Encapsulation of components and a low energy circuit for hazardous locations
AssigneeHoffman Enclosures, Inc.
InventorsScott Dean Stammer, La Her, William Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an encapsulated compressor overload, an encapsulated compressor relay start, an encapsulated head pressure control switch and a wiring diagram for a circuit for air conditioning units which prevent gases from being ignited by means of encapsulating sparking components, use of solid-state switching devices, and/or wiring circuits in such a way that open contacts do not contain enough energy to produce a spark capable of igniting the atmosphere.
Claims19
An apparatus for preventing ignition of flammable gases and vapors in an environment surrounding an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system including a compressor and a transformer, the apparatus comprising:
- a sparking component for use in the air conditioning system, the sparking component receiving electrical power through one or more electrically live parts, the sparking component potentially producing sparks from one or more of the electrically live parts;
- an encapsulation material forming an air tight cover surrounding the sparking component such that sparks created by the sparking component are completely contained within the encapsulation material and prevented from coming into contact with the flammable gases and vapors;
- and
- a wiring circuit electrically connecting the sparking component, the compressor, and the transformer of the air conditioning system to a line voltage, the wiring circuit comprising:
- a high energy circuit;
- a low energy circuit;
- a solid state relay, wherein a first portion of the solid state relay is configured to connect to the high energy circuit and a second portion of the solid state relay is configured to connect to the low energy circuit;
- and
- a compressor start relay, wherein a first portion of the compressor start relay is configured to connect to the high energy circuit and a second portion of the compressor start relay is configured to connect to the low energy circuit.
An apparatus for controlling power to a compressor of an air conditioner, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one sparking component receiving electrical power through one or more electrically live parts of the sparking component, the sparking component capable of producing sparks from one or more of the electrically live parts;
- one or more portions of encapsulating material, each of the at least one sparking component having a corresponding portion of the one or more portions, the corresponding portion forming an air tight cover surrounding the sparking component such that sparks created by the sparking component are completely contained within the corresponding portion of encapsulation material and prevented from coming into contact with flammable gases and vapors in a vicinity of the air conditioner;
- and
- a wiring circuit electrically connecting the at least one sparking component, the compressor, and a transformer of the air conditioner to a line voltage, the wiring circuit comprising:
- a high energy circuit;
- a low energy circuit;
- a solid state relay, wherein a first portion of the solid state relay is configured to connect to the high energy circuit and a second portion of the solid state relay is configured to connect to the low energy circuit;
- and
- a compressor start relay, wherein a first portion of the compressor start relay is configured to connect to the high energy circuit and a second portion of the compressor start relay is configured to connect to the low energy circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.