Compressor diagnostic system for communicating with an intelligent device

• US 7,313,923 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj, Pham, Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US10/625,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 622/30, 361/22, 361/23, 361/30, 361/31
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/07 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/784 Light
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/86 Detection
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/90 Remote control, e.g. wireless, via LAN, by radio, or by a wired connection from a central computer
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2116 of a condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors

Abstract

A compressor includes a motor protector which stops the compressor motor when it senses an out of specification condition. A diagnostic system monitors the status of the motor protector and includes logic circuitry that diagnoses the type of problem the compressor or the system is having based upon the running times and status of the motor in conjunction with the times and status of the tripped motor protector. The diagnostic system also includes either a discharge pressure sensor or a condenser temperature sensor, an ambient air sensor and a voltage sensor. The sensors provide information to the diagnostic system, which enable it to determine where a system fault has occurred.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a compressor including a motor operable to power said compressor to an ON condition;

a motor protector operable in a tripped condition to restrict power to said motor in response to motor operating parameters;

a diagnostic device operable to diagnose a fault condition based on a moving window time average of said compressor operating in said ON condition when said motor protector is in said tripped condition.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic device determines an operating time for said compressor and an idle time for said compressor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic device determines a length of time said motor is outside of specified operating parameters.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical plug, said diagnostic device being integrated into said electrical plug.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a contactor providing a demand signal, said compressor operating in said ON condition in response to said demand signal.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said diagnostic device is integrated into said contactor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an intelligent device in communication with said diagnostic device and operable to indicate said fault condition.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said intelligent device receives diagnostic information from said diagnostic device.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor in communication with said diagnostic device and operable to monitor an operating characteristic of the system wherein said diagnostic device receives said operating characteristic from said sensor and is operable to shut down said compressor based on said operating characteristic.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor operable to monitor a discharge pressure of said compressor.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor operable to monitor ambient temperature.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a voltage sensor operable to monitor electrical voltage being supplied to said motor.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said diagnostic device uses a demand signal in conjunction with said sensor to monitor said operating characteristic.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a current sensor operable to monitor electrical current supplied to said motor.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said diagnostic device determines said status of said motor protector based on input from said current sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said fault condition is a compressor fault.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said fault condition is a system fault.

18. A system comprising:

a compressor including a motor operable to power said compressor to an ON condition;

a motor protector operable in a tripped condition to restrict power to said motor in response to motor operating parameters;

a diagnostic device operable to diagnose a fault condition when said motor protector is in said tripped condition based on a moving window time average of said compressor operating in said ON condition.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said diagnostic device determines an operating time for said compressor and an idle time for said compressor.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said diagnostic device determines a length of time said motor is outside of specified operating parameters.

21. The system according to claim 18, further comprising an electrical plug, said diagnostic device being integrated into said electrical plug.

22. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a contactor providing a demand signal, said compressor operating in said ON condition in response to said demand signal.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said diagnostic device is integrated into said contactor.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising an intelligent device in communication with said diagnostic device and operable to indicate said fault condition.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said intelligent device receives diagnostic information from said diagnostic device.

26. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a sensor in communication with said diagnostic device and operable to monitor an operating characteristic of the system wherein said diagnostic device receives said operating characteristic from said sensor and is operable to shut down said compressor based on said operating characteristic.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor operable to monitor a discharge pressure of said compressor.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor operable to monitor ambient temperature.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein said sensor is a voltage sensor operable to monitor electrical voltage being supplied to said motor.

30. The system according to claim 26, wherein said diagnostic device uses a demand signal in conjunction with said sensor to monitor said operating characteristic.

31. The system according to claim 26, wherein said sensor is a current sensor operable to monitor electrical current supplied to said motor.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said diagnostic device determines said status of said motor protector based on input from said current sensor.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein said fault condition is a compressor fault.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein said fault condition is a system fault.