GB2519441A

GB2519441A - Retrofit set and retrofit method for heating control

Info

Publication number: GB2519441A
Application number: GB1418112.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jens Pohl; Malte Pliszewski; Christian Deilmann
Original assignee: tado GmbH
Current assignee: tado GmbH
Priority date: 2013-10-16
Filing date: 2014-10-14
Publication date: 2015-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-10-14
Also published as: GB2519441B; DE102013017204A1; GB201418112D0; DE102013017204B4

Abstract

The kit includes a programmer device (28, Figure 2) having electrical contacts for connection with electrical lines 15 to a heating system to be controlled. The device is configured for generating control signals for the heating system and outputting the signals via the electrical contacts. A thermostat replacement device (30, Figure 3) includes a support body 35, mechanical connection means 36, 37 arranged at the support body for mounting in a region of thermostat wires 16, 17 (serving for a connection of the thermostat with the heating system). Two cable securing devices 31, 32 are electrically connected to each other for holding the two thermostat wires and for providing an electrical connection between these. An environment measuring device 50 may be attached to the device for detecting e.g. room temperature, brightness, air humidity, sound or movement. The measured property may be sent by wireless transmission. The kit may be part of a heating system having a boiler, a control means and a junction box. A retrofitting method uses the heating system and kit to connect the two thermostat wires together, thereby providing a constant electrical connection between the wires.

Description

RETROFIT KIT AND RETROFITrING METHOD FOR HEATING CONTROL

BACKGROUND

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a retrofit kit for heating control according to the preamble of claim 1, to a heating system with a heating control according to the preamble of claim 11, and to a retrofitting method for equipping a heating system with a programmer device according to the preamble of claim 12.

RELATED ART

A fundamental goal of a heating control resides in an energy efficient control. With rising costs for fuels, it is desirable to operate a heating system neither unnecessarily strong nor long.

To this end improved programmer devices are devised. Such a programmer device is to be connected with the heating system to be controlled, wherein it replaces a previously present programmer device. With regard to conventional devices, this retrofitting process is only possible with considerable expert knowledge. A private person can generally hardly be expected to mount and thereafter connect a conventional retrofit kit on his own.

Problems concerning the installation effort are illustrated in the following with regard to a generic heating system. Such a heating system comprises: -a heating boiler in which a fuel is combustible for generating heat, -control means for controlling operation of the heating boiler, -wires connected to the control means, -a junction box with plural cable clamps, each having a first connection side and a second *0.

* connection side which are connected to each other in an electrically conductive way. * *

The wires of the control means are connected at the first connection sides of thecable clamps.

S.....

* Electrical lines are connected at plural of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the * electrical lines leading out of the junction box and to a programmer device. Thermostat wires are connected to at least two of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the thermostat wires * * * *** * leading out of the junction box and not to the programmer device but to a remote location.

S.....

Commonly the thermostat wires lead to another room where they are connected with a thermostat.

A generic retrofit kit for heating control can be employed in connection with such a heating system and comprises a programmer device which comprises a plurality of electrical contacts for connection with electrical lines to-or leading into the direction of-a heating system to be controlled, the programmer device being configured to generate control signals for the heating system and to output the control signals via the electrical contacts.

The afore-noted junction box or connection box typically includes many cable clamps, the assignment or allocation of which is not easily apparent for a non-professional. Depending on the type of the junction box, the arrangement and a possibly provided label of the connected cables differ. In particular in Great Britain such setups are common.

Within junction boxes, adaptions are usually only executed by trained technicians. Private persons carry out not more than a comparably simple replacing of the programmer device (also referred to as programmer or control device). Alterations going beyond that require, however, a service technician to come and work.

In a generic retrofitting method for equipping a heating system with a programmer device, the heating system comprises at least: -a heating boiler in which a fuel is combustible for generating heat, -control means for controlling operation of the heating boiler, -wires connected to / running from the control means, -a junction box with a plurality of cable clamps, each having a first and a second connection sides which are connected to each other in an electrically conductive way.

Also with regard to this method, the wires of the control means are connected at the first sides of the cable clamps. At plural of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, electrical lines going out of the junction box are connected; thermostat wires are connected to at least two of the second * connection sides of the cable clamps, the thermostat wires leading out of the junction box and to a *.*.

remote room. * .

The generic retrofitting method comprises at least the step of connecting a programmer device with *r": electrical lines which run from the junction box, wherein the programmer device is configured for *:* generating control signals for a heating system and for outputting the control signals via the electrical lines. * * * .*.

In the context of this description, the terms wires, electrical lines and cables denote similar objects. *.*. * *

For easier differentiating, cables that lead from the control means of the heating boiler to. the junction box are referred to as wires in the following. In contrast, cables that lead from the junction box to the programmer device are denoted as electrical lines. The cables that in turn lead from the junction box to another room and serve for connecting a thermostat are referred to as thermostat wires.

At known devices for heating control, a user can adjust certain settings at the programmer device and additionally certain settings at the thermostat.

Such a thermostat comprises switching means with which an electrical contact between the two thermostat wires can be opened and closed. The switching means can, for instance, comprise a bimetal which changes its shape and position dependent on temperature. By adjusting the bias tension of a spring against the bimetal, a user can define at the thermostat a temperature at which the electrical circuit with the thermostat wires will be closed, thus generating a heating instruction.

