US4724680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air conditioning apparatus and control method thereof
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1986-11-19
•
Granted: 1988-02-16
•
Expires: 2006-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An air conditioning apparatus includes a variable frequency power source device for providing an AC electric power with a variable frequency, a variable capacity compressor driven by the AC electric ipower and a starting detector for detecting a starting state of the compressor a predetermined time after the compressor is energized. When the starting detector detects the starting failure of the compressor, the variable frequency power source device feeds the compressor with a starting frequency voltage until the starting detector detects changes in the level of the input current to the compressor within a predetermined time to heat refrigerant in the compressor, and then feeds the compressor with a driving frequency voltage corresponding to the required air conditioning load. When no change in the level of the input current is detected within the predetermined time, the variable frequency power source device supplys the compressor with the driving frequency voltage immediately after the predetermined time elapsed.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo Kawai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:40
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/86; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/64; F24F11/88; F25; F25B; F25B1/00; F25B29/00; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/025; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1917; G05D23/20; F24F11/30; F24F2110/00; F24F2110/10; F24F2140/00; F24F2140/50; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/26; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/021; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/15; F25B2700/151; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An air conditioning apparatus comprising: variable capacity compressor means for compressing refrigerant; starting detector means for detecting the starting state of the compressor means after a predetermined starting interval; and means for maintaining the voltage to the compressor means at a specified starting frequency level in response to the detection result of the starting detector means within a predetermined time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
An air conditioning apparatus comprising: variable capacity compressor means for compressing refrigerant; starting detector means for detecting the starting state of the compressor means after a predetermined starting interval; and means for maintaining the voltage to the compressor means at a specified starting frequency level in response to the detection result of the starting detector means within a predetermined time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintaining means includes control means for controlling the speed of the compressor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the starting detector meams includes a current detection means for detecting changes in the level of the input current, representing the starting state of the compressor means, to the compressor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the compressor means includes a compressor and variable speed motor means for driving the compressor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means includes variable frequency power source means for supplying the motor means with a driving frequency voltage corresponding to a required air conditioning load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the variable frequency power source means includes starting means for supplying the voltage at the specified starting frequency level to the motor means until the current detection means detects changes in the level of the input current to the compressor within the predetermined time when no change in input current level is detected by the starting detector means after the starting interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the variable frequency power source means also includes means for supplying a voltage at a specified driving frequency level to the motor means after the predetermined time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the variable frequency power source means includes driving means for supplying a voltage at a specified driving frequency level to the motor means when a change in the input current level is detected by the starting detector means after the starting interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means includes counter means for measuring the elapsed time from initial application of the input current to the compressor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control means also includes a random access memory means for storing the starting interval, the predetermined time and the prescribed starting level frequency voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means includes variable frequency power source means for supplying the motor means with a driving frequency voltage corresponding to a required air conditioning load, the power source means feeding the motor means with a specified starting level frequency voltage for the predetermined time when no change in the input current level is detected by the current detection means after the predetermined starting interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
An air conditioning apparatus comprising: variable capacity compressor means for compressing refrigerant; starting current detector means for detecting changes of more than a preset amount in the level of the input current to the compressor means; and means for maintaining the voltage to the compressor means at a specified starting frequency level in response to the detection result of the starting current detector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
An air conditioning apparatus comprising: variable capacity compressor means for compressing refrigerant; starting current detector means for detecting changes of more than a preset amount in the level of the input current to the compressor means; and means for maintaining the voltage to the compressor means at a specified starting frequency level in response to the detection result of the starting current detector means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, having a compressor motor and a counter, comprising the steps of: supplying a starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor; generating a time counting output with the counter; detecting the input current to the motor after a predetermined starting interval; maintaining the starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor at a specified frequency level when the level of the input current detected is larger than a predetermined current level; and changing the voltage to the motor from the starting frequency voltage to a different driving frequency voltage, greater than the starting frequency voltage, corresponding to a required air conditioning load when either the time counting output of the counter achieves a predetermined value or the level of the input current detected is less than the predetermined current level.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, having a compressor motor and a counter, comprising the steps of: supplying a starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor; generating a time counting output with the counter; detecting the input current to the motor after a predetermined starting interval; maintaining the starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor at a specified frequency level when the level of the input current detected is larger than a predetermined current level; and changing the voltage to the motor from the starting frequency voltage to a different driving frequency voltage, greater than the starting frequency voltage, corresponding to a required air conditioning load when either the time counting output of the counter achieves a predetermined value or the level of the input current detected is less than the predetermined current level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the changing step includes the step of resetting the counter when the input current detected is less than the predetermined current level.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, having a compressor motor and a counter, comprising the steps of: supplying a starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor; generating a time counting output with the counter; detecting the input current to the motor after a predetermined starting interval; resetting the counter when the input current detected is less than the predetermined current level; and changing the voltage to the motor from the starting frequency voltage to a different driving frequency voltage, greater than the starting frequency voltage, corresponding to a required air conditioning load.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, having a compressor motor and a counter, comprising the steps of: supplying a starting frequency voltage to the compressor motor; generating a time counting output with the counter; detecting the input current to the motor after a predetermined starting interval; resetting the counter when the input current detected is less than the predetermined current level; and changing the voltage to the motor from the starting frequency voltage to a different driving frequency voltage, greater than the starting frequency voltage, corresponding to a required air conditioning load.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS54789A
Cited
JPS553577A
Cited
JPS56134561A
Cited
US4422030A
Cited
US4451112A
Cited
JPS57162981A
Cited
US4662185A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-15 | 1991-08-17 | 1992-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-15 | 1995-08-17 | 1996-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-15 | 1999-08-17 | 2000-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |