US5605053A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat pump type air conditioner and method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1995-07-12
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Granted: 1997-02-25
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Expires: 2015-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A heat pump type air conditioner having a refrigeration circuit including a variable speed compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger, and capable of operating in a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room. The compressor speed is set in accordance with air conditioning load, such as the temperature difference between a setting room temperature and the actual room air temperature and the operation mode. An outdoor fan blows air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at a high speed or a low speed. The rotational speed of the outdoor fan is selected based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed. The cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value is smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Otori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:28
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/025; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/50; F24F11/56; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/64; F24F11/70; F24F11/72; F24F11/74; F24F11/80; F24F11/83; F24F11/84; F24F11/86; F24F11/87; F24F11/871; F24F11/77; F24F11/85; F24F2221/00; F24F2221/54; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/021; F25B2600/11; F25B2600/111; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A heat pump type air conditioner comprising: a refrigeration circuit including a variable speed compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger, and capable of operating in a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room; compressor speed setting means for setting the compressor rotational speed; an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at one of a high speed and a low speed; and outdoor fan speed selecting means for selecting either the high speed or the low speed of the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A heat pump type air conditioner comprising: a refrigeration circuit including a variable speed compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger, and capable of operating in a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room; compressor speed setting means for setting the compressor rotational speed; an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at one of a high speed and a low speed; and outdoor fan speed selecting means for selecting either the high speed or the low speed of the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the compressor speed setting means comprises: a temperature setting means for setting a desired room temperature; a temperature sensor for detecting a room air temperature; and compressor rotational speed determining means for determining the compressor rotational speed in accordance with the setting room temperature, the detected room air temperature and the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor fan selecting means includes mode determining means for determining the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the cooling mode, the outdoor fan speed selecting means selects the high speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is more than the cooling reference value, and the outdoor fan speed selecting means selects the low speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is not more than the cooling reference value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to one of claim 1 to 3, wherein, in the heating mode, the outdoor fan speed selecting means selects the high speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is more than the heating reference value, and the outdoor fan speed selecting means selects the low speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is not more than the heating reference value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 1, further including four-way valve controlling means for controlling the direction of refrigerant flowing in the refrigeration circuit by changing the connection of the four-way valve in accordance with the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the four-way valve controlling means includes mode determining means for determining the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A heat pump type air conditioner comprising: refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger, and capable of operating in a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room; a compressor motor driving the compressor; an inverter supplying variable frequency power to the compressor motor; an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at one of a high speed and a low speed; an outdoor unit having an air intake port and housing the inverter and the outdoor fan, the inverter being positioned in an air path which connects the air intake port and the outdoor fan; compressor speed setting means for setting the compressor rotational speed; and outdoor fan speed selecting means for selecting either the high speed or the low speed of the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
A heat pump type air conditioner comprising: refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger, and capable of operating in a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room; a compressor motor driving the compressor; an inverter supplying variable frequency power to the compressor motor; an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at one of a high speed and a low speed; an outdoor unit having an air intake port and housing the inverter and the outdoor fan, the inverter being positioned in an air path which connects the air intake port and the outdoor fan; compressor speed setting means for setting the compressor rotational speed; and outdoor fan speed selecting means for selecting either the high speed or the low speed of the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner having a refrigeration circuit including a variable speed compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at a high speed and a low speed, the refrigeration circuit being capable of operating a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room, comprising the steps of: setting the compressor rotational speed; and selecting either the high speed or the low speed for the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner having a refrigeration circuit including a variable speed compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor fan blowing air through the outdoor heat exchanger which selectably rotates at a high speed and a low speed, the refrigeration circuit being capable of operating a cooling mode to cool a room and a heating mode to heat the room, comprising the steps of: setting the compressor rotational speed; and selecting either the high speed or the low speed for the outdoor fan based on the operation mode, a cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value, a heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value and the set compressor rotational speed, the cooling mode reference compressor rotational speed value being smaller than the heating mode reference compressor rotational speed value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the setting step comprises the steps of: setting a desired room temperature; detecting a room air temperature; and determining the compressor rotational speed in accordance with the setting room temperature, the detected room air temperature and the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the selecting step includes the step of detecting the operation mode of the air conditioner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein, in the cooling mode the selecting step selects the high speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is more than the cooling reference value, and the low speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is not more than the cooling reference value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for controlling a heat pump type air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein, in the heating mode, the selecting step selects the high speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is more than the heating reference value, and the low speed when the setting compressor rotational speed is not more than the heating reference value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-25 | 2000-08-26 | 2001-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-25 | 2004-08-26 | 2005-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-25 | 2008-08-26 | 2009-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |