Improved thermally insulated transport box system.

Abstract

Transport box 1, formed from a set of insulating walls 7P, 7G, 7D, 7S, 7R forming a front opening 8, an insulating door 6 and horizontal rails 35 fixed on interior wall faces 7D, 7G, 7S, these rails being arranged to slide eutectic blocks 36 therein in a removable manner and hold them against the walls. Figure for the abstract: figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Improved thermally insulating transport box system.

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal device for transporting products, in particular palletized products.

[0002] Stored or transported products are often palletized, that is to say that these products are arranged on a pallet. This is the case for products that must be kept within a given temperature range, for example products that must be kept cold or hot, at a temperature different from that of the storage environment. Such products must sometimes be transferred, particularly by plane; it is then necessary to ensure that their temperature remains within the desired range, particularly during the transfer.

[0003] Insulated boxes have been developed to address this problem. Such boxes are known, notably as taught by documents FR 2 994 423 and FR 3 086 931.

[0004] However, these crates are particularly fragile; they are not designed to be reusable. However, such a crate must be able to be transported over long distances, by air, sea or road. It must be able to be loaded and unloaded several times. At the end of the journey, one must be able to be reasonably assured of the integrity of the crate and its contents; in particular, one must be able to ensure that the temperature of the load has remained within the desired temperature range, throughout the journey, despite all the handling undergone by the crate containing it.

[0005] The aim of the invention is in particular to propose an improved, reusable transport box, allowing a better guarantee of integrity for the load it contains.

[0006] According to the invention, there is provided a substantially parallelepipedal transport box system, comprising a set of fixed insulating walls forming a front opening, an insulating door hinged with the fixed walls to close the opening and horizontal rails fixed on internal faces of some of the fixed walls, these rails being arranged to slide eutectic blocks therein in a removable manner and to hold these blocks along the respective walls, these blocks preferably having a plate shape.

[0007] The fixed walls are each of substantially rectangular shape and comprise two vertical side walls, a floor and a top wall, between which the opening is formed, and, facing the opening, a vertical rear wall, some at least rails being fixed to at least one of the side walls. The rails are advantageously arranged to form three superimposed rows of blocks. At least some of the rails may be fixed to the upper wall. Preferably, each rail has a “U” shape, one upright of which is fixed to a respective wall, the other upright being provided to hold at least one block, two rails being arranged opposite each other to slide a row of at least one block therein.

[0008] The walls, and / or the door, may comprise insulating panels formed from an insulating layer sandwiched between two skins, the layer preferably being a polyurethane foam having a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 40, and the skins preferably being a gelcoat, preferably a white gelcoat. The body may also comprise an angle iron to protect an edge formed by two neighboring panels.

[0009] Advantageously, the body comprises a base arranged to allow passage of a lifting fork through each side of the body. This base preferably comprises five feet, each of the first four being close to a respective corner of the body and the fifth substantially equidistant from the first four.

[0010] Advantageously, the box comprises a housing, for a parameter recorder, formed in one of the walls, and a passage through this wall for a wire connecting the recorder to at least one temperature probe fixed inside the box.

[0011] Preferably, a box according to the invention has the following external dimensions: - overall height less than or equal to 1600 mm; - depth less than or equal to 1600 mm; - width (Ll) less than or equal to 1210 mm. and / or for internal dimensions: - useful height greater than or equal to 1300 mm; - useful depth greater than or equal to 1200 mm; - useful width greater than or equal to 800 mm, preferably 1200 mm or more.

[0012] Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation in three-quarter perspective from the front right of a body according to the invention, in the closed door configuration;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view of the front left three-quarters of the body of [Fig.l], in the open door configuration;

[0015] [Fig.3] is an exploded schematic view of the body of [Fig.l];

[0016] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation in horizontal section of the door of the box of [Fig.l];

[0017] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation in horizontal section of the door of the box of [Fig.l];

[0018] [Fig.6] is a partial and schematic left elevation view of the body of the [Fig.l], illustrating an installation of a recorder intended to monitor operating parameters of the cash register;

[0019] [Fig.7] is a partial and schematic vertical sectional representation, according to the plan VII-VII of [Fig.6], illustrating the location of the recorder.

[0020] The single figure illustrates a crate 1 according to the invention, intended to transport a pallet and its load, in particular by air; the pallet and the load are not shown in the figures. The load may comprise products which must be kept close to a given ideal temperature. The role of the crate 1 is to maintain the load substantially at this temperature, during transport, while protecting it from the hazards linked to its handling and transport.

[0021] The box 1 has a substantially parallelepipedal external shape. In the example illustrated, it rests on the ground on feet 3, two of which are visible in the figure. The box 1 further comprises thermally insulating walls 7 and a door 6 which closes a front opening 8 of the box. The door comprises two supports 4, here in A4 format, for documentation and / or administrative information, relating to the box or its contents.

