US5628201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heating and cooling system with variable capacity compressor
Assignee: Copeland LP
•
Filing: 1995-04-03
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Granted: 1997-05-13
•
Expires: 2015-04-03
Abstract
Abstract Compressor discharge temperature, ambient outdoor air temperature and thermal load are used as control parameters for controlling the expansion valve setting and the indoor fan speed. In a variable capacity system the thermal load parameter also controls the compressor capacity. Thermal load is measured by an integrating procedure that increments or decrements an accumulated demand counter value used as an indication of thermal load on the system. The counter value is incremented and decremented based on the room temperature and thermostat setpoint. These same parameters are also used in the overcharge/undercharge diagnostic system.
Inventors
- 👤 Vijay Bahel
- 👤 Hank Millet
- 👤 Mickey Hickey
- 👤 Hung Pham
- 👤 Gregory P. Herroon
- 👤 Gerald L. Greschl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:52
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/83; F24F11/84; F24F11/86; F25; F25B; F25B13/00; F25B41/00; F25B41/30; F25B41/31; F25B41/34; F25B41/35; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/022; F24F11/85; F25B2313/00; F25B2313/029; F25B2313/0293; F25B2313/0294; F25B2313/031; F25B2313/0315; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/025; F25B2600/25; F25B2600/2513; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/02; F25B2700/21; F25B2700/2104; F25B2700/2106; F25B2700/2115; F25B2700/21152; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A control system for a heat pump system of the type having a compressor for discharging refrigerant through an electrically controlled valve into a heat exchanger, comprising: a first sensor for sensing a first parameter indicative of the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from said compressor; a second sensor for sensing a second parameter indicative of the ambient air temperature; a third sensor for sensing a third parameter indicative of the thermal load on said heat pump system; at least one control system processor coupled for communication with said first, second and third sensors and with said valve for controlling the quantity of refrigerant discharged into said heat exchanger based on said first, second and third parameters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A control system for a heat pump system of the type having a compressor for discharging refrigerant through an electrically controlled valve into a heat exchanger, comprising: a first sensor for sensing a first parameter indicative of the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from said compressor; a second sensor for sensing a second parameter indicative of the ambient air temperature; a third sensor for sensing a third parameter indicative of the thermal load on said heat pump system; at least one control system processor coupled for communication with said first, second and third sensors and with said valve for controlling the quantity of refrigerant discharged into said heat exchanger based on said first, second and third parameters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said heat pump system is of the type having an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger and wherein said second sensor senses a second parameter indicative of the ambient air in proximity to said outdoor heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said third sensor comprises: a room temperature sensor for sensing a quantity indicative of room temperature; a means for establishing a desired temperature setpoint; a demand counter for accumulating a value indicative of thermal load; and a load determining system for comparing said room temperature with said desired temperature setpoint and for altering the value accumulated by said demand counter based on said comparison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control system of claim 3 wherein said load determining system (a) increases the accumulated value if the room temperature is greater than the desired temperature setpoint; and (b) decreases the accumulated value if the room temperature is less than the desired temperature setpoint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control system of claim 1 further comprising variable capacity compressor system and compressor control system coupled for communication with said third sensor for controlling the capacity of said compressor based on said thermal load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein said variable capacity compressor system comprises a variable speed compressor and wherein said compressor control system varies the speed of the compressor based on said thermal load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said variable speed compressor has a plurality of discretely selectable speeds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said variable speed compressor has a continuously variable range of speeds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein said variable capacity compressor system comprises a plurality of compressors selectively operable in tandem and wherein said compressor control system selectively operates said plurality of compressors to vary the capacity of the variable capacity compressor system based on said thermal load.
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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) | 2000-05-12 | 2000-11-11 | 2001-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-12 | 2004-11-11 | 2005-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-12 | 2008-11-11 | 2009-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |