Single phase compressor thermostat with start relay and motor protection

• US 6,020,702 A
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
• Original Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
• Inventors: Farr, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/224,664
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 318/430, 318/431, 318/434, 318/471, 318/484, 318/727, 318/778, 318/781, 318/782, 388/903, 388/921, 388/934, 361/23, 361/24, 361/28, 361/29, 361/30, 361/90, 361/91, 361/92, 361/102, 361/106, 62/129, 62/132, 62/157, 62/158
• US Class Current: 318/434
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/09 against over-voltage; against reduction of voltage; against phase interruption
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/903 Protective, e.g. voltage or current limit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/934 Thermal condition

Abstract

The present invention involves a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system comprises an electrical compressor motor, a line adapted to be connected to an electrical power line and a thermostat control circuit. The thermostat control circuit comprises a thermostat responsive logic circuitry coupled to a temperature sensor associated with the compressor and a solid state motor control circuit. The solid state motor control circuit includes a relay circuitry, power switch circuitry, compressor starting circuitry with an overload timer, high voltage protection circuitry, under voltage protection circuitry and run current limiting circuitry. The relay circuitry includes an optical coupler and triac to provide line voltage to the compressor through a start resistor. The power switch circuitry includes a pair of SCR'"'"'s connected in parallel as a switch to allow current to flow through the compressor. The overload timer comprising a resistor and capacitor masks the run circuit limiting circuitry during the compressor starting period for about one second. The run current limiting circuitry includes two voltage comparators arranged in parallel to monitor positive and negative parts of the AC current flow through the compressor. Voltage reference circuitry provides a supply voltage and a reference voltage. The reference voltage circuitry includes an AND gate which regulates the supply voltage. The voltage reference circuitry also includes a zener diode to serve as a precise reference for the reference voltage. The high voltage protection circuitry, the under voltage protection circuitry and the run current limiting circuitry share the same reference voltage.

Claims

1. A thermostat control circuit for a compressor comprising:

thermostat responsive logic circuitry coupled to a temperature sensor associated with the compressor; and

a solid state motor control circuit, said solid state motor control circuit including relay circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry, power switch circuitry coupled to said relay circuitry for selectively providing current to the compressor, compressor starting circuitry with an overload timer coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry, high voltage protection circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating at excessive input line voltages, under voltage protection circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating at an excessively low voltage, and run current limiting circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating with excessive current.

2. The thermostat control circuit of claim 1 wherein said relay circuitry includes an optical coupler and triac coupled to the compressor to provide line voltage to the compressor through a start resistor.

3. The thermostat control circuit of claim 1 wherein said power switch circuitry includes a pair of SCRs connected in parallel in relation to the compressor as a switch to allow current to flow through the compressor.

4. The thermostat control circuit of claim 1 wherein said overload timer comprises a resistor and capacitor which masks said run current limiting circuitry during the compressor starting period for about one second.

5. The thermostat control circuit of claim 1 wherein said run current limiting circuitry includes two voltage comparators arranged in parallel in relation to the compressor to monitor positive and negative parts of AC current through the compressor.

6. The thermostat control circuit of claim 1 further comprising voltage reference circuitry providing a supply voltage and a reference voltage coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuit and said solid state motor control circuit.

7. The thermostat control circuit of claim 6 wherein said voltage reference circuitry includes a NAND gate coupled to said supply voltage which regulates said supply voltage.

8. The thermostat control circuit of claim 7 wherein said voltage reference circuitry includes a Zener diode.

9. The thermostat control circuit of claim 6 wherein said high voltage protection circuitry and said under voltage protection circuitry share said reference voltage.

10. The thermostat control circuit of claim 9 wherein said run current limiting circuitry shares said reference voltage with said high voltage protection circuitry and said under voltage protection circuitry.

11. A refrigeration system comprising:

electrical compressor motor;

a line adapted to be connected to an electrical power line;

thermostat control circuit coupling said compressor motor with said line comprising;

thermostat responsive logic circuitry coupled to a temperature sensor associated with the compressor; and

a solid state motor control circuit, said solid state motor control circuit including relay circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry, power switch circuitry coupled to said relay circuitry for selectively providing current to the compressor, compressor starting circuitry with an overload timer coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry, high voltage protection circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating at excessive input line voltages, under voltage protection circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating at an excessively low voltage, and run current limiting circuitry coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry to prevent the compressor from operating with excessive current.

12. The refrigeration system of claim 11 wherein said solid state relay circuitry includes an optical coupler and triac coupled to the compressor to provide line voltage to the compressor through a start resistor.

13. The refrigeration system of claim 11 wherein said solid state power switch circuitry includes a pair of SCRs connected in parallel in relation to the compressor as a switch to allow current to flow through the compressor.

14. The refrigeration system of claim 11 wherein said overload timer comprises a resistor and capacitor which masks said run current limiting circuitry during the compressor starting period for about one second.

15. The refrigeration system of claim 11 wherein said run current limiting circuitry includes two voltage comparators arranged in parallel in relation to the compressor to monitor positive and negative parts of AC current through the compressor.

16. The refrigeration system of claim 11 further comprising voltage reference circuitry providing a supply voltage and a reference voltage coupled to said thermostat responsive logic circuitry and said solid state motor control circuit.

17. The refrigeration system of claim 16 wherein said voltage reference circuitry includes a NAND gate coupled to said supply voltage which regulates said supply voltage.

18. The refrigeration system of claim 17 wherein said voltage reference circuitry includes a Zener diode.

19. The refrigeration system of claim 16 wherein said high voltage protection circuitry and said under voltage protection circuitry share said reference voltage.

20. The refrigeration system of claim 19 wherein said run current limiting circuitry shares said reference voltage with said high voltage protection circuitry and said under voltage protection circuitry.