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US 2014/0150478 A1Published application
Ice Sensor For a Heat Pump
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorsRobert B. Dutch Uselton, Jonathan Douglas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various implementations, an ice sensor may include heater(s), ice accumulation surface(s), and/or temperature sensor(s). During operation, heat from a heater may be provided to an ice accumulation surface and a temperature sensor(s) may determine temperature(s) of the ice accumulation surface. A determination of whether ice is present on the ice sensor may be based at least partially on the determined temperature(s).
Claims20
A method comprising:
- exposing an ice accumulation surface of an ice sensor coupled to at least a portion of a heat pump to an area proximate the heat pump;
- allowing one or more heaters of the ice sensor to provide heat to the exposed ice accumulation surface;
- determining one or more temperatures of the ice accumulation surface;
- and
- determining if ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based at least partially on at least one of the determined temperatures.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a heat pump adapted to perform at least one defrost operation;
- and
- an ice sensor comprising:
- an ice accumulation surface;
- one or more heaters adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface;
- and
- one or more temperature sensors adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface;
- wherein the ice sensor is adapted to detect ice on the ice accumulation surface based on at least one of the determined temperatures;
- and
- wherein the heat pump performs at least one defrost operation when ice is detected on the ice accumulation surface of the ice sensor.
7 more elements
An ice sensor for a heat pump, the ice sensor comprising:
- an ice accumulation surface;
- one or more heaters coupled to the ice accumulation surface and adapted to provide heat to the ice accumulation surface;
- and
- one or more temperature sensors adapted to determine at least one temperature of the ice accumulation surface;
- wherein the ice sensor determines whether ice is present on the ice accumulation surface based at least partially on at least one of the determined temperatures.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.