US 10,328,771 B2Granted

System and method of controlling an oil return cycle for a refrigerated container of a vehicle

AssigneeEmerson Climated Technologies, Inc.

InventorsShawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki

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Abstract

A compressor compresses a refrigerant. A eutectic plate cools a refrigerated space. An evaporator cools the refrigerated space. A mixture of the refrigerant and an oil flows through the evaporator and the eutectic plate. A control module controls the compressor, a first valve that permits or prevents flow of the mixture to the eutectic plate, and a second valve that permits or prevents flow of the mixture to the evaporator. In response to a temperature of the refrigerated space being greater than a predetermined temperature, the control module: increases a speed of the compressor; operates the compressor at the increased speed for a predetermined time period; after the predetermined period: opens the second valve; and closes the first valve, where the control module opens the second valve before closing the first valve, and decreases the speed of the compressor after closing the first valve.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A refrigeration system of a vehicle comprising:

a compressor that compresses a refrigerant;
a eutectic plate that cools a refrigerated space, wherein a mixture of the refrigerant and an oil flows through the eutectic plate to cool the eutectic plate;
an evaporator that cools the refrigerated space, wherein the mixture flows through the evaporator;
and
a control module that controls the compressor, a first valve that permits or prevents flow of the mixture to the eutectic plate, and a second valve that permits or prevents flow of the mixture to the evaporator;
wherein in response to a temperature of the refrigerated space being greater than a predetermined temperature, the control module:
increases a speed of the compressor;
operates the compressor at the increased speed for a predetermined time period;
after the predetermined period:
opens the second valve to permit flow of the mixture to the evaporator and to decrease the temperature of the refrigerated space;
and
closes the first valve to prevent flow of the mixture to the eutectic plate,
wherein the control module opens the second valve before closing the first valve, and
decreases the speed of the compressor after closing the first valve.

11 more elements

A method for controlling an oil return cycle for a refrigerated container of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether to change a flow of a mixture of a refrigerant and an oil from a eutectic plate to an evaporator based on a temperature of the refrigerated container being greater than a predetermined temperature;
in response to the temperature of the refrigerated container being greater than the predetermined temperature, increasing an operating speed of a compressor of a refrigeration system;
operating the compressor at the increased operating speed for a predetermined period to change the flow of the mixture;
opening a first valve to permit the mixture to flow to the eutectic plate during the predetermined period;
after the predetermined period:
opening a second valve to permit the mixture to flow to the evaporator to decrease a temperature of the refrigerated container;
and
closing the first valve to prevent the mixture to flow to the eutectic plate after opening the second valve,
wherein the opening of the second valve includes opening the second valve before the closing of the first valve;
and
reducing the operating speed of the compressor after the closing of the first valve.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/635,239Filed 28 Jun 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Jun 2016
Published: US 2018/0001742 A14 Jan 2018
Granted: 25 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

B60H 1/3214
Control means therefor: for improving the lubrication of a refrigerant compressor in a vehicle
B60H 1/00428
Driving arrangements for parts of a vehicle air-conditioning: electric
B60H 1/005
Comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators: regenerative cooling means, e.g. cold accumulators
F25B 27/00
Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy