Refrigerated Vehicle Insulating Panel with Embedded Air Duct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulating panels in refrigerated vehicle bodies limit the utilization of loading space due to air circulation pathways that are disrupted by load placement, preventing uniform cooling distribution and restricting the placement of floor beams up to the ceiling.
Innovation Solution
An insulating panel with a recessed air duct system, where the air duct is partially or fully buried within a fiber-reinforced plastic core layer, allowing for continuous air circulation and load placement without obstructing the air flow, and can be covered with a fiber-reinforced plastic cover layer for structural integrity and ease of cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fabric or sail is stretched beneath the ceiling to distribute cooling air, then uniform temperature distribution is improved, but the cargo space utilization is reduced because cargo cannot be placed right up against the ceiling
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is extracted from the conventional position beneath the ceiling fabric and relocated into the insulating panel itself. By integrating the air duct within the insulating panel's core layer, the fabric can be removed or positioned without obstructing airflow, thus restoring full cargo space utilization while maintaining temperature distribution uniformity through the panel-integrated duct system
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct is nested within the insulating panel's core layer, creating a hierarchical structure where the duct is contained within the panel thickness. This nesting allows the air circulation system to be embedded within the insulating structure itself, eliminating the need for separate fabric installations that would reduce cargo space
2Ease of operation
If the air duct is positioned near the ceiling surface, then air circulation is maintained, but cargo and floor beams cannot be placed up to the ceiling, reducing loading space
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is extracted from the cargo space volume and relocated into the insulating panel. This extraction allows cargo to occupy the entire cargo space up to the ceiling surface without obstructing the air duct, while the duct maintains its air circulation function within the panel structure
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct is moved from a two-dimensional surface-level position (beneath the ceiling fabric) into a three-dimensional embedded position within the insulating panel's core layer. This dimensional relocation allows the duct to occupy space that would otherwise be available for cargo, thereby increasing loading space while maintaining air circulation continuity
3Strength
If metallic outer layers are used in insulating panels, then structural strength is improved, but the overall weight of the vehicle body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating panel uses a composite structure combining a foam core layer with fiber-reinforced plastic cover layers. This composite material system provides the necessary structural strength and rigidity while maintaining lightweight properties, as the fiber-reinforced plastics offer high strength-to-weight ratios compared to traditional metallic outer layers
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
Enhances the utilization of the loading space by maintaining continuous air circulation and cooling, even with maximum loads, while allowing for uniform temperature distribution and easy maintenance of the air duct system.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating panel for a vehicle body, in particular a refrigerated vehicle body (100), comprising at least one heat-insulating core layer (10) and at least one outer layer (11) made of fiber-reinforced plastic material
Implementation Method 2
the recess (13) and the guide element (14) form an air duct (15) for air distribution in a cargo space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an insulating panel for a vehicle body, in particular a refrigerated vehicle body, comprising at least one heat-insulating core layer (10) and at least one cover layer (11) made of fiber-reinforced plastic material, wherein the core layer (10) has at least one recess (13) on an inner surface (12) which extends longitudinally along the insulating panel and is at least partially bounded to the outside by a guide element (14), wherein the recess (13) and the guide element (14) form an air channel (15) for air distribution in a cargo space. The invention further relates to a component, a vehicle body, a vehicle, and a manufacturing method.