The adjustment possibilities with a thermostat are very limited. Furthermore control with a thermostat is dependent on the temperature of the room in which the thermostat is provided. The temperature in other rooms to be heated is not or not simply registered. Just determining the momentary temperature does furthermore not take into account from when on a heating power for a temperature suited in future shall be ideally changed. For irstance it may be useful to decrease the heating power when nobody is present in a room to be heated. The heating power may then be in turn raised at a sufficiently early point in time before somebody enters the room to be heated, such that the, desired temperature is reached upon entering of the room. Such an energy efficient control is, with conventional thermostats, not possible or only with high efforts.

In principle a thermostat can be replaced with an intelligent control unit. However, such elaborate control units require a power supply. If only two thermostat wires are present, no power supply is usually provided for a control unit replacing the thermostat, though. If there is furthermore no power grid connection in the room in which the thermostat wires end, such a control unit cannot be easily installed and used.

The problem underlying the Invention resides in indicating a retrofit kit and a retrofitting method for * * heating control as well as a heating system with heating control which allow an energy efficient heating control with a particularly low installation effort.

**.*S.

* SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is overcome with a retrofit kit for heating control having the features of claim 1, with * the heating system with heating control having the features of claim 11, and with the retrofit method for equipping a heating system with a programmer device having the features of claim 12. * 4

Advantageous variants of the invention are explained in the following description and the dependent claims.

In the retrofit kit of the above-described kind, a thermostat replacement device is provided according to the invention. The thermostat replacement device comprises: -a support body, -mechanical connection means arranged at the support body for installation at a wall or a flush-mounted box or in a region of thermostat wires serving for a connection of a thermostat with the heating system, and -two cable securing devices that are electrically connected to each other for holding two thermostat wires and for providing an electrical connection between these. The two cable securing devices may in particular be attached at the support body.

According to another aspect of the invention, in the heating system of the above-described kind a retrofit kit for heating control according to the invention is provided, the electrical lines are connected with the programmer device of the retrofit kit, and the thermostat wires are connected with the two cable securing.devices of the thermostat replacement device.

The retrofitting method of the above-referenced kind furthermore comprises at least the following steps: mounting a thermostat replacement device in the region of a wall at which the thermostat wires protrude from the wall of a room, and connecting two of the thermostat wires with two cable securing devices of the thermostat replacement device, the two cable securing devices being electrically connected to each other, for * providing a constant electrical connection between the two thermostat wires.

*....: A first essential idea of the invention can be seen in the provision of a control which renders * . superfluous a thermostat and its adjustment options. A control shall rather be possible solely through the programmer device. Control instructions are thus generated from devices other than a * . * thermostat that would be connected with the control means of the heating boiler by wires. For taking into account the temperature, wireless transmitting thermometers can be used in a room * * * * . different from the one in which the thermostat wires end. A user can set a desired temperature with * a smart phone, for example, to which end he does not need to be present in the room in which the thermostat wires end. He can rather be in this case at a principally arbitrary location outsido the building comprising the at least one room to be heated.

In principle, a similar control may also be achieved with conventional systems by moving an adjusting member of a thermostat and thus outputting a control signal to the control means of the heating boiler. However, type-dependent only two thermostat wires may run to the thermostat. These serve only for signal transmission and not for power supply. A more elaborate control with a thermostat is in such a case not possible thanks to lack of power supply, or only if an additional power supply cable were to be installed. This may be undesirable in the room in which the thermostatwires end.

For these reasons a retrofitting according to the invention is carried out such that a programmer device carries out all controls, and no control is effected with the thermostat wires provided in the building.

An electric circuit from the programmer device to the control means of the heating boiler is, however, not a closed system. A control is rather influenced by the circumstance whether the thermostat wires are closed to an electrical circuit or are opened.

A basic idea of the invention is to rule out a potential impairment of the heating control due to closing and opening the electrical circuit with the thermostat wires. To this end, these wires are connected to each other in an electrically conductive way. A control is then carried out solely with the programmer device without the momentary temperature in the room in which the two thermostat wires end having a direct influence. This room may be, for instance, an entrance area, a floor or a store room, and may already for this reason be hardly suited to define a desired temperature in another room, e.g. a living room.

A central idea of the invention resides in how a conventional thermostat device is replaced. The thermostat wires lead to the junction box in which they areusually connected with further cables. In general it is possible to connect these further cables with each other and remove the thermostat wires. In principle, it is furthermore possible to provide an electrical connection between the thermostat wires in or at the junction box. However, this would require significant knowledge on the * side of an acting person. Furthermore, electrical lines may be present in the junction box with their * insulations being removed at the ends, at which very high voltages may be present. Often warning signs at the junction box instruct untrained personal not to open the junction box. Usually modifications in or at the junction box are thus only carried out by trained personnel but not by *.*.** * private persons in their own house. *. * *

* " In contrast, the connection of the thermostat wires according to the invention allows a private * : person without special knowledge to easily carry out a retrofitting. A retrofitting according to the invention does not require any modifications in or at the junction box. Instead an existing thermostat is removed and replaced by the thermostat replacement device of the invention. The important finding is used that the few wires present at the thermostat can be easily discriminated and assigned whereas determining certain cables within the junction box is difficult and a mixing up may easily happen.

