U.S. patent number 3,699,870 [Application Number 05/156,124] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-24 for apparatus for transportation of commodities.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. Invention is credited to Raymond E. Cantagallo, Robert J. Lutz.
United States Patent |
3,699,870 |
Cantagallo , et al. |
October 24, 1972 |
APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF COMMODITIES
Abstract
Large insulated containers are used for the transport of chilled
or frozen commodities. Each of the containers has its own
electric-motor-driven refrigeration equipment, which is supplied
with electric power from the ship or trailer chassis on which the
containers are being transported. In the containers, a continuous
flow of refrigerated (or, in some cases, heated) air is maintained
up through and/or around the packaged commodity. Means is provided
to change the atmosphere inside the container by the addition of
fresh air. A temperature set point adjustment is provided to
maintain the temperature of the air being circulated in the
container. A relatively simple and convenient arrangement is
provided for mounting the refrigeration equipment on the
container.
Inventors: |
Cantagallo; Raymond E. (Drexel
Hill, PA), Lutz; Robert J. (Swarthmore, PA) |
Assignee: |
Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock
Company (Chester, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22558202 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/156,124 |
Filed: |
June 23, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
834281 |
Jun 18, 1969 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/118; 62/239;
454/174; 62/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H
1/00014 (20130101); F25D 19/003 (20130101); B60H
1/00295 (20190501); B60P 3/20 (20130101); B65D
88/745 (20130101); B60H 2001/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60H
1/00 (20060101); F25D 19/00 (20060101); B60P
3/20 (20060101); B65D 88/74 (20060101); B65D
88/00 (20060101); B60h 001/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/62,78,239,413.4,418,419 ;98/10,8 ;165/16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Perlin; Meyer
Assistant Examiner: Capossela; Ronald C.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 834,281 filed June
18, 1969, now abandoned.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A self-contained storage and transportation apparatus for
perishable commodities comprising a closed housing of rectangular
prismoidal outer configuration, means providing at the bottom of
said housing a plurality of parallel solely side-by-side slot-like
air flow channels which are open at one end, which extend in the
direction of the length of said housing and are substantially
unobstructed in the housing longitudinal direction throughout the
entire housing length, and which are open at their upper ends,
blower means mounted in said housing adjacent said one open end of
said channels for producing an air flow, means coupling the entire
discharge of said blower means to the open ends of all of said
channels, duct means entirely within said housing coupling the
intake of said blower means to the interior of said housing,
adjacent the top and at said one end thereof, and impervious
selectively removable partition means disposed in certain selected
ones of said channels to separate each of the selected channels
into two vertically disposed portions for a part only of its
length, thereby to provide a zonal distribution network for the air
flowing through the channels.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein selected adjacent ones
of said channels are coupled together laterally to form in effect a
unitary air ducting system extending longitudinally of said housing
and separated from the side walls thereof, the lateral width of the
unitary air ducting system so formed being equal to the combined
widths of the individual channels which are coupled together.
3. Apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the boxes of commodity
which are to be stored and transported in said apparatus are of
predetermined and uniform size, and wherein the overall lateral
width of the said unitary air ducting system is approximately equal
to a horizontal dimension of one of said boxes.
4. Apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the boxes of commodity
which are to be stored and transported in said apparatus are of
predetermined and uniform size, and wherein the selected adjacent
channels are coupled together laterally in groups to form a
plurality of separate unitary air ducting systems each having an
overall lateral width approximately equal to a horizontal dimension
of one of said boxes.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including also means for
supplying to the blower means intake, inside said housing, fresh
air from outside said housing.
6. Apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein said supplying means is
controllable, thereby to permit such means to be selectively
disabled or enabled.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for storing and transporting a
chilled or frozen commodity. By way of example only, the apparatus
will be described in connection with the storage and transportation
of bananas, which must be maintained chilled to a certain
temperature during transport to prevent premature ripening thereof,
in view of the long ocean voyage involved. However, it is desired
to be pointed out that the apparatus may be used for various other
chilled or frozen commodities, and in particular for various other
types of respiring commodities in addition to bananas.
The procedure used presently for the transportation, ripening
(processing), and distribution of bananas between Central and/or
South America and the United States is somewhat as follows: At the
growing areas in the tropics, the "bunches" of bananas are cut
while still green and moved to a centralized packing facility,
where they are dissected into "hands," washed, and the cuts treated
with a fungicide. The hands of bananas are then wrapped in a
perforated polyethylene sheet and packed into corrugated cardboard
boxes each holding about 40 pounds net of fruit. These individual
boxes are stacked on trucks, trailers, railcars or lighters, as the
case may be, and hauled to port for shipment. At the port, the
individual boxes are unloaded from the transport medium, then moved
aboard a ship and there stacked in a refrigerated cargo hold.
During the ocean voyage, for example to a port in the Northern
Hemisphere, the temperature in the refrigerated cargo hold is
maintained such as to keep the bananas in their preclimacteric
(green state).
On arrival at the distant port, the boxes of fruit are unloaded
from the ship and stacked on trailers or railcars for transport to
a jobber's facility or a large chain store's warehouse. Upon
arrival, the individual boxes of bananas are unloaded and then
distributed into a series of large ventilated and
temperature-controlled "ripening rooms," where (by injection into
the room of an appropriate quantity of ethylene "triggering" gas,
as well as by appropriate control of the temperature in the room
and of the air flow through the room, in accordance with a ripening
schedule) the bananas are brought into their climacteric and then
on into their post-climacteric (ripening).
When the appropriate time in the ripening schedule has been
reached, the individual boxes of bananas are reloaded onto trucks
and transported to retail distribution points, or supermarket
warehouses, as the case may be.
It may be noted that the procedure just described calls for a
rather large number of separate cargo handling operations to be
carried out on the individual boxes of bananas, which even with
modern materials handling methods and equipment involves a
considerable expense.
Also, the jobber's "markup" or commission, or the chain store's
added expense (which covers the utilization of a facility mainly
for ripening of the fruit) may be quite appreciable.
An object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for the
transportation of chilled or frozen commodities.
Another object is to provide apparatus for the storage and
transportation of commodities, by the use of which the cargo
handling expense is minimized.
A further object is to provide a system and apparatus for the
transportation and processing of bananas which bypasses or
eliminates entirely the banana jobber i.e., processor).
The foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished,
briefly, in the following manner: Insulated containers of standard
size (say, 8 feet wide by 81/2 feet high by 40 feet long) are
utilized for the storage and transportation of the bananas, each
container having an individual refrigeration apparatus, and also
means for circulating air through the interior of the respective
container. The bananas are loaded into standard boxes at the
tropical plantations, and these boxes are then stacked inside the
containers. The bananas are then transported in these containers
all the way from the tropical plantations to the retail
distribution points in the Northern Hemisphere. The circulation of
air in the containers is such as to provide an air washing of the
fruit. Electric power for the operation of the refrigeration
apparatus is supplied from the ship or trailer chassis on which the
containers are being transported. By appropriate adjustment of the
fresh air admitted to the interior of the container, as well as of
the temperature inside the container, the bananas may be held in
their pre-climacteric during the transportation, or they may be
brought into their climacteric and the ensuing
post-climacteric.
A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a container according to this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the container;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of air circulating and temperature
control apparatus mounted inside a container, with certain parts
broken away in order to show details;
FIG. 4 is an end view of a typical assembled floor structure formed
from extrusions;
FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view, showing a portion of the
interior of the container with a box of commodity therein;
FIG. 6 is a vertical section through an evaporator employed in the
apparatus of the invention, the evaporator coil unit itself being
shown in elevation;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the front end of a container
together with unit assemblies to be mounted therein and
thereon;
FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view of the front end of a
container, illustrating a detail; and
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
An apparatus for the transportation of chilled or frozen
commodities according to this invention is founded upon a container
or housing 1 illustrated in side elevation in FIG. 1. Housing or
container 1 is preferably of rectangular prismoidal outer
configuration, with overall dimensions as follows: length, 40 feet;
width, 8 feet; height, 81/2 feet. Access to the interior of the
container e.g., for the placing of commodities therein, or for the
removal of commodities therefrom) is had by means of two hinged
access doors 2 and 3 provided at the rear end of the container,
these doors being hingedly mounted at their respective outer sides
to the corner posts of the container and constituting substantially
the entire rear wall of the container.
The container 1 is based upon an outer framework including corner
posts, and these corner posts are provided at their upper and lower
ends with fittings 4 which enable the container to be handled by
means of a suitable crane-suspended cargo frame or spreader, such
as disclosed in Griffith U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,354.
All six faces bounding or defining the container are of
double-walled construction, with suitable thermal insulation
between such double walls.
A floor grating structure, denoted generally by numeral 5 (FIG. 3),
is mounted on the bottom interior wall of the housing or container
1, for the purpose of supporting boxes of a commodity which is to
be stored and transported in the container, this floor grating
structure also providing flow channels for the circulation of air,
as will later be detailed. The grating structure 5 is constructed
of extruded aluminum sections which are positioned side-by-side,
interlocked, and then slid into position in the longitudinal or
length direction of the container, and then welded together and
suitably secured (as by screws, for example) atop the bottom
interior wall or floor of the housing.
Refer now to FIG. 4, which illustrates typical extruded sections
which may be used to make up the floor grating structure 5.
Extruded sections 6 which each have the cross-section illustrated
may be used at the two opposite side edges of the floor, and the
upstanding flanges of these sections may be secured as by means of
screws to the interior side walls of the container. Extruded
sections 7 which each have the cross-section illustrated may be
used for the main or central portion of the floor, two such
sections placed side-by-side being illustrated in FIG. 4. The
sections 7 may interlock with the adjacent side section 6 (as
illustrated for example at the left-hand side and at the right-hand
side of FIG. 4), or with an adjacent central section 7 (as
illustrated for example at the center of FIG. 4). Considering the
main floor sections 7, it may be seen that these together have a
cross-sectional shape resembling a plurality of Ts in side-by-side
relation, with the bases of the Ts extended outward laterally and
joined together. FIG. 4 in effect depicts a typical end view of a
floor grating structure. It may be seen that the spaces between the
verticals of the Ts provide a plurality of slot-like channels which
extend in the direction of the length of the housing 1 and which
open upwardly into the interior of the housing (it will be
remembered that the floor grating structure 5 is mounted on the
bottom interior wall of the housing).
To complete the floor grating structure 5, extruded sections 8 in
the form of flat plates may be provided between the verticals of
the Ts for strengthening purposes, each section 8 extending
horizontally between adjacent verticals and the side edges of each
section 8 being positioned in suitable longitudinally extending
grooves formed in such verticals. The sections 8 provide lateral
support for the verticals of the Ts, and the lengths and positions
of these sections may be determined in accordance with the need;
these sections 8 prevent damage to the floor grating structure 5
when a fork lift truck is driven thereon.
In order to simplify the drawings as much as possible, in view of
the small scale of FIG. 3, the detailed configuration
(cross-section) of the extruded sections of the floor structure is
not illustrated in this latter figure; likewise, the lateral
support sections 8 are illustrated somewhat differently in FIG. 3
than in FIG. 4.
The container or housing 1 has a specially fabricated front wall,
as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The floor grating
structure 5 terminates at its front end a little distance
rearwardly from the inner face of the front wall of the housing; as
a result, the slot-like channels provided between the verticals of
the Ts are all open at their front or forward ends.
The specially fabricated front wall previously referred to includes
a horizontally-extending shelf or support (not shown), which is
secured at its forward edge to the interior front wall of the
container, somewhat above the midplane of the container height.
From the plane of said shelf upwardly to the top of the container,
the container front wall is substantially aligned (front-to-rear)
with the corner posts of the container frame, but below the plane
of this shelf the container front wall is offset rearwardly say to
a depth of about 14 inches, to provide an external cavity or recess
for the accommodation of a "refrigeration hi-side unit," including
the principal moving elements of a compression refrigeration system
to be described later.
It will be recalled that the shelf or support previously referred
to is located inside the container or housing. Mounted on top of
such shelf, and secured thereto, is a horizontally extending fan
bed plate or mounting plate 9, which provides the main support for
the principal components of a "refrigeration lo-side unit and air
ventilating system." The forward edge of the mounting plate 9 seals
against the front interior wall of the housing, by means of an edge
gasket (not shown).
The rear edge of mounting plate 9 is coplanar with and is fastened
to a vertically extending imperforate wall 10, which extends
completely across the interior of the container from one side wall
to the other thereof and which constitutes in effect one inside
wall of the container, since the boxes of the commodity which is
being transported are stacked closely adjacent the rear face of
this wall 10. The wall 10 extends both above and below the
horizontal plane of mounting plate 9, and this wall is sealed at
its edges to the interior side walls of the container. The lower
edge of wall 10 fits tightly against the upper ends of the Ts which
make up the floor structure 5, and the front face of this wall lies
in the same vertical plane as the front or forward ends of the
extrusions which make up the floor structure.
Below the mounting plate 9, wall 10 carries on its front face a
plurality of imperforate edge-mounted members 11, 12, 13, and 14
which act as side walls for a pair of air diffuser sections or
ducts 15 and 16 arranged to convey air downwardly, from the
discharge outlets of the two air delivery or recirculating fans 17
and 18, respectively, to the front or open ends of the air flow
channels provided by floor structure 5. Fan or blower means 17,
which is preferably a centrifugal blower, is mounted on the upper
side of mounting plate 9 and discharges its air downwardly through
a suitable aperture in this mounting plate. The members 11 and 12
form the side walls of the first air diffuser section 15; this
section expands from the discharge outlet of fan 17 (at its upper
end) to include one half of the width of the floor structure 5 (at
the lower end of air duct 15). Fan or blower means 18, which is
preferably a centrifugal blower, is also mounted on the upper side
of mounting plate 9 and discharges its air downwardly through a
suitable aperture in this mounting plate. The members 13 and 14
form the side walls of the second air diffuser section 16; this
section expands from the discharge outlet of fan 18 (at its upper
end) to include the other half of the width of the floor structure
5 (at the lower end of air duct 16). It may be noted that members
12 and 13 meet a small distance above the floor structure 5, so
that at this point sections 15 and 16 become common.
The forward or front face of wall 10, between members 11 and 12,
forms the rear end wall of air diffuser section 15; similarly, this
same front face, between members 13 and 14, forms the rear end wall
of air diffuser section 16. When the container of this invention is
assembled, the front edges of members 11-14 seal against the
interior front wall of the container, so that this latter wall
provides the front end walls for air diffuser sections or ducts 15
and 16.
Air is forced into the front ends of the air flow channels provided
by floor structure 5, via the air diffuser sections or ducts 15 and
16, by means of the two air delivery fans 17 and 18, each of which
may be rated at 1,700 cubic feet per minute at 1 inch of water
head, static.
The air forced into the front ends of the air flow channel provided
by the floor sections, in the manner previously described, is
conveyed by these channels into the interior of the container and
longitudinally toward the rear thereof, since the channels extend
parallel to the length dimension of the container. As the air flows
toward the rear of the container in these channels, it also flows
upwardly out of the channels into the interior of the container by
way of the open tops of the channels, as indicated by the arrows in
FIG. 3.
Standard corrugated cardboard boxes (each holding about forty lbs.
net of fruit) into which bananas are customarily packed for
shipment, are provided with aligned or registering openings or
holes in their top and bottom walls (and also, in some cases, with
openings or holes in their side walls, as well). When the boxes of
bananas are disposed in stacks on the floor structure 5, the
registering holes in the tops and bottoms thereof are formed into
generally vertical chimneys. The air flowing upwardly out of the
floor channels (via the open tops thereof) can and does flow
through the chimneys provided in the boxes, thus coming into direct
contact with the fruit in the boxes to produce an air washing
thereof. That is to say, the air flows directly through the
commodity as stacked. This direct air washing is particularly
advantageous when the commodity is a respiring fruit, such as
bananas. In addition to this, of course, the air, as it flows
upwardly through the interior of the container, flows around the
outside of the boxes of commodity; in the case of a frozen
commodity, this flow around the outside of the boxes would in
general be the only type of flow which takes place, since such
boxes are ordinarily sealed air-tight.
Speaking generally, the height and configuration of the T-sections
of the floor 5 are such as to allow equal distribution of the
quantity of circulating air throughout the entire width and length
of the container 1. The air returns from the commodity through the
upper portion of the container interior, in the space between the
tops of the stacks of commodity and the ceiling of the container,
as will be described in detail hereinafter.
If necessary, the uniformity of the air flow can be enhanced by
zoning the floor air flow channels, through appropriate utilization
of the flat plate sections 8. Since the air forced into the front
ends of the air flow channels is distributed over the cross-section
thereof (see FIG. 4), the plate sections 8 can be used as
partitions, to separate appropriate lengths of selected channels
into two portions. Thus, by appropriate selection of the lengths of
plate sections 8, a portion of the air can be made to flow for any
desired distance along the length of the channel before it passes
upward into the container, beyond the end of the partition 8.
Typically, a banana box may be 161/2 inches wide, 21 inches long,
and 9 inches high. It is contemplated that in a container having
the dimensions previously mentioned, the boxes of bananas would be
stacked eight high, with five stacks across the width of the
container and 21 tiers of stacks from front to rear, for a total of
8 .times. 5 .times. 21 = 840 boxes of bananas in each container.
According to this invention, the air flow channels in the floor
structure 5 are coupled together in groups to form a plurality of
spaced unitary air ducting systems each of a cross-section (width)
commensurate with the width (161/2 inches) of a banana box.
Refer now to FIG. 5, which illustrates the lower portion of the
lowermost banana box 19 (in a stack eight high) in position in the
container 1, resting on the floor structure 5. The 161/2-inch
dimension of the box extends horizontally in FIG. 5. The opening or
hole (previously referred to) in the bottom wall of banana box 19
is indicated at 20. By way of example, the distance between the
vertical center lines of adjacent Ts in the floor structure 5 may
be 21/2 inches. The group of five adjacent air flow channels
denoted by A, the center of which group of channels is
substantially in vertical alignment with the center of hole 20, is
coupled together to form a single unitary air ducting system. This
coupling together is effected by means of transverse holes such as
21 in each of the four T verticals which comprise the "inside"
verticals in this group of five channels. A plurality of holes is
provided in each of the said four T verticals, the successive holes
being spaced along the length of each vertical and the successive
holes being aligned transversely in the respective verticals, in
sets of four holes. It is pointed out that the holes 21 greatly
reduce the isolation between the channels into which such holes
open and thus have the effect of coupling the five channels
together into a single unitary air ducting system.
