Condensing unit configuration system

• US 7,503,182 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Monnin, Deborah L, Atwell-Mays, Marti, Crone, Thomas E, Bahel, Vijay, Hossain, Altaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman; Marc E
• Application Number:
  US11/150,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/27, 622/98, 165/11.1, 700/276, 700/300, 703/7, 703/9
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25061 Configuration stored in central database
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

A system and method of computer-based configuration of a condensing unit for a cooling system is provided. A list of condensing units is generated based on a selected starting path. A condensing unit is selected from the list of condensing units and reconfigured based on desired criteria. The starting paths include a change an existing product path, a search by own specification path, and a cross competitive product path.

Claims

1. A method of computer-based configuration of a condensing unit for a cooling system, comprising:

selecting a starting path from a plurality of starting paths including an existing product path, a search by specification path, and a cross competitive product path;

generating a list of condensing units based on said selected starting path;

selecting a condensing unit from said list of condensing units; and

re-configuring said condensing unit based on desired criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inputting a user identity; and

limiting available options along each of said plurality of starting paths based on said user identity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a history of purchased condensing units.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said history is defined over a user selected time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on user inputs.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a competitive model number.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an order based on a redesigned condensing unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein when said existing product path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated based on a history of purchased condensing units.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying said history of purchased condensing units, including at least one of a customer part number, a manufacturer part number, a refrigerant type, a nominal horsepower, a temperature range, a date purchased, a quantity purchased, and a unit cost.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one search parameter, wherein when said search by specification path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated based on said at least one received search parameter.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one received search parameter includes at least one of a capacity, a physical dimension, a refrigerant type, a compressor technology type, an electrical parameter, a temperature range, and an availability.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein when said cross competitive product path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated to include at least one competitive condensing unit product.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising displaying at least one model number corresponding to said at least one competitive condensing unit product.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating thermal performance data for said condensing unit.

15. A method of computer-based configuration of a condensing unit for a cooling system, comprising:

selecting a starting path from a plurality of starting paths including an existing product path, a search by specification path, and a cross competitive product path;

limiting available options along each of said plurality of starting paths based on a user login;

generating a list of condensing units based on said selected starting path;

selecting a condensing unit from said list of condensing units;

re-configuring said condensing unit based on desired criteria; and

generating an order based on a redesigned condensing unit.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising inputting said user login.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a history of purchased condensing units.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said history is defined over a user selected time period.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on user inputs.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a competitive model number.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein when said existing product path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated based on a history of purchased condensing units.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising displaying said history of purchased condensing units, including at least one of a customer part number, a manufacturer part number, a refrigerant type, a nominal horsepower, a temperature range, a date purchased, a quantity purchased, and a unit cost.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving at least one search parameter, wherein when said search by specification path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated based on said at least one received search parameter.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one received search parameter includes at least one of a capacity, a physical dimension, a refrigerant type, a compressor technology type, an electrical parameter, a temperature range, and an availability.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein when said cross competitive product path is selected as said starting path, said list of condensing units is generated to include at least one competitive condensing unit product.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying at least one model number corresponding to said at least one competitive condensing unit product.

27. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating thermal performance data for said condensing unit.