A retrofit kit may be a set of components which are offered or distributed as one unit. These components are suited to replace or supplement components at a heating system and its previous / present controls. It is not required that all components of the retrofit kit are used simultaneously.

That means, the retrofit kit may comprise a group of components of which a user can select one certain component, in particular depending on the heating system that is present at his place.

The thermostat replacement device provides a constant electrical contact between the two thermostat wires. This is achieved with cable securing devices which may in particular be cable clamps. Due to the thus provided fixed connection between the thermostat wires, the thermostat replacement device does not need to comprise any further electric or electronic components.

The above-referenced junction box, in which several cable clamps-which shall be understood synonymously to attaching means for cables-are provided, can in principle be designed arbitrarily.

Usually it is formed with a casing enclosing the cable clamps and comprising orifices/openings through which the cables are inserted. However, in principle the junction box may also be formed without a cover, i.e., without a casing. Additionally the plural cable clamps of the junction box do not need to be arranged directly next to each other but may be distributed over distanced apart areas or rooms. It follows that any arrangement of cable clamps from which wires or cables lead to the control means of the heating boiler, to a programmer device and to a thermostat or the thermostat replacement device, may be regarded as a junction box.

The junction box may be arranged separated from the heating boiler or at or integrated in the heating boiler. The heating boiler, which may also be referred to as a boiler, is configured to burn a fuel which may in particular be natural gas, oil and/or biological fuels such as wood.

*....: The control means may be understood to be any arbitrary means that are suited to modify a heating * * power of the heating boiler due to a received electrical signal. The control means are connected with * " the junction box and from there with the programmer device and possibly also with the thermostat wires.

* In the present descriØtion the term control may designate a feedback control and/or open-loop * *** control, that is, an adjustment of a controlled variable dependent or independent of a momentary value of a parameter of interestwhich is varied through the controlled variable.

In the method of the invention, the thermostat replacement device is mounted in the region of a wall at which the thermostat wires terminate. This is to be understood as an area that is limited in that connecting the thermostat wires with the cable securing devices of the thermostat replacement device is still possible. Such ends of the thermostat wires are connected which are distal with respect to the ends of the thermostat wires at the junction box. These ends may protrude from a room wall, wherein a flush-mounted box may be provided at the wall. The thermostat device is preferably secured at the wall or a potentially provided flush-mounted box.

The thermostat replacement device preferably comprises a fixation orifice in the support body as mechanical connection means. The retrofit kit comprises also at least one screw for attaching the support body via its fixation orifice at a room wall or a flush-mounted box. Preferably two fixation orifices are provided for a safe installation. The fixation orifices may be formed as through-holes in the support body and constitute inexpensive attaching means which allow an installation without complex tools.

The support body of the thermostat replacement device is preferably a single board. This may be a circuit board or printed circuit board. At this board, either no electrical lines and electrical components are provided or solely electrical connection means between the two cable securing devices connected with each other.

Besides the two cable securing devices described above, the thermostat replacement device may also comprise isolating cable securing devices secured at the support body. These are not electrically interconnected and may hold further thermostat wires in an electrically isolated way. This accounts for the fact that further thermostat wires are present in addition to and next to the two described thermostat wires in some heating systems. These additional thermostat wires are hold with the isolating cable securing devices through which no undesired electric contact between them can occur. The isolating cable securing devices can be designed optically distinguishable from the cable securing devices so that a user preferably does not confuse them. t

* A covering case for the thermostat replacement device may be provided which can be put onto the support body, so that the cable securing devices are enclosed by the support body and the covering * case. Preferably the support body comprises.threaded connection means at a side at which the cable securing devices are attached. The covering case may comprise a screw orifice and at least one case screw may be provided with which the covering case can be attached to the threaded connection * *..

* * , means of the support body. Through this enclosing of the cable securing devices it is substantially excluded that a user accidentally comes into contact with a live wire.

The attachment of the covering case with a screw allows further flexibility. That is, the retrofit kit may comprise a first case screw with a screw head, a spacer and a thread for securing the covering case. In a put-on condition, in which the covering case is secured with the first case screw, the screw head and the spacer protrude from the covering case in order to provide a possibility to attach another component.

The spacer may in principle be arbitrarily designed as long as it causes the screw head to protrude from the covering case when the first case screw is completely tightened. Preferably the spacer is formed with a step at which a screw diameter increases towards the screw head. The screw orifice of the covering case may be formed as a step such that a diameter of the screw orifice decreases towards the interior of the covering case. The step shape forms a contact face for the step of the first case screw which provides a defined distance for the screw head of the first case screw to protrude from the covering case.

In addition to the first case screw with the spacer, the retrofit kit may comprise a second case screw without spacer which does not protrude from the covering case or which protrudes from the covering case less than the first case screw when securing the covering case. It can be selected whether the covering case is secured with the first or the second case screws. Advantageously a user can thus hang a further component, which comprises a mounting for hanging at a screw or the like, at the thermostat. If this is not desired the second case screw can be selected which rules out a risk of in]ury at a protruding screw.

For a simple manufacturing design of the covering case, the screw orifice may in principle be formed stepless. The step of the first case screw then sits on an outer side of the covering case next to the screw orifice. With the step shape, however, a higher bending stiffness of the covering case can be advantageously reached. Thereby, no undesired shape variations of the covering case occur even if the first case screw is tightened very much, which shape variations would hamper the hanging of a further component at the first case screw. Furthermore by means of the step shape the second case *.... screw can sit with its screw head on the contact face such that the second case screw does not * * protrude from the screw orifice.

*S** * * . * The retrofit kit may preferably also comprise an environment measuring device for determining at * least one property of an environment. The environment measuring device comprises place-on means or hanging means for attaching the environment measuring device to the first case screw, and * *0 wireless transmission means for transmitting a measured environmental property. With the wireless transmission means the environment measuring device is able to transmit a measured value independent of the thermostat wires, and can furthermore be positioned in any arbitrary room.

Preferably one, several or all of the following properties may be measured as the environmental property: room temperature, brightness, air humidity, sounds and movements.

The screw orifice may preferably be arranged centrally in the covering case. This effects a spatially uniform force transmission through the first or second case screw onto the covering case.

Furthermore, in this way the environment measuring device may be, if it comprises a central suspension, put-on with only one screw withouthanging crooked and still being aligned centrally to the covering case.

For facilitating an easy mounting for different heating systems to be retrofitted, the programmer device may be designed in a way which allows a flexible cable routing. The electrical lines coming from the junction box and to be connected with the programmer device may either be routed as In-wall cables or on-wall cables. In the case of in-wall cables the programmer device may preferably be mounted on or in the area of a flush-mounted box from which the electrical lines exit a room wall. It is thus useful if the programmer device comprises, at a bottom surface, securing means for mounting the programmer device at a wall, and, at its bottom surface, a cable opening for allowing the electrical lines of the heating system to be inserted.

If the programmer device is attached with its bottom surface at a wall, however, with an on-wall cable routing, the electrical lines cannot be guided to the bottom surface. In principle, lateral cable openings could be provided at the programmer device with a size sufficient for electrical lines. In that case, however, the lateral openings would be open in the case of an in-wall cable routing and would reduce a protection of components in the programmer device.

To avoid these disadvantages, an attachment unit may be preferably provided. The attachment unit comprises: -attaching means for securing the attachment unit at the bottom surface of the programmer device, -securing means for mounting the attachment unit at a wall, * * -a lateral cable opening for allowing the electrical lines of the heating system to be inserted, * wherein the cable opening of the attachment unit is formed laterally at the attachment unit, and *.**. * *

* -an opening for allowing inserted electrical lines to be passed on to the programmer device, the *** *** * opening facing the cable opening of the programmer device.

* * The lateral cable opening of the attachment unit is thus not formed at the bottom surface of the attachment unit but, at a lateral side which is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the bottom surface. The electrical lines of the heating system may hence be inserted through the lateral cable opening of the attachment unit and further through the cable opening of the programmer device.

Advantageously, in an easy installation, the same kind of programmer device can be used with different cable systems.

In this embodiment, the programmer device may comprise a lateral cable opening, e.g. for a power supply cable or a network cable. However, the size of the lateral cable opening does not suffice for additionally inserting the electrical lines for the heating system.

For a flexible heating control, the programmer device may be equipped with means for providing a network and / or internet connection. These means may be housed within a casing of the programmer device or may be arranged in a respective casing outside the casing of the programmer device. In this way, the programmer device is able to receive in particular user instructions and/or measured temperature values.

For easy replacement of the programmer device to be replaced by the programmer device of the retrofit kit of the invention, it is furthermore important that a correct connection of the electrical lines, which lead to a programmer device to be replaced, with the correct contacts of the programmer device of the retrofit kit is possible in a particularly easy way. For a user cannot easily ascertain which of the electrical lines is to be connected with which contact of the programmer device. This problem is solved with a variant of the invention. To this end it is used that the different electrical lines can be identified by the fact to which contact they are connected at the programmer device to the replaced. For this, the retrofitting method comprises at least the following additional steps: -transmitting a model identification of a programmer device to be replaced via an internet connection to a remote computing unit, wherein the computing unit comprises a data bank in which it is saved for different models of programmer devices to be replaced which electrical line is connected to which contact of the respective model, -identifying the different electrical lines through the fact to which contact of the respective model theyare connected, wherein it is furthermore saved in the data bank to which contacts of the programmer device which electrical line is to be connected, * -determining to which electrical contacts of the programmer device the identified electrical lines are to be connected, and -transmitting instructions via the internet connection to a user, wherein the instructions indicate to which electrical contacts of the programmer device the different identified electrical lines are to be connected.

In other words, it is determined and the user is informed which contact of the programmer device of the invention corresponds to which contact of the programmer device to be replaced.

The afore-mentioned step of transmitting a model identification may be carried out in that a user enters a model number via an internet connection to the computing unit. Alternatively provision may also be made for the user to transmit a photo ofthe programmerdevice to be replaced as a model identification, and the computing unit may be configured to determine a model number from the photo.

The above-noted steps of identifying, determining and transmitting instructions to the user are carried out with the computing unit, which may be an internet-enabled server.