There being five stacks of boxes across the width of the container
1, five of these unitary air ducting systems (each comprising five
air flow channels coupled together by holes such as 21, in the
manner previously described) would be provided in the container,
these air ducting systems being distributed uniformly across the
width of the container. It will be understood that each of the five
unitary air ducting systems so provided extends from front to rear
of the container, and each air ducting system is effective for 21
stacks of boxes, one stack in each of the 21 tiers.
It is desired to be pointed out that the floor air distribution
system just described is applicable without modification to citrus
carton stowage patterns. A carton generally used for the
transporting of citrus products, especially for transoceanic
transportation (with which the apparatus of the present invention
is particularly concerned), is 17 inches long, 12 inches wide, and
14 inches high.
A widely-used stacking configuration for citrus cartons is the
so-called "vertical chimney stack," wherein the cartons are stacked
so as to provide or form, in each tier, centralized open areas
which extend vertically through the superposed carton layers, thus
forming "chimneys." In a typical stowage pattern of this type,
three laterally-spaced chimneys may be formed in each tier. With
this stacking configuration, the air from three of the five unitary
air ducting systems previously described (to wit, the two systems
closest to the respective side walls of the container, plus the
center system) will feed the respective chimneys in the three
stacks across the width of the container, and similarly for the
respective tiers throughout the entire length of the container.
Another rather widely-used stacking configuration for citrus
cartons is the so-called "spaced bonded-block" pattern, wherein the
superposed layers of cartons are overlapped, both from side to side
and from front to rear of the container. In this configuration, the
stacks of cartons provide or form vertical zig-zag channels, there
being five such channels across the width of the container. With
this stacking configuration, the air from each of the five unitary
air ducting systems previously described will feed a separative
respective one of the five vertical zig-zag channels.
Although not illustrated in the drawings, the inner faces of the
two side walls of the container, and also the inner face of the
container front wall, are formed or provided with vertically
extending ribs or corrugations, so that these wall surfaces have a
configuration best described as sinuous. Also, the inner surfaces
of the rear access doors 2 and 3 are preferably provided with
aluminum rib sections which are riveted or otherwise secured to
these door surfaces; thus, these door surfaces, too, have a sinuous
construction or configuration.
The container 1 has two air flow channels in the floor structure 5,
one adjacent each respective side wall of the container, which are
not included in the five unitary air ducting systems previously
described. These two last-mentioned channels supply air to the
spaces between the respective sinuous side walls and the stacks of
boxes, to provide a wall or curtain of air. As may be seen in FIG.
5, some of the air flow channels in the floor structure 5 (between
adjacent ones of the unitary air ducting systems, for example) do
not have cross holes 21, that is, they are undrilled. These
undrilled channels are used mainly to supply air to the rear of the
container 1, to provide a wall or curtain of air between the
sinuous inside surfaces of the rear doors and the stacked boxes; it
is pointed out that the flow of air out the tops of these channels,
before reaching the rear of the container beyond the stacks of
boxes, is negligible because of the close packing of adjacent
stacks.
It is pointed out that, when transporting a frozen commodity which
may be in sealed boxes, the air flow system described, by virtue of
the sinuous wall construction of the container 1, would totally
envelop the boxed commodity (which may be thought of as the
container cargo) in a curtain of cold air on each of its six sides;
these curtains of cold air would insulate against any outside
influence. In this connection, the sinuous construction of the
side, front, and rear walls of the container 1 has been previously
described. The floor structure 5 of course provides a curtain of
air at the bottom, while the space between the tops of the stacks
and the ceiling of the container (used for return air flow)
provides for an air curtain at the sixth side.
Air returning from the commodity (i.e., air which has passed
through and/or by the commodity) flows longitudinally of the
container toward the front end thereof, in the clear space between
the tops of the stacks of commodity and the ceiling of the
container. This return air, on its way toward the front end of the
container, passes over a substantially horizontally extending
deflecting plate 22 which extends across the entire interior width
of the container 1 and which is secured at its front or forward end
to the upper horizontally extending edge of wall 10. Plate 22 is
sealed along its two side edges to the respective vertically
extending interior side walls of the container, and is spaced some
little distance below the ceiling of the container, so that the
returning air can pass freely over this plate. In general, the
substantially horizontal plane in which the tops of the stacks of
commodity lie is spaced a little distance below the lower face of
deflecting plate 22. As the air flows over plate 22, a partial
separation of the stream into three portions is effected by means
of two slightly divergent, spaced, perforated, substantially
vertical plates 23 and 24 which are sealed along their lower edges
to the upper face of plate 22 and are sealed along their upper
edges (as by means of gaskets, not shown) to the roof of the
container. The plates 23 and 24 are spaced approximately
equidistantly along the width of plate 22. The perforations in
plates 23 and 24 provide for a uniform distribution of the three
air stream portions, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.
The separation of the return air stream into three separate streams
is completed by means of two substantially imperforate, spaced,
parallel, vertically extending baffles or division plates 25 and
26. The rear edge of plate 25 is sealed to the forward edge of
plate 23 and to the front face of wall 10, the lower edge of plate
25 is sealed to the upper face of mounting plate 9, the vertically
extending front edge of plate 25 is sealed as by means of an edge
gasket (not shown) to the front interior wall of the housing, and
the upper edge of plate 25 is sealed as by an edge gasket (not
shown) to the roof of the housing or container 1. The volume or
space bounded by plate 25, the adjacent interior side wall of the
container, the roof of the housing, the front face of wall 10, the
upper face of mounting plate 9, and the front interior wall of the
housing or container, forms a first combined plenum and mixing
chamber. The air delivery fan or blower means 17 is located within
this first chamber, and the intake of this blower means is coupled
to this volume or space; as previously mentioned, the discharge of
fan 17 takes place downwardly through an aperture in plate 9, into
the upper end of the diffuser section 15.
The rear edge of plate 26 is sealed to the forward edge of plate 24
and to the front face of wall 10, the lower edge of plate 26 is
sealed to the upper face of mounting plate 9, the vertically
extending front edge of plate 26 is sealed as by means of an edge
gasket (not shown) to the front interior wall of the housing, and
the upper edge of plate 26 is sealed as by an edge gasket (not
shown) to the roof of the housing of container 1. The volume or
space bounded by plate 26, the adjacent interior side wall of the
container, the roof of the housing, the front face of wall 10, the
upper face of mounting plate 9, and the front interior wall of the
housing or container, forms a second combined plenum and mixing
chamber. The air delivery fan or blower means 18 is located within
this second chamber, and the intake of this blower means is coupled
to this last-mentioned volume or space; as previously mentioned,
the discharge of fan 18 takes place downwardly through an aperture
in plate 9, into the upper end of the diffuser section 16.
