Instant A/C checker
AssigneeDaimler Chrysler AG
InventorKwangtaek Hong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting a low-charge state in an air conditioning system. In one aspect, the temperature/pressure of the discharge of the condenser is measured to determine whether a low-charge state exists in the refrigeration system by calculating the degrees of subcooling of the refrigerant and comparing that to a predetermined minimum value. In another aspect, the temperature/pressure of the discharge of the compressor is measured to determine whether a low-charge state is indicated by calculating the degrees of superheat of the refrigerant and comparing that value with a predetermined maximum value. An air conditioning checker is also disclosed.
Claims12
A method for detecting a low-charge refrigerant state of a compressor in a motor vehicle air conditioning system, the air conditioning system further including a condenser, the method comprising:
- detecting a temperature/pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the condenser and responsively producing a condenser temperature/pressure signal;
- detecting an ambient air temperature and responsively producing an ambient air temperature signal;
- determining the degrees of subcool of the refrigerant and responsively detecting a low-charge condition of the compressor.
An air conditioning system comprising:
- a condenser for cooling a pressurized refrigerant;
- a condenser temperature/pressure sensor operable for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant downstream of the condenser and generating a condenser temperature/pressure signal in response thereto;
- an ambient air temperature sensor operable for sensing an ambient air temperature and generating an ambient air temperature signal in response thereto;
- and
- an air conditioning checker for receiving the condenser temperature/pressure and ambient air temperature signals and determining the amount of subcool of the refrigerant.
A method for detecting a low-charge refrigerant state of a compressor in a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising:
- detecting a temperature/pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the compressor and responsively producing a compressor temperature/pressure signal;
- detecting an ambient air temperature and responsively producing an ambient air temperature signal;
- determining the degrees of superheat of the refrigerant and responsively detecting a low-charge condition of the compressor.
An air conditioning system comprising:
- a compressor for cooling a pressurized refrigerant;
- a compressor temperature/pressure sensor operable for sensing a temperature/pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the compressor and generating a compressor temperature/pressure signal in response thereto;
- an ambient air temperature sensor operable for sensing an ambient air temperature and generating an ambient air temperature signal in response thereto;
- and
- an air conditioning checker for receiving the compressor temperature/pressure and ambient air temperature signals and determining the amount of superheat of the refrigerant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.