1040results about "Refrigerated goods vehicle" patented technology

A heat insulating wall, and a method of manufacturing the same. A laminated body includes a first panel, a first plate-shaped insulating member made of plastic foam and having a predetermined thickness, a vacuum insulation member mounted on the insulating member, a second plate-shaped insulating member made of plastic foam, and a second panel. The area between the first and second panels surrounded by the first plate-shaped insulating member, the vacuum insulation member, and the second plate-shaped insulating member is filled with expanded plastic foam. The thickness of the first and second plate-shaped insulating members is set to a predetermined thickness S.

A transport refrigeration system, comprising: a compressor (22); a first electric motor (26) that provides a motive force to the compressor; at least one fan (52, 56, 82, 84, 86); a second electric fan motor (54, 56, 88, 90, 92) that provides a motive force to the fan; a solar PV electrical power source (220); an electric energy power source (230); a engine driven generator electrical power source (210); and a power management controller (40) coupled to route power selectively and concurrently from two of the electrical power sources (210, 220, 230) to provide electrical power to the first motor (26) and the second motor (54, 56, 88, 90, 92).

A monitoring system for a refrigerated container carrying temperature-sensitive cargo. The system includes sensors disposed throughout the container and / or an associated vehicle for measuring parameters of the container or vehicle, including temperature, motion, and fuel efficiency, among many others. The system optionally includes a global positioning system receiver to monitor geographic location. The system communicates with a command center to allow real-time tracking and monitoring of the container. To reduce false positive alerts, the system buffers alerts by at least 30 minutes and blocks signal transmission when the container is located within specified geofences such as loading and unloading sites.

An apparatus to refrigerate the cargo space of delivery vehicles. It provides an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mechanical a / c and refrigeration units. Cooling is provided by controlled evaporation of a liquefied gas such as CO.sub.2 or nitrogen. Defrost and heating requirements, if needed, are provided by hot engine coolant or by electric heaters powered from the vehicle electrical system. Airflow for the evaporator and for circulation in the temperature controlled space is provided by a blower which is mechanically or electrically driven from vehicle power. This invention can also be applied to multi-temperature control applications. The apparatus is compact and is particularly suited for small inner city delivery vehicles. FIG. 1: The sketch shows an inner city delivery truck for which this invention is most suitable. Refrigerated goods are placed in roller cages that are designed to maximize cargo hauled by use of roller cages that extend to within 2 inches of the ceiling. The evaporator section of this invention is mounted at or near the front wall of the truck and is separated from the cargo by a vertical bulkhead. The conditioned air is delivered at the bottom of the truck to avoid top freeze of perishable cargo that is in close proximity to the ceiling. FIG. 2: This shows the piping schematic and is similar to the invention described in U.S. Application Serial No. 60 / 238,929 (the '929 application) incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 shows the engine coolant coil located ahead of the CO.sub.2 coil in the direction of airflow. This prevents the coldest air from coming in contact with the engine coolant--in the cooling mode the air leaving the CO.sub.2 coil can be as low as -50.degree. F. for frozen load applications and this may cause the engine coolant to start freezing. Arrangements must be made to circulate air between the two coils in defrost mode. One means to accomplish this is to place a damper at the outlet of the evaporator section and run the fans. The damper would be closed during defrost. Another method is to place the engine coolant coil on the discharge side of the CO.sub.2 coil and use a cut-out switch if the engine coolant temperature drops below a predetermined value. In this arrangement there is no need for the damper arrangement as the heat will rise to melt any frost on the CO.sub.2 coil. If electric heat is used for defrost and heating freezing of the engine coolant is not a concern and the heaters can be fastened to the discharge side of the CO.sub.2 coil. An electric stand-by mode can be provided to power the system for cooling, heating and defrost when the vehicle is parked with the engine off. A plug-in electrical cable can provide the power needed for the controls, the fans and for heating and defrost. The figure shows the electric heaters attached on the discharge side of the CO.sub.2 coil. Operation: Detailed description is in the '929 application except for the following: The evaporator section is designed for vertical installation to maximize cargo space. Air is discharged at the bottom but may be a conventional top discharge if needed for specific applications. Conventional methods can be used to provide defrost and heating. If engine coolant is used for a heat source, it is preferable to thermally isolate the CO.sub.2 coil from the engine coolant coil to avoid freezing the coolant. The evaporator blower may be located on the inlet side of the coils rather than as shown in the figures. Unique Features: 1. Absence of a conventional condensing section on the exterior of the vehicle makes this an ideal refrigeration unit for small inner city delivery vehicles. Many of the truck cabs are now almost full height (same as the truck body) and there is limited space for the condensing section. 2. Cold plates can be used and still maximize cargo cube. However, this invention has 30-40% less weight than comparable "cold plate" systems. 3. Other features are described in the '929 application.]

