WO2000009960A2 - Ice bank control with voltage protection sensing - Google Patents
Ice bank control with voltage protection sensing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000009960A2 WO2000009960A2 PCT/US1999/018366 US9918366W WO0009960A2 WO 2000009960 A2 WO2000009960 A2 WO 2000009960A2 US 9918366 W US9918366 W US 9918366W WO 0009960 A2 WO0009960 A2 WO 0009960A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- compressor
- voltage
- ice bank
- sensing
- ice
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/08—Details
- B67D1/0857—Cooling arrangements
- B67D1/0858—Cooling arrangements using compression systems
- B67D1/0861—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means
- B67D1/0864—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means in the form of a cooling bath
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
- F25D21/02—Detecting the presence of frost or condensate
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
- F25D31/002—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler
- F25D31/003—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler with immersed cooling element
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to electronic ice bank controls and to voltage sensing controls.
- Ice banks that are formed on evaporators for providing a cooling reserve, as used in the beverage dispensing industry, are well known.
- the size of an ice bank is typically regulated by one or more sensors placed at critical positions around an outer perimeter thereof.
- Conductivity sensors are known and are used in this regard to determine the presence of ice or water by virtue of the conductivity between a pair of probes. Thus, if ice forms between the probes the sensed conductivity will be relatively low, and if water is present there between, the sensed conductivity will be much greater. Therefore, if ice is sensed, the ice bank is presumed to be of adequate size and the refrigeration compressor, that is used to cool the evaporator and form ice thereon, can be shut off.
- the present invention is an apparatus and method that regulates the size of an ice bank and that prevents short cycling of the compressor 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 is sensed.
- the microprocessor continually monitors the probes to determine if refrigeration is needed or not, and continually senses the line voltage to determine if the 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.
- the present invention will turn on the compressor if the ice bank sensor indicates water is present between the probes, the voltage is within operating limits and if a predetermined time delay has elapsed since the last compressor shut down.
- the compressor is turned off if, during operation thereof, the ice bank is of sufficient size, the voltage goes outside of design limits or there is a power failure.
- the voltage sensing circuit can be comprised essentially of a relatively inexpensive voltage divider circuit of a dedicated transformer.
- the present invention utilizes the inexpensive combination of such a voltage sensing circuitry with a conductivity/ice sensing circuit to provide for an ice bank control that is more protective of the compressor with respect to both short cycling and operating at voltages outside the manufacturer's recommended specifications, than is found in prior art ice bank sensing controls. Since the improved control of the present invention is relatively inexpensive, it can be used as a standard item rather than as a more costly custom or add on feature.
- Fig. 1 shows an electrical schematic of the control of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the present invention.
- Fig.'s 3A and 3B show a flow diagram of the operational control of the present invention.
- Control 10 includes a power supply circuit 12 including a transformer Tl connected to a power source, in this example, of 115 VAC.
- Power supply 12 provides for outputs of 18V AC, 24VDC and 5VDC, where Dl provides for the rectification of the current from AC to DC.
- R4, R6 and C7 comprise a voltage detection circuit 14 wherein the voltage along the 24VDC line is sensed.
- Circuit 14 is connected to a microprocessor 16 by pin 17.
- R4 and R6 function as a voltage divider circuit to bring the detected voltage changes within a range that is useful to microprocessor 16.
- microprocessor 16 also includes an analog to digital converter for converting the DC signal from circuit 14 to a usable digital form.
- microprocessor 16 is a Microchip model PIC16C11.
- Ice bank detection probes PI and P2 form part of an ice probe circuit 18.
- R22, R2 and Q5 comprise a signal conditioning circuit with an input to pin 1 of microprocessor 16. This conditioning is needed as the probe input impedance is generally too high for microprocessor 16.
- Probe PI is connected by line L5 to probe signal circuit 20, and output pins 9 and 10 are connected to circuit 20 by lines L6 and L7.
