US 12,072,110 B2
Systems and methods for checking status of a pressure transducer
John F. Broker, Warrenton, MO (US); Lily Wan, St. Louis, MO (US); and Bradley C. Zikes, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to Copeland Comfort Control LP, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Copeland Comfort Control LP, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/151,593.
Application 18/151,593 is a continuation of application No. 16/947,342, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,549,708.
Prior Publication US 2023/0160589 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F24F 11/38 (2018.01); F24F 11/49 (2018.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G05B 19/048 (2006.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 11/38 (2018.01) [F24F 11/49 (2018.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G05B 19/048 (2013.01); F23N 2225/04 (2020.01); F24D 19/1084 (2013.01); F24D 2220/046 (2013.01); G05B 2219/24015 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2642 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas furnace system comprising:
a draft inducer including a motor, the draft inducer in fluid communication with a conduit;
a pressure transducer positioned to sense a pressure within the conduit and output signals proportional to the sensed pressure;
a pressure switch positioned to sense the pressure within the conduit, the pressure switch having a first state and a second state, and configured to be in the first state when the sensed pressure is below a predetermined pressure and to switch to the second state when the sensed pressure reaches or exceeds the predetermined pressure; and
a controller connected to the draft inducer, the pressure transducer, and the pressure switch, the controller comprising a processor programmed to:
control the motor of the draft inducer in response to a call for heat;
receive pressure signals output by the pressure transducer;
receive signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state;
determine a first status of the pressure transducer as reliable, unreliable, or questionable at a first time based on the received pressure signals from the pressure transducer, the signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state, and a first status of the motor of the draft inducer at the first time, wherein a determination that the first status is questionable indicates the pressure transducer is less reliable than if the first status was reliable and the pressure transducer is more reliable than if the first status was unreliable;
continue operation of the motor of the draft inducer when the first status of the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure transducer is reliable;
output an alert or warning and continue operation of the motor of the draft inducer when the first status of the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure transducer is questionable; and
stop operation of the motor of the draft inducer when the first status of the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.