Performance testing method of air conditioner

• US 6,279,332 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yeo, Young-Gil, Cho, Jae-Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/593,160
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 622/37, 622/98, 622/99
• US Class Current: 62/125
• 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 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/36 to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks

Abstract

A performance testing method of air conditioner, adapted to simultaneously test performance of indoor units and outdoor units on a production line for concurrently assembling the indoor units and outdoor units, the method comprising the steps of: firstly testing operability of indoor unit and leakage of outdoor units; connecting a communication line between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit; connecting a pipe between the outdoor unit and a dummy indoor unit; secondly testing a communicative operation between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and operability of the outdoor unit; and comprehensively discriminating performances of the indoor unit and outdoor unit according to test data disclosed from the first and second testing procedures.

Claims

1. A method of testing the performance of a separation-type air conditioner, the method comprising the steps of:

pairing a concurrently assembled indoor unit and outdoor unit of a separation-type air conditioner to make a set; and

simultaneously testing said set, said step of simultaneously testing comprising the steps of;

connecting a communication line between said indoor unit and said outdoor unit; and

connecting a refrigerant pipe between said outdoor unit and a dummy indoor unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

before simultaneously testing said set, reading a bar code of said set for identification of said set.

3. The method of claim 1, said step of simultaneously testing said set further comprising the steps of:

before said step of connecting a communication line, performing a first testing procedure, comprising the step of;

measuring the revolution rate of a motor of the indoor unit and checking for leaks of refrigerant gas from the outdoor unit.

4. The method of claim 3, said first testing procedure further comprising the step of:

checking an operational status of the indoor unit.

5. The method of claim 4, said first testing procedure further comprising the step of:

checking the noise state of the indoor unit.

6. The method of claim 5, said step of simultaneously testing said set further comprising the steps of:

after said steps of connecting said communication line and connecting the refrigerant pipe, performing a second testing procedure, comprising the steps of;

measuring the voltage resistance, insulation resistance and earthing resistance of the set.

7. The method of claim 6, said second testing procedure further comprising the step of:

turning the heating remote controller on and testing a low voltage generated from the automatic voltage regulator during the heating operation.

8. The method of claim 7, said second testing procedure further comprising the step of:

turning the cooling remote controller on and measuring the revolution rate of the motor of the outdoor unit, measuring the consumed power, and measuring the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the dummy indoor unit.

9. The method of claim 8, said second testing procedure further comprising the step of:

checking the noise state of the outdoor unit.

10. The method of claim 9, said second testing procedure further comprising the step of:

checking the communication between the indoor unit and outdoor unit of said set.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

before performing said first testing procedure, manually inputting to said performance determining means, a first test start signal;

after said first testing procedure, manually inputting to said performance determining means, a first test end signal;

after said steps of connecting said communication line and connecting the refrigerant pipe and before performing a second testing procedure, manually inputting to said performance determining means, a second test start signal; and

after said second testing procedure, manually inputting to said performance determining means, a second test end signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

manually inputting, to a performance determining means, a signal of the result of one of the checking or measuring steps of said simultaneous testing of the set.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

when said manually inputted signal is a signal that said set has failed a checking or measuring step, terminating the testing of the set.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

before simultaneously testing said set, reading a bar code of said set for identification of said set.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

after said step of measuring the voltage resistance, insulation resistance and earthing resistance of the set, inputting the measured values of voltage resistance, insulation resistance and earthing resistance to the performance determining means; and

comparing the measured values of voltage resistance, insulation resistance and earthing resistance to set-up values identified by the bar-code reading for said set.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

after said step of measuring the revolution rate of the motor of the outdoor unit, measuring the consumed power, and measuring the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the dummy indoor unit, inputting the measured values of the revolution rate of the motor of the outdoor unit, the consumed power, and the temperature difference to the performance determining means; and

comparing the measured values of the revolution rate of the motor of the outdoor unit, the consumed power, and the temperature difference to set-up values identified by the bar-code reading for said set.

17. A performance testing device for a separation-type air conditioner, the device comprising:

a performance discriminating means for analyzing data of a test set of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of a separation-type air conditioner;

a bar code reader for inputting bar code data of the test set to the performance discriminating means;

a first test procedure means connected to the performance discriminating means, said first test procedure means comprising;

a gas detector for detecting refrigerant gas leaking from the outdoor unit;

an indoor RPM measurer for measuring the revolution rate of a motor of the indoor unit;

a gas leakage switch for indicating gas leakage;

an operation switch for indicating operational status of the indoor unit;

an abnormal room noise switch for indicating abnormal noise of the indoor unit;

a first test procedure start switch; and

a first test procedure end switch;

a second test procedure means connected to the performance discriminating means, said second test procedure means comprising;

an automatic voltage regulator for preventing damage to equipment due to overvoltage or low voltage;

a power meter;

a voltage resistance tester;

an outdoor RPM tester for measuring the revolution rate of a motor of the outdoor unit;

a dummy indoor unit, for connecting to the outdoor unit;

a temperature recorder for measuring the temperature difference between an inlet and outlet of the dummy indoor unit;

a pressure measurer;

a cooling/heating remote controller;

a bad heating switch, for indicating bad heating;

an abnormal outdoor noise switch, for indicating abnormal noise of the outdoor unit;

a bad communication switch, for indicating bad communication between the indoor unit and outdoor unit;

a second test procedure start switch; and

a second test procedure end switch; and

display means connected to the performance discrimination means.