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US 10,240,852 B2Granted
Ice sensor for a heat pump
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorsRobert B. Dutch Uselton, Jonathan Douglas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various implementations, an ice sensor may include heater(s), ice accumulation surface(s), and/or temperature sensor(s). During operation, heat from a heater may be provided to an ice accumulation surface and a temperature sensor(s) may determine temperature(s) of the ice accumulation surface. A determination of whether ice is present on the ice sensor may be based at least partially on the determined temperature(s).
Claims19
A method comprising:
- exposing an ice accumulation surface of an ice sensor coupled to at least a portion of a heat pump to an area proximate the heat pump, wherein the ice sensor includes one or more heaters and one or more temperature sensors, the one or more heaters separated from the one or more temperature sensors by the ice accumulation surface;
- using the one or more heaters of the ice sensor to provide heat to the exposed ice accumulation surface, wherein the one or more heaters comprises a positive temperature coefficient heater;
- determining one or more temperatures of the ice accumulation surface using the one or more temperature sensors at different times;
- determining if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based on a change in temperature over time;
- running at least one defrost cycle if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface;
- and
- restricting operation of the ice sensor if one of the one or more temperatures of the ice accumulation surface that separates the one or more heaters from the one or more temperature sensors exceeds a predetermined temperature, wherein restricting operation of the ice sensor comprises lowering heat provided to the ice accumulation surface.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a heat pump adapted to perform at least one defrost operation;
- and
- an ice sensor comprising:
- a U-shaped tube;
- an ice accumulation surface;
- and
- one or more heaters at one end of the U-shaped tube and adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface, the one or more heaters coupled to one or more temperature sensors at the other end of the U-shaped tube, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are separated from the one or more heaters by the ice accumulation surface, and the one or more temperature sensors are adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface at different times;
- wherein the ice sensor is adapted to detect ice on the ice accumulation surface based on a change in temperature over time;
- and
- wherein the heat pump is operable to perform at least one defrost operation when ice is detected on the ice accumulation surface of the ice sensor and wherein the heat pump is operable to restrict operation of the ice sensor if one of the at least one temperatures of the ice accumulation surface that separates the one or more heaters from the one or more temperature sensors exceeds a predetermined temperature, wherein restricting operation of the ice sensor comprises lowering heat provided to the ice accumulation surface.
7 more elements
An ice sensor for a heat pump, the ice sensor comprising:
- an ice accumulation surface;
- and
- one or more heaters coupled to the ice accumulation surface and adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface, the one or more heaters coupled to one or more temperature sensors, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are separated from the one or more heaters by the ice accumulation surface, and the one or more temperature sensors are adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface at different times and coupled to one or more current sensors adapted to determine the current passing through the one or more heaters at different times;
- wherein the ice sensor determines whether ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based on a change in temperature over time;
- and
- wherein the heat pump is operable to perform at least one defrost operation when ice is detected on the ice accumulation surface of the ice sensor and wherein the heat pump is operable to restrict operation of the ice sensor if one of the at least one temperatures of the ice accumulation surface that separates the one or more heaters from the one or more temperature sensors exceeds a predetermined temperature, wherein restricting operation of the ice sensor comprises lowering heat provided to the ice accumulation surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.