The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 27, 1990
Filed:
Oct. 12, 1988
Michael Levine, Boca Raton, FL (US);
James Russo, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Victor Rigotti, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Nicholas Skogler, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Honeywell, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for determining the exterior ambient temperature in a heat pump. In accordance with the prior art the heat pump defrosts the exterior heat exchanger if the exterior heat exchanger temperature has a predetermined relationship to the exterior ambient temperature. The exterior heat exchanger temperature is measured directly via a temperature sensor. The improvement of the present invention includes operating the exterior fan after operation of the compressor, while repetitively measuring the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger until reaching a plateau temperature other than freezing. The exterior ambient temperature is set to the plateau temperature. In the event that the plateau temperature equals freezing, the exterior ambient temperature is set equal to a compromise temperature slightly above freezing, preferably 34 degrees Fahrenheit.