Air-conditioning servicing system and method

• US 6,324,854 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/721,594
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 622/98, 165/11.1, 236/94
• US Class Current: 62/127
• 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 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/12 Heat-exchange fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

An air conditioning servicing system utilizes a number of sensors which monitor various operating parameters of a malfunctioning air-conditioning system. These operating parameters are provided to a hand held computer along with an identifier of the malfunctioning air-conditioning system. The hand held computer contains the normal operating parameters for a plurality of air-conditioning systems. The hand held computer compares the measured operating parameters with the normal operating parameters for the specific air-conditioning system to provide diagnostic results for the malfunctioning system and possible service procedures. If the hand held computer does not recognize the malfunctioning air-conditioning system identifier, a wireless connection is made through the Internet to a master computer which has a larger data base.

Claims

1. An apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system including an electric motor, said apparatus comprising:

a first sensor for sensing a first operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a second sensor for sensing a second operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a third sensor for sensing a motor operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

a micro-controller in communication with said sensors for receiving a signal from each of said sensors;

a hand held computer in communication with said micro-controller, said computer having a memory containing normal operating parameters for a plurality of air-conditioning systems, said computer being operable to compare said first, second and motor operating parameters with said normal parameters of one of said plurality of air-conditioning systems to diagnose said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

2. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a supply voltage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

3. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a supply amperage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

4. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

5. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in an evaporator of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

6. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in a condenser of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

7. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first operating parameter is a supply amperage to a compressor of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system, said second operating parameter is a supply voltage to said compressor and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of said compressor.

8. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a master computer disposed remote from said hand held computer; and

a wireless connection between said hand held computer and said master computer.

9. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said wireless connection includes a connection to the Internet.

10. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer provides instructions for repairing said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

11. The apparatus for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a barcode reader in communication with said hand held computer.

12. A method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system including an electric motor, said method comprising:

measuring a first operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

measuring a second operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

measuring a motor operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

providing said operating parameters to a hand held computer;

selecting one air conditioning system from a plurality of air-conditioning systems which is equivalent to said malfunctioning air-conditioning system;

comparing normal operating parameters of said one air-conditioning system with said operating parameters of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system; and

providing diagnostic results for said comparing step.

13. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting step includes manual inputting an identifier of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

14. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting step includes inputting an identifier of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system with a barcode reader.

15. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said selecting step includes communicating between said hand held computer and a master computer using a wireless connection.

16. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said communicating between said hand held computer and said master computer using a wireless connection includes communicating through the Internet.

17. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said providing diagnostic results includes providing instructions for repairing said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

18. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising performing a test session prior to comparing said normal operating parameters with said operating parameters of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.

19. The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising updating said hand held computer from a master computer through a wireless connection.

20. The method The method for servicing a malfunctioning air-conditioning system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising measuring a fourth operating parameter of said malfunctioning air-conditioning system.