Remote data acquisition system and method

• US 20050000235A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synergy Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: Nagaraj Jayanth
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/12 Heat-exchange fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

A data acquisition system and method includes monitoring a cooling system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, and employs a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of the system. A database stores predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems. The operating parameters are provided to a computer, which compares the provided operating parameters of the monitored cooling system with the predefined operating parameters to provide diagnostic results for the monitored cooling system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system including an electric motor, said apparatus comprising:

a first sensor for sensing a first operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a second sensor for sensing a second operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a third sensor for sensing a motor operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a microcontroller in communication with said sensors for receiving a signal from each of said sensors;

a hand held computer in communication with said microcontroller, said computer having a memory containing normal operating parameters for a plurality of air-conditioning systems, said computer being operable to compare said first, second and motor operating parameters with said normal parameters of one of said plurality of air-conditioning systems to diagnose said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

2. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a supply voltage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

3. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a supply amperage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

4. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

5. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in an evaporator of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

6. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in a condenser of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

7. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a supply amperage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second opeating parameter is a supply voltage to said compressor and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of said compressor.

8. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a master computer disposed remote from said hand held computer; and

a wireless connection between said hand held computer and said master computer.

9. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said wireless connection includes a connection to the Internet.

10. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer provides instructions for repairing said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

11. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a barcode reader in communication with said hand held computer.

12. A method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system including an electric motor, said method comprising:

measuring a first operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

measuring a second operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

measuring a moor operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

providing said operating parameters to a hand held computer;

selecting one air-conditioning system from a plurality of air-conditioning systems which is equivalent to said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

comparing normal operating parameters of said one air-conditioning system with said operating parameters of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system; and

providing a diagnostic result for said comparing step.

13. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting includes manually inputting an identifier of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

14. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting includes inputting an identifier of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system with a barcode reader.

15. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting includes communicating between said hand held computer and a master computer using a wireless connection.

16. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said communicating between said hand held computer and said master computer using a wireless connection includes communicating through the Internet.

17. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said providing diagnostic results includes providing instructions for repairing said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

18. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising performing a test session prior to comparing said normal operating parameters with said operating parameters of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

19. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising updating said hand held computer from a master computer through a wireless connection.

20. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising measuring a fourth operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

21. A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising:

a computer having a memory containing predefined operating parameters and an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter, and in communication with the microcontroller to receive said monitored operating parameter;

a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a first operating parameter of the cooling system;

a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system; and

a third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system;

wherein said monitored operating parameter includes at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters to diagnose the cooling system.

22. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said motor operating parameter and at least one of said first operating parameter and said second operating parameter.

23. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.

24. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.

25. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.

26. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in the evaporator of the cooling system.

27. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in the condenser of the cooling system.

28. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said memory of said computer includes a data base of predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter with said predefined operating parameters of one of the plurality of cooling systems to diagnose the cooling system.

29. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter.

30. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said first operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor, said second operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor, and the motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor.

31. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 21, further comprising:

a master computer disposed remote from said computer; and

a wireless connection between said computer and said master computer.

32. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said wireless connection includes a connection to the Internet.

33. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said computer provides instructions for repairing the cooling system.

34. The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said computer is a hand held computer.

35. A method for monitoring a system including a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said method comprising:

measuring a first operating parameter of the monitored system;

measuring a second operating parameter of the monitored system;

measuring a motor operating parameter of the monitored system;

providing at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter to a computer;

selecting a set of predefined operating parameters for a system which is equivalent to the monitored system from a data base including a plurality of predefined operating parameters for systems;

comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said provided operating parameter of the monitored system; and

providing a diagnostic result for said comparing step.

36. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, wherein said selecting includes manually inputting an identifier of the monitored system.

37. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, wherein said selecting includes inputting an identifier of the monitored system with a barcode reader.

38. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, wherein said selecting includes communicating between said computer and a master computer using a wireless connection.

39. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said communicating between said computer and said master computer using a wireless connection includes communicating through the Internet.

40. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, wherein said providing diagnostic results includes providing instructions for repairing the monitored system.

41. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, further comprising performing a test session prior to comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said provided operating parameters of the monitored system.

42. The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 35, further comprising updating said data base from a master computer through a wireless connection.