Compressor Or Its Drive Controlled Patents (Class 62/228.1)
  • Publication number: 20100000246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage dispenser (1000) for dispensing beverages, that comprises: a refrigeration circuit (41); a tank (10) for containing said coolant at a liquid state coming from a first duct (20) in the lower portion thereof and evaporating said coolant into a gaseous state, and for containing said coolant in a gaseous state in the upper portion thereof; a second duct (30) for collecting the coolant at the gaseous state from said tank (10); at least one duct (40) for circulating said beverage to be dispensed inside said tank (10) and according to a thermal exchange relation with the coolant at the liquid and/or gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: José Thiry
  • Patent number: 7634918
    Abstract: A refrigeration device may provide a snooze feature, in which the compressor of the refrigeration device is turned off for a predetermined period of time in response to a user command. The refrigeration device may also provide a quick chill feature, in which the compressor of the refrigeration device is turned on for a predetermined period of time in response to a user command. User commands for controlling the operation of the refrigeration device may be provide through a control panel, a remote control or a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo E & E Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Kawaguchi, Kunimitsu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7628027
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a primary compressor that receives refrigerant from an evaporator and delivers refrigerant to a condenser, a subcooling compressor that delivers refrigerant to the condenser, and a subcooler that receives refrigerant from the condenser. A first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path pass through the subcooler. The first refrigerant flow path delivers a portion of the refrigerant to the evaporator, and the second refrigerant flow path delivers a remainder of the refrigerant to the subcooling compressor. The refrigeration system includes a controller operable to control operation of the subcooling compressor such that the refrigeration system operates at a point of highest efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Doron Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20090293521
    Abstract: A method of operating a HVAC system in a vehicle having an engine that operates in a high efficiency mode and a less efficient mode is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: operating a refrigerant compressor to cool a passenger compartment and charge a cold thermal storage apparatus; determining if a cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded a threshold; enabling compressor cycling if the cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded the threshold; detecting if the engine is operating in the high efficiency mode; determining an amount of HVAC loads on the engine; determining a proximity of the engine operation to a switching point from the high efficiency mode to the less efficient mode; and conducting a HVAC load shed if the HVAC load reduction allows the engine to stay below the switching point and the compressor cycling is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Harry E. Eustice, Kenneth L. Porrett, Edwin J. Stanke, Todd J. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7624587
    Abstract: A multi-stage operation type air conditioner which can be operated in various cooling or heating capacities. The multi-stage operation type air conditioner includes a first discharge port, a first opening/closing device for opening or closing the first discharge port, a second discharge port having a size different from that of the first discharge port, a second opening/closing device for opening or closing the second discharge port, and a controller for controlling the air conditioner such that the air conditioner may be operated with one of the first and second discharge ports opened, in an operation with a lower cooling or heating load, and the air conditioner may be operated with both the first and second discharge ports opened, in an operation with a higher cooling or heating load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong Hee Lee, Hyoung Seo Choi
  • Patent number: 7614240
    Abstract: Method of controlling a pulse tube cryocooler in which the power input to the acoustic source is varied to maintain temperature of a refrigeration load or a temperature that is at least referable to the temperature of the refrigeration load, at a set point temperature. Additionally, the impedance of an inertance network of the pulse tube cryocooler is also adjusted to obtain a maximum cooling power to the refrigeration load at the particular temperature as sensed and the particular power that is being supplied to the acoustic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce Mark Rampersad
  • Publication number: 20090266094
    Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, John I. Frey, Kenneth L. Porrett
  • Publication number: 20090260374
    Abstract: A control methodology for dynamically adjusting the switching limits of a cycled refrigerant compressor in an air conditioning system with the objective of achieving an optimal or specified tradeoff between compressor cycling frequency and discharge air temperature variation under all operating conditions. In a first embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled to maintain a virtually constant discharge air temperature variation for all operating conditions. In a second embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled so that the discharge air temperature variation changes in relation to the discharge air temperature to provide a virtually constant human comfort level for the occupants. And in a third embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled so that the discharge air temperature variation changes in relation to the ambient or outside air temperature to provide a virtually constant human comfort level for the occupants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Mingyu Wang, Prasad S. Kadle, Mark J. Zima
  • Patent number: 7600390
    Abstract: A transcritical vapor compression system includes a fluid circuit circulating a refrigerant in a closed loop. The fluid circuit has operably disposed therein, in serial order, a first compressor, an intercooler, a second compressor with a variable capacity, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant from the intermediate pressure to a supercritical pressure. The first heat exchanger is positioned in a high pressure side of the fluid circuit. The second heat exchanger is positioned in a low pressure side of the fluid circuit. The expansion device reduces the pressure of the refrigerant from a supercritical pressure to a relatively lower pressure. Cooling means cools the refrigerant within one of the compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Dan M Manole
  • Patent number: 7594410
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is controlled to a target control value that controls a swash-plate control value of a swash-plate variable capacity compressor. The variable control is based on temperature deviation between target evaporator temperature and actual evaporator temperature, to control compressor discharge capacity. A target evaporator temperature is set. Deviation between the target evaporator temperature and actual evaporator temperature is calculated. Control coefficients are variably set according to the magnitude of the temperature deviation. A target control value of a pressure control valve of the swash-plate variable capacity compressor is calculated using the control coefficients. The pressure control valve is controlled by the target control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hoon Lee, Tae-Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7591142
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a refrigeration cycle having a variable capacity compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a duct in which the evaporator is arranged; an air switching unit arranged on an upstream side of the duct and configured to switch outside air and inside air from one to the other; an air outlet arranged on a downstream side of the duct and communicating with an interior of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to control a discharge of the compressor. The control unit controls the compressor to provide a maximum capacity if the difference between a vehicle interior temperature and an ambient temperature is higher than a predetermined value and if the air switching unit is switched from a recirculation mode to a fresh air mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignees: Calsonic Kansei Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Eiji Takahashi, Yoshihiro Ayabe, Ryoichi Yokoi, Kazuhito Mouri
  • Patent number: 7584625
    Abstract: A compressor system includes a compressor having an inlet, a first conduit fluidly coupled to the inlet, an accumulator fluidly coupled to the inlet by a second conduit, and a first valve disposed in the second conduit that prevents fluid communication between the accumulator and the inlet in a closed state and permits fluid communication between the accumulator and the inlet in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Man Wai Wu, Gnanakumar Robertson Abel, Ka Yiu Lau
  • Publication number: 20090211278
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle device for a vehicle, a weak-inflammability refrigerant that does not ignite at a high-temperature heat source mounted in an engine compartment of the vehicle in a refrigerant single state is circulated in a refrigerant cycle. The refrigerant cycle includes a compressor for compressing and discharging the refrigerant. The compressor includes an oil separator that is located at a refrigerant discharge side of the compressor to separate a lubrication oil from the refrigerant and to return the separated lubrication oil to an interior of the compressor, a shutting portion configured to shut a reverse flow of the refrigerant at a refrigerant suction side of the compressor, and a driving portion located to drive the shutting portion. Furthermore, the driving portion causes the shutting portion to shut the reverse flow of the refrigerant when the refrigerant cycle is damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yamanaka, Shin Nishida
  • Patent number: 7578139
    Abstract: A controller reduces a rotational speed of a Rankine cycle from a predetermined normal rotational speed during an operation of a compressor in a predetermined state when the controller determines that a predicted refrigerant flow quantity, which is predicted by assuming that the compressor is operated in a sole operation of the Rankine cycle at the predetermined normal rotational speed of the Rankine cycle, exceeds a predetermined flow quantity. The predetermined state is a state that satisfies a predetermined condition, which relates to the sole operation of the Rankine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Michio Nishikawa, Atsushi Inaba, Hironori Asa, Hiroshi Kishita
  • Patent number: 7574873
    Abstract: A current sensor for detecting a power supply current is commonly used for detecting a current of a stator winding to detect a rotational position of a magnet rotor, so that a sinusoidal driving is realized without adding two current sensors for detection of a phase current, and also a phase shift circuit and a comparator needed in the conventional 120-degree current feeding are not required, and the number of components can be reduced. Therefore, an inverter device with a low noise and low vibration, having a small size, light weight and high reliability is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Goto, Keizo Matsui, Makoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7562535
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automatic starting and stopping of an internal combustion engine. Release of a stop mode for the internal combustion engine is enabled depending on a time period that depends on the temperature difference between the temperature prevailing in the interior of a motor vehicle and the desired temperature set by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mathias Deiml, Frank Lohrenz, Martin Rampeltshammer
  • Patent number: 7562536
