US7941294B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 2.3 years remaining
System and method for detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
•
Filing: 2009-02-10
•
Granted: 2011-05-10
•
Expires: 2029-02-10
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for detecting various system conditions in a fluid delivery system (such as an HVAC system) based on a motor parameter are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting: filter condition, frozen coil condition, register condition, energy efficiency, system failure, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention relate to detecting fluid delivery system conditions based on motor parameters including system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, motor efficiency, and/or a change (or rate of change) in motor parameters. Techniques for responding to a clogged filter and a frozen coil are also disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for characterizing a fluid delivery system off-site, prior to system installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Prakash B. Shahi
- 👤 Eric J. Wildi
- 👤 Mark E. Carrier
- 👤 Randy L. Bomkamp
- 👤 Hung M. Pham
- 👤 William P. Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:13
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; F25B49/005; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/04; F25B2700/00; F25B2700/15; F25B2700/151; F25B49/02; F25B49/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a register condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2) compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a register condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the system comprises a filter and wherein the memory stores a nominal motor parameter value and a maximum motor parameter value; wherein the logic circuit is configured to compute a filter life parameter based on the nominal motor parameter value, the maximum motor parameter value, and the at least one determined motor parameter; and wherein the system comprises a register and wherein the logic circuit is configured to adjust the nominal motor parameter in the memory to account for at least one determined register condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a register condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2) compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a register condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the system comprises a filter and wherein the memory stores a nominal motor parameter value and a maximum motor parameter value; wherein the logic circuit is configured to compute a filter life parameter based on the nominal motor parameter value, the maximum motor parameter value, and the at least one determined motor parameter; and wherein the system comprises a register and wherein the logic circuit is configured to adjust the nominal motor parameter in the memory to account for at least one determined register condition.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a register condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2)compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a register condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; and wherein the system comprises a cooling coil, wherein the memory stores a second rate threshold associated with a frozen coil condition, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine the frozen coil condition if the rate of change parameter exceeds the second rate threshold.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a register condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2)compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a register condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; and wherein the system comprises a cooling coil, wherein the memory stores a second rate threshold associated with a frozen coil condition, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine the frozen coil condition if the rate of change parameter exceeds the second rate threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the logic circuit is configured to initiate a de-icing mode in response to a determined frozen coil condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the de-icing mode comprises causing the system to enter a heat mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the system further comprises: a user interface in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the user interface is configured to (1) receive data indicative of a system condition from the logic circuit, and (2) provide an indication of the system condition to a user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the user interface comprises a thermostat and wherein the thermostat comprises the logic circuit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a first system condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, (2) compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a first system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the memory is configured to store a second rate threshold and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine a second system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the second rate threshold but not the first rate threshold; and wherein the first system condition comprises a register condition and wherein the second system condition comprises a frozen coil condition.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a first system condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, (2) compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a first system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the memory is configured to store a second rate threshold and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine a second system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the second rate threshold but not the first rate threshold; and wherein the first system condition comprises a register condition and wherein the second system condition comprises a frozen coil condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the memory is configured to store a filter threshold, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine a filter condition if the determined motor parameter exceeds the filter threshold.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a first system condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2)compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a first system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the memory is configured to store a filter threshold, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine a filter condition if the determined motor parameter exceeds the filter threshold; and wherein the memory is configured to store a register variable corresponding to the number of closed registers, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to update the register variable in the memory in response to a determined register condition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition in a fluid delivery system, said apparatus comprising: a motor control configured to provide electric power to an electric motor; a logic circuit in communication with the motor control; and a memory in communication with the logic circuit, wherein the memory is configured to store a first rate threshold associated with a first system condition; wherein the logic circuit is configured to (1) determine at least one motor parameter at a plurality of different times, and (2)compute a rate of change value in the at least one motor parameter, and (3) determine a first system condition if the computed rate of change value exceeds the first rate threshold; wherein the at least one motor parameter is system current, system power, system efficiency, motor current, motor power, or motor efficiency; wherein the memory is configured to store a filter threshold, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine a filter condition if the determined motor parameter exceeds the filter threshold; and wherein the memory is configured to store a register variable corresponding to the number of closed registers, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to update the register variable in the memory in response to a determined register condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the logic circuit is configured to adjust the filter threshold based on the register variable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5447414A
Cited
US5793623A
Cited
US5810908A
Cited
US20030052791A1
Cited
US20030070544A1
Cited
US20040113803A1
Cited
US6994620B2
Cited
US6993414B2
Cited
US20060058924A1
Cited
US20050247194A1
Cited
US7261762B2
Cited
US20060055547A1
Cited
US7342379B2
Cited
US20070234746A1
Cited
US20070209377A1
Cited
US20070248467A1
Cited
US20100076605A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-05-09 | 2014-11-08 | 2015-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-05-09 | 2018-11-08 | 2019-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-05-09 | 2022-11-08 | 2023-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |