초록 ▼

A condenser assembly through which a refrigerant is circulated to transfer heat from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed. The condenser assembly includes a compressor, a crankcase heater energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit, a c

A condenser assembly through which a refrigerant is circulated to transfer heat from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed. The condenser assembly includes a compressor, a crankcase heater energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an electronically commutated condenser fan motor. The condenser assembly also includes an ambient temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the ambient air, to provide a sensed temperature. The condenser assembly includes a condenser switch subassembly configured to control energization of the crankcase heater and the condenser fan motor. The condenser switch subassembly is controlled by the ambient temperature sensor. The condenser fan motor is controlled by a condenser fan controller that applies a first voltage or a second voltage to the condenser fan motor depending on whether a third conductor attached to the motor is energized.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A condenser assembly through which a refrigerant is circulated to transfer heat from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed, the condenser assembly comprising: a compressor, for compressing and superheating the refrigerant;a crankcase heater

1. A condenser assembly through which a refrigerant is circulated to transfer heat from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed, the condenser assembly comprising: a compressor, for compressing and superheating the refrigerant;a crankcase heater for heating the compressor, the crankcase heater being energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit;a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor in which the refrigerant is received after exiting the compressor;at least one condenser fan, for moving the ambient air past the condenser to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the condenser to the ambient air;at least one electronically commutated condenser fan motor for rotating said at least one condenser fan, said at least one condenser fan motor being energizable via a condenser fan control circuit selected from the group consisting of a first condenser fan control circuit comprising first and second conductors and a second condenser fan control circuit comprising a third conductor;a condenser switch subassembly configured to control energization of the crankcase heater and said at least one condenser fan motor, the condenser switch subassembly being switchable between: a first condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is closed and energizable, and the second condenser fan control circuit is open and non-energizable, anda second condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is open and non-energizable, and the second condenser fan control circuit is closed and energizable;an ambient temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the ambient air, to provide a sensed temperature;the condenser switch subassembly comprising a single pole double throw switch controlled by the ambient temperature sensor such that, when the sensed temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the first condition, and when the sensed temperature is greater than the predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the second condition; anda condenser fan controller configured to detect energization of the third conductor, to apply a first voltage to the condenser fan motor when energization of the third conductor is not detected thereby, and to apply a second voltage to the condenser fan motor when the third conductor is energized, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage. 2. The condenser assembly according to claim 1 in which the first and second voltages, when detected respectively, are each greater than zero such that said at least one condenser fan motor operates when the sensed temperature is below the cut-in temperature. 3. The condenser assembly according to claim 1 additionally comprises a reservoir tank in which the refrigerant exiting the condenser is accumulatable. 4. The condenser assembly according to claim 3 additionally comprises a reservoir heater for heating the refrigerant in the reservoir tank, the reservoir heater being electrically connected with the crankcase heater such that the reservoir heater is electrically energized when the crankcase heater is electrically energized. 5. A refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is circulatable to transfer heat out of a volume of air in a housing, the refrigeration system comprising: an evaporator assembly through which the refrigerant is circulatable for heat transfer from the air in the housing to the refrigerant, the evaporator assembly comprising an evaporator through which the refrigerant is directed, for heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant;a condenser assembly through which the refrigerant is circulatable for heat transfer from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed, the condenser assembly comprising: a compressor through which the refrigerant received from the evaporator is circulatable, for compressing and superheating the refrigerant;a crankcase heater for heating the compressor, the crankcase heater being energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit;a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor in which the refrigerant is received after exiting the compressor;at least one condenser fan, for moving the ambient air past the condenser to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the condenser to the ambient air;at least one electronically commutated condenser fan motor for rotating said at least one condenser fan, said at least one condenser fan motor being energizable via a condenser fan control circuit selected from the group consisting of a first condenser fan control circuit comprising first and second conductors and a second condenser fan control circuit comprising a third conductor;a condenser switch subassembly configured to control energization of the crankcase heater and said at least one condenser fan motor, the condenser switch subassembly being switchable between: a first condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is closed, and the second condenser fan control circuit is open, anda second condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is open, and the second condenser fan control circuit is closed;an ambient temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the ambient air, to provide a sensed temperature;the condenser switch subassembly comprising a single pole double throw switch controlled by the ambient temperature sensor such that, when the sensed temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the first condition, and when the sensed temperature is greater than the predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the second condition; anda condenser fan controller configured to detect energization of the third conductor, to apply a first voltage to the condenser fan motor when energization of the third conductor is not detected thereby, and to apply a second voltage to the condenser fan motor when the third conductor is energized, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage. 6. The refrigeration system according to claim 5 in which the first and second voltages, when detected respectively, are each greater than zero such that said at least one condenser fan motor is operates when the sensed temperature is below the cut-in temperature. 