    Abstract: An HVAC system and method for configuring a controller to control a compressor including a detection system provided to determine a type of compressor. The detection system includes a processor; and a load sensing circuit connected between the processor and a controller. The controller has a plurality of output connections connectable to a compressor. The load sensing circuit senses whether a load is present on each output connection of the plurality of output connections and provides a load signal to the processor indicating whether a load is present on each output connection. The load signals are processed with the processor to determine the type of compressor is present. The controller is configured to control the compressor in response to the determined type of compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Jeffrey Lee Tucker
  • Patent number: 7555913
    Abstract: A method for controlling multiple compressors for use in an airconditioner is disclosed. In the airconditioner having N compressors, the method sequentially and equally operates the N compressors using a two-dimensional matrix which prevents only a specific compressor from among the N compressors from being repeatedly operated, arranges rows and columns of the two-dimensional matrix to allow all compressors to be alternately operated according to the number of operating compressors from among all compressors, and stochastically operates and stops the N compressors using the two-dimensional matrix. As a result, the method controls the N compressors to be equally operated without overlapping operation times of the N compressors, and alleviates fatigue of the compressors, resulting in equally longer lifetimes of the N compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Jei Hwang, Cheol Min Kim, Chang Min Choi, Yeong Seop Choe
  • Patent number: 7555911
    Abstract: An inverter (22) is provided between a power source (20) and a suction/discharge valve driving motor (14) that controls cycle time of suction and discharge of a refrigerator unit (10). An output frequency of the inverter (22) is controlled in accordance with output of a sensor (24) that detects temperature of a thermal load portion (11) of the refrigerator unit (10). This enables temperature adjustment of individual refrigerators with a highly reliable method without using an electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7546746
    Abstract: There is provided a cooling apparatus which can improve a cooling efficiency while preventing an abnormal increase in pressure of a high side. The cooling apparatus comprises: a refrigerant circuit which uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant; a control device which controls a speed of rotation of the compressor between predetermined lowest and highest speeds; and a cooled state sensor which detects a cooled state in a refrigerator main body to be cooled by an evaporator included in the refrigerant circuit. The control device increases a highest speed of rotation of the compressor if a temperature in the chamber of the refrigerator main body detected by the cooled state sensor is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Yamasaki, Kenzo Matsumoto, Shigeya Ishigaki, Masaji Yamanaka, Kentaro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090133418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug-in circuit and a cooling system thereof. The cooling system includes the plug-in circuit, an external terminal and an alternating current (AC) compressor, wherein the plug-in circuit includes an AC to AC inverter and an inverter control circuit. The AC to AC inverter is coupled to and between the external terminal and the AC compressor for converting an external AC voltage received by the external terminal to an internal AC voltage to supply to the AC compressor. The inverter control circuit is coupled to the AC to AC inverter for outputting a control signal to the AC to AC inverter to control the frequency of the internal AC voltage according to an external parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Chen Ta Lee, Wei Bin Weng
  • Publication number: 20090120112
    Abstract: An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the invention includes a refrigerator cycle unit having a variable speed compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, an indoor heat exchanger, and an accumulator sequentially connected to one another, a bypass pipe that connects the discharge side of the compressor and an outlet of the accumulator and has a two-way valve in the middle thereof, a discharge temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the compressor, and a controller that opens or closes the two-way valve, and limits the number of rotations of the compressor to a predetermined value or less, on the basis of the temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor when the compressor starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiro Nakamura, Kiyotaka Ueno
  • Publication number: 20090113907
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus having a refrigerant circuit (20) for performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle is disclosed. Refrigerant in a wet state, which provides an optimum coefficient of performance (COP) for a present operating condition, is drawn into the compressor (31). If the operating condition changes, the opening of an expansion valve (23) is adjusted such that the suction refrigerant of the compressor (31) is brought into a wet state which provides an optimum coefficient of performance for a new operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Sakitani, Michio Moriwaki, Yume Inokuchi, Tetsuya Okamoto, Yoshinari Sasaki, Eiji Kumakura, Masakazu Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090113908
    Abstract: A motor controlling method and apparatus of an air conditioner are disclosed. It is checked whether or not an operation frequency of a compressor motor is the same as or greater than a certain frequency and it is also checked whether or not a detected velocity of a fan motor is the same as or lower than a certain velocity during a certain time period. If the operation frequency is the same as or greater than the certain frequency and the detected velocity is the same as or lower than the certain velocity during a certain time period, the compressor motor is temporarily stopped. Because the compressor motor operates according to operational conditions of the fan motor, an overload can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Hwang, Sug Mun Choung
  • Publication number: 20090118870
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (50) to which two adsorption heat exchangers (51, 52) are connected. In the humidity control system (10), air is humidified in the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) working as the condenser while air is dehumidified in the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) working as the evaporator. If during the dehumidification operation the actually measured value of the room temperature is lower than the selected value of the room temperature or if during the humidification operation the actually measured value of the room temperature is higher than the selected value of the room temperature, the performance of a compressor (53) is controlled such that the actually measured value of the room temperature equals the selected value of the room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7526926
    Abstract: A drive system for a refrigeration compressor such as is used in a natural gas liquefaction plant, allowing the desired compressor speed and maximum turbine efficiency to be maintained throughout varying ambient temperature conditions. A gas turbine is used with an electric starter motor with drive-through capability located on a common drive shaft between the turbine and the compressor. A variable frequency drive (VFD) is connected between the electrical power grid and the electric motor for smooth startups, but also to allow excess turbine mechanical power to be converted to electrical power by the motor operating as a generator, and delivered to the grid at the grid frequency. Pulse width modulation technology may be used to reduce harmonic distortion in the VFD's output. The starter motor also functions as a helper motor when the turbine output is insufficient to drive the compressor at the rotational speed needed to meet throughput requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Peter C. Rasmussen, Stephen Wright, John D. Walter
  • Publication number: 20090095002
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from said inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. McSweeney, Stephen M. Seibel, Hung M. Pham
  • Publication number: 20090095000
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit configured by the interconnection of a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger; an operation controlling means capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation to control constituent equipment such that the refrigerant circulation flow rate that is the refrigerant quantity circulating in the refrigerant circuit becomes constant; and a refrigerant quantity judging means that judges the adequacy of the refrigerant quantity in the refrigerant circuit using an operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit during the refrigerant quantity judging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Yoshimi, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20090094997
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. A condenser sensor outputs a condenser signal corresponding to at least one of a sensed condenser pressure and a sensed condenser temperature. An inverter drive modulates a frequency of electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. A control module is connected to the inverter drive and determines a measured condenser temperature based on the condenser signal, monitors electric power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, calculates a derived condenser temperature based on the electric power data, the compressor speed data, and compressor map data for the compressor, compares the measured condenser temperature with the derived condenser temperature, and updates the compressor map data based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. McSweeney
  • Publication number: 20090090117
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an overheat condition of a compressor is provided. A compressor connected to an evaporator. A suction sensor outputs a suction signal corresponding to a temperature of refrigerant entering the compressor. A control module is connected to the evaporator sensor and the suction sensor and determines an evaporator temperature, calculates a suction superheat temperature based on the evaporator temperature and the suction signal, and monitors an overheat condition of the compressor by comparing the suction superheat with a predetermined suction superheat threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. McSweeney
  • Patent number: 7509816
    Abstract: In an air conditioner provided with a capacity variable compressor unit including an inverter, the capacity of the capacity variable compressor unit is controlled in response to air-conditioning load data including temperature difference between a set temperature and an indoor temperature. An inverter frequency for controlling an operation condition of the compressor unit is controlled by limiting a frequency obtained in response to the air-conditioning load data to a value less than a maximally allowable capacity stored in memory means such as ROM or EEPROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Ootori, Kazuhito Oono
  • Publication number: 20090065597
    Abstract: A system for controlling one or more components of a climate control system is provided that includes one or more controllers in connection with low voltage power lines for powering the one or more controllers. The controllers are further capable of transmitting one or more communication signals via the low voltage waveform. The system includes a thermostat controller, at least one system controller for a heating or cooling system, and a controller for a circulating air blower. The thermostat controller, system controller and circulating air blower controller are connected to each other only through each controller's individual connection to the hot and common low voltage power transmission lines. Each controller is capable of transmitting one or more signals that are superimposed onto the low-frequency low-voltage waveform and include information identifying a destination controller that the signals are intended for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: James P. Garozzo, William P. Butler
  • Publication number: 20090049849
    Abstract: A control method for a refrigerator is provided. In the method, operating conditions of a compressor are determined through a defrost sensor mounted to an evaporator to reduce power consumption. Because the operating conditions of the compressor are determined according to the temperature of the evaporator, cooling efficiency of the refrigerator can be improved, and power consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics inc.