[0022] The walls 7 essentially comprise insulating panels whose thickness E7 is substantially constant and identical for each of said panels. The panels are substantially rectangular. The door 6 forms a movable front wall 7F of the body 1. The walls 7 further comprise fixed walls: a floor 7P, arranged horizontally, two vertical side walls 7D, 7G facing each other and resting on the floor 7A, a vertical rear wall 7R, and a horizontal upper wall 7S, resting on the side walls 7D, 7G and rear 7R.

[0023] Thermal continuity of the fixed walls between them is ensured by interlocking and fixing the walls between them. This continuity makes it possible to limit the existence of thermal bridges and to ensure uniformity of the thermal insulation guaranteed by the box.

[0024] In the illustrated example, as can be seen in particular in [Fig.7], the walls 7, here the left wall 7G, comprise a sandwich of several layers including: - an outer skin 11; - an inner skin 12; and, - an insulating layer 13, sandwiched between the skins 11, 12.

[0025] Each skin has a thickness Eli, E12 of approximately two millimeters, it is formed of a gelcoat type coating and polyester. The gelcoat is of a food type, to ensure that it is easy to maintain and does not cause pollution of the load. It is preferably chosen white to limit heat exchanges by radiation between the inside and the outside of the box.

[0026] The insulating layer 13 has a thickness E13 of eighty millimeters, it is made of a polyurethane foam with a density of thirty-five kilograms per cubic meter.

[0027] In the example illustrated, the thickness E7 of a wall 7 is substantially equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the skin and insulation, i.e.: E7 = Eli + E13 + E12

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the floor 7P is covered with a metal protective sheet, here a checkered sheet 14. Aeronautical type rails, not shown in the figures, are fixed to the floor 7P; they allow the load to be fixed to the body, as in the hold of an aircraft.

[0029] The feet 3 are arranged under the floor 7P. In the example illustrated there are five feet, one near each corner of the floor and one in the center. They are arranged so that a forklift can pick up the box from all directions, from the front, the rear or laterally.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the body further comprises a frame 15 and corners 16 for reinforcing the edges of the body. The frame 15 is made of corners and is arranged around the rear wall 7R and the corners 16 are arranged horizontally, along the horizontal edges formed by the side walls 7D, 7G with the floor 7P and the top wall 7S.

[0031] As illustrated in Figures 3-5, door 6 comprises: - a door frame 21, which frames the facade panel 7F; - two first 22 reinforcement profiles for the right wall 7D, to which the door is hinged; - a second reinforcement profile 23, for the opposite wall 7D; - two hinges 26 for articulatedly fixing the door frame 21 to the first reinforcements 23; - a peripheral seal 27; and, - a locking handle 28 equipped with a bolt; and, - a strike plate 29 for the bolt, fixed to the second reinforcement 23.

[0032] The reinforcements 22, 23 are “U” shaped profiles, embedded in the corresponding wall 7D, 7G. The peripheral seal 27 is a three-lip seal 30 made of EPDM, with a hardness of 70 shA; it is designed to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation between the fixed walls 7D, 7G, 7P, 7S and the door 6.

[0033] As particularly illustrated in [Fig.2], the inner faces of the side walls 7D, 7G and of the upper wall 7S are provided with horizontal rails 35 intended to hold eutectic blocks 36 against these walls.

[0034] The blocks 36 are identical to each other, of substantially rectangular shape and of small thickness E36 with respect to their other dimensions; thus, each block 36 can covered a large wall surface without encroaching too much on the useful volume of box 1. In the example illustrated the eutectic blocks have the following dimensions: - length: approximately 60 centimeters; - width: approximately 40 centimeters; - thickness: approximately 3 centimeters.

[0035] Against each side wall 7D, 7G, the blocks 36 are arranged in three superimposed rows of two blocks each. Under the upper wall 7S, the blocks are arranged in two rows of two blocks.

[0036] As the rails 35 have a “U” shaped section with a square bottom and unequal uprights. The highest upright of the “U” shaped section is fixed to the corresponding wall. The rails are arranged two by two facing each other so that the blocks can be slid horizontally through the front opening 8. The lowest upright of the “U” shaped section is used to hold each block against the corresponding wall.

[0037] As particularly illustrated in [Fig.2], the lowest upright of the "U" shaped section is removed on a front portion of the rails fixed to the side walls to facilitate the introduction of the blocks.

[0038] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate arrangements made for the installation of a parameter recorder 40. In the example shown, a QR Code type recorder supplied by Logmore in Helsinki, Finland is used. The parameters are measured and recorded at preferably regular intervals; these include: - a temperature inside the box; - a geographical position of the fund; and they can also understand, at each occurrence: - exposure to light from inside the box, therefore opening the door; and, an impact against the box.

[0039] The recorder 40 comprises a screen on which a graphic code is displayed, here a QR Code, which allows the parameters to be read. The use of a graphic code avoids using reading via waves of the Bluetooth or Wifi type, which could disrupt other systems, in particular air transport systems.

[0040] A housing 41 is formed in the thickness of a wall 7, in the upper right corner of the left wall 7G. This housing 41 is provided for placing the recorder 40 there. It comprises a transparent front 42 arranged substantially in the same plane as an outer face 7GE of the wall 7G and which allows the screen of the recorder 40 to be read.

[0041] A passage 43 is formed between the housing 41 and an internal face 7GN of the wall 7G. It allows a connecting cable to be passed there between the recorder and one or more probes (not shown). The probes are fixed inside the box. The cable is sealed in the passage, so as to prevent the passage from forming a thermal bridge.

[0042] The external dimensions of the assembled box 1 are preferably compatible with air and sea transport standards, making it possible to optimize the number of boxes transported at the lowest cost. The internal dimensions of the box also make it possible to transport pallets of sizes and loads compatible with international standards.

[0043] In the example illustrated, the external dimensions of the box 1 are as follows: - overall height, including the feet, H1 = 1600 mm, approximately - depth, measured from front to back, PI = 1520 mm, approximately - width L1 = 1206 mm, approximately.

[0044] And, the internal dimensions of the box 1 are as follows:

[0045] - useful height = 1335 mm, approximately - useful depth = 1265 mm, approximately - useful width = 1200 mm, approximately.

[0046] The illustrated box is intended to transport a pallet and its load whose horizontal dimensions are 1200 x 1000 millimeters, or less, and whose height is 1300 millimeters, or less.

[0047] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the claims which follow.

[0048] It will indeed appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

[0049] Thus, the dimensions of a box according to the invention may differ from those of the box previously described. The internal dimensions may be modified, for example, depending on a type of load that it is intended to transport; the external dimensions may themselves be modified, for example depending on the mode of transport used.

[0050] Also, the means used for securing the load in the box may not use aeronautical type rails; other types of securing means may be used, for example rings fixed and distributed along the walls.

[0051] Also, depending on the size of the body and the desired performance, the number and arrangement and type of eutectic blocks may vary. The blocks may in particular be chosen from the following references: - PERGN1 / 1, which is the one shown in the figures and supplied by the cold store, 98 allée du Danemark, in Monchy Le Preux, France; - TOP70, provided by the company Olivo, 1 bd des Mineurs, ZA Charles Chana, in Roche-la-Molière; and, - PL600V1, supplied by the company Cool, 478 av. Marie Curie, in La-Voulte-sur- Rhone.

[0052] This list is not exhaustive.

[0053] The eutectic material contained in the blocks can be chosen according to the temperature range at which the load transported in the box must be maintained.

[0054] Also, the thickness of the walls and / or the insulating material they contain can vary depending on the temperature range at which the load transported in the box must be maintained.

[0055] Furthermore, the box may not be limited to the transport of a pallet and may include removable and modular fittings; in particular compartmentalization for arranging several loads.

[0056] A box according to the invention can be used to maintain the load at a temperature higher or lower than a temperature of its environment. For example, it can be used to transport medicines or biological samples at a temperature of about six degrees Celsius. The temperature can be positive or negative.

Claims

Claims

1. A substantially parallelepipedal transport box (1), characterized in that it comprises a set of fixed insulating walls (7P, 7G, 7D, 7S, 7R) forming a front opening (8), an insulating door (6) hinged with said fixed walls to close said opening and horizontal rails (35) fixed on inner faces of certain walls (7D, 7G, 7S) among said fixed walls, said rails being arranged to slide eutectic blocks (36) therein in a removable manner and to hold said blocks along the respective walls, said blocks preferably having a plate shape characterized in that said fixed walls are fitted together, and, said walls and / or said door comprise insulating panels formed of a layer of an insulating material (13) sandwiched between two skins (11, 12),.

2. A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed walls are of substantially rectangular shape and comprise two vertical side walls (7D, 7G), a floor (7P) and an upper wall (7S), between which the opening (8) is formed, and, facing said opening, a vertical rear wall (7R), at least some of the rails being fixed to at least one of said side walls.

3. A box according to claim 2, characterized in that the rails are arranged to form three superimposed rows of blocks (36).

4. Box according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that at least some of the rails are fixed to the upper wall.

5. Box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each rail has a “U” shape, one upright of which is fixed to a respective wall, the other upright being provided to hold at least one block, two rails being arranged opposite each other to slide a row of at least one block therein.

6. Box according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the layer of insulating material is preferably a polyurethane foam having a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 40, and the skins preferably being a gelcoat, preferably a white gelcoat.

7. Box according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an angle iron (16) to protect an edge formed by two neighboring panels.

8. A box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a base arranged to allow passage of a lifting fork through each side of the box, said base preferably comprising five feet, each of the first four close to a respective corner of the box and the fifth substantially equidistant from the first four.

9. Box according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a housing (41), for a parameter recorder (40), formed in one of the walls (7G) and a passage (43) through said wall for a wire connecting the recorder and at least one temperature probe fixed inside the box.

10. Box according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has the following external dimensions: - overall height (Hl) less than or equal to 1600 mm; - depth (PI) less than or equal to 1600 mm; - width (Ll) less than or equal to 1210 mm. and / or for internal dimensions: - useful height greater than or equal to 1300 mm; - useful depth greater than or equal to 1200 mm; - useful width greater than or equal to 800 mm, preferably 1200 mm.

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