System control for air conditioning system

Abstract

A system control to monitor and control the operation of an air conditioning system including at least one evaporator/air handler unit operatively coupled to a compressor/condenser unit comprising a sensor to monitor the operation of the evaporator and to generate a control signal when a predetermined condition within the air conditioning system is sensed and a control unit including logic or circuitry to receive the condensate signal and to deactivate the evaporator/air handler unit and the compressor/condenser unit in response to the control signal.

1 . A system control to monitor and control the operation of an air conditioning system comprising an evaporator/air handler unit coupled in closed-loop fluid communication with a compressor/condenser unit by refrigerant lines or conduits and a condensate collector disposed to collect condensate from the evaporator and operatively coupled by a power supply line and a data communication link, said system control comprises a condensate sensor disposed to sense when condensate within the condensate collector reaches a predetermined level and a control unit operatively coupled to said condensate sensor and the air conditioning system to deactivate the compressor/condenser unit and evaporator/air handler unit when condensate reaches the predetermined level within the condensate collector for a predetermined period of time by creating a discontinuity or open circuit between the compressor/condenser unit and the evaporator/air handler unit. 
     
     
         2 . The system control of  claim 1  wherein said control unit comprises a battery power source and a microprocessor powered by said battery power source. 
     
     
         3 . The system control of  claim 2  further includes a low battery indicator powered by said battery power coupled to said microprocessor to monitor the battery status or life. 
     
     
         4 . The system control of  claim 3  wherein a predetermined battery voltage is detected when a low battery signal is generated to activate an alarm indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The system control of  claim 4  wherein when a second predetermined battery voltage is detected said microprocessor will generate a shut-down signal to completely shut down the compressor/condenser unit and the evaporator/air handler control unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system control of  claim 2  wherein said control unit is coupled between said condensate sensor comprising a first condensate sensing element and a second condensate sensing element and said microprocessor by a pair of sensor signal conductors such that when condensate within condensate collector is below the predetermined level the circuit between said first condensate sensing element and said second condensate sensing element is open and when the condensate reaches the predetermined level within the condensate collector the condensate creates an impedance across said first condensate sensing element and said second condensate sensing element generating a condensate signal through said condensate control to said microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The system control of  claim 2  wherein said control unit comprises a control switch assembly is coupled between the compressor/condenser unit and the air handler/evaporator unit by the data communication link. 
     
     
         8 . The system control of  claim 7  wherein said control switch assembly comprises a data communication link control switch including a first switch member movable or positionable between a first position or state and a second position or state and a first contact, said first switch member connected to said microprocessor through a data communication link segment while said first contact is connected to said microprocessor through a second data communication link segment such that when said first switch member is in said first position the data communication link control switch is in an open circuit configuration to deactivate the air conditioning system and when the said switch member is in said second position said switch member contacts said first contact such that the data communication link control switch is in a closed circuit configuration connecting data communication link segments to operate the air conditioning system. 
     
     
         9 . The control unit of  claim 8  wherein said control switch assembly further comprises a power supply control switch including a second switch member connected to said microprocessor movable or positionable between a first position and a second position and a second contact connected to said microprocessor through such that when said second switch member is in said first position said power supply control switch is in an open circuit configuration and when said second switch member is in the second position said second switch member contacts said second contact such that the power supply line is in a closed circuit configuration connecting power supply lines to operate the air conditioning system. 
     
     
         10 . The system control of  claim 8  wherein said condensate sensor generates a condensate signal sent to said microprocessor to initiate a clock or count-down of a predetermined period of time and said microprocessors generate a control signal fed to said control switch assembly causing said control device to transition from the first state to the second state repositioning said first switch member from said contact position creating a discontinuity or open circuit in the data communication link between the evaporator/air handler unit and the compressor/condenser unit to shut down the air conditioning system when the condensate signal is present for said predetermined period. 
     
     
         11 . The system control of  claim 10  wherein after the air conditioning system has shut down said condensate sensor continues to monitor condensate in the condensate collector and condensate in the condensate collector is no longer detected by said condensate sensor a second or no-condensate signal is generated and sent to said microprocessor to initiate a clock or clock-down of a second predetermined period of time and if said no-condensate signal is continuous for the second period of time, said microprocessor generates a second control signal fed to the control switch assembly causes said control assembly to transition from said second state to the first state completing the circuitry or electrical path between said data communication segments the evaporator/air handler unit and the compressor/condenser until restoring operation of the air handling system. 
     
     
         12 . The system control of  claim 9  wherein said condensate sensor generates a condensate signal sent to said microprocessor to initiate a clock or count-down of a predetermined period of time and said microprocessors generate a control signal fed to said control switch assembly causing said control device to transition from the first state to the second state repositioning said first switch member from said contact position creating a discontinuity or open circuit in the data communication link between the evaporator/air handler unit and the compressor/condenser unit to shut down the air conditioning system when the condensate signal is present for said predetermined period. 
     
     
         13 . The system control of  claim 12  wherein after the air conditioning system has shut down said condensate sensor continues to monitor condensate in the condensate collector and condensate in the condensate collector is no longer detected by said condensate sensor a second or no-condensate signal is generated and sent to said microprocessor to initiate a clock or clock-down of a second predetermined period of time and if said no-condensate signal is continuous for the second period of time, said microprocessor generates a second control signal fed to the control switch assembly causes said control assembly to transition from said second state to the first state completing the circuitry or electrical path between said data communication segments the evaporator/air handler unit and the compressor/condenser until restoring operation of the air handling system.