Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods, comprising a container wall which encloses an interior space for receiving the transport goods and which has a plurality of walls which adjoin one another at an angle, the container wall having an opening for loading and unloading the interior space, the opening can be closed by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall surrounds the interior on all sides except the opening, and wherein the container wall has an outer cover, an inner cover and an insulating layer structure (9) arranged between the outer cover and the inner cover, the invention relates to an inner cover (1) which is designed at least in three layers and comprises a first cover layer (11) and a second cover layer (12) which are held at a predetermined normal distance from each other by spacers (14), the spacers (14) being formed by parting strips, the partition strips divide the intermediate space in each wall between the first cover layer (11) and the second cover layer (12) into a plurality of chambers in which insulating elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements (13), compressor cooling assemblies, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers, are accommodated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods, the transport container comprising a container wall enclosing an interior space for accommodating the transport goods, the container wall having a plurality of walls adjoining one another at an angle, wherein the container wall has an opening for loading and unloading the interior space, the opening being closable by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall encloses the interior space on all sides except for the opening. Background Art

[0002] There are various technical approaches to technically implement temperature-controlled air freight transport containers in pallet form. Regarding the cooling system, a distinction is made between so-called active transport containers and passive transport containers.

[0003] In active transport containers, cooling is provided by a refrigerator-like cooling system. To maintain the interior temperature, a power supply must also be ensured during transport. For this purpose, batteries are typically used, which must be integrated into the transport container. The cooling system and batteries together contribute to a high overall weight, which negatively impacts the CO2 balance and shipping costs, particularly during air transport.

[0004] In passive transport containers, internal temperature is maintained using latent heat storage, which utilizes the heat of conversion during phase changes (typically from solid to liquid) of various phase change materials (PCMs). This approach has the advantage of storing cooling energy directly in the PCM, eliminating the need for additional components or batteries. This reduces weight and volume compared to transport containers with active cooling systems, a significant advantage in terms of CO2 balance and cost for air transport.

[0005] There are different options for the structural implementation of pallet-sized passive transport containers for air transport of temperature-sensitive goods. Most transport containers are composed of multiple walls with insulating material, which are arranged so as to form a completely enclosed, insulated interior space. For example, polyurethane, polystyrene, vacuum insulation panels (VIP) or other barrier materials are used as insulating materials. The PCM elements are usually arranged in the interior space so that they can be removed and replaced without tools. This is described, for example, in DE10322764A1, WO2022 / 033628A1, EP2876389B1 and EP3359889B1. One disadvantage of this structure is the manual process of inserting the PCM elements before delivery. Different PCM elements are used depending on the required temperature range (for example, -25°C to -15°C, 2°C to 8°C or 15°C to 25°C). The manual preparation step is prone to errors and also leads to high costs when preparing the transport container.

[0006] Another disadvantage of this structure is the uneven coverage of the interior walls with PCM elements. Due to the limited compressive strength of PCM elements, there is often no PCM at the bottom of the container's interior. Furthermore, due to the PCM element's geometry and mounting structures (e.g., rails), the PCM elements do not reach all edges of the walls. Consequently, these transport containers are often not optimized for minimum wall thickness and maximum thermal performance.

[0007] Another structural solution is a foldable transport container in which the outer wall consists of a plurality of individual wall elements that are assembled before the delivery process. The wall elements consist of insulating material, such as polyurethane, polystyrene or vacuum insulation panels, and are connected to each other by connecting elements at the sides. The PCM elements can be fixed in the interior space or moved into rails. The advantage of this design is the simple and cost-effective transportation of the empty transport container in the folded state. Disadvantages here are also the complexity of assembly and the resulting sources of error. In addition, the modular design makes it difficult to carry out thermal optimization at the corners and edges of the transport container with regard to avoiding thermal bridges and airtightness. There is also the problem of uneven internal laying of the PCM elements in the interior space.

[0008] Also common are transport containers made of disposable materials that are partially or completely discarded after delivery. For example, DE 202018104488 U1 describes this type of transport container. The insulation structure is typically stabilized by internal and / or external cardboard layers. Compared to reusable containers, the associated resource consumption results in a negative ecological footprint. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a transport container that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and is suitable for air transport of temperature-sensitive goods. The transport container should be reusable, have a long service life, and be easily repairable. The number of manual steps required to prepare the transport container for shipment should be minimized. Furthermore, the transport container should be highly efficient in terms of its ratio of external volume to internal volume, its weight, and its thermal performance.

[0010] In order to achieve these objects, according to the invention, a transport container of the type mentioned at the outset is further developed in such a way that the container wall comprises an outer shell, an inner shell and an insulating layer structure arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein the inner shell is designed in at least three layers and comprises a first cover layer and a second cover layer, the first cover layer and the second cover layer being kept at a predetermined normal distance from each other by spacers, wherein the spacers are formed by webs which divide the intermediate space between the first cover layer and the second cover layer in each wall into a plurality of chambers, in which insulating elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements, compressor cooling assemblies, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers, are accommodated.

[0011] The transport container is preferably equipped with a passive cooling system and is primarily used for air transport of vaccines or other temperature-sensitive cargo. The structural design of the transport container, consisting of an outer cover, an insulating layer structure, and an inner cover, is optimized to maximize the ratio of the interior volume available for transport to the total volume. The outer cover serves as a structural stabilizer. The insulating layer structure minimizes heat ingress into the interior, and the inner cover includes cooling units (e.g., latent heat storage elements) that maintain the interior temperature within a desired range.

[0012] Because the inner cover is constructed of at least three layers, comprising a first and second covering layer, with multiple chambers each containing a cooling unit (e.g., a latent heat storage element) positioned between them, the cooling unit is protected from external influences. The inner cover's sandwich-like design also creates a very stable and lightweight structure. Due to the spacing between the two covering layers, under bending loads, tensile and compressive stresses occur predominantly in the covering layers, where they are effectively absorbed. The latent heat storage element is protected from mechanical loads by the covering layers. Therefore, thin films are sufficient for its encapsulation, and they can be designed to optimally fill the available space. This has the advantage, on the one hand, of maximizing the amount of phase change energy for a given wall thickness; on the other hand, it improves the spatial coverage of the wall by the latent heat storage element. If the latent heat storage element does not completely cover the wall, thermal bridges can form, diverting heat energy around the cooling element and leading to undesirable heating of the interior.

[0013] Due to the sandwich construction, the volume of the interior space can be maximized relative to the total volume of the transport container.

[0014] It is preferably provided that in the chambers of at least one wall, in particular all walls, only latent heat storage elements are accommodated which together form a latent heat storage layer structure between the first cover layer and the second cover layer.

[0015] Because the latent heat storage layer structure is enclosed between the first and second cover layers, a retaining device (e.g., a rail system) that allows for easy removal and installation of the latent heat storage element for reloading can be omitted, saving corresponding installation space. To reload the latent heat storage element, the entire transport container is stored at an ambient temperature below the phase transition temperature, thereby enabling uniform reloading of the latent heat storage element.

[0016] Preferably, the first and second cover layers are connected to each other via a material-locking and / or form-fitting connection, thereby enclosing the cooling element (e.g., a latent heat storage element) between the cover layers. This means that the webs extend from the first cover layer to the second cover layer and contact both cover layers via the connection. Furthermore, the inner cover can also preferably be connected to the insulating layer structure via a material-locking and / or form-fitting connection.

[0017] The material-locking and / or form-locking connection can preferably be achieved by gluing with an elastic adhesive or a structural adhesive, by screwing or riveting, or by a structural solution that produces a form-locking connection.

[0018] According to the present invention, the first and second cover layers are held at a predetermined normal spacing relative to each other by spacers. The spacers are formed by webs that divide the interspace between the first and second cover layers in each wall into a plurality of chambers, each housing an insulating element or cooling unit, such as a latent heat storage element, a compressor cooling assembly, a Peltier cooler, or an evaporative cooler. The spacers can, in particular, be formed by webs arranged in a regular grid. For example, the webs can be bonded to the first and second cover layers, preferably using an elastic or structural adhesive. Alternatively, the cover layers can be connected to the webs by screwing or riveting, or by a form-fitting structural solution. The webs preferably extend at right angles to the first and second cover layers.

[0019] Within the context of the sandwich construction of the inner cover, the spacers (in particular the webs) have the function of maintaining the distance between the two cover layers and transferring occurring shear forces from one cover layer to the other, wherein the latent heat storage element is protected from shear forces.

[0020] The chambers formed by the ribs have a shape corresponding to the rib grid and can be, for example, cuboid in shape, with the ribs arranged to create a checkerboard pattern. However, in other embodiments, the ribs can also be configured in other shapes, such as triangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal patterns.

[0021] The spacers are preferably made of plastic (eg polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystyrene or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and can be cut from sheet material and assembled into a grid, eg plugged together.

[0022] The chamber formed by the spacers can also be equipped with elements with other cooling technologies, such as evaporative cooling elements, Peltier cooling elements or other active or passive cooling systems. If no additional cooling is required, the chamber can be filled with insulating material to achieve a higher thermal insulation of the transport container.

[0023] The cover layer preferably consists of a sheet material, for example an aluminum-plastic composite material, pure aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, an organic sheet material, or a composite material of the above materials with expanded graphite, and preferably has a thickness of 0.5-5 mm.

[0024] By selecting a material with high thermal conductivity for the first and / or second cover layers, the aforementioned structural form of the inner cover also enables improved circumferential energy conduction. The first and second cover layers each form a sheath surrounding the interior space, which allows heat to be distributed around the interior space. By conducting thermal energy, a uniform temperature distribution within the interior space is achieved. Furthermore, uneven heat input is balanced, resulting in more efficient utilization of the thermal energy of the latent heat reservoir and a positive impact on the thermal performance of the transport container. Furthermore, energy conduction within the latent heat reservoir enables uniform reloading of the transport container through cooling and accelerates the loading process. The first and / or second cover layers preferably have a thermal conductivity within the plane of the layer structure of greater than 150 W / mK, preferably greater than 300 W / mK.

[0025] The latent heat storage element preferably has a porous, plate-like matrix whose pores are filled with a phase-change material. The matrix provides a structural support for the corresponding latent heat storage element, ensuring that the latent heat storage element remains dimensionally stable regardless of the aggregated state of the phase-change material. Consequently, a rigid shell surrounding the phase-change material can be omitted, saving both weight and space. In particular, a flexible, thin wrapping can be used for installation. In this regard, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for wrapping the latent heat storage element with a film (preferably a plastic composite film) having a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. This allows for a particularly high proportion of PCM relative to the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

[0026] The base body preferably consists of an expanded graphite sheet or a plastic foam sheet, wherein the base body has a volume capacity of greater than 95%. The use of expanded graphite or solidified plastic foam ensures a low base body weight and a high capacity for the phase change material. In particular, it is provided that the latent heat storage element is filled with the phase change material in a proportion of greater than 95% by volume relative to the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

[0027] The phase change material is held in the pores of expanded graphite or solidified plastic foam, where capillary forces are strong enough to maintain the PCM in its liquid state. Arranging the PCM in the pores of the matrix ensures uniform distribution of the PCM within the latent heat storage element and maintains this uniform distribution over time, regardless of the storage or usage location of the latent heat storage element. Conventional latent heat storage elements, in which the PCM is held solely by a rigid outer shell, suffer from the disadvantage that the PCM can flow within the outer shell when in liquid form. This leads to inhomogeneities and negatively impacts the performance of the transport container. Expanded graphite is also characterized by its extremely low weight and can achieve a theoretical thermal conductivity of up to 600 W / mK. Expanded graphite (also known as expandable graphite) is produced by pushing apart the graphite layer structure in an accordion-like manner, causing the graphite particles to expand or bulge perpendicular to the plane of the layer structure. For example, expanded graphite sheets can be produced by compressing fully expanded graphite under directed pressure, with the graphite layer structure planes aligned perpendicular to the direction of pressure. This results in the graphite layer structure of the graphite sheet being oriented substantially parallel to the sheet plane, leading to anisotropic thermal conductivity. Specifically, the graphite sheet has a higher thermal conductivity parallel to the sheet plane than perpendicular to it, resulting in a uniform distribution of thermal energy applied to the latent heat storage element over the entire circumference of the interior space. Conversely, the graphite sheet has a lower thermal conductivity perpendicular to the sheet plane, significantly reducing the amount of heat that enters the interior space through the latent heat storage element.

[0028] Preferably, the latent heat storage element has a thermal conductivity in a plane parallel to the plate of greater than 2 W / mK, more preferably greater than 5 W / mK. The thermal conductivity perpendicular to the plate plane is preferably less than 5 W / mK.

[0029] Preferably, the phase change material is formed from waxes (eg, n-tetradecane or n-hexadecane), esters (eg, methyl esters), linear alcohols, ethers, organic anhydrides, hydrated salts, water-salt mixtures, salt solutions, and / or water-based solutions.

[0030] Each latent heat storage element can have a unique phase change material, or it can contain a combination of two or more phase change materials. In the case of two or more phase change materials, these phase change materials have different phase transition temperatures. This allows the transport container to operate within different temperature windows.

[0031] Furthermore, it can be provided that the plurality of latent heat storage elements of the latent heat storage layer structure all have a phase change material with the same phase transition temperature, or that the latent heat storage elements have phase change materials with mutually different phase transition temperatures. This also allows the transport container to be operated within different temperature windows.

[0032] The outer cover of the transport container according to the present invention ensures its dimensional stability and should be optimized in terms of weight. In this regard, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for the outer cover to be formed from a frame reinforced by wall plates. The frame comprises profiles extending along the edges of the transport container, which are connected to each other at the corners of the transport container, preferably using corner connecting elements. The basic structure thus consists of a dimensionally stable frame (particularly a cuboid frame) reinforced with thin plates on all sides, except for the (door) opening. Thicker plates can be used at the bottom to absorb the pressure from the weight of the transport container and the transported goods. This design achieves high stability of the outer cover with minimal wall thickness. The profiles and corner elements are highly strong and can withstand external impacts (e.g., from a forklift). The thickness of the reinforcing walls is preferably low, on the order of 1 mm, particularly 0.5-1.5 mm. The frame is reinforced primarily by absorbing tensile forces in the thin walls.

[0033] The profile is preferably made of aluminum and can be produced by extrusion. Alternatively, the profile can be produced from pure plastic or carbon fiber-reinforced plastic using extrusion or pultrusion. Profiles can also be produced from fiber-matrix semi-finished products such as GMT (glass mat-reinforced thermoplastic), SMC (sheet molding compound), or BMC (bulk molding compound), as well as by thermoforming organic sheets.

[0034] The corner connection elements are preferably made of aluminum and can be manufactured by means of a die-casting method. Alternatively, the corner connection elements can be made of pure plastic or of glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced plastic and by means of a plastic injection molding method. Casting methods using stainless steel or titanium alloys are also possible. The connection of the corner connection elements to the individual profiles is preferably achieved by gluing with a structural or elastic adhesive, by screwing, riveting or snap-fitting. The panels of the outer cover are preferably composed of an aluminum-plastic composite material, of pure aluminum, an organic sheet material, a carbon fiber reinforced plastic or a polypropylene fiber composite material, and preferably have a thickness of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The thicker panel at the bottom can be composed of aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or an organic sheet material and preferably has a thickness of 1 mm to 10 mm.

[0035] The connection between the reinforcing plate and the frame profile is preferably achieved by gluing with an elastic or structural adhesive, by a structural connection (eg, recessed for a positive connection), by screwing or riveting.

[0036] The layered structure of the transport container, consisting of an outer shell, an insulating layer structure, and an inner shell, is preferably designed so that lateral pressure and impacts acting on the thin wall are transferred to the underlying insulating layer structure and absorbed there flatly. The elasticity of the insulating layer structure allows for partial absorption of the impact energy with minimal load on the outer wall. If the insulating layer structure is supported from the inside on the inner shell (as is the case in the preferred embodiment), the inner shell can absorb the remaining deformation energy. The modular design allows for easy replacement of individual components and rapid repair of the transport container in the event of damage to the outer shell.

[0037] The insulating layer structure disposed between the outer and inner covers preferably comprises a vacuum insulation panel consisting of a core material and an airtight cover. The core material preferably comprises nanoporous plastic foam, microfiber material, pyrolytic silicate, or perlite. The airtight cover preferably comprises a multi-layered, sealable aluminum composite film having a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. Depending on the core material, the interior of the vacuum panel is evacuated to a pressure of 0.1 to 100 mbar.

[0038] Alternatively, the insulation layer structure can consist of insulation panels made of PIR (polyisocyanurate), PUR (polyurethane), EPS (expanded polystyrene), or XPS (extruded polystyrene). Air-filled panels or insulation panels with a multilayer honeycomb membrane arrangement with a metallic coating having a very low emissivity (especially less than 0.2, preferably 0.02-0.09) can also be used as insulation panels. The hollow spaces between the membranes contain air, a gas with low thermal conductivity (e.g., krypton or xenon), or these hollow spaces are evacuated. Such insulation panels are described in WO 2012 / 142639 A1.

[0039] In order to avoid thermal bridges, the vacuum insulation panels, insulation boards or insulation panels are connected to one another as tightly as possible at the edges.

[0040] The thickness of the insulation layer structure is preferably 5-200 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the insulation layer structure is multi-layered. In particular, two, three, or more layers may be provided. Each layer of the insulation layer structure may be formed from at least one of the aforementioned vacuum insulation panels, insulation boards, or insulation panels. The layers of the insulation layer structure may be of the same type, or different types of insulation layers may be combined to form a single insulation layer structure.

[0041] In the described structure of the transport container, no further structural elements are required to stabilize the insulation structure, since the stability of the insulation structure is produced by the outer frame and the inner casing.

[0042] The outer cover, the inner cover and the insulation layer structure are preferably arranged next to each other and can support each other.

[0043] The outer cover, inner cover, and insulating layer structure each enclose the interior space on all sides except for the opening. The opening for loading and unloading the interior space can be closed by at least one separate wall element. This separate wall element is preferably configured as a door arrangement. The door arrangement preferably includes an outer door and at least one inner door. An intermediate space is arranged between the outer door and the at least one inner door. The outer door and the at least one inner door are preferably openable and lockable separately, meaning that the outer door must first be opened, and then the at least one inner door, in order to gain access to the interior of the transport container. Alternatively, however, a configuration can be adopted in which the outer door and the at least one inner door can be opened and locked together. In particular, the outer door and the inner door can form two layers of doors, with the aforementioned intermediate space provided between these two layers.

[0044] The outer door can be fastened to the side profiles of the frame with hinges, allowing it to be opened by pivoting, for example, 270° and resting against the adjacent side wall from the outside. Furthermore, the outer door can be equipped with a locking mechanism that allows it to be locked during transport. The locking mechanism can include or cooperate with a sealing device to indicate whether the locking mechanism has been opened without authorization. Preferably, a circumferential outer seal is provided between the opening of the transport container and the outer door, which, when the outer door is locked, hinders air exchange between the surrounding area and the interior.

[0045] The at least one inner door can be pivotally fastened to the corresponding side edge using a hinge and preferably has a surrounding inner seal that hinders the ingress of ambient air into the interior. The embodiment of the transport container with an outer door and an inner door, and the arrangement of the outer and inner seals, prevent the formation of condensation in the interior. The incoming hot air first hits the intermediate space between the outer and inner doors and cools due to contact with the at least one inner door before reaching the interior. Consequently, the majority of the water released during cooling condenses in the intermediate space between the outer and inner doors.

[0046] The outer door preferably has a structure that functionally corresponds to the outer cover of the wall of the transport container. In this case, the outer door can have a stable outer wall and at least one insulating layer structure located inside. In addition, in order to protect the insulating layer structure, an internal half shell can be provided so that the insulating layer structure is enclosed between the outer wall and the half shell. The outer wall preferably consists of an aluminum sheet or a thermoformed organic sheet that is bent at the top and bottom. The thickness of the outer wall is preferably 0.5-5 mm. In another embodiment, the outer wall of the outer door can have a frame consisting of profiles that are connected at the corners by means of connecting elements. The frame is reinforced by the outer wall, which is composed, for example, of an aluminum-plastic composite material, aluminum, an organic sheet, a carbon fiber reinforced plastic or a polypropylene fiber composite material and has a thickness of 0.5-5 mm. The outer wall can be connected to the frame by gluing, screwing or riveting.

[0047] The inner half-shell can, for example, consist of pure plastic and be manufactured using injection molding. Alternatively, it can consist of short-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic and be manufactured using GMT or SMC / BMC pressing methods. According to another alternative, the inner half-shell can consist of a thermoformed organic sheet. The thickness of the inner half-shell is preferably 0.5-5 mm. The inner half-shell is preferably connected to the outer wall by gluing, screwing, or riveting.

[0048] The central insulation structure of the outer door can consist of one or more layers of PIR, PUR, XPS, or EPS insulation, or of vacuum panels, or of panels filled with air, or of insulation panels with a multi-layer honeycomb film arrangement, as described above with respect to the insulation structure of the transport container wall. The individual layers of the insulation structure can be of the same type, or different types of insulation can be combined to form a single insulation structure. The thickness of the outer door's insulation structure is preferably 30-200 mm.

[0049] The at least one inner door preferably has a structure that functionally corresponds to the inner casing of the transport container's wall. In particular, the inner door comprises a first cover layer and a second cover layer, between which a cooling unit, such as a latent heat storage element, a compressor cooling assembly, a Peltier cooler, an evaporative cooler, or an insulation element, is accommodated. Preferably, the at least one inner door has the same structure as the inner casing of the container wall, and reference is made to the relevant description above. In particular, the first and second cover layers of the inner door are held at a predetermined normal spacing relative to one another by spacers formed by webs that divide the intermediate space between the first and second cover layers into a plurality of chambers, in which the cooling units are accommodated.

[0050] Due to the slender design of the outer and inner shells of the transport container, and the low thickness of the insulating layer structure, the interior volume can be maximized while minimizing the exterior dimensions. In particular, the interior dimensions are designed so that a US / Euro pallet can fit within the interior space. At the same time, the exterior dimensions are minimized so that four transport containers can be placed side by side on a PMC aircraft pallet, or two transport containers can fit side by side in the transverse direction into a standard 40-foot ocean container or on the loading surface of a truck. For a substantially cuboid transport container, the exterior dimensions are preferably as follows:

[0051] Height: 1450-1550mm

[0052] Width: 1120-1220mm

[0053] Depth: 1400-1500mm

[0054] The interior space preferably has the following dimensions:

[0055] Height: 1250-1350mm

[0056] Width: 980-1080mm

[0057] Depth: 1185-1285mm

[0058] The opening preferably has the following dimensions:

[0059] Height: 1250-1350mm

[0060] Width: 980-1080mm

[0061] The walls of the transport container preferably have a thickness of 130-200 mm, preferably 130-160 mm.

[0062] To damp vibrations and shock accelerations during drop tests, it is preferably provided that a plurality of damping elements are arranged on the underside of the transport container, each having a spring travel of greater than 5 mm, preferably greater than 10 mm. The damping elements are preferably arranged in the corner areas of the container base and have insertion openings for inserting forklift tines. The insertion openings are preferably designed so that the forklift tines can be inserted not only from the front but also from the side of the transport container (i.e., from two orthogonal directions). Further damping can be achieved by supporting the inner cover of the container wall on an elastic insulating layer structure. Vibrations and shock accelerations applied from the outside are thereby additionally attenuated and not directly transmitted to the interior. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on the embodiments schematically shown in the accompanying drawings.Figure 1 shows a view of a transport container with an open door, Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 View of a shipping container with an open door, Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the transport container, Figure 4 An exploded view of the inner cover of the transport container is shown, Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the outer door, Figure 6 An exploded view of the damping element of the first embodiment is shown, and Figure 7 A sectional view of a damping element of a second embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] exist Figure 1 1 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention, the outer shell of which has a frame consisting of profiles 3 and corner connecting elements 2, which is reinforced on three sides, at the top and at the rear wall by thinner plates 4 and at the bottom by thicker plates 10. The plates 4 and 10 form the outer shell of the container wall. The container wall surrounds the interior of the transport container 1 on all sides except for the following opening, which allows loading and unloading of the interior. This opening can be closed by a door arrangement. Figure 1 The outer door 5 of the door arrangement can be seen in FIG. Damping elements 6 are fixed to the bottom of the transport container 1 in the corner regions and in the center between the corners.

[0065] In accordance with Figure 2 In the open view of the transport container 1, the outer door 5 is shown pivoted approximately 270° onto the adjacent side wall. Additionally, two inner doors 7 can be seen, which are pivoted outwards like double doors. Furthermore, the inner cover, which consists of a plate element 8 and encloses the interior of the transport container 1, can be seen.

[0066] In accordance with Figure 3 As can be seen in the exploded view of FIG, a multi-layered insulating layer structure 9 is arranged between the outer shell formed by the plates 4 and 10 and the inner shell 8 formed by the plate element 8.

[0067] exist Figure 4 As can be seen in the figure, the plate element 8 of the inner cover has a first cover layer 11 and a second cover layer 12, which are held at a predetermined distance from one another by strip-shaped spacers 14. The spacers 14 are arranged in a grid pattern and form a plurality of chambers, each of which accommodates a latent heat storage element 13. The spacers 14 are preferably connected to the first cover layer 11 and the second cover layer 12 by means of material-fitting and / or form-fitting connecting elements, in particular by adhesive bonding, so that the latent heat storage element 13 is securely mounted within the plate element 8.

[0068] exist Figure 5 The figure shows the layered structure of the outer door 5. Here, the outer door 5 comprises an outer cover 15, an inner insulation 17, and an inner half-shell 16. The outer cover 15 consists of an aluminum sheet or a thermoformed organic sheet material that is bent at the top and bottom. The inner half-shell 16 consists of either pure plastic, a plastic composite material, or a thermoformed organic sheet material. The inner half-shell 16 is connected to the outer cover 15 by gluing, screwing, or riveting.

[0069] The outer door 5 also has at least one locking mechanism with an operating element in the form of a handle 18 for locking the door during transport. The handle 18 allows the door to be opened manually and locked using a lock. For example, the handle can be used to move a vertical locking lever, which hooks behind a locking element that is fixed at the top and bottom to a horizontal frame profile, thereby closing the outer door 5.

[0070] exist Figure 6 shows a first embodiment of a damping element 6 fixed to the underside of a transport container 1. The damping element 6 consists of a rigid upper component 19 made of aluminum or other metal, or a plastic produced by injection molding, and a lower elastic component 20 made of EPDM, silicone, or another elastic material. Together with the rigid component 19, the elastic component 20 is fixed to the transport container 1 from below using four screws. The free spring travel is greater than 5 mm, preferably greater than 10 mm.

[0071] exist Figure 7 In the modified embodiment shown in FIG, the damping element 6 consists of a rigid upper member 21 made of aluminum, other metals, or plastic and secured to the transport container 1 from below using four screws. Within the rigid upper member 21 is an elastic member 22 made of EPDM, silicone, or other elastic material. This elastic member is in direct contact with the underside of the transport container 1 and can absorb both vertical and horizontal forces. Below the elastic member 22 is another rigid member 23 made of hard plastic, which is in direct contact with the ground and transfers both vertical and horizontal forces to the elastic member 22. The lower rigid member 23 is made of polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is manufactured using an injection molding method. The advantages of these variants are better anti-slip properties of the transport container on the lower rigid plastic member 23 and better protection of the elastic member 22 against lateral loads. The free spring travel is greater than 5 mm, preferably greater than 10 mm.

Claims

1. A transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods, the transport container comprising a container wall surrounding an interior space for accommodating the transport goods, the container wall having a plurality of walls adjoining each other at an angle, wherein: The container wall has an opening for loading and unloading the interior space, the opening being closable by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall surrounds the interior space on all sides except for the opening, characterized in that the container wall has an outer cover, an inner cover and an insulating layer structure (9) arranged between the outer cover and the inner cover, wherein the inner cover is constructed in at least three layers and comprises a first cover layer (11) and a second cover layer (12), the first cover layer and the second cover layer being kept at a predetermined normal distance from each other by spacers (14), wherein the spacers (14) are formed by spacers which divide the intermediate space between the first cover layer (11) and the second cover layer (12) in each wall into a plurality of chambers, in which insulating elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements (13), compressor cooling assemblies, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers, are accommodated.

2. The transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that The outer cover is formed by plates (4, 10) which are held in a frame, wherein the frame comprises profiles (3) extending along the edges of the transport container (1) and which are connected to one another at the corners of the transport container (1), preferably using corner connecting elements (2).

3. The transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The insulating layer structure (9) has a vacuum insulating panel, which is composed of a core material and an airtight cover, wherein the core material is preferably composed of nanoporous plastic foam, microfiber material, pyrolytic silica or perlite.

4. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The insulating layer structure (9) is constructed in a multi-layered manner.

5. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The latent heat storage element (13) has a porous, plate-shaped matrix whose pores are filled with a phase-change material.

6. The transport container according to claim 5, characterized in that The matrix is ​​composed of expanded graphite plates or plastic foam plates, wherein the matrix has a volume holding capacity greater than 95%.

7. The transport container according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The latent heat storage element (13) is filled with a phase change material in a proportion greater than 95 volume percent relative to the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

8. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The latent heat storage element (13) has a thermal conductivity in a plane parallel to the plate of greater than 2 W / mK, preferably greater than 5 W / mK.

9. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The phase change material is formed from paraffin wax, such as n-tetradecane or n-hexadecane, esters, such as methyl esters, linear alcohols, ethers, organic anhydrides, hydrated salts, water-salt mixtures, salt solutions and / or water-based solutions.

10. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The latent heat storage element (13) is wrapped with a film, preferably a plastic composite film, which has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

11. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that At least one heat distribution layer structure is introduced into the container wall, which consists of expanded graphite and has a thermal conductivity in the plane of the layer structure of greater than 150 W / mK, preferably greater than 300 W / mK.

12. The transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that A plurality of damping elements (6) are arranged on the underside of the transport container (1), each of which has a spring travel of greater than 5 mm, preferably greater than 10 mm.

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