The instructions to the user may, for instance, comprise labeling instructions. According to the instructions the user is supposed to provide the different electrical lines with different labels. The lines can be easily distinguished by the labels also after being detached from the contacts of the programmer device to be replaced. Preferably, the labeling instructions indicate for each electrical line the respectively corresponding contact of the programmer device of the retrofit kit. The label to be applied may thus correspond to a label at the corresponding contact of the programmer device of the retrofit kit.

Preferably it should be possible for a user to easily carry out a conversion back to the conventional programmer device to be* replaced, after the programmer device of the retrofit kit has been connected. To this end the instructions to the user may comprise at least two labeling instructions per electrical line. One of the labeling instructions identifies, for a respective electrical line, the respectively corresponding contact of the programmer device to be replaced, and the other of the labeling instructions identifies the respectively corresponding contact of the programmer device of the retrofit kit for the respective electrical line.

The labeling instructions regarding the programmer device to be replaced depend on the model of * this programmer device. The contacts of the programmer device are thus differently marked and / or ***a arranged, dependent on the model. Therefore in the data bank of the computing unit a list is saved in *0**e * which per electrical line different labels for the different models of programmer devices to be.

*:" * replaced are saved. According to the model identification of the programmer device, the computing * : * unit selects the corresponding labeling instruction.

The retrofit kit may comprise labeling signs. These comprise two fields in which the two afore-mentioned labeling instructions are to be written. Preferably the labeling signs each comprise an **.*** * adhesive area with which they can be easily attached at the electrical lines.

For replacing the thermostat of the conventional heating system with the thermostat replacement device, it may be additionally or alternatively proceeded analogously to the above-described variants of the method. If more than two thermostat wires lead to the thermostat, it is important that a user connects the correct two thermostat wires with the cable securing devices and connects the remaining (thermostat) wires with the isolating cable securing devices. Again, it may be saved in the data bank which thermostat wire or which other wire is connected to which contact of the thermostat to be replaced.

Further characteristics are described with regard to the attached schematic drawings.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows a heating system that is conventionally controlled.

Fig. 2 shows a heating system with a heating control according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a thermostat replacement device of a retrofit kit of the invention for heating control.

Fig. 4 shows a thermostat replacement device and an environment measuring device of a retrofit kit of the invention for heating control.

Fig. 5 shows a screw orifice of a covering case of the thermostat replacement device, and a case screw.

Fig. 6 shows a front perspective view of the thermostat replacement device with the attached environment measuring device of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows a rear perspective view of the thermostat replacement device with the attached environment measuring device of Figs. 4 and 6.

Fig. 8 shows a programmer device and an attachment unit to be secured thereto of a retrofit kit of the invention.

* DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES ** * *

Fig. 1 shows a conventional heating system 5. Within the scope of the retrofitting method of the *.*** * * invention, this heating system S can be upgraded with a retrofit kit of the invention to form a heating *:" * system with heating control according to the invention.

In the figures, similar components are denoted with like reference signs. In particular, elements of * the heating system with heating control of the invention may be formed like elements with the same reference sign that are described in the context of the conventional heating system 5.

The heating system 5 comprises a heating boiler 10 which emits heat energy. The heating boiler lOis arranged in a first room 1 of a building, for instance in a basement room 1. The emitted heat energy is transferred via non-depicted means to another room 2 and / or 3 which may be in the same or another building.

Control means (not shown) are assigned to the heating boiler 10 for setting the heating operation or the heating power. The control means are driven electrically to which end wires 12 start from the control means.

The wires 12 lead to a junction box 14 in which several cable clamps are provided with which the wires 12 and possibly other provided electrical lines of the heating system are connected to cables leading further. That means electrical lines 15 and thermostat wires 16. 17 start from the junction 14.

The electrical lines 15 lead to a conventional programmer device 18 which can output control signals via the lines 15 and further via the wires 12 to the control means of the heating boiler 10.

The thermostat wires 16, 17 are substantially arbitrarily designed electrical lines that have one end connected via a connection in the junction box 14 to an electrical circuit to the control means and / or the programmer device 18. The thermostat wires 16, 17 lead out of the room ito another room 2.

For the conventional heating system 5, in this room 2 the two other ends of the thermostat wires 16, 17 are connected with a thermostat 19.

The thermostat 19 comprises switching means with which the thermostat 19 is able to open and close an electrical contact between the two thermostat wires 16, 17. The switching means may for instance be comprised of a bimetallic strip which bends dependent on the temperature.

The thermostat 19 takes into account atemperature in the room 2 which, however, may be of little relevance in view of a temperature in another room 3. For example, the room 2 may be a floor or an entrance area whereas the room 3 may be a living room. Furthermore the functional principle of the thermostat 19 is detrimental for a predictive control. A heating control may for instance be desirable with which a temperature change may be affected dependent on a user behavior. For example, * . * measuring systems of the applicant are able to determine whether no person is present in the room 2 and/or 3 any longer. It can be furthermore determined when a person present goes to bed. In these cases it may be advantageous to reduce the heating power.

**ee*. * S

To allow for such an efficient control of the heating power, the heating system 5 is upgraded with a retrofit kit of the invention to form a heating system 25 according to the invention. Such a heating * .. . system 25 is shown in Fig. 2. * *

In principle it would be possible to connect intelligent control means instead of the thermostat.