    Inventor: Hyung Yul KIM
  • Patent number: 7484375
    Abstract: An air conditioning system is provided for motor vehicles, which are driven by an internal-combustion engine equipped with an overrun fuel cut-off, and having a compressor driven by the internal-combustion engine for setting a defined desired evaporator temperature, along with a control or automatic control influencing the operation of the air conditioning system as a function of the operating condition of the internal-combustion engine. The compressor is an externally automatically controlled compressor with an adjustable swash plate for variably adjusting the evaporator temperature. The control or automatic control is operatively configured such that, in a coasting operation of the internal-combustion engine, the swash plate is adjusted such that the evaporator temperature is lowered below the defined desired evaporator temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jochen Engel
  • Publication number: 20090025410
    Abstract: When during a first action of a refrigeration system the internal cold storage temperature is held at a desired temperature by an evaporator, the refrigeration system performs a second action of increasing the cooling capacity of the evaporator to decrease the internal cold storage temperature. When during the second action the internal cold storage temperature reaches a minimum temperature Tmin, the refrigeration system stops a compressor and performs a third action. When during the third action the internal cold storage temperature reaches a maximum temperature Tmin, the refrigeration system drives the compressor and performs the first action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeto Tanaka, Noriyasu Kawakatsu
  • Patent number: 7481068
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the storage of deep-frozen goods in a freezer having a speed-controlled compressor. In accordance with the invention, the compressor is operated in long-term operation and the temperature is lowered in a low-temperature mode to a temperature which is clearly below ?18° C., and is kept substantially constant at this selected temperature with only low temperature fluctuations which are caused by a change in speed of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried King, Matthias Wiest, Helmut Bauer, Thomas Ertel
  • Patent number: 7478537
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner includes a compressor to be driven by an engine. The vehicular air-conditioner includes a controller configured to reduce a load on the compressor in response to a braking condition of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makishima, Hiroyasu Nadamoto
  • Publication number: 20090013700
    Abstract: In a refrigerating air conditioning system using refrigerant such as CO2 used in a supercritical area, a highly efficient refrigerating air conditioning system is provided by adjusting the amount of refrigerant in a radiator which contributes to the efficiency of the system stably and quickly. During heat utilizing operation, the superheat at the exit of an evaporator is controlled to a predetermined value by controlling the opening of an expansion valve provided on the upstream side of the evaporator, and an expansion valve is controlled so that the state of refrigerant in a connection pipe on the high-pressure side becomes a supercritical state. In this state, a flow rate control valve is controlled to change the density of the refrigerant stored in a refrigerant storage container and the amount of refrigerant existing in the radiator is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Tetsuji Saikusa, Takashi Okazaki, Makoto Saitou, Hirokuni Shiba, Sou Nomoto
  • Patent number: 7469549
    Abstract: An electronic device controlling available energy consumption during time by its communication with another electronic device measuring deviations between set up information and indicative information. The electronic devices, as a part of a physical system, includes but is not limited to control, measure, record, verify and report the operation of the physical system. The physical system create the environment for the packaged product, controls the environment of the packaged product, enable distribution of the packaged product, monitor and log the data from the environment and of the packaged product. The physical system can be defined as a packaging system but may also be cold storage rooms, refrigerators, transportation vessels, machinery and line of production, hospitals or laboratories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kelvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bo Gunnar Ahlberg
  • Patent number: 7464561
    Abstract: A unitary control for operating at least the fan and compressor of a climate control apparatus in response to signals received from a thermostat. The unitary air conditioning control includes a circuit board, a microprocessor on the circuit board, a first relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a fan connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts at least one of which is connected to the microprocessor; and a second relay on the circuit board operable by the microprocessor, to connect a compressor connected thereto to line voltage, and having first and second contacts connected to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William P. Butler, Dean A. Drake, Nagaraj B. Jayanth
  • Publication number: 20080298957
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system located upstream of the inlet system for a gas turbine. The air conditioning system may comprise at least one conditioning module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream. The at least one conditioning module may have a plurality of forms including at least one of the following systems: a chiller, an evaporative cooler; a spray cooler, or combinations thereof. The specific form of the at least one conditioning module may be determined in part the configuration of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, David L. Rogers, Abbas Motakef
  • Patent number: 7458227
    Abstract: A method of preventing rapid on/off of a compressor in a unitary air conditioner comprises the steps of, when a unitary-capacity operation signal is inputted from a thermostat to start an outdoor unit, and a specific operation stage is continued for more than a predetermined period of time after the operation is started, changing the operation stage of the outdoor unit to an operation stage higher than the specific operation stage, and operating the outdoor unit in the changed operation stage, and, when the compressor is stopped according to a signal from the thermostat within a specific period of time after the operation stage is changed to an operation stage higher than the specific operation stage, starting the operation in the specific operation stage at the next operation, and still performing the operation in the specific operation stage although the operation state is continued for more than a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Seung Youp Hyun, Jeong Taek Park, Yoon Jei Hwang
