near a ceiling in a first room a second outlet near a floor in the first room, automatically sensing an environmental condition that includes at least one of temperature and a phenomenon indicative of the makeup of air within the first room, and automatically routing, at a second routing ratio, the directed cooled or heated air to the first outlet and the second outlet, wherein a backpressure upstream of the location where the directed cooled or heated air is rerouted is substantially the same while routing at the second routing ratio and the first routing ratio. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the present invention, there is a method of delivering conditioned air in an HVAC system as described above or below, wherein the second routing ratio is substantially different from the first routing ratio. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is a method of delivering conditioned air in an HVAC system as described above or below, further comprising sensing the environmental condition within the first room at two substantially different sensed altitudes within the room, wherein the environmental condition is air temperature, analyzing the sensed environmental condition and determining that a temperature gradient exists between the two substantially different sensed altitudes within the room, identifying a value of a control routing ratio to be used as the second routing ratio that will, within a desired period of time, substantially eliminate the temperature gradient between the two substantially different sensed altitudes; and using the control routing ratio as the second routing ratio. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  presents a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of an HVAC system according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  presents a conceptual diagram of a diverter valve connected to inlet and outlet ducts according to an embodiment of the present invention, where  FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of section A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  presents an isometric view of a diverter valve utilized in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  presents a cutaway view of the diverter valve of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  presents yet another conceptual diagram of another embodiment of an HVAC system according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  presents a conceptual diagram of another diverter valve connected to inlet and outlet ducts according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  presents a schematic diagram of a butterfly valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is a forced-air HVAC system  100  comprising a heater/cooler unit  200  configured to variously heat and cool air (i.e., to output/produce conditioned air). The unit  200  includes a fan or blower (not shown) that generates an airflow out of the unit  200  to move the heated/cooled air through the HVAC system. In some embodiments, the unit  200  may be an integral unit, such as a heat pump, in which one cycle is a cooling cycle and another cycle (a reversed cycle) is a heating cycle. In yet other embodiments, the unit  200  includes a heating element and a separate cooling element such as may be found in a central air system. The HVAC system  100  includes an outlet duct  310  that extends between the heater/cooler unit  200  and a first diverter valve  410 . 
         [0017]    The diverter valve  410  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is a Y valve, where the valve  410  splits the airflow traveling through duct  310  from heater/cooler unit  200  into two separate airflows traveling into ducts  320  and  330 . Ducts  320  and  330  respectively lead to vents/outlets  510  and  520  in a room  910 . 
         [0018]    The diverter valve  410  is configured to divert airflow traveling through duct  310  into duct  320  and/or duct  330  in a manner that does not produce a significant change in backpressure when the flow of air is increased or decreased through one of the particular outlets of the diverter valve  410 . That is, diverter valve  410  does not control flow by restricting the flow, but instead diverts the flow. Accordingly, the airflow through the system remains substantially constant during diversion unless changed at the air supply source (i.e., the heater/cooler unit  200 ). The flow in one duct leading to an outlet changes relative to the flow in the other ducts leading to an outlet, and an increase in airflow in one duct will substantially equally reduce the flow in other ducts. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the diverter valve  410  is a stepper valve and the flap  420  (referring now to  FIG. 2 , which is an exploded view of section A of  FIG. 1 ) may be placed in various locations in between its upper and lower (referring to  FIG. 2 ) stops. When at the upper and lower stops, air is diverted such that  100  percent of the airflow traveling through duct  310  is diverted into duct  320  or  100  percent of the airflow traveling through duct  310  is diverted through duct  330 . By placing the flap  420  at various locations in between the two stops, the percentages of air flowing down ducts  320  and  330  may be varied. For example, the flap  420  may be positioned such that  30  percent of the airflow traveling down duct  310  is diverted into duct  320  and the remaining  70  percent of the airflow traveling down duct  310  is diverted down duct  330 , to achieve a routing ratio of  30 / 70  weighted to the duct  330 . Flap  420  may be positioned such that any desired percentage of the total air flowing through duct  310  may be diverted down the ducts  310  and  320 . That is, in some embodiments, the diverter valve  410  is configured such that the flap  420  may be positioned at any location between the upper and lower stops so as to divert any desired percentage of the airflow in duct  310  down one of the other ducts, the remainder of the airflow traveling through the other duct. When utilizing a valve in which the position of the flap  420  is stepless, any ratio of division of airflow can be achieved between the two outlet ducts. 
