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US 6,639,502 B2Granted
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.
Claims3
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;
- wherein said contactor module includes at least one current sensor separate from said thermally activated switching device and said control assembly includes a current sensor circuit for determining current to said electric motor.
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;
- wherein said contactor module includes a current sensor circuit separated from said thermally activated switching device for detecting current to said electric motor, said current sensor circuit connected to said heater element control circuit.
4 more elements
A compressor comprising:
- an electric motor having a plurality of windings;
- a compressor unit 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;
- wherein said contactor module includes a current sensor circuit separated from said thermally activated switching device for detecting current to said electric motor, said current sensor circuit connected to said heater element control circuit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.