Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport material

Abstract

: The invention relates to a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport material, said transport container comprising a container wall that surrounds an interior space for receiving the transport material and has a plurality of walls which adjoin one another at an angle, wherein the container wall has an opening for loading and unloading the interior, which opening can be closed by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall encloses all sides of the interior with the exception of the opening, wherein the container wall has an outer casing, an inner casing, and an insulating layer (9) located between the outer casing and the inner casing, wherein the inner casing is designed in at least three layers and comprises a first cover layer (11) and a second cover layer (12) which are held at a predefined normal distance from one another by spacers (14), wherein the spacers (14) are formed by dividers which divide an intermediate space between the first cover layer (11) and the second cover layer (12) in each wall into a plurality of chambers in which insulation elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements (13), compressor cooling units, Peltier coolers, and evaporative coolers are accommodated.

Description

[0001] Transport containers for transporting temperature-sensitive goods

[0002] The invention relates to a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, comprising a container wall surrounding an interior space for receiving the goods to be transported, with a plurality of walls adjoining one another at an angle, wherein the container wall has an opening for loading and unloading the interior space, which opening can be closed by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall encloses the interior space on all sides with the exception of the opening.

[0003] There are different approaches to the technical implementation of temperature-controlled pallet-sized air freight transport containers. Regarding the cooling system, a distinction is made between so-called active and passive transport containers.

[0004] In active transport containers, cooling is provided by a refrigeration unit similar to a refrigerator. To maintain the interior temperature, a supply of electricity must be ensured even during transport. Batteries are typically used for this purpose and must be integrated into the transport container. The refrigeration units, together with the batteries, result in a high overall weight, which has a negative impact on the CO2 footprint and transport costs, especially when transported by air.

[0005] In passive transport containers, the internal temperature is maintained with the help of latent heat storage, which utilizes the heat of transformation during the phase change of various phase-change materials (PGMs), usually from solid to liquid. The advantage of this concept is that the cooling energy is stored directly in the PGM. No additional units or batteries are required. This enables a reduction in weight and volume compared to transport containers with active cooling systems, which represents a significant advantage for air transport in terms of carbon footprint and costs.

[0006] There are different approaches to the design of passive transport containers for the air transport of temperature-sensitive goods in pallet size. Most transport containers consist of a plurality of walls with insulation materials arranged to create a completely enclosed, thermally insulated interior. Examples of insulation materials used include polyurethane, polystyrene, vacuum insulation panels (VIP), or other insulating materials. The PCM elements are usually arranged in the interior so that they can be removed and replaced without tools. This is described, for example, in DE 103 22 764 A1, WO 2022 / 033628 A1, EP 2 876 389 B1, and EP 3 359 889 B1. A disadvantage of this design is the manual process of inserting the PCM elements prior to delivery. Depending on the required temperature range, e.g. -25°C to -15°C, 2°C to 8°C or 15°C to 25°C, different PCM elements are used.Manual preparation steps are prone to errors and also cause high costs in preparing the transport containers.

[0007] A further disadvantage of this design is the uneven coverage of the interior walls with PCM elements. Due to their limited compressive strength, PCM elements are usually not located at the bottom of the container interior. Furthermore, due to their geometry and the fastening structure, e.g., rails, the PCM elements do not extend to all the edges of the individual walls. The transport containers described are therefore generally not optimized for minimum wall thickness and maximum thermal performance.

[0008] Another design solution is collapsible transport containers, where the outer wall consists of individual wall elements that are put together before delivery. The wall elements contain insulation materials such as polyurethane, polystyrene or vacuum insulation panels and are connected to each other by connecting elements on the sides. PCM elements can be attached to the interior or pushed into rails. The advantage of this design is the simple and cost-effective transport of the empty transport containers in a folded state. The disadvantages here are also the complexity of assembly and the associated sources of error. In addition, the modular design makes thermal optimization at the corners and edges of the transport container difficult with regard to avoiding thermal bridges and air sealing. Added to this is the uneven lining of the interior with PCM elements.