         [0020]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the diverter valves (three-way) are constructed of a molded plastic in a shape which permits ready connection of one inlet duct and two outlet ducts by seals  350 . As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the ducts  310 ,  320  and  330  are connected to the diverter valve  410  in a substantially air type manner utilizing seals  350 . More details regarding the diverter valves will be provided below, after the introduction of some of the other components of the HVAC system  100 . 
         [0021]    Room  910  includes a sensor assembly with a sensor  610  and a sensor  620 , one of which is located nearer to the ceiling of the room  910 , the other which is located nearer to the floor of the room  910 , although in some embodiments, the placement of the sensors may be anywhere as long as the sensors are configured to sense an environmental condition at effectively substantially different altitudes within the room, such as an altitude near the ceiling and an altitude near the floor. In  FIG. 1 , the purpose of sensor  610  is to monitor an environmental condition (e.g. temperature, air quality etc., more on this below) near the ceiling, or at other altitudes substantially higher than an environmental condition sensed by sensor  620 , which in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 910  is near the floor of room  910 , and thus monitors the environmental conditions near the floor. In some embodiments, the actual physical placement of the sensors may be in a variety of locations, providing that the sensors mays sense the desired environmental conditions at the desire altitudes within the room. By way of example and not by way of limitation, a sensory assembly which utilizes infrared scanning may be positioned within the room  910  at about four feet above the floor (where the ceiling is eight feet above the floor), and this sensor assembly may utilize infrared sensing to sense air temperatures one or two feet below the ceiling and air temperatures one or two feet above the floor (indeed, such sensors may sense air temperatures at many number of altitudes, and thus the present invention is not limited to sensing conditions at only two altitudes). Still, in other embodiments, two or more separate sensors are utilized in the first sensor assembly, as is depicted in  FIG. 1 , one of the sensors being positioned about one or two feet above the floor and the other sensor being positioned at about one or two feet below the ceiling. The altitudes within the room where temperature is sensed maybe separated by anywhere between  3  and  8  feet. Of course, in a room with higher ceilings, the latter distance may be expanded as appropriate, and in other embodiments, the sensed altitudes may be even closer than  3  feet apart. Any sensor positioning within a room/any sensed altitudes within the room that will permit the present invention to be practiced may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0022]    The sensor assembly is configured to collect information on one or more environmental conditions within room  910  and transmit that data to a control unit  700  via communication electronics which may be integrated into the sensor assembly or located remotely in other parts of the system (such as the control unit  700  and/or a user interface  800 , etc.) The type of sensors utilized may vary according to the environmental conditions which are desired to be regulated. Some embodiments include sensors that may detect temperature, humidity, CO 2 , CO and VOC levels, and thus embodiments of the present invention may be used to control the distribution of such conditions. In some embodiments of the invention, sensors for other specific gases or air-borne contaminates may be utilized. 
         [0023]    As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , ducts  510  and  520  are respectively nearer to the ceiling and nearer to the floor of room  910 . Thus, conditioned air exiting duct  510  will have a more immediate effect on the environmental condition at an altitude nearer the ceiling of room  510 , and conditioned air exiting outlet  520  will have a more immediate effect on an environmental condition at an altitude nearer the floor of room  910 , all things being equal (no ceiling fans, no venting that directs the airflows radically upward and downward, etc.). In the first embodiment of the present invention, duct  510  is about two feet below the ceiling in a room with an eight foot high ceiling, and duct  520  is about one foot above the floor in a room that has an eight foot high ceiling. In other embodiments, the duct  510  may be located in the ceiling and the duct  520  may be located in the floor, etc. In some embodiments of the present invention, outlet  520  is 2 feet above the floor and outlet  510  is 7 feet above the floor. In yet other embodiments of the invention, the outlets are separated anywhere between 3 and 8 feet, or various distances in between, in a room with an 8 foot high ceiling. Of course, in a room with higher ceilings, the latter distance may be expanded as appropriate, and in other embodiments, the outlets may be even closer than 3 feet apart. Any duct positioning within a room that will permit the present invention to be practiced may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The HVAC system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a communication/control network, which may include wireless communication paths and/or wire communication paths, over which real time communication of current statuses of the various components of the system takes place. The network includes a control unit  700  and a user interface  800 . While the control unit  700  and the user interface  800  are depicted in  FIG. 1  as a single unitary assembly, some embodiments of the present invention may be practiced with those components being separate assemblies. The control unit may be a simple processor or a complex processor and/or be a series of linked processors. The processors include logic to execute control of the HVAC system. The control unit  700  is in communication with the diverter valve  410  and the sensor assembly which includes sensors  610  and  620  via communication lines  710 . In the first embodiment of the present invention, communication lines  710  are electrical cables which permit signals from sensors  610  and  620  to be transmitted to the control unit  700  and permit signals to the diverter valve  410  to be transmitted from the control unit  700 . In the case of transmission of signals to the diverter valve  410  from the control unit  700 , those signals are such that the control unit  700  may control the position of the flap  420  within valve  410 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the system is configured such that the diverter valves  410  will transmit signals to the control unit  700  and/or the control unit  700  will transmit signals to the sensor assembly. 
