Compressor utilizing low volt power tapped from high volt power

• US 20040037706A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlos Zamudio, Greg Hahn, James W. Bush, Jason Hugenroth, Joe T. Hill, John R. Williams, Thomas Barito, Zili Sun
• Original Assignee: Carlos Zamudio, Greg Hahn, James W. Bush, Jason Hugenroth, Joe T. Hill, John R. Williams, Thomas Barito, Zili Sun
• Inventors: Bush, James W., Sun, Zili, Williams, John R., Hill, Joe T., Zamudio, Carlos, Barito, Thomas, Hugenroth, Jason, Hahn, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,964,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/26
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/00 Combinations of two or more pumps, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type, specially adapted for elastic fluids; Pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids; Multi-stage pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/25 Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/35 Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis

Abstract

Low voltage electrical power is supplied to a diagnostic control device in a sealed compressor. Electrical power is tapped from a high voltage power line and transformed to low voltage power that in turn operates the diagnostic control device. The diagnostic control device and the electric voltage transforming system are housed within the sealed compressor shell, thus eliminating the need for additional openings in the compressor shell. Other low voltage devices can be powered in this way.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a sealed compressor shell housing a compressor pump unit, an electric motor for driving said compressor pump unit, and a low voltage device for monitoring predetermined aspects of compressor performance;

an inlet opening in said compressor shell for receiving an incoming high volt electric power supply for powering said electric motor; and

a system for converting said incoming high voltage electric power to a low volt electric power, and feeding low volt electric power to said low voltage device.

2. A compressor as recited in claim, 1 wherein said system for converting to low volt electric power is housed within said sealed compressor shell.

3. A compressor as recited in claim 2, wherein said system for converting low volt electric power has a power tap associated with said incoming high volt electric power supply;

and

a circuit for converting high volt electric power to low volt electric power;

4. A compressor as recited in claim 3, wherein said circuit for converting high volt electric power to low volt electric power includes a transformer.

5. A compressor as recited in claim 1, wherein said compressor pump unit is a scroll compressor.

6. A compressor as recited in claim 1, wherein said low voltage device is a diagnostic control.

7. A compressor as recited in claim 1, wherein said low voltage device is a sensor.

8. A compressor as recited in claim 1, wherein said low voltage device is a valve.

9. A method for providing low voltage electric power to a low voltage device that is housed within a sealed compressor shell comprising the steps of:

tapping high voltage electrical power from an incoming high voltage electric power line positioned within said sealed compressor shell;

converting said high voltage electric power to low voltage electric power; and

feeding said low voltage electric power to said low voltage device.

10. A compressor comprising:

a sealed compressor shell housing a compressor pump unit, an electric motor for driving said compressor pump unit, a diagnostic control device for monitoring predetermined aspects of compressor performance, and a conversion circuit for feeding low volt electric power to said diagnostic control device;

an inlet opening in said compressor shell for receiving an incoming high volt electric power supply for powering said electric motor; and

said circuit for feeding low volt electric power to said diagnostic control device comprises a power tap associated with said incoming high volt electric power supply, and a system for converting high volt electric power to low volt electric power for powering said diagnostic control device.

11. A compressor as recited in claim 10, wherein said circuit for converting high volt electric power to low volt electric power includes a transformer.