Air conditioner control

A control system for an air conditioner refrigerant compressor comprising:

• electronic switch means for controlling connection of said compressor to an electrical power source;
• voltage sensing means for determining whether the voltage of said power source is below a preselected minimum voltage;
• control means for controlling energization of said electronic switch means;
• and time delay means connected to said electronic switch means, said control means, and said voltage sensing means for delaying energization of said electronic switch means by said control means for a predetermined period of time as an incident of each de-energization of said electronic switch means and as an incident of each determination of a voltage below said preselected minimum voltage, said control system including a clock pulse generating means providing pulses at preselected intervals to said control system including providing pulses to the connection of said time delay means and said control means to extend the timing capability of said time delay means in providing said predetermined period of time.

A control system for an air conditioner refrigerant compressor comprising:

• electronic switch means for controlling connection of said compressor to an electrical power source;
• control means for controlling energization of said electronic switch means;
• time delay means connected to said control means and said electronic switch means for delaying energization of said electronic switch means by said control means for a predetermined period of time as an incident of each de-energization of said electronic switch means;
• clock pulse generating means for providing timing pulses at preselected intervals to said control system commencing one said preselected interval following energization of said control system;
• and
• current sensing means including a reed switch arranged to determine the existence of compressor current above a preselected level, said current sensing means being connected to said control means and said clock pulse generating means whereby a simultaneous occurrence of a determination of compressor current above said preselected level by said current sensing means and a clock pulse causes said control means to deenergize said electronic switch means and thereby discontinue operation of said compressor.

A control system for an air conditioner refrigerant compressor comprising:

• electronic switch means for controlling connection of said compressor to an electrical power source;
• voltage sensing means for determining whether the voltage of said power source is below a preselected minimum voltage;
• control means for controlling energization of said electronic switch means;
• time delay means connected to said control means, said electronic switch means and said voltage sensing means for delaying energization of said electronic switch means by said control means for a predetermined period of time as an incident of each de-energization of said electronic switch means and as an incident of each determination of a voltage below said preselected minimum voltage;
• clock pulse generating means for providing timing pulses at preselected intervals to said control system commencing one said preselected interval following energization of said control system;
• and
• current sensing means arranged to determine the existence of compressor current above a preselected level, said current sensing means being connected to said control means and said clock pulse generating means whereby a simultaneous occurrence of a determination of compressor current above said preselected level by said current sensing means and a clock pulse causes said control means to de-energize said electronic switch means and thereby discontinue operation of said compressor.

A control system for an air conditioner refrigerant compressor comprising:

• electronic switch means for controlling connection of said compressor to an electrical power source;
• control means for controlling energization of said electronic switch means;
• time delay means connected to said control means and said electronic switch means for delaying energization of said electronic switch means by said control means for a predetermined period of time as an incident of each de-energization of said electronic switch means;
• clock means for timing preselected intervals;
• and
• current sensing means including a reed switch arranged to determine the existence of compressor current above a preselected level, said current sensing means being connected to said control means and said clock means whereby a simultaneous occurrence of a determination of compressor current above said preselected level by said current sensing means and the timing of a preselected interval by said clock means causes said control means to de-energize said electronic switch means and thereby discontinue operation of said compressor.

The method of controlling the operation of an electrically driven air conditioner refrigerant compressor comprising:

• sensing the temperature of the space being cooled by the air conditioner;
• energizing a control system for the compressor when the temperature of said space is above a selected temperature;
• sensing the voltage of the electric power source for said compressor upon energization of the control system to determine if the power source voltage is above a preselected minimum voltage;
• connecting said electrically driven compressor to said power source if the power source voltage is above said preselected minimum voltage and if said compressor has been disconnected from said power source for at least a predetermined minimum time to start said compressor;
• sensing the electric current flowing to said compressor from said power source to determine if said current exceeds a predetermined maximum current;
• and
• disconnecting said compressor from said power source upon the first to occur of
• (a) sensing said selected temperature in said cooled space, or
• (b) sensing a current exceeding said predetermined maximum current for a predetermined short period of time.