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AssigneeHussmann Corporation
InventorsNorman E. Street, Ted W. Sunderland, Charles D. Thomas, Doron Shapiro, Michael J. D'Anna
Estimating the term…
A commercial refrigeration system has a control system which distributes intelligence to increase granularity of the control and simplify wiring, assembly and installation. Compressors of the refrigeration system each have a bus compatible compressor safety and control module including a processor and sensors. All control and safety modules communicate over a single power and communications line with the controller, providing digital transmissions to the controller of measurements taken by the sensors. The information provided may include that the compressor is outside of a specific safety parameter, so that the controller knows not only that a safety parameter has been traversed, but exactly which one. The control and safety modules are capable of executing commands from the controller to cycle the compressors. The control and safety modules preferably contain sufficient intelligence to continue system operation upon failure of the controller. A compressor is also disclosed which has an intelligent control and safety module. The compressor also houses control and safety devices within a hermetically or semi-hermetically sealed shell.
A commercial refrigeration system for use in a food store comprising:
In combination, a food store refrigeration system comprising at least one fixture having evaporator means for cooling the fixture, compressor means having its suction side connected to draw refrigerant vapor from the evaporator means, condenser means connected to the compressor discharge side for receiving high pressure refrigerant from the compressor means and being operative for liquefying the refrigerant, and other means constructed and arranged for delivering refrigerant into the evaporator means, and controller means for controlling, in use, the operation of the compressor means, said controller means comprising:
A commercial refrigeration compressor for use in a vapor phase refrigeration system having evaporative cooling means for refrigerating perishable products, the compressor comprising an outer casing, an electric motor, a pressurizing unit constructed and arranged within the casing to be driven, in use, by the motor for drawing vaporous refrigerant from the cooling means at low pressure and pressurizing the vaporous refrigerant to a higher pressure, and an operating unit including a processor, at least one sensor strategically placed within the casing for monitoring an operating parameter of the compressor and being in communication with the processor, switching means connected to the processor for controlling activation and deactivation of the motor, the processor being configured for transmitting data regarding the sensed operating parameter to a master controller remote from the compressor and for receiving compressor control commands from such master controller and for executing such commands.
A refrigeration compressor for use in a vapor phase refrigeration system having evaporative cooling means for refrigerating perishable products, the compressor comprising an outer casing, an electric motor, a pressurizing unit constructed and arranged within the casing to be driven, in use, by the motor for drawing vaporous refrigerant from the cooling means at low pressure and pressurizing the vaporous refrigerant to a higher pressure, and an operating unit including a processor, at least one sensor strategically placed within the casing for monitoring an operating parameter of the compressor and being in communication with the processor, switch means connected to the processor for controlling activation and deactivation of the motor, the processor being constructed and arranged to command the switch means in response to a control evaluation of the sensed operating parameter.
A commercial refrigeration compressor for use in a commercial refrigeration system of the type used to refrigerate perishable products, the compressor comprising a hermetically sealed shell, an electric motor disposed in the shell, a pressurizing unit connected to the electric motor and disposed in the shell, the pressurizing unit having an inlet and an outlet, the pressurizing unit being constructed and arranged for drawing in generally vaporous refrigerant at low pressure in through the inlet, pressurizing the vaporous refrigerant to a higher pressure and discharging the pressurized refrigerant at said higher pressure out through the outlet, and an operating unit mounted on the pressurizing unit, the operating unit including a processor mounted on the compressor, a sensor disposed within the shell for detecting a control parameter of the compressor indicative of the level of refrigeration produced by the compressor, the sensor being in communication with the processor, a switch device connected to the processor for controlling activation and deactivation of the motor.
In combination a refrigeration system compressor having an operating unit and plural sensors, and a master controller electronically connected to the operating unit, the operating unit comprising:
A method of distributed intelligence control of a compressor in a refrigeration system having a plurality of fixtures, the compressor having a dedicated operating unit constructed and arranged to monitor at least two sensed operating parameters and being electronically dependent upon a master controller in a standard operation mode, the method comprising the steps of:
A commercial refrigeration compressor system for use in a food store comprising:
A method of distributed intelligence control of a controlled unit constituting part of a refrigeration system, the controlled unit having a dedicated operating unit constructed and arranged to monitor an operating parameter and being electronically dependent upon a master controller in a standard operation mode, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.