U.S. patent application number 15/781343 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-27 for transport container environmental control lid.
The applicant listed for this patent is CARRIER CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Renee A. Eddy, Jeffrey Allen Leshuk, Mary Teresa Lombardo, Ciara Poolman, Eric Prieur.
Application Number | 20180274843 15/781343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57589222 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180274843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lombardo; Mary Teresa ; et
al. |
September 27, 2018 |
TRANSPORT CONTAINER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL LID
Abstract
A transport container lid (10) is provided which includes a
power source (24) providing electrical power to the container lid.
An environmental control unit (20) electrically powered by the
power source (24) and producing conditioned air is provided,
wherein the environmental control unit (20) contains a fan (12) to
distribute the conditioned air. A controller (28) in operative
communication with the power source (24) and the environmental
control unit (20) is provided, wherein the controller (28) adjusts
the operation of the environmental control unit (20) based upon a
command input.
Inventors: |
Lombardo; Mary Teresa;
(Windsor, CT) ; Prieur; Eric; (Paris, FR) ;
Eddy; Renee A.; (Manlius, NY) ; Leshuk; Jeffrey
Allen; (Davis, CA) ; Poolman; Ciara;
(Syracuse, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CARRIER CORPORATION |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57589222 |
Appl. No.: |
15/781343 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 2, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2016/064630 |
371 Date: |
June 4, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62263033 |
Dec 4, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 3/06 20130101; F25B
21/00 20130101; F25D 29/003 20130101; F25D 11/003 20130101; F25D
17/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06; F25D 3/06 20060101 F25D003/06 |
Claims
1. A transport container lid comprising: a power source providing
electrical power to the transport container lid; an environmental
control unit electrically powered by the power source and producing
conditioned air, wherein the environmental control unit contains a
fan to distribute the conditioned air; and a controller in
operative communication with the power source and the environmental
control unit, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the
environmental control unit based upon a command input.
2. The transport container lid of claim 1, further comprising: at
least one of a sensor and a control input module to transmit a
command input to the controller to adjust the performance of the
environmental control unit, wherein the sensor is located internal
to the transport container lid.
3. The transport container lid of claim 2, wherein: the sensor is
configured to identify a specific cargo and transmit a command
input to the controller to adjust the performance of the
environmental control unit based upon the specific cargo.
4. The transport container lid of claim 3, wherein: the control
input module further comprises at least one of a visual display, a
key pad and a touchscreen visual display.
5. The transport container lid of claim 4, wherein: the control
input module is located on an exterior surface of the transport
container lid.
6. The transport container lid of claim 4, wherein: the control
input module is connected wirelessly to the controller and located
off the transport container lid.
7. A method of operating a transport container comprising a base
and an environmental control lid, the method comprising:
electrically powering, using a power source internal to the
environmental control lid, a plurality of components of the
transport container; conditioning air, using an environmental
control unit internal to the environmental control lid, the
transport container, wherein the environmental control unit
includes a fan to distribute conditioned air. controlling, using a
controller internal to the environmental control lid, a plurality
of components of the transport container, wherein controlling
comprises operating the power source and the environmental control
unit. adjusting, using the controller, the operation of the
environmental control unit based upon a command input.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: transmitting a
command input to the controller to adjust the operation of the
environmental control unit using at least one of a sensor and a
control input module, wherein the sensor is located internal to the
environmental control lid.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the sensor identifies a specific
cargo and transmits a command input to the controller to adjust the
performance of the environmental control unit based upon the
specific cargo.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein: the control input module
further comprises at least one of a visual display, a key pad and a
touchscreen visual display.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein: the control input module is
located on an exterior surface of the transport container.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein: the control input module is
connected wirelessly to the controller and located off the
transport container.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein: the base is collapsible and may
be folded when not in use.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein: the base is collapsible and may
be folded when not in use.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein: the base is collapsible and may
be folded when not in use.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein: the base is collapsible and
may be folded when not in use.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein: the base is collapsible and
may be folded when not in use.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein: the base is collapsible and
may be folded when not in use.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to
transport containers and the environmental control of such
containers.
[0002] Refrigerated trucks and trailers are commonly used to
transport perishable cargo, such as, for example, produce, meat,
poultry, fish, dairy products, cut flowers, and other fresh or
frozen perishable products. A transport refrigeration system is
mounted to the truck or to the trailer in operative association
with a cargo space defined within the truck or trailer for
maintaining a controlled temperature environment within the cargo
space.
