Oil level detecting device for a compressor and an air conditioning system having the same

Abstract

An oil level detecting device for a compressor and an air conditioning system having the same are provided. The oil level detecting device may be provided in a compressor including a compression device that introduces and compresses a working fluid, a driving device mechanically connected to the compression device that operates the compression device, and a case that accommodates the compression device and the driving device thereinside and having an oil storage space that stores oil at a lower portion thereof. The oil level detecting device may include a detector including a supporting portion configured to be attached to the case and a detecting portion that protrudes inside the case. At least one property of the detecting portion may vary according to an oil level inside the case. The oil level detecting device may also include a signal processor including an electronic element having at least one reference property. The signal processor may compare the at least one property of the detecting portion with the at least one reference property of the electronic element and outputs a control signal according to the result.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oil level detecting device provided in a compressor, the compressor comprising a compression device that introduces and compresses a working fluid, a drive device mechanically connected to the compression device that operates the compression device, and a case that accommodates the compression device and the driving device thereinside and having an oil storage space that stores oil at a lower portion thereof, the oil level detecting device comprising:
 a detector comprising a supporting portion configured to be attached to the case of the compressor and a detecting portion that protrudes inside the case, wherein at least one property of the detecting portion varies according to an oil level inside the case; and 
 a signal processor comprising an electronic element having at least one reference property, that compares the at least one property of the detecting portion with the at least one reference property of the electronic element and outputs a control signal according to the result, 
 wherein the supporting portion comprises a supporting plate installed inside a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, and the detecting portion comprises a pair of electrode plates connected to the supporting plate, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of electrode plates comprises:
 a conductive plate positioned at an inside of the oil storage space; and 
 a pin that extends from the conductive plate to the supporting portion so as to electrically connect the conductive plate to the signal processor through the supporting plate, the pin being formed as a rigid body so as to support the conductive plate respective to the supporting plate. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting portion is welded to the case of the compressor. 
     
     
       3. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the supporting portion is flush with an outer surface of the case. 
     
     
       4. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one property of the detecting portion comprises a capacitance of the detecting portion which varies according to the oil level, and wherein the electronic element is a capacitor and the at least one reference property comprises a predetermined capacitance of the electronic element. 
     
     
       5. The oil level detecting device of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined capacitance of the capacitor is the same as the capacitance of the detecting portion when the oil level inside the case is in an appropriate condition. 
     
     
       6. The oil level detecting device of  claim 4 , wherein when the oil level inside the case is in an appropriate condition the capacitance of the detecting portion is within a predetermined range of the predetermined capacitance of the capacitor. 
     
     
       7. The oil level detecting device of  claim 4 , wherein the detecting portion comprises a pair of electrode plates that extends into an inside of the oil storage space. 
     
     
       8. The oil level detecting device of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of electrode plates extends perpendicular to an inner wall of the case. 
     
     
       9. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display operated by a control signal of the signal processor that visually or acoustically displays the oil level. 
 
     
     
       10. The oil level detecting device of  claim 9 , wherein the display comprises a light emitter that emits different colors according to a control signal output from the signal processor. 
     
     
       11. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein a flange is formed at an outer circumference of the supporting portion, and wherein a flange seating portion, on which the flange is positioned, is formed at an outer circumference of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       12. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the pins of the plurality of electrode plates extend perpendicular to a wall surface of the case. 
     
     
       13. The oil level detecting device of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive plates of the plurality of electrode plates extend perpendicular to a wall surface of the case. 
     
     
       14. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the pin is formed integral with the conductive plate. 
     
     
       15. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plate is formed wider than the pin. 
     
     
       16. A compressor comprising the oil level detecting device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       17. An air conditioner comprising the compressor of  claim 16 . 
     
     
       18. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are spaced a prescribed distance from the wall surface of the case. 
     
     
       19. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the conductive plates is less than a width of the conductive plates and the mounting hole formed at the wall surface of the case. 
     
     
       20. The oil level detecting device of  claim 1 , further comprises a microcomputer, wherein the microcomputer comprises:
 an input terminal electronically connected to the electronic element for input of the at least one reference property; 
 other input terminal electronically connected to the detecting portion for input of the at least one property of the detecting portion; and 
 an output terminal that compares the at least one property of the detecting portion with the at least one reference property of the electronic element and transfers a control signal to the controller. 
 
     
     
       21. An air conditioner, comprising:
 a plurality of compressors comprising a compression device that introduces and compresses a working fluid, a driving device mechanically connected to the compression device that operates the compression device, a case that accommodates the compression device and the driving device thereinside and having an oil storage space that stores oil at a lower portion thereof, and an oil level detecting device fixed to the case; 
 an indoor device that performs cooling or heating using refrigerant discharged from the plurality of compressors, the indoor device comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve; and 
 a controller that controls an operation of the plurality of compressors or the indoor device, wherein the oil level detecting device comprises:
 a detector comprising a supporting portion configured to be attached to the case and a detecting portion that protrudes inside the case, wherein at least one property of the detecting portion varies according to an oil level within the case; and 
 a signal processor comprising an electronic element having at least one reference property, the signal processor comparing the at least one property of the detecting portion with the at least one reference property of the electronic element and outputting a control signal according to the result, wherein the controller controls the operation of the plurality of compressors or the indoor device according to the control signal transmitted from the signal processor to control the oil level inside the case to be in an appropriate condition, 
 
 wherein the supporting portion comprises a supporting plate installed inside a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, and the detecting portion comprises a pair of electrode plates connected to the supporting plate, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of electrode plates comprises:
 a conductive plate positioned at an inside of the oil storage space; and 
 a pin that extends from the conductive plate to the supporting portion so as to electrically connect the conductive plate to the signal processor through the supporting plate, the pin being formed as a rigid body, formed integral with the conductive plate, so as to support the conductive plate respective to the supporting plate. 
 
