Compressor protection and diagnostic system

• US 7,648,342 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• 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:
  US11/402,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20060222507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 417/44.11, 417/902, 417/410.5, 417/26, 417/28
• US Class Current: 417/44.11
• 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 compressor assembly includes a shell, a compressor housed within the shell, and a motor drivingly connected to the compressor. A printed circuit board supports at least one temperature sensor. Processing circuitry receives data from the printed circuit board to determine operating conditions of the compressor.

Claims

1. A compressor assembly comprising:

a shell;

a compressor housed within said shell;

a motor drivingly connected to said compressor;

at least one temperature sensor;

a printed circuit board associated with said at least one temperature sensor;

processing circuitry receiving data from said printed circuit board to determine operating conditions of said compressor;

a pin supplying said motor with current and including a measurement region disposed along said pin, said at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate to said measurement region.

2. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one temperature sensor is a negative temperature coefficient sensor.

3. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said pin is disposed within said shell.

4. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said pin is disposed external to said shell.

5. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said measurement region includes a smaller cross-sectional area of said pin.

6. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said pin is supported by said printed circuit board.

7. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry determines current drawn by said motor based on temperature data received from said printed circuit board.

8. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a motor temperature sensor.

9. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a compressor temperature sensor.

10. The compressor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hermetic feed-through assembly that connects at least one of said printed circuit board and said at least one temperature sensor to said processing circuitry through said shell to maintain a hermetic seal of said compressor.

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

12. The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is disposed external from said shell.

13. A compressor assembly comprising:

a shell;

a compressor housed within said shell;

a motor drivingly connected to said compressor;

at least one temperature sensor;

a pin supplying said motor with current, supported by a printed circuit board, and including a measurement region disposed along said pin, said at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate to said measurement region.

14. The compressor assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one temperature sensor is a negative temperature coefficient sensor.

15. The compressor assembly of claim 13, wherein said pin is disposed within said shell.

16. The compressor assembly of claim 13, wherein said pin is disposed external to said shell.

17. The compressor assembly of claim 13, further comprising processing circuitry determining current drawn by said motor based on temperature data received from said at least one temperature sensor.

18. The compressor assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a motor temperature sensor.

19. The compressor assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a compressor temperature sensor.

20. The compressor assembly of claim 13, further comprising a hermetic feed-through assembly that connects at least one of a printed circuit board and said at least one temperature sensor to processing circuitry through said shell to maintain a hermetic seal of said compressor.

21. The compressor assembly of claim 20, wherein said processing circuitry is disposed external from said shell.

22. A compressor assembly comprising:

a shell;

a compressor housed within said shell;

a motor drivingly connected to said compressor;

at least one temperature sensor;

a pin supplying said motor with current and including a measurement region disposed along said pin, said at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate to said measurement region,

processing circuitry determining current drawn by said motor based on temperature data received from said at least one temperature sensor.

23. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least one temperature sensor is a negative temperature coefficient sensor.

24. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said pin is disposed within said shell.

25. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said pin is disposed external to said shell.

26. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said pin is supported by a printed circuit board.

27. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a motor temperature sensor.

28. The compressor assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least one temperature sensor includes a compressor temperature sensor.

29. The compressor assembly of claim 22, further comprising a hermetic feed-through assembly that connects at least one of a printed circuit board and said at least one temperature sensor to processing circuitry through said shell to maintain a hermetic seal of said compressor.

30. The compressor assembly of claim 29, wherein said processing circuitry is disposed external from said shell.