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US 6,542,062 B1Granted
Overload protector with control element
AssigneeTecumseh Products Company
InventorKent B. Herrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hermetic compressor is disclosed having an electric motor, a compressor unit, and an overload protector within a hermetically sealed housing. The overload protector includes a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to the electric motor, a heater element thermally coupled to the switching device, and a control circuit controlling the heater element. The overload protector allows the disconnection of power to the motor due to factors and conditions specified in the remotely located control circuit.
Claims16
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a stator and rotor;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- and
- an overload protector comprising:
- a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor, said switching device including a first heater element;
- a second heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control circuit providing a control signal activating said second heater element, said control circuit not electrically connected to said electric motor.
6 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit providing a control signal activating said heater element, said control circuit not electrically connected to said electric motor.
3 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit for activating said heater element;
- said contactor module includes a relay for controlling said heater element and said heater element control circuit includes a relay controller for operating said relay.
4 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit for activating said heater element;
- said control assembly includes a microprocessor.
4 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit for activating said heater element;
- said control assembly includes an input/output interface circuit for transmitting information to and receiving information from said control assembly.
4 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- and
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit for activating said heater element;
- said contactor module includes at least one inductive pickup and said control assembly includes a winding sensor circuit electrically connected to said inductive pickup for determining the condition of said windings.
4 more elements
A hermetic compressor comprising:
- a hermetically sealed housing;
- an electric motor disposed in said housing and having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit disposed in said housing and driven by said motor;
- a contactor module electrically connected to said electric motor and having a thermally activated switching device for selectively providing current to said electric motor and at least one heater element thermally coupled to said switching device;
- a control assembly electrically connected to said contactor module and having a heater element control circuit for activating said heater element;
- and
- an oil sensor, said control assembly including a low oil sensor circuit electrically connected to said oil sensor for determining a low oil condition.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.