[0003] Conventionally, transport refrigeration systems used in
connection with refrigerated trucks and refrigerated trailers
include a transport environmental control unit having a refrigerant
compressor, a condenser with one or more associated condenser fans,
an expansion device, and an evaporator with one or more associated
evaporator fans, which are connected via appropriate refrigerant
lines in a closed refrigerant flow circuit. Air or an air/gas
mixture is drawn from the interior volume of the cargo space by
means of the evaporator fan(s) associated with the evaporator,
passed through the airside of the evaporator in heat exchange
relationship with refrigerant whereby the refrigerant absorbs heat
from the air, thereby cooling the air. The cooled air is then
supplied back to the cargo space.
[0004] Typically, the perishable cargo within the truck's transport
refrigeration system is contained within simple cardboard boxes,
wooden crates, or plastic containers and is cooled or heated by the
truck's environmental control system. Upon arriving at the
destination the perishable cargo is unloaded onto a dock or other
uncontrolled area where it may sit for hours until it could be
moved to an environmentally controlled location. This time spent on
dock, out of a controlled environment, leads to the degradation of
the product life and ultimately leads to a lower quality product
being served to the end consumer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] According to one embodiment, a transport container lid
includes a power source providing electrical power to the transport
container lid. Also included is an environmental control unit
electrically powered by the power source and producing conditioned
air, wherein the environmental control unit contains a fan to
distribute the conditioned air. Further included is a controller in
operative communication with the power source and the environmental
control unit, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the
environmental control unit based upon a command input.
[0006] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include at least one
of a sensor and a control input module to transmit a command input
to the controller to adjust the performance of the environmental
control unit, wherein the sensor is located internal to the
transport container lid.
[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the sensor is
configured to identify a specific cargo and transmit a command
input to the controller to adjust the performance of the
environmental control unit based upon the specific cargo.
[0008] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module further comprises at least one of a visual display, a
key pad and a touchscreen visual display.
[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module is located on an exterior surface of the transport
container lid.
[0010] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module is connected wirelessly to the controller and located
off the transport container lid.
[0011] According to another embodiment, a method of operating a
transport container comprising a base and an environmental control
lid, the method is provided. The method includes electrically
powering, using a power source internal to the environmental
control lid, a plurality of components of the transport container.
The method also includes conditioning air, using an environmental
control unit internal to the environmental control lid, the
transport container, wherein the environmental control unit
includes a fan to distribute conditioned air. The method further
includes controlling, using a controller internal to the
environmental control lid, a plurality of components of the
transport container, wherein controlling comprises operating the
power source and the environmental control unit. The method yet
further includes adjusting, using the controller, the operation of
the environmental control unit based upon a command input.
[0012] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include transmitting
a command input to the controller to adjust the operation of the
environmental control unit using at least one of a sensor and a
control input module, wherein the sensor is located internal to the
environmental control lid.
[0013] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the sensor
identifies a specific cargo and transmits a command input to the
controller to adjust the performance of the environmental control
unit based upon the specific cargo.
[0014] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module further comprises at least one of a visual display, a
key pad and a touchscreen visual display.
[0015] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module is located on an exterior surface of the transport
container.
[0016] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the control
input module is connected wirelessly to the controller and located
off the transport container.
[0017] In addition to one or more of the features described above,
or as an alternative, further embodiments may include the base is
collapsible and may be folded when not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The subject matter which is regarded as the disclosure is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a transport container
lid with a control input module having a key pad and a visual
display in an embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a transport container
lid with a control input module having a visual display with
touchscreen capability in an embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a transport container
with control input module affixed to an exterior surface of the
transport container lid in an embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a transport container
with control input module affixed to an exterior surface of the
transport container base in an embodiment; and
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a transport container
with control input module separate and apart from the transport
container in an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a transport container lid 10 includes a
power source 24, an environmental control unit 20, and a controller
28. The environmental control unit 20 is powered by the power
source 24 and functions, under the control of the controller 28, to
establish and regulate a desired perishable cargo storage
temperature within a transport container 40 (FIG. 3) in which a
perishable cargo is stored during transport.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 a transport container 40 may be composed
of a transport container base 30 and a transport container lid 10.
