Refrigerant compressor driven by variable supply frequency motor

• US 6,668,571 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Italia Wanbao-ACC S.r.l. (Finami SpA)
• Original Assignee: Zanussi Elettromeccanica SpA (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Bertotti, Tiziano, Carli, Fabrizio, Peruzzo, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/980,998
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 622/284, 622/30, 622/281, 622/08, 622/09
• US Class Current: 62/228.4
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor driven by an electric motor, whose supply frequency is selectively variable between a discrete number of values (f₁, f₂, f_T) as a function of an input signal, uses control means integrated in the compressor to monitor two or more quantities that are variable with time in a mutually independent manner, of which at least one is representative of the actual operating conditions of the appliance. The control means also generates the input signal with a value that corresponds to a pre-established combination of the monitored quantities.

Claims

1. A compressor of refrigerant medium for a home-type or similar refrigeration apparatus, driven by a motor (10) whose power supply frequency is selectively variable between a discrete number of values (f₁, f₂, f_T) as a function of an input signal, characterized in that it integrally comprises control means (7) which are adapted to monitor two or more quantities that are variable with time in a mutually independent manner, of which at least one is representative of the actual operating conditions of the appliance, said control means being further adapted to generate said input signal with a value that corresponds to a preestablished combination of the monitored quantities,

wherein the compressor also integrally comprises means for processing said input signal, which are from time to time adapted to privilege any of said time-variable quantities over the other ones as a function of the absolute value that such quantities take in a respective pre-set scale, and

wherein one of said variable quantities is constituted by the utilization index of the driving motor (10) thereof.

2. A compressor of refrigerant medium for a home-type or similar refrigeration apparatus, driven by a motor (10) whose power supply frequency is selectively variable between a discrete number of values (f₁, f₂, f_T) as a function of an input signal, characterized in that it integrally comprises control means (7) which are adapted to monitor two or more quantities that are variable with time in a mutually independent manner, of which at least one is representative of the actual operating conditions of the appliance, said control means being further adapted to generate said input signal with a value that corresponds to a pre-established combination of the monitored quantities.

wherein the compressor also integrally comprises means for processing said input signal, which are from time to time adapted to privilege any of said time-variable quantities over the other ones as a function of the absolute value that such quantities take in a respective pre-set scale, and

wherein one of said variable quantities is constituted by the absolute duration of the operation of the driving motor (10) thereof.

3. A compressor of refrigerant medium for a home-type or similar refrigeration apparatus, driven by a motor (10) whose power supply frequency is selectively variable between a discrete number of values (f₁, f₂, f_T) as a function of an input signal, characterized in that it integrally comprises control means (7) which are adapted to monitor two or more quantities that are variable with time in a mutually independent manner, of which at least one is representative of the actual operating conditions of the appliance, said control means being further adapted to generate said input signal with a value that corresponds to a pre-established combination of the monitored quantities,

wherein the compressor also integrally comprises means for processing said input signal, which are from time to time adapted to privilege any of said time-variable quantities over the other ones as a function of the absolute value that such quantities take in a respective pre-set scale, and

wherein one of said variable quantities is constituted by the electric current input of the driving motor (10) thereof.

4. A compressor of refrigerant medium for a home-type or similar refrigeration apparatus, driven by a motor (10) whose power supply frequency is selectively variable between a discrete number of values (f₁, f₂, f_T) as a function of an input signal, characterized in that it integrally comprises control means (7) which are adapted to monitor two or more quantities that are variable with time in a mutually independent manner, of which at least one is representative of the actual operating conditions of the appliance, said control means being further adapted to generate said input signal with a value that corresponds to a pre-established combination of the monitored quantities.

wherein the compressor also integrally comprises means for processing said input signal, which are from time to time adapted to privilege any of said time-variable quantities over the other ones as a function of the absolute value that such quantities take in a respective pre-set scale, and

wherein the ratio of the highest power-supply frequency (f_T) to the lowest power-supply frequency (f₁) of the driving motor (10) thereof is comprised between 1.4 and 2.1 and is preferably anywhere near 2.