Compressor diagnostic system

• US 20040159112A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj, Pham, Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/07 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/784 Light
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/90 Remote control, e.g. wireless, via LAN, by radio, or by a wired connection from a central computer
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2116 of a condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors

Abstract

A diagnostic system and method for a compressor assembly including a compressor and a motor protector includes logic circuitry associated with the motor protector and operable to analyze a status of the motor protector as a function of time and identify a specific fault cause. The diagnostic system also includes a demand signal sensor and a current sensor, wherein the logic circuitry is associated with the sensors to further enable the diagnostic system to determine a specific fault cause.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a compressor assembly including a compressor and a motor protector, said system comprising logic circuitry associated with the motor protector and operable to analyze a status of the motor protector as a function of time and identify a specific fault cause.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising a demand signal sensor, wherein said logic circuitry is associated with said demand signal sensor.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 2, further comprising a current sensor, wherein said logic circuitry is associated with said current sensor.

4. The diagnostic system according to claim 2, wherein said demand signal sensor monitors a supply voltage.

5. The diagnostic system according to claim 2, wherein said demand signal sensor is in communication with a system controller supplying a signal indicating demand.

6. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator associated with said logic circuitry, said indicator receiving a signal from said logic circuitry to indicate a fault based on said current and demand signal.

7. The diagnostic system according to claim 6, wherein said indicator is a plurality of lights indicating the presence or absence of a fault condition.

8. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry is operable to output a coded sequence of electrical pulses to identify said specific fault cause.

9. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said logic circuitry is operable to analyze said operating condition and identify a specific fault cause while the compressor is operating.

10. A method for diagnosing a compressor assembly including a compressor and a motor protector, said method comprising:

analyzing a status of the motor protector as a function of time; and

identifying a compressor fault cause based on said analyzing.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

sensing a demand signal;

sensing a current; and

analyzing said sensed demand signal and said current.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said identifying a compressor fault cause includes indicating a specific fault cause based on said sensed current and demand signal.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said identifying includes outputting a coded sequence of electrical pulses to identify a specific fault cause.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said identifying occurs while the compressor is operating.