The transport container base 30 is an open ended container wherein
perishable cargo, such as, for example, produce, meat, poultry,
fish, dairy products, cut flowers, and other fresh or frozen
perishable products, is stowed for transport. The transport
container lid 10 is configured to fit on the transport container
base 30, thus enclosing the perishable cargo. In various
embodiments, the transport container base 30 and the transport
container lid 10 may be composed of a plastic, metal vacuum,
extruded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam, or
other lightweight insulating material. In one embodiment, the
transport container base 30 is collapsible and may be folded when
not in use for easy storage and transportation.
[0026] Typically, the perishable cargo in a truck's transport
environmental control system is contained within simple cardboard
boxes, wooden crates, or plastic containers. Upon arriving at the
destination the perishable cargo is unloaded onto a dock or other
uncontrolled area where it may sit for hours until it could be
moved to an environmentally controlled location. This time spent on
dock, out of a controlled environment leads to degradation of the
product life and ultimately leads to a lower quality product being
available to the end consumer. For instance, the life of a fragile
ripe at harvest fruit such as, for example, raspberries and
blueberries, decreases with the amount of time they spend in
ambient air. The transport container lid 10 may be used
interchangeably with various transport container bases 30 to
provide the cooling or heating required to keep the perishable
cargo fresh while it sits in an uncontrolled area. The transport
container lid 10 may be used at any time to keep a perishable
product fresh from the time it is harvested to the time it is
served.
[0027] In various embodiments the environmental control unit 20 may
contain a thermoelectric, magneto caloric or phase change material
to provide the required cooling or heating load of the system. The
environmental control unit 20 includes a fan 12 to distribute the
conditioned air that has been cooled or heated. The fan 12 is
operative to pass air, typically ambient air, across the cooling or
heating load of the environmental control unit 20. It is to be
understood that the term "air" when used herein with reference to
the atmosphere within the transport container 40 includes mixtures
of air with other gases, such as for example, but not limited to,
nitrogen or carbon dioxide, sometimes introduced into a truck's
environmentally controlled container or directly into the transport
container 40 for transport of perishable cargo.
[0028] The environmental control unit 20 also includes a controller
28 configured for controlling the operation of various components
of the environmental control unit 20 to provide and maintain a
desired environment within transport container 40 in which a
perishable product is stowed. The controller 28 may be an
electronic controller including a microprocessor and an associated
memory bank. The controller 28 controls the operation of various
components of the environmental control unit 20, including but not
limited to the heating or cooling load, the fan 12 and the power
source 24. The power source 24 may be a battery or power generation
device such as for example, but not limited to, primary cell
batteries, secondary cell batteries, gas powered generator, or
solar cells.
[0029] In additional embodiments, the transport container lid 10
may also contain a plurality of cargo sensors 22 in communication
with the controller 28. The cargo sensors 22 can automatically
sense the perishable cargo within the transport container 40 and
transmit that information back via a command input to the
controller 28, which will then command the environmental control
unit 20 to maintain the proper conditions within the transport
container 40 for that specific perishable cargo. The cargo sensors
22 may distinguish the type of cargo via many sensing techniques
including but not limited to optical, odor, soundwave, infrared,
and via a physical probe. The cargo sensors 22 also include sensors
that monitor the environmental conditions within the transport
container 40, including but not limited to temperature, humidity,
air quality, air gas composition, and vibrations.
[0030] In additional embodiments, the transport container lid 10
may also include control input module 14 to transmit a command
input to the controller 28, where a user may manually enter the
proper conditions required by the perishable cargo within the
transport container 40. In a further embodiment, the control input
module 14 may include a visual display 16 and a key pad 18 for
manually entering the proper conditions for the specific perishable
cargo. In another embodiment, the visual display 16 may be
touchscreen. In yet another embodiment, the control input module 14
may include only a visual display 16 that is a touchscreen for
manually entering the proper perishable cargo conditions, as seen
in FIG. 2. In additional embodiments, the control input module 14
may be located on an exterior surface of the transport container
lid 10 or off the transport container lid 10 entirely and connected
hard lined or wirelessly to the controller 28, as seen in FIGS. 3,
4 and 5. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment where the control input
module 14 is located on the container base 30 and may be in wired
or wireless communication controller 28. FIG. 5 depicts an
embodiment where the control input module 14 is located off the lid
10 and the container base 30 and may be in wireless communication
controller 28 (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC).
[0031] While the disclosure has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such
disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to
incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or
equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are
commensurate with the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while
various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to
be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some
of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to
be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only
limited by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *