US6206652B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compressor capacity modulation
Assignee: Copeland LP
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Filing: 1998-08-25
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2018-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A pulsed modulated capacity modulation system for refrigeration, air conditioning or other types of compressors is disclosed in which suitable valving is provided which operates to cyclically block flow of suction gas to a compressor. A control system is provided which is adapted to control both the frequency of cycling as well as the relative duration of the on and off time periods of each cycle in accordance with sensed system operating conditions so as to maximize the efficiency of the system. Preferably the cycle time will be substantially less than the time constant of the load and will enable substantially continuously variable capacity modulation from substantially zero capacity to the full capacity of the compressor. Additional controls may be incorporated to modify one or more of the motor operating parameters to improve the efficiency of the motor during periods of reduced load.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Luc Caillat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:16
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; A; A47; A47F; A47F3/00; A47F3/04; F04; F04B; F04B49/00; F04B49/06; F04B49/22; F04B49/225; F04C; F04C18/00; F04C18/02; F04C18/0207; F04C18/0215; F04C27/00; F04C27/005; F04C28/00; F04C28/02; F04C28/06; F04C28/08; F04C28/18; F04C28/22; F04C28/24; F04C28/26; F04C28/265; F04C28/28; F25B1/00; F25B1/04; F25B41/00; F25B41/20; F25B41/22; F25B41/30; F25B41/31; F25B41/34; F25B41/35; F25B49/005; F25B49/02; F25B49/022; F25B5/00; F25B5/02; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1909; F04B2201/00; F04B2201/06; F04B2201/0601; F04B2205/00; F04B2205/16; F04B2207/00; F04B2207/04; F04B2207/043; F04C2270/00; F04C2270/01; F04C2270/015; F04C2270/58; F04C2270/86; F04C23/00; F04C23/008; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/22; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/02; F25B2600/026; F25B2600/0261; F25B2600/25; F25B2600/2521; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/19; F25B2700/193; F25B2700/1933; F25B2700/21; F25B2700/2106; F25B2700/2117; F25B2700/21174; F25B2700/21175; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A capacity modulated compressor comprising: a compression mechanism having a compression chamber therein, a suction inlet for supplying suction gas to the compression chamber and a movable member operative to vary the volume of said compression chamber; a power source operatively connected to effect movement of said movable member to thereby compress gas drawn into said compression chamber through said suction inlet; a valve provided in the suction gas flow path to said compression mechanism, said valve being operable between open and closed positions to cyclically allow and prevent flow of suction gas into said compression chamber; and control apparatus for actuating said valve between said open and closed positions, said control apparatus being operative to cycle said valve such that its cycle time is substantially smaller than the time constant of the load on said compressor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A capacity modulated compressor comprising: a compression mechanism having a compression chamber therein, a suction inlet for supplying suction gas to the compression chamber and a movable member operative to vary the volume of said compression chamber; a power source operatively connected to effect movement of said movable member to thereby compress gas drawn into said compression chamber through said suction inlet; a valve provided in the suction gas flow path to said compression mechanism, said valve being operable between open and closed positions to cyclically allow and prevent flow of suction gas into said compression chamber; and control apparatus for actuating said valve between said open and closed positions, said control apparatus being operative to cycle said valve such that its cycle time is substantially smaller than the time constant of the load on said compressor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is positioned in close proximity to said compression chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is a bidirectional valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said cycle time and the time duration said valve is in said closed position is varied in response to sensed operating conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said power source continues to effect movement of said movable member as said valve is cycled between said open and closed positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cycle time and said time duration are varied in response to said sensed operating condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is actuated by pressurized fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a control valve operative to control the flow of pressurized fluid to said valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control valve is a solenoid actuated valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pressurized fluid is supplied from said compression mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said power source comprises an electric motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control module operates to vary an operating parameter of said electric motor when said valve is in said closed position so as to thereby improve the operating efficiency of said motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said operating parameter of said motor is varied a predetermined time period after said valve is moved to said closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compression mechanism is a reciprocating piston compressor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 14 wherein said reciprocating piston compressor includes a plurality of pistons and cylinders, said valve being operative to prevent flow of suction gas to all of said cylinders.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 15 wherein said valve operates to prevent flow of suction gas to all of said cylinders simultaneously.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
176 words
A capacity modulated compressor comprising: a hermetic shell; a compression mechanism disposed within said shell, said compression mechanism including a compression chamber defined in part by a moveable member, said moveable member operating to vary the volume thereof; a drive shaft rotatably supported within said shell and drivingly coupled to said movable member; a suction inlet passage for supplying suction gas to said compression chamber from a source remote from said shell; a valve within said suction inlet passage, said valve being actuable between an open position to allow flow of suction gas through said inlet passage and a closed position to substantially prevent flow of suction gas through said inlet passage; a controller for cyclically actuating said valve to an open position for first predetermined time periods and to a closed position for second predetermined time periods, the ratio of said first predetermined time period to the sum of said first and second predetermined time periods being less than a given load time constant and determining the percentage modulation of the capacity of said compressor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
176 words
A capacity modulated compressor comprising: a hermetic shell; a compression mechanism disposed within said shell, said compression mechanism including a compression chamber defined in part by a moveable member, said moveable member operating to vary the volume thereof; a drive shaft rotatably supported within said shell and drivingly coupled to said movable member; a suction inlet passage for supplying suction gas to said compression chamber from a source remote from said shell; a valve within said suction inlet passage, said valve being actuable between an open position to allow flow of suction gas through said inlet passage and a closed position to substantially prevent flow of suction gas through said inlet passage; a controller for cyclically actuating said valve to an open position for first predetermined time periods and to a closed position for second predetermined time periods, the ratio of said first predetermined time period to the sum of said first and second predetermined time periods being less than a given load time constant and determining the percentage modulation of the capacity of said compressor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said valve is a bidirectional valve and is actuable to said closed position by pressurized fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a solenoid valve actuable by said controller to control flow of said pressurized fluid to said valve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 19 wherein said pressurized fluid is discharge gas from said compressor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said valve is positioned in close proximity to said compression chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said compressor is a refrigeration compressor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said compressor is an air compressor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said compressor is a rotary compressor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said compressor is a scroll compressor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said sum of said first and second time periods is less than one half of said load time constant.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a motor for rotatably driving said drive shaft, said valve being actuable between said open and closed positions while said motor continues to rotatably drive said drive shaft.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
A capacity modulated compressor as set forth in claim 27 wherein said controller operates to vary an operating parameter of said motor between periods in which said valve is in said closed position and in said open position to thereby improve the operating efficiency of said motor.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of modulating the capacity of a compressor forming a part of a cooling system to accommodate varying cooling load conditions comprising: sensing an operating parameter of said cooling system, said parameter being indicative of the system load; determining a cycle frequency of a maximum duration which will minimize variation in the suction pressure of refrigerant being supplied to said compressor; determining a first time period during which suction gas will be supplied to said compressor and determining a second time period during which suction gas will be prevented from flowing to said compressor, said first and second time periods being equal to said cycle frequency; and pulsing a valve between open and closed positions for said first and second time periods respectively to thereby modulate the capacity of said compressor in response to said system operating parameter.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of modulating the capacity of a compressor forming a part of a cooling system to accommodate varying cooling load conditions comprising: sensing an operating parameter of said cooling system, said parameter being indicative of the system load; determining a cycle frequency of a maximum duration which will minimize variation in the suction pressure of refrigerant being supplied to said compressor; determining a first time period during which suction gas will be supplied to said compressor and determining a second time period during which suction gas will be prevented from flowing to said compressor, said first and second time periods being equal to said cycle frequency; and pulsing a valve between open and closed positions for said first and second time periods respectively to thereby modulate the capacity of said compressor in response to said system operating parameter.
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) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |