Portable Auxiliary Refrigeration for Trailer Breakdown Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerated trucks and trailers often experience breakdowns, leading to rapid temperature increases and spoilage of perishable goods, with dry ice being an inadequate and expensive temporary solution that only effectively cools items near the door opening.

Innovation Solution

A portable auxiliary refrigeration unit with a sealing element and chilled air duct is transported to the truck or trailer, providing a partial seal and circulating chilled air throughout the interior to maintain temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If dry ice is used for temporary refrigeration, then cooling effect is provided near the door opening, but cooling coverage is limited and cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcooling coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A portable auxiliary refrigeration unit with forced air circulation acts as an intermediary device between the door opening and the perishable cargo. The unit draws air through a seal at the door opening and distributes it throughout the cargo area, extending the cooling effect from the localized dry ice approach to comprehensive coverage of all cargo regardless of position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable refrigeration unit uses forced air circulation (pneumatic system) to distribute chilled air throughout the cargo area. A fan creates airflow that pushes chilled air through ducting and across the cargo, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and effective cooling of all items regardless of their location in the trailer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If the refrigeration unit breaks down, then temperature control is lost, but spoilage occurs rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidtime to spoilage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The portable refrigeration unit is designed for rapid deployment to provide immediate auxiliary cooling when the primary refrigeration system fails. The unit can be quickly positioned at the door opening and activated, establishing forced air circulation before significant temperature rise and spoilage occur, thereby buying critical time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The portable unit serves as a backup or auxiliary system that cushions against the failure of the primary refrigeration unit. By having this secondary cooling capability available, the system provides a safety net that prevents total loss of temperature control and protects the cargo from rapid spoilage during extended outages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Temperature

If dry ice is placed near the door opening, then cooling is provided locally, but distant cargo remains warm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal coolingVSAvoidcargo protection

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The portable refrigeration unit with forced air circulation acts as an intermediary that distributes the cooling effect from the door opening area throughout the entire cargo space. The fan-driven airflow carries chilled air through ducting and across all cargo items, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and effective cooling of all items regardless of their location in the trailer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of air movement from static (dry ice reliance on natural convection) to dynamic forced circulation. This parameter change enables the cooling effect to be actively distributed throughout the cargo area, transforming localized cooling into comprehensive cooling coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively maintains perishable items in good condition by ensuring even cooling throughout the truck or trailer, outperforming dry ice by circulating refrigerated air and allowing for rapid response to maintain entire loads, regardless of the ambient temperature.

Implementation Method 1

The portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit is operated to deliver chilled air through the chilled air duct and into the interior of the refrigerated truck or trailer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentUS8424330B2Portable auxiliary refrigeration unit for temporary, emergency refrigeration of refrigerated trucks/trailers

Publication Date: 2013.04.23 GILL DAVID A

AI summary

A method and apparatus for temporarily refrigerating perishable items contained in a refrigerated truck or trailer whose refrigeration unit is not functioning properly or at all. The apparatus comprises a portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit adapted to be transported to the refrigerated truck or trailer and includes a sealing element configured and adapted for placement in or adjacent a door opening of the refrigerated truck or trailer to provide at least a partial seal thereat. A chilled air duct is provided for delivering chilled air through/across the sealing element to the perishable items inside the refrigerated truck or trailer and the portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit is operable to deliver chilled air through the chilled air duct and into the interior of the refrigerated truck or trailer.