 
     
     
       22. An oil level detecting device provided in a compressor, the compressor comprising a compression device that introduces and compresses a working fluid, a drive device mechanically connected to the compression device that operates the compression device, and a case that accommodates the compression device and the driving device thereinside and having an oil storage space that stores oil at a lower portion thereof, the oil level detecting device comprising:
 a detector comprising a supporting portion configured to be attached to the case of the compressor and a detecting portion that protrudes inside the case, wherein at least one property of the detecting portion varies according to an oil level inside the case; and 
 a signal processor comprising an electronic element having at least one reference property, that compares the at least one property of the detecting portion with the at least one reference property of the electronic element and outputs a control signal according to the result, 
 wherein the supporting portion comprises a supporting plate installed inside a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, and the detecting portion comprises a pair of electrode plates connected to the supporting plate, and 
 wherein each of the pair of electrode plates comprises:
 a conductive plate positioned at an inside of the oil storage space; and 
 a pin that extends from the conductive plate to the supporting portion so as to electrically connect the conductive plate to the signal processor through the supporting plate, the pair of conductive plate being disposed to be adjacent to each other having a predescribed spacing therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       23. An oil level detector for detecting oil stored in an oil storage space in a case comprising:
 a detector having a support configured to be attached to the case of the compressor and a pair of electrode plates configured to protrude into the case, wherein at least one property of the pair of electrodes varies according to an oil level inside the case; and   a signal processor configured to compare the at least one property of the pair of electrodes with at least one reference property and configured output a control signal according to the result,   wherein the support includes a support plate configured to be installed in a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, and the pair of electrode plates are connected to the support plate, and each of the pair of electrode plates includes   (i) a conductive plate positioned inside the oil storage space; and   (ii) a pin extending from the conductive plate to the support to electrically connect the conductive plate to the signal processor, the pin being formed as a rigid body so as to support the conductive plate to the supporting plate.   
     
     
       24. The oil level detector of claim 23, wherein the at least one property of the detector corresponds to a capacitance of the detector which varies according to the oil level, and at least one reference property comprises a predetermined capacitance. 
     
     
       25. The oil level detector of claim 23, wherein a flange is formed at an outer circumference of the support, and the mounting hole having a ledge to allow seating of flange on the ledge of the mounting hole. 
     
     
       26. The oil level detector of claim 23, wherein the pin and the conductive plate are connected to each other by welding. 
     
     
       27. The oil level detector of claim 23, wherein the conductive plate is formed wider than the pin. 
     
     
       28. The oil level detector of claim 27, wherein larger surfaces of the conductive plates face each other. 
     
     
       29. The oil level detecting device of claim 23, wherein the pair of electrode plates are spaced a prescribed distance from each other. 
     
     
       30. An oil level detector for detecting oil stored in an oil storage space of a case comprising:
 a detector having a support configured to be attached to the case and a pair of electrodes configured to protrude inside the case, wherein at least one property of the detector varies according to an oil level inside the case; and   a signal processor configured to compare the at least one property of the detector with at least one reference property and configured output a control signal according to the result,   wherein the support includes a support plate installed in a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, and the pair of electrode plates are connected to the support plate, and each of pair of electrode plates includes   (i) a conductive plate positioned at an inside of the oil storage space; and   (ii) a pin extending from the conductive plate to the support so as to support the conductive plate to the support plate, the pin is coupled to an outer surface of the conductive plate such that a first distance between the pair of conductive plates is less than a second distance between the pair of pins.   
     
     
       31. The oil level detector of claim 30, wherein the pin and the conductive plate are connected to each other by welding. 
     
     
       32. The oil level detector of claim 30, wherein a width of the conductive plate is greater than a width of the pin. 
     
     
       33. The oil level detector of claim 30, wherein larger surfaces of the conductive plates face each other. 
     
     
       34. An oil level detector for detecting oil stored in an oil storage space of a case comprising:
 a detector having a support configured to be attached to the case and a pair of electrodes protruding inside the case, wherein at least one property of the detector varies according to an oil level inside the case; and   a signal processor configured to compare the at least one property of the detecting portion with at least one reference property and configured output a control signal according to the result,   wherein the support includes a support plate installed in a mounting hole formed at a wall surface of the case, the pair of electrode plates are connected to the support plate, and at least one of the pair of electrode plates includes   (i) a conductive plate positioned inside the oil storage space; and   (ii) a pin extending from the conductive plate to the support to electrically connect the conductive plate to the signal processor, the pin being formed as a rigid body so as to support the conductive plate to the support plate, and the pin and the conductive plate are separate components which are connected to each other.