International Comfort Products Corporation (usa)

Whirlpool Corporation

International Comfort Products Corporation

Andy Lynn Derryberry

Timothy P O'Leary

Jon D Tromblee

Cosimo Caronna

Jurgen Pannock

David Michael Jackson

Louis R Goodman

Clarence D Cash

Cos Caronna

Darryl Elliott Denton

Steve Brady

Gregory A Polk

Charles E Brown, Jr

A method and apparatus for operating a dehumidifier in a de-ice mode is provided wherein the dehumidifier has an evaporator coil, a fan operated by a fan motor to cause a flow of ambient air over the evaporator coil, and a compressor operated by a compressor motor to cause a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator coil. A control is provided for detecting a characteristic of the dehumidifier associated with the formation of frost on the evaporator coil. Such characteristic could be the temperature of the evaporator coil, the rate of change of the temperature of the coil, a drop in the amp draw of the compressor motor below a predetermined value or a predetermined rate of downward change in the amp draw of the compressor motor. The control terminates power to the compressor motor after detection of the characteristic, either immediately or after a predetermined time, while continuing operation of the fan to provide the melting. Normal operation is resumed when the characteristic is no longer detected, or after passage of a predetermined amount of time.

Method and apparatus for de-icing dehumidifier

An incipient failure indication apparatus for an environmental control system which includes a heat exchanger through which air flows and a temperature control thermostat. The indication apparatus includes an indicator having an alarm in communication with a control board, the control board in communication with the thermostat. The alarm has a visual indicator and/or an aural indicator, whereby the attention of a person is attracted to the indicator upon activation of the alarm. A first temperature sensor is disposed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger and a second temperature sensor is disposed on the downstream side of the heat exchanger, whereby the temperature sensors respectively sense the temperature of the air upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger. The first and second temperature sensors are in communication with the control board, and the control board has means for comparing the temperatures sensed thereby. The control board also includes means for activating the alarm in response to recognizing a difference in temperatures sensed by the first and second temperature sensors which is one of greater than and less than a predetermined value. The apparatus may also be provided with a timer, a reset switch in communication therewith, a filter service time indicator, and means for activating the filter service time indicator a predetermined period measured by the timer after the reset switch is activated. The apparatus may also be provided with means for activating a remote alarm upon activation of the alarm, whereby persons outside of a building serviced by the environmental control system are notified of an incipient failure of the environmental control system.

Environmental control system incipient failure indicator apparatus

The present invention is a charge balance device for a heat pump. The heat pump system has a heating and a cooling mode and includes an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, refrigerant circuitry connecting the heat exchangers and the compressor in series arrangement, with the charge balance device connected in parallel arrangement with the outdoor heat exchanger. An accumulator is connected in line with the refrigerant circuit at a point immediately upstream of the suction side of the compressor for storing excess liquid refrigerant during heating mode. The charge balance device includes a check valve for blocking refrigerant flow, thus preventing the diversion of refrigerant flow around the outdoor heat exchanger during cooling mode, and a restrictor orifice for throttling refrigerant flow, thus regulating the flow of refrigerant diverted around the outdoor heat exchanger during heating mode. The check valve and restriction orifice are integrally formed for diverting a regulated portion of liquid refrigerant around the outdoor heat exchanger during heating mode such that excess liquid refrigerant is allowed to be stored in the accumulator at a relatively low pressure.

Charge balance device

A refrigeration system includes an evaporator coil with a drain pan having alternative drain openings which receive movable primary and secondary drain plugs. A drain pan for use with horizontal A-coils is provided with alternative drain pan openings permitting a variety of configurations whereby the evaporator coil may be oriented in the space conditioning system in the most effective manner depending upon on-site conditions. A combination horizontal coil support and drainage duct with coil baffle provides a channel for effective communication of drainage fluid from the coil to the drain pan.

Drainage management system for refrigeration coil

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Nashville, TN, United States of America

Andy Lynn Derryberry