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US 8,845,300 B2Granted
Compressor freeze up prevention in cold weather
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorRoss Renner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically cycle one or more compressor valves, for example to prevent freeze up. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a compressor having a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a gas, a valve configured to control flow of the gas from the compression device, and a controller configured to cycle the valve to reduce buildup of contaminants in the compressor.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a compressor, comprising:
- a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a gas;
- an outlet flow path configured to flow the gas out of the compressor;
- a valve disposed along the outlet flow path and configured to control flow of the gas from the compression device;
- and
- a controller comprising a tangible, non-transitory storage medium storing one or more algorithms executable by a processor to cause the controller to cycle the valve a plurality of times when an input is received that a set point indicative of contaminant buildup in the compressor has been reached;
- wherein the valve is configured to apply a force to dislodge the contaminant buildup when cycled the plurality of times.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a compressor, comprising:
- a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a gas;
- a valve configured to control whether the gas flows from the compression device;
- and
- a controller comprising a tangible, non-transitory storage medium storing one or more algorithms executable by a processor to cause the controller to cycle the valve between an open position and a closed position a plurality of times at every instance of each of a plurality of set points after startup of the compressor to reduce buildup of ice in the compressor by applying a force against the ice to dislodge the ice.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- cycling a valve of a compressor a plurality of times upon receiving feedback that one set point of a plurality of set points has been reached after startup of the compressor to reduce buildup of ice in the compressor, wherein the cycling of the valve causes the valve to apply a force against the ice to dislodge the ice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.