Controller for air conditioner

• US 6,158,230 A
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsuki, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/271,738
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 62/125, 62/126, 62/127, 62/129, 62/130, 62/228.1, 62/230, 361/22, 361/23, 361/24, 361/30, 361/31, 361/33
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0003 characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption

Abstract

When an air-conditioning is started, a determination is made as to whether a power relay is run so as to keep a compressor in a power-on state. When the power relay is in the power-on state, the running current of the power relay is detected. At this point, if the current value does not reach to a predetermined value, it is determined that the compressor is stopped in an exterior unit for protection.

Claims

1. A controller for an air conditioner for heating or cooling air in a room, said air conditioner comprising a constant-speed type compressor, an exterior heat exchanger adapted to be provided outside the room, an expansion device, and an interior heat exchanger adapted to be provided in the room, to circulate a refrigerant in this order for cooling or in the reverse order for heating, wherein the compressor, the exterior heat exchanger, and the pressure reducer form an exterior unit, and the interior heat exchanger forms an interior unit, said controller comprising:

a power relay including an exciting coil provided with a contact point to inactivate or activate the compressor when the contact point opens or closes, the opening and closing of the contact point being controlled by electric current passing through the exciting coil;

an electric current detector for detecting the electric current passing through the exciting coil;

a control circuit for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined abnormality in the exterior unit based on a difference between a value of the electric current detected by the current detector and a predetermined value; and

a protector for discontinuing electric current passing through the exciting coil when the predetermined abnormality is detected by the control circuit.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the protector comprises a load detector for detecting a load of the compressor.

3. A controller according to claim 2, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is designed to change if the load detector detects an overload of the compressor, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.

4. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the protector comprises an outside air temperature detector for detecting an outside air temperature.

5. A controller according to claim 4, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is designed to change if the outside air temperature detector detects a decrease in outside air temperature to a predetermined degree or greater during heating, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.

6. A controller according to claim 1, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is designed to change if the electric current detects an electric current equal to or less than a predetermined value, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.

7. An air conditioner for heating or cooling air in a room, comprising:

(A) a refrigerant circuit comprising;

a constant-speed type compressor, an exterior heat exchanger adapted to be provided outside the room, an expansion device, and an interior heat exchanger adapted to be provided in the room, to circulate a refrigerant in order for cooling or in the reverse order for heating, wherein the compressor, the exterior heat exchanger, and the pressure reducer form an exterior unit, and the interior heat exchanger forms an interior unit; and

(B) a controller comprising;

a power relay including an exciting coil provided with a contact point to inactivate or activate the compressor when the contact point opens or closes, the opening and closing of the contact point being controlled by electric current passing through the exciting coil;

an electric current detector for detecting the electric current passing through the exciting coil;

a control circuit for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined abnormality in the exterior unit based on a difference between a value of the electric current detected by the current detector and a predetermined value; and

a protector for discontinuing electric current passing through the exciting coil when the predetermined abnormality is detected by the control circuit.

8. A method for controlling an air conditioner for heating or cooling air in a room, said air conditioner comprising:

a refrigerant circuit comprising;

a constant-speed type compressor, an exterior heat exchanger adapted to be provided outside the room, an expansion device, and an interior heat exchanger adapted to be provided in the room, to circulate a refrigerant in order for cooling or in the reverse order for heating, wherein the compressor, the exterior heat exchanger, and the pressure reducer form an exterior unit, and the interior heat exchanger forms an interior unit; and

a power relay including an exciting coil provided with a contact point to inactivate or activate the compressor when the contact point opens or closes, the opening and closing of the contact point being controlled by electric current passing through the exciting coil;

said method comprising the steps of;

detecting the electric current passing through the exciting coil;

detecting the occurrence of a predetermined abnormality in the exterior unit based on a difference between a value of the detected electric current and a predetermined value; and

opening or closing the contact point of the power relay in accordance with electric current passing through the exciting coil of the power relay, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is discontinued when the predetermined abnormality is detected.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is changed if the load detector detects an overload of the compressor, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is changed if the outside air temperature detector detects an decrease in outside air temperature to a predetermined degree or greater during heating, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the electric current passing through the exciting coil is changed if the electric current detects an electric current equal to or less than a predetermined value, whereby the control circuit determines the occurrence of the abnormality in the exterior unit.