U.S. patent application number 09/987521 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for refrigerated transport vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Takahashi, Wataru.
Application Number | 20020026805 09/987521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11911601 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020026805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takahashi, Wataru |
March 7, 2002 |
Refrigerated transport vehicle
Abstract
One object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated
transport vehicle which comprises a small and light weight cooling
system easily fitted to the vehicle; in order to accomplish the
above object, the refrigerated transport vehicle comprising a
vehicle body; an adiabatic freezing chamber which is provided on
the vehicle body and comprises an opening; an adiabatic evaporator
chamber fixed to an outer surface of the freezing chamber so as to
cover the opening and to communicate inner spaces of the freezing
chamber and the evaporator chamber; an evaporator unit provided in
the inner space of the evaporator chamber for evaporating a coolant
liquid and cooling the inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the
evaporator chamber; a condenser unit provided on the outer surface
of the evaporator chamber for condensing a coolant vapor and
discharging heat of condensation of the coolant vapor; and a
circulation system for circulating the coolant between the
evaporator unit and the condenser unit.
Inventors: |
Takahashi, Wataru;
(Nishi-kasugai-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES,
LTD.
Chiyoda-ku
JP
J
|
Family ID: |
11911601 |
Appl. No.: |
09/987521 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09987521 |
Nov 15, 2001 |
|
|
|
09482087 |
Jan 13, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/239 ;
62/285 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20130101;
B60P 3/20 20130101; B60H 1/3233 20130101; F25D 19/003 20130101;
B60H 1/3232 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/239 ;
62/285 |
International
Class: |
B60H 001/32; F25D
021/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 1999 |
JP |
11-016260 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerated transport vehicle comprising a vehicle body; an
adiabatic freezing chamber which is provided on the vehicle body
and comprises an opening; an adiabatic evaporator chamber fixed to
an outer surface of the freezing chamber so as to cover the opening
and to communicate inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the
evaporator chamber; an evaporator unit provided in the inner space
of the evaporator chamber for evaporating a coolant liquid and
cooling the inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the evaporator
chamber; a condenser unit provided on the outer surface of the
evaporator chamber for condensing a coolant vapor and discharging
heat of condensation of the coolant vapor; and a circulation system
for circulating the coolant between the evaporator unit and the
condenser unit.
2. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a
drain water receiver is formed at the bottom of the evaporator
chamber.
3. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
said evaporator unit comprises a blower which takes air from the
bottom side thereof, and flat blows out the air to the inner space
of the freezing chamber.
4. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
said evaporator chamber is provided in the upper front wall of the
freezing chamber in the travelling direction of the vehicle.
5. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
said evaporator chamber comprises the bottom wall comprising a
front slope face and a back slope face, the front slope face and
the back slope face are crossed so as to form a V-shape, and a
drain water receiver is formed at the cross portion.
6. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a
dike portion substantially upwardly extending from the rear end of
the back slope face is provided.
7. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 6, wherein
an opening for discharging the drain water is formed in the bottom
of the drain water receiver, and a drain pipe is connected to the
opening for discharging the drain water.
8. A refrigerated transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
said condenser unit, the evaporator unit, and the freezing chamber
are substantially linearly arranged in the travelling direction of
the vehicle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerated transport
vehicle provided with a refrigerator for land transportation.
[0003] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
Hei 11-16260, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventional refrigerated transport vehicles are shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. In order to refrigerate an adiabatic freezing
chamber 90 provided on vehicle 1, the refrigerated transport
vehicle provides with a cooling system comprising an evaporator
unit 10a or 10, a condenser unit 20a or 20, a compressor 5, and
coolant pipes. FIG. 3 shows a refrigerated transport vehicle in
which the evaporator unit 10a is arranged inside of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 90, and the condenser unit 20a is arranged outside
of the adiabatic freezing chamber 90 and above the vehicle 1. FIG.
4 shows a refrigerated transport vehicle in which the evaporator
unit 10 is arranged outside of the adiabatic freezing chamber 90
and above the vehicle 1, and the condenser unit 20 is arranged on
the bottom of the chassis 2 of the vehicle.
[0006] FIG. 5 shows that the evaporator 10 equipped with the
adiabatic freezing chamber 90 as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG.