         [0025]    The user interface  800  permits a user to input control commands into the HVAC system. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the user interface may permit a user to set a temperature within the room  910  so that the temperature will be 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or so that the temperature may be no lower than  72  degrees and no higher than 74 degrees Fahrenheit, etc. In some embodiments of the present invention, the user interface  800  permits a user to control environmental conditions relating to the temperature of air at various altitudes (which are substantially different from one another) within the room  910 . For example, a desired temperature gradient within the room  910  between two or more altitudes may be effectively maintained. 
         [0026]    The number of user interfaces that may be utilized may vary, and may be determined based on user convenience. In some embodiments, the user interface  800  allows the user to program in specific operational preferences and communicates functional data back to the user. 
         [0027]    Communications between the various components may be achieved by any of a variety of network communication systems. For example, cable  710  may be utilized as detailed above. In other embodiments, wireless transmissions may be utilized. In a cable connected system, the type of cable used may be one suited to the network data type and the operating environment. In some embodiments, the cable provides for the reliable transmission of data as well as the low power required by the diverter valve stepper motor (discussed below) and communication electronics. In a wireless system, data may be transmitted wirelessly and power to the individual devices is provided by storage battery or wireless transmission using RF, infra red, evanescent wave coupling or similar technology. Any system/network/device/method that will permit the various components of the HVAC system to communicate with one another (and/or one or more intermediate components) may be utilized to practice embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0028]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the diverter valve  410  is a three way Y valve that includes an electrical stepper motor  430  under the control of the control unit  700 . The stepper motor  430  is mechanically linked to the flap  420  and moves the flap in a stepless fashion to a range of locations between one side of the valve to the other side of the valve, thus routing air entering inlet  422  out the two outlets  424  and  426  at varying routing ratios (i.e., the percentage of the total amount of inlet air traveling through outlet  424  vs. the percentage of inlet air traveling through outlet  426 .) The valves  410  are configured to route the air entering the inlet  422  out the outlet  424  and  426  in different varying amounts depending on the command received from the control unit  700 . 
         [0029]    The valve  410  may include an electronics package  440  connected to cables  710  through which the electronics package  440  receives commands from the control unit  700  and controls the stepper motor  430  to position the valve to position the flap  420  as needed to achieve the desired air routing ratio. In some embodiments of the present invention, the valves  410  are configured such that the position of the flap  420  is determined by the control unit  700  and thus the electronic package is essentially a slave unit slaved to the control unit  700 . In some embodiments, the electronics package  440  is not needed when the diverter valve is slaved to the controller, the motor of the valve being directly controlled by the control unit. In other embodiments of the present invention, electronic package  440  of the valve  410  receives a signal from the control unit  700  indicative of a desired routing ratio through the outlets and/or indicative of a desired end environmental condition to be achieved at the two substantially different outlets, and the electronic package  440  independently determines how to position the flap  420  to achieve the desired routing ratio. In some embodiment, the electronics package  440  includes an independent processor/microprocessor that is configured to determine how to position the flap  420  to achieve the desired routing ratio. Further, the electronics package, with or without using a processor/microprocessor, may be configured to output a signal indicative of the position of the flap  420  in the valve. In other embodiments, the processor/microprocessor of the valve  410  is configured to be in communication with other valves having respective processors/microprocessors, and may perform some or all of the functions of the control unit  700 . 
         [0030]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the valve  410  is configured to output a signal that is indicative of the identity of the specific valve (which may be related to the valves position within the HVAC system  100 , more on this below), the current routing ratio of the valve and/or the relative position of the flap  420  within the diverter valve. 
         [0031]    Power to drive the electronics package and stepper motor are conveyed to the valve  410  via wires in a network cable that may be connected to utility power and/or may be connected to a battery. 
         [0032]    An exemplary scenario utilizing the HVAC system  100  of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described, in which air temperature within room  910  is desired to be maintained at substantially the same temperature at two substantially different altitudes within the room  910 . That is, in this exemplary scenario, the HVAC system is employed in a manner which provides a counter to the natural convection flow which otherwise concentrates the heated or cooled air at the floor or ceiling, respectively, of a room. 
         [0033]    Sensor  620  determines that the air temperature at approximately one foot above the floor is 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Sensor  610  determines that the air temperature approximately seven feet above the floor is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The sensor assembly outputs one or more signals indicative of the sensed temperatures and/or the temperature gradient at these two altitudes. This signal, or a relay of the information it contains, is received by control unit  700 . Control unit  700  analyzes the signal(s) from sensor  610  and  620  and determines that the temperature in the portion of the room which may be most influenced by air exiting outlet  510  is higher than the air temperature of the portion of the room which may be most influenced by air exiting outlet  520 . As the desired room temperature has been set for 73 degrees Fahrenheit by a user utilizing the user interface  800 , control unit  700  outputs a control signal to diverter valve  410  to divert roughly 70 percent of the air traveling through duct  310  (which is cooled air) into duct  320  and thus out outlet  510 . The remaining 30 percent of the air traveling through duct  310  travels through duct  330  and exits into room  910  through outlet  520  near the floor of room  910 . The HVAC system  100  operates in this manner until the temperature at the two altitudes are substantially the same (e.g., 73 degrees plus or minus a half of a degree Fahrenheit, depending on the tolerancing/sensitivity of the system). In the scenario just described, the flap  420  is positioned so that a 70/30 routing ratio is achieved and maintained until the desired uniform temperature of 73 degrees is achieved. In other embodiments of the present invention, however, the flap may be readjusted during that period of time to achieve the substantially similar temperatures at the two different altitudes in a faster period of time or in a slower time period, and so that the changes in temperature do not occur in only a linear manner. In this regard, embodiments of the present invention may include feedback loops/logic systems which estimate how long it will take to achieve the desired uniform temperature at various routing ratios and thus may determine that the time that it will take to achieve that substantially uniform temperature will be too long for a room occupants comfort, etc. (based on, for example, look-up tables or algorithms stored in the system  100  developed from empirical data, etc.) and thus direct the valve  100  to route air at a different routing ratio during a given period of time. For example, an 80/20 routing ratio weighted toward the top outlet may be established for the first 75 seconds of operation, and then a 60/40 routing ratio weighted towards the top outlet may be established until the uniform temperature is achieved, after which, for example, a 55/45 routing ratio may be established to maintain the substantially uniform temperature. In another scenario, the system  100  may determine that the amount of cool air that is being directed out the top outlet  510 , as compared to the amount of air being directed out the bottom outlet  520 , is such that a user will feel uncomfortable and thus may change the routing ratio to obtain a more even flow (e.g. 60/40 ratio weighted towards the top outlet  510 , etc.). In the event that the system determines that the user may feel that the system is overcompensating for the temperature imbalance, the system may direct the valve  410  to go to a 45/55 routing ratio weighted to the bottom outlet  520  for a brief period of time, and then switch back to a routing ratio weighted towards the top outlet  510 . 
         [0034]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention allow a substantially even temperature to be maintained between the floor and ceiling of the room  910  during a heating cycle and during a cooling cycle, under many, if not all, environmental conditions. 
         [0035]    In another exemplary scenario, a desired temperature gradient at the two altitudes has been inputted by a user into the user interface  800 , and thus the control unit  700  controls the routing ratio of the valve  410  to achieve this ratio. By way of example, if the desired temperature gradient in a room is an air temperature 1 foot off the floor of 72 degrees Fahrenheit and an air temperature 7 feet off the floor of 73 degrees Fahrenheit, and the lower sensor was sensing 72 degrees and the upper sensor was sensing 75 degrees, the control unit  700  may control the valve  410  to direct more of the air traveling through  310  into duct  320  and thus out outlet  510 , as opposed to into duct  330  and thus outlet  520 , in a manner sufficient to achieve the desired temperature gradient. 