An environmental temperature varying means, denoted generally by
numeral 27, is positioned in the path of the central portion of the
return air stream, in such a manner that this portion of the air
stream passes through the temperature varying means, to have its
temperature varied by such means. The central portion of the return
air stream constitutes approximately one-third of the total
quantity of returning air. It should be understood that the central
portion of the return air stream is that portion between the two
baffles or division plates 25 and 26. Refer now to FIG. 6. The
temperature varying means comprises an evaporator coil unit 28,
which is connected to a refrigeration unit to be described (a
"reefer hi-side system") and which is utilized when the ambient
temperature is higher than the temperature (e.g., 53.degree. F. for
the transportation of a chilled commodity such as bananas, and
-10.degree. F. for the transportation of a frozen commodity)
desired to be maintained inside the container, and also a plurality
of electrical heating elements 29 (such as so-called "Calrod
units") which are utilized instead of the evaporator coil 28 when
the ambient temperature is lower than the temperature desired to be
maintained inside the container; typically, the heating elements 29
would be utilized for the transportation of bananas during the
winter, in the Northern Hemisphere.
The evaporator coil 28 is supported by a combined drain pan and
coil support 30. The rearward end of this item 30 is sealingly
secured to the front face of wall 10 and to the sloping forward end
of deflecting plate 22. The upper side of evaporator coil unit 28
is face-sealed to the interior ceiling 76 of the container 1 by
means of a suitable gasket (not shown). The perimeter of the
flanged inlet face 32 of coil unit 28 is sealed to the container
interior ceiling 76, to the respective baffles 25 and 26, and to
the drain pan and coil support 30. The ends of unit 28 are spaced
from baffles 25 and 26. See FIGS. 3 and 6.
By virtue of the mounting arrangement just described, the entire
central portion of the return air stream (represented by the arrow
31) is constrained to flow into the inlet face 32 of the evaporator
coil 28, through this coil to the discharge face 33, and thence
outwardly and downwardly, as indicated by arrow 34. The electrical
heating elements 29 are mounted adjacent the discharge face 33, so
that they are also in the path of the central portion of the return
air stream; thus, when the evaporator coil 28 is not in service and
the heating elements 29 are energized, the central portion of the
return air stream will be heated rather than cooled as it passes
through the temperature varying means 27. (Of course, when the
evaporator coil 28 is operative, the heating elements 29 are
unenergized, so that the central portion of the return air stream
will be cooled as it passes through the temperature varying means
27.)
A plurality of electrical heating elements 35 are mounted in the
drain pan 30, below the evaporator coil unit 28; these heating
units are energized during defrosting cycles (later referred to),
to defrost the evaporator.
The evaporator coil 28 is preferably an elongated, finned-tube
refrigerant-to-air heat exchange device, the flow area of its inlet
face 32 being equivalent to 2 square feet and the evaporator coil
handling a flow of approximately 1,000 cubic feet per minute. To
maintain the high relative humidities required to hold
respiring-type commodities, the cooled air stream at 34 must be
kept at the highest temperature possible, taking into consideration
the desired temperature of the air delivered into the container;
this will also prevent commodity chill damage. Control of the
temperature of the cooled air stream 34 is accomplished by using an
evaporator pressure regulating (EPR) valve 36 which allows only
small temperature differentials to occur in the evaporator
discharge air leaving temperature, thus providing for the required
high humidity. The EPR valve 36 is motor driven (through a suitable
control circuit, to be later described) to a setting which is
governed by the setting of the manually adjustable set point on a
thermostatic controller which is mounted on the "refrigeration
hi-side unit" and which will be later described.
A pair of refrigerant pipes 37 and 38, one of which provides the
liquid refrigerant supply coupling for the evaporator coil 28 and
the other of which provides the refrigerant suction gas return
coupling from the evaporator coil 28, extend upwardly (from a
"refrigeration hi-side unit" located below mounting plate 9, this
system not being shown in FIG. 3 but being described more in detail
hereinafter) through a common connector-type penetration (a "hi-lo
connector plug") in plate 9. Above plate 9, a fitting 39 connects a
pipe 40 to the pipe 37; pipe 40 is coupled by way of a manual
shutoff valve 41 and also by way of the EPR valve 36 to the
evaporator coil unit in means 27. Above plate 9, a fitting 42
connects a pipe 43 to the pipe 38; pipe 43 is coupled by way of a
liquid line solenoid valve 44 and a thermal expansion valve 45 to
the evaporator coil unit 28. The evaporator coil 28 and the thermal
expansion valve 45 comprise components of a more or less
conventional compression refrigeration system the other principal
components of which (to wit, the compressor and condenser) are in
the "refrigeration hi-side unit" to which reference was previously
made.
Two air transfer fans 46 and 47, each of which may be a centrifugal
blower rated at 500 cubic feet per minute at 0.3 inch of water
head, static, are located above mounting plate 9, between baffles
25 and 26 and downstream from the temperature-varying means 27.
Each of the fans 46 and 47 has its intake coupled to the central
chamber, between baffles 25 and 26 and above mounting plate 9, fan
46 being located at one side of this central chamber, adjacent
plate 25, and fan 47 being located at the other side of this
chamber, adjacent plate 26.
All of the blowers or fans 17, 46, 47, and 18 are driven by a
common electric drive motor 48 which is mounted on mounting plate
9, between fans 46 and 47. Motor 48 has a double-ended output
shaft, fans 17 and 46 being coupled to one end of this drive shaft
and fans 47 and 18 being coupled to the other end thereof. Fans 17,
46, 47, and 18 are all coaxial. One end of the drive shaft is
sealed through plate 25 (so that fan 17, in one side chamber, can
be driven), and the other end of the drive shaft is sealed through
plate 26 (so that fan 18, in the other side chamber, can be
driven).
