US 7,841,196 B2 · Variable-capacity air conditioner · patentgrep

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Abstract

A variable-capacity air conditioner includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor, an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor, a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger, a first capillary tube provided in the piping, a second capillary tube provided in the piping in series with the first capillary tube, a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube, a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe, and a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve. The compressor is operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress the refrigerant. The air conditioner prevents the compressor from overload and allows the refrigerant to circulating at an optimal flow amount rate through a refrigeration cycle.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A variable-capacity air conditioner comprising:

a compressor operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger;
a first capillary tube provided in the piping;
a second capillary tube provided in the piping, the second capillary tube being connected in series with the first capillary tube;
a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube;
a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe;
a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve such that the variable-capacity air conditioner operates in three stages;
and
a voltage detector for detecting a voltage applied to the compressor,
wherein
in a first stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve independent of the detected voltage and (2) operate the compressor at the first capacity independent of the detected voltage, to provide a first flow rate of the refrigerant,
in a second stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve when the detected voltage is lower than a predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected voltage, to provide a second flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the first flow rate, and
in a third stage, the controller is programmed to (1) close the valve when the detected voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected voltage, to provide a third flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the second flow rate.

12 more elements

A variable-capacity air conditioner comprising:

a compressor operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger;
a first capillary tube provided in the piping;
a second capillary tube provided in the piping, the second capillary tube being connected in series with the first capillary tube;
a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube;
a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe;
a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve such that the variable-capacity air conditioner operates in three stages;
and
a current detector for detecting a current supplied to the compressor, wherein
in a first stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve independent of the detected current and (2) operate the compressor at the first capacity independent of the detected current, to provide a first flow rate of the refrigerant,
in a second stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve when the detected current is larger than a predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected current, to provide a second flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the first flow rate, and
in a third stage, the controller is programmed to (1) close the valve when the detected current is equal to or less than the predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected current, to provide a third flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the second flow rate.

11 more elements

A variable-capacity air conditioner comprising:

a compressor operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor:
a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger;
a first capillary tube provided in the piping;
a second capillary tube provided in the piping, the second capillary tube being connected in series with the first capillary tube;
a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube;
a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe;
a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve such that the variable-capacity air conditioner operates in three stages;
and
a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor heat-exchanger, wherein
in a first stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve independent of the detected temperature and (2) operate the compressor at the first capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a first flow rate of the refrigerant,
in a second stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve when the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a second flow rate of refrigerant smaller than the first flow rate, and
in a third stage, the controller is programmed to (1) close the valve when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a third flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the second flow rate.

11 more elements

A variable-capacity air conditioner comprising:

a compressor operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor:
a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger;
a first capillary tube provided in the piping;
a second capillary tube provided in the piping, the second capillary tube being connected in series with the first capillary tube;
a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube;
a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe;
a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve such that the variable-capacity air conditioner operates in three stages;
and
a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat-exchanger, wherein
in a first stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve independent of the detected temperature and (2) operate the compressor at the first capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a first flow rate of the refrigerant,
in a second stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve when the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a second flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the first flow rate, and
in a third stage, the controller is programmed to (1) close the valve when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected temperature, to provide a third flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the second flow rate.

11 more elements

A variable-capacity air conditioner comprising:

a compressor operable at a first capacity and a second capacity less than the first capacity to compress a refrigerant;
an indoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
an outdoor heat-exchanger coupled to the compressor;
a piping for coupling the compressor, the indoor heat-exchanger, and the outdoor heat-exchanger;
a first capillary tube provided in the piping;
a second capillary tube provided in the piping, the second capillary tube being connected in series with the first capillary tube;
a by-pass pipe connected in parallel to the second capillary tube;
a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe;
a controller for controlling the compressor and the valve such that the variable-capacity air conditioner operates in three stages;
and
a pressure detector for detecting a discharge pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, wherein
in a first stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve independent of the detected discharge pressure and (2) operate the compressor at the first capacity independent of the detected discharge pressure, to provide a first flow rate of the refrigerant,
in a second stage, the controller is programmed to (1) open the valve when the detected discharge pressure is higher than a predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected discharge pressure, to provide a second flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the first flow rate, and
in a third stage, the controller is programmed to (1) close the valve when the detected discharge pressure is equal to or lower than the predetermined value and (2) operate the compressor at the second capacity independent of the detected discharge pressure, to provide a third flow rate of the refrigerant smaller than the second flow rate.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/619,657Filed 4 Jan 2007
Priority: JP 2006-0003535 Jan 2006
Published: US 2007/0151267 A15 Jul 2007
Granted: 30 Nov 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

Family

US 2007/0151267 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Jul 2007
US 7,841,196 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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