         [0036]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the HVAC system is configured to automatically execute a setup sequence in which the control unit  700  learns which position of the diverter valve  410  directs air to the higher outlet  510  and which position of the diverter valve  410  directs air to the lower outlet  520  (this sequence may be initiated by a user, or may be initiated automatically during the system&#39;s first use after installation, etc.). Accordingly, the HVAC system  100  of the present embodiment need not require instructions or other input from a user as to how the valves  410  are positioned within the system. In this regard, the system need not require stringent adherence to aligning the various outlets with specific ducts. 
         [0037]    According to the first embodiment, the setup sequence includes a first period in which the control unit  700  directs the diverter valve  410  to place the flap  420  in a position such that the routing ratio is 100 to 0 (i.e. 100 percent of the air traveling through duct  310  travels to one of the outlets and 0 percent of the air travels to the other outlet). The sensors  610 / 620  output signals including information based on the sensed temperatures at the two substantially different altitudes within room  910 . Based on the information regarding the temperatures at the sensed altitudes/a temperature difference between the two sensed altitudes/or a change in temperature over a period of time, etc., the control unit  700  may estimate which position of the valve is sending air thought which outlet. For Example, if the temperature at the lower sensor altitude changes much faster than the temperature at the higher sensed altitude, the control unit  700  may conclude that the current position of the flap  420  in valve  410  directs air to the lower outlet  520 . (In some embodiments, this estimation may be delayed until after data is acquired during the second period, in which the flap  420  is reversed.) The setup sequence further includes a second period where the control unit commands the diverter valve  410  to direct air to only the other outlet (a routing ratio of 0/100 weighted towards the other outlet). The control unit then monitors output(s) from the sensor assembly regarding temperature changes, etc., and thus makes an estimation about which outlet to which the second position of the flap directs air. For example, once the flap is reversed, if the control unit  700  recognizes that the temperature changes more drastically at the higher sensed altitude than the lower sensed altitude, the control unit will conclude that the second position of the valve directs air to the higher outlet. In this scenario, this second period is used to ratify the estimation of the control unit  700  that it made in the first period. However, in other scenarios, if there is no estimation made after the first period, and the control unit waits until the second period to evaluate the data recorded during both periods, the control unit  700  may compare the data from both periods to make its estimation. With the setup sequence complete, the invention may now use the diverter valves  410 , along with real time data collected from the two sensors  610  and  620  to optimally distribute air between the upper and lower vents  510  and  520 . 
         [0038]    The setup sequence may be executed during a heating cycle and/or during a cooling cycle. In some embodiments of the present invention, the setup sequence may be executed outside of a heating cycle and/or a cooling cycle. 
         [0039]    Embodiments of the present invention may include control units  700  that include logic to evaluate the temperature sensed at the two sensed altitudes and utilize the logic to vary the routing ratios of the valve  410  to maintain the desired uniform temperature/temperature gradient in real time. 
         [0040]    In another embodiment of the present invention, referring now to  FIG. 5 , multiple diverter valves are utilized in a forced air HVAC system  110 . In this embodiment, the diverter valves are substantially similar and/or the same as the diverter valve  410  presented above. The diverter valves have a similar functionality as the diverter valve presented in reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , and, in the microanalysis of the system, the individual diversion valves function in a similar manner/in a same manner as the valve  410 . That is, the diverter valves function to divert air entering the valves down two different paths without causing deleterious changes in backpressure. However, in the macroanalysis of the system, in this embodiment, the two different paths into which the air is diverted may lead to additional diverter valves. For example, diverter valve  480  diverts air exiting from heater/cooler unit  200  down two different channels, each of the channels leading to a respective additional diverter valves  481  and  482 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the additional second diverter valves (i.e. the diverter valve downrange from the first diverter valve) in the associated ducting may be arranged in a manner substantially the same as that depicted in  FIG. 1 . That is, the downrange diverter valves diverts air into two ducts that lead to two separate outlets within a room, the outlets being at substantially different heights from one another (see, e.g., diverter valve  482 ). In this regard, room  920  in  FIG. 5  is analogous to room  910  depicted in  FIG. 1 , and while not shown in  FIG. 5 , the outlets leading from the other diverter valve (e.g., diverter valve  481 ) may lead to a room substantially the same as that depicted in  FIG. 1 . However, in other embodiments, such as that depicted in  FIG. 5 , the diverter valve  481  diverts air down to ducts which lead to additional diverter valves, such as the two other diverter valves  483  and  484 , which respectively divert air to rooms  930  and  940 . The ducting arrangement and outlet arrangement of rooms  930  and  940  is analogous to the arrangement depicted for room  910  in  FIG. 1 . Still further, the sensor assembly arrangements in these rooms are also analogous to those depicted in  FIG. 1 . Thus, according to this embodiment, multiple diverter valves may be utilized to maintain uniform/nonuniform temperature gradients (with respect to altitude)/and/or other uniform environmental conditions (with respect to altitude) in multiple rooms receiving conditioned air from a single unit  200 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 5  utilizing multiple diverter valves, multiple user interfaces  810 ,  820  and  830  may be utilized, although in some embodiments of the present invention, only a single user interface may be utilized. The user interfaces  810 ,  820 ,  830  are used to control the environmental conditions in rooms  920 ,  930  and  940 , respectively. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the user interfaces are in wireless communication with the control unit  700  utilizing RF communication or the like, although the user interfaces may be hardwired to the control unit  700  (or an intermediary device). 
         [0042]    As may be seen, each of the rooms  920 ,  930  and  940 , have two sensors each and thus have a single dedicated sensor assembly for each room. Control unit  700  is in communication with the various diverter valves and sensor assemblies within the system  110 , and thus controls the routing ratios of the various valves to maintain and/or achieve the desired/optimum temperature and/or other environmental conditions desired in each room, through real time environmental condition sensing in the rooms and real time control of the various diverter valves. Embodiments of the present invention are versatile enough to allow a virtually unlimited number of valves to intelligently coordinate the respective positions of their internal flaps to direct air through alternate paths. These paths may be selected in real time based on input from sensors connected to the communication network. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, embodiments invention may have adjustable sensitivities to how the control unit  700  reacts to a difference in temperature. By networking the diverter valves into a control system, the action of all the valves may be coordinated to optimize, balance and/or prioritize, in real-time, the distribution of air throughout the entire system. 
         [0044]    As with the embodiment previously described above, embodiments of the forced air HVAC system utilizing multiple diverter valves may include a setup sequence, which is, in some embodiments is analogous to that described above. In this regard, the control unit  700  may first identify how many diverter valves are present in the system  110 . The control unit  700  then proceeds to determine how the positions of the flaps within the various diverter valves influence airflow downstream of those diverter valves. Because there are multiple diverter valves, the control unit  700  may assign the various diverter valves individual names/identifiers so that it can identify which diverter valves the control unit is in communication with. Alternatively, in other embodiments the diverter valves may imbed identification signals in signals that are outputted to the control unit. With regard to control unit  700  assigning valves names/identifiers, in some embodiments, the control unit is in actuality assigning names/identifiers to the communication paths to the outlets. That is, the control unit  700 , in some embodiments, need only know which communication paths will communicate with different diverter valves. 
         [0045]    The setup sequence proceeds in a manner analogous to that described above. In a first period, the control unit  700  places the flaps of all the diverter valves to positions such that one outlet is fully closed and the other outlet is fully opened. The heating/cooling unit  200  is then activated and temperature changes within the various rooms are monitored. Then, the control unit  700  command one of the valves (or more than one, if the setup process can tolerate such multitasking) to move its flap so that the outlet that was previously receiving air from its respective inlet now receives no air, and the other outlet which was previously restricted from receiving air from its respective inlet now receives all of the air from its respective inlet. During this period, the temperature changes are again sensed in the various rooms, and the software/firmware/logic circuits of control unit  700  analyze the data received from the sensors (which may be recorded) and attempt to estimate which valve is being controlled and what the control does. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , for example, if a higher altitude sensor  610  depicts a relatively extreme temperature change as compared to the lower sensor  620  in a given room such as, for example, room  930  the control unit  700  may conclude that the diverter valve with which it has just commanded to change its position is valve  484 , and also that its current flap position is such that the air being directed out of valve  484  is directed towards the outlet that is closer to the ceiling of the room  930 . The control unit  700  may then direct another valve to change its position, after which the sensed environmental condition (i.e., temperature in this exemplary scenario) of the rooms will then again be monitored for a change. Eventually, the control unit  700  will command valve  480  to change its position, at some point during the sequence. Accordingly, either room  920  or rooms  930  and  940  will no longer receive conditioned air, whereas previously the opposite was the case. By sensing changes in environmental conditions (temperature) in the various rooms, it can be determined that the valve  480  influences the amount of a flowing into all of the rooms  920   930  and  940 . 