However, often only two thermostat wires 16, 17 lead to the thermostat. A power supply can then not be provided with the wires from the junction box 14 but only with a battery or a cable to a power outlet. Batteries, however, can hardly guarantee a reliable power supply and a power outlet is not always available near the ends of the thermostat wires 16, 17. These problems are avoided with the retrofit kit of the invention.

The retrofit kit thus comprises as essential components a programmer device 28 and a thermostat replacement device 30.

The programmer device 28 replaces the conventional programmer device 18. Measured temperature values or other control signals are input to the programmer device 28 not via the thermostat wires 16, 17, which would entail the above-mentioned disadvantages. Measured temperature values are rather transmitted to the programmer device 28 via wireless transmission means as described in more detail later.

As an essential idea of the invention a negative influence through the thermostat wires 16, 17 is ruled out by connecting these to a permanently closed electric circuit. It can then be adjusted with the programmer device 28 how the heating power is set.

In principle an electric circuit with the thermostat wires 16, 17 may be closed at any arbitrary position. For instance, a bypass could be reached with a cable clamp within the junction box 14. Due to the multitude of in general non-labeled cable connections in the junction box 14, confusion of wires or cables may easily occur there. Establishing a bypass in the junction box 14 would thus exceed the skills of a person without major foreknowledge.

For such a person to be able to connect the retrofit kit of the invention, the retrofit kit does not require any changes in or at the junction box 14 in order to close the electric circuit of the thermostat wires. A thermostat replacement device 30 is thus used which is mounted in the room 2 instead of * * the thermostat. The thermostat replacement device 30 comprises two cable securing devices 31 and 32 to which the thermostat wires 16, 17 are to be attached, and which provide a non-switchable :": durable electric contact between the attached thermostat wires 16, 17.

* While confusion and uncertainties on the side of a person may easily arise within a junction box 14 r * due to the large amount of wires, only few wires are routed to the room 2, in most cases only the * two thermostat wires 16, 17. Therefore a person can easily identify these wires here.

****** * a For ascertaining a room temperature, at least one environment measuring device 50 is provided instead of the thermostat. The at least one environment measuring device 50 may be positioned in any arbitrary room 2 and / or 3. Its measured values may be transmitted wirelessly. A wireless transmission shall be construed as any transmission that does not use a cable.

The environment measuring device 50 may, for instance, comprise or be connected to means for data transmission via a wireless local area network (WLAN / WiFi) and / or means for establishing an internet connection.

The programmer device 28 may similarly comprise wireless transmission means or may be connected to such with a cable, for receiving measured temperature values in particular over WLAN or the internet.

A more detailed setup of the thermostat replacement device 30 is shown in an explosion view in Fig. 3. The thermostat replacement device 30 comprises a support body 35 with attaching means 36, 37 for mounting at a wall of the room 2 or a possibly present flush-mounted box through which the thermostat wires 16, 17 exit the wall.

The attaching means 36 and 37 are here each formed by an aperture / fixation orifice in the support body 35 and thus allow for a fastening with screws (not shown). For enhanced usability the apertures 36,37 may be formed longitudinally with a varying width.

In the example shown, the support body 35 is formed as an even plate which is a circuit board.

However, also a plastic board 35 may for used, for instance.

The two cable securing devices 31, 32 are attached on the support body 35. Next to these, isolating cable securing devices 33, 34 may be attached which do not provide any further electric connection for received wires. In the case of further (thermostat) wires running together with the two thermostat wires, these further wires can thus be held securely.

*:* * A covering case 40 is provided for covering the support body 35 and the cable securing devices 31, 32 **** with the thermostat wires 16, 17 attached thereto. After securing the thermostat wires 16, 17, the * * covering case 40 is put on.or over the support body 35 and fastened with a case screw 43. To this end, the covering case 40 comprises a centrally arranged screw orIfice 41. The support body *:" comprises threaded connection means also centrally between the two apertures 36, 37. The.

threaded connection means are formed by an opening 38 with a counterpart 39 to the case screw 43 being inserted therein. The screw head of the case screw 43 may be covered with a covering capsule *....: 44. * *

The retrofit kit of the invention also comprises a further case screw 45 which may be used instead of the case screw 43. This is shown in Fig. 4. The case screw 45 comprises a step 46 at which a screw diameter increases. If the case screw 45 is tightened, the screw head is thus at a distance to the covering case 40. A further device, e.g., the environment measuring device 50, may be attached to the protruding screw 45 with a standard suspension.

This situation is shown in a front perspective view in Fig. 6 and in a rear perspective view in Fig. 7.

The environment measuring device 50 is here suspended at the case screw 45 so that the rear side of the environment measuring device 50 abuts or touches the outer side of the covering case 40. That means, the dimensions of the case screw 45 from the step 46 and the dimensions of the environment measuring device 50 are preferably chosen just such that the environment measuring device 50 can be suspended at the case screw 45, with its outer circumference lying flat against the covering case 40.

The case screws 45 and 43 are also referred to as first case screw 45 and second case screw 43.

Attachment through the case screw 45 with the step 46 is shown in an enlarged view in Fig. 5. The screw orifice 41 in the covering case 40 comprises a step 42 corresponding to the step 46. At this step a diameter of the screw orifice 41 decreases in the direction of the interior of the space that is enclosed by the thermostat replacement device 30 and the covering case 40. The step 46 thus sits on the step 42, wherein the screw head of the case screw 45 protrudes from the screw orifice 41. On the other hand, if the case screw 43 is used, its screw head can sit on the step 42 and does not protrude from the screw orifice 41.

Depending on the room 2 or 3 in which the environment measuring device 50 is to be mounted, a user may select one of the two screws 43, 45.

With reference to Fig. 8, mounting of the programmer device will be explained. Fig. 8 is a perspective explosion view of the programmer device 28 and a corresponding attachment unit 60.

The programmer device 28 here comprises a lower casing shell 53 and an upper casing shell 56 to be * * attached thereto. The casing shell 53 comprises mounting bores at its bottom surface with which it may be fastened with screws at an underground, e.g., a wall or a flush-mounted box. Furthermore, **.*** * the lower casing shell 53 comprises at its bottom surface a cable opening 54. When using an in-wall cable routing, the electrical lines 15 may run through the cable opening 54 into the programmer device 28. *, * .*.

* : * However, if the electrical lines are routed on a wail, the electrical lines cannot run through the cable opening 54 when the bottom surface of the casing shell 53 is mounted at a wall. To solve this problem, the retrofit kit 64 also comprises an attachment unit 60. The attachment unit 60 comprises several attaching means 61 -64 for securing the attachment unit 60 at the bottom surface of the casing shell 53. The attaching means 61 -64 are here formed as legs 61 to 64 which can be clamped into the mounting bores of the casing shell 53. Opposing the casing shell 53, the attachment unit again comprises mounting bores for securing the attachment unit 60 to the underground, i.e., in particular to a wall.

The attachment unit 60 comprises at least one lateral cable opening 65. In the example shown, the lateral cable openings 65 are formed as free spaces between respectively neighboring legs 61 and 62; 62 and 63; 63 and 64; 64 and 61. By means of the lateral cable openings 65, the electrical lines of an on-wall cable routing can be inserted. The attachment unit is opened towards the cable opening 54 of the casing shell 53 such that the electrical lines can be inserted further into the programmer device 28.

The attachment unit 60 may also comprise a lower cable opening 67 at its bottom surface whJch is opposite the casing shell 53, which further enhances flexibility.

By means of the attachment unit 60, the programmer device 28 can be employed both with an on-wall cable routing as well as an in-wall cable routing of the electrical lines, without the programmer device 28 having cable openings for these electrical lines at its sidewalls.

The retrofit kit of the invention allows a particularly simple retrofitting of a conventional control of a heating system, wherein a mishandling can be substantially ruled out. Deployment of a professional technician can thus be omitted.

S

S*I S*! * . ***** * . **. * S ** * . * **. *

****** * *

Claims

CLAIMS1. Retrofit kit for heating control, comprising a programmer device (28) comprising a plurality of electrical contacts for connection with electrical lines (15) to a heating system to be controlled and being configured for generating control signals for the heating system and outputting the control signals via the electrical contacts, characterized in that a thermostat replacement device (30) is provided, comprising: -a support body (35), -mechanical connection means (36, 37) arranged at the support body (35) for mounting in a region of thermostat wires (16, 17) serving for a connection of a thermostat with the heating system, and -two cable securing devices (31, 32) that are electrically connected to each other for holding two thermostat wires (16, 17) and for providing an electrical connection between these.
2. Retrofit kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermostat replacement device (30) comprises isolating cable securing devices (33, 34) attached at the support body (35), being not inter-connected and with which further thermostat wires can be held in an electrically isolated way.
3. Retrofit kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thermostat replacement device (30) comprises at least one fixation orifice (36, 37) in the support body (35) as mechanical connection means (36, 37), and *..: at least one screw per fixation orifice (36, 37) is provided for securing the support body (35) via the respective fixation orifice (36, 37) to a room wall or a flush-mounted box.

