Dual thermochromic liquid crystal temperature sensing for refrigerant charge indication
First Claim
1. A method of determining the sufficiency of refrigerant charge in a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator fluidly connected in serial refrigerant flow relationship comprising the steps of:
- sensing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser;
sensing the outdoor temperature; and
visually, simultaneously displaying by way of positional indications on respective thermochromic strips, both said sensed liquid refrigerant temperature and said sensed outdoor temperature such that the relative positions of the positional indications are indicative of refrigerant charge sufficiency in the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The sufficiency of refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system is determined by a comparison of two sensed temperatures in the system, one being the liquid line temperature and the other being either the outdoor temperature or the condenser coil temperature. In one embodiment the two sensed temperatures are displayed on respective thermochromic strips which are so calibrated and juxtaposed as to provide a visual indication, by the relative positions of the two displayed sensed temperatures, as to whether the refrigerant charge is adequate. In another embodiment, the sensed liquid line temperature is displayed by way of a plurality of LEDs and the other temperature is displayed by way of a marker on a temperature scale. If the two displayed temperatures are aligned, then the refrigerant charge is optimized, and if they are not aligned, the system is undercharged or overcharged.
118 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of determining the sufficiency of refrigerant charge in a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator fluidly connected in serial refrigerant flow relationship comprising the steps of:
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sensing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser; sensing the outdoor temperature; and visually, simultaneously displaying by way of positional indications on respective thermochromic strips, both said sensed liquid refrigerant temperature and said sensed outdoor temperature such that the relative positions of the positional indications are indicative of refrigerant charge sufficiency in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for indicating the sufficiency of refrigerant charge in a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator fluidly connected in serial refrigerant flow relationship comprising:
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a first sensor for sensing the temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser; a second sensor for sensing the outdoor temperature; a first visual display to provide a first visual indication of the sensed liquid refrigerant temperature; and a second visual display to provide, simultaneously with said first visual indication, a second visual indication of the outdoor temperature; wherein at least one of said first and second visual displays is by way of a thermochromic strip and the relative positions of the respective first and second visual indications are indicative of the charge sufficiency in the system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification