Cleaning system for refrigerator condenser
AssigneeTrue Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorSteven L. Trulaske, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This cleaning system includes a compressor driven by a motor, a condenser; a cooling fan for directing an air stream at the condenser during normal operation, a motor drive system for driving the fan, and a timing device for reversing the rotational direction of the fan motor to direct the stream of cooling air away from the condenser to remove debris collected on the condenser and clean the condenser during a cleaning cycle. The fan is driven by drive system having a solid state commutated motor or a drive system having a reversible permanent split capacitor motor. The timing device includes a timer for controlling the time periods during the normal operation (cooling) cycle and during the cleaning cycle.
Claims26
A cleaning system for the condenser of a refrigeration unit, the system comprising:
- a compressor including a motor operating in a normal operating mode during a refrigeration cooling cycle,
- a condenser,
- a cooling fan including a fan blade;
- a motor drive system for driving the fan;
- a power source supplying power to the cleaning system during the refrigeration cooling cycle;
- and
- control means for running the fan motor drive system during the refrigeration cooling cycle at a first selected speed in a forward direction to direct air toward the condenser for a first predetermined period of time and at a second selected speed in a reverse direction to direct air away from the condenser for a second predetermined period of time, the first and second periods of time being tolled when power is not supplied to the cleaning system, the speeds and the time periods being effective to prevent formation of lint on the condenser.
A kit for retrofitting a refrigerator unit of the type comprising a compressor operating in a normal operating mode during a refrigeration cooling cycle when power is supplied to the unit, a condenser, a power source supplying power to the unit during the refrigeration cooling cycle and an original condenser fan motor and a fan blade with a condenser cleaning system, the condenser cleaning system kit comprising:
- a replacement reversible condenser fan motor for driving the fan blade in a forward direction and a reverse direction;
- and
- control means electrically connectable to the replacement fan motor for running the replacement fan motor during a refrigeration cooling cycle when Dower is supplied to the compressor alternately at a first selected speed in the forward direction to direct air toward the condenser for a first predetermined period of time, and in the reverse direction to direct air away from the condenser at a second selected speed for a second predetermined period of time, the first and second periods of time being delayed when power is not supplied to the compressor and resumed when power is supplied to the compressor, the speeds and the time periods being effective to prevent formation of lint, the control means including a timer electrically connectable to terminals of the compressor for monitoring and accumulating data representative of compressor running time during the refrigeration cooling cycle.
A cleaning system for the condenser of a refrigeration unit, the cleaning system comprising:
- a power source supplying power to the cleaning system during a refrigeration cooling cycle;
- a thermostatically controlled switching device allowing for supply of power from the power source to the cleaning system during the refrigeration cooling cycle in response to temperature variations in the refrigeration unit;
- a compressor including a motor operating in a normal operating mode during the refrigeration cooling cycle,
- a condenser having refrigerant delivered thereto by the compressor,
- a cooling fan including a fan blade;
- a motor drive system for driving the fan alternately in a forward direction to direct air toward the condenser and in a reverse direction to direct air away from the condenser;
- and
- a control system for monitoring operation of the compressor motor and for running the motor drive system when power is supplied to the cleaning system during the refrigeration cooling cycle alternately in the forward direction at a first speed for a first predetermined period of time and in the reverse direction at a second speed for a second predetermined period of time based upon the duration of compressor running time during the refrigeration cooling cycle, the speeds and the time periods being effective to prevent formation of lint on the condenser;
- the control system including a timing device for accumulating and storing data representative of compressor running time during the refrigeration cooling cycle;
- the control system causing the fan to operate in the forward direction until the accumulated compressor running time reaches the first predetermined time period, the control system causing the fan to operate in the reverse direction after the first predetermined time period is reached, the control system causing the fan to operate in the reverse direction until the accumulated compressor running time reaches the second predetermined time period, the control system causing the fan to operate in the forward direction after the second predetermined time period is reached.
A cleaning system for the condenser of a refrigeration unit, the system comprising:
- a compressor including a motor operating in a normal operating mode during a refrigeration cooling cycle,
- a condenser,
- a cooling fan including a fan blade;
- a motor drive system for driving the fan;
- a power source supplying power to the cleaning system during the refrigeration cooling cycle;
- and
- control means for running the fan motor drive system during the refrigeration cooling cycle when power is supplied to the compressor alternately at a first selected speed in a forward direction to direct air toward the condenser for a first predetermined period of time and at a second selected speed in a reverse direction to direct air away from the condenser for a second predetermined period of time, the first and second periods of time being delayed when power is not supplied to the compressor and resumed when power is supplied to the compressor, the speeds and the time periods being effective to prevent formation of lint on the condenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.