A trailer refrigeration system comprising: an electricity generator (22); an electricity-generator engine (21) for driving the electricity generator (22); a converter (23) for converting ac electric power generated by the electricity generator (22) into dc electric power; an inverter (24, 25, 26) including inverters (24), (25), (26) each for converting dc electric power from the converter (23) into ac electric power; a refrigerant circuit (30) having an electric compressor (31) and a fan (35, 36) including fans (35), (36), the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36) being driven respectively by ac electric power from inverters (24), (25), (26); and a control means (40) for individually controlling the speed of rotation of the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36).

A bimodal refrigeration system for use in refrigerated transport containers or refrigerated warehouses. The present invention includes a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods and a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber. The cargo chamber is designed to guide the forced-air current in a specified discharge and return path. In accordance with the present invention, a row of thermal storage ducts for retaining endothermic storage material are disposed within the cargo chamber. The thermal storage ducts are longitudinally disposed in parallel with the air flow direction of the specified forced-air discharge and return path to enable maximum convective thermal exchange between the forced-air current and the endothermic storage material without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide an insulated structural panel including a superinsulating, desiccant-filled, vacuum-sealed insulating panel sandwiched between a pair of composite panels. The composite panels are configured to impart structural strength to the panel without introducing heat transfer pathways through the vacuum-sealed insulating panel. The desiccant material disposed within the vacuum-sealed insulating panel is capable of absorbing moisture within the vacuum established within the vacuum-sealed insulating panel and thereby reducing the degradation of the vacuum-sealed panel's insulating capacity.

A sensor station (21) installed to a truck (1) receives sensor information transmitted from wireless temperature sensors (32-1) through (32-6) installed inside a container of the truck (1) and stores a temperature variation inside the container during package transportation. When the truck (1) arrives at a delivery center (7), the sensor station (21) transmits data of the temperature variation accumulated in the sensor station (21) to a server (35). A server (20) of an ASP center 2 communicates with the server (35) via the network (4) and obtains the data of the temperature variation. A user (3) accesses the server (20) of the ASP center by a PC (11), a mobile phone (12) or the like, and obtains information on the package temperature variation. The present invention can be applied to a mobile wireless terminal.

A thermal energy storage system (TESS) that enables the discharge of refrigerated air for cooling cargo or passengers in large compartments, such as the trailer of a semi-truck, for a period of time well in excess of several hours. The TES system is able to provide refrigeration without operating a conventional VCC unit, the truck engine, or the TRU diesel APU engine during all or a significant portion of the period of the typical range of time that a 53 foot refrigerated the truck is traveling over the road. The TES system includes a phase change material (PCM) reservoir, a cooling system-to-WF heat exchanger in fluid communication with the PCM reservoir, and a PCM-to-target heat exchanger in fluid communication with the PCM reservoir. The PCM reservoir contains a phase change material, a working fluid (WF) and a working fluid-to-PCM heat exchanger.

The present invention discloses a all-terrain cooler chest comprising a pair of wheels and a towing handle for portability. A back extension of storage space is provided behind the wheels that is designed to maintain the clearance from the ground for the underside of the cooler when the cooler is tilted up for towing with a handle. The invention optimizes storage space while providing ground clearance when the cooler is towed by an individual user.

A transport refrigeration system for controlling temperature within a cargo box during transit includes a refrigerant vapor compression unit and a power supply system including a fossil-fueled engine and a thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator is operatively disposed in an exhaust gas flow from the engine to convert heat from the exhaust gas flow into electric current. The electric current generated by the thermoelectric generator may be supplied to a storage battery.

Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and / or methods can control conditions such as temperature within a container of a transport refrigeration system. Embodiments can include a controller for controlling the transport refrigeration system to reduce power consumption. Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and / or methods for operating the same can control cycling of a transport refrigeration unit to conserve power where a subsequent cycle time in a power savings mode is based on at least one previous cycle time. In addition, components can be enabled based on monitored conditions to reduce power consumption.

The invention discloses a cold chain transportation process information monitoring system, comprising a wireless sensor acquisition device, a vehicle-bone monitoring device and a remote server; wherein the wireless sensor acquisition device is used for acquiring temperature, humidity and ethylene gas concentration information data in carriage in real time and transmitting the information data to the vehicle-bone monitoring device; and the vehicle-bone monitoring device is used for receiving and processing the information data transmitted by the wireless sensor acquisition device and transmitting the processed information to the remote server. The device and method of the invention can store the acquired information into the monitoring device, can transmit data to the remote server in real time and can realize real-time and whole course dual monitoring.

A refrigerated freight vehicle includes a tractor truck with a cab interior, a trailer presenting a chamber, and a cooling system to refrigerate the chamber and cool the cab. The cooling system includes a powered compressor assembly, a trailer evaporator, and a truck evaporator, with the compressor assembly operable to circulate refrigerant through the evaporators.

A structure for mounting electronic apparatuses in an electric motor-driven vehicle has a pair of first brackets each having a base part that is fixed to the side face of a chassis frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an arm part extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle. A pair of second brackets is fixed to the upper surfaces of the arm parts such that they extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a space between them. A battery unit is placed on the upper surfaces of the second brackets, and an electronic apparatus unit is placed under the battery unit between the second brackets. The structure enables electronic apparatuses to be mounted compactly, improves the efficiency of the electric motor by reducing the length of high voltage electric cables, and increases the available space for mounting the refrigerating system.

A control unit for a transport refrigeration device comprises a multi-color display for displaying at least one view including at least one graphical element, a memory storing two or more color settings for the multi-color display, wherein the color settings define illumination colors of the multi-color display, and a processing unit operatively coupled with the multi-color display and the memory to cause applying a color setting to the multi-color display of the transport refrigeration device, and displaying the view using the applied color setting, wherein the at least graphical element is illuminated in a color defined by the applied color setting.

The invention discloses an energy-saving environment-friendly freezing and refrigeration lorry with functions of electric-drive refrigeration and cold accumulation, which is a novel energy-saving freezing and refrigeration lorry for perishable food refrigerated transport. The freezing and refrigeration lorry comprises a lorry, an integrated refrigerating unit, a cold accumulator, a thermal insulation compartment, an air inlet, an air outlet and an intelligent temperature controller, wherein the refrigerating compressor unit is driven to refrigerate by using the electricity in the valley period; and the cold accumulator accumulates the cold which is generated by the refrigerating unit and used for the refrigeration lorry in the traveling process. The electric-drive refrigerating compressor unit does not use gasoline engines or diesel engines, thereby realizing zero discharge of the refrigeration system and reducing the transport cost by more than 10 times. The energy-saving environment-friendly freezing and refrigeration lorry with functions of electric-drive refrigeration and cold accumulation is a breakthrough in the modern food refrigerated transport chain. The invention greatly contributes to energy saving and emission reduction.

A train set includes a plurality of cars each having a flat designed to receive storage units equipped electrically-powered equipment. The train set includes: a connector for connecting the set to an electricity source which delivers electrical power at a high voltage greater than the rated operating voltage of the equipment; transfer apparatus for transferring electrical power at a high voltage to each car; a voltage step-down circuit connected to the transfer apparatus and from which electrical power is delivered at a low voltage in the vicinity of the rated operating voltage of the equipment; and a distributor for distributing the low-voltage electrical power to each item of electrically-powered equipment. It is also possible to provide a stand-alone generator providing, in particular, redundancy for the electrical power supply for the distributor. The train set is particularly applicable to transporting liquid or solid perishable goods, as well as chemicals, under controlled temperature.

A structure for mounting electronic apparatuses in an electric motor-driven vehicle can be provided, in which the electronic apparatuses such as a high voltage battery unit and motor control unit can be mounted compactly in the same section occupying a minimum mounting space, allowing them to be mounted in a vehicle of rather short wheelbase, driving efficiency of the electric motor can be improved by reducing the length of cables for transferring high voltage electric power, and space for mounting the refrigerating system can be increased which eases the mounting of the refrigerating system. The structure comprises: a pair of first brackets each having a base part being fixed to the side face of a chassis frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an arm part extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle, a pair of second brackets fixed to the upper surfaces of said arm parts such that they extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a certain space between them, said battery unit placed on the upper surfaces of said second brackets, and said electronic apparatus unit is placed under said battery unit between said second brackets.

A temperature control unit and a method of operating a temperature control unit. The temperature control unit including a refrigeration circuit enclosing a refrigerant and having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator coil. The method including providing a first flow path extending through the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator, providing a second flow path extending through the compressor and the evaporator, the second flow path bypassing a section of the refrigeration circuit, directing refrigerant through the first flow path during operation in a cooling mode, directing refrigerant through the second flow path during operation in a heating mode, and recovering refrigerant from the section of the refrigeration circuit during operation in a recovery cycle.

A trailer refrigeration system comprising: an electricity generator (22); an electricity-generator engine (21) for driving the electricity generator (22); a converter (23) for converting ac electric power generated by the electricity generator (22) into dc electric power; an inverter (24, 25, 26) including inverters (24), (25), (26) each for converting dc electric power from the converter (23) into ac electric power; a refrigerant circuit (30) having an electric compressor (31) and a fan (35, 36) including fans (35), (36), the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36) being driven respectively by ac electric power from inverters (24), (25), (26); and a control means (40) for individually controlling the speed of rotation of the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36).

A compressor (31) and a condenser (32) are provided above a cab (2). An evaporator (34) is provided in an inner upper region of a refrigeration container (4). The compressor (31) is connected to the condenser (32) by a refrigerating cycle pipe (13). <IMAGE>

A removable self-contained refrigeration unit is mounted within a vehicle, and is removable from a vehicle as a unit. The casing mounts both the evaporator and the condenser, and in one embodiment also mounts the compressor. With the embodiment that mounts the compressor, no refrigerant lines need be found anywhere except on the casing. The casing is removable from the vehicle as a one piece unit merely by connecting or disconnecting electrical connections. In a second embodiment the compressor is mounted remotely from the casing but the evaporator and condenser are still changeable as a one piece unit. In this embodiment a refrigerant connection need also be connected or disconnected to change the unit.

A refrigeration system for merchandisers, drug cabinets and similar enclosures (10) that continues to provide temperature control during periods when external power is not necessarily available. The system typically has a compressor / condenser subsystem (11) that is powered by mains electricity (16) and a second subsystem (12) that includes an insulated eutectic tank. The compressor / condensor (11) cools the tank (12) using external electrical power, when available, while the tank cools the enclosure (10) without requiring external power. A refrigerant loop (14) between the second subsystem (12) and the enclosure (10) operates by way of convection and / or gravity and a simple controller (15).

A bimodal refrigeration system for use in refrigerated transport containers or refrigerated warehouses. The present invention includes a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods and a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber. The cargo chamber is designed to guide the forced-air current in a specified discharge and return path. In accordance with the present invention, a row of thermal storage ducts for retaining endothermic storage material are disposed within the cargo chamber. The thermal storage ducts are longitudinally disposed in parallel with the air flow direction of the specified forced-air discharge and return path to enable maximum convective thermal exchange between the forced-air current and the endothermic storage material without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path.

A temperature control unit and a method of operating a temperature control unit. The temperature control unit including a refrigeration circuit enclosing a refrigerant and having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator coil. The method including providing a first flow path extending through the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator, providing a second flow path extending through the compressor and the evaporator, the second flow path bypassing a section of the refrigeration circuit, directing refrigerant through the first flow path during operation in a cooling mode, directing refrigerant through the second flow path during operation in a heating mode, and recovering refrigerant from the section of the refrigeration circuit during operation in a recovery cycle.

The present disclosure pertains to a vehicle for transporting or vending refrigerated product having a peripheral body extending vertically from the supporting surface, the peripheral body having a driver area, retail area, and cooling area, a bulk head for dividing the retail area from the cooling area, and an auxiliary power system for powering at least one electrical component, having a battery bank and a charging mechanism, the charging mechanism having a vehicle charging system, shore power charging system, and solar array charging system, the charging mechanism imparting electrical charge to the battery bank, where the electrical component is a temperature control system for maintaining the temperature of the cooling area within a desired temperature range.

A center console storage system for a vehicle includes an enclosure defining a storage space that is easily reconfigured using one or more webs. Each web includes a plurality of fasteners that are easily attached to, and detached from, a plurality of receptacles that are provided by the enclosure. As a result the web configuration may be easily changed to secure different sized items without compromising the usefulness of the remaining storage area.

Vehicles, components, and methods are disclosed for distributing hot or cold food items from a vending kiosk, a locker system, or a self-propelled delivery vehicle. The vending kiosk may have multiple doors, at least one of which is unlocked responsive to confirming a purchase transaction or authenticating the presence of a person or device associated with the purchase transaction. The multiple doors provide access to respective compartments that may be selectively heated and refrigerated. Such temperature changes may be based upon a temperature control schedule. The locker system may include one or more configurable compartments that may be accessible via a set of set of doors that can be selectively coupled into larger doors. The self-propelled delivery vehicle may have a plurality of thermally insulated compartments that may be used to carry multiple items at different temperatures.