Oil detection device, compressor having the same and method of controlling the compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518855-B2
Application number	US-201414499777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

An oil detection device for a compressor to detect at least two levels of oil in the compressor includes a first detection unit including a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode, and a second detection unit including a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oil detection device for a compressor to detect a level of oil in the compressor comprising:
a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode; and
a second detection unit comprising a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode.

2. The oil detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first detection electrode comprises a first base unit spaced from one side of the first reference electrode by a predetermined distance and a first augmenting unit spaced from the other side of the first reference electrode by a predetermined distance, and
the second detection electrode comprises a second base unit spaced from one side of the second reference electrode by a predetermined distance and a second augmenting unit spaced from the other side of the second reference electrode by a predetermined distance.

3. The oil detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit are parallel to the first reference electrode, and
the second base unit and the second augmenting unit are parallel to the second reference electrode.

4. The oil detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the first base unit and the first augmenting unit are nonparallel to the first reference electrode, and
the second base unit and the second augmenting unit are nonparallel to the second reference electrode.

5. The oil detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the first detection unit further comprises at least one first connection member to connect the first base unit to the first augmenting unit, and
the second detection unit further comprises at least one second connection member to connect the second base unit to the second augmenting unit.

6. The oil detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a spacing member to connect the first reference electrode to the second reference electrode such that the first reference electrode is spaced from the second reference electrode.

7. The oil detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first flow unit disposed on the first reference electrode, the first flow unit inducing flow of the oil; and
a second flow unit disposed on the second reference electrode, the second flow unit inducing flow of the oil.

8. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side.

9. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a predetermined inclination from one side to the other side.

10. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a triangular shape.

11. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a triangular shape.

12. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein, the first flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the first reference electrode and has a saw-tooth shape.

13. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the second flow unit extends in the direction of gravity from the second reference electrode and has a saw-tooth shape.

14. The oil detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the first flow unit has the same shape as the second flow unit and the first flow unit has a different size from the second flow unit.

15. The oil detection device according to claim 3 , wherein the first detection unit outputs, as a first detection signal, a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the first reference electrode and the first base unit, and a capacitance between the first reference electrode and the first augmenting unit, and
the second detection unit outputs, as a second detection signal, a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the second reference electrode and the second base unit and a capacitance between the second reference electrode and the second augmenting unit.

16. The oil detection device according to claim 15 , wherein the first detection unit outputs a mixed one of the first detection signal and the second detection signal of the second detection unit when outputting the first detection signal.

17. An oil detection device for a compressor comprising:
a reference unit to which an input signal is applied;
a base unit disposed at one side of the reference unit, the base unit outputting a detection signal;
a first augmenting unit disposed at the other side of the reference unit, the first augmenting unit outputting a detection signal; and
a flow unit disposed in any one of the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit, the flow unit forming a passage in which an oil flows.

18. The oil detection device according to claim 17 , wherein the base unit is electrically connected to the first augmenting unit.

19. The oil detection device according to claim 17 , wherein the flow unit extends from any one of the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit in the direction of gravity.

20. The oil detection device according to claim 17 , wherein the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit have a plate shape, and
the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit are disposed such that opposite surfaces thereof are parallel to one another.

21. The oil detection device according to claim 17 , wherein the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit have a plate shape, and
the reference unit, the base unit and the first augmenting unit are disposed such that opposite surfaces thereof are nonparallel to one another.

22. The oil detection device according to claim 17 , wherein the flow unit has at least one shape of triangular, saw-tooth and arch shapes.

23. An oil detection device for a compressor to detect a level of an oil in the compressor comprising:
a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode; and
a second detection unit comprising a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode,
wherein the first detection electrode of the first detection unit and the second detection electrode of the second detection unit are electrically connected to each other and transmit a detection signal to a control unit to control an oil collection operation.

24. The oil detection device according to claim 23 , further comprising:
an input terminal to input an input signal to the first reference electrode and the second reference electrode, and
an output terminal connected to the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode, the output terminal outputting a detection signal of the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode.

25. A compressor comprising:
a first detection unit comprising a first reference electrode and a first detection electrod

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Hyo Sang
• Kim Byung Gu
• Han Jeong Su

Classifications

• G01F23/265 Primary

  for discrete levels · CPC title

• G01F23/268

  mounting arrangements of probes · CPC title

• G01F23/266

  measuring circuits therefor · CPC title

• F04B35/04

  the means being electric · CPC title

• F04B39/0207

  with lubrication control systems · CPC title