Condenser coil cleaning indicator

Abstract

The need to clean dirty condenser coils in an operating refrigeration appliance is performed by connecting a temperature monitor to the coil to signal when a predetermined rise in temperature has occurred from a baseline temperature that exists when the coil structure is clean. The temperature monitor can merely provide the actual temperature reading or it can be programmed for the selected temperature rise to light up or display an appropriate message that coil cleaning needs to be done.

Claims

1. A method for signaling the need to clean condenser coils having dirt and debris on the outside of the coils in an operating refrigeration appliance which comprises directly connecting a temperature monitor to the coils as the only means to signal a need for coil cleaning when a predetermined rise in temperature has occurred from a baseline temperature that exists when the coils are clean.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature monitor indicates an actual risen, predetermined temperature.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature monitor is predetermined to light up at an actual risen, predetermined temperature.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature monitor is predetermined to display a message at an actual risen, predetermined temperature.

Description

(1) The present invention is directed to a differing and more Simple means to indicate a dirty condenser coil condition. It relies upon the attachment (or direct connection) of a suitable temperature monitoring device to the condenser coil itself to signal that it is running at a selected temperature above the temperature than the lower baseline temperature that would be registered when it is in a cleaner condition. The invention takes advantage of the known fact that dirty coils run at a somewhat elevated temperature as compared to clean coils. The temperature monitor can merely give a readout of the actual temperature which will inform the owner that an undesired upward departure from the baseline temperature for a clean coil has occurred. Alternatively, a suitably programmed temperature monitor can be used which would light up to indicate a previously selected undesired temperature rise or which would display a message, such as Clean Me, at the point of a selected and undesired temperature rise. For example, if clean coils run at temperatures of say 95 degrees F. and completely dirty coils run at 115 degrees F., the temperature monitor can be set at some intermediate temperature (e.g., 105 degrees F.) so that a cleaning can be performed at a point where there is sufficient dirt and debris on the coils to justify cleaning but before the coils become too dirty. In setting any temperature for triggering of the monitor's action, the ambient temperature of the appliance's location should also be considered. Normally, most stores are cooled in hotter weather and heated in cooler weather so that customers are comfortable (e.g., 68-72 degrees F. would be ambient). Clean condenser coils, which are responsible for heat rejection during the refrigeration cycle, will normally run at higher temperatures than such comfortable temperatures for humans, e.g., probably from the low 90s F to perhaps 100 F or so. Therefore, a trigger point somewhat above this range should be acceptable in most cases.