*
4. Retrofit kit according to one of the claims ito 3, * * characterized in that the support body (35) comprises threaded connection, means (38, 39) on a side at which the * * * cable securing devices (31, 32) are secured, * * a covering case (40) for the thermostat replacement device (30) is provided and being configured to be set onto the support body (35) for enclosing the cable securing devices (31, 32) by means of the support body (35) and the coveringcase (40), and the covering case (40) comprises a screw orifice (41) and at least one case screw (43, 45) is provided with which the covering case (40) is attachable to the threaded connection means (38, 39) of the support body (35).
5. Retrofit kit according to claim 4, characterized in that a first case screw (45) is provided for securing the covering case (40), the first case screw (45) comprising a screw head, a spacer (46) and a thread, in a set-on condition, in which the covering case (40) is secured with the first case screw (45), the screw head and the spacer (46) protrude from the covering case (40) for providing an option to attach another component (50).
6. Retrofit kit according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacer (46) is formed with a step (46) at which a screw diameter increases towards the screw head, the screw orifice (41) of the covering case (40) is formed as in a step shape such that a diameter of the screw orifice (41) decreases towards the interior of the covering case (40), and the step shape forms a contact face for the step (46) of the first case screw (45) for providing a defined distance for the screw head of the first case screw (45) to protrude from the covering case (40).
7. Retrofit kit according to claim 5 orG.characterized in that in addition to the first case screw (45) with the spacer (46), a second case screw (43) without spacer is provided which does not protrude from the covering case (40) or which protrudes from the covering case (40) less than the first case screw (4S), for securing the covering case *0.** * (40) selectively either via the first or the second case screws (43, 45). * * *
8. Retrofit kit according to one of the claims 5 to 7, : characterized in that *.... *an environment measuring device (50)is provided for determining at least one property of an environment, the environment measuring device (SO) comprises place-on means for attaching the environment measuring device (SO) to the first case screw (45), and wireless transmission means for transmitting a measured environmental property.
9. Retrofit kit according to one of the claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the screw orifice (41) is arranged centrally in the covering case (40) for providing a spatially uniform force transmission through the first or second case screw (43, 45) onto the covering case (40).
10. Retrofit kit according to one of the claims ito 9, characterized in that the programmer device (28) comprises, at a bottom surface, securing means for mounting the programmer device (28) at a wall, the programmer device (28) comprises, at its bottom surface, a cable opening (54) for allowing the electrical lines (15) of the heating system to be inserted, an attachment unit (60)is provided, comprising: -attaching means (61-64) for securing the attachment unit (60) at the bottom surface of the programmer device (28), -securing means for mounting the attachment unit at a wall, -a lateral cable opening (65) for allowing the electrical lines (15) of the heating system to be inserted, wherein the.cable opening (65) of the attachment unit (60) is formed laterally at the attachment unit (60), and -an opening for allowing inserted electrical lines (15) to be passed to the programmer device (28), the opening facing the cable opening (54) of the programmer device (2$).

*
11. Heating system with heating control, * the heating system comprising: *** S. * -a heating boiler (10) in which a fuel is combustible for generating heat, * -control means for controlling operation of the heating boiler (10), -wires (12) connected to the control means, and -a junction box (14) with a plurality of cable clamps, each having a first and a second connection sides which are connected to each other in an electrically conductive way, wherein the wires (12) of the control means are connected at the first connection sides of the cable clamps, wherein electrical lines (15) are connected at plural of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the electrical lines (15) leading out of the junction box (14) and to a programmer device (28), wherein thermostat wires (16, 17) are connected at at least two of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the thermostat wires (16, 17) leading out of the junction box (14) and not to the programmer device (28) but to a remote location (2), characterized in that a retrofit kit for heating control according to claim 1 is provided, the electrical lines (15) are connected with the programmer device (28) of the retrofit kit, and the thermostat wires (16, 17) are connected with both of the cable securing devices (31, 32) of the thermostat replacement device (30).
12. Retrofitting method for equipping a heating system with a programmer device (28), wherein the heating system comprises: a heatingboiler (10) in which a fuel is combustible for generating heat, -control means for controlling operation of the heating boiler (10).wires (12) connected to the control means, a junction box (14) with a plurality of cable clamps, each having a first and a second connection sides which are connected to each other in an. electrically conductive way, wherein the wires (12) of the control means are connected at the first connection sides of the cable clamps, wherein electrical fines (15) are connected at plural of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the electrical lines (15) leading out of the junction box (14), and wherein thermostat wires (16, 17) are connected at at least two of the second connection sides of the cable clamps, the thermostat wires (16, 17) leading out of the junction box (14) 0ø** * and to a remote room, * ": wherein the retrofitting method comprises the following step of: connecting a programmer device (28) with electrical lines (15) which run out of the junction 0**t** * box (14), whereIn the programmer device (28) Is configured to generate control signals for a *..fl * * heating system and to output the control signals via the electrical lines (15), characterized in that *0 * the retrofitting method furthermore comprises at least the following steps: *00000 * * mounting a thermostat replacement device (30) in the region of a wall at which the thermostat wires (16, 17) terminate, and connecting two of the thermostat wires (16, 17) with two cable securing devices (31, 32) of the thermostat replacement device (30). the two cable securing devices (31, 32) being electrically connected to each other, for providing a constant electrical connection between the two thermostat wires (16, 17). -
13. Retrofitting method according to claim 12, characteri2ed in that the retrofitting method comprises at least the following steps for correctly connecting electrical lines (15), which lead to a programmer device to be replaced (18), with the correct contacts of the programmer device (28) of a retrofit kit: -transmitting a model identification of a programmer device to be replaced (18) via an internet connection to a remote computing unit, wherein the computing unit comprises a data bank in which it is saved for different models of programmer devices to be replaced (18) to which contact of the respective model which electrical line (15) is connected, -identifying the different electrical lines (15) through the fact to which contact of the respective model which of the electrical lines (15) is connected, wherein it is furthermore saved in the data bank to which contacts of the programmer device (28) which electrical line (15) is to be connected, -determining to which electrical contacts of the programmer device (28) the identified electrical lines (15) are to be connected, and -transmitting instructions via the internet connection to a user, wherein the instructions comprise information to which electrical contacts of the programmer device (28) the different identified electrical lines (15) are to be connected.*
14. Retrofitting method according to claim 13, : characterized in that the instructions to the user comprise two labeling instructions per electrical line (15), wherein a.....* one of the labeling instructions identifies the respectively corresponding contact of the programmer device to be replaced (18) for the respective electrical line (15), and the other of the labeling instructions identifies the respectively corresponding contact of the programmer * ..device (28) of the retrofit kit for the respective electrical line (15).