Method of managing a refrigeration system

• US 6,675,591 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Digital Cold Chain Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar, Mathews, Thomas J., Wickberg, Paul, Starling, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US10/132,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/25, 236/51, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 705/7, 705/15
• US Class Current: 62/129
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/00 Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/00 Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs preserving foods or foodstuffs in association with packaging B65B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/36 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0286 Modifications to the monitored process, e.g. stopping operation or adapting control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at the remote location and employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.

Claims

1. The method of managing a refrigeration system at a remote location, comprising:

transmitting refrigeration system performance information from the refrigeration system at a remote location to a management center;

analyzing said performance information at said management center including calculating a food quality index using said performance information; and

altering refrigeration system configuration in response to said step of analyzing said performance information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing said performance information includes alarming as a function of a food safety index.

3. A method of managing a refrigeration system of a retail location, comprising:

configuring a processing center in communication with the refrigeration system and a management center;

communicating refrigeration performance information from the refrigeration system to said processing center and said management center;

analyzing said performance information including calculating a food quality index using said performance information by at least one of said processing center and said management center; and

altering refrigeration system configuration in response to said step of analyzing said performance information.

4. A method of managing a refrigeration system of a retail location, comprising:

configuring a processing center in communication with the refrigeration system and a management center;

communicating refrigeration performance information from the refrigeration system to said processing center and said management center;

analyzing said performance information including calculating a food safety index using said performance information by at least one of said processing center and said management center; and

altering refrigeration system configuration in response to said step of analyzing said performance information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising alarming as a function of said food safety index.

6. A method of managing a refrigeration system at a retail location comprising:

providing at least one server computer in communication with the refrigeration system at a retail location through a communication network;

communicating refrigeration system performance information from the refrigeration system at a retail location to said at least one server computer via said communication network;

analyzing said performance information including calculating a food quality index using said performance information at said at least one server computer; and

advising manipulation of operation of the refrigeration system based on said analysis of said performance information.

7. A method of managing a refrigeration system at a retail location comprising:

providing at least one server computer in communication with the refrigeration system at a retail location through a communication network;

communicating refrigeration system performance information from the refrigeration system at a retail location to said at least one server computer via said communication network;

analyzing said performance information including calculating a food safety index using said performance information at said at least one server computer; and

advising manipulation of operation of the refrigeration system based on said analysis of said performance information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising alarming as a function of said food safety index.

9. A method of managing a refrigeration system at a retail location comprising:

communicating refrigeration system performance information from a refrigeration system to at least one server computer via a communication network;

analyzing said performance information including calculating a food safety index using said performance information at said at least one server computer;

evaluating energy performance of the refrigeration system as a function of said performance information; and

alarming as a function of said food safety index.