Compressor protection module

• US 9,480,177 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Trudeau, Edward J. Jr., Barnett, Kenneth Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US13/930,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that may include a housing and an electronic component disposed within the housing. The housing may include a plug configured to engage a terminal assembly extending from a compressor shell and facilitate electrical communication between the plug and the terminal assembly. An exterior surface of the housing may include one or more receptacles extending therethrough in electrical communication with the electronic component.

Claims

1. An electronic device including an electronic component disposed within a housing, the housing having a plug configured to engage a terminal assembly extending from a compressor shell and facilitate electrical communication between the plug and the terminal assembly, an exterior surface of the housing including one or more receptacles extending therethrough in electrical communication with the electronic component, the plug is disposed inside of the housing and is integrally formed with the housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a plug body and a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs configured to snap into engagement with corresponding apertures in a fence of the terminal assembly.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the plug body includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive conductor pins of the terminal assembly.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base and a removable cap.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the cap includes a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs that snap into engagement with the base.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacles is in electrical communication with a display device disposed remotely from the housing.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to selectively engage a first cap having an integral display device and a second cap that is in electrical communication with a remote display device.

8. A set of components comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted to a compressor and including a first engagement feature and a first receptacle adapted to receive an electrical connector;

an electronic component disposed within the base;

a first cap including an integral display device and a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature to secure the first cap to the base, the integral display device being in communication with the electronic component when the first cap is engaged with the base; and

a second cap including a third engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature to secure the second cap to the base, the second cap including a second receptacle providing communication between the electronic component and a remote display device.

9. The set of components of claim 8, wherein only one of the first and second caps is secured to the base at any given time and the one of the first and second caps is chosen based on a system-level specification.

10. The set of components of claim 8, wherein the second engagement feature is identical in shape and size as the third engagement feature.

11. The set of components of claim 8, wherein the base includes a plug configured to engage a terminal assembly extending outward from a compressor shell for electrical communication between the plug and the terminal assembly.

12. The set of components of claim 11, wherein the plug includes a plug body and a plurality of resiliently flexible tabs configured to snap into engagement with corresponding apertures in a fence of the terminal assembly.

13. The set of components of claim 12, wherein the plug body includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive conductor pins of the terminal assembly.

14. The set of components of claim 8, wherein the second and third engagement features include resiliently flexible tabs.

15. The set of components of claim 8, further comprising a non-volatile memory received in the base.

16. A method comprising:

providing a base including an electronic component, a first engagement feature and a first receptacle adapted to receive an electrical connector;

mounting the base to a compressor;

providing a first cap including an integral display device and a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature to secure the first cap to the base, the integral display device being in communication with the electronic device when the first cap is engaged with the base;

providing a second cap including a third engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature to secure the second cap to the base, the second cap including a second receptacle providing communication between the electronic component and a remote display device; and

selecting one of the first and second caps based on a system-level specification.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the base to the compressor includes connecting a plug extending from a surface of the base with a terminal assembly extending from a shell of the compressor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the base to the compressor includes enclosing a terminal assembly of the compressor.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying indicia of compressor operating conditions on one of the integral display device and the remote display device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising mounting the remote display device on a wall of a condensing unit.