[0009] Transport containers made of disposable materials, which are partially or completely disposed of after delivery, are also common. A transport container of this type is described, for example, in DE 20 2018 104 488 U1. The insulation layers are usually stabilized by internal and / or external cardboard layers. The associated resource consumption leads to a negative ecological footprint compared to reusable containers.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a transport container that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and is suitable for the air transport of temperature-sensitive goods. This should be a reusable product with a long service life and easy repairability. When preparing the transport container before delivery, the number of manual steps should be minimized. Furthermore, the transport container should be highly efficient in terms of the ratio of external to internal volume, its own weight, and its thermal performance.

[0011] To achieve these objects, a transport container of the type mentioned at the outset is further developed according to the invention in such a way that the container wall has an outer shell, an inner shell and an insulation layer arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell being designed in at least three layers and comprising a first cover layer and a second cover layer which are held at a predetermined normal distance from one another by spacers, the spacers being formed by webs which divide an intermediate space between the first cover layer and the second cover layer in each wall into a plurality of chambers in which insulation elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements, compressor cooling units, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers are accommodated.The transport container is preferably equipped with a passive cooling system and is primarily used for the air transport of vaccines or other temperature-sensitive goods. The structural design of the transport container, comprising an outer shell, insulation layer, and inner shell, is optimized with regard to a maximum ratio of the volume of the interior space available for the goods to be transported to the total volume. The outer shell has the function of structural stabilization. The insulation layer minimizes the heat input into the interior space, and the inner shell contains cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements, which keep the interior temperature within the required range.

[0012] Because the inner shell is made up of at least three layers and comprises a first cover layer and a second cover layer, between which several chambers, each containing a cooling unit, such as a latent heat storage element, are arranged, the cooling units can be protected from external influences. The sandwich construction of the inner shell also creates a very stable and lightweight structure. Because of the distance between the two cover layers, tensile and compressive stresses occur in the cover layers when bending loads occur, where they can be easily absorbed. The latent heat storage elements are protected from mechanical loads by the cover layers. For this reason, a thin film, for example, is sufficient to wrap them, and they can be designed to optimally fill the available space.This has the advantage of maximizing the amount of conversion energy for a given wall thickness, and of improving the spatial coverage of the walls with latent heat storage elements. If the walls are not completely covered with latent heat storage elements, thermal bridges can form, which bypass the cooling elements and lead to undesirable heating of the interior.

[0013] Due to the sandwich construction described, the volume of the interior can be maximized in relation to the total volume of the transport container.

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

[0015] Because the latent heat storage layer is enclosed between the first and second cover layers, there is no need for mounting brackets such as rail systems, which allow easy removal and installation of the latent heat storage elements for recharging, thus saving the corresponding installation space. To recharge the latent heat storage elements, the entire transport container is stored at an ambient temperature below the phase change temperature, which enables homogeneous recharging of the latent heat storage element.

[0016] Preferably, the first and second cover layers are connected to one another by means of material-locking and / or positive-locking connecting means, whereby the cooling units, e.g., latent heat storage elements, are enclosed 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 connecting means. Furthermore, the inner shell can also be connected to the insulation layer, preferably by means of material-locking and / or positive-locking connecting means.

[0017] The material-locking and / or form-fitting connection can preferably be achieved by bonding with an elastic or structural adhesive, by screw or rivet connections or by constructive solutions which create a form-fitting connection.

[0018] According to the invention, the first and second cover layers are held at a predetermined normal distance from one another by spacers, the spacers being formed by webs which divide an intermediate space between the first and second cover layers in each wall into a plurality of chambers in which insulation elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements, compressor cooling units, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers are accommodated. In particular, the spacers can be formed by webs arranged in a regular grid. For example, the webs can be glued to the first and second cover layers, preferably by means of an elastic or structural adhesive. Alternatively, the cover layers can be connected to the webs by screw or rivet connections or by constructive solutions which create a positive fit.The webs preferably extend at right angles to the first and second cover layers. Within the sandwich construction of the inner shell, the spacers, especially the webs, serve to maintain the distance between the cover layers and transfer the resulting shear forces from one cover layer to the other, keeping the latent heat storage elements free from shear forces.

[0019] The chambers formed by the webs have a shape corresponding to the web grid and can, for example, be cuboid-shaped, with the webs arranged to create a checkerboard pattern. In further design variants, the webs can also have other shapes, such as 3-corner, 5-corner, or 6-corner patterns.

[0020] The webs are preferably made of a plastic such as PVC, PE, PS or ABS and can be cut from a sheet material and assembled into a grid, e.g. plugged together.

[0021] The chambers formed by the webs also allow elements with other cooling technologies, such as

[0022] Evaporative cooling elements, Peltier cooling elements, or other active or passive cooling systems can be installed. If no further cooling is required, the chambers can be filled with insulation materials to achieve greater thermal insulation of the transport container.

[0023] The cover layers preferably consist of a plate material, such as an aluminum-plastic composite material, pure aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, organic sheets or a composite material of the aforementioned materials with expanded graphite and preferably have a thickness of 0.5-5 mm. By selecting a material with high thermal conductivity for the first and / or the second cover layer, increased circumferential energy diversion can also be achieved through the described construction of the inner shell. The first and the second cover layers each form a casing surrounding the interior, which enables heat to be distributed around the interior. By diverting thermal energy, a uniform temperature distribution in the interior is achieved.In addition, uneven heat inputs are compensated, which leads to more efficient use of the thermal energy of the latent heat storage and has a positive effect on the thermal performance of the transport container. Furthermore, energy redirection within the latent heat storage enables homogeneous recharging of the transport container through cooling and accelerates the charging process. Preferably, the first and / or second cover layer has a thermal conductivity of > 150 W / mK, preferably > 300 W / mK, in the layer plane.

[0024] The latent heat storage elements preferably have a porous, plate-like base body whose pores are filled with a phase change material. The base body provides the structural framework for the respective latent heat storage element, so that it is dimensionally stable regardless of the state of aggregation of the phase change material. This makes it possible to dispense with a rigid shell surrounding the phase change material, which saves both weight and space. In particular, the design can be found with a flexible, thin casing. In this context, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the latent heat storage elements are wrapped in a film, preferably a plastic composite film, which has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. This enables a particularly high proportion of PGM based on the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

[0025] The base body preferably consists of a plate made of expanded graphite or a plastic foam plate, the base body having a volumetric absorption capacity of > 95%. The use of expanded graphite or a solidified plastic foam ensures a low weight of the base body and a high absorption capacity for phase change material. In particular, it is provided that the latent heat storage elements are filled with the phase change material to a proportion of > 95 vol. -%, based on the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

[0026] The phase change material is held in the pores of the expanded graphite or solidified plastic foam, where capillary forces are strong enough to keep the PGM even in its liquid state. The arrangement of the PGM in the pores of the base body also ensures that the PGM is homogeneously distributed in the latent heat storage element and remains homogeneously distributed over time, regardless of where the latent heat storage element is stored or used. Common latent heat storage elements, in which the PGM is only held by a rigid outer shell, have the disadvantage that the PGM can flow within the casing in its liquid state. This leads to inhomogeneities and impairs the performance of the transport container. Expanded graphite is also extremely lightweight and can theoretically have a thermal conductivity of up to 600 W / mK.Expanded graphite (also called expandable graphite) is produced by driving the graphite layers apart in an accordion-like manner, whereby the graphite particles are expanded or inflated perpendicular to the layer plane. A plate made of expanded graphite can, for example, be produced by compressing the fully expanded graphite under directed pressure, with the layer planes of the graphite being arranged perpendicular to the direction of action of the pressure. This has the effect that the graphite layers of the graphite plate are aligned essentially parallel to the plate plane, which leads to anisotropic thermal conductivity. This means that the graphite plate has a higher thermal conductivity in a direction parallel to the plate plane than perpendicular to it, which means that the thermal energy acting on the latent heat storage elements is distributed evenly over the entire circumference of the interior.In contrast, the thermal conductivity of the graphite plate is low in a direction perpendicular to the plate plane, which significantly reduces the heat input into the interior through the latent heat storage element.

[0027] The latent heat storage elements preferably have a thermal conductivity of > 2W / mK, preferably > 5W / mK, in a plane parallel to the plate. The thermal conductivity perpendicular to the plate plane is preferably < 5W / mK.

[0028] Preferably, the phase change material is formed from paraffin, e.g. n-tetradecane or n-hexadecane, esters, e.g. methyl ester, linear alcohols, ethers, organic anhydrides, salt hydrates, water-salt mixtures, salt solutions and / or water-based solutions.

[0029] Each of the latent heat storage elements can comprise a single phase-change material or a combination of two or more phase-change materials. In the case of two or more phase-change materials, these have different phase-change temperatures. This allows the transport container to be operated within different temperature windows.

[0030] Furthermore, it can be provided that the majority of latent heat storage elements of the latent heat storage layer all comprise a phase-change material with the same phase-change temperature, or that the latent heat storage elements comprise phase-change materials with different phase-change temperatures. This also allows the transport container to be operated in different temperature windows.

[0031] The outer shell of the transport container according to the invention is responsible for its dimensional stability and should be optimized with regard to its weight. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides in this context that the outer shell is formed by a frame which is stiffened by plates on the walls, wherein the frame comprises profiles running along the edges of the transport container which are connected to one another at the corners of the transport container, preferably using corner connecting elements. The basic structure is thus formed by a dimensionally stable frame, in particular in the shape of a cuboid, which is stiffened by thin plates on all sides with the exception of the (door) opening. A thicker plate can be used at the bottom to absorb the compressive forces of the dead weight of the transport container and the goods being transported.This construction method enables high stability of the outer shell with minimal wall thickness. The profiles and corner elements are highly rigid and can absorb external impacts, such as those caused by forklifts. The stiffening walls are preferably thin, on the order of 1 mm, and particularly 0.5-1.5 mm. The frame is stiffened largely by absorbing tensile forces in the thin walls.

[0032] The profiles are preferably made of aluminum and can be manufactured using extrusion processes. Alternatively, the profiles can be manufactured from pure or carbon fiber-reinforced plastics using extrusion or pultrusion processes. It is also possible to manufacture the profiles from a fiber-matrix semi-finished product, such as GMT (glass mat-reinforced thermoplastics), SMC (sheet molding compounds), or BMC (bulk molding compounds), as well as by thermoforming organic sheets.

[0033] The corner connecting elements are preferably made of aluminum and can be manufactured using a die-casting process. Alternatively, the corner connecting elements can be made of pure plastic or of plastic reinforced with glass or carbon fibers and manufactured using a plastic injection molding process. Casting processes with stainless steel or titanium alloys are also possible. The corner connecting elements are preferably connected to the individual profiles by bonding with a structural or elastic adhesive, by screw connections, rivet connections or click connections. The panels of the outer shell are preferably made of an aluminum-plastic composite material, pure aluminum, organic sheets, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or a polypropylene fiber composite material and preferably have a thickness of 0.5 mm to 5 mm.The thicker plate on the bottom can be made of aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or organic sheets and preferably has a thickness of 1mm to 10mm.

[0034] The connection between the stiffening plates and the frame profiles is preferably made by bonding with an elastic or structural adhesive, by constructive connection, such as insertion into grooves for a positive connection, by screw connections or rivet connections.

[0035] The layered structure of the transport container comprising outer shell, insulation layer and inner shell is preferably designed in such a way that lateral compressive forces and impacts on the thin walls are passed on to the underlying insulation layer where they can be absorbed over a large area. The elasticity of the insulation layer means that impact energies can be partially absorbed with minimal stress on the outer walls. If the insulation layer is supported from the inside on the inner shell, as is the case in a preferred embodiment, the inner shell can absorb the remaining deformation energy. If the outer shell is damaged, the modular design allows the individual parts to be easily replaced and the transport container to be quickly repaired.The insulation layer arranged between the outer and inner shells preferably comprises vacuum insulation panels consisting of a core material and a gas-tight shell, the core material preferably consisting of a nanoporous plastic foam, microfiber material, fumed silica, or perlite. The gas-tight shell preferably consists of a multilayer and sealable aluminum composite foil with a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. The interior of the vacuum panels is evacuated to a pressure of 0.1 to 100 mbar, depending on the core material.

[0036] Alternatively, the insulation layer can be composed of insulation panels made of PIR (polyisocyanurate), PUR (polyurethane), EPS (expanded polystyrene) or XPS (extruded polystyrene). Gas-filled panels or insulation panels with a multi-layer, honeycomb arrangement of films can also be used as insulation panels. The films have a metallic coating with a very low emissivity (in particular an emissivity of < 0.2, preferably 0.02-0.09), with air, a gas with low thermal conductivity, such as krypton or xenon, being located in the cavities between the films, or these spaces being evacuated. Such an insulation panel is described in WO 2012 / 142639 A1.

[0037] To avoid thermal bridges, the vacuum insulation panels, insulation boards or insulation panels are connected to each other as tightly as possible at the edges.

[0038] The thickness of the insulation layer is preferably 5-200 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the insulation layer is multi-layered. In particular, two, three, or more layers can be provided. Each layer of the insulation layer can be formed by at least one of the vacuum insulation panels, insulation plates, or insulation panels described above. The layers of the insulation layer can be of the same type, or different types of insulation layers can be combined to form one insulation layer.

[0039] With the described design of the transport container, no additional structural elements are required to stabilize the insulation layer, as this is provided by the outer frame and the inner shell.

[0040] Preferably, the outer shell, the inner shell and the insulation layer are arranged adjacent to one another and can support one another.

[0041] The outer shell, the inner shell and the insulation layer each enclose the interior on all sides with the exception of the opening. The opening for loading and unloading the interior can be closed by at least one separate wall element. The separate wall element is preferably designed as a door device. The door device preferably comprises 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 can preferably be opened and closed separately, i.e. the outer door must be opened first and then the at least one inner door in order to gain access to the interior of the transport container. Alternatively, the design can also be such that the outer door and the at least one inner door can be opened and closed together.In particular, the outer door and the inner door may form two layers of a door, between which the said intermediate space is provided.

[0042] The outer door can be hinged to a side profile of the frame, allowing it to be opened by pivoting, for example, 270° and positioned against the adjacent side wall from the outside. It can also be equipped with a locking mechanism that allows the outer door to be locked during transport.

[0043] The locking mechanism may comprise sealing means or interact with them to indicate unauthorized opening of the locking mechanism. Preferably, a circumferential outer seal is provided between the opening of the transport container and the outer door, which, when the outer door is closed, impedes air exchange between the environment and the interior.

[0044] The at least one inner door can be pivotally attached to the respective lateral edges by means of hinges and preferably has a circumferential inner seal which makes it more difficult for ambient air to penetrate into the interior. The design of the transport container with an outer door and an inner door and the arrangement of the outer and inner seals prevents the formation of condensation in the interior. Warm air which penetrates first hits the space between the outer door and the inner door and cools down through contact with the at least one inner door before it reaches the interior. The water which escapes during cooling therefore largely condenses in the space between the outer and inner doors. The outer door preferably has a structure which functionally corresponds to that of the outer shell of the wall of the transport container. The outer door can have a stable outer wall with at least one internal insulation layer.In addition, an inner half-shell can be provided to protect the insulation layer, so that the insulation layer is enclosed between the outer wall and the half-shell. The outer wall preferably consists of an aluminum plate bent on the top and bottom or of a thermally deformed organic sheet. The wall thickness of the outer wall is preferably 0.5-5mm. In a further design variant, the outer wall of the external door can have a frame made of profiles that are connected at the corners with connecting elements. The frame is stiffened by the outer wall, which consists, for example, of aluminum-plastic composite material, aluminum, organic sheets, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or polypropylene fiber composite material and has a thickness of 0.5-5mm. The outer wall can be connected to the frame by adhesive, screw or rivet connections.

[0045] The inner half-shell can, for example, be made of pure plastic and manufactured using an injection molding process. Alternatively, the inner half-shell can be made of thermosetting or thermosetting plastic reinforced with short fibers and can be manufactured using the GMT or SMC / BMC pressing process. According to a further alternative, the inner half-shell can be made of thermally formed organic sheets. The wall thickness of the inner half-shell is preferably 0.5-5 mm. The inner half-shell is preferably connected to the outer wall by adhesive, screw, or rivet connections.

[0046] The intermediate insulation layer of the outer door can consist of one or more layers of PIR, PUR, XPS, or EPS insulation, or of vacuum panels, gas-filled panels, or insulation panels with a multi-layer, honeycomb arrangement of foils, as described above in connection with the insulation layer of the transport container wall. The layers of the insulation layer can be of the same type, or different types of insulation layers can be combined to form one insulation layer. The thickness of the insulation layer of the outer door is preferably 30-200 mm.

[0047] The at least one inner door preferably has a structure that functionally corresponds to that of the inner shell of the wall of the transport container. In particular, the inner door comprises a first cover layer and a second cover layer, between which cooling units, such as e.g.

[0048] Latent heat storage elements, compressor cooling units, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers or insulation elements are accommodated. The at least one inner door preferably has the same structure as the inner shell of the container wall and reference is therefore made to the relevant comments above. In particular, the first and second cover layers of the inner door are held at a predetermined normal distance from one another by spacers, the spacers being formed by webs which divide an intermediate space between the first and second cover layers into a plurality of chambers in which cooling units are accommodated. Due to the slim construction of the outer and inner shell of the transport container and the low thickness of the insulation layer, the interior volume can be maximized with the smallest possible external dimensions. In particular, the interior is dimensioned such that a US / EURO pallet can fit inside.At the same time, the external dimensions are minimized so that four transport containers can be placed side by side on a PMC-type aircraft pallet, or two transport containers can fit side by side in a standard 40-foot shipping container or on a truck bed. The external dimensions of an essentially cuboid-shaped transport container are therefore preferably as follows:

[0049] Height: 1450-1550mm

[0050] Width: 1120-1220mm

[0051] Depth: 1400- 1500mm

[0052] The interior preferably has the following dimensions: Height: 1250- 1350mm Width: 980- 1080mm Depth: 1185- 1285mm

[0053] The opening preferably has the following dimensions: Height: 1250- 1350mm Width: 980- 1080mm

[0054] The wall of the transport container preferably has a thickness of 130-200mm, preferably 130-160mm.

[0055] To dampen vibrations and impact 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 >5mm, preferably >10mm. The damping elements are preferably arranged in the corner regions of the container base and have insertion openings for the insertion of forklift truck tines. The insertion openings are preferably designed in such a way that forklift truck tines can be inserted from both the front and the side of the transport container, i.e. from two directions orthogonal to one another. Further damping is achieved by supporting the inner shell of the container wall on the elastic insulation layer. The vibrations and impact accelerations applied from the outside are thereby additionally reduced and are not passed on directly to the interior.

[0056] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. In these, Fig. 1 shows a view of a transport container with open doors, Fig. 2 shows a view of the transport container according to Fig. 1 with open doors, Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the transport container, Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the inner shell of the transport container, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the outer door, Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the damping elements and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the damping elements in a second embodiment.

[0057] Fig. 1 shows a transport container 1 according to the invention, the outer shell of which has a frame composed of profiles 3 and corner connecting elements 2, which is stiffened on the three side surfaces, on the ceiling and on the rear wall by thinner plates 4 and on the floor by a thicker plate 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 with the exception of an opening which enables the interior to be loaded and unloaded. The opening can be closed by a door device, the outer door 5 of which is visible in Fig. 1. Damping elements 6 are fastened to the floor of the transport container 1 in the corner areas and in the middle between the corners.

[0058] In the open view according to Fig. 2, in which the outer door 5 is shown pivoted approximately 270° toward the adjacent side wall, two additional inner doors 7 are visible, which are pivoted outward like a double door. Furthermore, the inner shell is visible, which is composed of panel elements 8 and surrounds the interior of the transport container 1.

[0059] In the exploded view according to Fig. 3 it can be seen that a multi-layer insulation layer 9 is arranged between the outer shell formed by the plates 4 and 10 and the inner shell 8 formed by the plate elements 8.

[0060] In Fig. 4 it can be seen that the plate elements 8 of the inner shell have a first cover layer 11 and a second cover layer 12 which are held at a predetermined distance from one another by means of web-shaped spacers 14. The spacers 14 are arranged in a grid pattern and form a plurality of chambers, in each of which a latent heat storage element 13 is accommodated. The connection of the spacers 14 to the first cover layer 11 and the second cover layer 12 is preferably carried out by means of material and / or form-fitting connecting elements, in particular by adhesive bonding, so that the latent heat storage element 13 is firmly installed in the interior of the plate elements 8. Fig. 5 shows the layered structure of the outer door 5. The outer door 5 has an outer shell 15, an internal insulation 17 and an inner half-shell 16.The outer shell 15 consists of an aluminum plate bent at the top and bottom or a thermally formed organic sheet. The inner half-shell 16 consists either of pure plastic, a plastic composite material, or a thermally formed organic sheet. The inner half-shell 16 is connected to the outer shell 15 by adhesive, screw, or rivet connections.

[0061] The outer door 5 further comprises at least one locking mechanism with an actuating element designed as a handle 18 for locking the door during transport. The handle 18 makes it possible to open the door manually and lock it with a lock. For example, the handle moves a vertical locking bar, which engages behind locking elements attached to the horizontal frame profiles at the top and bottom, thus locking the outer door 5.

[0062] Fig. 6 shows a first embodiment of the damping elements 6 fastened to the underside of the transport container 1. The damping elements 6 consist of a rigid upper component 19, which is made of aluminum or another metal or of a plastic produced by injection molding, and a lower elastic component 20, which is made of EPDM, silicone, or another elastic material. The elastic component 20 is fastened together with the rigid component 19 to the transport container 1 from below with four screws. The free spring travel is >5 mm, preferably >10 mm. In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the damping elements 6 consist of a rigid upper component 21, which is made of aluminum, another metal or plastic and is fastened to the transport container 1 from below with four screws.Within the rigid upper component 21 there is an elastic component 22 made of EPDM, silicone or another elastic material which is in direct contact with the underside of the transport container 1 and can absorb both vertical and horizontal forces. Below the elastic component 22 there is another rigid component made of hard plastic 23 which is in direct contact with the ground and transmits both vertical and horizontal forces to the elastic component 22. The lower rigid component 23 is made of PA, ABS, POM, PE, PS or PVC and is manufactured by injection molding. The advantage of this design variant is the better slip resistance of the transport container on the lower rigid plastic component 23 and the better protection of the elastic component 22 against lateral loads. The free spring travel is >5mm, preferably >10mm.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, comprising a container wall surrounding an interior space for receiving the goods to be transported, said 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, which opening can be closed by at least one separate wall element, and wherein the container wall encloses the interior space on all sides with the exception of the opening, characterized in that the container wall has an outer shell, an inner shell, and an insulation layer (9) arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein the inner shell is formed in at least three layers and comprises a first cover layer (11) and a second cover layer (12), which are held at a predetermined normal distance from one another by spacers (14), wherein the spacers (14) are formed by webs,which divide a space between the first cover layer (11) and the second cover layer (12) in each wall into several chambers in which insulation elements or cooling units, such as latent heat storage elements (13), compressor cooling units, Peltier coolers, evaporative coolers are accommodated., 2. Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer shell is formed by plates (4, 10) which are held in a frame, the frame comprising profiles (3) running along the edges of the transport container (1) which are connected to one another at the corners of the transport container (1), preferably using corner connecting elements (2).

3. Transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insulation layer (9) comprises vacuum insulation panels which consist of a core material and a gas-tight shell, wherein the core material preferably consists of a nanoporous plastic foam, microfiber material, pyrogenic silica or perlite.

4. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insulation layer (9) is formed in several layers.

5. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the latent heat storage elements (13) have a porous, plate-like base body, the pores of which are filled with a phase change material.

6. Transport container according to claim 5, characterized in that the base body consists of a plate made of expanded graphite or a plastic foam plate, wherein the base body has a volumetric absorption capacity of > 95%.

7. Transport container according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the latent heat storage elements (13) are filled with the phase change material to a proportion of > 95 vol.%, based on the total volume of the latent heat storage element.

8. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the latent heat storage elements (13) have a thermal conductivity of > 2W / mK, preferably > 5W / mK, in a plane parallel to the plate.

9. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the phase change material is formed from paraffin, for example n-tetradecane or n-hexadecane, esters, for example methyl esters, linear alcohols, ethers, organic anhydrides, salt hydrates, water-salt mixtures, salt solutions and / or water-based solutions.

10. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the latent heat storage elements (13) are covered with a film, preferably a plastic Composite film, which has a thickness of 0.05mm to 0.5mm.

11. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one heat distribution layer is introduced into the container wall, which consists of expanded graphite and has a thermal conductivity of > 150W / mK, preferably > 300W / mK in the layer plane.

12. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that several damping elements (6) are arranged on the underside of the transport container (1), each having a spring travel of >5mm, preferably >10mm.

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