Condensing unit configuration system

• US 20060009880A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• 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: Bahel, Vijay, Hossain, Altaf, Crone, Thomas E., Monnin, Deborah L., Atwell-Mays, Marti
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 one of a plurality of starting paths;

generating a list of condensing units based on a 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 plurality of starting paths include a change an existing product (CEP) path, a search by own specification (SOS) path and a cross competitive product (CCP) path.

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

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

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on user inputs.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a competitive model number.

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

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

selecting one of a plurality of starting paths;

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

generating a list of condensing units based on a 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.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising inputting said user login.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of starting paths include a change an existing product (CEP) path, a search by own specification (SOS) path and a cross competitive product (CCP) path.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a history of purchased condensing units.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said history is defined over a user selected time period.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on user inputs.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said list of condensing units is generated based on a competitive model number.

16. A condensing unit configurator comprising:

at least one of a component database that stores condensing unit component data, a sales history database that stores previously purchased condensing unit data, and a competitive model database that stores competitive model condensing unit data; and

a configuration module that generates a list of condensing units based on a starting path that corresponds to one of said component database, said sales history database, and said competitive model database;

wherein said configuration module receives a selection from said list of condensing units and reconfigures said selection based on desired criteria.

17. The condensing unit configurator of claim 16 further comprising a user database that stores a user identity and a user category corresponding to said user identity, wherein said configuration module limits available options along said starting path based on said user category.

18. The condensing unit configurator of claim 16 further comprising a simulation module that generates thermal performance data based on said selection from said list of condensing units.

19. The condensing unit configurator of claim 16 wherein said configuration module finds an equivalent condensing unit based on said selection from said list of condensing units and based on desired specification criteria.

20. The condensing unit configurator of claim 16 wherein said configuration module generates at least one of an order, a quote, and a bill of materials based on said selection from said list of condensing units.