Compressor memory system and method

• US 7,752,014 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jayanth, Nagaraj, Lopez, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee; Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US11/474,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 702 33- 35, 702/182
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

A method includes accessing a first non-volatile memory associated with a compressor using a processor associated with at least one of a second non-volatile memory and an operating memory. A method further includes storing compressor data from at least one of the second non-volatile memory and the operating memory in the first non-volatile memory and accessing the compressor data in the first non-volatile memory to evaluate compressor performance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

delivering electric power to a motor of a compressor with at least one power lead that extends from an exterior side of a connector block attached to a shell of said compressor, through said connector block, to an interior side of said connector block to provide an electrical connection between an interior of said compressor on said interior side of said connector block and an exterior of said compressor on said exterior side of said connector block, said connector block maintaining a hermetic seal of said compressor while said electric power is delivered to said motor within said interior of said compressor;

controlling and monitoring operation of said compressor with a controller including a processor, said controller being attached to said connector block;

using said processor to access a non-volatile memory embedded within said connector block;

storing compressor data in said non-volatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said using said processor to access said non-volatile memory includes accessing said second non-volatile memory using an RFID device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor model type data;

compressor serial number data;

compressor capacity data;

compressor operating coefficient data comprising numerical constants associated with said compressor and used to calculate compressor operating data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing compressor operating coefficient data comprising numerical constants associated with said compressor, said method further comprising calculating compressor operating data based on said compressor numerical constants.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor bill of materials data;

compressor build sheet data;

compressor build date data;

compressor build plant data;

compressor build shift data;

compressor build assembly line data;

compressor inspector data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor energy efficiency ratio data;

compressor low voltage start data;

compressor wattage data;

maximum compressor electrical current data;

compressor refrigerant flow data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor installation location data;

compressor installation date data;

compressor installer data;

compressor purchase location data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor repair date data;

compressor repair type data;

compressor repaired parts data;

compressor service technician data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

suction pressure data;

discharge pressure data;

suction temperature data;

discharge temperature data;

electrical current data;

electrical voltage data;

ambient temperature data;

compressor motor temperature data;

compression element temperature data;

compressor bearing temperature data;

oil temperature data;

compressor control data.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing refrigeration system data in said non-volatile memory, including at least one of:

condenser temperature data;

evaporator temperature data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing compressor fault history data.

12. A method comprising:

powering a motor within a compressor with at least one power lead that extends through a connector block that hermetically seals said compressor, said connector block having a first memory embedded therein;

controlling said compressor motor with a controller that includes a processor and a second memory, said processor communicating with said first memory when said controller is attached to said connector block;

storing compressor data in said first memory when said controller is detached from said connector block.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said communicating includes accessing said first memory with an RFID device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor model type data;

compressor serial number data;

compressor capacity data;

compressor operating coefficient data comprising numerical constants associated with said compressor and used to calculate compressor operating data.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing compressor operating coefficient data comprising numerical constants associated with said compressor, said method further comprising calculating compressor operating data based on said compressor numerical constants.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor bill of materials data;

compressor build sheet data;

compressor build date data;

compressor build plant data;

compressor build shift data;

compressor build assembly line data;

compressor inspector data.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor energy efficiency ratio data;

compressor low voltage start data;

compressor wattage data;

maximum compressor electrical current data;

compressor refrigerant flow data.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor installation location data;

compressor installation date data;

compressor installer data;

compressor purchase location data.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

compressor repair date data;

compressor repair type data;

compressor repaired parts data;

compressor service technician data.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing at least one of:

suction pressure data;

discharge pressure data;

suction temperature data;

discharge temperature data;

electrical current data;

electrical voltage data;

ambient temperature data;

compressor motor temperature data;

compression element temperature data;

compressor bearing temperature data;

oil temperature data;

compressor control data.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing refrigeration system data in said first memory, wherein said storing refrigeration system data includes storing at least one of:

condenser temperature data;

evaporator temperature data.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing said compressor data includes storing compressor fault history data.

23. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

retrieving said compressor data from said first memory and storing said compressor data remotely from said compressor.

24. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

evaluating said compressor data to determine compressor performance;

generating output based on said evaluating.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein first memory is molded in said connector block.

26. The method of claim 12 further comprising monitoring operation of said compressor with said controller.

27. The method of claim 12 wherein said first memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

28. The method of claim 12 further comprising writing said compressor data to said first memory during operation of said compressor.

29. The method of claim 12 further comprising writing said compressor data to said first memory before installation of said compressor in a refrigeration system.