  • Patent number: 7458226
    Abstract: An air conditioning system comprises a compressor 2 which compresses a refrigerant made of carbon dioxide, a radiator 4 which radiates heat of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2, an expansion valve 5 which decompresses the refrigerant which dissipated heat by the radiator 4 and which can control a refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4, an evaporator 7 which evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve 5, a sensor 13 which detects temperatures of a surface of a pipe through which a high pressure refrigerant on the outlet side of the radiator passes, and a control apparatus 23 which calculates a target refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4 based on a value detected by the sensor to control the expansion valve 5. The control apparatus corrects the target refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4 corresponding to refrigerant temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kojiro Nakamura, Tadashi Shimada
  • Publication number: 20080289348
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle system is disclosed. A compression unit 11 for compressing the refrigerant by the drive force of a vehicle engine 4 is arranged in a housing 10 of a compressor 1. The flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the compression unit 11 is detected by a flow rate sensor 15 including a throttle portion 15b and a pressure difference detection mechanism 15a. The throttle portion 15b reduces the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the compression unit 11. The pressure difference detection mechanism 15a detects the pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side of the throttle portion 15b in the refrigerant flow thereby to detect the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the compression unit 11. An oil separator 12 for separating the lubricating oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compression unit 11 is interposed between the compression unit 11 and the flow rate sensor 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Sawada, Yasutane Hijikata
  • Publication number: 20080289345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigeration machine, particularly a heat pump, comprising a closed circuit, which contains a coolant and in which an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an, in particular, electrically operated expansion valve are arranged one after the other. The refrigeration machine also comprises an overheating control unit for at least intermittently regulating the temperature of the coolant in the area of the compressor, particularly the compression final temperature. The invention also relates to a method for operating a refrigeration machine of the aforementioned type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC GmbH & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Ali R. Nejad
  • Patent number: 7454917
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle has a variable capacity compressor for compressing a refrigerant and controlling a discharged volume of the refrigerant by a power source for driving a vehicle, and a controller for setting a second target temperature higher by a predetermined temperature than a preset first target temperate and controlling the discharged volume of the refrigerant based on the second target temperature when entering into a state where fuel consumption of the power source for driving the vehicle is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Nadamoto, Kazuo Masuko, Ryuichi Hirose, Tadashi Suzuki, Hiroyuki Makishima
  • Patent number: 7451610
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system equipped with a refrigerant circuit comprising an electrically operated compressor is intended to enable simplification of data communication between the inside and outside of a passenger compartment and to enable accurate air conditioning control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Kubo
  • Patent number: 7451609
    Abstract: A compressor is operable to compress refrigerant at a variable operation frequency. According to a method of controlling the compressor, the compressor starts operating, and just after that, the compressor operates at a first frequency for a first period of time. Just after that, the compressor operates at a second frequency lower than the first frequency for a second period of time longer than the first period, and after that, the compressor operates at an ordinary operation. This method does not cause the compressor to generate an abnormal noise or obstruction to lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ikutomo Umeoka, Makoto Katayama, Junichiro Yabiki
  • Publication number: 20080271475
    Abstract: ABSTRACT A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator housing defining first, second, and third compartments separated by insulated walls, a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the first, second, and third compartments, first, second, and third sensors operative to detect temperature in a respective one of the first, second, and third compartments and control circuitry in electrical communication with the sensors, the control circuitry controlling flow of the cold air into each of the first, second, and third compartments so as to facilitate maintaining a respective desired temperature therein, where the desired temperature of each of the first, second, and third compartments is variable and may be set by a user independently with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Edward P. Wuesthoff, Dongning Wang
  • Patent number: RE40599
    Abstract: A low temperature storage cabinet having a freezing cycle system composed of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle and an evaporator, a cabinet temperature sensor for detecting an inside temperature of the cabinet, and an electric fan provided in the cabinet for circulating cooled air in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the compressor in the freezing cycle system is activated in response to rise of the inside temperature of the cabinet and deactivated in response to a fall in the inside temperature of the cabinet, and wherein the rate of operation of the electric fan is decreased in accordance with a decrease of temperature or pressure of refrigerant in the freezing cycle system during deactivation of the compressor to thereby reduce consumption of the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shima, Tomio Suyama