US6560976B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data acquisition system and method
Assignee: Copeland LP
•
Filing: 2001-12-07
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Granted: 2003-05-13
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Expires: 2021-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A data acquisition system and method includes monitoring a cooling system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, and employs a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of the system. These operating parameters are provided to a computer, which stores predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems. The computer compares the provided operating parameters of the monitored cooling system with the predefined operating parameters to provide diagnostic results for the monitored cooling system and possible service procedures. If the computer does not recognize the monitored cooling system identifier, a connection is made to a master computer in order look up the predefined operating parameters in a master data base.
Inventors
- 👤 Nagaraj Jayanth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:16
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/32; F24F11/38; F24F1/00; F24F11/88; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; F25B49/005; F24F11/50; F24F11/52; F24F2140/00; F24F2140/10; F24F2140/12; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising: a computer having a memory containing predefined operating parameters and an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter, and in communication with the microcontroller to receive said monitored operating parameter; a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a first operating parameter of the cooling system; a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system; and a third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system; wherein said monitored operating parameter includes at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters to diagnose the cooling system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A data acquisition system for monitoring a cooling system including a microcontroller, a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, said data acquisition system comprising: a computer having a memory containing predefined operating parameters and an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter, and in communication with the microcontroller to receive said monitored operating parameter; a first sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a first operating parameter of the cooling system; a second sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a second operating parameter of the cooling system; and a third sensor in communication with the microcontroller and adapted to sense a motor operating parameter of the cooling system; wherein said monitored operating parameter includes at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter to said predefined operating parameters to diagnose the cooling system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said motor operating parameter and at least one of said first operating parameter and said second operating parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor of the cooling system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor of the cooling system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor of the cooling system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in the evaporator of the cooling system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first operating parameter is a low side pressure of the cooling system, said second operating parameter is a high side pressure of the cooling system and said third operating parameter is a temperature of refrigerant in the condenser of the cooling system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said memory of said computer includes a data base of predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems, said computer being operable to compare said monitored operating parameter with said predefined operating parameters of one of the plurality of cooling systems to diagnose the cooling system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said monitored operating parameter includes said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said first operating parameter is a supply amperage to the compressor, said second operating parameter is a supply voltage to the compressor, and the motor operating parameter is a rotational speed of the compressor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: a master computer disposed remote from said computer; and a wireless connection between said computer and said master computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said wireless connection includes a connection to the Internet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said computer provides instructions for repairing the cooling system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data acquisition system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said computer is a hand held computer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for monitoring a system including a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condensor, said method comprising: measuring a first operating parameter of the monitored system; measuring a second operating parameter of the monitored system; measuring a motor operating parameter of the monitored system; providing at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter to a computer; selecting a set of predefined operating parameters for a system which is equivalent to the monitored system from a data base including a plurality of predefined operating parameters for systems; comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said provided operating parameter of the monitored system; and providing diagnostic results for said comparing step.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for monitoring a system including a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condensor, said method comprising: measuring a first operating parameter of the monitored system; measuring a second operating parameter of the monitored system; measuring a motor operating parameter of the monitored system; providing at least one of said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter, and said motor operating parameter to a computer; selecting a set of predefined operating parameters for a system which is equivalent to the monitored system from a data base including a plurality of predefined operating parameters for systems; comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said provided operating parameter of the monitored system; and providing diagnostic results for said comparing step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said selecting step includes manually inputting an identifier of the monitored system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said selecting step includes inputting an identifier of the monitored system with a barcode reader.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said selecting step includes communicating between said computer and a master computer using a wireless connection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said communicating between said computer and said master computer using a wireless connection includes communicating through the Internet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said providing diagnostic results includes providing instructions for repairing the monitored system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising performing a test session prior to comparing said set of predefined operating parameters with said provided operating parameters of the monitored system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for monitoring a system in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising updating said data base from a master computer through a wireless connection.
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