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:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2001
Ming Zhang, Akron, OH (US);
Joseph W. Shannon, Kent, OH (US);
Brian C. Jones, New Hartford, CT (US);
IMI Cornelius Inc., Anoka, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and method that regulates the size of an ice bank ( ) and that prevents short cycling of the compressor ( ) therefor and operation thereof at undesired voltages. A microprocessor based control circuit ( ) includes a circuit for sensing line voltage ( ) combined with an ice bank sensing circuit ( ). The ice bank sensing circuit is of the conductivity sensing type wherein the electrical conductivity between two probes (P , P ) is sensed. The microprocessor ( ) continually monitors the probes (P , P ) to determine if refrigeration is needed or not, and continually senses the line voltage to determine if that voltage is within the design limits of the refrigeration compressor ( ). The voltage sensing circuit ( ) can also sense if power has been interrupted where the voltage drops to zero.