Patent US5088296A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5088296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air conditioner system with refrigerant condition detection for refrigerant recovering operation
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1989-11-28
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Granted: 1992-02-18
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Expires: 2009-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A heat pump refrigeration system has a refrigerant condition detector for detecting the mass of refrigerant in the system and initializing a refrigerant mass recovery operation. The heat pump system comprises three flow paths. When a cooling operation is performed, refrigerant flows in a first flow path through a compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, indoor heat exchanger, and the compressor, respectively. During a heating operation, refrigerant flows in a second flow path through the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant heater and the compressor, respectively. The system has a third flow path used during the refrigerant mass recovery operation. A controller causes the heating operation to continue in response to an appropriate signal from the condition detector. When the condition detector indicates an inappropriate refrigerant condition, the controller causes fluid to flow through the third flow path for a predetermined time period.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Hamaoka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:35
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B13/00; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/06; F25B29/00; F25B29/003; F25B43/00; F25B2313/00; F25B2313/008; F25B2313/009; F25B2313/023; F25B2313/029; F25B2313/0292; F25B2313/031; F25B2313/0316; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/25; F25B2600/2501
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an expansion valve; an indoor heat exchanger; a refrigerant heater; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a first flow path during a cooling operation, the first flow path sequentially including the compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, indoor heat exchanger, and compressor; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a second flow path during a heating operation, the second flow path sequentially including the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, refrigerant heater, and compressor; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a third flow path during a refrigerant mass recovery operation associated with the heating operation, whereby refrigerant stored in the outdoor heat exchanger is withdrawn therefrom and is drawn into the compressor; refrigerant condition detecting means, for detecting a condition of the refrigerant in the second flow path and for providing a first output signal indicative thereof, the detecting means including means for directly sensing a temperature of the refrigerant; and control means, for controlling the air conditioner in response to the first output signal by continuing the heating operation when the first output signal indicates an appropriate condition of the refrigerant, and by initiating the mass recovery operation when a predetermined number of determinations of an inappropriate condition of the refrigerant is reached, the control means including: means for comparing the first output signal to a reference value during a predetermined short period, to determine the condition of the refrigerant, means for temporarily stopping the operation of the compressor when the inappropriate condition has been determined, means for counting the number of determinations of the inappropriate condition and generating a second output signal indicative thereof, and means for executing the refrigerant mass recovery operation when the second output signal reaches the predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an expansion valve; an indoor heat exchanger; a refrigerant heater; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a first flow path during a cooling operation, the first flow path sequentially including the compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, indoor heat exchanger, and compressor; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a second flow path during a heating operation, the second flow path sequentially including the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, refrigerant heater, and compressor; means for causing refrigerant to circulate through a third flow path during a refrigerant mass recovery operation associated with the heating operation, whereby refrigerant stored in the outdoor heat exchanger is withdrawn therefrom and is drawn into the compressor; refrigerant condition detecting means, for detecting a condition of the refrigerant in the second flow path and for providing a first output signal indicative thereof, the detecting means including means for directly sensing a temperature of the refrigerant; and control means, for controlling the air conditioner in response to the first output signal by continuing the heating operation when the first output signal indicates an appropriate condition of the refrigerant, and by initiating the mass recovery operation when a predetermined number of determinations of an inappropriate condition of the refrigerant is reached, the control means including: means for comparing the first output signal to a reference value during a predetermined short period, to determine the condition of the refrigerant, means for temporarily stopping the operation of the compressor when the inappropriate condition has been determined, means for counting the number of determinations of the inappropriate condition and generating a second output signal indicative thereof, and means for executing the refrigerant mass recovery operation when the second output signal reaches the predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant condition detecting means includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant on an outlet side of the refrigerant heater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the second path includes an opening/closing solenoid valve set in an open state during the heating operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the control means includes means for switching the opening/closing solenoid valve to a closed state when the refrigerant mass recovery operation is executed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes means for detecting an abnormality in accordance with a number of refrigerant mass recovery operations performed, and for generating a third output signal indicative thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the control means includes means for stopping the overall operation of the air conditioner in response to the third output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is also used to control the amount of heat supplied by the refrigerant heater.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-08-19 | 1996-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-17 | 1999-08-19 | 2000-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-17 | 2003-08-19 | 2004-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |