Reusable thermal system for transporting heat-sensitive products.

Description

/ 8 “REUSABLE THERMAL SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING HEAT-SENSITIVE PRODUCTS” INTRODUCTION

[001] This descriptive report refers to a utility model patent application for a thermal system, belonging to the technical sector of means for storing and transporting products, which was developed to transport temperature-sensitive products, particularly medicines, said thermal system equipped with a passive refrigeration device, comprising refrigerant elements (artificial ice) and having a load capacity substantially greater than that of thermal boxes usually employed for this type of transport. STATE OF THE ART

[002] Currently, products that need to be transported at controlled temperatures, such as medicines, are stored in relatively small thermal boxes, which can make transporting large quantities of products / medicines within specific temperature ranges economically and operationally unfeasible. On the other hand, active thermal solutions, such as refrigerated trucks, considering strictly the complexity and operation of the equipment itself, can be very expensive. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for medicines / products that require controlled temperature and those that do not, depending on the needs and routes of logistics operators, to have to be transported simultaneously in the same means of transport, which can also lead to difficulties.

[003] Because of all this, it has been desirable, particularly Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 5 / 13 / 8 for logistics operators, other storage and transport solutions for heat-sensitive products, particularly medicines. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROVISION

[004] Thus, the objective of the present utility model patent application is to provide means that overcome the limitations and problems of the state of the art mentioned above, related to the storage and transport of heat-sensitive products, particularly medicines.

[005] Another objective is to provide means of transport for heat-sensitive products that additionally provide sanitization of the system in order to favor the maintenance of the good condition of the transported and stored cargo.

[006] Another objective is to provide a means of transport with substantially greater capacity than that of thermal boxes normally used in this type of transport.

[007] Another objective is to provide means of simple construction, manufacturing and operation.

[008] Another objective is to provide reusable storage and transport means.

[009] Another objective is to provide storage and transportation means that are low in acquisition, operation and maintenance costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISPOSITION

[010] In view, therefore, of the problems mentioned above and with the purpose of overcoming them and aiming to meet the related objectives, the reusable thermal system for transporting temperature-sensitive products, the subject of this patent application, was developed, which is essentially a passive thermal chamber. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 6 / 13 / 8 mobile, equipped with a passive refrigeration device formed by reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice), said chamber with a load capacity substantially greater than that of thermal boxes usually employed; said reusable thermal system consisting of walls, ceiling, floor and door of thermal insulating material; supports for bottles of reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice) provided on the internal surfaces of the walls, ceiling, and door; disinfection system by UV-C lamps inside the chamber; said door being articulated, with hinges, lock and seals; pallet-type transport base; and temperature monitoring and geolocation device.

[011] This construction constitutes a novelty and overcomes the problems and limitations for storing and transporting thermosensitive products / medicines observed in the state of the art as mentioned above.Thus, the present reusable thermal system has a substantially greater load capacity than the thermal boxes normally used in the storage / transport of heat-sensitive products / medications, overcoming the limitations and problems observed in this type of storage / transport. The present reusable thermal system incorporates a passive refrigeration system, based on reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice) mounted on internal supports, thus maintaining the transported products at appropriate temperatures to preserve their quality and performance, at low cost. The provision for a UV-C lamp disinfection system also favors the maintenance of the good condition of the stored cargo. The provision for a pallet-type transport base facilitates the movement of the reusable thermal system. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 7 / 13 / 8 using pallet jacks, forklifts and similar equipment. This reusable thermal system allows for monitoring the temperature and its location during transport. This thermal system is reusable, thus fulfilling the main objectives of the arrangement.

[012] Furthermore, the present arrangement, featuring the reusable thermal system with the above characteristics, has a relatively simple construction, manufacture and operation, and low acquisition, operation and maintenance costs, thus meeting other objectives of the arrangement. LIST OF DRAWINGS

[013] The attached drawings refer to the reusable thermal system for transporting temperature-sensitive products, the subject of this patent application, in which: - Fig. 1 shows an image of the reusable thermal system, opened so that its interior can be seen, and with a reusable refrigerant element (artificial ice) 12 that constitutes the passive refrigeration system, exploded; - Fig. 2 shows the same figure as before and the indication of a 100 ml load of heat-sensitive product loaded into the reusable thermal system; - Fig. 3A shows the UV-C lamp disinfection system 15 made of UV LED strips 16 provided in the reusable thermal system; - Fig. 3B shows an example of a UV LED strip 16, with UV-C lamps 15, used to compose the system in Figure 3A; and - Fig. 4 shows a graph of tests performed with the reusable thermal system, considering a mixed thermal profile of external / ambient temperature. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 8 / 13 / 8 DETAILED DESCRIPTION BASED ON THE FIGURES

[014] As illustrated in the figures above and provided for in the provision, the reusable thermal system 1, the subject of this patent application, is intended for the storage and transport of load 100 of products, particularly heat-sensitive, thermosensitive medicines; said reusable thermal system 1 comprises: walls 2, ceiling 3, floor 4, front opening 5 in which a door 6 operates, which define an internal chamber 10 for storing the load 100 of products / medicines to be stored and transported.

[015] In the present arrangement, and this constituting the main object to be protected in the patent, the reusable thermal system 1 comprises: walls 2, ceiling 3, floor 4, door 6 of thermally insulating material. The chamber 10 of said reusable thermal system 1 is a passive thermal chamber 10 equipped with a passive cooling device, formed by: supports 11, mounted on the inner surfaces of the walls 2, ceiling 3 and door 6; and by reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice) 12, mounted on the supports 11. Said passive thermal chamber 10 also houses a disinfection system using UV-C lamps 15. Said reusable thermal system 1 comprises a pallet-type transport base 20, suitable for enabling the movement of the reusable thermal system 1 by means of a pallet jack. Said reusable thermal system 1 is provided with a temperature monitoring and geolocation device mounted on the structure (not illustrated).

[016] In detail, the structure of the reusable thermal system 1 comprises the walls 2, ceiling 3, floor 4 and door 6 formed by: panels of thermal insulating material, covered by rigid material. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 9 / 13 / 8 (polymeric or metallic); by metallic reinforcements to maintain the structural integrity of the system; and by sealants between the plates and joints (not illustrated). Door 6 is of the hinged type 7, equipped with a quick-release lock 8 and on the periphery of the inner face said door 6 has sealing gaskets 9 that close against a front stop defined by the walls 2, ceiling 3 and floor 4, to prevent the exchange of ambient air with the refrigerated air inside the reusable thermal system 1. The supports 11 are U-shaped profiles mounted parallel to the walls 2, ceiling 3, and door 6 to which the reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice) 12 are attached, these comprising a hermetic plastic container 13; and by refrigerant fluid 14 contained in the container.The UV-C lamp disinfection system 15 consists of UV LED strips 16, which emit UV radiation at the wavelength suitable for this disinfection process; said UV LED strips 16 are installed in the inner corners and / or on the exposed faces of the refrigerant element supports 11 12. The pallet-type transport base 20 is a structure made of plastic, metal or other material suitable for this purpose, defined by: an upper platform 21, on which the passive thermal chamber 10 rests; and by lateral supports 22, so as to define between these and the platform a gap into which the pallet truck forks are inserted. The temperature monitoring device is essentially a thermometer and the geolocation device is essentially a GPS device.

[017] For use of the reusable thermal system 1, initially, the refrigerants 12 are kept in refrigerators for predetermined times and temperatures so that they reach their maximum performance (material initially in the solid state) in Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 10 / 13 / 8 maintenance of internal temperature of reusable thermal system 1.

[018] The frozen refrigerant elements 12 are placed inside the reusable thermal system 1, being coupled to the supports 11.

[019] Products / medicines 100 that need to be transported at a controlled temperature are placed inside the reusable thermal system 1 for transport.

[020] Door 6 is closed and locked, thus making the unit ready for transport.

[021] The operating principle of the reusable thermal system 1 consists of the thermal insulation of the medicines / products 100 by means of the low thermal conductivity plates that make up the walls 2, ceiling 3, floor 4 and door 6 of the reusable thermal system 1. To assist in maintaining the temperature of the medicines / products 100 to be transported, frozen refrigerant elements 12 are packaged together with the cargo, whose refrigerant fluids 14 change phase (solid-liquid) at a certain temperature, and in this phase transition, the energy that would be transferred to the cargo of medicines / products 100 is stored in the refrigerant fluids 14 of the refrigerant elements 12, preventing the medicines / products from undergoing temperature changes for a certain period of time, while there is refrigerant fluid 14 in the process of changing phase (physical state) inside the bottles 13 that contain it.Before or after using the reusable thermal system, the UV-C lamp disinfection system 15 can be activated to disinfect the interior of the chamber 10 constituting the reusable thermal system 1. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, page 11 / 13 / 8

[022] Tests performed, graph in figure 3, show positive results, presenting times greater than 170h of maintaining the temperature of products that must be transported within the range of 15°C - 30°C.

[023] Within the basic construction described above, the reusable thermal system 1, object of this patent, may present modifications relating to materials, dimensions, construction details and / or functional and / or ornamental configuration, without departing from the scope of the protection sought.

[024] Within this, the reusable thermal system 1 used as an example in this description has a width of 1.00m, a height of 2.00m and a depth of 1.20m, but said reusable thermal system 1 may have other dimensions and load capacities depending on the application. Petition 870230050548, dated 06 / 13 / 2023, p. 12 / 13

Claims

Claims 1) “REUSABLE THERMAL SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING THERMOSENSITIVE PRODUCTS”, comprising walls (2), ceiling (3), floor (4), front opening (5) in which a door (6) operates, which define an internal chamber (10) for storing the load (100) of products / medicines to be stored and transported, characterized in that the reusable thermal system (1) comprises: walls (2), ceiling (3), floor (4), door (6) made of thermally insulating material; the chamber (10) is a passive thermal chamber (10) equipped with a passive refrigeration device, formed by: supports (11), mounted on the internal surfaces of the walls (2), ceiling (3) and door (6); and by reusable refrigerant elements (artificial ice) (12), mounted on the supports (11);said chamber (10) also equipped with a disinfection system for the internal surfaces of the reusable thermal system using UV-C lamps (15) formed by UV LED strips (16), installed in the internal corners of the chamber (10) and / or on the exposed faces of the supports (11); said reusable thermal system (1) also formed by a pallet-type transport base (20); and by a temperature monitoring and geolocation device mounted on the structure; said door (6) being of the articulated type with hinges (7), lock (8) and internal sealing gaskets (9), which seal against stops defined by the edges of the walls (2), ceiling (3), floor (4). Petition 870230030041, dated 10 / 04 / 2023, page 12 / 18

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