Climate controlled transportation-related replaceable batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing transport climate control systems face challenges with significant investment and space requirements for charging equipment, leading to inefficiencies and risks of spoilage for perishable goods due to inadequate charging facilities.

Innovation Solution

A wireless battery pack system that can be easily attached to and detached from a transport unit, utilizing bidirectional wireless power transfer to provide power and data, eliminating the need for fast-charging facilities and enabling rapid battery swapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional charging equipment is installed at docks or bays, then power can be supplied to transport climate control systems, but significant investment and space are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidcharging equipment space
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the battery from the transport unit itself and places it in a removable battery pack that can be charged separately. This separates the power storage function from the transport unit, eliminating the need for large charging equipment at docks while maintaining power supply capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The removable battery pack serves as an intermediary between the power source and the transport climate control system. It can be charged at any location and then attached to the transport unit, mediating the power supply without requiring fixed charging infrastructure at docks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If traditional charging equipment is installed at docks or bays, then power can be supplied to transport climate control systems, but significant investment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidinvestment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the battery into a separate removable pack, the system eliminates the need for expensive fixed charging infrastructure at docks. The battery pack can be charged using standard charging equipment anywhere, significantly reducing investment costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery pack is designed to be self-contained and can be charged independently of the transport unit. This self-service capability allows the battery to be recharged at any location with standard charging equipment, eliminating the need for specialized charging facilities and reducing overall system investment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If charging equipment is lacking or charging time is insufficient, then transport operations can continue, but cargo is at risk of spoilage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport operation continuityVSAvoidcargo preservation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack can be charged in advance before being attached to the transport unit. This preliminary charging action ensures that sufficient power is available for the entire transport operation, eliminating the risk of cargo spoilage due to insufficient charging time while maintaining continuous transport operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By separating the battery into a removable pack, the system allows the battery to be charged independently and completely before use. This ensures full power capacity is available for the transport operation, guaranteeing cargo preservation while allowing transport operations to continue without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Use of energy by moving object

If fixed charging facilities are used, then power can be supplied to transport units, but time inefficiencies occur due to charging requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supplyVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the battery into a removable pack, the system allows charging to occur at any location and at any time, not requiring the transport unit to be stationary at a dock. This eliminates time inefficiencies associated with fixed charging facilities while maintaining power supply capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery pack can be charged in advance before being needed by the transport unit. This preliminary charging action eliminates waiting time during transport operations, as the battery is already charged and ready for immediate attachment, significantly reducing time losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates rapid and efficient charging of transport climate control systems, reducing the risk of spoilage and improving sustainability by allowing fully charged batteries to be swapped in minutes, thus ensuring consistent environmental conditions for perishable goods.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless power transfer assembly that receives wirelessly induced AC power from the battery pack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWireless power transfer: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

converts the received AC power to DC power for distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAC to DC conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP4708617A1Climate controlled transportation-related replaceable batteries
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 THERMO KING CORP
  • EP4708617A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4708617A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4708617A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A power system for a transport climate control system includes a battery pack that is capable of being removably attached to a chassis of the transport unit to which a transport climate control system may be disposed. A pair of wireless power transfer assemblies allows for wireless power transfer between the battery pack and the transport unit or a standalone charging bank. A power distribution unit corresponding to the transport climate control system conductively receives DC power from the vehicle-side wireless power transfer assembly and transmits the DC power to electrical components corresponding to the transport climate control system. Likewise, the power distribution unit distributes power from standard plug-in charging equipment to the wireless power transfer assembly such that at least one wireless battery pack can be charged wirelessly while on the transport unit. The battery pack can be removed for recharging and replaced at least temporarily.