Method and apparatus for temperature control in a refrigeration device
AssigneeKendro Laboratory Products, LP
InventorChuan Weng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature control device including a temperature sensor which senses a temperature at a specified location within the refrigeration apparatus. The temperature control device has first flow valve that is operable to selectively increase or decrease the flow of refrigerant in response to the temperature sensed by the sensor. In addition, the device has a second flow valve that is operable to selectively increase or decrease hot gas flow in response to the temperature sensed by the sensor. The temperature control device also contains a controller which controls the above mentioned valves in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
Claims20
A system for controlling temperature comprising:
- a temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature at a certain location of said system;
- a first flow valve operable to selectively increase or decrease refrigerant flow in a first flow path;
- a second flow valve operable to selectively increase or decrease hot gas flow in a second flow path;
- and
- a controller that controls the first and second flow valves in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
A system for controlling temperature, comprising:
- means for sensing a temperature at a certain location of an incubation system;
- means for increasing or decreasing refrigerant flow in a first flow path in response to the temperature sensed by the sensing means;
- means for increasing or decreasing hot gas flow in a second flow path in response to the temperature sensed by the sensing means;
- and
- means for controlling the valves in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means.
A method of providing back-up temperature control, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining the temperature inside a chamber within a temperature range with a first controller;
- sensing the temperature inside a chamber with a second temperature controller;
- cycling a compressor on and opening a first valve when the temperature inside the chamber is outside the temperature range of the first controller and reaches a maximum temperature set point of the second temperature controller;
- measuring the time duration after the compressor cycles on and said first valve is opened;
- shutting the first valve after a predetermined time has passed and opening a second valve;
- and
- cycling the compressor off when the temperature in the chamber is outside the selected range of the first controller and reaches a minimum temperature set point of the second temperature controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.