         [0046]    Alternatively, if control unit  700  commands valve  481  to change its position, the temperature changes in rooms  930  and  940  may be analyzed/recorded and a determination may be made by the control unit  700  that valve  481  controls airflow into these rooms. As may be seen, the more valves that are positioned within the system  110 , the greater the number of iterations that the control unit  700  must direct the system to go through to determine which valves influence which rooms and how those valves influence those rooms. Through proper programming utilizing proper software and/or firmware, etc., the setup sequence may be implemented to obtain the necessary positioning an identification information, regardless of how many diverter valves are within the system. 
         [0047]    The diverter valves described heretofore utilize a stepless flap in order to divert air down the various passages at the various routing ratios. However, other types of valves may be utilized, providing that the valves do not restrict the overall airflow through the system and thus cause a deleterious change in backpressure. In this regard, synchronized butterfly valves may be utilized as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In  FIG. 6 , a duct  355  branches into two branches  490  and  491 . The branches  490  and  491  lead to butterfly valves  492 , which in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, are butterfly valves according to that presented in  FIG. 7 , where the flap  422  is shown being positioned at roughly a 45 degree angle opening with respect to the axial direction of the duct housing  395 . Butterfly valves  492  include an electric motor  494  and an electronics package which places the valve into communication with the control unit  700  and/or with each other. The motor  492  moves the flap  422  within the housing  395  of the ducts leading away from the main duct  355 . In the embodiment using such valves, the control unit is configured so that the position of the valves are choreographed/synchronized such that the valves are opened and closed in a manner that does not substantially restrict the general airflow flowing through duct  355 , and thus does not create an increase in backpressure. In this regard, for example, if one of the butterfly valves  492  has its flap  422  positioned such that it will permit roughly  10  percent of the air traveling down duct  355  to pass through the valve, the other butterfly valve will have its flap  422  positioned such that it permits  90  percent or so of the air traveling down  355  to pass around through. Thus, by correlating the movements of the flaps  422  of the two butterfly valves, a diverter valve can be obtained from the plurality of valves. That is, air may be diverted in a manner analogous to the diverter valve depicted in  FIG. 2 , providing that the butterfly valves are linked to each other. In some embodiments, the control unit  700  controls the position of each individual butterfly valve, while in other embodiments, the butterfly valves are linked together in a butterfly valve assembly such that the control unit  700  need only output a command to achieve a given routing ratio, and the butterfly valves position themselves autonomously to obtain the desired routing ratio. 
         [0048]    While some embodiments of the present invention control the environmental condition of temperature at the various altitudes within the rooms, other embodiments may be implemented for the distribution of fresh air (non-temperature conditioned) into specific areas as desired. Such requirements could occur as the result of elevated CO 2  or depleted oxygen levels in a room which contained a concentrated gathering of people, or a purging of CO if a defective exhaust system causes a hazardous concentration of the gas in a particular area, etc., in such cases, sensor assemblies that may monitor such environmental conditions will be utilized. Accordingly, environmental conditions may include temperature, humidity, CO 2 , CO and VOC levels. 
         [0049]    The present invention includes methods to practicing the invention, software to practice the invention, logic (that is hardware and or software and or firmware, etc.), and apparatuses configured to implement the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention includes a program product and hardware and firmware for implementing algorithms to practice the present invention, as well as the systems and methods described herein, and also for the control of the devices and implementation of the methods described herein. 
         [0050]    It is noted that the term “processor,” as used herein, encompasses both simple circuits and complex circuits, as well as computer processors. The term also encompasses microprocessors. 
         [0051]    This application incorporates by reference in its entirety the contents of the U.S. Patent Application entitled HVAC Air Distribution System (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/812,239), filed on Jun. 15, 2007, to inventors Gerald Allen, Machiko Taylor and Justin Dobbs, all of California USA. 
         [0052]    Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention accordingly is to be defined as set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8