Compressor vibration protection system

Abstract

A compressor assembly includes a compressor, a controller, a gateway and a system controller. The controller includes a vibration sensor and monitors operational characteristics of the compressor. The gateway is in communication with the controller, the system controller is in communication with the controller through the gateway.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compressor comprising: 
 a housing;    a fluid compression mechanism disposed on said housing; and    a controller mounted on said housing and including a vibration sensor, said controller operable to control compressor capacity and monitor operational characteristics of said compressor.    
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a circuit board and said vibration sensor is disposed on said circuit board.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said vibration sensor includes an electrical switch.  
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 3 , wherein said electrical switch is operable upon minimum displacement.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 3 , wherein said vibration sensor includes an RC filter.  
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said controller creates an event history.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a microprocessor.  
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a first counter operable to continuously count vibration pulses during a predetermined period of time, a second counter operable to count between a lower time limit and an upper time limit, and a limit condition flag operable between an on condition and an off condition, said limit condition flag trigger at said on condition when the number of pulses during said predefined time period exceeds a pulse limit, said limit condition flag at said off condition when said pulses counted during said predetermined period of time is less than said pulse limit, wherein said second counter counts toward said upper limit when said condition limit flag is at said on condition and counts toward said lower limit when said limit condition flag is at said off condition, wherein a vibration trip condition is reached when said second counter counts to said upper limit.  
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said vibration sensor includes a ball and spring wire mounted in a bore.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 9 , wherein a sensitivity of said vibration sensor is defined by a stiffness of said spring and a mass of said ball.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said stiffness of said spring is a function of a diameter, length and material of said spring.  
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein said mass of said ball is a function of its material and diameter.  
     
     
         13 . A cooling system including: 
 a compressor;    a controller mounted on said compressor and including a vibration sensor, said controller operable to control a capacity of said compressor and monitor operational characteristics of said compressor; and    a communication gateway associated with said controller.    
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , further comprising a system controller in communication with said controller through said communication gateway.  
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes said communication gateway.  
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes a circuit board and said vibration sensor is disposed on said circuit board.  
     
     
         17 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said vibration sensor includes an electrical switch.  
     
     
         18 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein said electrical switch is operable upon minimum displacement.  
     
     
         19 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein said vibration sensor includes an RC filter.  
     
     
         20 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller creates an event history.  
     
     
         21 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes a microprocessor.  
     
     
         22 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes a first counter operable to continuously count vibration pulses during a predetermined period of time, a second counter operable to count between a lower time limit and an upper time limit, and a limit condition flag operable between an on condition and an off condition, said limit condition flag trigger at said on condition when the number of pulses during said predefined time period exceeds a pulse limit, said limit condition flag at said off condition when said pulses counted during said predetermined period of time is less than said pulse limit, wherein said second counter counts toward said upper limit when said condition limit flag is at said on condition and counts toward said lower limit when said limit condition flag is at said off condition, wherein a vibration trip condition is reached when said second counter counts to said upper limit.  
     
     
         23 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said vibration sensor includes a ball and spring wire mounted in a bore.  
     
     
         24 . The cooling system of  claim 23 , wherein a sensitivity of said vibration sensor is defined by a stiffness of said spring and a mass of said ball.  
     
     
         25 . The cooling system of  claim 22 , wherein said stiffness of said spring is a function of a diameter, length and material of said spring.  
     
     
         26 . The cooling system of  claim 24 , wherein said mass of said ball is a function of its material and diameter.