Compressor protection and diagnostic system

• US 7,491,034 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dwivedi; Vikansha S
• Application Number:
  US11/402,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20060182635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 417/44.11, 417/902, 417/410.5, 417/26, 417/28
• US Class Current: 417/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/803 Electric connectors or cables; Fittings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/085 making use of a thermal sensor, e.g. thermistor, heated by the excess current also responsive to the temperature of the protected device H02H5/041, thermal images H02H6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/041 additionally responsive to excess current H02H5/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/08 for dynamo-electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 417/902 Hermetically sealed motor pump unit

Abstract

A system includes a compressor having a shell and a motor disposed within the shell. A first sensor is provided for monitoring a discharge temperature of the compressor, a second sensor is provided for monitoring a temperature of the motor, and a third sensor is provided for monitoring at least one of current and voltage. Processing circuitry receives sensor data from the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor and processes the sensor data to diagnose the compressor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a compressor having a shell and a motor disposed within said shell;

a first sensor monitoring a discharge temperature of said compressor;

a second sensor monitoring a temperature of said motor;

a third sensor monitoring at least one of current and voltage;

processing circuitry receiving sensor data from said first sensor, said second sensor, and said third sensor and processing said sensor data to diagnose said compressor; and

a pin connected to said motor to supply said motor with current and including a measurement region disposed along said pin, said third sensor being disposed proximate to said measurement region.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first sensor is disposed within said shell.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first sensor is disposed external to said shell.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said third sensor is disposed within said shell.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said third sensor is disposed external to said shell.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within said shell.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said second sensor and said third sensor are supported by said printed circuit board.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said pin is disposed within said shell.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said pin is disposed external to said shell.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said measurement region includes a smaller cross-sectional area than the remainder of said pin.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry further comprises a series of light emitting devices that selectively illuminate in response to said diagnosis.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compressor temperature sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hermetic feed-through assembly that connects said processing circuitry through said shell to at least one of said first sensor, said second sensor, and said third sensor.