Packaged terminal climate unit for pest control
View Patent ↗In certain embodiments, a packaged terminal device for killing pests in an affected area includes a housing configured to be positioned at least partially within an affected area, a fan positioned within the housing, and one or more heating elements positioned within the housing. The fan is operable to draw a flow of air from the affected area into the housing. The one or more heating elements are operable to generate heated air by transferring heat to the flow of air. The packaged terminal device further includes a control unit operable to control the operation of the one or more heating elements in order to cause the packaged terminal device to operate in either a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the operation of the one or more heating elements is controlled such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature less than or equal to a first predefined temperature. In the second mode, the operation of the one or more heating elements is controlled such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature greater than or equal to a second predefined temperature, the second predefined temperature being greater than the first predefined temperature.
1. A packaged terminal device for killing pests in an affected area, comprising:
a housing comprising an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber, the indoor chamber configured to be positioned at least partially within an affected area, the outdoor chamber configured to be positioned at least partially outside the affected area;
a first fan positioned within the indoor chamber of the housing, the first fan operable to draw a flow of air from the affected area into the housing;
a second fan positioned within the outdoor chamber of the housing, the second fan operable to draw a flow of air into the housing from an area outside the affected area;
one or more heating elements positioned within the housing, the one or more heating elements operable to generate heated air by transferring heat to the flow of air from the affected area into the housing; and
a control unit operable to control the operation of the one or more heating elements in order to cause the packaged terminal device to operate in either a first mode comprising a normal mode of operation suitable for human occupants or a second mode comprising a pest control mode, wherein:
in the first mode, the control unit causes electric current to be supplied to the one or more heating elements such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature less than or equal to a first predefined temperature, the first predefined temperature associated with a safety limit and comprising a maximum temperature suitable for human occupants; and
in the second mode, the control unit causes electric current to be supplied to the one or more heating elements such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature greater than or equal to a second predefined temperature, the second predefined temperature being greater than the first predefined temperature and exceeding the safety limit.
2. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , further comprising an override selector operable to:
receive a user input indicating a desire to operate in either the first mode or the second mode; and
communicate a signal to the control unit indicating the received user input.
3. The packaged terminal device of claim 2 , wherein:
the override selector comprises a lock; and
the received user input corresponds to the inserting and turning of a key.
4. The packaged terminal device of claim 2 , wherein:
the override button comprises a keypad; and
the received user input corresponds to the entering of a code into the keypad.
5. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein, when operating in the first mode, the control unit is operable to;
receive a signal from a temperature probe positioned within the affected area, the received signal indicating the temperature within the affected area;
cause the one or more heating elements to shut down if the received signal indicates that the temperature within the affected area is greater than the first predefined temperature.
6. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is less than or equal to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the second predefined temperature is greater than or equal to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the affected area comprises a hotel room.
9. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heating elements include an electrical resistance heater.
10. The packaged terminal device of claim 9 , wherein:
the electric current supplied to the electrical resistance heater is limited by a first fuse when the packaged terminal device is operating in the first mode; and
the electric current supplied to the electrical resistance heater is limited by a second fuse when the packaged terminal device is operating in the second mode, the second fuse permitting more electrical current than the first fuse.
11. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heating elements include a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being one of:
a hot water heat exchanger;
a steam coil; and
a condenser component of a reverse refrigeration cycle.
12. The packaged terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be installed in an opening of an exterior wall of the affected area, the indoor chamber positioned on an interior side of the exterior wall, the outdoor chamber positioned on an exterior side of the exterior wall.
13. A packaged terminal device for killing pests in an affected area, comprising:
a housing comprising an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber, the indoor chamber configured to be positioned at least partially within an affected area, the outdoor chamber configured to be positioned at least partially outside the affected area;
a first fan positioned within the indoor chamber of the housing, the first fan operable to draw a flow of air from the affected area into the housing;
a second fan positioned within the outdoor chamber of the housing, the second fan operable to draw a flow of air into the housing from an area outside the affected area;
one or more heating elements positioned within the housing, the one or more heating elements including an electrical resistance heater, the one or more heating elements operable to generate heated air by transferring heat to the flow of air from the affected area into the housing;
a control unit operable to control the operation of the one or more heating elements in order to cause the packaged terminal device to operate in either a first mode comprising a normal mode of operation suitable for human occupants or a second mode comprising a pest control mode, wherein:
in the first mode, the control unit causes electric current to be supplied to the one or more heating elements such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature less than or equal to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein 90 degrees Fahrenheit is associated with a safety limit that is the maximum temperature suitable for human occupants; and
in the second mode, the control unit causes electric current to be supplied to the one or more heating elements such that sufficient heated air is generated to heat at least a portion of the affected area to a temperature that exceeds the safety limit and is greater than or equal to 120 degrees Fahrenheit;
an override selector operable to:
receive a user input indicating a desire to operate in either the first mode or the second mode; and
communicate a signal to the control unit indicating the received user input.
14. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein:
the override selector comprises a lock; and
the received user input corresponds to the inserting and turning of a key.
15. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein:
the override button comprises a keypad; and
the received user input corresponds to the entering of a code into the keypad.
16. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein, when operating in the first mode, the control unit is operable to;
receive a signal from a temperature probe positioned within the affected area, the received signal indicating the temperature within the affected area;
cause the one or more heating elements to shut down if the received signal indicates that the temperature within the affected area is greater than the first predefined temperature.
17. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein the affected area comprises a hotel room.
18. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein:
the electric current supplied to the electrical resistance heater is limited by a first fuse when the packaged terminal device is operating in the first mode; and
the electric current supplied to the electrical resistance heater is limited by a second fuse when the packaged terminal device is operating in the second mode, the second fuse permitting more electrical current than the first fuse.
19. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more heating elements include a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being one of:
a hot water heat exchanger;
a steam coil; and
a condenser component of a reverse refrigeration cycle.
20. The packaged terminal device of claim 13 , wherein the housing is configured to be installed in an opening of an exterior wall of the affected area, the indoor chamber positioned on an interior side of the exterior wall, the outdoor chamber positioned on an exterior side of the exterior wall.