The discharge from the air transfer fan 46 (which receives
temperature-varied air 34 from the discharge side of means 27, in
the central chamber) is fed by means of a tubular elbow 49 into one
end of a horizontally extending hollow cylindrical member 50 (whose
other end is closed) which is sealed through the baffle or plate 25
and extends into the first delivery fan plenum and mixing chamber
(in which blower means 17 is located). In this first delivery fan
plenum chamber, a plurality of high velocity nozzles 51, mounted on
member 50 and pointing upwardly, provide communication between the
hollow interior of member 50 and the first delivery fan plenum
chamber. Thus, about half of the conditioned (temperature-varied)
central portion of the return air stream is delivered by air
transfer fan 46 into the first delivery fan plenum chamber (side
chamber) through the nozzles 51, for thorough mixing of the
conditioned air with the side portion of the return air stream
which reaches this same chamber, unconditioned. In this first
plenum and mixing chamber, an unconditioned portion of the
relatively warm return air stream is mixed with the conditioned
colder air which is delivered by transfer fan 46 through the
nozzles 51 thereinto, and this resultant cooler mixture is then
redelivered or recirculated to the commodity by means of blower 17
and air diffuser section 15, through the floor structure 5.
The discharge from air transfer fan 47 (which receives
temperature-varied air 34 from the discharge side of means 27, in
the central chamber) is fed by means of a tubular elbow 52 into one
end of a horizontally extending hollow cylindrical member 53 (whose
other end is closed) which is sealed through the baffle or plate 26
and extends into the second delivery fan plenum and mixing chamber
(in which blower means 18 is located). In this second delivery fan
plenum chamber, a plurality of high velocity nozzles 54, mounted on
member 53 and pointing upwardly, provide communication between the
hollow interior of member 53 and the second delivery fan plenum
chamber. Thus, about half of the conditioned (temperature-varied)
central portion of the return air stream is delivered by air
transfer fan 47 into the second delivery fan plenum chamber (side
chamber) through the nozzles 54, for thorough mixing of the
conditioned air with the side portion of the return air stream
which reaches this same chamber, unconditioned. In this second
plenum and mixing chamber, an unconditioned portion of the
relatively warm return air stream is mixed with the conditioned
colder air which is delivered by transfer fan 47 through the
nozzles 54 thereinto, and this resultant cooler mixture is then
redelivered or recirculated to the commodity by means of blower 18
and air diffuser section 16, through the floor structure 5.
A respiring commodity, specifically a respiring fruit, gives off
heat. This heat is taken care of (e.g., by removal from the
interior of the container when warranted by the ambient
temperature) through the action of the temperature varying means
27. Also, a respiring commodity takes up oxygen and produces carbon
dioxide through oxidation. According to this invention, a fresh air
change arrangement is used to dilute the respiration-produced gases
(such as carbon dioxide) which would otherwise accumulate in the
container atmosphere. If these gases were allowed to accumulate to
any great extent, they would produce a deleterious effect on the
respiring fruit.
The inner end of a pipe 55 for the ejection of stale air from the
interior of the container is coupled to the discharge 49 of air
transfer fan 46, and the inner end of a similar pipe 56 is coupled
to the discharge 52 of air transfer fan 47. Pipes 55 and 56 are
manifolded together at 57, as by means of a tee fitting, and from
this manifolding point a common stale-air-ejection pipe 58 extends
to the common connector-type penetration previously referred to (in
connection with the refrigerant pipes 37 and 38). It may be seen
that the pipes 55, 56, and 58 provide for the ejection of a
quantity of stale air by the air transfer fans 46 and 47 (assuming
that the fresh air change arrangement is in its "on" position,
which will later be described, and also assuming that there is a
coupling from pipe 58 to the outside of the container, as will
later be described).
The inner end of a pipe 59 for the admission of fresh air into the
container is coupled to the suction or intake of the air delivery
fan or blower means 17, and the inner end of a similar pipe 60 is
coupled to the intake of the air delivery fan 18. Pipe 59 is sealed
through the baffle or division plate 25, and pipe 60 is sealed
through the division plate 26. In the central chamber, pipes 59 and
60 are manifolded together at 61, as by means of a tee fitting, and
from this manifolding point a common fresh-air-admission pipe 62
extends to the common connector-type penetration ("hi-lo connector
plug") previously referred to. It may be seen that the pipes 59, 60
and 62 provide for the drawing-in of an equivalent amount of fresh
air (equivalent to the amount of stale air ejected by pipes 56, 57,
and 58) by the air delivery fans 17 and 18 (again assuming that the
fresh air change arrangement is in its "on" position, and also
assuming that there is a coupling from pipe 62 to the outside of
the container). The fresh air change arrangement described is sized
to pass 20 cubic feet per minute of stale air, which is equivalent
to one change of container atmosphere per hour.
Refer now to FIG. 7. The "stale air out" pipe 58 extends from the
"hi-lo connector plug" previously mentioned to a hinged panel 75 in
a cover plate 63 which is suitably fastened to the body of the
container at the front thereof, and which, when in position, serves
as the front wall of the container. Likewise, the "fresh air in"
pipe 62 extends from the aforesaid "hi-lo connector plug" to the
hinged panel 75. The tubing or pipes 58 and 62 terminate at the
so-called container front wall 63 in a dual-register-type opening.
Refer now to FIGS. 8 and 9, which illustrate the dual-register-type
opening. A disc 64 is rotatably mounted in a circular cutout
provided in panel 75, this disc being manually rotatable from the
front of the container by means of an outwardly projecting central
shaft 65 affixed at one end to the outer surface of the disc. The
outer ends of the pipes 58 and 62 extend into close proximity to
the rear face of the disc 64 (see FIG. 9). Disc 64 has therein a
pair of apertures 66 and 67 which are in registry with the pipes 58
and 62, respectively (thereby to open the outer ends of these pipes
to the atmosphere), when the fresh air change arrangement is in the
"on" or enabled position illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As
illustrated in the drawings, a suitable manipulating handle is
attached to the outer end of shaft 65, for manual manipulation
(rotation) of this shaft. When disc 64 is manually rotated by means
of shaft 65 to the "off" or disabled position, the apertures 66 and
67 are rotated out of registry with the pipes 58 and 62, so that
these pipes are then closed or sealed off from the atmosphere by
the solid or imperforate portions of the disc. Thus, the fresh air
change arrangement is manually controllable in an "on-off" fashion
(thereby to selectively enable or disable such arrangement) from
the front of the container.