5, an opening 91 for fixing the evaporator unit 10 to the adiabatic
freezing chamber 90 is formed in the upper front wall of the
adiabatic freezing chamber 90 in the travelling direction. The
adiabatic evaporator chamber 30 is fixed to the adiabatic freezing
chamber 90 so as to cover the opening 91. Metal fixtures 30d are
used to fast fix the adiabatic evaporator chamber 30 to the
adiabatic freezing chamber 90. The evaporator unit 10 is equipped
in the upper inside wall of the adiabatic evaporator chamber 30,
and maintains the inside of the adiabatic freezing chamber 90 cool.
Metal fixtures 30c are used to fast fix the evaporator unit 10 to
the adiabatic evaporator chamber 30. The outer and inner walls 30a
of the adiabatic evaporator chamber 30 are made of reinforced
plastics such as fiber-glass reinforced plastic (FRP) for light
weight. Foamed synthetic resin 30b is filled between the outer and
inner walls 30a to provide thermal insulation.
[0007] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the evaporation unit 10 comprises
a packing 11, an evaporator 12, a propeller type blower 13, an
expansion valve 14, an accumulator 15, a drain water pool 16, and a
drain water pipe 17. The drain water generated by the evaporator 12
is accumulated in the drain water pool 16. The drain water pool 16
is connected to the drain water pipe 17. The drain water pipe 17
passes through the adiabatic evaporator chamber 30, and discharges
the drain water accumulated in the drain water pool 16 to the
outside of the adiabatic freezing chamber 90.
[0008] The relationship between the evaporator unit 10, the
condenser unit 20, and the compressor 5 of the cooling system will
be explained with FIGS. 5 and 6. The compressor 5 provided in the
engine room of the vehicle 1 is driven by the engine 6 for the
driving the vehicle, via a conduction belt 7. When the compressor 5
is driven, a coolant vapor of high temperature and high pressure is
generated by the compressor 5, passes through the coolant pipe 40,
and reaches the condenser 21 of the condenser unit 20, while it is
pressurized. Then the coolant vapor is cooled and condensed by
contact with the outside air introduced by the propeller type fan
22 for the condenser. The coolant flows out of the condenser 21,
passes through the receiver 23, the dryer 24, and the coolant pipe
41 between the condenser unit 20 and evaporator unit 10, and
reaches the expansion valve 14 of the evaporator unit 10. Then the
coolant adiabatically expands by passing through the expansion
valve 14, and heat exchanges with air circulated between the
adiabatic freezing chamber 90 and the evaporator 12 by the
propeller type blower 13, while the coolant passes through the pipe
for heat exchange. Thereby, the circulating air is cooled. The
cooled circulating air is blown out as an airflow indicated by A
from the air outlet 11a of the evaporator unit 10 to the inside of
the adiabatic freezing chamber 90 by the propeller type blower 13
as shown in FIG. 5. The airflow A cools the inside of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 90. The coolant gasified in the evaporator 12
passes through the accumulator 15, and the coolant pipe 42, and
returns to the compressor 5 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0009] As explained above, the conventional refrigerated transport
vehicle shown in FIG. 3 comprises the evaporator unit 10a in the
adiabatic freezing chamber 90; therefore, the carrying capacity of
the adiabatic freezing chamber 90 decreases. The conventional
refrigerated transport vehicle shown in FIG. 4 comprises the
condenser unit 20 arranged on the bottom of the chassis 2 of the
vehicle; therefore a mudguard is necessary for the condenser unit
20. When a mudguard is provided, it is impossible to sufficiently
employ the airflow generated by driving to cool the condenser 21.
In addition, the condenser unit 20 or 20a and the evaporator unit
10 or 10a are separated in the conventional refrigerated transport
vehicle; therefore, it is necessary to separately provide these
units to the adiabatic freezing chamber 90. Consequently, much time
is needed to fit these units. Therefore, a small and light weight
cooling system has been desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a refrigerated transport vehicle comprising a cooling
system which is easily fit to the vehicle, whereby it is possible
to decrease its manufacturing cost. Another object of the present
invention is to provide a refrigerated transport vehicle comprising
a small and light weight cooling system. Another object of the
present invention is to provide a refrigerated transport vehicle in
which the carrying capacity of the adiabatic freezing chamber 90 is
not decreased, and the thermal efficiency is excellent.
[0011] In order to accomplish the above object, the refrigerated
transport vehicle of the present invention comprises
[0012] a vehicle body;
[0013] an adiabatic freezing chamber which is provided on the
vehicle body and comprises an opening;
[0014] an adiabatic evaporator chamber fixed to an outer surface of
the freezing chamber so as to cover the opening and to communicate
inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the evaporator
chamber;
[0015] an evaporator unit provided in the inner space of the
evaporator chamber for evaporating a coolant liquid and cooling the
inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the evaporator
chamber;
[0016] a condenser unit provided on the outer surface of the
evaporator chamber for condensing a coolant vapor and discharging
heat of condensation of the coolant vapor; and
[0017] a circulation system for circulating the coolant between the
evaporator unit and the condenser unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the evaporator unit
and the condenser unit provided to the refrigerated transport
vehicle of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the refrigerated
transport vehicle of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a conventional refrigerated transport
vehicle.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows another conventional refrigerated transport
vehicle.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows the evaporator equipped with the adiabatic
freezing chamber shown in FIG. 4.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the evaporator unit,
the condenser unit, and the compressor of the cooling system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the
refrigerated transport vehicle according to the present invention
will be explained.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the refrigerated transport vehicle provided
with the cooling system. The cooling system comprises the
evaporator unit 110, the condenser unit 120, the compressor 105,
and the coolant pipes 140, 141, and 142. The compressor 105 is
arranged in the engine room of the vehicle. The evaporator unit 110
and the condenser unit 120 are provided to the upper part of the
front wall of the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 in the travelling
direction of the vehicle. In order to flow the coolant through the
cooling system, the coolant pipe 140 is provided between the
compressor 105 and the condenser unit 120, the coolant pipe 141 is
provided between the condenser unit 120 and the evaporator unit
110, and the coolant pipe 142 is provided between the evaporator
unit 110 and the compressor 105. It is preferable that the freezing
chamber 190 is simple shaped, such as a quadrate shape.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160
comprises the outer wall 160a and the foamed synthetic resin layer
160b adhered to the outer wall 160a. The adiabatic evaporator
chamber 160 is box shaped, and the opening for communicating the
inner spaces of the freezing chamber 190 and the evaporator chamber
160 is formed in one side. That is, the adiabatic evaporator
chamber 160 comprises the side walls and the front wall in the
travelling direction, the ceiling wall flat extending from the top
edge of the front wall, and the bottom wall. Furthermore, it is
preferable that the bottom wall comprises the front slope face
downwardly extending from the bottom edge of the front wall and the
back slope face upwardly extending from the rear end of the front
slope face. That is, the front slope face and the back slope face
are crossed so as to form a V-shape. The opening is formed at the
opposite side to the front wall. The adiabatic evaporator chamber
160 is attached to the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 with bolts so
that the opening of the evaporator chamber 160 covers the opening
191 formed in the upper part of the front wall of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 190 in the travelling direction. The evaporator
chamber 160 can be detached from the freezing chamber 190 by
loosening the bolts.
[0027] Moreover, the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160 comprises the
dike portion 171 substantially upwardly extending from the rear end
of the back slope face of the bottom wall. Thereby, the drain water
receiver 172 is formed in the bottom of the adiabatic evaporator
chamber 160. Therefore, it is unnecessary to separately provide a
drain water receiver. The drain water is accumulated in the space
between the side walls, the bottom wall, and the dike portion 171.
In addition, the opening 173 for discharging the drain water is
formed in the bottom of the drain water receiver 172. The drain
pipe 1 17 is connected to the opening 173 for discharging the drain
water, whereby the drain water is discharged from the evaporator
chamber 160.
[0028] The evaporator unit 110 is provided in the inner space of
the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160 while the evaporator unit 110
does not protrude toward the inside of the adiabatic freezing
chamber 190. The condenser unit 120 is provided on the front wall
of the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160 in the traveling direction.
The evaporator unit 110 and the condenser unit 120 are associated
with each other.
[0029] The evaporator unit 110 comprises the evaporator 112 and the
blower 113 for the evaporator. The blower 113 for the evaporator
generates the airflow indicated by B for the heat exchange between
the coolant and the air inside of the evaporator 112. A turbo
blower which blows air perpendicularly to the inflow direction of
the air is suitable for the blower 113. That is, the turbo blower
which takes air from the bottom side thereof, and flat blows out
the air to the inner space of the freezing chamber 190 is
preferable for the blower 113.
[0030] The condenser unit 120 comprises the condenser 121 and the
blower 122 which generates the airflow indicated by C for the heat
exchange between the coolant inside of the condenser 121 and the
open air. The propeller blower is suitable for the blower 122.
Moreover, when it is not necessary to generate the airflow C
blowing both upwardly and downwardly, it is possible to use the
turbo blower as the blower 122.
[0031] The relationship between the evaporator unit 110, the
condenser unit 120, and the compressor 105 of the cooling system
will be explained referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. The compressor 105
provided in the engine room of the vehicle is driven by the engine
6 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) for the driving the vehicle. When
the compressor 105 is driven, a gas coolant at high temperature and
high pressure is generated by the compressor 105, passes through
the coolant pipe 140, and reaches the condenser 121 of the
condenser unit 120, while it is pressurized. Then the gas coolant
is cooled and condensed by contact with the outside air introduced
by the propeller type fan 122 for the condenser. The coolant liquid
flows out of the condenser 121, passes through the coolant pipe 141
between the condenser unit 120 and evaporator unit 110, and reaches
the expansion valve (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the evaporator
unit 110. Then the coolant liquid adiabatically expands by passing
through the expansion valve, and heat exchanges with air circulated
between the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 and the evaporator 112
by the blower 113 for the evaporator, while the coolant passes
through the pipe for heat exchange. Thereby, the circulating air is
cooled When the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160 comprises the
front slope face upwardly extending from bottom of the adiabatic
evaporator chamber 160, the air is easily circulated from the
inside of the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 to the evaporator 112,
because the air rises along the front slope face. The cooled
circulating air is blown out as an airflow indicated by B from the
air outlet of the evaporator unit 110 to the inside of the
adiabatic freezing chamber 190 by the blower 113 for the evaporator
as shown in FIG. 1. The airflow B cools the inside of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 190. The coolant gasified in the evaporator 112
passes through the coolant pipe 142, and returns to the compressor
105.
[0032] As explained above, the evaporator chamber 160, the
evaporator unit 110 and the condenser unit 120 are assembled as a
unit in the refrigerated transport vehicles of the present
invention. Therefore, the coolant pipe between the evaporator unit
110 and the condenser unit 120 can be short; whereby the vehicle of
the present invention can be light in weight, compared with the
refrigerated transport vehicles in which the condenser unit is
provided on the bottom of the chassis of the vehicle. In addition,
it is possible to provide the evaporator unit 110 and the condenser
unit 120 on the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 as a unit;
therefore, the arrangement of the evaporator unit 110 and the
condenser unit 120 to the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 is simple.
The manufacturing cost of the refrigerated transport vehicles of
the present invention is decreased, because the number of the
assembling processes is small.
[0033] In addition, the bottom of the adiabatic evaporator chamber
160 functions as a drain water receiver in the refrigerated
transport vehicles of the present invention. Therefore, it is not
necessary to specially provide the drain water receiver. The weight
of the refrigerated transport vehicles of the present invention is
decreased. Moreover, it is possible to decrease the manufacturing
cost of the refrigerated transport vehicle, because the special
element for the drain water receiver is not necessary.
[0034] When the blowers which blow air perpendicularly to the
inflow direction of the air such as a turbo blower is used as the
blower 113 for the evaporator, it is possible to make the
evaporator unit 110 compact.
[0035] When the condenser unit 120 is provided in the upper front
wall of the adiabatic freezing chamber 190 in the travelling
direction, a mudguard is not necessary. Therefore, it is possible
to decrease the weight and the manufacturing cost of the
refrigerated transport vehicle, compared with the refrigerated
transport vehicles in which the condenser unit is provided on the
bottom of the chassis of the vehicle. In addition, it is possible
to sufficiently employ the airflow generated by driving to cool the
condenser; therefore, the efficiency of the condenser can be
improved without a decrease in the carrying capacity.
[0036] The refrigerated transport vehicle in which the condenser
unit 120 is provided in the upper front wall of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 190 in the travelling direction is explained
above. However, it is possible to provide the condenser unit 120 on
the top or the bottom wall of the adiabatic evaporator chamber 160.
However, the total height of the refrigerated transport vehicle
increases in these cases; therefore, it is suitable to provide the
condenser unit 120 in the upper front wall of the adiabatic
freezing chamber 190 in the travelling direction.
* * * * *