7. The refrigeration system according to claim 5 additionally comprises a reservoir tank in which the refrigerant exiting the condenser is accumulatable. 8. The refrigeration system according to claim 7 additionally comprises a reservoir heater for heating the refrigerant in the reservoir tank, the reservoir heater being electrically connected with the crankcase heater such that the reservoir heater is electrically energized when the crankcase heater is electrically energized. 9. A kit of parts for modifying a refrigeration system to provide a modified evaporator assembly, a refrigerant circulated therethrough into which heat is transferred from air in a housing, the refrigeration system comprising: an evaporator assembly for heat transfer from the air in the housing to the refrigerant;a condenser assembly through which the refrigerant is circulatable for heat transfer from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed, the condenser assembly comprising: a compressor through which the refrigerant received from the evaporator is circulatable, for compressing and superheating the refrigerant;a crankcase heater for heating the compressor, the crankcase heater being energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit;a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor in which the refrigerant is received after exiting the compressor;at least one condenser fan, for moving the ambient air past the condenser to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the condenser to the ambient air;at least one electronically commutated condenser fan motor for rotating said at least one condenser fan; the kit of parts comprising: a condenser switch subassembly configured to control energization of the crankcase heater and said at least one condenser fan motor, the condenser switch subassembly being switchable between: a first condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is closed, and a second condenser fan control circuit is open, anda second condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is open, and the second condenser fan control circuit is closed;an ambient temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the ambient air, to provide a sensed temperature;the condenser switch subassembly comprising a single pole double throw switch controlled by the ambient temperature sensor such that, when the sensed temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the first condition, and when the sensed temperature is greater than the predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the second condition;the first condenser fan control circuit comprising first and second conductors electrically connected to said at least one condenser fan motor that, when energized, provide a first drive voltage to said at least one condenser fan motor;the second condenser fan control circuit comprising a third conductor; anda condenser fan controller configured to detect energization of the third conductor, to apply a first voltage to the condenser fan motor when energization of the third conductor is not detected thereby, and to apply a second voltage to the condenser fan motor when the third conductor is energized, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage. 10. The kit of parts according to claim 9 additionally comprises a reservoir tank in which the refrigerant exiting the condenser is accumulatable. 11. The kit of parts according to claim 10 additionally comprises a reservoir heater for heating the refrigerant in the reservoir tank, the reservoir heater being electrically connected with the crankcase heater such that the reservoir heater is electrically energized when the crankcase heater is electrically energized. 12. A method of operating a condenser assembly through which a refrigerant is circulatable to transfer heat from the refrigerant to ambient air in which the condenser assembly is at least partially disposed, the method comprising: (a) compressing the refrigerant in a compressor through which the refrigerant is circulatable;(b) providing a crankcase heater to heat the compressor, the crankcase heater being energizable via a crankcase heater control circuit;(c) providing a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor, in which the refrigerant exiting the compressor is received;(d) providing at least one condenser fan, for moving the ambient air past the condenser to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the condenser to the ambient air;(e) providing at least one electronically commutated condenser fan motor for rotating said at least one condenser fan, said at least one condenser fan motor being energizable via a condenser fan control circuit selected from the group consisting of a first condenser fan control circuit comprising first and second conductors and a second condenser fan control circuit comprising a third conductor;(f) providing a condenser switch subassembly configured to control energization of the crankcase heater and said at least one condenser fan motor, the condenser switch subassembly being switchable between: a first condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is closed, and the second condenser fan control circuit is open, anda second condition, in which the crankcase heater control circuit is open, and the second condenser fan control circuit is closed;(g) providing an ambient temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the ambient air, to provide a sensed temperature;(h) including a single pole double throw switch in the condenser switch subassembly that is controlled by the ambient temperature sensor such that, when the sensed temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the first condition, and when the sensed temperature is greater than the predetermined cut-in temperature, the condenser switch subassembly is in the second condition;(i) providing a condenser fan controller configured to detect energization of the third conductor, to apply a first voltage to the condenser fan motor when energization of the third conductor is not detected thereby, and to apply a second voltage to the condenser fan motor when the third conductor is energized, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; and(j) providing electrical energy to the condenser assembly such that, when the condenser switch subassembly is in the first condition, the crankcase heater control circuit is energized and the condenser fan controller applies the first voltage to the condenser fan motor, and when the condenser switch subassembly is in the second condition, the third conductor is energized and the condenser fan controller applies the second voltage to the condenser fan motor.