It is pointed out that the fresh air change arrangement is normally
"on" or enabled during the pre-climacteric or "hold green" portion
of the trip of the bananas. This fresh air change arrangement is
turned "off" at the beginning of the ripening schedule for the
bananas, at the time ethylene "triggering" gas is injected into the
container, and then after a predetermined time interval the fresh
air change arrangement is returned to the "on" or enabled
position.
All of the connecting services for the "refrigeration lo-side unit
and air ventilating system" previously described are carried
through the "hi-lo connector plug" or common connector-type
penetration previously referred to. These services, in addition to
the two refrigerant pipes 37 and 38 and the two fresh air change
pipes 58 and 62, comprise a drain connection from the evaporator
pan 30 (FIG. 6) and an electrical connection for the heating
elements 29 and 35 in the unit 27, for the fan drive motor 48, and
for the EPR valve 36 motor.
Refer again to FIG. 7. The "refrigeration hi-side unit" referred to
previously, which is denoted generally by numeral 68, is adapted to
be mounted in the external cavity or recess (previously mentioned)
which is provided at the front end of the container. The unit 68 is
adapted to be secured to a pair of supporting brackets 69 provided
at the bottom of the external cavity. A rearward extension of the
external cavity is provided by means of an opening 70 which is
suitably sealed off from the interior of the container and which is
located in the upper central portion of the container front wall
72; this opening 70 is so sized and located that it is between and
above the side members 12 and 13 of the air diffuser sections 15
and 16.
The "refrigeration hi-side unit" or unit 68 includes certain
components of a compression refrigeration system, to wit: an
air-cooled condenser with fan, a water-cooled condenser and
receiver, and an electrically-driven compressor; in addition, it
includes service valves, a liquid line strainer, dryer, sight flow
indicator, and associated hardware, and an electrical compressor
pressure control system and thermostatic temperature controller.
This unit is a factory assembled, leak tested, dehydrated and
refrigerant charged unit, terminating in a pair of refrigerant
pipes 37 and 38 (for connection to the evaporator coil 28 in the
temperature-varying means 27, by way of the "hi-lo connector plug,"
as previously described). As received from the factory, the upper
(outer) ends of pipes 37 and 38 are sealed, with rupture diaphragm
couplings. This construction, combined with the "hi-lo connector
plug" feature previously referred to, enables a quick disconnection
of the unit to be accomplished during field service.
Typically, the load requirements for the unit 68 may be somewhat as
follows. (1) For a chilled commodity (e.g., bananas) to be
maintained at a set point of 53.degree. F.: pulldown, 34,500 BTU
per hour at 100.degree. F. ambient and an evaporator discharge
temperature of 34.degree. F.; holding, 14,700 BTU per hour at the
same ambient temperature and an evaporator discharge temperature of
43.degree. F. (2) For a frozen commodity to be maintained at a set
point of -10.degree. F.: pulldown, 16,300 BTU per hour at
100.degree. F. ambient and an evaporator discharge temperature of
-19.degree. F.; holding, 13,500 BTU per hour at the same ambient
temperature and the same evaporator discharge temperature.
The water-cooled condenser included in unit 68 would be constructed
for salt water service (it being envisioned that one of the
principal uses for the container of this invention would be for the
transportation of commodities aboard a ship) and tropical sea
temperatures of 88.degree. F., and would have removable heads. The
condenser water connections would terminate at the front cover
plate 63 (which cover plate is applied to the container 1, and is
fastened thereto, after installation of the unit 68) with quick
disconnect self-sealing fittings, as indicated at 71. The
water-cooled condenser serves as a refrigerant receiver also, and
is arranged so that the engagement of sea water hoses (with
fittings 71), and the establishment of water pressure, activate the
water cooling and de-activate the air-cooled condenser and its fan.
The regulation of the flow of sea water through the water-cooled
condenser may be controlled in response to the thermal sensing of
the water discharge.
As previously stated, the front wall 72 of the container (in which
the opening 70 is cut) provides the front end walls for the air
diffuser sections 15 and 16, which is to say that this wall 72
forms the outer (with respect to the container) walls for these air
diffuser ducts. A thermostatic controller temperature-sensing
element is mounted in the air delivery stream at the entrance to
the floor structure 5, this sensing element being located at the
entrance end or front end of the floor structure 5, centrally of
the width thereof. Thus, this sensing element is preferably located
(see FIG. 3) at the common lower end of the air diffuser sections
15 and 16, where these sections join at the center of the width
dimension of the container. Although the sensing element itself is
not shown in the drawings, it is located on the back of a removable
gasketed patch 73 (FIG. 7) which covers the opening in the
container front wall 72 through which the sensing element is
inserted into the air delivery stream (and replaced, when
necessary).
The thermostatic controller for the "refrigeration hi-side unit" 68
includes a manually adjustable set point control which is
schematically illustrated at 74. This set point control is
accessible through a suitable hinged panel 75 provided in the front
cover plate 63, and is manually adjusted to correspond to the
temperature necessary for the transportation, in the container, of
a specific commodity. Once adjusted, the set point temperature is
maintained by the use of the sensing element mentioned (which is
located in the air delivery stream to the commodity). The
thermostatic controller preferably compares the set point
temperature to the air delivery stream temperature (as sensed by
the sensing element in this stream), and this controller operates
in the manner set forth in the following numbered steps, which are
reversible in order. (1) When the set point temperature and the air
delivery stream temperature are quite close to each other (e.g.,
within 1.degree. F.), the controller operates in a "neutral band,"
wherein neither cooling nor heating is required; in this case, the
unit 68 would be shut off, and the heating elements 29 in the means
27 would be deenergized. (2) When the air delivery stream
temperature is 1.degree. F. above the set point temperature, the
cooling cycle is started, by energizing the liquid line solenoid
valve 44, which allows refrigerant to flow into evaporator coil 28,
building up a pressure in suction line 37; through a
pressure-actuated switch (not shown), this starts up unit 68. (3)
When the air delivery stream temperature is 2.5.degree. F. above
the set point temperature, the EPR valve 36 is motorized to a
position such that the temperature of the air leaving the
evaporator at 34 is 10.degree. F. below the set point temperature.
