Integrated zoning circulator with priority controller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention features an integrated zoning circulator having its own priority controller integral with the circulator for determining the priority given to the zoning circulator in an individual zone of a multi-zone hydronic system.
The invention also features a priority circulator system, including a multi-zone hydronic system having a plurality of zones, a zoning circulator associated with each zone, each zone having a thermostat associated with the zoning circulator, and a plurality of priority controllers, each priority controller physically attached to an associated zoning circulator.
The priority controller, when activated, functions to assure that when the associated thermostat calls for the zoning circulator to operate, other zoning circulators in non-priority mode are prevented from operating simultaneously.
Each priority controller is disposed within a controller housing physically attached to the motor housing of the zoning circulator.
Each priority controller includes a manual switch, e.
g.
, a conventional "off/on" switch, which a user of the system can easily activate, preferably without any tools.
Accordingly, the invention allows priority to be changed by the consumer, who simply has to change the switch settings in the individual control boxes at the location of the associated integrated zoning circulator.
If desired, the system allows a plurality of priority controllers to be activated simultaneously, and thereby give those zoning circulators priority over the other circulators.
Any circulator with an activated priority controller, if operating to deliver heat, will prevent any zoning circulator with a nonactivated priority controller from turning on its associated circulator.
In a preferred embodiment, each priority controller includes an electrical outlet port connected to the zoning circulator and electrical inlet ports for accepting low voltage thermostat leads, low voltage heat exchanger control leads, high voltage supply leads, and priority line power leads