Vibration detection in a transport refrigeration system through current sensing
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorDennis Wayne Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A current sensor positioned on a power line monitors current draw associated with an electrical motor driven shaft based device, such as a scroll compressor. Mechanical vibrations in the scroll compressor force stress on the motor shaft of the scroll compressor, directly influencing current draw. By monitoring current draw, vibrations resulting from problems in the compressor, such as a broken mounting bracket, can be detected. A controller receives the current values and indicates if a current value exceeds a threshold current value or if a plurality of current values exceed a threshold value.
Claims13
A refrigeration system comprising:
- a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and an expansion device for circulating a refrigerant;
- and
- at least one sensor used to sense at least one system value representative of a level of vibration in said compressor of said refrigeration system, and said system value is a current value being delivered to a motor of said compressor, and said compressor is mounted to a container unit by a mounting bracket, said at least one sensor sensing an increase in said at least one current value and said level of vibration when said mounting bracket is broken.
A transport refrigeration system comprising:
- a compressor to compress a refrigerant to a high pressure, said compressor being provided with an electric current to drive a motor of said compressor;
- a heat rejecting heat exchanger for cooling said refrigerant;
- an expansion device for reducing said refrigerant to a low pressure;
- a heat accepting heat exchanger for evaporating said refrigerant;
- a refrigeration container for being cooled by said heat accepting heat exchanger;
- and
- at least one current sensor to sense at least one current value representative of a level of vibration being delivered to said compressor motor, and compressor is mounted to a container unit by a mounting bracket, said at least one current sensor sensing an increase in said at least one current value and said level of vibration when said mounting bracket is broken.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.