# US 2013/0156607 A1 · Compressor protection and diagnostic system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156607 A1 - Document ID: US20130156607A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/770,479 - Filed: 2013-02-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-30 - Assignees: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Nagaraj JAYANTH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156607A1 ## CPC - F04B 49/06: Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) - F04C 23/008: {Hermetic pumps} - F04C 28/28: Safety arrangements; Monitoring - H02H 3/006: {Calibration or setting of parameters} - H02H 3/08: responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04) - H02H 5/041: {additionally responsive to excess current (H02H5/048 takes precedence)} - H02H 7/08: for dynamo-electric motors - F04C 18/0215: {where only one member is moving} - F04C 2240/803: Electric connectors or cables; Fittings therefor - F04C 2270/80: Diagnostics - H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor} - H02H 3/085: {making use of a thermal sensor, e.g. thermistor, heated by the excess current (also responsive to the temperature of the protected device H02H5/041, thermal images H02H6/00)} - Y10S 417/902: Hermetically sealed motor pump unit - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A compressor diagnostic device is provided and includes at least one of a temperature sensor and a current sensor. The current sensor measures a first current flow through a motor of a refrigerant compressor. The temperature sensor is disposed within and sensing a temperature of a measurement region of an electrical conductor that is configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the motor, respectively. The compressor diagnostic device also includes a controller in communication with the at least one of the current sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller is operable to control the electrical conductor based on a comparison of a second current flow through the motor and a maximum current. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressor diagnostic device comprising: at least one of: a current sensor that measures a first current flow through a motor of a refrigerant compressor; and a temperature sensor disposed within and sensing a temperature of a measurement region of an electrical conductor that is configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the motor, respectively; and a controller in communication with the at least one of the current sensor and the temperature sensor and operable to control the electrical conductor based on a comparison of a second current flow through the motor and a maximum current. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to determine the second current based on the sensed temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the first and second currents are the same. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to determine the maximum current based on the sensed temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 4 wherein the controller is operable to determine the maximum current based on the sensed temperature in response to a determination that the maximum current is set to zero. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to maintain the electrical conductor closed when the second current is greater than the maximum current and less than the maximum current multiplied by a predetermined percentage, wherein the predetermined percentage is greater than 100 percent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 6 wherein the controller is operable to selectively open the electrical conductor when the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 6 wherein the controller is operable to open the electrical conductor when the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage for a predetermined period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 6 wherein the controller is operable to close the electrical conductor a first predetermined period after a time when the controller opens the electrical conductor in response to a determination that the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage for a second predetermined period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system comprising: the compressor diagnostic device of claim 1; and a light emitting device, wherein the controller is further in communication with the light emitting device and is further operable to selectively turn on the light emitting device based on the comparison. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the maximum current is not field configurable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The compressor diagnostic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to perform the comparison beginning a predetermined period after startup of the motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system comprising: the compressor diagnostic device of claim 1; and the refrigerant compressor. ### Claim 14 A compressor diagnostic method comprising: at least one of: measuring, using a current sensor, a first current flow through a motor of a refrigerant compressor; and measuring, using a temperature sensor, a temperature of a measurement region of an electrical conductor that is configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the motor, respectively; communicating with at least one of the current sensor and the temperature sensor; and controlling the electrical conductor based on a comparison of a second current flow through the motor and a maximum current. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising determining the second current based on the temperature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 wherein the first and second currents are the same. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising determining the maximum current based on the temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 17 further comprising, in response to a determination that the maximum current is set to zero, determining the maximum current based on the temperature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising maintaining the electrical conductor closed when the second current is greater than the maximum current and less than the maximum current multiplied by a predetermined percentage, wherein the predetermined percentage is greater than 100 percent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 19 further comprising selectively opening the electrical conductor when the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 19 further comprising opening the electrical conductor when the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage for a predetermined period. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 19 further comprising: in response to a determination that the second current is greater than the maximum current multiplied by the predetermined percentage for a first predetermined period, opening the electrical conductor at a time; and closing the electrical conductor a second predetermined period after the time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising selectively turning on a light emitting device based on the comparison. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising preventing the maximum current from being field configurable. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The compressor diagnostic method of claim 14 further comprising performing the comparison beginning a predetermined period after startup of the motor.