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:
Jan. 09, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1994
Ardeean Scoccia, Amherst, NY (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
In a refrigeration system, an apparatus and method for providing low refrigerant charge detection before and during compressor operation. For detection before compressor operation, a very low refrigerant charge condition is indicated if the measured refrigerant pressure at the inlet of the compressor is too low based on a comparison of the measured pressure and a reference pressure related to the saturation pressure at the measured ambient temperature. If a low refrigerant charge condition is detected, the compressor may be inhibited from operating. If the system is stable with compressor non-operation, a warning also occurs. While the compressor is operating, a moderately low refrigerant charge condition is detected if the measured refrigerant temperature at the inlet of the compressor is too high based on a comparison of the measured temperature and a reference temperature related to the saturation temperature of the refrigerant for the measured refrigerant pressure. If a moderately low refrigerant charge condition is detected, two levels of warning can occur, for servicing and for indicating a severe condition so compressor operation may be disabled, depending on the discrepancy.