초록 ▼

The present invention is a pretrip routine for testing a refrigeration system comprising a series of tests for testing aspects of mechanical operation of various individual components of the refrigeration system. In a preferred embodiment, a control unit executes the method of the invention by first

The present invention is a pretrip routine for testing a refrigeration system comprising a series of tests for testing aspects of mechanical operation of various individual components of the refrigeration system. In a preferred embodiment, a control unit executes the method of the invention by first testing mechanical operation of a refrigeration system compressor, then tests for leaks in high-to-low-side valves of a refrigeration system, before testing for leaks in a discharge test valve. A control unit may also test the opening/closing operation of various refrigeration system valves before, intermediate or subsequent to executing the above tests. The pretrip routine of the invention validates operation of a refrigeration system as a whole by testing the mechanical operation of individual system component, and, in testing the operation of those various system components, readily isolates the source of a particular problem within a particular component of a refrigeration system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for operating a refrigeration system, said method comprising the steps of:prior to operating said refrigeration system in a cooling or heating/defrost mode, conducting a pretrip routine, said pretrip routine including the step of testing mechanical operation of a refrige

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for operating a refrigeration system, said method comprising the steps of:prior to operating said refrigeration system in a cooling or heating/defrost mode, conducting a pretrip routine, said pretrip routine including the step of testing mechanical operation of a refrigeration system valve, wherein said refrigeration system valve testing step includes the steps of testing opening/closing operation of said refrigeration system valve and of testing for leaks in said refrigeration system valve; andsubsequent to conducting said pretrip routine, operating said refrigeration system in a cooling or heating/defrost mode of operation.