Automated fault detection system for local monitoring of residential and commercial air conditioning systems

• US 20070056298A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carl Fiorletta, Julius Baker
• Original Assignee: Carl Fiorletta, Julius Baker
• Inventors: Fiorletta, Carl, Baker, Julius
• Application Number:
  US11/224,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056298A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/129
• 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 2140/12 Heat-exchange fluid pressure

Abstract

An electronic monitoring system is provided to monitor for and sense faults in a residential or commercial air conditioning system that uses a chemical refrigerant. By monitoring the discharge pressure variable, a determination may be made concerning the condition of the air conditioning system and alert the home owner or resident when the air conditioning system requires professional service. The early warning of system air conditioning system faults will give the property owner the opportunity to service the system before more long term damage is done to the system. The microprocessor based control will monitor the discharge line pressure and transmit a signal to a system monitor panel that is co-located with the heating/air conditioning thermostat installed within the dwelling or structure. A display on the face of the monitor panel will alert the home owner or resident, in an incremental manner, when the air conditioning system is in urgent need of professional service. The system consists of a control module that is installed within the condenser housing, a pressure switch with a variable output that is installed in the condenser discharge line and a display panel that is mounted within the dwelling, next to the thermostat that is controlling the condenser. The communication line between the control of the instant invention and its display panel is the same control line that exists between the system thermostat and the condenser, thereby eliminating the need for a separate control cable or radio frequency control link between the condenser and the interior of the structure.

Claims

1. ) An air conditioning system fault detection system that provides early warning to the home owner or resident that faults are being detected within the air conditioning system. The monitoring system consists of:

a) a pressure switch in the discharge line of the condenser,

b) a micro-processor based control module to collect a variable output from the pressure switch, process the data, and relay fault data to the interior-mounted display module,

c) a display module co-located with the thermostat that is installed within the dwelling,

d) a communication link between the control module of the instant invention that is located within the condenser housing and the data display that is co-located with the thermostat in the interior of the dwelling.

2. ) The microprocessor based control module of claim 1 will communicate to the display via the existing control wire between the thermostat and the condenser.

3. ) The display module of claim 1 will provide fault data to the resident or property owner providing early warning that there a one or more operational faults within the air conditioning system. This display will provide a sequence of instructions to alert the homeowner or resident that the air conditioning system requires service.