Combination sight glass and sump oil level sensor for a hermetic compressor

• US 6,276,901 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
• Original Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
• Inventors: Herrick, Kent B., Farr, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TYLER, CHERYL JACKSON
• Application Number:
  US09/459,519
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 417/13, 417/36, 417/44.1, 417/63, 417/228, 340/619, 340/514, 621/26, 621/29, 621/93, 732/93
• US Class Current: 417/13
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0207 with lubrication control systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0253 using centrifugal force for transporting the oil

Abstract

A combination sight glass and optical sensor is provided in the housing of a hermetic compressor to provide effective visual inspection in addition to automatic sensing of the level of oil in an oil sump. A sight glass fitting is provided in the housing and has a first portion that extends outwardly from the housing and that is accessible from outside the compressor. An optical oil level sensing device is removably attached to the first portion of the sight glass with electrical leads extending outside the compressor for connection to a compressor controller. A prism or similar device is attached to the sight glass fitting intermediate the sump oil and the optical sensor. The sensing device includes a light source, a photosensitive detector, and an opaque member to prevent cross coupling between the light source and the detector. Should the oil level in the oil sump fall below a predetermined level, the optical sensor sends a low oil level signal to the controller which interrupts power to the compressor or generates an alarm or status signal. A technician may remove the optical sensor from the sight glass fitting and visually inspect the oil level by looking through the sight glass fitting and prism and into the interior of the compressor housing. One embodiment of the optical sensor will also provide a low oil level signal to the controller when the optical sensor is disengaged or removed from the sight glass.

Claims

1. A hermetic compressor comprising:

a housing;

a motor connected to a controller and having a rotor and a stator, said controller connected to a power source;

a compressor mechanism drivingly connected to said rotor;

an oil sump disposed in said housing; and

a combination oil level sensor and viewing device mounted in said housing adjacent said oil sump and comprising;

a sight glass hermetically attached to said housing and adapted to permit optical viewing of said oil sump, whereby the level of oil contained in said oil sump may be observed, said sight glass including a sight glass fitting attached to said housing and a prism portion mounted on said fitting adjacent said oil sump; and

an optical sensor removably attached to said sight glass and electrically connected to said controller, said optical sensor including a light source, a photosensitive detector, and an opaque cylinder and adapted to sense the level of oil in said oil sump, said opaque cylinder including a sleeve portion removably mounted externally over said sight glass fitting, said cylinder further including a pair of bores disposed adjacent said prism portion, said light source and said detector being disposed within said bores to thereby prevent cross coupling between said light source and said detector.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein with said optical sensor disposed on said sight glass and sensing a low oil level in said oil sump, said optical sensor provides a low oil level signal to said controller, said controller includes means for interrupting power to said motor, thereby terminating compressor operation.

3. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said prism portion is disposed along a plane lying outside an inner periphery of said housing.

4. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said fitting and said sleeve portion are generally cylindrical with said sleeve portion having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said fitting, whereby said optical sensor sleeve may be placed over and about said fitting and removed therefrom repeatedly by unaided hand operation.

5. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said optical sensor includes three electrical leads disposed outside said housing and interconnected with said controller external of said housing, whereby said optical sensor sensing a low oil level condition within said oil sump provides a low oil level signal to said controller, said controller including means for terminating compressor operation.

6. A hermetic compressor comprising:

a housing;

a motor connected to a controller and having a rotor and a stator, said controller connected to a power source;

a compressor mechanism drivingly connected to said rotor;

an oil sump disposed in said housing; and

a combination oil level sensor and viewing device mounted on said housing adjacent said oil sump and comprising;

a sight glass hermetically attached to said housing and adapted to permit visual inspection of said oil sump, whereby the level of oil contained in said oil sump may be observed; and

an optical sensor removably attached to said sight glass and electrically connected to said controller, said optical sensor adapted to sense the level of oil in said oil sump and including a housing;

a light source, a photosensitive detector, and a blocking mechanism disposed in said housing, said blocking mechanism including a blocking member having a first position and a second position within said sensor housing, said first position disposed between said light source and said detector preventing optical cross coupling when said optical sensor is attached to said sight glass, said blocking member biased to said second position disposed away from said light source and said detector allowing cross coupling when said optical sensor is removed from said sight glass, whereby said optical sensor provides a low oil level signal to said controller when said optical sensor is removed from said sight glass.

7. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said optical sensor includes a spring that biases said blocking member to said first position away from said light source and said photosensitive detector.

8. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said optical sensor includes a circuit board within said sensor housing, said light source and said photosensitive detector are mounted on said circuit board.

9. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said sensor housing includes two identical C-shaped sections mated together.

10. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said blocking member includes a pair of bores to receive said light source and said photosensitive detector therein.

11. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said sight glass urges said blocking member from said second position to said first position, when said optical sensor is attached to said sight glass.

12. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said sight glass maintains said blocking member in said first position with said optical sensor attached to said sight glass.

13. A hermetic compressor comprising:

a housing;

a motor connected to a controller and having a rotor and a stator, said controller connected to a power source;

a compressor mechanism drivingly connected to said rotor;

an oil sump disposed in said housing; and

a combination oil level sensor and viewing device mounted on said housing adjacent said oil sump and comprising;

a sight glass hermetically attached to said housing and adapted to permit optical viewing of said oil sump, whereby the level of oil contained in said oil sump may be observed; and

an optical sensor removably attached to said sight glass and electrically connected to said controller, said optical sensor adapted to sense the level of oil in said oil sump and including a housing;

a light source, a photosensitive detector, an opaque member, and at least one spring disposed in said housing, said opaque member including a pair of bores to receive said light source and said detector and having a first position and a second position, said spring biasing said opaque member into said second position, said light source and said detector disposed within said opaque member in said first position and disposed outside opaque member in said second position, said sight glass maintains said blocking member in said first position with said optical sensor attached to said sight glass, whereby said optical sensor provides low oil level signal to said controller when said optical sensor is removed from said sight glass.

14. The compressor of claim 13, wherein said optical sensor includes a circuit board within said sensor housing, said light source and said photosensitive detector are mounted on said circuit board.

15. The compressor of claim 13, wherein said sensor housing includes two identical C-shaped sections mated together.