Refrigeration system energy controller

Claim 2

A refrigeration system energy controller for controlling the on-off cycle time of a refrigeration compressor motor, comprising: (a) a pressure-voltage converter that accepts an input from a pressure-sensing means, the converter producing a first electrical voltage when the pressure sensed by the pressure-sensing means is greater than a high pressure threshold, and producing a second electrical voltage when the pressure sensed by the pressure-sensing means is lower than the low pressure threshold; (b) a logic timer that produces a timing signal for a fixed time duration, the timer initiating the timing signal when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent; and (c) a logic switch that produces a two-valued electrical resistance path for completion of a compressor motor energization circuit, the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently low to assure energization of the motor when the first electrical voltage is present, and the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently high to prevent energization of the motor when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent.

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensing means is a pressure control switch located in the low pressure suction line of a refrigeration system, the pressure control switch providing a pair of dry electrical contacts to the pressure-voltage converter.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the refrigeration system energy controller is packaged integrally with the pressure control switch.

Claim 5

A refrigeration system energy controller for controlling the on-off cycle time of a refrigeration compressor motor, comprising: (a) a temperature-voltage converter that accepts an input from a temperature-sensing means, the converter producing a first electrical voltage when the temperature sensed by the temperature-sensing means is greater than a high temperature threshold, and producing a second electrical voltage when the temperautre sensed by the temperature-sensing means is lower than the low temperature threshold; (b) a logic timer that produces a timing signal for a fixed time duration, the timer initiating the timing signal when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent; and (c) a logic switch that produces a two-valued electrical resistance path for completion of a compressor motor energization circuit, the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently low to assure energization of the motor when the first electrical voltage is present, and the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently high to present energization of the motor when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent.

Claim 6

A refrigeration system energy controller for controlling the on-off cycle time of a refrigeration compressor motor, comprising: (a) a temperature-voltage converter that accepts an input from a temperature-sensing means, the converter producing a first electrical voltage when the temperature sensed by the temperature-sensing means is greater than a high temperature threshold, and producing a second electrical voltage when the temperautre sensed by the temperature-sensing means is lower than the low temperature threshold; (b) a logic timer that produces a timing signal for a fixed time duration, the timer initiating the timing signal when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent; and (c) a logic switch that produces a two-valued electrical resistance path for completion of a compressor motor energization circuit, the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently low to assure energization of the motor when the first electrical voltage is present, and the value of the electrical resistance path being sufficiently high to present energization of the motor when the second electrical voltage is present and the timing signal is absent.

Claim 7

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 4, wherein the logic switch is connected in series with a relay holding coil, the coil producing energization of the refrigeration compressor motor when the low resistance path through the logic switch is present, and producing de-energization of the motor when the high resistance path is present.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the logic switch is further connected in series with an external switching device, therein requiring both the low resistance path through the logic switch and a second low resistance path through the external switching device to be present to insure energization of the refrigeration compressor motor.

Claim 9

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 4 wherein the refrigeration system energy controller is packaged integrally with the refrigeration compressor motor.

Claim 10

The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the temperature-sensing means is located in the refrigeration compartment of the refrigeration system,

Claim 11

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 4, wherein the time duration of the timing signal may be adjusted in accord with different environmental and operational conditions.