| US 7,603,204 B2 | ||
| System and method for controlling temperature of a liquid residing within a tank | ||
| Wade C. Patterson, Huntsville, Ala. (US); and Terry G. Phillips, Meridianville, Ala. (US) | ||
| Assigned to A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 21, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/409,229. | ||
| Application 11/409229 is a continuation of application No. 10/772032, filed on Feb. 04, 2004, granted, now 7,065,431. | ||
| Application 10/772032 is a continuation of application No. 10/298135, filed on Nov. 15, 2002, abandoned. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/417926, filed on Oct. 11, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/353546, filed on Jan. 31, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/332602, filed on Nov. 15, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0190141 A1, Aug. 24, 2006 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 19/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 700—299 [219/497] | 18 Claims |
| 1. A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank, comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the liquid;
a temperature control element configured to alter the temperature of the liquid, the temperature control element having at
least an activated state and a deactivated state, wherein heat is applied to the liquid when the temperature control element
is in the activated state;
a clock; and
logic configured to maintain the temperature of the liquid at a first temperature threshold by adjusting the temperature control
element between the activated state and the deactivated state during each of a first plurality of time periods,
the logic further configured to monitor usage of the temperature control element by determining an amount of time that the
temperature control element is in the activated state during each of the first plurality of time periods based on a time value
indicated by the clock, and
the logic further configured to maintain the temperature of the liquid at a second temperature threshold by adjusting the
temperature control element between the activated state and the deactivated state during a subsequent time period corresponding
to one of the first plurality of time periods, wherein the second temperature threshold is automatically selected based on
the amount of time that the temperature control element was determined to be in the activated state during the one of the
first plurality of time periods corresponding to the subsequent time period.
|