IP Library Granted Patent US 11,530,835
Granted Patent B2
US 11,530,835 · App. 17/185,444 · Granted Dec 20, 2022

System for preventive maintenance of HVAC units

Inventors: Robert Hafernik (Austin, TX); Tyrell Craig Vaughn (Manchaca, TX); Robert W. Martin (Spicewood, TX)
Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
F24F11/49G05B23/0283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,530,835
App. No.
17/185,444
Granted
Dec 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is described a system and method of a building management system for preventive maintenance of an HVAC unit. Runtime data of the HVAC unit is received at a control system remote from the HVAC unit. A service message is initiated, by the control system, to a service device associated with the HVAC unit in response to determining that a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the runtime data. A hot-cold test for the HVAC unit is activated by the control system in response to receiving the registration message of the preventive maintenance visit from the service device. A validation message is reported in response to validating the preventive maintenance visit based on a result of the hot-cold test for the HVAC unit.

Claims (35)

1. A method of a system for preventive maintenance of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the method comprising:

receiving, at a control system associated with the HVAC unit, runtime data of the HVAC unit, wherein receiving the runtime data of the HVAC unit includes aggregating the runtime data on a periodic basis into periodic totals at the control system;

initiating, by the control system, a service message to a service device associated with the HVAC unit in response to determining that a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the runtime data, wherein the service message includes a geofenced login link for a site;

activating, by the control system, a hot-cold test for the HVAC unit in response to receiving a registration message of the preventive maintenance visit from the service device; and

reporting a validation message in response to validating the preventive maintenance visit based on a result of the hot-cold test for the HVAC unit.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising determining the runtime data based on at least one of (a) an amount of time the control system is requesting the HVAC unit to run in a particular mode or (b) start and stop times of air flow in at least one air duct of the HVAC unit.

3. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein receiving the runtime data of the HVAC unit includes collecting runtimes for a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes including at least one mode of a fan mode, a first stage cool mode, a second stage cool mode, a first stage heat mode, or a second stage heat mode.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein determining that the preventive maintenance visit is warranted comprises:

determining a total runtime of each HVAC unit of a plurality of HVAC units since a last preventive maintenance of at least one HVAC unit; and

identifying at least one selected HVAC unit in which a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the total runtime of each HVAC unit.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein receiving the registration message of the preventive maintenance visit includes receiving a date and/or time for the preventive maintenance visit from the service device.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising receiving completion notification that the HVAC unit has completed performance of the hot-cold test.

7. A system for preventive maintenance of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit comprising:

a control system associated with the HVAC unit, the control system receiving runtime data of the HVAC unit, aggregates the runtime data on a periodic basis into periodic totals, initiating a service message to a service device associated with the HVAC unit in response to determining that a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the runtime data, and activating a hot-cold test for the HVAC unit in response to receiving a registration message of the preventive maintenance visit from the service device,

wherein the service message includes a geofenced login link for a site, and

wherein a validation message is reported in response to validating the preventive maintenance visit based on a result of the hot-cold test for the HVAC unit.

8. The system as described in claim 7 , wherein the runtime data is determined based on at least one of (a) an amount of time the control system is requesting the HVAC unit to run in a particular mode or (b) start and stop times of air flow in at least one air duct of the HVAC unit.

9. The system as described in claim 7 , wherein the runtime data of the HVAC unit includes runtimes for a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes including at least one mode of a fan mode, a first stage cool mode, a second stage cool mode, a first stage heat mode, or a second stage heat mode.

10. The system as described in claim 7 , wherein the control system identifies at least one selected HVAC unit in which a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on a total runtime of each HVAC unit of a plurality of HVAC units since a last preventive maintenance of at least one HVAC unit.

11. The system as described in claim 7 , wherein the registration message of the preventive maintenance visit includes a date and/or time for the preventive maintenance visit from the service device.

12. The as described in claim 7 , wherein the control system is notified that the HVAC unit has completed performance of the hot-cold test.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed, causes at least one processor of a system for preventive maintenance of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit by:

receiving runtime data of the HVAC unit;

aggregating the runtime data on a periodic basis into periodic totals;

initiating a service message to a service device associated with the HVAC unit in response to determining that a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the runtime data, wherein the service message includes a geofenced login link for a site;

receiving a registration message of the preventive maintenance visit from the service device;

activating a hot-cold test for the HVAC unit in response to receiving the registration message of the preventive maintenance visit from the service device; and

reporting a validation message in response to validating the preventive maintenance visit based on a result of the hot-cold test for the HVAC unit.

14. The medium as described in claim 13 , further comprising determining the runtime data based on at least one of (a) an amount of time the control system is requesting the HVAC unit to run in a particular mode or (b) start and stop times of air flow in at least one air duct of the HVAC unit.

15. The medium as described in claim 13 , wherein receiving the runtime data of the HVAC unit includes collecting runtimes for a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes including at least one mode of a fan mode, a first stage cool mode, a second stage cool mode, a first stage heat mode, or a second stage heat mode.

16. The medium as described in claim 13 , wherein determining that the preventive maintenance visit is warranted comprises:

determining a total runtime of each HVAC unit of a plurality of HVAC units since a last preventive maintenance of at least one HVAC unit; and

identifying at least one selected HVAC unit in which a preventive maintenance visit is warranted based on the total runtime of each HVAC unit.

17. The medium as described in claim 13 , wherein receiving the registration message of the preventive maintenance visit includes receiving a date and/or time for the preventive maintenance visit from the service device.

18. The medium as described in claim 13 , further comprising notifying the control system that the HVAC unit has completed performance of the hot-cold test.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2022
From: MARTIN, ROBERT W.; HAFERNIK, ROBERT; VAUGHN, TYRELL CRAIG
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059890/0670 →
Continuity (1)
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