Importance

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Abstract

Air handling apparatus (10) delivers a volume of air at a generally constant flow rate regardless of changes in the operating conditions of a system with which the apparatus is used. A blower (12) pushes air from one point to another. The blower is operated by a blower motor (14). A switch (16) controls application of power to the motor. Sensors (20) are used to sense the current drawn by the motor and the motor's operating speed. A flow controller (22) establishes a desired air flow rate to be provided by the blower. A processor (18) is responsive to the sensed current (I), motor speed (S), an input (C) from the flow controller, and constants (K1-K4) related to performance characteristics of the blower to determine a torque required by the motor to produce a predetermined air flow rate. The torque value is determined as a function of the combined motor speed input from the sensor and an input from the flow controller. The processor is responsive to the calculated torque value for the motor to supply a control signal to the switch to control application of a voltage to the motor. This voltage is sufficient for the motor to produce the calculated torque. The processor includes signal logic (28) by which the control signal can be modified first in response to the sensed current drawn by the motor.

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First Claim