- Resistors R7, R8, R9 and R10 along with diode D3 and transistors Ql and Q2 provide for a 5VDC signal and a -5VDC signal to L5.
- the -5VDC is provided by power supply circuit 22.
- a clock circuit 24 is provided and connected to microprocessor 16 by input pins 15 and 16.
- a power relay switching circuit 26 includes a relay 28 for operating a switch Kl. Switch Kl is connected to a compressor 30.
- Pin 8 of microprocessor 16 is connected to circuit 26 for controlling the operation of relay 28. Pin 6 can be used to detect the line power interruptions.
- control 10 is used in the context of a beverage dispensing machine 40.
- dispenser 40 includes a water bath tank 42 containing a volume of water and an evaporator 44.
- Evaporator 44 is part of a mechanical refrigeration system including compressor 30, a plurality of refrigerant lines 45, a condenser 46, a condenser cooling fan 48, and an expansion valve 49.
- the refrigeration system operates to cool evaporator 44 to form an ice bank 50 thereon.
- Probes PI and P2 are seen within dashed circle 52 in enlarged form, relative to ice bank 50.
- probes PI and P2 are in actuality positioned at a distance from evaporator 44 to which it is desired that ice bank 52 is to grow.
- a plurality of beverage lines 54 extend through bath 42 and deliver potable beverage from sources thereof, not shown, to one or more beverage dispensing valves 56.
- ice bank 50 provides a cooling reserve for the heat exchange cooling of the beverages as they pass through lines 54 so that compressor 30 need not run all the time that cooling is required.
- a light 58 indicates when compressor 30 is running.
- a current is passed between probes P 1 and P2 from line L5 by operation of circuits 18 and 20.
- the present invention uses the known convention, as represented specifically by circuit 20, of alternating the voltage there between to eliminate a net electrical plating or deposition on either probe PI or P2.
- microprocessor 16 serves to control that voltage switching.
- the conductivity between probes PI and P2 is sensed as high by microprocessor 16, water there between is indicated and compressor 30 can be turned on.
- the sensed electrical conductivity is low, ice between probes PI and P2 is indicated, and compressor 30 can be shut down.
- compressor 30 is off and at block 62 microprocessor 16 is continually reviewing the conductivity data as produced by probes PI and P2 and circuit 18. If the conductivity reading indicates that water is present, then the yes arrow is followed from block 62 to block 64. If ice is indicated, then no further cooling is required and the system returns to compressor off block 60.
- a preset time delay is contained in the controlling software, as is known in the art, to prevent the startup of compressor 30 prior to the elapse of a predetermined time period.
- That time period serves to protect compressor 30 from destructive short cycling. If this protective predetermined time period has timed out, then the control logic proceeds to block 66. It can be appreciated that voltage detection circuit 14 can sense if there has been a power interruption where the sensed voltage drops to zero. Thus, the control of the present invention has a further short cycling safeguard represented by block 66 where, if power is interrupted, the above predetermined time delay is also utilized to prevent premature start up of compressor 30. If the predetermined time period has also timed out since the last power interruption, then at block 68, circuit 14 is used to determine if the sensed line voltage is within the recommended operating limits of compressor 30. If the sensed voltage is within such parameters, then at this point, block 70, compressor 30 can be turned on.
- microprocessor 16 After a time delay represented by block 71, microprocessor 16 continually monitors the line voltage, whether or not there has been a power outage and whether of not probes PI and P2 are indicating that cooling is still required. The foregoing monitoring is represented by blocks 72, 74 and 76 respectively. Thus, if after the time delay of block 71, the line voltage goes out of range, or the power is interrupted or probes PI and P2 become covered with ice and no further growth of the ice bank is required, then the system herein returns to the compressor off condition of block 60.
- control of the present invention can provide for both line voltage compressor protection and ice bank sensing and management at a very minimal cost over the cost of ice bank management alone.
- control herein be used as a standard item rather than as a custom control only for the beverage dispensing machines thought to have the greatest likelihood of encountering voltages outside of the compressor's design limitations.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU53980/99A AU5398099A (en) | 1998-08-14 | 1999-08-12 | Ice bank control with voltage protection sensing |
US09/762,880 US6374622B1 (en) | 1999-08-12 | 1999-08-12 | Ice bank control with voltage protection sensing |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US9664798P | 1998-08-14 | 1998-08-14 | |
US60/096,647 | 1998-08-14 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000009960A2 true WO2000009960A2 (en) | 2000-02-24 |
WO2000009960A3 WO2000009960A3 (en) | 2000-05-11 |
Family
ID=22258380
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1999/018366 WO2000009960A2 (en) | 1998-08-14 | 1999-08-12 | Ice bank control with voltage protection sensing |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU5398099A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000009960A2 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2465632A (en) * | 2008-11-28 | 2010-06-02 | Imi Cornelius | Icebank cooler |
EP3339773A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Excitation based ice detection unit, refrigerator with ice detection unit and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
EP3339774A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Light based ice detection unit, refrigerator with ice detection unit and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
EP3355009A1 (en) | 2017-01-31 | 2018-08-01 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Ice detection unit and refrigerator with such an ice detection unit using hydrodynamic properties of liquids and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2632308A (en) * | 1950-04-24 | 1953-03-24 | Gen Controls Co | Ice detecting system |
US3496733A (en) * | 1968-05-01 | 1970-02-24 | Vendo Co | Electronic ice bank control |
US3502899A (en) * | 1968-02-06 | 1970-03-24 | Dole Valve Co | Liquid level and ice bank control |
US4011733A (en) * | 1975-07-29 | 1977-03-15 | Dagma Gmbh & Co. | Apparatus and process for carbonating liquids |
US4497179A (en) * | 1984-02-24 | 1985-02-05 | The Coca-Cola Company | Ice bank control system for beverage dispenser |
US4754609A (en) * | 1986-09-29 | 1988-07-05 | The Cornelius Company | High efficiency method and apparatus for making and dispensing cold carbonated water |
US5022233A (en) * | 1987-11-02 | 1991-06-11 | The Coca-Cola Company | Ice bank control system for beverage dispenser |
-
1999
- 1999-08-12 WO PCT/US1999/018366 patent/WO2000009960A2/en active Application Filing
- 1999-08-12 AU AU53980/99A patent/AU5398099A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2632308A (en) * | 1950-04-24 | 1953-03-24 | Gen Controls Co | Ice detecting system |
US3502899A (en) * | 1968-02-06 | 1970-03-24 | Dole Valve Co | Liquid level and ice bank control |
US3496733A (en) * | 1968-05-01 | 1970-02-24 | Vendo Co | Electronic ice bank control |
US4011733A (en) * | 1975-07-29 | 1977-03-15 | Dagma Gmbh & Co. | Apparatus and process for carbonating liquids |
US4497179A (en) * | 1984-02-24 | 1985-02-05 | The Coca-Cola Company | Ice bank control system for beverage dispenser |
US4754609A (en) * | 1986-09-29 | 1988-07-05 | The Cornelius Company | High efficiency method and apparatus for making and dispensing cold carbonated water |
US5022233A (en) * | 1987-11-02 | 1991-06-11 | The Coca-Cola Company | Ice bank control system for beverage dispenser |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2465632A (en) * | 2008-11-28 | 2010-06-02 | Imi Cornelius | Icebank cooler |
EP3339773A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Excitation based ice detection unit, refrigerator with ice detection unit and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
EP3339774A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Light based ice detection unit, refrigerator with ice detection unit and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
EP3355009A1 (en) | 2017-01-31 | 2018-08-01 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Ice detection unit and refrigerator with such an ice detection unit using hydrodynamic properties of liquids and method for defrosting of a refrigerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5398099A (en) | 2000-03-06 |
WO2000009960A3 (en) | 2000-05-11 |
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