(4) When the air delivery stream temperature is 3.5.degree. F.
above the set point temperature, the EPR valve 36 is motorized to a
position such that the temperature of the air leaving the
evaporator is 15.degree. F. below the set point temperature. (5)
When the air delivery stream temperature is 1.degree. F. below the
set point temperature, the heating cycle is started by suitable
energization of the electrical heating elements 29 in the means 27,
50 percent of the total heating capacity being active under these
conditions. (6) When the air delivery stream temperature is
1.5.degree. F. below the set point temperature, the heating cycle
is continued, with the total heating capacity provided by elements
29 being active under these conditions.
The thermostatic controller, and specifically the set point
control, is preferably mechanically integrated with a group of
switches to constitute an indicator type of control that will: (1)
for a set point equal to or greater than 24.degree. F., (a)
activate the unloaders on the compressor in the refrigeration unit
68, and (b) motorize the EPR valve 36 to a position such that the
temperature leaving the evaporator at 34 is 6.degree. F. below the
set point temperature; (2) for a set point less than 24.degree. F.,
(a) deactivate the compressor unloaders, and (b) bypass the EPR
valve 36, so that the latter is no longer effective.
It is contemplated that the defrosting cycle (which employs the
heating elements 35, in the drain pan 30) will be initiated by a
differential pressure switch connected across the evaporator coil
28, and terminated by a temperature sensing switch bonded to the
evaporator coil. During this cycle, the evaporator fan motor 48,
the compressor motor (in the unit 68), and the condenser fan motor
(also in the unit 68) will be stopped.
In order to properly utilize the container of this invention, a
suitable external source of electrical power is required, for the
energization of the various electrical instrumentalities described,
such as motors and heating elements. When the container is sitting
on a wharf or dock for commodity storage, it would receive its
electrical power from the port or onshore (stationary) power
facility. When the container is being transported aboard a ship, it
would be powered from the ship's mains. When the container is being
transported on a highway or over-the-road trailer, it would be
powered from a diesel engine-driven electrical generator carried by
the trailer.
As previously stated, a typical commodity, for which the container
of the present invention may be utilized, is bananas. For bananas,
the same container may be used as a storage means, as a transport
means, and also as a ripening room. This will now be further
explained, by reference to a typical voyage plan.
Assume that bananas are to be transported from a plantation in
Ecuador to a retailer such as a supermarket in Chicago. In the
following, the times will be stated in days from "time zero," which
is the time of fruit cut-down. In the winter, the temperature of
the bananas at zero time (which would of course be the same as that
of the ambient, in Ecuador) would be around 60.degree. F., while in
the summer this temperature would be around 90.degree. F. or above.
Beginning at zero time or cut-down, one day would be utilized for
transporting the bananas from the plantation to a staging area, and
during this first day the bananas would be at the ambient
temperatures previously mentioned.
According to this contemplated voyage plan, containers would be
available for loading in the staging area at the port of Guayaquil,
even though the vessel (ship) does not arrive at the port for
loading until a time t=2. Thus, at a time t=1, the containerization
of the bananas (i.e., the loading of the bananas into containers
according to this invention) starts. Also, at the time t=1, a
48-hour pulldown period starts, wherein the temperature of the
bananas is reduced (by means of the refrigerated atmosphere
provided in the container, unit 68 being active) from about
90.degree. or about 60.degree. to the fruit holding temperature of
53.degree.-57.degree. F. The vessel arrives in Guayaquil for
loading at a time t=2, and loading of the containers onto the
vessel takes place from t=2 to t=3. Thus, the container provides
storage for the bananas during a 2-day holding period in Ecuador,
from a time t=1 to a time t=3. At the time t=3, when the vessel is
ready to leave Guayaquil, the bananas in the containers have been
pulled down to the fruit holding temperature of 53.degree. F.
The loaded vessel leaves Guayaquil at a time t=3, and the Pacific
Ocean transit of about 1,000 miles (from Guayaquil to Panama City,
at the Pacific Ocean end of the Panama Canal) requires the time
from t=3 to t=about 51/4. The Panama Canal transit extends from
t=about 51/4 to t=6. This is followed by the Carribbean Sea transit
of about 900 miles and then the atlantic Ocean transit of about
1,600 miles, which together extend from t=6 to t=about 111/2, at
which latter time the vessel arrives in the port of New York. Thus,
the sea leg of the journey (port-to-port) extends from t=3 to
t=about 111/2, which is about 81/2 days.
In the wintertime, the ambient temperature would in general fall
below the fruit holding temperature of 53.degree. F. at some point
during the Atlantic Ocean leg of the trip, so that when this point
is reached the refrigeration unit 68 would be automatically turned
on or energized. In the summertime, on the other hand, the ambient
temperature would in general remain above the 53.degree. F. fruit
holding temperature throughout the entire trip from the tropics to
Chicago, so that under these conditions the refrigeration unit 68
would remain on for the entire trip.
The unloading of the containers from the vessel takes place from
t=about 111/2 to t=about 121/2, at which latter time the vessel
(after being unloaded) departs from New York for another trip. The
bananas are held at the proper temperature in the New York terminal
until t=about 131/2, so that there is a total of two days holding
in New York, from t=about 111/2 to t=about 131/2. During this
terminal holding, the container is loaded on a trailer for the
overland leg, from port to retailer or port to consumer.
The New York to Chicago transit of about 900 miles, on
over-the-road trailers (generally, one container to a trailer,
there being of course a large number of containers constructed
according to this invention aboard each vessel), begins at t=about
131/2 and ends at t=about 15.4, when the fruit arrives at its final
destination. The overland transit, from New York to Chicago, may be
by way of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo, and South
Bend.
According to the above-described voyage plan, which is somewhat
typical, the bananas arrive at their final destination about 151/2
days after they are cut down, in Ecuador. It is entirely feasible
to maintain the bananas green for this length of time, by utilizing
containers constructed and operated according to the present
invention. If, during the latter part of the total trip, it is
desired to start the ripening cycle, the set point control 74 may
be adjusted to a somewhat higher temperature, the fresh air change
arrangement may be turned "off" at 65 for a certain period of time,
and a quantity of ethylene "triggering" gas may be added to the
interior of the container. This may result in bringing the bananas
into their climacteric and then on into their post-climacteric, and
may be quite easily done because of the simplified control setup
(only two controls being provided) of the container of this
invention.
* * * * *